Tasty Tuesday: Gingerbread!

What could be more holly jolly than gingerbread ("not my gum drop buttons!)? My friend Kara had the brilliant idea of making them for our holiday boutique two Saturdays ago. I found a recipe for thick and chewy gingerbread which is the only way to go when making cookies in my opinion. My focus when buying the molasses was to find the unsulphured kind, so I didn't pay much attention to the giant "blackstrap" label on the bottle I bought. It made the cookies extra dark but the flavor was still mighty delish.

We served the gingerbread along side sweet and spicy candied pecans, spritz cookies and a cranberry citrus punch. Whip up some of your own this season, why don't ya? Find the recipe right here.

Oh and one more thing! The 15% off Cyber Monday sale has been extended through Friday! Just enter CYBERMONDAY when you check out to receive your discount!

Holiday Sale!!

That's right folks! Seeing that today is Cyber Monday and a big day to begin your online holiday shopping, Fern & Flora is celebrating with a double whammy - 15% off and FREE SHIPPING on any order from my Etsy boutique! The 15% off discount is one day only so don't delay! Just enter the coupon code CYBERMONDAY to recieve the discount when checking out.

Here's a peek at some of the fresh items in my shop:

Thanksgiving Wishes

Happy Thanksgiving friends! I hope you were able to feast with family and friends while remembering all the good gifts and blessings in your life. I have so much for which to be grateful:

The biggies:

 My kind, loving, fun and supportive best friend/husband

 My mom, dad and sisters who mean the world to me

My dear, sweet friends

My faith and my church

 My darling and brilliant nephews

My health

My home

The not-so-biggies:

coffee

estates sales

brunch

blogs

thrift stores

cheese

Etsy

pandora.com

boots

babies

to name a few...

xo

Thanksgiving Blues

I'm going to be annoying and have a little pity party. Just got word that my mom is sick and my parents won't be coming out for Thanksgiving. Noooooooo! Well, my Dad might come with my aunt and uncle tomorrow - which would be lovely but I want them BOTH to come - and stay in the guest room that's all ready for them. And have coffee and the orange cranberry bread (that's baking in the oven as I type) with us for breakfast tomorrow. Plus, my mom is so good at conversation and drawing people out. She always begins the "what are you thankful for this year" sharing time that generally ends up with most of the family in tears.  Maybe she'll miraculously feel better and make the trip after all and then I'll really have something for which I can be most grateful. In the mean time, I will proceed with the pumpkin pie baking...

(photo)

Will you be with your loved one this Thanksgiving? If so, enjoy every moment.

Table Tops to Inspire

Good Monday to you. How was your weekend? Are you thinking about Thanksgiving like me?

My family is coming out to celebrate with us this year which is a change considering that we always go home. Even my dear 85 year old grandma will be making the journey, so it's extra special.

So I'm thinking about table decor and how to make the occasion festive. Who better to visit in times like these than Martha. Martha knows. Here are a few images that offer inspiration for a lovely Thanksgiving gathering...

Little white pumpkins with taper candles sitting inside. Oh Martha. You're so good.

I'm liking the bounteous and rustic look of the masses of grapes.

This is so simple yet brilliant. Maybe I will buy a bag of oranges and go to town...

Little glass votives wrapped in dried corn husks seems rather appropriate since the family will all be coming from the land of the Cornhuskers. I'm liking this too... I wonder where I can find some dried corn husks??

How about you? What's your plan for the Thanksgiving table?

Etsy Love: Holli

I think I've already blogged about the incredibly sweet and soft illustrations of Holli in the past but I CAN'T HELP MYSELF. Her work is utterly tender and reminds me very much of the charming drawings that my late uncle used to create....

This piece is my absolute favorite. Could anything be more tender?

When I have a baby and need some baby room decor you better believe I'll be heading to Holli's shop.

(p.s. what lovely Christmas gifts these would make as well, don't you think??)

Let's Get Our Holly Jolly On!

It's time for my second annual holiday boutique! Hoorah!

If you're in the area, please leave a comment for directions to my little abode and I will be happy to accommodate! There will be all sorts of goodies to nibble and goodies to buy and I heartily wish that all of you dear blog friends from every part of the continent and beyond could come too.

Hope to see you!!

Wardrobe Refresh

I can think of no better way to refresh one's wardrobe for zero dollars than a clothing swap. I met a friend for lunch last week and she told me she had just moved and had a bag of clothing and accessories in the trunk of her car if I wanted them. This particular friend looks cute all the time (all my friends do really. What can I can say? I have adorable friends). so I knew I'd take anything she gave me. The next day we met up briefly for a true swap since she had more to get rid of and I had plenty as well. Here's what I got:

- a couple of jackets

- a lovely winter coat

- a beautiful holiday dress

- tank tops

- two sassy clutches

- a cute vest

- jewelry

- knit tops

and more!

I got the better end of the deal since she just moved and had a lot more than I did, but hopefully she's pleased with her new pieces as well. Give it a go! It doesn't have to be formal. Just clean out your closest, pop your stuff in a bag and meet in the parking lot of a Starbucks to swap. Easy as pie!

(p.s. this obviously works the best if you and your friend are similar sizes. if not - do an accessory swap!)

Images to Inspire: Asian Games Opening Ceremony

Normally, I like to feature a post on interior design but after seeing these images

(thanks to the husband) over Saturday morning breakfast of the 2010 Asian Games, I felt compelled to share them. Let me tell ya, when it comes to synchronizing thousands of people in order to carry out a  massive scale performance, no body does it better than the Chinese.

Isn't this spectacular? The "waves" are ingenious.

They've got the edge on fire works too, I dare say.

Gobs of glowing green jelly fish crowd together to make one giant jelly fish. Who comes up with this stuff?

Get a load of the costumes. Can you believe the detail?

(all photos getty images)

Etsy Love: All Things Small

Are these ornaments not the most adorable thing you've ever seen? I love their faces and bell shaped bodies. You can find these in the Etsy shop All Things Small along with other whimsical pieces likes these:

I love the soft quality and lovely colors...

Aren't these guys great?

Check out the other whimsical offerings of All Things Small right here.

Fern & Flora Wednesday: The Splendid Handbag

Here's the latest thing coming out of the Fern & Flora studio - embellished vintage handbags and clutches.

This bag (sitting on the first snow of the season!) is an estate sale find and such a lovely shape. To be honest, I love a giant purse - a Mary Poppins bag where just about anything can fit. However, there's something sleek and polished about a small bag or a clutch, where one only fits a credit card, lipstick, breath mints and a cell phone.

I will be adding more bags like these to my Etsy shop, so be sure and take a peek!

Tasty Tuesday: Curried Potatoes & Squash

Today I bring you yet another (are you sick of these yet??) recipe from Cooking Light. This one, curried potato and squash soup, calls for fresh garlic as well as ginger, cumin and ground red pepper which gives it lots of flavor and a decent dose of heat too. The coconut milk adds a nice rich taste and I tossed in a little cooked chicken breast to make it a bit more filling. Yes, indeed. This so far, is one of my favorites from the magazine.

I am loving cooking with butternut squash this fall. It cooks so quickly and has such a delicious flavor....

Does anyone know the proper way to remove the outer layer of the butternut squash that doesn't take  a tremendous amount of elbow grease and about a bazillion hours? Do tell!

Aren't the colors pretty? The recipe says to serve the soup with naan which would be just right.

I didn't have any though, so toast had to suffice.

Find the recipe for this perfect November dish right here.

Spaces to Inspire: A Photographer's Cheerful Abode

The home of photographer Kimberly Cornelison of Minneapolis is only 750 square feet, but it looks open and bright with a coordinating palette throughout the house that doesn't feel overly matchy.

I'm loving that fun back splash tile and that nifty cork board.

(photos via Design Sponge)

It's Friday! Enjoy the Fall Colors!

Every morning in the last few weeks, when I come into the kitchen to get breakfast going, I am struck by the gorgeous autumn colors I see from my south-facing window. There is one giant and beautiful tree that is still full and golden. It's a late shedder (I don't think that's a real word). I think it's really getting going now - so much so that the ground around it is covered in a carpet of leaves....

Enjoy the stunning colors this weekend!

Etsy Love: Vital Industrires

Three cheers for Vital Industries, a local Denver shop who had a fantastic article under the Quitting Your Day Job series on the Etsy homepage! This guy/girl duo creates nifty screen printed items with their signature bicycle design among others. Vital was one of the vendors at the handmade market that I did last weekend so I was very excited to see them a few days later on the Etsy homepage.

Here's more of their cool products:

love this sweet onesie!

Fern & Flora Wednesday

Here's a glimpse of the pieces coming from the Fern & Flora studio these days. It's all about the persimmon, gold, chocolate and gray right now.

And I can't stop making pieces that are embellished with my great grandma Clara's sewing button collection. They have such a lovely quality. Good thing I have a plethora of her buttons because if I only had a few, my sentimental disposition would win over and I wouldn't use any of them. However, according to my mom and aunts, Grandma C was mighty crafty and had wicked good sewing skills. I hope she would approve of my usage of her little gems.