Little Women: A Holiday Must-Watch

You know how some movies that you love when you're younger (like in junior high and high school) seem well - lame or silly or just not nearly as good as you remembered when you watch them again as an adult? Little Women is NOT one of those movies. I watched it last week for the first time in ages and it completely hit the spot. Now I'm quoting lines from it every day and Ike has no idea what I'm talking about. I'm humming the theme melody from the opening credits. It's just so well done. So lovely to watch and so tender...And it's perfect viewing when you want something Christimas-y. Watch it. 

(additional incentive: a young Christian Bale plays Laurie and he's so darn cute) 

What holiday movies are you loving right now?

Handmade Holiday Boutique Coming Up!

If you're in the area this weekend, please stop on by this fun and fabulous boutique at the home of our friend and artist, Tiffany Beach. There will be a great group of artists selling paper goods, accessories, jewelry, clothes, art and more. Kara and I will be sharing a table and we WILL be taking debit and credit cards, so leave the cash at home and come see us! 

Currently Nibbling On....

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Yesterday was a cold, windy, snowy day. It got me all in the baking spirit. I had a few brown bananas wilting in the  fridge and thought of this recipe I saw while meal planning a few weeks back in a fall issue of Cooking Light. 

.Moist, gooey peanut butter banana bread. Yes sir. I'm not a huge milk drinker, but this bread longs for a cold glass of milk to accompanying it down the hatch. It came together easily and called for some healthier alternatives which I liked: fat free Greek yogurt and flax seed. It has just a bit of butter and not as much sugar as normal banana bread. I used Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free baking flour (I'm back in the gluten-free saddle after fudging quite a bit this fall and feeling the resulting yuckiness) and it turned out splendidly. I think the mashed bananas and Greek yogurt help maintain moisture - especially for a gluten-free variety. Once the bread cools, top it will a creamy peanut butter glaze and its oh so tasty. Find the recipe here.

The Splendid Table

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Now that my meal planning and shopping is done, I'm turning my thoughts to table decor for Thanksgiving. 

I found a charming vintage Thanksgiving postcard at a local boutique that will somehow be copied and worked into the decor but look at all of these beautiful table settings. So many festive directions to go! 

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I've always been a lover of bittersweet and with all the milk glass I have accumulated, something like this might be a pretty combination.

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Love this more modern, earth-tone table. So chic.

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Rustic and homey tables are always cozy. The hanging pumpkins in the background are a whimsical addition.

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Aren't these apples with little candles tucked inside so beautiful? I love how the wax drips down the sides... 

Thanksgiving - Oh Yum

My parents are coming out for Thanksgiving (yippee!) to celebrate the holiday but also help us on the house... again. They worked like dogs back in August in the kitchen (which is 95% done now - pictures coming soon!)

and unfettered by exhaustion, sweat and lots of drywall dust, they return next week for more - bless them. 

Anyway, I'm excited at the prospect of hosting a Thanksgiving meal at in our new home and thus digging for tasty (and relatively healthy) looking recipes - like this gorgeous Winter Jeweled Fruit Salad which calls for lime, sea salt and honey in addition to the fruit. Mmmm. 

I made these heavenly rosemary mashed potatoes and yams last year when we had friends over for dinner and they were so tasty I think I'm gonna do them for Thanksgiving. With garlic and Parmesan cheese baked in, how could you go wrong, I mean really.

These citrus green beans sound deeeelish. The recipe calls for shallots, roasted pine nuts and orange zest. I was never a fan of the heavy green bean casserole or those awful things out of the can. This citrus-y dish is more up my ally... 

What about you? Are you hosting holiday meals this year? Any favorite recipes? Do tell!

(all images via here)

More Wedding Lovliness

Back in September, I had the privilege of providing flowers for our friends Amber and Ryan's wedding. 

It was such a lovely day and a beautiful wedding. I posted about it right here.

Just last week, Amber emailed me with a link to the website of their professional photos. They were just too gorgeous not to share... 

Amber was a vision - just stunning (and I'm still so happy I was able to score those anemones with the dark centers for her bouquet!)

This image board captured the feeling of the day so well. All the little vintage details were put together so nicely and that dessert table...sigh... 

All images via Free Bird Photography

Snow Day

It's snowing again (quite a lot) in Denver today and Ike is working from home. We had eggs and grapefruit and coffee together in our robes. It's been nice. Real nice. 

We might take our fireplace for an inaugural run tonight (if I can convince him we don't need one of those screens up first to protect from sparks and stuff - fire hazard-shmire hazard). I see an apple crisp and bacony potato soup in our future too... 

(all images via)