I knew Molly Wizenberg and I were kindred spirits when I tallied up 5 separate and distinct recipes for banana bread on her fabulous cooking blog, Orangette. My personal favorite is the chocolate chip banana bread, which actually isn’t on the blog, but in her book, A Homemade Life. I read this book over the summer, not knowing that a “cookbook” would evermore be present in my list of favorite books of all time. Seriously, it’s that good.
I thought they were gorgeous the first time I saw them, but now that fall is actually here and the weather is cool enough to make burgundy velvet jackets and leopard tights a reality, I think they’re even more inspiring.
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First, we baked ginger molasses cookies, which were a big hit with my personal little taste tester, even before the baking!
Then, we snuggled in to watch the Shirley Temple version of Heidi. As a mountain girl myself, Heidi was always one of my alltime favorite stories when I was a little girl, although I don't believe I ever saw this film in its entirety until today. Needless to say, it was beautiful, nostalgic, and so touching. There may have been some tears, but what a sweet, uplifting story!
Also this weekend was my ten year high school reunion. To tell you the truth, I never envisioned myself attending my reunion. For me, high school was neither so glorious that the rest of my days would pale in comparison, nor so horrific that I would spend the rest of my days atoning for it. I’ve stayed in touch with a few close friends, and beyond that, the marvel that is Facebook has allowed me a peek into the goings on of many of my classmates. So, I didn't really think I would bother going, but, in the end, my curiosity got the better of me, and I just had to go check it out. I was pleasantly surprised to find that really, no one had changed as drastically as I had expected. Some folks had filled out a bit I suppose and there were some new tattoos, but for the most part, everyone was at least recognizable. It’s funny, because although it seemed like everyone made the effort to mingle and chat with folks across the board, in the end, the old high school cliques resurfaced and it wasn’t long before the bar the event was held in faintly resembled the high school cafeteria. I guess ten years isn’t that long after all.
My old crew! We were all in the same Kindergarten class!
1. That bicycle
All signs point to fall: dried leaves fluttering down from the trees, a teensy nip in the evening breeze, goldenrods blooming (six weeks till frost!), and of course, that familiar hankering to pick up a Jane Austen novel. I guess it's partly a holdover from the back to school mentality that us college English majors can never quite get rid of, or maybe it's the fact that fall and winter encourage the return to a focus on home and domesticity. Either way, last fall it was Northanger Abbey, and I'm thinking this fall it will probably be Emma. 
My latest visual obsession: Elle Moss Photography. I'm completely captivated by her dreamy, whimsical images. The colors and textures are rich, yet subtle and simultaneously give off both a vintage and completely modern feel.
I've also been pouring through the archives of both her blogs, Elle Moss Photography and Diary of a Mod Housewife. I love the fact that in addition to showcasing her own incredible work, she offers so many links to other amazing photographers and artists that inspire her. I love folks who share the love!
We inaugurated a new family tradition this weekend: the Mountain State Fair. Until Sunday, it had been ages since I'd been to a real fair, and what a shame! Kate was in heaven, a big toothy grin permanently plastered across her face as she pointed around, taking it all in and squealing with delight at the sights, sounds, and smells. And of course, not at all surprisingly, her favorite thing about the fair was the animals. I made a point to enjoy this as probably the only year she wouldn't be clamoring to ride all the rides and was quite content (and dare I say, enthralled!) watching sheep herding and goat milking demonstrations.
We went with some good friends who have an 8 month old son, and the six of us had the best time gorging ourselves on fair food, browsing exquisite handmade art and mountain crafts, and tromping through the straw lined barn areas to peek in at prize winning goats, llamas, sheep, cattle, chickens, and big floppy eared bunnies. Being a parent seems to give these simple experiences a new level of importance, as you become conscious of the fact that you are making memories and creating traditions your kids will carry with them forever.
Attending the fair puts me in the mood to dive into all things domestic and I immediatley began a mental to do list of winter projects that would make Laura Ingalls Wilder proud. I also felt a rush of sporting blood as we browsed the blue ribbon entries in the preserved food categories. I make a mean black raspberry jelly, and my homemade salsa is nothing to be ashamed of, if I do say so myself. Who knows? That blue ribbon might be mine next year! Well, one can dream.
I absolutely love this movie. It's a quirky love story, set in the gorgeous city of Barcelona.
My junior year of college, I visited Barcelona for ten days and fell head over heels in love with this mesmerizing city. A lot of my college girlfriends found themselves suffering mega crushes on Paris, but Barcelona was always more my type. This movie takes me back to that magical city, with narrow, winding streets that echo with the haunting sounds of flamenco guitar, the ostentatious beauty of Gaudi archictecture, and late wine-soaked nights spent stumbling over a language I never quite mastered, but never stopped trying.
This film is exquisite. Penelope Cruz is absolutely brilliant. I often forget what an incredible actress she is. Watching this actually put me in a mind to revisit some old Pedro Almodovar films I haven't seen in ages. I sense a Spanish revival coming our way. Uncork the rioja, whip up some tapas and join me, won't you?
I have a longstanding love affair with old pictures, so it comes as no surprise that I'm completely obsessed with this website that converts your photos to vintage styled pictures. Fair warning: this is a majorly addictive time waster. I spent an hour there this morning, before realizing my daughter was still in her pajamas and an entire shelf of books had been strewn across my office floor. But it was worth it. I love the faded, blurry quality of old pictures and this site replicates that well, especially considering it only takes a few seconds to do. The site is in Japanese, but it's pretty self-explanatory (if I was able to figure it out, believe me, your chances are good). 
I've only owned one piece of Laura Ashley clothing in my adult life. It was a gorgeous Edwardian style burgundy velvet dress, long and flowy with an empire waist, luxurious velvet covered buttons and an intricately crocheted ivory collar. I found this treasure at my local thrift store, and remember looking around furtively wondering why no one else had already scooped it up. I carried it to the counter, paid the lady my $3.00 and scurried out as quickly as I could, half fearing someone would run me down and say it had all been a mistake and that dress wasn't for sale after all.
Still, I saw a blurb about this book in this month's issue of Country Living, and was immediately intrigued. Just look at that cover shot (top photo)! So impractical (seriously who could ride a bike in that dress!), but so beautiful and romantic. And that's what Laura Ashley's vision was all about: not practicality and real life comfort and ease (how boring is that?), but rich textures, soft, romantic ruffles and pleats, and the blurred edges of an ideal bucolic existence.
The story behind the brand is the subject of Martin Wood's new book. Laura Ashley: the woman from Wales who started her fashion empire designing scarves at her kitchen table and grew into an international sensation that would touch every element of style, from her signature blouses and dresses to rustic, romantic home decor. The book features an impressive collection of photographs both from the company archives as well as the family's private collection. 
Last Christmas, I made it a point to purchase as many handmade or locally sourced gifts as possible, and I look forward to doing the same this year. One of the shops I bought several pieces from was Coco's Greenhouse. This ETSY seller is a lovely lady and a fellow North Carolinian. Her jewelry is so pretty and elegant, drawing inspiration from the natural world, with a splash of vintage sophistication thrown in for good measure. The poppies in the wind necklace pictured above is one of my favorites. And aren't these French inspired earrings just delightful?
I just finished this book, and WOW! I absolutely loved it. The book centers around the concept of the "flapper," but really is more of a comprehensive social history of modern culture. Before I read this book I mostly associated "flappers" with superficial things like glamorous 20s fashions, bobbed hair, and the Charleston. The ostentatious rebellion present in this new method of dressing and behavior didn't really resonate with me until I read this book. Although I think it's fair to say that every generation feels a tension with their parents' generation, the chasm between Victorian values and the advent of the modern world was much greater than that between, say, me and the baby boomers.
F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald
Lois Long
Coco Chanel 
Louise Brooks
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