things i love...




{we heart it}

craig . the fall . tea . olive (our dog baby) . walking . my sis, han . happy hour . sushi . my parents . our cottage . fires in the fireplace . good wine (and cheap wine if it tastes good) . jazz . philadelphia . old movies . boots . dessert . the house i grew up in . weekends away . pashminas, scarves and the like . france (ahh...paris...) . singing . traditions . cooking . the today show . earrings . yoga . writing . late nights with friends . laughing . champagne (and champagne cocktails...) . modern family . long showers . papa john's . playing the piano . wedding planning . dinners out . tomato & mayo sandwiches . anthropoligie . the rittenhouse . reading . dreaming about our future . homemade red sauce . house tours . tinto . entertaining . dresses . my engagement ring . muhlenberg . the holidays . talking about ideas . date nights . colby & duncan . the area where we live . lazy days .  my morning cereal . rainy days . blogging . the travel channel . vacations (both the planning & actual vacationing) . wine tastings . homemade bread . time at home . where i am right now in my life

rittenhouse square

xix restaurant

tinto

what do you love?

say cheese! (a.k.a. meeting the wedding photographers)



m2 photography

so, last night craig and i met with our (potential) wedding photographer.  the meeting went really well.  they're a husband and wife team, and they always shoot together.  their style is awesome.  candid.  real.  spontaneous.  artful.  beautiful.

m2 photography

craig and i both agree that we want photographers who capture the feel of the day.  not just the faces.  we're all about "action" shots of crazy dancing, hearty laughter and happy tears.  and m2 photography fits that to a "t".

like what you see?  you should totally check out their website & blog.  they're awesome. 

p.s. as you can see, none of the picts are of craig & me (yet).  but i'll be sure to post our engagement session (planned for this november) and wedding picts (you'll have to wait til november 2011 for those) for all to see...you'll just have to be patient...


m2 photography

squash, acorn squash

when i was grocery shopping today, i came across a squash display.  spaghetti squash.  butternut squash.  and (ahha) acorn squash.  feeling inspired and "fallish", i was compelled to purchase said acorn squash and craft a hearty meal.  stuffed acorn squash it is...

stuffed acorn squash for two

1 acorn squash
1/2 large vidalia onion, chopped
1/2 frozen veggies (i chose corn & peas)
1/4 lb ground turkey
1/4 cup red sauce
5 tsp maple syrup (i know that's a weird way to write it, but you'll see why...)
cinnamon
curry
salt
garlic, chopped

preheat oven to 375.  cut acorn squash in 1/2 and scrap out seeds and place cut-side up on a baking sheet.  i didn't have butter (oh well) so i did a light spray of butter-flavored cooking spray, a drizzle of syrup (1 tsp on each half) and a sprinkle of sea salt and ground cinnamon.  on to the filling...


i then sauteed the onion, (defrosted) veggies, garlic (about 1 tsp) and turkey.  i seasoned the filling with another dash of cinnamon & curry, salt, 1 tsp of maple syrup and the red sauce.  then i spooned the mixture equally into the two halves (there was a little extra for craig to enjoy) and covered both halves loosely with foil.

then i put the squash in a preheated 375 degree oven and baked it for 30-40 minutes, until flesh was getting tender (check w/ knife).  i then removed the foil, drizzled each 1/2 with 1 more teaspoon of syrup and baked for another 15-20 minutes.

the best way to enjoy it is to scoop out all the tender squash and mix/mash/mush with the fillings and dispose of the skin.  (it may not be pretty, but it tastes so good!)
yummy!

girls' night in (can be even better than girls' night out)

pink drinks

this past weekend, craig had friday night plans with his guys, so i had our cottage all to myself.  i invited my sis, han, over for a much needed girls' night.  we enjoyed some cocktails, made a delicious dinner, watched a movie and indulged in countless reality shows : )  needless to say, we had a blast!  (even olive enjoyed the evening.)

we all need some girl time once in a while.  here are my suggestions for making the most of your super girly night : )

brownies...yum!

recipe for girls' night

prep work: get into your sweats or pjs

1 awesome sister (or best friend....or both)

2 delicious cocktails (if they're pink, even better)
1 yummy homemade pizza : )
1 chick flick (we watched the "back up plan" with jlo.  we agreed it was better than we anticipated!)
3-5 girly reality shows ("say yes to the dress", "four weddings", etc.)
1 batch of gooey brownies

perfection!  enjoy girl time.

how to win friends & influence people

so, you want to know the real secret to winning friends and influencing people?  bake them bread.  it never fails.  my sister shared this no-knead (super easy/simple/fun) bread recipe with me a while back, and i've been enjoying homemade, fresh baked, yummy bread ever since.  so, i guess the cat's out of the bag.  i can no longer impress people with my super refined bread baking skills once they read how easy it is...

bread

...oh well.  it's totally worth it.  fresh baked bread for all!  (this recipe makes 3-4 boules)

3 cups warm water
1 tbsp yeast
1/2 tbsp salt
6 1/2 cups flour

1 large bowl - that will allow dough to quadruple in size
clean dish cloth

mix yeast and warm water.  add salt.  add flour.  mix with wooden spoon until dough forms a loose ball.  do not to over mix.

leave dough in bowl and cover bowl with dish cloth.  allow to rise for 2 hours.  dough will quadruple in size.

at this point, you have a few options.  you can cover dough/bowl with plastic wrap and foil and refrigerate for a few hours (or up to 3 days).  i recommend this because cool dough is much easier to handle.  or you can freeze the dough (for months).  or you can bake it immediately.  or a combo of all three : )


mmm...bread....

whichever you choose, when baking time comes, flour your hands and work surface and take approx. 1/4 of the dough and form a boule (i.e. round loaf) by folding dough in on itself, so the top is round and smooth and all "loose ends" are tucked under loaf.  (tip: when forming boules, it's a great time experiment with add-ins.  my personal faves are homemade pesto, asiago cheese or pecans, cinnamon and sugar.  to evenly distribute, flatten dough and spread fillings over it.  then fold dough in half.  then in half again.  then form boule by tucking ends under loaf to form a sphere. yum!)

place the boule on an oiled baking sheet (sprinkled with cornmeal if you have it) and allow to rise, uncovered, for 40-60 minutes.  before baking, cut a slash or two across top of dough to allow air to escape during baking.

then bake at 425 degrees for 25-30 minutes.  when dough is golden brown and smells intoxicating, it's done.

(if you're going to use the dough to make a pizza crust - which i highly recommend - you can skip the "second rise".  just take dough out of fridge, flatten it, top with sauce, cheese, veggies, amazingness, etc. and bake at 425 for 25 minutes or so and enjoy : )

pizza pizza

once people sample your fresh baked bread, you'll have more friends (and allies) than you'll know what to do with.

happy weekend!  hope it includes the smell of homemade bread - mine will : )

on the hunt (for the perfect dress)

http://www.davidsbridal.com/

so yesterday i began my search for the perfect dress.  correction: wedding dress.  up until now, wedding planning has consisted of internet browsing, visits to theknot.com and a lot of talking about guest list, vendors and the like.  so, trying on dresses - actual wedding dresses, dresses that i could wear as i walk down the aisle to become a "mrs." - took this wedding planning business to a whole new level.  one that's much more real, immanent (...even though we're not getting hitched until next fall...) and exciting.  it's really happening.  i'm getting married.  i'm going to a bride and then say "i do" and then become somebody's wife.  weird.  wonderful.

http://www.davidsbridal.com/

so...back to the dresses.  i had to pick up my bridesmaid dress for my friend, cate's, wedding.  i figured, why not take advantage of the situation (invite my mom and sister along) and begin the hunt.  i tried on 10 or so dresses.  and i really liked one.  and there was one runner up.  i'm completely not ready to seal the deal and say "it's the one", but i certainly felt like a bride in the dress that i am (currently) most smitten with.  i definitely need more time, more visits to more bridal shops and more try-ons before i commit.  ironically (with regard to the commitment thing) craig - my husband-to-be - is my first boyfriend.  i felt no need to shop around once i met him : ) 

i've included picts of some of the dresses i tried on, but if you want to see my personal fave (of the moment) you'll have to click here.  that way (if this one becomes the one), craig will still be surprised.  



http://www.davidsbridal.com/

i liked oleg cassini's line at david's bridal the best.  i think most of these images are from his line.  but...i must say...i may hold out for when they get vera wang's line next year : )





http://www.davidsbridal.com/



ode to my cereal

i love my cereal.  i have it every morning for breakfast (and have done so for the past 4 years or so).  what can i say...i'm a creature of habit.  and (since i've had the luxury of time) i'm pretty sure i've mastered the art of the perfect bowl.  my morning cereal ritual is not to be taken lightly.  it's much more than corn flakes in a bowl with milk.  it's an experience that takes finesse.

my perfect bowl : )

-1 cup cereal (preferably a mix of 2-3 of your favorite kinds.  i <3 kashi golean crunch and multi-grain cheerios)

-1 tbsp raisins (or craisins if you're feeling spunky)

-1 tbsp chopped pecans

-1/4 banana, sliced (save the remainder for tomorrow's bowl or a snack or shake later : )

-a few strawberries, sliced

-sprinkle of cinnamon

-dash of nutmeg

-3/4 to 1 cup soy milk (or skim milk)

mix all dry ingredients with fruit & spices in bowl.  top with milk.  it's the perfect mix of slightly sweet & satisfyingly crunchy.  enjoy! 

my favorite bowl is my buddha bowl.  craig gave it to me for my birthday last year, and it's sculpted to fit in the palm of your hand.  if you're a serial cereal consumer, you need one.  believe me.  oh cereal, you're deliciously divine!

what's your go-to breakfast?  (for a free kashi treat click here.)