mum's visit day two!

{photo credit: me}

my mom and i started day two off with a trip to guglhupf for some delicious coffee and morning carbs. this place is amazing. they have a restaurant where you can get great lunch and breakfast entrees, expresso beverages, and desserts, but they also have a bakery where you can get all kinds of hot and fresh baked goods.

{photo credit: me and mum}

the weather was gorgeous, so we sat outside on the patio and enjoyed our breakfast in the warm morning sun. ah, morning coffee. nothing better.

{photo credit: me}

after our tummies were fat and happy, it was off to explore. we stopped at a few cute shops along main street in carrboro including this and that gift gallery and vespertine. these places always have a lot of cute little gifts, perfect for stocking stuffers. the rest of the afternoon was spent sampling foods at southern season, thrifting, perusing the shelves at trader joes, and a wine tasting at 3cups.

{photo credit: mum}

our last stop was pumpkin shopping! we took pictures with mr. jack-o-lantern and picked out some pumpkins for my porch. such a fun two-day-date with my momma! there's nothing like time spent with her.

{photo credit: me}

after my mom left, i found she had hidden little presents around my apartment. only a mom can get away with giving a toothbrush as a gift. 

momma, thank you for coming to visit me and for all the fun we had! i love you to infinity and beyond. 

mum's visit day one!

{photo credit: me}

my mom and i got to spend two fun-filled days together last week. it was so nice to have some time with her to myself. we like a lot of the same things (coffee shops, thrift stores, used book stores, wine), so we pretty much agreed on all of our activities. there was only one major meltdown during the entire weekend when my mom found out that my roommate and i don't have cable. i poured her another glass of wine, and she was just fine. 

{photo credit: me}

she came up on friday and we meet in raleigh at one of my favorite coffee shops, the third place, for some morning fuel and banana bread. we spent a few minutes catching up and taking pictures of ourselves with our coffee cups. 

{photo credit: me}

after our java, we wandered around the five points area and stopped at a couple shops along the way including nofo @ the pig and a cute writer's studio/bookshop loft we found on the main street. the address for the bookshop is a half address. (2008 1/2 fairview road) half addresses are the cutest thing on the planet next to puppies who have not grown into their oversized paws.

{photo credit: me}

my mom has heard me talk about ornamentea incessantly, so we stopped there for some jewelry supplies and free chocolate and coffee. there was a class going on in the back and people working on projects at the craft table in the front of the store. lots of creative juices flowing. just how i like it. next up was some time for thrifting! there is a great goodwill in downtown raleigh on hargett street (go there if you are ever in raleigh), so off we went. my very patient mother waited while i tried on 35 articles of clothing and then decided only two of those worked. she even bought the two things for me. she's a saint, i tell ya. a saint. 

{photo credit: me}

by this point it was late in the afternoon and we hadn't stopped for food since our morning banana bread. we both love the hot bar/salad bar at whole foods and there is one conveniently located right on the way back to my apartment. we like to grab a to-go box and load it up with all kinds of sides and salad toppings. the more flavors, the better! 

the rest of the day/evening was spent relaxing at my apartment, happy hour by the pool, pizza and gelato in our pajamas, and a redbox on the couch. what a good, full day. stay tuned for day two where we basically do the same things as day one.

  

mum and daughter

{photo credit: me}

had a fab-u-lous time with my mum over the weekend! we drank lotsa coffee, thrifted till we dropped, car danced to lmfao, had happy hour by the pool, and had an all-around good time. fun pictures of her visit to come!

{photo credit: me and mum}

why does it have to be monday? can't we rewind and go back to friday? 

{photo credit: me and mum}

what did you kids do this weekend? did you have plans or did you do a lot of relaxing?

p.s. is my mom a natural at looking good in front of the camera or what? dang. 

some days

{photo credit: me}

some days it's a two thumbs up day because your momma is coming into town to visit you. bring on the coffee, the thrift shops, trader joe's, whole foods, and used book stores. this momma/daughter duo is hitting the town! 

coconut stackers

{photo credit: me}

oh, hello recipe post. we meet again. 

i found this recipe on one of my very favorite blogs and had most of the ingredients on hand. i love when that happens. it's my sign that i must make them and not waste a minute. 

these whip up real quick so you can make them and then focus your attention on more important things like pinterest and long, hot showers. 

{photo credit: me}

ingredients:

1 cup canned light coconut milk 

(remember that post when i sort of made fun of people who had coconut milk in their pantry? regret).

1/2 cup maple syrup

1/3 cup cocoa powder

3/4 cup almond butter (i used peanut butter)

1 tsp vanilla

2 cups shredded coconut

1 cup sliced almonds

preparation:

in a small saucepan add the coconut milk, maple syrup, cocoa powder, and almond/peanut butter. stir all the ingredients together until smooth and warmed through. remove from the heat and add the vanilla. in a medium bowl add the coconut and sliced almonds. pour the chocolate mixture over the coconut and almonds and stir to thoroughly combine. drop on a parchment lined cookie sheet and cool in the fridge until set.

{photo credit: me}

if you like coconut you'll really like these. if you like coconut, chocolate, and peanut butter you'll be crazy happy. if you don't like any of those things i feel sorry for you, and i wish you well. 

state fair

{photo credit: ames}

went to the fair on saturday and consumed approximately 17,867 calories. it was worth every bite.

{photo credit: me}

we saw this prize pumpkin that weighed 522 pounds. crazy because this is exactly how much i weighed after eating fried cinnamon rolls on a stick, a giant turkey leg, a chocolate covered frozen banana, fried pickles, red velvet funnel cake with cream cheese frosting, and fried mac and cheese. 522 pounds.

{photo credit: me}

 

{photo credit: me}

this ride always reminds me of dave matthew's under the table and dreaming album. yes?

{photo credit: nice lady}

new friends! these two had never been to a state fair before which is why we had to try every delicious and crazy food possible. it's their fault i couldn't button my jeans the next day. 

the lovely list. part eleven.

{photo credit: me}

so many lovely things. a stovetop full of candles.

{photo credit: me}

cookie butter? huh? what? why is it so good?

{photo credit: me}

good verse to commit to memory. 

{photo credit: me}

baby pumpkin family. 

{photo credit: me}

morning coffee with jesus and this pretty fake flower.

{photo credit: me}

pink suede shoes. 

what's lovely, ya'll? tell me, tell me!

german chocolate cupcakes

{photo credit: me}

i've been absent for way too long. if i give you a recipe for scrumptious german chocolate cupcakes with homemade coconut pecan frosting will you forgive me? 

i'm going to interpret your silence as a yes. 

my dad loves all kinds of cake. (i get that from him), but german chocolate is one of his faves. for his birthday a few weeks ago i decided to make him a homemade mini cake. i had enough batter leftover to make a dozen cupcakes, and man, oh, man. chocolate attack.

i got the recipe for the "best chocolate cake everrrrr" from lulu the baker. she don't lie. the cake was crazy dense and moist. i like my cake to weigh like 6 pounds straight from the pan. i don't want it to be easy to lift with one hand.

the recipe for the coconut pecan frosting was from every homemaker's idol, martha stewart. the key to this recipe is to follow every step even when she tells you to "pour [frosting] through a fine sieve into a bowl." don't question her. you pour that frosting through that sieve. in my case, i poured it through a sort of colander type thing because i don't know how to properly pronounce sieve much less own one. 

follow the steps below for the most delicious choco cake and coconut frosting you ever did see (and taste)!

{photo credit: me}

for the cake:

1 3/4 cups flour
2 cups sugar
3/4 cups cocoa powder
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup oil
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup hot, string coffee

preheat oven to 350 degrees. grease two 8" cake pans or grease cupcake pans if you wish to make them instead. combine all dry ingredients in the bowl of a stand mixer and mix until combined. in a small bowl, combine buttermilk, oil, eggs, and vanilla. pour buttermilk mixture into dry ingredients and beat until just smooth. add coffee and mix until just incorporated. divide batter, which will be incredibly runny, evenly between the pans. bake for 35-40 minutes until a toothpick stuck in the center of each cake comes out clean. remove from oven and allow to cool in the pans for 10-15 minutes before turning out onto a wire rack to cool completely. 

for the frosting:

3 large eggs
1 can (12 oz) evaporated milk
1 1/4 cups packed light brown sugar
1 1/2 sticks (12 tablespoons) unsalted butter, cut into small pieces and brought to room temperature
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 2/3 cups sweetened coconut
1 1/2 cups pecans, toasted and coarsely chopped

combine egg yolks, evaporated milk, and brown sugar in a saucepan. add butter and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until thick, about 10 minutes. pour through a fine sieve into a bowl. stir in vanilla, salt, coconut, and pecans. let cool completely. frosting can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to one day. bring to room temperature being using. 

frost your cake and eat it, too. 

{photo credit: me}

{photo credit: me}

happy belated birthday, daddio! had so much fun celebrating with you over wine and cheese and cake! i love you. 

zebra stripes

{photo credit: mom}

i really love to keep up with blogs that have somewhat of a focus on fashion. i'm not talking about girls who blog about ridiculous runway fashions that no one in their right mind would ever wear. outfits made out of bungee cords or leather headdresses or shoes that look like torture devices. (don't know what i'm talking about? watch this video). i'm talking about girls like you and me who have a budget and shop at target. those girls. those girls have inspired me to post my very first outfit post. thanks, ya'll. 

{photo credit: mom}

my first outfit might hurt your eyes. if you don't like to mix patterns then i suggest you look away. come back some other time when i have a recipe posted. something safe like banana bread.

{photo credit: mom}

who stands like this next to a fence? one foot in the air, one hand holding on for safety. only everyone me. 

{photo credit: mom}

so there you have it. one outfit post. don't get excited and lose your head. i can already tell you i won't be consistent with outfit posts for two reasons. half the time what i'm wearing is a gym tee and a baseball hat. you've seen one, you've seen them all. secondly, when i actually do look cute how hard is it to stand around and pose? really hard. if i'm looking cute it means i've got someplace to be! people to talk to! a job to do! 

 still, it was fun. my mom loves taking pictures of me. she thinks i'm cute or something. thanks, mom. you're quite a whiz with the camera once you figure out how to turn it on. 

outfit credit

shirt, necklace, skirt: f21

shoes: ross

october mix

{photo credit}

the leave are a changing. the weather is getting a little crispy. i made a dessert with pumpkin puree yesterday. i have yet to wear boots, but i can tell the time for that is not far away. not far away at all.
hello, autumn, my old friend.

* october mix *

lego house : ed sheeran 

hurry hurry : jessie baylin

as long as it takes : isbells

no love stories without pretty girls : the jane doze {free download!}

lazuli : beach house

l.i.f.e.g.o.e.s.o.n. : noah and the whale

fate : young man

sideways : citizen cope

lover of the light : mumford and sons

wildest moments : jessie ware

magpies : capybara

west coast : coconut records

threnody : goldmund

get it right, october.

cookies for dinner

{photo credit: me}

it was one of those nights following one of those days.
dinner could not be hard. 

dinner had to be very, very easy. 

{photo credit:me}

{photo credit: me}

tomorrow is looking better already.