I'm baaaack!

I'm so embarrassed that it has been so long since I last blogged. I cannot believe it's been six months since my last post. The last thing I blogged about was Audrey's one year photos, and looking at them is so surreal because she has changed so significantly since November. Her hair is longer, she's walking (and running!) and she is able to communicate so many more emotions just through her looks and body language, not to mention the things she is saying!
Ok, sorry. I'm off my proud momma rant. ;) But, I AM back!

More to come soon... I promise!

audrey's one year photos.

my lovely friend, andrea just started her own business: madison ave. photography, named after her beautiful newborn baby girl. last week, she got some great shots of audrey, just in time for her first birthday! i loved the opportunity to put my baby in front on the camera and professionally document this momentous occasion. the timing was also perfect for catching audrey in her very first Halloween costume, compliments of her Nana & Papi!

{it's hard to be sure, but i think this is my favorite!}

i love fall.

{my beautifully pregnant friend, Angie, & I making caramel apples}

{Sweet, bubbly Julia & I in her kitchen making yummy fall treats}

{The Herndon Family at Estes Park on the one fall day we've had so far that ACTUALLY felt like fall}

{daddy & lil' one}

automatic bread makers=miracle workers.

{i love being able to serve my family bread with less than 20 ingredients}

House sitting for my in-laws is reaching the end for us, and we're thrilled. Jared and I are more than ready to be in our own place. However, living in their amazing house has been a tremendous blessing and definitely has its perks.
One such perk has taken me over a year to take advantage of: the automatic bread maker. This thing is amazing! I've never known the value of this well known appliance. Not only is it WONDERFUL to have fresh made bread twice a week, but it's so much more natural than buying bread at the store. You know me: more natural is always BETTER. I love knowing there is no added sugar (in most recipes), no artificial anything and only about 6 ingredients vs. 10-20 in even "good" bread!
It only takes me about 7 minutes to throw together; I leave it in the machine for three and a half hours, and viola! It's done!

{50% Honey Whole Wheat: slice it up and send your loved ones off with a fresh sandwich for lunch.}

my new favorite way to serve up veggies.

not just for kiddos, either--for myself too!

from the williams-sonoma cooking for baby cookbook, i've been making audrey & i veggie fritters. it's a great way to sneak in the wonderful benefits of sweet potatoes and zucchini with a tasty exterior.

here's the recipe:
ingredients:
sweet potato: 1 medium
zucchini: 1 large
corn flour, 1 cupbaking powder, 1/2 tsp
salt & pepper
egg, 1, beaten
canola oil, 2 tbsp
whole milk, 1/4 cup
sour cream or mustard for dipping

makes 15 two-inch fritters

• preheat oven to 250. 
• peel & grate sweet potato. grate zucchini, leaving skin on. you will have about a cup of each. wrap grated vegetables in a clean kitchen towel or paper towels and gently squeeze to extract as much liquid as possible. transfer to a medium mixing bowl. 
• in a small bowl, combine corn flour and baking powder. season with salt & pepper. add flour mixture and egg to vegetables and stir just until combined.
• in a large frying pan over medium heat, heat oil. scoop out large tablespoons of batter, form into balls with wet hands, and flatten into cakes. in batches, cook cakes, turning once, until brown and crisp 2-3 minutes total. using a slated spoon, and letting the oil drip back into the pan, transfer to a paper towels to drain, then to a baking sheet in a low oven to keep warm. repeat with remaining batter. 
• serve with a small bowl or sour cream or mustard for dipping. 

side note: i think there was a typo in the recipe. i couldn't find where to use the milk, so i omitted it from the recipe. they come out great without it, but if you try it with the milk, let me know! i'd love to hear how it goes! 

let me know if you try it & what you think!

finally, the story.

a few weeks ago, i was down in denver for a good friend's bridal shower. {side note: this shower was fabulous! i loved it. it was decorated beautifully, they had a candy display that the guests were allowed to take home, & the games were actually refreshing! great job, jess & co!} the shower was held at a townhouse, whose next door neighbor happened to be getting rid of this beautiful piece of furniture (see post below).

as many of you know, we are currently not living in our own home. my husband parent's are living in thailand, and we are living in their home, saving up some money and taking care of things while they are gone. that said, all of our stuff (save our bedroom furniture, books and clothes) is in storage. i had absolutely no business even thinking about bringing this thing home! for starters, we have NO WHERE to put it. there is literally not a foot of space to spare in our bedroom, nor is there any room left in the storage pod. i knew when i thought about it if i got the nerve up to bring it home, jared was going to throw a fit. i would never live it down.

still, i was in love.

i said to myself as i walked into the bridal shower that if the piece was still there when i left, i would take it as a sign from God Himself that i could take it home.

and guess what? that's right: it was still there.

i have a amazing friends. three other girls that were there, including the bride (all of whom know my husband and our situation, by the way.) not only reassured me that it would be ok, but helped me load the thing into my SUV.

for the hour drive home, i debated how i would tell jared, or whether i should just drop it off at goodwill on my way. nervously, i decided to stand my ground and take the thing home. and, i came up with a back up plan. if jared REALLY didn't like it after i cleaned it up and refinished the legs, we could sell it.

but, he's OK with it! i realize this totally makes him look like a controlling, mean guy, but he isn't at all! my hesitation was all in my head; my issues, not his!

so, it's been sanded, primered and vacuumed. all i have left to do is paint the legs and steam the cushion. i love the navy fabric! now, just to pick a paint color!!

my new project.

 don't have time to share the story behind it right this minute, but wanted to show you all pictures of the wingback loveseat i brought home! story coming soon!