white as snow

(tights: h&m, everything else is vintage)

   As I am thinking of how my days have been lately, my mind draws a blank. Of course there are the granted studying for finals and working, but besides that everything has slowed down at a calming pace. I've been enjoying the first snow of the year, choosing to walk everywhere in it instead of driving, and cuddling up with my cats while pouring myself into literature and mathematics studies. 

    Feeling in the mood for something French, my boyfriend and I headed to Chez Elle to try their crepes and coffee for a late breakfast. Although I have had better crepes throughout the years, it's nice to see a local place with such a great concept. We ended up walking to Urban Mining to do some Christmas shopping, which is always an interesting place to browse through (top floor only through, downstairs is more crafty/recycled) I later found Fantasias, which I had been trying to find for quite awhile, and drink some black tea in the comfort of my warm apartment. 

i heard the bells

(tights: h&m, bunny broach & hair pins: c/o sugar cookie shoppe, everything else is either thrifted or vintage) 

  It is finally really starting to feel like the Christmas season. Thanksgiving was so late this year, it seems as though Christmas should be farther away than it actually is. I finished decorating my apartment, wrapped up my Christmas gifts (of which I've almost completed), and started gathering ideas for Christmas cards... then things started feeling a little more in the spirit. I also love seeing all the local antique stores, such as the River Market Antiques, that have their Christmas displays in their windows. I always wish I had a retail job this time of year to be able to help create one. 

  I believe it also helped that the first snow of the year was yesterday, snow always makes it feel more like the holiday season. It has also been in the single digits in the mornings here for the past few days. Decembrrr has officially begun. 

wreath of warmth

(See the rest of the collection on my website.) 

  To be honest, I have never really photographed many couples. I mean, it's a here and there "oh, let me snap a couple of photographs because we are hanging out" kind of scenario when I usually take pictures of couples. I posted on my Instagram a little bit ago for a couple that I could practice photographing, and the response was huge. I was lucky that my friend Susan and her boyfriend Chase emailed me within minutes of posting about it, because it was great photographing them right around their two year anniversary and to give there parents something for Christmas. 

  Photographing couples isn't easy, but I learned a lot from this shoot. I learned how to give direction, even though it may be awkward, and to plan way in advance (we wanted to bring a blanket for the shoot, then got stuck with one of my old white comforter, which sometimes made them look like a marshmallow together... but there were still ones I loved that came out of it). I can't wait to photograph more couples in the future, there is always so much left to be learned. 

proust questionnaire

    Lately I have been asking myself about this space. I have been asking myself about social media. I have been asking myself "Does anyone here know the real me here?". No one can sincerely get to know or even begin the develop a connect of someone by simply connecting with them online, but lately I have been noticing this at large. I strive to be authentic with everything I create/say, but I feel like I must be failing at doing so. Possibly it's time for a change? Possibly I just need to expand more on who I actually am? Possibly. 

   With realizing this fact, I decided to do a Proust Questionnaire to expand on a little more of who I actually am, instead of what ever kind of person I seemed to create. I carried these two pieces of paper all around with me today, trying to come up with the answers I felt most reflected my true feelings. 

    Now, I challenge everyone to do the same. Take a step out from your normal conversations or writing, write something real about yourself. About your personal thoughts. Take this on the bus, to class, to work, to dinner. Sometimes writing and answering questions about yourself gives you the ability to move forward and think clearly, and even to reinvent. Plus, I love answering questions.. half of which are with a sense of humor. 

made at home: pumpkin coconut blondies

Pumpkin Coconut Blondies 

1 can of organic pure pumpkin puree
2 sticks of unsalted butter
1 egg
1/2 cup of white chocolate chips
1/2 cups of dark chocolate chips
1 cup of coconut 
2 cups of flour
1 1/4 cup of brown sugar
1 teaspoon of sea salt 
1 teaspoon of cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon of allspice
1/2 teaspoon of ginger 
*Spiced glaze

  Combine all dry ingredients (besides sugar) into a medium sized bowl and set aside. Whisk the softened butter, sugar, and egg. Add in the pumpkin puree to the wet mixture, then stir in the dry ingredients. Fold in the coconut and chocolate chips. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and bake for 30-35 minutes in a greased square pan. Let cool, then enjoy. 

  *Optional glaze using powered sugar and milk, adding cinnamon and cloves. Drizzle over the cut blondies to serve. 

  So, Thanksgiving and (almost) Fall has come and gone, but that doesn't mean pumpkin treats need to be placed on the back-burner. I mean, Fall is still here for a little bit, right?! This is the dessert I made to take to a family Thanksgiving this year, which was a huge hit. I tried to create an idea that wasn't the typical pumpkin spice sweet, so adding coconut made all the difference. I would suggest eating a small slice at a time, they are very sweet.... but I didn't follow that rule.