Holiday Playlist

I thought I'd share my current Christmas playlist with y'all. A nice mix of classic holiday tunes and newer versions of some of my favorites. The perfect soundtrack to bake cookies, wrap presents, decorate the house or battle holiday traffic in.

1. Christmastime is Here by Vince Guaraldi Trio (Charlie Brown)

2. Marshmallow World by Darlene Love

3. The Christmas Song by The Raveonettes

4. Have Yourself a Merry Litte Christmas by She and Him

5. The Blizzard by Camera Obscura

6.All I Want for Christmas Is You by Mariah Carey

7. Little Drummer Boy/Silent Night/ Auld Lang Syne by Jimi Hendrix

8. Merry Christmas (I Don't Want to Fight Tonight) by The Ramones

9. Please Come Home for Christmas by Aaron Neville

10. Sleigh Ride by The Ronettes

11. I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm by Dean Martin

12. A Change at Christmas by The Flaming Lips

13. Linus and Lucy by Vince Guaraldi Trio

14. Santa Clause is Back in Town by Elvis Presley

15. Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) by Death Cab for Cutie

16. She Came Home for Christmas by Mew

Will Return...

Sorry for my lack of postings lately! Between travel, the holiday and my grandpa in the hospital, I've had my hands full. I promise to return soon!

Hope you had a lovely holiday with friends and family. Here are a few snaps I took of my family while everyone was home...

Happy Thanksgiving

Hope you are enjoying your Thanksgiving. Be thankful, eat lots, spend time with friends and family and watch some football!

Estes Family

A few weeks ago I ventured to south Denver to the Littleton Historical Museum to shoot the ADORABLE Estes family. These kids are some of the cutest, most polite, and photogenic I've had the pleasure of working with. The museum was the perfect backdrop for a family photo session and I'm glad there was still plenty of color on the trees to give it a fall feel.

Thanksgiving Side Dishes

Thanksgiving is just DAYS away and I couldn't be more excited. Time at home, seeing my brothers, and of course, the big meal. I am always a fan of the traditional sides like stuffing, green bean casserole and mashed potatoes, but here are a few un-traditional items that sound pretty amazing too. 

Maple roasted brussel sprouts with bacon and hazelnuts

Chili Glazed Sweet Potatoes

Green beans with goat cheese, onions, tomatoes and almonds

Lemon Maple Squash

"Life Starts All Over Again When it Gets Crisp in the Fall"

I love that quote from F. Scott Fitzgerald. No matter what the season change, I always feel like its a chance to start again, enjoy new things and gather a new appreciation for your surroundings. And with Thanksgiving just around the corner, and the end of autumn in sight, (we all know winter comes with Christmas season and that officially starts the Friday after Thanksgiving) I thought I'd share a few of the things I've been loving lately.

 A crazy pumpkin

 Pumpkin bars that taste homemade...

 ...but really came from here.

Some lovely leaves that haven't fallen yet.

Elbow patch blazers and oxblood nails. Ew. Did I really just say oxblood? How about burgundy?

Pumpkin Pie Smoothie

Soooo...the title may be a bit of an exaggeration. Its good, but not pumpkin pie good. Honestly what is, except, well, pumpkin pie. Y'all know how much I love using pumpkin in the fall, and I decided to use the rest of the canned pie filling I used for my pumpkin bread earlier in the week for a breakfast smoothie. Super easy and chances are you have most of this stuff in your pantry now. (Except for the chia seeds. Who, besides total hippies, eats those...)

Ingredients:
1/2 cup pumpkin pie filling
1 cup milk (I used vanilla soy)
1 scoop vanilla protein powder
sprinkle of chia seeds
and a generous helping of nutmeg, cinnamon, and ground cloves
You can also add ice cubes, but I did not since I was still too chilly from my morning run. 

(And you know me. All of these measurements are estimates. Life is too short to use measuring spoons)

Baby Shower!

 I have no idea how I've managed to go almost 27 years and not attend a baby shower, but its true. At least until this weekend. It was about time I changed that, so I was thrilled that I was able to come back to Omaha for my friend's celebration. Her sisters and mom did an amazing job with the decor, games and food (hello caprese bites! I just have to share a few of the cute ideas. 

Jennifer and Chris

This was one rad wedding, my friends. These rockstars elected to have a themed wedding that was (you guessed it) pure rock and roll. While I love me some glamourous, girly, frilly weddings, I have to admit, this was a nice change from some of my more typical Saturdays! My congrats to the adorably happy couple.

 They had an "entourage" not a wedding party. Natch.