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.

November Book: Kook

I really wish I was giving you this book review in June since it is a good summer read, but since I finished it on the beach in Curacao, that’s close enough, right? Kook follows Denver-based travel and lifestyle writer David Heller as he embarks on a six month journey to, at the age of 45, become a real surfer. He quickly becomes addicted to the sport and the lifestyle that comes with it, and, along with his then-girlfriend, travels along the Pacific coast from San Diego to Mexico in a beat-up VW Van in search of the perfect wave.

Now, I’ve always wanted to learn how to surf, but after reading this book, it’s become my obsession. And while the book in no way glamourizes surfing (its hard, for one and lonely and accommodations along the way are less than stellar. Plus many of the best places to surf in the world are over-run with drug cartels or extremely unwelcoming locals. Both equally scary.)  Regardless, its all I could think about. But, as you’ll see in this book, being a surfer isn’t just about catching waves, having the right attitude or mastering the short board. Its more about gaining an appreciation for the ocean and how it is powerful and fragile all at the same time. A strong secondary takeaway from this book is Heller’s passion for ocean conservation.  You watch the author begin to understand this little by little throughout the course of the story, and you feel for him when he (and you) realize that it is us humans that are killing it. You’ll even follow him to Japan where he witnesses the massacre of dolphins for their meat, a story that later becomes the Academy Award winning documentary The Cove.

While it was a good and highly entertaining book, it wasn’t exactly a page-turner, (for me anyway) I did thoroughly enjoy reading it, but it just doesn’t have the suspense qualities that make me get lost in a story. Also, I feel that he could have focused more on his conservation efforts, as surfing and the enjoyment of the ocean will not last without it. Still a good read for anyone who loves the water. And maybe (oneday!) wants to learn how to surf. 

Pumpkin Banana Bread

Gah! I love pumpkin. Seriously. Its a terrible weakness of mine and one of the main reasons I love fall so much (that and sweaters and football and ski season is around the corner).  When I saw this recipe on YMC, I knew I had to try it out. Mainly so I could get rid of the old, brown, mushy bananas in my freezer that Sev just loves looking at when he goes in for a Snickers. Not.