So this past weekend has actually been suuuper lazy for me and I have been super tired... had hoped to do my daily blogging, but just never got around to it. So to keep with my schedule, I will just have to blog for the last couple days today and catch us all up! I hope everyone had a splendid & cozy weekend!

A couple of my favorite go-to foodie sites:

Heidi Swanson of 101 Cookbooks:::::: check out her recent post: + Winter Pasta +  <<< looks delicious...no?

Gourmet's Diary of a Foodie :::::: I LOVE this show! Check out episode 8 on season 1 "Just Desserts" + YUMMY! +

& Serious Eats. Love these Pumpkin Pie Pops!

Today it started snowing later in the day...I felt compelled to get an early start on my snowflake garlands...here are two that I think you may like. The mini one is sooo easy & quick to make, the other is more time consuming and little more messy since more glitter is involved.  I heard the other day from a friend that glitter is the herpes of crafts! So true! So if you're not a fan of seeing left over glitter...you should just eliminate the glitter yarn...but I do have to say it looks pretty fantastic and has an awesome vintagey feel. :)

The final products hung side by side :

Some of my notes taken in sacrament a couple weeks ago:

+ Loose yourself to serve others

+ Service can heal a troubled heart

+ Gratitude is a divine principal

+ Giving thanks helps us recognize our blessings 

 This entry is on one of my very favorite books and my best kept beauty secret [facial exercises] came from this fantastic source!   I have had a good amount of people laugh at me for doing facial exercises....I do them every time I shower and ALWAYS before going to bed & I would also do them right before I would go on 1st & 2nd dates! ahahaha lol True story! Anyways, it is never too late to start doing them! 25 reps of these exercises will leave your face feeling firm, you can totally feel it! See if you can find this book on Amazon/ebay if not for the knowledge then definitely for the darling 60's illustrations.

wow! These entries only took me a couple hours to do... : /  hope they were worth my time. Have a good night ---er morning. ;)

----------- hope everyone has a lovely weekend -----------
& i'll see you tomorrow with some must know beauty tips! 

So...here goes....

 To the readers  who also appreciate this current season, and the fashions it brings with it :  Warm and cozy clothing, shoes, and accessories that are made well and made to last!  If you haven't heard about Koos shoes & bags , it is about time you've had. And if you happen to be someone who owns a pair of Koos boots, I totally envy you. :)

 Gravity Pope is a shop you don't want to forget about.

Here are just a few items they currently have in stock [scarves & shoes excluded] that my wardrobe would gladly welcome. Also, a great selection of men's items too!

1. forte_forte pleated slim wool flannel pant - SALE $199.99  2. forte_forte wool/alpaca knit long cardigan - SALE $289.99 3. & 4. Wallace & Sewell scarves 5. Cheap Monday "five pant" jeans $70 6. & 7. TO & CO. shoes from Babooshka 8. (cacharel) long breasted coat $895.00 9. (cacharel) oversized heavy sweater $435.00 10. & 11. rENs Holland design - woven textile in museum in Holland

p.s.  wanna see some AWESOME men's shoes right now??? Click !

Last night I was watching a program on tv which was focused mainly on doing your genealogy.  One of the families that was interviewed was talking about their Scottish heritage, the clan that they were from and their plaid [tartan] that represented their family.  I learned back in school that each Scottish clan had their own plaid and thought it interesting...but it didn't really hit me till last night. Possibly because now that I have my own place, and am starting to make a home of my own...I really want something that represents me and my future "clan".  This also got me so excited to start a family of my own someday, create my own plaid or print and dress my family & pets in my design head to toe! This actually reminds me of the time my mom got some discount cut and sew knit at Joannes when I was in 5th grade. Printed all across the fabric IN PASTEL was "french fries" - she made matching leggings and a long sleeve top for my younger sister [in kindergarten at the time] and me to wear. We LOVED the new outfit and the fact that we were twins.  Then one day my ultimate crush made fun of me when I wore it to school...yep. sadly, that outfit no longer stepped outside. 

Anyways, back to Scotland and their fantastic tradition > PLAID  so with fall in session and winter just around the corner, plaid is the go to print for this season. Hope this post zaps some inspiration into your cup of cocoa! :)

Just in case you don't know where Scotland is exactly...a map:

The Highlands: 

A castle:

 Some plaids & crests

Plaid for the home. This would definitely be a neat way to showcase one's clan. Plaid walls would be awesome...but that would only work if I had 10 rooms in my home...so for those who don't have a lot of space and wouldn't want to have a plaid wall all year long, or would just want to switch things up...why not buy 4 sheets of particle board, hinge them together and cover with plaid. But don't stop there...hang some pictures on there , black silhouettes of family member would be neat.

Beautiful photographs by >>> Knit a Latte  <<<

And how fantastic is this necklace????? Seeing this gave me a fabulous idea : a crocheted baby sling!

Cozy finger puppets from  >>> Baby Animals <<<

+ gosh, there are so many talented & creative people out there....and so many of them live at Etsy! +

<>

Check out this girl's items from Osaka Japan... Her berets have me crying glitter they're so magical!

A gold apple seed ring from >>> Anne Arden Mcdonald <<<

Oh yeah! I promised some free goodies for you. Click & print! Have a good night. ;)

A couple weeks ago Jesse and I went with his best friend Adam and his family down to Lake Powell [Southern Utah] This was my first time to Lake Powell, and I can see now why it's such a major destination. I really had the time of my life. Adam's family was super chill and funny [best combo's for vacationing!] and it was me and Jesse's first real vacation together....it was fabulous. Our last day there I got soo sad and depressed about having to leave...I can't remember the last time that has happened to me on a vacation.

This was the houseboat we stayed in. Jesse, Adam and I slept on the roof....you can see our little cabana that we made from a bed sheet - it was great.

Here is picture of Jesse and I and our first fight....I think it was over whose turn it was to go collect tumble weeds for the bon fire...... Let's just say I put him in his place! ;) *kidding about the fight....one of those has yet to happen...... we're still waiting to see what it will be over. ha! lol

I love this guy! :)

Jesse is one of my favorite portrait photographers.... He captures light really... these two pics he took of me are among my very favorites.  The one on the right is of me holding WHAT I THOUGHT to be a fossil of a Cobra's tooth! I was sooooo excited and was planning on bringing it home and getting it gold plated...but then the next day I found a couple more...yeah, I don't think they are that special I guess....

Adam and his brother Mike collecting tumble weeds. Those things prick big time FYI....

+ a close up of the nasty bush is actually quite beautiful. + :)

>>> caught on the job <<<

Jesse teaching me how to wakeboard again [once upon a time I did it when I was 13 or 14...]. I got up on my first try...and looked terribly ridiculous! I could FEEL how ridiculous I looked...it made me laugh so hard. :)