couture cakes

Well I was exploring some websites today and I couldn't resist the urge to post about this amazing cake artist from DC.  She draws inspiration from dance and haute couture fashion and her creations are breathtaking.

Check out Magpie's Cake and you will be enchanted!

Here are my favorites...the orange one is so pretty.

These make me want to go home and bake something delicious for sure.

Cheers,

Leah

All images from Magpie's Cakes.

i've got the blues...

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I'm loving all things blue today.

Enjoy your weekend!  We're heading down to Louisville this weekend to stay with my little cousins while their parents take a weekend get away.

See you next week!

Love,

Leah

fall & flannel

Fall is my absolute favorite time of year!  I don't mean to shortchange these last days of summer, but I'm so excited for fall to arrive.  It's only in the 70s today, and I'm getting the itch.  Fall is special to me...I started getting interested in Landon at a fall party one year, we got engaged in the fall, married in the fall, and fall colors are my favorite!

How about some nice flannel shirts...Landon has worn flannel ever since he was little, definitely well before flannel became popular.

Fall is the perfect time to linger in bed a few minutes longer, or catch up on all those books you've been wanting to read while snuggled up in a warm blanket.

And of course you have to have apple cider and doughnuts!  Now for all you city folks, I'm not talking about cider from the store...I'm talking about true, un-pasturized, sweet, tangy, fresh cider.  We were raised on this stuff every fall.  There's another good thing about living in the midwest.

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And how about a nice tour of some fall-ish destination?  Here's Bonneyville Mill in Bristol, Indiana where I grew up.  It's right in the heart of Amish country and so very lovely in the fall.  You can pick up some freshly milled whole grain flour too.  Doesn't it look so pretty with the fall colors?

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So here's to fall coming soon please!  I guess I should tell you to make the most of the these last days of summer, but I'm not...I'm telling you to start planning what you'll do in the fall so you can make the most of this short, but gorgeous season. :)  But that's just me.

Love,
Leah

Al Dente!

I found a great new recipe today and we tried it out for supper...

Whole Wheat Penne with Roasted Tomatoes and Red Onion

It was truly delish, and so easy to make.

Here's what you'll need:

Bring a large pot of water to boil and cook pasta until it's al dente!  Meanwhile, rinse and halve the cherry tomatoes.

Toss tomatoes and 1/2 of the onion cut up with 2 tsp. olive oil and salt and pepper to taste.  Spread on a cookie sheet, then broil in the oven for about 5 minutes, or until the tomatoes just start to turn brown.

Once the pasta is done cooking, reserve 1/2 cup of the cooking water, then drain the pasta and set aside.  Pull the roasted tomatoes and onions out of the oven.

Toss the pasta with 2tsp. olive oil and 1 clove minced garlic or garlic powder.  Add in the tomatoes and onions, and 1T. oregano.  Add about 1/4 cup cooking water to moisten...more if needed.

Serve in a bowl with a spoonful of ricotta cheese.  This dish tastes so good and is healthy and quick to make.

More editing experiments...ahh, I could do this for hours.  It's worse than Facebook!  Speaking of, I am taking a Facebook break for a couple days and I love it!  It has given me a lot more time to do other things and I sort of like being out of the loop for awhile.  I think everyone should take a break from Facebook once in awhile.

Landon and I took an hour long walk tonight after supper...so nice.  I love this weather we're having and getting to spend some quality time with my boy.

Have a great evening!

Love,
Leah

thankful

Tonight I am thankful for...

*an amazing husband who never complains (and I mean never)
*a wonderful family
*scoop chips and leftover dip
*seeing some great friends again
*my bed
*getting to sleep with my lover in our bed
*a relaxing weekend
*knowing God has the best intention towards me and I can give things over to Him
*hearing Daniel play the accordion
*being a part of a church that genuinely cares about people
*my fan so I can go to sleep with my lover in our bed

Goodnight to you all....sweet dreams and have a great start of your week tomorrow.

Love,
Leah

mixinmatch

I got a new haircut last week...haven't had bangs since I was in college.  Playing with Photoshop and creating new actions I can use later.  I'm pretty sure I could edit photos for hours and hours.

We're heading to a friend's house tonight to play Settlers and I made our Aunt Deb's amazing bean taco dip.  You can make it too...it's so easy.

Here are the ingredients you'll need:

Soften 1 bar cream cheese.

Meanwhile, spread 1 can refried beans in a 9x9 pan.

Mix softened cream cheese and about 12 oz. of sour cream...mix well my friends.

Add 1/2 packet of taco seasoning. Again, mix well.

Spread cream mixture over beans.

Sprinkle 1 8oz. bag of taco cheese on top.

Voila!  A yummy layered dip.  Scoops are the best chips for this by the way.

And we're excited to eat it tonight!

Four new songs I'm loving right now...

Ragged Wood by Fleet Foxes
Home by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros
Generator ^ First Floor by Freelance Whales
Be So Happy by Heartless Bastards

Have a splendid Saturday night....what are your plans for tonight??

Love,

Leah

Photolicious

Engagement picture taken almost 2 years ago by Raymond Siler! Wow.

We are SO excited!  For awhile, we weren't sure what to do for our first anniversary gifts for each other.  Then, we finally decided a themed photo shoot would be awesome.  So we found an amazing photographer couple from Goshen, Indiana who fit our ideas perfectly!

Check out Imagination Photography by John and Janie Yoder.  Their work is amazing and they've even been featured on Green Wedding Shoes (which was my inspiration source for our own wedding.)

I talked with Janie tonight to go over some thoughts for our shoot, and it was like she was reading my mind!  They seem like such an awesome couple with a passion for photography, and we were totally on the same page for ideas and inspiration.

It's crazy how fast these past couple of years have gone.  It seems like just yesterday that we got engaged, and now we're a month and a half away from being married a whole year!
Ahhhh...I can't wait to spend our anniversary day with my wonderful husband getting our special day documented photo-style.  Can it please be October 3rd now??

Love,

Leah