Fall = Apples+Pumpkins+Doughnuts!

We spent a great fall weekend in Cleveland, visiting my friend Katherine and her very cute family.  On the agenda- ballet class, apple picking, pumpkin picking, apple cider doughnut eating and a football game!  

apples and falling leaves

Its suddenly brisk outside and the trees are getting ready for another Chicago winter. Have been so inspired by the pretty, swirling red and gold leaves and the bushels and bushels of apples at the farmers market that I combined the two. Old-Fashioned Apple Pie recipe from this month's Food & Wine. Really simple, just dough and apples with cinnamon and nutmeg. I used leftover crust dough and a fun cutter to make the decorative leaves.
*Photos by my personal photographer/husband.

Turkey cookies and pilgrim cupcakes

Too cute. For more adorable, edible genius check out the entire Thanksgiving dessert buffet by Amy Atlas.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!! If you have as many questions about your turkey as we do, check out the Epicurious Turkey Primer. Am finding it helpful.

Pom pom tom

So Pom Pom Tom is one of my favorite crafts ever. He does take a little bit of time and lots of yarn though, so be ready. I have some notes on Martha's instructions:

1. just buy cheap yarn, because you will use a ton.

2. you don't really need a pom pom maker, just wrap the yarn around an appropriate size piece of cardboard.

2. i have no idea how she got her PPT to stand up because the yarn and felt ended up being really heavy and my PPT were too unbalanced for their little pipe cleaner legs. maybe i should have made the feet bigger! or... i will just glue them to the tablecloth.

*top image from martha

Cosy

Anthropologie

Betsy Johnson legwarmers

Tatine candle

Its that time of year again and some of these rainy dreary days make me wish I could just take a bath and curl up with a cup of tea, a book, and a candle in a cute, comfy outfit, legwarmers included...

Gourds under glass

Image from Country Living via Ritzy Bee. Love the white paired with the glass.

Back to School

Seeing all of the kids in our neighborhood head back to school has made me nostalgic for the good old days. Remember how exciting shopping for school supplies was? Ok, maybe I am a big dork, but I loved it! The school year always had so much potential when the pens and pencils were brand new. I think I need to go out and find a cute plaid mini, schoolboy blazer, and knee high socks while I feel inspired. I would definitely pack my lunch in a snack taxi, probably this one.

*image via martha

Velvet Pumpkins

I know its only July and I am getting ahead of myself, but wouldn't Ink & Peat's velvet pumpkins be excellent place-card holders/table decor for Thanksgiving dinner? Ever since we made all of our guests Martha Stewarts's Pom-Pom Tom, its been hard to repeat the excitement over our table!

via housemartin