foodie friday!!! earl's.

my love + i were out on a jaunt to pick up a craigslist find [pics to come!]. we drove by an inviting diner-ish looking place with a large sign that read 'earl's'.
"i think i've heard good things about earl's", i told j.
so it was decided.
after we picked up our treasure we were coming back to earl's for dinner. very.good.decision. it was cold & snowy outside. it was nice & warm inside. we picked a table right next to a heater and that made me happy. it smelled like home cookin' & apple pie. that also made me happy. grilled cheese w/ homemade chips for me, broasted chicken with mashed potatoes & gravy for j. fresh cut curly fries with gravy for an appetizer. and a piece of chocolate peanut butter pie to share for dessert.
yummm.
worth going just for the pie.
and the fruit jar drinkers.

we'll be back earl.

home?

[warning mand: looking at these pics will remind you
how much you need want this house.]
we recently went to look at a house with m+m.

it was built in 1814. known as the 'covington route' in the underground railroad.

see that room in the back? that's the meat house.
the hooks to hang the meat are still there.

it's a rather large house. but we have big plans.

see the bell?! to call in the farmhands...or children.

marble sinks in bedrooms with original faucets.
[who's the hottie in the mirror?]

i love all the windows.

and the amazing wallpaper.

the backyard wasn't too shabby.

totally spectacular barns. big. huge. barns.

and lots of them.

intercom system. we tried it. it works.

trout stream bordering the property.

conspiring together to figure out how we can pull this off. aka convince the hubs. the trout stream was very helpful.

halloween @ sweethome

c+h wanted to party on halloween. so i called mooms & told here we were coming out to the country to party. we invited m+m. mooms invited aj+uncle stu. and the party was on.
these trickers showed up as well:

i always thought it was tricker treat [trick or treat.] so much to learn...
our party centered around food [imagine that.]

the menu:
curried butternut squash & pear soup
red cabbage soup
apple pear cheddar salad
pumpkin biscuits
cajun cornbread
homemade cheddar chive bread
cocktail meatballs [i had to throw in some meat somewhere to satisfy the hubs!]
caramel toffee apple dip
sparkling grape juice [or it wouldn't be a party!]
fresh homemade donuts

and it was a very happy halloween!

from time to time...

i always...
... want ice cream. like everyday. like right now.
... snooze the alarm. i'm a snoozer.
... drink coffee. every morning.
... feel loved.

i sometimes...
... feel completely insecure.
... think too practically. i'm a practical gal.
... ignore calls. sometimes i just don't want to talk on the phone.
... sleep til 10am. it's a beautiful thing.

i never...
... eat meat. it's gross.
... wake up early + happy. no. can. do.
... read as much as i should. i'm quite good at reading blogs...
... want to watch scary movies.

but here's a scary movie for you! happy halloweeny!

happy weekend!
my weekend plans include: apples & caramel dip & butternut squash soup. mmm.

today in pictures.

found this on etsy. probably should've put it on my wishlist.
but i just couldn't wait.


speaking of etsy, if i had $145 to buy a sweater, it would be this one:
[rae is that too many commas? i like commas. it's like a nice dramatic pause.]


looking forward to watching this tomorrow at 8pm:


soaking up these days full of color.

.. fall fashion: at the show ..

i love when i am able to travel with j to shows. not only are the guys [and gal!] ridiculously talented, i love to spend a night with my favorite guy. he's an amazing guitar player and i'm so proud of him.



there's an unwritten law. if i'm in a wide open space, i must do cartwheels. i went for a walk with my favorite guy today. the sky was blue. there were sundogs. leaves were falling and everything was glowing. life is so amazing.

photos by: jalexander.

.. fall fashion: hoodie ..

beret: made by my mooms...she's the best!
hoodie: urban outfitters
shirt: h+m, thrifted [tanks mand!]
jeans: h+m
shoes: toms

today was grey. and cold. and rainy. we see a lot of days like that this time of year. but i love where i live. i like that i can look out the window at work and see corn fields. i like that the air is brisk and fresh. i like the smell of freshly fallen leaves.

photos by: jalexander. i have a date with him tonight. woot woot!

today on the radio i heard this: the most important thing is not what you're doing for God, the most important thing is that God is the most important thing. i've been thinking about that a lot. sometimes i get so caught up in the 'doing' i forget about just 'being'. i don't want to live my life constantly trying to meet expectations i set for myself. i simply want to be the woman God created me to be.
happy weekend! don't just do... be.