Weekend in Five Pics

My favorite coffee table book at the moment | Saturday dessert - the BEST cranberry lemon bar from this bakery | Saturday lunch - a California turkey sandwich with a spicy chipotle mayo | Banana Republic pea coat (similar here) | Frozen cranberries for tomorrow's cocktail

Hi there my friends... I hope you had a wonderful weekend. My weekend was extremely low-key. On Saturday morning, I took my slow time getting out of bed, had a little practice time with my camera, had a great lunch and dessert, then hit a few stores to do some Christmas shopping. Why is it that I always find the BEST stuff, on sale, when I am shopping for other people??? Does that happen to you? That yellow coat had my name on it and was the only one left on the sale rack, plus I had a coupon. So buying it just felt like the right thing to do... :)

On Sunday, I slept in again and made my 2012 holiday cocktail that I can't wait to share with you tomorrow! 

Dreamy + Links

Are you thinking what I'm thinking? Are you thinking how wonderful it would be if you could spend a few uninterrupted hours in that tub surrounded by that gorgeous tile, candles, a stack of magazines, a glass bottle of champagne and a fully checked off to-do list? Dreamy I tell ya. 

Speaking of a to-do list, conquering everything on my TeuxDeax list is my weekend goal. I love the TeuxDeax app by the way... Finishing up my Christmas shopping, figuring out a design for my home office (it looks a hot mess right now) and rest are at the top of the list. "Rest" is actually an item on the list. How sad is that?? Despite the busyness of the season, I hope you find time for a little rest, too.

Here are a few of my favorite links from the week. Have a great weekend!

Cutest pups ever...

I just KNEW her wedding video would be good...

This photo shoot starring one of my favorite bloggers and her husband is just, well, it's just beautiful...

Oh my goodness gracious...

LOVE this cozy little NYC apartment...

I feel like I have seen 100 gift guides over the last few weeks, but there are a few I keep going back to, like this one and this one. I loved the products + the guides were just really pretty to look at. 

Thanks for your sweet comments on my holiday home tour and my cranberry cheddar popovers! 

Image via (no longer available)

The Holidays Around My House

Just a few glimpses of the holiday decor around my house... I kept things simple this year, just like I did last year. Simple just always makes me happy. My goal this year was to use what I had and not buy anything new. Of course I didn't meet my goal, but the items I did purchase were inexpensive, so that doesn't count right??

A few weeks ago, I went to TJMaxx to find a lamp for my guest bedroom. I walked out of the store with the garland for the wine glass chandelier and the sequin skirt for the tree. No lamp... TJMaxx gets me almost every time! Does it get you, too? Remember those Crate & Barrel candle holders that I mentioned here?? Well they were on sale on Black Friday, so I purchased them that day under the premise I could use them all year round. I love em', so I'm sure that will be the case! I found the quilted stockings and the little monogram pins at Target and I loved the way they turned out. They are for my mom (M), dad (D) and my brother Chad (C). I am going to fill them with little sentimental gifts instead of wrapping individual gifts for them this year. I hope they like them! 

I'll try to be better at meeting my goal next year...

I'm sharing my decor with Michelle at Ten June today! She is hosting a Holiday Mantle Party today, so be sure to check it out!

 

 

Cranberry Cheddar Popovers

When I was in my early 20's (roughly ten years ago), I did what some girls in their early 20's do. I moved to a new city - all for a boy. A boy that I cared about so much that it made total sense to move nearly 900 miles away from my family to a city where I knew absolutely nobody but him. To be honest, I didn't even know myself. But who does in their early 20's?? Well, to make a very long story short, it didn't work out. But I always try to find the good in the bad. If it weren't for the move, I would have missed out on some huge learning experiences, some of the greatest friends I have ever had, and well, probably the popover... :)

Looking Backward & Forward...

Row 1: View from Charleston, SC beach house, Ravenel Bridge in Charleston

Row 2: Me doing what I love most- photographing food, Scoring the Anthropolgie Peplum Ponte tank for $22!

Row 3: Charleston Farmers Market, Grass fed beef burger & sweet potato tots from here

Row 4: Fresh berries on my Christmas mantle, A walk with my dad

Over the weekend, I looked back through some photos I took during November. I was reminded that life can be really, really good, the small moments always make me the happiest and that I have a ton to be thankful for. I can't wait to see what's in store for this month. This weekend, I attended my first Christmas party, celebrated my alma mater's win of the SEC Championship football game (I swear I almost had a heart attack), and watched The Holiday for the 1000th time on my couch, wrapped in a cozy blanket while fully surrounded by Christmas lights and decor. I'd say this month is off to a great start. 

Photos via Instagram (@savorhome)

The Theme + Links

Just a few images from Lonny that make me relax just by looking at them. Do they make you feel the same way? "Relax" is definitely my theme for this weekend. This week my world has been full of annoying car repairs, a few migraines, uncomfortable decision making, lists of pros and cons and lots of uncertainty. No fun. But this week I talked to my college roommate for the first time in forever, I had one of the best burgers of my life from here and got to bed before 10 every night this week - small moments that were even more special because of the crazy moments. So I just have to be thankful for the good and the bad ya know?

I hope you enjoy your weekend and a few of these links! I will see ya next week!

Your mouth might water if you click here...

And here...

The cutest little festive kitchen...

How to make your Mac run a little faster. Have any of you tried this?

She stood in line at the pharmacy, then landed her dream job. Such an inspiring story...

The ultimate gift guide...

So true...

The Perfect Gifts: For Her

01. Serena & Lily Glass Carafe $48 02. H2O Milk Plus Shower Gel $16 03. Tory Burch Buckler Bracelet  $250 04. Tory Burch Desk Calendar $55 05. Clare Vivier Black Flat Clutch $331 06. Foolproof by Ina Garten $20 07.West Elm Baggu Bag $45 08. Serena & Lily Alicia Adams Solid Alpaca Throw $295 09. Kate Spade "Lets Do Lunch" Business Card Holder $20 10. Apple 16G Ipod Nano $149 11. J.Crew Anchor Key Chain $25 12. Fossil Vintage Revival Camera Case $60 

Just a few gifts that I think would be perfect for the ladies in your life. My goal for this guide was to have a variety of the lovely things- things for the office, bath, kitchen, photographer, foodie, techy, fashionista, etc. I love them all, but I would have to say my favorites are the clutch and the cookbook. And I may or may not have purchased the cookbook last weekend... :) Most cookbooks by Food Network cooks have recipes that I have previously seen them make on their show. This particular cookbook has a lot of new and simple recipes that I haven't seen Ina make before, which I love.

See anything you or someone you know would like to have?

You're Invited: The Boys' Club

In my quest to find a holiday cocktail to make and photograph, I ran across this new "club" called The Boys' Club. It's an amazing, no AMAZING group of people who have a passion for great story telling and fabulous cocktails. If you love a good story, creative and pretty drinks, and beautiful photography, you must check out their new blog. Here are some examples of their work. You might also get some fantastic ideas for your holiday cocktail...

From (top to bottom): Bomb Collins, The Apple Orchard Martini, The White Ginger, El Diablo, Singapore Sling

If those don't make you thirsty, then I don't know what will! These lovely people also just opened a new online store, The Sweet Tooth, where they sell vintage food props, kitchen apparel and prints of up and coming food photographers. Be sure to check it out!