Around Our Yard.

I can't get enough.

Our yard and my garden and my baby walking all around, I just can't get enough of it. These days are getting good and better all the time. Moving this past month was kind of rough and I was getting overwhelmed with all of it, but finally, things have calmed down and most of our stuff is in place. We still have a zillion little projects, but I'm not going to let that stop me from living in the moment. Because these moments are so sweet. Everett is walking and talking (you know, baby babbling, but still) and he makes himself crack up laughing and he tries to eat my mums and he's wearing JEANS. I could just die. His little diaper butt all squished into these Levis is just the end of the earth fun for me. This recent weather is pretty much bliss and I've been the cheesy mom as I followed my boys around the yard with the camera. We've had so much fun breathing in the autumn weather and relieving our skin of summer's humidity. And thankfully, Everett still thinks my camera is a novelty so he's letting me over photograph him. At least for now.

Ahhh I am reminded each and every day how blessed I am for these two twinner souls.

Do you have any grand plans for the fall? Tell me all the things you plan to do now that Autumn has hinted that it's just around the bend. Any festivals, activities, or getaways? I am always up for suggestions.

Happy Friday, friends! Hope your weekend is the grandest!

P.S. - Enjoy these internet papers so your desktop can dress up, the Anthropologie fall housewares line is making me swoon, and I'm actually starting to read this book this weekend. Ridiculously excited, since I haven't read anything but parenting books and the bible in a year. Oh sheesh, I hope I remember how to vocationally enjoy a book.

Hi, Old Friend.

On Saturday night, I was cleaning up the kitchen from dinner and Stevie was taking out the trash. He came back in the house and said, "Kris, you've got to stop what you're doing and come out here."

I stepped outside and whoa. I couldn't see it, but I could feel it.

It wasn't just cool - it was cold. It was like I had stepped out onto the dark porch and back into a memory, one from our days in Boston. Walking home from dinner in Harvard Square and snuggling up together as we meandered those cobblestone streets in the black night, the chilly autumn weather dancing all around our feet. It was wonderful and sweet and, wow, life was really simple then. Even though it didn't feel like it at the time.

And as I stood, barefooted on my own back porch, far far away from the life I journeyed in Cambridge, Massachusetts a few years ago, I was swept away in that memorable moment. Such a simple one. All because of the strikingly cold weather. It's enticing, what our senses can do for us.

Stevie and I just stood out there for a long while, feeling the hard porch wood beneath our feet and the cold enveloping all around. We took deep breaths and silently welcomed this old friend, this autumn chill signaling it's time. Time for knotty sweaters and mulled cider and crackling bonfires and apple picking and fan girl phenomena about all things pumpkin. Time for walks through Williams Sonoma with to-go cups from Starbucks to sniff out all the harvest recipes. Time for watching football in the living room, eating chili and knitting blankets that I will never finish. Time for Sunday afternoon naps and woolly socks and sloshing around in the crispy leaves. It's time for all of it. It's beginning again. Welcome, old friend. Have your way.

Happening Lately.

Happy Friday!
I hope you have ridiculously fun weekend plans in store. That involves partying with the homies and whatnot. We are hoping to wrap up a whole host of house projects (and probably start on a few more, let's be honest :) And we are having friends over to our mess of a new home, but thankfully, they're dear friends, and won't care that we are still living in a construction/moving box zone.

This photo of my sweet Everett just gets me. That boy in that teeny little backpack. This week we FINALLY had a turning point with Everett's little pre-pre-school program. It's been three tough weeks of him wailing every time I drop him off (and me wailing as I leave the building - twice now a few of the teachers have actually walked out with me while I cried. Such a girl) But my boy is such a strong one that he has actually cried continuously and not calmed down. Which has led to multiple meetings and phone calls with his teachers and the administration about the best way to "immerse" him without traumatizing him. He's the only one who has the level of endurance that is actually surprising the school admin team. Waaaaaayyy to go. Now I realize that a lot of people may have opinions about the best way that I *should* be doing this. Some have told me to just "rip off the band aid" and let him cry because he will eventually overcome his frustrations. Some of have told me that he is just way too young and I need to be nurturing/spending all my time with him. No matter which camp you fall in, I completely respect your opinion. I also have had to go with my gut on this one. Which, I'll admit, has been shaky at times. I was so glad to receive a text message from his teacher on Thursday, telling me that he was having a great day, finally, NOT CRYING, and playing outside with the other toddlers! I literally wept (all over again) and praised the Lord for it. Because honestly, I could use a few hours to myself. To like, shower. And unpack. And drink the coffee. And I know that spending time around other kids is so good for him! I'm praying that this turning point sticks.

I bought myself a slew of succulents.

And hung them on my back porch.

And named them Jasmine.

Because what else do you name succulents, really?

Hiiiiiiiii Jasmine. You're pretty.

The past few nights I've been sitting on my back porch after Everett goes to bed, sipping red wine, watching the sun melt into the steamy Georgia sky, and dreaming about what to grow in my yard. Thankfully, the folks who lived here before us took really gorgeous care of the outdoor space, and there is a ton of potential to grow flowers and plants and vegetables. I am so excited to get started on my own green thumb. It's something I've dreamed about with Stevie since before we were married, and now! I am so excited to grow a salad! A SALAD.

I mentioned here before that we were gifted a ton of beautiful old furniture when we moved into our new home. I've taken some time in my garage this week, when Everett is napping or with one of his grandmothers, and I've been sanding, painting and distressing some of the furniture and making it the way I like. It's a ton of sweaty, hard work, but it's also really creative and therapeutic. I used to love refinishing and upcycling furniture, but then I spent years moving around a bunch and getting rid of everything. IKEA became our go-to furniture spot and I didn't keep anything I had spent time upcycling. But now I have a whole house-full of furniture that is just crying out for a little love (and paint!) I am so happy to have the opportunity to create something unique for my own home. I will have a few of the projects up on the blog over the next few weeks, if you're into that kind of thing :)

These flowers are a housewarming gift from my sis-in-law. Aren't they just incredible and fluffy and sweet? I just love hydrangeas? These are amongst the zillions of kinds I want to plant in my back yard. Stevie doesn't want me to get overwhelmed with planting too much, but I am so excited that I could practically float away! Monday is the day, folks. I will be a sweaty, frenzied, soil-fertilizer-seedling mess, but I will be a HAPPY mess. I'm planning to focus on some autumn vegetables and a few big perennial bushes in some places that need a little lift. Any gardening tips for the first-timer? Like, the uber first timer? I don't even own gloves.

Happy weekend to you, friends!

* Everett's backpack is from Pottery Barn and can be found here.

Picking Muscadines & Scuppernongs.

Picking Muscadines & Scuppernongs.

Whew! Happy weekend to you! Our weekend got off to a bit of a shaky start. My little Everett decided to turn his behavioral clock back to when he was a brand-newborn and wake up all through the night again. This has gone on for four nights in a row. Just when I thought we were on to something! Any new mom tips on getting your child to sleep through the night are much appreciated. ALSO. I wanted to thank all of you who gave such encouraging feedback on last weeks post about Mompetition. I'm astounded at how many people have felt that icky mom-judgement. But all your kind words, camaraderie and commitment to stop judging and start loving on other mamas really touched me. Let's keep it up! Every time we have a "judgy" thought about another mama, let's squash it and take the time to encourage her instead. It's the best thing we can do for each other!

Finally Fall!

I wanted to share a suuuuuper fun Autumn activity! A few weeks ago Stevie and I packed up Everett (in his fancy new Baby Gap outfit from his surrogate Auntie Natalie) and ventured out to pick muscadines in our hometown. I can't believe I never did this growing up! It was so invigorating to finally feel a chill in the air and actually experience the weather of the season. This fall has been so different in our household... instead of apple picking and devouring cider donuts (like we did when we lived in Boston), we've been up to our ears in swaddles, lullabies and trying to get our baby to take a bottle. It's just a whole new experience this fall. So while the hayrides and corn maizes will have to wait 'til next year, I couldn't bear going the whole season without heading out to a farm and picking something. Since all the good apple farms are at least two hours away (and that drive seems a bit daunting with our spirited newborn), the next best thing was picking muscadines. Literally right around the corner from our house.

I had a vague idea of what a muscadine was (a super thick-skinned spicy grape), but scuppernongs escaped me. What a funny word to say. Try to say it out loud. SCUPPERNONG. See? It's just so silly. Anyway, I was uber disappointed to learn that scuppernongs are just a lighter-colored muscadine. There is practically no difference. The disappointment lasted for about 6 seconds, because then I tasted one. They are so delicious. PEOPLE. Why do apples get all the good press in the fall? MUSCADINES ARE THE NEW APPLE. Now go pick you some.

// Ready to dive //

// Fruits of our labor //

// My little bear slept the whole time! //

// Those bubbles. Those paws. //

// Gotcha, mom!! //

// We stumbled across this beauty in the parking lot. My favorite part might be the photo bomber, though :) //

Happy Fall Weekend to You!

I hope you have the happiest, most fulfilling, adventurous AND restful weekend. Is it possible? Hmm I like to think so. Enjoy your Saturday!

TASTE: Pumpkin Beer Bread

Pumpkin Beer Bread. 

There's really no need for explanation here. I mean, does one need a reason to make something called Pumpkin Beer BREAD? Dear Lord Almighty, no. It's an autumn recipe necessity. It's the reason why I fall for FALL. When you have all the ingredients, you should just make this recipe over and over and over again. It's the happiest taste. And it will make you super popular with your people. I mean, my crew over here (AKA my parents and Stevie, who will eat practically anything) have nominated me queen of the pack, all due to my production of this breaded treat. And seriously, created by a mere 6 ingredients, this recipe is one of the easiest EVER. Make, enjoy, and let me know when you win popularity points, people.

Ingredients:

- 3 cups flour

- 1/2 cup brown sugar

- 1 tbsp. baking powder

- 1 tsp. salt

- 1 12-oz. bottle beer (I gleefully used Blue Moon Harvest Pumpkin Ale)

- 3 tbsp. melted butter

Method:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9x5 loaf pan.

2. Combine flour, sugar, baking powder and salt.

3. Dump the bottle of beer into the dry ingredients. Combine until mixed into dough. Scoop dough into the loaf pan.

4. Melt butter in a small bowl (I did this in the microwave). Drizzle butter over top of the dough.

5. Bake at 350 degrees for 50 minutes. Once you remove from the oven, let cool for about 5 minutes before you slice.

Savor the Autumnal Flavor.

It's as easy as that! This is a great treat to pair with an autumn soup, like my Turkey Kale Chili, my Spicy Sausage Chili, or my extra-special seasonal favorite, Grandma Soup. I hope you enjoy!