I am in love with I Love Macarons! I bought this today at Anthro. The instructions seem straightforward and are accompanied by wonderful images. Best of all its in English! Will post pics as I make the recipes!

With holiday install wrapping up at work, and Thanksgiving rapidly approaching I remembered (with a twinge of panic) that I needed to fill the advent calendar for Nad and Mi before December 1st. This is the third Christmas I've filled the calendar for the girls, and I have no doubts that it will continue to be loved and used until it finally gives out. It is after all only made of paper...

I love the idea of a tiny surprise waiting to be discovered. As a child, the anticipation of what I might find tomorrow felt like a best kept secret. As an adult I love to share in this excitement with Nad and Mi. We try to fill the calendar with something other than plastic junk with Hannah Montana's face plastered all over it, so I picked out some alternative treasures:

*glow in the dark wind animals because Nad is all about animal facts

*chocolate coins, a holiday must and favorite of both girls

*wooden necklaces to string, because above all we girls love to craft

* puffy butterfly stickers

* rubber stamps (of animals)

Our advent calendar was made of large matchboxes cut in half then compiled into a "chest of drawers" like format. Its was pretty simply and fun to embellish. Here are some other great advent calendar ideas I love...

from purlbee

from country living magazine

from canadian family

Really, the sky is the limit. This would also be a great thing to do with a partner too. I made a birthday advent calendar for Aaron and he still looks at it 3 years later.

The Holidays are here at Anthropologie! Paper poofs tumble overhead. Look closely; I am in there somewhere!

Funnels holding handmade ornaments sprout from wood stumps...


Little lamps on birch trees light the way for customers...

snowballs for sale, 5 cents each...

How many inches of snow this year? And a Holiday window to come....

Taller Than Trees Film

I love this film by Joseph Mann...

Taller Than Trees from Joseph Mann on Vimeo.

Bright Star

Anthro just launched a new website called the anthropologist where they have film clips, images and writings from people who inspire...

Listed is the new film from Jane Campion, Bright Star. I found this clip on imdb that is just beautiful and magical.

Girls Night

Friday night it was just me and the girls. We played games, made paper poofs in orange and black for Halloween, and most successful was our chocolate project. The girls picked out chocolate molds and we spent nearly an hour mixing colored chocolate, painting the molds and creating white chocolate frogs and teddy bears in all colors.


Its a quick and easy project to do with kids as little as two or three. Even better, both girls were occupied and happy and I was able to sit with them and make white chocolate leaves while they carefully chose their palette and discussed when the candies would be ready to eat. We had so much fun!

Autumn

Autumn is without a doubt my favorite time of year. The shadows are long, the light is golden and there is a sharp crispness to the air. Ruby reds, oranges and golden hues arrive in the color of fallen leaves and winter produce. For me, October clearly marks the transition into cool mornings and cozy evenings at home. Halloween in my favorite holiday and I look forward to preparing a Thanksgiving meal. 

This weekend we went to the John Muir house in Martinez and the grounds were full unkempt orchards of forgotten fruit trees. Old withering grape vines crept low to the ground, their gnarled trunks winding toward one another.  Quince and apple trees laden with fruit drooped with the burden of their bounty. Toward the back of the property, old fig trees reached upward, their limbs bejeweled with ripe figs. I liberated a few of these fall fruits and brought them home to paint. Coupled with rose hips from a roadside bush, I thought these two plants were the epitome of what Autumn has to share. 

I look forward to spending this time of year cooking with my family, making jam and photographing my favorite season.