b*spoke » Fall Flavors

Fall Flavors #5 {Winery, Orchard, Backyard BBQ}

September 25th, 2009 | filed under | Fall Flavors 2

B_9-25-09_1 Hello my lovely readers. It is Friday, the end of a good week. A long week, but a good week. Also the end of Fall Flavors week on the blog. I’ve really enjoyed putting together these posts and spending some time reflecting on the season. For a finale of sorts, I have saved the snapshots fro the Autumn Flavors party that the hubby and I hosted on Sunday. It was, by all measures, a smashing success. The weather was perfect, and we enjoyed a wonderful time with some very dear friends. From wine tasting at Woodland Hill Winery, to apple picking at Minnetonka Orchard, to the backyard BBQ and bonfire, every aspect was delightful and delicious. I had so much fun planning the details and decor, but in the end it was only a success because of the people. I am so thankful for the friends I have, and for the relationships that I am blessed to have as a part of my life.

The pictures above document the day, and some of the small touches at the party. I used old mason jars with leftover candles from our wedding (three plus years ago!) in groupings around the patio and on the tables. Since we were eating outside, I tied the plastic silverware in the napkin with scraps of fabric from the flags. For dessert, I served the apple cake, and set up a little s’more station (using my milk glass bowl). I even used my DIY chalkboard as a menu. At the end of the night, when the food was cleaned up, and most of the people had left, a few of us lingered around the fire, enjoying the flickering candles and beauty of the night. My brother-in-law Josh snapped an “end of the party” picture… which I love because it perfectly captures the warm atmosphere of the night and those last lingering moments of enjoying it with just a few close friends.

I took most of the shots above with my camera, but a big thanks to Josh for taking several of the party pictures (the flags, the menu, the grilling, the food spread, and the “end of the night” shot).

Have a wonderful weekend everyone. Relax, unplug, spend some time with the ones you love, and do something creative… see you Monday!

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Fall Flavors #4 {Fall at Home}

September 24th, 2009 | filed under | Fall Flavors 0

B_9-24-09_1 While summer is the season of going, doing, running about and spending as much time as possible in the out of doors, fall is the season in which I enjoy simply being at home… holing up with a good book while the rain patters on the roof, baking something that makes the house smell delicious, raking the yard, and enjoying a bit more calm in my daily life. This edition of Cottage Life Snapshots is focused on the small things that make fall at home so appealing to me.

Fresh-picked apples on the dining room table. | Acorns, which constantly fall from the oaks in our yard. | Cinnamon sticks and the warm scents of autumn. | A new scarf, perfect for a crisp autumn days. | Leaves in the yard. | Leaves on the sidewalk. | Tea, chai, hot chocolate… warm beverages to sip on cold mornings.

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In My Closet {Relaxed Autumn Attire}

September 23rd, 2009 | filed under | Fall Flavors 0

B_9-23-09_1 One of my favorite aspects of this season is the comfortable, casual and relaxed style of clothing that I get to wear on a daily basis. Cozy cardigans, comfy thermals long sleeve t’s, vests, scarfs, sneakers, jeans, cargo pants, and loose fitting button-downs, usually in shades of brown, navy, green and tan, are the staples of my autumn wardrobe. In honor of Fall Flavors week, I put together not one, not two, but THREE outfits for this month’s style guide. Each outfit is quite casual, but then again, I am putting together ensembles that I would actually wear, and this is the real deal folks! Most of these items are from pretty normal stores I actually shop, and most have prices I would actually pay (with the exception of a couple things).

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Fall Flavors #2 {Easy Party Flags}

September 22nd, 2009 | filed under | Fall Flavors 1

B_9-22-09_1 Over the weekend, my hubby and I hosted an “Autumn Flavors” party with a few friends (see the invitation here). I will be back later in the week with more details, but today I want to share with you these incredibly simple, and very festive party flags that I made to help turn our backyard from blah and boring to party-central.

Step 1: Choose your fabric.
You can use prints or solids; one color or twenty; themed for a kids birthday party or a holiday shin-dig. The options are limitless! I found my four fabrics from my mom’s sewing stash and went for a combination that felt warm and rustic.

Step 2: Whip out your pinking shears.
This step is essential to your sanity. If you do not have pinking shears, go to your local fabric store and buy some right now. These little wonders make it so that you can cut out a piece of fabric, never have to hem it, and it will never come unraveled along the edges (plus it has that cute little zig zag pattern). Since I made such a long string of flags, the thought of skipping hemming was tremendously attractive. For my template, I simply took a letter size piece of paper and folded it in half, then sketched half a triangle and cut it out with my pinking shears. This served as my pattern. Truth be told, I wasn’t extremely picky or precise with my cutting. I’m a big-picture person, so I didn’t sweat the tiny details to make my flags perfect.

Step 3: Find some twine and start sewing.
I used twine to string my flags together, and it was a cheap, easy option. I suppose you could use rope or even ribbon if you’d like. Once you have all your flags cut and your twine (or string) in place, lay out the piles of your flags in a pleasing arrangement. Carefully take your first flag and fold it over the twine, then begin sewing. This is the part where I would recommend using a sewing machine (which will make the entire process soooo much faster), but for a more “charming and rustic” look (or if your sewing machine breaks five flags into the project–like mine did) consider hand sewing. It isn’t quite as bad as it sounds, and actually goes quite quickly if you use a loose, somewhat careless stitch (and watch several episode of 24 while you sew–like I did). After you sew your first flag, lay the second flag next to it, and overlap the edges just a bit, then sew through both overlapping flags. This will hold your flags in place.

Step 4: String your flags up, and let the party begin!
Be sure to leave a bit of twine on both ends so that you can hook your flags around a nail (or tie them around a tree or post). Once your party flags are complete, find the perfect place to hang them, and stand back to admire the instant dose of “celebration!” that these add to any room, porch or patio.

If you have any specific questions on this project feel free to leave a comment or shoot me an email at bethany(at)emmylu(dot)com!

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Fall Flavors #1 {Apple Cake Recipe}

September 21st, 2009 | filed under | Fall Flavors 1

Happy Autumn everyone! We have officially entered the fall season, and I am completely ready for those cool, crisp days, warm fall scents (like cinnamon and apple and pumpkin), sweaters, scarfs and falling leaves. To celebrate the beginning of this wonderful season, I am hosting “Fall Flavors” week on the blog. Each day I will be sharing autumn-themed content designed to help welcome the fall season!

B_9-21-09_1 Today I would like to share with you my favorite fall recipe. Several years ago, I found this recipe in of one of my most well-loved cookbooks, Mrs. Chard’s Almanac Cookbook, Hollyhocks & Radishes. I was browsing for something good to make with the pile of apples the hubby and I had picked at our annual trip to the orchard. “Prize-Winning Apple Cake” sounded promising. The results were amazing, and the recipe really couldn’t get any easier (really). I have since shared it with a multitude of people, and it’s become a fall tradition to bake an apple cake after our trip to the orchard. Without further ado, here is the very simple and extremely tasty……. Prize-Winning Apple Cake.