When I woke up the morning after Christmas and remembered that there had been a chance of snow, I looked out the window and was completely surprised with how much snow was on the ground. I think I gasped. It’s been sooo long since there has been enough snow to build a snowman, so after breakfast we made two. There is plenty of snow in Asheville, so parents and Leah are used to it, but we were still all giddy about snowflakes in our hair and the piles that covered all the cars. It was a winter wonderland! Someday maybe Jeff and I will get to live somewhere where it snows a lot in the winter. I think I could get used to it.

Sometimes I have a hard time doing fun things by myself. I’ll wait until Jeff is off work or friends are in town to do the things I want to do. But yesterday I really needed to get some Christmas shopping done (we didn’t have any presents under the tree until last night) and I knew I wanted to get most of the gifts from downtown, so I went by myself while Jeff was at work. It may seem silly, but I get nervous about driving/parking downtown alone with all the one way streets and parking meters. Blah, I would just rather not deal with it.* Can’t wait to live downtown so I can just walk everywhere!

Well I’m happy to say that I am no longer afraid of going downtown by myself, or eating lunch by myself, or doing things I’ve been wanting to do by myself. Yesterday was wonderful.

This sun-drenched tree made me oh so happy. I love the way it’s reaching over the sidewalk.

Pretty floral plate in the Paris Market.

I love this wall of notes in the Paris Market. They have pencils and papers and push pins so you can write things that you are thankful for and post them for everyone to see. My favorites are the ones that have stick figure illustrations on them and one that says UNICORNS.

And the most wonderful thing about yesterday is that I finally tried Papillote - a tiny little french restaurant I’ve been curious about for forever, but have been waiting to try it until the perfect time. (Why!? Why do I do that?) I can safely say that I have a favorite restaurant.

French cuisine + adorable atmosphere + sweet employees = perfection.

*I realize I would probably just fall over and die in a big city with this attitude. But I grew up in a town that had a Main Street.

This weekend was so good, I don’t think I could make it better if I tried. We (Jeff) finally fixed up our old bikes (!!!!!!!) which means we finally got to ride. We hung out at Starbucks a lot, because they had a buy-one-get-one-free holiday drink deal this weekend. Caramel apple spice has officially changed my life. I might have gotten it two days in a row and kept the cups for a while after so I could smell them. Go ahead and judge me.

We got mexican food and saw Harry Potter on Friday and I thought it was excellent! No one told me I looked like Hermione, but that is ok. Then we had a spontaneous Saturday night pizza date at Vinnie Van Go Go’s. It felt like we went on so many dates this weekend. I loved it!! I made stew again on Sunday and I can’t even remember how many bowls we ate.

*Also, I am getting too excited about stores playing Christmas music, holiday lights popping up along the streets, and Christmas commercials on tv. EEEEeeeeeee!

This weekend was just what I needed. My mom, dad, and little sister Leah came to visit from NC for the weekend. Since this was their first visit to Savannah, there were so many things I wanted to show them but you kind of get the idea of Savannah just by walking around in it. We ended up doing a lot of our favorite things (eating new york style pizza, baking, going to the beach, eating ice cream, thrifting, making lattes, knitting, watching movies, and general lounging around). I miss them already and can’t wait until they visit again!

Everything about this apple crisp reminds me of being at home with my family during the holidays and helping my mom make desserts to give to our friends. I really love staying in with no obligations- but hate feeling lazy- so baking has become one of my favorite things to do on days spent at home. There is also something really satisfying about making up a recipe or altering one and having it turn out perfectly. I didn’t make this one up, but I didn’t follow it exactly either, and it is pretty close to perfect.

I used this recipe as a guide.

This is what it looked like outside our apartment last night right before it got dark. Everything was tinted red; it actually looked like autumn. Perfect for fooling myself into thinking it’s cold enough for homemade pumpkin spice lattes and an adaption of this stew (both were scrumptious).

Every time I go kayaking I think I fall in love with Savannah a little bit more. It was gorgeous Wednesday morning when some friends and I went at sunrise. It was so peaceful, pretty, and challenging (my arms are mush). It was also a little chilly outside which made it feel really nice.

Even though I’m not a morning person, I love getting up and getting something done really early. Having the cool air around me and watching the sun creep up was so refreshing. And there’s something great about feeling far away from everyone else with only pelicans around you.

I have been wanting to go inside the Paris Market & Brocante ever since I first saw it downtown, but every time we passed it, it was either closed or we were on our way somewhere. So Jeff and I finally went in on Saturday after lunch. It is a cute little shop with all things paris including books, jewelry, candles, curtains and lamps, old fashioned candy, and, of course, cafe chairs!

They had perfect fall decorations and the entire front of the store smelled amazing due to their mini pumpkin potpourri that was for sale.

And the part I took home with me: a FLEUR de caramel. Creamy caramel with fleur de sel throughout, which opened up a whole new world of candy loving for me. So I plan to make these sometime in the future (because I trust Ina with all things Paris), and these (because I trust Olivia with all things brownie).

On Saturday I got to see what Savannah looks like from a hotel rooftop. I think it is just as gorgeous from up high as it is from the sidewalks, but I prefer to be under the trees.

There is nothing I would rather do on a rainy day than stay indoors and bake something sweet.

I love days like yesterday. I didn’t  have to go outside at all except to step onto the balcony to watch the rain or get some fresh air. Not that I needed fresh air since the apartment smelled like cinnamon and butter for most of the afternoon. I might be in love with a scent.

Jeff and I have both been craving something sweet lately, so I made this cinnamon chocolate chip sour cream cake. I think butter, sugar, vanilla, and egg could be a dessert on their own. But the details in this cake are what make it special. If you are like me, and don’t have a mixer (yet), I promise you can still make this even though you have to mix the egg whites until they are fluffy. I did it with a whisk and my kayaking muscles.

…because unfortunately in Savannah the first week of fall doesn’t necessarily mean picnic weather.

Ever since the other day when I made Olivia’s delicious pomme frites with homemade mayo I have been wanting to run to the fridge and scoop some of the mayo up with anything and everything. But instead I decided to make more pomme frites.* That was a good decision.

*Confession: zucchini, other roasted vegetables, and even my fingers have been dipped into the mayo since this picnic.

I am looking forward to fall so much more this year than most because it has been so HOT this summer. Pumpkin pie for breakfast? Yes, please. Socks and sweaters? That too. I love all the smells, sights, and feelings that fall always brings. I can’t wait to see what Savannah looks like in autumn. Let’s just hope it doesn’t take too long for the temperatures to drop.

Here are some things I love about AUTUMN.

Walking outside without sweating

Wearing jackets

(and scarves, tights, socks, boots, pants, and anything with sleeves…)

Picnics in the park

Reading on the balcony

Baking too much (possible?)

Pumpkin patches!

Cooking meals in the crock pot

Blankets

My acorn earrings

Hot soup

LEAVES

Hikes in the mountains

and all the festivals that are going to be going on in Savannah!

Today is my little sister Leah’s 16th birthday!

Isn’t she the cutest?

This little girl is one of my best friends. She has wonderful style, she’s a good sister, and she is hilarious. She is always ready to have a living room movie sleepover. She loves life and is great at making new friends. She makes silly faces and likes getting dressed up. She let me play barbies with her when I was way too old to. She always makes me laugh, and is the silliest, most fun teenager I know. I can’t believe she is driving now!? I wish we were still living under the same roof! I love you, Leah!

I’m not gonna lie and say I don’t have a latte every morning. But this morning I get to have a latte, and a Jeff, and vanilla honey bread.* This weekend is going to be excellent.

*I will share the recipe this week. It’s from an Ina Garten cookbook. I love her.

I was looking for a recipe for cocoa brownies the other day since I didn’t have any chocolate chips and found this recipe from Alton Brown. SO MUCH COCOA GOODNESS. They are rich and dense and moist and everything that I dream about a brownie being. I tried cutting them into tiny bits so that I could eat a whole one without feeling too bad about it. But I think they’re worth every calorie consumed.

My parents have been married for 24 years today!

I am very proud of them and love them so so much.

Happy Anniversary, parents!

Today is my big sister’s 22nd birthday!

I can’t believe it. It seems like we should still be riding our bikes and climbing trees and jumping on the trampoline together.

I wish we lived closer so we could have fun all the time.

She is a cool cat (evidence in first photo).

She is never afraid to be silly.

She used to let me hug her at lunchtime when I was in big scary K5 and she was in 1st.

She climbed trees with me and made pretend almost everyday.

She shared her clothes with me (sometimes).

She taught me lots of things.

Happy Birthday Lauren!!!

Jeff and I had a long weekend of walking downtown, making delicious dinners and breakfasts, car dancing (a reoccurring event…not just from the weekend), discovering tybee island, people watching, feasting on avocado burgers, a star wars marathon, and being very lazy around the apartment. It was probably my favorite weekend of being a married lady so far.
Pictures from Saturday on Tybee Island.