Guest Post!

This is so fun!  I was catching up with my dear friend, LeAnne earlier today, and she asked if I would do a guest post over on her blog!  Go check it out - there's even a treat involved for you if you do! :)

From Grandmother's kitchen . . .

No doubt we all have certain foods we grew up eating from our mom's or grandmother's kitchen that never quite tastes the same when we ourselves try to re-create it.

For me, one of my favorite things that my Grandmother made was Banana Bread.  Now, there are a million versions out there, but I'm telling you - this is THE best!  I still miss eating it out of her kitchen, but it's still super yummy!

I know with fall in the air most of us are craving pumpkin-something, but I promise you won't regret adding this recipe to your fall baking.  It makes the perfect breakfast treat on a crisp, fall morning!

Grandmother's Banana Bread

1/2 cup butter

1 1/4 cup sugar

2 eggs

1/3 cup buttermilk

1 tsp vanilla

1 1/2 cup flour

1 tsp baking powder

3/4 tsp baking soda

2 large bananas mashed

1/2 cup pecans

Beat butter, sugar on med til creamy - add eggs, vanilla, buttermilk

Combine the dry ingredients. 

Then mix them in gradually with the creamy mix. 

Add bananas and nuts. 

Bake 50-60 min at 350

We were so excited when it came out of the oven I forgot to take a picture of the finished loaf!  Ha! :)

Weight Watchers makes the perfect-sized individual servings of Cream Cheese - I add one on top of a warm slice of this Banana Bread - it melts in your mouth - so good!!

*I tried this recipe one time with Splenda.  Not the same.  You might like it, but it wasn't our favorite.

Happy baking, and Happy Fall!

Cozy Home: Visiting Clare

Meet Clare:

She is SO much fun {not to mention gorgeous}!  I've had the pleasure of getting to know her better gradually over the past year through a mutual friend.  Clare is hands down one of the sweetest people I've ever met.  She's totes adorb, as the kids would say these days.

Well, I got the chance to stay with her on a recent visit to Savannah, and she's got a fantastic little house.  The minute I walked through the door I felt at home.  She's got such an eye for decor.  It doesn't hurt that her main squeeze is an art professor.  Between the two of them, their home is covered in everything that is creative, clever, and cozy.

Without further ado, here's a little tour!

Living Room . . .

Kitchen . . .

Dining area . . .

Bedrooms . . .

Can you tell how comfy we were in her space??

I don't know about you, but I'm most often inspired by the people I know and love.  Our homes tend to tell a story of who we are and where we are in life.  I loved Clare's "story" so I was excited to share with you in case you find it inspiring in creating or adding something new in your cozy little space.

Summer Travels: Tennessee

Our last stop for the summer was one of my ALL-TIME favorite places to go:  Tennessee!

This wasn't just any visit though.  Months ago I bought tickets for the Gentlemen of the Road tour.  I didn't tell Adam (I used my bday money) and was trying my best to keep it a surprise.  As the weekend for the TN trip got closer, I got nervous b/c it turned out that it was the first weekend after school started for Adam.  I remember well how tiring it is when school starts, so I wasn't sure if Adam would be up for a random trip to TN w/o knowing why we were really going.

The tickets arrived about a week before the show, and the moment I opened the package I was so excited I went ahead and shared them with Adam.  I handed them to him, he looked for about 10 seconds while figuring out what they were, and then we were both insanely excited!

Officially the coolest tickets EVER.

Even though there was no PBR sold, it was a total hipster fest.

They had frames hanging from the trees.  There was also a beautiful "tea party" set up as if you're having tea in the middle of the woods.  The line to have your pic taken was ridiculous, so I opted for the frame.  Also, I'm not sure Adam would have loved to have his picture taken as if he were having tea in the woods...

The main stage.

We went along with our friends, Travis & Shelley.

It was seriously one of the most amazing concerts I've ever seen.  Mumford is a class act.  They played a fantastic mix of the old and new.  I'm not a fan of crowds, but the fans were great.  There was a huge screen to the left of the stage showing all the close-ups, and all the footage was in black and white.  I've heard this is a regular deal for them, but they finished the show by having all the musicians from all the bands that day come out on stage and play/sing "Wagon Wheel" together.  What you may not know is that Bristol (we were on the Virginia side) is next door to Johnson City, which is mentioned in the song, so extra fun.

The concert was on a Saturday, so we had to head home the next morning, but not before a hike up to Carver's Gap.

You will go out in joy

    and be led forth in peace;
the mountains and hills
    will burst into song before you,
and all the trees of the field
    will clap their hands.

Isaiah 55:12

It was such an amazing summer.  As always, thanks for stopping by!