#camerafail

I forgot my camera at Paul's parent's house yesterday. #camerafail.  I had a simcard full of pics for posting this week.

I ran a Half Marathon over the weekend in Newport, RI.  It is such a cute town - first time there! After cheering on friends that ran the FULL marathon - Paul and I headed to his parents for the Pat's game...and Sandy and I baked!

Below are two iphone pics from the weekend.  But you can be expecting posts on the Half, Newport, and baking "Fall" themed cookies in the near future!  

#quickestpostever

Black Cat Cafe

While in upstate NY we visited a quirky like cafe - the Black Cat Cafe.

The cafe is a house that was redone...notice the dining room is in what might have been the front porch or sunroom?  Quite chilly early on an October morning - good thing they had fresh coffee brewed!  We were also pretty early - first customers that morning - but by the time we left most of these tables were filled.

I loved the mismatch feel of the decor - it made it feel homey I guess?

The coffee bar...

while I took pictures - the rest of the crew was easily entertained...good thing the cafe had wifi!

French toast with a corn flake crust!

oatmeal was perfect on the cold Sunday morning.

Everything came with plenty of butter - cooked with and piled on high.

If you are ever in Sharon Springs, NY - I def recommend this cool, quirky bfast spot!

Upstate NY

{my first 'cow crossing' sign}

This past weekend Paul and I traveled to upstate NY for a wedding.  It was my first time to this part of the country - and I loved it.  Cow pastures, creeks, acres of land, and absolutely perfectly turning Fall leaves.

It was so nice to get out in the country, with wide open spaces, and tons of land.  It definitely made me feel like I was back in north GA.

{so many colors}

{Rob spotted these deer as we were driving}

{can you see them now?}

{beautiful colors}

{an old cemetery - I think they are so romantic}

{we stopped at a little cafe that I'll share with you tomorrow}

{instagram pic of views on my run}

{snapshot of the beautiful wedding that was perfectly set in a barn :) }

Flour Bakery

It's been quite the dreary week here in Boston.  Chilly, wet, gloomy days.... 

To cheer myself up - and hopefully you too - going to post about another coffee shop we visited the same day we went to the buttery.  

Different feel - but equally as delish & fun.

{coffee always brightens my mood}

{fun menu - and equally fun staff - they were more than happy to let me take pics}

{I'm giving flour an "A" on their to-go cups...strong, sturdy...}

{and most importantly, thick, white, lids!  I'm am snob when it comes to theses - and they had my fav!}

{love their chipper sayings on the wall}

{we did just that...'ate dessert first'}

{another inspiring quote to read as I wait for my coffee and french toast}

{thank goodness for a patient husband while I go about my photography shenanigans}

{his finished "AM dessert"}

{didn't order this - but next time I might}

{Flour's chef also has a cookbook - which Sandy actually uses!}

Paleo: Dark Chocolate Chip Cookies

I made paleo dark chocolate chip cookies this past weekend for Sunday's get-together. I think I've just about got the recipe figured out.  It is really hard to make cookies soft, chewy, and delish without any butter, sugar, or flour.  I've been tweaking the recipe and I've just about figured it out...

{for recipe - head to the end of the post}

Coconut oil and maple syrup are the two secret ingredients to making cookies sweet without refined sugar.

Although I must add a disclaimer: You have to want to like them.  

You'll hear a lot of people say paleo is a lifestyle; it's not a diet.  Just like being a vegetarian I guess. 

I wouldn't advise anyone to eat these if they are trying to lose weight.  These cookies just meet the standards of a paleo-er...just made that word up...as the ingredients are as close to their naturals states as possible...

Anywho - enough of my rant...back to the pics!

{thank the Heavens I had extra stored in the freezer - this size jug was $35 at the grocery store!!}

while I baked...

Paul vacuumed!...he was so excited I was making these...he would've done anything I asked.

**another trick I've learned is to use water to help mold the batter for the sheet - batter can be a little dry.

ta-da!!

stamp of approval :)

Recipe:
2 cups of Almond Flour
1 cup of Coconut Flour
1/2 teaspoon of Baking Soda
1/2 teaspoon of Salt
3/4 cup of Maple Syrup (or more to taste - I like close to a full cup)
2 tablespoons of melted(not softened) coconut oil 
1 teaspoon of Vanilla Extract
2 eggs
1/2 cup of Dark Chocolate Chips

Mix dry ingredients. In a separate bowl mix wet ingredients. Incorporate wet to dry.  Add dark chocolate chips and bake!   Preheat oven to 350 degrees; bake for 12-15 minutes.

I've been seeing other recipes out there with almond butter, and heard the idea of incorporating apple sauce into the recipe.  I'll let you know if I figure out a better one!

Family Funday Sunday

Yesterday Paul and I went over to Rob and Jenny's to spend the afternoon with Paul's parents and friends of ours that just had babies over the summer.

We were able to hang with not one...

but TWO babies! born two days apart!  Meet Neive & John...

{John & Becky - John Jr.'s parents}

{Erin & Neive}

{Guys watched the Pat's game & the Ryder Cup}

....watchful moms....

{love this!}

Paul and I got some extra baby time... :)

Not only were there delicious scrumptious babies...but there was a pretty good spread of food as well.

{beef stew by Rob}

{Sandy's home-made apple pie - perfection}

{at the end of it all we were all happy & full & ready for a nap!}

Fall: Crate & Barrel

I have a superficial, unnecessary urge to go to Crate and Barrel this weekend to acquire some Fallish feeling home accessories.

It might have to do with the Fall weather that has officially arrived in Boston. It might be the fact that a Crate & Barrel catalog arrived in the mail this week.  But I have an urge to makes things in the house less Summer and more Fall which in my mind equates to less bright and more warm. 

Maybe I can actually use my kitchen aid this Fall

I'm really into pumpkin ales right now...

This wreath would be probably be stolen from our door in less than 24 hours...not in the suburbs just yet!

I love this pattern and would love it on anyting right now - duvet cover, napkins, table cloth...

This pesto isn't Paleo but it is just too cute to pass up! Would be so cute in a little nook in the kitchen...

Now I'm just getting greedy....

Balance & South End Buttery

Balance is one of the toughest things to master in my humble opinion.  There is so much to balance that sometimes I just feel like letting it all drop to see what would happen - I bet it would somehow balance out.  

Balanced budget. Balanced Diet. Work/Life Balance. Balanced Interests. Balanced [anything].

I don't know what balance has to do with this South End Buttery  post but it is something I've been thinking about lately so I'll try to tie it in!

How about this...in order to balance me sleeping in past 10am on Saturday, Paul and I woke up at 6:30am on Sunday to head in to the city for coffee & breakfast at an amazing little bakery - the South End Buttery.

{Cranberry-Walnut Muffins balanced by Blueberry Muffins}

{wonderfully warm indoor lighting balanced by crisp cool outdoor weather}

{one of the coolest dogs I've ever seen in person}

{this one made me miss Shadow & Nalla back in GA}

Anywho - it was a great September morning.  

Color Scheme: light blue & orange

Above is my inspiration piece for our bedroom.  We had a lot of navy and light blue tones going on and I thought these colors would add the pop our bedroom needed without being TOO loud.  

I found items around the house that worked with my new color scheme - easy fix without any major costs!

{wedding frame finally filled}

{yes - I realize there are two of the same books - one is a loaner!}

{I spray painted bookends I already had - and I loveeeee them}

{candles can be an easy and inexpensive way to contribute to your color scheme}

{the other side - a few light blue notes}

 

Dinner in 30

We typically cook with the same 8-10 ingredients every week. Meat (chicken or beef), greens, colorful veggies, and sweet potatoes or cauliflower.

Last week I cooked Paul a well rounded, steak dinner in under 30 minutes.  Eating such rich hearty foods helps keep us full without all the added junk of grains and dairy.

{I season with salt, pepper (lots), and red wine}

{cook mushrooms slowly in olive oil - great addition to a steak or burger}

{keep this skin but add some texture to cucumbers by scraping with a fork}

{greens}

{sauteed peppers are my favorite - can be so sweet}

{balanced paleo meal = happy husband!}

Wall Gallery DIY

{I love the picture of Paul hugging my mom after the ceremony}

Last week I was in between jobs which meant I had plenty of free time to do a bunch of project around the house! Not as many as I wanted...but I put in a good 2 full days work.

Paul and I collectively had a bunch of frames lying around the house from years past and I decided to use them for a wall gallery in the guest bedroom.  I chose yellow and green 1) because we already have a green themed bed (seen here) and 2) because yellow will be warm and inviting for my out of town guests during the colder months in Boston.  I put up pictures of family from the wedding - since they will most likely be the ones staying in this room.

{my first attempt to arrange the frames - felt too expected}

{second attempt - spread them out and made them a little uneven}

{after painting - the yellow looks neon here but I promise it a much more mustard yellow in person}

{and up they went! - it's not perfect by any means but I'm not a perfectionist so it works}

{printed pics from target online - fast and cheap}

{paint project - I'll highlight the blue & orange in a post later this week}

{supplies for mounting the frames}

{paul and his mom - me and my grandmother}

{I put a picture of us in the middle of it all}

{paul, his uncle bryon, & Rob - don't look toooo close - you will see paint imperfections!!}

{our family}

I can see that I am going to have to go back with a q-tip and do some paint touch-ups.  I've started doing all of my projects while someone isn't home looking over my shoulder....the result is less perfect but at least it is DONE...well 95% done.  :)

Candle turned Vase

Wednesday night I was looking for a small enough vase for the table that wouldn't overwhelm the table but would hold just a little bundle of flowers.  I looked around and spotted a candle that was a burnt out and I realized I could give it new life! 

Pretty candles can be the perfect vases.

A trick I learned on keeping lilies alive is to pull their pollen buds off.

{a little football fanciness for the opening game Wednesday night}

Side note:  I just realized that I went to partycity to get something for the NFL season opener Wednesday night...NOT the SEC opening game.  slowly but surely... I feel it... I'm turning into one of them! you know... a Northerner! ahhh! ;) 

There you have it - the perfect, small centerpiece!

Have a great weekend everybody!

Dinner on the Beach

This Summer Rob and Ross got their offroading permit to be able to drive straight on to the beach.  It's been incredible.  

In the meantime, Sandy had mastered dinner on the beach.  Food, wine, coffee, friends, and a beautiful backdrop makes for an amazing dinner!

{obviously we had real glasses and a table cloth ;) }

{pretty}

{Sandy's homemade salsa}

{appropriate choice of wine}

Some snap shots of everyone below...

Sandy and Ross

Mike & Liz

Jenny & Rob

Me and my sis'nlaw!

Linquica makes for a delish app..

{my master chef!...who took his shirt off as soon as we got there}

{perfect beachside meal}

Sandy brought coffeeeeeeeeeeeeee

notice the backdrop?  I had fun practicing some landscape pics...see below :)

Anywho...it's just the best.  We are going this weekend for what we have started calling the "19th hole" since it's the weekend after labor day weekend.  And we even got a fire permit for a bonfire this weekend!

Cafe Heaven

I spent Labor Day weekend in Truro with Paul and his fam.  Yesterday morning we woke up extra early to head in to Ptown for breakfast.  Empty streets in Provincetown can only be seen early in the morning - it's one of my favorite things.

Some of the stores in Ptown are just beautiful.

{We went to Cafe Heaven - arriving just as it opened}

{it's my new fav and was our third time going there - Rob and Jenny's first time}

HOWEVER.  We were about 10 minutes too late because all of the tables were taken, leaving just two tables in the middle of the small restaurant (maximum capacity of 32).  The worst part was that they would not let us move the tables together - claiming it would mess up the flow of the traffic in the small space.  

This set Paul off into a tizzie.  

I don't know if it was because he was hungry or the combination of his crossfit sweatshirt&camo auburn hat (left from my brother Trey's visit) but he was fit to be tied...

INSISTING that we walk out and leave this place.

I'll admit the service is def so-so (don't recommend going with a large crowd)...with the manager/owner somewhat cranky most of the time (in his cut off jean shorts I might add) but we were all close enough and hungry, so we stayed and enjoyed the atmosphere and delish food.  see below.

{blueberry pancakes - highly recommend}

{my "go-to" b-fast order}

{jenny and rob's banana pancakes}

{iced coffee}

{paul's order - even with his "tude" with the waiter/owner/manager (all the same guy) he got a good meal}

Over breakfast I was joking with Rob and Jenny saying "Cafe Heaven" didn't realize they were being reviewed by BostonBelle and Rob suggested a great idea.  I'm going to start rating things with peaches.  

1-5 peaches, 1 being not so good and 5 being amazing!

Soooo... 

Cafe Heaven:

Food and Atmosphere: 

Hospitality: 

 

Perfect if you are in ptown, wake up early, and it's just the two (max of four) of you.

set the table...

On Monday I prepared our table for dinner - we were supposed to have friends over... I say supposed to because it never happened.  While preparing guacamole, I was attempting to pit an avocado over the trashcan and missed.  All of my force came down on my left index finger. :( I nearly sliced it off.  

A bunch of tears, blood, six stitches, and four hours later I was nestled up on the couch milking my injury for all it was worth (a lot at the time).  I'm a baby when it comes to getting injured...mainly because it never happens...this was my first time getting stitches   

If you want to see the gory pic (of course I documented it) - click here!   consider yourself warned

Anywho.....back to the post.. I already had the table set and I have since left it set...I actually like the way it looks!  It is entirely impracticable but since the sight of a knife makes my stomach turn right now...I won't be doing any cooking anytime soon and therefore we won't be using our table.  

So it's gonna stay all set up for now... I think it dresses up our kitchen just a bit!

{wedding china and crate&barrel chargers}

{a toast of champagne, a sip of wine, and glass of water}

{pretty stemware is like jewelry on an outfit!}

{I love it and it's uselessness!}

It's been a while...

It's been a while since I have posted. Just a week shy of 2 months exactly! A lot has changed here at the Lashway abode in the DOT.  Paul got a new job AND I got a new job.  We are incredibly blessed with these new changes and we are excited for the year ahead!

Between keeping up with the current job, interviewing for a new job, training for a mini run, and studying for part 2 of the CPA exam....I've been out of commission on much of anything else. 

What has gotten me through all of this has been my one true love who has always been there for me morning, noon, and night, and never ever lets me down.....COFFEE! ;)  ...who are we kidding tho...

God, Paul, friends, and family have obvi been a major support system as well

Anywho...I updated my coffee mug the other day....which I found on clearance while mindlessly roaming the Target aisles during my lunch break when I should have been studying...or working...or running...or anything besides buying stuff I don't really need. 

here are the how-to pictures even tho I'm pretty sure if you have the internet you could figure it out.  Oh and I FINALLY ordered a charger for my real camera!!!! 

mug.

google.

print.

cut.

voila!

Be back soon - tons to write about!

small change, big results

{a nifty way to store hard-boiled eggs in your fridge}

Paul and I are trying to live more intentionally.  Sticking to a budget, tracking what we spend and cutting back in a big way on frivolous spending.  I want our way of living to direct where our money goes, no longer having our money direct our way of life.  Does that make any sense?  

That was kinda heavy - so on a lighter note - here is a SIMPLE change I made that has made a BIG impact.

Cooking ahead.  Paul and I were spending an absurd amount of money on food every day.  He would buy his shakes, breakfast and lunch and I would buy my coffee and lunch out every day as well.  It added up big time.  I now pack my lunch, brew my own coffee and use a reusable coffee travel mug.  Paul makes his shakes at home, and brings his breakfast to work.  Leaving one meal (his lunch) to be purchased - we are working towards eliminating that as well. 

Not only has it helped our monthly budget, it has completely changed the way I think about the food I eat. 

I have been hearing about local grown food and knowing exactly where your food comes from for about two years now.  Once Paul and I began the Paleo diet, we began eating a lot more meat than we used to which started to make me more nervous than I used to be. 

Everyone has their reason of changing their diet, mine is chemicals, and more specifically antibiotics.  I rarely take medicine.  The closest thing to medicine I take is a daily vitamin.  But it didn't matter - I was intaking unnecessary antibiotics every day in the meat I was consuming.  It made my stomach turn - literally - barf.  I have no clue where the cafe at my work gets their grilled chicken and hard boiled eggs that I was eating every day.  

sooooo I made a change.  I now shop at Trader Joes and buy antibiotic FREE (some say none added - avoiding those) and cage free meat and eggs.  I started cooking up large batches at the beginning of the week and I couldn't be happier.  Another benefit is we are no longer contributing soooo much trash.  Switching to reusable shake and coffee mugs and glass tupperware makes us both feel better.  

The next step will be buying a farm share and getting our meat from a local farmer.  We are looking into it now and have friends that do this.  I also want a garden...bad.  I'm really excited where this is headed! 

{baked chicken with evoo, salt&pepper, and seasoning}

{my healthier home-made salad!}

Curtains - easy right?

Notice anything about this picture?  specifically the curtains?  Right in the middle of the curtain rod hangs Paul's badge of honor from one of our first @home projects gone array.  

I found these curtains at IKEA last weekend and was really excited to get them up.  I had two curtain rods sitting in our basement room that my mom gave me back in 2009!  The rods were to short but if we took of the ends and stuck them together it was the perfect length... Thus began the 2 hour painful process of hanging our curtains...Paul was actually impressively calm throughout the whole ordeal but there was one casualty.

Exhibit A: This poor little hook got the worst of it during the project and has been laid to rest in our junk drawer for now. A normal hook is behind it for comparison.

The problem was that since we didn't securely fasten the two rods together (we used tape and a few nails), it wouldn't stay straight when we put it up with the curtains hanging on the ends. It kept warping upwards - making a tepee looking shape.  We tried everything.

We gave in and found some ribbon and just fastened it that way.  It actually works.  Wonder how long it will stay like this...my guess is until we move out in a few years. :)  I know rods are probably less than $10 but I really just don't even want to bother.

  

Anywho - I love them! They are shimmery and the polka-dots add some flair.  

Sorry for the iPhone pics still - ordering a charger this weekend!

We are headed to the cottage in Truro with Rob and Jenny this weekend.

Ta-ta for now.

Summer List

I'm a day late on Summer starting but it's officially here.  And it actually feels like it - it's supposed to hit 98 degrees here in Boston today - heat advisory is in affect people!!! 

Southerners may freak out when it get's below 40 but I'll tell you what...Northerners seem to freak out when it gets above 90 up here...

Yesterday Paul and I sent back and forth a couple emails making a list of things we want to do this summer...and if you know us well, you know that Paul actually likes to check lists off more than I do so I have a feeling we might actually do everything on the list.

Below are also some pictures from last summer to remind me what I love best about summers on the Cape... ...slowing down the pace...like the sourthern style slow pace I'm used to...

Summer 2012:

1. Go see 7 movies in the theater
2. Go see Shakespeare on the Boston Common in August
3. Sit on the back porch at least one night (never done this)
4. Have a picnic up on Savin Hill
5. Go to Theo's Corner in the NorthEnd really early on Saturday Morning
6. Read 3 books
7. Go on a date somewhere we won't know anyone
8. Go to a concert or two...
9.Go to Bar Harbor, Maine (ok this can be done from now until Oct)
10. Take Paul's Grandparents to church 5 times
11. Plant something....anything...
12. Beat Paul in Scrabble
13. Have friends over for dinner 8 times (love some dinner parties)
14. Have devotional time every Sunday - whether we make it to Church or not
15. Play Highland Links golf course 9 times (Paul's)

Ok there is ours (I'm sure it will grow)...now you should make one and share too!

@ home in the DOT

Hello Hello! 

(or bonjour! more on that in the honeymoon post coming soon!!)  

In a nut shell: We had a perfect wedding, the best honeymoon and are now full swing back to reality.

But the silver lining of coming back home to face work, laundry, chores, budgets and the whole shebang of being newlyweds is that my mom flew up this past weekend to help me get settled in my new home with Paul in Dorchester (DOT). We hit up HomeGoods (paul's fav!), IKEA, Crate&Barrel...and knocked a TON off our list!

Also**** I lost my camera charger in the midst of wedding week which means I didn't have it on the honeymoon and still don't have it for house pictures.  boo :( - have to order another charger asap. 

But thankfully iPhone + Instagram = pretty awesome pics! 

enjoy some sneak peeks

{new rug from pottery barn}

{homegoods find: coffee bar! it will get it's own post later}

{IKEA polka-dot curtains - will also get their own post as well - wound up being quite the task!}

{new kitchen table from Crate & Barrel - 40% off!!!}

{my handy husband :)}