Mint, White, and Blue

These photos were taken outside the gorgeous entryway of the Southeast Missourian (newspaper) offices in Cape Girardeau. I passed by this building a million times while Matt and were still living there, but never indulged in the urge to examine it more closely. As you'll see, there's a mural on one of the outside walls- the positioning of which Matt cleverly took advantage of when snapping these : ). I love seeing public art in smaller towns; probably because the teeny town I grew up in hardly had any at all. It's a nice reminder that you can find creative folks anywhere if you look hard enough.

On a sartorial note, (that's what you came for, right?) I picked up this fantastic coat (Gap, brand new) this very day from my favorite thrift shop in Cape. I loved it so much I tossed the coat I had been wearing right into the trunk and slipped this baby on. I think the mint & camel bring each other out quite nicely.

Well, I'm done with days off for quite some time now...here's to keeping spirits up! : ) See y'all tomorrow! 

Triumphant Return

This is what I wore during one of the first days of our Christmas break in Cape Girardeau. A day full of thrifting, eating and last-minute gift shopping (though the eating part is always my favorite : )). This was one of the only days I could walk around without a coat on, a feat in itself for late December, and the next day the temperature dropped probably 20 degrees. We even had to come back to Columbia early because of an impending snowstorm...I'd say winter has finally arrived.

Shirt: Thrifted; Sweater: Thrifted; Skirt, Tights, Necklace: Target; Booties: Old Navy

Happy New Year's Eve! Any exciting plans?

I'll Be Back...

...next week : ). The holidays and all they encompass leave little room for blogging. But I'll be back on schedule soon! Merry Christmas!

Buttermilk Biscuits

Everyone has a couple recipes that seem to stick around at holiday dinners year after year, right? These buttermilk biscuits fall into that category for us; Matt and I have made them every year for Thanksgiving and Christmas since we started dating, and they haven't let us down since. Enjoy!

Go Buy This: 

-2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour

-2 tsp. baking powder

-1/2 tsp. baking soda

-1 tsp. sugar

-3/4 tsp. table salt

-1 cup cold buttermilk

-8 Tbsp. unsalted butter + 2 Tbsp. melted for brushing tops of biscuits later

-Parchment paper

Do This:

1. Move an oven rack to the middle and set preheat for 475.

2. Melt 8 Tbsp. butter and let cool while you do step 3 (or for about 5-6 minutes)

3. Whisk dry ingredients in large bowl (I know, whisking dry stuff is weird but just do it)

4. Combine cold buttermilk and 8 Tbsp. melted (but cooled!) butter in a medium bowl and stir until the butter becomes slightly clumpy.

5. Add wet mixture to dry ingredients and stir until incorporated and dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl.

6. Use a greased 1/4 cup dry measure scoop to form drops, and, well, drop biscuits onto parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Bake until tops are golden brown (12-14 minutes).

7. Once out of the oven, brush tops of biscuits with remaining 2 Tbsp. melted butter. Move to wire rack to cool for ~5 minutes before serving. Or, immediately when they come out of the oven, if you're Matt.

Yum! 

Ugly Sweater Love

Anyone else feel weird when they see pictures of "Ugly Sweater" parties on Facebook and genuinely like all of the "ugliness" displayed? Matt and I were looking at the page of a mutual friend who was featured in such a photo album, and he pointed out that the sweater I was wearing because I love a crazy pattern probably would have made a debut at that party, had it been made available to someone. We then continued on through the album, and there were more than a handful of sweaters I would gladly wear IRL, given the chance. What does this say about me? 

Sweater: Thrifted (duh); Jeans: Vintage; Booties: Old Navy

Mostly, I think it says that I like what I like and I'll wear what I please. LG OUT.

Hometown Hero

First, I want to say thankyousomuch for all of the sweet replies to my last post. You guys are the best and I'm very thankful to have such kind friends & readers.
Anyway:
I love being back in Cape Girardeau. Perhaps it's knowing that anytime I'm there, it's because of some holiday or another, which, in turn, means amazing food is on it's way to my stomach. Or, perhaps it's the comfort found in familiar restaurants and shops filled to the brim with memories. And of course, being around Matt's (and now my) amazing family only brings peace and satisfaction. Any way you slice it, I am one happy camper while I'm there.

After hitting up our favorite (and sincerely missed) thrift shop, we headed across the street to the junior high school to explore and take outfit photos. However, after realizing that the bleachers we were standing on were little more than rickety wooden planks laying atop (hardly screwed into) a pole structure, we promptly bolted and headed home for leftovers.

Long-sleeved shirt: Maurices (several years ago); Beaded Shirt: JcP (also several years ago); Skirt: Thrifted; Tights: Target; Booties: Old Navy

I apologize for my absence last week, but it just felt right to take some time and bask in the high I was am on. Still smiling.
See you tomorrow! : )

Holiday Movie Ideas

Happy (almost) Thanksgiving, everyone! As you might've surmised from my impeccable (don't you dare disagree... : )) Photoshop creation above, I wanted to share some of my favorite holiday movies with you today! But don't get it twisted: just because I call these "holiday" movies does not mean they're all Santa Clause and cookies (lookin' at you, Corleone...); they're just great movies to watch with family and friends around. The kind of movies you can really settle into with some (spiked?) cocoa and a blanket. Perfect for Thanksgiving, no? So without further ado:

L-R:
1. Midnight in Paris. Or just anything with Marion Cotillard, really (see #3). I can't get enough of her or the 1920s...or Woody Allen, Rachel McAdams, if we're being honest, so this is kind of my perfect movie (with the exception of all things #4, of course). Not to mention, Allen's Hemingway is deliciously spot-on- worth a viewing!

2. Star Trek (2009). I'll be honest and say I have yet to see this film. However, Matt watched it with his dad while back home for Thanksgiving a couple of years ago, and swears to me that it's incredible. That kind of review from Picky Peter (Matt, if you're not following) is enough for me, and he assures me we're watching it this year : ).

3. The Dark Knight (Rises). I added the "Rises" after having my mind blown in seeing the newest Batman addition just a month or so ago; can they get any better? Heath Ledger's final, complete performance is moving enough, but now you have the terror-inducing Bain and Ms. Cotillard in the villain chair...just watch them both. Sidenote: it wasn't until Rises that I realized I have major hots for Christian Bale.

4. The Godfather: Parts I and II absolutely, III only because you should see the complete saga. It may not be well known around these parts, but I am mafia obsessed. I just finished The Sopranos, and I can't wait to settle down to Thanksgiving leftovers on Friday  in front of the rise and fall of my favorite family. Also: Al Pacino was a total babe back in the day. Seriously, I can't say enough about these films. Just. Perfection.

5. Miracle on 34th Street (Mara Wilson remake). I know my fellow 90s girls will respect/recognize when I mention anything to do with Mara Wilson, so it should come as no surprise that this warm and fuzzy remake makes the list. I watched this with my mom every year while growing up, and I haven't let go of it yet. Memories, y'all.

6. The Family Stone. Diane Keaton, Luke Wilson, Rachel McAdams, Sarah Jessica Parker and Dermot Mulroney are the definition of dysfunctional family and I love every minute of it. It's fun to see SJP wig out for once, and Rachel McAdams can do no wrong.  Also, this movie has almost too much holiday goodness in it, so you'll definitely want to watch this just after those cookies come out of the oven. You're welcome.

That's it for me! I hope this helps anyone in need of some cozy family-time ideas. Eat lots tomorrow! : )

Homemade Ginger Snaps

Whenever I think about holiday desserts (let's be real- when am I not thinking about holiday desserts?), ginger snaps are always at the forefront of my sugar-laden brain. My mom always had them around when I was a kid, and the smell of ginger consistently brings candy canes + santa clause to mind. And though it's not time to string the lights on the tree yet (something else that's always on my mind), it is autumn, which is close enough for me. 

You will need:

-3/4 cup butter or margarine

-1 cup white sugar, 1/2 cup more for decoration at the end

-1 egg OR egg substitute (I used flaxseed meal)

-1/4 cup molasses

-2 cups all purpose flour

-1 Tbsp. ground ginger

-1 tsp. ground cinnamon (not pictured, as I can be very absentminded)

-2 tsp. baking soda

-1/2 tsp. salt

In a large-ish bowl, mix butter/margarine and sugar until creamy.

Since I was already using butter, I wanted to cut down on the animal involved-ness of the cookies in some other way, so I used an egg substitute. The directions on the flaxseed meal say to mix 1 Tbsp. meal with 3 Tbsp. water and let sit for 2 minutes.

Add the egg, or "egg," and molasses to the butter + sugar mixture.

Beat the mixture until blended.

Mix the remaining dry ingredients together (except for the decoration sugar) into a medium sized bowl, and stir (not mix) into the molasses mixture.

Roll the dough into balls and dip in the sugar set aside for decoration.

Place on an ever-so-slightly greased baking sheet. Bake at 350 for 8-10 minutes.

Trust me when I say that these babies are even better with a glass of milk. Enjoy!