Pie in a Jar

If you really knew me you would know. . .

that I really enjoy baking. It's a way I show love; if I ever give you baked goods you can simple reply with, "I love you too." Ask my brother-in-law, Nick, who receives baked goods for nearly every birthday and Christmas. He tells me he likes it but really I think he may just be too nice to say otherwise. . . Regardless, being the katie-homemaker that I am, I was pretty impressed with this idea- Pie in a Jar! 

Etsy shop All Jarred Up sells pie that is literally shipped to you in a jar! 

"Pear-ed Together"

"I Go Bananas Over You"

"Grape to Meet You!"

"P is for Pecan"

 "How do you like them apples?"

Perhaps I will just make pies to sell so I can actually buy Nick a real gift rather than give him more pies. Or maybe I'll just share the recipe I use to make his favorite pie! 

xoK

over the river and through the woods to Nannie's house we go!

Last weekend my sister, two nephews, and I packed up camp and drove two hours to visit our grandmother whom we lovingly refer to as Nannie. Nannie has an old southern accent and repeatedly says the phrase, "now it's like i've always said" in reference to things she has never said before. It's endearing. So we spent the night, enjoyed a few meals together, helped put up then decorate her Christmas tree, then stumbled upon some really great hidden treasures in her garage. Apparently Nannie was planning on giving away some incredibly wonderful items that my sister saw and knew I'd love! It actually all started a hanging coat/hat rack that I, of course, repurposed.

And it hangs above my bookshelf made of books. . .

Which I finally got around to re-stacking to look nicer.

Prior to this they were stacked more by size than color and eventually began to look cluttered. It didn't help that my sweet puppy Millie would chew on the corners of the books and shred any loose books she could get. It was especially terrible after I began stacking newly acquired books in front of the original stack rather than on top. Needless to say, I am thrilled with my restacking because a) the chewed corners are no longer visible, b) they are somewhat color coordinated, which I really like! and c) there is one slightly taller stack rather than two messy stacks! 

Plenty more came from Nannie's garage that I adore. Luckily my sister, Meggie, is more of a "Pottery Barn meets Snapdragon" kind of decorator so I didn't have to fight her for the lovely items discovered at my Grandmother's. =)

xoK

"Wanna see the lights in my bed?"

Yes, this is the awkward phrase I uttered to my friend, Matt, as soon as he walked in the door. Forget the traditional, "hello!" or "welcome to peacock" or "hey, how are ya?" No, I go straight for the kill and invite the poor guy into my bed. I quickly followed up with "room" but not before he could look at me like I was crazy and all of my friends could laugh hysterically at my awkwardness. What was Matt's response? "Does that usually work for you? If so, I should start using that as a pick-up line." 

Allow me to explain-I had been inspired by photographs such as these. . .

It actually was not all of these pictures that led me to put lights in my room. From where did my inspiration come? Cleaning. Yes, cleaning. Well, organizing to be more exact. I had one extra box of Christmas lights that had to be used. Couldn't I just save them for next year, you might ask? Absolutely not, that is entirely too logical. Every single light bulb must be put to use! The result? A truly magical bed that I'm not sure how I ever survived in prior to this moment. 

I like it better than all of the others combined. It's the most magical bedroom in the whole wide world. 

xoK

Photography Love: Parker Fitzgerald

I stumbled upon Parker Fitzgerald's photos on Flickr. They are covered in love, inspiration, and God. I appreciate the way he appreciates things big and small and I am inspired by his view of life.

More to come!

xoK

My Holiday Wish List

This is the lovely dress I was going to wear for Christmas. However, I cannot afford it, bills, and gifts. So, I'll just pretend I get to wear it during holiday festivities instead. 

This is "dot just a pretty dress". It would be so cute to wear for Georgia games, holiday parties, or even just to teach in. It so precious. 

Once again, another adorable dress but can a girl ever have too many? 

I LOVE this far too expensive but so incredibly beautiful bag. I would take it everywhere!

Another too expensive but sweet bag. I like the vintage traveler feel. 

I would also like this vintage globe that I found on etsy. It would look brilliant in my room! 

Any of these pretty books would be welcome in my home. 

And as much as I would love to tell of all the lovely gifts I am making and giving I cannot. I believe that would spoil the surprises for a few lucky love ones who may be reading this! 

Rob Ryan

more of his work, because it's incredible. . .

Pretty Paper Please

I am fascinated by all forms of paper- stationary, books, journals, construction paper, photographs, notebook paper, any paper. Last year when I visited New York I was able to go to one of my very favorite stores, anthropologie. What did I buy? a children's book.

But it's not exactly a children's book. (Although, as previously mentioned, I do have a personal collection of children's books) It is more of an illustrated adult picture book by the extremely talented artist, Rob Ryan.

All of the illustrations and words are cut out of paper in an incredibly intricate and beautiful way. I cannot begin to imagine how long these detailed pictures must take to create. 

The story is written from a guys perspective and tells of him discovering his loneliness. He wants someone to share life with but has no one. Then his mother tells his that one day he will meet a girl and fall in love and then he will have someone whom he can tell all his stories. So he begins writing about his loneliness and about this new hope inside of him and he says, "Even though you may feel empty inside can it make you feel better by writing words? what kind of magic is this? and you look up at the stars and wonder, is this how God felt when he created the universe?" I understand what he means, I journal and write and my thoughts come together. I feel heard even though no one is listening because I'm listening to myself and acknowledging thoughts and feelings that would otherwise be contained. Also, journaling is a form of prayer for me. Not only am I hearing myself but God is hearing me and is interested in what I have to say. But the guy's thoughts in that part of the book are unique to me. When God spoke the world into existence was it his form of journaling? Of creating a space to be heard? Of finding joy and releasing otherwise contained thoughts and emotions? I know that although God came to us in the form of a man He is much more intricate and big than we could ever comprehend but this still makes sense to me. Perhaps it's one of the ways I understand God in our relationship. 

Anyways, I was reminded of my lovely little book after seeing these incredible pictures.

These were made by a British illustrator and paper cutter, Julene Harrison. Her's are more exact and defined but I love both artists.

I'm inspired to try my own! I don't expect to create sometime remotely near these. She truly is remarkable! She does some of these on commission for weddings. 

But this one is probably my favorite because of the poem to which it refrenc

i carry your heart with me(i carry it in

my heart)i am never without it(anywhere

i go you go,my dear; and whatever is done

by only me is your doing,my darling)

i fear

no fate(for you are my fate,my sweet)i want

no world(for beautiful you are my world,my true)

and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant

and whatever a sun will always sing is you

here is the deepest secret nobody knows

(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud

and the sky of the sky of a tree called life;which grows

higher than the soul can hope or mind can hide)

and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart

i carry your heart(i carry it in my heart) 

-e.e. cummings

Hammock Love

I love hammocks. I love hammocks so much that we have Hammock World over here at Peacock. It currently consists of two beautiful hammocks that are getting more use now that it's so lovely outside. Here are some other heavenly hammocks.