Fall family fun

Fall is my favorite season.

To spend it with my family?
Words cannot describe.
Thus, I bring you:  The final installment of my vacation recollection.
(Sad!) 

Our little lumberjack, (adorned in a corduroy/puffy vest, flap hat, & boots!)
enjoyed taking everything in...

Annual fall art festival in downtown Hayward!

{HERE}

In addition to purchasing a beautiful sweater cape (?), I even got some Christmas shopping done ~ locally made vinegars, olive oils, and fruit butters!
(Note:  If you are in need of winter apparel, this is "the" place to go...figures since it snows from September through May!  Also "the" place to get your outdoors gear...from snow shoes to kayaks!)

Confession:  I hate these souvenir stores, but this one had a hilarious t-shirt.

It said:    "Did you fart today?  I did!"  

Shamefully true.

Lots of good, ol' Wisco beer.

Football in front of the fire.

Goodness gracious... the infamous 1,000 piece puzzle.

And some Catchphrase & LOTS of Bananagrams!

Visiting the resorts we frequented for 13 consecutive years growing up!

Admiring the Birkie winners.

(Note:  I have decided I want to do this cross country ski race.

Y'all better hold me to it!)

(Can you tell who was the center of attention all week?

Rightfully so.)

So warm and relaxing...

(sigh)

Why can't "real life" be so calm and peaceful??

But alas, we're back to the grind.

Thankfully, it is still fall, my favorite season.

And in that, I can take comfort!

~photos by b / image via pinterest~

Five things

1.
Tom Waits Pandora station
Something about his voice (and like-sounded crooners) gets me in the Halloween spirit.  (And I mean that in the best possible way.)  Raspy, yet scary, no?

In fact, one critic accurately described his voice as follows:

"like it was soaked in a vat of bourbon,
left hanging in the smokehouse for a few months
and then taken outside and run over with a car."



2.
Dresses from Free People Clothing Boutique
{HERE}
Namely this one in particular...

Love EVERYTHING about it for fall!
The deep aubergine color, sleeves, edgy lace...
paired with messy hair, fur and/or boots?!  Get outta here, you sexy thang.



3.
Detox water
I keep telling everyone else they should drink a glass of lemon water before their morning coffee to flush out toxins.  I think I best take my own advice and make a vat of this for my early a.m.'s...

 

4.
Personalized Laundry Bins
Maybe it's the anal-ness of me, but I think this is one of the best ideas ever...
Every family member gets a basket with their clean, folded laundry that can be removed, taken to their rooms, and put away.  So clever!
More organizing tips {HERE}.

5.

Six tips for raising grateful children

{HERE}
The importance of being sincerely thankful and writing thank you notes
was instilled in me at a young age.
I hope I can do the same for my kids!
I also love the notion of simplicity...

A few more links of interest...

This chandelier is amazing and I want it now.

What a great way to re-use those empty "Wallflowers" plug-in's!

50 fun fall activities to do with your family.

The motherlode of free printables for your walls.
(LOVING the ones for all the holidays!)

I would like this checkered wool scarf for ~$220 cheaper. okthanks!

'Tis allergy season.  Why not embrace it with this adorable tissue box cover?

This is sad, but true.


Hope your weekend is as wonderful as you!

~images via a free people, sweet simple life, & i heart organizing / photo by b~

Good eats

What's a foodie to nosh on while in the Northwoods?
Well, let me tell you...

An aperitif of Wisconsin balsamic cheddar & Monterey Jack, cocoa-dusted almonds, and plum wine from Door County.  (The slightly sweet and vinegary wine paired a-mazingly with that balsamic cheddar.  Just sayin'.)

Steaks grilled by the Grill Master...

...paired with baked potatoes & beer cheese, spicy garlic Swiss chard, & a robust Spanish red.

Obligatory (and delicious) s'mores.

And just plain ol' roasted marshmallows.

(The huzz prefers his perfectly golden brown.  I like mine with a little crispy char!)

Garmisch's famous Bloody Mary.

(You know how I love it when they come with a beer chaser and side plate!)

(Views of Lake Namekagon from the Bierstube not too shabby either.)

Capital Brewery "Autumnal Fire" doppelbocks,

a.k.a. one of the best beers known to mankind...

...equally delicious paired with sweets from Tremblay's  - an annual "must"-stop since I was a little girl - AND mom's famous chili topped with cheddar and onions!

College football Saturday heaven!

Honey Wheat and Okotoberfest beers & chipotle grilled cheese with tomatoes (and broccoli rabe!) from the Angry Minnow Pub & Microbrewery in Hayward.

And last but not least...Banana Boats!

Let's consider this this week's recipe.

Here's what you do:

Slice bananas, still in their peels, but not all the way through.

Top each banana boat with a handful each of peanut butter chips and chocolate chips (or leftover chopped up Hershey's from your s'mores), one cut-up marshmallow, and crushed graham crackers.

You could also add (or substitute) handfuls of 

caramel bits and/or nuts, if PB ain't yo thang.

Wrap each nanner in foil and place either directly in your campfire coals/embers

or on top of a grill grate.

(If you are not fortunate enough to be enjoying this around a fire,

simply bake, uncovered, in your oven at 350 degrees for ~20-25 minutes.)

To serve this humble dessert,

scoop the melty banana-topping goodness over vanilla ice cream.

Top with more crushed graham crackers for extra crunch.

It's like a hot fudge/banana split, only kicked up a notch!

You can eat them plain, as is, though I HIGHLY recommend the ice cream route!

Four Banana Boats served six of us nicely.

(Sorry there are no photos to capture the finished product...

they disappeared into our bellies too quickly to capture!)

Happy {Cabin} Eatin'!

~photos by b~

Cabin fever

While I wouldn't want it as my "everyday" design scheme,

I was totally digging the "northwoods cabin" look last week.

Especially the vaulted ceiling/loft, antler chandelier, and stone fireplace!

Not a bad view to wake up to in the morning...

 
Our own private dock...and pontoon!

Comfy furniture for cozying up by the fire.

(I mean, seriously.  Could my boys be any cuter?!)

Pine wood floors and beams.

(And I LOVE that red accent chair!)

LOTS of hunter/fisherman nick nacks.

(Baby looks nice in a set of antlers, no?)

A modern gas stove (made to look antique).

Two fireplaces to keep us warm and toasty.

Overall, so inviting for family R&R!

I even loved the twinkling little colored lights on the outside of the cabin!

Festive!

How would you decorate your cabin?
Traditional "cabin" or more modern & sleek?

~photos by b~

Northern escape

Since I have so many amazing photos of our relaxing getaway,

I figured I would unveil them in installments.

:)

First up? Well, let's call this "the nature" viewing.

Just looking at these makes me feel relaxed all over again...

A calm, glass-like lake + fishing...

...Watching a crazy thunderstorm blow in from the porch...

...watching the leaves change colors more and more each day...

...breathtaking pink & orange sunsets...

...starry nights...

...crisp, piney air...

...an onslaught of taxidermy...

("Nooooope, Chuck Testa.")

...foggy, chilly mornings (perfect for cuddling by the fire with coffee!)

(sigh)

If you've never been to northern Wisconsin,

I highly recommend it!

More photos to come...

~photos by b~