bake & take - graphic + web design

A client of mine's been coming to me for a variety of lessons, and I'm pleased to say we have struck up a happy little friendship!  So when she turned to me asking for a blog re-design… of course I jumped right on it!  Every week she pops in her kitchen and bakes up the most wonderful, yummie delights!  And I get to sample them… naturally, it's only fair.  I am currently claiming that her lemon scones were out of this world.  Honestly, I never even told my hubby about them, all because I didn't want to share!!  What!!?  Don't judge me.  Please see number 17- random things about me.  Anyways, I wanted to share her blog with all its fabulous recipes and the new re-design with you all!  bake and take - the blog  -by Gwyn Day

I can't wait!!

okay, seriously… this seems to be my favorite phrase lately.

here's just a few reasons I CAN'T WAIT to move back stateside…

• internet speed that is lightning fast
• my friends & family & the wonderful support they provide
• stores that are open 24/7
• Ted's Cafe Escondido (my Oklahoma peeps will appreciate this one)
• endless food & restaurant variety
• a little thing called shopping heaven
• having storage in my house & let's not forget to mention closets!!
• the sound of rolling thunder (and maybe a little storm chasing…)
• being a homeowner again
• Target (isn't this everyone's?)
• I'll be able to remember phone numbers again!!
• cable television (seriously I may never leave my house again)
• there's a store for literally everything
• having a dog door
• crushed ice
• tinted car windows 
• a REAL furniture store with items made of wood - not plastic or laminate
• pay at the pump (this one may come close to the top of the list)
• air conditioning
• money bills that are all the same size (I mean really…)
• mail & packages coming to my front door (super exciting stuff!!!)
• a venti skinny cinnamon dolce latte with lite whip, mmmm… 
• lean cuisine's sante fe rice & beans (I hope they never discontinue it!)
• those pretty twinkling Christmas lights decorating trees & houses
• good old Hobby Lobby

now that being said, I know I'll miss SO many things about Germany…

• the autobahn & the fact that the left lane is used only for passing
• Paris being two hours away
• beer being cheaper on the menu than water 
• my favorite flea market (a few tears are being shed over this one)
• the gorgeous green, & forests that reach up to the heavens
• the prettiest, most colorful window boxes I've ever seen!
• festivals & Christmas markets (ooh & yummie glühwein!)
• traveling Europe on a whim
• minivans flying past me when I'm doing 100mph (it's pretty funny)
• being able to take Grace with me pretty much everywhere
• seeing those sweet older couples stroll hand in hand
• fresh food markets & being able to walk to them
• public transportation (haha, never thought this would be one)
• seriously the best strawberries I've ever tasted from my corner vendor
• how crazy they are about their soccer here
• environmental respect & awareness
• did I mention the autobahn?
• sidewalk cafés
• floor heating & the fact that heating can be controlled room by room
• the wonderful fresh bread & bakeries located on every corner
• my kickass basement
• the way the doors & windows vent & open, not to mention rolladens
• seeing cars pull boats & horse trailers… it's crazy!
• German mustard, it's yummie delicious!!
• roundabouts

oh & seeing things like this…  Garmisch, I love you.

So what did I miss?  What would you add to these lists?

Oh & did I mention our stateside move will be taking place TOMORROW?? Where did the time go?  It has definitely snuck up on us… so goodbye Germany, for now.

Auf Wiedersehen!!

{hues}day :: turmeric + saffron

Now I realize I've already done a saffron color combo a while back, but truth be told, the idea for this edition of huesday came from this delicious blog… you see I'm half Iranian and am obsessed with Persian food (thankfully my hubby is an amazing cook, and manages to give my aunts a good run for their money).  And it was in trying to describe to my friends what type of food it was, that I stumbled upon some inspirational yummie goodness.

1. Omar Gallinero

2. All Full of Love

3. My Tiny World

4. Turmeric and Saffron

5. Megan Lara

6. Pixel Paperie

celebrate good times...

come on!  we're gonna have a good time… 

and indeed we did, yippee for birthday weeks!!  Laura's little one just turned 6 months, and I am celebrating my not so 6 months, hehe.  Mine was spent with wonderful people, sharing good conversation & of course lots of yummie food… 

It's always amazing to me how fast the time goes by, and before you know it, 

another year has come and gone.  So here's to good times with great friends!

now on to the celebrations… & I must thank the lovely Brandi.  

She made me these scrumptious looking cupcakes, 

and I just couldn't resist photographing one (and eating a few of course).

week lucky number thirteen :: celebration

Laura :: me

a special Happy Birthday to all you October babies!!
and next up will be… "light"

balancing act...

For those of you who have been following regularly, you'll know that the hubby and I just recently had family in town.  And the best thing about them being abroad before coming here… was my delectable little surprise…  Let's just say they taunted me from that box, looking all lovely and mouth-watering, but I knew instantly that I wanted to photograph them for this week's challenge.  Which of course meant that when I heard them calling my name from the kitchen… well I couldn't very well eat the pretty ones.  Lucky for me there was one completely dipped in chocolate, which I convinced myself wouldn't photograph well… 

so here we are

week ten :: balance

me :: Laura

and it was hard… you really do have to balance them!  They kept falling, 

and one even fell on the floor, but don't you think for a second 

that will keep me from devouring it… five second rule!!

oh and the lovely Laura is having a giveaway too… so check it out!

the afternoon hours...

during week eight I traveled by train to Bad Dürkheim's Wine Festival,

where I spent the afternoon hours watching men in lederhosen play their instruments in front of our table, where couples danced right there in the aisles… where we tasted the local wine, and the food did not disappoint… where my hubby ate the hottest currywurst he's ever tasted (and that's saying something my friends) they even made him sign a release!!  where the carnival rides were all around us, beckoning with the delight of children's laughter… and where all in all the day was beautiful, even with the tiny sprinkling of predictable German weather.

As the week progressed, I spent my afternoon hours taking my sweet Grace in for a checkup and her shots… you see she is my lumpy bumpy girl, and has had a long history of lipomas (or fatty lumps) throughout her eleven years.  The vet decided it would be best to remove this one, and we scheduled the surgery for the next day.  All went well, and I took a very sedated "Beans" home that afternoon (don't ask me why, but that's the latest term of endearment we have for her in a long line of nicknames).  The next day my hubby left for a scheduled work trip, and it seemed Grace was getting back to her normal self already… another day passed uneventfully, but the following morning I woke up to find a very swollen girl.  So starts my weekend… I took her back to the vet, and when I had to walk away and leave her there again, her cry broke my heart.  I had a mini melt down that day.  Thankfully skype let me call my hubby during that moment.  And I would have been even more of a mess if it wasn't for a few wonderful friends who understand that my Gracie isn't just a dog… she's my baby.  She now has a temporary "drain."  She's had one before, and they look pretty awful… but it's worked in the past.  The plan is to have it removed today, and then healing can work its magic.  The days and nights have been long, and I'm currently on "stitches watch"… but at the moment, she's sleeping comfortably right here next to me, which makes for a very happy Nelou.

so I'm posting a bit late, but with an image that reminds me of joy & laughter, which is exactly what I need right now… 

the afternoon hours

me :: Laura

As for next week, I'm hoping all goes well with her recovery.  

There may be a slight delay in posting week nine,
not to mention Laura & I being in two different time zones… 

but I'm looking forward to being back on schedule real soon!    

Thanks so much for stopping by.

I hope you're all enjoying a bit of Fall and some cooler weather.  

til next time…