California and a haircut

Matt and I are in Istanbul as I type. It's fairly early in the morning. So far, the trip has been wonderful! The only gripe would be the voltage conversion issues I've been having, but no other complaints! This is a quick post and I promise to have pictures of Turkey in the next post. I thought I should catch everyone up on the goings ons in M & M world. Last week, we went to Napa, San Francisco, Sacramento, and St Helena. Here are some photo highlights (oh! and many haircut pictures!)

Woodhouse... our favorite chocolates.

Break at the cafe for refreshments.

New short hair!

Lots of bounce!

It was hot in California... over 100 degrees! I was sweating!
More pictures to come!

A Charmed Life & A New Book

Australian born Author and fellow blogger Vicki Archer seems to live a charmed life in the South of France, the place she has found and now calls home. Like many, I adored her first book "My French Life" and her new book "French Essence", continues to drag me into her dreamy world. The photography by Carla Coulson is divine and Vicki's styling is second-to-none. I have posted my absolute favourite page in her new book above. I decided on this one page as I don't want to spoil it for you. This book is definitely one to add to the Christmas wish list! Congratulations Vicki on another huge success!!

Nb. French Essence is available now in Australia & New Zealand and will be sold on Amazon later this year.

Lauren's (sassy) Senior Portrait

So generally you only find us on the wedding circuit, but I recently had the pleasure of doing some senior portraits for the lovely Lauren. We had done her sisters photos a few years back and her mom wanted another Snap!-style portrait for her wall. No problem! We headed over to the East Side of Providence and took advantage of some of the great vintage walls.
Ah, to be 18 again...

Best of luck to you Lauren in all that you do in the future!

Caramel-Filled Chocolate Cookies...The Addiction Continues

What a long day! The new washing machine stopped draining (of course, the machine is digital so you can not just take something apart). I am working outside and the weather is back to being cold, rainy, and gusts of wind are shooting from all directions. I am also missing my little girl. Ashley, my daughter, just passed her driving test and received her license last Friday. She is 18 and decided to go for the weekend with friends. Today is the first day I have seen her since Friday and I feel heart broken and hoping she stays safe. I don't have words to put down that describe trying to let go and let her grow. Great, I am getting teary eyed again. Baking cookies and staying busy helps me from driving the dog, 2 cats and my hubby nuts. I am picking everything up before the item is even set down, fed the dog twice on accident, and the cats sense me contemplating giving them a bath. Cookies sound so much safer.

So here we are with another chocolate and caramel dessert to share with friends and send off to work. Did I mention that Ashley came home, stayed for about 1 hour and left because she had friends waiting soooo, of course, I called with bribery of freshly baked cookies for her to come and pick up whenever. I can see this bribery thing is my next new skill set. Hopefully Ashley is not reading this but if you are kiddo, just kidding! LOVE YOUUUU....!
Oh yes, cookies. Here is the recipe and may I say YUM!!! in advance. While Ash was here, she unwrapped all the Rolos for me.

Caramel-filled Chocolate Cookies With White Chocolate Drizzle
These yummy chocolate cookies have a tasty caramel surprise inside. With crushed pecans on top and a contrasting white chocolate drizzle, They are almost to pretty to be eaten but it can be done.

Ingredients:
1 c. butter, softened
1 c. plus 1 Tablespoon sugar, divided
1 c. packed brown sugar
2 eggs
1 t. vanilla extract
2 1/2 c. all-purpose flour
3/4 c. baking cocoa
1 t. baking soda
1 1/4 c. chopped pecans, divided
1 package (13 oz.) Rolo candies
4 squares (1 oz. each) white baking chocolate, melted

Directions:
In a mixing bowl, cream butter, 1 cup sugar and brown sugar. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla. Combine the flour, cocoa and baking soda; gradually add to the creamed mixture, beating just until combined. Stir in 1/2 c. pecans.

Shape a tablespoonful of dough around each candy, forming a ball. In a small bowl, combine the remaining sugar and pecans; dip each cookie halfway. Place nut side up 2-inches apart on greased baking sheets.
Bake at 375 degrees F. for 7-10 minutes or until tops are slightly cracked. Cool for 3 minutes before removing to wire racks to cool completely. Drizzle with melted white chocolate.
This recipe should make about 3 dozen cookies =D

Black & Spiro Today

Here is our current window display at Black & Spiro {above}. It's very bright, I must say, even for me! It's been a crazy week here at B&S. Usually the September school holidays are a quiet time for us. It is usually a time we call the lull before the storm with the onslaught of Christmas coming! However, for some strange reason these September holidays have been crazy. Lots of deliveries arriving as you can see below. A few clients will be very happy at the end of this week once they receive their beautiful armchairs!!

A Summer Table

This lovely table setting screams Summer to me. I love the fresh green and white colour palette. I also love the little succulent arrangements. They actually reminded me of the lovely succulent arrangements Chelsea over at Frolic created recently as below.

image 1 - victoria pearson via brown turtleneck sweater,

image 2 - frolic

Lori and Mike at Linden Place Part 2

Posted by Mariah:

Connor, our ring bearer isn't so sure about all of this wedding stuff... he looks pretty cute in his little bow tie though.

The MOH...









Lori and her dad...

This is always such a great moment.

Frank Camera officiated the ceremony. This is such a pretty spot.

I snuck around for a few "big picture" photos.

Married!

Mr. and Mrs!

Love me some sun flare!

Ditto! How can you go wrong with Ruby slippers?

A few more portraits now that they are officially official.

We snuck upstairs for a few pics...

Time to join the party...

Still time for a couple of oysters though!

...and bubbly to wash it down!

This photo is making me thirsty.

Late afternoon light for the cocktail hour- sweet!

If you are like me you've often wondered... "What would a photo of a parole officer and a ballerina look like?"

Voila! Lori's brother and his very lovely girlfriend.

Past snapper couple- Walter and Joanna who were married (and snapped) in July!

The carriage house is such a fun spot for the reception.

Making their grand entrance...

First dance... you'll notice the lack of a "dip" photo. Well, I specifically told Mike to dip Lori toward the camera, but at the last moment he decided it made more sense to dip her toward the audience, Bad! Bad, Groom! (Not to worry we'll take care of him later).

Jennifer made a cute toast to the bride and groom. She thanked Mike for his endless patience with her!

Proud dad of two really awesome daughters.

A little harmless roasting of the groom...

...inflicted by his older brother... probably nothing new!

A little blue light dinner action...

Such a fun cake and yummy too, I had a nice big piece.

Dancing with dad.

Mike and his mom look exactly alike!

Here is Mike redeeming himself with the best dip photo ever! Good Groom.

And just in case that wasn't the best dip ever, here's one more for good measure.

The end of a fabulous evening.

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