Pecan Pie

My favorite Thanksgiving pie is Pecan. Um Um GOOD! My grandma has the easiest and best recipe she found in a newspaper years ago. Try it out if you can, your family will LOVE you;) Great, my stomach just started growling! *if you have only dark corn syrup available, that works too!

Thanksgiving will be a little different for my family this year. Monday, my Grandpa was admitted to the hospital in a lot of pain. Not sure what is going on but looks like I'll be bringing some turkey to his bed side. That is what got me thinking about my Grandma's delicious pie. With Thanksgiving canceled at her house, I looked up the recipe so I can make it for everyone.

Hopefully you all are not stuck in the long grocery lines. I was in and out of Trader Joes in 10 minutes today, guess I got lucky in the lines because my parking spot was no where near the store! It took longer to walk to the car!

Thankful.

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. I love how its so much about family and friends, and most of all thankfulness. Christmas used to take the cake. Now that I'm not so much into waking up at 6am and rushing to the tree to see what packages look the most like a Barbie, I've realized since, there is much more to life than gifts. Now its more like a struggle to hop out of bed, get the coffee on, rush to get ready for the big day, travel 2 hours to a relatives house and get to the gifts when you get to them. Don't get me wrong, I love a good gift, but there is something about a holiday where its main center is the table surrounded with the people you love, who love you and lets not forget the dinner!

A little handmade Thanksgiving for you, here are some finds for the big day.

1. Recipe Cards by backyardINC

2. Acorn Bells/Ornaments (I thought how cute these would look as a garlend) by pinkbeeb0

3. Happy Thanksgiving Banner by Earmark

4. Chalk Cloth Charger by modernjune

Pretty things.

Yesterday, when we were having high wind warnings and the clouds were black and full of rain, I took a look inside this little shop and it shined some light into my house. Nest Pretty Things, by Tamar is the prettiest shop filled with all sorts of treasures. With 226 items for you to dream about, your dream is not too far off with her affordable prices. Here are a few of my favorites $50.00 and under.

Not only is her shop pretty, her blog is nothing short! And her pieces come beautifully packaged and ready to give for the holidays.

Café Love, Natalie

Back in my ETSY shop, reusable coffee and tea sleeves! I can't leave this post without filling you in on my coffee favorite right now. Trader Joes Wintry Blend. It has become a tradition around the holidays I look forward to every year. Its so special because it has spices ground with the coffee. We're talking red and green peppercorns, whole fresh cloves and cinnamon. Warms you right up! I love using it for my espresso machine. It comes pre-ground so I always grind it more for an espresso blend. I have to warn you, not everyone likes it, but to me its the perfect wintry treat. Especially today when I have to have every light on in my house because the clouds are so dark and the wind is howling.

The Illuminated Owl

Hi you guys! Thank you for all of your thoughts and well wishes. I'm doing so much better and hoping to leave the house today. I'm going CRAZY! It just happens to be pouring sideways rain right now, the day I'm feeling great and want to get out! But on a good note, I can taste and smell which are senses I haven't had in awhile. And its funny when you get those senses back, how much more improved your life is. Smelling my cats litter box last night, not one of those improvements. Waking up to oatmeal and freshly brewed coffee this morning, improved!

I wanted to introduce you to an ETSY shop I absolutely love The Illuminated Owl. Her creations are whimsical and remind me of being out in the woods. Its so funny, because I was such a city girl growing up. You couldn't drag me to anywhere dirty or that resembled nature. That completely changed after I was forced on a family vacation to Alaska, where we roughed it, and I mean roughed it on a 4 day canoe trip through the Alaska wilderness. I was changed. There was something about waking up to Moose walking around your campground in the morning and otters swimming all around you. These creations by The Illuminated Owl remind me of why I love nature so much.

Elisabeth, the artist, tools, paints, stitches and burnishes the leather all by hand. Amazing work. I hope you get the chance to check out her shop.

Out of comish for a few!

Oh man, I am in some pain, sore and half way out of it! Yesterday was my sinus surgery. Third one so should be a pro, but found out I'm not! The surgery went well but the aftermath is not that fun. I'll be taking a few days to recoup and recover. I hope to be back to normal and ready to create some new things very soon. xoxo-Natalie

Get Pampered!

November 5th is my friend Arian's Grand Opening of The Sugar Shack, a full total skin and body care boutique. I highly recommend visiting the shack if you are in the Bellingham area. Its a fantastic shack with awesome products, beauty services, decor and of course people! Not to mention she is a new retailer for Love, Natalie.