Delighted - Issue Two | Fall 2012

delighted ISSUE TWO | FALL 2012

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Š Delighted Magazine 2012 delightedmag.com | hi@delightedmag.com Cover: Styled by Amanda Gomes | Photo by Pictilio FALL 2012

delighted TABLE OF CONTENTS Fall 2012

HOME pages 10-17

Seasonal Home Finds DIY: Hanging Art

WORK pages 18-49

Etsy Success Career Story Give Back

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ENTERTAIN pages 50-77

Thanksgiving Table Pumpkin Recipes

STYLE pages 78-85

Accessory Finds Four Fall Outfits Sophie’s Picks

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KIDS pages 86-103

Bento Lunches A Mother’s Story

WEDDING pages 104-127

Real Wedding Etsy Wedding Finds An Engagement Fiesta

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EXTRAS From the Editor 7 Contributors 8 For Fun: Football 128

delighted ISSUE TWO | FALL 2012

BE PART OF THE NEXT ISSUE!

Contact us for information: ADVERTISE ads@delightedmag.com FEATURE CONTRIBUTOR contribute@delightedmag.com FALL 2012

from THE EDITOR Happy Fall! Each year as the weather turns cooler and the days become shorter, I get a sense of anticipation about what’s to come.

And not just due to the pending festive holidays but because of all the other joys—the impromptu family gatherings, the scarves and boots, the pumpkin spice lattes, and pulling out the cozy blankets.

Thanks to many talented contributors and photographers, this second issue of Delighted is just as exciting to share as the first. As you flip through each page, I hope you’re inspired to make something delicious with pumpkin and excited about the lives being changed in Uganda. I hope you learn something about adoption (and even football!) and find the perfect accessories to add to your fall wardrobe. But mostly, I hope there’s plenty in these pages that brings you delight.

I appreciate all of you for your support and readership. Best wishes to you for a fall season full of comfort and laughter!

Fondly, Amanda Gomes

With my best gir lfriends circa

Fall 2009. (I’m on the left.)

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CONTRIBUTORS

Clara Artschwager Channeling Contessa

Janet Hill Janet Hill Studio

Jodi Moreno What’s Cooking Good Looking

Kate Taylor Cookie + Kate

Liz Forkin Bohannon Sseko Designs

Lucy Seche method

Shannon Maass

Tiffany Chow

Tim and Shanna Mallon Tonette Polito Food Loves Writing

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Kate Brightbill StyleSmaller

Serena Olivieri

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Caitlin O’Reilly

Matt Polito

Pictilio

Vivian Sachs

Vitaliy & Candace Prokopets

SPECIAL THANKS TO: Blueprint Studios Brian Brightbill Brian Gomes Christine Litwin Fred Gutierrez Gordon and Roberta Jensen Rufflewood Sonia Ballesteros

If you would like to contribute to the next issue, we’d love to hear from you!

Contact Amanda at contribute@delightedmag.com.

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Serena’s HOME FINDS

Serena Olivieri is a designer whose beautiful blog is an ongoing project where she documents her experiments with paper, graphic design and illustration.

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THE GOODS

Tile Set, Lubna Chowdhary $680 Letterpress Coasters, In Haus Press $20 Wood Cutting Board, Tom Roche $14 Thyme Print, Evajuliet $39 10 Wooden Forks, Sucre Shop $10 Chalkboard & Ceramic Jars, HomeMint $89 Boulevard Wing Chari, Horchow $1969

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Amanda’s HOME FINDS

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THE GOODS

Antique Early Century Rocker, Hindsvik $225 Ditsy Printed Floor Mat, West Elm $19 Paper Crochet Pillow Cover, Pottery Barn $30 Navy Laurel Lamp, Serena & Lily $168 Yachting Plate Collage, Anthropologie $1,480 Preserved Topiary, Crate&Barrel $40

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HOME

Step by Step: Hanging Art

By Tonette Polito | Photos by Matt Polito

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Who knew hanging art could be so simple?

Here’s a quick step-by-step guide to placing your showpieces in just the right place.

SUPPLY LIST Butcher Paper Tape Measure Pencil

Artwork Hammer Scissors

Tape Nails Level 1. Assemble Tools

3. Measure Distances Between Pieces

4. Mark Where Nails Wil

6. Nail Marked Points Into the Wall

7. Remove Paper and Ha

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HOME

2. Configure Placement of Art on Butcher Paper

ll Be Placed

5. Hang Marked Paper in Position Using a Level

ang Art

8. Step Back and Enjoy!

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ETSY SUCCESS:

Janet Hill Studio PHOTOS and ARTWORK BY JANET HILL

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WORK

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Previous Page: Dancers, This Page: This Is The Place She Had Been Heading All Her Life

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WORK

beauty. grace . delight.

If whimsy makes you lighthearted and giddy, Janet Hill is the artist for you. Her elegant oil paintings and charming titles will take you to a place where old-world loveliness abounds.

Read about how she became the artist she is today and the success of her beautiful Etsy shop.

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When did you discover you had artistic talent?

Where does your design inspiration come from?

I was quite late in discovering my ability to paint. I think I was around seventeen and I was trying to decide what to take at university. I knew I was ‘creative’ but had never channeled it directly into a specific medium. Up until that point I liked to take pictures, but the technical side of photography was something that I found frustrating. I was much more suited to painting as it is very tactile and the results of your efforts are immediate. I suppose I’m an impatient person.

I watch a lot of old movies and spend a lot of time sourcing film stills. I also read a lot of magazines, blogs, and I look at a lot of old portrait paintings.

How have you developed your skills?

I studied fine art in university and specialized in painting. After graduation I stopped painting for around three or four years as I was more interested in getting a ‘proper job’.

Fortunately, ‘proper jobs’ didn’t like me and so I went back to painting. I basically paint every day and so that helps keep the creativity flowing.

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I love the titles you give your paintings. How do you come up with them?

They usually pop into my head as I’m painting the image. The painting almost seems to take on a life of its own and so usually a phrase or a short remark repeats over and over in my head during the painting process. A lot of my work is quite narrative and so the title helps explain the purpose of the painting..

When did you open your Etsy shop and what inspired you to take those first steps?

I opened my shop on January 10, 2008. A few friends had told me about Etsy and so I hovered about quite a bit before taking the plunge. Prior to that

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I was selling my original work on ebay but I never liked the overall feel of ebay.

However, I really like the auction style of ebay and how it gives people the opportunity to bid on an item and determine the market value for the piece. With Etsy, I’m pretty much taking wild guesses as to how popular an image will be and trying to figure out an appropriate price.

However, Etsy is a much better overall fit for me.

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What was the greatest challenge you faced during your first year in business?

There was a lot of pressure to produce original pieces. I would get a lot of emails asking how to get my original work and so I ran a sweatshop style business for the first year or two. After a while I realized that I wasn’t really producing what I wanted to and so I slowed down and came to a nice steady crawl. I was very

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Left Page: Francine and Her Frenchie, The Seduction, Catherine Listens to the Ominous Ring This Page: Black Coffee and a Blueberry Muffin

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WORK worried that people would get disinterested in my work if I wasn’t creating new pieces all the time. Fortunately, the slow down didn’t affect business too much—although I am sure I did lose some buyers. When I got over that fear, I started producing pieces that were a little more challenging for me and that seemed to be more important than trying to please everybody else.

What has been your most exciting sale or learning experience since opening?

I think the most exciting part about selling on etsy has been the exposure that I have received since opening my shop.

Initially I was just concerned with selling my paintings and prints and didn’t think much beyond that. However, I started getting emails from magazines and well established blogs wanting to cover my work. Over time that led to picking up clients like Tiffany and Co, Hallmark UK, and some book publishers. It’s the opportunities that I never

considered that have been the most exciting aspect of being online.

How do you utilize social media to engage customers and drive traffic to your shop?

I use social media very passively.

Partly because I don’t really understand it and partly because I noticed through friends who did use social media quite actively to promote their businesses that it could border on ‘telemarketing’ if you weren’t careful. It can be like constant advertisements on your facebook page or twitter.

After a while people tune it out or get annoyed. So I only ‘tweet’ or post on facebook when I’ve posted something on my blog which 95% of the time is a new painting—which occurs once or twice a week.

Can you tell us about a business risk you’ve taken since starting Janet Hill Studio?

What came of it?

I would have to say that my biggest risk was licensing my work.

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It was quite a rollercoaster ride at first. I was approached by a large company to license my work for cards and posters. At the time I was so excited that I signed the contract without consulting a lawyer. Stupid, I know.

But I was so naive and presumed that a company of that size and reputation wouldn’t be up to naughty deeds. Also, consulting a lawyer would cost around $400–$500 and I didn’t have the money to do that initially. A few months later another reputable company wanted to work with me but I discovered that I had signed all the rights to every image that I created and would create for the next five years over to the first company. A bit of a battle ensued and eventually I did get to work with the second company which proved much more fruitful than the first one. Fortunately the first company went under and I was released from the contract. I now have an agent who is very knowledgeable with the ins and outs of licensing and so I don’t have to have a panic attack when a new contract comes in.

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What does a typical day look like for you?

My mornings are when I spend my time glued to my computer trying to get caught up on emails and organize my etsy shop. I then walk my dog and clear my head for the day (very important). Most of my afternoon is spent in my little studio with intermittent bouts of procrastination- like staring off into space, going out in my back garden or looking at my favourite blogs. I usually finish up at around 7pm and try to relax for the evening—although my mind seems to always be coming up with ideas for paintings. Shutting that down is difficult.

What is the best advice (business or personal) you’ve received since starting Janet Hill Studio?

My husband and my parents are always dishing out good advice but I think it’s very specific advice to the problem or concern at hand. I think the overall best advice that gets drilled into me by them is to just continue

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“ Honesty in your work is the most important thing.” at my own pace, don’t compare myself to others that seem to have it all, and be true to myself and what I do. Honesty in your work is the most important thing.

What has been the most rewarding part of owning a small business?

I really like being my own boss.

There’s more freedom when you have your own business.

You may not always feel it, but in the end if something isn’t working for you, you have the ability to stop it or change direction.

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Are there any books or business resources you would recommend to other aspiring entrepreneurs?

There’s a book called ‘Steal Like An Artist’ by Austin Kleon which I only discovered a few months ago. It has very honest and practical advice for artistsespecially those wishing to establish an online presence.

What are some of your favorite Etsy shops?

Oh gosh...there are so many!

Here’s a few that I’ve been admiring lately: Kari Herer, For Strange Women, Lisa Rupp Design, and mummysam.

Hot Chocolate

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Career Spotlight Name Lucy Seche Locaton San Francisco Company method Title Business Manager, Personal Care Age 32

What did you want to be when you were younger?

A cleaning lady. I’m not kidding. I would visit my friends’ houses and clean their rooms for them. I was a popular houseguest, as you can imagine.

What was your major and where did you earn your degrees?

Bachelors of Arts in English at the University of Virginia, MBA from Kellogg Graduate School at Northwestern University.

How did you end up working for method?

I was working in marketing at Clorox (selling toilet bowl cleaners) when my cousin who is a graphic designer at method told me that a marketing

role had opened up. He’d been waxing poetic about method for months, so I submitted a resume within 15 minutes. method is a socially concious company. Which of their philosophies most resonate with you? method does a ton of incredibly innovative work around sustainability and health, but I love that we conduct absolutely no animal testing on any of our products and do not endorse or commission any animal testing on our behalf. (As our green scientists say: “guinea pigs should not be guinea pigs.”)

What is your favorite method product?

Pink Grapefruit All Purpose Cleaner — ­ the stuff works like magic and smells so amazing you want to drink it. But Please Don’t. I cannot condone the drinking of all-purpose cleaner. Even if it smells as good as ours.

What does your role at method entail?

I am in a general management role on our personal care business (hand wash, hand sanitizer, body wash), so I help set the business strategy and goals for our “pod.” This includes everything from new product development to figuring out how and where to sell what we make.

What was some of the best business advice you received?

“If you can say yes, say yes..” It was in reference to working with kids as a summer camp counselor, but I think it applies in the workplace, and in life in general.

What are some of the biggest challenges you faced on your path to your current position?

My background was in Public Relations so when I wanted to make the jump to brand management, I couldn’t get my foot in the door since I didn’t have the “business” skills an ex-consultant or banker would have. I decided to go to business school to get more traditional business training.

What is the most rewarding part of your job?

Method’s Friday afternoon drink cart. JUST KIDDING. Working for a small company means that I can actually see how the work I do contributes to our success as a company. method can also move fast, since we’re small, so in under a year I’ve seen a product go from concept to shelf, which is pretty awesome.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

If method continues to grow internationally, I would love to work in a method office abroad. Hong Kong, Paris, London—I’m not picky.

What advice would you give to others considering a similar career?

Start big, go small. Classical training at a bigger consumer packaged goods company will come in handy for the rest of your career, even if you know you want to work for a smaller company or start-up in the end.

WORK

Lucy’s Short List Home Shop Hindsvik on Etsy or the Alameda Flea Market Accessory Shop Tessyla on Etsy Clothing Shop/Designer J.Crew Fall Nail Color Essie Punchy Pink which is an absurd shade of neon pink (not fall, but fun) City Dubrovnik, Croatia Place to Visit Cape Cod, Massachussetts Book This is Where I Leave You by Jonathan Tropper Ethnic Food Vietnamese Online Shop Spoonflower Fall Treat Sunday morning football at our local bar Fall Activity Going up to Tomales Bay for oysters at Hog Island (Since fall means the end of the June Gloom in San Francisco)

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WORK

Interview with Liz Forkin Bohannon

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Liz Forkin Bohannon is living her dream by providing opportunity to Ugandan women in the form of work and education. Here she shares about her vision and the amazing change her company, Sseko Designs, is making in East Africa.

What is Sseko Designs?

Sseko Designs is a footwear and accessories company based in Uganda.

Sseko was created to educate, empower and provide employment opportunities to high-potential young women in East Africa. Sseko began as a way to generate income for high-potential, talented young women to continue on to university. Sseko has graduated three classes

of women. Every woman who has graduated from Sseko is currently pursuing her college degree. In addition to our universitybound team, Sseko also employs a full-time team of women from all walks of life. By creating an environment of dignity, honor, creativity and dedication, Sseko Designs provides the opportunity for women in East Africa to end the cycle of poverty

and create a more equitable society.

What inspired you to start Sseko?

What Sseko has become is somewhat of an accidental result of blind determination.While living in Uganda (I moved there to pursue journalism) I met a group of incredibly talented and ambitious young women who needed economic opportunity in

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order to continue on to university and pursue their dreams. I knew I was in a certain place in a certain time and that the story of these women would become a part of my story.

I couldn’t have cared how that took shape. Almost everything about Sseko was born from necessity.

We needed to generate income. We had to do something that 18-yearold girls could be a part of for a season and then move on to pursue their

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goals. We had to create something out of the limited materials available in the East African region.

After several other ideas (including a chicken farm!)

I was reminded of a pair of funky, strappy sandals I had made a few years earlier. I spent a few weeks scouring the country for the materials we needed and trying to learn everything I could about making footwear. I hired three young women and several weeks later, under a mango tree,

a sandal company in East Africa was born!

What does Sseko mean?

Enseko is the word for Laughter in Luganda

You turned a dream of helping women in Uganda into a business that truly benefits those you want to help. What has been the greatest challenge in getting where you are today?

The infrastructure for production and logis-

tics is still very limited.

Our hope is to not only to make Sseko successful but in the process, to contribute to the overall climate of doing sustainable business in East Africa.

What has been most rewarding since starting this venture?

Sseko graduation, when our women graduate from our program and start university! It is such a joy to be a part of watching

them take the next step to pursuing their dreams.

of hats. The joys of a small company.

What does a typical day look like for you?

What is the best business advice you have received since starting Sseko Designs?

No such thing! It might include being in East Africa, scouring the market for new materials or sitting at my desk in Portland, outlining our marketing plan, managing interns or speaking on a college campus. Or let’s be honest, making a Post Office run or emptying the trash at the office. We all wear lots

To do for one person what you wish you could do for many. It is so easy to become overwhelmed and discouraged while working for social justice.

But great things don’t happen in a day. It is about being faithful, and putting one foot in front of the

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The Sseko Accessory Line launched this September. Check out the online store to view the collection.

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WORK

“ Do

for one person what you wish for many...

“

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WORK other and walking slowly towards to goal. One person at a time!

What advice would you give to others who are considering starting a business that gives back?

Know that you can’t solve every problem in the world. If you try you’ll fail.

But even worse, you’ll become discouraged and burnt out. Focus on one thing you’re absolutely die-hard passionate about.

And then run towards it with all your might. And don’t forget to celebrate the small victories!

I love that there are so many ways to tie the sandal straps to create

unique looks on a whim.

Who comes up with all of the tie ideas? And what is your favorite way to tie your sandals?

We’re always coming up with new ties! Honestly, a majority of the most popular ties have been designed by our customers. We’re always getting photos or videos from super creative Sseko lovers who are AMAZING at styling their Ssekos! We love sharing their creations with the rest of the Sseko-wearers who need a little inspiration. If I am being super active, I always opt for the Classic Tie because it is so comfortable and sturdy. But when I’m in the mood to spice things

up I opt for a style like the Braided Thong with a metallic strap. An elegant and classic silhouette—with a twist.

What are some ways readers can be part of what Sseko is doing in Uganda?

Wear Ssekos. Tell your friends. Seriously, the only way we’ve been able to grow at the pace we have is because of our incredible fans sharing our story.

We’ve got lots of ways to get involved from hosting Sseko parties (order 10 or more pairs and you’ll receive free shipping and 10% off your order!) to joining our team as an intern, employee or retail partner.

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Liz’s Short List INTERNATIONAL NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION Global Fund for Women US-BASED NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION Kauffman Foundation CITY Portland or Kampala!

PLACE TO VISIT Right now my wanderlust list includes: Peru, Bali and Morocco!

BOOK East of Eden ETHNIC FOOD Thai or Mediterranean ONLINE SHOP Etsy!

FALL TREAT Hot apple cider. And carmel apple pops. So bad, but so good!

FALL ACTIVITY Camping

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GIVING THANKS Photography by Pictilio Styling by Amanda Gomes

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ENTERTAIN

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With so much shopping and cooking required to host a Thanksgiving dinner, simple and festive is the ideal way to decorate your table for this yearly gathering. Use these tips for setting your table with ease and beauty.

Live Plants Succulents from your local home and garden center are fairly inexpensive and can be combined in any vase or container for an easy centerpiece. The varied shapes of these plants will provide an element of interest to your table.

Candles You can’t go wrong with flickering light at Thanksgiving. Use tapers in a bold color or place a votive at each place setting to bring a sense of coziness to your dinner.

Linens An easy way to add color and texture to your table is with napkins and runners. Don’t be afraid to mix-and-match fabrics and colors.

THE GOODS

Gray Linen Napkins: Rufflewood Hemp Runner: Pottery Barn White Infinity Chairs: Blueprint Studios

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Left Page: Mix-and-match place setting decor to create visual interest and add color.

ENTERTAIN

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ENTERTAIN

Use your buffet table to hold drinks and predinner snacks as well as festive decor.

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ENTERTAIN

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Rufflewood handmade boutique

www.rufflewood.com | www.etsy.com/shop/rufflewood

the taste of Four talented food bloggers share their favorite pumpkin recipes—just in time for your cozy fall festivities.

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Pumpkin

ENTERTAIN

CONTRIBUTORS Cookie + Kate Food Loves Writing What’s Cooking Good Looking Channeling Contessa

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Recipe and Photos by Kate Taylor of the blog Cookie + Kate

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ENTERTAIN

Pumpkin Pineapple Cocktail This cocktail is a real treat! You’ll be surprised at how well the pumpkin and pineapple flavors blend together and complement each other. These pretty drinks are sweet but balanced—perfect for slow sipping on crisp, cool fall days.

INGREDIENTS 7 ounces pineapple juice (I like R.W. Knudsen brand) 3 tablespoons organic pumpkin purée 1 teaspoon honey (more or less to taste) 1 big lemon, juiced 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon 1/8 teaspoon ginger dash nutmeg dash allspice or cloves 3 ounces dark rum (I prefer Myer’s)

DIRECTIONS Pour all ingredients into a blender and blend well Fill two double old fashioned glasses with ice Pour the mixture over ice and garnish with a dash of cinnamon Yields 2 cocktails

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Pumpkin Pie and Homemade Crust

Note: Sweet potato puree or squash puree makes an easy substitute for the pumpkin if you find those more readily available. You can also combine them to make the two cups.

INGREDIENTS 1 unbaked pie crust (see recipe on next page) 2 eggs 1 cup unrefined cane sugar (sucanat) 1 Tablespoon white spelt flour 2 cups pumpkin puree (usually about one whole pumpkin, roasted, scooped, and blended in a food processor) 1/2 teaspoon sea salt 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon ginger 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg 1/2 teaspoon allspice 12 ounces organic heavy cream

DIRECTIONS Preheat oven to 450째 F. In a large bowl, beat two eggs lightly. Add the rest of the ingredients (sucanat, flour, pumpkin puree, salt, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, allspice, cream). Mix together well.

Pour mixture into unbaked pie crust, leaving a little space at the top (I always have like 1/4 cup leftover, which I either bake in a tiny leftover pie crust or by itself in a small ramekin). Bake for 10 minutes at 450째; then lower the temperature to 350째 F, and bake for 40 to 50 minutes more. The pie is done when a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

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Recipe and Photo by Tim & Shannon Mallon of Food Loves Writing

Recipe and Photos by Tim and Shanlee Mallon of Food Loves Writing delighted 67

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ENTERTAIN (continued)

Homemade Pie Crust Note: While this recipe calls for white spelt, I've also used whole-grain spelt or a combo of the two; as well as sprouted wheat flour.

INGREDIENTS 1 cup white spelt flour 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, chopped into small pieces 1/4 cup cold water

DIRECTIONS Combine flour and salt in a large bowl. Cut in butter with a pastry cutter or a fork until the mixture looks like coarse crumbs. Stir in water. Using your clean hands, shape the dough into a ball. It can be refrigerated for a few hours or overnight, as long as you thaw it for about 20 minutes before using.

Roll out your dough onto floured parchment paper, making it larger than the pie pan you want to set it in. Using the parchment to help you move it, turn the crust onto the pie pan, pressing it down and up the sides.

Makes one pie crust.

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Recipe and Photos by Jodi Moreno of the blog What’s Cooking Good Looking

ENTERTAIN

Roasted Pumpkin & Beet Salad with a Carrot Ginger Dressing INGREDIENTS For the salad: 1 small pumpkin 4-5 large beets (with green tops) A couple of tablespoons of grapeseed or vegetable oil salt & pepper 1 teaspoon of cumin 1 cup of cooked quinoa 1 large bunch of arugula, chopped For the dressing: 1 cup of carrots, chopped 1/4 cup of ginger, peeled and chopped 1 clove of garlic, sliced 1/4 cup (or 2 small) shallots, sliced 1 tablespoon of tamari (or low sodium soy sauce) 1 tablespoon of sesame oil 1 tablespoon of honey 1 teaspoon of dijon mustard 2 tablespoons of brown rice vinegar 1/4 cup of grapeseed or vegetable oil 2-3 tablespoons of water

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(continued)

DIRECTIONS Preheat oven to 350ยบ Slice the pumpkin in half. Using a spoon, scoop out the seeds and pulp. Spread the pumpkin seeds on a parchment lined baking sheet and remove any excess pulp.

Drizzle with the vegetable or grape seed oil and season with the salt, pepper, and cumin. Toss to combine.

Place the seeds in the oven, and bake for 20-25 minutes, until they start to brown.

While your seeds are baking, prepare the pumpkin and the beets. Slice the pumpkin into small wedges and place on a parchment lined baking sheet. Brush the wedges with a small amount of oil and season with salt and pepper.

For the beets, remove the leaves and set aside until you are ready to assemble the salad. **A quick tip for handling beets so you do not stain everything red, is to wear disposable latex gloves and lay out a piece of parchment on your cutting board where you will be slicing the beets** Peel and slice the beets into square chunks or thin wedges. Place the sliced beets on a (separate) parchment lined baking sheet and brush with the oil and season with salt and pepper.

When the seeds are done, remove and set them aside to cool. Crank the heat up a little to 400ยบ. When the oven has reached this temp, place the pumpkin and the beets in the oven and bake for 40-45 minutes.

While the pumpkin and beets are cooking, make the carrot ginger dressing and the quinoa. To make the quinoa, place 1/2 cup of quinoa in a small pot with 1 cup of water and a pinch of salt. Bring the water to a boil, cover, and reduce to a simmer. Cook for 15 minutes. Remove from the heat, remove the lid, and allow the quinoa to cool down.

To make the dressing, place the carrots in a food processor and pulse a few times until they are shredded. Then add the ginger, garlic, shallots, tamari (or soy sauce), FALL 2012

sesame oil, mustard, honey and vinegar. Pulse a few times until everything is combined.Then drizzle in the oil until everything is emulsified. Add a little bit of water to thin the dressing. Taste and adjust the seasoning to you liking.

Once the pumpkin and beets are done, allow them to cool a little and then assemble the salad. Start by adding the ginger dressing to the quinoa. Stir to combine. Then chop up the beet greens (stems removed) and add them to the quinoa along with the arugula. Plate the quinoa, and top it with the beets, pumpkin seeds, and a couple of wedges of the sliced pumpkin. Drizzle a little more of the ginger dressing on top.

Serve immediately, or you can make ahead and refrigerate all of the ingredients (separately) for a few days. If there is extra ginger dressing it will keep well refrigerated for about a week.

Serves 4-6

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Recipe and Photos by Clara Artschwager of the blog Channeling Contessa FALL 2012

Pumpkin Dutch Baby with Whipped Maple Butter INGREDIENTS For the dutch baby: 1/2 cup cake flour (or all purpose) 1 1/2 tablespoons sugar 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon dried ginger 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg 1/2 tsp baking soda 2 eggs 1/3 cup purĂŠed pumpkin 1/2 cup milk (2% or whole) 1 tablespoon butter, melted 1 tablespoon butter 1/2 tsp vanilla extract extra maple syrup, slivered almonds, and powdered sugar for serving For the whipped maple butter: 3 tablespoons softened butter (salted) 3 tablespoons pure maple syrup 1/2 tsp cinnamon

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Visit the Delighted Blog this season for moreand about the recipes and the Recipe Photo

by Clara Artschwager bloggers featuredContessa on these pages. of Channeling FALL 2012

(continued)

DIRECTIONS Preheat the oven to 400°. Once heated, place a cast iron or heavy skillet in the oven to preheat while you prep the pancake batter.

Whisk together the pumpkin, eggs, milk, melted butter, and vanilla extract. Add in the flour, sugar, salt, spices, and baking soda and whisk until just combined.

Carefully remove the pre-heated pan from the oven. Place the remaining tablespoon butter in the pan and swirl around so it’s evenly coated. Pour the batter into the pan. Place back in oven and bake for 15-18 minutes until pancake is set and golden brown.

While the pancake is baking, make the maple butter. In a small bowl, whisk together the butter, maple syrup and cinnamon.

When the pancake is done, top with maple butter, slivered almonds, and more syrup or powdered sugar. Enjoy immediately!

Serves 1-2

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MUST-HAVE: FALL ACCESSORIES

Brights paired with brown and black is Kate Brightbill’s recommendation for choosing accessories this fall. Visit her blog Style Smaller for more style ideas.

London Undercover Umbrealla CLUB MONACO $195

Tangerine Hair Ties Photo of Kate: Pictilio

NORDSTROM $7

Driving Gloves TORY BURCH $167

Bubble Earrings J.CREW $45

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STYLE

Bookshop Glasses MADEWELL $35

Leather Hobo BANANA REPUBLIC $150

Abstract Rose Scarf KATE SPADE $148

Urban Linked Toggle Bracelet PIPERLIME $45

Calf Hair Loafers GAP $50

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What to Wear: WORK

Pyramid and Spike

Leopard Print Wrap

Piperlime $14

Alice and Olivia $396

Black Ponte Dress

Dorothy Perkins $39 Jet Set Travel Tote

Neiman Marcus $278 FALL 2012

Wish For

Zappos $80

STYLE

Autumn 2012

BY KATE BRIGHTBILL

CASUAL

Stud Earrings $157 Boutique1 Folded Snood Topshop $40 Striped Modal Tank Net-A-Porter $85

Goldrush Jean Jacket Madewell $118

Lena Lace Up Booties Shopbop $295

Raspberry Skinny Jeans MyWardrobe.com $255

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BRUNCH

Double Hoop Earrings TopShop $15

Goldrush Denim Vest Madewell $88 Fantastical Voyage Dress ModCloth $90 Crazy For You Zappos $140 FALL 2012

DATE NIGHT

Onyx Drop Earrings Shopbop $110

Wool Scarf J.Crew $62

Biker Jacket TopShop $110

Rachel Comey Boot Piperlime $395

Gracie Eclipse Clutch Shopbop $365

Hammered-Satin Dress Rebecca Taylor $295

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SOPHIE’S PICKS

Three year old Sophie from the blog Style Smaller shares two colorful outfits she’d like to wear this fall.

Heart Sweater J.Crew $60

Photo of Sophie: Pictilio

ONE

Suede Cowboy Boots Zara $50 FALL 2012

Mini Skinny Jeans Baby Gap $21

TWO

Gap + Threadless T Baby Gap $23

Hooded Full Zip Sweater Old Navy $15

Sateen Bubble Skirt J.Crew $40 Macalister Boots J.Crew $98

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Back to School: Bento Lunches Photos and text by Sonia Ballesteros

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KIDS

I

am not the kind of mom who will spend time shaping rice into a cat, or butterflying hot dogs into octopi, or fashioning seaweed strips into a face. I care about what my kids eat and I am committed to packing healthy lunches. But it has to be easy, or it isn’t for me. Like every other mom of school-aged children, I struggle to get my child to eat at school. And while I do not consider myself a true “Bentoid” the Bentodian concept of serving “a variety of small bites” has proven to be really effective in combating the lure of recess and playtime.

The key to keeping it doable, is to have a stocked pantry, prewashed fruit in the fridge ready to go, and the right gear. I keep to the formula of one protein + one/two fruits/veggies + one carb + a treat.

If I have all those components in place, I can put a lunch together in under 10 minutes, and spend all of that time just making it pretty.

That’s the fun part!

Previous Page Food: Peanut butter and nutella sandwiches, TJ’s cheese curls, baby carrots, grapes, “crackerwiches” (Mary’s Gone Crackers) with cream cheese and jam, half a high-protein granola bar Gear: Easy Lunchbox system Left Food: Apples, salami, zucchini muffin, crackers, cheese chunks, egg salad, nutella and cream cheese sushi sandwiches Gear: Lock & Lock snack lunchbox, LunchBots Duo

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Food: Strawberries, half a granola bar, crackers, carrots, omelette rollups, Kashi oatmeal chocolate chip cookie and Scrabble Cheezits Gear: Lock & Lock snack lunchbox, LunchBots Quad

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Food: Watermelon, chocolat pineapple, salami slices, chees

Gear: Lock & Lock short lun

te oat bar, crackerwiches, se stick

nchbox, LunchBots Duo

KIDS

Food: Snap Pea Crisps, Larabar, chocolate covered pretzels, apple chunks, veggie booty, turkey rollups, peanut butter and nutella sandwiches Gear: Lock & Lock short lunchbox, LunchBots Duo

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SUPPLY LIST

cupcake liners “bento” box variety of fun picks sharp knife cutting board cookie cutters (simple hearts, stars, or circles)

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KIDS LunchBots

Orange Duo $18

Casabella Muffin Cups $9

Wilton Basic Metal Cutter Set $5

Japanese Bento Animal Fork Set $4

Kuhn Ricon Paring Knives $20

Crate&Barrel Green Jelli Board $13

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A Mother’s Story Written by Shannon Maass

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KIDS

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CHOOSING ADOPTION

A friend once told me, “adoption is not for the faint of heart.”

No matter how you decide to adopt, it’s never easy. The research, the paperwork, the background checks, the home study interview, the costs, the travel, the agony of waiting, the setbacks, the disappointments, the flukes no one saw coming, are all enough to make you want to run in the other direction.

Yet sometimes, you just feel called to take on the challenging and beautiful adventure that adoption has a way of turning out to be.

Adoption is a word that FALL 2012

has been part of our vocabulary since early on in our marriage. In fact, before we had kids, we had talked about the possibility of one day adopting. But the desire to first start a family on our own outweighed our decision to adopt. So it was put off until some time in the future. Three years into our marriage, we welcomed our firstborn, a beautiful and fiercely independent baby girl. Two and a half years later, our sweet, handsome and quirky little boy arrived.

Today they are five and three years old, the best of friends, and little joy makers everyday in our lives...okay, most days.

As we started thinking about a third baby, adoption talk was back on the table. After two early miscarriages, we couldn’t help thinking that perhaps we were supposed to grow our family this way.

As I began looking more into adoption, the wealth of information piqued my curiosity and the desire to adopt burned deeply within me. I had no idea what path I was about to head down, but I knew that I was moving in the right direction. I felt in my bones we were supposed to adopt our next child.

The big question was how to go about adopting. Do we adopt internationally or domestically? If domes-

tically, do we adopt privately or publicly through the social services system?

After looking into both international and private domestic adoptions, the cost alone was so daunting, we had no choice but to eliminate these options.

How discouraging! There are so many babies out there in need of loving homes and here we were, a family willing to make a difference in just one of those children’s lives, yet feeling like our adoption dream was already slipping out of our hands

before the process even began. Questions gnawed at me. Why should it cost so much money, tens of thousands of dollars no less, to adopt a child? This was money that we didn’t have lying around or even saved up. I mean, does the average American family

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“I had no ide I was abou down, but I was moving direction. my bones supposed to next child.”

even have that kind of expendable money on hand?

After all, adoption fees are not something you can just run on your credit card. I was so discouraged to think we couldn’t adopt simply because we couldn’t afford it.

And then I heard about fost/adopt.

The cost was minimal, if anything at all. But the circumstances surrounding foster children waiting to FALL 2012

be adopted weren’t pretty.

It wasn’t going to be like those stories I had seen with my friends who had adopted healthy babies overseas or brought their newborn baby straight home from the hospital.

The stories I had daydreamed about and secretly wanted for my own.

No, this was a whole different ball game.

In the fost/adopt world, children have been re-

moved from their homes by Child Protection Services (CPS) and parental rights are relinquished by the courts due to the parents’ inability to care for their children. Children in these situations have usually experienced some form of abuse or neglect, usually because their parents have a major drug/alcohol addiction. All foster children are considered special needs kids as defined by the county. Not

KIDS

ea what path ut to head knew that I g in the right I felt in that I was o adopt our

in the same way we often think in terms of physical or mental disabilities, but based on the fact that a traumatic event has occurred in their lives: they have been removed from their homes, their place of security with the only parents they know and love.

No matter how bad the situation, stripping a child from his or her parents is a traumatic event, one that can manifest itself with an array of symp-

toms. Kids may display aggressive behaviors or be unable to form healthy attachments with other people throughout their lives. In addition, based on the form of neglect, many children in the foster care system have special needs of varying degrees. They may suffer from mild to severe developmental delays, physical handicaps, or behavioral disorders.

And every single one of them needs a loving and

secure home.

On top of all of this is the risk involved in going down this path as a fost/ adopt parent. Because the primary goal of the foster care system is to reunify children with their birth parents, you might only be a temporary family for a child you had hoped to adopt. You essentially bridge the gap, as a concurrent family, by providing a loving, stable home for a neglected child until

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their parents can gain their rights back. Custody can be given back to the bio parent(s) if they accept reunification services to enter rehab treatment, get psychiatric help, or attend therapy or some other form of treatment depending on the reason the child was removed in the first place. If all goes well, chances are you will be saying goodbye to the very child you had once hoped to adopt. If bio parents do not accept the services, then an adoption plan will be put into place for the child. Enter a whole slew of legal processes, court hearings, paper trails, and a revolving door of social workers rotating in and out of the scene. But this could be your chance. Your chance to adopt that baby you’ve been waiting for and dreaming of all this time.

No matter how I looked at it, fost/adopt was not going to be an easy road, but one that, over time, I felt more driven to pursue.

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We ended up going with a great adoption agency in Scotts Valley called Hand In Hand Foundation, who specializes in both public fost/adopt and private adoptions. We decided to start down the path of fost/adopt, unpopular and scary as it was. Being a family of faith, we trusted that God would continue to lead us down this path if it was the one for us. All we had to do was take the leap of faith, let go, and trust.

I remember sitting in one of our fost/adopt trainings, hearing staggering statistics of children “stuck” in the foster care system and who are never adopted. I listened to heart wrenching stories of helpless children being stripped away from the only mom or dad they knew, forced to break unhealthy attachments and form new ones, but who were offered hope through families who could provide more than the adequate love and care they needed.The

work was intense. But the reward, unmatched.

I wanted to be one of those families for that child in need. Sounds heroic, doesn’t it? Yet I was shaking in my boots. Was this really what I was supposed to do? Were we even supposed to have any more kids at all, adoption or not?

Despite the doubts and questions, we stayed the course, completed our trainings, our certifications, background checks, home study, and then entered that dreaded little waiting phase.

We waited. And waited.

And waited.

Not one email. Not one phone call. Nothing but dead silence.

When you get to this point, there is absolutely nothing you can do. There is no waiting list, as some people seem to think, where lucky you, you just moved up to the number

one spot and are next in line to receive a child! It just doesn’t work that way (thankfully). Social workers and our adoption agency work together to find the best family fit for a child that will benefit everyone involved. This is a forever match. No one wants to see it fail. So it is given much thought and consideration, hence the grueling application process and in-home interviews. It is all completely out of our hands. We have absolutely no control over

what happens.

And so as I waited, I wrestled with my thoughts.

I tried to ward off my fears. My mind gave into doubts. I questioned the call. I feared regret, time wasted, starting down a path we would ultimately be unable to finish. I was in a crazy state of mind.

But I held it together for friends and family who would excitedly ask, “Any news yet?� I always had a positive answer and a smile plastered on my

face, but I was dying on the inside.

Six months of silence. And then one day... a phone call. About a one-year-old baby girl.A healthy, thriving, smiley baby girl currently residing in an emergency foster home, needing to be permanently placed in an adoptive home. Would we be willing to attend a disclosure meeting to find out more?

All it takes is one phone call to change your life forever. I will never forget

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that day. It was a Friday. I remember how my heart felt like it was going to jump right out of my chest; how my palms were sweaty and my body temperature had suddenly risen; how my stomach shook from the flips it was doing.

And how I gave an emphatic and eager “Yes, we would love to hear more about this little girl” as my answer.

All doubts and fears were extinguished and all that remained was pure excitement. It’s amazing how your heart can be open to love and receive a child you’ve never even met.

“

And how you can daydream about her, knowing she’ll be nothing like your bio kids. She won’t have your eyes or his smile. But, no matter. You can’t wait to meet her.You can’t wait to show her how much you already love her.

The following Tuesday was our big day, and after an information meeting with baby girl’s social workers and adoption worker, we just knew that we wanted her. Before we saw pictures, before we even met her, we knew she was the one for us.Though healthy and well, her background story was heart break-

ing. So much so, that we wanted to play our role in changing the course of her life immediately.

The bonus? We got to meet her that same day!

We thought a bashful, maybe even skittish child would come through the door.What we got instead, was a girl with big smiles complete with two accompanying dimples. She made eye contact with all the strangers in the room oohing and aahing over her. Having just learned of her history, it wasn’t likely that she would approach any of us. It took

All it takes is one phone call to change your life forever. I will never forget that day.

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”

everything within me to not reach out and grab her, kiss her little face, and squeeze her chunky little thighs.

Meeting this little girl for the first time sparked a new hope and excitement for the journey of her becoming our new daughter.

We knew there was a lot of work ahead—a major transition phase transferring her from her current foster family’s care to ours. But we were ready and willing to do whatever it was going to take to bring her home with us when she was ready. And despite her trust issues,

she gave us a glimpse at our first meeting that she just might have a desire to get to know us more, too.

During her brief visit, she did approach me for split seconds and even took a graham cracker from my hand. In just 20 short minutes with her, she gave us something to celebrate. A huge first step. Perhaps an early sign of her willingness to give us a chance— to let us build her trust in us, to let us into her world and love her as a mommy and daddy should—with arms wide open. Forever.

Today, baby girl has been living with us for just over

one month. And while the road has been rocky at times, we have triumphs to celebrate each day.

What a beautiful and challenging adventure the fost/ adopt journey is turning out to be for us. It hasn’t been easy, but it’s an experience I wouldn’t trade for the world. Because baby girl is not legally our daughter yet, we can’t publicize pictures or any information about her. We look forward to our day in court before the judge to hear that she is officially our little girl. Of course she already is in my book!

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Clay & Stephanie Kuzma July 21, 2012 LOCATION San Luis Obispo, CA VENUE Holland Ranch PHOTOGRAPHER Vivian Sachs Event Designer Bride and Groom DAY-OF-COORDINATOR Jaime Strand CAKE Cupcakes from Madonna Inn Bakery FLORAL DESIGNER April Peet with April Flowers BAND Matt Cross and the One Night Band CATERER Testa Catering DRESS Oleg Cassini RENTALS Taylor Rentals

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WEDDING

From the Bride and Groom: We incorporated our story on the back of our invitations. It was written like this: “Ten years ago Clay found himself distracted by a pretty girl in physics class at Cal Poly. This girl proved a tough sell and Clay failed repeatedly on several attempts to win her affection. Undeterred by her steadfastness, Clay resolved that this pretty girl named Stephanie would one day be his. The two found themselves on opposite sides of the state after college and lost touch for several years. Then one day fate intervened and a phone call led to a plane ticket, which led to multiple flights per month for almost two years, which led to a proposal in Kauai, which led to Stephanie's job inter view up north, which led to a big crossstate move, which led to a July 21 wedding, which led to happily ever after...finally!!!�

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WEDDING

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Our style was a vintage, shabby chic, ranch wedding with a barn house party flare. We did the DIY elements with a little help from friends and family, including: wedding invitations, programs, altar curtains and chandelier, silhouette painted cornhole games with embroidered bean bags, distressed picture frames with chalkboard fillers, large distressed picture frame and chalkboard for table assignments, and collected all of the vintage-esque plates throughout the year from Goodwill. We included many personal touches to help make our day special and unique. The Holland Ranch was an absolutely idyllic setting with horse barn meadow and rocky peaks in the background. Our vendors helped to make the day perfect and it went off without a hitch.

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WEDDING

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spring colors

We chose three colors from Panto from Etsy to help style your upcom

NECTARINE Pantone 16 1360

paperandparcel

finkshop

CraftyWoolFelt

FAbridal

lillesyster

LeccareLollipops

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one’s Spring 2013 Fashion Color Report and are sharing some great finds ming wedding!

MONACO BLUE Pantone 19 3964

dacgiri

ajalon

MissSarahCake

somethingshidinghere

borlovanwoodworks

ValleyGirlDesigns

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TENDER SHOOTS Pantone 14 0446

BagNoir

majoiepress

BridalBouquetsbyKy

StudioMirela

somethingshidinghere

InTheClear

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WEDDING

TIFFANY & CHAD’S ENGAGEMENT FIESTA Written by Tiffany Chow Photography by Caitlin O’Reilly

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“ The

first time I met Chad he'd been snowboarding all day and

had the smell to prove it. Needless to say, I was underwhelmed.

It wasn't until about six months later at a mutual friend's Cinco De Mayo party that we had a better chance to have a more in-depth conversation. A week later we had our first real date and never looked back. Five years later we got engaged and my sisters generously offered to host our engagement party.

A Cinco De Mayo theme was the obvious choice as it not only serves as a reminder of our courtship but also lends itself well to any joyous occasion. Some of my favorite elements from the party were the fuchsia and orange papel picado garlands strung throughout the house inside and out, and the made-from-scratch horchata (one of Chad's favorite drinks). We were also blessed with picture perfect blue skies and mild weather, a rarity for San Francisco. The trifecta of amazing food, beautiful ambience, and perfect weather made for an unforgettable engagement party.

“

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WEDDING

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football with the Football season is in full swing. Here are 10 basics of the game to help you enjoy the season with your guy friends.

1.

A touchdown is worth six points. A field goal is worth three points.

2.

The line of scrimmage is where the ball is placed before each play.

3.

The offense has four downs to get 10-yards. If they gain 10-yards they get a new set of downs.

4.

A fumble is when the team with the ball loses it. Either team can recover it.

5.

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When the quarterback throws the ball and no one catches it, it is an incomplete pass. When caught, it is called a complete pass.

FOR FUN

guys 6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

When it seems the offense is running the running back aimlessly right into people, they are; they’re trying to break through the line of players on the opposing team.

When the team with the ball passes it and a player from the other team catches it, it is called an interception.

When a referee throws a flag on the field, it signals an infraction has occured and a penalty may be assessed.

A sack is when an opposing player tackles the quarterback behind the line of scrimmage.

When the offense is tackled in their own end zone it’s called a safety and the opposing team is awarded two points and possession of the ball.

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