AN EVENING IN THE ORCHARD

 how to properly pick a peach ::

 step one :: set your sights.

 step two :: reach, twist, and pull.

 step three :: inspect.

 step four :: place in basket. repeat.

step five :: I think step five has something to do with pie...

we've been home from our 20-month sojourn in the caribbean for about two weeks now and it's beginning to feel like a distant dream. the last two weeks have been full of to-do lists and baking and long drives to orchards and farmer's markets and it really feels like I've picked up a piece of myself out here that I had put down whilst living down there. as fun as laying on the beach is and as delicious as fresh mango tastes, it's good to be home. it's really really good. now, about that orchard...

for years now, mitch's family has summered down in this little town in montana that just so happens to be surrounded by orchards of every kind. every season seems to offer only the very best down there and year after year I think to myself that I better go pick some of that, and this year I finally did. I've been using this site called pickyourown.org to find u-picks in all of the places I've been traveling to and I really feel like I hit the nail on the head finding this one. the owners, dan and his wife, own more than 300 acres full of cherries, apples, peaches, plums, pears, and grapes. the peaches and plums were ready for picking (and eating) and we enjoyed following dan through the rows upon rows of lush and fruitful trees.  he'd stop every so often and tear a peach or a plum right in half, taste it, then hand one of us the other half to devour. they were usually so juicy we'd have them dripping down our arms before we were finished.

the neatest part of this whole experience was dan's enthusiasm and philosophy on growing things. having always wanted an orchard of my own, I found so much inspiration here. and so much inspiration for life, too. he explained it like, 'well of course there's a little science thrown in there, but it's pretty cool magic. you just plant a seed and water it and care for it and you have the best kind of candy. nature's candy.' I'm paraphrasing here, but I swear that's pretty much the gist of our conversation. and by conversation I mean me badgering him with endless questions until he had to go back to work.

^^ peat moss. all of the money from the orchard goes straight back into buying this stuff, right here. the owner said it's the best and most natural way to grow things (and that it's the secret to his green thumb success) ^^

I think dan could sense that I was seriously interested in his job, his life, ...and his lifestyle, for that matter. so before we bid adieu, he ushered us around his own personal garden. he grows all of his own produce and his wife cooks only from the garden. they're actually scheduled to open a garden-to-table cooking school here in a little while. he even let us eat straight from the vine handing us the largest variety of beans to try that I've ever seen. they were every color of the rainbow and tasted far superior to beans from a can. we picked corn off the cob and ate it raw and it was so sweet. he even sent us home with a complimentary cucumber for good measure. long story short, we left very full and very happy. and dan is officially alright in my book. the way to my heart is to feed me, after all.

if you're in the kalispell area and feel like a nice walk with all-natural hors d'oeuvres, hit up getmans' cherry red orchard. and just so you know, this was not a sponsored post in the least. we just really had a fun experience here.

and this begins the america chapters. mitch and I still sort of panic about needing to get ready to go back to the caribbean until we realize that that part of our life is over now. now I'm off to find a 9-to-5 and he's off to ace his board exams for the next few months. when did we all get so adult? well, I hope all of your weeks are off to a happy start. we've been playing so much recently, that now is the time to get junk done and that is precisely the plan today. have a great day!

love, arielle

IF THERE'S STILL ROOM UNDER YOUR TREE...

**original image via dash of serendipity found via pinterest

I don't know about you all, but I'm not even close to checking off that whopping christmas list of mine. and can I tell you a little secret? I think I sort of really like waiting till the last minute to do all of my holiday shopping. I like the hustle and the bustle and the stress of it all. and then coming home and stashing all my finds in secret hiding places until I get a private moment to get it all wrapped. I say I don't like it, but I'm coming clean, I do. all of this probably means I need to be institutionalized, but hey, if you're like me and there's still room under your tree, this one's for you. you'll find something personable, yet inexpensive, for a new friend. something more luxurious and a little pricier for the friends of old. something for the men in your life--be it romantic, fatherly, or brotherly. and something for those sweet littles that make life worth living and christmas so much cheerier. so have a look and I would love to know what all of you have been bundling under your trees. goodness knows I could always use some more ideas!

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can you even believe that wooden doctor's kit? I couldn't not, you know? and that bathrobe is the softest, most amazing thing you will ever hold in arm's reach. I hope you are having a very merry tenth day of december and seriously, let me know what's on your wishlist below!

love, arielle

PUTTING UP THE TREE

yesterday morning, I woke up and realized that mitch and I have never had our very own christmas tree. we always want one and then sit down and think it over and decide to spend the money elsewhere since elsewhere is usually where we spend christmas and it always has its own christmas tree. sadly, this year will follow suit. so, I have decided to just decorate this little online space and as you can probably tell, I'm really kind of obsessed with reindeers. I want them on my wall, on my pillows, on my end tables, and in my yard. I even asked mitch if we could move to the deep recesses of canada so that reindeer could be an everyday sort of thing. he said probably no. but if you're decorating, take a look at these finds. I've been stalking a few of them since all the way back in october and am super excited to now be sharing them with all of you.

one :: an idyllic home for christmas. such a neutral pallet for all of the bright red and green christmastime decor. found via pinterest.

two :: this joy marquee sign. 

three :: a berries and cones wreath. 

four :: these gorgeous plaid reindeers.

five :: a few sweater-knit stockings hung with care.

six :: a reindeer pillow for rest and for decoration.

seven :: these not-so-threatening boxwood animal heads.

eight :: a polar tree skirt to nest this year's heartfelt gifts.

so how's your christmas decorating going? I bet it's wonderful. my mom is actually saving all of her christmastime decorating for when mitch and I finally get home later on this month so that we can be a part of it. I am pretty excited about it all. hope your day is a good one! we're almost over the hump, you know.

love, arielle

PINNING || THANKSGIVING TABLESCAPES

by now, it's definitely no secret that thanksgiving is my favorite (and I do mean favorite!) holiday and is surrounded by my favorite time of year. and if you're like me (an everloving procrastinator) and you're still trying to sort out your thanksgiving tablescape, then this one's for you! or even if you live abroad and thanksgiving is really just the last thursday in november to you, then here is some final autumnal tablescape inspiration! it's chock-full of lush greenery, dreamy twinkle lights, and obviously, pumpkin. 

one :: a thanksgiving by the seaside. in a perfect world, this is what our caribbean thanksgiving would look like. but in the spirit of full disclosure,  it will most likely look much more 'real life' than this idyllic seaside tablescape. and is it just me, or is it like the article says--twinkle lights really do make everything better?

two :: a thanksgiving in the orchard. years from now, in the scenario where we don't end up in canada where november's frozen tundra would most likely upend any hope of dining outside, I can totally see mitch and me and whatever children the good lord sends us dining in our intimate, little orchard thanking the lord for each other and this beautiful earth that we live on. 

three :: boxwood favors. before my days are through, I hope to hostess a really fancy thanksgiving. and I mean a really fancy one! one where the guests get to take home their very own festive plant to nurture and care for all winter long. and the way pottery barn styled this whole get-together really has me weak in the knees. 

four :: tablerunning greenery. lit with candlesticks intermingled with votives and crystal goblets. there's just something about simple assortments of local flora that makes life so much more 'alive' and worth living.

five :: tapered candles indoors surrounded by those beautiful place settings and the earth's most cozy and intimate lighting--two things that are critical to any good thanksgiving. this will probably be the thanksgiving mitch and me and all of those little kids enjoy in the scenario where we do end up in canada.

six. gourdeous centerpieces. and I didn't come up with that joke, the ritzy bee blog did. I just found it super clever. as is this beautiful pumpkin centerpiece. because really, what denotes thanksgiving and autumn and abundance more than pumpkin? I couldn't think of it, either.

and so how goes your final thanksgiving preparations? I'll be honest, I'm dreadfully behind. and would I really be me if I wasn't? I finally got the shopping done, but have yet to put any plans into action. thankfully (pun intended), I've got a whole day left of this amazing thanksgivingness to get it together. 

as always, thank you so much for reading and if you haven't already, be sure to drop by this little giveaway. it doesn't end till friday.

love, arielle

**to see more autumnal inspiration, feel free to check out my pinterest boards.

PINNING || THE MONTH FOR EVERYTHING PUMPKIN

the first of october was pretty much the green flag on pumpkin everything, am I right? however, with temperatures still well into the 80s in some regions of the states (I'm looking at you arizona) and a constant 80 degrees down here, it took some of us a little longer than others to embrace the pumpkin fanaticism. but now that it's november, pumpkin is pretty much in full swing no matter the outside temperature. this past week, I have pretty much gone bananas pinning every pumpkin recipe that has stumbled across my pinterest feed. I love reading all of the different sweet and savoury ways other bloggers and foodies take that smelly, stringy, squishy mess of orange goop and turn it into something heavenly and autumnal. I can't even seem to decide which one I am going to attempt first. maybe that pumpkin pasta?

one :: brown butter pumpkin pasta by camille styles. because what goes better with carbs than more carbs?

two :: gingersnap pumpkin tarts by flourishing foodie. in case you were thinking of one-upping the traditional pumpkin pie.

three :: pumpkin bagels by remain simple. however, I couldn't find a recipe there so as to recreate these little beauties. but this recipe by lemon sugar looks delicious.

four :: baked pumpkin donuts with caramel glaze by honestly yum. 

five :: savoury pumpkin pie by what's cooking good looking. roasted fall veggies enveloped in a deliciously healthy crust.

six :: paul virant's pumpkin butter by food 52. to slather a hearty helping on everything.

seven :: pumpkin salted caramel thumbprint cookies by joy the baker. as if traditional thumbprint cookies weren't enough of a holiday treat, now they go ahead and add pumpkin and caramel! how are we ever supposed to diet?

eight :: soft frosted pumpkin spice cookies by the baker chick. the fluffiest autumnal cookies I have ever seen. ever.

nine :: pumpkin scones by the faux martha. topped with pumpkin seeds--such a brilliant idea.

surely, that's enough to get you in the holiday spirit! american thanksgiving is only fifteen days away,  after all, so we better get a move on. fifteen days is such a short period of time, in reality. the year has certainly gotten away from me. recently, I have been repeating that line from ferris bueller's day off over and over again in my head--"life moves pretty fast. if you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it." this also happens to be my all-time favorite thanksgiving movie. not quite sure why. maybe because there's a parade? I hope all of you have a great day. and just think, you're over the hump!

love, arielle

**to see all sorts of other pins, please hop on over to my pinterest boards.

COZY INTERIORS // RUSSET ORANGE + SNUGGLY TEXTURES

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favorite colors change as often and as frequently as the leaves change from green to yellow to red to brown and then again as they fall limply to the ground. but mine keeps coming back to a beautiful, russet, burnt orange. first in high school. then again in university. and most recently after mitch and I spotted this home featured in utah valley's parade of homes this past july. we both agreed that it's a little (or a lot) too ostentatious for our tastes but we loved the color schemes and on-purpose feel of both living rooms and all ten bedrooms. now, we are many years off from designing and filling our own dream home (hello, clinicals, residency, fellowship!) but this is a place for dreaming, after all, and I think you will love this space just as much as we did! even if you wouldn't necessarily build an entire town in your basement (view video below to see what I mean). plus, there is an added bonus to designing the space here first with the option of scrapping it later if my favorite color changes again, as its accustomed to. 

one :: kraven cinnamon leather chair. just the name, "kraven cinnamon" sounds like cozy autumn evenings and snuggly throws and pillows, doesn't it?

two :: rizzy home 'phoenix' pillow. I love the handmade feel of this pillow and variation in texture it offers to this dreamt up space.

three :: rizzy home ikat pillow. I don't know about you but I am pretty tired of chevron, so I am more than happy to invite ikat into the mix.

four :: vintage mercury glass table lamp. restoration hardware is definitely one of those "don't let me go in there because I'll blow my whole last paycheck" kind of places. it's like a darker, more authentic pottery barn (not that there's anything wrong with pottery barn). and in true restoration hardware style, this lamp is worth blowing your paycheck on.

five :: barefoot dreams striped throw. I have heard so many good things about barefoot dreams--like how they're the absolute softest when it comes to winter robes and throws. so I hope to get my hands on this one day soon.

six :: mercury moonglow candle. I can just imagine the light coming off this source would be nothing short of ethereal.

seven :: move and work by malene birger. tips straight from the fashion designer, herself, on how to outfit a room using patterns and textures with artifacts she picked up during her travels. the pictures are captivating and it's not a bad book to have on your coffee table, either.

eight :: boxwood trees. living green brightens and livens up any home and I am really loving the boxwood leaf right now. have you seen these boxwood animal heads?

nine :: amala flokati rug. we all love those sheepskin and alpaca rugs that have been littering pinterest lately, but I love that this one is a little different. it sort of pulls in the black without making the orange look like the pumpkin king.

ten :: oleander outdoor sofa. I'm not really sure what makes a sofa "outdoor" but I guess you could say I didn't care because I was searching for something like it. I love its two-tone cushions and think it is totally worth breaking that 'no black with brown' rule.

you can see more of the featured show home below ::

we are already midweek, which just seems like craziness, but I'll take it! it's block week in these parts which means there is a lot of time to fill and very little mitch. however, our big reward comes this upcoming tuesday because mitch's parents are coming for a little visit and we couldn't be more excited! I hope you all have a beautiful fall day!

love, arielle

PINNING || FALL TRENDS I LOVE

so far, autumn has brought us so many wonderful things. it's brought later mornings and chillier evenings. it's brought corn mazes and walks through the pumpkin patch. it's brought plaid blanket scarves, oversized sweaters, faux-leather everything, and boots. lots of boots. being the pinterest junkie that I am, I pretty much obsess over all of this year's favorite fall trends. as a child who grew up in the nineties, I swore I would never go back there, which is incredibly tough to do when 'there' feels a little like home. a home chalk full of destroyed denim, birkenstocks, and too-long sleeves. probably the best and biggest difference is that I have a greater understanding of which trends to follow and which trends to pass up. or at least, I hope I do. I love all of the classic renditions of these nineties favorites. I seriously want to buy a croissant for whoever thought that up. so cheers to them. cheers to the nineties. and cheers to fall. we still get a whole month before stringing up some twinkle lights and calling it winter.

one :: white cable-knit. similar here and here.

two :: faux-leather leggings. similar here. 

three :: wide-legged corduroys. similar here. 

( and ahem, they're on sale. )

four :: the blanket scarf. scarf.

five :: boyfriend jeans and birks. jeans. birks.

six :: too-long sleeves. similar here. 

seven :: hand-knit scarves. pattern.

eight :: jacquard cardigan. similar here.

nine :: patagonia fleece. similar here.

ten :: the ankle boot wedge. similar here.

eleven :: fair isle sweaters. similar here.

twelve :: the classic pea coat. similar here.

thirteen :: floppy hats. similar here.

fourteen :: the sling-back bootie. similar here.

fifteen :: a brightly colored classic. see similar here.

sixteen :: an over-the-knee boot. similar here. 

seventeen :: oversized sweaters. love this and this.

eighteen :: a pair of faux-leather gloves. similar here.

nineteen :: dr. martens with socks. dr. martens. socks.

twenty :: bordeaux everything. see similar here and here.

I know my daily uniform is terribly unimaginative. it pretty much consists of washed out denim and my favorite birks. you know what they say :: when in paradise...

and it's already wednesday!? it's crazy how that happens. yesterday, I woke up and it felt like friday. when I found out it was only tuesday, I was a little disappointed. now today, I wake up and remember that it's wednesday and I can scarcely believe it! regardless, I really hope your weeks are going well. I will be spending my whole day waiting for a care package from my mom ( because that's where my candy corn is ) and doing absolutely nothing. sounds like some sort of wonderful, doesn't it? take care, everyone.

love, arielle

**see more fall everything via my pinboards

PINNING || ON THE SHELF

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first off, can I just say this is my one-hundredth post!? who knew I had so much to say? the other day, I was actually thinking about how back in university, it was like pushing a wheelbarrow up an icy mountain getting me to write my essays and reports ( no matter how long ) and now I do it weekly, sometimes daily. it's kind of nuts. looking back, I feel such a sense of pride and accomplishment looking at some posts and a little bit of embarrassment looking at others. I've even cupped my hands over my eyes at a few. sorry for that, you guys, but we all have to start somewhere. years from now, I think it will be so fun to look back and take that mosey down memory lane and know just what I was thinking because let's face it, we try to keep it pretty real most days.

but right now, let's focus on right now, shall we? and right now, I'm focusing on gorgeous open shelves. you know the ones that are popping up all over pinterest right now? yeah, they're pretty much my favorite thing since netflix. they allow small spaces to feel so open and give us all the opportunity to style another aspect of our lives. and I don't know about you, but I love showing off my cookery books. they really are my kitchen's greatest asset ( aside from my beloved kitchenaid, which is safely packed away in storage breaking my heart ). here, have a gander.

this scandinavian tea kettle. similar here.

this classic cake stand. similar here.

white dipped spoons. similar here.

peter rabbit bookends. for showing off all of your fancy cookbooks.

mason jar canisters. perfect for utensils. 

bright-colored, scandinavian-looking canisters for all of your staples.

what are your favorite open-shelf accessories? I'm all ears. one can never have too many beautiful things showing off on a shelf. okay that's not entirely true. surely, my ocd would kick in eventually!

and so it's hump day! I know, I know. I can scarcely believe it myself. these autumn weeks are flying by all too fast. well, not here in the caribbean, but I feel for you guys, nonetheless ;) I hope your day is one filled with tartan scarves and hot chocolate. enjoy a cup for me.

love, arielle

PINS + UPDATES || BETWEEN WISHING AND REALITY

I'm not sure if you're aware, but I struggle with looking up syndrome--a disorder I named myself, but I'm sure that all of us have suffered from it at one point or another. it's the one where no matter how wonderful your life is, you always find its opposite far more appealing. someone once told me that "the trick to being happy is wanting what you already have" and I try to remind myself of this insightful thought frequently. on the other hand, there's something magical about what you don't have that makes it so much more appealing. come to think of it, that is probably why I always enjoy mitch's supper better than my own when we go out somewhere. and at the root of it all is pinterest--so fun, so addicting, so endless. it makes dreaming so easy, but amidst that endless dreaming remember that no matter how green the grass is on the other side, it still has to be mowed ( a quote my mother-in-law says to me when I get a little carried away ). in any event, here is a bit of what we've got and what we wish we had ::

001 :: what we've been doing.

002 :: what we wish we were doing.

003 :: what we've been eating.

004 :: what we wish we were eating.

005 :: what my hair is doing.

006 :: what I wish my hair was doing.

007 :: what I've been wearing.

008 :: what I wish I was wearing.

009 :: where we are.

010 :: where we wish we were.

I hope all of your thursdays have been wonderful, so far. tomorrow is friday and I'm starting to wonder where these weeks go? mitch is already entering into block three of his third semester and I honestly can't believe that we've made it this far on this island. I'm so incredibly proud of us! is that bad to say? conceited, even? no? oh, good. have a wonderful day, you guys!

love, arielle

GETTING COZY

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**top photo courtesy of manyfires found via pinterest

before we even set sail for the caribbean, I just knew autumn would be the toughest season away. away from the turning leaves, the warm sun on a cool day, the wooly socks, the hot apple cider, and all the other good things that come when the sun decides to sleep in a bit later. well, it's officially october and boy, am I feeling it! I don't think I've ever been so antsy. it's probably not healthy, but sometimes I just like to slip into reverie imagining that I'm curled up in a soft and cool duvet sipping on apple cider and watching the wind bustle the leaves around outside. in my book, that is pure bliss.  though, maybe I should correct myself because I slipped into this reverie whilst having my blood pressure taken and it ended up being higher! so I guess the term I'm looking for is excitement, rather than bliss. above, I've listed several other first-week-of-october wants--

that apron! oh, that apron. I love the texture, the color, and the leather detailing. I think I've mentioned before that I can spot the most expensive item on the shelf. it's a gift of mine. well, case and point. and those wellies. these have been on my wishlist for many, many years. I can just picture me harvesting our little garden come october in those boots. and then wearing them everywhere else, of course. now, I'm a sucker for cookery books of all sorts, and I'm pretty excited for this one to hit the stands october 14. you can preorder here. that hudson's bay scarf is actually pretty near and dear to my heart. those candy stripes ( and in this case, plaid ) are sort of my dad's and my thing and I would love to add it to my collection of bay attire. the parachute sheets, on the other hand, are something totally foreign to me. I actually just heard about this brand last week thanks to emily and I am super tempted to splurge on some luxury linen to make lounging in bed with hot cider a little more soft and regal. and really, what would that idyllic reverie, or all of fall, for that matter, be without plenty of yummy candles and some fun, eclectic mugs? no fall at all, in my opinion. no fall at all.

I wish you all the coolish temperatures in the world and a few really good walks. I wish you warm drinks and cold noses, someone to share it with, and all of the beautiful little things that come of fall. I hope your wednesdays are wonderful and thank you so much for following along with this little blog! it really does mean so much.

love, arielle

PINS + UPDATES || DIET BREAKING FALL BAKES

guys, I've been trying to be so good. at least where the kitchen and the making of my food is concerned. I've been eating smaller portions, incorporating at least one fruit and one vegetable into every meal, and putting the stops in eating out. and I'm not sure if it's my new addiction to the great british bake off, or if it's the byproduct of this autumnal season and all of the goodies it inspires, but I'm seriously struggling sticking my resolve. so here it is, me lusting after these ever-so-appropriate fall bakery items with the hopes that I don't actually succumb to their cinnamon-sugary ways ::

001 :: carrot cake pancakes w/ vanilla mascarpone. as far as fall breakfast foods ( and desserts, too! ), these tick every box. I've been hankering some carrot cake recently and couldn't help but repin as fast as my little fingers could manage.

002 :: pumpkin pastry cream eclairs. pumpkins are considered vegetables, right? so you're saying I shouldn't feel guilty sneaking them into every nook and cranny of my bakery exploits for the next three months? phew, good. I was a little worried there...but seriously, if you see me turning orange, alert a specialist.

003 :: chocolate fudge yogurt cookies. using greek yogurt in place of butter and oil, these fudgey cookies might actually be the healthiest dessert mentioned in today's little group. plus, with a sprinkle  of sea salt on top, these might also be one of my favorite combinations as of late.

004 :: apple & banana cake with caramel cream cheese frosting. if you're like me, then your freezer is spilling over with overripe bananas. seriously, it's like a banana graveyard up in there. that's why, when I saw this recipe, I had to put it away for safe keeping. I am definitely looking forward to a few cakes made and quite a bit more room in my freezer this fall.

005 :: rhubarb & polenta cake. rhubarb is totally that fruit I didn't discover until I got a bit older. it's not that it is über sophisticated or anything, it's just not a food my parents ever had in the house. it wasn't until I got married and moved up to the great white north that I tasted of it's sweet tartness. nevertheless, I'm obsessed! I love that sassy fruit that sort of looks like the female version of celery. 

006 :: carrot cake baked donuts. if I thought I had my work cut out for me resisting carrot cake pancakes, then I certainly won't be capable of resisting carrot cake donuts. plus, this girl's blog is just really cute all around. definitely check out her charming writing style and gorgeous food snaps.

007 :: raspberry swirl brioche. is it terrible that I pinned this with the intention of using it as a breakfast recipe? the use of sugar, butter, whole milk, and raspberry smear are a sure fire breakfast of champions, wouldn't you say?

008 :: gingerbread waffles. these are really bordering along the lines of christmas, but what the hey. I couldn't resist. mitch and I actually have a wonderful recipe for pumpkin waffles, and if these are anywhere nearly as delicious, then they will be a festive family staple for years and years to come.

009 :: german plum cake w/ ground coriander. if you're in possession of beautiful plums, then you are obligated to make this dessert on behalf of those of us who do not currently have access to such plums. I expect a full report ;)

and there you have it. a list of the most beautiful desserts to bump you up a whole waistsize..or two. as for me, I am going to continue shooshing that sweet tooth of mine, setting my alarm for a 5:30 gym date only to roll out of bed somewhere around 7, and scheduling afternoon naps for myself and respecting that time beyond all others. I hope all of you are having a most wonderful week! thanks so much for reading!

love, arielle

**more pins can be found via my pinterest boards