Uncategorized - Petite Haus

Angelina September 15, 2017 Beauty and Fashion

The Best Boots for Fall 2017

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Sharing this years top Fall boots!
I’ve rounded up boots, booties, and over-the-knee boots!
this post contains affiliate links.

Boots

Steve Madden Women’s Troopa Combat Boots • $79.98

Born Avala Boots Women’s Shoes • $200

Dr. Martens ‘1460 W’ Boot $124.95

Naturalizer Rozene Knee High Boot • $198.95

I own these – I love them! Women’s Hunter Original High Gloss Boot •$150

Born Riding Boot • $179.90

I own these – they were great for rainy days! Women’s Bean Boots by L.L.Bean, 8″ • $129

I own the bootie version – they are so comfy! Frye ‘Melissa Button’ Leather Riding Boot • $249.90

Booties

Women’s Sarto By Franco Sarto Paisley Bootie • $129.95

Jeffrey Campbell ‘Calhoun’ Cutout Bootie • $240

Rialto Payton Booties Women’s Shoes • $59

I bought these this year – a total splurge, but I love them!!Stuart Weitzman Pearl Bacari $599

Vince Camuto Talorini Lace-Up Combat Booties Women’s Shoes • $179

Ugg Lars Ankle Booties • $225

I own a similar version, they are so comfy and warm! Ugg Bailey Bling Mini Booties • $185

Sam Edelman Millard Lace-Up Boots • Sam Edelman • $148

Over-the-Knee Boots

Steal version: Charles by Charles David Ollie Stretch Over-The-Knee Boots • $159

Splurge version: Women’s Stuart Weitzman ‘Lowland’ Over The Knee Boot • $798

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Angelina September 8, 2017 Uncategorized

Home Tours, Shop announcement, Game of Thrones and more – 5 on Friday

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Blogger Home Tours

If you haven’t noticed on the side bar to the right, I am organizing and participating in Fall Decor and Entertaining Blogger Home Tours!

There are about 30 bloggers participating in the tours!

Fall Scents

This past weekend I went to Bath and Body Works and stocked up on a few fall scents.

Autumn – Bright Red Gala Apple, Juicy Fig, Eucalyptus Leaf, Fir Balsam

Autumn Woods – Dark Walnut, English Lavender, White Amber

Sweet cinnamon pumpkin – Harvest Pumpkin, Spiced Clove, Vanilla Cream, Brown Sugar

Peonies and Orange Blossoms’ Shop

I have also opened a shop of my curated favorites for home decor, outfits, and for holiday seasons. This is where you can find some of my most used items that I talk about and other favorites. Be sure to check it out here!

Behind the Scenes of Baking

So I made this pretty salted caramel apple pie and I had to share with you what really happened when I was baking this pie.

I was holding the dutch oven pot and stirring the apples while they cooked. I was wearing the oven mitt so I wouldn’t burn my hand because the dutch oven is a cast iron pan.

After I was done stirring, I took the mitt off and I thought I saw a flame, then I thought no, then I did a double take and the answer was… yes! The oven mitt is on fire! So I hit it against the counter and then into the sink. I felt so silly having caught it on fire – I guess I put the oven mitt too close to the gas flames on the stove when I was holding the pot.

And that is the tale of my salted caramel apple pie.

Game of Thrones Season Recap/Finale Thoughts

If you haven’t finished the 7th season, do not proceed!

SPOILERS

Let’s first start with what we all knew was going to happen – we all knew that the penultimate season finale would end with the wall coming down, right? Because obviously the final season of GoT will be fighting the white walkers, right?

With the revelations about who Jon Snow really is, I now think that Jon Snow will be the one ultimately sitting on the iron throne and not Dany. Sorry Dany. And I also think once Jon learns his true identity, his relationship with Dany will change as I don’t think he is into the incest thing.

Here’s where I have a problem with GoT – the ice dragon. I’m sorry, I just can’t buy into it. What the heck is the ice dragon shooting from it’s mouth? Ice? Blue flames? No. I’m sorry, it just doesn’t work. I can get into dragons and the army of undead (but if I start to think about how zombies can fight without muscle mass, then I start to get upset again), but dead dragons shooting blue flames? A little too much fantasy for my taste! Also, a dragon can’t fly with holes in its wings either.

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Angelina September 5, 2017 Fall

4 Free Fall Printables

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Hello! I am so excited to share these Fall printables that I created.

And the best part is that they are FREE.

I wanted to create something as a thank you for my readers – if you are an email subscriber you already received in your inbox two exclusive printables.

You see, I bought an iPad Pro and I had so much fun drawing and creating this printables with it.

I created four different styles that should appeal to all tastes.

Click Here to Download the Free Printables

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Angelina September 1, 2017 Fall

Velvet Pumpkins – Friday Favorites

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In this post- Decorating with Velvet Pumpkins

I love velvet pumpkins, don’t you?

I first discovered velvet pumpkins almost 10 years ago. We were living in Portland at the time. Hot Skwash pumpkins are made locally in West Linn- and the only place I had ever seen them many years ago.

I remember walking into the little boutique and knowing that they were something special!

So I bought one, then two, then… well, now I have a collection!

I noticed them in Neiman Marcus a few years later. The first time I felt like I was in front of a trend!

It is no wonder the buyers for Neiman Marcus found them – they are gorgeous and quality made!

I love the look of velvet pumpkins. I tried to create my own – and, well, they did not turn out as nearly as nice as they did in my head.

So I bought a few more. Like this big one, below, is new to me this Fall.

Hot Skwash velvet pumpkins are made from real pumpkin stems with silk velvet and filled with crushed hazelnut shells – such an Oregon thing!

via Hot Skwash

Now I see them all over blog land and I am so happy! I love them and don’t tire of looking at them!

Let’s look at how others styled their beautiful pumpkins…

from Edith and Evelyn Vintage

via Eleven Gables

via French Country Cottage

via Reinvented Collection

via ShabbyFuFu

via Designthusiasm

There are lots of tutorials on how to make your own and other knock off brands, but Hot Skwash pumpkins are the prettiest, IMO!

Of note, this was not a paid post. I just love velvet pumpkins!

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Angelina August 27, 2017 Fall

12 Cozy and Neutral Fall Mantels

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Soft, cozy and neutral Fall mantels are what I have on my mind this year… So I have rounded up 12 mantels for you for your inspiration!

I love this mantel below which can easily transition into Thanksgiving.

Unfortunately, I don’t know the source of this pic.

Beautiful painted faux pumpkins from So Much Better with Age

Neutral Farmhouse style mantel, from Instagram account, @bless_this_nest

Neutral Fall Mantel from Dandelion Patina

Love Anderson and Grant’s warm and cozy Fall mantel.

Neutral Mantel from Bless’er House

D.D.’s Cottage and Design’s coastal Fall mantel

Beautiful rustic Fall mantel from Serendipity Refined.

Here is a Fall mantel I shared a few years ago…

Neutral Fall Mantel from Liz Marie Blog

Neutral modern mantel from @michelle_janeen

Romantic Fall mantel from French Country Cottage.

Here are a few Fall favorites…

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Angelina August 25, 2017 Uncategorized

The Floor Saga, Fall finds, Game of Thrones and more – Five on Friday!

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In this post – last of Summer, hello Fall, House and Garden Updates, and Game of Thrones

This post contains affiliate links

Summer Eating…

We enjoyed some iced lattes in these cute cups…

Husband made this delicious pizza from scratch. It was his best yet! You can get the recipe here. We bake our pizzas on our outdoor grill using this pizza stone.

I Spy… Fall in the Stores!

Yep, Fall is *just* around the corner and even I have pulled out a few of my Fall pieces…

Pottery Barn got in their Halloween and Fall decor.

As did Williams Sonoma. I am a sucker for spatulas – I am going to have to get their vintage Halloween ones!

Also love the vintage melamine plates – for kids and adults!

This was at a local store, they always have fun displays.

Garden Updates

Pumpkin patch is growing… slowly but surely.

I love this zinnia – it comes back every year and is the most beautiful of them all!

The Floor Saga

While building this house of ours, which we thought was going to be done by the end of September, we hit kind of a big hiccup – the floors that we picked out a year ago were not going to make it here on time.

In fact it is a 6 week delay PLUS time to sit in port and customs, so sometimes that can take months…

So last week we frantically drove around town trying to find some new floors that we liked.

We found new floors we liked – in fact, we liked them even better than the original floors.

They have a 4 week delay.

But we like them better, so we shall wait.

It is kind of ironic that we picked our floors out first and then matched colors and surfaces to the floors – only to have to reject the floor in the end! The color of these new floors is very similar to the old floor.

I like that these have an old world feel. I like the warmth that they bring.

Game of Thrones

Spoilers

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Spoilers

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Spoilers

Final warning!

Ok, let’s talk about last week’s episode.

First, I am legit upset about what happened to Viserion the dragon. Like so upset I teared up when it died. I felt just as bad about his death as Ned Stark’s death. I mean, it is just a pet reptile, after all. They are Dany’s children but we watched them grow too, so I feel like that is why I am attached.

But first, I just need to complain – like really, the Night King can suddenly throw an ice spear into the heart of a moving dragon with one hit? There are lots of things in this show that aren’t real, like, um dragons and an army of undead for instance, but this type of thing is unbelievable to me.

And then, the Night King suddenly has giant ass chains that he happens to have and can pull the dragon out of the water *before* it freezes over again to turn him into ice dragon? NAH. Sorry, I just don’t buy it. How did they even get those chains attached? The only way I see this as plausible is that the Night King is somehow Bran and foresaw what was going to happen and had prepared.

And where is Bran? Can’t he just tell everyone what’s going to happen?

And Arya needs to CALM herself down.

And I am digging Dany’s Winter coat, as above in the picture. Can I have one too?
Leave your thoughts below!

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Angelina August 20, 2017 Switzerland

Grindelwald, Lauterbrunnen, and my favorite Swiss chocolate

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In this post – Visiting Switzerland’s Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen Valley and a review of Läderach chocolate.

I realized I have not done many posts of my trip to Switzerland last year! There has been so much going on with the house build that I forgot to write about our trip!

Above is a photo of Grindelwald, Switzerland. It is located in the Bernese Highlands (Berner Oberland) and it is one of the most beautiful spots in the world!

There are several towns to stay in the Berner Oberland – Grindelwald, Lauterbrunnen, and the auto-free Mürren and Wengen (only accessible by cable car), and the larger city of Interlaken down the hill by Lake Thun.

We chose to stay in Grindelwald because it was accessible by car (we had a car). It is less touristy than Lauterbrunnen as well. It had more dining options and more hotels than both Mürren and Wengen, which are located up on the cliffs.

As you can see, it is beautiful. We had views of the Eiger (the name of the big mountain) from our room!

It was a cute town and this hotel below was gorgeous, but unfortunately booked when we were visiting.

On the other side of the hill in the other valley is Lauterbrunnen. Lauterbrunnen is beautiful as well, this is the view below when you enter the valley!

As you can see, everything you dream about when you think of a Swiss village in the Alps!

Waterfalls coming down the cliffs in this town. It is called the valley of 72 waterfalls – I guess in the Spring there are TONS of waterfalls!

It reminded me a lot of Yosemite Valley… except it was populated! This town is definitely full of tons of tourists in the day – it is a stopping point for a lot of tour buses so that they can take the train up to the Jungfraujoch.

Below is Staubbach Falls, here at the end of Summer it is still running!

Lots of gorgeous Swiss chalets…

I loved all of their buildings! Designed to hide from the snow.

Also in Lauterbrunnen Valley are the Trummelbach Falls.

These falls are unique because they are inside the mountain! You take an underground lift to the waterfalls and hike around in caves and pop out at viewpoints here and there to see the falls.

They carry water directly from the glaciers above.

I’ve included another picture (not mine) to show you all the beautify of Lauterbrunnen Valley with more waterfalls flowing!

Now, let’s talk about my FAVORITE chocolatier EVER: Läderach.

(Is it funny I still distinctly remember eating this piece of chocolate – it was a pistachio marzipan covered in dark chocolate and it was heavenly.

This chocolate is unique such that it is made fresh and served in sheets, just like below! You buy it based on weight.

My favorites are: dark chocolate hazelnut which is amazing because they candied the hazelnuts! Blackberry dark chocolate is amazing too (pictured below), and then there was a chocolate orange which was made with fresh orange, and a triple nut as well.

They had cute truffles in various shapes for the Fall, too!

But the cow chocolates were my favorite! Look at them! So cute!!

I bought this Fall themed box of chocolate – and none of them made it back on the plane even! So tasty!

Unfortunately, Läderach does not have any stores located in the USA. But they do ship to the USA (but not in the Summer months – I tried! My husband bought me some for Valentine’s Day this year, how sweet!)

When I was reading on various message boards and books about how to choose which town to stay in when in the Berner Oberland, no one mentioned that Läderach was in Grindelwald… like seriously I would choose to stay in Grindelwald so that I may go pick fresh chocolate every day of my trip!

Every town has a great view so that isn’t a deciding factor. In fact it is hard to take a bad picture in Switzerland because it is so beautiful. The two towns that are pedestrian only are interesting but very small with limited dining options.

I find it fitting that I rambled on about how much I loved this Swiss chocolate – because the Swiss really do love their chocolate! They even had bags for sale of just “snacking” chocolate!

Hope to return some day… maybe next year?

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Angelina August 18, 2017 England

Luxe English Country Style – Friday Favorites

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I have a crush…

on Alice’s country estate.

Not Alice from Alice in Wonderland, but looking at this pictures it does seem like a wonderland!

Alice lives in this fabulous house, Nantclwyd Hall, from the 17th century with a facade from the 1810s. This is house came from her husband’s (Tom) side. It was decorated in the 1950s by John Fowler for his Tom’s parents.

Love the tapestries and chandelier.

I see this fancy palm tree and think, my cat would love that.

Rose fabric above and below is from Colefax and Fowler in Jubilee Rose. Below is her dressing room full of designer clothes!

Below, her dressing table.

Bennison chairs and taxidermy.

Alice and her friend dressed up to go on a proper English ride (or hunt?)

Beautiful gardens, love the bird topiaries! Nothing quite like an English garden!

The walls are painted in Edward Bulmer’s Cuisse de Nymphe Emue

I must say, the only thing I don’t care for is all of the taxidermy, such as this unicorn below.

Antique Persian rug.

Bennison curtains with Colefax and Fowler wallpaper.

And here is the it-girl, Mrs. Alice.

You can follow Alice’s Instagram here.

Below are the sources and links to the full articles – I think you will all enjoy them!

Photos labeled with AD are from Architectural Digest with photography by Simon Upton.

Photos without the AD are from Vogue with photography from Jooney Woodward.

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Angelina August 15, 2017 Beauty and Fashion

Chanel Haute Couture Fall 2017

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Hello all, today let’s take a look at Chanel Haute Couture 2017!

I love looking at the runways of haute couture – really because I love textiles and see these pieces as works of art.

The show’s set was below a replica Eiffel tower!

Even the silhouettes of the dresses are inspired by Le Eiffel.

I love this modern take on a retro shoe!

Pictures via Vogue.

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Angelina August 13, 2017 French Country

My Stylish French Box Review

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In this post – a review of My Stylish French Box

note – I did not receive compensation for this review. I purchased this.

This Francophile finally broke down and ordered My Stylish French Box.

My Stylish French Box is a quarterly subscription box curated by Sharon Santoni of My French Country Home.

She started the box this year and I was a little hesitant to order it because of its cost – $200 for a subscription box is a bit steep! Especially since you don’t know what you are exactly buying!

Well, I bit the bullet and pressed purchase.

And last week, my box arrived! Oh I was so excited to see what my goodies fresh from France were!

I opened the box and immediately this subtle smell of fig, lavender and olive wafts out of the box!

I felt like I was being transported to France and knew I was going to like whatever was in this box!

Descriptions of each of the items was in the flier.

This box’s theme was Summer in Provence.

Here are all of the goodies inside of the box – a mini French market basket, a linen scarf, a candle, body scrub, Provence salt, soap, a vintage key, a bracelet and a watercolor.

This body scrub is great! I have already used it and love it. It is a nice big size too.

The French soap smells wonderful too – I love to put these soaps in my linen closet so the sheets smell amazing!

I have not yet used this but it is Fleur de Sel with rosemary and thyme. How cute is that little spoon on the side!

I am burning this candle as I type this and it smells so lovely – a pleasant scent of sweet figs! The green behind the candle is actually a green colored scarf – already have worn it!

There is a cute little watercolor included as well.

A vintage key perfect for little vignettes.

I’d say the only thing I don’t care for is this handmade ceramic bracelet – it is just not my style at all.

I have already put my French market basket to use and filled it with dried lavender from the garden.

Overall, I really enjoyed this box!

I am contemplating purchasing it again for the Winter box.

I was pleasantly surprised by all of the goodies and have already used almost all of them and I have only had the box for one week!

You can see contents of previous boxes here and decide if this is right for you or as a gift.

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Angelina August 11, 2017 Uncategorized

Exciting News, Kate Spade, Game of Thrones and more!- Five on Friday

We use affiliate links in our posts and our site. This means if you make a purchase using these links, we may earn a small commission. You don’t pay a cent more than you would otherwise! Our full disclosure is available under About.

Exciting News!

I’m excited to announce that I will be having some free Fall printables coming soon to the Peonies & Orange Blossoms community! If you are an email subscriber, soon you will find in your inboxes a link to some of my printables as an exclusive THANK YOU to my readers!

You see, I purchased an iPad Pro and have been enjoying iPad Lettering using the Procreate app!
I have been busying creating some fun things for you all! I hope you all like them when I share them with you!

Cute Kate Spade

Scrolling through the internet, I found some new and cute Kate Spade items inspired by Paris of the ’20s!!

Ma Cherie Shopping Tote

Ma Cherie Cake Bag

Ma Cherie Satchel – how cute is this!

Ma Cherie Cherry Bag – this one is my favorite but I don’t think it could hold all of my things. I have been looking for a little tiny bag for travel and walking around.

Minnie Mouse ring

OMG these earrings!! I don’t even have my ears pierced and I want to wear them! There is a matching necklace too.

John Derian Trays

Every time I see these trays made by John Derian I think to myself… oh! I am going to get one this time. But then I get confused and can’t decide on a favorite so I have yet to buy one!

I really like the one on this top shelf that is a garden in Europe somewhere.

And I liked the rooster ones too!

Thinking of Fall

I purchased this Fall blanket and I’m so excited to use it in my Fall decor!

The Tartan Blanket Co. Recycled Wool Knee Blanket Buchanan Antique Tartan

Game of Thrones!

If you have not watched this past week’s episode, beware of SPOILERS

SPOILERS

Okay, I think this may have been my favorite episode… because DRAGONS! Or, DRAGON! or rather, DROGON the DRAGON!

Drogon is awesome! How glorious was it when Dany came riding in on Drogon and then burnt everyone to a crisp? Okay, let’s be real for a moment – there is no way that arrow would have shot the dragon, like, I’m sorry, I know Bronn is a good shot, but I don’t buy it.

But now I realized, that basically, by the end of the season, one of the dragons will have to die and it makes me sad. Like more sad than when any other character died. RIP Joffrey. J/k, I hated Joffrey, still ain’t sad that he is gone!

Also, I’d like to think Jaime Lannister is dead but I feel that if he had died it would have been death by dragon instead of death by drowning under ridiculously heavy armor. So he lives another day.

The hardest time I am having with this season is how fast everything is suddenly moving! We’ve had three major battles already!

I could go on and on about Game of Thrones, leave me your thoughts!

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Angelina July 30, 2017 Main Courses

Potato Poblano Tacos

We use affiliate links in our posts and our site. This means if you make a purchase using these links, we may earn a small commission. You don’t pay a cent more than you would otherwise! Our full disclosure is available under About.

In this post – a delicious potato poblano taco recipe

This post may contain affiliate links.

Sharing one of my family’s favorite dinners: potato poblano tacos!

Now I know you have likely never had a potato poblano taco… but let me tell you, they are delicious!

Potato Poblano Tacos

Ingredients

yellow potatoes (one large yellow potato per person), washed and diced into small cubes we use a vegetable chopper to dice the potatoes so they are all the same size
1 poblano pepper (one poblano makes enough for 10 tacos)
1/2 a yellow onion, minced
Guacamole
2-3 tbsp olive oil
Cotija cheese, grated for garnish
cilantro, for garnish
taco tortillas, use either corn or flour tortillas
salt, to taste

Directions

In a large frying pan, heat the olive oil on medium heat. Then add the diced potatoes, and cook until they are crispy brown on the outside and soft on the inside.
Next, heat up a cast iron skillet or grill pan on high heat. Then place the whole poblano directly onto the grill pan, and cook until the skin blackens on that side, and then flip until every side of the pepper is completely charred. Remove from heat, and then allow to cool before removing the skin of the pepper. The skin should easily peel off with your fingers. If skin does not peel off easily, then you didn’t cook it long enough. Once skin is removed, dice into small pieces.
Next, add the yellow onion to the potatoes and sauté the onion until translucent. You may need to add a bit more olive oil to the potatoes so that the onion has oil to cook in. Remove from heat when translucent. Salt to taste. Place potatoes/onions in a separate bowl.
Wipe out the potato frying pan and then place back on low heat. Heat each tortilla on the frying pan for 10 seconds. You do not need to put oil in the pan, just keep an eye on the pan and tortilla!
Assembly, place a scoop of potatoes and onions on the bottom, then a layer of poblanos, then guacamole, then Cotija cheese and finally cilantro for garnish. Enjoy!

Here are some bonus tips for successful tacos:

-make sure you taste test the poblano pepper before you go ahead and put a ton on your tacos – sometimes they are spicy!

-Having trouble finding poblanos at the grocery store? Sometimes they are sold as pasilla peppers – they are the same thing!

-We use this vegetable chopper to chop the onions and potatoes – this helps them cook more evenly.

– Heating the tortilla before filling it tremendously helps with the tortilla strength and you are less likely to have ripped tortillas.

-We love to use this lime salt in our Mexican dishes.

-We got these awesome taco trays at Pottery Barn but they are now sold out. I highly recommend getting some though – it made it so much easier to eat tacos. There are some here and here.

I hope you try making these tacos – they are so good!

Where I Party

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Angelina July 28, 2017 Uncategorized

Five on Friday – Summer 2017 edition!

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The Return of Five on Friday… back because YOU my readers voted for it! Alternating every other week with Friday Favorites and Five on Friday!

This post contains affiliate links.

Hiking in Oregon

We went to Oregon earlier this month and went to the Columbia River Gorge – my favorite place to go hiking! We didn’t have much time to go on any long hikes but just enough to hike to the top of the bridge as picture below. This is Multnomah Falls.

This is part of Wahkeena falls. The trail goes so close you get wet standing here!

Rae Dunn

I found this cute serve ware and then I learned it was made by Rae Dunn! I think it is so fun. I had not seen this Frenchy set before!

Emma Bridgewater

I finally bought my first Emma Bridgewater mug! I love this one with the chickens on it and inside it says Rise & Shine! Also below I got a Rae Dunn “good kitty” canister that I move my Chloe cat’s treats into!

New Watermelon Slicer

I got this awesome watermelon slicer recently and had to share it – I first shared it on Instagram. It is a popsicle shape! First I slice the watermelon into flat rounds and then on the edges worked my way around slicing out watermelon shaped popsicles – the excess odd pieces went into the fridge for eating later.

Eating the watermelon this way was so convenient – less mess and and more fun! I got it at Williams Sonoma but it is also on Amazon.

Garden Updates

Don’t know what happened with the green beans. Last week they were doing so well.

Then this week… this. They are shriveling up and dying. I don’t get it.

The zucchini is doing well this year.

Our one and only watermelon!

This year we grew tomatillos which we had never grown before. They grew really well!

We have been enjoying some really good salsas with these babies.

And, for the first time in years… we finally get to enjoy some grapes. Every other year there has been either fungus, or flies, or birds eating it before us.

This year we finally got a taste! Yum yum!

Where I Party

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Angelina July 25, 2017 Uncategorized

Summer Reading List

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In this post – books for the Summer

Affiliate links are used.
I recently started reading leisurely again.

I thought I would share the books I have read so far this Summer and what is on my book list to read.

a French country reading nook

I used to love to read. And then after finishing school, I felt like I was just plain done with reading. I was sick of reading.

Like… don’t show me a book ever again.

I’m talking about novels, by the way.

Then, I started reading The Miracle Morning a few weeks ago which encouraged reading every morning for 10 minutes.

And I was hooked again. Now I have been reading a book a week!

Summer Books

Finished books:

I really enjoyed The Nightingale: A Novel. Here is the goodreads excerpt “Despite their differences, sisters Vianne and Isabelle have always been close. Younger, bolder Isabelle lives in Paris while Vianne is content with life in the French countryside with her husband Antoine and their daughter. But when the Second World War strikes, Antoine is sent off to fight and Vianne finds herself isolated so Isabelle is sent by their father to help her.”
My Review – a great historical fiction book. Really well written, totally recommend reading!

Awaken the Highland Warrior from Goodreads ” Mis-adventurous historian Bree Kirkland discovers a one hundred fifty year old warrior buried in a crypt behind her house. But Faelan, the warrior, isn’t dead. When this chauvinistic Scottish Warrior awakes, he has no choice but accept the help of this modern-day woman who’s rescued him, but she’s more fearsome than the demon trying to kill him. If he’s not careful, she’ll uncover every secret his clan has bled and died to protect.”
My review – entertaining book, but it is a fantasty/historical fiction/romance novel so may not appeal to all, great vacation read.

The Paper Magician (The Paper Magician Series) from goodreads “Ceony Twill arrives at the cottage of Magician Emery Thane with a broken heart. Having graduated at the top of her class from the Tagis Praff School for the Magically Inclined, Ceony is assigned an apprenticeship in paper magic despite her dreams of bespelling metal. And once she’s bonded to paper, that will be her only magic… forever.”
My review – honestly, not that great of a book. I got 75% done and decided… you know, I just don’t care what happens.

Currently Reading

The Last Kingdom (The Saxon Chronicles Series 1) from Goodreads “This is the exciting—yet little known—story of the making of England in the 9th and 10th centuries, the years in which King Alfred the Great, his son and grandson defeated the Danish Vikings who had invaded and occupied three of England’s four kingdoms.” – My verdict – I am only three chapters in, so far so good. I am really enjoying Cornwell’s writing style.

Written in My Own Heart’s Blood: A Novel (Outlander) from Goodreads “It is June 1778, and the world seems to be turning upside-down. The British Army is withdrawing from Philadelphia, with George Washington in pursuit, and for the first time, it looks as if the rebels might actually win. But for Claire Fraser and her family, there are even more tumultuous revolutions that have to be accommodated.Her former husband, Jamie, has returned from the dead, demanding to know why in his absence she married his best friend, Lord John Grey. Lord John’s son, the ninth Earl of Ellesmere, is no less shocked to discover that his real father is actually the newly resurrected Jamie Fraser, and Jamie’s nephew Ian Murray discovers that his new-found cousin has an eye for the woman who has just agreed to marry him.

And while Claire is terrified that one of her husbands may be about to murder the other, in the 20th century her descendants face even more desperate turns of events. Her daughter Brianna is trying to protect her son from a vicious criminal with murder on his mind, while her husband Roger has disappeared into the past ”
My review – I keep *trying* so hard to get into this book, but I am finding it confusing mainly because I don’t remember who all the characters are. It has been so many years since I read the last Outlander book I have forgotten what had even happened. I need to just reread the entire Outlander series again. I didn’t really care for the most recent Outlander book, however I really loved the first four books in the series.

On the list to read next

All the Light We Cannot See: A Novel from Goodreads “Winner of the Pulitzer Prize

From the highly acclaimed, multiple award-winning Anthony Doerr, the beautiful, stunningly ambitious instant New York Times bestseller about a blind French girl and a German boy whose paths collide in occupied France as both try to survive the devastation of World War II.”

The Duchess: A Novel from Goodreads – “The incomparable Danielle Steel breaks new ground as she takes us to nineteenth-century England, where a high-born young woman is forced out into the world–and begins a journey of survival, sensuality, and long-sought justice.”

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Angelina July 18, 2017 Desserts

Delicious Peach Pecan Crumble Crisp Recipe

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Hello, lovelies!

Are you all enjoying this Summer?

I am! Our peach trees are exploding with peaches – we have peaches coming out of our ears!

So what do you do with the excess peaches… bake them!

This post may contain affiliate links.

This isn’t your average peach crisp recipe.

I added some pecans into the crunchy crisp – which typically are associated with Fall foods.

I thought, hmm, Georgia is known for peaches and pecans, so let’s try them both together!

I was pleasantly surprised! It was a hit!

Peach Pecan Crumbly Crisp Recipe

Filling

Approx 5-6 cups of sliced and peeled peaches (about 6 medium peaches, I used about 10 peaches as they were very small)
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tbsp granulated sugar*

Topping

3/4 cup brown sugar
2/3 cup all-purpose flour
2/3 cup old-fashioned rolled oats or quick oats
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup unsalted pecans, chopped or halved
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened or melted

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350F. Lightly grease an 8-9″ baking pan or pie pan.
2. Make your filling by combining the peaches, flour, salt, vanilla and sugar. Use a spatula to gently mix together as you don’t want your peaches falling apart! Pour into your prepared dish.
3. Prepare your topping by combing the sugar, flour, oats, cinnamon and salt. Mix those together. Then add in the pecans. Pour your butter on top and mix until it is a crumbly mixture (it will turn to a darker color as the butter absorbs into the ingredients)
4. Evenly spoon the topping onto your peaches. Bake for about 35-45 minutes until the mixture is browned on top and the peaches are bubbling at the edges.
5. Allow to cool. This tastes best when it is warm served with vanilla ice cream, hint hint. If you have some leftovers the next day (the horror! You didn’t eat it all the first day?) just heat it up either in the toaster oven or in the microwave.

Bonus tips:

If you are peeling a lot of peaches like I did, you want to prevent the peaches from going brown. I toss my peaches with Fruit Fresh.

You can also used canned peaches.

You could always add more or less pecans as you wish.

This was delicious and the topping could be used for any crisp – berry crisp, ooh, APPLE crisp! Now I am drooling…

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Peach Pecan Crumbly Crisp Recipe

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