today i’m happy to share two great recipes. the first is a special one from our wedding caterer- chef nick mueller. i had so much fun going back and forth with nick about menu ideas and one that was a BIG hit with both my family and our wedding guests were his
petite sugarcane cured bacon BLT’s with roasted tomato confit & ginger aioli. they were probably the best bacon-related sandwich i’d ever eaten and i’m so thrilled that nick was game to share a home-kitchen version of his recipe here today! i hope you’ll give these a shot- they’re perfect for dinner parties, backyard get togethers and just a special snack for your family and loved ones. thank you so much to chef nick for sharing this recipe today- if you’re in the georgia area be sure to check him out. (and ask if he’ll make a sweet potato corn cake for you- they’re HEAVEN).

CLICK HERE for the full recipe after the jump!

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Some of my favorite memories were made outdoors. The time when I was two and insisted on riding a horse by myself (a request to which my mother willingly acquiesced)? Happened outdoors. Straddling a creek-side fallen log cowgirl-style for a zany family photo one chilly November? Outdoors. Falling asleep in a tent on the Northern California coast after driving cross-country from North Carolina with my best gal pal Bonnie (it was August, the car had no A.C., she was moving to San Francisco-memories were made)? You guessed it. For me, indoor gatherings have their place, but couple fresh air with friends and family and it’s bound to be good. [image sources, clockwise from top left: anna wolf, andrew a. comb, tripadvisor, garden of leah, sonshine kids]

Which is precisely why I love U-Pick farms so much. Not only do you get to score some amazing produce, you do so in a decidely low-fi, slow-going, oxygen-rich manner. I don’t know about you, but I’ll take quietly catching up with a friend I haven’t seen in some time in an apple orchard or berry patch over jockeying for air space in a loud, crowded bar any day. I’ve been blackberry-, blueberry-, pumpkin-, and apple-picking with friends and family. Not only did we benefit from a leisurely paced outdoor activity together, we supported the local food community, providing income for farmers and helping to support economies within communities.

U-Pick farms offer something for pretty much every season. Come autumn, you’ll find apple, pear, pumpkin, fig and even cranberry offerings. Pick-and-Cut tree farms are a blast for selecting the perfect specimen for winter. In the spring, it’s time to pick strawberries, while summer U-Picks are a veritable feast for the senses, presenting opportunities for picking berries, peaches, cherries, plums, tomatoes, and beyond. Also, pick-your-own flower farms are becomingly increasingly serviced by thrifty and ecologically-minded brides. Can you imagine the heady aroma your car will exude after leaving a U-Pick lavender farm? Intoxicating! Remember Madeley’s Stamped Lavender Sachets ? They were crafted with buds sourced from a U-Pick farm!

If you’re going to U-Pick, why not incorporate all of your senses? Bring a picnic lunch (or brunch!) to enjoy on the premises. Alternately, you could host a post U-Pick potluck, with guests bringing dishes paying tribute to a specific seasonal offering (such as the upcoming “Sweet & Savory Apple Potluck” my husband and I will be hosting later in the month; we’ll provide the hard and hot cider, while the guests bring the eats!). Another idea might be to U-Pick with friends or family, and then head back to someone’s home for a group canning session. I’ll be doing that myself, next Friday. My editor and I are heading to a nearby apple orchard to harvest many, many bushels of apples. They’ll be rendered into small jars of apple butter and given to the publishing sales staff in promotion of my upcoming book series . Harvesting and making your own batch of something sweet or savory is also both an economical means of creating holiday gifts and stocking up your pantry for winter.

To find a U-Pick farm in your area, check out Pick Your Own . This comprehensive site offers both domestic and international U-Pick listings. You can also search your state’s government website for pick-your-own information. Now, go pick a winner and start creating your own outdoor memories to delight in and savor for years to come!

today the fifth and final post about our savannah wedding is up on the d*s guest blog. today i’m wrapping things up with our wedding cake and food! if these pictures don’t make you hungry, nothing will. i’m already craving pulled pork biscuits, peach cobbler and shrimp and grits all over again. stay tuned later this afternoon for a recipe from our wedding menu! CLICK HERE to check out the full post on the guest blog.

*this week’s wedding posts: part 1 (location, dress, people), part 2 (band, invites, decor), part 3 (diy elements), part 4 (flowers), part 5 (food and cake)*

We knew we were going to be busy with events, weddings, consultations, and walkthroughs last week so we decided to keep it simple for our new post and just bring you along.

Fall was unavoidable at the market…arrangements for the week included bittersweet, oak leaves with tiny acorns, roses, dahlias, ranunculus, and amaryllis.

We cleaned and organized our acquisitions from a recent Reno thrifting vacation. The theme for the trip seemed to be white, silver, and our favorite of all- gold. When we go hunting we try to narrow our focus to just a few kinds of things (color/shape/size) to avoid being completely overwhelmed.

CLICK HERE for the rest of the post (and 12 more images) after the jump!

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this nightstand before & after comes from will means, an artist and woodworker from salem, massachusetts. will found this antique nightstand at todd farm (an outdoor flea market in rowley, mass) for twenty-five dollars. first will stripped it down the nightstand and re-stained it. next, he drew his design and transferred it to a frisket, and applied to the nightstand. afterward that he painted and then lacquered the finished piece. will explained that this technique is, “a unique method which allows me to introduce color and a modern feel, while still showcasing the wood and the original integrity of the piece”. all of the hardware on the nightstand is original and restored and the drawers are lined in mustard-yellow felt. great work, will!

[have a before & after you'd like to submit for the d*s book or website? just shoot me an email right here with your images!]

CLICK HERE for wendren’s ladder upgrade after the jump!

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today’s third before & after comes from letterpress artist maggie sage in tampa, florida. a design team was coming to her studio for a visit so she needed a way to display some of her stationery work. so she headed to local antique store to hunt for a frame and came home with an old, beat up window. she painted the frame blue and painted the glass with magnetic paint. then she had her roommate create magnets for the display board. and ta-da: a brand new way to display work out of an old window frame. thanks for sharing, maggie!

[have a before & after you'd like to submit for the d*s book or website? just shoot me an email right here with your images!]

CLICK HERE for misty’s dresser makeover after the jump!

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