updated my inspiration wall -- in love with madewell's newest catalog

Sunday afternoons are to a week as a few pats of butter are to a dish, essential and lovely and just downright perfect. Sweet, warm, fuzzy, glad-to-be-alive moments, induced by the bluest skies, swinging in the hammock, gardening, setting up a tent, beyond gorgeous weather, and good food. Slow, relaxing, and just the right amount of lazy, they have me wishing that every day was Sunday. But I must confess: now that school has begun, Sunday afternoons are slightly bittersweet, knowing that a busy week full of work and school lies ahead. On the other hand, this knowledge allows me not to take for granted the last fleeting moments of the weekend.

top: gap / shorts: jeans thrifted, cut into shorts by me / wedges: thrifted (keds) / belt: thrifted / scarf: forever 21 / watch: american eagle

my mama is so stylish.

In celebration of Labor Day, we set up a tent last night as the last rays of sunshine made the world take on a gloriously golden hue. We turned our shelter into a cozy haven, filled to the brim with blankets and pillows. Once the sky faded from soft violet to inky black, we watched a movie in the crisp night air. Wrapping blankets close, it felt as if fall had finally arrived -- temperatures dipped into the seventies during the day and fifties at night. I could get used to this.

And later, when I crawled into my sleeping bag, Lilly rolled over and wrapped her arms around me. As she drifted off to sleep, she whispered, "I love my sister so much." I held her for a long time after that, praying in the darkness, my heart overflowing with gratitude. It seems that so often I pray when I want something instead of thanking God for everything I already have. Leave it to a five year old to teach me the true meaning of gratefulness. And so I replayed moments in my head, thanking the Lord for all He's blessed me with. I thanked Him for my siblings, for the cooler weather, for amazing parents, for all the opportunities He's opened up for me. On and on I went, each thing like a drop of sweet nectar in my already full heart.

This weekend was summer's last hurrah. With a heart full of gratitude, it was everything I dreamed it would be, the quintessential coda to a summer whose memories will last a lifetime. Sunday afternoon, delivered.

What are you grateful for?

Happy Labor Day, friends.

-carlotta

p.s. vote for my friend emily -- she's entered a makeup contest and needs your help! just like 2nd love on facebook, then like this picture to keep her in first place!

Sometimes there are opportunities and events in life that seem too good to be true, coincidences that line up so perfectly they're really more divinely directed than chance. Yesterday was one of those events.

But before I get too ahead of myself, let me explain. Earlier this summer, I went to Worldview Academy. My roommate was a girl named Meg. Since June, Meg and I have grown closer and we're starting an exciting new collaboration (which will be announced later this week!) together. But not only is Meg an amazing friend, she and her family just so happen to be good friends with the Drummonds. Yes, as in Ree Drummond, The Pioneer Woman. I love how small Oklahoma circles are.

Making a long story short, I was invited to spend the day at The Lodge yesterday. To say it was amazing would be an understatement. To say I was in heaven (and pinching myself to see if this was real) would be a bit more accurate.

The Drummond's ranch is beyond gorgeous. Think grassy plains, faint mesa like hills in the background, with mustangs and cows dotting the country. I'm so used to being in the city all the time -- out there, with the wind gently sweeping down the vast amounts of land, it's so peaceful.

Ree is entirely too sweet. Even though I felt as if I already knew her by reading her blog, she's even more fun and likable in person. I laughed, hard, multiple times throughout the day. And it was so fun to see her in action, cooking and photographing. (does that sound creepy? it wasn't supposed to. promise.)

Words aren't coming easily to me at the moment -- I'm content to just soak in the sweet memories that were made. Some photos to say what I can't:

I took photos, lots of them. we went on a fun shoot in a barn. it was fun to say the least.

cinnamon rolls -- it's perfect using Ree's recipe for the first time under her expert guidance ;) and I thought about stealing her gorgeous dishes. good thing I didn't.

I love small worlds. And Oklahoma.

xoxo,
carlotta

p.s. thank you to Meg's mother for organizing this amazing day!

Baking has never been a huge interest -- call me lazy, but I'd prefer to eat, thank you. The only time you'd find me whipping something up in the kitchen was when a craving struck. It wasn't until I began falling in love with the art of food photography that I realized if I wanted to photograph food, food had to be made -- and thus my journey into the realm of baking was born. It's a satisfying feeling, sifting and measuring and mixing seemingly unrelated basics to form something delicious, a feeling that's worth the flour everywhere and gooey bits of batter strewn about the counter.

Thursday mornings have been deemed as my baking day. I scour cookbooks and blogs through the week and enter the kitchen with a list of recipes. Three house later and a mess later -- unfortunately I'm not like chefs on Food Network that have everything perfectly organized and layed out, though I try, promise! -- timers ding and the smells in the kitchen make my stomach rumble. By the time lunch rolls around, I feel like a nineteen fifties housewife...except that statement is far from the truth.

Banana bread is one of those foods that evoke memories from long ago. I fondly recall running into the house following riding my bike around the neighborhood, and at all of six years old, the only thing on my mind was the smell of freshly baked banana bread wafting throughout the house. After waiting the five more minutes for the timer go off -- which felt more like five hours-- I snatched a slice, still steaming from the oven. It burned my mouth, yes, but it was the most delicious slice of banana bread I've ever had.

black currant banana bread
adapted from texas home cooking -- gingered banana bread
ingredients
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup sugar
1/3 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups mashed ripe bananas (approximately three bananas)
1/3 black currant jam (or other jam of your choice)
1/4 cup sour cream
3/4 teaspoon lemon or lime zest
3/4 cup chocolate chips (optional)

directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease a 5-by-9 1/2 inch loaf pan. Sift together flour, baking powder, and salt into a small bowl. Set aside. 
With a mixer, cream the sugar and butter together until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in mashed bananas, jam, sour cream, lemon or lime zest, and, if desired, chocolate chips. Spoon in the flour mixture about a third at a time, mixing until the batter is well combined. Pour batter into prepared pan; bake 60 to 65 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Serve warm.

This bread is perfectly moist and perfect for afternoon coffee, a party, or even breakfast. Even if you don't like bananas (and I'm not a huge fan), the flavor is cozy and comforting -- it almost made me wish it were cold and snowy outside. It brought back memories of childhood and our house in Texas and bike riding.

What's your take on baking?

Also, I got drawn! Is this not the coolest thing ever? I'm in love.

(see the post as well as two other bloggers drawn here)

-carlotta

Situated on a quilt outside, the soft breeze is currently rippling through the leaves and the smell of late summer is prominent in the air.

There's a bush in the yard that is currently yielding some sort of apples -- what kind, we're not sure yet, and we haven't been able to eat them, but I don't mind.
I'm writing with paper and pencil -- typing up the words is an extra step, but still worth it for the gratifying sound of pencil lead scratching against smooth, white paper.

It's Monday, but not just any Monday -- it's the first day of blogging since my rediscovery, the first day of a new style. Honestly, it's scary. It's a big commitment that I've taken up myself, to walk away from posts as I've known them in favor of something richer and different. At the same time, though, it's exciting to feel this mini revolution pulsing through my veins.

Today also marks the beginning of my last week of summer -- it's been one of the best summers of my life. I promised I would be more real in this new chapter, so here goes: I'm dreading the start of classes. It's not that I mind learning, it's just the stress that accompanies it I'm not looking forward to. This summer revealed the answer to what I want to do in life and I'm not ready to give up the job I had these past three months. Sure, there times I was stressed, but it seemed to be a good, real life kind of stress. School is the groundwork for a successful career, yes, but at times it seems a bit silly to slave over a paper that isn't going to matter in the grand scheme of things. I'm not denying the fact that life past school will be difficult and may lack fun and I know this seems rather childish; please don't think I'm complaining,. This is just something that's been weighing heavily on my mind lately.

But I suppose these years will be over before I know it and suddenly I'll be plunged into the real world. This morning, instead of lamenting the end of summer, I sat down at my desk and compiled a list of things I'm looking forward to this fall.

Looking forward to:

the visit of my sister Alina

cooler weather, and consequently, chunky knit sweaters and jeans

my birthday -- actually, our family's birthday season in general

more time spent in the kitchen

the reveal of my exciting project (soon!)

the spicy smells, tastes, and colors of fall

roaring fires on crisp nights

a photoshoot with a friend (ballet themed, no less)

a trip down to my hometown in Texas

The list is taped on the wall next to my desk -- each time I look at it, it makes it a bit easier to let one season of life go and embrace the next.

What are you looking forward to this fall?

xoxo

p.s. the previous giveaway winner didn't respond, so the winner of any anklet from emily's shop is michaela. congratulations! please email me to claim your prize.