book bins!

We have had some exciting new products in the works in direct response to your requests!  So for the next few weeks we will feature our new items here on the blog to get ready for our annual show (more info to come on that soon…but save the date: November 11-13)!  Our new items aren’t available for purchase just yet but be sure to make it to our show (early!) to purchase them and (if you are out of town or unable to make the show) continue to check back here.

So to kick off this series, I’d like to introduce to you our book bins…
You may have seen these before…. here and here.  This adorable book bin has already found a home, but don’t fret …there will be more to come!


stay tuned for more of our new products!

trains

Today – we can’t think our cousin William enough for leaving his trains behind last visit.  I always assumed boys and trains went hand in hand but today i am home with a sick baby…who only wants to play with trains.

 

Thanks William!  now you and mills can train bond next time you’re here :)

pumpkins pumpkins everywhere

At least that’s what we’re hoping for.   While we have lots of exciting s&j happenings, I only want to give sneak peeks for now and I really don’t think you want to see another pile of wood :)  SO, this is how we spent our weekend:

and that wasn’t working as all 4 of us girls aren’t fans of “sweatin’”

so this is how we dug our pumpkin patch (do not worry – chair not destroyed – it was a marker for the edge of the patch)

yep, seeds looked good so we planted all 100 of them while mills played and did things i didn’t realize she was capable of as always.

 

Keep your fingers crossed that something grows out of our garden!

goodbye summer and HELLO fall!

Arre’s farewells to summer had me thinking about all I should miss about summer, but I can’t help but be thrilled for the cool mornings that have yet to come in the deep south. 

We celebrated our first day of fall by playing in the water hose in our birthday suits (kids, not me) on the front porch (apologies for those that drove by for molly’s “booty shake” I promise i have control over them(sometimes)).

But this idea of fall had me thinking about one of my fall favorites…

Apple Cider

One of good ole’ marthas…

Serves 6

• 1 1/4 quarts apple cider
• 3 tablespoons firmly packed light-brown sugar
• 7 whole cinnamon sticks, (6 sticks for garnish)
• 1 teaspoon ground allspice
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• Ground cloves
• Freshly grated nutmeg
• Salt
• *1/2 cup Calvados, or other brandy (optional)

Directions

1. In a medium saucepan, whisk together cider, sugar, spices, and salt. Bring to a simmer over medium-low heat. Remove from heat; pour in brandy, if desired. Strain into a pitcher; discard solids. Serve in mugs, garnished with cinnamon sticks.

*i have never added brandy to mine, but at the rate things are going it’s going to be an essential ingredient this fall

and so it's over

Summer.

It's officially over.

Tomorrow.

So tonight I am going to eat ice cream,

go for a boat ride

and stay up late reading a book on the back porch (or maybe even the dock).

and tomorrow, i will wear boots.


images via lilesandsparrows, gourmet mag

Are you there?!

In our quest to entertain, sometimes enlighten, and mostly bring you up to speed on our latest stewart & james endeavors…we somehow are losing followers. ouch.  i know I’m to blame for some of it – I have been completely MIA as far as this blog is concerned lately (or now that i think of it, that really should help with you readers that don’t consider poop talk appropriate dinner or car ride (laura leigh) conversations).  So whether this will bring you back in or make you run for the hills (I’m hoping for the first) I don’t know..but here’s what’s been going on with me, us, kids, etc.

I mentioned before that i was able to fly across country for a little bachelorette jaunt with a dear friend (susan)  Well, this weekend was the finale of those events…her wedding that was held at Rosemary Beach along my favorite – Florida’s 30A!  It was FABULOUS and i want to kick myself each time I think of how I wished I had more pictures…but instead I’m stealing from facebook friends :) 

Susan was the most beautiful bride I’ve ever seen and as Louise so aptly put “i want to box that up and collect her, she looks just like a barbie doll”  And she did.  She was also serenaded by her Ken (aka Wil) on stage, too sweet! …enjoy these stolen cell phone pictures (all photos by louise) :)
 

on a much more back-to-reality-note: any idea how these two kids are genetically related?  it doesn’t make sense…we are yet to see which path #3 is taking

 

molly is rarely fully dressed – many times has one sock on or one braid in, prefers tattoos and a necklace as her only attire and thinks this is the only appropriate thing to do for the camera – who wouldn’t want to see her tongue?

mj never leaves the house without a full ensemble – cardigan, sparkly flip flops, rainbow dress, head band, and last but certainly not least: a positive attitude that will knock your socks off.

And lastly – more to come on this but here’s a little sneak peek

Have a lovely week!

just another day at the office...

while there are many woes to being an office-less operation, plenty of perks make their way as well.

starbucks is still our #1 go-to meeting spot but in an effort to cling to summer (as I've been quite obsessed with lately, if you haven't noticed), we held our most recent meeting poolside.

meeting checklist:

• frames - check
• frame hardware - check
• revised marketing material - check
• laptop(s) - check
• swimsuit(s) - check!
• bloody mary(s) - check!!

and were actually productive. we'll prove it to you by the end of the week ;)