andrew may very well win mmp groom of the year for the sweet thank you he sent after seeing the proofs.

there’s so much to love about katherine & andrew – but what i appreciated most was how perfectly their wedding reflected their sensibility as a couple.  they had fun with their gatsby inspired wedding plans and it was so evident how much they enjoyed seeing it come to life on their wedding day.  i remember feeling so privileged to share their private moment in the courtyard at their church because i was able to see andrew’s face when he looked at katherine…and there’s katherine’s sweet family that i want to see at least once a week……and katherine’s delight when she saw the oak room at spindletop…and how the music was so perfect.  katherine and andrew have a great love – one of those loves that wonderful novels are written about and gratefully, i shared one exquisite day by their side.  -m-

Ah! Life grows lovely where you are. -mathilde blind

i la-la-love thanksgiving!!  tomorrow, at casa mauer, we’re anticipating trimming the tree and getting our advent calendar ready with the activity notes i made up this evening

Download advent_activity_calendar.pdf

have a great one!  -m-

* loved this honest post by kelly on motherhood
* really want to visit this french shoppe in canton, oh
* isn’t this wreath great?

* these are so sweet, i want to pin them everywhere en masse

hi everyone!  just a brief note to let you know we’ll be closed nov 22-23rd to celebrate thanksgiving – hope yours is extra wonderful :)  warmly, -melanie-

love these cute drapes with kick pleats at the bottom!

new links added:

jakc’s baby shoppe   

dauphine press

I’m hosting Thanksgiving this year –it’s the first time we’ve ever had people over for Thanksgiving, and it’s the first time my entire immediate family has been together for Thanksgving EVER–well, since we all left home, got married, and had kids.  So our little house will be holding eight adults and two children under the age of 3, plus the two mammals (josie the cat and hannah the dog) that live there on a regular basis.  so please keep us in the mindset of having a holiday like this and not some sort of scary National Lampoon Disaster. 
In all truth, I’m really looking forward to it, the extra china has been ordered, I bought more pillows, and am planning on making cute turkey place cards for the holiday meal.  Also, it means the pearl onions in white sauce will not be messed up beyond belief for the first time in three years since my mom will be on hand to show me just how she does it.  You wouldn’t think something so simple could be so sneaky, but trust me, there is some kind of finesse required when you’re working with cornstarch and butter on the stove.
Warmest wishes to all of you this upcoming holiday –whether it’s you and your family of two or the whole clan of twelve!
-Laura