fred jones

last weekend, i played tour guide to T and my mom at fred jones jr museum of art. for those who don't know or haven't been, the museum is home to countless pieces of art ranging from well-known classics (like degas, pissarro, and van gogh) to contemporary works (like william robinson leigh, earl carpenter, and james surls). located on OU's campus, they are also privy to showing major touring exhibitions. 

thankfully, the timing of our visit worked in our favor and we were able to see the roman busts from the immortales collection. 

[T posing with his personal favorite among caesars, octavian]

[great views for the busts]

next, we viewed james surls' touring collection. the two main exhibitions couldn't have been more different, and i found myself absolutely loving both. the busts provided the perfect pairing of historical context and culture, while the metal sculptures gave me some serious beetlejuice flashbacks. i kept envisioning each piece come to life!

[my personal favorite]

[cool installation]

[got caught post-photo taking]

the visit was the perfect way to spend a gorgeous fall afternoon, and i loved being able to show T and my mom something new to them. have a great weekend!

pumpkin stew

the post-halloween, pre-christmas slump can only be cured by one thing...homemade stew made in pumpkin bowls. i first made this recipe several years ago and completely forgot about it until T requested it. and while the recipe itself is pretty involved, it is well worth it. to whip up the recipe yourself, click here. my sole change was to use only pearl onions or leeks as it becomes a bit too onion-y and overshadowed the other flavors when both were used. now, on to goods!

[hollowed out orange beauties]

tips to cut down on time when making the actual stew (if you have enough time to plan): 

• cut all your veggies in advance. there's a lot that goes into the physical stew so, this one will really help. 
• soak the dried navy beans in water overnight. this way, you aren't trying to remember to do it before you go to work aka forget to do it and scramble when you get back. 
• cut and clean the pumpkins in advance. enough said. make sure to wrap them (tops on) with cellophane to stop them from turning. 

since the recipe makes so much food, i waited until my parents came down last weekend to make it. to say they were fans would be quite the understatement. ;)

[table's all set]

[sorry this one isn't in focus, hunger took over]

such a delicious meal (especially with those softened bits of pumpkin mixed in), such great company, and the perfect cure for those mid-holiday blues.

cositas

[getting kittied up]

hope everyone had a great weekend! my parents came down and we had such a great time. between taking them out to tailgate, seeing a new art exhibit, eating delicious food, and riding our bikes around town, it was a fun-filled few days to say the least. plus, the pups got all the tummy rubs, back scratches, and treats they could want. 

[letting the wine breathe]

[blue moon/super moon]

[reese's blonde brownies]

[furry nap time]

[grilled cheese with a fried egg, my favorite]

fall fest

an adorable fall festival filled with kid-like spooky fun? of course i'm there! i've never been one for haunted houses, zombie runs, or nighttime corn mazes...i simply scare too easy and don't get a kick out of the sensation. but, "kid-version" scary is, and probably will always be, up my alley. and while T and i don't have kids on our mind yet, we still got a kick out of all the activities. 

[trick or treating]

[oops! got caught ;)]

also, i'd be lying if i said i wasn't super excited to see the new inflatables...king kong had to be my favorite of this year's bunch followed by the kraken. i can't be the only one that wishes they had adult-sized versions of these, right?

[that moment when you hear, "cotton candy", and everything else is a blur]

[carnival games, above and below]

[hands down, best costumes of the year]

five moments

[this view]

while many may not know, my amazing s.i.l got married last weekend. T and i couldn't be happier for her as we absolutely love her husband. the weather was sunny, warm and perfect for an intimate outdoor ceremony surrounded by family and close friends. the weather, along with the background of the changing trees, made the day all the more beautiful. and while i'd never disclose all the tender moments, i did snap a few of my favorites from the day i thought i'd share. enjoy!  

[nearby sunflowers, a favorite of the bride]

[getting everything set up with T and his dad]

[signing the marriage license]

[first cut of the cake]

howl-o-ween

i hope everyone had a spook-tacular holiday weekend. T and i had such a great time getting into character for our costumes, snacking on bite-sized candy, and partaking in a halloween movie marathon.   

[what a stinker!]

oh, and what were we dressed as, you may ask? we were pepe le pew and penelope pussycat from looney tunes. our dynamite costumes were made by my sweet m.i.l, who is a wiz with her sewing machine. i swear, i feel like she gets more excited for our costume ideas than we do.

  [hanging with a witch and she-ra]

[funky chicken]

our first fiesta on friday had, by far, the creepiest decor...every room had a theme, including dexter's kill room. between the spiked homemade cider, karaoke, and animal costume dance-off, it was a great way to kick off the weekend.

[p.u!]

saturday, we started over at m&js to watch hocus pocus, cook out, and see all the cute trick-or-treaters. plus, i just couldn't wait to see what chuck (the boxer) and bruce (the pug) would be dressed up as.

[twin pumpkins keeping watch]

then, T and i headed over to alex and larry's shindig where we were promptly greeted by the rufferee and coach canine ;)

[brian! we miss you but, were so happy we got to see you, even if it is for a quick visit]

["lucy! you got some explaining to do!"]

[our hosts: trump's dream for america and donald trump, himself]

one of my favorite things about alex and larry's annual party is how inventive and hilarious the costumes are. my personal favorites were the nun and male cersei from game of thrones (they reenacted the "shame!" scene), as well as woody and raggedy ann. plus, the party snacks are always tasty.  

[party pic]

halloween, thanks for always treating us to such a enjoyable time while ushering us into the holiday season. you will always be near and dear to us, and we've already starting thinking of costumes for next year!