^The morning began with a cup of tea (and trying out the heart-shaped bokeh filter.)
I did have to do school, even though it was my birthday.
^ complete with sparkling cider
^ jen being a torero [bullfighter] and em doing the death drop.
^some lovely roses from em + jen
^ the christmas lights in the back yard [with heart bokeh filter]
^ i made some delicious brownies, recipe from bon appetit magazine.
it was a really lovely day. and no, i don’t feel older. i’m still a kid.
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^ My sisters and I bring Mom and Dad breakfast in the morning. Tea, coffee, muffins.
^ the Christmas tree.
^ This is the candy cane lady. She’s been in the family for as long as I can remember, but she’s been around for a more than that too – her base says 1954.
^ I made this apple pie. And for your information, Betty Crocker makes a better pie crust than Nourishing traditions or those girls from the pie shop in Brooklyn. (whose recipes I’ve used previously.)
^ My super cool camera lens mug from Photojojo.
^ Melissa in all her new winter wear, looking like she stepped out of an Anthropologie ad. [handmade boots + gloves, and scarf and forever 21 headband.]
^ Dad held Riette alot. She’s adorable.
^ A big delicious dinner. It made for delicious leftovers too.
^ At the very end of the evening we went to see Christmas lights. I fell asleep on the drive home.
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This afternoon I took some family pictures for the Braley family. Lovely light!
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This evening some of us girls went to downtown Carrollton, for a ladies chocolate walk they were having. Basically walk around the square, go in all the fun shops, and eat the chocolate samples.
^ really sweet balls of thread at the antique store
^ this picture pretty much sums up clara’s infatuation with owls.
^ a cameo
^ through the viewfinder of a cool toy camera
^ us five girls
^ Summur with the big bag she liked
^ Melissa at Vintage Martini in a big fur coat
^…and me in this ridiculous coat, in which Clara thought I looked like a magician
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As many of you know, I went to India for two weeks this summer at the end of July. There is so much I could say about it, but it was a spectacular and fabulous and amazing and wonderful and fun trip. I am so glad I was able to go, and to experience another culture. We visited Delhi, Udaipur in Rajasthan, Mumbai, and Kerala.
^ Sharlena and I before a day in Delhi
^ We were given leis everywhere we went. It was such fun.
^ Intense bike ride through the muddy water
^ The foursome.
^ We drank – and brushed our teeth with – so many of this big water bottles
^ The group in front of the gates to the President’s Palace
^ Clara
^ Singing in front of the India Gate in Delhi
^ There was a really big group of people watching us
^ Awesome bag and shoes that I got when we went shopping. Bartering is fun.
Well, that was only Delhi. And only some of it. A small some. But, more will come later.
And, I would say that this trip was, indeed, life-changing.
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^ cupcakes, made by rachael and melissa. really super delicious. i will never be able to eat a cupcake without filling again.
^ lots and lots of people came. and this was just the dining room.
^ paper lanterns on the back porch
^ charlie, claire, and ryan
^ethan, justin, and judah in fedoras. they’re a pretty sweet band.
^ lights in the backyard
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On Saturday, Clara and Amy and I helped at a carwash for Margaret to raise money for her intern account.
^ This is what it looked like most of the time. Holding signs, waiting for customers.
^ This was our entertainment. That, and Margaret and Arielle dancing while holding signs.
^ All of us, minus Amy.
^ We stopped at Starbucks on the way home.
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This afternoon Sharlena took Emily, Jenny, and I out for tea at the Into My Garden Tea Room in historic downtown Plano. And, it was a surprise birthday party for me! My very first surprise party. [I’m turning 16 on Sunday.]
I wore this lovely big hat.
And Emily wore a hat as well.
So did Jenny.
And so did Sharlena.
We all had pomegranate raspberry green tea, which was delicious. There was also a lovely assortment of scones, breads, cakes, and chocolate.
All this loveliness put us in a Pride & Prejudice mood, so we went to Sharlena’s house and watched it.
Thanks for taking us out, Sharlena! I had a wonderful time.
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i went over to play with em & jen in their massive pile of leaves. but not just jumping in it. fallling off backward into it from the swing, running around the tree and flying into the pile, diving into it. oh for a massive pile of leaves with a swing nearby. perhaps i shall migrate our leaf pile.
little girl, next door neighbor. played in the leaves too.
we had a picnic too. cider, spice tea, cookies. sitting in the leaves.
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^ i’m loving how the balloons look, aren’t you? this picture was rather hard to take… just because it was into the sun and i was afraid i was like burning out my sensor or something.
^ clara’s cake. this is what results of cake decorating skills after 9 at night. yes, 33 candles although she’s only 14.
we roasted hot dogs and had chili for dinner, and smores and cake and ice cream for dessert.
^ i’m not sure what she was reacting to… but it’s funny.
we all smell like smoke now.
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Elicia Wetstein 