weekend wonders | wedding edition

dan and alyssa got hitched this weekend and it was wonderful! such an amazing time to spend with family, laughing, eating, laughing, dancing, celebrating! congrats to the two love birds, may you be best of friends for life xoxoxo

- not a bad view for a reception and a plate of food too big to finish..maybe...

- pretty bridesmaids with their transplant pa cousin

- my favorite flower child aka niece ella

- officially deemed "the christin" rocked this bombshell black number by susan golembiski designs, with a bit of boho styling from the bestie ADZ

- photobooth fun with the great aunt and uncle

- pizza and salad from BAR was the perfect way to end the wedding day

- slow sunday morning breakfast with the fam: coffee, mini quiches and five kinds of hot sauce. duh. 

weekend wonders

it was a quiet, cold (literally and figuratively) and cloudy weekend. i'm still recovering from the first of the nasty head-colds of the season, but here are a few snaps of things that warmed me up.

this view from the charles evans cemetery. i've lived in centre park for two years and this was my first visit! definitely going back for more walks and creepy headstone haunting.

this favorite mug of mine is getting lots of action in bed these days.

a very special birthday celebration, family style, for amanda on saturday evening. so blessed i could join in and so psyched about the rosemary gin fizz fixin's i got to give with the help of phoebe!

an ode to breakfast of warm waffles and warm hearts. i think every day should start this way, not just weekends!
(and cups and saucers; please and thank you.)

weekend (life) wonders

[dinner at Henlopen City Oyster House | lunch at Say Cheese | breakfast at the beach house | figs from Phoebe's Pure Food ]

Since I've been MIA, I figure a picture is worth a thousand words.

the perfect pancake

[cottage cheese pancakes at lareau farm]

The best thing about staying at the Inn at Lareau Farm was, simply put, breakfast. Man do they know how to throw down a seasonal, home-cooked, mouthwatering meal. Every morning I woke up to the smell of coffee brewing and maple sausage links frying...heavenly, for sure. The second morning we had Cottage Cheese Pancakes, and even the non-cottage cheese lovers became believers. I am telling you people, these pancakes are from the gods (and PACKED with protein, whoop whoop!). Of course I can't wait to get in the kitchen and recreate this meal, and lucky for me my girl over at Smitten Kitchen has already done so. I would also suggest a berry compote to top it off!

Now, about those sausage links...

Self-Improvement Saturday(s)

I have been looking forward to a neighborly outing to Echo Hill County Store now for a month! A few Saturday's ago we got up bright and early (in typical market-going-fashion of course) and I picked up my Centre Park compadres and hit the sunny road to Fleetwood. Echo Hill has been at the top of my "places to visit" for some time now and it totally lived up to my expectation (whew!).

I had a moment of geeking out and simultaneously experiencing a panic attack when I entered. I was so overwhelmed by all the amazing products and felt like just saying "I'll take one of each" and calling it day. Luckily, the neighbors came to the rescue and I was able to meander through the isles of bulk goodness pouring over the labels, chatting up Echo Hill veterans who cook and bake with these products everyday and discovering raw milk! It's no secret I love food and recently I've taken to eating and cooking with cleaner, whole foods in a attempt to better take care of myself - which turns out is a full time job! [dry-roasted almond butter, no-salt lemon pepper seasoning, light agave nectar, chia seeds, flax seeds, organic white quinoa, muesli, wooden cheese box ]

Obviously all this self-care and healthy food shopping can really work up an appetite. So with our new goods in tow, we headed back into to town (Fleetwood) and I was able to check another item off my list: breakfast at Simmeria!

Again, I was not disappointed. Great ambiance, good coffee and a menu to please all taste buds (plus healthy and delicious options!) we soaked up all the a good Saturday morning should be - with lots a laughs and great conversation in between mouthfuls of breakfast tacos and oatmeal. Thus, Self-Improvement Saturdays were born. Happy Monday! Maybe make some plans to enjoy this morning road trip this coming weekend? x x christin