| christmas in south carolina

While in North Carolina with family for Christmas, we drove down to South Carolina to visit some friends at their parents' farm. We went for a stroll around the land. Everyone quickly realized that it was hopeless to wait for me because every where I turned there was something else I wanted to photograph. It was a great time with friends and a wonderful time with my camera.

Strolling about...

There was laughing

And some kissing

| taste testing

Giver's Log is a site I follow via my lovely google reader (whatever would I do without that thing?), thanks to a friend of mine who thought I'd enjoy the gift wrapping ideas (which I do!). A few weeks ago, I happened upon a post requesting taste testers. I quickly commented, hoping I was speedy enough to be chosen. Sure enough, I was!

Amber, of Giver's Log, was kind enough to mail not only one but two tasting samples to a friend's address who we were visiting in Chicago the next week. Fully intent on documenting our mini tasting party, I brought my camera.

I'll let the pictures do the work, but I will say that we really should have tasting parties more often. Who knew they could be so much fun?

If our samples were any indication, you're going to want to hop on over to Amber's shop when it opens later this month and snatch up some hot chocolate for yourself! You can read more about it here and here. Yum! Seriously, it's like Europe style hot chocolate. Swiss Miss dreams of being this good.

Carefully reading the instructions.

Notice our excellent choice in milk, for those of you in the Chicago area.

Becky, nicely stirring the first sample, as it heats up.

Whoever said sake cups were limited only to sake?

Sample number two, er, technically number 13 as they were labeled.

Our very official looking notes.

Thanks, Amber, for some wonderful samples! Can't wait til the store is open :)

| chicago before christmas

| a progressive dinner + journaling + camera

I hadn't gone out of the building since getting home Sunday. I was getting antsy and there was no good reason why I should stay in, so out I went tonight for a burrito bowl in the misting rain. Having been recommended by a friend, dinner was followed by a salted caramel hot chocolate.

(public service announcement: if you have not yet tried one, you really must. they're amazing. simply to die for.)





And then I did some window shopping on the way home, taking in the simple joy of Christmas lights at night.

packages tied up with string

Merry Christmas!

Renegade Craft Fair

In case you happen to be in the Chicago area next weekend...

Stoltzfus Farm

During our abbreviated trip to Pennsylvania, we stopped by a farm owned by the Stoltzfus family. (For those of you from Lancaster County - yes, I realize that could mean a number of farms) Maybe I should say "A Stolzfus family." After city living, it was refreshing to pull into an amish farm off a country road and pick out pumpkins at my leisure, look in on the baby cows, peek at the horses, pet the dog, wander around one of the barns. It was just relaxing. Slower paced. Nice.

Side note: cows are easily spooked. I leaned over to pet one and scared three of them into running across to the other side of the pen. whoops. I'll stick with the dog.

Another side note: Yes, I carted pumpkins and indian corn the whole way back to Chicago. They're so much more expensive out here.