Pulla or Finnish Dessert Bread

Hello my dear readers,

Yesterday my family and I celebrated Friendsgiving. :) We invited those who weren't able to make it on Thanksgiving to our house for brunch, which consisted of Apple Pie, Apple Crisp, Peach Crisp, Pumpkin Rolls, Leftsa, and fresh Pulla (plus any leftover turkey, stuffing, or other leftovers from the Thanksgiving table).  It was a wonderful event, full of laughter and waves of those we love entering and leaving the house. We saw those who had been absent from our table for too long and those who we see almost daily gather around the table and connect. That's what this holiday season is about for me-it is about the people. The decorations are fun (and trust me, the Klaus house loves our holiday decorations), the food is scrumptious, but it is those who join you in decorating, baking, and eating that give the season its sparkle. So, this year, I invite you to focus not in the shiny tinsel and skillfully (or less thank skillfully) wrapped presents under the tree, but on the people who create and enjoy those items. Share dessert, make snow angels together, take walks through freshly fallen snow, or cuddle on the couch and watch a movie. Time spent with another person is a great gift, and this time of year is laden with opportunities to join in a discussion with an  acquaintance or with a dear friend. 

Below are images from the Pulla makin we did yesterday morning. The recipe came out of The Kinfolk Table, which can be purchased here. The recipe can also be found in a post on Kinfolk's website here. 

Wishing you the very best of the season,

AK

P.S. All images in this post were taken with the Iphone 4s and edited with the Afterlight and VSCOcam apps. 

The Holidays

Dear Readers,

As I write this my hands are coated with the contents of a box of markers- a memento of the hour or two I spent coloring tongue depressors for my mother's kindergarten students and bonding with my family. Tis the season, but of what? I have noticed over the years that we now say "Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas," and this change I do not entirely mind, however it does make me wonder what it is that the Holidays truly celebrate. I don't think it matters whether you are religious or not, the Holidays are important. They are a time to focus on those who care for you, who have helped shape your everyday life and been a part of your everyday joys. This does not mean exclusively the family created through shared DNA, but also those who have become family through bonds of friendship; through late night phone calls and stories that are always more amusing in retrospect. It is a chance to gather together and create deeper bonds; to create an atmosphere of love and compassion, of respect for the similarities and the differences within us all.

With these thoughts in mind, I have looked back and decided to share with you all images of a very dear friend of mine from Itasca State Park. This was a day of laughter and adventure; of lonely highways and clear fall skies. This was a day of family and of friendship, and I am happy to share it with you all.

Happy Holidays, my wonderful readers, may you find joy throughout this chilly season.

<3 AK

Hello

Hello my wonderful readers,

How are you? I hope that you are all doing well and that you have enjoyed your fall! I know that I most certainly did! Now the snow has fallen and stayed in my hometown and I find myself looking eagerly ahead for the joys of winter.

For those of you who don't know, winter is my favorite season! I see winter as a season to pull closer to those you care about, fortifying yourself against the cold of the season with the warmth created by close friendships. It is a season of hockey, or sledding and snowballs and skiing trips. Of hot chocolate and fresh baked cookies, of Christmas carols and twinkling lights. Winter is full of its own sort of magic, one that makes us search within ourselves as well as pull closer to others.

Bundle up lovelies,

AK

Testy Tuesday

Happy Tuesday all of you lovely readers!!!!! Unfortunately the weather here feels more like winter than it does summer, however, we in this lonely state must keep our heads up and soldier on. Summer has to come eventually right? :)

Anyways, this post was supposed to be called  Moo-Card Monday, but I was ill yesterday and therefore had to rename the post Testy Tuesday in honor of the rather interesting weather. Anyways, my business cards came!!!! I ordered them from this lovely little company on Moo.com, I would recommend it to anyone looking for custom designed cards!!! They are fabulous! I ordered the mini cards because I thought they would be easier to store and give to people, but I am defiantly considering getting some regular sized cards as well. I absolutely love everything about the cards :) and I can't wait to start giving them out to people!

On another note, more photos from my shoot with Brianna from last week will eventually be posted, I promise. I have been crazy busy working on multiple projects, so I apologize for my lack of activity recently! I have missed you all!! :)

I hope you all have fantabulous weeks and will be updating again soon!! Also, I'm hoping to (finally) get to more of my pictures from EUROPE!!! :D I'm super excited about that!!!

P.S. This week is my fiance and my anniversary :)... oh yeah, I got engaged as well ;) :D  sorry for the lack of sharing, I'm careful about my personal life, but hopefully I'll have pictures of my rings (multiple) for you all soon :P

P.P.S. Anyways, I'm super excited about our anniversary :) and I wanted to share my excitement :) I wish you all happiness and warm weather :)