Saturday and Other Bits

Outfit Details: Dress: Vintage (from shop) // Scarf: yard sale // Necklace: Antique Mall // Shoes: UO

Right now: I am watching Snow White and the Huntsman.   Ok, so it wasn't so bad after all - I actually liked it, but oh Kristen Stewart - you will forever be a vampire named Bella in my head.

Right now: I am feasting on a pumpkin carrot cake muffin that I made the other day, but in actuality I call it a pumpkin puffin (pie + muffin) because the center is so sinfully moist that it reminds me of pumpkin pie filling.  Holy yum.

Right now: I am not donning this dress but rather my favorite yoga pants and a hoodie and not worrying about getting dressed and out the door because hooray hooray it's Saturday.  Instead I will enjoy my muffin and cup of mint chocolate oolong and perhaps mosey on down by the lake with my son in one hand and a book in the other once I feel like getting up from this comfy couch.

These are the moments Saturdays are made of.

Oh yeah, since photos on here don't necessarily happen in real time, I spent a splendid Monday afternoon the other week in this cozy little lakeside - forest lined nook that we stumbled upon on our way home from the market.  It was the perfect summery sort of day and all I wanted to do was frolic and admire the lily pads.  The End.

Wishing you another magical kind of Saturday.
Love Bunches,

The Craft Room: Retooling a Collar off an Old Blouse

Hello Darlings, 

If you follow me on Instagram, then you may already have gotten a sneak peek at the simple little DIY I finished the other day.  Detachable collars - we all love them, right?  So awhile back, I found this totally 80s jacket/tunic/blouse thing and kind of fell in love with the collar despite the hideous almost waterproof cross between a choir robe and a slicker type of material.  While I will admit that I have indeed worn it before...see here, I really just wanted to save the collar and nothing else so cue up the DIY.  

This one is so easy my friends (trust me, I am far from a pro), and it doesn't take a neurosurgeon to pull it off, just a pair of scissors and perhaps some needle and thread and pretty ribbon.  

Materials Needed:

A thrifted blouse with a pretty collar - preferably sailor or Peter Pan style.

Scissors

A needle and thread

Ribbon

Hook-and-eye closure (optional)

1. Lay your blouse with the collar flat, then using the collar seam as your guide, cut about a centimeter  below the seam the whole way around the collar.

  

 If you want to skip the next step, you can also cut as close to the seam as you are able.  You will be left with an unfinished edge which won't be seen when worn, but because I was cutting through 4 layers of material on my blouse (yes 4! Two from the blouse itself and 2 from the collar.), I decided to be cautious and leave myself a little extra room to cut.  Either way, I would have had to do step 2 since the 4 layers of fabric would have been stiff enough to stand up leaving a bulky edge where the seam is.  

2.  With a needle and thread, sew the centimeter of extra fabric down to the collar.  This will help it lay more flat.  Iron if needed.

Because I'm a bit picky...ok, a straight up type A perfectionist at times, I opted to give my collar a faux bow in the front and a hidden hook-and-eye closure to keep it more secure when worn.  I have purchased a couple of lovely collars with the typical two ribbons in the front that you tie into a bow, however I have found that on me, the ribbon does not stayed tied or it becomes very cockeyed during the day.  So instead, I added a hidden hook-and-eye closure where the collar would close in the front and a bow on the front of the outside flap.  This stays in place for me sooooo much better but it does add one more step to the process.

3.  In the mirror, put the collar around your neck, overlapping the front ends (about 1/2 an inch in from the edge) and mark off where it will naturally close on both sides.  This is where your hook-and-eye closure will go.  Grab your needle and stitch on both parts of the hook-and-eye.  (The hook will go on the inner side of the outer flap of the collar.  The eye will go on the outer side of the flap which lays closest to your skin)  Make sense?  That's a mouth full!

4.  Take your ribbon and tie a bow, making sure it's the right size you want it to be for your collar.  With your needle and thread, sew the bow on to the part of the collar which overlaps the other - right on the front center - which is basically on the outer side of where your hook is sewn.

Hooray!  You are finished!  You now have quite the little show stopper of a collar on your hands.  Alright darlings, enough DIYing for the day, I'm off to bake some pumpkin carrot cake muffins.

Peace, love, and pumpkin lattes, 

Love Bunches, 

Teacups and Early Sunsets

Outfit Details: Dress: Thrifed & altered // Hat: Target // Necklace: Etsy // Bag: Chantilly Songs Kickstarter gift // Socks: UO // Shoes: Clarks (gift from hubby)

As the days are getting shorter and the weather has seriously cooled off, I am finding that warm cups of cider, heavier blankets, cozy hats, and pumpkin spiced anything is really getting me into this new season.   As my hubs has been battling a fall cold, I spent a good part of my afternoon yesterday outside on our hammock reading (or re-reading)  some Hemingway, taking in the cool breeze but still basking in the bit of sunshine that sneakily peeked through the trees.  This all being during the hours where my son takes his nap.  The evening was filled with sweet potato quinoa and was finished off by a sunset kayaking run on the lake with a friend.  It's hard for me to not miss the warm summer weather, but little moments like this make it all the easier.

As for this dress - I just had to mention it.  It was a dowdy old thing down past my ankles before I hemmed it up, but I just couldn't get over the peter pan collar and teacup and menu print - so I snagged it up at my local thrift.  Better yet, my hubs bought these shoes for me six years ago and I hadn't worn them once.  I guess back when he bought them I was more into pointy toed heels and such, but how very nice to find them now packed away in a large container in the back of my closet.  It was like an early birthday gift.

So that is life as of late.  It's 9-11 today and I can't help but to remember seeing that tragic day unfold 11 years ago as a young student in my college dorm room.  My heart truly goes out to the families who lost loved ones that day and has great respect for the many heroes that stepped up to keep our country safe.  You will never be forgotten.  

Talk soon darlings!

Love Bunches, 

Cherry Keane Sunsets

Outfit Details: Top: Modcloth (sale) // Hat: UO // Brooch: Antique Mall // Skirt & Shoes: Thrifted // Bag: c/o Cute Vintage

Happy happy weekend darlings!

Hope your Saturday is a swell one.  Today is pretty low key for me and the fam and little house projects like painting our front door are in order.  Sounds excited, right?  (Note my sarcasm...ha!)  Anyhow, my favorite kinds of evenings are ones like this where we grab some coffees (it's pumpkin spice latte time!) and find a peaceful little deserted spot on the river where we can watch the sunset and yes play with trains...any Thomas the Tank Engine fans out there? :)  

So that is all - the front door beckons so off I am to prime and paint.  Wish me well!  Any exciting plans on your horizon?

Love Bunches, 

Insta Weekly - Summer's End

Hello there darlings!

It's hard to believe this week is wrapping up already.  This is a little shot of life lately via instagram (shadesofmonet).  I am surely taking in every last bit of summer that I can before we must say, "farewell".   

Catch up with you soon!

Love bunches, 

Marisa Noelle

Photos row by row - left to right:

1.  Cupcaking.  Enough said.

2.  Tea and alterations.  I am smitten with the lacy Peter Pan collar and dark floral print on this dress.

3.  A pretty little friend came to say hello to us in the lake.

4.  6:30 AM kayaking.  Pure beauty.

5.  The Mr's. birthday.

6.  Sunny afternoons of photo-taking and lily pads.  

7.  The little man's first day of pre-school.

8.  Good old-fashioned sunsets on the river.

9.  Happy Friday from the two of us :)

Of Mice and Minnies

If you haven't seen by now, yesterday I made a lil ol pit stop over at Of Corgis and Cocktails to guest post for the lovely Katherine while she is away at Disney World.  Lucky gal!  I am discussing which famous lady in the past and present I have forever been compared to.  Any guesses?  Follow me over here to find out.

Love Bunches, 

Marisa Noelle

Quail Hollow Village

 Outfit Details: Cardi: Target // Blouse: Vintage // Shorts: Asos // Purse: Antique Mall // Hat & Socks: UO// Shoes: Gift 

Our little neighborhood is never short of nature-ridden places to explore.  One of my favorite spots is this spillway that sits just behind a group of vacation condos known as Quail Hollow Village.   I could most certainly sit here all day and read or picnic if time allowed, but today I chose to kayak over this way instead - right to the edge of the dam where the water spills over.  That was at 6:30 AM.  I am anything but a morning person but perhaps if all mornings included a kayak and a misty lake with a sherbet colored sunrise, I may just welcome this hour of the day.

Of course - this is not the outfit that I really kayaked in nor is it 6:30 in the morning, but rather later on that same day.  I will miss summer and long sunny days just like this, but I am thrilled to welcome in the season of pumpkin spice and fiery colored leaves.  So that is that.  Bring on the fall!

Hope you darlings had the most loveliest of weekends!  Labor day put me in the mood for veggie chili and a little DIY.  Onto cut and sew and cook I go.  Talk soon!

Love Bunches,

The Keys and the Uke and Everything in Between

Yesterday I did a little ol guest post over at Chantilly Songs for her latest series, "What I Like About Me".  Can you guess what my answer was?  Follow me over here to find out :-)

Peace, Love, and Sunny Saturdays,
Marisa

Friday Favorites // August Edition

Hello, hello, 

I'm back again along with several of my lovely sponsors with our end of the month friday favorites.  Can you even believe autumn is almost here?  Where on earth did this summer vanish to?  It's hard to believe I walked outside yesterday to fifty something degree weather - even more nuts is seeing the clump of red leaves on one of our trees.  Now let's break out the pumpkin pie and party!

Have the most loverly weekend darlings!

Love bunches, 

Marisa

Here

With autumn just around the corner, I couldn't help but adore this cozy looking sweater.  The sailboat and anchor knit has me smitten.

Here

So, I may have to really save up for these babies (or beg for them as a birthday gift), but aren't they just darling?  Who can resist wearing roses on your toeses?  

Here

I'm really obsessed with this line of handcrafted soaps by Emma's Friends, so much that we used them as favors for my sister's bridal shower.  The Pumpkin a la Creme scent is made with real pumpkin puree and coffee and is oh so perfect for fall.  The story behind the company is incredibly heartwarming as well.  

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Mary Morgan - The Muffington Post

Here

At the moment I am currently loving velvet! In dress form, cape form, pillow form, shoe form, drape from, cake form, word form. Velvet is it. Like this coat with velvet buttons and pockets!

Mary-Morgan, The Muffington Post

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Hannah, The Braided Bandit

Here

I am absolutely in love with this kitty-printed dress from the lovely Yana of the Etsy shop Supayana.  It is no secret that I am a cat lover, and the print, the cut, and the beautiful collar on this dress are perfection to me!  I would love pairing it with a cozy knit scarf, tights, and, of course, a pair of kitten heels for the upcoming cooler months!

Hannah, The Braided Bandit 

Blog // Shop

What I Baked // Bridal Shower Edition: Lemon Lavender Honey Cupcakes

Oh hello there darlings, 

Just as promised, here is the recipe I used to make my lemon lavender honey cupcakes for my sister's bridal shower.  These were definitely a special occasion cupcake as the hubs and I actually purchased a lavender plant from the nursery to makes these babies.  Truth be told, you can actually just use dried lavender flowers, however, how much more lovely is it now that we can take care of our little plant and have lavender to use whenever we want?!  Anyhoo, I've already made these darling little cakes twice and both times they've gone off like a hit.  

On a side note - I decided to get extra fancy schmancy this time around and fill them with this lemon curd and cream cheese filling which I took from a tart recipe off Mary-Morgan's blog, The Muffington Post, which was very delicious in itself.  So if you do try your hand with these delightful little cakes, be sure to give me a holler and let me know how it goes.

Lemon Lavender Honey Cupcakes:

• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 4 sprigs of fresh lavender or 1/2 teaspoon dried lavender flowers
• 1/2 cup butter, at room temperature
• 2 eggs
• 3 tablespoons lavender honey (I ordered mine from Amazon.com)
•  Zest of one lemon
• 1 cup all purpose flour 
• 1 teaspoon baking powder 
• 1/4 teaspoon salt 
• 1/4 cup milk

• Preheat the oven to 350°F; line a 12 count muffin pan with paper liners.
• Put the sugar and lavender flowers in a food processor. Process briefly to combine.
• Tip the lavender sugar into a bowl with the butter and beat together until pale and fluffy.
• Beat the eggs into the butter mixture, one at a time, then add in lemon zest and lavender honey. Next sift in the flour and fold gently. Add baking powder and salt.  Stir in the milk, then spoon the mixture into the muffin cups.
• Bake for about 18 minutes until risen and golden and a skewer inserted in the center comes out clean, then transfer to a wire rack to cool.          

Filling

• 1 cup lemon curd (you can make your own, or use store bought) 
• 8oz. pack of cream cheese, at room temperature.

Using an electric mixer, mix together until blended into a creamy consistency.  Once the cakes have cooled, use a paring knife to remove a "plug" from your cupcakes.   Fill hole with lemon cream curd.

Frosting

• 1 stick butter, room temperature
• 8 oz cream cheese, room temperature
• 2 teaspoons lavender honey 
• 2 cups confectioners' sugar 

Beat butter, cream cheese, and honey together until combined. Beat in sugar until stiff enough.
Frost cupcakes and top with a blueberry. 

Adapted from  Yummy Mummy Kitchen

                                                           

* Oh and those other chocolate cupcakes you see in the photo are my Bailey's Toffee Espresso ones.  You can find that recipe here.

Until next time!

Love Bunches,