Dani Goes South

So much (and yet, really, not all that much) has changed. It’s great! A lot has been going on, and I made a conscious choice to soak it up and enjoy/give my best attention to it all over the last…eep, 9ish months?! It’s been sooo good. Such a privilege to be fully engaged in life and frankly, renew ye olde creativity.

Speaking of being fully engaged……………………….ELLIPSES GALORE.

Benjamin and I are getting marrieeeeeeeeeeed! *Throws confetti over self* Goodness, we could not be happier. We got engaged back in April, in our garden. I saw it coming, and yet, I had managed to wear zero makeup and my finest crocs. I have to hold back when I talk about marrying Ben, because, well, save it for the vows, Dani, but I will say the following: Ben and I met when we were 15 and 16 and dated when we were 18 and 19, then didn’t see each other for about 10 years. When I say that I feel so incredibly blessed to truly feel fated to my soulmate, it’s no exaggeration, and BEFORE I CONJUR A VOM FROM SOMEONE, I get it!! There was indeed a time I would have rolled my eyes so hard at that, but being with someone so kind really does turn ya soft. I can’t wait to marry him! EEEEEEEE.

Anywho, the wedding plans have been falling down like pieces into place (Red, anyone?). One of the most important of which being our amazing photographer, Cherece. She happens to be an old family friend, who happens to live in Texas, too. She also happens to be insanely talented and delivered us one of the greatest gifts of our lives in our engagement photos. She captured us at home, in the garden, in our element. Listening to records. Making cheeseboards and drinks. Which, may I just say, in hindsight, I picked a really crumbly food to eat in front of a photographer taking candid pictures. I just feel so lucky to have had her capture some moments of us just being us during this time.

Anywho! :) Wedding chats aside, I’ve been a-workin’ away on something quite cool, but of course, can’t talk about just yet, AKA the most annoying phrase ever, haha. But alas, ‘tis true. It involves lots-o-writing, which I love. However, it feels sooo very good to be coming into a season where I’m filled with renewed food styling and recipe development energy, because LET’S BE REAL, the synergy of those two things is why I do what I do. Don’t get me wrong, my other love is undoubtedly writing, but it can get a little isolating at times! More than that, if I go a little too long without that oh-so-magical feeling I get when styling, I start to feel like my creativity is getting muddied and almost lost in the ether. It’s continually stretching those muscles where challenging, exciting, growth happens. Anyone? Just me? I digress…

Next to food, styling my (or anyone’s) home quite literally engulfs me in enough warm coziness to power one thousand cardigans. This year, I started decorating as soon as humanly possible- the week before Thanksgiving. Tis the damn season. I will shoehorn a TS reference into any conversation wherever possible. Our T-Gives, BTW was incredibly chill. We hosted 2 sweet friends, and I made way too much food.

Here was our menu:

Turkey with citrus, roasted garlic and shallots

Two stuffings, because why not?

Brussels sprouts gratin

Kale and roasted butternut squash salad with pepitas, parm, and tahini dressing

Buttery chive mashed potatoes

Smitten Kitchen’s pumpkin cheesecake gingersnap tart

Dutch apple pie

Buttermilk pie c/o my lovely friend Taylor. Had never had it before, and was v into it! It was like a sugar cookie in pie form.

Did I go too hard for 4 people? Maybe, but in my defense, we thought we had more people coming, and I’m just a big time believer in leftovers, or, L.O.’s as my parents affectionately refer to them.

Later that weekend, for the 2nd year in a row, we made our way out to Elgin Christmas Tree Farm. Because we are giant dorks who love to start a tradition wherever possible, and were all too happy with ourselves on that brisk November Sunday, I decided to take some video, and cut it together with us doing a little decorating.

Maybe you’ll find it cozy, and if not, chill out, friend. There’s lots of food coming your way. Like, way too much food. It’s gonna be great. YA GONNA LOVE IT.