7/31/14

Tart Cherry Pie

I feel like a bit of a fake posting a pie recipe on the blog, since I have made a pie all of maybe three times in my life.  That said, this pie was delicious and this blog is for sharing, so I wouldn't want to hold out on you all. Also, I think I get major street cred for actually picking alllll the little cherries from the tree in our back yard.  Can't get any more local than that!

     So without further adieu, here's a super easy recipe for tart cherry pie.  Only bother serving this if you have a healthy portion of vanilla ice cream on hand.  The tart cherries with the sweet vanilla is heaven.  Also, as with most things, it helps if you have a beautiful assistant to help you out, especially with the tedious task of pitting a large amount of small cherries.  (Thanks R!)

Recipe by Felicia Amidon from Daves Garden here

Felicia's Famous Cherry Pie
(adapted from an old Betty Crocker recipe)
4 cups pitted tart cherries
1 1/3 cups granulated sugar
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
(or 3 Tablespoons cornstarch)
juice of 1/4 lemon
1/4 teaspoon almond extract
2-3 Tablespoons unsalted butter


Two 9 inch pie crusts

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 425°F
2. Pie crust: you'll need a top and bottom crust
*I used store bought Pillsbury refrigerated crusts. 
3. Combine cherries, sugar, flour or cornstarch, and lemon juice.  Fit the bottom crust into a deep dish 9 inch pie plate, and mound the filling into the crust. Sprinkle with almond extract.  Cut the butter into bits and dot in on top of the filling.
4. You can either place the top crust over the fruit and cut some vent holes in it, or you can cut it into strips and weave a lattice top. Crimp the top and bottom crusts together around the sides, either shaping or trimming away any extra dough. 
*I cut a star shape in the middle and small holes to vent.
5. Put the pie in the oven and slide a cookie sheet on the rack below it to catch any juice that bubbles over. Do this even if you think your pie pan is so deep the juice could not possibly bubble over. It will.
6. Bake the pie at 425°Ffor 30 minutes, then reduce the oven temperature to 350°Fand continue baking another 15 to 30 minutes (allow up to 1 hour total baking time). The pie is done when the crust is nicely browned and thick juices are bubbling out of the vents in the top crust.
Let pie cool before cutting if you want pretty pieces. Warm pie, however, is delicious with vanilla ice cream, and nobody much cares how it looks.

*Mini Pies:
I used the leftover cherry filling I made to make some mini pies too!  Basically you follow the same exact recipe above, but use cupcake tins instead of big pie pans.  Also, the baking time will be shorter for these, so just keep on eye out until they turn golden brown on top! To make the miniature crusts, just roll out the dough and use something like the rim of a glass as a cookie cutter of sorts to cut out the mini top and bottom circles for the pie.  Put one mini circle crust on the bottom, fill 1/2 - 3/4 of the way full with the filling, and then press the top crust on and pinch the edges - voila! Mini pie!

**Also note:  These are not the large sweet cherries you usually find in grocery stores.  Its a backyard variety of cherries that are smaller and much more sour!

Enjoy!  What summertime treats have you been making?
xo H

7/29/14

Tangerine Dream

Just stopping in quickly to share a few more photos from my post over on the Flock Together Blog yesterday in case ya missed it!

 Outfit Details:
Dress Borrowed from TaylorVintage Blouse - for sale in my shop here!Vintage Purse for sale in my shop here!Black Boots - thriftedSunnies - c/o Sunglass WarehousePink Necklace - c/o Oasap

These purple thistle flowers that grow all over around here are so beautiful! That and the wild sunflowers that run rampant on the roadsides this time of year.  Summer please don't leave!
xo Hannah

7/25/14

Sunset Plaid

There's nothing like wearing a psychedelic vintage plaid twin set in the middle of a wind tunnel in the blazing heat!  I LOVE this set that I did a little makeover to that is for sale in the shop, but my windswept hair is less like a shampoo commercial and more like a disaster stuck to my lipgloss.  Also, there were about 10,000 prairie dogs (or P-dogs as I like to refer to them as) barking angrily at me as I took these.  Just to set the mood for what is usually going on behind the scenes in my photos!


Outfit Details:
Vintage Plaid Set - for sale in the shop here!
90s Canvas Shoes - for sale in the shop here!
Pink Sunnies - c/o Sunglass Warehouse

It's getting to that point in the summer that I start to feel a bit panicky about my weekends and all of the fun stuff I want to do that you can only do in summer.  I want to go to an amusements park or water park, the zoo, the reservoir, picnics... the list goes on and on but time is flying by!

Do you have any good weekend plans? Have fun!
xo Hannah

7/23/14

Oh My Darlin'

You guys, I'm just loving all the pretty scenery around our new place!  It's not that Boulder did not have pretty scenery - it most definitely did - but in the new town, things are a bit more rural and remote.  It makes heading out to snap photos without being seen or bothered a way easier process!

Outfit Details
Vtg Pinafore - in the shop here!
Vtg Straw Hat - thrifted
Vtg Purse - my moms
Sunnies - c/o Sunglass Warehouse
Metallic Shoes - Modcloth

This vintage pinafore from the shop is what summer dreams are made of.  Its red and white gingham with a fruit and flower print, so I gladly jumped at the chance to style it before someone undoubtedly snaps it up quickly! I paired it with a new-to-me straw hat I thrifted the other day, which will also be in the shop soon.  As for the shoes, I (virtually) grabbed them in Modcloth's most recent super sale and they are so much fun!  I'm just going to pretend the shiny metallic copper color is a neutral and wear them with everything.

Hope you're having a great week!
xo Hannah

7/21/14

Hot Pink Hibiscus

I know I know, every Monday all everyone has to say is how very short the weekend was.  But this one seemed extra super duper short!  I think it also passed 100 degrees in temperature, so this is what I wore for a quick trip to the pool.

Outfit Details:
Dress - c/o August Wrinkle
Sunnies - c/o Sunglass Warehouse
Woven Bracelet - Mitla Moda (similar)
Sandals - hand-me-downs
Necklace - handmade by me!

This dress definitely could be dressed up and seem fancy, but the light floaty layers and hot pink color make it a perfect pool cover up too.  I paired it with a pair of folding sunglasses from Sunglass Warehouse (they literally fold up until their pocket -sized!), a matching woven fair trade bracelet from Mitla Moda, and a neon fringe necklace I made.
     In high school and through college, I actually had my own small jewelry line called Tropichannah (get it... Tropicana... tropic hannah...okay then).  I had a little shop on Etsy and also made custom pieces and sets for special occasions, like bridesmaids jewelry for two of my cousins weddings.  I then moved to Colorado, started my career in the environmental field, and my hobby fell a bit to the wayside.  But now that I run my vintage shop full time, I am having a really good time getting back into some of my favorite creative passions, and am actually planning on launching a handmade shop on Etsy in the next few months too! This actually has been a plan in the works for awhile now, but since I am wearing a fringe necklace that would be in the shop, I thought it seemed like a good time to mention it here!  The handmade shop will also have a charitable component as well, with a portion of proceeds being donated to a cause I feel very passionately about - can anyone guess?! Anyway, let me know what you think, and if you have ideas for other colors your would like to see, etc., I would love to hear!

xo Hannah

7/18/14

Ranger Rick

Hi guys its me.  Did you think it was Ranger Rick?  I could see how that could be confusing.


Outfit Details:
Vintage Overalls - similar in shop
Boots & Top - thrifted
Hat - Eddie Bauer
Sunnies - gift
Striped Sweater - c/o Oasap

I kind of can't believe I'm making this into an "outfit" post, but this is what I wore to hit the road and head out to our camping trip last weekend. Lots of layers, boots, and thankfully, some rain gear too because WOW did we get a lot of rain.

Anyway, lots of work to do today so I can enjoy my weekend! Do you guys have any fun plans?
xo Hannah

7/16/14

Orange is the New Black

A few years ago I started this blog as a networking and promotional tool for the vintage shop I was opening.  Last night while R and I were working on some rebranding materials, he asked me what my blog is for now.  While I still think it is important networking and promotional tool, this blog has also really become a favorite creative outlet of mine.  Since our recent move to a new town, I have actually liked going out to explore new photo locations and my tripod has again become more of a buddy and less of a dreaded necessity.  All that to say... I know these photos are strange, but sometimes I really like to not only use this blog to show "what I'm wearing", but also get to express a bit of creativity through it!
Outfit Details:
Dress - borrowed from Taylor
Crown - handmade by me
Beaded Necklace - Mitla Moda
Cat Pin - Albinohare on Etsy
Floral Sneakers - Target
Pink Wig - c/o Wigsbuy

Down the road from our new place is this giant abandoned sugar mill.  Even closer are these open fields with strange abandoned concrete patches and sand piles.  Most people think the mill is an eye sore, but I actually find places that these "leftover" places beautiful.   I thought it would be a fun contrast to shoot a colorful feminine outfit in this strange mix of industrial and wild. The effects are pretty but definitely eery.

On a more sartorial note, orange is definitely not one of my usual favorite colors, but when Taylor offered up this pretty textured dress for swap, I couldn't pass it up!  I paired it with a beautiful hand beaded necklace from Dus's fair trade shop Mitla Moda, along with my favorite meowmaid pin and a flower crown I made.  Dus said this necklace reminded her of my pink wig, so I of course had to throw that on too to complete the crazy sorbet colored party!

Hope you are all having a wonderful day!
xo Hannah

7/14/14

Watermelon Coconut

Ah, Monday.  Can't say I'm super happy to see you!  One of the things that often helps get me through a long week is waiting for fun mail to arrive, as was the case with these amazing sunglasses from Kameleonz that arrived a few days ago.



Outfit Details:
"Coconut" Sunnies - c/o Kameleonz
Red Oxfords - c/o American Apparel
Woven Bracelet - Mitla Moda
Skirt + Suspenders - thrifted
Boater Hat - Brixton via Karmaloop
Watermelon Tank - Target (girls)

     If you've been reading my blog for more than five seconds, you know that I love me some cute sunnies. My collection is ever growing and I love how they can instantly change the look of an outfit.  Cat eyes make for a retro look, oversized round frames make me feel like some sort of celebrity, and these clear mirrored pair from Kameleonz make me feel like I'm headed to the beach!  Plus with product names like Coconut, Lava, and North Shore, they immediately make me feel like I am with my one true love... Hawaii!

     What really makes this pair stand out for me over the other sunglasses I own though is the fact that they have interchangeable arms that you can switch in and out to match whatever you're wearing.  Here I am wearing the clear Coconut pair with "hemlock green" arms, but they also came with clear and tangerine arms that I can swap in whenever it suits my fancy.  Kameleonz is also offering everyone 20% off right now with the code SUMMER at checkout :)
   
These arrived just in time for me to take camping this weekend, but unfortunately they were unnecessary, as it was raining and overcast a huge part of the time.  Oh well, we still tried to make the best of it!  Have a great start to your week!
xo Hannah

7/11/14

Friday Favorites {Vol. 13}

It's been awhile since I did a Friday Favorites! Here's some of my favorite finds from around the internet recently!

The other week I saw Gentri wearing this beautiful black hi-lo dress  from Mart of China and I think I just may have to make it mine! It seems like it would be so easy to wear both casually or to a more fancy occasion!

I know I am late to the party, but I really want to try out a high waisted swimsuit!  This cute red white and blue number would be perfect for a day spent lounging by the new reservoir beach we discovered near our house!

I was scrolling through a wesbite looking at dresses and was quite shocked when R thought this colorful bird dress would be cute, as he is usually into more understated style.  I guess birds are okay but cats are not.  I've been loving comfortable smock dresses lately, and this deer one has such a cute print and shape!  I wonder if deer are on R's "acceptable animals to wear on a dress" list?

And while we are on the topic of cute animals, this article on unusual BFFs is the cutest thing ever.

Gray Malin is one of my favorite photographers, and it is my dream to one day hang one of his prints on my wall!

This darling card from Urban Outfitters sums everything up.

I recently started a Fabric board on pinterest.  Now if only I knew how to make allll of the pretty things by hand myself!

Dus is back from her buying trip in Mexico and has been filling her shop with SO MANY cute new fair trade goodies! This embroidered mini dress is what I am saving for!

The new Macaron Lippies collection from Nyx cosmetics would probably look crazy on me, but man do I want to try that lavender one on in person!

Okay, so this GIF is months old at this point, but holy crap, how awesome is this cat that saves a little boy who is attacked my a neighborhood dog?!?!

R and I are headed to the mountains for a camping trip tonight right after he gets off work!  I just printed this cute packing checklist to make sure we have everything we need!  If we were to make our own list, it would only include LOTS OF SNACKS.  And I guess maybe a tent. Have a great weekend!
xo Hannah