Earlier this week, one of my coworkers received a box of cake truffles from VeryVera, and offered to share. It took me all week to finally get down to her office and try one, which is probably a good thing, since I may have eaten the entire tin if I had tasted one of these confections sooner.

“What’s a cake truffle?” you ask. Well, it’s a little ball of the most delicious, moist yellow cake you have ever had, dipped in chocolate, and the rolled in either coconut, cookie crumbs, almonds, or walnuts and pecans. (I had the coconut. It was amazing.) And even better, VeryVera delivers. And if the other cakes offered on their website are as good as that chocolate and coconut-covered morsel I ate today, I may fore go baking and resort to online ordering for the rest of my life.

photo cred

Hello Lovelies!  How has your week been?

I was lucky enough to be back in Tennessee with the mams and paps.  Bea and Starling are a little buried under responsibilities and their growing bellies so we do not apologize for the reason for our absence but we do apologize that you’ve had to wait for a new post.  And unfortunately, you’re going to have to wait just a bit longer as we all continue keeping afloat and personally – as I get settled back into the daily grind.  Soon and very soon though… more where this came from.

p.s. driving through the smokies renewed my affection for this song…

Did you watch the premiere?  What do you think?  What are we in for this season? Any predictions?

Like Don Draper, we keep it all in the dark…

Lyndsy wins best costume

Although I spent a week working as a counselor at a Christian camp two summers in a row during college, I never had the opportunity to “go away to camp,” like you see in movies.  If I had it to do over, I think I would like to spend my summers on one of the Pali Overnight Adventures. This company offers 16 specialty camps at their facility in California for kids ages 9-16.

Campers can choose from:

Extreme Action Adventure
Girl Power Extreme
Hollywood Stunt Camp
Motorsports Extravaganza
Secret Agent Camp
Watersports Extravaganza
Acting Academy
Broadcast Journalism
Dance Academy
Rock Star Camp
Culinary Institute
Fashion Design Institute
Film Institute
Magazine Publishing Camp
Movie Makeup Academy
Counselor in Training
Leadership

Hollywood Stunt Camp?! Movie Makeup Academy?!  Secret Agent Camp?!

My only questions are: “Where do I sign up?” and “Do you think I can pass as a 16-year old?”

Kitty measuring cups

Hotman trivet

Head Chef utensils

Bunny paper towel holder

Chef vegetable peeler

A whole slew of products from Boston Warehouse

Boon Grass drying rack

This weekend, after years of wanting to learn, I was finally taught how to play Settlers of Catan. Now, for some reason, learning a new game always gives me an anxiety attack, and Catan seemed so complicated, but once the game got started, it was surprisingly easy to understand, and I had a blast playing it.  If you haven’t played it, I highly recommend it, and if you have played it, I think you should have me over for a round. And to celebrate my initiation as a Catan player, I’d like to share with you a few of my other favorite games.

Mexican Train Dominoes

Blokus

Beyond Balderdash

Pit

Buzz!, which is one of only two video games I can play for any length of time without wanting to throw the controller into the television. The other one is:

And for some outdoor fun, there’s always:

Bocce Ball

and, of course, Cornhole.

How about you, dear readers? What are some of your favorite games?

The shop also features some gorgeous accent pieces:

My 28th birthday is fast approaching, and when Mr. Starling asked what I would like for a gift, I decided on a pair of TOMS. With their One for One program, where for every shoe purchased the company donates a pair to a child in need, it’s the gift that keeps on giving. Plus, they are very cute, and allegedly very comfortable.

Here is the pair I requested:

(I am a sucker for items with special insides. Look at that cute pattern!)

But they have several other styles that I may soon branch out to.

Super-cute wedges

Pirate ships inside!

Cool wrap boots.

TOMS also has similar styles for the fellas. (Well, not the wedges or boots). And why are shoes a good charity, you might ask? Well, according to the TOMS website, children who don’t have shoes are more susceptible to disease soil-born diseases, as well as infected wounds on their feet. These children often cannot attend school, since shoes are a required part of their uniform, and therefore they miss out on an education and all of the opportunities that come with it. Check out their website to learn more.

Starling’s Picks:

For the dad who likes to cook:
The BBQ Sword

For the music lovin’ dad:
Giant earbud iPod speakers

For the dad who like to try new things:
Beer of the Month Club membership

For the dad seeking wisdom from more experienced fathers:
Sh*t My Dad Says by Justin Halpern

And finally, for the dad who’s a total bada$$ and needs a place to keep his ax, and by ax, I don’t mean guitar:
Ax Sling

Wren’s Picks:

For the hip modern city-dweller who needs something to allow him to use his cool new bbq sword

FRYKAT Picnic Charcoal Grill

For the Hipster whose gal pleads for more unique and romantic date ideas (and for something to sit on after spearing veggie burgers with your bbq sword on your picnic grill)

Buffalo Plaid Picnic Blanket

For “the man’s man” who just might give up his favorite recliner for a chance to see it live

Sports tickets

For the stylishly preppy man who values good quality (and a good quality woman)

j.crew leather messenger bag

Photographer Rachel Whiting brings us oodles of inspiration from her magazine shoots.

Below are some of my favorites.  Can you tell i’m a little obsessed with pale neutrals, whites, and the beach-cottage look??  It’s almost Summer, what can I say?

And Jumping Juxtaposition!! – let me just tell you how much I LOVE chandaliers hanging from trees.  Glorious.

I have decided that my new job needs to be styling photo-shoots.  Who’s ready to hire me?