last hoorah in San Francisco.

the last few days in California were breathtaking. the weather was perfect. I am sitting sipping my cappuccino, wishing I was there right now, although the weather here in Nashville is absolutely gorgeous.

1. adorable little french bakery in Santa Cruz

2. amazing cappuccino's too

3. our old RV that broke down in Santa Cruz, we left it for a lady when she gave us a newer one to use. We went and visited her, so sweet :)

4. great little Cafe with the most superb brunch ever!

5. Jesse at Cafe Brasil

6. Brunch at Cafe Brasil

7. Jesse and I on the beach (before a short hike)

8. Little place next door to where we stayed in San Francisco, called Sugar Cafe

9. We were surprised by how inexpensive it was for being in Union Square, but so good. $3 gin+tonics!

Oh this trip was the best. My mom and I are perfect for trips, we eat and drink the same, and pretty much shop the same. We love sharing a bed and watching the food network in hotels and talking about food. We are perfect for each other :)

vacation: Santa Cruz

while in California, my mom and I got to visit with my 1 cousin, Jesse and his wife Margot. They live up in the mountains along side the beach outside Santa Cruz. Their little cabin in the woods is amazing, and they also have a wonderful little yurt.

1. long afternoons at wonderful little bookstores (that serve you local wines)

2. Capitola (beach town by Santa Cruz, cousin went to surf there...too cold)

3. Mom and Jesse in Capitola

4. eating at Jesse's cabin (about all we did :)

5. Sweet little cabin in the woods

6. cooking in the cabin

7. found a wonderful vegan indian place in santa cruz :)

trying to round up the last of my photos to move on my from my trip....

san francisco: pt. 2

i love all of the little nooks of san francisco.

coffee shops, bakeries, patisaries, clubs, bars, theaters...so glorious.

[adorable little condiment bar at a french bakery]

[sign for the condiments]

on our first day we also walked to

Fisherman's Wharf.

we indulged in some freshly baked sourdough bread, and yummy soup.

this was a wonderful reminder of my time here a few years ago with my whole family.

oh goodness.

[sourdough bread animals]

[baking sourdough bread at the Boudin bakery at Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco]

[sourdough bread on the wharf]

[dinner one: Kuleto's]

[ricotta stuffed eggplant]

[mom and I indulging in some fine italian and wine]

one of my favorite things to do in this vast city is shop.

this is a view from sacks 5th, onto the off-set ice skating rink, in the middle of union square.

one of my favorite things to do in this vast city is shop.

[macaroon sighting number one]

peachy long time

Oh gosh it's been so long since I last blogged. But I am back. I have neglected this poor old thing. So I will now be catching up to the last couple of months.

The beginning of September, one of my favorite things was making jam with my momma. We went to the market, bought peaches and canned them! She did most of the work, but I thoroughly enjoyed helping!

this strand of hearts I made was for my sister who was getting married in 50 something days, this was something that I did when I was getting married. You pull off a heart every day until the wedding!

brunch date at our house with some favorites!

a bridal shower.

yesterday my 2 sisters and I threw a beautiful shower for our future sister-in-law.
may 15th, my baby brother who is only 19 is getting married!


[josh with our momma]

the shower was great. fully stocked with fresh hydrangeas, pink tissue "flower balls", incredible food made by everyone, great music, fabulous spring shower apparel, and lot's of tears [mainly from me...?]




my sweet Oma [grandmother] here with the Bride-to-be! Isn't she GLOWING?


the food was fabulous!!!









and the table was just beautiful [mainly because of my very creative sister, Carah]






and this is just a sweet picture i took of our dog wizard today. so adorable.



thats all for now. more bites later!

making january fun.

[after a long day of gluten/dairy/sugar free crackers, no dairy caesar dressing, fish, and I don't remember everything else we cooked! my mother's awesome kitchen, I love baking here]


my husband has been gone for about 2 weeks and I have had no inspiration to bake/cook. I just hate cooking a ton of food and then having no one to eat it except me! Occasionally I can auction some of my food off to my family, but they live too far away to enjoy it daily!

But my love came home yesterday and we just had a very lazy day. Our thursday consisted of laying around, naps, reading Fox's book of martyrs, new pomegranate soy candles, playing with wizard, almond butter snacks and making pizza!

Robert said he was craving pizza, so I got up, made dairy-free almond/cashew milk cheese, and gluten/sugar/dairy free pizza dough. I had some homemade tomato sauce I made a while ago that I pulled out and we had a great dinner! Complete with fresh tomatoes, garlic, and soy mozzarella! So good!



[gluten free, sugar free, dairy free pizza dough]



[pizza dough on my awesome Pampered Chef Pizza Stone- makes pizza/cookies taste the best]



[homemade tomato sauce]




[dairy-free cheese! finished pizza!]


This morning I woke up at 6:30 am with my husband because he is still on his travel schedule: go to sleep at 9pm, wake up at 6am! no fun. But I was quick to forgive him when I smelled almond meal pancakes smothered with agave nectar! Oh man was that the best thing he could do to wake me up!

Freshly ground Mcpherson, Kansas coffee, french pressed and gluten-free almond meal pancakes topped with almond butter. Oh my gosh, my husband is so wonderful to me. What did I do to deserve a man that loves me and loves to be in the kitchen just as much as me! He is so glorious!




[woke up to my husband making me gluten/sugar/dairy free pancakes]




[he is happy to be home]


A couple of days ago I went to the apple store and spotted this lovely lady:



[sighting: Melinda Doolitle, The Apple Store, Greenhills Mall, Nashville, TN]



[Okay, well none of my family/friends knew who she was, she was 2nd runner up on American Idol a few years back, she went to Belmont and lives in Nashville]



to last week I got to spend 5 days with my awesome family! It was so great, I went to work with my siblings, which happens to double as the family business! It was great! Driving around, lot's of smoky car shops, and some friendly shopping to set up my sister's new office!




[all 3 of the 4 Ellis siblings in the same car, alone. first time this happened in a long time]



[a shopping day with my sister..not the shopping I was planning on doing...office supplies]




[franklin drives]



[my brother working]




[my sister being great at work]




[my so-handsome dad]