I love...

 

Last night while I was out running errands I got a text asking me out for date night tomorrow night....

I just love this man.

Pretty sure we're going to see the new Twilight movie (YES!), don't judge. I can't wait. 

After tonight it'll be all packing and editing, but tonight we're going to enjoy date night. What are you up to this weekend?

 

November Group Giveaway!

Hey all, I'm so excited about today's group intro/giveaway. My November sponsors have been sweet enough to come up with some thoughtful gifts that one of you will win! But first, let's meet these wonderful ladies.

I asked each of them to share their favorite memory from Thanksgiving this year...

 
Photo by the lovely Danfredo Photography 

For the past four years, I have celebrated Thanksgiving in New York City with my boyfriend, Brian, and his daughter, Emily. We always spend the morning in midtown Manhattan watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and the afternoon cooking in our pajamas at home. My favorite moment from the holiday this year was hearing the crowds cheer as the first big balloon appeared where we were standing on Sixth Avenue. Everyone was so excited! It is always a thrill to be at the parade that I watched every year growing up in Minnesota. The balloons are amazing!

Blog // Facebook // Instagram

My husband is in the Navy recently returned from an emergency deployment after Hurricane Sandy so we stayed home. I cooked all day and he turns into the dad from A Christmas Story while the turkey is cooking and we sit down and have an enormously large dinner. Even the dogs had Thanksgiving dinners! My favorite moment was after dinner when we all cuddled up on the couch and my husband and our two dogs all took a nap cuddled around me.

Blog // Facebook // Twitter 

For Thanksgiving, we had a huge gathering at my sister's house. We use the holidays as a time to have fun and hang out. Not to mention, EAT! My sister is a pastry chef, so you can only imagine the amount of food we had! We all had enough leftovers so that we wouldn't have to cook for a couple of days! My favorite moment of it all, was this was the first time we actually got to sit down at a table to eat. Most of the time, we don't have enough room for all of us. This year, my sister made it a point to MAKE room. It was great! These people mean the world, and by sitting down to eat, it made time go a little bit slower. That way, we could enjoy the time together a little bit longer!

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Taking time.

It's so important to make sure we take time for ourselves, if anything just to breathe for a minute. As we get older it can be harder to "find the time", especially as women, but it can be huge in other areas of our lives.

If we don't take the time we need to do things like go on a walk, read a good book, sip on a cup of tea, etc; we can find ourselves slowly burning out...and then we're no good for anyone. I know a lot of you have big crazy dreams like we do and that those dreams take a lot of hard work and dedication, but I can promise that you won't get anywhere without a few timeouts to reflect and recuperate.

So, what's your favorite way to unwind and take a moment to refresh? Mine are taking a long hot bath, reading a good book, taking a quiet walk alone in the woods, or watching silly reality shows (Real Housewives anyone?) that make me laugh.

Homemade Vegetarian Sloppy Joes Recipe.

Dave has been talking about making sloppy joes forever. Last night we finally gathered all the ingredients and gave it a shot, boy was it worth the wait! I thought homemade vegetarian sloppy joes would be pretty good, but not anywhere near as amazing as they turned out. We both devoured them and then were left wishing we could get seconds, if only our stomachs would allow it...

Here's the recipe, it's easy and doesn't contain the nasty high fructose corn syrup and ten tons of sugar that all the store bought sloppy joe sauces have. Plus, it's vegetarian. You can do it without the peice of cheese on top as shown above (that was the first time I'd ever had cheese on a sloppy joe, but Dave insisted), but it was pretty dang good that way. Up to you!

What you need:
1 bag Quorn "beef" crumbles
1/2 onion, chopped
1 8oz can Rotel zesty tomato and green chili sauce
3/4 c water
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 Tbsp chili powder
1 tsp paprika
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp white vinegar
2 Tbsp brown sugar
1 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp sea salt
1 1/2 tsp garlic salt
1/2 tsp ground black pepper
whole wheat hamburger buns
American cheese slices (optional)

Mix the tomato sauce, onion, water, sugar, and spices. Heat up the Quorn crumbles for about 5 minutes. Add tomato mixture to the crumbles and heat on medium.

Pile some on your buns with a slice of cheese if you like and enjoy! We had ours with Alexia onion rings and it was the perfect combo. And now, thanks to Thanksgiving week/end and this meal, I am sufficiently stuffed.

Life lately...

These days I've life has been full of photo sessions and it has made my heart so full...

I am enjoying every minute of getting my business off the ground. I'm so thankful for a husband who not only supports my decision to start this adventure, but who has been with me every step of the way.

These days have also been full of preparing for our next adventure in North Carolina. I'm getting more excited by the day.

What have your days been full of lately?

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PS~ Knoxville/Gatlinburg and Winston-Salem/Greensboro people, email me if you'd like to schedule a session at introductory rates! December/January spots are filling up quickly!

Trisha and John // Couple session.

Trisha and John are newlyweds that I got the chance to photograph recently and they are such a fun couple! The two of them share a love for dancing that made my heart happy...

And Trisha sent me a sweet testimonial:

"John and I had a blast taking pictures with Mallorie! She is so incredibly sweet. We had a great time getting to know them and taking pictures. The location Mallorie found was beautiful! She was very professional and had lots of great poses in mind. We had a great time and love our pictures!"

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Also, happy Small Business Saturday! I hope you get out (either to local shops or online shops) and support your favorite small businesses. My black friday special is good through Monday!

Just the two of us.

This year we spent our first Thanksgiving just the two of us. It was quiet, but nice. Dave made all vegetarian dishes for us (including Quorn brand Turk'y) and everything was fabulous. I was in charge of desert and made the annual chocolate pecan pie and a Thanksgiving pie with my pumpkin pudding recipe for Dave.

We are so blessed and are filled with thanks ever single day...

 

PS~ in case you missed it I'm offering a Black Friday sale on all ad spaces AND all shop items (which is on top of the free shipping I always offer)! Just use the code BLACKFRI for both sales.

Ad spaces here. Shop here.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Necklace: c/o Becoming Jewelry

Happy Thanksgiving!!! I hope you all have a wonderful day full of family, food, and thanks. Dave and I are spending Thanksgiving just the two of us this year, but we feel very blessed to have each other and lots of food to eat. I think the necklace above is a great reminder for today and the rest of the week: live simply. It's something we all should take into account as we prepare for the season.

I love you all and am so thankful for you!

The Knitting Project.

Today I'm excited to introduce Jen of Rellas Bellas, she's here to share a bit of her heart and passion with you and I'm praying some of you will have a calling to help her reach her goal...

 

Hi Home is with You readers, I am so blessed to have Mallorie as one of my dear sweet friends who is helping me spread the word about my #purposeproject for Mocha Club.

Last week I shared with all my lovely readers, friends and family about the knitting project.

I’ve wanted to learn how to knit for as long as I can remember. Almost two years ago I bought yarn and needles in an effort to teach myself. Those needles and ball of yarn sit with my crafting supplies untouched. I tried for about two days to teach myself and failed miserably. Today that changes. I am partnering up with Mocha Club for the month of November to create The Knitting Project, a way to raise money to rescue girls in Ethiopia from the sex trade industry.
 

I left Influence conference last month and the ministry of Mocha Club kept weighing on my heart. I feel like we as women spend so much time worrying about things like having the newest shoes, perfect haircut, a home that looks like it could be in the latest issue of Martha Steward Living. We often times forget how great we have it. I find myself catching myself a lot lately complaining about things that are just so silly. Getting upset because I am stuck in traffic; annoyed the plumber was 3 hours late. God is reminding me of how lucky I am. How blessed I am to not have to worry about the things these brave women in Ethiopia encounter every day.

My goal for the month of November is to raise $400. $400 rehabilitates one woman from the sex industry in Ethiopia. By  raising $400 WE can give a woman the opportunity to live a better life and no longer allow prostitution to be her means of survival. 

{all donations are tax deductible, a receipt will be emailed after donation}

How $400 will change one woman's life:

Basics of what women receives through Women at Risk:

•Rehabilitation from desperate circumstances

•Counseling to redeem deep emotional and physical trauma

•Hope through skills training and job opportunity

•Restoration, dignity, and a new life!

Details of what they receive:

• Individual and group counseling 

• A 12 Steps addiction recovery program 

• Pre-& post-HIV counseling and testing 

• Daily devotion and bible studies 

• Skills training and job placement services 

• Day care services 

• Tuition and schooling material for children’s education and many more programs that address the unique needs of the rehabilitating woman and her children 

Once a woman is rehabilited from the sex slave industry the second part of Mocha Club is livefashionABLE. These woman who are given a second chance can make a living making scarves instead of prostitution. This is Bezuayhu's story: “I am now 19 years old. My parents had passed away and I used to live with my aunts and grandparents. They always wanted me to work and not to go to school. So, I came to the city, and there I came to this life of prostitution. // Now, it feels so good to get up in the morning and say I am going to work. It feels so good to have a scarf named after me. I’m so proud to be called a scarf maker.”
 

The scarf I am wearing below was made my Bezuayhu. Every day that I put it on I think of how amazing it is that Mocha Club can give these women a better chance at life. A chance to not live their lives in prostitution. $400 can give another woman in Ethiopia the chance to be a scarf maker and be proud of what they do.
 

scarf: livefashionABLE // sweater & maxi skirt: target // stripped tee: forever21 // shoes: converse "chucks" // clutch: sew caroline 

I am praying as you watched today's video or read my post from last week  you will want to help. Whether it be to share this post with your family and friends on Facebook and twitter, or to donate; every bit counts. if 10 people donate $40 we will have helped changed one woman's life. if 40 people donate $10 we will have helped changed one woman's life. if 80 people donate $5 {one drink at starbucks} we will have helped changed one woman's life.

A few tweets or posts for fb to help spread the word:

Can you help @rellasbellas change the life of one woman? read more about her #purposeproject http://ow.ly/f4U1s

Let's help @mochaclub make a difference and help @rellasbellas learn to knit #purposeproject http://ow.ly/f4U1s

Goal: $400 raised, 1 woman freed and a chance for @rellasbellas to learn to knit #purposeproject http://ow.ly/f4U1s

Bring coffee from home and donate ur $5 latte fund to help change the life of 1 woman #purposeproject http://ow.ly/f4U1s

  
Ok friends, let's help her out! Even if you can't donate, please please please help spread the word!

World Market Gift Ideas: For Her.

It's that time of the year again, when we all need gift ideas for the people we love. Some of those people are easy to shop for, and some are near impossible. Here are a few gift ideas and things I've been swooning over at World Market, because we know I love to shop there...

1. I just love everything about this head wrap...the color, the bow, and the fact that it would look super cute on just about anyone.

2. These cute little pumpkins, I fell in love with the white one the last time I shopped there, so country chic and you can use it for multiple holidays.

3. I don't know if I've mentioned on my blog before how much I love birds, but oh how I love them so. Now that you know this about me, you can guess that I swooned when I saw this jewelry holder with a bird on top ("PUT A BIRD ON IT!"...anyone?), it's seriously adorable.

4. These earrings are so pretty and at only $4, how could you not? Perfect little stocking stuffer.

5. It's a bird. And a teapot. Need I say more?

6. I love all the wall decals I've been seeing around lately. This one is inexpensive and it combines two of my favorite things: birds and trees. Plus, it looks like it's small enough to fit in just any open space you might have.

7. I don't know about you all, but this time of year I don't get anything at Starbucks other than Pepperment Mochas, so when I saw World Market had this coffee I had to add it to the list!

More exciting news/giveaways from Cost Plus World Market...

The Life of Pi Sweepstakes:
Grand Prize package includes: a dream trip for 2 to India and a $1,000 World Market Gift card.
There will also be 3 runner up prize winners that will each receive a $500 World Market gift card!
The Life of Pi Sweepstakes runs from 11/17 - 12/28.
If you share the sweepstakes with 5 of your friends (via FB share or email) you can receive 5 additional bonus entries. This is part of the registration process when entering. Users can also enter daily for more chances to win.
Enter online at http://worldmarketsweepstakes.com/ or https://www.facebook.com/worldmarket?fref=ts

About Life of  Pi:

Life of Pi is the story of an Indian boy named Pi, a zookeeper’s son, who survives a disaster at sea and is thrown into an epic journey. While adrift in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, he forms an amazing and unexpected connection with another a fearsome Bengal tiger. The movie opens in theaters November 21, 2012. You can watch the trailer for Life of Pi here: http://www.lifeofpimovie.com/#!/watch-trailer

BLACK FRIDAY and Life of Pi Giveaways: 

The first 100 customers to shop in-store on 11/23(Black Friday) will receive a FREE Limited Edition Life of Pi ornament and a FREE Life of Pi movie ticket. The first 100 customers to shop in-store on Saturday, 11/24 & Sunday, 11/25 will receive a FREE Limited Edition Life of Pi Tote Bag and a movie ticket.

Where to find World Market:

Website // Twitter // Facebook // Google+ // Pinterest

This shop is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group™, but all my opinions are my own. http://cmp.ly/3/KqtZiE.

From where I stand...

From where I stand...

...these cookies can make any week better.

...our place looks more like a disaster than a move in process.

...the fall leaves in this session could not have been more perfect.

...time with my family can't come soon enough.

..I have a lot to be thankful for.

<a border="0" href="http://www.mallorieowens.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll13/malibu7213/fromwhereistandbutton.jpg" /></a>

Winter months // Gathering memories.

What is it about the cold that makes us want to draw inwards and reflect? I love this time of the year, just before it gets really cold, when things are changing and everyone is preparing for the holidays. I love to try and slow it all down and take every moment in so I can hold on to those memories until next year...

...not because the rest of the year is so terrible, but because this time of year is so wonderful. Anyone else do this?

Gadanke Journals.

A few weeks ago I was sent a handmade journal from Katie of Gadanke. You all know I love putting pen to paper and doing some things the old fashioned way and this is no exception. These are such a fun way to record pieces of your life and little thoughts along the way.

Journal: c/o Gadanke

This journal has been in my purse ever since and I've had a great time filling it out. It's such a perfect little size for taking it with you wherever you go. They would make the perfect little gift for stocking stuffers!

 

A little bit about Gadanke, from Katie...

Gadanke's motto: celebrate your story!

About Gadanke: Document who you are and what you crave and believe. Handmade journaling products at Gadanke are filled with creative writing prompts and tidbits to make you think (and laugh!). These baby books, prayer journals, travel books, and diaries make your writing process more meaningful and fun! Plus they're totally eco-savvy with 100% recycled papers.

Background: A couple of years ago, NPR's StoryCorp was in town. It was also my grandma's 90th birthday. The two of us decided to hop into the recording studio to capture some pieces of her story. I had all sorts of prompts to help her. The only problem? My grandma couldn't remember. Too much time had passed. Later, my dad turned to me and said, "Katie, I need you to write down your story." I knew he wished he had his mom's stories. So I started writing. I started wondering about all of the other women who have stories deep inside of them. Gadanke was born with fabulous writing prompts and recycled papers.
Where you can find Gadanke: Shop // Blog // Twitter // Facebook // Pinterest
  And you all get 10% off for the next week with the code: LOVESTORY  

Recording the new album, indie style...

There is nothing I love more than to watch Dave do what he does best, which is play his music...whether it's live or at home, he's in his element. And getting to be part of the recording process for Love Via Music and now his new album has pretty much made my life. I love being the first to hear the new tracks and the fact that Dave trusts my opinions on what to add/take away.

It's such a fun process and I really enjoy sharing it with you all in pictures. These are some of my favorites I've ever taken of Dave...

Where to find Dave:

Website // Twitter // Facebook // Instagram

So, what's your favorite album of all time, indie or otherwise?

Jolainey Lu // Child Photo Session.

The other day I got to photograph this beautiful little girl who is such a sweet spirit, and fellow lover of the trees, Jolainey Lu...aka Jojo. This girl just loves to play and has such joy in her eyes...


"The shoot was so fun and natural! That feeling was really translated in the pictures, no forced smiles or fussy four-year old. Mallorie did a great job of engaging my daughter and capturing her beautiful free spirit. I was very impressed with the spot that Mallorie chose, truly a hidden gem. Not a spot that screams pictures, but that ended up working perfectly because the background was just that, a compliment to my daughter…not a distraction. Her work is so much more than a snapshot but is really an art form. You can see that illustrated in the careful composition, lighting and perspective of her photos. I would definitely recommend Mallorie to anyone; she has a very unique and beautiful style of photography."  ...such a sweet testimonial from her Mom!