Happy New Year, friends! If you follow along on instagram or facebook, you’ve already heard our exciting news: baby Naomi joined our family just about a week ago, and we’re ohhhh so in love with her! I was blessed with an incredible birth team and was able to have a beautiful vbac! Recovery has been slow but steady…thankfully Joe has two weeks off from work so we’ve been able to acclimate gradually and together as a family! Zoe loves baby “Mimi” and things are going quite well! We’re having family portraits later this week (yay) and I’ll be sharing lots more baby-related things soon!

Over the past week, I’ve been spending lots of time on the couch, taking it extra easy, snuggling with my babies, and getting lots of rest! Couch time has lead to lots of reflection and brainstorming and planning for 2015…for A Daily Something, A Daily Gathering, life, business goals, trying to figure out how and what I can do with two kiddos, etc.

I was rounding up my favorite moments from 2014 and was reminded of hundreds of unpublished images from Gathering from Scratch, the creative retreat I hosted with Beth Kirby back in August. My friends at Sweet Root Village captured the weekend so perfectly, I had a hard time sorting through the photos and deciding which to share. I’m so excited to be sharing a third batch of photos.

If you’re unfamiliar with the retreat, you can read more about it here and here. I’ll briefly share about it here…back in August, ten ladies joined Beth Kirby and me and our team of assistants for a two-day styling, photography and slow living retreat. We all stayed at the most charming 18th century stone farmhouse nestled in the West Virginia countryside. The home and farm are run much like when they were build in 1734: no air conditioning, no dishwasher, animals roaming freely; it’s perfectly rustic and picturesque. We shared all our meals together, stayed up late into the evenings chatting about everything and anything, learned and taught about styling and photography. We slowed down and appreciated the simple, natural beauty of life.

I am so looking forward to announcing the A Daily Gathering schedule for 2015…there will be plenty of dinners, workshops, and at least one multiple-day workshop + retreat.

Looking back at 2014, I’m blown away by the number of brands and creatives who were willing to partner on these dinners and workshops. THANK YOU! At Gathering from Scratch alone, we had a handful of partners that really made the retreat possible (and more exciting). Some donated time and services, others generously sent some of our favorite products to share with our students. At each meal, we were able to give our students carefully curated gifts, products that Beth and I use daily in our kitchens or while styling. I’ve mentioned the partners here and there, but wanted to thank them all again for their generosity and selflessness.

Sweet Root Village – Lauren and Rachel were angels at this retreat…they helped with everything and photographed all our shenanigans.
Our Terrain – Tiffany and Andrew stopped by multiple times throughout the weekend to capture it on video! You can watch their film here.
Knead and Know – Melinda baked us tasty, tasty bread and was the most faithful kitchen assistant. And her smile brightened our days!
Ambatalia – Molly generously sent all our students linen furoshiki bags…these bags are SO awesome and functional! Perfect for carrying pies!
Consider the Wld Flwrs – each student went home with a gorgeous rose gold ring…I wear mine every day!
Daphnis and Chloe – Evangelia sent a package of Greek herbs for our students…they’re some of the tastiest herbs I’ve ever had!
Field Notes – Field Notes sent a pack of journals for each student…I keep mine close by and jot down thoughts all day long.
J.Q. Dickinson Salt Works – they sent over hand-harvested WV salt in the most perfectly branded glass jars. I was so happy to work with a West Virginian company.
Ortolan Organic – they sent us beautiful striped cloth napkins – a perfect addition to a stylists prop collection.
Pear Tree Leather Co – to go along with the Field Notes journals, Chris created custom leather journal covers. They are beautiful, and only get prettier with age!
Straw and Gold – each student received a hand formed dark brown clay plate with gorgeous white, light blue and turquoise glazes.
Sweet Gum Co – Joseph generously sent us hand carved wooden spoons. I use this spoon every day, and wish I owned everything he makes!
Velo Coffee Roasters – Velo is a Chattanoogan-based roaster and they sent us bags of their scrumptious, freshly roasted beans.
Moonshine Mountain Farm – I met Nichole at the Leesburg Farmers Market and she generously gave us a super good deal on the leg of lamb…which was so tasty!
Monks BBQ  – Monks is based in Purcellville, so I was really excited when Brian agreed to work with us! Beth and I decided we needed a night off from preparing the main dish, so we ordered some BBQ from Monks. Seriously the best. With loads of Carolina Vinegar sauce, of course.

I’m looking forward to 2015 and all it has in store…being a wife and mom and nurturing our little family, making new friends, styling and hosting beautiful events, and working with and collaborating with new brands! Thanks for following along, friends. & hope you enjoy these gorgeous photos!

Photos by Sweet Root Village for A Daily Gathering, except photo #18 (@local_milk) and #17, 23, 30 (@dailysomething).