The humidity seems to lean into the city as we all stretch into August. It's almost its own person as its half of everyones conversations. It digs itself into our town like heels into wet sand. It wraps around me like a wool coat as I leave the house, mount my bike, and cycle out to grab avocados from the closest grocery or pick up thank you cards from a little letterpress studio. We're in the thick of Southern Summer now, AC turned up, white wine and beer chilling in the fridge to help escape the memories of heat in the barely blue-dark evenings. A time to seek out swimming holes and pick-your-own berry farms and shady spots for picnics.

And yet I hang out in my house, editing photos and taking pictures of food and (lazily) planning a wedding. My wedding. It's 3 months out and I'm realizing that I've barely done anything wedding related in almost two months. I went to the venue with my planner (an awesome friend who happens to be an artist, florist, gardener, and professional event coordinator!!!) and Logan, organized some stuff with tent and lighting rentals (it's an outdoor wedding), and bought maybe one or two decoration things (some baskets I'll be filling with bread and fruit and laying out on the long farm tables).

But NOW the wedding is three months away. NOW I've gotta get my butt shakin' for to send out invitations (sh*t what am I gonna do about that?!), learn how to make flower crowns, collect all of my thrifted decorations (brass candlesticks, cool lookin' baskets, bread basket linens, blah blah), oh and DIY a bunch of stuffs. DIY is not really my thing. I went to 4H as a kid. I even attempted girl scouts (big ol' fail). Heck, I took sewing and carpentry classes in high school and college. I can't even remember how many crafty things I did as a kid (foam play dough sculpture anyone?). But as an adult I feel zero desire to make craft things. And I'm surrounded by brilliant, motivated, craft-genius level artists who sit around making calligraphic signs with lentils. Or art installations with found feathers and 8 point buck skulls. Or hand dyed silk scarves pleated in the Shibori style.

I'm just not like that. I mean, I'm making chocolate bars and chocolate dipped figs (if I can get 'em) and a slew of other chocolatey things (maybe even some cupcakes) for the wedding. Thems my skillz. But I can't exactly make escort cards out of chocolate (although that would be siiiiiiick). Which is why I'm thrifting most of my decorations, and using flowers and greenery for almost everything else. But some things just have to be made (cuz I'm not gonna spend 1000 bones on hand lettered invitations, e.g..). If you're like me (craft envious but not craft experienced), what would you do? I would love to hear any and all thoughts related to being a wedding craft genius. Oh, and check out my wedding pinterest board for thoughts if you'd like! It's got lotsa good stuff.

Oh, and these pecans. Speaking of wanting things to be awesome AND easy. Here in the South candied pecans are a THING. And by a THING I mean they're everywhere. Shopping malls, festivals, blue grass jams in the park, definitely the farmers market. You get them in little paper cones and walk around carnivals, staring at the gaggles of teenagers and the blinking, whirring lights. Mostly you just absorb them into your body as immediately as possible. Eat them, I mean. This recipe is less evil than the candied pecans aforementioned. Don't get me wrong, they're still addictive and worthy of the paper-cone-walk-around-the-festival nosh fest. Anyhoo, check out the recipe! They're delightfully spicy.

Salted Maple Cayenne Pecans (Vegan, Gluten Free)

Ingredients

• 1 cup raw pecans
• 2.5 tablespoons maple syrup
• ½ teaspoon coarse sea salt
• ⅛ teaspoon cayenne

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 325F. Grease some parchment paper with ghee or olive oil and set aside. In a medium bowl, combine pecans, maple syrup, sea salt, and cayenne. Stir to evenly coat the pecans in the syrup. Spread pecans out evenly on a baking sheet. Bake 15 minutes, stirring every five minutes. Remove from oven, and immediately spread your pecans out on your greased parchment paper. Let cool 30 minutes before eating.

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