seasonal eating | food & foto

Tag Archives: seasonal eating

{deconstructed sushi}

this is the time of year when my diet always starts to change a bit… the transition between summer into autumn, the temps cooling off (although – we are expecting temps close to the 80’s again this week!) so i find myself craving different types of foods… on the precipice of being ready for soups and squashes, but also wanting less “light” dishes like salads, etc. (although – i still eat a salad every day!)

this is one of my favourite in-between meals. i’m calling it “deconstructed sushi” 😀

i love sushi in general… but i had also been trying to find ways to satisfy the craving at home without breaking the bank. i saw something like this on a social media platform and i decided to try it. it’s basically all of the ingredients in sushi, but without the rolling mat. 😉

simply mix all the ingredients together – rice (cooking hack : buy the par-cooked bags so you can heat them up with ease!), imitation crab meat, avocado, cucumber, spicy mayo, sesame seeds… nom nom!

serve with nori sheets like a little sushi taco!

furthermore – i sometimes eat nori or seaweed by the handfuls, just on its own… it’s kind of a (not-so) guilty pleasure 🙂 also, maybe it’s because i’m basically a mermaid?! i could eat seafood of any kind every day!

what’s your favourite kind of sushi?!

Tags: cook at home, crab roll, DIY, eat at home, eat the rainbow, eating, food, food blog, food blogger, food blogging, food photography, foodandfoto, foodnfoto, foodography, healthy eating, photography, seasonal eating, sushi

Comments 2 Comments
Categories DIY, eat the rainbow, food blog, food blogger, food photography, healthy eating, photography, the food, the foodie

{seasonal eating : braised cabbage}

7 Aug

it’s that time of year again – HARVEST SEASON!

it seems like everything is producing right now! in my garden, i have lots of herbs as well as tomatoes and cucumbers, which are slow-growing but i’m ok with that…

and at the farmers’ markets, the selections are vast! corn, peaches, berries, melons, tomatoes, onions, cucumbers, squash, garlic… and cabbage! {and the list goes on!}

i am fascinated by the insides of vegetables… especially cabbage! isn’t it just so cool?! the way they grow and form… all those layers and intricate patterns… just so cool!! divine design. 😀

this particular cabbage was so tender!

i chopped up the cabbage, then added it to a super hot cast iron pan with a little bacon fat and diced vidalia onions. after searing for a couple of minutes, i added some water to the pan and covered it to let the liquid absorb and steam slightly… about 6 minutes, stirring once or twice.

{p.s. – how cute is my little pot handle cover – it’s a kitty!}

finally, i served it up with a filet of fish and… nom nom! 🙂

do you like cabbage? what are some of your favourite ways to prepare it?

Tags: 100 mile diet, braised cabbage, cabbage, cook at home, farm to table, food, food and foto, food blog, food blogger, food photography, foodnfoto, foodography, fotography, healthy eating, local eating, meal prep, photography, seasonal eating, simple, support local farmers, vegetable guts

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Categories blogging, Farmers Market, food, food blog, food blogger, food photography, healthy eating, the food

{my mid-week meal : seared scallops with braised broccoli rabe}

25 May

what can i say?! – i just love alliteration. 😉

i also love anything seafood related… especially scallops! they are one of my all-time favourites! when i lived in NYC, i would make scallops about once a month for my lovely roommate and myself. we always looked forward to it, and she always appreciated it! sharing good food with good people is just one of THE BEST things in life!

i feel like i can confidently say that i have pretty much perfected the method in which scallops should be cooked… particularly fresh scallops. it’s best to treat them almost like a steak in the sense that you want them to be very dry to start, seasoned with good salt, and seared in a hot dry pan {cast iron is my choice.} they are delicate and tender, much like a good steak. i purchased these scallops from my favourite local market and they are locally-sourced and so so fresh! i patted them down with a clean paper towel and added them to a super hot pan for about 2-3 minutes on one side, until they were ready to flip… which is the key step in the process… they should gently and easily remove from the pan when ready to turn. then, the next key step is to add some yummy grass-fed butter {my choice} and baste, baste, baste… for another 2-3 minutes on high heat.

finally, remove from heat and allow to rest for about a minute or so… then use a fork to slice into that buttery sweet goodness with ease and oh my – enjoy every bite!

i served mine with braised broccoli rabe (aka “rapini”) for a complimentary savory/bitter component.

this meal was so divine and delicious!

nom nom!!

p.s. – if you don’t already, please follow me on instagram – @foodnfoto – to further the experience with all things food and foto related! 🙂

Tags: 100 mile diet, buy local, cooking, eat local, eat with the seasons, food, food and foto, food blogger, food blogging, food is good, food photographer, food photography, foodnfoto, foodography, fotography, fresh, local, maryland, nom nom, scallops, seasonal eating, yum

Comments 7 Comments
Categories blogging, food, food blog, food blogger, food photography, healthy eating, maryland, photography, the food, the foodie

{savory split-pea soup}

19 Jan

this is a dish that i find myself craving during cold winter months. it is full of healthy protein and fiber, it is super comforting, and it is loaded with flavour. this can be made vegetarian or even vegan, but i added some ham to mine and simmered in my home-made chicken bone broth. it is so simply delicious!

savory split-pea soup…

i used a dried soup mix that i had in the pantry with split green and yellow peas, red lentils, dehydrated veggies, and a spice blend. i also used about equal parts homemade broth/water and seasoned to taste. i didn’t use a lot of extra spices in this soup because i honestly just love the flavour of the peas after they’ve been simmering in the broth and with the ham and hints from the bacon fat permeating throughout. although i did add in some dried parsley and of course S&P.

you could easily just use dried split peas for this recipe, and add in whatever veggies you want, chopped or frozen… typically a mirepoix mix provides the most aromatics, and that is my go-to.

i sautéed a diced onion in some bacon fat {i know!} until tender, then i deglazed with a little white wine vinegar… {typically i would use a dry white wine but i didn’t have any at the time.}

to the stock pan, i added the liquid mixture of about 2 quarts chicken broth and 2 quarts water and brought to a boil, then added in about 2 cups of the split pea mixture. i cooked the peas down for about 15 minutes on high heat, tossed in some ham, then simmered on low-medium heat until i found the consistency i wanted…about another 30 minutes.

i added in some diced ham at the last minute, because it was already cooked and thinly sliced… then simmered again on low for an additional 5-10 minutes. this made about 3-4 quarts of soup in total. i shared some with a friend and also canned a couple of pints for the future.

it totally hit the spot! i have been eating it for 2 days and will probably have some more tonight! it’s also one of those soups that gets better the next day! 🙂

before and after 🙂

nom nom, slurp slurp.

Tags: batch-cooking, eat with the seasons, eating, food, food and foto, food blogger, food blogging, food photography, foodnfoto, foodography, fotography, healthy eating, homemade, I love soup, seasonal eating, simple recipes, soup, winter eating

Comments 4 Comments
Categories blogging, eat the rainbow, food, food blog, food blogger, food photography, food stories, healthy eating, nutrition, the food, the foodie

{candy cane beets – aka chioggia beets}

19 Jul

these are one of my all-time favourite vegetables! i do enjoy beets, but i mostly enjoy these because of the way they look! from the outside, you wouldn’t know that they looked like this inside. but that’s part of what i love about them!

please meet the “candy cane beet” – also known as “chioggia beet” – aren’t they just magnificent?!

my two favourite ways to eat them are :

raw, sliced thin, with himalayan pink salt
steamed then cooled to room temp, just as is

fun food facts :

also known as “bulls eye beets” – this unique specialty produce item has a sweeter, more robust flavour profile compared to its other beet cousins. they are named after a region in italy, where they predominantly grow. chioggia beets are an excellent source of manganese, folate, vitamin c, magnesium, potassium, and fiber. the leaves of this vegetable are also edible, and serve well sautéed, steamed, or as a chard substitute.

Tags: 100 mile diet, beets, candy cane beets, candy stripe beets, chioggia beets, eat local, eat the rainbow, farmer's markets, food blogs, food photography, foodandfoto, foodnfoto, foodography, local produce, maryland farmers, maryland farmers market, seasonal eating, specialty produce, support local, third way farm

Comments 3 Comments
Categories beauty, eat the rainbow, Farmers Market, food, food blog, food blogger, food facts, food photography, food stories, healthy eating, maryland, nutrition, photography, the food, the foodie, the foto

{diy dehydrated strawberries}

13 Jun

speaking of strawberries… these are like nature’s candy!

i love to make dehydrated fruit of all kinds! one of my other favourite things to dehydrate is bananas. it’s a great way to preserve in-season foods and enjoy them later. it’s also easy and cost-effective.

strawberries are one of my top favourite fruits to enjoy when they are dehydrated. they are so sweet and so delicious! they curb my craving for gummy bears or gummy snacks, and obviously have way less sugar! the only issue is, they don’t last very long! 😉

Tags: dehydrated foods, dehydrated fruit, DIY, eating, food, food photography, foodandfoto, foodie, foodnfoto, foodography, fotography, local, locally grown, photography, seasonal, seasonal eating, strawberries

Comments 1 Comment
Categories the food

{garden fresh strawberries}

10 Jun

aren’t these just the most beautiful strawberries you’ve ever seen?!

and i promise you, they taste better than they look, if you can imagine 😉

by the way, which background do you like better?! comment below…

fun food facts :

strawberries contain more vitamin c than oranges. they are also high in antioxidants and are super easy to grow! they self-seed and make a fun little patch to pick from. they are the only fruit with seeds on the outside. some strawberries contain over 200 seeds! they have a short season, so continuous harvesting is necessary for optimum enjoyment. also, to maintain the sweet flavour, strawberries are better served at room temperature.

Tags: 100 mile diet, community garden, DIY, food, food photography, foodandfoto, foodnfoto, foodography, garden, gardener, gardening, gardens, grow your own, grow your own food, local food, local gardening, maryland, maryland garden, maryland gardener, seasonal, seasonal eating, strawberries, zone 6b, zone 7a

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Categories the food

{garden update – volume 2}

7 Jun

this update is a little late… so much has been going on at the garden! we had a lot of rain here, and so the plants are growing and thriving so well!

i typically plant seasonally. so i started with my cool season crops like radishes, peas, beets, spinach, kale, arugula, and lettuce… most of which i have harvested lately. i also harvested the garlic and onions that i adopted from last year. the peas are starting to produce fruit which is exciting, and the lettuce is still thriving and i planted more this week. i started planting my summer crops – cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, squash, and more lettuce. i also planted flowers this year, which is kind of new for me – nasturtiums, calendula, and coneflower.

here is a progress report on what my overall garden plot looks like. i currently have a lot of seeds in the ground, and i take some pride in having beautiful soil and very little to no weeds. i am so excited to continue to watch the growth and progress! 🙂

do you have a garden? what are you growing?

Continue reading →

Tags: DIY, food, food and foto, food photography, foodnfoto, foodography, fotography, gardener, gardening, grow your own food, grown your own, local, maryland, maryland gardener, organic, organic gardening, photography, seasonal eating, updates, zone 6b, zone 7a

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Categories audrey michelle, beauty, blogging, flowers, food, food blog, food blogger, food photography, food stories, fun, garden, gardening, life, maryland, nature, organic, photography, the food, the foodie, the foto, updates

{autumn is for all things pumpkin!}

31 Oct

particularly on halloween, right?!

as you know, i prefer to eat seasonally so i’m on my squash and pumpkin kick at the moment. the farmers markets are closing this weekend or next, so i want to get out and stock up before they are done for the season.

contrary to popular opinion, i don’t do pumpkin lattes. they are too usually sweet for me. i do, however, tend to eat my weight in pumpkin seeds!

i simply cut a pumpkin open, carefully dig out the seeds, soak them for about an hour, then toss them with some olive oil and S&P and throw them in the air fryer for about 15 minutes. they don’t last long… they are so crispy and delicious! this was the firs time i tried making them in the air fryer. i have always baked them, but i’m so glad i tried it because they turned out amazing and in less time! i am eager to make more.

once i’ve devoured half of my pumpkin seed supply {haha!}… i scoop out the roasted pumpkin guts, add a little water, blend in the vitamix, pour in a large pan with some homemade veggie stock, add some spices, and serve with pepitas and mini toasts… NOM NOM!

i made a huge batch of this soup and so i froze some, canned some, and shared some…

both of these recipes are on par with my motto – KISS – keep it seriously simple. they are also healthy and support the 100-mile diet concept. i hope you enjoy and please comment if you try or have ideas of your own to share!

oh, and here’s the costume i wear every year – my “pumpkin king” onesie!

happy halloween!

Tags: 100 mile diet, autumn, food fotos, food photography, foodandfoto, foodnfoto, foodography, fotos, halloween, healthy eating, october, photography, photos, pumpkin, seasonal, seasonal eating

Comments 1 Comment
Categories blogging, Farmers Market, food, food blog, food blogger, food photography, food stories, fun, healthy eating, nutrition, the food, the foodie, the foto

{sunday (funday) snacks}

18 Jul

speaking of eating seasonally and such…

on sundays lately, i’ve been curating a platter fully of yummy and healthy snacks to eat in leiu of lunch or dinner. i’ll have it out while i am cooking or relaxing or whatever else and just kind of graze on the snacks… basically all day.

here are a couple of pics of how i spent my last 2 sundays :

chianti-wine aged salami, garlic-herb wafer crackers, fresh avocado, fresh pineapple, locally-grown cherries, blueberries, & peaches, super thin pretzels, roasted mixed nuts, truffle parmesan crisps, dehydrated apples, apricots, dates, various chocolate, and a homemade kombucha spritzer mocktail

homemade tuna salad, organic mini toasts, garlic-herb salami, smoked oysters, mixed nuts, homemade pickles, fermented radishes, locally-grown broccoli & cauliflower, fresh avocado, dates, apricots, locally-grown blackberries & peaches, and a ginger tonic mocktail

Tags: 100 mile diet, DIY, eating, flat lay, food, food is love, food stories, foodandfoto, foodie, foodnfoto, foodography, fun, locally grown, organic, photography, platters, relaxing, seasonal eating, seasonal food, seasons, snacks, snax, summer foods, summertime, sunday funday, sunday snacks

Comments 2 Comments
Categories audrey michelle, blogging, eat the rainbow, food, food photography, food stories, fun, photography, recipes, the food, the foodie, whatever

{bodacious blood oranges}

14 Dec

i think it is so incredible how nature provides us with the right types of food for each season.

for example – blood oranges are in season from december to march. which is the perfect time to consume them for that extra vitamin c punch during the winter months!

and aren’t they just so magical?!

Tags: blood oranges, eat the rainbow, eat with the seasons, eating, food, food fotography, food photography, foodography, fotography, healthy eating, magical food, nature, nature knows best, nutrition, oranges, seasonal eating

Comments 1 Comment
Categories blogging, eat the rainbow, food, food facts, food photography, health, healthy eating, nature, nutrition, the food, the foodie, the foto

{simple (rainbow) pasta salad}

22 Sep

as you probably know by now, i like to eat with the seasons as much as i possibly can. i enjoy it for lots of reasons. i always look forward to eating whatever vegetables or fruit are best during that particular time of year… and it makes me appreciate them more.

that said, i often struggle with “transitional” times of year – such as the month of september. i find myself unsure about what to wear, what to eat, when to go to sleep. it’s kind of funny but it’s true. {this also applies in the month of may.}

anyway, because i find september to be a transitional month, i also find myself eating transitional foods. i made that term up, but my point is that i’m not ready to start eating soups and squash, but i’m also done with light foods like salads and such. during this transitional time, i usually prepare foods that can be enjoyed hot or cold. and pasta salad is one of those dishes i could enjoy every day during transitional months.

i also really love orzo and i don’t use it often enough.

i whipped up this simple {rainbow} pasta salad and made a huge batch to take to work for lunches.

it’s so easy and so i thought i’d share the recipe… even though i didn’t measure anything, as per usual… but it’s so simple – just chop and toss!

————————————

simple pasta salad :

cooked orzo
diced summer sausage
chopped tomatoes
sliced olives {black & green}
diced red onion
diced banana pepper
diced green pepper
diced cucumber
roasted garlic
crumbled parmigiano reggiano

homemade dressing :

olive oil
apple cider vinegar
spices :
- oregano
- sage
- parsley
- comfrey
- basil
- dill
- tarragon
- garlic
- onion
- salt
- pepper
- bit o’ parm reg

i like to serve mine at room temperature and i sprinkle crumbled italian breadsticks on top…

SO GOOD!

Tags: batch-cooking, eat the rainbow, eating, food, food blogger, food blogs, food photography, foodography, fotography, healthy eating, in the kitchen, kiss, photography, recipes, seasonal, seasonal eating, simple

Comments 2 Comments
Categories blogging, eat the rainbow, food, food photography, healthy eating, photography, the food, the foodie, the foto

{last watermelon of the season}

21 Sep

who doesn’t love a melon-baller!?!!

Tags: bye bye summer, eat the rainbow, end of summer, food, food and foto, food fotography, food photography, foodandfoto, foodnfoto, foodography, fun, healthy eating, photography, seasonal eating, seasonal food, watermelon

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Categories blogging, eat the rainbow, Farmers Market, food, food photography, health, healthy eating, the food, the foodie, the foto

{happy (belated) asparagus season!}

18 Jun

i’ve been getting my fill of delicious organic asparagus!

it is a marvelous food to eat in spring because it is very cleansing to the body and blood. asparagus is also in season during the spring, which just further proves how awesome and intelligent nature is! 🙂

i like to enjoy asparagus raw or lightly sautéed in grass-fed butter with a dash of himalayan pink salt and black pepper. sometimes i like to add it to risotto with wild mushrooms. when i lived in the mountains years ago, i had a lot of fun foraging for asparagus because it grows wild on the western slope of colorado. pretty cool, huh?!

a tip for keeping asparagus : treat it like fresh-cut flowers. keep the ends trimmed and leave them in a little water in the fridge until ready to use.

do you love asparagus? how do you like to prepare yours?

Tags: asparagus, eat the rainbow, food and foto, food blogger, food is art, food photography, foodandfoto, foodnfoto, foodographer, foodography, fotographer, fotography, healthy eating, nutrition, organic, organic asparagus, organic eating, organic food, photography, plant-based, seasonal, seasonal eating

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Categories art, food, food facts, food photography, food stories, healthy eating, nutrition, organic, the food, the foodie, the foto

{eat the rainbow : purple sweet potatoes}

11 Dec

i get super excited when i see a rainbow on my plate. it just makes me happy to eat COLOUR! and these wonderful bright purple sweet potatoes please both the palate and the eye.

i love how they grow in weird shapes, too.

have you ever had a purple sweet potato? i was first introduced to them many years ago at whole foods, as they tend to get the “cool” produce a lot. since then i have been seeing them in mainstream supermarkets and grocery stores, as well. unlike purple potatoes, these do not lose colour when you cook them. in fact, they get BRIGHTER! it’s the coolest thing. Continue reading →

Tags: cooking, eat the rainbow, eating, food, food and foto, food is cool, food photography, organics, photography, produce, purple sweet potatoes, recipes, seasonal eating, seasonal produce

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Categories food, photography, recipes, the food, the foodie, the foto

{seasonal eating : wild chanterelle mushrooms}

27 Oct

i looooooove mushrooms, did you know this?! it was amazing to discover that some mushrooms grow WILD up here in the high country. morels, boletus, and chanterelles, to name a few. and they are all something special. when we received some wild chanterelles at the store, i eagerly nabbed some up so i could try them for the first time. they are only available for a short time, and many of the “professional” foragers are extremely secretive about their “finding spots” – and who can blame them!!?? – they sell for upwards of $20.00 a pound! we had a very rainy august here in the valley, and that made for some ideal mushroom hunting-and-gathering!

the peak season for chanterelles is in the fall… we have had a little frost in the mornings lately, so i’m kind of assuming they’re done for the year… but i could be wrong. i’m also just a little late in posting this blog 😛

i most likely have had chanterelle mushrooms at some point in my life and not realized it. i’m sure at some fancy dinner in NYC, i had a couple in a dish once… but i wanted to truly truly taste the mushroom – being a purist and all – so i simply sauteed them in some awesome local pasture butter.

i sauteed the golden fungi for about 15 minutes, until they were nice and aromatic… then poured the whole mixture over a yummy baked russet potato…

it was a taste of heaven…

do you like mushrooms? have you had chanterelles? what is your favourite mushroom??

Tags: chanterelle mushrooms, chanterelles, colorado, cooking, eat the rainbow, eating, food, food and foto, food photography, foodie, foraging, mushrooms, organics, photography, recipes, rocky mountains, seasonal, seasonal eating, wild

Comments 4 Comments
Categories blogging, colorado, food, life, mountains, photography, recipes, the food, the foodie, the foto

{the smallest veggies ever}

20 Oct

super cute and tiny veggies to enjoy! Continue reading →

Tags: audrey michelle, cute, eat the rainbow, eating, farm to table, farmers, food, food photography, grow your own food, intuitive eating, kiss, life, organics, photography, seasonal eating, simple, vegetables, whatever

Comments 2 Comments
Categories food, photography, the food, the foodie, the foto

{glorious golden beets}

25 Mar

another beautiful piece of produce i picked up at the cutest organic store in town….

have you ever had golden beets?! i just loooooove them! i am pretty sure you can keep the skin on – so long as you scrub it pretty thoroughly. i just peel mine. these were so cute and little!

love the colour!

i usually just steam mine. i find them to be so delicious, i don’t even add any S and/or P. i think they have the most unique flavour. i just love to put them in salads or just munch on them alone… so good! beets are loaded with vitamins and minerals and they are just an all around amazing vegetable!

Tags: cooking, eat the rainbow, eating, food, food and foto, food photography, foodography, golden beets, healthy, organics, produce, seasonal, seasonal eating, simple, vegetables

Comments 8 Comments
Categories photography, the food, the foodie, the foto

{meatless mondays – roasted spaghetti squash with fresh parmigiano reggiano}

28 Oct

it’s a meatless monday recipe!

spaghetti squash {and all squash} is totally in peak season right now… and it’s one of my absolute favs! i typically make it just like a pasta and serve it primavera-style with a fresh red sauce… but this time, i wanted to use up my freshly-cut parmigiano reggiano… there is just nothing like it.

simple stuff :

– olive oil, grass-fed butter, lemon, parmigiano reggiano… Continue reading →

Tags: audrey michelle, cooking, easy, eating, food, food and foto, food photography, foodography, healthy, meatless monday, parmigiano reggiano, photography, recipes, seasonal cooking, seasonal eating, simple, spaghetti squash, vegetarian

Comments 9 Comments
Categories the food, the foodie, the foto

{end-of-season tomato and goat cheese toasts}

17 Oct

aren’t these cherry tomatoes just gorgeous?! it’s sad that the season is over… but i’m still eating as many as i can when i find them at the market…

i just eat them like candy… popping one at a time… nom nom

i was inspired by the pretty-much-nothing-left-in-the fridge emptiness of me almost moving and therefore having no food in the house… and i looked around at the half-loaf of bread and jar of cream cheese i had laying around…

“it’s like a little mini pizza… kind of.” {i thought to myself…} Continue reading →

Tags: color, colourful, cooking, easy, eating, food, food and foto, food photography, photography, recipes, seasonal, seasonal eating, simple, simple cooking, tomatoes, vegetarian

Comments 2 Comments
Categories the food, the foodie, the foto

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food & foto

{deconstructed sushi}

{seasonal eating : braised cabbage}

{my mid-week meal : seared scallops with braised broccoli rabe}

{savory split-pea soup}

{candy cane beets – aka chioggia beets}

{diy dehydrated strawberries}

{garden fresh strawberries}

{garden update – volume 2}

{autumn is for all things pumpkin!}

{sunday (funday) snacks}

{bodacious blood oranges}

{simple (rainbow) pasta salad}

{last watermelon of the season}

{happy (belated) asparagus season!}

{eat the rainbow : purple sweet potatoes}

{seasonal eating : wild chanterelle mushrooms}

{the smallest veggies ever}

{glorious golden beets}

{meatless mondays – roasted spaghetti squash with fresh parmigiano reggiano}

{end-of-season tomato and goat cheese toasts}

i am audrey michelle

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i am audrey michelle

i am a minimalist

i am a ritualist

social media

f&f in your box

f&f on your boards

tags

Top Posts & Pages

archives

stats