Happy Weekend!

Happy April Fools weekend kids! What are y'all up to? One of my dear friends (and half of the dynamic duo behind this awesome jewelry line) will be in from NYC, we have big plans to paint the town red. Enjoy these links til Monday. xo!

A wonderful article about the power of female friendships - thanks T&F!

How to break in your new high heels, pain free.

A bar cart is on my house hold wish list fo sho!

Your brain in love - a great article.

10 short stories to read online.

The 8 colors you'll be wearing this fall.

Kinda can't wait for Sofia's next movie.

A very talented friend.

Photo via.

Currently reading

I'm about 40% through this book, and am throughly enjoying it. 


From the publisher: Some of My Lives: A Scrapbook Memoir is an informal story of an unusually full life, remarkable for its vividness and diversity of experience ... Through Rosamond Bernier's stories of her encounters with some of the twentieth century's great artists and musicians — including Picasso, Matisse, Giacometti, Max Ernst, Louise Bourgeois, Aaron Copland, Leonard Bernstein, Simon Rattle, and colorful individuals such as Malcolm Lowery and Karl Lagerfeld ... The result is a multi-faceted self-portrait of a life informed and surrounded by the arts. It is pithy, hilarious, and wise — a rewarding chronicle of many lives fully lived. 


It's also a really inspiring story of taking the life you were born into, and turning it into something wonderful through wit, charm, and tenacity.  Worth reading for sure. 

Details

Gold nails with "clashing" sliver hardware - kinda loving this.

Friday Finds

Desk accessories to perk up your work day! I am of the mind that since I spend so much time in the office, that I should make every effort to make that space comfortable and pleasing. I regularly buy myself flowers for work, and have a soft spot for well designed desk accessories - so I was tickled to stumble across the paper weights, paper clips, and notebook above. Find these guys, and then some, here.

Citrus pop

Now that we've entered into spring, and that we're finally getting the rain we should have gotten a month ago, I have been drawn to light, classic rooms, with pops of citrus - like the one above. I change out my living room pillows seasonally, so away have gone the deep reds and heavy fabrics, and out come the sunny pops of yellow.

Thursday's Tidbit

How amazing is this light fixture? From the designer's website: "Maxhedron is a study in material transformation through light and reflection." I need this in my life. 

Happy Birthday Mama!

Today is my sweet mama's birthday. Thank you for starting my education in art, beauty, and the joy's of coffee at an early age. Happy birthday - I love you! 

Photo of my mama & me. 

Bubbly Cocktails

Mmm. I have said it before, I love all things bubbly - I may have to try all of these. Perhaps not at one time though.

Original graphic here. 

Wed Day

Sometimes I think this sums up my relationship with the Hubs. In a good way, of course. ;-)

Season two beezies

I got through the first season of Downton Abby in about a week and a half, and now it's on to season two. I finished the first DVD (in a set of three) and now I can hardly contain myself until the next one arrives. The Hubs is far less excited. To each their own I guess -- I mean, I can't really get behind this Skyrim nonsense he's been so ga-ga over lately.

Photo via. 

Tuesday's Tips & Tricks

Sourdough starter! This would make for a great weekend project (with or without youngsters) or a great gift. Even though we're spoiled with gerat sourdough here in San Francisco, I cannot wait to try this.

In a nutshell:
1. Mix your dough
2. Set aside for 5 days or so
3. Transfer to an airtight container
4. Refrigerate until ready to use or gift

See the full recipe and original post here
(complete with these super cute labels pictured for download)

Bouquet

In keeping with my current trend (seen here & here), I put together another flower arrangement this weekend for the week. This one is made up of white hydrangea with gold and white ranunculus.

The Hunger Games

Yesterday the hubs and I, along with millions of other people, went to see The Hunger Games. Well, first we went here (one of my favorite spots) for brunch and some bottomless mimosas, then we went to the movie. While the general premis of the story still makes me uncomfortable (although, I think that's a big part of the point) I thought the movie was really well done, and really entertaining. I also thought it was an interesting commentary on the culture of reality TV, where so much personal suffering is already laid out there for general consumption and entertainment. I could also wax poetic about hubris, hegemony, and the narrative of the various subjugated populations - perhaps that's a different post for a different day. 

In any case, how badass and endearing is Jennifer Lawrence?

Monday's Mantra

Take a leap of faith.

Happy Weekend!

Have an amazing first weekend of spring everybody! What are you darlings up to? 

We have no set plans, so I'm going to be breezy and see where these next two days take me. See you Monday, have fun til then!

The birth of the high-five.

These Bachelor drawings wonderfully snarky.

Emerson did it again.

Downton Abby as dogs.

We have hipsters now, what's next?

I want to go to there.

Pick some sweet specs to frame your sweet face.

Photo via. 

Travel tidbit

The cheery trees are blooming in DC! Such a special time in our capitol. I spent a good part of my childhood in DC, in fact my dad and step mom still live there. If you've never been in the spring, book a trip immediately.

Photo via. 

Friday Finds

I'm farklempt, this Chloe bag is amazing. Talk amongst yourselves, I'll give you a topic - Facebook, neither a face nor a book. Discuss. 

Seriously though, can we talk about how rad this bag is? 

Mad Men premiere

Is it the weekend yet? Is everyone else as excited about this as me? 

Thursday's Tidbit

Today I thought it would be fun to share these epic photos of my loves.

Rico Chainsaw

Sofie

Aw, my little weirdoes.

Moroccan Zen

I love this little vignette. There's something exotic, stylish, and surprisingly accessible about these metallic lanterns and simple floral arrangement. This would be great for a reception, a rehearsal dinner, or even a backyard or roof top party. Or maybe for an anniversary party ... hmm.

Photo from Pinterest, via Style Me Pretty.

Wed Day

Meet the Hubs, aka Ben. I figured I had better introduce you all before you started to think I'd made him up. ;-) 


This is the handsome goof ball I had the good fortune to marry (and vice versa, let's face it, we all know who made the first move). 


We met in college, in Southern California where we had the same major and minor. He would sit by me in class and almost always needed to "borrow" pen and paper. The sly devil. It took us until mid way through our senior year to officially get together, six and a half years ago now. It was pretty clear soon after we started dating that we wanted to spend our lives together. It's not all kittens and rainbows, however, it's real work - but it's work I'm happy to do. He makes me laugh everyday, and I know that whatever obstacles we find in our path we'll tackle together. 


So there you go - that's the Hubs. I'm sure he'll be making more appearances here down the road. 

Oh, happy Spring!

Spring is finally here - I'm getting ready for April showers and May flowers.


Photo via.

Just because

Oh Liz, you even make reading a news paper seem glamourous.

Tuesday's Tips & Tricks

Still dreaming of lazy spring/ summer afternoons - how yummy would these cheesecake stuffed peaches be at a picnic or bbq?

ingredients 

6 peaches halved and pitted

1/4 cup butter, melted

3 Tbsp cinnamon-sugar

1/2 an 8-oz package, cream cheese softened

1/4 cup sugar

1 egg yolk

1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla

preheat oven to 350 deg. 

line a 15 x 10 inch baking pan with parchment paper; set aside

trim a very thin slice from the round side of each peach half so halves stand flat on the baking pan.

dip peach halves in melted butter to coat

arrange peach halves, cut sides up, in prepared pan

sprinkle cut sides of peaches with cinnamon-sugar. set aside

in medium mixing bowl beat cream cheese with mixer on medium speed until smooth.

add sugar, egg yolk and vanilla. beat until combined.

spoon cream cheese mixture into peach centers

bake uncovered about 30 minutes or until lightly browned and softened.

serve warm or at room temperature. 

From the weekend - The Creators Project

The past weekend was a good one - I'm still savoring it.

Friday night I had an old fashioned girly sleepover with my dear friend Val (the Hubs was away for work). We sipped some sparkling wine and watched My Week With Marilyn. Have you seen it? I thought it was incredibly well done.

By Saturday afternoon the Hubs was back and we headed to Fort Mason for The Creators Project. The project was an amazing showcase of conceptual and interactive art, lectures by the movers and shakers of design and innovation, and a concert featuring amazing dj's and best of all the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. (Karen O seriously rocks my socks. Seriously.) Food for the event was provided by Off The Grid, a collective of some of San Francisco's best food trucks. We had awesome sandwiches from 3-Sum Eats. All and all it was an amazing and inspiring way to spend a saturday night.

Here is a snap shot:

Origin, an enormous cube structure that you can stand or lay in to experience the
industrial, almost alien sounds and moving ligt display 

Origin at night

a video I took as I was lying inside the Origin structure

the Hubs interacting with a piece in the Meditation instillation

the main stage before the Yeah Yeah Yeahs

Sunday was definitely a slower day. We stayed in and watched The Descendants (I laughed, I cried, it was wonderful), ventured out briefly to meet friends for bloody maries at this bar in the Haight, and then came back home and started this documentary series. Yep, it was a good one.

How was your weekend?

Monday's Mantra

Sometimes you just have to go with it ... 

Happy Weekend!

What are you crazy kids up to this weekend? We'll be spending most of our time here, and I'm sure we'll be able to fit in at least one brunch. See you Monday!

Charming video of San Francisco in the late 1950's

Speaking of charming, the Quite Continental Charm School

I need these

Pin Ups, pre photo shop, I think the last gal is my favorite

This makes me want to go back to Paris

More pretty cakes

It's festival season, get ready

Happy St. Patrick's Day

So kiss an Irish lad or lass, and then have one on these. 

Bouquet

This is my second attempt at flower arranging - I tried this once before and really enjoyed it. This one is comprised of spray roses, fresia, and bells of Ireland. I may have found a new hobby methinks.

Friday finds

Kate Spade watches! Nice.

All new Lonny

So much eye candy! Take a peak.

Thursday's Tidbit

I love this photo of my fair city - check out the photographer's portfolio here.

Lavender & honey raw "cheese" cake

This one is for those with dietary restrictions. 

For the Crust

1 cup raw almonds soaked overnight

1/2 dates, pitted (about 7 or 8 dates) if dates are really dry, put them in a bowl of warm water for 10 minutes, discard water

Place almonds and dates in a food processor and mix until chopped and well incorporated. Pour into a 9in spring form cake pan and spread with a spatula (or your fingers).

For the Filling

3 cups raw cashews soaked for three hours

3/4 cup fresh lemon juice

3/4 cup raw honey (you can use regular honey if you don't want to go 100% raw)

3/4 cup raw coconut oil, you do not have to warm it, just use it straight out of jar

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/2 tsp celtic sea salt

1 tsp dried lavender (the lavender in this dish is very subtle so you could add 1/2-1 tsp more if you prefer...but be careful cause lavender is very strong!)

To make the cheese, blend the cashews, lemon, honey, coconut oil, vanilla, lavender and sea salt. Blend until smooth and adjust to taste. 

Pour mixture on top of the "crust" and carefully tap the pan on the counter to release any air bubbles.

Place the pan in the freezer for at least three hours or overnight. Before serving place on counter to thaw slightly. This is best served semi frozen, soft enough to run a serrated knife through.

Recipe here.