Oh la la

I think I need this in my life ...

Another fun tip

Going on a summer trip? Throw these babies in you bag and shazam, glow on the go. These towelettes employ a paraben-free self-tanning formula to give you a quick and even application. Plus, they meet TSA standards, so you can even pack them in your carry on. Easy, no? 


What are some of your summer get-away, go to's? 

Tuesday's Tips & Tricks

So it's no secret that I love a cat eye (evidence here, here, & here), but what I haven't talked about before is how darn flattering this look can be. You can use it to widen your eyes, life your eyes (and your whole face), or to even out uneven eyes. My left eye is a tiny bit smaller than my right (ok, so maybe this is only obvious to me, but still) so I'll make the wing on that side just a teeny-tiny bit longer, and BOOM, totally even. It's amazing how manipulating the shape of the line can change the whole look of your face. Play with it, you might be surprised.

I also love the way the line here is smudged ever so slightly, it softens the look in such a lovely way.


Image via. 

Weekend recap

Well, I said I needed some r&r this weekend, and that's exactly what I got. The weekend kicked off with a haircut (nothing crazy but still a very necessary trim), and ended with a glass of wine on my foggy San Francisco summer rooftop. In between I finished this book, watched a lot of Olympics, made (actually burnt) kale chips, caught up with the Kardashians, grabbed dinner with the hubs at this small Vietnamese restaurant (we shared the 7 Flavors of Beef - so awesome!), had a drink or two with friends, bought groceries, went on a long walk, had a facial, and finally saw this movie. Phew, is it really Monday already?

What did all you lovlies do? Happy Monday -- xo!

Monday's Mantra

Cudda been worse - so, that's something. Let's all be easy on ourselves this week, shall we? 

XO! 

Happy Weekend

I am really looking forward to a little r&r this weekend, and maybe a glass of wine, and sometime with friends as well. Excited to see what develops ...

What do you all have planed? I hope it's fabo whatever it is. See you monday - xo!

Drive traffic to your corner of the interweb.

Who to follow on Pinterest. (make sure to follow me too!) 

Wants vs. needs, I can decide where these fall ...

Pedel to the metel - a highway for bikes!

Find your calling.

Celebrities if they weren't.

Even more Olympic swag.

I blame MIR too!

It's been a long week

have a drink!

Melon Rumballa
Makes about 8 cocktails

Ingredients

• 3–4 ripe melons, depending on size
• 1/2 liter white rum
• 1 bunch fresh mint, cleaned and stemmed
• 3 limes juiced
• 8 oz ginger soda
• 8 oz coconut water
• sugar for rimming the glasses
• ice

Mix

1. Start with white or vanilla rum (yum). 

2. Use a melon baller to make your balls, place in the freezer a full hour before serving. If juice from the melons is left over, this can be added to the drink.

3. Muddle mint sprigs and lime juices until well combined.

4. In a pitcher, add muddled mint (and juices), lime juice, rum, ginger soda and coconut water and stir together. 

5. At this point, taste your drink to see what it needs.For more sweetness, we suggest more ginger soda, melon juice or even some simple sugar or pineapple juice. To reduce the sweetness, consider adding a touch more lime juice.

6. Prepare glasses: Run a lime wedge around the rim of each glass and dip in sugar. Add icy melon balls to each glass to fill half way. 

7. Just before serving, drop in a handful of ice along with icy melon balls into your pitcher and stir.

8. Pour into glasses and drink.

Cheers! 

Recipe and image via. 

Friday's Finds

It's an Olympic party in a box! (via You Are My Fave)

Are y'all as excited for the Olympics and Opening Ceremony as I am? I freakin' love the Olympics - I always cry when the Star Spangled Banner is played, sappy I know, but I can't help it.

If you're in the market for more Olympic swag, check out these sweet t's. (via Design Mom)

What do you love most about the Olympics?

ooh, nice fabric

Oohh. I could spend some time here. Curl up on that leather sofa read a book and pat my self on the back for being so good at picking out fabrics - you know, if I lived here.

I mean ... right?

via. 

Thursday's Tidbit {good read}

Have you guys heard of this book, How to Be a Woman? I can't wait to read it. Author, Caitlin Moran joins a "hit parade from the past 40 or so years of feminist writing [tackling]: sexuality, marriage, division of housework, female body fat, abortion, and sexism in the workplace. As Moran notes, however, feminism seems to be in remission among the young: all the more reason to revisit — with gusto — some of the familiar battleground issues.

Moran, who proudly cops to being a 'strident feminist,' offers this challenge to those female readers on the fence about feminism: 'Here,' Moran says, 'is the quick way of working out if you're a feminist. Put your hand in your underpants. a) Do you have a vagina? And b) Do you want to be in charge of it?'

If you said 'yes' to both questions, Moran says, 'then congratulations! You're a feminist.'"

Sold? Me too! Read the full Fresh Air review here. 

Denim & shorts

I love this combo - I am known to pair a denim shirt with, well, everything in my closet (seriously, is there a better topper?). It's the perfect thing to pack for any trip. Going some place warm? Boom, put that baby over a sundress or with a pair of shorts - done. Going somewhere cold? Shazam, equally cute with black pants or dark jeans, and a scarf. Yep, an awesome basic worth investing in and dubbling up on.

What do you think? Is a denim shirt one of your staples too?

Via. 

Wed Day

Wouldn't Greece be a beautiful honeymoon destination? The hubs and I honeymooned in Belize, which was ah-mazing. I wouldn't have changed a single thing, but I did lobby hard for Greece before a final decision was made on a location. As a consolation, I've been promised a Greece trip sometime in the next 5 years. :-) Second honeymoon perhaps? Can we make that a thing?

What's your dream honeymoon destination?

Image via. 

Setting sun

OhMyGoshILoveThisPrint. It's definitely inspiring a "why didn't I think of that" moment. I might need this.

By Luis Camnitzer, via. 

Tuesday's Tips & Tricks

Since it's summer, and I've managed to burn my nose every other weekend since June, this tutorial for soothing a sunburn (via the lovely ladies at the Beauty Department) seems all too fitting. Who knew that all you needed was black tea. Simple.

1. Since tea bags aren’t very big, and you can’t cover a lot of sunburned skin with individual bags, take several black tea bags, cut the strings in the middle & tie them all together.
2. Soak them in black tea concentrate (to make the concentrate: add 6-8 tea bags in 1 cup of boiling hot water and let steep for 3-5 minutes. Pour this concentrate into a jar and let it cool to about lukewarm). Let those sit for another 2-3 minutes.
3. Fan the tea bags out on your shoulders, face, back, wherever it stings. 
4. If you’re skin is extra sensitive from the burn (you may want to check in with your doctor), put the tea bags in a soft t-shirt that you’re willing to ruin. Dip the t-shirt in the concentrate.

Leave the tea bags/t-shirt on the skin until you feel it has soaked up the majority of the moisture from the bags/t-shirt. Do these compresses over and over until the pain dissipates. 

Crazy, right? Who knew. 

Photos/post/graphics: Kristin Ess, original post here. 

Layers

Aren't these necklaces pretty? I'm really diggin' the layered look. These would great on their own, a hint of interest, but together they add a nice bit of pizzazz to a simple look.

Via.

From the weekend

How was your weekend? What'd you do? I'd love to hear!

Mine was a whirlwind. Night out with ze girls, a lazy day with the hubs (homemade waffles, sangria, and a movie on the sofa included), concluding with bottomless mimosas, a walk around the city, and pedicures with my sweet friend Val. Here are some highlights:

Top row: my friend Maggs and me out on the town, mmm - fresh espresso (what's better on a lazy morning?), razmataz waffles (blueberries, rasberries, batter from scratch with extra vanilla). Bottom row: pulpy mimosa in Yerba Buena, Union Square, Sweet Woodruff (for delicious take out). 

Monday's Mantra

Cheers to a new week - go get lost! 

Happy Weekend!

Hello weekend, here again so soon? You're such a tease, I know it won't last and soon enough Monday will be back with her bloodshot eyes. Such is life ...

Do you have any special plans? I have a dentist appointment (woo-hoo!), and a few long awaited meet ups with dear girl friends. So it should be a good balance of necessary and fun. I hope whatever you do, you enjoy yourself. See you Monday, and enjoy some link love in the meantime.

Are you ready to meet the league of extraordinary women?

You are what you underline.

Have you found it's hard to make friends over 30? I'm not there yet, but this motivates me to hang on to the dear lovely friends currently in my life.

A very moving post about care giving for a love one, echos my mama's current struggle with my grandma.

I finally broke down and bought one of these babies, I firmly believe in life's little luxuries.

Humane : a human rainbow.

Take a chill pill!

Photo-booth snaps of famous peeps.

Image vie Fabio Astone.

Happy Friday!

Have a drink - you earned it! 

Linden Blossom Cocktails

Linden Syrup

• 3 cups water
• 5 cups linden blossoms
• 4 lemons, zest and juice 
• 1 lb cane sugar
• 1 1/2 cups agave nectar

For the Cocktail

• any white spirit, such as vodka, gin, or tequila
• ice cubes

1. Make the syrup: Add the sugar and agave nectar to the water in a non-reactive pot and bring just to a boil. Stir the sugar to dissolve completely. Rinse blossoms and give them a good shake to remove any insects or debris. Remove sugar water from the heat and add the lemon juice, zest, and flowers. Cover, allow to come to room temperature, and set aside for a day. Refrigerate, allowing the blossoms to infuse the syrup, for an additional 2 to 4 days. Pour the syrup into glass jars or bottles, straining the solids with cheesecloth or a fine-meshed sieve. Refrigerate — it keeps for one month.

2. Put some ice cubes into a mixer. Pour in a 2:1 ratio of liquor and syrup over ice cubes. I free pour, so each is an estimate and should be tasted to your liking. Using a long-handled spoon, stir carefully in a circular motion to mix the two.

3. Place a few ice cubes into the cocktail glasses and add a lemon and/or orange twist: Cut a strip of skin off the fruit, shaving off any white pith (this adds a bitter flavor, which you don’t want). Bend the twist lengthwise and give it a quick squeeze over the glass — outer skin facing out — to release the citrus oils. Rub the glass rim with the twist and drop into the glass.

4. Strain mixture into glasses and top with soda. Taste after adding just a little soda and add more if you like. In this simple drink, the key is to taste each element as you add on to determine how much of each flavor you want.

Cheers!

Image and recipe via. 

Friday's Finds

How pretty are these dresses by L.A.-based designer Jennifer Parry for Ermie? I love the pastels and cool blues - they feel so of the moment, so evocative os sunny days and summer sunsets. 

Images via Kate Miss. 

Tell me about it, Stud

Loving the studs on this jean vest, and the flash of tummy between the crop top and high waisted trousers. The perfect summer weekend outfit? Methinks so.

Image via.

Thursday's Tidbit

OhMyGodNoDoubtIsBack!!! I can't tell you how much I love this band. Tragic Kingdom got me though middle school. "I'm Just a Girl," are you kidding me?

Take this pink ribbon off my eyes 
I'm exposed 
And it's no big surprise 
Don't you think I know 
Exactly where I stand 
This world is forcing me To hold your hand 


Those were powerful words to my 11 year old self. I was a huge fan of their subsequent albums as well, so you could say I was a little excited to hear they have a new single, Settle Down. See the music video here, fingers crossed for another great album. 

Happy Birthday Mr. Mandela!

Happy 94th birthday Nelson Mandela!

The great Mr. Mandela once said, "for to be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others." Well, today even if we can't enhance someone's freedom, we can certainly do something nice for them (and be respectful, always) in honor of this great man's birthday. Will you join me in taking a moment today to brighten someone's day?

Photo of my college roommie, Shannon, & I in Cape Town, South Africa with a statue of Mr. Mandela in 2006. Shannon and I both decided to postpone college graduation by 6 months and study abroad a second time in South Africa (KwaZulu Natal Province). It was one of the most challenging and best 6 months of my life - such a formative experience. I'll share more another time. :-) 

Succulents

How pretty are these little succulents planted in antique goblets? This would be just as pretty (and maybe more affordable) in plain wine glasses too, or even thrifted tea cups - a great DIY idea to add some intrest to a party table, or you could go crazy and let this inspire full center pieces. These would be lovely as wedding / party favors too ...

Wed Day

It's so easy to get into a day-to-day rut with your partner - wake up (or actually, wake-up, hit snooze, cuddle, hit snooze, maybe hit snooze one more time, finally get up), make coffee, shower, go to work, work, come home, make dinner, talk, make out, watch tv, read, go to bed - so let's jazz it up shall we? Here is a fun list of 101 things to do with your partner aside from watch tv. A few of my faves from the list: vineyard visit, massages, movies in the park, fondue night, hiking, and at home sushi night.

What ideas do you love? Which ones do you not love? What ideas would you add? (I'd add a beach trip for sho!) I'd love to hear ... 

Mango and passion fruit pie

Summer is here, and so are summer fruits! I'm just waiting for an excuse to try making this mango and passion fruit pie, too bad there aren't any bbq's in my immediate future ... 

Serves 12

Cooking Time Prep time 1 hr, cook 1 hr (plus resting, refrigerating, cooling)

 

Cheeks	of 4 ripe but firm mangos
To serve:	vanilla-bean ice-cream
Sweet pastry
170 gm	softened unsalted butter, coarsely chopped
40 gm	pure icing sugar, sieved
1	egg yolk
240 gm	plain flour, sieved
Pastry cream
500 ml (2 cups)	milk
½ tsp	vanilla extract
6	egg yolks
120 gm	caster sugar
35 gm	cornflour
25 gm	plain flour
Passionfruit caramel
220 gm (1 cup)	caster sugar
130 ml	strained passionfruit juice

 

1	For sweet pastry, beat butter and sugar in an electric mixer until pale, add yolk and mix to just combine. Add flour and 20ml water, mix until dough just comes together. Turn onto a lightly floured surface, shape into a disc, wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate until firm (1 hour). Roll out pastry between two sheets of baking paper to a 30cm-diameter round and line a buttered and floured 24cm-diameter tart tin. Trim edges, prick base with a fork and refrigerate to rest (1 hour).
2	Meanwhile, for pastry cream, bring milk and vanilla to the simmer in a wide saucepan. Whisk yolks, sugar and flours in a bowl until pale, add milk, then return mixture to a clean pan and whisk continuously over medium-high heat until very thick (4-6 minutes). Remove from heat, transfer to a bowl, cover closely with plastic wrap and refrigerate until firm (1-2 hours).
3	Preheat oven to 180C. Blind-bake tart until golden around edges (25-30 minutes), remove paper and weights, then bake until just golden and cooked through (15-20 minutes). Cool, carefully transfer to a serving plate and set aside.
4	Meanwhile, for passionfruit caramel, bring sugar and 60ml water to the simmer in a small saucepan over medium-high heat, stirring to dissolve sugar, then cook until caramel (10-15 minutes). Remove from heat, add passionfruit juice and 60ml water (be careful as hot caramel will spit), stir to dissolve and set aside to cool.
5	Beat pastry cream in an electric mixer until smooth, then transfer to a piping bag (no nozzle). Pipe pastry cream evenly into tart, then set aside.
6	Thinly slice mango cheeks lengthways, then fan the slices. Carefully arrange over tart, starting around edge and working towards centre in concentric circles until tart is completely covered. Drizzle with a little passionfruit caramel, scatter with reserved passionfruit seeds, cut into wedges and serve with vanilla-bean ice-cream and extra passionfruit caramel.

Via Gourmet Traveller. Image by William Meppem.

From the weekend

How were all of your weekends loves? Ours was pretty fun actually. We started with Breast Fest, a wine and beer festival to raise money for non-profit breast cancer clinics, ended up bowling, and then rounded out the weekend with bloody maries and burgers on the patio at Zeitgeist. Now bad for two short days.

Here are some highlights:  

Top row: The view of Coit Tower from Fort Mason, my Breast Fest glass o' wine, the Hubs bowling up a storm. Bottom row: My beautiful bloody, a perfect yellow cabbage rose, a new mug with my new initial. 

What did you all do? I'd love to know. 

Tuesday's Tips & Tricks

I don't really "do" the stock market or investment thing, yet. I'd like to, I just don't really know where to start, plus I'm focusing most of my financial energy paying off student loans, like most people in my age group. Baby steps, right? 

Right! Well, thankfully, The Everygirl is here to help. For instance, I just learned about the rule of 72. "Investing in the stock market allows you to potentially grow your money at a higher rate than a savings account. And if you can grow your money faster than a savings account can, you will have a lot more money for your various financial goals over time. But how? The answer is simple. Compounding interest will be working in your favor. The best way to explain how compounding interest works is to understand the Rule of 72. The Rule of 72 is a great financial rule of thumb that basically tells us how many years it will take to double our money given a specific interest rate. For example, if you have $10,000 and want to know how long it will take to double your money at a 2% interest rate, divide 2 into 72 and you get 36 years. If you take the same $10,000 and instead use an 8% interest rate, it will take 9 years to double your money – 72/8=9." Thanks Everygirl! (Like I said - baby steps.) Lean more here. 

Popsicles

I love this Popsicles print by Evan Robarts. It reminds me of the hot, lazy, sticky summer days of childhood - when summer was that magic time between school years, filled with play dates, camps, and yes, lots of popsicles.

Available for sale here.

Monday's Mantra

My life motto - happy monday loves. xo!

Happy Weekend!

I felt like this week would never end - it's been a doosie - so I'm extra happy that the weekend is here.  What do you all have paned? For us this weekend is a wild card - we'll see what materializes. Meet me back here Monday? I know that seems like a long time, but hopefully the links below will get you though. Until then - xo! 

Ben Stiller - in yo face!

Be a better writer in 10 steps.

My mini crush on Wes Anderson is ... bigger. :-)

More Wes, because why not?

Muppets by the letter.

Great DIYs for your IKEA basics.

Road trip!

Since it's almost the weekend ...

have a drink! 

Tequila Sunrise 

INGREDIENTS

2 to 3 pineapple slices
2 to 3 orange slices
2 to 3 blackberries
2 to 3 lime wedges
2 ounce or 1/4 cup tequila
1 ounce or 2 tablespoons elderflower-flavored liqueur*
1 ounce or 2 tablespoons simple syrup 
2 ounces or 1/4 cup pineapple juice
Splash orange juice
Ice, as needed
Red wine, as needed
*peach, pear, or ginger-flavored liqueur can be substituted

DIRECTIONS

In desired drinking glass, add the pineapples, oranges, blackberries, and lime wedges. Note: If you dont like the fruits suggested here feel free to use whichever fruits you like.

Next add the tequila, elderflower-flavored liqueur, simple syrup, pineapple juice, and orange juice. Add ice to glass and stir to mix ingredients. Top glass with red wine and enjoy.

Image and recipe via. 

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Friday's Finds

Gold, dainty, with a hint of macabre? Um, yes please. This delicate little skull bracelet is right up my alley - what do you think lovely readers, would you rock some skull jewelry? (perfect for Friday the 13th, no?) That Cartier bangle ain't so bad either.

Via.

Mid-century modern

Ahh! This is far too perfect. Mid-century modern airy glamor - sign me up. This space embodies so many of the home design trends I am currently obsessing over.

Image via. 

Thursday's Tidbit

Itchin' to shake up your locks? Check out this list of 7 hair trends to try before you die - personally, I would love to add a streak or two of fun color ... What trend would you try? I'd love to know!

Via Refinary29. 

Grown-up popsicle

How fun would these grown up treats be at a bridal or bachelorette  party? Or even on a birthday or Tuesday for that mater? Just grab you favorite bubbly beverage and pop a popsicle right in - so simple. Genius!

Image via. 

Wed Day

What's nicer than being asked to be in a bridal party by a dear friend? Well not much, but being able to re-wear your bridesmaid's dress in a close second. Never fear, it is possible and Refinary29 can show you the way here. 

Shine

I'm loving the subtle hints of sheen here. The studded collar, the hint of a metal choker, plus the lightly metallic nails, all add up to big impact. There's day-to-night potential here for sure. What do y'all think? Would you rock this?


Image via. 

Tuesday's Tidbit

Y'all know I've been getting into flower arranging, so I was pretty excited to come across this flower arranging tutorial alla Martha (who else?). There are lot's of great tips, but I especially liked this one for arranging flowers in a low bowl: use clear cellophane tape to create a grid over the top of the bowl, cut the stems short and tuck one or two flowers into each opening of the grid, tuck blooms in first and greenery in last. Easy, no? 

Other great tips include:

making a color study by using different flowers in a similar hue, and

using a big bunch of the same flower to create an equally big impact.

Oh, Martha, what can't you do?

Images etc via. 

From the weekend

How were all of your weekends? Wonderful I hope.

Ours was relatively epic. As I mentioned, we were up at our dear friend's ranch for his semi-annual Big Bend Ranch Party (BBRP for short - yes, this that much of a "thing"). BBRP is basically summer camp for adults. All of us make the trip up to the Ranch in Humboldt County, about an hour outside of Arcata (where the hubs and a lot of our friends grew up). We bunk up for a few nights, maybe have a little beer (or wine), and partake in activities including skeet shooting, paint ball, four-wheeling, swimming, and camping. On the last night we drive trucks up the mountain to watch the sunset ... and have a dance party, obviously. Oh, did I mention that the whole thing is themed? This year the theme was post-apocalyptic, so a lot of leather jackets, goggles, and  tight pants. It's a really fun time, here are some highlights:

Row one: a view of one of the ponds at the Ranch - I had failed to mention how breathtaking this place is above, the hubs all set for a little paint ball action, another beautiful view of the Ranch. Row two: shot guns prepped and ready for some skeet shooting, me jumping on the mountain top (look familiar?), car lights through the fog durring the dance party. Sigh, until next year ... xo!