Happy Weekend!

Hey loves! What are you all up to this weekend? The Hubs and I are actually in Southern California for my cousin's wedding. So it will be a weekend of family fun and familiar faces in my home town. I'm really happy to be here, every now and then you just need to go home. Plus, what's better than a wedding?

Anyway, I hope you all have a lovely weekend - enjoy the link love. xo!

Conversations with a two year old, episode 1 & 2.

Foreign words to use in English.

It's baffling and amazing that this is actually a show.

100 most creative people.

Redefining success.

What would Michael Pollan buy?

I think I need one of these.

Amazing moments of celebrity PDA.

The perfect outfit for a summer wedding.

Southern California palm tree dreaming.

Image via. 

Cheers!

Happy Friday! How were all of your weeks? Fab I hope - in any case, it's the weekend and that's something to celebrate. Feeling continental? How about a Frenchy?

Frenchy

• 1 1/2 oz Pear Vodka
• 3 oz Pineapple Juice
• 1 oz Cranberry Juice

Add your vodka and pineapple juice, to chilled rocks glass filled with ice, then top with a splash of cranberry juice. Yum! 

Via. 

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Friday's Finds

I've been on the look out for the perfect draw string bucket bag, this hot little Baguu number at Steven Alan just might be the perfect thing.

Quinoa Cakes

Looking for a delicious, and healthy, pancake recipe? Well look no further cuz Martha's done it again! 

Ingredients

• 1 cup cooked quinoa (or brown rice)
• 3/4 cup all-purpose flour (I prefer whole wheat) 
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon coarse salt
• 1 large egg, plus 1 large egg white
• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted, plus more for skillet
• 1/4 cup low-fat milk
• 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup (plus more for serving)
• Fresh fruit or fruit preserves (optional), for serving

Directions:

In a bowl, whisk the quinoa, flour, baking powder, and salt together. In another bowl, whisk together the egg, egg white, butter, milk, and syrup, keep whisking until smooth. Combine the wet and dry mixtures together in a single bowl to complete your batter. 

Heat a lightly buttered nonstick skillet or griddle over medium-high. Drop heaping tablespoonfuls of your batter into skillet. Cook until bubbles appear on top. Flip cakes and cook until golden brown on underside. Wipe skillet clean and repeat - reduce heat to medium if overbrowning. Serve with maple syrup and/or fresh fruit or preserves if desired.

Sounds scrumptious, yes? 

Image and recipe via. 

Thursday's Tidbit

In her book Bossy Pants Tina Fey says: “Every girl is expected to have caucasian blue eyes, full Spanish lips, a classic button nose, hairless Asian skin with a California tan, a Jamaican dance hall ass, long Swedish legs, small Japanese feet, the abs of a lesbian gym owner, the hips of a nine-year-old boy, the arms of Michelle Obama and doll tits. This is why everyone is struggling.” Ha!

It's true, right!? Who created these photoshoped standards? I rationally know that most, if not all, of the images of "beauties" out there are altered in one way or another - but it's hard not to get sucked in from time to time. And oh man, gis etting sucked into that comparison rabbit hole not ideal or healthy. That's why funny, smart, and strong female voices, like Tina's, are so importnat - someone's gotta knock us back down to reality. 

I post a lot about beauty here, but my main intent is to share ways to enhance what we all were naturally blessed with, and to hopefully have some fun in the process too. It's important to remember that pretty images are just that, images, fabrications, even though that can be difficult when we're inundated with these kinds of pictures on a daily basis. So I wonder, how do you stay grounded in a world of photoshop? 

Image via. 

Bouquet

Peonies are hands down my favorite flower. Obviously, I love tulips, roses, and hydrangeas, but there's something about a peonie that get's me every time. They're just so freakin' pretty! I love the intricacies of their petals, their pillowy shapes, the delicate tinges of pink. It's such a shame they're only in season for such a short period of time. Sigh. Such is life.

Images via yours truly.

WED Day

Have you heard? Target is now offering a wedding dress collection. What are your thoughts?

I think it's a nice option in a world where wedding dresses commonly run upwards of $2,000 or $3,000.  Currently the collection is pretty bare bones, but given some time, who knows - this could blossom into a solid option for brides looking for a wedding dress at a lower price point. The start of a good trend, perhaps.

Image via. 

White Hot

I love the saturated, brightly colored nails, and all of the pretty pastel hues popping up on manis everywhere now as much as the next gal. But, there is something fresh and unexpected about white nails in the summer. Simple, chic, and just as eye catching (if not more so) than a brightly colored polish. Plus, nothing compliments (or gives the illusion of) a tan better.

Image via yours truly. 

Tuesday's Tips & Tricks

You are what you eat. 

I'm a relatively cautious eater, but I'm not one for diets. In my mind, a diet feels like something you do for a short period of time before resuming former (and presumably worse for you) habits. To really maintain health (and weight, let's be real) you have to adopt eating well as part of your lifestyle. But what does that really mean? There's a lot of conflicting information out there, a lot of fads, a lot of too-good-to-be-true-quick-fixes, so how to separate the good advice from the noise? 

For me it boils down to eight simple words (alla Michael Pollan): eat real food, not too much, mostly plants. That's it. Eat whole foods (no refined sugar or flour for instance, be cautious of anything packaged), eat mostly fruits and veggies, and keep your portions in check. Unless you have allergies, or other food sensitivities, this is a pretty simple blueprint for clean eating and overall wellness. 

Obviously I'm not a doctor, but this simple philosophy has really worked for me. Of course, what works for me may not work for you. But I like to keep it simple, eating really shouldn't be so complicated. :-) 

Image via. 

Monday's Mantra

Happy Memorial Day everyone - it's the kick off to the summer season! Let's go play outside. xo!

PS: Let's also consider one small act of kindness this day. 

Image via. 

Happy Weekend!

I do love me a long weekend, don't you? What do you have planed? I'll be enjoying a staycation punctuated by a day trip or two perhaps (we'll see where the wind blows), maybe I'll even start a new book - why not? We've got three days - let's go crazy!

I hope you have a great time, no matter what you do. See you here next week, enjoy the link love until then. xo!

Soldiers before, during, and after war.

30 is NOT the new 20. Here's why.

Why Angie's Op-Ed Matters.

Five film foreshadows.

How do you feel about the way working women are portrayed on TV.

Hmm, can bras actually make your boobies sag?

Can't wait to see this movie.

A beautiful post on blogging when the world seems so out of control.

Two steps to a fresh fridge.

Vintage NASA photos.

Price v. Value

High 5's gone terribly wrong.

Kids rocking out in cars. cute!

Image via. 

Cheers!

It's the Friday before a loong weekend, let's party! How 'bout a Green Machine? You can pretend it's part of your pre-bathing-suit season cleanse. ;-)

Ingredients:

1 1/2 shot of silver tequila

Homemade cucumber sweet n’ sour (directions below)

Pureed honeydew

Lime

Fresh mint

Soda

Muddle mint and lime wedge in a shaker. Add a spoonful of pureed honeydew, 1 1/2 tequila shot,  splash of the cucumber sweet n’ sour, and a dash of soda. Shake well and serve on the rocks.

Homemade Cucumber Sweet n’ Sour

Ingredients:

1 Cup simple syrup

2 Cups bottled lemon juice

2-4 pureed cucumbers (you can leave the skin on)

Add all ingredients to a pitcher, strain and refrigerate. Make it skinny by subbing Stevia for the sugar.

Enjoy! 

Image etc via. 

Friday's Finds

Isn't this swingy maxi dress by ASOS perfect for summer? Comfortable, breezy, yet pulled together at once. Plus you can't beat the color. Wishlisted! 

Available here. 

Thursday's Tidbits

Before and after:

Boom! Blog Milk nailed it again. What do you think of the makeover? I'm kinda in love with it. I've been itching to do some sprucing up around here, to simplify and modernize a bit. I had such a good experience with Blog Milk before, I decided to use them again, and was happy I did. I love the clean lines and slight edge of this new look. Yep, it's just what I was itching for.

Thank you Blog Milk for the new look and all the help with the installation. And a big thinks to all of you for stopping by - it really, truly, means so much to me. xo!

Please Pardon My Dust

Hi dolls, as you may have noticed, Tickle My Fancy is under construction (woo hoo!) and should be back to business as usual by tomorrow, please bare with me as we sort out the new design in the meantime. Thanks - xo!

Is my So Cal showing?

I think my So Cal may be showing, but I can't help it - I'm so drawn to this image. As soon as summer arrives, I can't help feeling nostalgic for Southern California, long lazy days at the beach, sandy toes, tan lines, and salty hair. Mmm, sounds lovely, yes?

Image via. 

Wed Day

Would you ever wear a black wedding dress? Not-white wedding dresses are becoming more and more popular. Ivory and champagne dresses have been popular alternatives to pure virginal white for ages (let's be real, who are most of us kidding); even light grey, blue, and pink dresses are becoming more and more common - a trend even!

But black? Would you dare? I think it's kind of a bad ass choice, but I'm not sure I would be brave enough. Well, I wasn't actually - I went with an ivory number - but if I had it all to do again ... I don't know. Thoughts?

Image: Leo Sorel/Retna Ltd./Corbis Courtesy of Harper’s Bazaar 

Bouquet

Tulips are one of my favorite kinds of flowers, I especially love the rich orange and yellow hues of these - so cheerful.

Image via yours truly. 

Tuesday's Tips & Tricks

I've spoken a lot here about facial skin care (see here and here) but, what about the rest of your skin? What about your body? There's so much more to it, and as the temperature begins to rise skin's released from winter layers and takes center stage. Shorts! Skirts! Tank tops! Bikinis! So, why not baby your body a little? Here are a few of my simple tips for soft smooth skin ... everywhere.

Body brushing is a great way to start your day, it exfoliates and stimulates the lymphatic system, so it's also detoxifying and helps to combat celulite. It's best done just before jumping into the shower. All you need is a brush like this. Begin with brushing the bottoms of your feet and work your way up and all over your body, using firm but gentle strokes, aimed toward your heart. 

Once in the shower, after shaving, use a moisturizing scrub to really smooth things over. You can buy one, or make your own (I'm a fan of the DIY option).

Just after showering, pat yourself dry and apply lotion while skin is still a little damp to really seal in moisture. My favorites are this one and this one, or if I'm feeling a little pale, this one. SPF is also important to remember if you're going to be out in the sun (don't forget your hands and feet). As far as anti-aging goes, moisture and SPF are two of the best things you can do for your face - the same applies for your body. These two things will keep all of you looking younger, longer. 

Of course diet and exercise will also make a huge difference in the condition of your skin, but I think that's a different post. What are your favorite body skin care tips? 

Image via. 

Weekend Wrap-up

It was quiet 'round these parts this weekend. Just a few sunny lazy days filled with movies, long walks, lattes, home cooked meals, and roof top mimosas. Oh, and we also had to give the little boy kitty a bath - exciting stuff. ;-)

How were all of your weekends dears? I love hearing - xo!

Monday's Mantra

Did you watch The Office finale last week? We did, it was bitter sweet fo sho. What I really appreciated about the show (aside from the clever humor, ovbi) was the spot on commentary about normal life - the quote above especially struck me. There's a lot of beauty in the ordinary, in the every day. Life is so much more marvelous with that in mind - don't you think?

Via. 

Happy Weekend!

What do you all have planed for this weekend my sweets? I have a friend's law school graduation BBQ to look forward too, plus hopefully some roof time, a walk or two, brunch perhaps, and quality time with my girls and my man. With any luck there'll be some sun shine too.

Hope you all have a great couple a days, see you here Monday - xo!

Has anything like this ever happened to you? What would you have done?

I've got a lady crush!

Do you sit all day? Chances are you're doing it wrong.

This is the cutest!

Well, now - this sounds cool.

Now I want to do this with my sister.

A sweet "Office" photo album.

Wow, this movie looks cray cray.

Live the process.

First night's in a new pad.

The 7 min workout, too good to be true?

Image via. 

Cheers!

It's Friday! How were all of your week's loves? Mine was really good! Nothing earth shattering happened, it was just generally pleasant, so ... let's drink to that! 

How about something Sparkling?

Add one part elderflower liqueur to two parts prosecco, and garnish with a cucumber. Easy and refreshing ... exactly how I like my men. ;-) 

Via. 

Friday's Finds

As someone who is luckily enough to be blessed with hereditary dark circles (I think they might just be part of the whole olive skin tone thang), I'm close with my concealer. I'm already a fan of the Benefit concealers (especially this one) but was skeptical that their new Fake Up could be that different. 

What they say: This moisturizing crease-control concealer with vitamin E and apple seed extract hides dark circles and diffuses fine lines for a silky smooth, ultranatural look. Available in three shades, it’s proven to keep skin hydrated for six hours and won’t cake, crease, or settle. 

What I say: um, yeah! It does moisturize, the crease control isn't 100% - but it's damn good, same with fine lines diffusion. This is a good one, it completely negates the need for a separate under-eye primer or brightener. I'm on board. 

Have you tried it? would you? 

Thursday's Tidbits

So do you know Koko, the gorilla who can sign? Oh man, I loved Koko and her kitten when I was little. I mean, she loved her kitten, I loved my kitten - we had so much in common! 

Well, it turns out that Koko also loved Mister Rodgers, because it's impossible not to love Mister Rodgers. In 1998, Fred Rodgers went to visit Koko at the Gorila Foundation in Woodside, California, and filmed a series of episodes featuring Koko focused on inclusion titled "You and I Together." (That alone makes me tear up a little.) Koko was already familiar with the show before meeting Mister Rodgers in person, she was a fan of the show. When she first met him, not only did she wrap him up in a huge hug, but she then proceded to do what she'd seen him do on TV for years - she took off his shoes. Amazing. 

Mister Rogers said, "Once you get to know people (or our close primate relatives, gorillas), you find that there is much more to them than what you see when you look at their 'outsides.' It's the heart and not just the eyes that discover what's real about us." That man! 

Image etc via. 

Street Art

How rad is this this alley way runner by artist Alphons ter Avest? You can see it at the Van Huursteeg, in Apeldoorn, the next time you find yourself in The Netherlands.

Via. 

WED Day

We are well into May my dears, you know what that means ... wedding season is upon us! So chances are that a few of you will be asked to be in a wedding party or two this year.

I've been a bridesmaid three times, for three very different (very lovely) ladies, with three very different visions for their days. I loved being a part of these ladies' wedding parties (and I'm sure there are at least a couple more wedding parties in my future). It's such a special way to celebrate your friends and their exciting next steps. But, it can also be really overwhelming - the related events, the gifts, the dress, the monies, it's a lot. Amarite?

I had thought about putting together a guide of sorts, but the fine folks at Refinery29 beat me to it, and it's pretty comprehensive. So ... Check it out!

Image via. 

Stuffed Bell Peppers

This past weekend I tried my hand at stuffed bell peppers. Oh sure, I could have used a recipe  but where's the fun in that? Let's be real, I love a recipe but the only time I ever follow one is if I'm baking (but that's more like chemistry really). Usually, I just read the one I like, see what I have around that's similar (or go shopping If I'm feeling really ambitious) and then just sort of wing it. Luckily, I've been free form cooking long enough that I've figured out a few solid satisfying go-to's.

That brings me back to the stuffed bell pepper, my latest no-recipe recipe.

You'll need:

• Lean organic ground beef 
• (the amount depends on how many you're serving and if you are going to use a grain as well - I used one small package and had left overs) 
• BBQ Sauce or marinade (I like Stubb's)
• Sriracha (optional)
• Bell peppers (one per person)
• Onions
• Rice or quinoa (make ahead)
• Spinach 
• Cheese 
• Seasonings (garlic and pepper at the very least) 
• Olive oil

Method:
Chop up your onion and mix it with your beef and seasonings, saute beef mixture with your sauce in a lightly oiled pan, adding the sriracha to taste (I like it hot). While all that is simmering away on your stove top, chop the tops off your peppers and core them (make sure you remove all those pesky seeds), place peppers in a shallow baking dish and set aside.

Add spinach, and/or your grains to the beef mixture. The spinach will cook down and you'll hardly notice it, but you'll get all those nutritional extras. The grains are optional, based on your preference. I had some left over rice from an earlier dinner, so I added just a tiny bit to my mix.

Once your beef is cooked through, immediately remove from heat, you don't want to over cook it. Fill your peppers with your mixture, grate cheese generously over it all and pop in a pre-heated 350 degree oven. Keep an eye on 'em and remove once the peppers begin to look roasty and the cheese has browned. That's it!

Eat up buttercup.

Image via yours truly. 

Tuesday's Tips & Tricks

I'm loving this done undone 'do - a playful take on a more traditional up-do, yet this is still very sophisticated. Tease hair at the crown and rake back into a messy pony tail, twist and coil hair into a lose rope-y bun, secure with a few pins (not too many, it should be kept loose), and finish off with a casually tied ribbon. Low key elegant - no?

Image via. 

Weekend Wrap-up

Well, it was a weekend - that much is clear. It was a weekend for late nights with old and new friends, for sleeping in, for sushi double dates, for "Apples to Apples," for long walks, for late night conversations in dimly lit booths, for mani pedis, for homemade brussels sprouts chips, stumptown lattes, and chats with my moms. Oh, and I also cleaned the appartment. :-) In any case, it was a good one. How were all of your weekends - any adventures? I'd love to hear. xo!

Image via yours truly. 

Monday's Mantra

This has always been my motto. So far so good.

Via. 

Happy Weekend!

Happy Mother's Day Weekend! How will you all be celebrating? I unfortunately won't be able to see my mama until next month, but I will be calling her (and my step-mama, and the Hubs' mama), and be honoring them in spirit. 

What's the best piece of advice your mama ever gave you? Mine taught me to always remember my own worth - so simple, but holding on to this has been invaluable throughout my life. 

Let's take a moment to celebrate all the inspiring mamas in our lives this weekend. Hope you all have a good one dolls - xo!

Could / would you take a complaining break?

Beyonce art history.

Two chips - too funny.

My alma mater is exploring starships. NBD.

Yes. Yes to all of this.

Genetically modified food, scary.

Whoa.

This is my jam!

So funny.

This will make you smile.

Image via. 

Cheers!

it's Friday! I'll bet you're toasting to yo mama this weekend, why not with a sweet and salty grapefruit gimlet?

Ingredients

• 1 ounce simple syrup, plus more for rimming
• Coarse salt, for rimming
• 3 ounces pink grapefruit juice
• 3 ounces gin
• Grapefruit slices, for garnish (optional)

Directions
Sprinkle coarse salt on a plate. Dip the rim of a glass in simple syrup, then press into the salt to coat. Shake the grapefruit juice, gin, and simple syrup in a cocktail shaker with ice for 30 seconds; strain into the prepared glass. Garnish with a grapefruit slice.

Cheers to yo mother! 

Via. 

Friday's Finds

Be still my heart. These Balenciaga tri-colored cut out heels are a thing of beauty. Yowza!  

Thursday's Tidbit

I'm filing this under: it's weird, but it works.

Recently, as my skin has changed from teenaged to adult, I've developed some sensitivity that I've never had before - joy. A fun side effect has been the occasional redness, which I've dealt with mainly by using concealer. But now I have a better solution: this green Smashbox primer to neutralize any redness.

Green and red are complimentary colors - yes, we know this. So a little bit of one color will neutralize the other. This works with paint, so why wouldn't it work on your face? Well, it would.

It feels and looks a little like spreading guacamole on your face, but once it's blended, the green hue is gone and you're left with a smooth even canvas. Nice right? I thought so too.

Bouquet

This pretty little rose and iris number feels so romantic to me - like a warm summer evening.

Image via yours truly. 

Pinteresting

Do you have hobbies? I have one, I have Pinterest - I'm pretty good at it. I dedicate a lot of time to practicing my pins, anything worth doing is worth doing well. Here are a few examples of my recent pins:

• A cool ring.
• All I really want, is that too much to ask?
• Why wasn't I invited to this party?
• Buy me brunch too. 
• A path I'd like to wander
• Uniform. 

Follow me on Pinterest for more gems like these. 

xo! 

Weekend Wrap-Up

It was a no complaints kinda weekend, my friends.

It started off with an impromptu Friday afternoon date. The hubs took the day off and picked me up at my office. It was beautiful out so we walked from my office to Hayes Valley, for lunch and a glass of wine in the garden here (one of my favorite spots), followed by a quick stop at Smitten for some white balsamic strawberry ice cream. Amaze! There was no way to top that, so we headed home, stayed in and rented this movie.

Saturday was a wake-up slowly, lazy morning, low key kinda day. I took myself for a walk, got a mani, and geared up for a birthday night out. That evening, few of my best gals took me out to dinner, drinks, and of course cake here. It was so good, we wanted to order one of everything, and basically ended up doing just that. Then we met up with a larger group (hubs included) at comet club, a dive-y little club with constantly sweet jams. I spen the rest of the night shakin that thang. It was one of those special nights when everything falls into place, everyone seems to enjoy themselves, and there's no drama to speak of. Hmm, maybe we are getting older.

Sunday was Cinco de Mayo, so we were basically obligated to have a margarita or two. I mean, right? We walked up to Nick's Crispy Tacos for taco's Nicks way and a pitcher of margaritas (if you live in SF and haven't been here, do so immediately). Such indulgence - just what I needed.

How about you loves, how were all of your weekends? xo!

Images of me blowing out my birthday candle, demolished chips & guacamole, and a frosty marg at Nick's, and of course Rico being Rico. 

Tuesday's Tips & Tricks

I love having rose water at home, it's a great astringent and a little spritz makes even the busiest mornings ever so much more luxurious. You just need:

• a large stock pot
• two small glass bowls (or ramekins) 
• 8 - 10 oz rose petals (rinsed)
• foil
• water
• ice

Simply use the bowls and stock pot to make a still-like-contraption. I'll explain. Put one glass bowl upside-down in your stockpot and scatter your rose petals around the bowl in the  bottom of pot. Place the second second bowl upright on top of the inverted bowl. Fill your pot with about 3 quarts of water, and place the foil over the pot, make sure it's slightly concave (you could also use a stainless steel bowl or an inverted pot lid). 

Crank the burner up and bring the water to a boil, then reduce heat to low and let simmer. Place ice cubes in the center of the foil covering to finish the homemade still. Drain water and replace ice as necessary. 

Check the upright bowl every 10 minutes or so. Once you have 1 to 2 cups of rosewater, you're done. This should take about 20 to 30 minutes. Let your rosewater cool, then transfer to a clean jar or bottle.

Sounds crazy, right? I can't wait to try. 

Image via etc via. and via. 

Bouquet

Simple. Sometimes the simplest things are the most lovely. In my mind, few things are lovelier than a simple bouquet of long stem roses.

Image via yours truly. 

Monday's Mantra

I think this quote is so beautiful - why not start off the week with a little beauty?
Here's to sunny days ahead. xo!

Image via. 

Happy Weekend!

Hey kids - whatchu up to this weekend? Huh?

For me it's birthday weekend part 2: dinner with ze girls, and a night out shaking my tail feathers with friends. Aside from that, no plans. :-) It should be sunny so that will be nice. We'll see what develops.

I hope you all have a fabo time too. See you Monday - xo!

Buzzfeed linked to my blog, check it out!

SLO Down wines, goes great with ...
(This is my friend's company and promo, it's very silly and definitely NSFW) 

Relationship with my mom.

Ladies night!

Dating, a how-to.

The Pregnant Husband, made me laugh.

Grooms blown away by their brides.

Teenage sleep patterns.

When I was hungry.

How to wash your hands in space.

Three years of the sun in three minutes.

I love this.

Image via. 

Cheers!

TGIF! Let's toast to that, shall we? 

Cinco de Mayo is this weekend, which means one thing ... margaritas! 

Ingredients:

• Equal parts fresh lemon and lime juice
• One part Cointreau
• One part tequila 

So if you have 1 oz. lemon, 1oz. lime, you have 2 oz. Cointreau and 2 oz tequila. Mix all of the above, stir and serve over crushed ice.

Enjoy!

Via. 

Friday's Finds

How rad is this Dark Side of the Moon ring at Cat Bird? A dainty yet bad ass ring, named (maybe) for an awesome album. Pretty rad, that's how rad.