Manic Monday

If I had the closet of my dreams, this is what I would be wearing today...

Sister Emily

My sister Emily was here visiting last Wednesday until yesterday morning. As we get older, I feel we grow even closer. She is the peanut butter to my chocolate and I miss her already. I wish we lived closer to each other and I know we will one day.

We had a really fun Monday night and made it sort of progressive dinner. We started at Emmy's Spaghetti Shack and got a cocktail and dinner. Second, we walked down to Mission Pie and each got a slice of pie. After our sweet break and a little walk, we headed down to El Rio for a night cap. We wanted to check out the evening's events there since they had Fry Bread on their calendar. A Navajo gentleman comes to El Rio and makes Fry Bread and sells it based on donation, which is pretty sweet. Seemed like they may have been a bit behind schedule Monday night, but it was still fun. Great music and a cool back area, I had not been there in years. When we left we got propositioned by a Russian man looking for us to join him for a burlesque style party. It was hilarious and I reenacted it the entire walk home and we laughed.

I dropped Emily off at the airport yesterday morning, I cried. Every time she leaves I feel she takes a little piece of myself with her.

I do feel super blessed to have been able to spend time with my sister in Arizona at Christmas, Chicago in May for her Graduation, Michigan trip in July and this past long weekend here in California. So funny we have seen each other 4 times in the last 9 months each time in a different state!

I miss you my sister, our next visit cannot come soon enough.

Beach House Weekend

This past weekend was the 9th Annual Beach House weekend with me and my closest girl friends. We met on the Sonoma Coast on Friday evening and locked ourselves in a beautiful house on the beach until Monday. The weather was foggy as usual, the sun came out by the time we were driving away on Monday, which was sad, but we had a wonderful time.

This year was probably the most relaxing and rejuvenating of them all, maybe it was just me, but I was really able to just relax and hang out and ate like a little piggy!

I didn't even take a group photo this year, but I did take photos of some of the wonderful food we ate. I am lucky that all of my friends are such wonderful cooks.

Thanks Angela, Emily, Erika, Robin and Wendy for making this past weekend fantastic.

Highlights include:

:: playing charades

:: Robin's nail salon

:: sleeping really well

:: a fire in the fireplace each night

:: Sex and the City

:: TONS of magazines

Manic Monday

Day Off Today!

Second time since I have started these posts that I am taking the day off!

Off for a long weekend at the beach with my girlfriends (this is the 9th year!!!).

Manic Monday

If I had the closet of my dreams, this is what I would be wearing today...

PS - I am majorly obsessed with this ring, I may have to beg, borrow or steal the money for it! I swear it makes my heart pitter patter every time I look at it, imagine it on my finger sitting there as dark at the deepest part of the Mediterranean Sea surrounded by sparkly silver stars. Don't hate me if I can't resist selling a classic Louis Vuitton for this one!

Manic Monday

If I had the closet of my dreams, this is what I would be wearing today...

Manic Monday

If I had the closet of my dreams, this is what I would be wearing today...

Easy Summer Dinner

I decided to make an effortless dinner tonight with all local produce, cheese and bread and it was simple and delicious.

I made a Greek salad with red onion, cucumber, tomatoes, fresh chopped oregano and olive oil (salt and pepper to taste). So easy to make and bursting with farm fresh flavors.

To accompany the salad I made some toasted bread with fresh local mozzarella. I sliced the bread, drizzled with olive oil, topped with a slice of the cheese and some pepper and baked at 450 for about 8 minutes and then put under the boiler for about 2 minutes until the cheese bubbled and browned on top.

I would make this again in a heartbeat, of course we ate it with a side of olives!

Food Tour SF

Friday I got a chance to go on a food tour of San Francisco. I love working for a company that encourages people to get out there and check out local popular food places.

Here are some highlights:

:: Waiting in line at Tartine to get one of the best pan au chocolates I have ever had in my life, it was worth the wait.

:: Cakes at Tartine are incredible looking, I love the abnormal shape (first photo, left side) the lemon meringue cake is on my wish list. Can you see that toasty brown goodness?

:: Savory pastry selection is incredible, my coworker got the tomato and ham quiche (first photo, right side)

:: BiRite Market, squeezing down the narrow aisles full of lovely olive oils, pasta and cheese. I actually went back today for fresh mozzarella, oregano, olive oil and bread for some bruschetta later this evening.

:: DeLessio Market and Bakery; the Tres Leches Cake and Rabanada looked incredible.

:: Cheese Plus, my friend Ray owns this store so its always nice to see a friendly face. Cool indy ice cream from Ohio and lots of gourmet stuff that is very tempting.

We went made a couple more (not very impressive) stops and then had lunch at Liberty Cafe in my neighborhood, followed by a walk to Sandbox Bakery to get some macarons for dessert.

It was a great day out and about. Thanks Amy for picking me up and driving around the city, I love when work stuff can also feel like fun! It was nice to get out, since I have been cooped up lately.

Stay tuned for Part 2 sometime in the future.

Happy Birthday Lucy

Lucille Ball would have been 100 years old today!

Love this clip of Lucy on What's My Line...

Juicing Machine

I have been going through some personal health stuff lately, and when this happens, I turn to juicing before anything else. I think that juicing lots of root vegetables helps to keep me grounded during times that could cause anxiety, stress, etc. I believe you can heal yourself with food; the more I read, the more I believe that. I just wish more doctors were on board.

So...lots of meditating and lots and lots of fresh juice each day.

This is my favorite mix:

:: one granny smith apple

:: 2 beets

:: 3 lbs. carrots

:: one thumb size piece of ginger

All organic produce of course and to mix things up, sometimes I add a Valencia orange to the above mixture, if I don't eat it before I juice it that is (seems like once I cut it, I just want to eat it as is).

While juicing yesterday, I had to take these photos - it looks psychedelic.

Manic Monday

If I had the closet of my dreams, this is what I would be wearing today...

Happy Birthday Dad!

Today is the Birthday of one of my favorite people...my dear ole' Dad.

I knew we were a lot a like, but this year alone has taught me how much we really are cut from the same cloth. I am so glad to have a Dad that is a wonderful role model, sensitive but at the same time is tough as nails, and most of all...fun to be around.

Have a great day Dad and a terrific upcoming year!

We should have had a bumpy cake in Michigan to celebrate!

Wrap Star 2

Here is a continuation from my original Wrap Star post from a couple weeks back.

I love gift wrapping and had to share this wrapping from a recent gift I gave my friend Robin.

I used a vintage piece of embroidered French linen from the $5 bin at the Alameda Flea Market and used it instead of paper so it is dual purpose; a small centerpiece/table cloth and wrapping paper. I added a pop of lime with the ribbon and finished the ends with a dove tail. Voila!

Manic Monday

If I had the closet of my dreams, this is what I would be wearing today...

Yes Michigan*

What a idyllic way to spend 6 days and 5 nights.
I had very limited iphone connectivity which forced me to unplug for a bit.

It was so nice for Tim and I to spend time with my parents, my sister, and her boyfriend. The weather was ideal, hot and humid just like the summers of my youth. We played croquet, drank a LOT of beer, ate a ton of peanuts and potato chips and lots of other things that aren't in our normal diet but it was delicious.

On our first night we had a fun hot dog dinner with beans, chips, cut up veggies and corn and then my Mom surprised me with a lemonade birthday cake that was cold and lemony; it blew my mind. My Mom makes the best cakes!

The rest of our days were filled with sleeping in, sunning ourselves, playing outside and spending time on the sun porch playing games, reading and just hanging out. Tim and I took a little day trip on Monday and drove around the thumb of Michigan along the water and then back through the farmland, which I absolutely love. This trip made me incredibly homesick for Michigan. The lakeside towns are small, old, and so cute. I found a little grocery store for sale near the tip of the thumb that I can't stop dreaming of owning one day...I have so many ideas for it. Can you imagine me riding a snow mobile to work in the winter? What about delivering groceries to summer home renters in a big red pick up truck? I can see it very clearly.

Here are some of my favorite photos from the trip.

*Yes Michigan was a tourist campaign in 1986 celebrating Michigan's 150 Birthday.

Behind

I am a wee bit behind here.
Trying to finish editing photos and writing my Michigan recap.

My wheels are a spinnin'.

Happy Friday!

Manic Monday

If I had the closet of my dreams, this is what I would be wearing today...

Pure Michigan

This commerical is perfect...

There is a lighthouse beckoning me home and there I will go early tomorrow morning.

Before the sun rises, I will leave the west coast for Michigan, my home state.
There are Better Made potato chips to be eaten, Faygo Red Pop to be consumed and so many photos to take (oh..and a lot of mosquito bites to be had I am sure).
I am so looking foward to the sun, the sand, the fresh lake water welcoming me back to a place I thought I would not see for some time.

Saying Goodbye

I had to throw away my favorite shirt on Friday.

Most of you have seen me in this shirt, once, twice, lets face it...fifty times.

This was that one piece of clothing that I always felt good in, whether with jeans and cowboy boots or with yoga pants on a long plane ride. It was roomy, great colors and was super soft and worn in.

I had it for over 2 years and wore it at least once a week.

Well, it finally got a little thin in one spot and stated to tear so what did I do? I tore it even more, because if I didn't I probably would have thought it was ok to continue wearing it and it is not, it was time for it to go. Sometimes it is best to go out with a bang.

Good bye old friend.

Homemade Lunch

I had the best lunch today, I have to share.

I love being able to take time and make myself a somewhat healthy lunch.

Today was delicious.

Toasted sprouted whole grain bread rubbed with a clove of garlic, topped with sliced heirloom tomato, drizzle with olive oil, put a slice of cheese on top and dust with salt and pepper.

Holy Moley it is good!

Birthday Weekend

This past weekend, Tim and I headed down to San Jose to celebrate both Robin's Birthday as well as mine. It was fantastic! Angela and Frankie came from Sacramento so there was a nice group of us together ready for a fun weekend.

Saturday afternoon we all just hung out, prepped for dinner and laughed a lot.

Tim and Kenny taught Frankie how to play the wii, which was pretty hilarious to watch - they were swinging virtual swords at each other. Boys are silly.

Robin's Mom and Dad came over for dinner along with her sister Stephanie, husband John and their kids Isabella and Rachel. We had a great dinner of ribs, chicken, mac and cheese, cole slaw, garlic bread and ice cold beer. I love my extended Urban Family, they are incredible people and I am so lucky to have all of them in my life.

After dinner we all enjoyed cake and ice cream followed by dancing wii games in the family room.

Later in the evening, after the locals went home, Kenny lit a fire in their fire pit and Angela, Tim, Robin and I sat out in the back yard talking until the wee hours of the morning. After not much sleep, we woke up and Angela baked a french toast casserole that we made together the night prior and then ate breakfast outside in the backyard. It was delicious. It was a beautiful day so we decided to walk to the park. Frankie got to play and run around, we all played frisbee, catch with the football and just laid in the grass before heading back to the house. After a quick dip in the pool for Tim and Frankie, we had a nice lunch of leftovers and green salad. Angela and Frankie packed up and left to go and visit her cousin in San Jose before heading back to Sacramento and the rest of us watched a comedy show on TV and took naps. We headed home around 6:15, by the time we got home we were super tired but ended up staying up, checking email, watching tv, etc. When it was time to go to bed, I walked into the bedroom and on my bedside table there was a little light blue bag with a white ribbon on it and it ends up Tim got me a new wedding band from Tiffany's! It is super simple, and so perfect for me, I slept with it on and love it so much. Tim did real good this year to say the least.

Thanks Robin and Kenny for having us for the weekend it was super nice, I miss the sun already. Thanks Angela for coming all the way from Sacto, I hope we can do this more often.

Hope you all had a great weekend!

Birthday Cake

It is so nice to have a friend that has a birthday so close to your own, that way not only can you celebrate together, you can take turns making the cake each year. Last year Robin made a wonderfully delicious Hummingbird Cake, this year I decided to take a stab at this Blueberry Lemon Cake. I baked the cake and made the frosting at home and assembled it at Robin and Kenny's house with the help of Robin's niece Isabella (8) who asked so sweetly if she could help, so I let her decorate the entire thing and it was beautiful. She did an excellent job!

This cake is fabulous, fruity and dense because it has buttermilk in it, make it, you will like it!

Manic Monday

If I had the closet of my dreams, this is what I would be wearing today...

Night Watchman

I am so glad there is a shelf for BayLee on our console table. I don't know what I would do if he didn't have a place to relax and observe us each and every evening. BayLee is so funny, he will literally sit and stare at us for hours and then he disappears into the bedroom for a while. I swear, one day I am going to find his top secret human observation journal. Until that day comes, I can only speculate as to what is going on in his kitty brain.

*{Fabulous Find}*

Love, Love, Love this macbook pro cover/case.

Red, 13" please.

Come on, it is perfect!

Find it here on twelvesouth.com

Fantastically Dashing

Vogue Magazine, July 2011 page 98 photo caption reads...

"This fall, it will be fantastically dashing to wear daringly individualistic hats."

The spread shows a couple hats by Gucci, I would have loved it if they took more of a risk and used more "daringly individualistic" hats, but beggars cannot be choosers I guess. I am happy with the mere mention of hats.
Lara Stone and Alexander Skarskgard by Peter Lindbergh for Vogue US July 2011

Manic Monday

If I had the closet of my dreams, this is what I would be wearing today...

Busy Sunday

I got a bright and early start this morning and went to the Alameda Point Antiques Faire with Amy. We were super lucky to have met up there at 8:00 am because it was blistering hot even that early and when we left at 10:00 am there was a HUGE line of at least 1000 people waiting in line to get tickets to get in past the gates. No line for the early birds and we saw about 2/3 of the entire faire; if you have not been before it is massive and takes place on the old airstrip so it is full sun when it is sunny and no shade at all. Pure heat bouncing off concrete. After two hours and an ice cold Jamba Juice (thank God they have a stand there) we were ready to get out of there and get brunch somewhere. We ate at Chop Bar in Oakland, which was very good. I would love to go back and see what their dinner menu is like plus they have a great cocktail menu (there was no way I could have had one, I would have passed out). I think we each had three different drinks; water, agua fresca (grapefruit ginger) and sparkling water; it was hard to get rehydrated after our morning in the sun. Great morning indeed, was home by 12:30; time to take a two hour rest with a book, bed, fan and a little nap before my next adventure.

At 3:00 pm I went to Mission Pie for a little get together with my studio mates. It was great to meet everyone that I had not met before. In our shared space there are 7 of us and all women which we think is pretty cool. The majority of the time I am there, I am the only one as we all have very different schedules. Before I went home I got chicken pot pies to heat up for dinner, score! Now I just have to turn on the oven in this heat, oh well! No fog today in the city and hope it stays this way tomorrow so we can see the fireworks from our neighborhood.

Hope you all had a great Sunday!

Summer Produce

After sleeping in until about 10 AM (luxurious), I got bit by the baking bug and decided to use the beautiful zucchini I got this week in some zucchini bread. I found a great recipe on smitten kitchen that called for olive or vegetable oil so I decided to try it with the olive. I was a bit apprehensive as the last time I baked a sweet bread with olive oil it was terrible, but Angela makes a cake with it, so I thought I would give it a try since my last attempt was years ago. The bread turned out amazing, I added cranberries and left the nuts out. The mister has already had a half a loaf (good thing I made two). I had plans to make a crisp out of my white nectarines, but after eating one just the way nature intended, there was no way I could adulterate them. They are incredible just the way they are; just as sweet as the sunny spot that glides across my kitchen floor each afternoon.