Roses from California

These roses were carefully wrapped so we could bring them back on the airplane.  They've been happily blooming in their respective vases this week.  I can't get over how gorgeous and unique they are!

Wishlist Wednesday: California

Back from a long weekend trip to California and already missing it.  The weather was crisp and cool, a welcome relief from the Texas heat.  We had all sorts of authentic Japanese cuisine, freshly picked peaches, apricots, cherries and strawberries, and of course See's chocolate!  Here are some pictures from the trip:

Gorgeous wildflowers everywhere

 

Roses at the nursery

Fruit trees at the nursery

Shopping at the Japanese grocery store and market

Shabu shabu at Japantown

The mothership

 Roses to bring home!

Favorite Friday Recipe: Baked Brie

Who knew that these three items...

...would produce this deliciousness

Served with water crackers and apples

Grab your plate and fill up!

A couple of tips I gathered from the internet:

• Slice cheese horizontally and place jam in the middle (like a sandwich)
• Freeze the pastry and cheese so it all bakes at an even temperature 
• Bake it in a pan you will serve it in (just in case it gets messy)
• Enjoy!!

Wishlist Wednesday: See's Candies

Heading to CA this weekend, home of See's Candies.  I will be making my first pilgrimage to an outlet store--can't wait!

Vintage Monday: Fiesta Juice Cup

Excited to add this Fiesta juice cup in original red to my collection!

Favorite Friday Recipe: Orzo pasta

I love the tiny grains of orzo pasta and this dish is a great accompaniment to some grilled fish or steak and is satisfying on its own as well.  I looked up various orzo recipes and then kind of used what I had in the house to make it work.  Here's what I remember...

Orzo Pasta

Ingredients:

• 1 cup dry orzo
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1/4 sweet onion
• 1/2 bag of spinach
• cherry tomatoes (as many as you'd like, ours came from our garden!)
• Parmesan cheese

Directions:

• Bring water to a boil and cook orzo, drain when al dente
• In a separate saucepan, sautee minced garlic and onion in olive oil
• Add in cooked orzo and spinach until wilted
• Add cherry tomatoes and Parmesan cheese
• Salt and pepper to taste (I may have added in a bit of truffle oil and salt)
• Enjoy!
  

 

June Foodzie box

My June Foodzie box arrived yesterday and I was so excited to find these delicious and sizable samples of:

• Kyotofu Miso Chocolate Brownies
• Bobo's Oat Bars
• Mrs. Sipps Spiced Almonds
• Bissinger's Blueberry Gummy Pandas
• Flamous Falafel Chips
• Wayne's Green Tomato Relish

I tried the spiced almonds immediately and they had such a unique flavor--absolutely delicious!  Now the only thing keeping me sane during my work day is the fact that I will be going home to devour the brownie and gummy pandas!!

Wishlist Wednesday: this card

This card would be framed and displayed prominently in my house as my new motto

Real Simple

Our house is on Real Simple!  Well, rather a drawing of our house at least :)  Back when we moved a year or so ago, I ordered these great moving announcements from Duetletterpress.  The lovely Julie hand drew our house from a picture I sent her, and then letterpressed the image onto the announcements.  They were recently featured on Real Simple's website here.  I wish that they had mentioned the hand drawn aspect because that to me is the most unique aspect of these announcements.  Nonetheless, what a great mention--congrats Duetletterpress and thank you so much for our wonderful cards!

Vintage Monday: floral and fruit napkins

Some fun napkins I picked up at last week's estate sale to add to my ever growing pile of vintage linens!

Favorite Friday Recipe: Corn Salsa

My cooking skills always decline in the summer and I've been searching for easy, light and fresh recipes to add to the rotation.  Corn salsa is B's favorite, using it to top a burrito rice bowl or serve on the side with grilled chicken.  Add some black beans and you have an amazing corn and bean dip as well!  The freshly squeezed lime helps keep it light and refreshing.  What are some of your favorite summer recipes?

Corn salsa (+ bean dip)

Ingredients:

• 15 oz. cans black beans (add if you want the bean dip)
• 2 peeled, seeded and diced tomatoes (cherry tomatoes work great as well)
• 1/2 bag frozen sweet corn
• about 1/2-3/4 cup cilantro chopped
• 2 jalapenos chopped
• 1/2 red onion chopped
• 2-3 fresh limes 
• salt to taste

Directions:

• Chop up cilantro, jalapenos, red onion and tomatoes (a food processor is amazing for this)
• Add black beans, corn
• Squeeze lime juice in, mix and add salt to taste
• Enjoy!

Thank you!

Link is doing much much better this week.  Thank you for all the good thoughts sent his way!  Do you spy Kirby's little rear end in the picture above?  I think the "Thanksgiving turkey leg" pose is the cutest thing I've ever seen.

UK chocolate

Here's some great chocolate I picked up in London (I love to shop at the duty free shop!).  I love the different varieties and think that Cadbury is the best in the whole world. 

You're probably wondering who has this much time to spend staging and taking pictures of chocolate?  That would be me and I'm not afraid to say it, that is after I finish this mouthful of chocolate.  

Vintage Monday: Aztec towel

Presenting my favorite $1 find scored at an estate sale this past weekend.  This vintage hand towel is in perfect condition and has the most amazing Aztec? Incan? Mayan? graphics.  Here's a closeup:

Super cool right?

Favorite Friday Treat: Cake pops

Isn't this the cutest thing you've ever seen??  Big thanks to Jill who saved this little guy from the clutches of her husband for me!

Here's Link checking it out--he has been doing better the past couple of days but just relapsed this morning and is back at the vet so please do keep thinking about him!