I can totally make that

Vintage Monday: Hanson kitchen scale

2012-02-06T07:59:00.000-08:00

Found this Hanson scale at our last trip to the Jesse James Antique Mall. An old kitchen scale has been on my list for a long time now. This one needs a little work--we'll probably give it a nice coating of spray paint to hide the rust and BK has to recalibrate the scale as well. So for now it's just eye candy on our kitchen counter!

Favorite Friday Recipe: Bananaberry muffins revised

2012-02-03T05:53:00.000-08:00

I've made these muffins before and this time, switched to using 1/2 whole wheat flour and 1/2 regular flour and they turned out great! Whole wheat, two types of fruit--that negates the sugar crust I sprinkled on there...right?

Wishlist Wednesday: Austin by Ork Posters

2012-02-01T07:50:00.000-08:00

It's finally here! The amazing Ork Posters have created an Austin version of their popular city neighborhood series. I'm a huge map fan and will be getting this asap!

Around the house: spice cabinet

2012-01-31T10:04:00.000-08:00

Loving BK because this weekend he bought some spice rack steps and organized our spice/cooking cabinet! Now we do not have to fear random jars of spices pelting us in the head whenever we open the cabinet or try to get something out from the back. Looking at this, I am amazed at how many items we have (please tell me we're not the only ones!) and also how you can tell what is BK's (Lawry's seasoned salt, Weber grill spray) and mine (Bragg liquid aminos, 3 kinds of soy sauce)

Vintage Mondays: Los Angeles city map

2012-01-30T07:34:00.000-08:00

Check out this cool vintage LA city map!

Puppy throw pillow

2012-01-26T10:09:00.000-08:00

Here's an adorable present we got for Christmas--a puppy pillow!! Thanks J!

Check it out here: the quality is wonderful--I highly recommend it for the pet lover in your life

Wishlist Wednesday: Feather prints

2012-01-25T14:08:00.000-08:00

Feeling a little more crazy bird lady than usual and made a collage of my favorite feather prints!

Clockwise: One Feather Print by satchelandsage; Dalmeny dress by Rag and Bone; Feather key hook by NewDuds; Gold feather bracelet by gazellejewelry

Vintage Mondays: Jack Frost pedestal fan

2012-01-23T12:58:00.000-08:00

I've got to give BK credit for this great find. We were at the antique mall and amidst all the rabble, he pointed at the fan, tucked up high on a shelf among little porcelain cat figurines and old chess pieces and said "Don't you want one of those?" He belatedly realized his mistake when I clapped my hands and jumped for joy and said, "Yes please! Can you climb up there and get it for me?"

Since the fan almost gave us both lockjaw (him from getting it down and me from carrying it to the cash register), I'm debating spray painting it something shiny and orange. But then I also think it looks great in its original state. What do you think?

2012 Year of the Dragon

2012-01-22T10:18:00.000-08:00

image from mrdefinite

Favorite Friday Recipe: Nutella Challah Bread

2012-01-20T07:11:00.000-08:00

Bread is usually a very tricky thing for me to make but using the Pioneer Woman's recipes, I've had great success with pizza crust and cinnamon rolls. Most recently, I've discovered Jade at Steamy Kitchen and decided to try her No Knead Nutella and Hazelnut Challah. She had me at "no knead"...and "nutella".

The most life changing thing I've learned about bread making is yeast and the temperature of your water. Most recipes say "lukewarm" or "warm" and my fingers are apparently not that intuitive. Well now I know that yeast activates best in 90-110F water so I frequently poach B's grilling thermometer to make sure my water temp is just right.

This bread was fun to make and I've got some leftover dough in the fridge waiting to be used. Maybe Caramel Sticky Buns next?

Wishlist Wednesday: Jenna Rose Handmade

2012-01-18T07:25:00.000-08:00

I am completely in love with the textiles from Jenna Rose Handmade--it's so wonderful that she's a featured seller on etsy today! Here are a few of my favorites from her shop:

Vintage Monday: Antique math books

2012-01-16T13:44:00.000-08:00

Here are BK's picks from that same estate sale where I got those old National Geographic magazines posted last week. He loves old math and science books and these in particular are actually antique since they were published more than 100 years ago. This one by Milne was published in 1892.

Funny to think that 100 years ago they thought they were revolutionizing methods of teaching math to be more accessible and practical. Curriculum has come a long way since then!

Favorite Friday Recipe Wishlist: Flour

2012-01-13T08:23:00.000-08:00

The next time I visit Boston, I am heading straight to Flour Bakery! Until then, I plan on getting my hands on a copy of this cookbook and bake to my heart's delight! Something about cold weather and a 3-day weekend has got me itching to bake--hopefully I'll have some successes to share soon!

Wishlist Wednesday: Vintage enamel bowls

2012-01-11T10:06:00.000-08:00

I've already nabbed the clover print and this cheery sunflower print and now I'm officially addicted to enamel bowls! The Finel heart bowl above is so fun and from Adalou's amazing collection!

Here are some of my favorites right now:

Finel Vegetable print

VEFA Epicure

Finel Mushroom print

Dansk bowls

And of course the ultimate enamel bowl: Catherineholm

Vintage Monday: 1930s National Geographic

2012-01-09T07:28:00.000-08:00

BK and I recently went to an estate sale at an old merchant store in Elroy, TX. The store had been closed up many years ago and was just acquired and opened up to clear out the remaining stock. There were a lot of neat items like old medicine bottles, greeting cards, a GE refrigerator, old soda crates and lots and lots of catalogs. A pile of National Geographic magazines from the 1930s caught my attention and at one point, I had about 10 of them in my hot hands before BK found me and just shook his head. Finally I narrowed it down to three and even though they seem really old coming from the 1930s, the first National Geographic was published in 1888!

Favorite Friday Food: Vadeboncoeur nougat

2012-01-06T05:38:00.000-08:00

I have a particular weakness for nougats and these pistachio ones by Vadeboncoeur were a favorite Christmas gift on my wishlist

Made from 99% organic ingredients, the nougat is soft, chewy and has a delicious taste of honey. And check out all the almonds and pistachios!

These are addictive and it's difficult to keep myself from consuming my entire stash. Good thing you can order them online!

Wishlist Wednesday: 2012 Calendar

2012-01-04T10:13:00.000-08:00

I love starting out the new year with a fresh calendar and this one from MilesofLight is perfect.

Where to find a puppy...

2012-01-03T08:08:00.000-08:00

Basking in the sun

Or curled up on somewhere soft

Vintage Monday: Pyrex Design Deco

2012-01-02T05:37:00.000-08:00

These casserole bowls were a birthday present from my lovely sister in law. You can never go wrong with Pyrex as a gift! :) According to Pyrex Love, these are the orange and gold mixer set casseroles. Common names for this pattern include Design Deco, Arches, Fishscale, and Art Deco. I've already used them twice--they are the perfect print--thanks L!!

2012

2012-01-01T12:55:00.000-08:00

I love to make lists, but I don't usually like to make resolutions. Unless they're vague or the kind I know I'll keep, like "moisturize daily" (checked off the list consistently for the last 10 years). It completely makes sense to use the new year as a starting point to something new. However I am reminded by my wise friend J who said that winter is a time to hold steady and to instead make your changes when spring comes--as aligning yourself with the energy of spring will bring you greater success. I love this article and the idea that personal renewal can come at any time of the year.

Nonetheless, I do like to begin the new year dreaming. About possibilities, travels, and new adventures...

So for now, I'd like to put these intentions out into the universe and endeavor to:

1. Visit a new country
2. Create more with my hands
3. Consume less, reuse more
4. Moisturize/use sunscreen daily

How about you?

image above from frogprincepaperie

Last year's resolutions

2011-12-31T17:11:00.000-08:00

Taking a look at last year's resolutions, here's how the year went down...

This year I would like to:

~~Try out a new restaurant once a month~~: not so consistent each month but we did try some new places this year
~~Visit a new continent~~: We explored Europe (London and Paris) this past spring
Write a letter each month to a friend/family member: uh do emails count?
~~Seek out more creative outlets~~: Started a vintage pop up shop with two of my favorite gal friends
Acquire items I truly love and value, not just because it's on sale: still working on this! It's difficult to say no to Pyrex :)

And for this blog:

Improve quality of pictures: Got a new camera, but unfortunately photography skills can't be bought!
Begin writing travel guides: Putting this on the list for next year!

We will be back to our regular programming...

2011-12-30T08:23:00.000-08:00

Sorry for the lack of posts--we've been enjoying our holiday break with friends, family, and general lazing around. Will be back next week with many vintage treasure discoveries from Missouri!

Vintage Monday: Finel enamel bowl

2011-12-26T08:32:00.000-08:00

BK picked out this Finel enamel bowl from my etsy wish list as a surprise for my birthday. I love the cheery yellow flower print!

Happy holidays!

2011-12-25T00:00:00.000-08:00

Safe travels

2011-12-22T08:00:00.000-08:00

And happy holidays!

2011 Holiday Gift Guide: For Him

2011-12-21T08:57:00.000-08:00

Clockwise:
Whiskey stones - these help chill your drink without watering it down
Yumnuts - honey cashews make the perfect snack!
Bose Soundlink - a wireless mobile speaker that BK assures me all guys *must* have
Chipotle giftcard - self explanatory

Birthday flowers

2011-12-20T10:25:00.000-08:00

Enjoying these lovely flowers, good food, snuggly puppies and bossing BK around today!

2011 Holiday Gift Guide: For babies and kiddos

2011-12-19T18:46:00.000-08:00

Clockwise:
Elephant growth chart by giraffesnstuff
Owl family mobile by petitcollage
Tea set by Plan Toys
Security blankets at Land of Nod

Happy Birthday Link!

2011-12-17T15:33:00.000-08:00

Link is 7 today!

2011 Holiday Gift Guide: For Her

2011-12-16T10:20:00.000-08:00

If you're still looking (and if you're a guy, you've probably only just begun), here are some great gifts for any female on your list!

Clockwise:
Odette arrow cuff - perfection!
Nuxe hand cream - I'm not usually a hand cream fan but this scent is just gorgeous!
Ugg Dakota slippers - heaven in a shoe
Swissco tortoise comb - perfect size to keep in a purse for a quick touch up!

2011 Holiday Gift Guide: Home Edition

2011-12-14T11:30:00.000-08:00

Some wonderful gift ideas to brighten up your home!

Clockwise:
Tea towel calendar from Cicadastudio - I have one from last year and adore it!
JOY little house village from thelittlereddoor - they also do custom orders for family names and such
Fox cushion from Robinandmould - I have the adorable puppy one and this is next on my list!
Slice of bread board with spreader by newberry - cute board made of white oak, perfect for scones and clotted cream or your favorite cheese

2012 Mini Desk Calendar

2011-12-13T08:51:00.000-08:00

These mini desk calendars make great gifts for coworkers. I give them out every year and everyone seems to like and use them a lot. Etsy has many wonderful sellers that you can buy them from, prepackaged and ready to go. Or if you love to DIY, you can purchase templates, print them out and assemble them yourself.

The template I used this year (and last) is from Lemonade Paperie--I love the little graphics and attention to detail (like the flag on the 4th of July and the four leaf clover on St. Patrick's!)

Williams Sonoma Chocolate Croissants

2011-12-12T12:26:00.000-08:00

Amazing gift idea alert! I wrote about these croissants in my previous holiday gift guide and now I can happily say that I've sampled it and can give it my 100% recommendation!

It all began when I got home from work and BK asked if I had ordered a package that contained dry ice. Now the UPS man is no stranger to our house, but I think I'd distinctly remember ordering something requiring dry ice. So what a happy surprise we had when we opened it to find a sweet anniversary note from BK's sister and these amazing chocolate croissants from Williams Sonoma!

We quickly rushed them to the freezer to keep and then this weekend, took some out overnight to let them rise at room temperature. The next morning, they baked for 20 minutes and our whole house smelled like a French bakery! The chocolate is dark and delicious and the pastry is so flaky and rich. It seriously rivals the pain au chocolat we've had in Paris and St Martin!

So thank you Lisa, for your thoughtful gift. This is the perfect gift to impress foodies, friends, family, your boss, or your favorite person!

7 years and counting

2011-12-11T16:14:00.001-08:00

Seven years ago, we were surrounded by family and friends, laughing and crying
through our vows, and enjoying the best chocolate cake. Happy anniversary BK!

Starlings

2011-12-07T14:40:00.000-08:00

Murmuration from Sophie Windsor Clive on Vimeo.

This is pretty incredible. Not super cute like the owl video, but it's still pretty amazing!
The goodness starts at 0:25

2011 Holiday Gift Guide: Food Edition

2011-11-30T08:35:00.000-08:00

These are sure to be a hit for your favorite foodie and also make a good hostess gift for the many holiday parties you'll be attending. I'm putting these at the top of my list for Santa this year!

Clockwise:
Chocolate Croissants from Williams Sonoma
Pistachio and Almond Nougat
Dulce de Leche Alfajores from Dulce Caramel Co.
Foodzie Artisian Beef Jerky Tasting Box

Thanksgiving holiday recap

2011-11-28T09:22:00.000-08:00

Lots of good food

Turkey Olympics with family

And more good food

Hope you had a great weekend!

Your cuteness for the day

2011-11-21T07:55:00.001-08:00

Best video ever! Of course owls shouldn't be pets but I just want to pet one!!!

Favorite Friday Recipe: BBQ Pork (Char Siew)

2011-11-18T10:41:00.000-08:00

BBQ Pork (also known as Char Siew) is one of my all time favorites. It's great on its own, in fried rice or noodles and in baked or steamed buns. We are lucky to have a local Chinese restaurant that makes amazing char siew, but lately B has been itching to try out a recipe using his grill. He found this great one on Rasa Malaysia and followed it to a T. I was out of town when B was at the Asian Market getting all the ingredients which ended up being funny because I told him to just get a jar of "char siew" sauce (they have it prepacked and you just add a bit of honey and more spices to your taste). Instead, I came home and saw all these bottles on the kitchen counter! Still, the homemade sauce was great. We're trying to figure out how and where to buy the best pork (the fat/meat ratio has to be just right) but otherwise I think we've got a good thing going here. More practice to come!

Wishlist Wednesday: Holiday Cards

2011-11-16T09:34:00.000-08:00

It's that time of the year to pick out holiday cards! Here are some of my etsy favorites:

Clockwise: Rudolph the Dachshund; They Don't Like Your Gift; Gingerbread Man; Tessellated Pine

And probably my favorite of all: Rudolph in a Blizzard

Vintage Monday: Modern Star bowls

2011-11-14T09:59:00.000-08:00

Found more Modern Star bowls to add to my collection! Perfect for dessert or snacks and the upcoming holiday season!

Favorite Friday Recipe: Fried noodles

2011-11-11T14:21:00.000-08:00

Fried noodles can probably be more commonly found in Asia than fried rice. Taking advantage of my mom's visit, I badgered her into making some of my favorite dishes so I could study and learn from her. Unfortunately my mom isn't into exact ingredients and measuring (like mother like daughter) so I'd turn around and she was throwing in yet another ingredient in an unmeasured quantity into the wok. It all works though, just like fried rice, where you rummage in your fridge for ingredients and come up with a scrumptious one pot meal. Here are the directions as best as I can remember them--remember, half the fun is in winging it! :)

Chinese fried noodles

Ingredients:

Noodles (I prefer Hong Kong style noodles, either frozen or packaged)
3-4 cloves of garlic, chopped
Meat such as shrimp, chicken, pork or tofu
Half a head of small cabbage, shredded
3-4 carrots, peeled and cut into matchstick pieces
Lots of beansprouts (absolutely necessary in my opinion)
Sliced mushrooms
3-4 green/spring onions, cut into 2 inch pieces
Dark soy sauce, oyster sauce, soy sauce, sesame oil, salt

Directions:

Boil water and place noodles in there for a few minutes, then rinse in cold water while awaiting frying
Put oil in your wok and fry garlic till fragrant
Add your choice of meat and cook till almost done
Add in carrots and cabbage
At this point, add in some oyster sauce to taste
Bean sprouts and mushrooms go in next
When vegetables are about done, add in noodles and get your arm workout of the day mixing it all up
Spring/green onions go in last
Then add dark soy sauce (2 parts) to soy sauce (1 part) to sesame oil (1/2 a part). Add salt as well. Keep adding until you like what you taste and you're done!

Wishlist Wednesday: Baby Giraffe

2011-11-09T14:46:00.000-08:00

How could you resist this little fella?

Vintage Monday: Linen folk print tablecloth

2011-11-07T10:23:00.000-08:00

Picked up this brightly colored tablecloth while in Cincinnati. Love the primary colors and the folk print makes me laugh. I want B to help me reenact the couple holding the pot full of flowers. We just have to find a willing rooster next...

Favorite Friday Recipe: Tuna burger

2011-11-04T07:14:00.000-07:00

Like canceled tv shows, B and I seem to have a talent for choosing favorite restaurants that then close (also friends that will eventually move out of town so if you're a friend of ours right now, watch out!). Fuegos (RIP) was one of B's favorite California-Mexican restaurants and their best item was their tuna burger. Recently, we tried to recreate it, and with surprising success! It was pretty simple to put together--B grilled the tuna steak, and then we added it to a bun topped with tomatoes and spourts. The secret ingredient is fresh tarter sauce spiked with some freshly chopped jalapenos. Enjoy!

Wishlist Wednesday: Blue birds

2011-11-02T12:36:00.000-07:00

Via etsy: (clockwise)

Wool felt blue bird

Porcelain pair of bluebirds

Baby blue crochet bird

Stuffed blue bird

Vintage Monday: McCoy planter

2011-10-31T09:25:00.000-07:00

Picked up this little McCoy planter at an estate sale a few weeks ago. This is my favorite shade of green, can't wait to get a little yellow flower for it. Pansies maybe?

on a break...

2011-10-26T09:25:00.000-07:00

We've got family in town this week so I'll be taking a little blogging break. Lots of baking, cooking, shopping, watching movies and puppy kisses to catch up on!

Vintage Monday: Zebra sequin top

2011-10-25T14:58:00.000-07:00

Sorry about the late Vintage Monday! Here's one of my favorite pieces we sold at the shop this past weekend. It was found by Sydney in the great Midwest and is such a special vintage piece!

Austin Restaurant Week: Uchiko

2011-10-21T13:12:00.000-07:00

Here are some belated pictures from a delicious meal at Uchiko during Austin Restaurant Week. You can check out the menu here. Suz and I shared two appetizers, chose the same main course and then had two amazingly decadent desserts. Two must have items that I highly recommend: the crispy brussels sprouts and sweet corn dessert!

Wishlist Wednesday: Penguin sweaters

2011-10-19T13:52:00.000-07:00

I really wish I knew how to knit!! A current oil spill in New Zealand has affected the blue penguin population and rather than traumatizing the penguins more by scrubbing and cleaning them immediately, the rescuers are putting little wool sweaters on them so they won't try to groom themselves and inadvertently swallow the toxic oil. Skeinz yarn has provided detailed instructions and a mailing address where you can send the sweaters to be used in the rescue effort. We had the opportunity to see the little blue penguins during our visit to Phillip Island in Australia and I hope that this mess can get cleaned up quickly and that these little penguins stay warm in their wool sweaters!

Original story and picture here

Vintage Monday: Pyrex jars

2011-10-17T09:27:00.000-07:00

Reason #572 why I love Pyrex: their jars are perfect for storing your favorite treats!

Tasting menu at Perilla NYC

2011-10-13T17:25:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the lag in blog posts, I'm currently in Cinci-tucky visiting family. Thought I'd post some belated pictures of one of the highlights of my NYC trip last month--dinner at Perilla. I had a wonderful time with my hosts as we sampled the delicious seven course tasting menu.

I missed the first two dishes because we were too busy raving over them (both seafood dishes). Then came:

Sweetbreads (even if you fry them, they're still sweetbreads)

My favorite dish: fresh ravioli in brocolli cream sauce with shaved truffles.
I LOVE truffles and have never had such large pieces of them before--heaven!
(sorry this didn't photograph well, but look at the size of the shaved truffles!)

Duck breast with pate (this was so rich and decadent)

Served along with a duck meatball for some duck overload goodness!

At this point, our palatte cleanser, which was a refreshing sherbert with lemon curd

could have been our dessert and I would have been perfectly happy

But of course, dessert was presented and we enjoyed a minature version of

Perilla's famous chocolate souffle along with coffee cream and a freshly baked hazelnut biscotti

Delicious food and wonderful company made for a memorable evening. Thank you Tara and Chad!

Favorite Friday Recipe: Ko lo mee

2011-10-07T11:40:00.000-07:00

This is one of our favorite meals to eat in Singapore and something we never thought we could recreate. It turns out that it's a really simple recipe, especially if you use some short cuts like we did!

Ko lo mee (also may be known as dry wanton noodles)

BBQ pork:

buy from your favorite Chinese restaurant (this is the aforementioned short cut! but B has found a recipe for this so we might be trying it out soon)

Vegetables:

I have no idea what these are called. I just got some from the Asian grocery store that looked vaguely familiar and then asked the checkout counter lady
Cut vegetables into 4-5 inch long pieces
Blanche in hot water for 2 minutes
Place in ice bath
Drain and let sit before adding to noodles and pork

Noodles:

These can be found in the freezer section of the Asian grocery store, hopefully it'll say "Wanton Noodles" in English on the packet
Boil water and place noodles in one spiral at a time -- 3 minutes
Strain noodles out and place in cold water for 1 minute
Put back into boiling water for 1 minute (supposedly this process makes the noodles more "al dente" like. I think it helps with the starch)
Drain and mix with sauce

Sauce:

Mix 1 tbsp oyster sauce, 1 tbsp sweet dark sauce (this should be thick), 1 tsp soy sauce and 1/2 tsp sesame oil
Add one spiral of noodles and mix
Serve vegetables and meat on noodles and enjoy!

Missoni for Target zigzag pouf

2011-10-06T09:36:00.000-07:00

This zigzag ottoman pouf is probably one of my favorite items from the Missoni for Target collection. The colors work well in our living room and is perfect as an extra seat, surface for one of my many trays, or a puppy resting place.

Wishlist Wedneday: Cutipol Goa flatware

2011-10-05T10:14:00.000-07:00

Good looking flatware makes my heart go pitter patter. I'm more than happy with my vintage Canoe Muffin by Ecko Eterna but sometimes it's ok to look at other options right? The above eye candy of the day is brought to you by the Cutipol Goa line.

Vintage Monday: wooden penguin nesting dolls

2011-10-03T09:22:00.000-07:00

My favorite find from the Brooklyn Flea

Favorite Friday Recipe: Skirt steak

2011-09-30T07:56:00.000-07:00

Since B got his new grill for his birthday, we've been trying out recipes from Weber's Way to Grill. This skirt steak was super easy to make and with a few tips from the book, this simple cut of beef turned out to be tender and tasty! A short cut I now take when making any sort of side or dip is to just buy pico de gallo (so I don't have to chop up onions, tomatoes. jalapenos, and deal with icky cilantro) and then just mix in corn, black beans or avocado to my liking, adding some lime juice and salt & pepper. This meal took 15 minutes max to prepare and cook--perfect for a week day meal!

Wishlist Wednesday: Uchiko

2011-09-28T14:59:00.000-07:00

My friend Suz and I are headed to Uchiko, a local Japanese restaurant to try out their menu for Austin Restaurant Week! I only have my iphone camera so I'm not sure if I'll get any good pictures. In the meantime, here's the menu to drool over:

Vintage Monday: Federal Glass pedestal custard cups

2011-09-26T09:25:00.000-07:00

I'm obsessed with these little pedestal custard cups from Federal Glass. They are perfect for pudding, jello and whipped cream, and a new favorite around our house--granitas. Anyone want to come over for an ice cream sundae party?

Wishlist Wednesday: Flying international first class

2011-09-21T14:54:00.000-07:00

I know this is a weird thing but it is one of my greatest wishes to fly first class internationally. Just once in my lifetime. (that and world peace) I am particularly enamored by Cathay Pacific's first class service.

There are usually only 8-9 seats in first class, giving you plenty of privacy in the cabin

Amazing seats that lie flat to a bed

Spectacular food (caviar!)

And as this hilarious picture shows, lots of entertainment for B

Back to real life

2011-09-19T12:29:00.000-07:00

Had a great time in NYC with delicious food, tons of shopping and wonderful companionship. I don't think most of my pictures came out really well b/c I was usually in a rush to eat/shop/talk. Here's a peek at one of the many highlights of the trip. A lobster roll from Red Hook Lobster Pound at the Brooklyn Flea:

Wishlist Wednesday: New York, New York

2011-09-14T12:09:00.000-07:00

I'll be in NYC in less than 24 hours! Excited to spend a long weekend with my good friend Tara and explore the city.

On my list so far:

Lobster rolls at Luke's
The Brooklyn Flea
Bagels
Uniqlo
NYC pizza
No.6 store
Momofuku
H&M

Any other must-shop, must-eat places to recommend?

Vintage Monday: Wooden mice cheese picks

2011-09-12T09:09:00.000-07:00

I got these little wooden mice cheese picks a while ago on etsy. Aren't they the cutest? They have these little ears and tails made of leather, I want to squeal every time I see them!

Favorite Friday Recipe: Onigiri

2011-09-09T07:40:00.000-07:00

Onigiri, also commonly known as Japanese rice balls, are an easy and tasty snack to make. My friend Jill and I made these last weekend and they certainly helped my work days go by more easily when I could take a rice ball snack break. There are lots of variations on onigiri and a great write up can be found here. We chose to put cooked flaked salmon in ours along with furikake seasoning (seaweed, sesame seeds, fish flakes).

Salmon Onigiri

Ingredients:

6 cups of cooked Japanese rice
1/2 pound of salmon
Furikake seasoning
Nori (seaweed) sheets, cut into strips

Directions:

Cook rice and let it cool a bit
Salt salmon and cook in a pan with olive oil, cool, then flake into pieces
Add flaked salmon and furikake seasoning into rice and mix
Scoop out about 1/2-3/4 cup of the rice mixture onto plastic wrap
Begin shaping into a ball or triangle
Add a piece of nori (makes for a convenient "handle" when you're eating the rice ball)
You can leave the rice ball wrapped up in the plastic wrap to keep it intact
Eat as soon as you make it, or store in refrigerator and warm up in microwave for 30 secs when hungry

Fall TV lineup

2011-09-08T10:06:00.000-07:00

When I think about fall, the following things come to mind: back to school supplies, crunchy golden leaves lining sidewalks, cooler weather, and of course, new tv shows!! It's super nerdy but B and I always come up with our fall tv schedule and figure out which shows to watch in real time and which to tivo. We have our regular favorites (in black), my picks (in pink) and B's picks (in blue). I will warn you that it's legendary for us to pick new shows that get canceled (ie. LAX, Running Wilde, Pushing Daisies, Firefly *shakes fist*).

This is an ambitious schedule, most likely we'll drop a few shows after the first month because the tivo will have run out of space. We'll also reserve a few choice shows to catch up on in the summer when nothing is on. Still, it's fun to look forward to and reaffirms the fact that we absolutely do not need cable tv. Except for maybe Haven (syfy), The Walking Dead (amc) and The Killing (amc) :)

Wishlist Wednesday: Anson and Chloe chairs

2011-09-07T08:34:00.000-07:00

I am loving these chairs from Room and Board:

The Anson

The Chloe

Vintage Monday: Barometer

2011-09-05T18:46:00.000-07:00

Here are some estate sale goodies found by B--a great old barometer and another science book to add to the collection!

Favorite Friday Recipe: Roasted and grilled vegetables

2011-09-02T10:13:00.000-07:00

We've been adding these tasty side vegetables to our grilled fish and steak lately. B loves asparagus, I love cauliflower and the carrots are a compromise.

Roasted Asparagus

Snap off ends and wash
Drizzle with olive oil
Bake in oven at 350F for 15 min
Sprinkle with sea salt

Roasted Cauliflower

Wash, cut cauliflower into pieces and place in ziploc bag
Add olive oil, salt and pepper and shake the bag to coat evening
Spread onto baking sheet and bake 350F for 30-40 min
Sprinkle with grated Parmesan cheese

Grilled Carrots

Peel carrots and place in boiling water for 6-7 min
Immediately place in ice bath
Melt butter and honey and put glaze on carrots
Grill for 15 minutes
Sprinkle with dill

Have a great labor day weekend!

Featured on: Caribbean Travel + Life

2011-09-01T09:09:00.000-07:00

Exciting news! My little blog post on Barbados cuisine was featured in Caribbean Travel + Life's new "Sites We Love" section! Caribbean Travel + Life is a really great go-to website with everything you need to plan your vacation (or new life!) on a sunny Caribbean isle. This has gotten me more inspired to get started on writing my travel guides and planning our next trip!

Wishlist Wednesday: Throw pillows

2011-08-31T14:08:00.000-07:00

Throw pillows are an easy way of changing up your decor and I'm particularly taken with this print by Old Town as seen on designsponge.

Vintage Monday: clover print enamel bowl

2011-08-29T06:00:00.000-07:00

I picked this beauty up at an estate sale last weekend. It's a nice heavy weight and size, don't you think it would look great holding a pile of lemons?

A close up of the adorable print

update: just googled and found that this salad bowl was designed by Kaj Franck for Arabia Wartsila Finland, part of the Littala Scandanavian design group. Thanks Rebecca for the research help! :)

Work in progress...

2011-08-28T19:15:00.000-07:00

I've been working on updating the blog this weekend with a new header and some buttons on the side of topics I frequently post about so they are easier to find. The amazingly talented Linda at Though Very Humble created all the graphics you see on this site. I love her work and she's absolutely wonderful to work with. So much so that I just ended that sentence in a preposition and will not be correcting it! I'm still trying to figure out where everything goes and how to link things up so please bear with me. Also, if anyone can explain how to create a new page without posting an entry (ie. an about me page) please let me know--I could use the help! :)

Favorite Friday food: Unagi Don

2011-08-26T12:11:00.000-07:00

Haven't done too much cooking as the week's been hectic so B took me out for Japanese yesterday (eating out on a weekday is a special treat!). I have one of my favorites--an unagi (freshwater eel) rice bowl. Hope everyone has a good weekend!

Wishlist Wednesday: Baggu animal prints

2011-08-24T13:18:00.000-07:00

I love Baggu bags (remember this post?) and am so excited that they have some great animal print ones out now! Check them out:

I've got this great elephant one already

And now it wants this fox one for company

And of course this alpaca one!

Scenes from our weekend

2011-08-22T06:34:00.000-07:00

We rented a house this past weekend on the lake with our friends.
The house had a great view of lake LBJ.

The pups enjoyed playing the whole time. Here Kirby is trying to entice Kona who is just plain worn out.

B did lots of grilling and we had great desserts ranging from fruit salad to the best blackberry cobbler

Now it's back to real life! School is starting today--happy back to school to all teachers and students!

Favorite Friday Recipe: Grilled fish

2011-08-19T08:45:00.000-07:00

B has become a grill master this summer and we've been trying a new fish each week. His dream is to do a whole red snapper reminiscent from our Caribbean vacations. For this week, we went simple with a tuna steak. A little salt and pepper, paired with vegetable kabobs--perfect on a hot summer day!

Wishlist Wednesday: cooler weather

2011-08-17T18:56:00.000-07:00

Today was our 63rd day of over 100 degree temperatures this year in Austin (we usually only have 18 days or so on average). Thank goodness for snow cones!

(google images)

Our project this weekend

2011-08-15T12:04:00.000-07:00

We've decided to redo our master bedroom! Some paint, new linens, an electronic buy and tons of decluttering on the list. Hopefully we should have everything done soon and will share more pictures then. In the meantime, check out the sneak peek of our new curtains and B hard at work taping and painting!

Favorite Friday Recipe: Fresh spring rolls

2011-08-12T11:55:00.000-07:00

Spring rolls are one of my favorite summer time foods--they're cool and refreshing and are fun to put together, especially if you have dinner guests.

Ingredients:

rice paper rounds/squares (found at any asian grocery store)
cooked shrimp, pork or tofu (shrimp is my favorite)
mint leaves
cilantro
chives (optional)
rice noodles (cooked and cooled, I also like to snip them up into more manageable pieces)
bean sprouts
lettuce leaves
hoisin sauce and peanut butter for the dipping sauce
optional crushed peanuts and Thai red chili to add to sauce

Directions:

Dip rice paper into warm water, making sure that it is saturated
Place rice paper on a large plate and place your shrimp and herbs in a line down the center
Add your rice noodles and bean sprouts on top
Top with lettuce
Rolling commences! Pull up one side, start rolling, making sure to tuck in ends and keep ingredients tightly packed. The rice paper should be pliant and a bit sticky

Warm up 1 part of peanut butter and two parts hoisin sauce over the stove or microwave. You can add crushed peanuts for some crunch or thai chilli peppers for some spice. Serve dipping sauce with spring rolls!

Wishlist Wednesday: Missoni for Target

2011-08-10T10:27:00.000-07:00

I am super psyched for this new Target collaboration with Missoni! Though some of the items (esp the clothing) are a bit print happy, I am in love with the homeware selection especially. I can't wait till September 13!

Throw pillows

Cosmetic bags

Cool laptop case

I want this bedspread!

Cup and saucer set

Fun luggage

Weekend in Instagram

2011-08-08T12:33:00.000-07:00

B, the pups and I drove up to Dallas this weekend to "house sit" for his sister. In actuality, the house did not need a sitter, so maybe we were actually squatters. After enduring 55 days of 100 degree weather this year, the pool was a welcome respite.

Grilling dinner

The pups weren't quite convinced they wanted to dive in,

though Kirby did wander too close to the edge and fell in (he's fine folks)

And our newest favorite discovery--Pinkberry salted caramel frozen yogurt with crispy crepe pieces. B, who normally grimaces after a bite of frozen yogurt, swiped this away from me and I had to get another one. It's that awesome.

Wedding flowers

2011-08-06T18:38:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I had the honor of witnessing my good friend Grechen's wedding. I offered to make her bouquet and then belatedly realized I had little experience. I made my own bouquet 7 years ago and remembered thinking it should've been left to the professionals. Thankfully the guys at Austin Flower Company were really patient and helpful with throwing out ideas and flower combinations and also some mad google-ing saved the day. I wanted a bouquet that reflected the bride's taste: simple, modern and just a little unique. I chose green-white hydrangeas to give the bouquet shape, hot orange tulips for color and bear grass to create some interest. For the groom's boutineer, I used another hot orange tulip, bear grass and some berries the flower guys suggested. In case he got hungry and needed a snack... At the end of the day, the flowers were just part of the background as the beaming smiles of the bridge and groom, the quietly spoken vows, and shared laughter took center stage. Congrats Grechen and Leo!

Chicago food

2011-08-04T19:58:00.000-07:00

My trip to Chicago was filled with lots of catching up with my friend K, shopping, watching chick flicks (I highly recommend Crazy, Stupid Love) and of course, eating. I realized that the only pictures I snapped on the whole trip was of the food. Why am I not surprised...

Breakfast sandwich at a little diner across from K's place

Cinnamon rolls

(these were the SIDES my friends, the SIDES,

there was a whole other meal to go along with these babies)

Rock shrimp tacos at Hub 51

Carrot cake with extra cream cheese on the side for good measure

Seared ahi tuna salad at Moonshine

Thanks K! I had a wonderful time!

Vintage Monday: Wood crocodile

2011-08-01T06:00:00.000-07:00

Acquired this great wooden crocodile from an estate sale--love the deep rich hue of the wood and the little details on his back and tail. Did you know that all alligators are crocodiles but not all crocodiles are alligators? Is that intriguing enough to make you read this article? It was for me!

Favorite Friday Recipe: Jello goodness

2011-07-29T14:07:00.000-07:00

It's been too hot to make elaborate dishes or bake so I haven't tried very many new recipes lately. An old favorite that requires little effort and great payback includes these three ingredients:

It's pretty self explanatory I think. Enjoy! :)

New cityscape pictures

2011-07-28T10:24:00.000-07:00

I don't know why it's so difficult for me to commit to wall hangings but these are long overdue. I got these city prints from etsy and love the reminders they serve of our trips to each city (Chicago, DC and NYC).

Since Ikea frames have wonky measurements, I brought them and the drawings to Hobby Lobby and had custom mats cut for $7 a piece. It was a team effort to hang these above our little record cabinet in the dining room. I'm really happy with how it looks and it's a relief to have another blank wall filled. Only 15 left to go!

Wishlist Wednesday: Girls weekend

2011-07-27T18:41:00.000-07:00

I'm headed to Chicago in a few days for a girl's weekend with my dear friend K!

Looking forward to eating a ton of Garrett's popcorn (cheesy and caramel mix)

Shopping to our heart's content

And watching chick flicks!

Vintage Monday: Arc lamp

2011-07-25T07:29:00.000-07:00

I've been looking for an arc lamp for some time now and was saving up my pennies for this CB2 version. Well two weeks ago, we went up to Sun City, Georgetown (a retirement community) to check out an estate sale and came across this lamp. At that point, we had already committed to buying a mid century bedroom suite (more on that to come later) and so B was not too happy about the thought of cramming in another item into our car. However, the price was less than a third of what I originally wanted to pay so I happily added it to our pile of items despite eye rolling and sighs directed my way. The lamp came apart in three pieces so we were able to fit it in the car easily and set it up in its new home in our living room. It is an original 60s brass lamp with a really heavy base to compensate for the arc and keep it steady.

I love how it works with the fireplace and high ceilings. We're debating on spray painting it (a color or silver) but may just keep it as is. Thoughts?

Wishlist Wednesday: Circle shelf

2011-07-20T20:50:00.000-07:00

I am so in love with this circle shelf! More details:

Bride&Wolfe circle shelves are crafted by a local artisan in the Victorian countryside. We use solid lengths of Australian timber (Blackwood or White Ash) that are gently steamed and bent using Swedish wood-bending machinery dating back to the 1850s. The shelves are then hand-finished with lustrous Scandinavian wood oils to enhance the natural timber tones. Built to last , they'll become as precious as the heirlooms they showcase.

Vintage Monday: Hans Bolling Vikings

2011-07-18T07:57:00.000-07:00

These Hans Bolling wood vikings were a splurge from one of my favorite etsy shops. They are so adorable with their furry beards and studded helmets. Will have to figure out which part of the house they'll be guarding!

a little friend

2011-07-15T11:42:00.000-07:00

Your regularly scheduled blog posts (Vintage Monday, Wishlist Wednesday and Favorite Friday Recipes) will hopefully resume next week. Thanks for allowing me to hijack with all this travel talk for the past two weeks. Hope everyone has a great weekend ahead and I'll leave you with some last pictures from Barbados--featuring a little visitor we had each day on our balcony (who may or may not have been lured there by bread crumbs set out by B).

I spy a little bird sitting on the table

Carefully choosing his morsel of food

That's the one

Showing off

Great food in Barbados

2011-07-13T09:08:00.000-07:00

We ate our fill of seafood and local cuisine while in Barbados. We sampled everything from restaurant dining at L'Azure at the Crane, to grabbing a table at Oisten's Fish Market as well as the drive through at Cheffette (the local fast food chain).

Roti (I believe a West Indies version) with chicken and potato at Ackee Tree

And of course a lot of meals came with a view including this one at Atlantis Hotel.

They had a great Bajan buffet--lots of flying fish and macaroni pie!

The view of Bathsheba, on the rugged east coast facing the Atlantic

Lunch (flying fish again) at Carib Beach Cafe

Great view of the Carribbean

I'm not sure which I miss the most--the food or the view!

Crane videos

2011-07-12T11:09:00.000-07:00

A couple of videos to share of our stay at the Crane. Here's a shot starting from the front door, the first bathroom, full kitchen, dining area, living room, obligatory shot of the TV for B, and finally the balcony with the most amazing view!

Here we see the master bath, bedroom, and doors that lead out onto the balcony, complete with comfy lounge chairs

View of the Atlantic Ocean from our balcony, the hotel pools and private plunge pools for the units on the ground floor

View from the Crane

2011-07-11T16:42:00.000-07:00

We were absolutely spoiled by our one bedroom suite at the Crane. We were on the fourth floor of building 500 which directly faced the Atlantic Ocean and its cool breezes.

Here's a view of the living/dining room and kitchen from the balcony

View of the bedroom and balcony beyond

The amazing balcony, complete with a dining set and two loungers where we spent most our time

And here's the stunning view of the Atlantic Ocean from our patio: looking right

Turning left

And far left towards the maze of pools

Crane Beach

2011-07-08T13:42:00.000-07:00

For the second half of our trip, we moved to the east side of the island which faced the Atlantic Ocean. The Crane resort was phenomenal and set atop the cliffs. The beach is accessible by stairs or an elevator.

Pink coral makes up the majority of the rocks and sand, so the sand had a pink tinge to it

View from the beach

View of the beach from the cliffs

(B climbed out to take these pictures, I'm the tiny person standing on the left)

The waves were 8 feet and higher, swimming here is not for the faint of heart!

Pink sand!

Harrison's Cave

2011-07-06T21:00:00.000-07:00

Harrison's Cave is a really fascinating natural wonder in Barbados. Unlike other Caribbean islands that were formed from volcanic activity, Barbados is comprised of coral reefs and this sponge-like material creates a natural aquifer (hello fresh water supply!) as well as unique eco systems (like gullies) within the island. There has been a huge reconstruction of the whole site as a tourist and educational attraction as well as a huge push to preserve the natural reefs, gullies and plant life. Here's the entrance to the caves-- these huts cluster together to make different villages and seemed eerily like a Lost film set.

Huge trees and gorgeous flowers everywhere

The tour took us about 200 feet underground (though still 700 feet above sea level) into huge caverns with domed ceilings all filled with stalactites and stalagmites formed through the mineral rich water that drips down. There were several pools of water and small waterfalls throughout and the sound of rushing water could be heard echoing through the caves. We were allowed to take pictures but b/c of the darkness and tricky nature of flash photography, couldn't really clearly capture what we saw. Here's a video I took at a point of the tour when we had a little more light that I hope can help convey the magnificence of this natural wonder!

Oh and just wanted to include this pictures as you know my love for irreverent signage!

Sailing on the Elegance

2011-07-05T19:23:00.000-07:00

Sailing on a catamaran is one of our favorite vacation pastimes. It's a great way to see the island from a different view and you're also offered a ton of food and drink the entire time. We tend to avoid the big party boats and go for the smaller one or two hull boats. The Elegance was the perfect boat and we had a wonderful time with the crew and our small group of 8 people for the day.

We sailed mainly on the west coast of Barbados, also called the "Gold Coast" as that is where all the wealthy homes and hotels are located. It is also on the Carribbean side of the island so the water is a bit calmer.

A pirate party boat--the Jolly Roger in the distance

And the highlight of the cruise was getting to swim with the sea turtles! I'm in the back there playing it cool but eventually I got to touch one as it swam by!

In Barbados

2011-07-04T16:10:00.000-07:00

I visited Barbados about 10 years ago when I was in college. It seems like there have been so many changes or maybe I wasn't paying much attention the first time. We've been sailing on a catamaran and explored Harrison's Cave today. But most of all, we love walking out onto our patio to this view of Maxwell Beach. We've never stayed this close to the beach before and it's wonderful to be able to hear the waves crashing from our room--best white noise machine ever! Hope everyone had a great 4th of July weekend!

Vacation time!

2011-07-02T08:00:00.000-07:00

Our route we're flying today

And hopefully we'll be seeing this soon!