Vintage Monday: Fiesta time!

Remember my cabinet-full of vintage Fiesta ware?  Well, I've just exponentially added to the collection!  B and I went to a magical estate sale this past weekend and they had such a great assortment of vintage Fiesta  at amazingly low prices that I wanted to do a little dance right then and there. 

I managed to limit (ha!) myself to: an original red comport dish, egg cup, chop plates, and salt shaker, another chop plate in cobalt blue, a green sugar jar with lid, and these amazing stacked refrigerator dishes from the Fiesta Kitchen Kraft line.

I told B that this was most definitely IT for now, but after more research I think I might be keeping an eye out for a relish tray, mixing bowls, water pitcher, and covered casseroles.  But that's IT after that...really...

By the way, I've posted some Pyrex finds over at the Pyrexcollective if you need more Vintage Monday goodness!

Favorite Friday Recipe: Crab rolls

I'll never forget the day I had my first lobster roll in Boston.  It was so so good and I've been trying to recreate my own poor woman's version of it ever since.

Crab rolls
Ingredients and directions:

• Take your lump crab meat (still expensive but not $$$$ like lobster!)
• Add a bit of mayo (I can't bring myself to put in as much as I should)
• Put in chopped up bits of celery and spring onion
• Mix lightly and then sprinkle to taste with Cajun seasoning
• Butter and brown your buns on the stove (this is crucial)
• You can line your buns with bibb lettuce, maybe some sliced tomatoes if you want to get some nutrition in there
• Then scoop heaping spoonfuls of the crab meat mixture onto the bun (we like to eat ours open faced so we can get more of the good stuff!)
• Enjoy!

Wishlist Wednesday: from Modcloth

I was looking at Modcloth today and found the apartment section was filled with super cute items!

French bulldog desk calendar

Penguin print

Save the Date, Wood You? calendar

Mark my Words stamp

I'm a little penguin mug

Bunny paper clips

On the road again: Kansas City

B and I had flew up to Kansas City last weekend for a wedding.  We had a great time with the family and here are a couple of highlights:

KC is full of gorgeous older historic buildings

 

We stayed at the Hotel Savoy, built in 1888.  Famous past guests 

include Roosevelt, Truman and Paul Newman (who filmed there).

Below is a gorgeous wall of stained glass at the ballroom and restaurant.

Glass dome in the lobby

The Savoy Grill is the oldest restaurant in Kansas City.  We had 

a great included breakfast the next morning from this 

ginormous menu (we were allowed to choose 4-5 items!)

A fun stop at Pryde's of Old Westport--an amazing kitchen and 

housewares store where I wanted to live.  I found the Fiesta Ware aisle!

There was a great little coffee shop and bakery at the back of the store

Pie?  Yes please!

Sunday morning farmers market 

There are pictures of the wedding as well but too many incriminating ones (mainly of B) to post!

We interupt this Vintage Monday with a congratulatory post!

Congrats to our friends J&A who are now
proud parents of a healthy baby boy!

Chicago: Brunch at the Signature Room

One of our favorite meals in Chicago was Sunday brunch at  

the Signature Room, located on the 95th floor of the Hancock Tower.

The best part about the Signature Room is the amazing view 

of the city from up high.  Our table had a gorgeous view of the 

north side of Chicago, along the shore of beautiful Lake Michigan. 

The food was mighty tasty too with (my favorite) seafood bar 

complete with shrimp, crab legs, smoked salmon and caviar.  

There were lots of tasty salads, creamy soup and artisan bread as well.

Traditional breakfast foods like eggs, bacon, french toast, and 

hash browns were also on the menu.  B went for the carving station  

(prime rib) and I hit up the fruit, dessert, and pastry tables.

A look at my dessert plate

And B got his own very special dessert plate as well

Overall, brunch at the Signature Room is a nice splurge for a special occasion and a wonderful way to see the city from a bird's eye view!

Chicago: Architectural boat tour

It was a sunny 70 degree weather day when we went on the architectural boat tour down the Chicago river.  Our tour guide was informative and it was neat to learn more about the history of the buildings on the river front and recent revitalization efforts.  We also learned that there are actually a lot of newer buildings that have been built in the last 20 years and that the skyline of Chicago is still evolving.

Some pictures:

I think that's the Hancock building with the two towers at the top

One of my favorite buildings--doesn't it look so space-agey?

These distinctive corn cob towers have parking in the lower levels!

Love the use of green glass windows to reflect the river 
and the buildings across from it

The tour was about an hour and a half and a nice way to learn more about the city and see it from a different viewpoint.  I definitely recommend it as a "must see" when you're in Chicago!