Kate Towers.

Kate Towers.....
I love your clothing.

Please Please.....
sell more on Etsy.

Friday List

Here is my list of wonderful things
that I have found this past week.



Petite Diamond Rings.
Are they not so delicate.
via:katezabone



These ceramic cups make me
want to take another trip to the
paint-it-yourself pottery shop.
I would so copy this design.
via:baileydoesntbark



Socks with heals again!
I think that confirms my desire
(and now justification)
for going out this weekend
to buy some dainty socks
so that I can wear them
with my oxfords.

And can I mention the purse....
amazing!
Makes me want a vintage Chanel so badly.
via: garance dore



I wish that summer would just get here.
These bathing suites are perfect.

Oh, what a beautiful getaway.
I will dream of sleeping here tonight.
via: country home

Tomato Risotto with Seared Scallops

One of my favorite foods are Scallops.
But only if they are cooked just right.

Once I tried to get creative,
so I added Scallops to a Alfredo sauce...
it was not a good thing.

So this time
I stuck with a recipe
that I found in one of my
many cookbooks .

And it was wonderful!

Tomato Risotto with Seared Scallops.

1/2 can stewed tomatoes (with basil)
2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced

1 1/2 cups chicken stock
1 tbsp butter
1 shallot, finely sliced
1/2 cup Arborio rice (Risotto Rice)
1/2 cup white wine
Salt and Pepper
1/8 cup Cream Cheese
1/4 cup Parmesan Cheese
1 tsp dried basil
1 tsp dried parsley

6 bay scallops
3 tbsp olive oil


1. In small pot, simmer stewed tomatoes and sliced garlic for 30 minutes.

2. In sauce pan, melt butter over medium heat. Stir in shallots and rice; cook or 1 minute.

3. Pour in wine and cook, stirring until absorbed. Ladle in 1/2 cup of the chicken stock and stir. Repeat the process until the rice is loose and creamy (about 20 minutes)....never stop stirring.

4. Season with salt and pepper. Stir in stewed tomatoes and garlic, cream cheese, Parmesan cheese, and dried herbs.

5. Season scallops with salt and pepper. Heat olive oil in skillet on medium heat. Add scallops and sear. Cook until done.

Tug

Sometimes I get a tug
to travel to a place
that I have never been before.

I feel that tug right now.

image via:ffffound

Mardi Gras

Happy Mardi Gras.

I have always wanted to go to New Orleans...
maybe one day I will.

I just love old vintage posters like this one.
Found via:Flicker via:finsbry

Cherry Almond Scones

This is a no fail recipe for the perfect scones.
I made them yesterday for breakfast.
They were delicious.

Cherry Almond Scones

INGREDIENTS

2 cups all-purpose flour
1/3 cup sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
8 tablespoons unsalted butter, frozen
1/4 cup dried cherries
1/4 cup sliced almonds
1/2 cup sour cream
1 large egg

1 cup powdered sugar
1 tbsp milk
2 tsp almond extract


DIRECTIONS

1. Adjust oven rack to lower-middle position and preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2. In a medium bowl, mix flour, 1/3 cup sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Grate butter into flour mixture on the large holes of a box grater; use your fingers to work in butter (mixture should resemble coarse meal), then stir in the cherries and almonds.
3. In a small bowl, whisk sour cream and egg until smooth.
4. Using a fork, stir sour cream mixture into flour mixture until large dough clumps form. Use your hands to press the dough against the bowl into a ball. (The dough will be sticky in places, and there may not seem to be enough liquid at first, but as you press, the dough will come together.)
5. Place on a lightly floured surface and pat into a 7- to 8-inch circle about 3/4-inch thick. Use a sharp knife to cut into 8 triangles; place on a cookie sheet (preferably lined with parchment paper), about 1 inch apart. Bake until golden, about 15 to 17 minutes. Cool for 5 minutes and serve warm or at room temperature.
6. In a small bowl, mix powdered sugar, milk, and almond extract until icing consistency. When Scones are cooled, drizzle over the top and sprinkle slivered almonds on top.

Similar to Amelie

I just couldn't resist...


When I saw these paintings ...


I immediately thought of Amelie.

Don't they look quite similar to the ones hanging over her bed.
I would definitely have them over mine.

The paintings are by Shelley Reed.

All things Notical

I am starting to like all things Notical.

Like this beautiful jewelry line from...

TOM
TOM

I have also had my eye on this shirt from Anthropologie.




The sad thing is...
I think I had a shirt almost exactly like this in High School.
From now on, I am saving all of my clothing.
You never know when it will come back in fashion

Playing

It feels like forever
since the last time
I was able to just play
on the computer.

Here is what I found today
"playing"...

I am in love with ruffles.
Ever since I saw Kelly
wear them paired with jeans
and a v-neck sweater
I have been in love.

via:Domino

Socks with heals?...
yes please!

via:Cherry Blossom Girl

I love the vintage clothing found on this site...
Clever Nettle

Flower Headbands are so pretty.

via:Time

I would love to spend some time
at this retreat.
After this week,
I need to curl up
with a good book and some coffee.

via:Design*Sponge

Loche

This is the reason why I made my trip to California in February.

I wanted to welcome my new nephew...
Loche Beniah Finch.

(Elisha, Jillian, and Loche)

I got to California on February 1st...
he was not born until February 7th.

You can read about my sister's amazing story on her blog.

My first nephew, Sebastian.
He is now 5 years old...
how the time flies by.

Game Night

We had a game night while we visited California.
Micah and I went over to the Risch home to play Settlers.

Micah won the first game...

Dave won the second.


Krystin is one of my longest and dearest friends.

I miss her terribly when I am away
and I pray that one day we will be able
to live near each other again.

A Day at the Beach

Today I spent the day at the beach
with Micah and my mom.

We went to a few different beaches,
but they were all areas that hold
a special place in my heart.

Pismo Beach was the first stop.
I went there so much while in High School and College.
I have so many wonderful memories
of the times that my friends and I spent there.

We ate Clam Chowder at Splash Cafe.

Then went to walk down the Pier.

My mom and I.

One must walk down the pier when you go to Pismo.
I can't even tell you how many pictures I have on this Pier.

I know Sea Gulls can be annoying...
but I love the memories I have of chasing them as a little girl.

Micah and I.

Our second stop was Hazard Reef.
A small little hidden beach in the town of Los Oso.

It's about a 10 minute walk to the beach, but it is beautiful.
The walk is through a forest of Eucalyptus trees.
The smell of the trees alone brings a flood of childhood memories.

The beach is very rocky,
but provides so many tiny shells to collect.

And it is a fun beach to go to if you like Tide Pools.
I love Tide Pools.

My favorite is the Sea Anemones.
My dad taught us early that it is the funnest thing ever
to stick you finger on the neon green part
and watch it slowly close around your finger.

And I love to find starfish.
But I don't like to peel them off the rocks.
So I just pet them.

Me. Happy to be at the beach.

Our last stop was Morro Bay.
This is the area that my family and I
vacationed at most when I was a child.

When I watch the waves crash on the beaches,
I remember the many hours my mom, sister, and I
would spend watching my dad surf the day away.
We were so proud of him.

Morro Rock.

Sail Boats for Micah.
When I watch him sail....
I become just as proud of him
as I was proud of my father when I was a child.

Happy 2 years till I'm 30

What a special Birthday.
My "two years till I'm 30" birthday.

It actually turned out to be a two day brithday!

I made a trip down to Santa Monica to meet up
with one of my longest and dearest friends.
I have know Kelly for 25 years.
And even though we live hundreds of miles apart,
when we get together it feels like we were never apart.















So we shopped in Santa Monica...
Ate a birthday cupcake at Fred Segal...













And had our fortune told on the Santa Monica Pier.




















On the second day,
Micah took me to my favorite place on earth...
Disneyland.

Since we went on February 8th (my birthday),
I was able to get into Disneyland for free!
What a wonderful surprise from Micah.
















This is my favorite spot in Disneyland.
It is the Snow White Fountain.
My mom has a picture of me when I was 5 years old
standing in this same spot.
23 years ago!




















Micah....
Loving Disneyland...
Not to happy about riding "It's a Small World".
The song kinda gets stuck in your head.