Saturday, September 27, 2008

From the garden

When Micah and I moved into our new home we decided to plant a garden. We planted tomatoes, corn, string beans, onions, broccoli, shallots, spinach, zucchini. Finally, five months later and countless run-ins with hungry deer who unashamedly ate anything and everything they came across, I now can show you the "fruit of our labor". I am very proud of ourselves.



And here is a side dish recipe that I cook tonight using these two items (shallot & tomato).



Hearty Rice Pilaf

What you need:
4 Tbsp butter
1 lb small red potatoes, cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices
1 shallot, cut into pieces
2 carrots, peeled and diced
1 celery stalk, diced
1 cup diced mushrooms
3 c chicken stalk
1/2 tsp salt
1/8 tsp pepper
1-1/2 c brown rice
1/4 c grated Parmesan, optional

What you do:
1. In large skillet over medium-high heat, melt butter. Cook potato slices, shallots, mushrooms, celery and carrots, stirring frequently until lightly browned, about 5 minutes.
2. Add water, salt, pepper, and bouillon. Heat to boiling. Add rice. Heat to boiling. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer 35 minutes or until rice and vegetables are tender and all liquid is absorbed. Stir once, midway through cooking.
**I added sliced tomatoes at the end to eat with it.

Friday, September 26, 2008

Toast

I just received the new Toast catalog!
Here are a few images that I absolutely love.

I can't tell you how badly I need this robe.


I have a rod-iron bed.
But the sheets and comforter are getting pretty old.
I love the mixing and matching between the stripes and the floral .

A ceramic tub. Need I say more.



But I have not received the catalog with these favorite things? I wonder why?


This picture gets me excited for the fall.
I love to bundle as many layers of clothing as I can.


And this outfit is pretty much amazing.


This one too.


Right now my favorite thing of this falls fashion is thick colored tights. I already have one in cream and one in gray.

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Photography

I can't tell you how much I love Polaroid photography.
I only wish I had a Polaroid camera.
Until then, you can view these beautiful pictures from the blog:
Nectar and Light.


Tuesday, September 23, 2008

On Repeat


I blogged about Sigur Rós before and how amazing their song "Saeglopur" is. But I now own their new album......

"Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust"

And I absolutely love it. Go check out their song "
Gobbledigook".
It will put a smile on your face and brighten your day.

Saturday, September 20, 2008

Since we are on the subject...


here is some vintage jewelry that is so beautiful. I found it on Etsy and the sellers name is serendipity2wenty2.



















Fall Anthropologie


If you have not already been exposed to the new
fall line from Anthropologie,
you must go view it right now online.
It is pretty much a wonderland of beauty.
And sometimes I think it is best for me to live
in a place where the closest store is
8 hours away.



































Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Saeglopur

This is the type of song that make me want to lay on the grass and watch the clouds go by.....and I can't get enough of it. You can listen to it here.

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Dining like Human Beings

It has been just over 2 years that Micah and I have been eating our meals on a small pub table that barley held one dinner plate. So on our drive back from Seattle this weekend we decided to stop in one of our favorite stores, Cost Plus. We were not really looking for a dining table specifically, we were more browsing down the aisles. But only after being in the store 5 minutes we found this table...and it was 50% off! How could be beat that deal and price.


So here is our new addition to our home. And finally we get to eat comfortably.















These are one of my favorite things in my home. I had my eye on them for months. And finally stopped wishing for them and spent the $4.50 to make them my own.

Sunday, September 14, 2008

Part 3

On Saturday Micah and I spent the morning in downtown Seattle.
There are so many reason why I love this place.

1. I love the open market. Yes, it is very crowded. Yes, it is full of tourists (including me). But there is just something about it. Something that make me think "I could go here everyday".


2. I could go there every day to buy fresh veggies and fruit to cook with.


3. And have a bouquet of flowers daily. Dahlias are one of my recent favorites.


4. Pasta for sale. And about any flavor pasta you could think of. I bought roasted garlic pasta.



5. And the freshest seafood.



Saturday, September 13, 2008

Friday, September 12, 2008

Part 1


Day one...

A trip to Bellingham, WA to visit Jon.

We could not go there without visiting the boat dock. There were so many beautiful Sailboats in the harbor.




Barnacles and shells lived everywhere. They looked like jewels decorating the harbor. I remember being a kid and hating when you had to step on them when you visited the tide pools. Listing and feeling them crunch under your feet. Luckily these were living on the posts and not the ground.





Then we hiked to a beach where we found this neat train tunnel. Which proved to be a wonderful spot to picture.





The beach was quite unwalkable though. I am guessing not too many people visit this beach because the sand it so mushy that once you put your weight down on it your feet sink about a foot deep into mud and sand. I unfortunately had to find out the hard way...





... and I have the stains to prove it



















There was a beautiful view of the San Juan Islands.







The only way to get back to our car was to climb the steep pictured here, making our own trail as we went.






It was such a fun day.

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Vegetable Art


It is either because of the cold weather approaching or the rain that still seems of be hovering over my rooftop, but lately I have been really missing art. Not creating it myself, I am not that kind of artist. I just like to appreciate it. So I have been searching so many different places to feed my eyes.



These photographs would go great in my kitchen. I think I am in love with them.
I found these photos, along with many other amazing artists on this website.






Sunday, September 7, 2008

Blueberry Muesli Muffins

I was never a big fan of breakfast. Once I hit high school I just stopped caring about breakfast and never ate it. When I married Micah he was stunned when he found out that I never ate it...and I mean never. Give me my coffee and send me on my way, I was just not interested. And that is how I live for over 10 years, that is until a few months ago. I don't know how it hit me. I think it had to do with all the delicious food I was missing out on. All the food I now look forward to waking up to. Yogurt, granola, hot cereals, so many different ways to make an omelet. And muffins. I love muffins, but good muffins, not the store bought ones that are not really muffins but more breakfast chocolate cake.
Here is a recipe for Blueberry Muesli Muffins. I woke up this morning so excited to make and try them. And, if I do say so myself, they turned out great.


Muesli Muffins

Ingredients:
  • 3/4 cup cake flour (not self-rising)
  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup wheat bran
  • 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
  • 1/3 cup packed light-brown sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 cup finely chopped bananas
  • 2/3 cup applesauce
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1 1/4 cups Blueberry-Walnut Muesli (you can sub with pecans or almonds)
  • 1/2 cup dried blueberries

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Whisk together flours, bran, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon in a medium bowl; set aside.
  2. Put butter and brown sugar into the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Mix on medium speed until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add eggs, 1 at a time, mixing until combined after each addition. Add bananas, applesauce, and vanilla; mix until combined. Reduce speed to low. Add flour mixture; mix until just combined. Stir in 3/4 cup muesli and the blueberries.
  3. Line 10 cups of a standard (12-cup) muffin tin with paper liners. Divide batter among cups, filling to rims. Sprinkle tops with remaining 1/2 cup muesli. Bake until a cake tester inserted into centers comes out clean, 15 to 20 minutes. Let cool completely in tin on a wire rack.
Blueberry-Walnut Muesli

Ingredients:

Makes about 3 cups

  • 1 1/2 cups old-fashioned oats
  • 3/4 cup dried blueberries
  • 1/2 cup coarsely chopped walnuts, toasted
  • 1/3 cup sunflower seeds, toasted
  • 1/4 cup wheat germ
  • 2 tablespoons flaxseed

Directions:

  1. Stir together all ingredients in a large bowl. Muesli can be stored in an airtight container up to 1 week.

Saturday, September 6, 2008

Travels in time


What if I graduated in 1958. I would have probably looked kinda like this.....












or maybe 1966.
















or 1988.

I think I have a elementary school picture where I have this exact same haircut...and probably the same oversized, brightly colored sweater as well. And when you pair it with some neon leggings...man was I stylish.






I spent way to much time on this website thanks to my fellow blogger "lucas life" who recently posted her own pictures. So you should go check it out as well and spend some unproductive time.

Friday, September 5, 2008

channeling my inner parisian

Anybody that knows me knows that I love almost anything resembling something french. Maybe my love started in High School when I tried to learn French. Or when I went to France and was actually able to somewhat communicate. Or maybe it is the abundance of Lavender fields, the aroma of freshly baked bread, or just the invention of the eclair. I love it all.

Art Nouveau
Coralie Clement
Cafe Au Laits
Amile

So when I noticed that one of the hugest fall trends were berets I jumped at the chance to buy one.
I only wonder what will be next!