Stamped with love.

~~~ 

{my valentine~ who never complains when asked to jump right in... to cabbage-chopping and homework-helping- immediately upon entrance- after a LONG day at 'the office'- for his wife who has once again put herself in a position to make her way through a heavy-hearted party city- in search of red napkins... the night before.}

hope yours is filled with LOVE~ & candy.

Heartfelt.

hailey & i painted the town red over the weekend...

...if you give a mouse girl a cookie pair of scissors & some felt :)...

 

The scenic road.

 

 image via

Last week, an instagram friend {an incredibly successful, creative, kind friend} shared a quote from a [Californian-raised] New York-based artist, Tauba Auerbach {via the AW12 issue of the gentlewoman}.

"I've been moving in a straight line and now I just want to be able to move diagonally."

Living life in a thoughtful, focused- yet free- manner.  Free to question.  Free to explore.  Free to dig deeper.  Free to stay on course, but not to the extent of feeling stuck, forced, bored- or worse, boring.  Free to bend the rules, to step out of bounds, to step back... to step forward.  Much easier said than done for some [me], but somehow, a "diagonal" path sounds far less intimidating... much more doable.  

This year, I have decided to step away from hosting Thanksgiving dinner.  In light of everything written here and here, I decided that we needed a break.  My kids are off for the entire week, and for the first time in years, I'll be able to spend time with them.  Free time to try new recipes from my oldest cookbooks and newest magazines (but never have due to a pure lack of time and/or post-holiday kitchen-burnout)... Time to reflect on what I am thankful for.

We're not flying off to Hawaii- or celebrating solo.  We're not forgoing turkey, or my grandma's coveted stuffing- or pumpkin pie.  Nor are we permanently handing over the 'hosting torch.'  Just veering off the straight n' narrow route.  

Diagonally.

  

Spooked.

This weekend was all about gettin' into the spirit... the Halloween spirit.  

In our home- 'til the month of October has passed- we hold off on the pretty autumn leaf garlands, the harvest basket of pumpkins n' gourds, the festive seasonal wreaths, the colorful ears of Indian corn.  

The "fall bin" & the "Halloween bin" used to be one and the same.  But it never felt quite right hanging a hooded & gauzed grim reaper- amidst a black-feather-covered chandelier- above a table filled with pretty leaf-shaped candle holders & all sorts of other 'autumnal bliss.'  Somehow comfy-cozy-bounty-warm just doesn't mix with creepy-crawly-spooky-tacky...

So this month's reserved for cobwebs & skeletons... ghosts & ghouls... black & silver... purple & orange.  The traditional beef stew & crusty bread were savored... candles were lit... The Munsters & Scooby-Doo were watched... cider & wine were poured... My mom joined in on the fun, and as of today, the first of October~ our house has officially been spooked.

 

 

Now onto the really spooky part... figuring out the Halloween costumes.

What summer's made of.

I took an unexpected hiatus (not that I'd call 4 days a true hiatus) from this lil' blog of mine... all for a good cause.  The transition from school to summer is {surprisingly - even though it happens every year, it still comes as a surprise... each & every last day of school/first day of 'freedom'} a bit rocky.  The first few days are usually filled with grumpiness, tension, fighting, chaos... any or all of the above.  So I decided a short break was in order to get into the full 'summer groove'.  Evening chalk-art sessions, ice cream breaks, sign-making (these "summer-alert" signs have been posted on each & every bedroom door, nightstand- & more... in case we *forgot :)), tomato-pickin, and all sorts of garden-tending for that matter.  Of course, there's the usual chores, and a million 'non-summery' things in between the moments of bliss... car servicing, purging (aaaaalmost done. still), cleaning, hair-cuts... 

But all of this stuff isn't so bad when when speckled with library visits n' reading club check-ins, flashback movie viewings (so far, thanks to jacob's library rental choices- planet of the apes & clash of the titans... next up- flash gordon), late night pandora sessions, open windows at all hours of the day, new books to crack open- and old ones to finish, & possibly best of all~   

 popsicle-making.

{found via pinterest, and have been dying to make em' {and these!} ever since}

peach pie popsicles

*slightly adapted from i eat grass.

6 servings

1 cup almond milk (I used unsweetened vanilla)
1 frozen banana, peeled chopped
2 large peaches, seeded diced (I had white peaches, so I used both peaches & nectarines, for added color)
½ tsp vanilla (my helper accidentally poured in 1 tsp... & they were not too vanilla-y at all)
1 tbsp agave
pinch of cinnamon

Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth or desired consistency. 

Pour into popsicle tray and freeze until set (3-6 hours).  If you don't have popsicle molds, just use a small paper cup & a popsicle stick.  Insert sticks into center of popsicles after they start to freeze.  When fully frozen & ready to enjoy, peel away the cup.

  

 

... and the best part~ a late-night 'slice of pie' on a stick.

Happy Friday everyone :).
 

p.s. 

Any favorite popsicle recipes??  Please share... can never have too many.  After all, it's what summer's made of.

  

One day at a time.

we needed a weekend with absolutely no plans... no big adventures... no home improvement projects or complicated meals.  just lego mind-storming {jacob}, a difficult research paper {ryan}, downton abbey season 2 {all... yes, we're *all addicted. even lil' hailey}, hunger games {yours truly... gotta finish the book tomorrow!!! ...hosting book club this thursday... & still scrambling to FINISH... no idea what i'm serving........}, and of course- valentines for hailey.

i knew heading into to february that it would be non-stop from beginning to end... from the superbowl party, all the way to jacob's birthday (with a million things in between).  we're halfway through... and movin' right along.  doing the best we can to to keep our sanity intact, while longing for the {calmer} month of march.  taking it one day at a time. 

  

 {happy love-week :)} 

 

{finger-painted homemade sticker & candy buttons~ simple, yet made with lots of love... & kisses}

xx

 

Art & craft sale.

 

{Watercolor painting by Rebecca Janes}

The wind has died down, school back in session (to their dismay after their unexpected free day), & I have a billion + things to do before the big day of tree shopping & holiday decorating bright & early tomorrow morning (which despite how it may have sounded after yesterday's post- is not yet done(!)… Leon & the destroyed poinsettias are as far as we've got).

Before I get started on the LIST, I wanted to take a moment to spread the word about an upcoming art and craft sale that a friend of mine is hosting (along with a few other artists). 

Rebecca creates beautiful watercolor paintings and  cute little handmade/hand-sewn animals.  What I like most about the watercolors is that you have the ability to choose a photograph, provide it to her, and she will then transform it into a beautiful painting.  I am in the process of choosing a picture myself, and I can't wait to let her work her magic.  Not only is this an affordable way of incorporating more art into our home, it allows us to be a part of the creative process... in choosing an image that is personal, meaningful, and  pleasing.

Here are some examples of the "before" photograph, and the "after" watercolor... 

{I love how she leaves some of the details out and highlights (or adds) others in- to capture the true essence of the scene, or moment in time.} 

   

And here are a just a few examples of the animals!  She has many, many, many more to choose from!

  

The boutique will be held this Sunday (details below), and following the event, items will be available to order online- including watercolor gift certificates... What a great gift!!

Here's the 411.

 

What: Boutique 

When: Sunday Dec. 4th from 2-4pm

Where: 434 Crestview Place Monrovia, CA
  

* All items will be for sale & special orders will be available.

* Following the event, items can be ordered at the website...

http://www.stbarnabascenterforspiritualencouragement.org/

{hope you check it out!... & see ya monday!} 

  

Lessons learned.

 

Thanksgiving 2011.

 

What can I say??  Well, I can't say that it went as smooth as one would assume after glancing through these photos.  Just keep in mind... these were the "before" pictures~ the calm before the storm.  It wasn't all bad.  The turkeys were tasty.  The entire meal was delicious.  The house was autumn-y.  Lots {& lots} of leftovers (which is always a good thing).  The week (plus) of prepping with my grandma - priceless.  How could you not love a grandma that thoroughly cleans your oven, and then "preserves" it by covering it with tinfoil?? :)  

 

Truth is, tradition is extremely important in my book.  So important, that sometimes I need to be beat over the head in order to realize that that some traditions need to be tweaked a little [or a lot] here & there as time goes on.  Some tossed out all together... To create space for new.  When it comes to the holidays (or family, in general), we tend to make our decisions based on what works for the larger group.  To do what we do cause that's how it's always been done... what [we think] is expected of us.  Yes, I realize we are grown-adults, but as I mentioned- change doesn't always come easy- even if it is clearly a change for the better.

 

The night wasn't a disaster.  No family blow-ups.  No kitchen 'mishaps.'  It was simply a whole lotta work, with very, very little time to enjoy the week prior... the weekend after... the kids being home from school... the meal for that matter... and certainly no time for "thankfulness."  There's other factors involved, but needless to say, this is one area that is in need of tweaking.

 

I realize we're all bit "over" Thanksgiving at this point, but I'd love to hear about your traditions, since I'm in the market for some new ones myself (& I've got a whole year to think about it).

 

{speaking of new traditions and executive decisions, this post is a must read for anyone in the same boat as myself}

  

{the menu, the tin-foil, & my favorite decor... the artwork}

 

{the grown-ups' table}

   

{the kids' table}

  

Native soil {Listography 2011}.

Each Wednesday, Danielle, @ Elleinad Spir, Emily, @ Notorious MLE, and myself are working our way through the lists of Listography 2011.

             

(born & raised in the Sierra Madre canyon ~ the house in which my mom & her husband still reside)

  

{"List what you remember about your childhood home."}

 

It was cozy.

Quiet.  Really quiet.

Little, but just big enough.

It had a hippie-Native-American-artsy vibe.

"Indiscreet" art hanging from the walls (baring NO resemblance to the homes of my conservative-private-school friends) which I begged my mother to temporarily remove prior to my their arrival.

Wood & neutral tones.

A fireplace (loved when we got to 'have a fire').

A room on stilts, an antique tub, a water bed (not mine), a floor heater, a dusty basement, & LOTS of steps.

Always clean, revamped often, well-decorated...a cherished, inviting space (thanks to my hardworking mom).

                 

An old wooden hot tub. (no, not a spa. not a jacuzzi. definitely not a swimming pool. a hot tub)

Safe.

BIG hills & curvy streets (not the go-out-and-ride-your-bike kinda neighborhood).

Just us three, though the doors were always open.

                   

I'd love to hear about yours too.  Share with a comment or visit Emily to link up :).

        

High five.

 

Well, hello there Three Day Weekend. 

  

Before we get down to business, 5 very important matters to discuss...

             

1)  French-pressed coffee.

For the past week, Ryan's been a busy man.  Early mornings and late nights.  Hasn't even had the time to brew coffee in the morning.  Although I am fully capable of doing so myself, when it's only me, I prefer using the French Press.  Back in the day, all new baristas were encouraged to get one... to conduct at-home tastings... to master the world of whole bean coffee.  It produces a miiiiighty flavorful cup of coffee- even if you're the type to doctor it up.

Plus, this very press got me through my final years of college.  At home.  With a son.  No car.  Working late nights.  Studying around the clock.  No coffee maker.  No espresso machine.  And although I worked at Starbucks, I hated coffee.  But I needed something to keep me awake- and motivated to study my little heart out.  So- each morning... a French press, a hell-of-a-lotta Nestle creamer (mocha to be exact), and endless reading.  And I gradually acquired the taste.  Not to mention, the addiction.  

  
2)  Chalkboard wall decal.
 

The only thing we didn't change or replace when we remodeled our kitchen a few years ago, was this side door.  Not very pretty, but need to switch all of our doors out eventually and figure that this door will have to do in the meantime.  

Ever since I wrote this post, I've wanted to convert the thin, aluminum-framed windows into a chalkboard, but hadn't actually done it- until I saw the chalkboard decal at Urban Outfitters a couple of weeks ago.  A  perfect solution.  A razor was used to trim the edges and black caulk to fill the gaps.  A great spot for a shopping list... or a canvas for budding artists. 

3)  Stripes.

                             

    

Cannot get enough of this particular pattern, and a visit to Old Navy the other day did not help the matter.  Such stripe cuteness goin' on over there.  So many different colors and styles to choose from.  And they're just so versatile.  I was wearing a dark orange maxi skirt and tried the blue top (above) with it.  It worked with that- with a belt, without a belt- with the beige pants... even with the yellow tank underneath.  You know- it's said that only the really daring type will mix stripes with stripes.  Yep.  That's me alright.  Always 10 steps behind ahead of the curve.

{I tried to find the links, but all I could find was the pink one.  I don't know about you, but with Old Navy, I have better luck trying tops on in person, so if you have one near you- and are addicted to stripes too- go see for yourself!}

4)  Pork shoulder tacos (Jora's way).
 

Image via

Oh, what can I say?  Do you want a meal that will knock your husband's (or wife's... or friends'...) socks off??  That produces not only heaven on a plate- but heaven in your taquito the next night... 
  
5)  Baked taquitos.

                        

 (Image via; Recipe here!)

The best leftover meal ever.  And this one too can be prepared ahead of time.  Two DELICIOUS make-ahead dinners.  Domesticity at its finest.

                              

{Cook's Notes:  Prepared the pork Jora's way- with a slow cooker... Used one whole jalapeno and two dried chiles (don't worry about it being spicy- just adds flavor)... Topped the tacos with avocado, cilantro, sauteed peppers and onions, and lime... Topped the taquitos with homemade salsa (with diced avocado and cilantro) and sour cream... Mmmmmmm.}

Now let's get to that weekend.

   

On the road again.

  

... Well not really the "road," but the internet highway- guest posting for Jora, while she's on the road, for real.

Visit me here (click below)!

(p.s.  Hope you enjoyed your weekend!  Jacob's away at camp this week, so it's just Hailey and I- recovering from a very full birthday/holiday weekend, and gearing up to paint the town red this week, or maybe pink.)