script and serif

New Matchbox Kitchen Blog

2011-10-18T19:19:00.000-07:00

Please visit the new home of Matchbox Kitchen!

Please update your links and rss feeds to:

http://saratso.com

Moving my blog home!

2011-09-02T01:45:00.000-07:00

Please visit the new home of Matchbox Kitchen!

I've decided to combine my personal blog and cooking blog into one, so please come visit my new home!

Changes

2011-07-22T01:42:00.000-07:00

Things are going to change around here, and I'm super excited about it! Once I've ironed out the details I'll share more. Can anyone recommend web designers that are familiar with Wordpress? In the mean time, things might be a little more quiet here than usual.

Here are a few snapshots of food I've made recently. Are you on Instagram? If so, my username is scriptandserif, feel free to add me! And while I'm at it, are you on Twitter too? My username is scriptandserif there as well. And Pinterest too!

smore package

2011-07-18T02:07:00.000-07:00

I had quite of bit of extra marshmallows and graham crackers so I though I'd pack them up to give away. I've already eaten my fair share of marshmallows in the last few days! Plus, it's time to move onto something new to make and eat ;)

I didn't have very many packaging options to choose from without leaving my house, so this is what I ended up with. I have to remember to order boxes so I can give away all the goodies I've been making, or else I'd just eat them all. I wonder if it would be possible to send these through the mail (in a rigid box of course). I would love to share the things I make with others. Is this something you'd be interested in? Probably would have to be within the US, and I wouldn't charge or anything (just need to figure out how much shipping would be). I do make these in my home after all but I keep a clean kitchen I promise!

This also gave me a chance to practice taking more photos. The more I learn my camera the more fun I'm finding it. I still need help in the styling department but hopefully that's getting a little better as well. I took all these photos in full manual and in RAW! Now I just need to buy more memory cards because these files take up so much more room!

S'mores

2011-07-14T22:08:00.000-07:00

I'm trying not to cross post things from my food blog but I really loved this one and wanted to share! I just made s'mores with homemade graham crackers and marshmallows and they were absolutely delicious. Click here to check it out :)

Miette

2011-07-13T00:39:00.000-07:00

How cute is this video?! Seriously a dream come true right here. Just last week I purchased the Miette cookbook and have tried out a couple recipes so far. I have come across some errors but Chronicle did publish list of errata on their website. The cookbook is seriously cute, from the 6 inch cakes to floral endpapers and the whole book having scalloped edges!

Gary and I are finally taking a trip back up to San Francisco to visit some friends and have lots of eating excursions (and also celebrate my birthday, I guess). The last time I went Miette was on my list we didn't have time to make it out to the Ferry Building. This time both locations are on my to-do list!

Have you gone to Miette? What are your favorite things to get? I browsed their Yelp photos and love that you can order panna cotta in a little glass jar.

2011-07-09T00:56:00.000-07:00

When it comes to baking, cakes are my weakness. And while I haven't made a complete mess of one in a while, they never come close to what I'd imagined in my head. This cake was just a hair too dense while the frosting/filling was too soft in comparison. I think a stabilizer would have been nice but I am very much a novice with cake baking.

And of course, leave it to me to take photos of the side with the chunk taken out by my finger! The camera and I have not been the best of friends lately, hence the lack of posting and photos. Hopefully this shall be rectified this weekend.

Son of a Gun

2011-06-20T18:20:00.000-07:00

Friday was Gary's 25th birthday so we had a weekend filled with festivities. This is what I wore to dinner at Son of a Gun. Gary is a big fan of Jon Shook and Vinny Dotolo, the chefs and owners of the restaurant (as well as Animal). The meal was absolutely delicious and we can't wait to go back again. The highlight for both of us was the lobster roll, which makes me want to go to Maine and have a real one!

Anyway, I had to crop my face out because the sun was a little too bright and I desperately need a hair cut, but I really wanted to show off these new shoes. Rachel Comey Hitch boots in Caramelo. I wore them all weekend and didn't complain of any foot pain whatsoever. The height of the heel is just about perfect. I love the color but now I'm sort of itching to get a pair in black as well.

Peony

2011-06-15T01:40:00.001-07:00

Sometimes I have nothing to say.

Gratitude - June 10

2011-06-10T01:40:00.000-07:00

photo: unknown source via Walking Around Where the Sidewalk Begins

+ donut making until midnight. who wants to be a taste tester?
+ going complaint free for 3 days and counting!
+ watching Kung Fu Panda 2 (loved it), The Hangover 2, and Easy A on netflix
+ guacamole taco, one of my best ideas yet (although I'm sure I'm not the first!)
+ your sweet comments on my last post, thank you!

As of right now, I can't think of any plans I have for the weekend, but I'd love to pack a straw bag like the one above. The weather has been a little unusual in LA but hopefully the sun will come out again. Other than that, I'm hoping to fry up more donuts and make other goodies. What do you have planned? Hope you have a lovely weekend.

Casual

2011-06-07T17:46:00.000-07:00

As hard as I've tried, I've never been much of a put together an outfit sort of person. All sorts of amazing fashion blogs have inspired me to layer, try out different trends, mix textures and patterns, but at the end of it I end up feeling self conscious and uncomfortable. It wasn't until recently that I realized the clothing I feel best in are the most simple pieces. I don't like to draw attention to myself, and even though I live in LA (land of lots of strange dressers) even something slightly flashy will draw attention (remember when everyone wore lamé leggings? Yeah, I had a pair and only wore them once). Casual button downs, jeans, and tennis shoes (or moccasins) have been my go-to weekend outfit, but as plain as it is, I feel happy and confident wearing them.

One thing I've been having a lot of fun with lately is adding a bright pop of lipstick. The one pictured here is NARS Schiap and it's surprisingly wearable! It feels so fun but not too over the top paired with my casual clothes. I've also recently acquired this Panama hat. It's still taking a little getting used to but as the salesperson said, the key to wearing this hat is confidence! I just have to remember to put it on straight.

I am constantly thinking about the state of my wardrobe. Sometimes I get frustrated and just want to cave in, go to Forever 21, buy maxi skirts and cheap sundresses. But then I remember the environmental impact of shopping fast fashion and what my money is supporting and I have to snap out of it. Not to mention the quality of craftsmanship and fabric. I need to remember to save my pennies and buy from independent shops and designers (I have my eye on Hetterson's Brocius dress)! Even when I decide to cave in and shop at chain stores I end up disappointed. This happened to me the last three times I tried to go shopping!

Whoops, I sort of went a little off tangent there. Anyway, I have a feeling this shirt, hat, and shoes are going to be in high rotation this summer! I want to document more outfits but I'm still working on being comfortable in front of the camera. These were the few that made it out of 50 (+?!) photos.

NEET!

2011-06-01T20:44:00.000-07:00

I'm so excited to share that Matchbox Kitchen was a part of N.E.E.T magazine's June issue! I worked really hard on this and came up with a million different recipes but in the end a simple tart worked out best. I hope you try making it because it's easy but sooo good. Coming up with my own recipe (albeit a simple one) was so much fun and made me realize how much I enjoy cooking more and more. And although the photography was a struggle I think these are my best photos yet. I will share more notes and some other shots on Matchbox Kitchen!

Neon

2011-05-30T18:23:00.000-07:00

Currently enjoying pops of neon. Nail polish from American Apparel, pink lipstick is NARS Schiap, and orange is MAC Morange.

Moon River

2011-05-23T22:33:00.000-07:00

Gratitude - May 20

2011-05-21T00:44:00.000-07:00

Some things that made me smile this week...
+ getting an old disposable camera developed. the photo above is from three years ago!
+ completing a little project that I can't wait to share with you guys (in June!)
+ coming up with donut catering ideas... yum.
+ Vosges bacon milk chocolate bar
+ learning how to use my camera in RAW
+ jogging for 30 minutes straight! first time in my life, really.
+ receiving a pair of beautiful shoes!! (pictures this weekend?)
+ making gougeres!

Tomorrow I get to dress up as a book character for work, which I'm a little excited about. It's so fun watching their faces light up and getting tons of little hugs. What do you have planned this weekend? Hope you have a lovely one.

Thoughts

2011-05-12T00:37:00.000-07:00

Croque Madame + Micro Green Salad

Things have been pretty food-centric here lately, and I apologize for that since I have a separate food blog! But it's pretty much all I think of in my free time. There is something about cooking (and baking, more specifically) that I've really felt a new level of calm and happiness. Everything about the process makes me filled with joy but not excitedly so (that kind sort of gives me anxiety). From carefully measuring out each ingredient in its own bowl to putting on the finishing touches, I revel in it all. Even the most monotonous tasks like greasing tart rings is enjoyable!

One thing I've always struggled with is that I'm always trying out a new craft. One week it's fabric dying the and the next it's stationery. As much as I enjoy dipping my toes in all sorts of mediums I've yet to focus on a select few to move it into more than just a hobby. I never know if I love something enough to make it a career. Part of it is laziness--sometimes I really need to push myself to complete a project, even if in the end it's satisfying. But when it comes to baking I hardly need much of a nudge. Perhaps it's the one thing that I can move out of hobby limbo.

Heirlooms

2011-05-05T23:07:00.001-07:00

Mini Heirloom Tomatoes

They were too pretty not to photograph. I picked my favorites and ate the rest like grapes.

Croissants

2011-04-27T00:37:00.000-07:00

I made croissants from scratch! It took about forever but I think well worth it. As they were proofing I got a little worried because the recipe said they would triple in size, but they didn't. Thankfully I didn't throw it out at that moment because they came out nice after their time in the oven. They are by no means perfect but am satisfied with my first attempt. I can't wait to try again!

More on Matchbox Kitchen

2011-04-26T20:14:00.000-07:00

Tomato Bisque and Grilled Cheese

Sirloin Steak with Chimichurri Sauce

Steak and Salsa Criolla Panini

Here are the last three things we made on Matchbox Kitchen! Click on the link for more photos and maybe a recipe.

Summertime

2011-04-22T01:17:00.000-07:00

I don't know if it's because of Matchbox Kitchen (probably!), but I've been eating a lot more sweets and butter and bread lately. I am usually pretty good about my diet and maybe it's because I'm getting older, but my body is starting to show it as well. Good thing my boyfriend Gary is also a certified personal trainer. He just started training me this week. Let's just say by the second session I could hardly walk or even bother to pick anything up off the ground! But as sore as I've been the last few days I need to keep my eye on the prize, namely this swimsuit and Nadinoo crop top. I'm excited to see what I'm capable of as I've never had any sort of exercise regimen before.

As for my diet, I will continue to bake since I love it so much. I just need to practice self control! I may or may not have consumed all of the puff pastry I made a few weeks ago... (which included 3 sticks of butter!!).

(Photos: Anthropologie and Nadinoo)

Silver Lake Meadow

2011-04-12T19:28:00.000-07:00

Over the weekend Gary and I went to the new Silver Lake Meadow. It's only been open for a couple weeks so the grass was fresh and new! It was so pleasant and peaceful. There were lots of groups having picnics, playing frisbee, and general laying about on the grass. No dogs are allowed since there's a dog park down the road, and you're allowed to go barefoot! The grass felt so nice. I hope it stays this lovely for a long time. And although it's next to a busy street all the trees they planted blocked out most of the sound. If you're in LA it's definitely a nice place to relax. I'm already planning another trip there this weekend for a picnic!

Girl and the Goat

2011-04-11T18:44:00.000-07:00

As promised, here are all the dishes my friends and I ordered at Girl and the Goat. Such a delicious meal. We were feeling particularly indulgent and ordered three desserts! I loved they decor and our server was awesome. My friend Sandra brought her Polaroid camera and he was so excited to take a photo of us with it.

Here's a rundown of what we ate, left to right, top to bottom:

goat carpaccio with tongue-olive vinaigrette and salsify chips
hiramasa crudo with crisp pork belly, aji aioli, caperberries
ham frites with smoked tomato aioli and smoked swiss dipping sauces
kabocha squash ravioli with mushroom raisin ragout, brussels leaves, shroom creme fraiche
grilled pork ribs with tomatillo-mushroom slaw and grilled scallion vinaigrette
wood oven roasted pig face and sunny side egg, tamarind, cilantro, potato stix
sesame semifreddo with pork fat donuts and sambal pineapple
blood orange sorbet with parsnip pot de creme, pistachio cake, three sisters cornmeal crust
bittersweet chocolate cake with shiitake gelato and toffee creme fraiche

If I had to choose favorites, I think it would be the grilled pork ribs and the chocolate cake dessert. The dessert totally reminded me of a grown up version of dirt cups! And the ribs just fell off the bone and was a wonderful combination of flavors and textures.

Chicago food

2011-04-08T00:15:00.000-07:00

Here are some phone snap shots of the food we ate at XOCO (minus the hot dog). I love that place. Rick Bayless was actually working the kitchen right when we got there! Needless to say I got a little star struck. This restaurant is reason alone to go to Chicago again! I ordered the pepito torta (bottom right) and churros to share, and a lemongrass jamaica drink which isn't pictured.
The hot dog was a little place by my friend's school. I need to eat hot dogs with this many toppings all the time. Next up I'll share photos of all the food we got at Girl and the Goat.

last dessert for a while

2011-04-05T18:32:00.000-07:00

I made mille feuille with the puff pastry I made from scratch. As much as I love sweets I need to take a break from all the butter! Click here to see the rest of the post.

Chicago

2011-04-04T14:05:00.000-07:00

I'm back from Chicago! It was such a fun, relaxing trip. I'm usually the type to plan every thing down to the minute but decided let my friends have a say as well (haha). So the trip wasn't jam packed with activities but we still did lots of fun things. We went to Art Institute Chicago during their free Thursday hours, took lots of pictures at the bean in Millennium Park, took the train up to Wrigley Field on opening day (hoards of people!), and ate lots and lots of food. The highlight of the trip was definitely all the food. Will have a separate post coming up on that soon!

Pizza

2011-03-22T15:26:00.000-07:00

My posts have been pretty food-centric lately but unfortunately I haven't done anything too creative outside of the kitchen. I'm hoping to remedy that soon (like...now! I just need to get off the computer). Here is what I ate for lunch though. Click here for the rest of the post!

Donna Hay Seasons

2011-03-15T23:42:00.000-07:00

My mom just got back from Australia and brought me all kinds of goodies. Tim tams, crumpets, freddos, smarties, all of the things I miss that can be brought back on a 12 hour plane ride. Unfortunately double cream and meat pie couldn't come. But one thing that she really surprised me with was this Donna Hay book, Seasons. Just a few days prior to her arrival I was pining for this book over at Hermine's blog! It's like my mom read my mind from thousands of miles away. Here's a peek at a few pages. Everything is absolutely gorgeous. Oh, and I'm showing off my new favorite nail polish in a couple of these photos. It looks sort of blah but absolutely beautiful in person. Sand Tropez by Essie.

Light Macaroni and Cheese

2011-03-07T18:15:00.000-08:00

I made a healthier, lighter version of macaroni and cheese. For more pictures and a recipe visit my food blog, matchbox kitchen. It's pretty tasty!

Let's Get Lost

2011-03-01T00:49:00.000-08:00

I recently favorited this card on Etsy and I can't stop going back to admire it. Just might have to purchase and frame it! Made by Bread + Butter.

Valentine's Treat

2011-02-14T16:52:00.000-08:00

This is the brown butter ice cream I made recently. I love ice cream but can't eat more than one scoop of this. There's a whopping two sticks of butter in here! Honestly, it kind of leaves a film in your mouth like you just ate butter straight. I attempted to make some turtles/pecan caramel clusters but they didn't come out exactly like I wanted. But I think they make a good match for valentines day! Gary and I didn't exchange gifts this year, just little things for each other. I made him this paper cut out and he got me some rescue remedy pastilles.

Matchbox Kitchen

2011-02-08T00:22:00.000-08:00

If you look over to the right side of my blog you'll see a new link called Matchbox Kitchen. It's a new blog Gary and I started. So far it's mostly sweets I've made, but soon enough Gary will be contributing as well. He makes the savory dishes while I make desserts and bread. I'll still post some photos of my food here but I'm going to start adding recipes and tips to Matchbox Kitchen as well. Take a look and tell us what you think!

Steel Cut Oats

2011-02-07T12:35:00.000-08:00

My daily breakfast the past week has been steel cut oatmeal with a helping of milk and golden raisins. I'm not really an oatmeal person (excluding the cookie kind), but steel cut oats are so much tastier, I don't know why I've never had them before. I have the "quick cook" kind from Trader Joe's, so they only take about 5-7 minutes to make. The raisins add the perfect amount of sweetness so I don't have to add any sugar.

pink

2011-02-03T22:59:00.001-08:00

Sunsets

2011-01-25T17:46:00.000-08:00

My friend and I are attempting to take a photo every day and started a joint blog to keep each other motivated and accountable. Unfortunately, we've both been slacking off the past couple weeks (myself more than her). The most I can muster up while I'm going through a creative block is the sunset outside my window. Now I'm thinking of doing a sunset photo a day, but it'll probably get boring after a few weeks...

These sunsets have inspired me to tackle yet another project I've dreamed up. More on that coming soon.

Gratitude - Jan 17

2011-01-17T01:17:00.000-08:00

Last week I…
+ baked a brioche pastry with mixed berries and custard
+ baked a brioche loaf
+ baked a boule
+ made this lasagna with pasta from scratch
+ made fresh fettucine with a tomato sauce from scratch as well
+ tried on various panama hats (without much success)
+ wore short sleeves due to the 80 degree weather
+ bought a pair of running shoes
+ ran half a mile (the most I've run since high school)
+ caved in and bought some eyeshadow primer (part of my "take better care of my appearance" resolution)
+ wore makeup over the weekend. All because I finally bought that eyeshadow primer!

This week I will...
+ do a thorough cleaning and purging of things I don't need
+ bake more bread... so good for breakfast.
+ work on Valentine card designs
+ run a mile...!

Baking Goals

2011-01-10T17:47:00.000-08:00

Another goal I've added for 2011 is to bake something every week. Last year I set out to learn how to make bread, which was really fun to learn through Artisan Bread in 5 Minutes. It took all the kneading and intimidation out of baking bread. But now I'm ready to move on to something more. I recently bought Tartine Bread and I have to admit I'm a little nervous buying new equipment and attempting my own starter, but it ties in to one of my other goals: taking more risks. It might not be a big risk, but it's still something to me. It will require more time, effort, and money. But if this is something I'm thinking about pursuing I need to take the next step.

In the boule above the hydration percentage is higher than my usual. I also tried out the spray bottle method in addition to pouring a cup of hot water in a broiling pan. Both of these methods create steam in a home oven to get a nicer crust.

Gratitude - Jan 10

2011-01-10T00:33:00.000-08:00

+ Dinner at Melisse with my family
+ The next night's dinner at Park's BBQ (with the sighting of a reality star)

+ wearing my oxfords out for the first time
+ receiving a pair of lovely brown boots from my aunt. she couldn't fit anything else in her suitcase and gifted them to me :)
+ watching pushing daisies on netflix (unfortunately just finished the series)

Garden Update

2011-01-05T17:12:00.000-08:00

It's January and my tomato plant is still fruiting. It's been at the green stage for a while now so I'm thinking maybe I need to bring them inside? The weather doesn't got below freezing at night so I'm not sure it's necessary.

Last spring Gary got me potted tulips because I told him it made me sad to throw away cut flowers all the time. My aunt put the bulbs in an empty container and to my surprise they're sprouting! I did a little google search and it said I should bring them in if I want them to flower. But my tomatoes have been doing fine so maybe the tulips will too. I'm obviously not an expert.

The basil plant is looking pretty sad though. Not bad for $3 at Trader Joe's. Mint is also looking a little sorry, and my cilantro and thyme are no more.

Joe-Joe's

2011-01-04T17:12:00.000-08:00

Candy Cane Joe Joe's from Trader Joes. Better than Oreos! Wish they carried them year round.

Happy New Year

2011-01-03T14:28:00.000-08:00

Happy 2011! It feels so good to start a new year, even if it's all in your head. I have lots of ideas that I am so excited to start working on. Do you keep new year's resolutions? I never really used to until one year I decided I would stop drinking soda. It was really tough the first couple months; I'd beg my mom to allow me just a sip of her cola (like it was a drug). But by the end of the year I did it! No more cravings for the carbonated drink. I drink soda every now and then but not nearly the daily basis I used to! Since then, I've realized that I can accomplish a lot if I set my mind to it. Seriously, quitting soda, as simple as it is, sounded impossible to me at the time.

So here it is, my goals for 2011:

+ Start running. I've never enjoyed running...ever. But I want to see if I can do it. My goal is to run more than one mile non-stop.

+ Be friendlier. I am a shy person and it comes off rude, but I'm not trying to be!

+ Take more risks.

+ Take a photo every day. My friend and I started a joint blog to motivate each other and I'll be posting my photos here as well.

+ Take bread baking more seriously. I have so many ideas swirling in my head about this. The Tartine Bread book is so inspirational!

+ Get better at photography. As in, maybe stop photographing in aperture priority. Am I a fake if don't use my camera in full manual?
+ Take better care of my appearance. Just general grooming and upkeep, nothing fancy. I think I dropped the ball on this last year. For example, I got one hair cut in February and another in December. To say my hair was really unhealthy and rough and scraggly is an understatement.

I have a few more things I'd like to accomplish, like moving out, set up my business legitimately, and try doing the no impact experiment, but they aren't quite set in stone like the ones above.

What are your goals for the new year?

Dieppa Restrepo

2010-12-28T16:26:00.000-08:00

Are you tired of me posting about these? Gary gave them to me for Christmas. They are even more beautiful in person. I've just been admiring them, too nervous to wear and potentially ruin them!

Merry Christmas

2010-12-24T16:12:00.000-08:00

Happy holidays to everyone that celebrates this time of the year. I've been off the computer for a while because working retail gets pretty draining around now. I'm going to take a little break from the internet and try to put myself back on track.

I also wanted to mention that Marthe from The Freedom Experiment did a lovely post on me last week. It's part of her Dream Experiment, in which she helps people work on their dreams. See the whole post here. Thanks, Marthe!

Gifts by Color - Blue

2010-12-16T00:03:00.000-08:00

Clockwise from top left: mini rosebud pins, silk scarf, the storm - deep sea scarf, mini goals clockboard, leather pouch.

Gifts by Color - White

2010-12-14T08:00:00.000-08:00

Oh man, I totally want all of these. I blogged about the wool and the gang shoulder-cover-thing at least a year ago and it's still on my mind. The fieldguided tote is currently unavailable but will be back soon. And as unfitting as the Clarisonic looks (and how unnecessary it is to have a gadget to clean my face), I wouldn't have to get a facial as often as usual (hah, you know, about once a year if I'm lucky).

Clockwise from top left: Wool and the Gang kit, Fieldguided tote, Clarisonic Mia, Pigeon Toe Ceramics hanging tray.

Gifts by Color - Beige/tan

2010-12-13T14:18:00.000-08:00

I was debating whether or not I'd like to do a gift guide because I'd rather not add to the consumerism of the holiday season. But at the same time I'd like to gather a list of things I enjoy. Also, due to my procrastination, it's probably too late to get these for Christmas anyway! So here is the first installment of my pretty things that would be great gifts. Most, if not all, things will be from independent artists and designers. I've also decided to break them up by color (but I'm not sure why). Here's a small compilation of things in the beige/tan/camel color scheme.

Clockwise from top left: Dieppa Restrepo Cali oxfords, Fjällräven Kanken backpack, Great Lakes Prism, Immortal Desert bag.

Gratitude - Dec 7

2010-12-07T16:43:00.000-08:00

How was everyone's weekend? I'm a little late posting this up because I was completely exhausted yesterday. Gary and I, along with two other friends, went to Disneyland and California Adventure for the whole day! Open to close, practically. I was running on less than 5 hours of sleep but had an amazing time. I haven't been in a few years but it's always fun. But then Monday I pretty much had to rest the whole day.

Some other highlights:
+ watching someone karate chop a ROCK in half. I didn't even know it was possible!
+ my aunt visiting us for the holidays
+ the gorgeous Marni bag she gave me (more on that later)
+ drawing Dopey and Donald Duck at Animation Academy
+ polishing up my ring! Can't wait to show you all my work from jewelry class

Another thing I guess I should mention is that I quietly opened up my shop on Etsy. I've been so overwhelmed with work that it's hard to fit in time to work on the shop. But it was my goal to open it up this year so I will have to make time. I'll be adding more items once I get better in the photography department. It is so hard when they crop your photos into the tiniest square!

Another sneak peek

2010-12-01T18:19:00.000-08:00

Another sneak peek at my cards. Unfortunately I have to wait until the sun is up again to take some photos for the shop.

Coming Soon

2010-11-29T17:15:00.000-08:00

script & serif stationery and paper goods. coming really, really soon!

Thanksgiving

2010-11-26T21:14:00.000-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving to those of you in/from the US. We had a nice small family dinner. I made the bread and dessert, pumpkin cream pie. I wish I could write something more coherent but all the turkey is making me sleepy.

Dieppa Restrepo Cali

2010-11-22T14:39:00.000-08:00

Christmas present to myself, me thinks. (I don't know why I just typed that.)

Sure, they might not really look like much on their own, but just check out how they're styled on Totokaelo. I'm in love. (photos: Totokaelo)

Peas

2010-11-22T13:26:00.000-08:00

Things have been busy over here at script & serif studio, finalizing designs, screen printing, sourcing supplies for upcoming products. I am determined to have a soft launch by the end of November, which means a week from now! My full product line will be available by the beginning of 2011.

To take a break, Gary and I had a Toy Story marathon. I'm not a big movie watcher, so seeing three in a row is a big deal for me. I can sit and watch a whole season of Friends, but for some reason a movie is too much of a commitment for me. Anyway, one of the cutest characters in Toy Story 3 were the peas in a pod. We went to the Disney store about a month ago and spotted this in line. Total impulse buy, but it makes me smile every time I see it. Reminds me of the adorable Mameshiba videos, too.

Alright, back to work!

Astrology Wall Calendar

2010-11-15T13:08:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite calendars I've seen so far. Only $8 from Prismatic Print Shop.

Lost wax

2010-11-12T17:35:00.000-08:00

Here's the ring I've been slowly carving away at. It started out as a big chunk of wax and now it's a little ring with a bird perched on top. I plan on thinning out the band as well as the bird, but I'm quite happy with where it is now.

Blogging has been slow for me because the sun goes down so much earlier now and there's no light left to take photos. I have been working on stationery related stuff and can see myself launching by the end of this month! I finally decided on a name and bought the domain yesterday. Alright, back to work!

Recently

2010-11-08T20:20:00.000-08:00

mint pesto and zucchini spaghetti from donna hay

crazy outgrown mint plant and still fruiting (in November?!)/half dying tomato plant on my balcony

chocolate chip cookies for a birthday party

magazines to cozy up with

It started out with a sore throat. I foolishly thought it was the ultra spicy noodles I ate, but then it escalated to congestion, a headache, runny nose. Before I know it I'm popping cough drops one after another and leaving work early because I was just so out of it. So apologies for being away from the blog. I'm feeling much better now and hopefully I'll be good as new in a few days.

So other than fending off this head cold, I've been driving myself crazy trying to come up with a name for my stationery line. I can't come up with one decent thing! I don't know how people do it. If you have any suggestions or any ideas of how to get to a name please let me know. I feel like I can't move forward without a name.

Oh, and I am totally loving the three magazines I just got. Can I please live in a Donna Hay magazine?

Test Print

2010-11-01T14:38:00.000-07:00

I got to make some test screen prints of my cards over the weekend. It was just as difficult and exciting as I thought it'd be! Still having some trouble with registering the second color over it though, so this photo isn't the final. I'm really happy with the paper I've chosen to use, too. The silver piece in front is from my jewelry class. Like I said in an earlier post, not exactly the best looking piece but really exciting to see something I've made from scratch come together.

Gratitude - Oct 29

2010-10-29T08:00:00.000-07:00

+ Traditional Chinese dinner for my brother's birthday. My mom cooked everything! She's thinking about starting a food blog, too.

+ Finishing my first silver project in jewelry class! It doesn't look too great but I feel a bit accomplished.

+ Blogging 5 days this week!

+ Snagging a chambray button down shirt from the J. Crew outlet for a steal.

+ Bringing my little thyme plant back to life (it wasn't doing so well outside).

+ Doing lots and lots of head hurting research for my stationery line. I swear I'm almost there...!

This weekend I'm going to attempt to take some photos for a secret project, finish buying supplies for my stationery, and, most exciting of all, eat at Animal this Sunday. I'm not a big fan of Halloween so instead Gary and I are going out to dinner to celebrate him becoming a certified personal trainer. What about you? Anyone dressing up for Halloween?

Portland

2010-10-28T16:41:00.000-07:00

A little over a year ago Gary and I went to Portland, Oregon for the first time. It was a quick trip but we packed in lots of things to do.

We drank lots of coffee at Stumptown.

We went to the most amazing and extensive bookstore.

Ate a sampling of unique and tasty donuts.

Visited the Japanese Gardens.

And did lots and lots of walking. We didn't stay at Ace but really wanted to!

The weather was a little cold and rainy but I enjoyed every moment. I can still remember the best hash browns I'd ever eaten from the cafe by our hotel. The most delicious hash browns, seriously.

Wish I was there again for Little Winter! So sad to be missing out.

mango bar

2010-10-27T20:30:00.000-07:00

It was 80 degrees today. Fall, where are you? I even painted my nails in anticipation of cooler weather.

laundry

2010-10-26T21:21:00.000-07:00

dores necklace

2010-10-25T16:47:00.000-07:00

My new favorite necklace by Dores.

Park at sunset

2010-10-25T02:08:00.000-07:00

This past Saturday Gary (the bf) and I headed out to go outlet shopping. We've been searching for a pair of casual pants for him for months now without any luck. Thankfully the shopping gods were on our side as we found not one but two pairs! I also got a couple things for myself at super good deals.

Just before we hopped onto the freeway we stopped by the park to take some photos. It's been raining all week in LA and the sun was finally out and looking so nice right before sunset. I'm wearing my new favorite jeans and my favorite boots, oh and carrying my favorite handbag. The jeans are from Gap and are jean leggings (which I refuse to call jeggings), and are so amazingly comfortable! Not super tight and constricting like I thought it'd be. Thank you to Alyson of Unruly Things for mentioning them!

Shirt: Target (boys section)
Jeans: Gap
Boots: Madewell
Bag: Clare Viver

Thyme

2010-10-22T09:00:00.000-07:00

This is my thyme plant. I love how it's so tiny and delicate and grows any which way it wants to.

Grey Days

2010-10-21T17:22:00.000-07:00

It's been a bit rainy and grey here lately. I quite like it though.

Wardrobe Re-do

2010-10-14T22:58:00.000-07:00

I've been thinking about giving my wardrobe a makeover for quite a while now, but wasn't exactly sure what kind of clothes I should be adding. And then I realized that I'm tired of looking and being treated like a child. When I'm put in a position that makes me nervous (which is quite often), I revert to acting like a child. I sometimes use it as a crutch so I don't have to act like an adult even though I think like one. I think it's time to have my wardrobe reflect that. So that maybe I'll feel more confident and people will stop asking how old I am! Gee, I'm asking a lot from my clothes, but I really do think it'll make a difference. As much as I love girly floral prints, peter pan collars, and cap sleeves, they are definitely not doing me any favors!

Things I'm hoping to add: black skinny cropped trousers, oxfords, high waisted jeans, felt hat, interesting jewelry, high waist pleated trousers. (Photos from Totokaelo)

Jewelry Class

2010-10-11T12:40:00.000-07:00

I've been taking an introductory jewelry class for six weeks now. Our first project was to make a pin with several different layers of colored aluminum. This was to help practice cutting out metal and visualize how all the layers work together. I don't have my project back yet, but it's not exactly the most beautiful thing (nor would I wear it). But our next project, which we'll be completing this week, is made of silver! Real silver that we'll be soldering together. I'm excited but mostly nervous using the blow torch. The project after this is the one I'm most excited for. We'll be carving a ring out of wax and use the lost wax method. This is something I've been eager to learn for quite a while now.

The photo above is my silver pieces all taped up so I don't lose them. It looks a little er... abstract, but it's supposed to be mountains and trees. We will be soldering it to another piece of silver and all the negative spaces will be textured.

Gratitude - Oct 9

2010-10-09T00:30:00.000-07:00

+ listening to Lissie, whom I discovered from a mix CD Mallory sent me. Thanks, Mallory!
+ watching Julie and Julia, which I totally loved and want to watch again (but skip through the Julie parts).
+ making tuscan white bean soup and apple pie.
+ starting my life list.
+ working on new patterns to turn into… don't know yet!

Things have been pretty hectic over here, hence the lack of blogging. Also, I often wonder what direction I'd like this blog to go in which results in no posts. But as I learned from Julia Child, I need to be fearless! I often over think just about everything and approach everything with hesitancy. But, no more!

This weekend is supposed to be warm and sunny, so hopefully I'll be able to take some photos. I haven't touched my camera in weeks and miss it! What are your plans for the weekend?

The Unseen Sea

2010-10-06T00:16:00.000-07:00

The Unseen Sea from Simon Christen on Vimeo.

Five Things

2010-10-02T00:33:00.000-07:00

(San Francisco, 2008)

Five things you might not know about me:

1. I get nervous very easily. Sometimes I see/meet celebrities and bloggers (celebrities in my mind, haha) and I just act like a fool, turn red, stop talking completely, and my hands start to get clammy. I wish I could fake it and act cool, but my flushed face gives it away.

2. I never had a peanut butter and jelly sandwich until I was 12.

3. My favorite color is purple (see photo).

4. I crave Australian food all the time. Meat pie, lollies, cordial, pavlova, you name it and I'll probably start salivating. Except for Vegemite. Yuck.

5. I studied graphic design for almost four years and realized it wasn't really for me. And now I work at a bookstore as a gift merchandiser until I can start working for myself. Don't tell anyone, but I kind of like it!

Any random facts you'd like to share?

Up

2010-09-27T23:40:00.000-07:00

This poster has inspired me to redecorate my room into something more mature and calming. I've got a little too much pink going on right now and I'm ready to grow up a little. By Fine Little Day.

Bark Knuckle Ring

2010-09-26T22:39:00.000-07:00

Really loving this bark knuckle ring by Mr. Kate. Shown with bow crown ring. Check out all the other jewelry by Mr. Kate here. (photo: Mr. Kate)

Killing Us Softly

2010-09-26T22:10:00.000-07:00

I watched Killing Us Softly 4 last week and haven't stopped thinking about it. Have you seen it before (or any of the previous ones)? What did you think?

Gratitude - Sept 24

2010-09-24T18:36:00.000-07:00

+ a quick Vegas trip over the weekend
+ delicious brunch at bouchon. I got moules frites and he got chicken and waffles, pictured above.
+ french macaron and chocolate eclair from bouchon bakery
+ getting a luxurious facial that has left my skin looking better than ever (seriously.)
+ my wonderful other half that planned the whole thing :)

Hope you all have a nice weekend. I don't have much planned other than some secret projects in the works ;)

How to feel miserable as an artist

2010-09-22T20:46:00.000-07:00

by Keri Smith via Gala Darling

Mojave

2010-09-21T17:22:00.000-07:00

(please click to view larger)

This past weekend we went on a little trip to Las Vegas to celebrate our anniversary. I always manage to forget my camera, but not this time. I often hear from friends that they hate the drive over because all you see is a bunch of nothing, but I love it. It's so calming to drive through the desert and see all the rocks, mountains, tumble weeds, joshua trees, sand... And as corny as this will sound (going to embarrass myself here) I actually started to cry a little. Not because it was gorgeous, but because I just can't understand why anyone would want to trash a place like this. Maybe if people knew about all the beautiful places there were in the world everyone would stop creating so much waste, stop throwing their trash and cigarette buds out their windows, stop using disposable everything, etc etc.

These photos have really inspired me to take more (local, budget friendly) trips outdoors. I am trying to figure out a quick weekend trip to Big Sur next month; I'll let you know how it goes!

Gratitude - Sept 17

2010-09-17T21:13:00.000-07:00

(garden roses)

Such a exciting and busy week! So much going on that I've been taking mandatory naps. (Except that I just had an Inception-like dream today) Here are some highlights from the week:

+ Creative, inc. book party at Urbanic! So great to go down to Abbot Kinney. The food trucks were out, perused pretty papers, and we got to meet Joy and Meg! And of course, they were as sweet as could be.
+ Big Wave by Jenny and Johnny. I've had this song on repeat for days now. Her voice is just perfect.
+ Getting a new iMac. Love.
+ Exciting news that I'm not sure I could/should share just yet... :)
+ Leaving for Vegas tomorrow!

New

2010-09-14T23:24:00.000-07:00

So... I bought a new computer! This purchase has been in the works for a number of years, and on Sunday morning I woke up and decided, "Today is the day." I've been using a 6 year old iBook (not macbook!), so needless to say this is extremely exciting for me! I am in awe of the brightness and colors of the screen, how many windows I can have open and still see everything (goodbye 1024x786!) and how FAST adobe cs5 opens! I really could go on and on. It's taking a little getting used to because I'm much more efficient now. Hopefully this mean more photos being edited, uploaded (because I just got a Flickr pro account too), and more blogging and working in general!

Anyway, I thought I'd take a quick snap of my desk that's gotten messy already. So many envelopes underneath my computer! It's a pretty bad photo but I really like how the reflection of my window is in focus instead of the subject itself. Also, check out my awesome Sian Keegan dog portrait :)

Gratitude - Sept 10

2010-09-10T22:56:00.000-07:00

San Francisco, May 2008

This week, in a nutshell, was just amazing. And I still have the weekend to enjoy! It's times like these I feel very fortunate for everything in life. I'll stop with the cheesiness and just list some tidbits from the week.

+ Jewelry making class. Even though it's 3 hours long right after a full shift at work, it's so incredibly fun and relaxing. Our first project isn't the most exciting for me, but it's very refreshing to make something with my hands.
+ I woke up to the nicest e-mail I've received in a very long time! Her words were so heart warming and encouraging that I literally hopped right out of bed due to excitement. (If you're reading this, you know who you are!)
+ Being chosen as employee of the month. Okay, so I don't really talk about my day job here too much, but I was recently promoted and I'm really enjoying it. I get to order in cool products and have a moderate amount of freedom in merchandising items. Just this week, our store manager (I work at a book store) announced that I was chosen as the employee of the month. Part of me knows it's just a cheesy corporate thing they do to boost morale, but the other part of me is happy that my work is appreciated. Plus I get a prize!

+ Gloomy weather. LA cooled down a bit this week to the mid 60s, low 70s. The sun was hiding and I enjoyed every moment of it. But now the sun is back and the temps are rising back to the 90s tomorrow. I love grey, overcast weather; it makes me appreciate the sunny days even more.

This weekend I have lots of work on my plate, including getting screens burned for some screen printing, ordering stationery supplies, and trying out some new jewelry designs I've been working on. I'm hoping to squeeze in some leisure too, like a picnic or a visit to the natural history museum. What are your plans for the weekend?

City Hall

2010-09-07T23:29:00.000-07:00

My Labor Day was spent hanging around City Hall. Most outdoor areas were filled with people since it was a holiday, but the one place I knew would be empty were any government buildings. My hometown has lots of beautiful architecture scattered all over the place. I remember the first time I came here. I was in high school and it was night time. I couldn't believe that such a beautiful building existed where I lived! There's also a nice church across the street but I didn't get any photos.
Anyway, here is another outfit post. I originally started off wearing a pink top, cream skirt, and lilac hat but felt too spring time! I'm so ready for darker colors and cooler weather. I received this romper as a birthday gift. I've never even tried a romper on but I really do enjoy wearing this one! I get to try out two trends in one outfit: tie dye and a one piece. My family and I went to Koreatown for Korean BBQ afterwards so the elastic waist came in handy ;)

hat, ring: forever 21. romper: gift. handbag: DNTX. shoes: j.crew. necklace: for me, for you.

Current Work and Future Goals

2010-09-06T12:09:00.000-07:00

Hello! Hope you all had a wonderful weekend, and if you're in the U.S. that you're having a nice Labor Day. I've been a bit busy lately. Here's a sampling of what I've been working on: trying out necklace designs, practicing packaging orders, and some thank you cards with doily envelope liners.

September is going to be a busy month for me. I've decided to set some pretty big goals and I'm determined to complete them! Hopefully posting them here will be as a reminder and hold me accountable.

September Goals:
1. complete website
2. create cohesive design for blog and etsy shop
3. open etsy shop
4. apply for unique LA craft show

The last one is the biggest one and also the driving reason for the other goals. I have been talking about opening a shop for quite a while now, over two years! I have tons of papers and sketchbooks with different designs and it's about time I stop procrastinating, stop worrying about perfection, and just do it already. I'm very self conscious about my work which keeps me from feeling confident and putting it out there. But no more excuses!

Glitzerland

2010-09-01T07:00:00.000-07:00

Loving this nail polish...OPI's Glitzerland from their Swiss collection. (Get it? Glitzerland? It took me a while, hah.) It's like I dipped my fingers into silvery gold liquid. Which I guess I sorta did.

Birthday Goodies

2010-08-31T22:42:00.000-07:00

TOMS (a new staple)

Death And Texas Handlebar Bag

Inside holds all my essentials: lip balm, wallet (though I had to switch to a thinner one) and cell phone.

Baggu Backpack next to my current favorite top.

Gratitude - aug 30

2010-08-30T10:52:00.000-07:00

Finding time to blog has been a little tough lately. Between working full time, starting my stationery line, and starting school (today!), things are feeling a little hectic. Thankfully the summer heat has died down and I can be a little more productive than just wanting to melt into a puddle.
This past week has been wonderful. It's easy for me to start feeling down but last week I've been shown how fortunate I am to have such great friends and an amazing boyfriend (I'm trying my hardest not to sound too sappy but I can't help it.) Here are the highlights of one of the best weeks I've had in a long time!
- celebrating my birthday with a delicious seafood dinner and the San Diego Zoo!
- a surprise birthday dinner with my dearest friends (that my boyfriend secretly planned!) at my favorite restaurant
- eat pray love
- stationery progress (more on that later)
- all the lovely gifts I received including a Baggu backpack, DNTX bag, perfume...
- farmer's market goodies shown above. the two little tomatoes are from my plant!

How was your weekend? Do anything fun?

Vain and Vapid

2010-08-27T21:45:00.000-07:00

Thinking about treating myself to this dress by Vain and Vapid.

Strawberry

2010-08-27T19:39:00.000-07:00

homemade strawberry ice cream.

San Diego Zoo

2010-08-26T18:15:00.000-07:00

My wonderful boyfriend took me on a surprise weekend trip to San Diego for my birthday. We went for a nice dinner on Sunday night and went to the zoo on Monday (the day of my birthday). I haven't gone to the San Diego Zoo in at least a decade, let alone any zoo! It was so exciting seeing all sorts of different wild animals up close. Towards the end I started feeling a little sad though because many of the animals looked either sad or lonely.

Gone

2010-08-25T16:23:00.000-07:00

Where do the days go? I keep on meaning to post but end up...not. Trying to get everything checked off my to do list but when the sun is shining and temperature is in the 100s all I want to do is laze around or go swimming. I haven't even had a chance to catch up on all my favorite blogs! But anyway, here is a sneak peek of what's to come. I went to the San Diego Zoo on Monday for my birthday! This is one of my favorite photos I took. Will update soon!

Collard Green Chips

2010-08-17T09:00:00.000-07:00

I made collard green chips after constantly seeing them online as a healthy snack. And let me tell you, they were sooo good! I've mostly seen kale chips but I accidentally bought collard greens. Not sure if there's a huge difference but I really enjoyed these. There's not much of a recipe and they only take about 15-20 min in the oven (and about 2 minutes to eat). I got my recipe from smitten kitchen, but all you do is rip the leaves into pieces, toss them with some olive oil, and then sprinkle some salt on! That's it! I made some more today and added a little red pepper powder. I know they don't look the most appetizing, but the really do come out crisp and yummy.

Gratitude - Aug 16

2010-08-16T08:37:00.000-07:00

Whoops, sort of disappeared for a week. I was feeling pretty lethargic and didn't get much done. But now it's a new week and I hope to be more productive. I did have a chance to make pickles and kale chips... but that's about it. I took some photos but they didnt come out so I'm hoping to try again tomorrow. In the mean time, here are some old photos I found on my computer. Hope everyone had a nice weekend!

tulips

some knick knacks, perfume, my favorite candle (volcano no. 6), and a for me, for you necklace

caprese salad (my brother went overload on the balsamic vinegar), cheese and crackers, and salami

a rainbow on my ceiling

Some gems from the past week:

+ new Intelligentisa cafe in my neighborhood

+ making pickles for the first time

+ visiting Art Center... so much talent!

+ getting more paper samples for my stationery

+ summer has finally come to LA!

+ also, thank you for all your kind comments on my outfit post (and all comments I receive, really). I'm hoping to make it a weekly thing to get myself out of this clothing rut!

August Weekend

2010-08-09T18:44:00.000-07:00

Hello, hope you all had a nice weekend. This post is coming up a little late because I went on a little trip to Las Vegas with two of my best girl friends. One is moving to Chicago for grad school in less than a month so we had to plan a little something. It was so fun and relaxing. One of my favorite things to do there is eat at the amazing buffets. I am not a fan of buffets except for in Vegas, and the Bellagio did not disappoint.

I didn't snap very many photos because I didn't want to bring my camera. Instead here are a couple shots from my phone. One thing I wish I did take a picture of was the beautiful desert on the drive over. Miles and miles of nothing but rocks, cacti, and mountains. So calming.

Chocolate Ice Cream

2010-08-04T16:37:00.000-07:00

Last week the was a post on the Etsy blog about Van Leeuwen's Artisan Ice Cream. Attatched to the article was a recipe for bittersweet chocolate ice cream. Right then I knew I had to make it! I looked for a chocolate bar with the highest percentage of cocoa (the recipe asks for 99%), but only came up with something around 86%. Although my chocolate of choice wasn't according to the recipe, it still came out delicious. It has just the right amount of sweet and bitter. I'm not a fan of super sugary ice creams and noticed this one calls for less sugar than other recipes I've tried. It's rather flavorful so I only have to eat a couple small scoops rather than my usual uh... half a quart. (Did I really just admit that?) Anyway, if you are a lover of chocolate and ice cream, definitely try it out!

Exposition Park

2010-08-02T11:12:00.000-07:00

How was your weekend? Yesterday started off as a nice lazy Sunday, but after a couple of hours I felt anxious and needed to get out of the house. My boyfriend and I decided to go to California Science Center because they have a new ecosystem exhibit that shows eight different zones in our world. It was really fun! The best surprise was everything else around Exposition Park. I'd completely forgotten that there are a few other museums, the coliseum, and a rose garden all right next to each other.

The most beautiful experience we can have is the mysterious. It is the fundamental emotion which stands at the cradle of true art and true science. - Albert Einstein

The next few photos are a little different from my usual posts. I decided to take some photos since I was wearing a few of my favorite things and in a pretty location. I'm kind of nervous posting my photo but here goes...

My favorite hand bag by Clare Vivier (Whom I got to meet at my work once!)

Some of my favorite things...lace top by American Apparel, "office" nail polish from AA, messenger bag by Clare Vivier

I don't usually wear my glasses (and don't find this photo particularly flattering, the sun was so bright!) but I really like the photo with the fountain in the back! I'm thinking of documenting my outfits because lately I've been in a clothing rut. Hopefully by keeping a record I can figure out what works for me and what doesn't.

Gratitude - Aug 2

2010-08-02T01:12:00.000-07:00

+ leisurely walks at sunset
+ exposition park, rose garden, california science center
+ paper samples, color schemes, pricing quotes
+ inception. wow! not usually my kind of movie (I'm easily frightened!) but I enjoyed it very much
+ "office" nail polish from american apparel
+ so grateful for my comfortable (but sorta ugly) work shoes. no more aching feet!

Virginia Johnson

2010-07-29T22:43:00.000-07:00

Virginia Johnson's scarves and shawls are always floating around in blog land, but what I really enjoyed this slide show of her process from Toronto Life. Click here to check it out. She has a blog too!

About Page

2010-07-29T22:11:00.000-07:00

I just added an about me page to my blog. I've been wanting to create one for a while now to give you a better idea of who I am and what this blog is about. Click here to read. Let me know what you think!

Renegade LA

2010-07-27T19:11:00.000-07:00

Saturday was the perfect day for Renegade. The weather wasn't hot like I expected it to be, but instead it was sunny with a nice breeze. It was my first time going to the Cornfields, and I am so glad they chose this as the location! Parking was a breeze and it wasn't hard to navigate like last year's location. I got to focus on all the amazing things being sold instead of trying to figure out where I was in the building!
Anyway, there were a ton of amazing vendors but I only got a few little things.

Sandwich wrapper from Chez Sucre Chez

Chef pencil set from Paper Pastries (for the bf, since he is a chef)

A birthday card from The Social Type

There were lots of lovely things that caught my eye, but what I really wanted was this necklace by Erica Weiner. Unfortunately it was this or the facial I had already scheduled for myself on Monday. My birthday is coming up soon though...hmm...

Gratitude - July 26

2010-07-26T22:51:00.000-07:00

+ my first ripe tomato! Small but packed with flavor.
+ Renegade LA this past weekend (pictures to come)
+ amazingly delicious lunch at Gjelina... so good.
+ belgian waffle with powdered sugar and nutella. perhaps too much of a good thing
+ registering for a jewelry making class this fall!
+ playing with fiber reactive dyes... lots of ideas in the works
+ birthday party with lots of great homemade food like Thai curry, Peruvian aji de gallina (that my boyfriend made!) and Korean japchae, to name a few

(I ate a lot of great food this past week....)

Odd and Ends

2010-07-23T22:45:00.000-07:00

(photo from Levi's Pioneer Sessions)

Just a few odds and ends:

+ After I posted the She & Him cover of Fools Rush In, Mallory suggested I try listening to the other songs from Levi's Pioneer Sessions. I'm so glad I did! The songs are great and all free to download from their website. I'm really enjoying It's a Shame by Raphael Saadiq. Which reminds me of one of the perks of where I work--occasionally meeting celebrities, Raphael Saadiq included. I think it's pretty telling of someone's character how they treat a retail worker, and he was very friendly and easy going while I helped him with an order.

+ Speaking of the small perks of my job, I met someone that became famous through Youtube (calling him a youtube star sounds kind of funny), Kevjumba. I used to watch his videos all the time and had a little crush on him (even though he's a bit younger than me). Ok, saying I met him is giving myself too much credit. He asked me a simple question and I pretty much acted like a star struck fool! By far the most embarrassing way I've acted in front of someone famous. Oh well!

+ If you look to the right column on my blog, you'll noticed I recently added a twitter account! Please feel free to add me if you wish :)

+ Here's a great article on whether a veggie burger or steak is more environmentally friendly. I have been vegetarian on and off (admittedly, more off than on), but what's more important to me isn't cutting all animal products out of my diet, but making sure that how and what I eat is sustainable. (via greenLAgirl)

+ This weekend I'm going to Renegade Craft Fair! Although it'll be outside in the sweltering heat, I'm excited to see all the things I've been ogling over the internet in person. Is anyone else going?

+ Lastly, here's a nice article to read about gratitude (via Gala Darling)

What are your plans for the weekend? Other than renegade, I have my day job, working on my stationery, and a birthday party pot luck on Sunday. I'm planning on bringing a pasta salad with lots of basil from our garden as well as making some mint lemonade. But my goal for the weekend is to actual document it all and take lots of photos!

Bicycle Accessories

2010-07-21T00:13:00.001-07:00

(photos from their respective sources. washi tape from pugly pixel)

Here's a roundup of some bicycle accessories I've had my eye on. It came together quite easily as I've been dreaming of owning a bike for a while now! The majority of them are from small or independent businesses, too.

Clockwise from top left: nutcase helmet, brooks basket, baggu backpack, death and texas handlebar bag, cupcake bell, keds, monogrammed bicycle grips.

Gratitude - July 19

2010-07-19T00:37:00.000-07:00

(taken with my iphone)

+ hiking a trail I haven't used since high school (above)

+ girl talk over sushi, coffee and tea, then beer, when everything closed on us and we had no choice but to go home!

+ doing lots of research over the perfect bicycle and accessories

+ Tony's Italian Deli

+ diced pickles from Tony's, seriously the best pickles I've ever had

+ stationery progress! (slowly but surely)

+ reading an amazing book
+ making my own version of Chipotle's burrito bowl and having it all week (so simple and delicious)

Hope this past week was good to all of you. This week I am looking forward to Renegade Craft Fair! Is anyone else going?

My Future Bicycle?

2010-07-15T12:35:00.000-07:00

I've been dreaming of owning a bicycle for quite a while now. Years, probably, when gorgeous girls on bicycles started popping up on The Sartorialist and photos reblogged Copenhagen Cycle Chic showed up everywhere. I imagined myself riding to the farmer's market, holding everything in panniers hanging from the rear rack with fresh flowers in my basket. I dreamed of riding along with friends for a bite to eat. But most importantly, I envisioned myself car free!
Romantic visions aside, I knew I wanted a dutch/vintage style bicycle but had no idea how much they cost or where I could find one. The only type of bicycles I thought were available to me were mountain bikes and cruisers. Thankfully riding bicycles has gotten more popular in the US, whether for style or environmental reasons, and more options have become available. After extensive googling, I've come up with some promising prospects.

Linus Dutchi 3-Speed

Raleigh Roadster

Flying Pigeon (photo from joe-bike)

Batavus Old Dutch

I'm hoping to check out Flying Pigeon LA in the next few days. I'll let you know how my search goes! Next up, a post on all the accessories I'd love to deck my future bicycle in. (photos from their respective sources)