New Vintage!

Happy Monday!

We had a blast at the Renegade Craft Fair this weekend and I can’t wait to share pictures with you.  I’m hoping I’ll have some pictures up by tomorrow so keep an eye out.  Until then, check out this new vintage jewelry from Ruche.   Sigh…

vintage jewelry from ruche by nataleelpz on Polyvore.com

Ruche: New Arrivals

Here are a few new arrivals from Ruche that I just can’t seem to live without.  My debit card is burning a hole in my pocket… must resist…

new arrivals by nataleelpz on Polyvore.com

Benefit Africa: In Action

 

Remember a few months ago when my dear friend Alex set up an art show in SLO to raise money for her brother’s mission trip to Africa?! 

Well, he’s there and he’s been blogging!  If you were at the art show why don’t you check it out and see your hard earned dollars at work.  And if you weren’t able to make it to the art show, you should heck it out anyway, he’s been through some pretty amazing stuff already. 

Get Inspired!

From Black Heels to Tractor Wheels

If you haven’t started reading Ree’s blog yet… what ARE you thinking?!  She’s brilliant and funny writer. She has quite a nice collection of pictures in each of her posts.  Not to mention she has a great story!  A young thing from LA who walks into a bar one night and meets her “Marlboro Man.”  She goes about life thinking nothing of it and in the throes of moving to Chicago he calls her up and asks her out on a date.  The rest is history and by gollie if she didn’t document all of it for your reading pleasure!

I’ve been reading it when I have time that past two days and I’m completely hooked.  I even stayed up until 2:00 am last night reading it.  And while I’m paying for it in exhaustion today, I can’t wait to crawl back into bed tonight and finish it.

Well, what are you waitin’ for?! Get to reading!

And don’t forget to add Ree’s blog to your daily reads.  She’s gonna knock your socks off!

Must See Artists

Here are a few more artist that I’m most definitely going to be checking out this weekend:

   

 

But don’t take my word for it! Check out all the artists for yourself!

Renegade Craft Fair in LA

Hello All!

Just thought I’d remind you about the Renegade Craft Fair this Saturday and Sunday (June 11th -12th). 

I’ll be there with a few AnthroLovers and hope you’ll stop by.  There are going to be over 200+ artists and it’s FREE! Just bring your parking ticket in an get it validated for $10 parking ALL DAY!  There are going to be raffles, food, music, and fun surprises (or so I’m told).  Check out all the artists and start making your wish list.

Here are a few things I’m going to be checking out for sure this weekend:

 

 

I don’t even have the time to go through them all, but I want to!

What are you going to check out? What do you think I should check out?

Shortbread Cookie Sandwiches

Okay y’all!  I know you’re still drooling from the BBQ peaches recipe, but here’s another one for you.  This recipe will seriously make your mouth tingle with all it’s flavor.  Sorry for the lack of pictures, but seriously… this one says it all.

Doesn’t it just look as decadent as the shoe scene from Marie Antoinette? Ugh.  Okay now, on to the background.  The cookie recipe was adopted from this recipe and can be found here (one of my favorite recipe sites).  The filling is just something Creswell made up and I thought to add the blueberries and strawberries.  I’m craving the fluffy, creamy, fruity goodness right now.  Okay seriously, moving on…

Short Bread Cookie Sandwiches

What you’ll need:

• 2 cups of Irish butter (Find it a Trader Joe’s)
• 1 cup packed brown sugar (Don’t even think about using white)
• 3 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 package of cream cheese (room temp)
• 1 tub of cool whip
• 1 small carton of strawberries, blueberries, or any other berry
• powdered sugar

Directions:

Cookies- Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Cream the sugar and butter.  Slowly add the flour and mix well with an electric mixer.  The dough should be really fluffy.  Using a cookie scoop, place cookies on a and ungreased cookie sheet three down and about 4 or 5 across.  Place in the oven for 20-25 minutes.  Once the cookies are done place them on a wire rack and let them cool completely.

While the cookies are baking make the filling…

Filling - Take room temperature cream cheese and cool whip an place in a bowl.  Whip with an electric mixer until smooth and fluffy.

Now, prep the fruit…

Fruit – Slice up the strawberries lengthwise after a thorough washing and drying.  No need to slice the blueberries.

Once the cookies are done…

Assemble - Take the one of the cookies, face down and spread on the cream cheese whip mixture.  Place strawberries or blueberries on top and set aside.  Take up the second cookie and face down, spread the cream cheese whip mixture.  Press the two sides together.  Place on the wire rack on top of the cookie sheet (for easy clean up – unlike the picture below).  Sprinkle the tops with powdered sugar.  Then place them decoratively on a platter and serve.

Yours friends and family will be floored.  Don’t tell them how many sticks of butter you used and you’ll be fine.  Enjoy!

BBQ Peaches

Adopted from this recipe by Sunday Suppers

This recipe is a quick, easy, and tasty summer recipe that can’t be beat. 

What you’ll need:

                Peaches (1 half per person or more if you want)

                Equal parts sugar in the raw and ground cinnamon mixed

                A BBQ or Broiler oven

                7 Minutes of your life (+2 to prepare the food)

Preheat the grill to Medium/High.  Take a peach and half it.  Remove the pit.  Then take the peach flesh side down and swirl in the cinnamon and sugar mixture.  Place on a tray to take out to the grill.  Place the peaches face down on the grill.  Close the grill and walk away for 7 minutes.  Open the grill and place the peaches face up on the tray.  Place the peach halves in a bowl and cover with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.  Top with a shortbread cookie if you wish.

Enjoy!

All photos by Alex Creswell.

Until Tomorrow…

Sorry for the delay in posting today!  It’s been really busy around here and unfortunately, I’ll have to wait to post the recipes until tomorrow.  So, check back tomorrow for mouthwatering BBQ peaches and Shortbread Cookie Sandwiches.  YUM!

Until tomorrow, I’ll leave you with this beautiful image from today’s Design*Sponge Sneak Peek.

Hope you all had a productive Monday!

4th of July Festivities

Happy Monday Readers!  This is my friend, Alex Creswell.  If you haven’t checked out her photography, you should.

I hope you all had a safe and fun 4thof July.  I know we did!  Here are a few pictures of all the going-ons.I’ll be back later today with two amazing recipes for you try out this summer, that we tried out this past Saturday.  So, after you peruse all the pictures, don’t forget to check back later.

We got this neat idea from Twig & Thistle.  We printed out their FREE templateand made holders for the sparklers and straws.  We ended up printing them on Manila folders, because it was so last minute, but I love the vintage feel they have.

Creswell and I hit up Party City on Friday and found these hats, tiaras, and leis.

Don’t forget the dog outfit!

Oh! And tattoos… check out my exploding guns!

The 4th, wouldn’t be the same without hamburgers and hot dogs…

Table decorations…

And sparklers!

We had way too much food.  In fact, I’ll be eatting hotdogs, hamburgers and watermelon for weeks.

But don’t forget to check back later today for this recipe:

And this one:

YUM!