Foto Friday

This week’s photo is brought to you by The Wedding Chicks.  This wouldn’t only make a fabulous bridal shower party, but a great tea party, birthday party, house-warming. You name it.

I’m not dropping any hints or anything… I swear.

Romantic Neutrals

Hello!

I’m all finished with my finals.  No homework for a whole 5 days! And to celebrate I might just have to head over to Anthropolgie so I can drool over their new Romantic Collection.

I’m completely in love.  Does that make me a bad person?

Check out more of my favorites over at AnthroLove.

Hiatus

Happy Monday Readers!

I’m going to be taking a bit of a hiatus this week because, well… I’m stressed out!  I have two finals and a paper due this week and I need every spare moment I can get.  I’ll miss you all, but I know you understand.

Be sure to check back next week as I’m hoping to have some fun photos from this coming weekend. 

Two words:

ROAD TRIP!

Foto Friday

This series of photos is brought to you today by MaeMaePaperie, a blog I just added to my reader this week.  MaeMaePaperie is design company based in Los Angeles that specializes in paper design.  Check out some of their work here.

Happy Friday!

Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman

I love the thrill of finding that truly antique, vintage or unique item.  This book by Walt Whitman is one of those amazing pieces.  When Creswell showed me her photos of this amazing book she found,  I was floored.  The book is in brilliant condition and the photos completely do it justice.

It completely made my day and I hope it made yours.  Check it out here.

Tuesday Loves… By P&P

I know it’s Wednesday, but did you happen to see the new feature on Pipe & Pepper.  It’s Tuesday Loves…

This week it was Tuesday Loves… Mustard.

P&P compiled 12 sellers on Etsy and did their own treasury all based around mustard.  Each week P&P will feature a new set of sellers all centered around a theme.  Be sure to check back every Tuesday for new sellers and new items.

Happy Wednesday!

A Julia Child Valentine’s Day

 

 

Remember this scene from Julie and Julia?  It really was one of my favorites.  As you know, I’m not huge on Valentine’s Day, but this sort of dinner party is right up my alley. 

Crisa asked if we should like to celebrate Valentine’s Day together a day early.  Jumping at the chance to avoid crowds and way too much teenage public affection, I said, “YES!” 

Crisa LOVED the Julie & Julia movie and has a passion for cooking so we came up with a simple yet tasty menu: 

Shrimp Cocktail Appetizer with Horseradish Sauce

BBQ Skewers with Chicken, Eggplant, Zucchini, Bell Peppers, and Mushrooms

Apple, Celery Root, and Fennel Salad

Strawberry Lemonade to Drink (Complete with strawberry iced cubes)

AND…

Crisa’s Red Velvet Cupcakes

It wouldn’t be a Julia Child Valentine’s Day though, without decorations and paper hearts.  So I got to work earlier that week turning our 1950’s home into a Julia Child Valentine Wonderland. 

I started by making red paper heart garland.  It was fairly simple.  I made a template and then cut out hearts from cardstock (I had a little help from a bored student, too).  She ended up cutting out 60 hearts and I was so grateful! 

I also grabbed a pack of large and small doilies.  Then I ran the hearts through the sewing machine alternating with the large and small doilies.  Here’s the end result: 

It’s so easy and you can use any shape to make your own. 

I picked up some tulips from Fresh and Easy on Thursday and they had just enough time to bloom before Saturday night. 

 

Since my bored student cut out so many hearts for me, I was able to place them around the house and make three garland. 

 

I decorated the kitchen too!  We also did a few portraits in front of the stove.  I mean, come on… this is a Julia Child Valentine’s Day. 

 

The table was adorned with red and pink tulips, red napkins, and of course everyone got a giant red paper heart to wear. 

 

We finished it all up with decaf coffee and red velvet cupackes for dessert.  These cupcakes were an entire decoration in themselves.  I mean, just look at them! 

 

I’m hoping to get the recipe from Crisa to share with you all, but if not you’ll just have to go by my amazing description: 

These cupcakes were fantastic.  Thick, creamy frosting and light fluffy cupcakey goodness. 

If that doesn’t convince you, well… I don’t know what will. 

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Alex Creswell Does it With Style

My dear friend, Alex Creswell  is an amazing photographer.   Have I told you that?  Oh, I have?  Many times…  well get ready for some more!

She’s in her last semester at Cal Poly getting her degree in photography.  She’s also had the amazing privilege to work with Cameron Ingalls this past year.  From what I hear he’s been an amazing boss, a total inspiration for her, and it shows.

Check out her latest shoot, here.

Foto Friday

Today’s photo is brought to you by Green Wedding Shoes.  This week, they featured a sweet, vintage styled photo shoot that I just have to share.  Check it out!

V-Day

Okay, if I’m being honest… I don’t get Valentine’s Day.  I used to like it when I was little but some time, over the years, Valentine’s Day has lost it’s luster.  I get sad thinking about the women who yearn for this day because it’s the one day their boyfriend or hubby goes out of their way to make sure that woman know how much they love them. 

I guess a woman who never goes a day thinking otherwise just can’t comprehend that.

Here’s my idea of Valentine’s Day: 

I’ve been thinking… maybe it’s not just about pouring all your love into one person for one day.  Maybe instead, it’s like Christmas or an Anniversary.  The day itself is only significant because it’s the day but it’s not as important as the idea behind it.  Valentine’s Day is another day to show love to one another, but with red and pink hearts.   We love and cherish our friends, family and our Lord everyday, but show it specifically on Christmas through the giving of presents.

The idea is to continue the school of thought behind Valentine’s Day throughout the year.  But remember it specifically on this day. 

So, with that being said… have I told you lately that I love you?

I do.