Leftover Crust

Turkey, ham, and prime rib aren't the only leftovers from Christmas.  What to do with the leftover pie crust? Oh, fear not little chicklets...homemade Fig Pastries to the rescue.  (after the jump)

Resolutions

Screw New Year's Resolutions... how 'bout just living life.  But making each day better.  Boom.

Baking Levels

This time of year, I notice a lot of people asking others for baking advice.  If you aren't a baker, but have a burr in your butt to make some home-baked goodies - here's a few options, numbered from beginner to slightly less beginner.

Kindergarten Cookies (found, here).  No baking required.

The Most Wonderful Time...

....yesh....

...I love it all.

Current Corkboard

What I do for fun...

Quarry

Okay, I swear that Quarry does more than just necklaces.  It appears that this is all I wear though, so this is what you get.  Feel free to stalk their site, and check out their online retailers, here.

Runway White

Dolce & Gabbana S/S 12... stunning

 So, perhaps the cold weather has me craving the sun and sand and beach.  Perhaps it's just that I look amazing in white.  That's probably the one.

Dolce & Gabbana S/S 12

Reminiscing

Definitely still have this push-pin.  Definitely stole it from John Baldessari's studio.  I doubt he misses it, and I will mail him the cost if he ever comes looking for it. But it's mine.  All mine.  Sigh.

First Batch

I love baking.  An excuse to bake for others (read: I have fun but don't inhale all four-thousand calories myself).  This is how I know the holidays have officially begun - taste testing my Christmas cookies.  Yeah, boo for me.

Fellow Fellow

Just in time for the holidays.  Thinking about those lil' last-minute, one-size-fits-all, hostess, long-lost-friend-gave-you-a-gift-reciprocation...yeah...there's always one or two of those.

Move Over Men...

My turn at oxfords.

Oversized Scarves

Currently coveting...

Whitney Bedford

Currently on view at Susan Vielmetter Gallery in Los Angeles (site, here).  More images after the jump.

Thankful For: Dessert

I'm a fat kid at heart.  Whether it's store-bought cupcakes,

Thankful For: Family

Because we all need family to keep us grounded and humble.  My momma constantly reminding me that I can achieve anything with hard work.  My brother lets me vent about breakups, weird co-worker and client stories.  My sister is a wealth of knowledge about all the girlie-bits I don't understand.  And then, the munchkins.

Thankful For: Trader Joe's

First off, shame on you if you don't know what this is.  Second...they are amazing.  But, somehow....

despite your best efforts...you are incapable of looking like an adult via your receipt.  Three bottles of wine, vanilla tea, dark chocolate blueberries and fresh basil.  What?!?!  I'm either a six-year-old with ADD, or a wine-o with an affinity for flavored fruits and nuts.
Either way, this is neither a complete meal, nor part of a balanced breakfast.  Whatevs!!  Out in under $50!!

Be Back Soon

Away baking...be back soon.

*photo: Corrie Bond

Navy and Mustard

Currently coveting...

Entertaining Inspirations

Intern Appropriate

I started a new internship last week.  I get to intern with a fabulous interior designer (site, here).  Her clients are amazing, her staff is incredible, and I feel so energized being surrounded by so many intelligent, passionate women.

My only problem - I've been wearing jeans to work (almost exclusively) for the past 4 years.

Best. Words. Ever.

Don't give up what you want most, for what you want now.

(truth.)

Whiskey is a Food

This is not for the faint of heart...first two ingredients - butter and whiskey.  Let me re-phrase that -
THE FIRST TWO INGREDIENTS ARE BUTTER AND WHISKEY!

Indeed.  I started with this recipe (photos also stolen, since the time change has screwed with my photograph taking sessions recently).  Highly modified, but started none the less.  I also used Maker's Mark instead.  Cheaper, bourbon-y-ier (yes, a word.), and so good.

Craftsmanship

Often times, luxury goods is simply a title for overpriced wares.  The quality and the care have been omitted, while the price inflates.  This is not that.

My Mantle

Hol.i.days!

I've been lighting my Christmas candles pretty much non-stop for the past week.  Yeah..I jumped the gun for sure.  And now, the santa-ana-weather has got me missing my summer fun.

Co-dependence Flowers

If I gotta' be stuck at the desk doing homework....flowers and coffee will be required to keep me company.  I don't want to hear any whining from them, either!  If I have to suffer, they have to suffer, too!

Procrastination

There's no shame in procrastination.  I find that I'd rather share the love of testing my new cookie recipes than finish a research assignment.  And, really, everyone benefits more from this choice.  You and I both know that eating cookies is way more fun than reading my research paper, yes?  Yes.

So, light up the gingerbread candle, and bake!  That's what I did, anyway, knowing I had three more days to procrastinate.

On Fuego

Okay, not me...my computer.  Apparently, 'thermal failure' is a very bad thing.  Between travel, school, stupid nonsense like grocery shopping and showering...the dang thing didn't get fixed very quickly.  Yeah, you try to update a blog with a teeny, tiny smartphone screen.  Not. Happening.

But...I did get the joy of taking my nephew to the Zoo this weekend.  At two-years-old, he was really only looking for churros and any animal that was attracted to him hitting the glass...but, alas, he was smiles the whole time.

Also, he was excited to hear that grandma would let him get wet and kinda' dirty.  Oh, boys.

Ready for Fall (Fashion)

Scott Schuman is a modern-day fashion god.  I just wandered his website from last Fall, and it is amazing how he captures style, grace, and timeless fashion.  I just bought the flare jeans, shown above, and feel they are as stunning as ever.

And, I am now super excited to know how to transition all my platform cut-outs into Fall.  In case you have never heard of The Sartorialist blog, there's a great article found here.  (yeah...my bf sent me this one....)

Satchel Up

Totes Caitlin's fault.  She was carrying this satchel the other day.  Yes, Kate Spade did one.  So did J.Crew.  And countless other designers.

But why is Caitlin so bomb?  In her words "...I dunno...it's the one that little English kids carry their school books in." The Cambridge Satchel Company.  Yup.  And guess what?  They ship to the good ol' U.S. of A.  Get to shoppin'!  I promise, it comes in 'normal' colors, too.

This Will Change Your Life

I can't even use words.  Just watch.  And know that he uses the phrase "shake the dickens out of it".  Swoon.

Yay! Chocolate!

Kay.  Hate gluten? Check.  Don't eat frosting for breakfast? Check. Sorta'.  Need a Nutella-esque substitute that doesn't contain soy or corn syrup?  Oh, holy lord....here it comes!!

Current Corkboard

Blame my amazon.com delivery for this one...if you only pick up one book...pick up Wabi-Sabi for Artists, Designers and Poets (worth the $8, shop here).  Happy weekend!

Pie! Pie! Pie!

In case you still haven't listened to me...In case you don't hate pie...In case you like things buttery and sugary and flaky...

Listen up!! Crust Bakery has won the best pie in a state-wide pie contest with over 240 entries.  For reals.  So, if you've never ordered Stephanie's apple pie, get to gettin'.  Or, at least, read about her success last weekend, here, here and here.  Congratulations, Stephanie!

Coveting Cobalt

Really, this is not new.  But I thought I would share the visual love.  Above, a work on paper by Serena Mitnik-Miller.  Below, the most beautiful painted accent chairs...

Vintage Vantage

 Ya' know that girl that wore culottes, like, years before they were cool?  Or the girl you whizzed past at the thrift store, seriously curious why she spent so long on the 'lame rack'?  Or the girl that bought the gross men's blazer with intentions of turning it into a dress - and then actually did it?

Yeah.  Her name is Hanah Salas de Saucedo.  And she is good.

If Soda was Good...

...then this would be great!  I know, I know...soda is never okay.  But, wait!  Hang on, homies.  Made from fermented fruit juice.  Period.  No sugars, no chemicals, no colors.  Boom!  If 'clean soda' wasn't a deadly sin, I would say it right now.

And look...they're just as nerdy as me!  Telling you how to pair this soda with what food - as if it were wine?  Yeah.  Super-nerds, ahoy.  Check out their full line, and where to buy, here.

Regularly Scheduled Program

Hello, nerds! I didn't die, I swear.  My computer was having "thermal failure" all weekend.  I don't even know what that means.  My roommate does.  Phew!

So I spent the weekend researching photographers, fashion, running around, going to the beach, hanging with girlfriends and having no proof of any of this.  Yay!  So enjoy these photos from Sandy Nicholson (site, here).  Oh, and simultaneously pretend my girlfriends and I are five-year-olds.  Kay?  Thanks.