wishes

Welcome February! I love, love, love this month. It's a month of warmth, love, delights, Valentine's Day and lots of Happy Birthdays in my world. In fact, my B*day is just a few days away, and I've got a few little wishes tucked away. Please know that my intention is not to drop hints, but rather to document my wildest birthday dreams. :)I'm very curious about the contents of this book. I caught wind of it while visiting Jen at the Cottage Nest today. It looks marvelous!! Embroidery is high on my list of skills to learn/master someday. I love the fresh, simple designs on the cover.I've also got my eyes on this nifty scrapbooking tool. The Zutter-Bind-It-All punches through tough materials like chip board and even CDs and then binds with metal rings. My imagination is buzzing with all of the cool journals, books, and mini scrapbooks I could make with this toy.
And last but certainly not least, I've been craving a pair of elegant drop pearl earrings. So classic, so perfect for dressing up or just plain looking cute.

the perfect dessert

Today Jeff and I had a little lunch date in Hayes Valley. This neighborhood is saturated with the cutest places! It is a prime example of San Francisco essence, with its bright, upscale indie shops and cafes. You could spend all day just meandering through unique boutique after boutique. We stopped for dessert at Miette's confiserie, my favorite. place. ever. It's enticing pastel exterior is just the beginning. It's like stepping into a dream, and that's the experience one has before tasting a Parisian pistachio macaron. The rest, my friends is pure heaven! Miette is a sweet pastry and candy company that started with a bang here in 2001. Now they have two retail locations in S.F. and have a bakery in Berkeley. They use high-quality ingredients to make the most elegant, simple, delightful treats. I am giddy just thinking of all the gorgeous cakes and sweets they make for glitzy parties and weddings around here!

banana bread

Yesterday's banana bread is nearly gone, but per request, I wanted to share the recipe and a picture of my sparkly new mixer. :) For the inquisitive minds--my mixer is plain, bright white and I love it that way. It matches everything and I will have no regrets after 20 years of changing color trends. The banana bread recipe is actually from my mom's Better Homes & Gardens cookbook (circa 1980). Beware: in recent publications they've changed the recipe to something more cake-like and crumbly. My edition excludes the shortening, which may make for a healthier bread, but it's certainly not as scrumptious! This is the recipe I grew up with and I've yet to find a banana bread that I love quite as much:


Ingredients:
1 3/4 c. flour
1 1/4 t. baking powder
1/2 t. baking soda
3/4 t. salt
2/3 c. sugar
1/3 c. shortening
2 eggs
2 T. milk
1 c. mashed bananas (2)
3/4 t. salt
1/2 c. chopped walnuts


Stir together four, baking powder, soda, & salt: Set aside. In *sparkly new Kitchenaid mixer*, cream sugar & shortening until light and fluffy. Add eggs 1 at a time, then milk & bananas, beating smoothly after each addition. Then add flour combination a bit at a time, alternating with beating. Fold in nuts. Bake in a lightly greased loaf pan at 350 degrees for 1 hour. Cool in pan for 10 minutes, then flip loaf out onto cooling rack. Enjoy!

cause & effect

I have a theory that Jeff purposely leaves exactly two bananas from every bunch brought home from the grocery store atop the fridge to grow mushy and brown. Why? Because if you know Jeff, you know that he's a Curious-George-Monkey-loving kind of guy, and even more than he loves monkeys and bananas, he loves banana bread. It just so happens that my handy-dandy banana bread recipe calls for exactly 2 raunchy-ripe bananas.

It also just so happens that I made some cute pale blue little labels for my baking ingredients this weekend and lined my glass jars on the kitchen counter. Since then, they've been inviting me to dig in and bake something. Furthermore, I've been extra eager for excuses to plug in and play with my fancy new Kitchen Aid mixer (Christmas was kind!)...

The effect: An exquisite smelling freshly baked loaf of banana bread cooling as we speak:

baby craze

Even if my need, space, and plans for a nursery seem forever away, I can't help but flag this lovely nursery from BHG for future reference! I am absolutely in love with the dreamy aqua and green color scheme.I've always wanted to have a tree painted on an accent wall with funky hooks installed over a few branches to make it seem 3D. And oh, the sweet pillows!

pjs

These are currently my favorite pj pants to crawl into after a long day on my feet. My favorite pjs for watching movies on the couch. My favorite pjs to wear while sleeping in 'til noon. Oh, and they're also great to wear while making eggs and muffins in the morning. The little lace crochet trim is my favorite part.

valentines accomplished

All my pretty sweethearts are officially made. Can't wait for February to roll around so I can stick them in the mail!

experience

Last night Jeff and I headed out to the SFMOMA (Museum of Modern Art). Although modern art is not high on my list, we were lured in by the open late/half price Thursday campaign. I'm always searching for new and inexpensive things to try in the city! I must admit that after the first floor of canvases painted one completely solid color, I was unimpressed; modern art had lived up to all of its stereotypes. Then as we climbed and meandered through the museum, things got more and more intriguing. We especially loved Olafur Elaisson's Take your Time exhibit in which strives to capture art as an experience rather than an object. I had to drag Jeff out of this 360 degree room of changing colors. Very cool. When in SF, the MOMA is definitely worth a shot...And if you're the skeptic, like me, save it for Thursday nights (again, half-price) or the first Tuesday of every month (free)!

discovery

I'm not even sure what planet I've been on lately...Today I just discovered that Martha's craft line has its very own website. Every time I step into a Michael's craft store I go completely ga-ga over this stuff, but sadly my local Michael's is not-so-local for me these days. Now I can look at the extended version and order online! :) More importantly, there are some absolutely beautiful ideas and tutorials to be checked out! I love the huge section of projects with downloadable and printable directions. Inspiration-city!

hot chocolate day

Days off are the very best. For me, they are random Saturdays tucked into the middle of the week and are always 100% relaxing and wonderful. Today's agenda:

*Take a lovely (but chilly) morning hike in the rain with Jeff
*Breakfast at a cozy new-to-me mom & pop's cafe
*Dry off and warm up on the couch with this silky hot chocolate in my favorite little cup
*Craft Valentines
*Listen to Jeff scheme about his big new camera purchase and photography business venture
*Watch the puddles grow on the sidewalks below my window
*Not even worry about what comes next...

eye candy

Goodness, Valentine's Day is less than a month away! I have always loved, loved *Heart*day for 3 reasons: 1) It's close to my birthday. 2) Pink is generally my favorite color. 3) It's all about chocolate. Oh--and it's fun to celebrate our friends and loved ones! Two years ago, my expert-crafting friend Amy made this Valentine for me--and it's the most thoughtful, lovely, amazing Valentine I'd ever received! She filled an empty box of chocolates with crafting notions galore: ribbons, stickers, ric-rac, brads, photo corners, paper flowers, etc. I've definitely made quite a dent in its contents after 2 years of scrapbooking, but I could never get rid of it!! Instead, I've been slowly replenishing each compartment with new little notions, so that each time I open it, it's still a feast for the eyes. Plus I'll always have a stash of supplies ready to make Valentines, year after year!

cozy in

The quest to create a little home library in our apartment has come to an end. Last weekend, Jeff and I cram-jammed 3 Ikea book cases into our mid-sized sedan and flew home, giddy about getting them assembled. (Disclaimer: transporting these bad boys involved scooting both front seats to their ultimate closest position to the dash. Having a width of less than one foot from kneecap to pedal, I had to smash behind the wheel and drive like a granny in an extra-small clown car home. I wouldn't recommend this practice to anyone greater than 5'6". Lesson learned: bring a truck to Ikea.) However, I'm quite in love with the results! Finally a place to store all of our (already) dusty college textbooks, a place to tuck all of my precious scrapbooks, a place to stash random knick-knacks, and a place to display Jeff's vast collection of films. It's so refreshing to have a delightful new surrounding to cozy in to after a long day (or night). Speaking of nights...Allow me to digress. Last night marked the last of my mean-streak of night shifts during and after orientation at the hospital. (For those of you just tuning in, I started my career as an R.N. last October in Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care.) I'm a pretty happy camper to be flipping back to days--starting tomorrow! Lessons learned having worked too many night shifts: 1. You'll be hungry at the oddest times. Whenever 3am rolls around, whether at work or trying to sleep the next night, you'll have an insatiable craving for Rocky Road ice cream. Ick. 2. No matter what, you can't get used to it. Up for 24 hours one day, sleep for 24 the next, it's crazy. 3. Naps don't help. Naps simply trick your brain into thinking you're a little better-rested. 4. Even though night shifts completely screw with your schedule, your life--you don't care, because you're getting paid more to have a slightly less-insane 12 hour shift. ;)

green apple : green groceries

One little way I choose to be a little greener this year: Ditch the ugly plastic grocery bags and purchase a few canvas tote bags ($5 each at Bed Bath & Beyond!) that I can use over and over again, without worrying about tears, rips, or double-bagging. To spice up my blank, boring bag I applied a fun green apple applique. It was such a delight to finally be able to use some of the delicious Amy Butler fabric that Fairlight sent my way last fall. The best part is, I didn't even have to play mind games figuring out how to use my {borrowed} sewing machine...Simply cut, peel, iron, and enjoy!

craving grapefruit

My dear, dear friend Gretchen is planning a gorgeous outdoor wedding this summer inspired by this:That's right, she's picked a grapefruit palette, and I can't get enough of it! Could there be a more fresh, fun combo to work with?!? Lately I've been in heaven, flagging some favorite ideas and inspiration for her. Among the highlights are the ever-stellar ideas at Rebecca Thuss, Martha, and frolic that I've clustered together in this little inspiration board:

readability test

This website is just complete Saturday-afternoon silliness. :) If you can read this, you must be a genius!!

apartment revamp {2}: spool for spools

A quick, easy, inexpensive way to make ribbons visible and accessible: Create a rod to line up spools of ribbons using a simple wooden dowel and curtain rod brackets. {Image from the new, cute & clever Organize Magazine.}

apartment revamp {1}: home library

Now that all traces of Christmas are behind us (yes, the tree has finally exited the building), I've got a few apartment revamping projects on the brain. I've been wanting to line one of the walls in our living room with a library of bookcases so that we can finally display our vast collection of media. I'm afraid our tiny wire DVD tower, closet stash of scrapbooks, and cardboard boxes of college textbooks are all bursting at the seams and deserving of some proper display time. Tomorrow marks our annual IKEA run (because shopping there is sort of a love/hate relationship for me), and I've been scouting out an inexpensive, sturdy piece like this.

feast for the eyes

Finally got my hands on a copy of this absolutely beautiful cookbook. Believe it or not, I found it at Anthropologie for 50% off. Happy day! This book wonderfully attests to the idea that we eat first with our eyes...All of it's recipes are categorized by colors, not courses. The author reminisces about her lifetime of memories and tastes throughout the book. This is quite possibly the most aesthetic {cook}book I've ever opened. I can't even wait to give it a whirl!

my sweet little splurge

My brand new navy+polka dots+pink wellies are absolutely perfect for:

*welcoming rainy days
*splashing in puddles
*feeling like I'm 8 years-old again
*keeping my feet warm+dry
*wearing with skirts and cute tights/socks
*cheering up my entryway when not in use

irony? karma? you decide.

Despite a West Coast hurricane, it was a lovely little weekend. My childhood (& still today!) friend Kayt landed in S.F. on Wednesday night, prepared to take a break from her busy grad-school life and ready for a girly-style adventure of shopping, winetasting, shopping, eating out, shopping, and just plain catching up. We were determined not to let the inclement weather stand in our way. Even on Friday morning, after waking up to 70+ mph winds, a candlelight breakfast (the power went out around 8am), and watching two of the neighbors' trees fall into the street, we set out to paint the town and shop the day away. All in all, it was a delightful visit. Thanks for coming, K! :)

This is my absolute favorite shot of the entire weekend: Is it irony or twisted karma? You a buy a Prius in hopes of going green--saving the trees, and instead one comes crashing down through your windshield. {Glad it wasn't my car.}