Last weekend, I went pottery painting at Petroglyph (for the first time!) in what was a much-needed girls day o' fun. The concept is simple: You show up, pick a piece of bisque (formed but unglazed pottery), bring your own treats (next time we'll remember the wine!), and make the piece your own. You can paint anything from salt&pepper shakers, to enormous platters, to garden gnomes! It just costs $9.99 for the studio fee and then you pay for any and all pieces you paint. I know these sort of places have been around since 1990-something, but I am just now addicted. I couldn't stop after just one bowl; I made the nacho platter too! The only bummer is that you have to wait a few days for them to fire your pieces. I can't even wait to see how everyone's turn out!
4.28.2008
pottery painting
4.27.2008
4.26.2008
welcome berries
My tastebuds are rejoicing: Strawberry season is in full swing! Amazing year 'round produce is probably the #1 perk of living in California. Seriously. It's unreal. Lately the strawberries around here have been extra succulent extra sun-kissed and extra dirt cheap. And they'll stay that way until fall. Last night Jeff & I completely indulged with our 2 pints of heavenly bright red and exactly ripe berries. Hanging in. Just the two of us. I cherish these rare quiet evenings. 
Chocolate covered strawberries & whipped-cream topped daquiris. These are a few of my favorite things.
We also celebrated the much-anticipated (for me anyway!) viewing of Juno. It completely lived up to the hype. It's darling. Ellen Page was perfect & I really loved Jennifer Garner. And I doubly love the fact that it takes place in good old Minnesota!! The only lame part about it was that I somehow missed seeing it in the theaters. Glad I'm officially up to speed with the world.
4.22.2008
what's for supper
This is my favorite cookbook, hands down. It's an integral part of my daily life. It's saved my life on numerous occasions with idiot-proof recipes to serve guests. I received this book as a bridal shower gift and I can't rave about it enough. I consult it nearly every time I write a grocery list. It has some of the yummiest, simplest recipes ever. Yes--all ingredients that you've actually heard of. And did I mention that everythings pretty healthy? Straightforward+fast+delicious is what I'm all about. A few of my favorite ultimately fabulous recipes inside:
*Chicken+blueberry pasta salad with creamy tarragon dressing
*Crab on a muffin
*Chicken+avocado+red bell pepper wraps
*Mushroom+bell pepper+ham frittata
*Baked salmon+fresh fruit salsa
*Lemon rice+pine nuts
*Zucchini boats
*Grilled flank steak+soy marinade
*Mini cheesecake+blueberry sauce
*Berry cobbler
Maryana Vollstedt (the genius behind it all!) has several other books that I'm curious to try. Any recommendations?
4.21.2008
a passionate heart
Lately I've been passionate about making a whole-lot of excuses. Excuses that I am too busy, too far away, not talented enough, not bright enough, not eloquent enough, not faithful enough. I feel shy about posting personal or Godward thoughts because I am too self-conscious and not articulate enough. Last week, dear Leslie posed a question on her blog that has been weighing on my heart: What are you passionate about? Maybe this is just the push I needed.
I've been a hopeless case of twisted priorities. I've been spending day after day feeling like a spinning top, without getting anywhere. I find myself dreaming in conditional statements, "If I can only be _____ then I will be more ____" and "Someday when ____ then _____ will be better." Sad situations at work leave me doubting and questioning God's perfect will. And while struggling to find my own way down life's path, lost and complaining, I've been too proud and maybe just too weak to take out my compass and map. To preoccupied with myself to realize that there's really only one thing missing.
Thankfully, my Lord+Savior hasn't been keeping track of my floundering. Jesus already lived a perfect life and died in my place. All I need to do is turn to Him. His Word is still on my nightstand, waiting to be opened. He wants to speak to me, to work in me, to shine in me. He certainly hasn't stopped loving me unconditionally. In fact, He's made a place for me in heaven and He wants me to inherit an eternity of bliss, perfect wisdom and unending glory and light {John 14:2}. Love so perfect and amazing, does not even make sense to me.
I am {wanting to be more} passionate about my walk with Jesus. I need Him at the center of my life. When my relationship with God stays the top priority in my life, I just know that all of my other cares, worries, and passions will fall into place {Matt. 6:33}. Better yet, He promises to direct my paths in the passions He has created in my heart {Psalm 37:4}. When I reflect on His promises, I realize that feeling inadequate and incapable is simply not allowed. Over and over again, God seeks out the poor, humble, and weak to serve Him & spread His precious word.
No more excuses. He has called me by name, He cares for me & blesses me in more ways than I could even begin to appreciate. He fills me up. I want to know Him more. I want to live for Him; serve Him. I want to share my faith in Him with others; I want to delight myself in Him; I want to trust in Him always. {Whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things. Philippians 4:7}
Lord, give me a new, clean, passionate heart. Let me be reborn in you daily. I need your tender mercy, endless forgiveness, and strength more than ever. I want to walk in the light of your truth. Fill me with passion to love others like you love them and to serve you in all that I do. Give me grace & contentment with the life you've given me and fill me with zeal & passion to live for you. You already know the story of my life--You wrote it. I hope you have big plans for me. I am in.
annie leibovitz
Phew! Another busy week spills into another busy weekend. Jeff's dad was in town for a church conference until Saturday, so in between eating out, hanging out, and three different busy schedules we had a great excuse to check out the Annie Leibovitz exhibition at the Legion of Honor. {Yes, that's her ravishing shot of Nicole Kidman above.} It's so fun to think we have an amazing art museum in our very own neighborhood. We've hiked past this place so many times and finally having the chance to stop in and check out its galleries left me, well, impressed. Definitely add this place to your list of "When in San Francisco..." Oh, and Annie's magnificent photography is on display until May 25th--and comes highly recommended.
4.15.2008
ta da! {thank you tax day!}
I've been buzzing so much about the new couch that it's probably about time to share a quick picture of it in our apartment! After rearranging everything to find the perfect spot for the beast we realized 3 things: 1. Our new couch is really really nice. 2. It makes all the remainder of our college-life-hand-me-down furniture look even more crusty, and I can see how this furniture shopping game could become an addiction. 3. It's even more gargantuan than in the store. (It's sporting the same 3 Ikea pillows as our old couch in this picture. The comparison will make you chuckle.) All in all, we were really impressed with Pottery Barn's service. The lady who sold us the couch was so great, it shipped so fast, and we just realized that they accidentally upgraded the fabric of the slipcover!! For real. As in, we picked & payed for a lower grade fabric on mega sale and then they sent us the softer, higher quality canvas we liked best. Whoops! Here's to more serendipitous moments! This was the best use for our tax refund ever. And after the strife of filing our taxes this year, we felt a bit deserving. (Between the two of us, we held 7 different jobs in 2 different states in 2007. That's what the college to real-world transition will do to you. Such confusion!) At any rate, we're glad that taxes are over & the couch is situated. ;)
4.12.2008
auntie time
We had a wonderful visit from my big bro + sil Katie + little Elijah last weekend. And ever since then I've been either working or sleeping nonstop, so sorry for the blog neglect! I miss E's little cry and heap of dirty diapers around here. Having a baby around makes me 100% crazy about having one of my own--but having one as perfect & downright adorable as Eli would be a tough act to follow. And so as not to steal Katie's thunder, documenting nearly every step of their stay here on her own new blog, I'll just share a few of the very best highlights:
*Quality fam time
*Losing my sushi virginity at Koo {It's actually kinda tasty!}
*Spectating baby E's bathtub time
*Not just another annoying trip to Fisherman's Wharf, because I got to carry Eli in his Baby Hawk.
*Picnic in Golden Gate park
*An excuse to stop for Parisian Macarons at Miette and bliss out.
perfect saturday
Today is one of those perfect Saturdays. I love the rare mornings we can actually enjoy together... Sleeping in. French toast+bacon+fresh succulent strawberries for breakfast. Warmest day in San Francisco I've ever experienced. Am wearing a t-shirt and capris. Fancy that! And by some sudden twist of fate which I have yet to process, the sofa of our dreams arrived at our door at 10:00am. We weren't expecting it until after 11, but it's prompt, unannounced arrival was fitting after the whirlwind experience of selecting it. Most normal people spend months hunting for the perfect sofa, then double the length of time as they wait for it to be manufactured and delivered. Not so for us--We've had our eyes on this sofa for approximately two weeks. At first we resigned ourselves to the possibility of purchasing it, thinking that it was too huge for our apartment and too wide for our doorways. Then within a week's time we learned we could bring it in on its back after all, with a mere 0.5 inches to spare. Saturday we learned that one of our choice fabrics was on mega sale, but with limited quantities remaining. Sunday we sped back to Pottery Barn and made a somewhat impulsive decision to go ahead and get it. Monday we cooled our jets, as the estimated date of delivery was set for June 1st. Wednesday we received a phone call that the couch was already in the city and ready to be delivered this week. Friday (yesterday) we sent our putrid green couch to the Salvation Army. And today, I am typing from the comfort of our luxurious new deep-pocket sofa. On our new couch, there is room for us both to sprawl and/or spoon. There is room for us to grow a huge family, or just have lots of friends over. We've already rearranged our entire apartment to make the perfect place for this new sofa. We're really happy it's here. I can tell we're going to get along great.
4.07.2008
bluebirds of happiness
1. 4.05.2008
look who's here...
Lookie who's here visiting us! Baby Elijah just made his first cross-country flight to pay us a visit this weekend. Oh, and his mom & dad are here hanging out too. :) Since we're a little preoccupied with some serious baby bonding time, I'll be back next week. Enjoy your weekend!
4.03.2008
our nest: living room
And last but certainly not least...Our living room! I must start out by saying a sincere thank you for all of the syrupy sweet comments about our apartment this week. I am blushing and feeling even more grateful for this little corner of the world we call our home! I can't help but dream about someday having a more matchy-matchy kitchen, or getting nicer furniture, or learning how to master the art of window treatments....But for now, I'm happy right where we are. Of course that's not to say I won't stop trying to chanel my inner decorator--repainting, rearranging, and perusing the home section at Marshall's. ;) And there won't be anything more liberating than one day calling Goodwill to come, take our slipcovered beastess of a 1970s pea-green couch away.
This sideboard belonged to the same great-grandma as the kitchen table. (What great taste in furniture!) I also refinished it with my dad after discovering it in our attic with some warped water damage on the top. You know, I will always cherish my memories of times spent restoring furniture with my dad. It was sometimes tough to compete for his attention growing up with 4 brothers who could spend entire weekends bonding with him under the car hood or at the batting cage. Anyway, back to the sideboard buffet: it is 100% necessary for storing all of those beautiful, fragile wedding gifts that don't get used enough (i.e. candlesticks, crystal serving platters, extra wine glasses, extra silverware). 
4.02.2008
our nest: kitchen
I love the fact that our kitchen is super-spacious for such little digs in a big city. These built-in cabinets add a lot of old school charm. Although they could really use a fresh coat of paint, I haven't quite conjured up the ambition to tackle this project! The only problem, in my opinion, is that our dear landlord is design-gene deficient and thought that throwing up a mod, blondie Ikea number on the opposite wall would complement the original {cabinetry}. Ummm, not so much. But for now, I'm not complaining about the ample storage!
Our bitty drop leaf table is another sentimental family hand-me-down. It was my great-grandparents' kitchen table when they were first married in the 1930s! I love imagining what their dinners together might have been like back then. What my great-grandma made, what they conversed about, what they wore, what they dreamed about, etc. The table was once stained a dark green and had red flowers hand painted in the corners. It fell into disrepair in my grandparents' basement over the years, so it now has a fresh coat of Martha Stewart buttery yellow. The most cheerful color. And to top it off, I've become a fresh flower addict since moving to Cali. I don't even wait around for Jeff to bring them to me...I have no guilt getting a fresh new bouquet every week at the grocery store. They're so darn cheap and they give me a great boost of endorphins! 
I've started a collection of all white dishes. So classic. I'd love to paint the beadboard in the back of the cupboard a pretty pastel someday to really make these dishes pop.
And the best part of all: we have been blessed with a dishwasher. My life is now complete.
4.01.2008
our nest: office/guest room/craft studio
This place is perfect for cat naps when it's just the two of us...and for a good night's sleep when we play B&B with our friends & fam. I apologize that this is a repeat photo for some. {I just love the lighting in this picture!}
...And this my friends, is where the magic happens.
These bay windows + the windows behind the bed make this the sunniest room in the house...And that's just fabulous, 'cause with our computer and my craft area in this same room, we probably spend most of our time here. Below are the french doors that open into our living room. I love the way my Rachel Ashwell curtains from Target make this room feel so airy.
This room has three odd doors that together make one long, shallow closet. We tucked our extra furniture pieces inside to make a happy little crafting station for me. It's rather rudimentary, but I absolutely love having a place for everything...A place that is, until I get on a roll. Imagine the paper trail (literally) of crafting supplies strewn across the floor and covering the guest bed. That--is me in my element.
