Pattern Play

What's in your china cabinet? This photo has me eager to mix things up.

Peaches and Cream

For me, the first true sign of summer is the day the ice cream maker trades places with the crock pot, which is what happened last weekend. Recently, I've been eating peaches like they're going out of style, so I opted for peach ice cream for the first go-round. I turned to my ice cream Bible, David Lebovitz's The Perfect Scoop, for a recipe and found a peach ice cream that was tart yet sweet, subtle and made even more delicious by amaretti cookie crumbles.

Peach Ice Cream
Recipe courtesy of The Perfect Scoop

1 1/3 pounds ripe peaches (about 4 large peaches)
1/2 cup water
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup sour cream
1 cup heavy cream
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
A few drops freshly squeezed lemon juice

Peel the peaches, slice them in half, and remove the pits. Cut the peaches into chunks and cook them with the water in a medium, nonreactive saucepan over medium heat, covered, stirring once or twice, until soft and cooked through, about 10 minutes.

Remove from the heat, stir in the sugar, then cool to room temperature. Puree the cooked peaches and any liquid in a blender or food processor with the sour cream, heavy cream, vanilla, and lemon juice until almost smooth but slightly chunky. (I pureed mine completely as I'm not a big fan of frozen chunks of fruit.)

Chill the mixture thoroughly in the refrigerator, then freeze it in your ice cream maker according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Shiny Happy Photos

 

 

I love these photos. All three convey pure summery goodness and are perfect for the gallery wall I'm working on.

[spotted on: apartment therapy]

Thoughts of the Week

Nothing beats a night of hanging out with old friends.

Why aren't I more crafty? (shakes fist at the sky)

A dessert might not look the way you want it to, but that doesn't make it any less delicious.

This is how I used to talk on the phone when I was a teenager. Who knew it was good for me?

Summer is my favorite thanks to nature's most perfect dessert.

I think my keyboard needs a makeover.

There are lots of awesome people in New York, but this person might just be my favorite.

Eating ice cream in a pretty dress without spilling is now on my list of life goals.

Wishing you all lovely, warm weekends!

House Envy

I'm enamored with this California home. It has so much character, and I love all the pops of color. Maybe one day, if I'm lucky, I'll have a striped room too.

[images: apartment therapy]

Brown Paper Packages

I will now wrap all presents using paper bags and Japanese masking tape because it is way too much fun. Sadly, this is about as crafty as I get.

[idea courtesy of marvelous kiddo]

Food and Family

I had such a great time with my parents last week. Most of our fun was food related since that's an area of shared and profound interest. Cherries, food trucks, World Cup-themed tv trays, bakery stops, martinis and appetizers, and the farmers' market. This week, I'll be indulging in water and lettuce.

Eye Candy for Breakfast

Raise your hand if you want to call in sick and have a pancake party. I'll warm the syrup.

[Photos: Shuttersmack; Bread et Butter; 5 second rule; Perry's Plate; Greedy Gourmand; Design*Sponge]

Yay!

Mom and Dad are here for a visit, which means lots of good eating, laughing and lazing around, and an actual Father's Day spent with my dad for the first time in years. I'm a happy girl. See you lovelies next week! And thanks for all the kind words about Southern Flourish!

Learning the Ropes

Anthropologie currently has a whole slew of items with rope detailing. It's nautical-themed with a twist, or a knot I should say, and I'm liking it.

It's Here!

Check out the summer issue of Southern Flourish today. It's filled with gorgeous photos, loads of inspiration, and, if I may humbly point out, my article on all the best Savannah has to offer on page 125. Some terrific bloggers and fabulous southerners are involved in this online magazine, including Olivia, Lesley, Natalie and Barb, just to name a few. I'm so honored to be a part of it! You can view the issue here.

Precious Porcelain

I love these dishes and vases from Cynthia Vardhan. The colors and patterns are just so darling. And the pieces are made from translucent porcelain, which means if you hold one up to a lamp, you can see light coming through. Sounds like a fun party trick.

Southern Flourish

The summer issue of the beautiful online magazine Southern Flourish comes out on June 15th, and I'm thrilled to be a part of it. I wrote and took photos for the Long Weekend Guide to Savannah. I can't wait to see the finished product (the above photo is all I've seen so far) and check out all the other great content in the issue. Be sure to take a look on Tuesday!

Festive Fiesta

These pictures are pure summery goodness. Here's hoping for hot days, cold drinks and outdoor parties. Happy weekend!

[photos by our labor of love]

Pillow Talk

My apartment is in need of a little something-something. I figured throw pillows are an easy and cheap solution. Decisions, decisions.

[pennants pillow, nautical stripe, firenze pillow, pink bird, midori pillow, edinburgh cushion, orange sunflower]