Thoughts of the Week

In my mind, this cake tastes like sweet tea with lemon. Yum.

Even I can read these maps.

Living in a garage might not be so bad.

I thought mint green would be my go-to spring color, but it might just be flamingo pink.

And of course, pink clothes call for a pink dresser.

It's possible to make blood orange soda even tastier.

How to look chic come rain or shine.

There's something so pretty about paint drips when they aren't on your walls or furniture.

I want to throw a crepe party and shout Oprah-style, "You get a crepe! And you get a crepe! And you get a crepe!"

Happy Friday! Thanks for visiting and commenting! Sometimes I forget to say that, but I'm so very grateful for each set of eyes on this little blog.

Eatin' Eton Mess

This is a dessert I eat year-round, but it always makes me think of spring, something about the subtle sweetness and lighter than air consistency. It's an English dessert called Eton mess. If you speak southern like me, it may sound more like "eatin' mess," which actually makes sense too. It has the same appeal of one of my other favorite desserts, pavlova, but it's much easier to make. It's just strawberries and whipped cream taken to another level by adding the crunch of meringue cookies, which you can make yourself or buy. Simple and quick happiness by the spoonful.

[recipe courtesy of: Nigella Lawson]

Happy Birthday, Husband!

Happy Birthday to the guy who makes me smile, laugh and sets my heart aflutter each day. Tonight, we shall feast like kings. Steak, mashed potatoes and apple crisp. And here's to making faces in pictures until all your hair is gray, just yours, not mine.

Gamer Girl

Other than nostalgia for Mario Brothers and Duck Hunt and the occasional Wii battle, I am not a video game kind of girl. But lately, I find myself borrowing my husband's PlayStation 3 to play the recently-released Journey. It's about a faceless creature's trek through a sandy desert to a mystical mountain, and I like to think of it as the yoga of video games. It's goal-oriented but also beautiful and calming. In an equally stunning game produced by the same company in 2009, you get to be a flower petal and roam through fields gathering other petals. I had no idea video games could be so pretty -- or feminine. Watch trailers for both games below.

Weekend in Photos

It was one of those necessary lazy weekends filled with "chores" like painting my toenails, reading and Springsteen sing-a-longs. Jonah and I saw The Hunger Games on Saturday night, had a yummy Sunday brunch at Cranky's, and watched Mad Men with friends over cocktails and pizza. Lots of bright spots on an overcast, chilly weekend.

Jelly Bean Jar

When our friends visited us last weekend, they brought a fun gift along with them, this glass jar meant to look like a Ziploc bag. You can find it here. It possesses all of my favorite qualities: modern, quirky and capable of being filled with candy. I had to buy some Starburst jelly beans just for it this week. That's right, I said for the jar, not for me to eat by the handful. Happy Friday, friends! Any big weekend plans?

A Splashy Wedding

I love this Palm Springs wedding for all the details and color the bride and groom, two graphic designers, incorporated, not to mention all that glorious signage. Their dinner was Mexican from a food truck, they served cupcakes for dessert, and the couple jumped in the pool at the end of the night. That's my kind of party.

[spotted on: bridal musings; photography by: Mike Arick]

Simple Salmon Supper

It's dinner for one around here since Jonah is out of town for work this week. I didn't want to spend a lot of time in the kitchen last night, and I wanted just enough food for myself. This light supper of smoked salmon with warm potato salad hit the spot and required minimal effort. I picked up a small package of smoked salmon on my way home, cut down the recipe quantities and completed the only cooking involved, boiling a few fingerling potatoes. The touches of dill, lemon juice, crème fraiche and horseradish add lovely bursts of flavor that make you feel like you're eating something really special. Although, I missed our routine of eating dinner together while watching Jeopardy, a glass of prosecco and this happy little plate of food worked wonders.

[recipe courtesy of: Jamie Oliver]

Shoe Blooms

Nothing says spring like flowers, even on your feet. These floral shoe clips would be a great way to transition winter heels into spring or give old shoes new life. I'm thinking about buying a set to fancy up my footwear and enjoy this spring weather all the way down to the tips of my toes.

[1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]

Weekend in Photos

 

 

Our friends Annie and Anthony came up from Maryland for a weekend visit filled with walks, yummy meals and silliness. We had Saturday morning pancakes while watching Ninja Warrior, visited the High Line, ate pizza and pasta at Otto, and had brunch at Peels on a beautiful Sunday with a beautiful piece of monkey bread. I love weekends spent with friends.