Take Cover

A friend recently asked me what would be a good non-lingerie kind of gift for a bride-to-be. Since the couple is taking a warm weather honeymoon, I suggested a beach cover-up. It's such a glamorous touch for any poolside or seaside vacation, and you'll get years of use out of it.

[spotted here: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]

Mint Ginger Slush

Mint seems to make everything taste light and refreshing, and I recently discovered, it takes ice and ginger ale to frozen treat territory. The blender does all the work, and you get a happy, summery slushie. All you need is a straw so you can stir and revive the slush as the crushed ice melts and get every last slurp.

Mint Ginger Slush

12 oz. ginger ale

8 mint leaves

4 cups ice

Combine in a blender. Serves 2.

Also, here's a recipe for sorbet made in the blender.

Long Weekend in Photos

It was hot and humid in New York with some thunderstorms thrown in, so I plodded around all weekend in flats and sundresses. We paid a visit to Pok Pok in Brooklyn. We've been to their chicken wing-only location on the Lower East Side, but it was nice to experience the restaurant's full menu like we did in Portland last summer, and I have a growing obsession with their drinking vinegars. It's like an Italian soda but slightly tart. The rest of the long weekend was spent sunning on the roof, enjoying a melty chocolate chip cookie, cooling off at the movies, eating burgers and attempting an orange sherbet recipe...results yet to be determined. How'd you spend the weekend?

Thoughts of the Week

It never hurts to add a little color.

This kind of card doesn't need a present to go along with it.

Pie season begins.

How did I miss the dance parade?

For those days when you need a glamorous camera strap.

Did Kristen Wiig make you cry too?

A simple way to hang lights.

The beauty of making memories.

The Great Gatbsy trailer sure is sparkly.

If there's one way to improve upon perfection, it's magic shell.

Any big weekend plans? I'm hoping to spend some time outside (if it ever stops raining), eat a frozen treat and see the new Wes Anderson movie. Have a wonderful weekend!

Watch This

I think the last time I wore a rubber watch, I was in the third grade, but it might be time for another one. The bright colors, gold details and casual look of these watches from Anthropologie seem perfect for summer wristwear.

Making Pomegranate Mojitos

I'm declaring it the summer of the mojito. It's not like I have the authority to make these sorts of declarations, but come on, who's gonna argue with that. After seeing Mono+Mono's extensive mojito menu and Amy's round-up of flavor possibilities, I decided to mix up a pomegranate mojito. It's so refreshing and light, and the color is like Christmas and summer all in one blissful glass.

Pomegranate Mojitos
20 mint leaves
1 lime, cut into 8 wedges
2 tablespoons simple syrup
1/2 cup white rum
1/4 cup and 2 tablespoons pomegranate juice
2 cups ice
club soda

Muddle mint leaves and lime wedges in a sturdy container. Add simple syrup and continue to muddle. Add rum and pomegranate juice and stir. Fill two glasses with ice and divide unstrained mojito mixture between both glasses. Top with club soda and give it a stir. Garnish with lime. Makes 2 mojitos.

Bird Housing

These adorable birdhouses, designed to look like retro trailers, are handmade by a husband and wife team in Oregon. Each one comes with a personalized license plate, and yes, birds actually do live in them. I know if I were a bird, I'd definitely pick the cutest, quirkiest birdhouse.

And check out this round-up of bird nests I came across. Some of them are so beautiful!

Weekend in Photos

Jonah and I decided to do something fun and easy for our anniversary on Saturday, so we headed to Long Beach, New York, not California. It was just an hour train ride to a nice, white sandy beach. It wasn't too crowded and the weather was just right. We took a stack of magazines, some fruit and were two happy beach bums for the day. We had a late lunch at a great Italian place called Sorrento's with amazing pizza and yummy Italian cookies. Then we hopped back on a train, sleepy and a little sunburned. My parents and in-laws both sent sweet gifts, I bought some peonies, and on Sunday, we had pancakes in our pajamas. It was exactly what I needed.

One for the Books

Like I mentioned the other day, this Saturday is our fifth anniversary. I never made a photo album for myself after the wedding. I know, what kind of bride was I? So after five years, I finally took the time to do it. I decided to order a panoramic photo book through Pinhole Press. I gave myself a few hours to go through my photos, narrow them down, change some to black and white and choose different page layouts. Less than a week later, the book is in my hands, and I love it, especially the look of the photos stretched across both pages. Happy Anniversary to me!

We're still deciding how to celebrate. I'm thinking a day at the beach would be nice! What are you up to this weekend?

[all wedding photos by: Kellie Kano]

Warm Afternoons and Cold Drinks

Some days are just made better by things like an iced latte on a warm afternoon, flower shop displays on the sidewalk, colorful signs and walking directly behind a man in Brooklyn who's wearing the same color pants as you.