Monday, May 31, 2010

Happy Memorial Day!

Hope you have a beautiful and relaxing long weekend! Or, perhaps, even an adventure! Sometimes, that's just what the doctor ordered to welcome the summer "officially" - and the start of wearing your summertime whites, if you follow The Rules, that is. (Which, personally, I do not!)

Friday, May 28, 2010

I'm going to be honest: I love vegetables. Pretty much all vegetables. I used to love to make steamed broccoli as an afternoon snack when I was a kid and was not a fan of anything cheesy that would take away the from the taste of whatever vegetable I was eating. As an adult, I've developed more bitter favorites, like dandelion greens, arugula, kale, and brussel spouts (and I have to name chard, peppers - especially red, orange, and yellow! - and asparagus as favorites here as well since I love them so much, Shout out!). One of my (and my boyfriend's) favorite green vegetables of late are brussel spouts. Now, I know what you're thinking. Brussel sprouts?? What a sucky post. I hate brussel sprouts. But stay with me: They have a bad rep, sure. Heck, they're The Posterchild of Vegetables Kids Hate. You might even go so far as to say they're propaganda for Anti-Vegetable Eaters. But that's only when they're cooked for too long in cruel [read: boil] ways. The key is to either broil or saute them cut-half down on medium-low (emphasis on the low, though) for about 15-17 minutes. Before you put them face down though, heat up the pan (preferably cast iron) on high for a couple (2 - 3) minutes with a high quality olive oil (the kind where you can really taste the olives), salt and pepper. Then, in they go. All of them should be cut-side down. They are A-M-A-Z-I-N-G about 15-17 minutes later. Et Voila!

Thursday, May 27, 2010

In a parallel universe

In the spirit of Where's Waldo, spot the russell terrier shaped boxwood? How cute/ quirky is that!

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Tree blossoms

Aren't blooming trees just the prettiest? Tiny blossoms like these make great patterns for anything from stamped {glass}shower door, to pretty placemats to a small room's (perhaps one wall of a bathroom?) wallpaper.

Neighborhood murals

I love pretty neighborhood murals, especially when they're around a few plants or a nice garden. I've always found this one pretty amusing.

Monday, May 24, 2010

Why don't you...

...Spruce up a blazer with a pretty scarf! Totally French-ified, sophisticated and unique! If Audrey Hepburn were a business women, I like to think she'd rock something like this.

Two if by sea

What a perfect day to escape to the beach - preferably sandy, but even rocky will do!

Friday, May 21, 2010

Whimsically wonderful

I started doodling the other day, wanting something pretty and simple - black and white - but also with an element of nature and came up with these. My biologist boyfriend likes to joke that these are "so whimsical" since you'd never, of course, in nature see more than one type of flower growing from the same plant.

And another