Style

This is kind of silly and I'm not really sure why I'm drawn to it, but I am....  Ruby's Lounge is an Itsy Store with all of these decoupage deer heads that are super well done.  Kind of pricey at $300+ but certainly a statement.  What's the statement?  Well, I guess that your deer head could really use a make-over...

Food

OK, if you haven't heard about Kogi, you must have been in a cave for the last 9 months...  Kogi Fever has now hit the OC and it's the tastiest thing I've had in ages...

It started in LA last year and since then, the NY Times, Wall St. Journal and just about every Food Magazine in the country has written about it.  Korean BBQ Tacos?  Yup, and they will blow your mind.  These guys have about ten trucks that show up at specific, parking lot locations and only announce them on Twitter, 15 minutes in advance.  It causes a frenzy and Kogi Freaks come from out of the wood works to get their paws on these amazing and inventive little treats.  Kimchee Quesadilla's, Korean Spam Sliders, Short Rib Tacos...  You really can't go wrong.

Michael and I caught up with the truck over the Holiday... We got an inside tip that they'd be in an auto parts store parking lot at 10:30pm in Beuna  Park.  With no kids for the weekend, we felt like this was our big chance.  Within 5 minutes of the Kogi Truck pulling up, there was, no joke, 100+ people (mostly Asian) lined up.  We had the Korean BBQ'd Tofu Tacos and the Quesadilla's.  Unbelievable!!

I hear they are expanding to New York, San Francisco and Seattle next.  Go to kogibbq.com, follow them on Twitter and get em' while they're hot....

Fun

Here's another good Father's Day gift idea.  The Swiss Flash Swiss Army Knife has a 1g flash drive in it, along with the other usual knife, scissors, etc., but also a mini flash light and retractable ball point pen.  What Dad wouldn't love to keep this handy?  It's only about $40 and available through SwissArmy.com

Family

Seeing this really dated me...  I remember when Michael and I first saw Ziggy Marley at the old Filmore in San Francisco.  Michael got tickets from one his hotel contacts and we went to the opening night.  It was Ziggy Marley and The Melody Makers and the album was Conscious Party.  We brought a bottle of wine for the Manager of the Filmore as a thank you.  When we went to drop it off at his office, the late Bill Graham was with him.  It was really a thrill to meet him and a memory I'll never forget.

That was over twenty years ago and now Ziggy is 40.  His latest album is Family Time.  It has all sorts of other artists on it like Paul Simon, Jack Johnson Willy Nelson, Little Feat and a bunch of others.  The whole theme is kids and family and it's really sweet.   A perfect download for the Road Trips with your own family this summer.

Travel

You might want to hurry out and get this book for a guide to quick summer trips.   We're pretty damn lucky to live in a state where you can be at the beach, the desert or the mountains, all in about two hours from each other.

Ramble California breaks it down for quick reference and the guy is spot on with his recommendations.  A lot of them are quirky and "off the beaten trail", which adds to the fun of planning something a little different.

Ramble On...

Art

I absolutely love these prints that are from Alexander "Sandro" Girard.  He was the modernists who headed up textile design for Herman Miller back in the 60's.  His folk art inspired textile design was used by Mid-Century Designers like Charles & Ray Eames, George Nelson and others.

The Columbia Forest Products Ply-prints were recently released and now available through Design Public.

Style

OK Ladies,

I was driving down 17 Th. Street in Newport Beach yesterday and my neck almost broke off .  I passed Blue Springs Home and FREAKED OUT over the Tie Dye bedding (not pictured) in her window.  I made a quick u-turn and pulled in front of the store.  The owner, Susan, could not have been sweeter.  She actually came out to talk to me as stood in my car drooling over her window display.

The Bedding is by John Robshaw and Blue Springs has a great selection of fun, retro colors. John Robshaw has lots of other beautiful bedding, like the adorable sheets above, cotton quilts, shams, duvets and throw pillows.... All in sort of Middle Eastern-Moroccan  inspired prints that translate into a very cool, Beachy-BoHo feeling.

Art

I found this Portland Artist, Betsy Walton the other day and fell in love with her underwater fantasy pieces.  Her style is kind of like American Folk Art and i love her color palette.

She sells Giclee Prints of this art on Etsy for about $35.00-$50.00...  I just ordered these two.

Food

I haven't been yet, but Michelle told me that Tyler Florence opened up his own cooking store in Downtown Mill Valley.  It's in the Original Banana Republic location, which is iconic in it's own right.

The store looks unbelievable.  They do cooking classes, book signings and all that, but I kinda wanna see Tyler.  

Travel

If you can take the heat, this is a great spot to hit in Palm Springs, before it gets too hot.  It's The Palm Springs Riviera Hotel.  The old Rat Pack hangout that's just been bought and re-done by Noble House Hotels and Resorts.

The rates drop way down after May so it's pretty affordable off season.  There's a cute little spa and pool rocks...

Stay Cool!

Family

Father's Day came a little early for Michael....  I got him The California Surf Project  from Chronicle Books.

The book is a travel diary of two California Surfers that go from No Cal to TJ in a VW Bus.  After Michael read the first few pages, I saw this daze in his eyes.  You could tell he was dreaming of his own Surf Safari.

I've already promised him a full surf day at San Onofre for his big Dad's Day gift...  When we go it's an all day, all night adventure.  we pack up the food, boards and beach gear the night before and get to the "Sano" gate at around 5:30am.  Once we're in, it's non-stop surfing eating and playing on the beach.  We always throw in a nap or two, but never leave before they kick us out at about 10:00pm.

He can't wait and me and the kids can't either...

  

Food

This is an amazing Sicilian Bruschetta that Michael found in Sunset Magazine, of all places.  He made a big jar of it over the weekend and we've been addicted.  It's a good one for a healthy bite at the beach.  Be sure to keep it chilled, it tastes a lot better.  We've been using it on wheat bagel chips instaed of the crusty Italian bread.  Either way, super tasty...

Here's the recipe:

Sicilian Bruschetta

Caponata, a sweet, tangy Sicilian eggplant-pepper relish, tastes downright addictive spooned over toasts with mild, creamy ricotta cheese.

Yield

Makes 5 cups (enough for 12 servings, plus leftovers)

Ingredients

• 1  loaf (1 lb.) crusty Italian bread such as ciabatta, cut into 1/3-in.-thick slices
• About 6 tbsp. olive oil, divided
• 1  large eggplant, cut into 1/2-in. dice (about 4 cups)
• 2  tablespoons  minced garlic
• 1  cup  chopped celery
• 1  cup  chopped red bell pepper
• 1  cup  chopped green olives
• 1/4  cup  red-wine vinegar
• 1/4  cup  tomato paste
• 1/2  cup  raisins
• 1/2  cup  toasted pine nuts
• 2  teaspoons  kosher salt
• 2  teaspoons  sugar
• 1/4  cup  chopped fresh basil
• 1/4  cup  chopped fresh oregano
• 1/4  cup  chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
• 1  cup  ricotta cheese

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 350°. Lay bread on a baking sheet and drizzle with about 2 tbsp. oil. Bake until toasted and light golden brown, about 5 minutes. Set aside.

2. Heat 2 tbsp. oil in a large nonstick frying pan over medium-high heat. Cook eggplant, stirring often, until softened and starting to brown, about 8 minutes. Transfer to a bowl and set aside.

3. In the same pan, cook garlic in remaining 2 tbsp. oil, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add celery, bell pepper, and olives, stirring to combine, and cook until softened, 5 to 8 minutes. Stir in 1/4 cup water, the vinegar, tomato paste, raisins, and pine nuts and cook until heated through. Stir in reserved eggplant, salt, and sugar, then mix in herbs.

4. Serve caponata with ricotta on the toasted bread.

Make ahead: Chill caponata up to 2 days and store toasts airtight up to 2 days.

Family

Ok, you couldn't slap the smile off of this guys face.....  When West got his new Waste Management Trash Truck yesterday, it rocked his world.  He hasn't let this thing out of his little sausage fingers for a minute.

He'll be super proud come Tuesday when he will get to show it off to the real Garbage Man.  By the way, it honks, makes motor sounds and has it's own ball of trash.  Probably the happiest $15.00 I've ever spent.

Food

Real men wear orange clogs and sausage scarfs!  

I love Mario, but haven't bought one of his cookbooks in a long while.  This one came recommended from Ina  Gartner, better known as The Barefoot Contessa and I couldn't resist

Mario Batali's Italian Grill is a must have for killer BBQ ideas this summer....

 

Food

If you haven't tried The Limonata from San Pellegrino, you need to...  It's really light and crisp and comes in cans as well as bottles.  My cooler will be filled with it all summer long

Style

I have no idea how I ever lived on this earth for 40+ years, without this Table-A-Go-Go from Crate and Barrel for $45 bucks.  In the ramp up for summer, I got one last week and we've already used it four times.  This thing's gonna get a serious work-out over the next few months...

I love picnics on the beach, but can't stand it when everything gets covered in sand.  No longer a problem...

Style

You have got to love Target...  Here is a quick preview of picnic items available in June.  I already tried to buy the Bandana Print Plastic Plates and Beach Towel Table Cloth, but nope...  Not until June...  Is Summer here yet? 

Fun

Perfect Ice Cubes?....  Yup, from perfect little pink square ice cube trays.  You can get a set of two at Tovolo for about $14.00.   They come other colors, but why would you want a different color than pink for your pink lemonade?

Style

How about a little Pucci splash of color at your next pic nic or bbq?  These are a Set of Salad Servers from French Bull for only $15.00.  FYI, French Bull does a whole bunch of other great plastic and ceramic table top stuff....  All of it, really cute and colorful.

Style

I found this amazing source for inexpensive, but really really fun side tables and other small furniture pieces at www.bungalow5.com  These little Taboret Side Tables come in a bunch of bright colors.  The finishes are a  shiny lacquered texture that I love

Style

These are a fresh take on the traditional Thermos lunch boxes that we all used as kids.  The plastic Bento Boxes are adorable, in a bunch of really cute color combos...  I just ordered them for summer beach days at www.plasticshop.com for $38 bucks each.  My girls freaked when they saw these and got all grouchy that I didn't have them for this school year.  Too late, it's almost out.....

Fun

This is a fun one for the kids.  These are Jelly Lenses for cell phone cameras...  They come in different effects like wide angle, kaleidoscope and polarized.  Super cute colors as well.  You can get them for about $7.50 at www.spoonsisters.com

Fun

My BFF says this new Channel nail polish color, Rodeo Drive, has rocked her world.... 

I am on board with her for summer. All these colors get me fired up!  Bring it on...

 

Melrose: A fun hot pink, destined to become Spring's must have pedicure.

Rodeo Drive: A purple splash...  Girl Power meets power lunch

LA Sunrise: A primary yellow, as bright and cheery as it's name.

LA Sunset: A war tangerine..  Just the thing for an afternoon shopping splurge.

$25.00 ea.

 

Travel

   

 Ok, This is hysterical...  I saw it and had to post it up.  Airstream camping in Vegas?  Pretty Damn' funny.

KOA Campgrounds has a new program where you can rent an Airstream at select camp sites around the country.  Vegas happens to be one of the towns that they do this in.  You camp out in a little park that actually located in the paring lot of Circus, Circus.

It's about $130 bucks a night, but the nostalgia, Priceless!!

Food

All right then...  I don't know why, but I'm feeling like I was a little naughty over the weekend with the eating thing.  I say I don't know why, because I actually ate really well.

Sunday Breakfast:

1/2 a wheat bagel with humus, sliced tomato, onion, capers, fresh cracked pepper and sea salt.

*That sounds pretty healthy, right?

Sunday Lunch:

Field Greens with white albacore tuna, chickpeas, heirloom tomatoes, Greek olives, sliced red onion, all tossed in a light vinagrette with a toasted wheat crouton.

* This was Michael's version of a Nicoise Salad.  Super healthy, am I wrong?

Sunday Dinner:

Tofu Fajitas.  We got this at the Whole Foods hot buffet.  I freaked on it and we found the recipe at the Whole Foods website....  Tofu, bell pepper, onion, all seared in a wok and wrapped in wheat tortillas with shredded cabbage, fresh salsa and avocado.

*Doesn't get much healthier than that...  Hmmm.

OK, it just came to me...  I got treated with a couple of really tasty bottles of my favorite Chardonay,  Sonoma Cutrer-Les Pierres.  Yuuuuum!  After a couple of bottles (shared of coures), I just realized why I'm feeing naughty.

Anyway, Heidi Swanson from 101 Cookbooks, just sent this recipe over for an Asparagus Stir Fry that will be making it to our table tonight.  Check it out.....

Family

Happy Dreemie Mother's Day to me! This is what I woke up to this morning..a tearful card, a huge stack of new magazines, bouquet of flowers, a platter of yummy bagels and lox and a darling new top. 

Thank you all for such a beautiful morning and all your happy faces. 

I love you!!!

Fun

This is the *NEW* Feather Wreath Kit from Kitschy Digitals.  It's one of the best little secrets! They just came out with the adorable Wreath Kit just 2 days ago.  The best thing about these kits is you can print out the feathers on your home computer. I just printed out mine and it took all of 3 minutes.  I'm project slap happy....

Fun

You might have notice, we've been a little busy this week... Crafting! 

This is also another handmade gift I made for my mom for Mother's Day.  It's a   Mushroom Terrarium....  You know, for your pet Gnome.  Every one's got a pet Gnome, right?  Now my Mom's little pet Gnome, has a super cute little mushroom garden to hide in.

The mushrooms and the door are sculpted out of Femo, Pretty cool,eh?

I do sell these at a local store in Costa Mesa called Paris To The Moon.

Fun

OK... Here is my version of the bird nest box that I wrote about earlier in the the month.

Of course, I had to make one for my mom as a gift on Mother's Day. I bought all the supplies at Michael's and the whole thing cost me a wopping $10 bucks...

It was super easy and the girls and I had so much fun making all the (60) flowers we put on the top. We collected feathers on the beach and twigs from the yard. McKenzie hand painted a rock with a bird on a twig, to put inside are sweet little box.

Style

Oh my god,  The girls and I took a trip to the Farmer's Market yesterday and found this stand with most beautiful peonies...  I had to treat myself to an early Mother's Day bouquet.  

Later we went to Whole Foods and saw them on sale their as well.  Just in time because it's one of my personal faves...

Family

Happy Mother's Day, Dreemie Moms...

Style

Good Bye evite, Hello Pingg...

Finally!!  A more attractive option to the archaic and outdated evite.  Pingg, is the latest, greatest, online  email invitation software.

The invitations look a lot cleaner, have a very simple graphics and text.  You can also upload your own art much easier.

Michelle's, Seven Songs for Seven Days....

This is a special Mother's Day Mix to celebrate all the Moms out there who deserve a day that is 100% about them, me, you...  

Download these songs to your ipod and enjoy your day....   

Michelle

 

Rickie Lee Jones-Dat Dere - Any mom that has had a three year old will love this song.

Ben Taylor-Nothing I Can Do - Whenever I can slip in Ben… I will. I saw him at the Triple Door in Seattle recently and he said that after many attempts, he wrote this song for his mom, Carly Simon. I love the words.

Nat King Cole-I Love You For Sentimental Reasons - When my oldest daughter Avery was born, she was in intensive care for the first two weeks. Labor was tough and I wasn't able to hold her for the first 10 hours. Maybe it was the medicine but I never knew I was a Nat King Cole fan. I don't even think I knew the words but for some reason all night over and over I dreamt and sang "I think of you every morning I dream of you every night darling…..I am never lonely whenever you are in sight."  No words could be truer!

J.J. Cale & Eric Clapton-My Three Little Girls - Okay not much to say….I have three little girls and this song always make me a bit teary eyed.

Van Morrison-These Are the Days - This song always reminds me to relax and live in the moment.

Over the rainbow - How can you ever grow tired of this song! I love it and probably have six different artist singing it. But Chet's sound is beautiful

Apron Strings - Loved the movie and still love this song. This was a pregnancy staple for both Dawna and I. I am sure every mom can appreciate the hours spent dreaming about their sweet baby that they can't wait to meet.

Happy Mother's Day to you all.....

 

 

Travel

This is really scary...  I just caught myself..  I realized that I am blogging today and that there seems to be an underlying theme to my subjects, Mexico.  Then I realized that it's Cinco de Mayo.  Happy Cinco de Mayo everyone.

Michael and I were in the town of Cuernavaca some time ago, it was about this time of the year.  We stayed at this adorable little hotel in town called Casa Colonial.  It's a 200 year old convent that was converted into a small luxury hotel.   

The town is about 100 miles south of Mexico City and is considered the weekend escape for the well to-do's in the City.  Kind of like Palm Springs for us or The Napa Valley for San Francisco.   It was the first time we had ever been to a town in Mexico that wasn't a coastal tourist town and the experience was really great.  

I love this picture taken at Las Mananitas.  All we asked for was a Margarita and an extra shot.  The waiter showed up with this gorgeous tray.  You've got the Margaritas, of course, the shots, but then they added little pieces of pineapples dusted with chilies, sangrita chasers, papas fritos with crema and delicious spicy nuts.  It blew our minds.  Maybe that's why we came back every night we were there.

A great travel memory...

Every night we'd walk over to another classic old hotel and restaurant called Las Mananitas.  

Dream

We all have to dream, right....  Well, I am dreaming of this place.  The new St. Regis Hotel at Punta Mita.  My BFF Michelle and her husband, were just down there for her 40th and she raves.  They stayed at the Four Seasons, but I thought I'd post this new hotel, just for the heck of it.

From what I understand it's supposed to be a little more kid friendly and maybe just a little less expensive.  It's not gonna happen for us this summer, but I can still dream...

Hope you do to..

Food

Well, we got pretty lucky this week.  My husbands best friend, Bob, brought back some of the most delicious and fresh Red Snapper from his fishing trip to Santa Barbara on Sunday.  There's really no substitute for the kind of freshness you get from fish that was swimming the same day you're eating it.  

We did it lightly sauteed with a homemade horseradish tartar sauce on Sunday, Spanish Fish Stew last night and tonight it's Baja Fish Tacos.

Michael did an article titled Fishing for Tacos a while back on his Mr. Munchie column and  I thought I'd share that recipe with you all here.

Enjoy...

BAJA FISH TACOS

2LBS. FRESH FISH (whatever fish is the freshest possible and from the ocean)
1/2 A HEAD OF CABBAGE
1 PACKAGE FRESH CORN TORTILLAS (purchasing these from your local Tortillarilla is always the best way to go).
FRESH LIME WEDGES

SALSA:
4 SMALL TOMATOES
1 SMALL ONION
4 CLOVES OF GARLIC
1/2CUP OF CILANTRO
1 FRESH JALAPENO THE JUICE OF ONE LIME
KOSHER SALT AND FRESH GROUND PEPPER TO TASTE

ADD ALL INGREDIENTS IN A FOOD PROCESSOR AND PULSE TO DESIRED CONSISTENCY AND REFRIGERATE FOR 30 MINUTES.

CILANTRO-LIME CREMA:
1 CUP MEXICAN CREMA
1/2 CUP CILANTRO
JUICE OF 2 LIMES
KOSHER SALT TO TASTE

ADD ALL INGREDIENTS IN A FOOD PROCESSOR AND BLEND, THEN POUR INTO A SQUEEZE BOTTLE AND CHILL.

LIGHTLY SEASON THE FISH AND ADD A DASH OF OLIVE OIL BEFORE GRILLING. GRILL QUICKLY (2 MINUTES PER SIDE) ON A VERY HOT GRILL, IN SMALL BATCHES. SERVE THEM TO ORDER FROM THE BBQ WITH A TOUCH OF CABBAGE A SPLASH OF SALSA AND A SQUIRT OF CREMA, FRESH LIME WEDGES ON THE SIDE.

Style

I saw this little article in Sunset Mag and thought I'd share it.  Taking old clothes with funky patterns and having them turned into throw pillows...  Pretty darn cute and great way to add a splash of color to a room.

The girls and I cleaned out our closets after reading this and came up with a bunch of options.  We're dropping them off at the seamstress today.  The pillows will all be different sizes (14" x 14", 8" x 18" and 12" x 12").

FYI, I also saw feather and down inserts at Ikea for $15 bucks...

Fun

Ok, this is the latest in the Joie de Vivre family of Hotels in San Francisco...  The Americania Hotel.  Would you believe this is a Best Western?  Located in the SOMA District, it's super kid friendly and won't break the bank.  

We just booked for a weekend trip there in July and can't wait...  Some of the key amenities include:

  - Pool Deck

  - Custom Burger Lounge

  - Ipod Docking Stations

  - Dogs Welcome

Food

Death by Macarons....  Paulette Macarons are the tastiest, cutest little macarons on earth.  The shops in both San Francisco and Beverly Hills, are super adorable with staff there that are as sweet as the cookies.

The first time I was in the San Francisco Store, I peaked in for a little taste, because the store front was cute.  I ended up staying for over an hour...  Tasting all the different flavors:

Lemon, Pistachio, Caribbean Chocolate, Rasberry Rose.  Soooo Yummy.

The Gift Boxes are to die for... Hint, hint for Mother's Day, in case my husband and kids are reading.

Michelle's, Seven Songs for Seven Days....

Dawna and I have been Best Friends since we were about six, growing up in Marin County.  We practically lived together on her at her Mom's Houseboat in Sausalito Ca.  Ever since those days, she's bugged me to be the DJ.  Even though we were pulling 8 track cassettes out of Hello Kitty purses, back in then, some things never change.  Now I live in Seattle with husband and three girls...She has asked me to be a Guest Blogger on her adorable new site and I couldn't resist.  I'll be posting a different, themed music mix every week and I hope you all enjoy the them as much as I do.

The first of the Seven Songs for Seven Days Series is titled:

SUNNY DAZE:

 A day at the beach, cooking with your kids or reading a favorite mag. These tunes will warm your heart.

Ben Taylor-Nothing I Can Do-If you're not familiar, Ben Taylor is the son of James Taylor and Carly Simon.  This guy is super talented (I wonder where he gets that from?), .  His music seems like a direct extension of what his Father has sang for years and what I grew up on.  Ben Taylor does have a little huskier voice and you will feel the Jazz and R&B influence in his tone.  It's almost as if he picked up where James left it, except with a modern edge that I love.  Hope you do as well....
The Derek Trucks Band-Back Where I Started-Derek Trucks is the Grammy Award Nominated American Guitarists, who first attracted attention as a 12 year old prodigy.  At that ripe age, he sat in with the likes of Buddy Guy and The Allman Brothers.  At 15, he founded The Derek Trucks Band with his own brand of Rootsy Blues and Slide Guitar.  In 1999, he met and married Blues Singer, Susan Tedeschi.  Trucks and Tedeschi have merged their respective bands on occasion, billed as the "Soul Stew Revival".  Back Where I Started, reminds of a Bonnie Rait kind of tune that really moves the soul....
G-Love-Sunshine-Check out this Dylan-esque guitar/harmonica guy.  G-Love (Garrett Dutton III), is the Philadelphia born son of a wealthy banking lawyer who credits not only Dylan, but Ron-DMC and The Beastie Boys, as his inspiration.  He has toured with Jack Johnson for several years and the two feature each other songs on one and others albums.  Ramble On with the tune Sunshine and "Every Lil' Thing Gonna Be Ahwright".
Ryan Adams-Answering Bells-This American Alt-Country Singer-Songwriter, is the husband of Singer, Mandy Moore.  Abandoned as a small child he began taking his Bluesy Brand of music to the streets of North Carolina, where he developed and pretty big audience in a very short time.  His influences include Willie Neslon, Toots & the Maytalls, The Wallflowers and Counting Crows.  Answering Bells sounds like it could be off of an old album from The Band to me.  Enjoy...
Jack Johnson-Girl I Wanna Lay You Down-Nothing much needs to said about Jack Johnson that we don't already know, except that I really love this particular tune.
The Beautiful Girls-La Mar (The Ocean)-This Aussie band plays a great variety Roots Music and has been compared to Ben Harper, Jack Johnson and even The Police.  I thought this track, La Mar (The Ocean) was entirely relevant to this mellow mix....

Donavan Frankenreiter-Our Love-To complete this mix, it would only make sense to add another Jack Johnson Buddy.  Donavan grew up in San Clemente, surfing at Trestle and rockin' out at keg parties.  At 18 he made the trek to the North Shore of Oahu and rented a room from Jack Johnson's parents.  Since then, the two of them have been playing and touring together.  Our Love is a keeper and sure to be a favorite on your ipod, all summer long...