Christmas Gift Idea #1

Cute and Cozy....

J.Crew Flannel Sleepwear

Who wouldn't want to wake up Christmas morning in a pair of these cozy jams?

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Look of the Day: Rad Pantelones

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Photo credit: Who What Wear

Click here for more great looks from Elin Kling.
I love her style.

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Quote of the Day

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"A family who plays together, stays together."

- said a woman to my friend Jennie

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Get Your Lanvin On

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Lanvin handbags

Such beauties!

And even more perfect in person!

Shout Out of the Day: Greenlake Kids Dentistry

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I was blown away by Greenlake Kids Dentistry. The office is amazing and so inviting to little ones. The exam room is bright and colorful with toys, little gift bags with their names on them, TVs above each chair showing cartoons, and multiple chairs for moms bringing more than one child at a time. There is a special gumball style machine with trinkets when kids leave and so much more. What a different experience this office was for us. My daughter could have stayed there all day. My son was exhausted so he just played with the toys in the exam room while he waited and then the doctor did such a great job making him at ease. I'm so impressed with the office and the staff.

And how GENIUS is their candy buy-back program for Halloween candy. I love you Greenlake Kids Dentistry!

(Great recommendation Steph! Thank you!)

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Tie-Breaker

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/Photo credit: Tasty Kitchen

My husband has been perfecting his popcorn recipe (a variation of this recipe) and for almost two years now I've been convinced that it's unbeatable. Well, au contraire mon frere! I found some competition. My friend Marly served Food 52's Spicy Parmesan and Truffle Popcorn at a party she hosted and it was amazing. I ate that popcorn for hours. It was SO good. Then I got home and my husband had made his popcorn. So I ate that for another hour, pondering which I liked better. Then I wondered if your stomach could burst and you could die from over-eating popcorn. Would I survive the night? Well I lived to tell the story and I have to say it's a tie-breaker. Both are equally delicious!

* Marly says to go easy on the salt. She followed the recipe for the first batch and it was way too salty.
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Run Faster, Longer & Injury Free

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An interesting and persuasive article about running shoes (or lack thereof) and running styles....

"The Once and Future Way to Run"

Let's be honest though... I would run barefoot long before I'd wear the rubber gloves for feet (with the individual toes). Those are just not right. And my friend Nicole would never speak to me again.
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Cookbooks 101

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Quick read with some recommendations on the best, basic cookbooks. It's a good list to have in your back pocket when hitting stores like Book Larder or shopping for Christmas gifts.

(click the link, then scroll down)

"If You Could Have Only One Cookbook, What Should It Be?"
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Quote of the Day

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Photo taken at Seattle's Japanese Garden

"When you are in touch with nature, you are in touch with your soul. When you are in touch with your soul, you change your vibrations. When you change your vibrations it is healing to your body."

- My friend Chris

Mozza at Home

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Photo credit: Under Ground Food

Mario Batali's Pizzeria Mozza serves some of the best pizza I've ever had. On my last visit I ordered a pizza called the Pizza Alla Benno with speck, pineapple, jalapeno, mozzarella and tomato sauce. It was such a great combination of flavors - spicy, salty and sweet atop their great crust and sauce.

I've been craving that pizza lately. Since I won't be getting the real deal anytime soon, I decided to re-create it. Mine was not nearly as good as Mozzas, obviously, but it was still a really great homemade pizza.


C's Pizza Alla Benno
Inspired by Pizzeria Mozza
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Pizza dough, homemade or store-bought (I use Whole Foods)
Pizza sauce, homemade or store-bought (I use Muir Glen organic sauce)
Shredded mozzarella
Mozzarella balls
Prosciutto slices
Pineapple, cut into chunks or sliced into thin rounds
Jalapeno, sliced thin

Plus flour for rolling out the dough and corn meal so it doesn't stick to your cooking surface.

Click here to reference basic directions for cooking in the oven and click here for directions cooking on the grill.

Good Times

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My friend Marly hosted a little post-baby, baby shower today for our friend Courtney. Once the group dwindled down to the last six of us, the games came out. We played a new game called The Game of Things and it was so fun.

In each round, players answer questions like "What would you not encourage your children to do" or "What should you no longer do at your age." The answers are read aloud and players take turns guessing who wrote each one. We were buckled over with laughter from the answers in every round. Great Christmas gift idea. I'm ordering it for my hubby right now.

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A Cook's Paradise

photo credit: Eater Seattle

I finally made it to Book Larder in Fremont today. It was opened by a friend of a friend and I couldn't have been more excited to see it for the first time. I loved it! What a lovely little shop with it's endless supply of cookbooks.

It was hard to stay focused. My friend Jen and I kept finding books we love, books we want, books that inspire us, books that intimidate us, books that make great gifts, and so many more. I could have bought a dozen and not even made a dent in the countless I want. Instead I bought gift certificates for a few family members who love to cook. Who wouldn't love to go in and pick out a book or two?!

Make your way to Fremont to see the store. All those cookbooks will make you hungry and then you can go grab a BLT at Dot's.
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Looking for Lunch: Dot's Delicatessen

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I'm a sandwich lover so when my friend Jen suggested Dot's Delicatessen in Fremont, saying they had a great BLT, I was in. And she was right, they do make a great BLT, and fries too!  

I also bought a dozen eggs and some house-made kielbasa for breakfast burritos tomorrow. What a great little deli for dine-in, take-out or good quality meats to prepare later.

Read more about the deli from The Stranger here.

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Quick Dinner

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I've been making this Welsh Rarebit with Spinach a lot lately to pair with soup and salad. I'm preferring it on little crostinis made from a traditional french baguette. My kids won't touch them because of the spinach but my husband and I gobble them up. 


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Feel the Burn

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I read about Mazi Piri Piri Hot Sauce in Saveur magazine and since my husband loves hot sauce I ordered a few bottles for part of his Father's Day gift.

We just cracked it open for the first time last night and it was de-licious! Super spicy but perfect for my fried rice dinner.

Here's what I did...

Tofu Fried Rice on one side of a low rimmed soup bowl.

Sauteed Kale with Shitake Mushrooms on the other side of the bowl.

Sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds.

Cook an egg over-medium, then place on top.

Sprinkle the egg with soy sauce.

Sprinkle the whole bowl with Mazi Piri Piri Sauce.

Dig in and enjoy!

Ah, the White Turtleneck...

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It's been a long, long, long time since I wore one of these suckers, but it finally made a comeback. Was it circa 1988? It's been so long I can't be sure.

I'm loving the modern take on this old friend. Here are some fun photos showing the trend...

(I couldn't resist)

Last photo from Sandra's Closet

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Look of the Day: Leather Lover

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I love that leather skirts have made a big resurgence this fall. Pencil skirts, A-line, pleated, mini, black, brown, smooth or textured. Invest now, enjoy forever. Any style makes a fun starting point for a cute and modern look. I like the outfit shown above courtesy of Bazaar. 

Vietnam in HD

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I'm a sucker for a good documentary so I'm really enjoying the series Vietnam in HD on The History Channel. Last night was the first night so it's not too late to catch part two and three.

Make it Easy on Yourself

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My friend Tara was hosting a going away party (for herself - boo hoo!) and had the genius idea of ordering up a bunch of Vietnamese food. Feeding guests involved a phone call, a car ride, and setting the food on the table. Genius, right? Because planning a party, cleaning the house, prepping the bar, and all the other details, takes a lot of time. Throw in grocery shopping, planning and cooking a meal, then cleaning the kitchen after and you're wiped out before the party even started. It's a great option for serving good food to a large group with very little stress.

I've copied her idea twice now. Once for my daughter's 4th birthday when I had 13 adults and 4 kids to feed and no desire to plan and execute a big meal. I did it again this past weekend for a Husky football tailgate. The sandwiches were a hit.

It's easy food to serve hot or cold so it just depends on your preference and situation. Bahn mis are inexpensive sandwiches ($2.75 each!) and big (usually a foot long). I cut them in half so there is less waste from people who can't eat a whole one. It's not only easy and delicious, it's also economical when you think of how fast groceries add up for a party.

Bahn mis came from Saigon Deli for both parties with a few thrown in from Seattle Deli for the tailgate. We got the noodles from Green Leaf. For the birthday party we also served fresh rolls, chicken skewers, and Vietnamese pancakes from Green Leaf. 

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Profile in Style: Sarah Lavoine

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Quick read about "France's decorator du jour" - the Polish Princess Sarah Lavoine in T Magazine's Profile in Style.

Check out her website here to see more of her design work.

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Mothers & Sleep Medication

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Interesting article:

"Sleep Medication: Mother’s New Little Helper"


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Break the Rules

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Just because Mint Julep cups are supposed to be used for a Mint Julep beverage, doesn't mean you can't get creative with them. Here are several reasons to invest in a few....


As their original use... serve Mint Juleps at for your next cocktail party...

I never get sick of a Mint Julep cup as a vase for fresh flowers...

It's an easy way to store your makeup brushes for easy access on the counter...

And makes a pretty little holder for your toothbrush...

They even work with sedums or succulents...

What's not to love?

And as long as you're using containers in new and creative ways, why not use a pretty glass container as a toilet paper holder? That's what I did...

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Life in a Day

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I really want to see this...

'Life In A Day': The World According To YouTube

Has anyone seen it yet? Any good?

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Managing the Chaos

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My friend Jackie told me about these great personalized weekly schedule pads for managing your week. I make my own in Excel but this is way cuter. I love having a calendar on the kitchen wall so I am reminded over and over what's coming up. It helps me stay on top of birthdays, appointments, playdates and more. This is also a cuter version for kids who are checking the schedule to see what's ahead for them.

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Quote of the Day

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"Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication."
 
- Leonardo Da Vinci
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A Simple Black Pump

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"In His Shoes" is an interesting article from The New York Times Sunday Styles section about the return to Manolo Blahnik's classic style.

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And this was just the first day!

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 Here are some of my first juice concoctions...

round 1

fruits & greens

round 2

even more fruits & greens

round 3

carrot apple ginger

round 4

orange carrot

All were equally delicious. Just depends what you're in the mood for.

This...

Became this...
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And this...

Became this...

And here we have carrot, apple ginger and orange carrot. Both were equally delicious.

Drink on the spot or make a little extra and store in mason jars for 24 hours. Who wouldn't love to wake up to a delicious glass of fresh juice with breakfast? I know one little stud who sure loves his morning glass of juice.
 



High Off The Juice

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I started to do the math and realized I was spending a buttload of money on juice. I was addicted and had an almost daily fix at Healeo or Thrive. It was getting expensive and annoying to have to coordinate my day around traffic or cafe hours. So, it was time to bite the bullet and get my own juicer.

I did a bunch of research, and then as if the Juice Angels above knew I was looking for direction, I met a nice couple at Thrive who were on a juice cleanse. They had done a ton of research on juicers and told me all about them. I ended up learning even more from their blog Hairy Burrito which is quite interesting to read and follow. I went with their advice and got the Omega J8006 Nutrition Center Commercial Masticating Juicer.

I couldn't be happier with my new juicer. The first day I was juicing like crazy. I whipped up three different flavors in an hour and was storing them in mason jars in my fridge. I couldn't get enough. I felt like a million bucks. I was on fire. I've never had so much energy or excitement in my life. A few days later I went to my naturopath for acupuncture and told her how I was feeling. She informed me that I was on a three day sugar high. Ohhhhhhhhhhhhh. That explains it. I guess I was adding a bit too much fruit to my juices, but they tasted so damn good.

Anyway, now I've cut back and have a juice a day if I have the chance. I still feel amazing when I drink it, but I make sure to have it with meals, and not in-between them because of the sugar rush. It's a great way to feel healthy and get some extra fruits and veggies in your diet. I will show off some photos of my juices asap. Until then, get your butt to Thrive or Healeo and try out some of their amazing juices. They are addicting!

This juicer is easy to assemble, easy to use and easy to clean.
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