Mermaid Glitter

For some reason I keep reading these 'time lines' given by magazines, web sites and friends that say I should be getting my wedding dress asap so I have time to make alterations etc....ummm well. I don't have a dress, and I really can't say I know exactly what I want....the things I do want I don't know exactly how I should describe them...so...great! Ha.
Here are some insane photos of one of Jenny Packham's creations that I am obsessed with. It's not typically what I've wanted at all...and I would probably look like an out of place mermaid in it...but it sure is lovely on the model....glistening, shinning, and floating down the runway on a cloud of scalloped glitter. For more visit Jenny Packham or Brides.

:: peace and love ::

Strawberry Scones...yayaya

{ready to go!!!} Don't judge me.....

But....I made scones for the *first* time today and they were delicious!!!! We had bought a flat of fresh strawberries at our farmer's market last night, and while eating them alone is fab. I got to thinking that eating them in a scone would un-doubt ably be superior...obvi! I have been dreaming of making my own scones forEVER (honestly...they're my fav), but I thought for some reason that I needed a mixer, and couldn't manage it with shear will power and a wooden spoon....but thankfully my previous judgments about the scone creation process were dis proved today!! Alright, alright.......let's get to the good stuff huh!?!?!?

{I found these amounts to make 8 mid sized scones}

Ingredients ::

2 cups all-purpose flower

2 teaspoons baking powder

2/3 cup cream....cold buttermilk or 1/2 and 1/2 (I used 1/2 and 1/2)

1 cup fresh strawberries (or any fresh or dried fruit)

1/4 teaspoon salt

3 tablespoons granulated sugar

6 tablespoons butter, cubed and slightly softened

Directions ::

Pre heat oven to 400 degrees; lightly grease cookie sheet.

Cut fruit into smaller pieces, sprinkle with sugar and set aside.

Combine sugar, flower, baking powder and salt with the softened butter cubes. If using a mixer lightly mix (be sure not to over blend), I used my hand to gently mix the ingredients together breaking up the butter into the flower mix. Stir in fruit, then add the 1/2 and 1/2 (or other), all at once. Use spatula to gently stir mixture until it sticks together.

Turn onto a flowered surface and lightly kneed a few times to get ingredients to stick together. Be sure not to squish berries, or over work the dough...sprinkle with flower if it gets uber sticky!!

Press dough into circle about 3/4 of an inch thick, from there I used a knife to cut the circle into eighths....and used a spatula spreader to scoop pieces up and onto the cookie tray.

Bake 15 mins...sprinkle with sugar and bake another 5-10 more mins (it was 10 more for me).

Keep an eye on them in the last few mins. you don't want dry scones!!!

Sprinkling the sugar on the top in the last bit of cooking provides you with a pretty sparkly topping.

Happy eating ;-) I can't wait to enjoy one with my morn. coffee tomorrow!!!

:: peace and love ::

***My next batch....which may be tomorrow...I'm fully obsessed now..will contain eggs and vanilla extract! (stay tuned...I'll tell you which version I like best!)

a beautiful Friday

It's a dreamy Friday...some gardening--making a new home for a pretty succulent and agave, appreciating the sweet aroma from my gifted tangerine {thanks hun!!}, and enjoying some fresh organic raspberries from our local farmer's market!!! Ahhh.....life is so sweet

:: peace and love ::

sweet treats <3

Ummmmm............seriously!!!!??? How much are you in love with this....it's crazy fantastical!

:: peace and love ::

Engagement Pics on the brain !!!!!!

Check out these BEAUTIFUL engagement pics of Stacie and Geoff from Sloan Photography!!! They are lovely and whimsical, and...well...just plain fabulous!!! The lighting is divine wouldn't you say? :-)

:: peace and love ::

*sorry the blog has been a bit slow lately....busy bee trying to figure out school...work...life (wedding budget and projects....) Ahhhhhhhhh....feeling a bit stressed and un inspired as of late!

Ahhhh L.o.v.e.

This is one of the sweetest photographs I have seen in a while...the actual picture aesthetic is amazing its self...but what's really lovely is the look on the bride's face.... it really is so beautiful : ) I saved this picture...and forgot to save where I found it, ugh...I just cant remember, but I'm looking for it now, if you know where it's from, please tell me. I hate not giving credit, but thought it too amazing not to post. Will post credit asap!!!!!

:: peace and love ::

****found it!!!! click here to see the rest of this beautiful and touching event!

what lovely lanterns...

I picked these lovely Chinese Lanterns up today down at Open Air...aren't they amazing? You can't quite grasp from the pictures how tall and bright and lovely they really are!!! Also, I was told that you can save the actual little lanterns after the stocks die, they dry into a lovely burnt orange color and retain their shape--perfect for a little glass vase filler : )

:: peace and love ::

Strawberry Music Fest.

We were off to the Strawberry music fest. in Camp Mather (above Yosemite) last weekend and it was fabulous as always!!! We passed through the funniest/cutest little town called Coulterville (top pic)...it's old cars, ivy covered brick buildings, and saloon/gas stations, and abandoned barns made us feel like we were stuck in a time before ours.
I love our little family tradition, it's so special to us, and those 3 short days make such a difference in helping us relax, slow down and remember to enjoy the small things in life. It's not only an insanely gorgeous location, but the bluegrass and folky' style music, the friendly and welcoming atmosphere and the perfectly warm summer days make for a flawless and easy little get away. Not to mention that our 'camp neighbor' came over and gave us 2 bottles of his own handmade 2005 Syrah (!!!!) so generous. I hope everyone had a lovely Labor Day weekend : )

:: peace and love ::

Danielle's Bruschetta Recipe

{organic heirloom tomatoes..Mmmm}

I have been meaning to post this one for a while now--my dear friend Danielle introduced this to me a while back when we were doing our weekly 'Project Runway nights'. I have had many forms of Bruschetta, and I like this one very much (so does Wes...that's always a plus).
Ingredients ::
Tomatoes
Onion
Fresh Basil
Garlic
Olive Oil
Vinegar
Lemon Juice
Crumbled Feta Cheese
there's really no secret, you just mix all these together and 'voila!' it's amazingly delicious!!!! We always get a baguette and slice it, apply a trickle of olive oil and get them toasty in the oven, it provides the perfect receptacle for the bruschetta mixture!

:: peace and love ::

Loyal Loot Collective

Ummm seriously? I think these bowls are SO beautiful , it kills me!! I want one in every possible color, shape and size...check them out and Loyal Loot's other lovelies here : )

:: peace and love :: and of course...Happy Thursday!

** favourite childhood books **

{picture via :: Souvenirs}...isn't it lovely?

There are definitely more that I'm absolutely sure I'm forgetting....but these are a few of the favorites that popped into my head! I've been inspired lately by the art and stories of these childhood memories. The sweet 'simple...not so simple' stories, the colorful 'basic...no so basic' art, it's all so perfectly appealing!! I think I am going to start a collection of all of these childhood books, for my own inspiration now, and for *someone else's* inspiration later ;-)

:: peace and love ::

(images besides top found via google search)

delima....(ish)

Well......there are two major (technically there's a whole lot more than two..but I'm going to share these two with you!!) issues on my mind. First--We love love our new place, and still need a few things here and there to cozy it up. There are the big things--desk, desk chair, bed frame, dresser, futon, rugs (blah blah...)...this will have to be accumulated one by one, seeing as buying every single piece (the pieces I would like) is out of the question. Then there are the small things... shelves, wall art, clocks, art, etc that will make such an artistic difference to the space. What is your favorite aspect of your space?! What makes the most difference to you, and where do you spend the most time!?
Second item on the agenda is what to wear for our engagement photos...I won't bore you with my narcissism.....but it's an interesting problem (fun problem really...) but I just really don't want to look back at them years from now, and wish they were different... I know nothings perfect...but wouldn't it be nice if I thought they were--even for the shortest of times?

:: peace and love ::

*** really really loving THIS for the office futon...I think it's worth it...don't you!?!!? Going to Ikea next weekend, for the desk and office chair!!!! Keep you posted ;-)
*** really loving THIS for one of the things I wear for engagements...but... I'm not crazy and need to find a *more affordable version of it--any help = appreciated!!!

a camping we will go!

There is so much to do here before we head out this weekend!! I thought I would slide in a few little snippets of the snazzy tie dye we created (Wes' turned out sooo cool...I'm jealous). I will honestly be amazed if we get everything done in time...I guess I should get off the blog and start on that 'long' list eh!? Alright...I'll go, but with promises to have some even better pictures of the tie dye in use and the amazing sights that will be seen on our adventures!
Bon Voyage lovlies!

:: peace and love ::

sparkling wit

I almost died when I watched this video from Erin Fetherston--it's fabulous...and I really wish that I had her sparkly heals (and whole outfit for that matter)...and I generally side with the phrase "i don't like glitter"...but my my...I may have changed my mind after this.

Enjoy!! *** Go here to check out Erin's other wonders ***

:: peace and love ::

Ohhh Reem Acra

As I mentioned in my previous post, I went wedding dress 'shopping' last weekend and was a bit under whelmed with the options at the store I went to. Don't get me wrong, it was so fun to even try a dress on for the first time (!!) but, everything looked the same...silk-satin-cheesy beading-silver and gold thread detail--trains....blah blah. I am craving to see some amazing details (like this beautiful Reem Acra gown) isn't it insane? The column shape (I hate trains), the crystal and applique detailing, the v. subtle sash hidden under the top layer....ugh...I want it (or something like it).....if you have seen some beautiful, artistic and detail oriented gowns let me know where--I would love to see them!!! I'm thinking a trip to SF or SB is needed...i really do
Happy almost weekend! We will be off to a music fest. this weekend near Yosemite for some bluegrass and folk music-which promises to be beautiful and amazing!!! Tie dye pics to come ;-)

:: peace and love ::