Finally getting settled back in from vacation allows me the time to become creative in the kitchen. Last night after watching Giada De Laurentiis I ran off to the store to recreate her Parisian Steak and Brie Croissant Sandwich and Mushroom and Parsley Salad. The sandwich I did exactly as she said but I altered the mushroom salad by switching the button mushrooms for baby bella mushrooms.
Sizzlin' away in some butter, Paris style!
Toasted croissant with brie? Hellz yeah!
Finalized sammich with a view of the mushroom salad topped with shaved parmesan cheese.
Roasted red peppers and arugula peeking out behind the creamy brie and medium rare filet.
I'm back from vacay. Cedric and I enjoyed an amazing week with family and friends in the cool state of Ohio. We were guests at a fun filled wedding with an amazing couple. We enjoyed great food throughout the week, traveled to Put-in-Bay with my father, strolled through the Toledo Art Museum with my Mommy, attended a baseball game, and had fun people watching at Comfest in Columbus. FUN! FUN! FUN!
On my last day in Toledo oh joy! posted a recipe for a pizza pot pie. I finally attempted it last night and it was delish! I unfortunately didn't have the mindset to snap my own photographs so I will share with you the photographs from the life changing blog known as oh joy!
fill the bowl with goodies and bake!
Once baked, flip it and TADA you have a bread bowl!
I filled it with several types of mushrooms, shallots, garlic, pepperoni, and fresh mozzarella..YUMM!
I'm of average height; I measure an exact 5'5" and feel that I am too short for floor length dresses and skirts. However, the long skirt from Zara has me wanting to give it a go.
Who says furniture can't be effortless? Taking inexpensive items, such as pallets (growing up I had a barn full), tossing some cushions on them with great giant pillows would make the perfect seating for my craft room...now all I need is the space.
I have been making the rounds in search of chalkboard oilcloth. Nobody in the 912 carries it, so I will have to leap into the world of internet orders and click into existence a few yards. I'm intrigued by the endless possibilities that I could produce with a blank slate and colorful chalk! So between that and my favorite laminated cotton and oilcloth fabrics this book will give me the perfect jolt of inspiration to get to clickin' on my search for even more fanciful fabrics!
I am NOT a shorts kinda gal; however, my dear friend Audra gifted me a pair of Marc Jacobs shorts that I love to slip on. I could also deal with these lovelies. They scream comfort!
Last Sunday Cedric and I attended the Hilton Head Savannah Equestrian Exposition. Cedric wandered around photographing the event while I huddled in closely to the beautifully set up tent of The Hunt Club Clothiers that overflowed with num nums made by Leoci's Trattoria. The day was filled with sunshine, champagne, fun fashions, delicious food, and smiling faces. What a wonderful way to enjoy a Sunday.
Nothing better to start your day with than a Royal Wedding.
Ben Stansall / AFP - Getty Images
Pool / Reuters
It was gorgeous, romantic, traditional and modern all at the same time. What a success and well worth the four o'clock wake up time. The bride and groom were beyond story book status and the crowds were entertaining us with joyful fun.
Last year I recreated Martha Stewart's Paper Hanging Globe for Cedric's surprise birthday party.
They were so sweet using white, pinks and peaches. Ok, so maybe they were more for me than for him. I could have used more masculine colors, but just couldn't bring myself to do it. I went overboard ordering between 30 or 40 and stapled them together with a pretty cream ribbon running through the middle. I loved them. I wanted to surround myself with them.
I'm really loving these pom poms that resemble dahlias. We're in search of a new home and I am unrealistically dreaming of having my own special room to fill with paper pretties. An overhead blooming garden of colors and textures.
I look forward to these seasonal videos. I REALLY look forward to the arrival of the Toast catalogue on my doorstep. There is a smell to them; a feeling of quality weighted paper that makes for the ultimate catalogue experience. This may seem silly, but you must experience the dreamlike photographs of quality clothing that is both stylish and ladylike.
The warmth of sand underfoot, cool breeze off of the ocean, and lingering friends can transport us all into
our happy place.
A sun filled moment surrounded by landscaped nature is surely the atmosphere to catapult us into a moment of daydreaming delight.
Take a few minutes and let yourself escape into the Spring~Summer 2011 line. It's like a little mini vacation, all wrapped into about five minutes of summer holiday ease and much needed R&R.
Film by Nick Seaton for Toast / Music by Joe Zeitlin
Let me introduce you to Jen Ray. Reading her bio is like closing my eyes and looking deep into my secret desires of reclaiming the simplistic lifestyle and beauty that the country can bring you all the while not being able to strip the city life from your existence.
She grew up in a log cabin.
She is a traveler.
She is crafty, artistic, and a renovator of barns.
Quite a busy week of fun and work, and now finally pictures are being posted. My talented partner in life Cedric Smith created a beautiful painting for the Historic Savannah Foundation and the lovely Garden Expo Preview Party. We set up a tent on the beautiful grounds of the Trustees' Garden amongst chickens, and everything related to gardens. It was a delightful evening with old friends and new.
History Blooms in the South. Cedric Smith Original
Swiss and French video-artist Jean-Sébastien Monzani has produced the most cheer filled, simplistic video that reminds us to take pause in our hectic, stress filled days. It drives us to refocus and to bring beautiful thoughts into the forefront of our minds.
"Pragmatic romantic and classy dame" is how Elizabeth Novak describes herself. She recreates a time of an America when merit badges were cool, and everyone comes home with the blue ribbon. Her jewelry is fun, imaginative, and downright clever with a youthful vibe.
She also has some really cool state rings. I am going to keep checking in with her, with the hopes of an Ohio ring making an appearance in her shop one day soon.
