stylish grub

blueberry & raspberry tart 

with vanilla bean ice cream 

Kind of how tall skinny glasses makes that $5 wine taste better, and honey is cuter in a honey-bear... Food photography simply blows my mind. 

top of the list this year for me- is to cook, capture and share. 

I admit I have some high standards- these guys below are total pros! But you have to start somewhere right?!  

it starts with by scouring thrift stores for colorful, elegant & tacky kitchen wares; scoring the perfect concrete counter top, elegant mismatched silverware, and spring flowers to spruce up the delicious grub. 

i like things messy- i like it colorful and almost accidental. 

I started with a #GRUB Board on Pinterest. 

Let these little luscious nuggets inspire you too! 

Sweet Thai Chili Salmon Quesadillas with Spicy Mango

warm feta with tomatoes

Polpette al Sugo con Polenta

crispy coconut french toast with sour cherries and dark chocolate

Split Pea & Ham SOup! 

A few other favorite sties to get your taste buds watering: 

Bakers Royal // Half Baked Harvest // Twigg Studios

Wish-list for #26

Escaping the sleet & snow that seem to have sprinkled the South these past couple of weeks - I retreat to one of my favorite spots, Church Street Coffee & Books. A spicy chai latte and a snowy day playlist to browse a few of my favorite blogs and ETSY stores for inspiration. 

I give you my wish-list for #26: 

1. J. CREW 2014 Fall Floral Pant // 2.  Nikki Couppee Necklace- BubbleGum Quartz Necklace // 

3. LolaFalk Travel Wallet // 4. Kate Spade Arianna Red Sunglasses // 5. Milly Black Boot // 

6.  Frida: A Biography of Frida Kahlo

Chinese New Year & Spring Sprucing

I am considering this Chinese celebration as an opportunity to give my condo a fresh renovated start. Chinese New Year literally translates to Spring Festival. This is my attempt, or at least first step to spring cleaning and renovation! My mission- to finally fix up/ clean up/ art up the condo!
My Pinterest board has grown from ideas to obsessive looks. I have narrowed down my style into an elegant, colorful, art-filled cozy space. I promise it is possible, with my expert thrifting, and shopping on a budget skills, the condo should be ready by summer! (This includes a few minor contract needs) Lets start with the entry way/living room- it's all about curating the perfect space.

1. mid-century piece (we already own) it just needs some lovelies on top,
and a few pieces of artwork on the walls

(All images taken from Pinterest) 

Any mid-century piece would not be complete without a hand-full of art toppers: 

artwork- hand and foot // teardrop terrarium // green decorative books 

Robert - Karley Feaver // jeremy mayer sculpture // // pipework candelabra two blue

Beauties in the Bay

Why have we not visited sooner? Michael & my two sisters decided to meet-up in San Francisco for Christmas. My aunt Ginger & uncle Wayne live in Berkeley, perfectly positioned on a quant hill across from the historical Claremont Hotel. I spent about 10 days traveling through Berkeley, Oakland & San Francisco with new friends and cousins. I might have to break this into ten posts!, but here are a few of my favorite spots. Let's start with SF:

The de Young Musuem  perfectly nestled in the Golden Gate Park this architecturally impressive museum showcases priceless collections of American art from the 17th through the 20th centuries, textile arts, and art of Africa, Oceania and the Americas. Michael and I toured the David Hockney exhibition - & I was blown away by the work, and the museum's efforts to encourage visitors to share their experience and excitement using hash-tags on social media check it! ..found using #davidhockney 

@smallest_m / @shaditolouiwallace / @dzem34 / @lattecosmico 

now GRUB: I highly recommend Dosa in Valenca. Unfortunately, my phone died right as we got to the restaurant, so I will have to scour the net to impress you with their drool worthy plates, get a reservation because they fill up pretty damn quick! #YUM

Above: Chile Bhaji  Also, you must order the bhatura with any meal! It is sweet, fried and chewy- perfect to dip in any dish. 

Now the Mission district, do a little shopping!! 

Do not miss Laku on Valencia, designer Yaeko Yamashita began her career as a fashion designer in Asia, then moved her shop from New York to San Francisco. Every item in the shop is handmade: using both vintage and natural fabrics such as silk, cotton, velvet organdy and brocade. It's simply lovely! 

   
that's all for now !! xoxo- C 

Just a Few Festive Touches

With holiday season upon us, it's the perfect time for entertaining, and a beautiful set table is the canvas for any meal. A few simple tips to keep in mind while arranging centerpieces & decor: 

Confidence and personality is key, don't revert to the store bought arrangements, find a local wholesale floral business for inexpensive beauties. The general rule is to keep arrangements low enough that guests can see and talk over them. 

The best part of shopping wholesale is they mostly only carry in-season flowers. 

No sense in tulips in November, or cranberries in spring. Trust your instincts. 

I love colors and texture, so my arrangements are usually a bit bazaar. 

Keeping the flower healthy:

Cut the stems on an angle before placing into the glass. 

Shave and leaves off the stem that will sit in the water- to keep it clear. 

Use small filler flower to spruce up and add volume. 

Leaves and greenery are your friend, they will add depth to your arrangement. 

Have fun! And don't be afraid to try something new.

A favorite blog post: Ultimate Holiday Table

Photo credit can be found on my PINTEREST page

Peppermint Pairings

It is not quite Thanksgiving, but let's face it, hot coco, vintage string lights, stockings and peppermint flavored everything is on your mind. Tis the season to indulge. Everywhere you look; velvet buckles & gold bangles from Black Friday specials, a cozy cup-of-jo filled with cinnamon, vanilla, chocolate and peppermint. Just enough to inspire this winter wardrobe. 

1. Chevron Silk Blouse 2. Wide Brim Felt Hat- Guess  3. Gold bee bobby pin set- Emily Elizabeth 

4. KiKAa chunk bracelet 5. Seamed Skinny In Crackled Leather-Like Black6. Confetti Wood Veneer Sunglasses- Tumbleweeds Handcraft  7. Carley Bootie- Tory Burch 

Combat the chill with Figue

A weathered trend maybe, yet one that seems to make appearances year round. Stiff and sturdy shapes in khaki and camouflage have been spotted in street styles and runways all around the world. Military influence has been molding fashion since the early 40's, but my recent trip to NYC has left me lusting over these uniquely tagged military layers. 

I stumbled into Figue on a complete whim, after hours of relentless searching fo the perfect fall wedding reception dress, Lily and I were struck by the Bohemian shop style, paired perfectly with an overflow of vibrant rugs and braided floor cushions. " Figue (pronounced “fig") is a new luxury collection for women created by Stephanie von Watzdorf. Defined by a global gypsy-meets-jet-set spirit—bringing together the urban energy of Paris and London with the natural beauty of the Mediterranean and Stephanie’s passion for travel." The Bohemian inspired boutique was filled with tunics laced with pom-poms and gold threaded beading, denim and bangles in colorful global inspired prints and of course the stunning embellished military jackets. The sweet shop manager gave us a little history of Stephanie's design process and inspiration. Many of the symbols referenced Egyptian hieroglyphs (pictured below) like the eye of Horus which represents the ancient Egyptian sky god who was usually depicted as a falcon. Many of the embellished sequin and bead designs were sourced directly from African craftsmen. 

Von Watzdorf tells Vogue “It could look hideous and Las Vegas, but it’s not." 

Lily and I both agree.