Italian Baked Eggs

Super easy and great meal for dinner tonight.

We got our CSA box tonight and it was full of tomatoes, onions and basil (amongst other things) so I decided to use them right away and make baked eggs.

You will need:

• 1 small onion (chopped)
• 1 clove of garlic (chopped)
• 2 medium heirloom tomatoes (diced)
• 6 basil leaves (chopped finely)
• 4 organic eggs
• 2 Tbls. Parmesan cheese (grated)
• 2 small pie plates or small baking dishes - if don't have this, you can bake it all in one dish or break into 4 ramekins or custard cups, just use what you have.
• Butter or olive oil (Earth Balance)

Preheat oven to 350.

Grease baking containers with butter, oil or Earth Balance.

Saute onions in a small fry pan until translucent, add garlic and tomatoes and let simmer for about 10 minutes to get some moisture out.

To each baking dish, with a slotted spoon, add half of the onion and tomato mixture and top with finely chopped basil and crack 2 eggs on top of all of that. Try not to break the yolk, I wasn't so lucky with one of mine.

Bake for 15-20 minutes until egg is opaque.

Remove from oven and top with salt, pepper and half of the cheese.

Serve with toasted crusty bread.

Enjoy!

Silly Cat

I love this photo, BayLee cracks me up each and every day. I tell you, it is hard to have a bad day when you have animals in your life; they add so much color.

Manic Monday

If I had the closet of my dreams, this is what I would be wearing today...

Stars and Stripes Forever

Jazz up your 4th of July picnic with these high steppin stunners! Just don't twist your ankle and drop the tray of PBR's on the ground.

Nothing says America like apple pie, baseball, and super high platform stars and stripes pumps right?
Seriously, all you need is that 1980's american flag bikini and these shoes and you will not have to pay for any drinks on the 4th. Try it and let me know what happens...

Find these Jeffrey Campbell shoes here at Lori's Shoes.
They are sure to sell out, so order up now.

A Great Night Out

Last night we went out to Frankie's Bohemian Cafe on Divisadero to celebrate Angela and Brian's 10 year Wedding Anniversary! They met at Frankie's 11 years ago and named their son Frankie when he was born 4 years ago. We had a great meal of spaetzle, beer, calamari, french fries and god knows what else, it was a smorgasbord of deliciousness. After dinner little Frankie left with Grandma and Grandpa to spend the night at their house and it was time to party.
We walked down to the Lion Pub, which might be my new favorite spot to have a drink and listen to bumping top 40 music (it is awesome). I had not been there for years and the last time was with Angela so I thought, why not revisit and it did not let us down. They have crazy drinks like Lady Gaga, PB & J (shot) and Charlie Sheen just to name a few. To sum up the evening, I will leave you with this...
Remember that scene in Sixteen Candles where Farmer Ted has such a great night and the one piece of evidence he has is that cheesy photo of him and Caroline (the prom queen) in Jake's Dad's Rolls Royce?
Well...this is the one and only photo I took last night as evidence of our good time.
Sorry Angela and Brian, I didn't even get a photo of you together on your anniversary, just this crazy one of Angela and Tim which is currently cracking me up!

*{Fabulous Find}*

I super love this pie plate - what fun to uncover a rainbow of colors as you remove slices of your pie or baked pasta...ummmm baked pasta. I love how it looks like an artists palate.

You can purchase this wonderful pie plate here at Anthropologie.


Photos from Anthropologie.com

Trail Mix Cookies

This was posted a while back, but they were so good, I thought I would repost! I must make these soon, I can taste them right now!

Trail Mix Cookies
Preheat oven to 350 degrees and cut parchment for cookie sheets, set aside.

In mixing bowl cream together:
:: 1 C. Butter, Shortening or Margarine
:: 1 1/2 C. Brown Sugar
:: 1/2 C. Granulated Sugar

ADD
:: 1 tsp. Almond extract (pure, not imitation)
:: 2 Eggs, Eggbeaters or Egg Replacer

In a separate bowl sift together:
:: 1 1/2 Cup All Purpose Flour
:: 1 tsp. Ground Cinnamon
:: 1 tsp. Baking Soda
:: 1/2 tsp Salt

Slowly add dry mixture to wet mixture with mixer on low so you don't get flour poofing all over your counter and yourself for that matter.

Once it is all incorporated and smooth add the following:
:: 3 Cups Rolled Oats (old fashioned, not quick) - mix on medium

Then, add (while mixing on low - I pulse my mixer as not to crush any of the good stuff):
:: 1 Large Dark Chocolate Bar (chopped)
:: 1/3 C. Sliced Almonds
:: 1/2 C. Chopped Pecans
:: 1/2 C. Dried Cranberries (or cherries)
:: 1/2 C. Raisins

Drop by tablespoons full onto parchment covered cookie sheet and bake 12-15 minutes until golden brown. Move to cooling rack and enjoy!

Millinery Workshop with Wayne Wichern

I just completed a 3 Day Felt & Straw Blocking Millinery Workshop with Wayne Wichern. I have been looking at Wayne's classes for some time now and decided it was time to take the plunge. I have honestly been dreaming of learning how to make hats since I was small child and would gaze at the beautiful hats at the Cohen Millinery on our annual trips to Greenfield Village. I always thought my dream job, besides being a writer, would be a Milliner with my own little shop. This weekend I got to try my hand at it and you know what...I really loved it! Once I entered Wayne's studio I was mesmerized by the amazing collection of hat blocks he has, my brain was on instant creative overdrive. I had to reel myself in as I wanted to stick with at least some of the ideas I came to class with. Wayne is a wonderful instructor who gently guided our small class of 4 (wonderful women) through the hat making process with patience and grace. Wayne is a master of his craft and is really inspiring, he even has a ballet background, which most of you know is very near and dear to my heart. Wayne is a problem solver, creative genius and was able to make us laugh while teaching us valuable millinery skills.

Creating hats is both physical and gentle at the same time. Parts of the process (like blocking) you are putting your entire body into it and smaller parts (like adding trim) you are sewing with a light hand paying attention to detail. Wayne got me over my fear of the sewing machine and helped me create some beautiful hats that I cannot wait to wear around town. I may even take a sewing class soon to work on being more comfortable at the machine. I have a machine, but it always gives me problems, I realized that the machine may not be the problem (gasp...).

Here are some of my creations...
This one is still in the works; I need to add the trim.
These are ready to wear. I wish more people wore hats. I think some ladies believe they have to be "dressed" to wear hats, but I don't think that is always the case and would like to shift that sort of thinking. Why not wear a nice button down shirt, some dark jeans, nice boots and top it all off with a great hat? I say go for it!

PS - used my old point and shoot this weekend, which worked great in Wayne's studio, not so good at home when shooting the hats on my make shift hat model.

For more photos, check out my Millinery Class set on flickr by clicking here.

Manic Monday

If I had the closet of my dreams, this is what I would be wearing today...

Summertime Nostalgia

Each summer I tend to get a little nostalgic, longing for the summers of my youth by the Great Lakes; the feel of warm sand beneath my feet, the sun soaking through my skin and warming my bones. The taste of sweet cherries and the sound the pits would make as they whizzed out the window of our brown Chevrolet Malibu station wagon. No seat belts in the back seat of the car so when the perforated Naugahyde got too hot you could move freely to release your thighs from the seat leaving little bumps where your skin sunk into the vinyl pattern as you relaxed. It seemed to take forever to get to our idyllic spot by the lake each summer and the question every kid asks "are we there yet" came up I am sure way too often for my parents. I have many wonderful memories of summer as a child in Michigan and when the family house was sold last year I thought that might be the last of them.

This summer my parents decided to rent a house on Lake Huron (a block away) for a couple weeks and I was bummed that I wasn't going to be able to join them. Every time I see the Pure Michigan commercials I get misty thinking about Michigan in the summertime and how much I really do miss it. I just want to be warm in the summer, that's all, it is not warm here people. I want to take a time out, be carefree again, read a book outside and walk along the water and collect sea glass (lake glass?) even if just for a few days. Call it haste, call it spontaneous craziness or what you will - I won't be offended but...

I bit the bullet, bought myself a ticket and am headed to Michigan (home sweet home) to hang out and relax on the Lake in a few weeks. I am trying not to have any expectations, but do have a little list of things I must do while I am there. This is not a stretch to relive the days of my youth, let's just call it a time out from adulthood for a few days, that's all. I am excited! UPDATE - Tim is now coming too! Very exciting...getting ready for Pure Michigan.

Pure Michigan

Is it just me being from Michigan or do these
commericals make you long for a great summer by the lake?

Manic Monday

If I had the closet of my dreams, this is what I would be wearing today...

The Citizen Hotel

As promised last week, here is a quick review of The Citizen Hotel in Sacramento. I am reviewing this hotel, 1. because I thought the room was super cute, and 2. who doesn't like to see what hotel rooms really look like from someone who has been there. If you are looking for a cool place to spend the night in Sacramento, I highly recommend The Citizen Hotel. We were lucky enough to use our hotels.com points and got a Jr. Suite!

Super cute place, love all of the political decor throughout the hallways and in the rooms. I super love their do not disturb door signs that simply state "closed door session". To top it all off, we had a view of the capitol from our shower window.

The restaurant/bar called Grange at the hotel had some yummy drinks and a pretty good nosh selection, but very small portions (when ordered off the bar menu). Tim had a drink called the Tusk (Grange House Blend Woodford Boubon, boar bacon syrup and a candied bacon strip as a swizzle stick) I had a Strawberry Julep which was delicious.

I highly recommend this hotel, check hotels.com when booking.

One drawback...valet parking only.

Wrap Star 3

I love wrapping gifts and when it came time for me to wrap a journal for a dear friend this morning, I thought...what can I do differently? Then I looked over at my mountain of fashion magazines and started flipping through for a great 2 page spread.

Here is what I came up with.

First cut out the two page spread and tape it together on the backside of what you are going to use. Then, line it up so the image you want on the front of your gift is in the right place and continue wrapping. I had a seam in the middle of the front of my gift so I just used a ribbon to cover it. That's it, cute gift wrap and green too!

The Ribbonerie

I was over in Laurel Heights the other day to get new tires for my Jeep when it struck me...isn't there a killer ribbon store over here somewhere? So, I pulled out my trusty iphone (which I have decided, I cannot live without) and looked it up, The Ribbonerie popped up so when the new rubber was ready to hit the road I headed over.

I knew from the window out front that what I was about to enter was something of a ribbon dreamland and it did not disappoint. The owner of the store was super helpful when I told her what I was looking for and let me take all the time I wanted to poke around. This shop has the most amazing antique fixtures, things that were specifically made for spools of ribbon and sewing goods. There is a wall of vintage millinery feathers, german velvet leaves and fruit and so many other goodies; it was a kaleidoscope of color for the eyes. I picked up a couple things for a class I am taking next weekend and was on my way, but you know what? I will be back for sure!

Here is a link to an article that was on apartment therapy in 2008.

Photos from apartmenttherapy.com

*{Fabulous Find}*

Oh Boy!

I have posted about The World's Smallest Post Service before (here and here), and now there is a do it yourself kit out there so you can create your own tiny letters.

Purchase your own here at the Curiosity Shoppe Online.

Doesn't this look like fun? I sure think so!

Frankie's 4th!

A little behind on posts and I don't have too many photos (believe it or not), but, it was Frankie's 4th Birthday this past weekend (4 on the 4th)! We went up to Sacramento on Saturday with Robin and Kenny - we fought terrible traffic but made it up there in time to decorate and enjoy the party. The great thing was, it stopped raining for the festivities.

Great food, great friends and a super cute Birthday Boy!

We spent the night in Sacramento (hotel review in a future post) and then met Angela and Frankie for brunch on Sunday before heading back home.

Thanks Robin and Kenny for offering to drive, that was very sweet and made the ride a lot more fun.

Happy Anniversary Mom & Dad

Still crazy after all these years...June 6, 1970

PS - Yes, that is a mini dress and yes, my Mom made it herself!

Oh Happy Day!

I have been a loyal reader of Oh Happy Day for the last 5 years and now after revamping her site, Jordan has really done it...she is giving away a trip for two to Paris!

Click here to link to the contest and SIGN UP to win a dreamy trip!

There has been a ton of traffic on the Oh Happy Day site and the above link has been wonky - you can link this way as well: http://ohhappyday.com/ and look at today's post.

Manic Monday

If I had the closet of my dreams, this is what I would be wearing today...

Old Booth App

I am simply in love with the Old Blooth App on my iphone. I have been taking photos left and right to see what it can do.

Here is some of my handiwork - yes, I posed for each photo based on the theme of the photo.

Hilarious - I am cracking myself up, I'll admit it.

My face is too big in most of them which makes them even more funny, note to self, never get a finger weaved 1920's bob and resize face in future photos.