Posts Tagged ‘san francisco’

Inspiration is everywhere

Monday, February 22nd, 2010

The LA sunshine did not follow me to San Francisco last week. In fact, everyday was foggy and cool.  But it didn’t bother me one bit.  In fact against those dismal grey skies the pops of early spring are really striking. It’s hard not to be inspired by the colors and textures that come with the promise of mild weather and longer days. Fresh juicy citrus in street side carts, the delicate pink of the cherry blossoms and the vibrant rainbow of fresh spring flowers are all translated into dreamy spring fashion.

orange

{photo ckm; dress Shoshanna @ Bloomingdales}

 

cherry

{photo ckm; clutch Loris Shoes Chicago}

 

fresh flowers

{photo ckm; dress Arden B}

Where are you finding inspiration this month? What’s on your must have spring fashion list?

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I left my heart…

Wednesday, February 17th, 2010

Photobucket

{The Bridge. Photo by S}

San Francisco will always hold a special place in my heart. Having grown up just outside The City, our visits were always highly-anticipated as kids. Taking the train each year to see the Macy’s Holiday window displays and the Nutcracker with my grandmother, bringing visitors to the quintessential tourists spots and usually buying them a SAN FRANCISCO sweatshirt because it was always colder than expected.

C is on her way up there later this week. Any good recommendations for her? New restaurants or boutiques to check out? Since I have never lived there as an adult, only the tried and true classic SF spots come to mind.

These photos by Jamie of my new favorite blog, From Me To You, really got me missing my City by the Bay:

photo by From Me To You

Photo by Jamie of From Me To You

The Rock by Jamie of From Me To You

The Rock by Jamie of From Me To You

Her blog is all things beautiful and full of wonder.

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V Day replay

Tuesday, February 16th, 2010

Hope everyone had a wonderful long weekend. We certainly did. It was a busy 3 days. I had thought I would be writing a long, delicious post about the LA Street Food Fest, but as many of you know (firsthand from surffering through it and secondhand from reading me on Twitter) it was a total disaster. I’m not going into it again here because I’m an event planner and I try to maintain a small amount of grace when it comes to other people’s events and frankly, they’ve been ripped apart by about everyone else in LA already, so no need. Let’s focus on the positive….

First, welcome to all our new followers. Geez, you guys make us blush. We’re so happy you’re here!

We ate a new neighborhood restaurant called The Six (good, really good) and I will give you a full review later this week.

I ordered my Dutch dahlia bulbs and planted more Night Blooming Jasmine and….a raspberry bush. No clue if raspberry bushes grow in LA. Seems like they shouldn’t sell them at my local nursery if they don’t but maybe there are a lot of wishful thinkers out there like me.  I will definitely miss my magic garden which sadly, I had to give up when I gave up my fulltime job (click here if you’re sentimental like me.) This year, I’ll have to suffer through container gardening and a much reduced vegetable patch on account of the fact we don’t have a 25,000 sq ft lot for me to play farmer with. Le sigh. Anyway, back to Valentine’s…

I made all my cards and got them in the mail in time.  Hurrah for that.

cards 2

{handmade + heartfelt}

Started the day with a little brunch and of course, mimosas.

waiting for mimosa

{waiting for mimosa}

We always cook dinner at home and the menu this year was~

Rosemary crusted lamb chops
Lobster
Asparagus risotto
Dark chocolate cake
2006 Beaux Freres Pinot (this was an incredible bottle of wine, worth every penny)
 

These ingredients….

butter and chocolate

{butter + chocolate}

became this…

cake love

{dark chocolate + brown sugar cake}

and the whole decadent feast was enjoyed here.

table

{table for two, please.}

This week is even busier than the last! Tomorrow I start my long awaited photography class and it’s the first day of the Women’s Empowerment Program where I am volunteering as a mentor. If you’re not familiar with Chrysalis click here for information on this amazing organization. Thursday I am off to San Francisco to pretty much do nothing but eat, shop, spa and meet Miss Champagne Bubbles! How fun is that? J and I have ambitious eating plans including Fleur de Lys, Slanted Door, Tartine and the new farmer’s market in the Ferry Building. Finally, Sunday is the launch of the Posh Potluck.

S is in charge for the rest of the week!

xoxo

your girl c

PS: The dark chocolate-brown sugar cake was amazing and super easy to make. If you want the recipe email me.

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Laissez Le Bon Crochet Rouler

Friday, February 5th, 2010

Do you know Heath Ceramics?

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They craft beautifully designed pottery in Sausilito, California.

I have long admired their bowls and plates.

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The photos above show some of their wares on display at a new Community store in the Ace Hotel in Palm Springs.

Each month they host neat events at their shops (Los Angeles, Ferry Building in SF and Sausalito).

top-image

Clare Crespo, celebrated food artist, author of  “The Secret Life of Food” and “Hey There, Cupcake,” has created a crocheted Mardi Gras feast styled on Heath dinnerware. Food made of crochet. So cute + funky, but such a trick…it makes me want the real thing!

It will make your mouth water for all the Cajun classics – she’s recreated Seafood Gumbo, Beignets and Cafe Au Lait (our fave!), King cake, Catfish poboy, Oysters on the half shell and Soft shell crab. More about Clare Crespo here (I love Clare’s stuff and it doesn’t hurt that she and my mom share a maiden name).

So if you are really hungry for the flavors of NOLA, head down to Heath tomorrow, Saturday February 6th from 6-8pm, to attend their Mardi Gras bash with REAL food and live music. 7525 Beverly Blvd. Los Angeles 90036  www.heathceramics.com

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O Christmas Tree

Thursday, December 3rd, 2009
Trimming the yuletide tristania: Ava Grotto decorates a living tree over the holidays last year. The tree is now part of San Francisco's urban forest.

Trimming the yuletide tristania: Ava Grotto decorates a living tree over the holidays last year. The tree is now part of San Francisco's urban forest. Photo from the San Francisco Chronicle.

One of the things I especially love about being home is reading the San Francisco Chronicle. Call us old fashioned, but we love handwritten notes and our newspapers in the print. Besides its the only place I can read Rhymes with Orange, my dad & my favorite comic strip (its really funny!). Each morning over the holiday, I fired up my Dad’s fancy espresso machine, made English muffins with my mom (burnt just like we like ‘em) and settled in with the paper.  This was one of my favorite stories of the week. And just another reason why San Francisco is an awesome town.

This holiday season, San Francisco residents can purchase a living tree (of the southern magnolia, small-leaf tristania,  or strawberry tree variety) from the Dreaming of a Green Christmas Program, decorate said tree with the usual twinkling lights, popcorn garlands and treasured ornaments and enjoy it for the month of December. Then, once the yule log has fizzled out and other Douglas Firs are shedding their needles mercilessly, your tree will go on to live on a SF street for years to come.

For the past 5 years this program has contributed hundreds of trees to SF’s urban forest, planting these hardy, beautiful shade trees in neighborhoods lacking in greenery, specifically Hunter Point and Bayview. (Each purchase is a tax-deductible donation to Friends of the Urban Forest)

Granted its not a traditional lush Noble Fir, but these potted trees have a charm of their own, are environmentally friendly and make a lasting impact on the community. Perhaps you can start a new holiday tradition this year with a living tree.

Learn more about the program here: http://www.sfenvironment.com/greenchristmas/

*update* LA offers living Christmas Trees for rent and San Diego’s Adopt A Christmas Tree delivers its live trees with singing and dancing elves in tow, then after the holidays donates them to families with fire-damaged homes and yards. Isn’t that a great cause?

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