it’s really hard to get into the fall spirit when it’s 90 degrees outside! so i’m just going to sit and appreciate the fun times we had this summer! this was one of my favorite garden surprises. an artichoke flower! it sort of looks scary like it could bite you, but then it’s also […]
cool, refreshing mint tea
it’s still very warm here in so cal. too warm to start the fall garden. and this cool, mint tea is my companion as i sit for hours at the computer today. the mint is going strong in the garden and we’ve placed a bit in jars around the house to keep the flies away. […]
painting oak to look like Restoration Hardware :: mud room diy
let me start by saying that i’ve absolutely saved no money by doing this project myself! if i account for the time spent, mistakes made, injuries sustained, and my hourly billing rate, i’d be better off having purchased the Restoration Hardware version. BUT, this has been a great project and i feel that my painting […]
sneaking mushrooms into pasta sauce
if your kids are like mine, you’ve sometimes gotta be wiley with the veggies. i present to you exhibit A. mushrooms. i love me some button mushrooms. did you know that mushrooms are the only fresh veggie with vitamin D? not that we’ve needed any vitamin D around here with the scorching sun and heat […]
sand room mishaps :: my attempt at wood working with a steak knife
sometimes i get hair-brained ideas in the middle of the night that keep me awake. my husband and i call this swirling. several months ago, i got this idea that i’d build a sand room. it’s like a mud room, but is really more for sand, since our family tracks more beach sand than mud. […]
Restoration Hardware inspired work bench
our neighbors had this piece in their back yard. it reminds me of my old place in w. hollywood. before married life, i restored a cute spanish-style home in west hollywood. the previous owners had redone the 1920s home in a very tacky home depot fashion. pink walls. cheapo pedestal sinks. linoleum floors. so […]
so cal garden explosion
we’ve got rogue tomato plants all over the garden. take exhibit A. i didn’t plant this one and look how amazing it is! i’m sort of insulted, to be honest, b/c the tomato plants that i staked, trim regularly, and talk to, are basically ignoring me. but these rogue plants which my friend never picked […]
harvesting potatoes grown in coffee sacks
howdy! several months ago, i stalked a bunch of gardening blogs to learn how to grow potatoes. while spring isn’t the ideal time to grow potatoes in california, i was impatient and wanted to give it a try. typically potatoes require cooler weather. my intent was to plant these around halloween, but life got away […]
glimpse into the Newport Beach countryside
yes, so there’s a quiet part of Newport Beach that offers horse properties and a rustic, farm, country feel. be still my heart! hello gorgeous! check out this precious chicken coop! in addition to a worm farm, i want chickens! and honestly, i don’t think my husband would ever find out… shhhh….don’t tell him where […]
California Tea Party
hello! raise your hand if summer has completely consumed you? i’ve really been making an effort to be in the moment with the kids….i give myself a B. we’ve had a lot of fun…but it isn’t easy. summer’s irregular schedule requires a lot more juggling and calendar coordination! thank goodness for Google calendars!!! we’ve spent […]
blended iced coffee yumminess + a giveaway!
i had my bible study girls over for breakfast today. i’d envisioned a nice peaceful meal outside until i heard lil G casually ask “what are those bugs doing out there?” turns out they weren’t bugs…but in fact, a swarm of bees! run for the hills, batten down the hatches! then we were greeted by […]
cook. shoot. paint. eat. june 2013.
now i’ve done it. all this blogging about painting free furniture found on curbs or via craigslist curb alerts has created a few monsters within my circle of friends. so the time had come to bring a few of us together for the next installment of cook. shoot. eat. this time, we added some paint. […]
precious twin headboard for a pink-lovin’ girl
these aren’t the most glamorous pix you’ve ever seen, but sometimes when this mamma paints at 11:30 pm, the lighting ain’t great… my friend found this headboard on the side of the road. yes, these are the treasures we find in Orange County. nuts. at our painting party earlier this week, it was decided we’d […]