June 2010 Archives - not your average ordinary

Entries from 30 June 2010

Jun 30

I need a vacation. The kind you take and actually go somewhere. I haven’t had one of those in years. This year, I’m heading to Boston for a few days, to Ithaca, and perhaps even to Canada. But in the end, it’s always nice to be able to just relax at home and see friends and family.

I liked these letters when I first saw them, but when I discovered they were made from old maps, mostly of Ireland, I was even more smitten. Ireland, you see, was my last real vacation spot. (And how I loved it.)

Do you have any summer vacation plans? If so, where are you going? If you don’t, what’s the next spot on your list of places to visit?

{print from the wheatfield, Home letters from Little White Dog}

28 CommentsHome, Travels

Breakfast Buffet

Jun 29

The wildly talented Erin from Dandelion and Grey styled one of the most fantastically delicious scenes, truly perfect for a rehearsal dinner…I, um, mean brunch, or a super chill wedding. Frankly, who doesn’t love breakfast for dinner? If I were to do it, you can guarantee there would be some scrumptious french toast on the table. And I’m smitten with all the paper products from Dapper Paper (a newly favorited etsy shop — and when you wander over there you’ll see why) and Leila‘s gorgeous photography.

Prop styling & Floral Design : Erin McDonald from Dandelion and Grey

Photography : Olive Juice Photography

Paper Goods : Dapper Paper

19 CommentsDiscoveries, Savored

Oranges

Jun 28

The thing I miss most about California besides the weather (oh, that glorious weather) and people is the orange.

The Little Italy Mercado had one vendor that sold the most amazing freshly picked oranges. Messy ones. Ones that didn’t come apart easily and usually squirted you in the eye as you tried to peel and open them.

Ones that you thought about making into a cake, but never did because they were too good fresh. They were perfectly summer.

I haven’t found a good market here in Jersey yet, and a sore throat — as well as the beer making exploits of M and his brother — kept me from the Brooklyn Flea this weekend, but I’ll get there soon. As for this week, I’ve got some plans with NJ people that I haven’t seen in some time (yay!) and I’ll be enjoying the last few days of uninterrupted “vacation” before I start working full time. And probably looking for some oranges too.

{photographs by the talented Grace Huang}

28 CommentsThe East Coast, The West Coast

A Weekend in NJ

Jun 25

I’m debating crawling back into bed right now. It’s always harder adjusting when you fly West Coast to East Coast.

As I was unpacking yesterday, I came to the realization that I have a lot of stuff at my parents’ home. A lot of stuff that I don’t use or think about or even really want anymore. Something else for me to do this summer.

I’m still trying to get organized here, so I’m signing off until Monday. I’m going to try to spend as little time as possible on the computer this weekend, escape a little from electronic devices and all. Tomorrow, I’ll be seeing a former student for her Sweet 16 (she, her sister, and I are more like sisters given I’ve known them for six years) and Sunday, M and I are heading to the Brooklyn Flea.

Do you have any exciting or relaxing plans for the next few days? Enjoy yourself!

{Sadly, the gorgeous bedroom above is not mine. It’s from House+Home via escapade – a life more fabulous Doesn’t it look so delicious you could just sink right into it?}

22 CommentsHome, Stories

Bakeries

Jun 24

I’ve decided that baked goods look most tempting when set out on platters and arranged inside of cake domes (that glass cover is the key) rather than in display cases that make you feel like you’re at a supermarket. These have such an old-world feel to them that I love.

I had two thoughts this week: first, that I should attempt to design my own recipe cards since I haven’t found the perfect ones yet (I really like lines on mine); second, that I should perhaps consider a food blog. On the first point, I fiddled with some ideas while on the plane yesterday. I still need to see how they print out. With regards to the second, I thought it would be best to wait and see how much baking I actually get to. Baby steps, I have to remind myself.

And so you know, we all survived the journey east. The cats are never happy about flying in the underbelly of the plane (I don’t think they were too happy with the humidity in NJ either), but they were all out from under the bed this morning, sitting and staring at me (and probably trying to use mind control to get me to do their bidding).

{images here and here }

23 CommentsSavored, The East Coast, Travels

Crazy in Love

Jun 23

I get such a kick out of this collection of Crazy Love Cards from up up creative.

I think everyone can relate to one of these…no?

(I’m up in the air, on the way back to New Jersey for the summer. With the cats. They weren’t happy. See y’all tomorrow!)

{all images via up up creative}

13 CommentsDiscoveries

A Vintage Nightgown

Jun 23

When I was 15, I played Juliet in a production of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. One of my favorite parts of the show was getting to wear a vintage 1920s nightgown.

I remember how ethereal I felt, standing under the lights in the cream-colored silk gown. It was like I glowed.

My pajamas (which I have fun pronouncing as “pa-jermers”) now consist of a cotton tank top and the most comfortable cotton stretchy pants. It’s certainly not as glamorous as a vintage frock.

Maybe it’s time to diversify a bit and search for a comfortable vintage piece. What era would you buy one from?

{first image here, second here, third here}

15 CommentsHistory, Threads

Posh Girl Vintage

Jun 22

Can anyone explain to me why the Mad Men look is so compelling? I’m hooked too. And Posh Girl Vintage has some seriously cute vintage dresses to feed our addictions. If you like these, you need to head over and check out the formal dresses — they’re enough to make anyone’s jaw drop.

30 CommentsStyle

Spry

Jun 21

Spry — this ingredient is in several of my grandmother’s recipes. It took a little deciphering to even be sure that’s what her handwriting said. I looked it up: Spry was one of Crisco’s failed competitors.

I was flipping through her old recipe book this weekend, secretly hoping she had written her pierogi recipe somewhere in there. Along the way, I found my own handwriting (for poppyseed cake, nonetheless — it was one of the first things she taught me how to make) and a wealth of recipes carefully written down or clipped from magazines and newspapers.

So now I have a new summer plan — well, two technically. First, recreate my grandmother’s pierogies; she passed away last summer, so I can’t ask her where she hid that recipe. Second, work through her cookbook and bake some of those old-fashioned cakes and treats. And somewhere along the way, perhaps, use those recipes to reconnect to a woman who still means so much me.

{images from The Lunch Box Cookbook, illustrated by Lou Peters, via doe-c-doe}

29 CommentsHistory, Savored

Picnic

Jun 18

Just so you know, I’ve been having a lovely time this week not working on school work and papers. Actually, it’s a little strange. I no longer have to fill every moment of my days. I’ve rediscovered the joys of working on my computer outdoors and napping in the afternoon. I’ve discovered that I adore Alton Brown’s Good Eats (especially the recent episode on french toast, my favorite breakfast treat), and I made a batch of rainbow cookies (another favorite). The only thing I need to do now is find some unsuspecting, deserving people to pass some cookies to. After all, I can’t eat ALL of them myself (though I can put away a good amount).

Anything special planned for the weekend? I have some work to do, but otherwise, M and I will be enjoying the sun, home cooked meals, perhaps a good old-fashioned picnic, and San Diego in general.

A few things before I go…

Check out my guest post on my favorite things today.

The Sketchbook Project looks like a ton of fun to do — thanks to Shannon for letting everyone know about it.

I can’t wait to participate in Piper’s Alphabet Walk Blog Hop. Won’t you join me?

And if you have an etsy shop, perhaps you’ll consider joining poppytalk’s Oil Spill Response Market.

Happy Friday!

{photo by mikael dubois via this is glamorous}