Lately

I have been beefing up the fun kitchen drawer. 

Full disclosure: not pictured: dirty oven mitts.

Enjoying fresh lavender from Emily. 

Been growing a James and the Giant Peach-esque tomato. 

Cherry tomato on top for reference.

Lots of Jack taking dips in the pool.

This is Jon's brother and girlfriend's sweet pup.

Enjoying Thursday night tiramisu.

And now it's Friday! Hooray. We are headed to Bolinas this weekend. 

Have a happy weekend.

Ashley's Invites

Here are the bridal shower invites I was working on. 

I did not letterpress or gocco them myself, but I did work hard on the stamps. 

I ordered them from an Etsy seller and asked for ones less 

than 20 cents and in shades of yellow and orange.

I had to sit down with a calculator and do them all. 

I think they turned out pretty cute.

Sorry for the hearts. Had to cover up the goods, even though Jon 

still thinks someone can zoom in on the back ones. 

But that stamp is hard to decipher in person.

Weekend Scenes

{Flowers from over neighbor's fence + basil}

The people at Cost Plus World Market sent me this beauts journal. 

They are teaming up with Eat, Pray Love, which by the way, 

I think I am the only 18-35 year old woman who has not yet read this book. 

I was in their store last weekend, cute goods!

{Wedding favors}
We went to a wedding this weekend where the bride made coasters
with tiles, scrapbook paper and Mod Podge!

{Redwoods from Costco}

You can buy a 10 foot tree for thirty bucks. Insanity. We got 5.

{Garden tomatoes in my new colander}

Sneak Peak

It feels good to have something to work on, and last night I did just that. Jon went to watch the Giants game with his friends and from the moment he left until he returned, I worked. With no breaks. And finished! How satisfying. That, by the way, is never how anything in college got done.

{ Drinking a little of this* while I worked.}

{ Before they lovingly got shipped off. }

*Do not buy this wine. Do not let the cute label lure you in. Sweet Tea! Lemonade! Oh my! I thought it was gross because I was licking stamps and envelopes all night. But then I had a Miller High Life and it was just as refreshing and clean as ever. Take my word, steer clear.

Anyway, will return with full pretty pictures once it's safe everyone has received their invites.
(Edit: I am planning a bridal shower for my bestie, these are not for me. I am not engaged! )
Have a happy weekend!

Camping gear does not have to be ugly

As I prepare for an upcoming camping trip, I realize most of our
camping gear is ugly hand me downs, and is treated as such.

Time for some upgrades, me thinks.

Passing this thermos around the campfire would surely warm us up.

I would look pretty cute on the hike to the lake with this canteen 

slung over my shoulder. Not to mention, it would prevent me from

dropping it like I do with my Nalgene.

Speaking of that hike to the lake, this backpack would be the perfect

place to stash your sunscreen and beach towel.

(Thanks, Kate!)

If you have a baby traveling with you, this hammock 

looks like a cozy place for them to nap.

(Baby Aaron from LOST would have loved this)

Ok, your boyfriend might not know why you need a gourmet s'mores kit,
but just go with it.

Great. Now as long as your campsite looks like the above,
I think you are good to go!

Hold on, summer

I'm not done with you yet. I still don't have one of these. 

Don't be too scared to click the link, it's less than a hundy. 

Spotted: Life According to Celia.

Weekend Scenes + What I Wore

Made the prettiest guac with lemon drop tomatoes from the garden.

Before belated birthday brunch.

Trying to channel an old Ashley Olsen outfit. 

Bummer I had to wear sparkly TOMS instead of Balenciaga platforms.

Beignets + Waffles from Brown Sugar Kitchen. 

As you can see, I ate really healthy this weekend!

Birthday envelope from T+L+C.

I am a firm believer that a card is just as important as any gift.

Heading out for the last birthday celebration of the weekend.

Chez Panisse

I know I keep bringing up this restaurant, but it is pretty special to the Bay Area and is actually listed among the 50 best restaurants in the world. The Dalai Lama has even eaten there! Started by Alice Waters, it is noted as the birthplace of California cuisine. Ingredients are largely local, seasonal, organic and free-range.

 Located in the "Gourmet Ghetto" of Berkeley.

Etched water vessel.

For my first course I got the carrot soup with ginger and yogurt and 

Jon got the hand-made mozzarella with roasted eggplant and mint. 

We both agreed it was the best eggplant we have ever had, 

neither of us being eggplant lovers to begin with.

Main course time! I did something unlike myself and got the grass-fed beef 

short ribs with sweet corn polenta, green beans and tomatillos. 

AHH-MMMMMMAZING. 

I have never been a polenta person and with tomatillos even? 

Oh my god, every prisoner on death row should order this as their last meal. 

It was beyond words. Jon loved his too.  He ordered the Soul Food Farm 

chicken breast with zucchini and Parmesan gratin and cherry tomato salsa. 

The mix of hot and cold temperatures of his dish was a highlight. 

And lastly, we shared the summer berry sherbet with blackberries and 

raspberries. So refreshing. Like I tweeted last night, I think I know where 

I'm eating on my birthday for the rest of my life.

Birthday Scenes

I started my 27th year off with a run/walk around the Lafayette Reservoir.

Had lunch with Jon at Lettuce, my new favorite spot!

Birthdays are not complete without cupcakes.

Then I got dressed in my J.Crew clearance ikat dress. 

Notice how totally camo Cleo appears.

It's my birthday, I don't have to iron! Whoops. 

And then we headed to dinner at Chez Panisse, 

which totally deserves it's own post.

Last couple of things I did as a 26 year old

Ate some delish pear and goat cheese pizza.

Baked a quiche. Not on same night as delish pizza, obvs.

Threw down a margy.

Snagged a couple of cute placemats from Kohls.

And opened my first birthday card--early. 

Will you look at that card? Does my mom know me or what?

Soooo excited for my birthday tomorrow! 

And then Saturday and then Sunday. 

Ahhh, the perks of having your birthday fall on a Friday.

Japan Paper Rosette Fan

Squealing right now over these fans and how I would love to plan an

entire party around them.  You see, I am planning a bridal shower for

my bestie and so I am scouring the world wide web

for cute party items and accents. Tough job, I know.