hitting the pavement

We had a lovely walk today. Quite lovely. And quite long.

Even with a bit of a chill in the air, there were signs of spring all around. Blooming flowers. Budding trees. Green grass turning ever brighter. I took some pictures along the way and wanted to share some of my sunny, Chicago day with you!



A darling little bloom...



A charming house with a white picket fence...



This color pink makes me hungry for cotton candy...



I {heart} American flags...



Are you all as excited as me that tomorrow's Friday?

what's cooking: last week's menu + the week before

Oh dear. It seems I'm behind on this again.

It's not that I'm not eating - believe me, that would NEVER be a problem! - I just keep forgetting to tell you about it.

Here's what we ate:

Monday - Salad with Chickpeas & Dried Cherries
Week before last - Tortellini Salad with Spinach & Salami
Tuesday - Margherita Pizza
Week before last - Mediterranean Chopped Salad
Wednesday - Chicken Tacos with Guacamole & Roasted Corn
Week before last - Lemon Risotto with Roasted Shrimp
Thursday - Spinach Lasagna
Week before last - leftovers
Friday - we were out of town at a wedding... our first overnight without the Twinkies!
Week before last - Croque Monsieur... yes, again.

Faves? Hmm... it's been a while. Well, the lemon risotto was AWESOME. A perfect springtime dinner. The lasagna was also delish. And so were the salads.
Least fave? The margherita pizza. This is usually a favorite of mine! But I think the tomatoes were too juicy, so the crust didn't get very crispy, and well, I've had better.

A picture of the lemon risotto with shrimp...



Ooh, and we had friends over for dinner a couple weeks ago, and I made these. Totally chocolately. Totally decadent. Chocolate brownies studded with chips...


It's really obvious that the seasons are changing around here. Slowly moving off the menus are all the heavy casseroles and baked pastas, and instead we're serving up salads and lighter fare.

What are you all eating now? Does the change of season bring about a change of menu for you?

i want it now: market bag

Loving this.

(Farmer's Market Bag by Tine K from Horne)

Now I'm not sure which I like more. This bag. Or the idea of shopping at a farmer's market again. Soon enough!

(And is it just me, or do you wish to see a bigger glimpse of the house this little bag was photographed in? The white beadboard and dark floors leave me wanting more!)

arghh + a little design inspiration

The Twinkies were in rare form today. Certainly made me earn my keep.

The peal of wailing cries is still ringing in my ears.

Tonight, I think that instead of living in my reality -- which includes folding laundry, doing dishes and washing the floor -- I'm going to pretend that I'm here...


(Via Coastal Living)

A warm bath. Some soft music. A cozy chair to curl up in afterward.
Yes, that is a lovely idea.

Thanks for stopping by. If you feel like commenting perhaps you can share a good part of your day with me. That will surely perk me up.

That, and a tall glass of wine.

tgif + etsy spotlight: blue citrus art

Because layers of billowy tulle make me smile.



(Dreamy Dancer by Blue Citrus Art.)

Happy weekend, My Lovelies!
xo, Kristin

some random tidbits

I don't know what to say today.

The words are up there, but they're just not coming out. (At least not in a way that would make sense to anyone but me.) So instead I'll leave you with a few photos that I've saved for a while in my inspiration folders. Because a picture is worth quite a lot of words, right?


I would like to wear this...




I would like to devour this...




I would like to curl up in this...




I really want my hair to look like this...




And I want to drink my tea out of this...



Hopefully by tomorrow I'll get some of my thoughts together.
'Til then, sleep tight!

design inspiration: sadie olive

It's no secret I like white things, old things, and all-around comfy things. So naturally, I'm smitten from tip to toe over everything about Sara's house...

(Photos via the "Our House" set.)

I like Sara even more after reading a bit about her on her blog. Her story makes me want give her a big hug.

Want more Sadie Olive? Visit the Boutique or the Etsy shop.

tgif + etsy spotlight: alicia bock

Rows of tattered books. A dusty chalkboard. In Paris?
Pinch me.

(Shakespeare in Paris by Alicia Bock.)

Happy weekend, My Lovelies!
xo, Kristin

what's cooking: last week's menu

It was a good week...

Monday - Arugula & Tomato Pizza
Tuesday - White Bean & Rosemary Bruschetta
Wednesday - Parmesan Trofie* with Chicken & Rosemary
Thursday - Spinach Salad with Strawberries & Toasted Almonds and Chicken Sausage Sandwiches on Toasted Ciabatta
Friday - Black Bean Burgers** with Provolone and Roasted Corn

I liked them all. No favorite this week.

Some pics:




(bruschetta and trofie)


*If you haven't heard of trofie, it's one of my most favorite pastas. I first had it when we were in Italy for our honeymoon, up on the northern Ligurian Coast. It's a hand-rolled pasta that's cut about 2-3 inches long. They kind of look like little worms, actually. It's best topped with fresh basil pesto. I've never seen trofie in the supermarket, but it is in a few gourmet shops here in Chicago. I'm sure you could buy it online as well. Mmm... now I'm daydreaming of Italy.

**I've been a big fan of frozen veggie burgers, but wow! now that Mark Bittman has shown me the way with homemade burgers, I don't think I'll need to go back to the frozen kind again. You should try these -- they're delish! From his "How to Cook Everything" book. If you don't have it, run out and get yourself a copy. It's wonderful. Really.

10 things: getting to know curls & coffee

I think Meg is adorable. Reading her blog, Curls & Coffee, leaves me feeling... well... good. About the world, about myself, about life. And tucked neatly inside each of her posts are amazing photos that she finds from all over the web.

I wonder if it's the salty Vancouver air that brings on such inspiration?

On to Meg's 10 Things...

Favorite thing about my house: the balcony. We live on the west coast of Canada, and my balcony faces south-west towards the gulf islands and the ocean. The view on a clear day is absolutely gorgeous - water and shadows of islands rising out of the distance. i love to spend time on my balcony on a rainy day, reading in a giant red arm chair that is perfect for snuggling up in.

My signature dish: we love to cook pasta, and make it at least once a week (we make tons, so there's always leftovers!) it's so easy to make whole wheat pasta with tomato sauce, and we cut tons of veggies into the sauce and add random spices so that it's a little different every time and so healthy and satisfying. it's fun to decide every week at the grocer's what new vegetables to buy too - we've tried many new veggies by cutting them up and throwing them into our pasta!

Book I can read again and again: Emma, by Jane Austen. I love the sarcastic wit, the blind optimism, and the inability for Emma to ever get her foot fully out of her mouth. She reminds me of me... and I love love love this book. I read it about once a year.

If I had one do-over: I'd re-think my university major. I majored in Science, but I've become interested in so many things along the way - history, social work, student development... I would have liked to realize earlier just how many amazing programs, minors, and even elective courses there were available to me in order to study these topics in more depth.

When I need to unwind: I go for a run. If I'm really stressed, I'll leave the ipod at home and run to be alone with my thoughts. Running helps me sort through whatever is going on in my head, and it really helps to get the stress out.

Celebrity crush: John Krasinski. He is adorable and genuine, and I absolutely love his grin.

Words I live by: family first. My family is absolutely the most important thing to me, from my husband to my brothers (now that I'm married I have 4, with two sisters-in-law!), my parents and in-laws, my aunts and uncles, my grandparents, and my 95-year-old great grandmother. I have learned so much from my family, and I know they are always there to support me. I am so lucky to have a close-knit family who loves and cares for each other so much.

On Sunday mornings you'll find me: trying to sleep in. My husband is a night owl & I'm quite the early bird, and Sundays are the one day I try to stay in bed until he's ready to get up. I usually cave though, and sneak out to make a coffee or go for an early morning walk to buy a paper. When I get home, he's always still in bed!


I could spend the whole day: browsing through an outdoor market. We're lucky in Vancouver to have a farmer's market on granville island, which I visit as often as I can, as well as several craft markets that happen seasonally. i love strolling through booths and tables set out with unique wares that were lovingly made or grown by locals. Of course I'd have a latte in my hand...


I feel my prettiest when: I'm confident. Which usually comes most when I'm running on a regular basis, or having a really good hair day - not always easy with a crazy head of temperamental curls!

Thank you so much, Meg! It was a pleasure. ;)

(Photos via {Manda} here here and here.)

spotlight: nikole from forty-sixth at grace

You know what they say about April...

The showers arrived last night. It was quite a storm, actually, with booms of thunder and bright, zingy lightening. We now have our first official thunderstorm with the Twinkies under our belt. And yikes. We were up a LOT. This morning I'm a bit of a zombie and am really beginning to think I might need to start drinking coffee. But I digress...

On to the point of my post -- COOKIES!

Baking is the perfect way to pass the time if you're stuck inside on a rainy day, and aren't these the perfect cut-outs?





Nikole's cookie-making photo tutorials are fabulous. (And they make me incredibly hungry for sweets!) I am loving her cookie clouds.

Cutter available here.

tgif + etsy spotlight: auralee dallas

Because I just love flowers.
And I'm most definitely counting down to farmer's market season.

(The Flower Cart by Auralee Dallas.)

Easter is on Sunday. I do hope that you find a basket full of treats when you awake. (I'm counting on mine having LOTS of chocolate.)

Happy weekend, My Lovelies!
xo, Kristin

an idea

Due to the amazingly, unbelievable unseasonably warm weather we've been blessed with today, I have an idea, my Darlings. How about you all play hooky from work this afternoon and instead come on over to my house. We can laze the afternoon away under the bright sunshine.

Flip-flops optional. (but strongly encouraged!)



(Via girlhula on Flickr)

PS - I'll bake you some cookies, too.

if only there were a few more hours in the day

I've been finding it quite difficult to sit down to the computer lately.
And I know exactly the reason why.


Two reasons, actually...



Henry Wallace and Amelia Jane.


Do you blame me?

Sorry if my posting has been a bit intermittent. I've got two very adorable distractions.

design inspiration: gray walls

This foyer has got me re-thinking my stance on white walls altogether...

(Via white trash beautiful)

I have pored over every. single. feature. in this lovely room and I am smitten. And now am in the throes of a mega design-identity crisis!


PS - LOVING that "it's beautiful here" wall piece. Any idea where to get something like that?

***UPDATE! Lovely Carly has found the coat rack. It's available here. Thanks, Carly! Hope you've saved a lot of pennies, though, because this little number isn't cheap. Looks like it's staying on my wishlist for now.

what's cooking: last week's menu

Here it is!

Monday - BLT Pizza
Tuesday - Sausage & Cheddar Quiche
Wednesday - Panko-Crusted Chicken Strips with Glazed Carrots and Baked Banana Custard for dessert
Thursday - Chickpea & Pea Curry over Couscous
Friday - Breakfast for Dinner - Wade's Choice: Blueberry Pancakes!


Favorite? The BLT Pizza. It was delish.


And a photo of the baked banana custard...

tgif + etsy spotlight: starry blue sky

Every Friday from now until... whenever!... I'll be featuring a different Etsy shop with some seriously swoonworthy photography.

To start -- Starry Blue Sky's Grape Hyacinth. Isn't it just lovely?




Happy weekend, My Lovelies!
xo, Kristin

i want it now: swirly scarf

I'll probably never tire of scarves. Cozy knits for winter and ruffly sheers for spring. There are so many occasions to don a scarf.

I'm loving this...



(Catch-and-Release Scarf from, you know, my favorite place)

i want it now: wardrobe update

I would be happier than a clam to add these three outfits to my wardrobe...




(via Emersonmade)

Help me if you can, my Lovelies. Do you know where I can find any pieces like those above? I'm thinking maybe J. Crew, Martin & Osa, Banana Republic. I know we can find them if we put our heads together.

I think the top look would be perfect for Henry and Amelia's baptism at the end of April. And the other two with the stripey shirt? I think I'd be a pretty cool mama at the park if I was sporting either of these outfits.

PS - I linked to Emersonmade from someone. I just don't remember who. Thank you for leading me here... whoever you are. I'm sorry that I didn't give you credit.

i want it now: pillowcases from reverie daydream

More pillows to, well, LOVE!!

(Pillowcases from Reverie Daydream)

And I definitely do!

what's cooking: last week's menu (and the week before that!)

I've got some tasty suppers to tell you about. Two weeks worth!

Last Monday: White Bean and Chicken Chili (I used both white and dark meat from a rotisserie chicken instead of ground chicken like the recipe calls)
Week before last: Portabello and Pea Pesto Sandwiches

Last Tuesday: Mango and Pine Nut Salad (from Everyday Food Mag - April 2010)
Week before last: Baked Tortellini

Last Wednesday AND the week before last: leftovers

Last Thursday: Fish Tacos with Mango Relish (from Everyday Food Mag - April 2010)
Week before last: Orzo with Scallops and Parsley

Last Friday: Oat Risotto with Pine Nuts
Week before last: Mushroom and Pecorino Pizza

Last Saturday: Best Ever Meatballs* and Mashed Potatoes


Favorites? fish tacos, meatballs, and mushroom pizza
Least? I wasn't really a fan of the orzo with scallops and parsley. I've decided that I'll stick to scallops at restaurants. They never seem to come out for me at home.

Some photos...




(From top: fish tacos, meatballs and mashed potatoes, oat risotto)

*Seriously. The best ever. This girl knows what she's talking about. Just a slight modification for me, though. I used ground turkey in lieu of the beef.

Sorry I don't have more photos. I completely forgot to take a single picture one week, and well, the following week I was just too hungry and didn't want to wait. Forgive.

sunday

All day I've been meaning to sit down and write you a story about my lovely weekend that included lots of food and friends, but well, now that I'm finally sitting down to it I just can't seem to put the words together. My mind is a little fuzzy, and so I think I'll sleep on it and just leave you with this happy little picture I found while visiting Mary...



Now I'm off to watch a bit of Harry Potter before hitting the hay.
Nighty night.

i want it now: message cookie cutters

I wish I could remember from where I saw these first. Because I know that they were a bit of a buzz around blogland a few months back, and I certainly can't take credit for finding them.

But what I can do is wish wish wish that Williams-Sonoma would bring them back...

(Message-In-a-Cookie Cutters)


Now who do I need to talk to at W-S to get more in stock?

what's cooking: last last week's menu

Sorry that I'm a little behind! But better late than never, right?

Here's what we ate a couple weeks ago:

Monday - Spaghetti with Tomatoes and Goat Cheese*
Tuesday - Ham and Gruyere Quiche
Wednesday - Veggie Enchiladas (from frozen)
Thursday - leftovers
Friday - In the morning, we headed out of town to my parents' house for the weekend. It was so fantastic to sit down to my mom's tuna casserole for dinner. It's a super simple dish, really, but to sit down at her table, surrounded by my family... it was, well... it was just perfect. I miss them so much and having a whole weekend together just filled me up again.

Favorite? Mom's tuna casserole. You just can't beat a home-cooked meal. (And we had a Dairy Queen cake for dessert to celebrate my Dad's birthday. You really can't beat that!)

Runner-up? the Quiche. It was my first so I was a little nervous about it turning out, and I'm happy to say that it was really great! Here's a shot...


That little spinach stem sticking out of the top is driving me crazy! I wish I noticed it when I was taking the picture, but I think I was too hungry to see it. If I was Karey, I might be able to write something clever about the little guy.

*This recipe was clipped from a Chicago Tribune article a few years back. I can't find it online, but if you are interested, leave a comment and I'll post the recipe.

And Happy St. Patrick's Day to you!
Now I'm off to write the menu from last week.

spotlight: the home centric etsy shop

Just wandering around Etsy when I stumbled into this sweet little pillow shop.

Take a peek...

(from top Vintage Love * Elegance)

10 things: getting to know the city sage

I LOVE her blog.

When I'm looking for inspiration, The City Sage is one of my first stops. Brimming with gorgeous interiors shots, fabulous fashion finds and laugh-out-loud worthy writing, TCS pretty much has it all. I'm never short of awed from the posts Anne pulls together. Hers is a daily favorite, and so I'm quite excited that she's playing this week's "10 Things."

Let's go get to know Anne and then ogle the amazing photos she sent over that follow...

Favorite thing about my house: The original pre-war moldings and arched doorways.

When I need to blow off steam: I sweat it out at a spin class.

On Sunday mornings you'll find me: Cleaning house. Blech!

I hate to admit it, but: My perfectionism causes more problems than it solves.

Day I'd love to live again: First date with the Huz--oh the sweet rush of new love!

When I need a good cry: Actually, I probably don't give into the urge to cry enough.

I'm having a dinner party- five people I'd invite: Jane Austen, Elizabeth Bennett, Anne Elliot, Elinor Dashwood, Emma Woodhouse. I'd love to get the author together with four of her heroines and watch the fur fly!

If I had one do-over: I would be more outgoing and carefree in college.

Brings out the best in me: My desire to make others' lives easier and more beautiful.

I could spend the whole day: Lounging on the beach. My fave vacation spot by far!

Farthest I've been from home: A summer spent learning French in Nice. Heaven!

Best thing about my family: Their wacky sense of humor. My dad sends me postcards from around the world, written in the voices of the various animals on the front of the cards!

I'm my most creative: When I think no one is watching.

My dream kitchen: Has a deep farmhouse sink, lots of natural light, plenty of workspace, and someone else to clean up after me!

If I was more of a risk taker: I'd start writing a novel.


Some lovely photos, courtesy of Anne...

(Photos 1 & 2: Vogue March 2010, 3: Domino March 2009, 4: Martha Stewart Living March 2005)

Isn't she the sweetest? And with the most impeccable taste, as you can clearly see.

Anne? I think you should take the leap and start that novel. I've read your posts and just know you can do it. I'm pretty sure I speak for all of us when I say we're behind you 100%!

And thanks again for playing.