Even Children Need Fabulous Chairs

I was on the blog ThatsHappy by Lisa Rupp which by the way I love, and snagged this photo. She had some photos from the most adorable store MollyMeg. Its a design store for children. They obviously have the cutest mod and vintage styled chairs. I so need to invest in a stylish chair for my daughter and future son. I just love this photo! Be sure to check out Lisa's blog too. She has some really cool designs but then I'm a sucker for florals...but I'm sure you know that already.

One Cool French Dude

I snagged this photo over at the AvecEric blog. Last week he was on Martha's show. I was able to watch an episode of his new show on the blog as well. I'm not a seafood eater but he made me want to eat it. Anyway I totally dig him and he is on Top Chef a lot. He seems like a really cool french dude. He also has a section called GetToasted with recipes for a toaster oven. The One I adored the most was figs and bacon! Go check it out for some culinary inspiration.

Dinner Plate Dahlias

Here are some photos of an event I did in Monrovia at the Caffe Opera.

There were 12 arrangements. There were dinner plate dahlias, sweet peas, stock, scabiosa,and seeded eucalyptus for the banquet tables. This arrangement above was for the gift table. It had a pretty purple garland but the photos didn't turn out so well.

I think the arrangements turned out well. These were the companion pieces of seeded eucalyptus and sweet peas.

I cant wait until I have my anniversary party next year! I cant wait to make arrangements for myself. It will be hard to hold back but you know one must keep ones budget in mind. Oh the stupid budget!

Here is the table with the candles lit up...so pretty. I have lots more pictures.Ill have to put them on my Flickr account and add a link later.

Super Fantastic Planter

As many of you know my husband grows and sells succulents through his Etsy shop
thesucculentgarden. So when I saw this great diy planter on Apartment Therapy LA I started bugging him to build one for our back porch.

I also convinced him( although it wasn't hard because he really likes this shop a whole bunch) to buy some colored sempervivums from Horticopia on Etsy. They are so fabulous! She has some really beautiful plants. So I'm hoping Ill have one of these babies filled with these beautiful babies for Christmas.

Jonathan Adler and ElleDecor

I saw this fabulous room the other day on a blog somewhere. I don't know what elledecor it was from but I hope my little girl grows up to love this kind of design. I guess Jonathan Adler designed it. I love love love these colors. The wall is actually the color of my living room. My baby doesn't have her own room right now...but someday soon I hope!

We have been busy redoing the front porch and our small back patio. Ill have to show some photos. I know I promised photos of my current silk screening projects...but so much to do and so little time to do it in. The new baby is almost here too! The C-section should be around the 3rd of October. So hopefully I continue to have some more posts for this month. If I was super fantastic I would prepost and roll them out but I'm only a little fantastic.

Green Cabbage Salad

Here is one of my favorite summer salads. It refreshing, tangy, crunchy, spicy, and a little sweet.

It involves green cabbage, green apples, scallions, and almonds.

First, you chop your cabbage...

Next, chop your apple...you could use jicama too if you wanted...I have... then, chop your scallions....

Last, toss your ingredients in a big bowl and add sliced almonds...But wait...you must have some delicious dressing to accompany this salad delight....

Chop finely half of a tablespoon of fresh ginger and half a tablespoon of fresh garlic...add some soy sauce...

Don't forget to add a dollop of your favorite honey....then add your 2 to 1 ratio of vegetable oil and seasoned rice vinegar and some salt and pepper....

Then stir... This is what I get.... Its yummy... I think I'm going to go eat some right now!

Sunday Lunch Indian Style

I love the idea of the Sunday Suppers which is a blog about a cooking class on Sundays. So I wanted to do a Sunday Lunch. I Love the idea of a family and friend meal on Sundays. It seems so old fashioned and communal.Here is my table finally set. We were all pretty hungry.

Here are some ingredients and such I was prepping before hand. What a mess. I need a real photographer when I do something like this.

Here is the table pre-food.

Here are the delicious lambs chops. They were marinated in yogurt, cumin, ginger, turmeric, clove, coriander, and green chili. Then roasted in the oven.

Its fragrant basmati rice with cardamom and clove. Below are sauteed cauliflower,onion, green and red peppers, and turmeric. I love that turmeric yellow.

The condiments might be my favorite parts of Indian food. This is cachumber. Its basically Indian fresh salsa. It has chopped tomatoes, red onion, Serrano chilies, and vinegar. Its good with a lot of other things like scrambled eggs the next morning all wrapped up in naan.

Here is my own cheating chutney. I use apricot jam here because its what I have in my fridge. I heat up a sauce pan hot and then turn it off. I put mustard seed in it, let them pop, and get a little brown. The seeds go everywhere, but its kind of funny. Then I add the jam and seasoned rice vinegar and stir until it all melts while putting on a med/low flame. Then I add red chili flake and heat on low flame for about 5 to 6 minutes. You have to keep an eye on it because it will burn if you are not careful. Then you let it cool.

The chutney goes perfectly with the samosa which were store bought. I like the ones from Fresh and Easy. I know they are store bought, some people think that sucks, but hey I'm 8 months pregnant and my favorite Indian restaurant is 35 miles away. I brush them with olive oil before I put them in the oven. It gives them a crispier texture after baking.

Here are the samosas and a delightful cocktail of fresh mango puree and Asti Spumanti. I had a couple of sips. My Husband and best friend polished off the rest of the drinks. The combinations are so sweet and spicy. This would be a great easy appetizer before going out or a light dinner if you add a salad.

This is the clean up before dessert. My Oh My I certainly look my 8 months pregnant in the background and here is my daughter. Do you think she could stay still so every picture of her is not blurry? Do you think she could keep her clothes on?

Yummy ginger sour cream cookies for dessert! They are soooo super soft and not too sweet. They went perfectly with the mango sorbet. Now this is in no way a traditional Indian dessert just some Indian flavors. I wish I had more right now.

I forgot to include a picture of the spicy dahl which are red lentils with fried spices like cinnamon stick, clove, cardamom, ginger, garlic, and onion. Its probably better because it didn't look so pretty if you know what I mean. The picture in my cook book has them looking yellow orange but mine always look brown afterwards even with the lemon squeeze. I hope you have a Sunday lunch or supper with some people you love or at least go eat some Indian food!