A name in common

5 products with one thing in common...They're named MISHA!!!! It all started with the pinning of those fun oxfords from kate spade. I couldn't resist turning it into a post! 

Kate Spade shoes, Loft Designs chair, Botkier satchel, Misha of NYC earrings, Botkier clutch

Weekend Recap: Summer Chef Series Week 3

I hope everyone did something fun this weekend. I was really wishing I was up in Seattle for Seafair! All you PNWers, I am jealous! But luckily I had a relatively productive weekend. I found a coupon online for the Birkam North Scottsdale studio, which I wasted no time printing off and using. $30 for unlimited use for a month! Smokin' deal if you ask me. Anyway, I then worked at the Summer Chef Series at the Phoenix Public Market, where I actually got to prepare the plates in the back! Seriously delicious food made by Chrysa Robertson  of Ranch Pinot. 4 salads including: Grilled Beef Salad, Grilled Butternut-Lentil Salad (my favorite), Watermelon-Cucumber Salad, and Shaved Summer Squash Salad;  One tasty dessert: Panna Cotta w/ Lemon Vermena.

 Stuffing my face post class!

Weekend Recap: Fresh Flowers and Fiestas

Saturday morning we moseyed on over to the Phoenix Farmers Market to pick up some flowers, for a (fiesta themed) graduation party. Turns out, we struck it big, with these AMAZING fresh flowers from Maya's Farm! The gals, working the stall, were so nice, they gave us a water bucket to store our flowers in. I also picked up a couple of beautiful small eggplants and red potatoes from Maya's. 
I am so pleased that the turnout, both vendors and customers, is visibly expanding on Saturdays, down at the market! The only downside to Saturday was that we were way too stuffed from breakfast at Matt's Big Breakfast, we didn't get a chance to sample anything from the market!  

 

Grown & Sold by Maya's Farm

Fiesta attire!

Thinker: Dinner Party Guests

If you were to host a dinner party, who would you invite? (living)

Characteristics of my possible guests should possess are captivating stories, some sort of unique talent which = I would learn something from them. After thinking about this long and hard, I came up with a handful, of some of the most interesting people around:

1. Alice Waters  (Chef & the mother of fresh/ local food movement)
2. Mia Michaels (Dancer & Choreographer)
3. Al Green (Singer)
4. Keith Johnson (Global shopper)
5. Bill Cunningham (fashion photographer)
6. The Morning Benders : Chris Chu, Jon Chu, Julian Harmon & Tim Or (Band)
7. Brad Goreski (stylist)
8. Carsten Peter (National Geographic photographer)
9. Kristi Yamaguchi (Olympian, My hero!)
10. Andy Spade (designer, total genius) 

Simple Dessert: Dark Chocolate dipped Cherries

YUM! DBR & I wanted something light and sweet for dessert, for the 4th. We decided to do dark chocolate dipped cherries and boy were they good! The recipe is as followed:


1 bag of cherries
3 bars of dark chocolate
Water

Wash the cherries & pat dry. Bring water to a boil. Place bowl (i.e. stainless steel or glass) on top of sauce pan with boiling water underneath. Break up chocolate and place in bowl. Stir melted chocolate with a spatula. Dip cherries in chocolate. Place on a piece of parchment paper, in a flat hard surface (I used a casserole dish) and put in refrigerator for a minimum of 10 minutes.

We just left them in there until we were ready to eat them, after dinner. This is beyond easy and SO DELICIOUS! I forgot how well chocolate melts over boiling water too.

This Past Weekend

DBR & I had a fabulous time at the Fairmont Princess, this past weekend. The whole getaway was courtesy of Spa Week, which I happened to win last year. (I know, total shocker. No one ever wins those things.) Anyway, the prize included 2 free nights for myself and a guest, a couples massage AND a free three course dinner for two! I think the highlight of the entire mini vaca (less than 10 mins from my house) was spending the ENTIRE day at Willow Stream Spa! PURE HEAVEN! The hip to hip massage was one of the best massages I've ever had.
Here's a photo from our dinner at the TPC Grill. Decor was a little dated but it was a wonderful meal!

7 Essential Products

After many months of neglecting my hair, I finally got it trimmed, today. I've also been totally glued to In The Gloss. Maybe it's just me but I find there's something fascinating about seeing what products other people use. I then thought at least one person out there that would stumble upon this page, and find a new product they want to try! So here's the round up.

• La Mer Body Créme in the Jar (I swear, this stuff is 100% worth the sticker shock) 
• Miller Harris Fleur Du Matin    I'm actually in love with this scent but in the soaps..I have yet to find them other than in travel size.
• Phytomer Oligopur Purifying Cleansing Gel
• Garnier Fructis Wonder Waves
• Ambi Even & Clear Daily Moisturizer w/ SPF 30
• Dior Hydra Life Pro-Youth Skin Tint w/ SPF 20 (aka tinted moisturizer) 
• Moroccan Oil

Eat This: Marinated/ Grilled Asparagus & Halibut

This is one of my ALL TIME FAVORITE meals to eat & cook! Both compliment one another in taste, although each of their marinades are slightly different. If you want your guests to seriously WOW, try this easy meal!

Garlic Soy Grilled Asparagus

• 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon brown sugar
• 1 1/2 pounds fresh asparagus, trimmed
• 2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds

1. In a bowl, mix sesame oil, soy sauce, garlic, and brown sugar. 
2. Pour mixture onto asparagus & coat evenly. 
3. Lightly oil a fine-mesh grill grate. Place asparagus on grate, and cook 8 minutes, until tender but firm. 

*Sesame seed garnish, optional. 


Delicious Grilled Halibut

• 2 tablespoons butter
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 2 teaspoons soy sauce
• 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 (1 pound) halibut steak

1. Preheat grill for medium-high heat.
2. Place butter, brown sugar, garlic, lemon juice, soy sauce, and pepper in a small saucepan. Warm over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until sugar is completely dissolved. 
3. Let cool
4. Pour over halibut and let marinade for as little as 10 minutes, to as long as X amount of hours!
5. Grill marinated halibut on a piece of tin, 4-5 minutes per side.

Ode to My Seattle Pad

I really miss my little Seattle nest. I did SO MUCH to that place! People told me not to bother, but that's so not like me!  When I started decorating this place, I went for the total opposite of what I normally go for. Ultimately, it became a bright sangria inspiration.

Some of the things I did, on my own:

• Painted ALL WALLS! (most white & some golden yellow)
• Painted the lattice pattern on the inside of the front door & walk-in closet door
• Sanded & Painted all the kitchen cabinets white (you wouldn't even BELIEVE what these looked like before)
• Sanded & Painted dining room table & chairs (+ gradient on the inside bars) 
• Added all sorts of different pieces from my new Seattle friends.

Because many of my friends and family never had the opportunity to come and visit, I thought I'd share some of the "after" photos from the face lift.

The Luckiest Girl!

I had an AMAZING weekend! It's hard to believe Dreamboat Ron could get extra dreamy but he managed this feat, when he gave me the ultimate (early) anniversary present...a beautiful bicycle. And  not just any bicycle, a 50 year old (+/-) vintage Schwinn AND it came with a dual wire back basket! Of course, I was so jazzed, we raced home and DBR offered to help me clean it up! After dinner, which he also made, we took a little night ride. This guy is seriously knows how to make a girl swoon!
Yesterday morning, we went out for a nice ride to Coffee Plantation. I'm in heaven.  

I am so excited to add some extra touches, to make this lovely bike (even more of) a show stopper.  Here's what I'm thinking... Some thin Brooks handles & a matching Brooks seat.

Serious Ouch!

Sorry for no posts, yesterday. My sweet sweet golden injured himself and we had to take him to the vet! Turns out, he tore ALL the ligaments around his back right knee!!!! In two weeks, they're doing surgery. Luckily, we have a good vet....Poor Rusty!