DIY Calling Cards

How pretty are these little homemade calling cards?

The DIY tutorial is here.

Cheese & Cherries

On our ongoing pursuit of cheese snobbery, Husband and I have been scouring the greater Provo area in search of a decent cheese counter. Sunflower market was a bust, as was Smith's. There are no Trader Joe's or WholeFoods to be found.

And then we discovered Harmon's and we almost threw a party right there in the store. They have a cheese counter, like a real live wheels-of-cheese-cut-into-wedges-from-all-over-the-world cheese counter! They still wrap their cheese in plastic, bleh, but it was by far the best thing we've found yet. (Although I hear a rumor that there is a nice little cheese place in Midway? I'll be looking into it...) So we picked up a gouda, a brie and a bleu, and spent the remainder of the evening erupting into giggles and yelling out "Cheese!" to each other from across the apartment.

And today, this was my afternoon snack. It was delicious.

The cheeses are Rembradt Gouda and Brie Fromage Meaux Rouzaire. The gouda is a really nice, flavorful, aged gouda - not too sharp and not too flat. The brie is a really nice soft texture, and it starts with that soft buttery brie taste, but then it ends with a little bit of an edge to it. The fresh cherries were a really nice balance to the brie.

And our rampant cheese snobbery is back on track!

Black T-Shirt, Red Nails

I wish I could get Husband to wear black t-shirts, 'cause I think they look good. But he says he is a happy person who doesn't wear black.

I wear black almost every day, what does that make me?

Oh.

Cooking Is Hot

Get it?

Fall Fashion

I'm not quite ready for fall, but I'm completely ready for fall fashion! And this year, I live in a climate that gets cold enough for coats!

Photography

I have totally stolen borrowed inherited my sister's fancy camera while she is in Peru for the next year and a half. And I am determined to learn how all of the nifty exposures and shutter speeds and other little knobs and buttons work while it is in my hands. Determined.

And maybe if I practice real hard and take real pretty pictures I can be a real blogger someday.

Red Architecture

Is this real?

Wave

{here}

Shredded and Draped

GORGEOUS.

Generations

{here}

Honey toast with bleu cheese and bacon

Ooo. I gotta try this.

Old paint and wrought iron

Magical Twilight

**Disclaimer: This post has nothing to do with vampires.**

True confession: I kind of love how the sun doesn't set until almost 10 pm during the summer time in this Utah place.

More people should travel with trunks

{here}

Ahoy Oscar

Chevron Picnic Blanket

I was totally smitten when I saw this picnic blanket that Kathleen made from a painter's drop cloth for $7.

Isn't that color gorgeous? I'm really tempted to try it.

Red on Canvas Bag

Man, I'm a sucker for vintage lettering silk screened in red on a canvas bag.

Is beautiful, no?

Elbow Patches

More clothing should feature elbow patches.

S'mores Cookie Bars

S'mores represent one of life's perfect combinations. However, seeing as how campfires on the lawn are discouraged by my HOA; and seeing as how I am tethered to a reasonable distance from home (in case my input is required) while Husband is writing his term paper, I am forced to turn to non-traditional methods to get my s'more's fix.

In the past, Husband and I have applied the urban s'mores technique known as S'mores Nachos - which was a bit hit.

This time I'm eager to try these s'mores cookie bars. They are like s'mores, but with butter.

S'mores Cookie Bars

2/3 cup butter, at room temperature

1 cup brown sugar
1 cup (white) sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
2 1/2 cups flour
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 cup mini marshmallows, plus 1/4 cup for adding on top (as directed below)
2 regular sized Hershey bars, each piece printed with "Hershey" cut in half
2 packages graham crackers- broken into squares (1/2 of a full graham cracker sheet)

1) Preheat oven to 375*F. Break graham crackers in half, so they are squares. Lay crackers next to each other, in a single layer on a baking sheet (the size of your baking sheet will determine exactly how many crackers you need). 

2) Bake graham crackers in pre-heated oven for 4 minutes. Remove from oven and set aside to cool.

3) Cream the butter and sugars together in the bowl of an electric mixer.

4) Add egg and vanilla.

5) In a separate bowl stir flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon. Then add to butter mixture and mix until just combined.

6) Fold in chocolate chips and 1 cup marshmallows.

7) Use a large cookie scoop (if you're fancy like that) or two table spoons, to scoop dough onto graham crackers (on baking sheet).

8) Bake for 5 minutes. Then remove pan from oven and press about 2 pieces of chocolate and 2-3 marshmallows into each cookie.

9) Return to oven and bake for 5-7 minutes more.

10) Cool completely, then cut cookies into squares (where the graham crackers meet).

Enjoy!

Clever Campaigning?

Read the story here.

Canvas Message Bags

I love the design of these bags from Baum-Kuchen.

They might have to become my new mantra: everythinghappensforaraesonitiswhatitis. Repeat.

However, plain canvas bags should NEVER cost $48. Puh-leeeease.

DIY Abstract Art

I have always felt more of a connection with abstract art than with literal representative art. I think it is more expressive, more interesting, more interactive. I've always wanted to try it, but I know that its much harder than it looks.

Thank goodness for this great DIY tutorial on creating your own abstract art. Maybe I'll have the courage now to give it a go. Goodness knows I have the time.

Can we break it down for just a second?

So here's how it is:

Today I found out that the job I really wanted was offered to someone else. Because I'm over qualified.

I have now been unemployed for over a month. Huh? HOW did this HAPPEN?

My mother is 1,000 miles away going through a very difficult and painful experience and I can't be there to help her. This kills me.

I am in a new place, missing my family, missing my friends and desperately trying to find where and how I belong in this foreign environment.

So tonight I'm making PW's Cinnamon Bread and Ina Garten's Cinnamon Honey Butter.

Amen.

The Best

Heels and Hues

There's room for me at the end of that line, right?

{here}

Blueberry Tart

Dish Heaven

I have that problem too

What matters most

Herringbone

Garden Roses

Nautical Bedding

This might be the coolest bedding I've ever seen.

*gasp*

That  mirror just took my breath away.

Blue Handkerchief Wall Art

Nothing short of brilliant.

Anchor

{here}

Eyebrows at Oscar's

Are you with me yet on the eyebrow thing? If you need further encouragement, here is what's going on over at Oscar de la Renta...

Take me back to the jazz age

This STUNNING photo is from the annual Governor's Island Jazz Age Lawn Party. More images here.

White Bed in a Brick Room

Empire Lights

Central Park Stones

I miss New York something crazy these days.

{here}

Is it my birthday yet?

Blue Suede Peepers

The Kennedys

I recently watched the controversial mini-series about the Kennedys.

I thought it was superbly done and I'm not really sure why it was so controversial. I've been fascinated with Jack and Jackie ever since. I highly recommend it.

Honeycomb

In Australia they call it Violet Crumble, at Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory they call it Seafoam, I don't care what they call it but honeycomb covered in chocolate is the best thing since Almond Roca.

UrbanCheesecraft

Make my own cheese?! Um, YES.