the end of a great year

as 2011 comes to an end, i can't help but look back on what a fabulous year it has been. all that i wanted to accomplish was accomplished plus a little extra to make the year sweet. here are some highlights from my 2011:

• i started this blog and re-fell in love with photography and writing
• i made 15 waffle breakfasts and 10 french toast breakfasts (give or take)
• moved in with tay to the westside (and having a blast)
• adopted my little molly, who i love more than anything
• planned tay and my first trip to europe
• was asked to be a bridesmaid in my oldest friend's wedding (and this will be my first wedding!)
• got promoted at work
• broke my first bone(s)
• started a book club
• quit drinking coffee
• finally figured out twitter
• went back to my natural curls (no more straight!)
• became addicted to yoga
• did a lot of self-discovery

i look forward to 2012. i'm still compiling my new year's resolution list/goals, but i have some good ones already formulated. i predict this new year to be full of photographs, [good] changes, love and more self discovery

bring it on, 2012!

tortilla soup

last night was a night for warm soup

and luckily i got off work at a "decent" time (before 7pm!)

so taylor and i put together the yummiest tortilla soup the two of us have ever had

taylor is very partial to houston's tortilla soup

...er their old rendition at least

but he said this recipe is right up there with it

the recipe i used was adapted from a cozy kitchen

but we changed a few things up and added a few extras

DIY: friendship bracelet

i finally got to making the friendship bracelets i so badly wanted to make last summer

i found a diy on my one of my favorite blogs (honestlywtf) and followed each step

i, unfortunately, couldnt do this little diddy last summer due to a broken hand

but im back in action and can't wait to make more

 its tedious work and it took me a couple of tries to get it right

but im so in love with my new bracelet

i think i'll do another tonigh, maybe get a little more wild with the colors

(i bought some swarovski crystal chain, oOoOoo!)

all products can be found at ornamentea (my new favorite site - i must stop buying!)

creativity and omelets!

its been a while since a breakfast post

and its been even longer a while since waffle or french toast post

tay and i have been good little beans (yeah i just made that up so don't google it)

and have cut back on the carb overload breakfasts

although they're soooo good, a little holiday break will do us good

so we can enjoy all the other winter treats instead!

so lately breakfasts consist of oatmeal, or omelets, or yogurt and fruit

and not that any of that is boring

it can be just as fun and creative as french toast or waffles!

we recently met a dear friend, kale

and have been on a kale kick ever since

our favorite breakfast at the moment is a 2 egg omelet with 

black trumpet and baby shiitake mushrooms, kale, scallions and queso fresca cheese 

with some fresh squeezed o.j. to compliment (all from the farmers market, of course) 

.... and cholula 

what is your favorite omelet combo?

on a health kick: salmon tacos

sorry for the crickets

i know i haven't been a good blogger lately, and im deeply sorry!

with christmas around the corner ive been a busy bee

but i did have time to make some yummy salmon tacos with taylor this past sunday for lunch

everything was fresh from the farmers market

the avocado, the cheese, the mushrooms, the peppers, the salmon...

except for the yellow corn tortillas

which we had to go to 3 markets to finally find

we're very particular about our yellow corn toritillas - can ya tell?

happy tuesday!

now go have some tacos

lacma date

one of the many things taylor and i did over the past long, thanksgiving weekend

was check out the "living in a modern way" exhibit at the 

los angeles county museum of art

the exhibit featured furniture, architecture, and the like from california designers from 1930-1965

we had a ton of fun and both left feeling inspired

we also perused all the other art rooms at lacma

ran thru the richard serra sculptures, renzo piano's newest building,

admired picassos work, eames's flawless designs, le corbusier's innovations,

 and were put in a transe by the handful of rothko paintings

ah what a lovely long weekend it was

im looking forward a little christmas and new year's break

and then off to europe we go...

boy do i love this time of year!

christmast tree o' christmas tree

and this lovely long weekend must come to an end

but what better way to finish it off with a christmas tree shopping?

tonight taylor and i enjoyed a lovely dinner at an old time favorite, oliva

and picked out a christmas tree for the apartment

i sure do love christmas so much

and i love taylor for getting me the perfect tree

now we're off to watch my favorite christmas movie, love actually

and enjoy our pine smelling apartment

i can't wait to decorate the new tree!!

 the coutdown to christmas begins...

28 days to go!

sunday waterplay

sunday rainy days are meant for

laying in bed late with the boyfriend, listening to pandora's "jazz holiday station",

watching three season's of arrested development, market runs, hot chocolate;

folding warm, "out-of-the-dryer" laundry (while molly lies on top), tidying up the apartment,

 and....

arts and crafts!

i had a grand idea of making homemade holiday cards for friends and family

and spent part of my saturday morning perusing blick

holding myself back from buying everything

anyhoo, i went with watercolor paints, but didn't quite realize how difficult watercolor painting is!

the cards may look ameture, but i can tell you one thing...

i had a lot of fun making them!

and thats all that matters, right?

taylor even made one while channeling rothko

is it silly that i want to pin up our artwork on the fridge?

okay maybe it is...

hope you had a happy weekend!

reasons i love the holidays

the holidays are here 

and this christmas girl couldnt be more excited

i love gift giving, cold weather, hot chocolate, wood burning fire places, rain, dark nights and light mornings, hoiday jazz station on pandora, excuses to stay home, family traditions and many many more

but what gets me most giddy about the season is 

paper!

if you know me well, you know i am obsessed with paper

yup, thats right - letter presses and cards and gift wrapping

here are a few favorites that i wish to have...and a little christmas music to get you in the spirit

bespoke press

seasonal delights

satsuma press

bespoke press

oscar & ollie

karte paper

urban bird & co.

Music Playlist at MixPod.com

dairy-free egg salad

i made a fabulous egg salad this morning

and decided to make egg salad sandwiches today

over the weekend, i had a simple tartine at a restaurant i used to work at, le pain quotidien

i forgot how much i loved this dairy-free, no mayo egg salad

i don't know exactly what their recipe is, but i think mine came close with a little added favorites

5 boiled free-range, organic brown eggs

2 tablespoons chopped parsely

1 tablespoon organic olive oil

1 tablespoon capers

juice from half a lemon

pinch of sea salt

pinch of black pepper

1 tablespoon pesto

mix all these together and there you have it

happy tuesday!

morning sun and shadows

i love that daylight savings has ended

and i have my mornings back!

i am 100% a morning person and its lovely to wake up early to sunlight

go out for a morning run,

and pretty much have a whole day before work

our room seems so peaceful in the morning light

i love watching the shadows form on the walls and the bed 

something about it that puts me in the best mood

cooking from the boy

taylor has really been on one lately

and i ain't complaining!

last week i came home to a cooked meal, 

him sitting at the table with two plates covered, 

waiting for me to come home so we can eat together

and a load of laundry done.

yesterday i had a long day and was starving and exhausted

and so i came home to a firing grill

and the smell of roasted asparagus in the oven (our favorite!)

the boy was making me dinner!

it was a sweet gesture and the meal was terrific

we laughed some good laughs and drank some good wine

 here are a few good quotes from the night

"mmm, i can taste the sea in the salt!" (taylor, in reference to the sea salt)

"it tastes like a film noir in my mouth" (taylor, in reference to the wine)

this is reason number 125,129,104 why i love him so much

meet davana

rainy day love

what a beautiful day today has turned out to be

i've been waiting for today's rain all week

and it was a pleasure waking up to water drops outside our window

oh how i love puddles and their reflections

wet side walks, and water drops on the leaves and flowers

molly is not a fan of the rain, though

she's not into wet paws and the cold

so she was a little bugger when going on a walk this morning

but when she realized all the fresh smells, her attitude quickly changed

i look forward to a beautiful, clear day tomorrow

and another rainy one on sunday!

pumpkin waffles

while on the hunt of trader joes' pumpkin ice cream 

(which is apparently out of stock everywhere) 

i stumbled up on pumpkin pancake and waffle mix 

so i bought a box 

and i've been waiting for today to finally make them 

they were simply divine! 

with some light whipped cream and sprinkled mountain raspberries

it tasted much like pumpkin pie, pumpkin bread and a pumpkin spice latte 

all in one yummy breakfast treat

i suggest you do yourself a favor

and pick up a box of this stuff

i can't wait to make some fluffy pancakes 

i'm thinking a perfect saturday morning breakfast

ms. autumn

happiest november to you

i can feel it in the air, its officially fall

the air is dry and the nights are cool

i know we don't get much of the "seasons" in southern california

but if you're a native, you know that something has changed...

if you look close enough you'll find those little hidden gems

while i walking molly this morning, i found some fallen leaves and some orange trees

and no matter what is going on in life, i can find happiness and comfort in the taste and feel of autumn

to set things right, taylor and i enjoyed some pumpkin waffles this morning

oh and don't you worry, pictures are to come

french lobster is a'cookin!

its another famous ignition print halloween

(ignition is where i work, btw)

and since i was kind of the "new kid" last year

i decided this year i'd participate

and go for the $300 amazon gift card prize!

so i scrambled this morning to find a chef's jacket

and luckily i found it at the first place i went to (aahs)

made a hat out of poster paper

cut out claws out of red poster paper

stole..."borrowed" a pot and tongs from my work's photo studio

and wrapped molly up in one of taylor's red workout t-shirts

and voilà

the winners should be announced soon!

fingers crossed that i at least won 3rd place ($100 amazon gift card)