Raleigh, NC

I had a great time on a visit to my hometown of Raleigh this past weekend. I got to see a few Biscuitvilles which made me happy and the weather was so nice I got to have an outdoor Italian lunch. This downtown has gotten so much better since I left. My friend Jayme took me to a cool new bar called Foundation that serves regional beverages where I had a quick Blanton's. Yum. I took this picture on the train back home.

 

Now I need to go brine my wild turkey. Here is a song for Raleigh.

Farmer's Market Creamy Tomato Soup

The weather was so beautiful this weekend when the husband and I walked down to the 14th and U Street Farmer's Market to reserve our Thanksgiving turkey. As always we found some incredibly delicious, fresh and locally grown vegetables. I was surprised that we even found some pretty good looking tomatoes this late in the season. The vendor was giving out free recipes so I picked up one for Creamy Tomato Soup. I made if for dinner Saturday night and it was super delicious. Luckily we had also picked up a fresh baguette to serve with it. Here's the recipe:

CREAMY TOMATO SOUP

6 tbsp unsalted butter
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp course salt
3 lbs chopped ripe tomatoes
1 cup fresh basil leaves, loosely packed
1/2 c heavy cream
2 small onions, chopped fine
1/2 c. dry white wine
1/4 tsp fresh ground pepper

Melt butter in medium saucepan over medium heat. Add onions and garlic and cook, stirring until onions are transparent, about 3 min. Add wine, tomatoes, salt and pepper.  Cook for about 5 to 10 minutes. Stir in basil and remove from heat.

let cool slightly. Transfer about half of the tomato mixture into the blender. Cover lid with clean dish towel and hold lid securely in place and blend soup. Continue until all of the tomato mix is blended.

Place back in saucepan. Add cream and adjust consistency with water  if necessary. Season with more salt and pepper if desired. Serve with toasted sliced of baguette and fresh grated parmesan cheese.

Enjoy!

Can I have all my board meetings in this room, please?

OK. So it's from a The Elk in the Wood Lodge in London but it could be the best board room ever. From Remodelista.

Ponchos!

I'm seeing ponchos everywhere these days and I'm definitely feeling it. Who cares if they're mildly difficult to wear? They look so cool. It's better than a Snuggie. Southwestern print is the way to go.

Southwest Poncho at F21

Drape Poncho at F21

Chunky Yarn Poncho at F21

Dolce Vida Dora Poncho at Shopbop

Bona Drag's Flair

I thought it would be fitting for this upcoming pagan holiday to say how much I love the spooky jewelry offerings at Bona Drag. If you get your hands on one of these amazing pieces feel free to call me jealous. Their selection of clothes is great, too. Happy tricking and treating!

Talon Cuff, Bona Drag

Hummingbird Scull

Batt Cuff

Yard style

How bad do I wish this was my backyard? Almost as bad as I wish I had a backyard.

I love everything about this: the contrast of straight and curved lies, the cement poured fire pit, the stone wall. Just beautiful.

Warm and Cozy Coat

The past couple days have been cold and rainy in DC. I love Fall clothes but no so much being cold. Having completely worn out my old coat I'm in the market for a new one. Buying a new coat is no small purchase considering you wear it everyday in Winter and it's got to be of pretty good quality to keep you warm. I have already professed my love for the Anthropologie Deep Woods Toggle coat which is helping me figure out what I want. Let's take a look at the options:

Deep Woods Toggle Coat

Then I spotted this similar one at Topshop for much cheaper!

Furry Hood Duffle Coat

This one looks warm and cute.

I love the vintage style of this one! So cute.

You can't really go wrong with this puffer from j crew:

And this one from Patagonia would definitely keep me toasty. (By the way, I lOVE the design of their site.)

I will report back on my final purchase. 

Botanical Wall Charts

I just wanted to say how much I love my new botanical wall chart I picked up at a european country antiques store in Old Town Alexandria recently. It was used in classrooms in Germany. I have always wanted one of these. I love how the colors and images pop out on the black background. We decided to hang it sideways to fit the space on the wall better. I think it looks just as good on its side. It looks great on the wall and the small tears and scratches add character. And, it brings nature into the room!

You can find some similar ones here and here.

Be Kind

I spent two years as a vegan in college. I actually didn't find it all that challenging. I had a decent cookbook and I stuck to the basics. Of course, being a student I wasn't able to buy lots of fresh fruits and vegetables needed for a really healthy diet. And health was my reason for going vegan in the first place. Over time I changed along with my views and I succumbed to the temptations of meat and cheese. 

While I always look for new ways that diet can improve my health I haven't ventured back into veganville in years. Also, I married a good Southern boy who was raised on beef (to his credit he is very open-minded). I was excited to learn that Alicia Silverstone has new vegan cookbook called The Kind Diet that just came out. She's been vegan for 11 years and looks like the epitome of health. Her recipes sound delicious so there's no denying yourself. In the book she shares the knowledge she's gained from her plant-based diet that can immensely improve your health while sustaining the planet. I always love a win-win. You can never argue with that. I'll be happy to try a new way of eating that might make me look as cute as her.

Faux Ginko

I love this table created by artist Ross Yedinak. I spotted it over at Garden Rooms.

DIY Braid Necklace

I was inspired by this awesome braid necklace on Anthropologie to do a little braidin' myself.


Here is what you need:
:: scisssors
:: tape
:: tape measure
:: necklace clasp
:: 3 2 ft. strands of gold string
:: 3 2 ft. strands of round white satin string

1. Tie the stands together on one end of the clasp. Tape down so you can braid it.

2. Pair each white piece of string with a gold piece. Braid the pairs of string. Tie off, attaching the other part of the clasp. Trim the ends.

4. And now you have a awesome braid necklace. Pair with a giant gold watch and even more necklaces.

Beautiful Reads

Are you looking for some inspiration for your life, work or wardrobe? Here are three magazines that are among my personal favorites.

Antler Magazine

Antler is a daily blog and a bi-monthly online magazine out of Canada. It focuses on art, literature, fashion, design and culture with a bohemian flair and an appreciation for the natural world. Expect to find enchanting images, indie designer/artist profiles and fashion spreads. As much as I love reading the printed word, publishing online is carbon-neutral after all. It's just all very pretty.

Boho Magazine

Created by Gina La Morte of The Style Doctor, Boho is decidedly more mainstream. It's filled with tips for green fashion, beauty and living. Live the life you want. Express yourself through fashion. Do something to make the world a better place. Also, it's printed in 100% recycled paper.

Dazed and Confused

Not the movie, the magazine (although I could style myself after that movie for the rest of my life). Dazed and Confused is British print publication with a thriving online (Dazed Digital) presence. You'll find impossibly cool fashion, photography, music and arts/culture coverage with blogs, video and round-the-clock reporting online. The Brits are always so cutting edge. There is endless goodness to be found here.

Frosty Fashion

I just got the new Anthropologie catalog. There are loads of beautiful clothes. In case you're interested, here are my favorites. Oh, so delightful. Bring on the cold weather.

Deep Woods Toggle Coat

Up and Away Cardi

Flora-in-focus necklace

Call-of-the-West Booties

Arial view necklace 

Lighted Pathways Bag

Colossal Cable Throw

Cabin Time

My dog, husband and I just returned from a great weekend in a cabin in Maryland near Harper's Ferry celebrating our one year anniversary. We hiked, made camp fires, read, did crossword puzzles and just relaxed. It was great. Here are some photos.

Falling...

All of the sudden it's Fall. There is a faint chill in the air and there is no denying the leaves are about to surrender they're green for yellow, red, brown and orange. It seems I was just donning my sandals and cutoffs last week. But there is so much to look forward to. The holidays. The hikes. Fall vegetables. Scarves, hats and gloves. Tricks and treats. Where the Wild Things Are. I love the times if the year when change is in the air. You know something good must be right around the corner. When the world is changing (which is practically all the time) why not take a chance and make some changes for yourself? Take a class or start a new hobby. Smile at a stranger. Turn off your phone and sit alone in the park. Rearrange your living space. Write down ten things you love to do. Do them.

Love the Manimals

I have been a longtime fan of the work on Manimal, the creation of designer Kristen Lombardi of Brooklyn, New York. She recycles and reworks her materials to create these hand made creations inspired by the crafts of the American Southwest. I don't know if it was watching Clan of the Cave Bear as a child or what but I'm a girl that loves a moccasin. Below are a few of my favorites from Manimal, available on the Manimal website and Belinka.

Congratulations Design*Sponge!

Good news. A Design*Sponge book is in the works. I need to start making room on my crowded shelves for this.

Wall Painting Project Update

All went well. I did change my mind at the last minute though. I went with the richer color called "Natural Wilderness". I like the name better and the color came out great. I went for a the semi-gloss which ended making my wall seem so much bigger. It didn't smell bad either. My previous painting projects have usually resulted in my needing to step outside for a breather to avoid passing out. I like It seems impulsiveness works for me. I now want to paint the whole room. Overall I have to give Mythic paint a big thumbs up. Non-toxic, Low VOC and the quality looks just as good as any other paint I've seen. Why doesn't everyone use this paint?

Blk Jks

Going to see the Blk Jks tonight!


BLK JKS in series: Ears To The Ground from Dig For Fire on Vimeo.

Some Healthy Color

I had a pretty nice weekend. I got most of what I wanted accomplished. I even gardened despite the rain. Here is a pretty picture of my farmers market loot.

I'll be quiet for the rest of the day for I will be painting our bedroom wall a nice color called "Of The Earth" by Mythic. Sounds pretty. It's actually a taupe-y color. I think it will feel cozy. No VOCs in this paint, of course. Safe for pets, safe for people. I will post a picture when I'm done.

In the meantime, did anyone read this article about the EcoDorm in the New York Times Sunday Magazine? If not, you should. It looks like such a happy peaceful place to study. Have I ever mentioned how much I LOVE the North Carolina mountains?

A nice way to start a Monday

I love this band. Is it just me or do I hear a little Big Star in this song? Enjoy!

Being British

So it's a rainy Saturday. Might as well go with it. We did some serious gardening, drank some tea and went to the pub.

Settling into the Weekend

I hope everyone has a great weekend. I'll be getting our garden together, going to the farmer's market, watching National Parks, visiting the National Book Festival and possibly going to the Maryland RennFest (really).

Here are some of the things I found interesting on the web this week:

via re-nest

ReNest ranked the best outdoor spaces in DC.

DesignSponge announced Terrain's new e-shop.

via once wed

I love everything about this wedding on Once Wed. Where can I buy that hair color?

I was inspired by DesignSponge's homegrown pharmacy.

This picture of Durango on Wide Open Spaces is for my friend Callie.

A Continuous Lean has a girlfriend.

Apartment Therapy found these cool State Bird Prints.

And I was on actually on one of my favorite store's website.