Rhubarb Compote

Mmmmm, rhubarb compote.

I have been craving some ever since I was served an adorable tiny pot of it a few weeks ago at brunch.  They still had some rhubarb at Whole Foods so I bought it and got to work finding a recipe.  The only problem was I couldn't find one I really liked.  So I sort of cobbled them all together and just got to it. 

First I chopped up all the rhubarb and added it to a pot over a low flame with some honey and lemon and sugar.  Then I split a vanilla bean and added all the delicious vanilla bits.  After it cooked down I let it stew away in the oven for a while at 300 degrees.  After a taste it was still too sour, so I added more honey.  

When it was cool I poured the compote into these adorable tiny Weck jars I got at Broome St. General Store.  It's so yummy and I love eating it with yogurt in the morning, or on strawberry ice cream after dinner!

Living Proof Haircare

I have written about Living Proof products before, but I thought I should remind you, dear reader, about it again.  So you can go buy some and they will never go out of business and I will be so very happy.

I don't really feel like going into great detail about each and every product, and you can read about it yourself here, let me just say that anyone who has any problems with frizzy hair in any capacity needs to get some of this and change your life.  Somehow they use some kind of plastic and make it into hair products and it will probably end up giving you cancer or something but at least your hair is going to look SO GOOD!   Go buy some right now!  I usually get mine at Sephora.

Tasty Treat

Coolhaus Maker's Mark & peach/oatmeal cookie ice cream sandwich.

Coffee, Tea, Or Me?

I have to admit, I'm not much of a coffee drinker.  I know, shocking.  I mostly just drink it when I meet a friend for coffee.  Usually I go the route of herbal tea and it's always mint.  I'm kind of a creature of habit and I don't try new things that often when it comes to social non-alcoholic drinking.  Which is weird because I am so up for trying new things when it comes to food or restaurants or whatever.  Anyway. 
The other day I was meeting a friend for coffee at Lamill but it was just so early and I could tell the coffee was going to give me a stomachache but I wanted a treat.  I looked over the menu and decided to try the Vanilla Rooibos Milk Tea Latte and it was so so so yummy.  I wanted to drink it every day.  So I got home and researched a few recipes online (it turns out this drink is super popular at Starbucks too, who knew?) and decided to whip up my own delish version that doesn't cost me $5.25 every time I drink it. 

After trying to be fancy and make this more complicated than it needs to be, I found the best way is to take a mug, fill half and half with milk and hot water and a rooibos tea bag and microwave for a minute, then add a dash of vanilla flavored syrup.  Of course it's not quite as magical as the one at Lamill, which I think is made out of baby twin tears and stirred with a glittery unicorn horn, but it tastes quite yummy and makes me happy every morning! 

Bouquet

Dahlias. 

Another flower I used to hate, but now love.  You are probably thinking- how can a person hate flowers?  I'm not really sure but I think I was just a picky kid or something.  I still hate geraniums, not only do I think they are ugly but the smell makes me want to punch someone in the face.  Seriously.

On a lighter note, if you are ever in the Portland, Oregon area in August, you should check out the Swan Island Dahlia Farm- just acres and acres of beautiful flowers.  I could wander around there for about 5 hours just taking pictures and marveling at nature. 

The Jerk

Remember my list of summer goals?  Well, I finally checked another one off the ol' list.  On Saturday night I went to see the delightful Steve Martin comedy "The Jerk" at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery.  Normally I am scared of cemeteries and I think they are creepy but it was really lovely.  I kept looking up at the towering palm trees and feeling the warm night breeze and just being in love with LA. 
One small word of advice though- be sure to plan parking in advance, like buy a parking pass because you are screwed if you don't.  There are thousands of people trying to get into this one place so get there super early, just plan on devoting hours of your life to this thing and being ok with it.  Food and alcohol are allowed so bring a picnic and blanket and settle in for some good times! 

I Heart Zara

Just when I think that I have seen the best that Zara can do, they blow my mind again!  I am loving all of the new designs for this season, especially the dresses.

This dress is basically the F/W 2011 version of the look I have worn every fall for the past 10 years or so- the simple black boat neck three quarter sleeve day dress.  Me likey.

Paint Chip Art

I saw this paint chip craft tutorial over on How About Orange, one of my fav crafty blogs, and I was instantly smitten.  It took me a few weeks, but I finally stopped by Home Depot yesterday to relieve them of some paint chips (I also bought two plants to feel less guilty!) and we were in business.  I decided to go with a coral/orange/gray theme.  First, you make a triangle template from some cardboard, then trace it onto the paint chips and cut them out.  This part took forever and made me bored and angry at the same time!  A break and eating frosting from a can were required.

Then I started arranging the triangles into a pattern.  I didn't like the first one I made so I started over and loved it the second time around.

On to the next step!

I grabbed some glue and a paint sponge and started gluing the triangles down onto another piece of cardboard.  Then I let dry for an hour or so while I watched old episodes of Parks & Recreation.  Yes, again.

I trimmed the edges and put into this adorable bamboo frame I picked up at the thrifts*.  I love it!

*I tend to buy any frame I like at thrift stores, even if I don't have an immediate use for it, I will use it at some point.

Easy Like Sunday Morning

Rather than going off to work last Sunday like I always do, I had a delicious pre-birthday brunch at the Roosevelt Hotel (aka The Roozy) with Lauren.  We consumed between 40-50 bellinis and the rhubarb compote was off the hook.  There is nothing I love more than fancy meals and pretending I'm rich...sigh.

Also, get the duck confit hash if you go, it was outstanding!

High/Low

I have been obsessed with the new Chanel polishes for fall, especially "Graphite", but torn about buying nail polish that costs over $20.  Luckily, I found a replacement in Revlon's "Carbonite", an obvious knockoff and under $5!  Check out this side by side comparison.

Bouquet

{White Tulips}

This was one of those weeks when none of the flowers I saw at the store appealed to me, then I saw these shoved behind a bunch of other bouquets and they were perfect.

What's For Dinner?

Tomato & Cheddar Pie

Oh yum.  I got the recipe from the newest Bon Appetit and I think you should probably make it.  It's pretty easy and comes together quite fast once you chill the dough and drain the tomatoes.

The crust is very biscuity and delicious, the tomatoes and cheddar are lovely together, and the dill really makes this dish.  Next time I am going to add corn or maybe bacon too!

The Fall

This is the first, and possibly only, prediction I am going to make in the beauty/fashion arena as far as the upcoming fall season is concerned.  For whatever reason, I could not seem to form one idea or opinion as to what the trends next season were going to be.  I haven't seen the fall Vogue yet, I thought, as soon as I see that I will totally know!  I kept asking people-"What do you think will be in this fall?" and they kept saying "I don't know".  I felt suspicious and angry, like they were holding out on me. 

I was at the drugstore the other day and instantly felt drawn to this almost ugly, very orange-y deep copper nail polish and it suddenly clicked:  this was going to be so in this fall.  So I bought it.  Mission accomplished!

Oh also- Navy is going to be HUGE.

Bouquet

For whatever reason I just couldn't seem to get to the store this week in order to buy my usual bouquet to share with you.  The "universe" sent me some flowers in the form of this painting I saw the other day, so you get this instead!  Back to real ones next week.

Thrift Score

Isn't this print amazing?!?  The moment I saw it, I knew it was for me.

Then when I was out thrifting I saw this frame and originally got it for another project, but wouldn't you know it fits this print perfectly!  A thrift score for my thrift motto.

Print from Ashley's Etsy shop.

Peach Elderflower Yogurt Pop

I was looking over my summer to do list the other day, since it's August and all, and I realized I hadn't done much besides take pictures and wear sunscreen.  So I decided to make popsicles- goal #4.  I've been wanting to make these Campari Orange pops, but I didn't feel like going to the store to buy things.  So I made one up- it's officially titled the "Peach Elderflower Yogurt Pop" and it's freakin' amazing. 

Ingredients

3 Peaches

1/4 Cup Sugar

1 Tbsp Fresh Squeezed Lemon Juice

1 Tbsp St. Germain Liqueur

Pinch of Salt

17 oz. Greek Yogurt (I used Fage 2%)

Directions

Peel peaches and cut into sections.  Transfer peaches to saucepan and add next 4 ingredients (don't add yogurt!).  Bring to a boil over medium heat, then lower heat to a simmer until mixture has thickened.  Remove from heat and let cool to room temperature. 

Add a few spoonfuls of syrup from peaches to yogurt and mix well.  Then alternate layers of yogurt and peaches in popsicle molds, or if you prefer, mix yogurt and peaches together before freezing in molds. 

Freeze overnight and enjoy the deliciousness!

Do You Watch?

Downton Abbey

I am completely obsessed. 

I had a very trying week so today I decided to take it easy, lounge around, take care of myself and watch Downton Abbey- for the third time.  It's so comforting to watch, it always makes me feel better.  The show centers around a wealthy family living in England in 1912, trying in vain to save their home and inheritance.  The first season is available (streaming on Netflix-squee!) and the second season comes out in England on September 18th, and here in the States on January 8th.  I'm sure with all the technology out there I won't have any problem watching it as soon as possible.  Waiting until January just isn't going to work for me!

Have a great Monday!