I am up early today. My current view...
As I wait for the boys to wake up I'm looking at cookie recipes on The New York Times and just saw Melissa Clark's video on these pistachio morning buns. Yep, I am definitely going to be making these in the coming days...
A few more gift ideas. My husband has this down sweater which is super affordable and has a cool vintage vibe...
I'd love to get this scarf for my husband (also so I can borrow it myself)...
It seems a bit wrong to be looking at these today as the temps are in the low 30s here, but holy smokes do I love these...
It is super slick. In less than a minute it heats the milk to a perfect temp that my kiddo can drink right away. This would be a cool gift with a special hot chocolate mix.
Today I made a double batch of this lentil soup (since I devoured it the first time around just two days ago), poured myself a beer, put on some Bach and tackled some online holiday shopping. Here's what I'm eyeing this year for myself and others...
First off, I think this dress would be a knockout for the holiday party circuit...
This griddle from Baking Steel would make an epic gift for the cook in your life. I may have already bought this for myself...
My friend Omar has these salt and pepper grinders which I have long wanted for myself, only I don't use a salt grinder. I finally got wise and figured out I could use the other one as a spice mill and finally get rid of my old cuisinart coffee grinder that is too loud and does just a so-so job of grinding spices. So I'd love to have these...
After hosting a crew for Thanksgiving I realized that I could really use a couple of really big 8 and 10qt stainless steel restaurant bowls like these...
A book for my pie baking best friend...
And a good book for all of us...
I already have one of these great totes which I use for everything from groceries to carting things to the studio. I could easily use another one myself and will order another for my sister-in-law...
This super soft and generously sized scarf doubles as a blanket, perfect for my travel-loving girlfriend...
I'd love to get these for my brother...
And this Lumio lamp in walnut for my design-savvy husband...
A month or so ago while having lunch with a friend, I was served a Sapporo in a glass like this which never tasted so good). I've been on the search ever since...
I will forever have at least one thing from Clare V on my wishlist. Right now I'd love to have this simple wallet clutch...
A pair of these rad socks for the many Star Wars lovers in my family...
One of these beautiful salad bowls would make a lovely hostess gift...
And even though my wardrobe is predominately black and gray, I can't stop thinking about this scarf...
We are two weeks into our kitchen remodel. Demo is done and new plumbing and electrical are in place! A few before photos...
Underneath the yellow 1970s lineoleum was a layer of plywood, and underneath that was the original green linoleum from when the house was built in 1940...
And underneath that is the fir subfloor...
Which will be sanded and painted white like this...
Mid demo exposing the lath and old knob and tube wiring...
And new plumbing. The window openings have also been cut down 4" to counter level...
New windows will go in next week and drywall will begin! In the meantime, our "new" kitchen in the dining room is serving us well.
As is our outdoor dishwashing station...
My brother who works for Brooks also gave me a new pair of shoes that I LOVE (made even more special because they are the first shoe that he fully developed)...
My husband and I also had a date night this week and had an early dinner at Joule, one of our most favorite restaurants in the city. The best part of the date was deciding to walk across the street to Miir.
I had a sweet latte which was !!!!!!!!!! and Aaron had a beer. We sat and talked and it felt reminiscent of those many hours spent lingering in coffee shops throughout my 20s. I also left wanting one of their growlers (or the half "howler") which would make a perfect last minute father's day gift...
Many of us that grew up in the 1980s with Star Wars and who now have kids of our own wait for the opportunity when we can first watch the movies together. We buy our kids cool Lego sets (which, let's face it are as much fun for us as they are for them). The bottom line - Star Wars is rad. And as we have grown up, our sensibilities have matured, our style has refined and so have the ways to pay homage to the humble little space opera that helped shape a generation.
I bookmarked these graphic posters several years ago on the off chance I'd ever need a cool poster for a kid's room. But to be honest, these are grown-up enough that'd they'd be equally cool framed in the main part of the house.
Dev has worn Hanna Andersson pajamas since he was a baby. They are organic cotton, always have classic stripes in tasteful colors, and they are sized generously so I only buy three or so once a year. I just ordered a few pairs of the usual striped ones but also these ridiculously cool "holiday" Fair Isle Star Wars ones. I may have also added these slippers to my cart. See the whole collection (adult sizes included) here.
And my personal favorite by far is this blanket from Pendelton. I was on the Pendelton site this week ordering another one of my favorite washable wool blankets when I saw it...
This one is so graphic and subtle and perfect. I couldn't resist. And just for fun, watch these guys dance. I immediately started researching hip-hop classes...
All three of my sister-in-laws (and my mother) celebrated their birthdays in August. They are some of my favorite people to shop for. Here are a few gifts worthy of a special sister-in-law or dear friend...
A canvas tote from My Other Bag. I love mine (pictured below) and have both the classic and carry-all sizes.
Or a beautiful leather one from Cuyana whose motto is "fewer, better things." Can't argue with that.
A universally flattering lip sheer from Beautycounter in Nude or Twig. I'm personally sort of obsessed with their whole line of non-toxic but high performing products.
I'm getting my groove back. Our basement remodel is shaping up. The drywall is hung and the concrete floors have been sanded.
There is a new washer and dryer sitting in the garage just waiting. I can hardly wait for it to finish up. This remodel is a real game-changer for us. Since Dev arrived and took over the second bedroom, Aaron has been relegated to the basement, creating his beautiful photographs in an uninsulated cold, dark, cob-webbed space surrounded by lacquered pine wood-paneling from the 50s. And in the winter, when the heavy rains fall here in Seattle, water would seep up through the concrete. Needless to say, I'm excited for him to have a proper workspace.
We're also getting the exterior prepped for a new coat of paint. We're going all white, freshened up with new house numbers and a new porch light. It's going to be sweet.
I've been a bit all-consumed by house related stuff, but here are a few other things I've been loving lately...
I already have a dutch oven and don't need another one, but I can't stop thinking about this beautiful pine Staub cocotte.
I've still been ordering my coffee from Blue Bottle (Bella Donovan is my current favorite), but I just picked up some beans from Elm Coffee Roasters in Pioneer Square. It's much lighter than what I'm used to from Blue Bottle but really lovely. Especially for an afternoon cup.
I've long been searching for the perfect tiny gold hoop earrings and I finally found them...
I will be wearing these indefinitely.
During the holidays last year, one of my amazing clients (who also shares a love for Heath Ceramics) gave me a set of scented candles poured into Heath tumblers (like these current season ones below)...
The scent was incredible and I promptly burned through both of them. They are made by Scents of San Francisco and are unlike any other candle I've ever burned. The scents are only made with essential oils so they smell fresh and are never cloying like the vast majority of other scented candles. The scent I loved so much over the holidays was The Castro and I just bought Golden Gate Park and Muir Woods which are equally amazing. Now I'm addicted and won't light anything else.
My most favorite recent addition to the kitchen is our stainless steel Dinuba water container.
I saw it when we were actually visiting Heath last fall. I loved it so much I even took a photo...
Not sure why it took me so long to finally order one but it is really beautiful and I only wish I thought of it sooner. No more Brita! I fill up a large jug of filtered water at PCC and refill as necessary. I just ordered another one for the studio.
