Foodporn

I've never really considered myself a very creative person. I tend to get restless and impatient with time consuming projects that most would associate with the 'arts', but with food its different. I'm totally content spending time and money to experiment cooking with various ingredients that in my opinion, produce something beautiful AND edible. Enter foodgawker. I'm a sucker for 'food porn' and if photography (plus recipes) capable of making one salivate appeals to you at all, I recommend checking out the site. Below are some pictures of the recipes I'm without a doubt going to try.

 Jalapeno peppers stuffed with chorizo and cheese

 Pesto meatball sliders

 Lemon feta orzo with shrimp

 Stuffed zucchini

 Spanish chicken with chorizo and potatoes

 Churrasco skirt steak with cilantro pesto

 Cheesy potato salad with bacon, cilantro, and roasted garlic

Spicy creole shrimp and rice

(winner winner) Chicken Dinner

The last couple weeks my cooking has been pretty basic; lots of lean meat, veggies, and brown rice or pasta (mainly because I want to feel bikini-ready for South Beach this weekend.) Yesterday I had a handful of tasks to accomplish and errands to run, and the thought of using the stove or oven in the recent LA heat wave was less than appealing. I decided to pull out the crockpot and try this recipe. The ingredients were all items I had on hand, and served with some steamed veggies and brown rice* I had a really delicious and hassle-free dinner. What are your favorite go-to recipes for an easy and nutritious dinner?

(the chicken was so soft from cooking all day it literally

fell apart when I picked it up with a fork)

*I always cook my brown rice with chicken broth instead of water and I think it does wonders for the flavor



American Classics

I’ve always felt drawn to the glamour and sex appeal of American culture and style from the 60’s. I’ve managed to incorporate pin curls and red lips into a number of Halloween costumes and formal events in the past and I’ve found that the clothes and jewelry from this era tend to be timeless pieces that can hold their own in a wardrobe for a lifetime. Enter Banana Republic’s Mad Men collection for the fall. The clothes are gorgeous and you better believe I will be adding some of the items below to my (newly organized) closet. What is your favorite era for fashion? What's on your Fall 2011 wish list?

Finishing Touches

This weekend was largely spent hanging things, assembling furniture (or at least I supervised while the man did it) and doing a little more decorating of the apartment. This is a work in progress because in my opinion I think some of the best pieces you can't live without are items you stumble across when you aren't necessarily on the hunt. It's all coming together really nicely as we continue to find balance between functionality and aesthetics. Below are some pictures of a few of the ways my roommate Kate and I have personalized our space and added some sweet elements to our home.

 A leopard rug in the entryway

 Pretty gold candle holders on the patio that sparkle when lit at night

 A glimpse of our 'bar'

 Mirrored shelves in the living room

(willingly assembled and mounted by my awesome guy)

 An elegant piece for the wall that creates romantic lighting in the dining room

NatGeos and my collection of matchbooks on display in an over sized jar

A pillowed bench that will contribute some seating to the dining room table



Emerson

Weekend Snapshots

Another satisfying summer weekend has come and gone, and I managed to find balance between my social and domestic self. I was thrilled to have friends visit Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, and still find time to jog, cook, clean, and decorate a bit. Below are a few snapshots. What are your favorite weekend activities?

Mr. Warhol @ the Downtown LA Artwalk on Thursday night

Entertaining with lemonade cocktails

New camera :) (which means better blog pics!)

My awesome friend who meticulously organized my closet for me

 Brentwood Farmers Market

Homemade kale chips

Gorgeous red dahlias in a vase for the coffee table

In My Life

Have I mentioned that this is one of my favorite songs ever? Well it is. It's beautiful and it makes me cry. In a good way. And oh boy do I love me some Dave Matthews I stumbled across searched for this version because I wanted to hear it and share it with you. Enjoy.