Food Porn Friday

Happy Friday Darlings!!!  Is there a better way to celebrate than chocolate cake with macarons?  I think not...well, maybe if we had some champagne!  

Anyone have fun weekend plans?  Mac and I are going kayaking tomorrow morning.  I am so excited to explore sand dunes and the estuary.  Then afterwards it's breakfast on the bay and hopefully a day of reading and yoga followed by cocktails with friends.  Hope you have a wonderful weekend and that the weather is as gorgeous for you as it has been here!

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Easy Gold Dipped Vase

Easy, quick, gold...I'm in heaven.  I've been obsessed with this look and decided to hunt down a few tutorials.  Any excuse to add flowers and gold to my casa are always a welcome addition.  

This DIY gold vase from Dream Green looks super simple.  Just a vase, masking tape, and gold spray paint.  After the spray glitter inspired champagne bottles I am all about easy crafts with a big impact.  What do you think, time to add some color to your place?  Wouldn't they be great, fast, and cheep party decor?

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Do You Plan Travel Around Food?

Do you ever start thinking about vacation and think "Ooooh yeah, that's the place that had the amazing lobster mac and cheese" or "Let's go to Tuscany, I'll start working out now."  I have realized that these are pretty much my thoughts when it comes to travel.  I was talking to a friend who's moving to Portland and before I told him all the cool things to do, I told him all the places he had to eat.  It's how my brain works.  

Talking to another friend about her trip to France was basically a discussion on cheese and pastry, then the beautiful countryside.  I found myself asking questions about what was the food like in the country compared to Paris and the regional dishes.  Then we proceeded to talk about a trip we'd taken to Cinque Terra together and the amazing pesto we had.  So I'm wondering, does food influence anyone else's travel plans?  Cuz right now I'm leaning on my next trip being Venice or the French countryside soley based on the foods I want to eat, and ya know...tourist stuff too.  

Food Porn Friday

 

Happy long weekend!!!  After the last couple of weeks I need it.  Have you ever had a week that isn't necessarily hectic but exhausting just the same?  I can't wait to curl up with a cozy treat like these gooey cinnamon rolls, wouldn't they be perfect for Sunday morning with a big cup of coffee? 

We're headed up the coast this weekend, some of our friends have never seen Cambria and want to spend the long weekend under the trees.  I'm excited to have a nice little mini break, beach runs, morning treats, and a big BBQ with friends.  What are your holiday weekend plans? 

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Our Champagne Book Club

I have always wanted to be part of a book club, so my friends and I have decided to start our own.  And of course, what book club would be complete without champagne?  This last weekend I got together with a close friend, ate my weight in cheese, drank champagne, and talked for hours about the book we'd been reading.  It was so much fun we've decided to meet monthly.  

We just finished reading The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, it's written like a series of letters between friends just after WWII.  So to tie our books together we have decided that our next book will be As Always Julia, the letters of Julia Child and Avis DeVoto.  We're meeting at the end of June, making one of Julia's dishes, drinking champagne, and discussing the book.  Have you ever been part of a book club?  Read along and let me know what you think of the book!

Food Porn Friday

Hooray for Friday!  Isn't this rhubarb tart gorgeous?  You have to check out the full spread, these tart photos are so pretty I had a hard time finding my favorite one.  The first time I had rhubarb I was about 15 and at an English neighbor's house, homemade rhubarb compote over fresh vanilla bean ice cream...I was hooked!  Now that it's rhubarb season it is on my brain and I want to make this tart.  The only problem, the recipe is in Spanish.  Looks like I'll be emailing it to my dad to have it translated. 

What are you lovelies up to this weekend?  Mac has been in Texas all week with a friend so tonight I'll be baking a batch of brownies and watching Crossing Delancey, have you seen it...it's a New York, '80's-tastic romantic comedy.  Saturday is my first tap dancing class and then lunch with friends, and Sunday is time for a long needed book chat and brunch!  Hope you have a lovely, sunny spring weekend!

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Gold Glitter Champagne Bottles

As if champagne wasn't fun enough, what do you say we add some gold glitter and get a little ombre with it! Isn't this photo from 100 Layer Cake great?  My uncle glittered a few champagne bottles for our last family party and it was so much fun!  It turns out it's so simple too. You can buy spray glitter here and mask off the label with painter's tape (and make shapes) or to use your own colors like above check out this great tutorial.  

What would you use glitter bottles for New Years, a bachelorette, wedding, or how about a party when you're serving slightly less expensive champagne?  Can't wait for my next girls night!

Food Porn Friday

Happy Friday darlings!  Wouldn't these Lillet Rose Cocktails be perfect for Mothers Day?  I might even add a splash of champagne to the recipe, bubbles make everything better!

I sadly wont be seeing my mamma this weekend after spending last weekend up with the padres.  But Mac and I will be seeing his family Sunday morning then joining my family for our traditional mother's day margaritas Sunday afternoon.  What are you doing for your mom this weekend?  Any of you mommies or mommies to be have plans with your little ones?  Have a wonderful weekend and Happy Mother's Day to all you lovely moms out there!

Summer Sun Totes

Is there a better way to spend a Saturday morning then walking through your farmers market taking in all the wonderful scents, touching every bright flower, bartering for artichokes, planning the perfect dinner, and savoring your morning latte from your favorite coffee stall?  

As the days get warmer and warmer I am drawn to the farmers market in my neighborhood and of course I need a new handy tote to put all my wonderful finds in.  I love the Madewell double handle tote but I've also always wanted a big straw bag, they remind me of french women walking around the daily market.  Which is your favorite?

Links to all of these and more are available here! 

How Often Do You Try Something New?

Do you ever feel the need to do something new?  My sister (in-law) and I have gotten the urge and next week we start tap dancing classes!  Have you taken dance classes before?  I've taken hip-hop and belly dancing and can't wait to try this new challenge.  We're gonna be like Fred and Ginger mixed with Gene Kelly, only probably more like cats trying to walk on an iced over driveway.  
 
I love trying something new and pushing myself out of my comfort zone and this is the perfect step.  Belly dancing was definitely out of my comfort zone and ended up being an amazing experience so lets see what happens with tap.  What new things have you tried recently?

Food Porn Friday

In honor of Cinco de Mayo, Tres Leches Cake! Isn't this cake just stunning?  I made a tres leches cake years ago for a family party but it looked nothing like this, might be time to try it again.  What are you favorite Mexican dishes?  

If you need me this weekend I'll be on the central coast with a margarita in my hand.  There's a semi-annual antique fair that Mac has been dying to go to so we're headed up to find some goods, see the family, and take my newly engaged friend and her fiance out for drinks!  I am so excited to celebrate with them, have a margarita, and a fresh sope.  What are your weekend plans?

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Rose Water Madeleines

I had my first madeline when I was living in London.  They were a favorite of our house "mother" Thomasina and if you were lucky enough to find her at tea time there were almost always madelines around.  To this day I can't see them without thinking of that sweet lady. It wasn't until years later when I decided to pull out one of my favorite french cookbooks and make them myself for the first time.  I couldn't believe how easy they were.

I have been craving them lately and thought what could be more perfect with tea or a glass of champagne than madelines with a hint of rose.  So I adapted a recipe and I am so happy with the results! 

So pull out that rose sugar from last week and lets get baking.  I have to say the rose flavor is very subltle but that's what I want when I'm enjoying it with a great tea.  Recipe after the jump!

Brilliant Mimosa Ice Cubes

Why haven't I thought of this before?  Champagne getting too warm or a friend brings over an un-chilled bottle but you don't want to ruin it with ice, bam!  Juice ice cubes!  I am dying to try this idea.  Nothing like fresh raspberry, peach, or orange juice frozen and waiting to chill your champagne and become a mimosas at the same time.  Have you ever tried this before?  I think I may start keeping a tray of juice in my freezer from now on.

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