favorite tweets 11/08/09

• RT @indiefixx: watching handmade nation. did u know u could buy a copy from @buyolympia? http://tinyurl.com/yjr3hzv U MUST own this!

I'm ashamed to admit this but I haven't seen Handmade Nation yet! I'm adding this DVD to my holiday wish list.

• RT @pigeon_toe: http://twitpic.com/ojx8j cereal bowl with spoon rest. I'm gigglng with delight.

I've never met a Pigeon Toe ceramic I didn't like.

• RT @soulcocina: Outside In - Street Food Music Art Flamenco Gorditas Adobo Creme Brulee Fries Gumbo Jerk Summer Jams in the Wintertime http://bit.ly/2jGRfg
• RT @ohjoystudio: super fun blog by @psimadethis http://psimadethis.com/

Photo courtesy of P.S. - I made this ...

• RT @SeattleVelocity: Finally a functional family gathering, as chairs at least. In the store today. Come in to see them. http://tinyurl.com/ylfzcfz

My husband can tell you that I have a chair addiction. I would paint these and use them as dining chairs.

• RT @ashleygoldberg: soooooooo good http://bit.ly/2CPQ7C via far out brussel sprout

favorite tweets 10/11/09

• RT @abbytryagain: I'm really liking this blog lately http://www.travelerslunchbox.com/. It's just so darn cute.


• RT @HMSBeekeeper: Wow. Awesome beehive in Reno that hangs off an overhang of a courthouse roof! http://bit.ly/XRwh0

• RT @neawear: Woodland in your Hair http://bit.ly/ApTHq

• RT @jenhewett: Just listed in @etsy - galoshes and skirt notebook! http://bit.ly/r3lT8

• RT @FilipinoFood: Vegetarian CHICKEN adobo! http://bit.ly/vegadobo

It's great that Filpino food is finally getting well deserved recognition and attention in the Bay Area! A vegan Filipino restaurant is going to open in Oakland. It's weird to say vegan and Filipino food in one sentence.

brunch

Today, we had some friends over for a small brunch get together. It was really nice to have a small gathering at our place. Typically, when we have get togethers we invite a whole slew of people. Having a small group allows us to talk and spend quality time with our friends. I think we should do this more often.



Our friend Lenny brought over the main dish (the best kind of guest!). She made croissant french toast and it turned out yum! She also brought berries and grapefruit to go with it.





The hubby was inspired by the movie Julie and Julia and made poached eggs. By the time the eggs made it into the table however, we were all very excited to eat so unfortunately I forgot to take a picture!

Breakfast is not breakfast without bacon!

While we're on the topic of food, I also made my first ever peach cobbler last night. I used whole wheat flour for the biscuits and substituted agave syrup for sugar.



I also went to the farmer's market this weekend and was so happy to discover that a vendor was selling Rambutan. I used to eat this fruit while growing up. I love nostalgic fruit! It brings back so many memories!

It was $9 a lb (!) so I only bought a little.

Staycation Day 1, Part 4: It's time for some ice cream

At this point, I've walked around for a few hours and I'm famished and tired. I decided it was time to head home after one final stop. I was craving ice cream. I was only a few blocks away from Bi-Rite Creamery so on I went.

But then I remembered that there was a cute little store beside it so of course I had to make a detour at Stem.






I ended my day with the yummiest salted caramel ice cream from Bi-Rite. Oh I love San Francisco!

Staycation Day 1, Part 2: The Mission

I've only explored this part of the city recently. We used to live the the Richmond and Mission just seemed too far at that time. Now that we live closer to this funky, vibrant neighborhood I've finally gotten to know and love it.

I emerged from the 24th Street BART station and made my way to Mission Pie. I bought pies from here before to take to parties at friend's houses, and everyone always loves them. I bought a slice for the pear and cranberry pie and a glass of iced tea. If I had room in my stomach, I would've ordered a second slice.


After I left Mission Pie, I wandered down Valencia Street to mosey about the shops there. I stopped at the Curiosity Shoppe to look at the oddities that they have in store.

This is nostalgic, it reminds me of the games we played when I was a wee one.

Work by Christina Empedocles

I love tea cups and candles, this one incorporates both. How creative!

more pictures of food

We had a little BBQ this weekend. I was too busy being a host and I was not able to take too many pictures, but here's 2 that I liked.

A drink made by Lenny and Mai made with rose water, sparkling water, lemons and limes. I love the vibrant colors!

Homemade momos, they were the hit of the day.

This coming weekend, I'm setting aside some time to work in my sewing room to prepare a shop update. It's been a long time since I've had anything in there and I'm excited to fill it up with cool stuff once more.

chocolate heaven

I don't normally blog about food but tonight I'm making an exception. We don't really make a big hoopla about Valentines day but the hubby scored a last minute reservation at Blue Plate, which is only about a 5 min walk from our home. This is our second time here and both times we were blown away by the food and the service. I am still coming off my high from the warm chocolate baby cake that literally made my toes curl. Ohhh so yummy! I might just start a food blog. Hmmm...

food + sewing room update

I've been cooking more often lately, which makes the hubby happy. Maybe it's because of our inspired + inspiring kitchen. Whatever the case may be, I made a feast last weekend. I woke up that Sunday morning with one thought in my mind: cioppino. So I set out to our old 'hood, the Richmond, and bought lots and lots of seafood. I just have to say, even though it means that I have to toot my own horn, that it turned out fabulously. So fabulous in fact that I am already planning on making it for my in-laws when they come to visit us over the holidays.



Yesterday, I made pizza with tomatoes, sausage, pancetta and mushrooms. I also bought some pomegranate which is a first. I had to go online to find out how to open it. It is yum! We will definitely buy more before the season is over.



On to other things, I've started to organize the sewing room a bit more so that I can actually start sewing in there. I purposely wanted an open cabinet so that I will be forced to keep it organized and it's also a good way to display my collections of fabric, ceramics and art. This is not the final home of the prints, this is the for now location until I get the time to hang them up on the opposite wall.

Prints from L-R: Mati Rose's Sounds of Silence, theblackapple's Miss Cupcake, Lisa Congdon's Birch Tree, thrifted vintage botanical trio, theblackapple's Acorn Twins, theblackapple's Appledress Girl.

tgi (summer) f

One of the perks that we get at my new job is Summer Fridays. We each get 4 fridays off between Memorial Day and Labor Day (isn't that awesome?). Today was a Summer Friday for me. The goal was to make as many yoga mat bags as possible. Alas, I was too distracted by the gorgeous weather and my new neighborhood, I was only able to make a grand total of 1 bag. Oh well, 2 more weekend days to go, right?

Mati's yoga mat bag.

My breakfast, rice cakes on a pretty plate.


I spent most of the morning hanging out at our porch and making the bag. After lunch, I took a walk around the 'hood and did some grocery shopping. I'm planning another yummy dinner for the hubby tomorrow night. Here's a pic that I snapped during my walk.

Weeds can be pretty.

Ok, I'm off to happy hour with some friends and then maybe dinner somewhere afterwards? Tomorrow is the 14th Annual Hillwide Garage Sale. Hopefully we'll score some wares, I'll post them here if we do. Have a great weekend!

weekend report

I made some claims about grand plans for the weekend. Unfortunately, there is no finished product to show - yet. There are beginnings though, and they are promising ones.

Priming the walls.

Cut fabric, getting ready to sit down and sew! The 4 on top are my purchases from Pearl Purl (doh! thanks Lenny) during my recent NY trip.

Creativity of a different kind. I made dinner a few nights ago and this was the finished product. I used our new deep fryer which was a christmas gift from a friend.

i dream of ...

When it does look like this then how can you not dream about it? I spotted these cakes while walking along Grant Street in North Beach. They look too pretty to eat! As always, I am attracted to the birds. Cakes by I Dream of Cake. (Forgive the pictures, I took them through the window and was the best shot I could get)





I also dream of nice weather! We're BBQ-ing today and I'm hoping that we wont freeze to death at the park. I just checked the weather and it says it should be sunny later today after the fog dissolves. Regardless, there will be good food and good company. Chow time!

yummy and cute

I spotted Miette while walking around Hayes Valley after dinner today. The Hayes Valley store sells mostly candy, we bought a bunch of those and also a bag of chocolate chip cookies, I can't wait to try them out. They also have a bakery at the Ferry building and they sell their goodies online! Just look at these images of the store all those colors! candies! and that wallpaper! They do to candy what I want to do with the bags and clothes that I (hope to) make.

secret sushi

These may be their 10 rules but my only rule is: do not talk about this secret sushi place. So I wont mention the name or the location. If the sign looks familiar to you then you're in the know. Best sushi I've ever had, hands down. Fresh fish, friendly service. A+ !