Meet Me, Meat-Free

Happy Monday, happy fall! Kim from the wonderful blog, simply blythe, so graciously opted to spend her morning with moi! Head on over here to read the interview, find out my favorite cheap date idea, and get the recipe for my easy vegetarian chili.

Thank you, Ms. Kim!!

It takes a community to raise a blogger.

What I adore most about the blogging community is the camaraderie, support, and friendship that abounds throughout. It is a place where one can express themselves freely and find an overwhelming response of support and encouragement. While I love to read blogs from people all over the world, most whom I have never met, I particularly favor those who I call friends; it's like rooting for the home team. Here are my lovely peeps who I follow and adore:

Simply Blythe - a beautiful blog full of the lovely pictures and the simple joys in life
Melissa Jean Photography - amazing photography and fun, everyday musings
Open R(h)oads - "The semi-transparent adventures of city-girl-meets-country-boy"... well said!
Kona Jill (Jill T's blog) - a prolific writer who has been around the globe.. no, really!
Boiled Tomatoes - a clever and witty blog from a sassy(fras)-kinda-gal
Out of the Loop - "This is the record of a woman who, with some luck and moxy, is going to remove herself from the loop"

Who are some of your favorite buddy-bloggers that you follow?

The Gastorian - A New Blog

I have started a new blog. I still love this blog. My new blog can do things this blog can't. This blog is a source of inspiration on all topics. My new blog is a place for me to concentrate on the art of gastronomy. I love both. I hope you do, too. Take a look here.

xoxo

Color Wheel of Blogs

It is neat to see the creative names that people come up with for their blogs, their place of online refuge. I have noticed that many are inspired by colors (or it just happens to be in their name); here is a short list of a few I have come across:

Little Brown Pen

Black & Eiffel

Dandelion and Grey

Kelly Green

Orangette

Blue Cooper Photo

My Red Tutu

White on Rice Couple

After all... what would this world be without a little color ;)

An Inspiring Blogosphere

I love wedding sites! This recent discovery is a lovely.

An awesome, inspiring healthy cooking site, My New Roots.

Love, LOVE this baked oatmeal idea! Perfect for a brunch gathering.

Do guys read blogs? Why is this a female dominated field? If you know a gentleman in need of daily inspiration, see Well-Groomed.

Hello to me? Well, HELLO FRIEND to you, too!

Say YES! to a classic goody; I'm adding to my daily favorites list.

image taken at my brother's house in Creston, CA

Win A Trip To Paris!

Ok, literally UNABLE to contain my excitement! The lovely Jordan Ferney from Oh Happy Day is hosting a contest to win a trip for 2 to the magical Paris (including hotel and airfare). Check out the number of ways to enter the contest and while you're there, follow this blog, add it to your favorites, bookmark the page, share on facebook... this is a must on my daily-reads list!

image via {oh happy day}

My Father's Daughter

A gem. Truly a wonderful treasure of memories, family and food. And I don’t say this JUST because I am gaga for Gwyneth (see my history of adoration here) and think she's the cat's pajamas; the bee's knees as it were. Nope, I make this claim because it really is a beautiful cookbook, perfect for anyone who loves cooking and sharing with family, friends, loved ones; for those who find great joy in sitting around the table and breaking bread in the company of lovely people. I actually teared-up reading the tender recollections of Gwyneth's father and the meals and conversations they shared throughout her life. Being a woman who absolutely adores her father, I fully related to the intimate relationship GP had with Bruce. I can't recommend this book enough. Simple. Elegant. Fun. Loving. Classic.

I cannot wait to make this Duck Ragu… it’s first on my list!

GOOP is one of my favorite blogs. Classic, timeless style and taste. Such an elegant woman of many hats.

Hostess with the Mostess.

Review of the cookbook.

10 culinary questions for GP.

Secret Supper Clubs

This concept is so exciting to me, it makes my knees weak. A secret dinner, attended by only a few, eaten at a communal table, at either a rotating or stationary location, sometimes in the chefs very home... speechless. I first came across this idea of a supper club in an article on The FourCoursemen and fell in love. Since then, they have been popping up every where, all cities; these intimate meals for the ultimate foodie. I have had my eye on this (quickly surfacing) SF secret, Wild Kitchen, who I previously posted about here. I look forward to partaking in this foraged feast, especially after the amazing recap of their Valentine's Day dinner.

Which brings me to my most recent discovery, HiP Paris Blog, and their post on 3 hidden Paris kitchens. OMGosh... cannot handle the excitement! Such an incredible venture, I think this is my next dream job (if you could even call it a j-o-b?!)... the wheels in my head are already spinning! It's truly the perfect fusion of love for entertaining & cooking. Oh, and their lovely post on how to purchase an apartment in Paris is so worth a peek... even if it's just a silly little dream ;)

p.s....here's another little nugget-o-love to nibble on; a rooftop dinner in Buenos Aires by this Edible Tales creator.

image found via {HiP Paris Blog}

Blog Love

Here are a few inspirational blogs I just came across and wanted to share:

A Little Hut {including the beautiful paper flower tutorial above}

Good Look Cookbook {where inspiration is transformed into creative projects}

Man Made DIY {in a female dominated blogosphere, it's nice to see a guy's creativity now and then... check out all the awesome projects under the how to category}

p.s.... this is a cute idea for a tea shelf. Um... and this freaks me out. The end.

Heidi Swanson + New Cookbook

I was so excited to flip open my new Whole Living magazine to see an article on the lovely Heidi Swanson from my favorite healthy recipe blog, 101 Cookbooks. It was a beautiful piece with equally appetizing recipes from her new book, Super Natural Every Day. I already own her previous cookbook, and really cannot wait to get a hold of her new publication (I am like 30 on a hold list of 100 at the library...)! If you are unfamiliar with Heidi's blog, recipes, or cookbook, do yourself a favor and get on board... it's Super Wonderful Every Day!

Living in Paris

“If you are lucky enough to have lived in Paris as a young man, then wherever you go for the rest of your life, it stays with you, for all of Paris is a moveable feast.”~Ernest Hemingway

image via {oh happy day}... check out her amazing posts of adventures living in paris! i am in smitten with their lovely life!

Japan

All my thoughts and prayers are with the people in Japan as they try and cope in the aftermath of a major natural disaster while facing the likely realty of a nuclear meltdown and toxic radiation poisoning. So heartbreaking and being half way around the world makes one feel helpless. I saw this on simply blythe... show solidarity by joining in silence.

2011 Calendar

Ok, I know I am about 2 months late on this, but if you don't already have a 2011 calendar (or you do, like me, and just want another lovely bit of art to adorn the walls) you must check out this free, printable beauty from Creature Comforts. I adore these gentle watercolor images!

A BunnyTrail

It's funny how quickly I can get sidetracked while reading.admiring.wondering the blog world- one tangent leads to another and I can never remember where I began or where I was going... that is actually part of the fun. Discovering. It's seems with every click another world of creativity and inspiration are waiting for me and I find myself lost for hours. I love it. Here are the random cyber-roads traveled today and some new discoveries.

I started out here, admiring yet another post about EmersonMade:

From here I was launched in three directions, the first being a discovery that this was the gentleman behind the lovely house styling for the shoot (also check out this amazing magazine, available for viewing online):
I also was intrigued by this blog title (which turns out to be a GREAT little treat):

And lastly, I bumped into this little diddy:

Well, and then I went here, here, and here...!

P.S. Did I mention a peek into this lovely site?

Mowielicious

Two words for you: Food Porn. This recently discovered site, Mowielicious, has the most beautiful, graphic, in your face images of want-to-eat-it-now food ever! Mowie is currently working on his first book dedicated to Whoopie Pies which I am looking forward to viewing. Check out his blog and be prepared to drool all over your keyboard... you've been warned.

Waffles with melted butter and honey via {Mowielicious}

Thank you: Lonny Magazine

Have you seen this? Lonny Magazine made its premiere debut in Oct. 2009 and has quickly gained well deserved popularity. While I would love to get my hands on the printed version of Lonny (I really enjoy flipping through magazines... it's one of my favs!), I truly appreciate that the entire magazine is available for "flipping" online, which not only makes it accessible to everyone (with internet access, of course) but that it is a greener option for spreading design greatness throughout all the lands. Take a look at the latest publication here: Jan/Feb 2011 Lonnymag.com. Grab a cup of coffee.tea.cocoa and enjoy!

From Me To You

I am head over heels for the Daily Outfit series over at From Me To You. Looking good for NY Fashion Week takes effort... looking classic and timeless is an art.

image via {From Me To You}

forageSF + Local Bloggers

I have three words at this moment: so.so.Rad! I am new fan of this local blog site forageSF and am so excited about this underground avenue of food awesomeness, including a secret supper club called The Wild Kitchen and group foraging excursions. We attended a panel discussion on Tuesday evening at the library consisting of these 4 local food/wine bloggers (including Iso from forageSF):

The San Francisco Public Library is currently hosting an exhibition devoted to the local history of food called San Francisco Bites. If you have a chance to check out the cool memorabilia on display and any of the classes/discussions/lectures coming up, take advantage of it! Everything is free and sure to be appreciated by all levels of foodies. I am looking forward to the upcoming mochitsuki making class.

Jen Loves Kev

Do yourself a favor and bookmark this cute, fun site: Jen Loves Kev. A blog full of fashion, eats and baby news... I particularly like her Style Files :)

LOVE this birch tree wall mural (pdf. image available at her shop).

images via {Jen Love Kev}

Calendar Journal

I have never been very diligent in keeping a journal, but love discovering the thoughts, stories and notes from when I actually did write them down. Yet this vintage postcard calendar journal from design*sponge makes it to irresistible not to scribble life down as it happens. I love the idea of having the same day over a number of years all on one list in a cute, repurposed fruit box. The vintage postcards are great as month dividers; you could also use recipe cards or old black and white photos. A great gift for a graduating senior moving off to college, or expecting parents.

image via {design*sponge}