summer is coming!

a snapshot i took at the grove today-- went for T's birthday!

delightful cups

not sure why, but i'm totally sold on the idea of food in the shape of cups right now.

check out these tasty cups:

-bacon, egg, and toast cups from martha stewart
-lasagna cupcakes from heirloom LA (here's a recipe)

- shrimp salad in a savory cup from sunshine and smiles

- honey baked peaches with almond praline and mascarpone cream from what katie ate

gosh, now i'm absolutely starving. someone please make some of these and bring them over!

golden rays

dear future husband,

i look forward to early saturday mornings eating breakfast together with the windows and blinds completely open. then, holding hands as we walk past half-opened shops dimly lit with sleepy lights.

see you there,

connie

(photos from here)

evgenia barinova

I am a such sucker for illustrators who use great color and texture like it's nobody's business.

Evgenia barinova is an illustrator born in moscow and based out of london. Check out her wonderful whimsical and charming work here.

ranunculusly happy

ranunculus bouquet i got for my birthday from a friend last week that bloomed this week...what more can a girl want?

spring snapshots

some spring snapshots (even though it feels more like winter) from my droid... time is whizzing by!

(if you're wondering what the nasty looking pizza is, it's THE BEST FROZEN PIZZA EVER MADE FOR THE ENJOYMENT OF MANKIND -- trader joe's wild mushroom and black truffle flatbread pizza! too much? maybe, but it really is quite fabulous. )

hello, mr. porter

Gosh, I simply love everything on Mr. Porter, a men's luxury goods store. As part of the luxury designer e-commerce site, Net-A-Porter, men's style site Mr. Porter provides a complete style experience that goes much further than suits, oxfords, and cuff links.

I happened upon it this week as I was shopping for T's birthday, at a loss for what to get him. I especially love the Style Directory with everything a man needs to know about style!

Too bad it's all too pricey for me to splurge on for T right now. :( I especially love that Ipad case....but you kind of need an Ipad to use it, you know.

(1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)

may days

(herriott grace)

sorry for the hundredth time for being a bad blogger, thank you patient readers! these weeks have been a transition period for me (you probably know now that i have transition periods all the time, so don't be worried). my mind is finally finally getting out of a feeling of muddiness...not helped by fickle california weather.

yesterday was my birthday, and no, i did not have such a fabulous cake as picture above.

this birthday felt so much like a non-birthday, minus the sudden abundance of cake-eating. not that i felt unloved by any means, i was actually thinking yesterday just how very loved and lucky i am. i've just never been big on birthdays (my own), so it really felt like any other day. plus, in this season of life, all my dear friends are far away from me!

but it has been a wonderful week/weekend, full of things that make life all the sweeter.

-- peruvian food at the farmer's market

-- my birthday gift(s) from my love: dinner, a new sewing machine, this fabulous printing by hand book, and flowers sent to my workplace. jealous yet? (i'm looking forward to making this... wish i had an ipad to make a cover for.)

-- engagement session in beautiful santa barbara

-- free ice cream at haggen dazs. yes, i am easily satisfied with free things

-- quiet family dinners

-- new ventures and old ventures made new.

what things make your life sweet?