a spoonful of shauna

other people's houses

2012-02-01T15:00:00.000-08:00

Today is a good day. Not only did I stumble upon the most gorgeous blog today... MOXEE (bound to become a daily read) but I also fell in love with this project she recently shared, other people's houses. It's kind of like closet visit meets the selby?

Other People's Houses was conceived and curated by Victoria Hannan.

Found on MOXEE

our lil' house

2012-02-01T13:30:00.000-08:00

i have fallen head over heals for our lil' house.

i love the archways, the big windows, the beautiful greenery surrounding us.

but mostly i love the boy inside...
it still feels like we're playing "house".

dinner with lara + josh [+ shecky the dog]

2012-01-31T14:00:00.000-08:00

We had such a great time at Lara, Josh + Shecky-the-dog's place. Lara is an exceptional chef. She served up Moroccan Lentil Soup, yellowtail, sauteed kale, roasted cauliflower, spinach salad and an incredible apple tarte tatin... Everything was made from scratch, and was absolutely DELISH. (Also she served salad after our mains... European style... I liked that!). Lara also served up some scotch at the end of the night, which is new for me as well. I thought my Dad would be proud.

I instantly fell in love with their apartment, they have serious taste. Their antique oven is absolutely gorgeous, and I just love the furniture, the little details... Most of their furniture actually comes from their grandparents, but they've also picked up a few things around here. They scored those dining room chairs here.

They are also getting married this summer in Tuscany... let the jealousy ensue :)

PS: Josh is also an editor at FLAUNT magazine-- absolutely amazing. I highly recommend checking it out. I wanted to frame at least 10 photos from the latest issue!

PPS: Here's a recipe for apple tarte tatin from smitten kitchen. Just sayin'.

9 simple steps: how to sow seeds

2012-01-30T13:30:00.000-08:00

This weekend i had big plans, to sow some seeds for Spring! Yippee!

MY TOOLS:

PLANTER: woollypocket lil' meadow

SOIL: e.b. stone organic soil

COMPOST/FERTILIZER: e.b. stone earthworm castings*

*miracle worker, seriously!

PREVENTATIVE INSECTICIDE: veggie pharm organic insecticide

Using all Peaceful Valley seeds, i sowed...

1 Detroit Dark Red Beets

2 Little Finger Carrots

3 Evergreen Onions

4 Sugar Snap Peas

5 Bloomsdale Spinach

6 Red Russian Kale

7 Arugula

8 Cherry Bell, + Purple Plum Radishes

9 Mesclun Mix Greens

are you new to container/raised bed gardening? it's so simple!

Please leave a comment below if you have any questions!

Rows for Planting Seeds Photo © Kerry Michaels

Watering can photo via tumblr

friday, friday

2012-01-27T14:05:00.000-08:00

*original photo by max wanger

*polaroid design by me

happy friday all! i'm so excited for this weekend. tonight we have a dinner party with our lovely friends lara + josh (they are seriously the coolest couple ever) + tomorrow a (jungle themed) birthday party. costumes are tbd. eek.

i'm also looking forward to next weekend! my sister + her sweet lil' family will be in palm desert, so jacob + i will be driving down for the weekend. we plan on taking some pretty portraits in the desert (i've been practicing my photography skills!) so i created this pinterest board for inspiration. i really love these portraits by max wanger + these by our labor of love... you can really feel the family's energy.

ps: i can't believe how long i waited to start using pinterest. it's unbelievable how easy it is to organize your thoughts, ideas, and inspirations with this little tool! totally addicted.

you can follow me here.

if you haven't joined pinterest yet and want to start, feel free to leave a comment below with your email address + i'll be sure to send ya an invite!

eek... jcrew spring 2012

2012-01-26T09:04:00.000-08:00

have you seen it? kinda dying over here...
via jcrew.com

missing!

2012-01-25T13:08:00.000-08:00

i mean, i think the print by secretly robots says it all.

i still miss you linus.

ps: have you ever browsed through society6? i can't believe it took me this long to find it!

*beautiful bike photo by the one + only, dabito.

another lazy sunday

2012-01-24T11:39:00.000-08:00

on a lazy sunday... there was a last minute decision to go grab froyo.

*i love it when jacob has mad cravings... because it's usually me

we ran out the door...

snapped a photo (with the new nikon, how could we not?)

got REALLY pumped....

and found ourselves here!

we brought our feast home, where we were accompanied by press pause play (it was fab, highly recommend).

yogurtland + documentary + cuddles = perfect lazy sunday.

ps: like our makeshift tv? laptop on a shoebox.

xxx

polka dot socks?

2012-01-23T13:00:00.000-08:00

why the heck not?
h&m... $12 for a 3 pack.

doooo it.

happy monday!

old loves + happy weekend!

2012-01-20T14:46:00.000-08:00

*image of jane birkin + serge gainsbourg via oldloves.tumblr.com

kind of obsessed with the oldloves tumblr. be sure to check it out if you like blogs that make you click "older" over and over again.. if you click older, the pretty images keep appearing... ;)

have a wonderful weekend!

ps: i'm really excited to watch this documentary (www.presspauseplay.com) with jacob. anyone seen it?

jonesing for joan's on third

2012-01-19T12:00:00.000-08:00

i thought mom + dad might love joan's on third.. boy was i right. mom enjoyed the mac + cheese while dad drooled over his chinese chicken salad. such a great way to spend a friday morning! it is hands down my favorite spot in LA.

we're on poppytalk!

2012-01-19T11:18:00.000-08:00

we are so excited to be featured on poppytalk! check out the feature here.

it's great to be able to feature our fabulous vendors again, as we couldn't have been happier with all of them. so much talent, such hard workers!

Poppytalk is a Canadian (Vancouver-based) design blog collecting inspiration and dedicated to promoting emerging design talent. Founders, husband and wife duo (Jan and Earl) both work in the design field, Jan in Communication Design and Earl in New Media as a designer and instructor.

Check out their blog and their shop :)

happy munday?

2012-01-18T14:00:00.000-08:00

totally forgot it was monday. crap.

[at nic's]

had fun trying out the new nikon.

smiles with my parents

2012-01-18T12:00:00.000-08:00

my parents came to LA this weekend...

my parents had mentioned that the best part of coming to visit us was really just seeing our home, where we live, + what we do day to day. on their first night, we had shared a bottle of california cab (my dad's fave) in our living room + it was so amazing to have them there with us. felt like just a normal night at home!

more photos to come!

8 tips for new cyclists

2012-01-17T13:22:00.000-08:00

*bell image by JoyHey

as a relatively new "cyclist" in los angeles, i've learnt a few tips. most of the tips seem like common sense (now), but it took a few rides for me to get the hang of it! if you are thinking of commuting to work, or just want to bike to go pick up groceries, these 8 tips will help ease the ride a bit.

now go ride a bike!

because it's super fun

2012-01-11T11:00:00.000-08:00

everyone's doing it....

a summer at yale [2008]

2012-01-10T13:58:00.000-08:00

this is yale's interdisciplinary center for bioethics.. where i spent most of my summer chatting about ethics!

i spent the summer of 2008 at yale university, studying bioethics at the interdisciplinary center for bioethics. it was a really great summer- i spent most weekends in new york city but during the week i liked to explore the little town of new haven, + of course wander around yale's stunning campus.

i think is when i fell in love with the east coast... a love which eventually led me to complete my master's in new york city :)

montauk [2010]

2012-01-09T09:51:00.000-08:00

there are few people on this planet who inspire me as much as the beautiful girl above does.

carly kalish inspires me to no end-- from her unique style, to her relentlessly positive attitude, to her commitment to improving the lives of others.

two summers ago we spent a few days in montauk, + it was magical. :)

2012-01-07T19:21:00.000-08:00

i have a good feeling about 2012. off to a great start!

paris [2007]

2012-01-04T22:32:00.000-08:00

i've been daydreaming of paris lately..

i took these photos back in 2007 when i traveled to paris with my sis. we had the best time :)

breakfast at swingers

2012-01-03T14:18:00.000-08:00

there's something soooo los angeles about a late breakfast at swingers.

new years ride!

2012-01-03T13:53:00.000-08:00

j's amazing parents gave us some gelt for hanukkah, and we used that gelt towards our new bikes! yippee! *sadly, my linus roadster was stolen a few weeks ago... it's been tough + i couldn't be happier to be back on a linus (this time it's the linus mixte-3). i'm in love with my sweet little basket, + my cup holder!

so naturally, we spent our weekend riding them around this incredible city in this beautiful summer-like weather. we biked all over the neighborhood, had a fantastic brunch at cafe midi, + did a little vintage shopping at american rag. (jacob is so lucky, every jacket/blazer manages to fit him like a glove!).

hope everyone had a fantastic long weekend, and a great new years eve!

happy new year, 2012

2011-12-31T20:28:00.000-08:00

i wish only the best for all of you this 2012. thank you SO MUCh for reading my little blog. to an incredible 2012!
xox
jacob + shauna

turquía [2007]

2011-12-29T12:12:00.000-08:00

*it's been so fun going back through some of my old photos this week. my very talented friend david showed me how to use lightroom, + i'm now able to edit digital/film photos in the way i want. it's a great program-- i highly recommend!

turkey was magical. i travelled there with an amazing group of friends while we were living in israel for the year. while travelling in a group of seven (!) wasn't easy, we had a lot of fun. we took overnight buses all over turkey, saw the ruins in ephesus, hunted for beautiful finds in the grand bazaar, stayed a night in cappadocia, got scrubbed town at a turkish bath, + even took a 'blue cruise' on the southern coast of turkey.

a weekend with my girls in semiamoo

2011-12-28T11:17:00.000-08:00

shira's game was a highlight.

a lot of laughs!

here are some photos of my bachelorette weekend. one of the best weekends of my entire life.

my girls kidnapped me early in the morning, + whisked me away to semiamoo. they spoiled me rotten with spa treatments, rooms filled to the brim with my favorite treats, personalized body lotions, beautiful dinners, wine + champagne, games + activities catered specifically to me every hour on the hour... the list goes on. i felt so blessed, so lucky. it's crazy to love a group of girls so much.

snapshots of the amalfi coast

2011-12-26T13:08:00.000-08:00

the amalfi coast was magical.

we were lucky enough to travel there two summers ago for the GIFFONI film festival (summerhood was one of the kids' faves). J's incredible parents were there too + we had a blast. J's mother (pictured above) is so elegant and a joy to photograph.

we spent most of our time in vietri sul mare (town by the sea) where our hotel was. but we also travelled to capri, positano, amalfi, ravello + napoli.

i've never tasted tomatoes so fresh. bring me back to the amalfi coast!

shots of europe [2009]

2011-12-25T01:17:00.000-08:00

[i recently found these photos, + was so inspired by the subject and the landscape that i had to play around with them.]

for a month in the summer of 2009, my best friend shira + i travelled around spain, portugal + spontaneously... morocco. we laughed a lot, had plenty of near-death experiences + of course i took a ton of photos.

shira is a stunning person to photograph, she has an energy and an edge that is so alluring.

we're spending hanukkah in santa monica

2011-12-24T10:00:00.000-08:00

for jacob's hanukkah gift this year, i replaced his scarf that he loved so dearly. + to go with gift, i thought- how better to spend our first day off this holiday than skating outside in santa monica? we started off with lunch at huckleberry, then off to "ice- santa monica" to skate the day away! they had some great tunes. + a lot of children bailing on the ice :)

hope you are all enjoying the holidays!

happy third night of hanukkah!

2011-12-22T14:30:00.001-08:00

this holiday season, all i can think about is how much i wish i could be in vancouver, cozy at my sister's house, wish lots of kisses from baby benjamin. i miss the cold winter, the yummy hot chocolate, and the all-day-movie-marathons that i've come to love during the holidays. it's tough not going home this year, but we're going to make it real cozy in los angeles too. it wont be easy (err- it's 70 degrees outside) but we'll make it happen!

hope you are all enjoying the holiday season. :)

life according to my iphone

2011-12-14T10:00:00.000-08:00

snapshots of my thursday

2011-12-09T10:30:00.000-08:00

what a pretty day.

a pretty....

-display of succulents

-sunset bikeride

-browse through the farmer's market

-sky

-radish, straight from our garden!

i vant

2011-12-08T10:30:00.000-08:00

bike basket with a cup holder? yes, please!
i vant dis.

5 things that make me happy

2011-12-07T10:30:00.000-08:00

5 things that make me happy:

twinkly lights in downtown los angeles

red bananas

the muffin man, cozy + warm

milk + cookies (do it... trust me)
gold + sparkly new shirt ($5 find, found here)

7 shots

2011-12-06T10:00:00.000-08:00

best friends. eating greek food. cute.

it only took 7 tries to get this shot.

little dates

2011-12-05T10:00:00.000-08:00

inspired by taza of rockstar diaries, i've decided to document j + i's lil' dates of xmas. i just thought it was the perfect excuse to get more time with j.

date #1: this weekend we saw wicked at the pantages theater in hollywood! it was a blast. mr. sneaky pants failed to mention that he had gotten us front row, so that was a big surprise! the performances were fantastic- we were so impressed... i want to go again + again!

simple things

2011-11-28T10:00:00.000-08:00

j picked me up at the airport yesterday + we headed straight for lunch! we decided to try out simple things since neither of us have eaten there before, but have walked by a dozen times. it was delish!

what i had: the veggie breakfast sandwich

what j had: portabello mushroom omelette

a quick post about vancouver

2011-11-27T21:20:00.001-08:00

i had the most beautiful time in vancouver! i am so grateful. i had some serious bonding time with mr. benjamin, i can't believe how sweet that little man is. i loved watching his bedtime routine, morning smiles, + tummy time. and there was serious cozy time had with the family. i mean, what else do we want to do when it's pouring rain but order in dinner, eat ice cream, + play with benjamin? + of course, i got to see some of my beautiful friends. :)

miss you guys already!

burgoo on main

2011-11-25T20:54:00.001-08:00

ladies lunch at burgoo on main

ratatouille + grilled cheese

bumble berry crumble

yum!

family photo

2011-11-22T17:39:00.001-08:00

can't wait to go home this weekend!

here is a sweet family photo i took of the jacobsons...

we caught the morning light :)

biking around la with my husband

2011-11-07T14:04:00.000-08:00

there's no other way i would like to spend my saturdays... then biking around los angeles with my husband. it seems we've found our groove... breakfast at joan's on third followed by lemonade at the original farmer's market... then wherever the day takes us!

jacob is riding a linus roadster classic, i'm riding a vintage bike named snapper with a stunning basket by carly kalish.

xox

baby b

2011-11-03T21:37:00.001-07:00

i am so beyond in love with this little man

+ this beautiful family.

a year in la

2011-10-28T08:39:00.000-07:00

it's been such a fabulous year, i can't believe how quickly it has passed! while i am often nostalgic for my time in new york city + my family in vancouver, la has been pretty good to me. i think i can finally say it. i love it here!

aap kaise ho... apka sey hey?

2011-10-11T12:00:00.000-07:00

hola, india's grill. nothing better. we've tried every indian restaurant in this city... india's grill cannot be beat. the saag paneer is the best i've ever had... yum!

dots + scoops

2011-10-10T14:01:00.000-07:00

over the weekend i took a few hours to go on a bit of a bike hunt. no... i'm not cheating on stella. i just wanted to check out some road bikes. so of course, i went on my way to orange 20 bikes. on the way, i ran in to this cute girl who was trying out some ice cream from scoops los angeles. i thought that she just looked so sweet with her ice cream cone + polka dot shirt, i had to ask her for a photo! turns out she has a great blog- mintradio. anyway-- one thing led to another, + i ended up trying their cheese maple rocky road ice cream. to die for. thank you scoops!

a few of my favorite things [indian summer edition]

2011-10-05T08:12:00.000-07:00

in los angeles, there is a phenomenon called indian summer
[def: a meteorological phenomenon which refers to a period of considerably above normal temperatures in the autumn days].

i love it- just as you feel the warm days of summer slipping between your fingers, you are surprised with more perfect summer days, more chances to go to the beach... dinners outside.

here are a few of my favorite things [indian summer edition]

1. mint- fresh from the garden
2. fresh coconut water
3. breakfast outside, with flowers + my hubby

xx

a magical day

2011-10-04T17:00:00.000-07:00

i put together this short video of our trip to magic mountain + our beautiful birthday celebrations.

enjoy!

[video made using 8mm vintage camera + ReelDirector apps for iPhone]

the big 2-5

2011-10-04T12:03:00.000-07:00

well, it was a weekend full of adventures! superman turned the big 3-5 + i turned 25! we celebrated with lots of food, wine, walks + even a trip to magic mountain. on by 25th birthday, i feel so fortunate to live in a fabulous city surrounded by wonderful people, and to be married to such an incredible man. he seriously makes me feel 15. + not just because he loves roller coasters ;)

girl crush no. 7: justina blakeney

2011-09-29T12:00:00.000-07:00

photos by jennifer, iartu

today's girl crush is particularly exciting, since i actually happen to know (+ love) this girl.

justina works her tush off, + it shows. her blog compai is full to the brim, quite literally BURSTING, with creativity. it showcases her work-- interior design work, books, DIY projects, thrift finds + graphic design work. best of all, her blog even offers a sneak peak in to her home [or should i say, her jungalow].

why i am crushing (hard): since i aspire to add more life, plants + color to my life (i tend to drift towards neutrals...snore!), justina is my go-to for inspiration. she brings more color in to my life.

here are two of my favorites by justina- earth friendly gift wrapping:

+ the entrance of her jungalow... how cute is this!

check out here blog here, and her portfolio here!

last weekend at the good food fest

2011-09-27T14:00:00.000-07:00

I had a great time at the Good Food Festival in Santa Monica. I met some incredible folks- Nona from the Whole Kids Foundation, the great guys from Chipotle, the Woolly School Garden Program's incredible partners Growing Great, and the always inspiring Mud Baron. I was really excited to hear the stories of fantastic model school gardens from all over Los Angeles. They told about the challenges they've faced when trying to get a school garden started, and went over some of their best tips on getting started. I was totally inspired!

Thanks to everyone who came out to the Rose Garden to learn about vertical gardening, and the woolly school garden program! And a big thank you to the Good Food Festival volunteers for helping me woollify the school garden with beautiful veggies and herbs!

craving mountains!

2011-09-27T11:00:00.000-07:00

there is a lot i miss about vancouver, but little more than the beautiful mountains. those peaks could brighten any gloomy day. i would often call my girl aly as i drove toward the mountains, to share in their splendor! i think that because i grew up with mountains, i feel that i need to be near them. i miss them, crave them. do other people who grew up near mountains feel this way?

i didn't miss them in new york city, but perhaps the cityscape somehow gave me my 'mountain fix'? despite the beautiful hills around los angeles.. i miss my vancouver peaks.

[photo above by tim barber for urban outfitters' fall catalog.. shot in vancouver :)]

happy place no. 4: San Pedro Math Science and Technology Center.

2011-09-16T12:00:00.000-07:00

The San Pedro Math Science and Technology Center is a center for urban students to have an interactive journey of experiential learning. students come to san pedro from all over Los Angeles to learn about growing their own food - from seed to harvest to the kitchen. We need more of this in LA.

There's no doubt that this is my happy place in LA. I visited yesterday afternoon to pick up some edible starts for the good food festival in santa monica this weekend, + was lucky enough to take home some delicious plums, fresh tomatoes + a stunning bouquet arranged by none other than mud baron.

2011-09-16T07:46:00.000-07:00

i'm in love.

40th anniversary of chez panisse

2011-09-14T18:25:00.000-07:00

obviously drooling over the selby's photos from the chez panisse 40th anniversary dinners in san francisco and berkeley. not only because of his incredible eye + breaktaking photographs- but also because of the chef of the moment. alice waters.

her words have inspired many of my life choices- to be a school garden advocate. to yearn to teach edible education. to cook more from scratch.

thank you for the edible schoolyard. thank you for inspiring the woolly school garden program. + thank you for inspiring me.

"I believe that every child in this world needs to have a relationship with the land...to know how to nourish themselves...and to know how to connect with the community around them." - Alice Waters

how to grow fresh air?!

2011-09-13T14:12:00.000-07:00

I originally wrote this post for work, on the woollypocket blog. but since so many of you are interested in plants + health, I thought I'd share my findings here as well!

I’m pretty new to LA + it's often smoggy skies, so i did some research on plants that improve indoor air quality. I found this great book, How to Grow Fresh Air by Dr. B.C. Wolverton, which lists the top 50 houseplants that are proven to improve air quality.

Here are the top 5 houseplants that are all easy to grow, and efficiently remove chemical vapors from the air!

Areca Palm

Semi-sun. Keep the root ball damp.Mist regularly.

Lady Palm

Semi-sun. Water generously in spring and summer.In a warm, dry winter environment water more frequently.

Bamboo Palm

Semi-sun. Provide plenty of water during periods of active growth.In winter, water just enough to keep the root ball moist.

Rubber Plant

Semi-sun to semi-shade. Water regularly from mid summer to fall.Allow the soil to dry slightly between waterings, then water sparingly. Don’t overwater!

Dracaena “Janet Craig”

Semi-shade. Keep soil evenly moist but not soggy. Do not allow the root ball to dry.

Have you ever chosen houseplants based on them improving air quality? Would you?

xx
Shauna

hudson's bay point blanket

2011-09-07T12:00:00.000-07:00

as if she didn't bring me enough gifts, carly also brought me this gorgeous hudson's bay point blanket. they are highly coveted, mostly because of their history-- it was first introduced in the fur trade in 1780. i seriously love it in my home.. + it's nice to be reminded of my home.

fun finds!

2011-09-06T12:00:00.000-07:00

black leather satchel

found at: melrose trading post ($15)

granny overnight bag

found at: estate sale in bel air ($1.50)

win! i love a good vintage find.

meet snapper!

2011-09-05T11:00:00.000-07:00

snapper with her beautiful new basket!

hi friends. meet snapper! :) the guy at the bike shop thinks she's late 60's, early 70's. made in new york. he said she's in great condition... she's going to get me to + from the farmer's market, down to joan's on third, + maybe even take me to the beach! we're getting along quite well so far. i think she likes me.
xx

vintage bicycle baskets

2011-09-04T15:15:00.000-07:00

my beautiful friend carly decorates vintage bicycle baskets in her hometown of toronto, where she enjoys biking absolutely everywhere. i'm seriously in love with this one that she brought for me when she came to visit last week (lucky me!).

i'm also dying to try her mom's bakery in toronto, leah's. it's gotten fabulous reviews! check out the chocolate caramel skor pretzel... (click retail, then look for the photo!).

shots of dtla

2011-09-04T12:00:00.000-07:00

i <3 downtown la

it's so unique. so bazaar. but i find it inspiring.

i found this quote my the metro stop (top photo). it's an excerpt from acis, polyphemus and galatea (from book xiii of ovid's metamorphoses)

My palace, in the living rock, is made

By Nature's hand; a spacious pleasing shade:

Which neither heat can pierce, nor cold invade.

My garden fill'd with fruits you may behold,

And grapes in clusters, imitating gold;

Some blushing bunches of a purple hue:

And these, and those, are all reserv'd for you.

let's play catch up!

2011-09-03T18:40:00.000-07:00

i am so sorry for the hiatus! lately i've been playing catch-up with sleep + such. welcome to the world of a full-time job! who knew? i've heard that you start needing that whole "sleep" thing around this age.... i'm excited to share lots in the coming weeks- what i've been up to, some fun outings around LA, some fantastic thrift finds, + a little bit about all my interests- ie: school gardens, urban gardens, and food ethics.

let's play catch up!

image by max wanger

pretty things

2011-08-02T18:15:00.000-07:00

i was lucky enough to spend my sunday with my beautiful friend kendall

she's a kindred spirit

it was such a beautiful day to run around franklin canyon

yes, we needed a map

thanks for showing me pretty things, girl :)

car rides

2011-08-02T15:48:00.000-07:00

sometimes there is seriously nothing more fun then dressing up..

for no good reason.

this weekend was a strange one,

+ we found ourselves on a mini-trip to santa barbara.

car rides are seriously my favorite.

no distractions. just good music + better company.

xx hope you had a lovely weekend

backyard harvest

2011-07-28T16:25:00.000-07:00

for someone so obssessed with urban gardens, i have been known to kill a plant or two. :) but i harvested my tomatoes last week- + if i do say so myself, they were delish!

snapshots of home

2011-07-27T20:53:00.000-07:00

it was perfect

meeting the little smurf? best moment of my life.

he's literally the cutest thing i've ever seen

vancouver gets better every time i go back.

+ i couldn't help but notice all the amazing gardens...

folks growing tomatoes, beans, peas, raspberries... yum.

oh + the food. slickity jims? amaze. crave? yup.

miss you vancity. be back soon.

i'm here now

2011-07-23T11:36:00.000-07:00

my favorite view in van.

so beautiful to be at home.

photo by christian ordonez

welcome to the world, baby benjamin

2011-07-18T17:30:00.000-07:00

now i'm just itching to get home...

a feast!

2011-07-18T09:00:00.000-07:00

i always love a sunday feast. the hubby really showed off his kitchen skills, whipping up deviled eggs, turkey sliders, + the best guac i've ever tasted..

a perfect saturday

2011-07-17T10:04:00.000-07:00

eat real fest with the beautiful mugz

urban farming

hollywood photo by planetmars

this week...

2011-07-15T12:00:00.000-07:00

yummies at figaro bistrot, the metro, browsing at skylight books, sunset, + walking LA

looking forward to the weekend, despite talk of "carmageddon". take the bus, pps! let this be a lesson!

where does your garden grow?

2011-07-12T12:00:00.000-07:00

thrift shopping with the girls this weekend was a laugh. we found ourselves looking at every precious item through the eyes of a gardener. literally everything became a potential planter. filing cabinet- yup. antique bowl- of course! vintage typewriter case- why not? i mean, it got a little out of hand.

in honor of our silly sunday, here are some fun + creative planters, all via urbangardens.

spotted on etsy

thimble container gardens via ressurectionfern

antique bathtub leads a new life as container garden. photo: lee ekstrom via flickr.

thanks urbangardens for the fun feature!

everyday i'm hustin'

2011-07-11T12:00:00.001-07:00

featuring.. pockets.

my beautiful friend cara needed a little life in her apartment, so she was drawn to woolly pockets. we spent the morning shopping for purdy succulents at rolling greens, hanging the pockets, + of course, planting them on her wall!

i loved developing the design with ms. cara, since her style is super unique. she's a blend of retro, modern, + straight up gansta (i know it sounds impossible, but she totally pulls it off). she loves it already. can't wait to watch your garden grow, lady!

good morning breezy

2011-07-11T07:00:00.000-07:00

it's a beautiful day, no? there is a cool breeze, + it feels amazing after a blistering hot weekend. have a great monday!

xx

photo via speak in secret alphabets

um, ESB liked my big ol' bun

2011-07-09T19:10:00.000-07:00

photos by the one + only james moes

talk about validation. east side bride (aka the most witty, practical, stylish, + down-to-earth wedding blogger on the planet, + my personal fave) liked my big ol' ballerina wedding bun. um, i'm flattered. thanks jacob for the perfect bun!

sights of la

2011-07-07T10:01:00.000-07:00

though it can be totally frustrating, something i love about taking the la metro are all the unexpected sights of los angeles i seem to come across. sometimes i think i wouldn't have started to fall in like with la without seeing it this way. for better or for worse. :)

woolly school gardens

2011-07-07T07:00:00.000-07:00

photo of frida kalo's woolly school garden by alex de cordoba

when i picture the world of 2050, i see a world covered in green. rooftop farms will form a green haze around our city centers + vertical gardens will cover every wall in sight. the many trees which line the streets will be trees growing fresh fruits, from which anyone is free to pick. it will be a world where every individual has food sovereignty.

it is this vision which makes me so excited to share what i have been up to for the past few months (+ why these past few posts have had a slightly desperate tone!). i am now the coordinator for an incredibly innovative + exciting nutrition/garden program-- the woolly school garden program. this position absolutely combines my passion of educating students about nutrition in a holistic way, + at the same time greening the planet. ideal for urban schools but great at any, the woolly school garden is a vertical edible garden that can be hung anywhere, from a concrete wall to a chain link fence. it is a hands-on outdoor classroom, which gives students the opportunity to grow food while also learning about gardening, science, health + nutrition. students are able to grow the fruits and vegetables themselves, from planting the seed to harvesting and eating the fruits of their labor! the wonderful garden curriculum was put together by growing great.

needless to say, i am so passionate about this project, and this product (more about woolly pockets, + jacob + my own living wall installation to come). we are the fastest growing school garden program in the country.

for more info...

hope you had a happy fourth!

2011-07-06T00:31:00.000-07:00

some photos of the fireworks from the pacific palisades parade.

via my new obsession - instagram.

note to self- spend plenty of time daydreaming

2011-06-22T16:47:00.000-07:00

images courtesy of cabbs & kings, young & reckless + weheartit.

what if just thinking about doing something you enjoy brought you more pleasure than actually doing something you enjoy?

well, that is exactly what this recent article suggests. recent neuroscience research shows that the part of the brain responsible for feeling pleasure (the mesolimbic dopamine system) can be activated when an individual merely thinks about something pleasurable. in fact, this research shows that people sometimes enjoy anticipating an activity MORE than actually doing it. For example, reading guidebooks in advance of a big vacation + anticipating what you'll do + the food you will eat could actually give you more pleasure than the vacation itself. in short, research suggests that we can be just as well- if not sometimes better off- if we imagine experiences without having them.

so to increase happiness, spend plenty of time daydreaming.

seems to me, however, that the pleasure we experience while daydreaming might be very closely tied to the expectation that this will happen in the future. i often daydream about fantastical things, but the ones that bring me the most happiness seem to be the ones that have happened already, or are soon to happen. like reminiscing about past trips or adventures... or daydreaming about an upcoming date with my man.

which daydreams make you happiest?

happy place no. 3: here's to the nights we felt alive

2011-06-21T05:56:00.000-07:00

i was lucky enough to spend this past weekend at my truest + original happy place, camp machane camp solomon schechter. for the most part it felt like nothing had changed. the lake, the lilly pads, the smell of the cabins, the feeling of being in the chadar. it felt like being home.

on our way to exit 101

entrance to camp

'good luck on your first day at camp sweetie pie!'

the organizers behind the big reunion, thanks boys!

happy birthday adam, jump in the lake no. 1 of 3

the lake

canoeing with my sommer girls

tasha

the 2nd dock

beautiful mugz

beautiful pulda

bonfire

so many memories!

how to just be happy

2011-06-19T19:56:00.000-07:00

photo by james moes

if there is one thing my dad has taught me, it's how to just be happy. to be grateful. to love life. he didn't have an easy childhood, + he's the happiest guy i know. he tells us everyday that if we measured wealth in love + happiness, then he is the richest man in the world. he inspires me endlessy!

today i am grateful for a beautiful weekend spent at my favorite place in the world with my oldest friends, + then an entire day with my parents. thanks parents for making the trip. :)

happy father's day dada!

happy birfday

2011-06-14T20:22:00.000-07:00

to the cutest girl i know

this time last year was a good night. wish i was in nyc to celebrate.
+ a video from this her bidet in 2010 :)

photo by nathan moes

snapshots of the past week

2011-06-14T16:18:00.000-07:00

my cuz

succulents at work

peonies

silly getting ready time

beauty culture

superman likes to read on the plane

t.o. trees

great vintage find-- found here

superman can fly- but he needs floaties to swim

more peonies

shauna is tired on plane

my very happy + successful cousin

mrs lilien's spiked lemonade

dream house

these kids make me smile

baby's breath- so not a filler flower

this week is sure to be another busy one, but oh man, life is good :)

happy munday

2011-06-13T10:00:00.000-07:00

it's okay to be exhausted on a munday. totally normal to want to be here all day today...

image by xixi cao

dear los angeles

2011-06-02T10:23:00.000-07:00

last week, i kind of fell in like with los angeles. it was a strange feeling.

i mean, we've been dating for 7 months now, + all of a sudden. strong feelings of like. i think this is the start of something good!

snapshots of the weekend

2011-05-30T10:30:00.000-07:00

sunset blvd, shots from my busride, new shades, indian goodness

purple trees on sweetzer, c'est moi, melrose trading post, beautiful gift [from them, by him]

i really needed a weekend. :)

snapshots of my (excuse for a) weekend

2011-05-16T17:44:00.000-07:00

heaven, superman @ sage (organic vegan heaven), living wall at miguel contreras, on our way to brunch

life is beautiful (+ busy)

2011-05-13T14:18:00.000-07:00

just wanted to say hello. life is beautiful + wonderful, but also incredibly busy. with two jobs (i can't wait to tell you about the new one!!) + no car, my world is crazy. i bus/train absolutely everywhere, + anyone that knows los angeles knows that this is insanity. and while im loving both of my jobs right now, it is taking up all of my time... so much so that i don't have time for superman, my friends, or my garden! i miss everyone in my life, i miss having a life! :) but soon life will be back to normal...

in the meantime, a treat. to make up for my absence. some portraits by the most wonderful photographer out there.. mr james moes.

there's a lot going on in my life right now....

2011-05-04T16:04:00.000-07:00

i don't know if i've ever been busier, but i feel great. it's funny-- because i felt like it was time to slow down.. but instead i totally sped up. i guess that's how you learn, how you grow. i'm happy to experience more, take in more, + really learn more about myself. more details to follow.

a pretty wedding + thoughts on everything working out

2011-05-04T12:00:00.000-07:00

it's been quite a while since i found a wedding that made my heart pitter patter-- but this one surely did the trick! at the beautiful ace hotel, these guys got married in style. + with so much love surrounding them (you can just feel the love through the pictures!).

they also had some nice tips, including... 1) hire great vendors, and then trust them to do their jobs; 2) accept the talents of your friends, when they are offered, and 3) everything will work out. so true, + so important to remember. i think every bride must have one big stress that eats at them when they should be thinking about all the blessings in their life, + their future with their partner. i had so much stress about making everyone else happy before my wedding- mostly about people i couldn't include. but then after the wedding, a few close friends who i couldn't include sent me beautiful cards + mazel tovs, + it really made me realize how lucky i am to have people that care about me regardless (invite or no invite). i really felt blessed. those are the people you want in your life, the people that are happy for you + will wish you well anyway. good people. ugh, blessings. anyway, check out their beautiful wedding... featured on 100 layer cake.

have a lovely weekend.

2011-04-30T12:28:00.000-07:00

so purdy. so sparkly. via oncewed.

the true elitism is a food system controlled by a handful of corporations

2011-04-27T10:42:00.000-07:00

[image via instagram]

an inspiring speech on school food by alice waters at the atlantic food summit, yesterday.* she spoke on how gardening, growing food + learning to cook should be a mandatory part of the school curriculum -- like math or science. with one in five americans in school today, this would spur a huge culture shift in the way we think about food (less about our own individual fuel-for-the-day, more about nurturing, sharing, & family). she reminded the audience that when it was necessary, we made huge changes to our schools by adding physical education to the curriculum. we built gyms, bought equipment, hired teachers-- this was a huge investment. + today we need that same investment in our food.

the summit itself was controversial since it was a summit about "sustainable food" that was hosted using sponsorship dollars for Dole, Coca Cola, Dupond, and the Council for Biotechnology Information (yowza). sustainable foodies were all over twitter -- challenging the conference + arguing that it's a big media fail when big industry is brought in to underwrite "sustainable" food discussions (via @civileater).

+ of course, their keynote speaker alice waters, addressed this issue lightly, asking "why are there no farmers in the room?". she was the only sustainable food advocate in the room, + yet she was their keynote? earlier she even tweeted, "the true elitism is a food system controlled by a handful of corporations," clearly commenting on the repeated charge against her + her vision (that school gardens + growing one's own organic food is elitist). well i couldn't have said it better myself!

*if you don't already know, alice waters is a chef, author and founder of the chez panisse foundation-- she's a passionate advocate for a food economy that is "good, clean, and fair." her foundation has helped create garden programs into the academic curriculum of public schools all over the US.

[second image via edibleschoolyard]

snapshots of my weekend

2011-04-26T09:30:00.000-07:00

a hike in the palisades, a saturday brunch, ranunculus + blueberries by the window, happiness

an ikea run, our mountain of gifts, an adventure in burbank, my fabulous hiking partner

dinner with daisies, nutrition workshop--> this way, fun mirror in venice, west hollywood sunset

it was a wonderful weekend.

semiahmoo- 8 instax minis

2011-04-25T10:18:00.000-07:00

the celebration continues...

party games

penis straws

just snugglin'

classic beauty

all smiles

sneaky!

the girls, waiting for their ride

the beach

after yoga

the dreamy beach in semiahmoo

so much love, so much fun.

celebration

2011-04-24T22:45:00.000-07:00

this was easily one of the best moments of my life. poppin' open two bottles of champagne with my favorite gals on our porch in semiahmoo. celebrating life, love, + friendship.

i have lots of photos from this beautiful weekend, so more to come.

this one taken on my dad's canon.

holding daisies

2011-04-24T00:55:00.000-07:00

one of my favorite photographers in the world, max wanger, has a blog featuring some of his unpublished work- his "leftovers" as he says. i came across this photo, + it just made me smile from ear to ear. daisies will forever symbolize the joy i can + should experience every day, if i can remember to open my eyes wide enough to see the beauty. daisies will remind me to relish in life, put my heart in to everything i do, + enjoy a walk outside in the rain. forever + for always. i love that this couple is holding daisies on their wedding day... it's just too beautiful.

for those wondering about the photo, he took this one on his polaroid spectra. it's a great camera. i happen to have one... now if only i could afford to buy the film. :)

have a cozy weekend!

2011-04-23T13:38:00.000-07:00

it's a beautiful weekend in los angeles, but unfortunately i'm feeling just a bit under the weather. but it's okay, we had the coziest saturday morning... + then superman made me eggs + coffee, which cheered me right up. today we are going to try + make sense out of our crazy messy apartment-- via an IKEA run + finally opening up our wedding gifts (they is a huge pile of boxes taking over our living room!). i am so ready for our house to feel like a home.

i hope you are having a wonderful weekend... whatever you're up to!

ps: last night we saw a great line-up at the comedy store-- highly recommend if you are ever in los angeles!

image via tumblr

gone hiking...

2011-04-22T12:57:00.000-07:00

in the palisades. hooray for the sunshine. hooray for fridays. hooray for adventures.
xx

i'm obsessed...

2011-04-21T11:28:00.000-07:00

...with our photographer. his work makes my heart pitter patter. he has this incredible ability to capture special + intimate moments between people. he captures the tone of the room... the feelings felt between his subjects. he is just so talented. + beyond that, he was so incredible to work with! having james moes at our wedding felt more like he was a part of the party than anything else - i hardly noticed there were photos being taken. because of this, i was able to be my natural self, + to remain completely present + in the moment. i was 100% at ease.

james has a beautiful portfolio, but probably my favorite shoot of his to date are these portraits of russel + bethanny. [side note- russel, of russel + bethany, was the second shooter at our wedding! i was honored]

soon i'll share our palm springs portraits with you. :)

happy thursday. the weekend is near!

all photos by james moes

six instax minis - the morning of the big day

2011-04-20T11:46:00.000-07:00

one of my favorite parts of the wedding festivities was getting ready for the big day. it was actually relaxing (believe it or not!) + gave me time to chill with the ladies. + my dad (yes that is him, he slept through most of it).

we ordered a huge breakfast at the hotel... oatmeal, omlettes, you name it. i was lucky enough to have two good friends do me up. my hair was done by the fabulous jacob rozenberg of the lounge studio, + my makeup was done by the beautiful kylie. too much fun! more pics to come. :)

my very pregnant sister

my dad-- relaxed as ever

mom, with curlers, having her usual cornflakes

me, sandwiched by two very talented girls

the best :)

a nice shot by shish, putting on the dress

all photos taken on my wonderful instax mini

a delicious weekend with artisanal la

2011-04-19T10:40:00.000-07:00

i had the most fabulous time volunteering at artisanal la this past weekend. the event took over the industrial-looking third floor of santa monica place, + it was filled with foodies, fanatics, + farmers alike. i got some great tips for my garden from craig + gary of winnetka farms (+ even picked up some spectactular italian-style roma tomato seeds). had the most delicious melt in your mouth veggie sandwich, made by the guys from daily dose (opening later this month in downtown LA) i tried the S'MUFFIN, yes- SMORE+MUFFIN=S'MUFFIN (it was an orgasmic moment), + had one too many chemex coffees from intellegentsia. needless to say, it was a wonderful (+ filling) day. i'll definitely be back next year!

photos of the event are already available online, on flickr.

thanks to artisanal la for the wonderful opportunity!

a food justice centered sedar

2011-04-18T14:51:00.000-07:00

same old songs, same old messages, same old "four questions," same old sedar. super boring. passover should be a holiday which engages us + challenges us, not put us to sleep. this year, i've decided that my passover will be spent thinking about how my judaism connects me to my own passions... which as many of you know.. is deeply tied to food justice.

the Hazon sponsored Food + Justice Haggadah Supplement (available for free download) really spoke to me. it features 26 essays, insights + action to unite food, social justice and ethical consumption. the passover sedar is, after all, all about freedom + our food. we experience the story through food- we break the matzah, taste the bitter maror, + drink four cups of wine.

i browsed through this supplement (it's lengthy) + found that i loved three pieces best. in "reflections on urchatz" rabbi josh feigelson urges us to move beyond the ritual aspects of kashrut to consider all aspects of ethical food consumption. sarah wolkenfeld uses the spliting of the matzah into two pieces (yachatz) to remind us to consider two very different kinds of eating: for pleasure + for sustenance. while many of us are lucky to engage in both, many are not. merle feld's piece in maggid explains four different approaches to ethical consumption. And in his piece on the korbon pesach, aaron motek encourages us to consider how + when we consume meat.

passover is a pensive holiday, a time to reflect but also to learn. perhaps your passion is not food justice, but something different, something unique. equal opportunity. fair wage for workers. fair trade. education reform. this can all be tied in to the story of passover. so learn something, + teach someone!

happy passover!

image via tumblr