Petaluma

A collection of our Thanksgiving experiences.

 The 5 on the way up north.

 Boys in the kitchen!

 A little creative place setting with some rosemary, raffia, patterned paper and a hole punch.

 A beautiful post turkey hike.

 Some turkeys that were happy to have another year of freedom.

 Wine tasting at Cline

 The vineyards and the Sonoma hills.

So I thought

The white pumpkin had been spared, but when the other pumpkins went to the dump, I guess our little pumpkin bandit thought the white pumpkin was a last resort.

Gobble Gobble Gobble

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

Photo courtesy of Flickr.

Trend Alert!

So, while on jury duty this week, I had the opportunity to peruse the most recent few issues of Elle Magazine.  Apparently the newest trend to hit the fall runways was fur on fur on fur.  Yes, that lady there on the left is from the Chanel fall show.  I think the outfit is incredibly slimming.

The big debate amongst the fashion set, though, is whether one is supposed to take the trend in the Wookie direction or the Bigfoot / Abominable Snowman direction.

Of course, as an avid reader of Skymall, I already knew about the Yeti trend. Might have to add this guy to my Amazon wish list for Christmas.

Blogger Event!

Fellow blogger Kevin from Hollywood Forever is hosting his first ever La Cienega Design Quarter tour on Saturday December 4th starting at 10:30 am.  The event will be recurring, but this first one is free to bloggers (and a small fee for non bloggers).  It's a great opportunity to meet other design bloggers and get a peak at some of LA's high end showrooms.  The head count is limited so email Kevin ASAP if you want to join. Sadly, I'll be in China for work, so I won't be able to attend.

Mama Mia!

Well, I admit it.  I'm not super into Thanksgiving food.  I like the turkey and gravy ok, but on my list of favorite foods, none of the standard Thanksgiving fare top the list.  In most years I've steered away from the cranberry relish because I have a savory tooth rather than a sweet one. Give me brussel sprouts any day over cranberries.

This year, though, I'm onto something new.  This is the second year in a row that I've heard NPR talking about Mama Stamberg's Cranberry Relish.  Coolio even did a rap about it on the radio.  So how could I pass it up?  Well, I didn't and you shouldn't either.  This is the perfect tangy relish.  Sweet but perfect for us savory people.  And I can't wait to try it on a post turkey day sandwich.

 Here's the recipe courtesy of NPR:

Every year as Thanksgiving approaches, fans ask NPR's Susan Stamberg for her mother-in-law's recipe for cranberry relish.
"It sounds terrible but tastes terrific," Stamberg says of the Pepto Bismol-pink dish.
Below is the cranberry relish recipe, and a bonus recipe for another Stamberg favorite — garlicky cranberry chutney.

Mama Stamberg's Cranberry Relish
2 cups whole raw cranberries, washed
1 small onion
3/4 cup sour cream
1/2 cup sugar
2 tablespoons horseradish from a jar ("red is a bit milder than white")

Grind the raw berries and onion together. ("I use an old-fashioned meat grinder," says Stamberg. "I'm sure there's a setting on the food processor that will give you a chunky grind — not a puree.")

Add everything else and mix.

Put in a plastic container and freeze.

Early Thanksgiving morning, move it from freezer to refrigerator compartment to thaw. ("It should still have some little icy slivers left.")

The relish will be thick, creamy, and shocking pink. ("OK, Pepto Bismol pink. It has a tangy taste that cuts through and perks up the turkey and gravy. Its also good on next-day turkey sandwiches, and with roast beef.")

Society 6

Well, these days it seems that every label is trying to become a lifestyle brand, creating capsule collections, using local artisans, etc etc.  I previously posted about Urban Outfitters' partnering with Republic Bicycles.  Well, they're also working with Society 6, an online community of global artists.  You can purchase prints through their print shop and at $25 a pop for a 17" x 23" print, it's a great way to start a collection of one of a kind artwork.  Here are some of my favorites:

Pappy's

Woodchucks

 Playin' in the sprinkler

 Mamilla Sky

Coney Island Beach

Restaurant Roundup

Restaurants I've been to recently that I recommend

Auntie Em's Kitchen- great brunch on Eagle Rock Blvd.  Amazing baked goods, local ingredients.

Little Flower Candy Co- sandwiches, salads, baked goods and of course candies on Colorado Blvd between Eagle Rock and Pasadena. I haven't tried the candy yet, but have heard it's amazing.  Great hostess gifts.

Cafe Stella  - Little french Bistro in Sunset Junction. Great ambiance and outdoor patio.  Stop in at the Silverlake Cheese shop next door. And make sure you order the escargot.

The York on York - Highland Park. Great bar, great burgers.  cool industrial vibe.

Bacaro Wine Bistro - in the West Adams area. Fun little place in an interesting up and coming neighborhood. The food was surprisingly good.  The decor could use a little help, but it was definitely worth it with a Groupon.

Lazy Ox Canteen - tapas style gastropub in Little Tokyo.  Stopped in her for apps before a ramen dinner. Excited about going back for a real meal.

More to come.  Have any recommendations for future nights out?  Let me know?  Need any other recommendations?  Let me know as well.

I Heart

Robert Kuo

Northwest Rescue Part II

So Denise and her husband are still debating the layouts that I provided to them - see previous blog post.  However, they settled for Scheme 2. In the meantime, I've created a more fleshed out scheme. It has a subtle nautical flavor which I think works especially well for Seattle.  It's masiculine, and watery, but still warm. 

Martha Stewart Living Capital Stripe Rug – 8x10 - $397

Ballard Designs Julian Apothecary Floor Lamp - $99 

LampsPlus Moonlight Wall Mirror - $169.99 CB2 Ketch 18” x 12” pillow - $29.95
West Elm Agni Pillow Cover - $29
Home Decorator’s Collection Argyle Table - $199Home Decorator’s Collection Oxford 4-drawer console - $289 Z- Gallerie jars - $105 total 
CB2 Poufs - $79.99West Elm Bull’s Eye Pillow Cover - $34.00Other pillows from CB2 that would look great with this scheme.

Flor

Most of you design savvy people out there know about Interface carpet's line of residential Flor tiles.  They've been plugged by everyone from Martha to HGTV's Genevieve Gorder.  But carpet tiles?  Seriously?  Most people who tout themselves as "real" designers wouldn't dare to put anything with the words "carpet" and "tile" together in a residence.  Well, Interface is challenging us design snobs.  I recently received their new catalog and was really impressed by the photography and styling. I love the interiors that they are showing, eclectic, collected, worldly, contemporary, traditional and with a real eye for style. And I love the carpet in the spaces.  In fact I've even torn out a few to use as general concept images for work I'm doing.  If I hadn't already reached my carpet and rug quota in my own home, I'd even consider giving it a try.  Check it out.

Love is in the air

My sister-in-law Soyoung just entered Minted's Happily Ever After Wedding Invitation Design Challenge. She's passed the first round of over 1400 entriees and now it's up to you all to select her design to be part of Minted's 2011 wedding collection.

I love how this is mod, graphic, unique and fun.  If you like what you see too, vote for her design here (in order to do so, please sign up for a Minted account - they have such cool stuff!)

Tarrrrr-jay.

Yup, it's true. Target is coming to downtown LA... actually Target is coming to 7th and Figueroa which is just steps from my office.

Of course, this isn't actually happening until Fall of 2012, but I'm still bristling with excitement.  Now, let's hope that it has more the upscale Target (ehem... pronounced Tar-jay of course) flair of the suburban Targets that we know and none of the lousy customer service and lack of inventory that I experienced at the Brooklyn Target (affectionately known as Tar-ghetto).

That said, my final purchase prior to a self-imposed pre-holiday purchase moratorium are these riding boots from Target.

A fab find at $50 (and real leather at that). They are simple, classic and WAY cheaper than counterparts at J. Crew, Madewell, Frye etc.  A nice replacement for the riding boots that bit the dust in the monsoon of the New Orleans Marathon earlier this year (no, I did not run the marathon in riding boots).

In love with

F. Schumacher's Chiang Mai Dragon. 

Hurry on up

And get yourselves over to this Open House on Sunday at 1517 North Ave 47 in Eagle Rock.  Admittedly, this is another plug to get all our friends to populate our hood, but c'mon, this is a great deal!  A cute newly renovated 2 bedroom main house, a back garage converted into a studio, and a one bedroom back house that you can rent out to offset your mortgage!

At just $499,000 this is a steal!