Clementine First Communion: Part 2

If you've been following my Pinterest pages... which you should, you'd know I've only amped up my efforts to find the perfect First Communion Dress for Clementine. I recently discovered this beauty from Dolce and Gabbana. There's no price listed which means EXPENSIVE! But as you know, I'm willing to splurge because of my own horrible First Communion Dress memories... thanks, mom! 

So what do you think, readers? Here's my only issue: it's a fall/winter dress so I'm worried it might be made in a warm woolen material.
 Happy Thursday!

-Grace

Up To Lately

With The Big Move on our horizon, I haven't had too much leisure time to troll the internet for fun finds to blog about. SO I thought instead of sharing another cool Etsy shop with you guys, I'd just tell you about some of the things I've been up to lately.

Reading Love and Logic Magic for Early Childhood by Jim Fay and Charles Fay, Ph.D. Lately Graham has been yelling a lot. And throwing his food. Also biting occasionally. It's getting pretty tiresome. I remembered a mom I nannied for long ago had me read (ok, skim) this before I started looking after her son. And I remember being amazed at how no-nonsense and effective it was, even though he was only 18 months old at the time. Have you guys ever read this before? Or know of anything like it that you could recommend?

Hitting up some neighborhood yard sales, where I found this awesome hexagonal child's table for a mere $10! There's going to be some serious coloring book action on this thing one day. As soon as Graham figures out crayons are for drawing, not gnawing.

Researching my dream kitchen. According to my Pinterest Kitchen board, I tend towards a colored lower cabinet and white upper cabinet set-up. White subway tile is also a total no-brainer in this department. And I definitely want a pull-out trash bin. Wow! The things that get me going these days.

Following the Eat Your Heart Out Diet. Full disclosure: I normally hate talking about weight (it's so boring as a conversation topic and too personal) and don't tend to go in for quick loss schemes. I've done my fair share of Weight Watching, sure, but the promise of high return in such a short span made me curious. It also seems like more of a jump start "cleanse" I guess, because of it's focus on healthy fruits and vegetables. And! You can eat as much as you want of whatever it says on the designated day. It also came highly recommended from my mother- and sister-in-laws, so I thought I'd give it a try. Today's my last day and this Miracle Soup! is not all that miraculous. I added red pepper flakes to make it a bit more appetizing, but overall cabbage soup is pretty blech. I do feel like I have more energy than usual and generally just good about all of the healthy things I'm putting into my body. I cannot wait to eat a peanut butter sandwich tomorrow, however.


- Cathleen


[Images via booksforpeas.blogspot.com; ME; apartment therapy; theeatyourheartoutdiet.blogspot.com]

Come and Knock on Our Door

So we're officially under contract for a house (EEEEE!) and even though things might fall through at the last minute---you never know what the inspector might uncover, so keep those fingers crossed!---I cannot stop myself from fantasizing about all of the decorating that's in store. This is the moment my Domino collection has been waiting for!

First stop will be the front door! Right now it's a very stately black to match the shutters, but I'm thinking a pop of bright color will be just the thing to welcome us home. I've been collecting inspiration on my Home Pinterest board for awhile now, so I thought I'd share some ideas with you guys today since it's pretty much all I can think about. 

- Cathleen

[Image sources 1: free-home-decorating-ideas.com ; 2: flickr.com ; 3: shemakesahome.com ; 

4: houseofturquoise.com ; 5: hitherandthither.net]

Gee, These Balls Taste Terrific

Since I found the recipe for these tasty balls on Pinterest by way of gimmesomeoven.com a few weeks ago I have made probably seven or eight batches and have no plans to slow down anytime soon. I have even whipped up different versions with varying degrees of success—one particularly solid attempt involved almond butter, lemon zest, and copious amounts of vanilla extract—but good ol' peanut butter-chocolate chip always wins out in the end. And rightly so!

No baking. No butter. No sugar. No eggs. No milk. These things are super easy to make and even easier to put away, and you don't feel guilty eating them for breakfast. They're full of protein! And fiber! And omega-3s! You would practically be doing your body a disservice by NOT eating at least 4 of them a day.

Energy Balls

[modified from gimmesomeoven.com]

1 cup dry oatmeal (instant or old-fashioned)
2/3 cup toasted coconut flakes
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup chocolate chips
1/2 cup wheat germ
1/3 cup honey
1 Tbsp chia seeds
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/8 tsp cinnamon

Toast coconut for a few minutes on a small cookie sheet in your toaster oven if you've got one, though a regular-sized oven would work just as well. Once toasted to a golden brown and smelling sweet, dump coconut and the rest of the ingredients into a medium-sized bowl and stir until thoroughly mixed. Then pop the dough bowl into the fridge for an hour or two so the mash can solidify a bit. When ready, scoop up and roll the dough into balls with your hands. The recipe produces approximately 27 small balls, but you can make them any size you please. Store them in the fridge. Or your belly.


- Cathleen

Delicious Impostors

Avocado Chocolate Mousse recipe here. 

I spend a lot of time on Pinterest in the middle of the night while Graham is blissed out breastfeeding, and I've been pinning up a veritable storm of sweets lately. While scrolling through my collection to find something quick to cook the other day, I discovered a minor but noticeable trend among my interests: food disguised as other food. Which is not to be confused with the Sneaky Chef movement, a sentiment I am wholly against—how are you supposed to teach kids healthy eating habits when you aren't telling them what you're slipping into their chicken nuggets? No, this comes from the same magical land of cauliflower pizza dough and spaghetti squash pasta. Keep those nutritious ingredients right up in front, I say! I whipped up the avocado chocolate mousse for our anniversary picnic on Sunday and have to admit it tasted wonderfully decadent considering it had none of the heavy cream, sugar, or egg yolks the dessert typically calls for—nothing but good fats here. Next on the docket: raw egg-less bean-full chocolate chip cookie dough!

Chickpea Cookie Dough Dip recipe here.

Flourless Double Chocolate Black Bean Brownie recipe here. 

- Cathleen

[Images and recipes courtesy of Refinery29, Chocolate-Covered Katie and Chowdivine]

Totally Baked: Coconut Banana Bread

After weeks of pining for some hot cooking action, I popped an agreeable Graham in his swing, set him up in the kitchen, and totally baked Coconut Banana Bread last week. I found this recipe on Popsugar by way of Pinterest and modified it somewhat, cutting back on the brown sugar, nixing the milk altogether, and replacing all-purpose flour with whole wheat. What resulted was a pretty dense, delicious, and even healthier version of this healthy recipe. One slice'll satisfy you all morning. Guaranteed. 

Coconut Banana Bread

1 3/4 cup whole wheat flour

1 tsp baking powder

1 1/4 tsp baking soda

3 large ripe bananas, mashed

1/4 cup of brown sugar

1 tsp vanilla

3 egg whites

1/2 Tbsp olive oil

1/4 cup fat free plain Greek yogurt

1/4 cup orange juice

1/2 cup + 2 Tbsp sweetened flaked coconut

spray of non-stick cooking oil

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine flour, baking powder, and baking soda in a small mixing bowl. In another large mixing bowl, mash bananas, then mix in brown sugar, vanilla, egg whites, and oil until smooth. Slowly add flour mixture to the wet ingredients, stirring until thoroughly combined. Then mix in yogurt, orange juice, and 1/2 cup coconut. Pour batter into oil-sprayed loaf pan and sprinkle with the remaining 2 Tbsp of coconut. Bake for 60 minutes until golden brown and toothpick inserted comes out clean. 

Makes 16 slices at approx. 115 calories each. 

- Cathleen

His and Hers Christmas Wish List Part 4

Hola Bitches! Time for my fourth installment of the His and Hers Christmas Wish List and here's what I've cooked up for this week:

Hers Pick #4: Hermes Perfume, L'Ambre des Marveilles

Listen, when it comes to body chemistry, I'm all over the map. Perfumes that smell good on everyone, stink on me! I found this scent through a former co-worker and fell in love with it. I'm no perfume connoisseur so I'm not going to say that the perfume has hints of this and sprigs of that, but instead I'll say, this shit smells good. And on top of that—it smells good on me! 

Price varies depending on the size of the bottle. 

His Pick #4: Woodeze Premium Leather Log Carrier

My husband has odd hobbies. There is nothing he enjoys more that going out back and chopping wood. I even found saved on the desktop of the computer a picture of a large stack of logs he had just finished chopping. I am 100% sure he sent that photo to his five brothers bragging about how manly he is because he chopped all the wood. Le sigh.

Regardless, Woodeze has all of my spouse's needs covered with this high-style yet utilitarian log carrier. And yes, Brian did pin it to his "Man Stuff" Pinterest board. Retails for under $50 and can be bought through Amazon. 

Cashless is up tomorrow—can't wait to see what she has in store! 

I'll be back on Thursday. 

- Grace

His and Hers Christmas Wish List Part 3

Alright gang, here are my picks for his and hers Christmas gifts 3rd edition.

Hers Pick #3: Pajama Set, Fleur de Lis pattern by J. Crew

Damn you J. Crew. Damn you. These pajamas are cute, really cute. I love the simplified color palette and the Fleur de Lis motif. These pajamas are right in every single way. And the price isn't bad either (for J. Crew) $88. 

His Pick #3: Triple Stripe Cuff Links by Brooks Brothers. 

Now I have to give credit where credit is due, my husband found these and pinned them to a Pinterest board he made for me titled "Man Stuff." "Man Stuff" is getting to be a rather large board with lots of heavy-handed hints. It's making me uncomfortable even thinking about it. 

I'm not going to lie either, these are expensive! Priced at $395, I'm pretty sure I just heard my wallet scream. 

Sterling silver with enameling. You know I'm a sucker for red, white, and blue put together in a way that is fresh. 

Yankee Swap Gift #1: Believe by Justin Bieber

Yep, I'm a Belieber. I've loved every single from this album so far. Right now I'm hooked on Beauty and a Beat. I would love this as a stocking stuffer! I could blast this from my van as I drive in to pick Clementine up from school. Yeah that's right, I'm the cool mom. 

Check back here tomorrow. Cathleen is on deck and let's see what she has in store!

- Grace

Artist of the Week: Julia Harrison

Blue Belle, 2006, 2.5 x 1.5 x 5"

maple wood, gouache, lacquer, wax, nickel, magnet, epoxy

This exquisitely hand-carved wearable art is made by Seattle-based artist and jewelry maker Julia Harrison. Creating in wood and metal primarily, Julia also teaches jewelry and wood-carving classes. I'm amazed that she can pull these animated shapes forth from a dull block of wood, reducing the lifeless material to produce such a vibrant form. You can see more examples of her work on her website: www.juliaharrison.net

The Dozen Rosebuds, 2005

various woods, gouache broaches, also wall-mountable

Mirabella, 2005, 2.5 x 2.5 x 5"

maple wood, pearls, gouache, varnish, wax, nickel, magnet

Daikoku, 2006, 2 x 1.5 x 1"

pear wood, gouache, wax, nickel, magnet

- Cathleen 

[Images courtesy of the artist's website.]

Just Dessert: Peach Basil Pie

Peach Basil Pie is not exactly an autumn staple. My grocer's paltry produce section was completely devoid of any sign of white peaches, yellow peaches, and even nectarines, naturally. So I headed over to the freezer section and snagged a bag of the frozen variety. Picked at the height of ripeness and then made very, very cold; yes, these will do just fine. I pinned this recipe long ago, but made a few modifications that I think justify a posting of my own. 

Ingredients

One box of Pillsbury Refrigerated Pie Crust

2 cups diced peaches (about 2 peaches) [or 1 16oz bag of frozen peaches, defrosted]

2 tbsp packed thinly chopped fresh basil

pinch of sea salt

1/4 cup of honey

2 tsp lemon juice

1/4 tsp cinnamon 

1 tbsp cornstarch

1 egg, beaten for wash

Vanilla sugar for sprinkling (raw, sanding, or regular all work)

Preheat oven to 425° F.

Mix peaches, basil, sea salt, honey, lemon juice, and cinnamon in a bowl. Let sit 15 minutes to allow flavors to marinate.

Pour a tablespoon of the accumulated liquid from the bottom of the peach mixture into a small bowl and mix with the cornstarch. Once blended into a milky glaze, stir back into the peach mixture.

Allow refrigerated pie crusts to come to room temperature, then unroll one crust out flat and position into lightly greased pie pan. Pour peach mixture into prepared pie crusted pan. 

Unroll the other crust flat onto countertop and prepare to top the pie any way you see fit. I used the pointed end of a sharp knife to cut out cute heart shapes for venting purposes. You could also do some sweet lattice work. Whatever you want! Go crazy! 

Once the top pie crust is in place and the edges are pinched together with the bottom pie crust edges, brush the top crust with the egg wash, then sprinkle with the vanilla sugar.

Bake for 15 minutes at 425° F with a pie crust shield placed on the edges (this can also be achieved with some tin foil torn into strips and crumpled around the pie's edges), then remove pie crust shield and continue cooking an additional 15 minutes until crust is golden brown and pie filling is bubbling up nicely through the hearted vents.

Remove from oven and allow to cool on rack.

Serve with a scoop of vanilla or coconut macaroon ice cream like I did!

- Cathleen 

Mobilizing

Circular Bunny Mobile 

$33.50 from AllModern

Puffy Cloud Mobile DIY by Petit Poulou 

found via Apartment Therapy

Paper Airplane Mobile 

from Sugar and Spice Studios on Etsy

Geometric Themis Mobile

$27 from A+R

Libra Origami Sphere Mobile 

$48 from The Starcraft on Etsy

Which one is your favorite?

- Cathleen 

Edible Art

Just added to the list of things I want to do/eat before I move away from New York (one day): 

order some edible art from KUROIWA patisserie of Brooklyn, NY. 

Aren't these confections absolutely stunning? Created by owner/chef/pastry sculptress Ayako Kurokawa, her website also features some really gorgeous minimalist cakes, but the 'one of a kind' section is what truly took my breath away. As far as I can tell there is not a brick-and-mortar space that I can visit, unfortunately, but she does have a bigcartel shop where you can buy various tea cakes and commission portrait cookies. You have to go to www.ayakokurokawa.com to see more of what I'm talking about. You must! 

- Cathleen 

[Images found on Pinterest, courtesy of the artist, I think.]

Artist of the Week: Deborah Zlotsky

Catch-22, 2011, oil on canvas, 36" x 36"

Painter Deborah Zlotsky lives and works in Albany, NY. She did her undergraduate at Yale, her graduate at the University of Connecticut, and she has exhibited at Kathryn Markel Fine Arts in NYC, as well as Pierogi Gallery. I discovered her painting "Waiting room" (below) while tripping my way through Pinterest last week and was immediately intrigued. Once I located her website, I found each painting from her recent series "Adjacent Possibilities"almost better than the last. There is something about her work that really pleases my eyes; the geometrics, the colors, the drips. Yes. Very pleasing indeed. 

Waiting room, 2011, oil on canvas, 48" x 60"

All that follows, 2011, oil on canvas, 48" x 60"

Unknown unknown, 2011, oil on canvas, 36" x 36"

- Cathleen 

[Images courtesy of the artist's website: deborahzlotsky.com]

Shot Through the Heart!

I really love the idea of giving valentines to your girl friends. They are probably the most appreciative of those little sweet somethings anyway. If I were going to send a valentine to my bestie, Grace (the second half of Swings & Arrows), this would be it. Amy Marcella sells these on Etsy for $16 in a set of five cards with brown paper envelopes. You can choose five of the arrow variety or just one in a multipack with some other also pretty illustrations. Perfect for the top five ladies in your girl group.

- Cathleen

[Spotted first on Kait's Pinterest page. Good eye, Kait!]