friday love

This week somehow slipped away so quickly.....and I am ok with it....enough with this snow already!! But there were still so many things to love....

....like sleeping in this morning! Because....why not. Although we weren't really sleeping--all four of us in one bed until 8:00, with eyes being poked and hair being pulled.....but 8:00!!

I'll still take it.

You know I love a simple recipe!

Roasted New Potatoes

toss new potatoes with:

-5-6 cloves of garlic

-olive oil

-coarse salt and cracked pepper

roast at 425° for 40-50 minutes

when they come out of the oven:

-drizzle with a bit more olive oil

-add a handful of chopped basil

-throw in a handful of grated parmesan cheese

toss, and enjoy!

I LOVE to take pictures of people!! In a few weeks we are headed to the Sacramento area, and I would love to take pictures of YOU!!

I have ONE slot left for a couples session Saturday May 22 (in the morning!)

Email me sheenajibsonphotography at gmail for package info!

Speaking of photos.....I am in love with this session by Jose Villa. Isn't it the cutest thing you have ever seen??!! Don't you want to be them?? See the rest of the session HERE

I LOVE Giada!!! And I am drooling over her new line at Target! Have you seen it??

I love open shelving (see more awesome ideas here)

I was so inspired by these I think we are going to be adding some new shelves to our teeny tiny kitchen soon (yay!)....if it could only please stop raining so I could get out and paint!

If you have been following my blogs for a while, then you have already seen this, but we have been listening to the song this week so I thought I'd share the video again too!

Last month I introduced you to our little team, Iris and Light. We offer up photos + videos....and it is so much fun!! Last March (2009) we got together to share ideas and...well....basically play. This is what happened when we got together. This is our first film ever--we shoved as many "props" as we could into our car, made a quick thrift store stop for random supplies, and headed out to the (freeeeeezing!) Salt Flats!

And a few weeks back when we were down in California, we did another film--which will be coming to monitors near you soon.... and I am SOOOO excited to share it with you!! (I'll let you know the very second it comes out!). no pressure ryan, but now you have people waiting:)

So here you go--to prep you for our next film coming soon. The song is "You make me like it" by the 1990s, and it is starring....well...you will see.

Happy Weekend!!!

What did YOU love about this week?

chocolate chip coconut cookies

2 sticks of butter (1c), at room temp

1/2 c white sugar

1 1/2 c brown sugar

2 eggs

2 tsp vanilla

3 c all purpose flour

1 1/2 tsp baking soda

3/4 tsp salt

3 cups shredded sweetened coconut

1 lb chocolate chips/chunks

Cream the butter and the sugars until light. Scrape down the side of the bowl. Continue mixing while adding the eggs one at time. Make sure each egg is incorporated before adding the next. Add the vanilla. Scrape down the bowl with a spatula. Combine the flour, soda and salt in another bowl. With a whisk, stir to combine. With the machine on low, slowly add the flour. Mix until just combined, taking care not to over mix.

With a spatula fold in the chocolate and coconut

Drop by spoonful onto parchment lined cookie sheet.

Bake at 350° for 11-13 minutes. They should be lightly golden on the outside but still look gooey on the inside.

you can thank me later....enjoy!

*note: these aren't overly coconutty.....just a nice hint of coconut flavor, and they have the BEST chewy texture!!

senses of spring

I see new life.

Everywhere. Blossoms on the treetops, blowing through the air, and scattered on the ground.

I hear the birds.

Each morning before the sun comes up.

"It's spring" they say.

I taste.....everything!

The freshness of spring fruits and veggies (waking up my tongue!) that I have waited all winter for.

It's perfect.

I smell the sweetness of the flowers that can be found on every corner.

I feel warmth. A breeze (or gust!). Rain. And then sunshine again.

I wish it would last forever.

chile and lime veggie bowls

These are so so good!

We've had them a few times since I first found the recipe in my Better Homes and Gardens Magazine.

Chile and Lime Veggie Bowls

adapted from BHG

1 Tbsp. soy sauce
1 Tbsp. lime juice
1 tsp. chili powder
1 tsp. fresh oregano, snipped, or 1/2 tsp. dried oregano, crushed
1 tsp. olive oil
2 medium sweet potatos, peeled and cut in 1-inch cubes
1 15-oz. can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 cup cherry or grape tomatoes, halved

1 cup shelled edamame
1 medium avocado, halved, seeded, peeled, and chopped
large cabbage leaves
1/4 cup thinly sliced green onions
lime wedges (optional)

directions
1. Make Dressing; set aside (if you can make this the day before....DO!! It has so much more flavor!)

Yogurt-Lime Dressing

In small bowl combine 1/2 cup plain low-fat yogurt, 2 TBS lime juice, 1 TBS soy sauce, 1 TBS chili powder, and 1 clove minced garlic, 2 TBS chopped cilantro, 1TBS chopped chives. Whisk in 1/4 cup olive oil until well combined.

2. In small bowl stir together soy sauce, lime juice, chili powder, oregano, and olive oil; add diced sweet potatoes and toss to coat. Roast at 425° for 30-40 minutes until done.

3. Divide potatoes, beans, tomatoes, edamame, and avocado among cabbage leaves. Sprinkle with green onions.

Drizzle veggies with dressing, and enjoy!

(we found it easiest to fold them up and eat them like tacos:)

over the weekend

friday love

It's Friday!!! I loved this week!!

As much as I loved the warm sunshiny beginning, I didn't mind the rain so much these past few days....especially while baking bread.

Honey Whole Wheat Bread

adapted from this recipe (yes, I alter my own recipes....just upped the wheat flour this time)

1 1/2 c warm water
1 (.25 ounce) package active dry yeast
1/3 c honey
2c all purpose flour
2 TBS butter, melted
1/2 TBS salt
2 1/4 c whole wheat flour
1/4c ground flax seed

Mix water, yeast, and honey. Let sit for 20 minutes.
Add to bread machine (Yes, I'm a cheater)
Add remaining ingredients.
Use "dough" setting.

Take out of bread machine and let rise once more.

brush with olive oil and sprinkle with oats.
Bake at 375° for 40 minutes.

We loved getting our hands dirty and planting some pots for inside (still a few more weeks until we can put our garden in, darn spring weather.)

I loved this kitchen/dining room (forgot about this photo from our SD trip) If it were my kitchen, I would love a few modern conveniences, (I suppose), but I LOVE the table, high ceilings, and the copper pots on the wall!

I love spending time with amazing friends. You know, the kind who stay up waaaaaay too late and get way too silly and give you private light shows and share inside joke. Those friends are the best.

Speaking of those good friends, please be sure to check out Cara's new blog. She's blogging about her adventures in only eating things that she makes from scratch (with a small grocery list of things she is "allowed" to buy at the store and farmers market.)

And one more blog that I am so happy I found, Bobbie Rounds the World, about circumnavigating the world by boat: 24,000 miles in 24 months. The very thought of it FREAKS me out, so I will just enjoy her photos and wish I were even a bit that cool. Check it out!

And....our song for the week has been THE most requested song by my kids this week. Why do I think it's so funny to hear them sing it?? These two are brilliant.

What did you love about this week?

Happy Weekend!!!

friday feet

erin: watching aaron watch the massive surf roll in.

sheena: wormy (to add to our compost) feet.

earth day

unplug and enjoy it:)

it rained. and rained. and rained.

random thoughts on thrifting

Scenes like this make my heart pitter patter.

Garage sales and outdoor markets are starting up for the year and I am soooooooooo...

...ooooooo excited.

(your welcome coca cola for the free ad)

I seriously think I have issues. There are a few things that I cannot pass up buying, and old books is one of them. Do I need them?? no. Do I HAVE to have them because they are 50¢....YES!

-The Running of the Tide: I bought it because it was in good shape, a good color, and I am still obsessing over that font!

-The Yellow Boat. It is adorable. They boy loved reading it, and I loved the cute illustrations.

-Cowboy Tommy. (1933!!) It is so cute. And so politically incorrect it's hilarious (right now we're at the part where Tommy meets the Indian family:)

-What Will We Eat Today? I collect old cookbooks. And I loved the lady on the front.

Roy Rogers. uhhh....ok I bought it for the sole purpose that is was cute.

You guys. What if I become a hoarder??

Someone call Oprah.

But I have no regrets after buying this little red chair to go with the boy's (previously thrifted) little blue desk. (although I do regret not making his bed before I took this photo, whoops, and 3 years later I am still terribly regretting that sickening paint color....)

So, in conclusion:

1. I get really excited when I see junk out in peoples yards.

2. I may or may not become a hoarder someday, because I can't say no to cheap adorable books (really though, when do I stop....I will not just pass them up...do I sell them?? my mom just laughed at that)

3. The boy's room. Cute chair, vomit inducing walls.

the end.

a simple snack

avocado on toast.

This is one of our favorite snacks.

aaaaannnnd....it's easy. healthy. and super quick!

It took 4 minutes and 16 seconds to be exact.

yes.

I timed it.

I wanted actual proof that it takes no time at all to have a healthy snack.

What you'll need:

-a good slice of whole grain bread, toasted

-ripe avocado

-salt and pepper

-a good magazine to read while you enjoy.

enjoy!

Dear Charly,

Today you are 1....er........oneish.

If I were the best mother in the world, I would dig out your papers and figure out exactly when your birthday is....but I guess I am not the best mother...

but let's face it, you haven't exactly been the best puppy, have you....

If I recall correctly, you have eaten:

-the siding off the garage

-every chew toy I have ever given you

-the cable for our tv (which you first yanked out of the house from the outside)

-the toggle off my boot

-scented candles

-various toys/balls/helpless stuffed animals

-the pickets off the backyard fence

-a half loaf of this bread

-a pound of really good thinly sliced turkey breast

-according to evidence I'm finding in the yard, an assortment of crayons

-the underneath of our bar-b-que

-one giant bush

-the insulation and wiring on the ac unit

.....you've made yourself a pretty good list.

but.

The kids love you.

"Charly, come protect us from the hornets!!", they say.

I've started to whip you into shape so you can run with me--you're at two miles and not hating the leash so much....I can't wait until we can go further!

You have pulled Robby around the entire neighborhood on his long board and I know that both of you have loved every second.

So here is to a better second year. A MUCH better year....what do you say?

You watch what you eat, and I promise to stop saying

"we should have got a cat".

deal?

listed!

some springy new prints added to the shop!

this one is my favorite:)

over the weekend....

....we ate.

and ate.

and ate.

did a little thrifting.

and ate some more.

it was wonderful.

Just days after we left the Southwell home, they couldn't handle life without us, and came up to play for another weekend!

Places you simply must check out (soon!)

Rooster in Provo (thanks brutschs:)

Our favorite pizza

these cookies + coconut

Dolcetti Gelato

Happy Sumo

and last, but certainly not least, Caputos Market and Deli in downtown Salt Lake.

I don't even know where to start.

Maybe with the fact that we spent around two hours there....eating lunch, browsing, sampling--oh and learning about the differences in cocoa beans around the world....I LOVED it!!

We got to sample a few different bars--I ended up bringing home this one.

oh cheese.

cocoa powders, olive oils, vinegars.......we learned about, and sampled everything!

Tony Caputo, whoever you are, I love you.

Caputos

314 W 300 S

Salt Lake City

lauren and ben

blogged over here!

friday feet

erin: our very own marked parking spot. yeah us!

sheena: movie making feet (film coming soon!)

baked kale chips

I know what you're thinking.....but just stop.

kale? chips!??

these are soooooo good.

I didn't make enough.

They were gone before dinner.

Go get yourself some kale right now (I'm assuming you don't just keep in on hand)

Baked Kale Chips

recipe adapted from Roost Blog

-1 bunch of kale (or more---I promise it goes fast!!) rinsed, dried, bottom (thickest part) of the stems cut off.

-olive oil

-lemon zest (a few tsp-ish)

-coarse salt and cracked pepper

Cut (or tear) kale into smaller, bite sized pieces.

toss with olive oil, lemon zest, and s&p

spread onto lined baking sheet and bake at 250° 30-35 minutes, or until light and crisp.

enjoy!!

psssst!

did you take the tv poll on the left side over there?? thanks!

springing

kind of a ghost story, but mostly just looking at a cool old house

please excuse the photos....they are taken through glass....

While in Old Town San Diego, we decided to tour the Historical Whaley House.

Reason 1: it's haunted. I'm not sure if it's haunted, or "haunted", but it's been on Ghost Hunters and everything! Still not sure if I believe it (would you?), but they had story after story to back it up.

Reason 2: I love museums. It's true. As kids, every vacation we took we always ended up in some type of museum--they are my dad's favorite place. I guess that it kind of rubbed off on me.

Reason 3: Old House. I love old houses! I love old things! I had to see it.

So mostly I was there for the old house part, and if we saw a ghost or two....bonus!

I LOVED the house.

How cute is this kitchen?? AMAZING!!

I loved the simplicity of every room. There wasn't stuff crammed everywhere. Now I realize that no one actually LIVES here (except for the alleged ghosts), but I really do believe that we all live so spoiled and have WAY too much stuff.

Although I will say that I am not a fan of the giant portraits in every room. The adults always looked ok, but the children looked like tiny men with wigs and children's clothing on.

So that was that. We spent a good amount of time in there--pretending it was our house, and I was wishing I could take, I mean buy, a few souvenirs. We might have laughed a little bit at the "ghosts", and Robby may or may not have wanted to take some long exposure photos of himself writing scary ghost messages with his phone.

So we left, with a dream of an 1860s home, and still not believing in ghosts.

That is, until.....

dun dun DUN!!!

We snapped this picture on the beach and it appears that a ghost made it's way into our photo and has taken over Robby's body. And what is that mysterious orb in the upper left corner????

Are you afraid?? Do ghost stories scare you?? Do you think we are cursed?