big sky

{see the winter version HERE)

the end.

excuses, excuses

after spending last week here:

and then spending this week childless,

with my favorite person,

eating at all our favorite restaurants,

my blog is feeling a little left out.

no worries blog, I'll be back soon.

don't forget to enter the giveaway!

you can find me blogging over at SEI all week!

do yourself a favor and go eat here.

artist spotlight: the barbershop!

So excited for our artist spotlight today!

Meet Amie Barber from The Barbershop!

How long have you been painting? How did you get started?

I painted and dabbled in art when I was younger and growing up. I was always doodling and sketching when I should have been paying attention in class, but really didn't start painting until August 2009, when my boyfriend's brother & sis-in-law (who also happens to be one of my dearest friends) gave me a watercolor set for my birthday. The first thing I ever painted was the 'whale love' watercolor, and the rest is history. I haven't put the brush down since! Ironically, that first painting is still on of my favorites.

What is your favorite thing in your shop?

Right now, my favorite is actually the Whale Love print, and I'm also very fond of The Dahlias & The Mountain Goat. I'm working on finishing a few other paintings incorporating those bright dahlias in different colors and with different animals (I've got 3 more in the works) and I predict that this series will be my new favorite. They really speaks to what I love to create - they are the result of just sketching and creating without a goal or design in mind, and I like that.

What are your other hobbies?

I'm a huge outdoor person. I love hiking, backpacking, skiing and hanging at the beach. I'm training for my first 5K and plan on doing a race monthly to keep me on track. I love to exercise and stay fit - I played soccer for 13 years (all the way through high school) on both my school team and a club team. I enjoy cooking, baking, cleaning (yes! It's true. I love to clean) and spending time with my family & friends. I also love impromptu picnics, my kittie and my bf of nearly 6 years...we are one happy family. Oh, and also - I love to travel. If I could quit my day job and travel the world I would do it in a heartbeat. I want to see everywhere and climb every mountain!

my favorite....so cute:) rain catcher.

What do you listen to while creating?

Strangely enough, I am usually sketching while the TV is on, mostly sports (Grant usually controls the remote), but often it's silly shows like The Office or Seinfeld. When it's off, I find that I can get loads more done, and I enjoy listening to Bob Marley, The Beatles, Sade, and the like. I'm also a huge Frosty Heidi & Frank (talk radio on 790KABC) fan and listen to them via podcast while painting as well.

live what you love.

Because I am a food lover....what is your favorite thing to eat?

Well....I'm a food junkie. I eat practically everything in sight. I have an affinity for chocolate cake and sweets, but my favorite thing to eat would probably be Mexican food - cheese enchiladas, chile rellenos and refried beans. I could live on refried beans. I don't eat too much meat, but my parents make the most delicious tri-tip steak that I swoon for, and I'll lick a guacamole bowl clean if you give me the chance. Oh, I'm getting hungry just thinking about all of this!

clouds coming.

Amy is giving away a print of your choice!! Be sure to check out The Barbershop--and leave a comment with your favorite print for a chance to win!

One winner will be chosen at random, and comments will be accepted until Sunday, 7/18 at midnight, and the winner will be announced Monday.

Tell your friends--tweet/facebook/or blog and come back for an extra entry for each!

(if you don't have a blog, please leave an email address)

Also take a little peek at her adorable blog!

bonus: Because Amie is amazing, she is currently donating all of her proceeds (less etsy fees, etc) to The National Audubon Society & the National Wildlife Federation to help the gulf coast. So pick up a few cute prints, and help out a good cause at the same time!

double bonus: Amie is also offering all my favorite blog readers a special offer: buy any 8x10 print, she'll throw in a 5x7 of your choice! All YOU have to do is write "the little red house" and the print of your choice in the comments to seller and that 5x7 print is free! Offer available through July.

CLOSED

eight.

look at those dorks.

I love dorks.

I love us.

8 years ago today, we became "us"

eight years.

whoa.

psssst....

I am guest posting over at SEI this week......all week! Check it out here!

hello.....

I am here:

and having so much fun.....see you soon!

happy weekend!

Strawberry and Vanilla Bean Ice Cream

Why have I never made ice cream??

I couldn't believe

1)how easy it was

and

2) how insanely delicious it was.

I decided I would make it every week....and then I reminded myself that ice cream is probably the absolute worst thing for you.

cream.

sugar.

eggs.

mmmm.......isn't that the best combination?

And we licked the ice cream maker clean.

Soooo maybe just once a month.....

Strawberry and Vanilla Bean Ice Cream

recipe from Tartelette

8 egg yolks
2 cups + 4 TBS sugar
4 cups half and half
1 vanilla bean, split open and scraped
2 cup strawberries, hulled and diced

In a large bowl, whisk the egg yolks and two cups of sugar until pale and thick. In a saucepan set over medium heat, bring the half and half and vanilla bean to a simmer, without letting it come to a full boil. Slowly pour the hot cream over the egg yolks mixture while whisking to temper the egg yolks. Pour the whole mixture back into the saucepan and cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until the cream coats the back of spoon. It should register 170F on a candy thermometer. Let cool completely, strain and refrigerate until cold. While the custard cooling, prepare the strawberries. Place the diced strawberries and the remaining measurement of sugar into a small heavy saucepan over medium heat and cook just long enough for the strawberries to soften and to release some juice. Remove from the heat and let cool. Once both the fruit and the custard are cold, add them to your ice cream maker and follow the manufacture's instructions.

mmm....

enjoy!

backyard picnic

so easy. so good.

the burger:

whole wheat bun, toasted

grass fed beef, grilled

fresh sliced mozzarella (put on the last few minutes of grilling)

fresh tomato slices

your favorite greens

fresh basil

herbed mayo (light mayo+fresh oregano, thyme, chives + a splash of basalmic

the fries:

sliced potatoes + olive oil + salt & pepper wrapped in foil and thrown on the grill

the farmer's market finds:

peas

cherries

cantaloupe

fresh flowers, lemon icewater, and adorable children are optional.

enjoy!

tayler and nate

blogged over here

over the weekend....

What a weekend!

There was the farmers market.

cherries.

peas.

melons.

greens as far as the eye could see.

[scary] clowns.

we met Lee who told us everything about honey.

we LOVE honey.

There were backyard picnics.

sprinkler runs.

fireworks.

no shoes.

laaaaaaaate nights.

and sleeping in.

and you know there was good food (more on that to come)

Why did it have to end?

more to come!

linkel designs winner!

Rach H!! Please email Kelly at kellisima at hotmail dot com

And for those of you that missed it, make sure you check out Kelly's great shop--there's something there for everyone!

happy weekend!!!

Happy 4th of July.....we'll be enjoying our 3 day weekend.....hope you will too!

friday feet

7:00 Monday Evening

erin: playing with photo booth. I can't tell you how hard it was to take this picture. I'd like to thank my bruised knee for giving this picture some character.

sheena: 100° tball game. why does my ankle look swollen?

BLT Pizza

Robby loves BLT's.....LOVES them. I think if we had them every night for dinner, he would be ok with that. (although his true love is a BLAT--bacon, lettuce, avocado and tomato)

And you already know how I feel about pizza.....so I thought, why not combine the two!

I used prosciutto instead of bacon....I am not a bacon lover and the thought of it touching my precious pizza made me nervous.

I loved putting my lettuce right on top of my pizza (after it was cooked)

while Robby loved just eating it with his pizza. Either way....I think you'll like it!

BL(a)T Pizza

-your favorite crust recipe (I used the same as last time)

So same crust recipe as I have been using....but I found my new favorite way to cook it. I put it in the (oiled) pizza pan (one with tiny holes in it), brush some olive oil in it, and put it on the grill (medium heat) for 7-8 minutes, and then FLIP IT OVER (crust down, pan up) and let it grill for about 2 minutes. Then I put my toppings on and put it back on the grill (medium heat) until the cheese is nice and melty.

Toppings

-super thin layer of good quality tomato sauce

-juicy ripe tomatoes, seeded (cut the top off and give them a little squeeze so all the seeds come out. Otherwise you get too much tomato juice on your pizza.)

-very thinly sliced Prosciutto

-ripe avocado slices

-fresh sliced mozzarella cheese (smoked mozzarella would have been awesome!)

-baby greens, tossed with a squeeze of lemon and a drizzle of good olive oil, salt, pepper, and fresh chives

enjoy!