Just in Case

Just in case you're having one of those "impossible Mondays," or even worse, an impossible week, here's a little gem to help keep it all in perspective.

We've all been there, we've all had those days. Or worse, those weeks. Or those months. Or years. It's almost as inspirational as this - almost.

Berry Good

Cooking: it never gets old (well, at least for me it doesn't). Experimentation is a constant, exciting adventure. Flavors I never would have thought to combine can actually be complimentary, and it's an exciting inspiration when I'm in the kitchen. Since lavender has continued to gain popularity in recipes (being used for culinary flavor instead of being used solely for fragrance), I've tried to use more herbs outside of their 'original purpose comfort zone'.

Blackberries are in season here at the moment, so I've been picking them at every chance I get. I munch them on their own or in some greek yogurt with a drizzle of honey. Yesterday, sitting on the kitchen windowsill there were five basil plants, so I thought, What the heck, and tossed a few leaves into my yogurt and berry snack. What a yummy flavor pairing! This isn't the first time I've had a basil-and-fruit epiphany; remember my recipe for Pineapple Basil Granita? That one was a favorite. 

It's so fun to continue to incorporate basil into my cooking, outside of traditional savory recipes. Another favorite summer snack with an unexpected spiced twist is watermelon sprinkled with chai tea masala. (I buy this brand, or pick up a spice mixture from a local Middle Eastern grocery store).

Have any tips on unexpected herbal or spice flavor pairings? Comment and let me know so I can give it a try, too!

Iced Over

So, as some of my instagram followers may or may not know, I was surprised with the wedding gift to end all wedding gifts: a Cuisinart ice cream maker. And guess what??? It arrived early, and I'm taking it home with me for the weekend. Pinterest has been providing an overwhelming amount of flavor inspiration, and I just can't decide what to make first! (I think I'm going to need to buy a second freezer.) Any suggestions? Anyone want to be my official taste tester? :)

Semi Sunny Skies

This is the Bronx River. As in, this beautiful fallscape is in the Bronx. The Bronx.

The perfect example of beauty in unexpected places. A little pick-me-up for this grey Thursday. 

Tomorrow, tomorrow,

I love ya, tomorrow, 

You're only a day away. 

Treasures

When I was a young Girl Scout I heard the phrase, "take nothing but pictures; leave nothing but footprints". 

Well, I still have carry the picture-taking part with me, but I don't think it's too bad to have snatched up a few pretty shells from the beach. 

These are just a few of the treasures I brought home with me from this past weekend (seaweed excluded) and I really want to think of a fun crafty project use for them. 

Word of the Week

Curiosity. 

I was such a curious child. Always exploring, always roaming, always wondering. 

Spending time with my family this weekend really made me stop and really appreciate the curiosity that children have for the world and everything in it. 

I want to try to embody that word this week; I want to be curious again. Abandon doubt. Chase a butterfly. 

Live for now. 

Wordspiration

This simple, undecorated script on the side of a construction site caught my eye today. Love. That's it. One word. Endless possibilities. 

<3 feel the love 

After the Rain

This extreme heat has given way to several torrential downpours in the past week. Sometimes they catch you when you least expect it, and you don't have an umbrella or chance to duck under shelter. You're drenched, sticky, inconvenienced, and frustrated for a few moments...

But afterwards, the air is cooler, less humid, and the sky glows with a grey and yellow radiance that you can only have after a storm as the sun peeks through a crack in the dark clouds. 

And sometimes, if you're lucky, you see the rainbow at the end. 

This is just what happened to me the other day, and I found it to be so inspirational and a reminder that there can always be a rainbow after a storm, no matter if its literal or metaphorical for things that pop up in day to day life. 

Look for your rainbow at the end. 

Bold and Bright

This week has really heightened my excitement for warm days to be here again. I feel inspired, refreshed, and full of life. At Indigo (a fabric print show in NYC), I saw some amazing bold prints and incredible embellishment that I can't wait to use as inspiration for my current projects, both at my day job and for shopdisowned.com. I have spent lunch breaks soaking up rays in Bryant Park, and wandering around some trim shops looking for amazing new materials, like a perforated transparent neon PU at Elegant Fabrics. Time to get creative!