Real Weddings: Cat + David

Chenin Boutwell from Boutwell Studio (and blog Afternoon Delight) shot these amazing photos and has graciously shared them here today. Cat and David had a gorgeous wedding at the Trump National Golf Club in Rancho Palos Verdes. I am told by so many brides that they want a "casual but elegant" wedding. This one got it just right.

I always have to show the dress first. Will I ever tire of this shot? I think not.


Such a gorgeous image of Cat coming down the aisle.

Their boys participated in the sand ceremony to symbolize becoming a new family. These are the moments that make me love weddings!

Reception details. Love the little bird images. And have you noticed Chenin's logo on the pictures? How perfect.

I do love flowers and fashion, but this is my favorite shot of the day. Chenin--you are a rock star! Thank you so much for sharing your work. (more pictures here!)

week in review {july 05 edition}

This is so late...not a lot of blog reading happened during holiday prep/holiday celebrating/holiday clean-up and a wedding. I still haven't had time to sit down with my lovely Google Reader, but here's what I was loving early in the week. Maybe an extended version for next week!

Abby from Style Me Pretty planned such a fun week! A color palette contest, with tons of gorgeous reader created inspiration boards. What I loved? Seeing the inspiration shot, and then how it translates into a wedding.

I have got to get my ice cream maker going. I can't wait to try Chocolate & Zucchini's recipe for Pistachio Gelato.

A breathtaking wedding appeared this week...on the talented blogs from Michelle Engvall and Michele M. Waite. Everything was spectacular; the color combinations (turquoise and scarlet), the cylinders of koi, the fiery red chandelier, the vintage bike. Such great details!

Martha B. has us getting ready for Christmas already. I appreciate the inspiration because every year when December rolls around I wish that I had started earlier to do something new and crafty. This is the picture I keep coming back to. (Originally from: Yarn Market News. Photograph by: Rose Callahan)

Favorite Summer Entertaining #1

I realized the other day that I have a select little group of recipes that I really consider my "summer repertoire". I thought I'd share a few of them over the next few weeks. The common elements to them all? FAST and EASY (it's summer!) and delicious. Many are family heirlooms of sorts, including this one.

Created by my Uncle Harry, this steak marinade is one of those family classics that absolutely everyone in the family uses, and it's foolproof. There have been a few times that I've felt experimental and tried preparing flank steak another way (sorry Uncle Harry), but I ALWAYS come back. Now, I have several friends that swear by Uncle Harry too, though they've never met him. I'm sure that this recipe is all that I'll ever inherit from the dear man, and it's enough for me! (He and Aunt Francy also took me in one summer during college when I was doing an aquarium internship on the Washington peninsula. I was suffering from a broken heart--and moping around--AND I brought the most obnoxious love bird with me. Let's just say he owes me nothing!)

The best part of this recipe is that it's one of those cheater recipes--it actually tastes better with garlic and ginger powders from the can rather than the real thing (no stinky garlic hands!). It will take you four minutes tops to whip up. Let it sit overnight, and toss it on the grill the next day. Dee-lish.

Uncle Harry's Flank Steak

Note: Don't try this on other cuts of steak. It will work ok, but it won't be anything to write home about. You'll just think "Meh. What was she raving about?" Just get the flank steak. It's not a very expensive cut of meat anyway.

Whisk together:

3/4 cup vegetable or canola oil (not olive! it has a low smoke point)

3/4 cup soy sauce

4 tblsp. honey

1 tsp. ginger

1 1/2 tsp. garlic powder

Put a flank steak in a large ziplock bag, pour marinade over, and refrigerate for 24 hours. Then, grill it up (I happen to think that this should be a very brief process that simply stops the meat from mooing and no more, but do as you like) and cut into thin slices ACROSS the grain of the meat.

Oh, and picture from here. I just couldn't bring myself to take a picture of a steak. It will look like the one above, but don't expect to get a little bowl of fancy condiment sauce out of this recipe just because it's in the picture.

(#11) Just a glimpse...

of Nyla's take on my obsession! Isn't this shot amazing? If you're into faux deer and stag's heads and all.

Today I am grateful

for the independence that I enjoy. For being allowed to believe what I believe. For raising my children the way I think is right. For feeling the sun on my uncovered head. For the opportunity to have my own business. For simply having choices.

My deepest thanks to all who have made it possible.

Photo by Michael Luppino for Country Living.

Cannelle et Vanille

I just found Aran's BEAUTIFUL blog last week, and I've been dreaming about her food ever since. Now, I love cooking blogs, but this one takes the proverbial cake. She has the most gorgeous food photos I've ever seen, and she posts recipes for almost every one. I'm dreaming of the mint and chocolate, and am dying to try making tarragon ice cream. Just try to look at these without running to the kitchen for something yummy.

The shoes...

I'm so lucky. I have the most fashionable brides. And they notice ALL the details. So after I posted Kasey and Nick's wedding yesterday, a few requests popped up for more info about Kasey's shoes. Here they are, from J.Crew. (Thanks Lisa, for helping track them down!)

week in review (june 28 edition) II!

Somehow I missed these great chair posters that Erika from Urban Grace Interiors posted last week (available from Blue Art Studio). Maybe I love them because I've taken a million vision tests in the past few days with a little eye snafu going on in my life, and I wish I could look at chairs rather than another row of

P N E R X O D

(#10) Just a glimpse...

of some fun hats for the 4th, with directions here! From Country Living. And you still have time to whip a few of these up!

Real Weddings: Kasey + Nick

Jasmine Star recently shot Kasey and Nick's wedding while visiting our lovely state, and graciously agreed to share her beautiful images here. Gorgeous pink peonies, a Monique Lhuillier dress, rustic barn details, and fabulous photos. Is this the recipe for perfection? I think so.

Event design by Lisa Chambers of Chambers & Co. I haven't been able to track down who did the florals...but if you're reading and know, please drop me a note!

Check out more here and here. Also, Jasmine has a brand new website that is fun, funky, and full of inspiration. I love her spirit!