[Get Involved Tuesdays] Volunteer Abroad

Image via Projects Abroad in Thailand

I just found this website, GoAbroad.com, which I would have loved to know existed right after I graduated from college. Now, I'm sort of working full-time so I can't just take off to Peru tomorrow.

It's a shame, really.

There are opportunities from Thailand to Timbuktu. Actually, I didn't check on Timbuktu. Let me know.

[Music Monday] Cillo

Dude. Cillo takes legit songs (by my faves like Bon Iver, Metric, Passion Pit and MGMT) and makes them even more legit. No words, except I'm living it.
Cillo - Breathe (Vocal Mix) by Cillo
Bon Iver - Calgary (Cillo Remix) by Cillo
Passion Pit - Sleepyhead (Cillo Remix) by Cillo

[Things We Adore Sunday]

1. My Milk Toof. Nothing else exists to me at the present moment.

I MUST own the book.

2. Banana Cream Pie. I'm workin' hard to perfect it myself. May never get to Tartine levels, but I can try so many times that everyone I know and love is sick of taste-testing my prototypes.

Photo via The Selby

3. Yoga. It saved me last week as the stress mounted.

Image via Healthy Yoga

4. Gay Pride Week all over the world, and especially in San Francisco. This city is always open and fun, but this weekend has special significance. I had a great time celebrating openness and equality!

Okay, now back to dealing with the stress in concrete ways, like by making a cake.

[Friday Link Round-Up]

1. This Portabello Burger over at Design*Sponge. I'm kind of FREAKING OUT about it. Made by Green Kitchen Stories in Stockholm, but it includes a full recipe, which I fully intend to emulate. It's gluten-free too! If you're into that. Otherwise, just eat it on regular people bread.

via Design*Sponge

2. I'm finding the infographics over at Socialcast are actually helping me work better. Check them out for yourself.

3. It's Pride this weekend in San Francisco, and Pizzeria Delfina is celebrating with its own T-shirt for the Dyke March on Saturday. Loves it.

4. Heidi Montag is getting her own food show? Danielle from the Real Housewives of New Jersey is going to be on it? Gross. Barf. And yet... I might watch it anyway. Then barf. I'm hoping we can actually see a different side of these people, but something tells me they're pretty one-dimensional.

[Green Thursdays] Shark Fin Soup Ban

Shark Fins

Sen. Leland Yee (D-CA) promoting shark fin soup

Have you heard about "finning"? It's when fishermen go out into the ocean, catch a bunch of sharks, cut off their fins for human consumption, and then throw the sharks back in the water to die. Then they can the stuff or sell it fresh in markets. California, following Hawaii's lead, is now trying to ban a popular dish, shark fin soup, from being served in restaurants. Read more about the possible ban and the practice of finning and take a side.

[Food + Drink Wednesdays] Cupcakes and Cookies, Oh My!

It's funny because the minute I attempt to eat healthier, I start craving the most deliciously fatty and indulgent things. I just have to do everything in moderation... so I'll have just one of everything, please.

Chocolate Coconut Bars from Martha Stewart

Source: marthastewart.com via Amber on Pinterest

Champagne Cupcakes with Champagne Buttercream Frosting (perfect to celebrate the end of finals!) from The Curvy Carrot

Source: thecurvycarrot.com via Amber on Pinterest

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Stuffed Cupcakes from The Girl Who Ate Everything

Source: the-girl-who-ate-everything.com via Amber on Pinterest

And the motherlode: Snickers Caramel Cheesecake Cookies from Picky Palate

Source: picky-palate.com via Amber on Pinterest

[Get Involved Tuesdays] Rally Around the Underground Market

Photo via High/Low Food/Drink

If you're in San Francisco, I'm sure you heard about the cease and desist delivered to the Underground Market at Public Works two weeks ago.

Well, now, the founder is encouraging the 50,000-something fans and vendors to act in order to keep the market going!

Check out the e-mail from the founder, Iso Rabins, and read all about the many vendors who have gotten a start at the market and all the creativity that has come out of these foodie-centered events. Then follow his suggestions at the end in order to support the market's continued existence. Food to the people!

[Music Monday] Bon Iver Cover Songs Galore

Photo via RCRD LBL

I just found a whole cache of Bon Iver cover songs. As in, amazing songs that he's covered to make them even more amazing. So now I basically have my playlist set for the rest of the day. If you see me moping around and talking about how beautiful the earth's emptiness is, it's because I've been listening to this all day.

Download all the goods via Stereogum.

The newest album drops tomorrow. You can find it here. Get the LP and a poster for $15? Count me in.

In the meantime, listen to this beautiful Bonnie Raitt cover, "I Can't Make You Love Me".
02 I Can't Make You Love Me by carriemelissajones

[Things We Adore Sunday] FP Swim, Florence and the Beatles, Coffee (duh), and Alice Gao

1. These overpriced but amazing swimsuits from Free People. I'm debating committing, but I love committing, so whoops. On the bright side, swimsuits are way easier to fit in a suitcase than the four new pairs of shoes I've bought in the last couple of weeks.

2. This cover of The Beatles' classic "My Darling" by Florence Welch of Florence and Machine. This is gold. I repeat, this is gold.

3. Wine clubs, coffee clubs and cheese clubs. Can I join them all? No, like seriously.

4. Alice Gao's photography via elephantine - I want to live in this photos. But maybe I'll purchase a few of her prints to live in my apartment instead.

May Goal Update - Amber

Despite the incredible awfulness that has been finals, I am proud to announce that I too have followed through with my goals! And accomplished quite a few other things in the meantime.

As far as new things in the last four weeks:
A. I saw a ballet at Sadler Wells
B. Went to the Experimental Cocktail Bar in Soho that the girls and I have been talking about for months.

C. Finally did the St. Pauls and South Bank Walk with Leiley complete with sweets from Miss Simms.

D. I bought a pair of Kurt Geiger shoes, which now officially makes me a Londoner.

Other new things: Eaten al fresco (yeah, this was definitely new with the improved weather in London,) eaten ice cream (again the weather has finally allowed it,) and finally taken photos of my neighborhood since I'm moving soon - sadness.

New things planned: the walk from Regent's Park to see the rose gardens and through the canals to Camden. Also, my roommate Seda is coming for a visit and I just booked our ticket to Bath, which I have been meaning to visit this entire year. In addition, the girls and I are planning on hitting up The Mayfair Club, which is where the royals have been rumored to hang out. (Plus, IBIZA!)

Less related new developments: Seda and I found an apartment, so that is a relief for sure. Although apartment hunting and choosing was nerve-wracking from across the world, Seda was absolutely amazing. I've finished all my law school paperwork and decision-making, so J.D. here I come! In addition, I've sorted out apartment furniture, summer plans, which includes birthdays, a wedding, house-warming, a trip to Portland/SF and maybe even a cruise to Mexico :-)

As far as my other goals, I've been pretty good with posting on BohoBeat, but my personal blog certainly needs some attention, so I need to refocus on that once I'm done with finals on Tuesday. I'm counting down the hours.

I think I am most proud of my gym routine. I have been going almost everyday (minus three days in the last month), upped my mileage for the half-marathon goal, and increased stamina and strength, despite an ankle injury.

I have to say that I am so proud of Carrie and I and I really like that we have been working on these goals together. Love you Care-Bear (and I am so so so so excited for our trip to Portland!

xoxo

May Goal Update

Remember this post? Well, it's been a month, dear readers. We thought we'd let you know how we fared. SPOILER ALERT: Extremely well.

Carrie:
I've made more progress this month than I ever could have imagined. Not only did I perfect my pie crust recipe, but I got a blog going, received my first order (fulfilled, with a happy customer and word-of-mouth referrals to boot!), received my second order, have experimented with many new recipes, and have begun getting to know other food bloggers. I also worked at the Underground Market in San Francisco and now all my co-workers know me as "the girl who bakes". I'm even taking on a giant work bake sale next month! So, yes, I accomplished my goal... but I did even more than I had set out to do. Just setting my intentions in the right place and having concrete benchmarks to reach made it happen.

Here's an idea of what I've been working on:

Pecan Cookies

Success! Mini Pecan Pie 

Pie Success + View from My SF Kitchen

My All-Local Ingredients

Epic Fail, but still yummy

My Logo

Learn more about my project on my blog: www.southxsanfrancisco.com

[Friday Link Round-Up] Father's Day, Blog Marketing, Japanese Cheesecake, Kris Atomic

1. Such a cute little Father's Day idea. I, for one, am making my dad sugar-free chocolate chip cookies.

2. I'm loving the "21 Days to a Better Business Blog" Challenge on Blogging for Branding. 

3. I've never heard of Japanese cheesecake before, but you better believe I'm going to try it now. It looks so much lighter than American cheesecake, which I find cloyingly sweet and dense. Cheers to Green Cilantro for the recipe. 

4. I found a new favorite blogger and illustrator this week, Kris Atomic. Her work is so adorable and relatable. If I ever wrote a children's book, you better BELIEVE I'd be contacting her to illustrate it. Hmmm, new life plan? Hahah, I'm scatterbrained enough as it is without a book on my plate...

[Green Thursdays] Eco Decor: Mason Jar Lanterns

Check out this tutorial on making lanterns out of mason jars. Such a pretty idea for summer.

Find all the details at Chez Beeper Bebe

[Food + Drink Wednesdays] Frozen Treats to Try...

When I'm back in the sweltering weather of California - can't wait!

Blueberry Lavender Ice Cream from Country Living - They have some other great options too: Raspberry cheesecake ice cream, Campari and Watermelon Granitas, etc.

Source: countryliving.com via Amber on Pinterest

Strawberry Balsamic Goat Cheese Ice Cream from Juniper Moon Farm

Source: fiberfarm.com via Amber on Pinterest

Chocolate Mint Icebox Dessert from Inside the Kaganoff Kitchen

Source: insidethekaganoffkitchen.com via Amber on Pinterest

Snickerdoodle Cookie Sandwich with Pumpkin Ice Cream from PenniesOnAPlatter.

Source: penniesonaplatter.com via Amber on Pinterest

[Music Monday] Skrillex - Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites

via Jillboard

I have to tell you, I've been listening to a TON of Skrillex lately. It's just angry enough and just dancey enough to fit my exact frenzied state of mind for the last two weeks. Also great to listen to while anger-baking bread (what? you don't do that?). I'm sure that's not the sort of purpose this music was intended for, so I also listen to it while I'm getting ready to go out on Friday nights, and I hope to catch him when he's on tour this summer. He'll be in LA on August 6, which may require me to fly down there for an extra special dance party. If ya must know.

07 Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites (Noisia Remix) by carriemelissajones

[Things We Adore Sunday] Some of the Best Things Ever

1. Karen Elson and Jack White are getting divorced and they want to celebrate it. Amazing. Check out the invite below.

2. These legit chairs and home accessories found via sfgirlbythebay.

3. This iPhone case/clutch by Case-Mate (via Refinery29)

4. My new fave Thought Catalog essay on the Five Things We Should Stop Saying. I'm pretty sure I say them all, lol.

5. This outfit from miss clash.

6. This chestnut bun tutorial via Cup of Jo.

7. The Ruche look book. I don't even need to say anything. Well, actually I do need to say I want the pink skirt.

[Friday Link Round Up] Child Brides, Dresses, Salads, and YouTube

1. Please read this amazing article on child brides from National Geographic. I would have liked interviews with the husbands, but still a fascinating read.

2. Refinery29 showcases the best summer dresses for under $100. I should have paged through this before buying two pairs of unwearable heels.

3. Yes salad season! Check out Shutterbean's amazing collection of recipes here.

4. Interesting guide from Corporette on skirt lengths. Agh. I'm going to have to start thinking about these things.

5. Also just watch this. So entertaining.