[Music Monday] James Vincent McMorrow

I am loving this chilled out folk-infused music that is so popular right now. Bon Iver, Avett Brothers, Band of Horses, Best Coast. It's just so lovely to listen to on Sunday evenings with a book and a cup of tea. It reminds me to slow down and appreciate the small parts of music that you usually can't hear when you're wasted in a club dancing your ass off (though I have no problem with that brand of musical expression either).

James Vincent McMorrow is my newest discovery in this genre, and I just can't get enough.

[Things We Adore Sunday]

1. Nerve's Talking to Strangers. I can never get enough of these articles. I feel like it's such a cool mini-introspective into each city.

Photo via Nerve

2. The Hipmunk travel blog. Lots of vital travel news and cute tidbits. I'm planning my next trip as I type this. Hipmunk is a new travel search site, like kayak or bing travel. 

3. Pretty summer sandals like these. I'm so excited to get some and pair them with high-waisted denim shorts. 

via Need Supply

Via Kurt Geiger UK

4. Reese's Ice Cream. Oh, yeah.

[Girl Crush] Katrina Bowden

After learning that 30 Rock is probably entering its last season, I've been reminiscing over old episodes and feeling sorry for myself that my alter-ego, Liz Lemon, will be no more. But while Tina Fey gets lots of love, Katrina Bowden, who plays her assistant on the show, doesn't get enough of it. Until now: she was just voted Esquire's Hottest Woman Alive (2011 edition). The girl is hilarious and she keeps it classy (well, maybe not so much on the show or in this photo shoot, but, you know...). She's also only 22, so hopefully we'll be seeing more of her even if 30 Rock meets its end soon.

[Friday Link Round Up]

1. A fascinating article from W Magazine on three generations of British style: "For three generations, one London clan has had a front-row seat to the fashion revolution. Alexandra Marshall goes behind the seams with Joan and Sophie Hicks and Edie and Olympia Campbell."


2. The home office of artist Maira Kalman as featured by the WSJ.


3. Gorgeous feature on artist Camila de Resarie from Flowerchild Dwelling.


4. A collection of yummy cake recipes from The Pioneer Woman

[Green Thursdays] Green Links

Some green, DIY, sustainable links from around the web:

1. DIY decor from The Drifter and the Gypsy



2. Ecofriendly wedding and pregnancy articles by FitSugar



3. Self Magazine's Green Living Guide (This is a bit dated, but it's one of my favorite magazines :-) )

[Food + Drink Wednesdays] Give me S'More!

Yummy.

Source: onehotchildinthecity.blogspot.com via Amber on Pinterest

• 1/2 cup butter, room temperature
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 1/3 cups all purpose flour
• 3/4 cup graham cracker crumbs
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 2 king-sized milk chocolate bars (e.g. Hershey’s)
• 1 1/2 cups marshmallow creme/fluff (not melted marshmallows)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease an 8-inch square baking pan.
   
2. In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until light. Beat in egg and vanilla. In a small bowl, whisk together flour, graham cracker crumbs, baking powder and salt. Add to butter mixture and mix at a low speed until combined.
   
3. Divide dough in half and press half of dough into an even layer on the bottom of the prepared pan. Place chocolate bars over dough. 2 king-sized Hershey’s bars should fit perfectly side by side, but break the chocolate (if necessary) to get it to fit in a single layer no more than 1/4 inch thick. Spread chocolate with marshmallow creme or fluff. Place remaining dough in a single layer on top of the fluff (most easily achieved by flattening the dough into small shingles and laying them together).
4. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, until lightly browned. Cool completely before cutting into bars.

Makes 16 cookie bars.

Recipe originally featured here.

Source: picky-palate.com via Amber on Pinterest

S’mores Stuffed Chocolate Chip Cookies
2 sticks softened butter
1 Cup granulated sugar
3/4 Cup packed light brown sugar
2 eggs
1 Tablespoon vanilla
3 1/2 Cup all purpose flour
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 Cups semi sweet chocolate chips
24 graham cracker quarters or 12 full sheets separated at perforations
3 Hershey Bars, broken into rows of 3 bars
12 large marshmallows cut in half lengthwise
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. and line a large baking sheet with parchment or a silpat liner.
2. In a stand or electric mixer, beat the butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Add eggs and vanilla, continue to beat until well combined.
3. Place flour, salt and baking soda into a bowl; mix to combine then add slowly to wet ingredients along with the chocolate chips.
4. Layer a graham cracker quarter with 3 Hershey chocolate squares and 2 marshmallow halves. Close with another graham cracker. Top s’more with a large scoop of cookie dough. Place in hands and place another large scoop on bottom then front and back sides as needed. Form dough around s’mores. Will get messy, but stick with it, it does not have to be perfect. S’mores will move around but it’s no big deal. Place large cookies onto prepared baking sheet and bake for 15-17 minutes or until edges are golden and centers are cooked through. Let cool for 10 minutes before transferring to cooling rack or serving plate.
Makes 12 large stuffed cookies.

[Get Involved Tuesdays] CUESA

Photo via CUESA Website

Ever wonder who organizes the Ferry Building Farmer's Market or all those helpful recycling sheets inside of San Francisco offices? Why, CUESA, of course. CUESA stands for the Center for Urban Education and Sustainable Agriculture, and they organize everything from SF markets to classes on sustainable cooking, to beekeeping courses. They even have a handy seasonal eating guide on their website that helps you understand how your food got from a farm onto your plate.

It turns out they continually seek volunteers. So if you'd like to get involved in all the cool acts of political eating in and around the Bay Area, check out the CUESA Volunteer Page. They need people with skills ranging from photography to web design to administrative.

[Music Monday] Britney Spears - "How I Roll"

It is no secret that I love Britney Spears. Maybe it should be. Maybe I should keep that to myself. Whenever I talk about how much I adore Britney, I get the usual "But she doesn't write her own music" BS. I don't care. I don't care that she can't write music. Do you think that the actual songs that she chooses to take on are "good"? Hell no. They're good because Britney puts her flirty spin on them and they turn into bubbles and glitter. Bubbles and glitter, I tell you!

Anyway, my ultimate point is that I love this song off of her new album, called "How I Roll." This is the quintessence of bubbles and glitter and bubblegum and kittens, and it kind of makes me want to squeal. You go, girrrl.

[Travel Saturdays] Santa Cruz Memories

I just recently reunited with my DLSR, which was sadly sitting in my room at home while I was in London. I found the photos from when Carrie visited me in Santa Cruz in January. We had a day of coffee at Lulus, thrifting in downtown and beaching. A gorgeous day with a gorgeous lady :-) Excited to see her in a couple of weeks - love you girl!

[Friday Link Round-Up] Fresh Veggies, Olsen Twins, Photo and Design Blogs

1. EAT asparagus. It's just now coming in season, and it's cheap and delicious. I prefer to steam it myself with a little bit of mushrooms and some pasta, but that's just me. Check out these other suggestions for how to cook asparagus from because i'm addicted.

Photos via Martha Stewart

2. Check out this almost ridiculous blog dedicated to the Olsen twins. You love to hate them, but you also know you totally want their shoe collection.

3. I'm so into this photoblog this week. Love the inspiration and colors. Plus, the girl's so cute it's just kind of ridiculous.

Copyright Leanne Lim Walker

4. Check out this design blog, Design Me Daily. It's filled with photos and design ideas and sumptuous saturated colors. I can't complain. 

Photo Copyright Justin Carrasquillo

5. Have a wonderful, sunny spring weekend!

much love, 

Carrie Melissa