Winding Ruffles & Sticky Teaspoons

When I have family visit, there is an abundant quantity of home cooked meals and my fridge is fully stocked. I can barely fit into my pants by the end of the week, but it’s comforting to eat forgotten favorites and help out with the cooking, especially when there are a few pairs of hands for cleaning up. Two of our favorite recipes this visit included Fettuccine Alfredo and Cookie Dough Brownies. I used to think it was way too sweet to eat cookie dough (minus the egg of course) on top of a brownie, but I can safely say that my taste buds have adjusted.

<Cookie dough brownie, the final product…so good>

Recipe for Top Secret Fettuccine:

16 oz. Fettuccine pasta

3/4 cup butter

3 gloves of garlic minced

1 1/2 cups heavy cream

1 cup fresh parmesan cheese

1 teaspoon cornstarch

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1/3 cup fresh parsely

Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Cook pasta until done. Melt butter in a large saucepan, add garlic; cook and stir 2-3.

Add cream, salt, pepper. Heat, until steam rises. Toss cheese with cornstarch and add to sauce along with lemon juice. Stir constantly until sauce blends and it is creamy. When pasta is done, drain and add sauce, toss until pasta nis coated. Sprinkle with parsely and serve. Enjoy!

<Lemon Bird homemade jams…yum>

The main thing I love about craft fairs (even though this was my first besides going to local flea markets) is the specialization. Local artists focus on the one thing they are good at making whether it be personalized stationary sets, desert gardens in a bowl, or, my personal favorite, feather earrings. I made sure to be one of the first customers at the Renegade Craft Fair this weekend in a park neighborhoring China Town. The fair is only in its second year, but the quality of vendors and product is amazing. I spent the day trying homemade jams from Lemon Bird (loved the strawberry lemon basil), shopped for clothing at sabo, and drooled over a lambskin, scarf necklace. I can not wait until I hear of another craft sale to attend, but for now, I am going to take some of this inspiration and make some projects of my own (details to come.)

<Feather earrings, who could resist?>

<Desert garden in a bowl, cute and low maintenance>

<Message in a bottle service, they even deliver it for you! Love the typewriter>

<Wanted this cross-stitch wall hanging>

<Necklace scarf…I am going to try to make my own>

<Creative packaging caught my attention>

<Tasia in Free People, Kalyn in Rebecca Taylor>

After getting such a great response from a few readers, I feel that is important to introduce myself, Kalyn, and my co-blogger Tasia. We both live in Los Angeles, and graduated from the International Manufacturing and Product Development Program at FIDM. This gave us the opportunity to travel to Paris, Milan, Barcelona, and Hong Kong to research trends and shop at amazing markets (The Jade Market in Hong Kong was our favorite!). Since graduating, we both work for a premium denim label and started our blog. As the blog continues to grow, we hope to see your comments and welcome any new tips on restaurants or shopping.

<Jade Market in Hong Kong, We both got a Buddha necklace.>

<Merci: Store similar to Anthropologie in Paris:: Amazing Displays>

For three years, I have lived near 3rd Street and Fairfax where there are some of the best cafes and boutiques in Los Angeles. I am ashamed to admit that until this past month, I had not taken advantage of this great location and became sucked in by The Grove everytime I needed to go shopping or get a quick bite. An LA city guide is in the works, but here are some of our favorite picks for 3rd Street:

Toast- If you live in LA and haven’t been to Toast, then you need to go immediately! They have an extremely cozy atmosphere, and you frequently see celebrities eating here. I love the coffee cake french toast and the sweet potato fries (this is the first place that got me hooked).

Joans on Third- Considered a gourmet marketplace for sandwiches and soups. My favorite thing about this restaurant is the cupcakes. Try the marshmellow cloud cupcake dipped in chocolate. YUM.

Polka Dots & Moonbeams: Vintage clothing with a pull towards the ultra-feminine. I love the cherry printed aprons, strings of old fashioned beads, and hanging tutus in every possible color. (I bought a pink one to wear under dresses or skirts)

Milk-great selection of designers and amazing sales!! I got a french lace bralette for only ten dollars. STEAL.

Next place to try: The Little Next Door (Let me know if you have tried it yet)!

Red velvet cupcakes, brown sugar whoopie pies, magic (7 layer) cookie bars, and hummingbird cake lured me to the opening of Magnolia bakery on 3rd Street this Saturday. Magnolia Bakery gets a lot of buzz  in New York, so I was curious to see how they stacked up against Sprinkles and Crumbs. The location was adorable with lace curtains, mason jars of sprinkles and candy, and a huge selection of goodies to choose from (not just cupcakes people!). I’m not the person who orders banana pudding instead of cake if its available, but I had to go for it with the reputation it carries. It was a sinful cross between pudding and whipped cream to say the least.

<Magnolia Bakery on 3rd Street>

<So much to choose from, spent a long time here>

 <Candy, Sprinkles, Frosting in cute Mason jars>

 <They even have a cookbook for sale, banana pudding recipe included>

By the time I get home from work, I am so hungry that I could devour the entire fridge. Somehow I held off last night long enough to make lemon bars. They are one of my favorite desserts to buy at bake sales and coffee shops, but I have yet to actually try and make them from scratch. This recipe from Paula Deen is great, but I cut down on the butter, two sticks seemed like a huge amount for one pan of bars. These bars can be messy to eat, so it makes it easier if you cut them into petite bites for easy access. love. love. love.

<Carrie’s Bedroom, I really want to recreate this photo collage>

Ok, so the majority of us that ran out to watch SATC 2 on opening night might have been a teeny bit disappointed with the plot, but the apartment decor caught my attention more then the fashion in this movie. Carrie and Big’s apartment is filled with bright colors and patterns along with statement pieces, like the blown-glass chandelier (featured below). My all-time favorite is Carrie’s famous hallway-esque closet that has a Marghertia Runner by the Rug Company. The company uses fashion designers to design the rug prints (you will see why they are so popular below). I can’t wait until I am able to have a closet similar to Carrie’s, but for now, I am just going to admire and take a few tips from the movie set. My next step is try to recreate my own picture collage above my bed using colorful frames in different sizes.

<Carrie & Big’s Apartment>

<Carrie’s Famous Closet…I love this Rug>

<Statement Pieces: Glass Blown Chandelier>

Watermelon has never been my favorite  fruit, but it definitely has its appeal in the hot summer months, especially if your in the desert. I spent the weekend at my friend’s house in Palm Desert making Watermelon Sangrias and lounging by the pool. Using champagne instead of wine was the perfect substituition, especially when it can be dually used for mimosas in the mornings.

Few would criticize the creative decor and visual displays that Anthropologie creates on a weekly basis, but I have to admit that I have yet to actually start on a project that I have been inspired by in their stores. One of my good friends took inspiration from a crate display in store and turned it into a photo collage for the wall.

Anthropologie inspired photo collage

A few weeks ago, I was doing some beauty research, and I came across The Beauty Cookbook. This book is amazing with tons of tips and DIY recipes for your face, body, and hair with easy to find ingredients like green tea and sugar. Here is one my favorite recipes for shiny hair:

2 TBS Apple Cider Vinegar+Pinch of Baking Soda+1 Squirt of any Shampoo

Mix in a small bowl and use once a week for super shiny tresses. Condition as normal and your hair will shine for days (I swear!).