hello sweet thing

Guys I made cookies.
But this isn't really news. I make cookies at least bi-weekly. And I usually bake something about once a week. (Lately it's been more like 2-3 times a week. Out of control.) It's one of my favorite things to do. The news is that I actually documented them this time, something I'm going to try to start doing regularly so that when I tell people, "hey I bake stuff, and I can bake something for you too", I can have something to show for myself.
Ta-da!



These cookies are insane. They are gargantuan. They are rich. I can barely muscle through one of them. That's why the recipe only makes 12 cookies, yep, you read that right, 12 cookies. You don't need more than that. They're delicious and extremely filling. Soft, chewy, dense, and even better the second day as stated in the recipe.

(I used this lovely recipe)




Note: I know my food photography skills are less than stellar. Also my camera is less than stellar, which could be part of the reason. Someday maybe I will have a nice camera and nice food-documenting skills. For now, please enjoy these moderate quality pictures as best you can.

using etsy to define fall

Check out the full treasury here.

Peace, love, and a hot cup of cider.

I stumbled across these images on my computer that were saved quite some time ago, but suddenly I find myself in alarming lack of a quilted dress and chunky arm-warmers.


Photo cred: Karl Rothenberger

girls in movies who inspire me: part 2

2. Kate Hudson as Penny in Almost Famous



If you're a regular visitor to this here blog, this should come as no surprise: I love Kate Hudson. She's such a hippie. I saw her on The Rachel Zoe Project last week and fell just a little more in love. In real life, she's just how I would imagine her to be: chill, stylish, fun, and apt to break out into song. Which is part of the reason why she plays the part of Penny so well in this movie: it's sort of an extension of herself, or at least that's what I like to think.

Penny Lane is legendary. She truly loves rock and roll. She lives for adventure. Where did she even come from? She travels freely, she lives and loves freely. She's darling, strangely innocent, stylish but not too girly, and appreciates good beer. Sure, she has her problems, she wouldn't be human without them, but all in all, she's pure inspiration.

Lines to remember:

Penny Lane: Maybe it is love, as much as it can be, for somebody...
William Miller: Somebody who sold you to Humble Pie for fifty bucks and a case of beer! I was there! I was there!... Look- I'm sorry.
Penny Lane: [sniffs] What kind of beer?



William Miller: "That groupie"? She was a Band-Aid! All she did was love your band. And you used her, all of you! You used her and threw her away! She almost died last night while you were with Bob Dylan. You guys, you're always talking about the fans, the fans, the fans; she was your biggest fan, and you threw her away! And if you can't see that, that's your biggest problem. And I love her! I love her!

Penny Lane: I always tell the girls, never take it seriously, if ya never take it seriosuly, ya never get hurt, ya never get hurt, ya always have fun, and if you ever get lonely, just go to the record store and visit your friends.

Penny Lane: We are not Groupies. Groupies sleep with rockstars because they want to be near someone famous. We are here because of the music, we inspire the music. We are Band Aids.

Penny Lane: I've made a decision, I'm gonna live in Morocco for one year. I need a new crowd. Do you wanna come?

Penny Lane: When we go to Morocco, I think we should have completely different names and be completely different people.

cobalt blue is awesome especially on walls

But it also works on people:


And the occasional mixer:

(I want this)

And this isn't quite cobalt but it is quite funny:



And that is your very blue post.

girls in movies who inspire me: part 1

I'd be lying if I said that I never watched a movie and immediately tried to emulate a character or a feeling from the movie. Some people, you just want to be them. These are those girls, each inspiring to me in their own way:

1. Natalie Portman as Sam in Garden State
Sam is quirky and loving, serious but carefree, honest but a chronic liar, all at the same time. She has a real zest for life. She has burial services for her animals (identify). No, not just burials, an actual graveyard. She tap dances. She doesn't ride in sidecars. She's your new friend Sam.









Lines to remember:
Sam: Wow! I cannot believe you're not retarded!

Sam: OK, so... so... sometimes I lie. I mean, I'm weird, man. About random stuff too, I don't even know why I do it. It's like... it's like a tick, I mean sometimes I hear myself say something and think, Wow, that wasn't even remotely true.

Sam: I have three Dobermans, and if I didn't kick them in the balls on a regular basis, I'd never get anything done.

Sam: If you can't laugh at yourself, life's gonna seem a whole lot longer than you like.

Sam: This is your one opportunity to do something that no one has ever done before and that no one will copy throughout human existence. And if nothing else, you will be remembered as the one guy who ever did this. This one thing.

Sam: I haven't even lied in like, the past two days.
Andrew Largeman: Is that true?
Sam: No.


Note: Even though Natalie Portman is pretty much my favorite actress, I'm 92% sure that I would still like Sam if she had been played by someone else. I'm just really glad she wasn't.



Stay tuned for another inspiring girl, next time on "girls in movies who inspire me."

oh hey!

Figure 1


Figure 2


Figure 3


Figure 4


A few random things I've been up to:
-living in hippie headbands (Figure 1 and 4)
-listening to The Xx radio constantly because it's always that good
-laying in the grass
-drinking iced cinnamon dolce lattes on repeat (abusing treat receipts)
-daydreaming about portland (Figure 3)
-painting my nails all different colors cause i can't decide on one (Figure 1)
-not capitalizing my letters in these bullet points
-doing art projects (Figure 2)

-being in the sun AMAP (as much as possible)

Can't soak up summer fast enough. It's already the end of August! (concerned face)

Life goes by so fast. I think we're meant to appreciate each moment.