erinloveslove.

My 1st pick up

2012-02-12T10:03:00.000-08:00

Well, I went yesterday at 9:31am (the pick up time was between 9:30 and 10:30) to get my produce box from the AHO pick up site that is conveniently located less than a mile from my house, in a parking lot behind the Topanga market. Everyone was so friendly and they even had handmade jewlery, jam, gluten free bread, and scones! It was sweet. and my box was AMAZING!! From potatoes, to apples, to lemongrass. I cant wait for next week already!

Valentines Day gift ideas

2012-02-11T09:06:00.000-08:00

The day of love is just days away, y'all, and although EVERYDAY is love day to me....its still pretty fun celebrating with hearts and special gestures. I'm not one for diamonds or roses (and I'm sure alot of women arnt!) so I thought Id post some ideas for those of you that might need it :-)

A massage! whether you give it yourself (a foot massage with lotion and peppermint oil) or get a gift certificate, your love will be SOO happy! If you are on a budget you can opt for a thai massage (if she/he likes it rough) or a treatment at the Korean Spa. (As long as they are ok being nude with others of the same gender!)

Make a special dinner does your valentine LOVE indian food? then research how to make authentic Tikka Masala and make it from scratch!

A day at the.... I love spending the day with Sergio on Valentines day. whether its a day road trip to a cool local farm, a picnic at the beach, or an awesome hike to a waterfall.

Anything from Etsy
is your valentine obsessed with mustaches, bikes, or cats? you can find ANYTHING hadmade on this awesome site. plus you will be supporting artists directly. although i guess you don't have much time to browse and order since Valentines day is only 3 days away. well, for next year!!

Potato Broccoli Soup

2012-02-02T11:58:00.000-08:00

I made this soup for dinner the other night and wowy zowy, did it blow our socks off! It was REALLY good and pretty easy to make as well. Very creamy and warming, Perfect to enjoy on a chilly night in your PJ's.

- 2 tbsp oil

- 1 onion, diced

- 1 stalk celery, minced

- 3 clove garlic, minced

- 4-5 medium red potatoes, skins on, cut in 4s

- 1 cup water

- 3 cups plain milk (i used unsweetened almond milk)

- 1 head broccoli, or 1/2 bag of organic frozen)

- 1/2 cup nutritional yeast (or chedder cheese!)

- salt and pepper to taste

saute oil, onion, celery, and garlic for a couple minutes over medium heat until the onions start becoming translucent. add potatoes and saute for another 3 mintutes. add the veggies to a pot of 1 cup water and 3 cups milk and simmer until the potatoes are soft and cooked. If you cover the pot it cooks alot faster. blend the soup in a blender and then put the creamy soup back into the pot and add broccoli and nutritional yeast (or cheese). cook on low for 10-15 minutes or until broccoli is cooked. I taste my food alot as I cook :-)

add salt and pepper to taste and enjoy with some buttered bread and a simple green salad. heaven!

CSA - Community Supported Argiculture

2012-02-01T23:39:00.000-08:00

Well, I did it! I signed up for my $21.00 a week organic local food box through Abundant Harvest Organics. Now every Saturday morning I have to drive 1 mile to my local CSA delivery site in Topanga to pick up my goodies that are grown by all local California farmers!! Hooray for fresh organic food!

For example, this weeks box contained :

Apples

Kiwis

Bok ChoyBrussels sprout Carrots

Cauliflower
ChardHerb Mix
Lettuce

Parsnips

Potatoes
Spinach

Plus there are a bunch of add-ons like cheese, milk, eggs, and beans if you'd prefer to do ALL your grocery shopping this way.  To be honest, I've been feeling uncomfortable with Whole Foods lately so I am SOO happy to be supporting local farmers rather than giant coorperations. Ill post photos of my first box next Saturday!! YAAYY!!

a Juice a day

2012-02-01T18:01:00.000-08:00

A couple weeks ago I decided to do a juice cleanse for 5 days with my sister and a friend. I felt amazing, but after day 3, I caved in. My excuse? I did 6 hours of massage and my body just needed something warm and nourishing!! That all being said, Ive been pretty dedicated to drinking one home-juiced beverage a day. I change up the recipe depending on whats in my fridge, and I have been shopping mainly at whole foods and farmers market. After watching "Fresh" last night however, I will be leaving Whole Foods and joining a CSA in my area. You MUST watch this film. Back to the subject...

I feel so nourished with a daily juice and today I thought that the color was just lovely.

3 carrots, 1 chuck of ginger, 1 red apple, 1 pear, a big ol' handful of spinach, 1 celery stalk, 1/3 of a large cucumber. 1 small candy cane beet (they have alternating white and red rings inside! so cute)

Lens baby! YAA! part 2

2012-01-23T01:48:00.000-08:00

check out the awesome pics I took yesterday with my handy dandy lensbaby. I'm in love!

Lens baby! YAA!

2012-01-21T09:22:00.000-08:00

I got a Lensbaby for Christmas from my grandparents, but it had to be exchanged ( i got the Nikon instead of the Canon) so I've been waiting anxiously ever since to receive it in the mail! Well yesterday in finally came!! And I am so exited to start playing with it. Ill post some of my first photos asap. Check out the video for an explanation of how it works here

Cheers to cool inventions and even cooler grandparents :-)

Top 5

2012-01-19T20:04:00.000-08:00

I love cooking, baking, following recipes, and trying new things! But after a long day at work, or when I'm just not in the mood, I'll often just throw meals together. When this is the case, I almost always go to one (or all!) of my top 5 favorite ingredient.

A grain (rice, quinoa, barley,etc), veggies, and a few of these ingredients, and VIOLA! a fail proof easy peasy dinner.

nuts these provide protein and texture. they are also rich in fiber, phytonutrients and antioxidants such as Vitamin E and selenium. my favorite is the trusty walnut.
garlic i'm a sucker for garlic. the more the better. it is antibacterial, antiviral, and anti-Inflammatory. in other words, its damn tastey AND good for you!!
nutritional yeast I did a post a while back about my love for this ingredient. it adds a kind of cheesy flavor and it is one of the few non-animal sources of B-12. its also rich in folic acid and amino acids.
wheat-free tamari its basically soy sauce and a little goes a long way! It even has health benefits ---> click here
tahini a thick paste made from ground up sesame seeds (also used in making hummus). contains B Vitamins B1, B2, B3, B5 and B15 and adds a nutty creamy texture to grains and veggies.

Lightbulb flower vase

2012-01-15T23:26:00.000-08:00

isnt this such a cute idea?? i've been a little obsessed with browsing Pinterest as of late, which is where I stumbled upon this.

Cute alert.

2012-01-14T20:22:00.000-08:00

photo

oh man. how cute is this little fellow?!

Tree camping?!

2011-12-30T18:14:00.000-08:00

image found here

Engagment photos

2011-12-30T14:27:00.000-08:00

Hello Pinecone (thats me!) is now offering engagement photos in the Los Angeles area!! Check out more photos from this session on hellopinecone.com

Christmas love

2011-12-30T10:04:00.000-08:00

Hi blogland! Sorry ive been gone for so long...I went to Florida for 2 weeks to celebrate the holidays with some of my FAVORITE people (and mosquitos) I'll admit that my skin really dug the moisture and was so plump from the humidity. From Miami to Orlando and everywhere in between. Here are some of the highlights. I hope your holiday was love-filled. XO

cuban cofee in miami

christmas morning!!


grams and her great grandaughter

boating in the Econ River

my soul mate and sister

my girls.

breath-taking

dad and uncle jamming

my other soul mate and the love of my life

WANT!!

2011-12-10T13:07:00.000-08:00

how sweet is this little pendant i found on etsy!?

My little boy

2011-12-10T11:04:00.000-08:00

I don't care what anyone says, he is the cutest thing ever! My heart melts when I look in those caramel colored eyes. Maybe I should change my blog name to erinlovescharlie. haha

RV living

2011-12-05T20:59:00.000-08:00

I could definitely see myself living in this sweet little RV and baking those cupcakes!

from prettylittleworld

Bon Iver. swoon.

2011-11-30T20:34:00.000-08:00

This is my favorite song of the week...maybe month..ill let you know in 3 weeks :)
This is the live version.

Etsy love

2011-11-29T23:23:00.000-08:00

Etsy is one of my all time favorite websites! its great to show support to artists and NOT to Walmart...plus is really gets my creative juices aflowing! Here are some awesome things that I stumbled upon that I really love.


mini embroided necklace! soo darling.


iphone charger hidden in a book!

beautiful necklace

Thankful

2011-11-26T08:34:00.000-08:00

What a great Thanksgiving we had this year!! We went to a friends house in West Hollywood where she hosted a beautiful dinner...4 generations of woman, friends, and food that seemed like it was straight out of a cooking magazine. My contribution was the sweet potato cassarole and bread pudding with home made caramel sauce. I made this dessert last year and it was so good that i just HAD to make it again.

The sweet potatoes where such a hit that I thought I'd share the easy recipe and a photo! I got the recipe from allrecipes.com and just switched a few little things to my liking such as :

unsweetened almond milk instead of milk
less sugar
all organic ingredients
double the peacans
i used white sugar for the topping instead of brown cause I didn't have any!! it wasn't as crumbly so I added some maple syrup to add some moisture and it was perfect.

homemade gift ideas for the holidays!

2011-11-24T09:29:00.000-08:00

I LOVE me some Martha Stewart. I don't care what anyone says. She has some awesome gift ideas on her site for the DIY-ers. Some of my favorites so far are :

Organza Sachets : full of lavender, rosemary, or tansy. Practical and adorable.

Caramel Bourbon Vanilla Sauce : YUM.

Orange Compote : even better when it is made with love paired with a cute little spoon.

Teacup Candles : finding cool vintage teacups at thrift stores would be fun and unique!

AMAZING crocheted hats

2011-11-21T21:08:00.000-08:00

these are I.N.C.R.E.D.I.B.L.E!!! I really need to practice my freeform hat making asap. You can find these gems on Etsy. The girl who makes them, also spins and hand-dyes the wool. i love her.

Homemade Tent for 2

2011-11-19T18:24:00.000-08:00

While browsing one of my favorite wedding blogs (yes, I still frequent wedding blogs even after I've been married for over a year!) I came across this adorable tepee tent that a couple built for their engagement shoot. I could imagine creating this in my living room as a little reading or crafting nook. For more pics, check out love and lavender

Baby Turtle!

2011-11-16T22:20:00.001-08:00

I basically LOVE any kind of baby.

face to face

2011-11-16T22:09:00.000-08:00

I love this perspective for taking photos.

Dreaming of Tidepools

2011-11-14T11:42:00.000-08:00

Tidepools are so full of treasures! starfish, algae, shells, sea anemone. I went to Leo Carillo State Beach in Malibu this weekend with some new friends and really loves it. tidepools, a cave, cliffs, and dogs are allowed!

A few of my favorite things...

2011-11-09T21:45:00.000-08:00

Coconut Milk "Nog" - OMG. I love eggnog, but its pretty unhealthy and I always feel just a bit guilty when I drink it...although not gulity enough to deny myself a glass or 2 every holiday season. However, this "Nog" totally feeds the craving.

Splendid skirted leggings. SOOOO soft and It minimized the "junk in the trunk:" so well. Sometimes i prefer to leave something to the imagination...and with most other leggings, that isn't the case!

My Charlie- The most adorable pup in the whole world!!

Cudling Birds

2011-11-08T23:40:00.000-08:00

I hope this makes you smile as it did me!!

photo credit

To Tom's or not to Tom's.....

2011-11-06T20:37:00.000-08:00

I'm really intrigued with these shoes...everytime I go into whole foods they call to me. My concern is that they dont look like they pair well with socks. which makes me automatically think - STINKY FEET. do any of you own a pair of these shoes? are they comfy? do your feet stink? HELP!!

Baby fever

2011-11-06T20:26:00.000-08:00

how could I not have baby fever after taking photos of such a little peanut?

Parsnips : Tis the Season

2011-10-30T09:45:00.000-07:00

Are you familiar with the parsnip?? If not, you should be because they are delish and in season right now! The texture is similar to a carrot but the flavor is so much more. You can saute them, put em in a stew, or roast them (here is a good recipe, you can even replace thyme and garlic with simple salt and pepper)

Cutest Owl ever.

2011-10-28T15:33:00.000-07:00

If I saw this little guy in the wild, Id probably burst into a ball of glitter. Can this actually be a real live creature?! According ot my friend, "It's a burrowing owl. I looked them up and this little guy does have a remarkable resemblance. http://vi.sualize.us/view/aed5859980fc7ce1304569eebc1649e2/"

Thanks for doing the research, Kim!

Red Rock Park

2011-10-28T12:17:00.000-07:00

We went to check out this park the other day and it was SOOO beautiful. Can you believe that is under 2 miles from my front door!?

Puppy love

2011-10-28T11:57:00.000-07:00

Well folks, I'm officially totally in love with Charlie and it only took about a week. look at this sweet sleepy face!!

Dreaming of Autumn

2011-10-23T21:29:00.000-07:00

i could totally imagine living in this house and playing in a pile of orange leaves.

photo credit

Spicy Chocolate Desserts....Vegan and Wheat-free!

2011-10-23T21:01:00.000-07:00

Man oh Man, do I love me some Libras!! 3 of my best lady friends were born in the same week and I've been baking up a storm. I just love to give the gift of a heart-filled dessert.

I've decided to make similar cakes for two of the girls...one being vegan with a avocado base (i know, sounds weird...but its AMAZING) The other : a flour-less cake. Both absolutely decadent...super rich, and with with spicy after taste.

The vegan Avocado Pie recipe was adapted from this one. it is creamy and pudding like, but thick enough to hold shape. it also can be made with no crust as a creamy dessert...maybe to dip fruit in?
The only things I changed was :

I added 5 avocados instead of 3
I added 2 teaspoons of chipotle chili powder, 1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon, and 1/4 teaspoon of paprika
I used 6 oz of super dark vegan dark chocolate and 6 oz of vegan semi-sweet chocolate

The Flour-less cake was a recipe I got from Simply Recipes . I basically followed the recipe, except that I cut the sugar down to 1/2 cup and added 2+ tsp of chili powder. I noticed that it looses some spicy-ness after it bakes, so if the batter tastes perfect, you should probably add some more.

They were both a SUCCESS!!


top photos are the avacado pie: bottom are flour-less

Lensbaby fun

2011-10-21T09:02:00.000-07:00

Good morning, blogland. I wanted to share with all you photo nerds the awesome-ness of the lensbaby. I went camping this weekend in Ojai for my friend, Sulai's 30th B-day, and met some pretty cool new friends. One of these new friends had a lens collection that he was more than happy to let me play with!! it was SOOO FUN. My faves were the lensbaby, which is basically a lens that you bend and manipulate to focus. It created a very dream-like feel. It is interesting because you can only control the shutter speed with the camera and the f-stop is controlled by these little metal rings that you have to actually put on the lens itself. it made getting the right exposure a tiny bit tougher than usual. But after a couple minutes of playing i basically figured it out. Here are some of the pics.

the other lens that I enjoyed playing with was the wide angle lens. I have a the full frame Canon 5D, and then lens wasnt completly compatable, but it created this awesome border around the pics!

Meet Charlie

2011-10-19T20:39:00.000-07:00

the newest member of our family!! I have a feeling hes gonna be a daddy's boy by the looks of this photo. They say hes a cocker spaniel, but I feel like there is a mixture in there somewhere. Anyone have any ideas?

Inspiration

2011-10-14T15:16:00.000-07:00

I've so inspired by kids lately. rolling around in the grass. making funny sounds. playing in the dirt. I need to do these types of things more often.

all photos from www.hellopinecone.com

Customized Note Pad - A great gift idea!

2011-10-06T10:19:00.000-07:00

I've been a little obsessed with pinhole press lately - its a little on the pricy side- but such beautiful quality and the perfect gift for that special someone that might be tough to shop for.

I shot photos of a sweet little girl a couple weeks ago while visiting my family in FL, and decided to make her mama a customized note pad to mail along with her photo CD. I hope she LOVES it!! cause i sure do.

the most amazing rug EVER.

2011-10-05T22:17:00.000-07:00

according to the blog Blue Moss "Free people gave away this rug from their summer display...and then posted a DIY because everyone loved it so much"

here is a link if you have LOTS of time on your hand and wanna make it! ----> CLICK HERE!

I love owls...

2011-10-05T20:52:00.000-07:00

especially when they are colorful and on vintage dictionary pages! I found these while strolling through Etsyland.

"Eh"

2011-09-29T07:29:00.000-07:00

I like this. xo

artswisconsin

Happy Wednesday.

2011-09-28T16:14:00.000-07:00

You're beautiful!

illustration by mischiefchampion

My beautiful brothers

2011-09-27T22:08:00.000-07:00

I have 2 brothers- 12 and 14 years my junior - I can still remember strapping them into their carseats, riding bikes, and building "nests" on the floor when wed watch movies. (well, we still do the last one) They are now both towering over me and in high school, and its funny how some things never change. If anything, my love for them just grows and grows.

Easy Breakfast Frittata

2011-09-25T09:34:00.000-07:00

If you have 6 eggs and some veggies, than you have all you really need for this breakfast gem!
It is easy to make and it looks pretty too.

Ingredients :
6 organic eggs
3 cups of chopped veggies (I used zuccini, green onion, red bell pepper, broccoli, arugula ; plus 1
tbsp of sun dried tomatoes)
salt, pepper, garlic to taste.

Saute veggies in a well greased (or non-stick) frying pan. This pan has to be oven proof as well.
whisk 6 eggs with a dash of salt and pepper and pour over veggies in pan. Make sure that the heat is at low setting. add any other spices at time. i added a dash of smoked paprika!

Cook for 4 to 5 minutes or until the egg mixture has set on the bottom and begins to set up on top. place pan into oven and broil for 3 to 4 minutes, until lightly browned and fluffy.

other ideas :
add cheese to the egg mixture
cooked breakfast meat - sausage, bacon
parsley or basil

adapted from this recipe

Brag Book : the perfect gift

2011-09-22T20:23:00.000-07:00

My god-daughter, Mia, just turned 1 year old and we wanted to give her something special. (along with the ADORABLE knitted sweater dress i just couldn't resist!)

I decided that I would make a little book of all the adorable photos that I've taken of her over the year (plus one of her prego mama). We typed a sweet little note saying how exited we are to watch her grow on the last page so she can look back at this little keepsake when she grows up. I ordered it from pinhole press and am planning on ordering ALOT more from them. It turned out so beautiful and I've been wanting to create photo books for every year to add to my library.

Dolphin and Cat in love

2011-09-08T09:03:00.000-07:00

Ive been at the beach alot lately (where I always see a pod!)and my love for dolphins has been re-kindled. I mean, i'm pretty sure every girl love dolphins or horses as a kid. or mermaids. I liked all 3 as well as kittens. Enjoy this cute video!! XO

honey roasted nut : the perfect snack

2011-09-08T08:50:00.000-07:00

hello friends! I wanted to make honey roasted walnuts last night, and since most recipes I found called for alot of sugar, I decided to make up my own. I wanted em slightly sweet with a hint of spice. raw honey from the farmers market and cayenne pepper made a perfect combo.

mix 1 cup of nuts with 2 tbsp of honey until they are covered.
spread on a wax paper or slightly greased baking pan and sprinkle with cayenne pepper and a bit of sea salt. Bake at 350 for 10-15 minutes stirring once during. You wanna let them cool on the baking sheet for a bit so the delicious coating on the nuts will harden. They go great on salads and serve as a great little treat!

Cool Photos : The Art of Cleaning up

2011-09-06T18:51:00.000-07:00

I came across these pics when browsing on one of my favorite blogs, A Cup of Joe. What an awesome idea for a series! The swiss artist, Ursus Wehrli, is releasing a whole book of these awesome images called "The Art of Cleaning Up".

Bokeh in Photography

2011-09-06T08:52:00.000-07:00

I really LOVE shallow depth of field in photography (the subject is in focus and the rest is blurred) and recently bought an amazing new lens that is know for its ability to create Bokeh.
Bokeh is basically depth of field that is so shallow that any light in the background ends up turning into little blurs of light. Its really quite beautiful and before I got the Canon 50mm 1.8 lens, I wasn't able to really do it. Yesterday I was playing with my camera and I took a great example!

Homemade Sushi!

2011-09-06T08:43:00.000-07:00

Thia weekend we decided to make sushi!! Sergio made it once or twice but neither Aaron (pictured above left) or I have. I was expecting it to be tougher than it was...but it was not only easy but fun! especially with a little sake involved :)

All you need it those bamboo sushi roller mats, seaweed wraps, sticky rice, veggies (we used carrots, cucumber, chives, cooked asparagus), avacado, sushi grade salmon, and soy sauce and wasabi for dipping. we also sprinkles seaweed gomasio on top.

here is quick video on the roll-up part

here are pics from our night

Life and Death

2011-09-04T17:20:00.000-07:00

Mushroom Chemise

2011-09-02T12:53:00.000-07:00

I went to Anthropology today, not to actually purchase anything of coarse, but to admire the store decoration and design. I drool as I walk around that store and give a serious thumbs up to the people who make it look so beautiful in there. Its homey and eclectic and its stimulating to my creativity. "maybe Ill make bookshelves out of old drawers!"

Anyways, I saw this adorable chemise (what the heck is a chemise anyways.. it looks like a dress to me) and even tho its a little more than I'm willing to spend...I thought Id share with you, computer land. Maybe one of you is willing to drop $60 on a cute mushroom dress...or perhaps your b-day is coming soon and you can put it on your wishlist!

XO

Beach Day

2011-08-31T14:56:00.000-07:00

it was finally hot enough to go swimming at the beach this weekend!! We had a picnic, read, napped, saw dolphins. it was perfect.

Oh Brother where art tho?

2011-08-31T14:54:00.000-07:00

What a great movie! I can't believe that I havnt seen it sooner. and the soundtrack was so beautiful and old timey. perfect for driving in the woods , crafting, or cleaning house.

Latte Art at Intellegensia

2011-08-26T23:02:00.000-07:00

I really like Intellegensia's espresso and have decided that I'm ok with spending an extra buck on a quality beverage. Especially if my latte has a foamy feather adorning it!! Where does your favorite coffee concoction come from...and please don't say Starbucks!!

Vision Boards

2011-08-26T17:47:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago, I hosted a ladies vision board workshop at my place and it was so fun!! I made treats and a few different types of iced tea : Lemon Verbena and Mint that were PERFECT for a shady summer afternoon. My sweet friend Sulai made a little video if you are interested in checking it out and learning a bit more about the power of Vision Boards!! you can also check out her other videos on youtube. she is a shining star <3

Placenta Encapsulation

2011-08-22T11:05:00.000-07:00

This was an interesting read. Ill admit that when I first heard of the idea of eating your own placenta, I was a bit grossed out. But after a bit of research and hearing first hand from friends that had theirs encapsulated, Im sold.

Read the artice here ----> The Placenta Cookbook

A lovely afternoon

2011-08-19T16:41:00.000-07:00

Barley with Peaunt Sauce

2011-08-19T15:54:00.000-07:00

I made this yummy side dish last night for dinner and i thought "i GOTS to blog about this".
I've been experimenting with all sorts of legumes lately and thought that barley would pair nicely with the leftover peanut sauce that has been taunting me in the fridge. (it said "if I go bad, Erin, you'll be sorry!!")

Like all grains, before cooking barley, rinse it thoroughly under running water and then remove any dirt or debris that you may find. After rinsing, add one part barley to three and a half parts boiling water or broth. After the liquid has returned to a boil, turn down the heat, cover and simmer. Pearled barley should be simmered for about one hour, while hulled barley should be cooked for about 90 minutes. When its finished, stir in a generous amount of peanut sauce and enjoy!

Peanut Sauce Recipe from Fatfree Vegan

heat 4 tablespoons of organic crunchy peanut butter in a small saucepan over medium heat.
Whisk in 1/2 cup vegetable broth. Add the 1/4 cup of coconut milk, 1tbsp of soy sauce, 1 teaspoon of chili sauce(if you like spice), 1 tbsp of liquid sweetener, and heat until bubbly.

If the mixture seems too thick, add a little more vegetable broth. Add the lime juice just before removing from the heat and serving.

Before and After

2011-08-19T08:05:00.000-07:00

photo from www.natalie-david.blogspot.com

When I am pregnant, I am TOTALLY gonna do this. How cute is that little yawning baby!?

If your in Tanzania....

2011-08-18T19:27:00.000-07:00

you should go here!! I mean, look at it? Its a seafood restaurant perched on a rock in the Indian Ocean that, depending on the tide, you boat, walk, or swim to.

Lightning in a Bottle revisited

2011-08-17T19:56:00.000-07:00

I just discovered a recording of one of my favorite parts of Lightning in a Bottle.
It was at sunset on the last day and the vibe was so beautiful! During the Florence and the Machine song (you've got the love) I actually cried of joy. Like I was just gonna explode into pure love.

for the entire set, click here --- > Pumpkin- LIB 2011- 6pm

10 songs to listen to.....

2011-08-13T10:23:00.000-07:00

sometimes i get stuck in a rut musically and all it takes is a friend to make me a mix cd to help me discover some new (or old) music and become inspired!! let me be that friend :)

massive attack                                  paradise circus
led zepplin                                        going to california
peter gabriel                                     your eyes
gotan project                                        mi confesion
dave matthews and tim reynolds         sister
joni mitchel                                    california
jessica lea mayfield                              our hearts are wrong
metronomy the look
graham nash                                          wounded bird
mazy star                                        fade into you

Beautiful Food

2011-08-12T08:20:00.000-07:00

have you ever eaten one of these adorable cookies!? I haven't (yet) but they are so pretty that I cant imagine them being anything short of delicious.

photo credit

Lucious Lemon Bars

2011-08-08T10:38:00.000-07:00

I decided to make lemon bars instead of a cake for Sergio's birthday this year, since he loves lemon-y treats. I found this simple recipe online but really wanted to try to make a gluten free version for my wheat allergic BFF that was going to be at the party too!!

I made 2 batches the exact same way, except one with regular flour and one with rice flour and they tasted identically delicious!!! all ingredients were organic and the eggs were from the farmers market.

Life is Short, Live your Dream

2011-08-08T09:58:00.000-07:00

I will never eat bacon again.

2011-08-07T23:41:00.001-07:00

from the website, www.cuteoverload.com

Lemon Verbena Iced Tea

2011-08-03T19:59:00.000-07:00

We went to the Hollywood Farmers market last Sunday for the first time since our big move and we were SOOO happy to be back! We grocery shopped at that market every Sunday for months and it probably the only thing we really miss about living near Hollywood (other than missing our friends that is!!!) I've been wanting to experiment with herbal iced teas since its been brutally hot this past week, so I decided to get a bunch of Lemon Verbena at the herb stand.

You gotta give this iced tea a try!! Its SO REFRESHING. Sergio and I have been kinda obsessed for the past 2 days. All you do is pour some hot water over a handful of leaves, let steep for a few minutes, strain, and then add cold water to the pitcher. Keep refrigerated cause its really tasty cold.

We actually JUST planted a Verbena plant in our yard and I'm really hoping that the little guy likes the Topanga weather enough to grow and flourish!!

easy massaged kale salad

2011-08-02T13:44:00.000-07:00

photo credit

you heard me right. I recommending that you massage your leafy greens! something about that combined with lemon juice makes the Kale taste more tender and "cooked" while still giving you the benefits of raw.

1 bunch kale ( I used curly), washed & ripped into large pieces
1 avocado, sliced
1 lemon, juiced
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
dash of smoked paprika
1 tablespoon nutritional yeast (optional)

all you have to do is massage all the ingredients for 4-5 minutes in a big bowl or until kale is on the tender side and enjoy!!

Big Sur

2011-07-27T10:44:00.000-07:00

I just got home from my FAVORITE place on earth (so far anyways) where we celebrated Sergio's 33rd. We stayed in a yurt and went on a magical hike through the redwoods and hills of clovers. Waterfalls and sea lions and crisp fresh air. sigh.

We stayed at Treebones resort (which I booked 6 months in advance cause that whole area books up all summer long!!) and I LOVED it. its completley off the grid, has a heated pool and hot tub, and an organic garden where they get the food for the restaurant from. You can rent a campsite, stay in a canvas tent (you bring your own bed and warmth), or stay in a yurt that has electricity, water, heat, and a cozy bed. The only bad part about Big Sur is that you can eat a meal for under $20 a person anywhere. The food at Treebones (which is SOO YUMMY) ranges from $25-$32 per meal.
The free "make your own waffle breakfast" in the mornings balanced it out tho!!
What can I say....I'm a cheapy :)

Crocheted stool covers

2011-07-23T10:03:00.000-07:00

I gotta make some of these one day!! so cute, right?!

http://elenaho.com

Harvesting Sage

2011-07-17T10:34:00.000-07:00

Now that I live in the wilderness, I get the chance go on hikes galore right in my backyard!! A couple of weeks ago, I came across some wild white sage whist on a hike with my mother in law. We harvested a few branches and when I get home, I wrapped 2 or 3 branches in a bundle with some hemp yarn and hung in a dry sunny place in my house. I also used some loose (undried) leaves in my bathtub and to make some tea. Now I have dried sage, ready to cleanse the air whenever I please!! It smells amazing and Its so rewarding to know that I actually picked it myself, rather than just buying a bundle at Whole Foods for $8 or on the Venice Beach Boardwalk.

before

after

Hello Pinecone

2011-07-15T08:12:00.000-07:00

As I was driving through the gorgeous mountains of Topanga Canyon one foggy morning, I suddenly heard the words "hello pinecone" in my head. I know. wierd. It was one of those thoughts that i really don't feel like I thunk up.. it just kinda came to me. After a few days of wondering why the heck I would think of such a strange little phrase, it came to me!! "what a cute name for my photo business!"
Pinecones, after all, are seeds that will grow up to be giant beautiful trees- I thought this was relevant because I take photos of alot of little ones and pregnant woman. It also seemed to to make sense for me since I recently moved from the "city" to the country. goodbye city smog, hello pinecone!

what do you think of my new site??
hellopinecone

Homemade Granola

2011-07-15T07:57:00.000-07:00

'I researched a bunch of granola recipes and decided to try and create my own, since i didn't have all the ingredients that the other ones called for. SUCCESS! it tastes pretty "pumpkin seedy", so if you arn't into that, I'd do 1/3 instead of 3/4. its also not very sweet at all...so you can add more maple if you have a sweet tooth.

melt in a saucepan :
5 tbsp of butter (i used earth balance, but butter or oil will work too)
1/4 cup maple syrup ( i used maple agave from TJ's)
1 tbsp of vanilla

add melted goodness to a bowl of these ingredient:
2 cups rolled oats
2/3 cup pumpkin seeds
1/3 cup pumpkin seeds
1/3 cup coconut flakes
1/3 cup dried cranberries
1/3 cup flax seed
hearty sprinkle of cinnamon

stir until everything is coated and spread onto a baking sheet. I lined mine with aluminum foil, and found that there was no need to grease since the granola was coated with "butter".

bake at 350 for 15-20 minutes. your house will smell amazing and the granola should be a golden color with a bit of a crunch. let cool and store in a sealed container and enjoy!!

UPDATE ON 7/22/11

I just made my second batch of granola and changed it up a bit

-1/2 ghee and 1/2 coconut butter instead of the earth balance

-1/3 cup ( instead of 1/4) or half maple half raw honey.

i also added a sprinkle of sea salt. drool.... it is MUCH tastier than the last time!!! I LOVE GRANOLA!

"new" things i love

2011-07-01T07:03:00.000-07:00

good morning blogland!

as most of you know, i have a love hate relationship with "joe" ( yes, coffee) and although i LOVE it and have been addicted for sometime, i am always in search of the perfect substitute. at least for half of the time. if not, id be cracked out!!

i posted a while back about teaccino, but found recently that they have it in teabag form now! so much easier than having to "brew it" and measure it out. ive been having it with the coconut creamer and its bliss. they have all flavors and if you hate the taste of coconut, dont worry. it doesn't taste like it at all.

mother nature

2011-06-27T21:49:00.000-07:00

isn't this gorgeous?? i just had to share.
xo

photo credit

Quinoa for breakfast

2011-06-27T10:35:00.000-07:00

Quinoa is one of my favorite foods for a few reasons.
it is versatile, easy to prepare, delicious, and so healthy for you!

Health Benefits (from www.whfoods.com)
A recently rediscovered ancient "grain" native to South America, quinoa was once called "the gold of the Incas," who recognized its value in increasing the stamina of their warriors. Not only is quinoa high in protein, but the protein it supplies is complete protein, meaning that it includes all nine essential amino acids. Not only is quinoa's amino acid profile well balanced, making it a good choice for vegans concerned about adequate protein intake, but quinoa is especially well-endowed with the amino acid lysine, which is essential for tissue growth and repair. In addition to protein, quinoa features a host of other health-building nutrients. Because quinoa is a very good source of manganese as well as a good source of magnesium, iron, copper and phosphorus, this "grain" may be especially valuable for persons with migraine headaches, diabetes and atherosclerosis.

easy breakfast quinoa :
boil 2 cups of water and add 1 cup quinoa
add a pinch of salt, frozen or fresh organic berries, and spices if you like (dash of cinn and or nutmeg)
reduce to simmer for about 15-20 minutes until soft and the water has absorbed.

when finished, add nuts flax seed, maple syrup, coconut shreds, or whatever else your little heart desires! (other yummy sounding ingredients are cocoa powder, dried fruit, vanilla extract, or hemp seed) this dish is delicious hot or cold and can leftovers can be stored in the fridge for a couple days.

swing envy

2011-06-22T20:49:00.000-07:00

i love this photo, and i SOOO want to swing on this swing. (and live in that house in the distance!)

photo found here/

Yuuummmmm... warm fresh bread.

2011-06-15T11:03:00.000-07:00

its such a challenge not to eat the whole loaf when it first comes out of the bread maker! the whole house smells like heaven and with a little ghee and sprinkle of salt added to your slice, there's nothing better in the world. trust me.

easy bread maker recipe :

1 1/2 cups room temperature water
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
2 teaspoons salt
3 3/4 cups bread flour
1 3/4 tsp active dry yeast

set bread machine to the "french/italian bread" program
this recipe will make a large (2 lb) loaf

i added around a 1/2 cup of flax, fresh chopped rosemary, and any spices that i have lying around (sage, garlic, thyme).

Inside our home

2011-06-14T15:36:00.000-07:00

people have been asking for "inside photos" of our new Topanga home, so here ya go! we have alot of work to do but have managed to make it quite cozy i the meantime :)

kitchen

wood burning stove and nook

bathroom

spices and such

"bedroom" and dining table

benefits of astragalus

2011-06-14T15:29:00.000-07:00

I have been getting very interested in healing through food and herbs and found this AWESOME book called "the new age Herbalist". It has a glossary of herbs for healing, nutrition, body care, and relaxation. and even has recipes for shampoo and info on natural fabric dyeing. i became very intrigued with an herb called astragalus that has so many amazing health benefits, such as strengthening the immune system and digestion, lung support, and i even heard an radio talk that said that it actually helps rebuild DNA strands..WHAAT?! talk about anti-aging.

So i went to store in Venice last week that sells all sorts of herbs and natural foods (One Life) and picked up some organic dried astrugalus root. for the past 2 days i've been brewing the root in my tea pot and drinking it throughout the day. i feel very focused and, well... really good! plus it doesn't taste bad either. pretty mild and earthy.

ill keep you posted on any other yummy herbal findings ;)

A Latte YOUR way

2011-06-11T18:08:00.000-07:00

I've finally done it. i've become one of those "nuts" that i used to wonder about when i worked at a coffee shop that would bring in their own milk and ask me to heat it up for them. i never knew about the hormones and chemicals that are pumped into dairy cows...and how all of that ends up in the milk that most americans are drinking. plus most of those poor animals don't even see the light of day and are kept pregnant and milked for most of their lives. its pretty awful. before i go off on a rant, i will go back to the topic of this post.

i have decided to really try to consume as organic as possible, so my almost daily trip to the coffee shop with no organic options posed a slight problem. on friday, i brought a little jar of almond milk (with a touch of almond extract for flavor) with me and asked for a latte with my milk. she looked perplexed but said "sure" and was quite friendly. plus she only charged me for the shot of espresso so it was alot cheaper! than i saved a disposable cup by using my jar instead. you can just order espresso over ice in a big cup and add the milk of the sly if you feel annoying asking...and then just enjoy an iced latte :)

i added a little of my own unsweetened cocoa powder afterwards ;-)

cooking with nutritional yeast

2011-06-07T22:23:00.000-07:00

one of my all time favorite cooking ingredients EVER is nutritional yeast!! i never even heard of this until a few years ago when i became vegan for a while and alot of recipes called for it. its the secret ingredient if you want to make something taste "cheesy" without the cheese, but honestly- i put it in everything!! i even heard that its amazing on eggs and as a popcorn topping, but i have yet to try.

one of the easiest ways to use it is to make quinoa with a spoonful of tahini (or almond butter), a generous sprinke of nutritional yeast, a little organic soy sauce, and some garlic. or some smoked paprika. add nuts and some cooked veggies and SCORE!!

photo credit

baby bird rescue

2011-06-05T22:12:00.000-07:00

on my way to work on friday morn, i opened my door to find 2 new baby birds and a nest that must have fell from the tree above. It was cold out and who knows how long the little guys were lying there for!! slightly panicked, i checked to see if they were alive and only 1 was :(
there were dogs running around and i decided that the ONLY way this baby were to survive would be if i intervened.

i wrapped him in a towel and created a little nest in a tupperware ...and then took him to work since i was already running late. i was able to get baby bird food and a dropper at a local pet store within 2 hours of finding him and, after a bit of research, realized that he needed to eat every 20 minutes!!
after 24 hours with Francis, (that was his name) i saw SUCH an improvement!
one of his little eyes opened and he started to make little chirping sounds when he was hungry. (SO CUTE!) i swear that he even got a little bigger.

sergio and i decided that, even tho we wanted to keep him and nurse him back to health, it was in his best interest if we brought him to a wildlife rescue center nearby. i called to inquire before, making sure that they would rehibilitate Francis and eventually set him free.

i actually feel pretty sad and keep hearing little chirps in my head( yes i'm serious) its funny how attached we can get when something depends on us soley for its survival. is this what having a baby feels like!?

the crust on his face is dried food....

isn't he the cutest thing EVER??

a small part of me is fantasizing that Francis will show up on my window sill one day and be my friend, like snow white. hey, it happened in that movie "homeward bound" didn't it??

This past weekend...

2011-06-01T12:03:00.000-07:00

Wow what a journey! my sister came to town for a few days and we had some good quality sister bonding time. I feel so blessed to have a sister who doubles as a best friend...and who's freaking hilarious!

We went to Lightning in a Bottle, where she got to hug strangers, dance to amazing music on a pirate ship, and adorn herself in feathers. It was a magical experience for me...and being able to see her in this environment for the first time was so special.

here are some of the highlights :

my little princess <3

on the drive!

my gorgeous friend, court

sister power!

mother and son dreadys <3

sound healing

space wench!

our kitchen

yoga

Lightning in a Bottle

2011-05-20T08:05:00.000-07:00

i am SOOOO exited to go to LIB next week with my sister. She has never been to an event like this, and im so exited to see her blossom in this creative and loving enviroment! i have never been either, but i imagine it to be similar to Burning Man (which i have been to twice) only in the woods. i will post photos as soon as i get back!! but until then, watch this amazing video. XO

wood burning stove

2011-05-18T08:47:00.000-07:00

can you believe we have one of these babies in our new home?!

it warms the cottage nicely and sergio is just THRILLED to be able to have an excuse to play with fire indoors. those Leo's love their fire!! next up : roasted marshmallows!

the big move!

2011-05-16T23:16:00.000-07:00

phew!! after 2 loooong days of moving hundreds of boxes...down hundreds of stairs....a hundred times, we are finally here!! here being topanga canyon of course.
thank god for the help of our friends, cause without em, I seriously would have died (or gone insane)

we now live in a full blown hippie commune in a cute little cottage...where we fall asleep to the sounds of cricket, frogs, and a crickling creek. i imagine that this is what summer camp would be like. today we decided to go grocery shopping, and after a 5 minute drive through PARADISE, we were at the beach(OMGGGG!).... then we proceeded to drive south on the PCH for another few minutes till we hit Venice. in the past, a venice trip was a full day event...usually ending in an hour and a half of sitting in traffic.

Ill post pics of our new place really soon! promise.
for now, you should listen to the song i've been singing for the past 3 days by sweet joni.
i am officially a lady of the canyon :)

(i think she means laurel, not topanga...close enough!)

one day...

2011-05-10T21:02:00.000-07:00

i will have a cupboard of yarn just like this in my house!

photo credit

Fleet Foxes : He Doesnt Know Why

2011-05-09T22:13:00.000-07:00

Sergio and I went to see Fleet Foxes last Saturday here in LA (at the Palladium). What a concert!! I loved them before, but after seeing them live, I can say that I REALLY love them. Their harmonies were magical ...and when I closed my eyes, I swear that I was transported into a forest circa 1968. seriously. This song was a favorite and this video is great. Nothing like a heard of goats to make a music video. Can you believe that the singer was born in 1986!? jeez, I feel old :)

Handmade dolls

2011-05-06T21:36:00.000-07:00

i think my next carfting venture will be handmade dolls. you can use anything really...and i have ALOT of craft supplies. felt, fabric samples, buttons, yarn...i bet i can come up with something cute and quirky!

i really like all of these....

Art in the Streets at the MOCA

2011-05-05T23:45:00.000-07:00

i went to check out this exhibit tonight and thought it was so great!
living in NYC really made me appreciate graffiti and street art...and it was great to see it so close up. they also had alot about the history of the street art culture.
If you live in LA, you gotta go check it out. its free on thursdays from 5-8pm.

these were some of my favorites:

all photos of subway cars!

by banksy

thats me :)

adorable house in Normandy

2011-04-30T09:25:00.000-07:00

while swimming through blogland, i came across these gorgeous photos of this adorable house. it totally looks like it popped out of a fairytale..as do most things in Normandy apparently! storybook landscape of lush farmlands, Medieval towns, historic abbeys, and tranquil orchards? sign me up!

from the blog Oh happy day

same house from- oh happy day

Petit andely depuis chateau gaillard

pain in the neck

2011-04-27T09:51:00.000-07:00

nothing is scarier than not being able to move your neck..NOTHING! last friday that was the case for me and i was really freaked out. i am a massage therapist (and a laptop user), so my upper back/neck usually gets tight but its nothing i can't normally fix with a little stretch. usually.

my neck basically locked. all my muscles spasmed and it was literal torture to do anything but lay on a pillow. for a gal with no insurance, and not such a good view on MD's..i was pretty scared. (researching online didn't help either! was it menengitus??! could i be blind from this?!)

so i decided to go to an Osteopath that i heard lots of good things about. she has an office in a yoga studio(which for some reason makes me feel better!) and, from what i heard, will try a "natural" approach if possible, but will give you antibiotics if necessary. i saw her on monday for 1.5 hours..and walked out of her office with full range of motion!!! i cried of happiness and she even hugged me :)

she basically did osteopathic manipulation- super gentle pressures and stretches that eventually unlocked me. on top of fixing my neck, she noticed my hips were out of alignment, fixed them, and recommened little changes (shoe inserts, exercises, etc) that would help. i love when a doctor is about preventing dis-ease rather than just giving you as pill.

if you are in the LA area and are looking for a doctor, i highly recommend Dr Nevins.

Sage Organic Vegan Bistro and KindKreme

2011-04-23T08:23:00.000-07:00

OMGGG!!! last night we went here for dinner with a dear friend. how did i not hear of this place sooner? organic, vegan, and not thai food. plus its really reasonably priced! i got the almond ricotta ravioli for under 10 bucks...and of course i HAD to save room for the vegan ice kreme with raw chocolate sauce.

jamaican jerk burger that my friend got!

Decorating ideas

2011-04-23T08:08:00.000-07:00

Since we are moving in a couple weeks to our beautiful little cottage in the woods, iv'e become a tiny bit obsessed with the idea of decorating it. creating the perfect little nest with less clutter and a vintage flair is what i have in mind. me and my hubby are both extreme packrats...but we made a deal to get rid of as much as possible before the move. gulp. does this mean i have to get rid of my old rave flyers and all the clothes that might fit me again one day?

i've decided to browse the interwebs for inspirtation in hopes that it will make the transition not only easier, but FUN!!!

i want these towels!

exposed kitchen cupboards? YES PLEASE!

i really like the simplicity and colors of this bedroom. too old lady?

this is so beautiful!

Topanga Dreams

2011-04-22T11:38:00.000-07:00

how crazy that i posted this over a year ago and now i am actually moving there?!!
talk about dreams coming true!

i can't wait to be engulfed in nature, yet also be close enough to santa monica and LA to get my hustle and bustle fix. i can already feel my creative juices flowing. instead of telling you the whole crazy story, i will leave it up to my sweet husband--->is-the-universe-trying-to-tell-me-something?

Animal Minds : Radiolab

2011-04-20T08:58:00.000-07:00

this radioshow rocks my world. i especially love it since i don't watch TV (other than glee on hulu sometimes!)...it gives me the story telling aspect of "movie" and also lets me use my imagination since there is no actual images. although after listening to this epoisode, i had to look up the leopard seal from the end. if you have an hour, its well worth the listen.

Stinky cheese

2011-04-19T11:41:00.000-07:00

French Roquefort cheese is so stinky and delicious! we picked it up at trader joe's yesterday and i made a salad for dinner including it. along with walnuts, apples, figs, an herb salad mix, and pear vinigerette dressing.

its made of sheeps milk and is aged in a limestone cave for over 90 days. according to wikipedia "Legend has it that the cheese was discovered when a youth, eating his lunch of bread and ewes' milk cheese, saw a beautiful girl in the distance. Abandoning his meal in a nearby cave, he ran to meet her. When he returned a few months later, the mold (Penicillium roqueforti) had transformed his plain cheese into Roquefort".