Lavender bouquets + new uses for old things

I have so much lavender growing in my yard I don't know why it never occurred to me to bring it inside.  They smell beautiful.  I made several little arrangements using jars I've been saving.  Years ago my sister said always save your dijon mustard jars to use to bring salad dressing on the go.  Brilliant....now I'm saving every jar and using them for a multitude of things.  The best way I have found to get the labels off is the Spray Gel Goo Gone.

In the bedroom...

and in Madeline's bathroom.  When looking for something to keep make up cotton rounds and q-tips, I came across her silver baby cups.  One is engraved in script and the other block letters...love them.

Recently I sprayed all the lids black...looks better in my pantry.  I took dinner to a friend and put the home made dressing in a little jar.  All she had to do was give it good shake and toss with the salad. 

California Tuna by way of 260 Madison, NYC

I was reminded of this way to make tuna and it's so good.  My husband used to work at 260 Madison in New York.  Seems every building in NYC has its own deli....I don't think anyone ever knows the name of their deli, but they sure do know what to order.  This was a favorite especially in the summer and it's appropriately named California Tuna.  

                                                         2 packets of albacore white tuna
                                                         1 medium carrot, grated fine
                                                         1 hard boiled egg, chopped
                                                         1 tsp relish
                                                          1 tsp chopped fresh chives
                                                         1 tbsp mayo
                                            Mix together and spread on your favorite bread. 


We started our holiday weekend a little early and walked down to the bluff to watch the waves as we ate our CA Tuna sandwiches.  Have a wonderful weekend!
                                              

Spring Risotto + leftovers for lunch

Baked Spinach and Pea Risotto from Real Simple Magazine.

On Sunday we made this super easy risotto from Real Simple Magazine.  What's different about it is that you don't have to continue to add broth to the risotto on the stove top like a traditional risotto recipe...it's bakes in the oven.  Most of the ingredients goes into the oven, then you add the peas, spinach and fresh Parmesan.

I read about this No-Knead bread on Janet's blog and had to try it.  So easy, just as she said...but you need a lot of time. 

This is my favorite salad dressing.  I mix olive oil, dijon mustard and balsamic and whisk together until it's the right consistency.  When I worked at Williams Sonoma I learned about this balsamic...it makes all the difference.  It's so good!

I made the risotto into little cakes and put them on the griddle with a little olive oil.

The risotto cakes with a little crust may be even better than having it for dinner right out of the oven.  Yum!

House exterior - before and after

This is our house today...see below to see the before photos.  We live in a beach community where the homes were built in the late 1960's early 70's.  It was hard to make sense of the house as it was...but there are times when I think we could have gone a little less drastic with change.  The good thing about the development being built in the late 1960's is that open space was considered and therefore we have walking paths and greenbelts through the entire neighborhood which consists of just under 1,000 homes.  There's a community center, a pool, tennis courts, park and the best part...beach parking and beach access with a bluff top park looking over the most beautiful stretch of beach. 

The window in the center was where the third car garage once was.  The garage still has the space of a three car, but this area of the garage is now used a a hang out spot for Patrick and his friends.  The house came with flat screen televisions in every room.  It was hideous on the outside, but was used  a second home for a family from LA...who apparently watched a lot of television.  Perfect...we now have a large flat screen in the garage, a ping pong table and stacks of beach towels.

The front entrance of the house was actually pushed out so the entry way inside is larger, but the walkway still has plenty of space.  When we first started the plans we were going to use stone...then we changed to brick.  I wanted to use exposed brick painted white inside the house and it only made sense to use it outside as well.   It's timeless and we love the herringbone pattern.

The outside lighting is from Bevolo.  Being this close to the ocean, only real copper will stand the test of time.

I would have loved to move that heater for this shot....but it does come in handy on most nights in California...even in the middle of summer I keep a stack of Pashmina shawls when we dine outside.

We kept the back doors, all three sets.  They were relatively new...What I didn't like about them were the sidelights.  It was easy enough to cover those and we saved quite a bit of $$.  It also allowed us to add a built in bench in the kitchen eating nook.

Before...this was October 2010.

Could not wait to change these doors!

The only thing I regret about any changes back here...losing all the rose bushes. 

The blank area above to the right was pushed out and now is a walk in closet on one side and an office on the right. The family room is larger on the first floor and it provides flow into the living room. 

lemon shortbread and white hydrangeas

A package arrived today...as soon as I saw it on the step...I knew it was from Lorna.  The first few I had with a cup of tea and in Lorna fashion, the next were with with a glass of wine.  She always brings cookies when she visits and the first thing we do when we arrive at the house is carry in the bags, pour the wine and open the cookies.  Thank you Lorna, from the bottom of my heart!

happy birthday twin sister

I am so lucky to have a twin sister.  Today is our birthday and over the years we have tried to celebrate together, but sometimes life gets in the way...The middle of May is a busy time of year.  There's graduations to attend, we've been to the Preakness many times which falls on the third Saturday In May and there's always baseball games and lacrosse jamborees at this time of year.  But no matter where we are and even if it's not together, I always feel happy to share my birthday. 

add-a-pearl + madewell and brandy melville

We recently came across my add-a-pearl necklace that I had as a baby.  I hadn't even thought about giving it to Madeline.  As soon as she opened the box, she put it on and said she gets compliments every day.  It really does look so sweet on her.  She's wearing it with a denim shirt from Madewell.  We both LOVE this store!  We started shopping at the first one in SoHo and then Greenwich, CT.  When we moved west we used to have to drive to LA, but now there's one at South Coast Plaza.  She paired it with a stripe tee from Brandy Melville.  We came across this store in Santa Monica last summer and now there's one in Fashion Island, Newport Beach.  The price point seems to be around $28 for tops and surprisingly everything holds up well.  Have you shopped at Madewell or Brandy Melville?

I found out after a google search that add-a-pearl is a Chicago based company since 1854.