{ Food for Thought } A Good Day

I just thought this was funny. Admit it. You feel like this, too, sometimes. I don't feel like this most days (fortunately!), but recently I met someone who made me think of this quote... a little presumptuous and awkwardly "smooth" but not tempting enough to hit or bite ;), just enough to snicker. You know it's a good day when you can laugh at silliness... and bite into something worth chewing like this gooey sandwich.

caprese grilled cheese sandwich
4 slices of thick french bread
4 slices of mozzerella cheese
fresh basil leaves
tomato, thinly sliced (recommend juicy and sweet hybrid stramato, or roma)
balsamic vinegar
olive oil
salt and pepper
1. Brush one side of the french bread slices with melted butter. Place one provolone slice on the un-buttered side. Arrange fresh basil leaves on top of cheese. Layer tomato slices on top of basil leaves.
2. Drizzle lightly with balsamic vinegar and olive oil. Season with a dash of salt and pepper. Place another cheese slice. 
3. Top arrangement with the other slice of french bread with buttered side up.
4. Meanwhile, heat a wide pan over low heat. Place sandwich on pan with buttered side down. Toast, flipping once, until both sides are lightly browned and cheese melts.
*other filling options: provolone or swiss with arugula, and prosciutto or chicken, gruyere and smoked salmon
(makes 2 servings because it's always more fun when there's enough to share or have seconds)

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"You know it was a good day" quote via joann; sandwich image & recipe via cookmobile

{ Food for Thought } A Cup of Kindness

Words to live by. A soft place to land, a soft place to catch. Makes the difficult possible in the moment or in the long run. A cup of homemade pumpkin spice latte feels like a cup of liquid kindness.

pumpkin spice latte
1 c milk (recommend Earth Balance soy)
1/4 c (heaping) pumpkin puree, more if you really love pumpkin
2 tsp pumpkin pie spice blend (ginger, nutmeg, cloves, cinnamon)
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 tsp organic brown sugar (or equivalent preferred sweetener)
optional: pinch of ground garam masala, cardamom, or other warming spices
1. Make 2 cups of coffee. 
2. Make pumpkin milk: Combine all ingredients in a small bowl and whisk well by hand or with blender.
3. Warm the finished pumpkin milk mixture in the microwave (1 min) or on the stovetop
4. Pour 1 c of brewed coffee into each mug and pour half the pumpkin milk mixture over the top of the coffee. 
5. optional: Top with homemade whipped cream (1/4 c organic heavy whipping cream and 1 tsp organic raw sugar beat to soft peaks) and a sprinkle of pumpkin pie spice/cinnamon.
(makes 2 servings, because it's always more fun when there's enough to share or have seconds)

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image & graphics by natalie @ calliope; photo & recipe by loveveggiesandyoga

Design on the Big Screen: Twilight's Breaking Dawn

When I grow up, I'd like to be a set designer, art director or costume designer for film (or chief editor of a lifestyle mag). If you look beyond the bright lights, you see in their work the magical intersection of fashion, history, dialogue, and, of course, art. The latest movie sets and wardrobe on my mind were crafted for Breaking Dawn by Lorin Flemming (art direction), David Schlesinger (set design) and Michael Wilkinson (costume design). The wedding scene is like an Impressionist painting of, well, dawn breaking through a cloud-filled sky thanks to a palette of violet, gray, blush and beige against an ethereal canopy of blossoms. The honeymoon wardrobe conveys a sense of union between the newlyweds in beachy whites, khakis and blue-grays. The beach house is decked in rich and sensually exotic hues with accents reminiscent of the 1920s, the decade the heads of the Cullen family were married. I'm excited about seeing the rest of the canvas in November!

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Breaking Dawn movie wedding stills via yahoomovies; Bella & Edward honeymoon stills by Andrew Cooper/Summit Entertainment

{ Guest Post } Kirtsy to A Love Story in Shades of Silver

I had the small but lovely honor of curating two collections of images for kirtsy.com. "A Love Story in Shades of Silver" is the second collection. Here's a storyboard I created based on that collection. Black and white photography has a unique power to move, because its simplicity strips away distractions and differences, leaving only emotion which is something we can all relate to. I crafted this story from a string of memories evoked by beautiful images. I dedicate this story to my favorite kindred spirit, who came home with a rose on Friday and inspired this week's {Food for Thought}.

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girlfriends via catherinecampbell; retro ladies at beach by Nina Leen; chic swimsuit by Jose Villa; chic floppy hat by Albert Giordan via hautedesign; drawing woman's eye unknown via weheartit; hands holding unknown via whatsmineisyours; ballet dancers feet unknown via carolinepeq; scalloped blouse unknown via crushculdesac; marion cotillard unknown via listal; sunlight kiss by unknown via stylemepretty; drawing of couple in bed by B. Vaughn via deviantart; couple laughing by unknown via jennytea; gray beach house for House Beautiful via habituallychic; modern white gray living room by stylizimo; dachshund puppy running by Michal Szydlowski; I fell in love and you smiled because you knew image by natalie @ calliope with flourishes by justlucky

{ Food for Thought } Wearing Your Smile

An ombre-pink rose. Sunny days and breezy nights. A potluck dinner and a movie. A gentle dog making a silent connection resting his chin on my knee. Kind relatives stopping by on their way back home. Above all, sweet, peaceful moments with my favorite kindred spirit. This made me smile. What made you smile recently? (The memory seems to linger longer when you recall and share.)

raised waffles

3/4  7-gram package active dry yeast
1-1/2 c warm milk
6 tbsp butter, melted
3/4 tsp salt
3/4 tsp sugar
1-1/2 c flour
1-1/2 eggs
(3/4) 1⁄4 tsp baking soda
1. Dissolve yeast in (3/4) 1⁄2 c lukewarm water in a large bowl and set aside until foamy, 8–10 min. Add milk, butter, salt, sugar and flour and beat with an electric mixer on medium speed until well combined, 2–3 min. Cover with plastic wrap and set batter aside, at room temperature, overnight.
2. The following day, preheat an electric waffle iron. Whisk eggs and baking soda into batter until thoroughly combined (batter will be very thin). Pour 1⁄2 c of batter into hot waffle iron and let batter set for 30 seconds, then lower waffle iron lid and cook until waffle is golden brown and crisp, about 5 min. Repeat process with remaining batter. Batter will keep for several days in the refrigerator.
(makes 6 waffles for 2 servings to be shared)

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I'm wearing the smile you gave me quote via sayingimages; stacked waffles and ice cream image and waffles recipe via saveur

{ Food for Thought } Here's to You, Summer

Coming to terms with summer's end doesn't get easier. Every year I wait until I see the first sign of fall - a bough of changing colors - before I accept summer's departure. In the meantime, I'll toast to summer and daydream about its virtues. We miss you already, summer. Thanks for gloriously long days of sunshine and summer-stormy nights. I look forward to next year's parade of summer dresses and floppy hats, ice cream runs, frisbee volleys, pretty cocktails and impossibly messy watermelons. What did you enjoy most this summer? (Comment below, if you care to share.)

watermelon ginger refresher

6 oz puréed watermelon*
2 oz light rum
2 oz domaine de canton ginger liqeuer
1 oz fresh lime juice
1 oz simple syrup, optional (depending on the sweetness of your watermelon)
watermelon slice, to garnish
1. Puree watermelon*: cut into chunks and purée in blender for 10 seconds or until completely smooth.
2. Combine all ingredients in cocktail shaker and fill with ice. Give it a good shaker, about 10 seconds.
3. Strain into a glass and garnish with the watermelon slice.

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long for salt air image via thewheatfield, watermelon refresher recipe & image via eatmakeread

Today I Fancy: Modern Art Quilt

A stunning quilt concept created by fabrics designer, Tula Pink. This is insane. All fabric pieces are cut on the bias and none are the same size. On the right is a portion of her blueprint. Don't you love modern designs in traditional crafts?

A glance back at the amazing Monster Quilt here.

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space dust quilt by tulapink