Bask in the Beauty

TGIF blogettes! I'm so happy to report that our weather has begun to cool off a bit here with a high of only 88 and a low of 59 today. And I'm so looking forward to some time in the beautiful outdoors. I missed you mother nature!  I hope you all have a bountiful beautiful weekend filled with love and happiness. See you on Monday!

xoxo

Christina

Image via Elizabeth Anne Designs 

When Life Gives You Lemons...

Happy Thursday! I came across the above lemon loaf image and immediately developed a craving for everything and anything lemon. I love how they can be sweet or sour and add a freshness to any room or any dish. Do you have a favorite lemon drink or recipe?

Image Credits: Shiso Lemonade {Humble Bean Blog} Lemon Loaf {The Twinery Blog} Lemon Blueberry Tea Cake {Baked Bree} Meyer Lemons {Simone Anne} Preserved Lemons {Palachinka Blog}

xoxo
Christina

Style {The Last of Summer}

Here in Texas, we're still experiencing summer like heat and I must say that I'm so ready for crisp weather, scarfs, jeans, boots and the whole bit. Until then I plan to enjoy our extended summer and bask in the warm sunlight! Above is a fun whimsical late summer or early fall ensemble perfect for a casual business meeting or maybe even a cafe dinner.

Late Summer Outfit: 1. Debenhams 2. Net-a-Porter 3. Top Shop 4. Kate Spade 5. Top Shop

xoxo
Christina

Soft Home Spa Day

Hello Beauties! Above are some beautiful organic and handmade spa items I recently found on Etsy. Setting aside the time to pamper your body, mind and spirit is so important. I'm all about the spa but the home spa experience can be just as rewarding when you have the right time, atmosphere items to make the experience rich and peaceful.

Check out these beautiful items: organic salts and bath oils {Twig and Leaf Botanical} organic crochet cotton washcloths {Sweet Briers} organic restore herbal tea {Twig and Leaf Botanical} rosemary mint organic handmade soap {Sweet Sallys Soaps} set of creamy white vegan candles {Twig and Leaf Botanical}

Have a gorgeous day!

xoxo
Chrsitina

Sweet Treat {Chewy Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies}

TGIF! Happy friday beauties! What are your plans this weekend? 

I'm excited to try a new dinner spot tonight. On Saturday I'm looking forward to a gathering with some friends I haven't seen in a long while. Other than that, maybe a late breakfast one morning, Yoga and some art and house projects.

I made the above chocolate chip oatmeal cookies last weekend and they turned out moist and super yummy! See the recipe below:

What you need

• 1 cup butter, softened {I use earth balance butter}
• 1 cup packed organic light brown sugar
• 1/2 cup organic white sugar
• 2 organic eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 1/4 cups organic all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• A little less than 1 teaspoon salt
• 3 cups quick-cooking oats
• 1 cup chopped walnuts
• 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips {I like to use dark chocolate} 

--------------------

• 
  
• What to do

1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
2. In a large bowl, cream together the butter, brown sugar, and white sugar until smooth. Beat in eggs one at a time, then stir in vanilla. Combine the flour, baking soda, and salt; stir into the creamed mixture until just blended. Mix in the quick oats, walnuts, and chocolate chips. Drop by heaping spoonfuls onto ungreased baking sheets.
3. Bake for 12 minutes in the preheated oven. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

Enjoy!

Have a beautiful weekend.

xoxo

Christina 

Currently Working On ~ Birth Announcements

Hi pretties! I'm currently in the studio working on a few projects today. One being birth announcements featuring a gorgeous baby girl and her adorable big brother. I'm not biased but they just happen to be my niece and nephew. How sweet is that little kiss?! Such cuteness. Now I'm off to take a much needed cookie and green tea break!

xoxo
Christina

Grilled PB&J

A few weeks ago hubby was out of town on business and I deiced to treat my self to a fun, nostalgic and oh so lazy dinner of grilled peanut butter and jelly with a healthy side of kettle potato chips. I must say the combination of sweet, nutty and salty was just divine. And I'd like to think it was a somewhat sophisticated spin on what I use to have as a kid since I used fresh from the bakery wheat bread, organic peanut butter, and wild blueberry preserves. Yum!

xoxo
Christina

Feeling Light as a Feather

Why not wear a feather in your hair? It's light, whimsical, earthy and beautiful. I saw tons of beautiful feathers in hair this past Friday when I attended the annual ACL music festival here in Austin. The music was amazing, the food was great and the festival was full of happy go lucky, laid back music lovers adorned in all sorts of fantastic hippie inspired attire. Feathers included. So today I salute the feather. Because way not?!

Have a fantastic week lovelies!

xoxo
Christina

Image credit: top left {Treasure Dress Blog} top right {Wedding Chicks} middle right {Free People} bottom left {Unknown} bottom right {Treasure Dress Blog}

Fashion Week Love {Emilio Pucci}

There are so many gorgeous designs popping up from fashion week. Specifically, Emilio Pucci's collection caught my eye with its flowing fluid like lines and uber feminine curves. I LOVE. I would love it more if I had some place to go that would be appropriate for me to wear one of his beautiful creations!

xoxo
Christina

Images via style.com

Blackberry Dreams

The bowl of blackberries and vanilla bean yogurt I had for breakfast looked so lovely together that it inspired me to create a vision board filled with the beautifully mystic deep color of blackberries. My grandma use to make the most amazing wild blackberry jam from the black berries that grew up her mountain. This ones for you Grandmama.

Have a vibrant day beauties!

xoxo
Christina

Credits: Blackberry Tiramisu {Flickr} Tie Die Racer Dress {Michael Stars} White Cake with Blackberry Buttercream {Kitchen Trail and Error} Purple Bird on Purple Flowers {imgfave} Purple Chair {Casa Pink} Building Sign {Resurrection Fern} Field of Flowers {Fashion Gone Rogue} Flowers in Jars {Tiny White Daisies} Blackberry Sage Cooler {Scaling Back} Jimmy Choo Suede Peep Toe Ancle Boots {Saks Fifth Avenue}

A Glimpse from the Weekend

I hope you all had a lovely weekend! We had a nice relaxing weekend and above are some glimpses from it. We tried a new local farmers market this weekend that had amazing herbs, wonderfully fresh and creative vegetarian and non-vegitarian tamales and fun fresh popsicles. We also got a chance to get bagels from our favorite place in town 'Wholy Bagel'. I was very pleased to get a few hours to myself to get some art done. It's so very therapeutic for me! Not shown above was our Sunday outing with our two year old nephew. We were to busy chasing him around to take any photos. All in all it was a very nice and peaceful few days.

Have a blessed week loves!

xoxo
Christina

Pink Sparkle Love

Hello Beauties! Well we are at the cusp of another weekend. What are your plans? We don't have many if any this weekend which is my favorite way to go into a weekend, full of possibilities and promise. I do however wish I had a place to go to sport that gorgeous dress. I love those textures together! None the less maybe I'll swap that by making a yummy chocolatey confection and treating myself to some brunch one morning...

I hope you all have a beautiful weekend full of bliss and sparkliness!

xoxo
Christina

Credits: Flowers {Style Me Pretty} Metallic Sheer Cream Dress {Yo Vintage} Truffles {Andrea Dozier Photography}

Sweet Fall Welcoming

Fall is upon us and I can feel its beautiful presence in my bones. We're still having 100 degree days here in Austin, but I can feel a hint of fall in the cool mornings and breezy evenings and that makes me very excited! There always has been something exciting, therapeutic and magical about the change from summer to fall. The cool breezes that fall ride in on always carry so much inspiration and promise. I can't wait for all of the above! Fall you can't come soon enough.

xoxo
Christina

Credits: Sweeter Still {Alexandra Grablewski} Low Fat Cinnamon Rolls {Dear Inspiration Blog} Warm Cinnamon Tea {Mary Richards and Me} Wool Socks {Flickr} Fall Words {Vogue and Coffee}

Soft Summer Rain

We are really feeling the drought here in Austin and it has me dreaming of some soft summer rain. Being a Florida native, I became spoiled with the daily summer rain and now that I'm without it, I fully appreciate the cleansing and healing properties of a good rain. Above is my cyber version of a fun little rain dance. Let's see what happens!

1. Hera Dress {Steven Alan} 2. Boulder Mug {Terrain} 3. Glass Jug Pendant {Terrain} 4. Rainy Day Tea Towel {Leah Duncan} 5. Darlington Pursette {JCrew} 6. Poodle Oxford in Blue {Ruche}

xoxo
Christina

Shop Love {Anaise}

I hope you had an amazing holiday weekend pretties!

I recently came across this beautifully understated on-line boutique called Anaise. The shop carries well crafted pieces from independent designers and artisans. Everything in the shop from the home goods, clothing to the accessories looks like it was made with love by someone who deeply cares. I've added them to my growing list of favorite shops. Check out their on-line boutique here.

xoxo
Christina

In the Studio

Check it out! That's a little peek at my work space. This past Tuesday, Chris of the amazingly beautiful blog Postcards and Pretties, did a spotlight on my studio space. It was so fun for me to capture my space on camera and to reflect on what makes me creatively tick. I'm so grateful to be featured on her lovely blog. Above are some of the images from the spotlight and you can find the whole spotlight here.

Have a fun a beautiful holiday weekend beauties!

xoxo

Christina 

Recipe: Eggplant Parmigiana

It's no secret that I love Italian food. Beyond the amazing robust flavors, I find Italian dishes particularly pleasurable to cook. When preparing an Italian meal, I always feel somewhat romantic and chef like and find it extra fun to cook with either classical or jazz music playing in the back ground. Try it! Below is my spin on Eggplant Parmigiana with Basil Fettuccine Alfredo:

Eggplant Parmigiana
1 to 2 large eggplants sliced in 1/4 inch slices
2 organic free range eggs beaten
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
2/3 cups italian bread crumbs
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
1 1/2 cups shredded Parmigiana-Reggiano
1 jar high quality tomato or marinara sauce
1/2 cup of fresh basil
salt & pepper to taste

Add three turns of extra light olive oil to a large pan. Set heat to medium or medium high depending on your stove. While the pan heats, lay the sliced eggplants on a plater. Lightly salt and pepper both sides of the eggplant. Prepare your eggplant assembly line: beat the eggs in a bowl, add the flour to a plate and the bread crumbs combined with 1/4 cup Parmigiana-Reggiano to a separate plate. Lightly coat both sides of the eggplant in four, then coat with egg and then with the bread crumbs. Place the breaded eggplant to the heated pan and cook both sides until crispy and golden brown. Continue with this process until all the eggplants are breaded and browned. Then place all the eggplant on a paper towel to drain.

Preheat Oven to 400
To a glass baking dish add a thin layer of tomato sauce and then place one layer of breaded eggplant. Add another thin layer of sauce and thin layer of cheese and basil. Repeat until you reach the top of the dish. At the top add a healthy layer of sauce, 1 1/2 cups of mozzarella cheese and a small sprinkling of the Parmigiana-Reggiano. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes until sauce and cheese are bubbly. Serve on a bed of fresh spinach and top with Parmigiana-Reggiano.

Basil Fettuccine Alfredo
2 tablespoons 'Earth Balance' butter
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon organic all-purpose flour
1 1/3 cups 2% low-fat milk
1 1/2 cups grated fresh Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
fresh ground black pepper to taste
8 ounce package of fresh fettuccine pasta
1/2 cup chopped fresh basil
2 teaspoons of nutmeg


Bowl the fresh pasta to just until the package instructions to ensure that it's al dente.


Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat. Add garlic and cook for one minute, stirring frequently. Stir in flour. Gradually add in the milk, stirring with a whisk. Stir frequently and cook 5-6 minutes until mixture thickens. Add 1 1/4 cup Parmigiano-Reggiano, salt and pepper.  Stir with a whisk until cheese is melted. After the pasta is cooked and drained, return to the pan and pour the sauce mixture on top. Add in the basil and stir to combine. Serve immediately and use the remaining Parmigiano-Reggiano and basil to garish.

Enjoy!


xoxo
Christina