Nesting, Nesting 123, Nesting...

Patience is not one of my strong-suits. I couldn't wait to share just a few snaps from L'il Boomba's room--even though it is not quite ready for le grand reveal. The Mr. and I have been in serious nesting mode and the tiny room that once was my walk-in closet is now really starting to look like a nursery. My favorite addition thus far? The Sleepytime Rocker from Tottini.

I don't know about you, but I am really friggen happy about this long weekend. I have been busier than ever with lots of client work (not that I'm complaining) and also hospital tours, and birthing and infant care classes. If I never watch another birth video again, that'll be OK by me.
Seriously. 

I am really supposed to be chilling out more--I currently have a condition called Placenta Previa--which means that my placenta is lying lower than it ought to, and is blocking the cervix--which means that the Boomba's exit strategy may have to be revisited. So I will take it easy this weekend in hopes that the placenta rises to the occasion. I plan to watch Madmen and Game of Thrones (my favorite shows of the mo') put the finishing touches on the Boomba's room so that I can share a full tour with you all in the coming weeks, maybe take a (very) easy hike (weather permitting), catch up on some of my blog reading and have lotsa yummy eats.  And that's it.
No really.

How about you? What are your plans for this luxurious long weekend?

Our Quirky cousins, the plants.

 

Photography by Justina Blakeney

Agave, Sticks of Fire and Passion Flowers--all exotic looking plants with so much personality--it's a little weird how much happiness I get from from these creatures. They each remind me of an odd-ball friend or a quirky cousin or an alien or underwater universe yet to be discovered. What a crazy, beautiful world we live in, yes?

Not too pregnant for crazy accessories.

I've been having fun with accessories lately--especially since pregnancy has limited my wardrobe selection dramatically. The good news is, a cheap little black jersey cotton dress from Target can be dressed up in 30 seconds by adding one of these beauties, yes?


Collar (sorry for the crappy source here, folks--let me know if you've got a better one)
Cuffs by Doloris Petunia on Etsy
Tassle trim by Jessica Light
Alex+Lee necklace at Ten Over Six
Navala Necklace at Anthro
Tassle Necklace by Polder
Alex +Lee Belt at Ten over six
Necklace with ribbon closure by Doloris Petunia on Etsy

Mangiona With Caitlin Levin #8: Cashew Popsicle + drink!

Recipe and Photos by Caitlin Levin, Design by J. Blakeney

To call this a milk is a misnomer, (I heard some comedian say once ' because soy, coconuts and nuts don't have boobs!' haha.) But seriously, this amazing drink is much more than milk!  I don’t know why you wouldn't make this and have it in your fridge at all times. Not only is it supremely delicious, but it's also super easy to make.  You only need five ingredients. Yesterday was hot and sunny so I turned this into popsicles by freezing it in little paper cups, today it is rainy so I will serve it warm--but the possibilities are endless.  On its own it is the most perfect protein packed thick and creamy breakfast smoothie. This is definitely an anytime magical milk--and it's vegan.

What you'll need:
Cashews
Filtered H2O
Cardamum
Sea salt
Pitted dates
Vanilla bean (feel free to use vanilla extract instead)

What you'll need to do:
Soak 2 cups of raw cashews overnight in water. (I have found that if you have a powerful blender and are feeling impatient like I often, am a 2 hour soak will suffice) Drain cashews and place in blender with a pinch of sea salt, a very small pinch of cardamum (a very little amount goes a long way), the insides of a half a vanilla bean, five pitted dates (you can add more if you like it sweeter), and four cups of water. Blend until your mixture is extremely smooth. If you feel like your milk is too thick add more water and blend again. This next step is optional, I happen to have a Vitamix and like a thick and creamy texture, but if your blender is not as powerful and leaves the milk slightly grainy then strain your milk through a cheesecloth or a very fine sieve. Your milk should last three to five days in the fridge. 

To make the popsicle, simply pour some of the milk into a paper cup, put a  popsicle stick in the center and freeze. 

-----------
Thanks Caitlin!  

Beachwood Cafe Patterned Tile, Re-imagined

I had a nice brunch at the new Beachwood Cafe yesterday (Formerly the Village Coffee Shop). The Cafe is really sweet--love the whimsical wallpaper and, of course--the tiled floors. It's amazing how a little bit of patterned tile on the floor immediately livens up a space. This original tile at the cafe was the yellow and blue one pictured here at the bottom--but I couldn't help but let my imagination run wild and re-imagine the floor in all kinds of crazy hues. Which is your favorite? I'd love the turquoise/orange combo in my kitchen and the red/purple combo for my bathroom. A girl can dream, right?

Mama Style / Mini Style - Dotcomsformoms

It was just a matter of time before I got baby-style fever. I have found a creative outlet for this often dangerous condition--a new column on Dotcomsformoms -Mama Style / Mini Style. Click on over to check out the rest of my post and to see where these adorable duds are from. Happy Monday!

Strawberry Rhubarb Pie with Granola Crust

Jason and I get a box that contains a different medley of farmer-grown groceries every week from a company called Farmer Fresh to You.  We've been dong this for about two years now and it's great because, not only do we eat fresh, local and organic, but we also get introduced to all kinds of new fruits and vegetables we weren't likely to buy if we were grocery shopping on our own. This week rhubarb came in our box--a vegetable I have never cooked with. I decided to try my hand at a strawberry-rhubarb pie using whatever ingredients we had in the kitchen--and that meant making the pie without flour, corn-starch or tapioca.
The pie came out so friggen declicious (*she says with a pat on her own back*). and was so easy to make, that I thought to share the recipe here with you.

Take two cups of granola, 1/2 cup of instant oatmeal, 1/4 cup of melted butter and juice from 1/2 orange and blend it in a food processor until well blended.
This is your crust.
Butter the pan and press crust mixture into the pan so that it is spread out evenly.
Let sit for 1/2 hour.
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Wash and cut rhubarb into 3/4" pieces. (I used 5 'sticks' of rhubarb)
Wash and cut strawberries in half. (I used about 10 normal-sized strawberries)
Place rhubarb and strawberries in a bowl with juice from the other half of the orange, 2 tbsp. of raw sugar, 1/2 tsp. cinnamon, and a bit of orange zest. Mix.
Add half cup of instant oatmeal. This is your pie filling.
Add pie filling to crust.
Sprinkle some granola and a pinch of raw sugar on top.
Bake for 40 min.

Let cool and...

Photos and Recipe by Justina Blakeney

ASOS Africa got it right.

Okay, okay--so you know how I feel about vintage and handmade stuff--but every now and again, some of these ready-to-wear brands just get it right. This is one of those times. ASOS's new AFRICA collection is redic. I want every single piece. Kinda Stella Jean-ish kinda Suno-ish (traditional African fabrics with traditional Euro silhouettes)...but all with a kinda '50 flair and all very affordable. And you gotta love ASOS for going up to a size 14 and also having a 'Curve' Collection.  Employing traditional East African fabrics, including Kitenge, Kanga and Kikoy, ASOS Africa is made in Africa, helping underprivileged communities establish sustainable businesses through their local craftsmanship.  What's not to love?

Some of my favorites from the collection include:
Giraffe Top
Reversible Jacket
Sleeveless Jacket
Striped Jacket
Rhino Print bra top
Patchy Dress
Mombassa Print Pants

Creating vs. Curating

I often think about the difference between 'curating' and 'creating'--my job lately has entailed a lot of curating--be it blogging for myself or other companies, curating special sales--or picking out items for someone's home. I love curating.  That having been said, as a designer, I was missing 'creating' --not just choosing and arranging what's lovely, but making something lovely, from scratch--starting with a blank canvas and creating something from my imagination.

Designing takes practice and commitment and being so caught up in curating lately--I have not had to much time to create. So needless to say, I was excited when an opportunity came along last week to do some actual pattern design. I LOVE designing patterns and it had been a while since I've worked on one. Pictured above are a few of the designs that did not make the cut--but that I had so much fun working on--I thought I'd share them with you here.

Do you teeter between creating and curating? What do you get out of each one?

OK--happy Friday all--off to go curate some pretty stuff. Haha!

Banana-Leaf Explosion

The banana-leaves in design conjure up cultural references ranging from the Beverly Hills Hotel, to the Golden Girls, to Indochine in NYC, and the home of Nikki Hilton--but to me, it says one thing: JUNGALOW! As the summer months approach there's been a banana-leaf explosion in the mags and online. Here are some of my faves:

Banana Leaf Pendant
Banana Leaf Umbrella
Banana Leaf T-shirt
Pants
Plexi-glass heel 
Wicker Chair
Clutch
Leaf Plate 
Bikini Bottom
Sandals
Club Chairs