Fall Footware

I am just loving my new piperlime purchase.
These pumps are perfect for fall and I love the neutrality of an animal print. That might sound crazy, but i feel like you can wear them with anything! 
[and they’re on sale!]
 
These little lovelies were an off broadway find and I just adore them! They’re soo comfortable and will help to keep the tootsies warm as the temperatures drop! This brand is “Michael”, but i found some similar, and also affordable options here:
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Embossing

I love the uniqueness of some homemade stationary! When I saw this kiss stamp at my favorite paper store, I knew just what I wanted to do with it!
The key to good stationary is the quality of the paper; so I also picked up some flat cards and my favorite “paper bag” brown envelope to add an earthy balance to the luxe gold- embossed kiss!
If you’ve never embossed, it’s like magic! To use this metallic gold embossing powder, or any colored embossing powder, you stamp on a clear ink, cover with powder, & tap off the excess (make sure you do this over a piece of paper so you can funnel the extra back into the jar!) Then use a heat tool over the stamped image (which is basically a mini blow dryer, but hotter). The powder melts into a shiny gold finish, and voila! 
Embossed like a boss..
[some tips:]
 1. use a small paint brush to wipe away any powder stuck to the page where you don’t want it prior to using the heat tool. 
2. Stamp a card, then immediately cover with powder for the best results, don’t stamp all the cards then try to powder! 
3. DO finish all the cards up to the heat tool step and lay them flat, then use the heat tool to emboss. 
4. If the card warps at all, gently run the heat tool over the back of the card as well to flatten it out!]

Smooth Like Honey

On my way back from Italy (flying solo) I had the option to upgrade to a higher class ticket for a fraction of the price. With 10 hours staring me in the face, I did it. 
Once on the plane, they give you a little gift bag of goodies to get you through the flight. Included were things like lip balm, an eye mask, ear plugs, and a lovely tube of lotion. When I got home that lovely little lotion really stuck with me, so I searched for Perlier products. 
I love anything honey related. The taste, the smell, it’s beautiful. Lush makes a body wash, It’s raining men and it’s my other favorite body product. But the above tightening scrub and lotion immediately took first place after I received them! The lotion is so moisturizing but doesn’t leave any residue, and the scrub leaves skin feeling smooth and taught! 
also, good news, you can get it on HSN… woot woot.

In other honey news, here’s a semi-new product at your local Trader Joes!  Honey has natural anti-inflammatory properties, but Manuka Honey also has magic antibacterial properties due to the components within the manuka flower.  UMF on the label stands for “unique manuka factor”, and a number of 10 or higher means the potency of the flower in the honey is high enough for the honey to have medicinal or therapeutic qualities. 
For a calming and clearing face mask, wash your face, then slather on some of this honey. 15 minutes gives it the optimum amount of time to work some antibacterial magic and leave you clean, taught, and revitalized! (i like to slather it on, then hop into the shower; the steam does wonders and even makes it tingle a bit!). 

Agate Gold Leaf Coasters

I’ve been seeing coasters like this around on various blogs and home sites, but they cost a pretty-penny (like this set of two for $140- get outta here).

I’ve heard about gold leafing, seen various sets etc. while perusing the craft store aisles, but never tried it before. Amazon has lots of options for agate coasters, but I landed on these coasters and this gold leaf set. 

I will say, it’s a little tricky to use. The process in a nut shell is, you paint on the glue, it dries and gets sticky, then you stick the leaf paper to it, then you seal it! I had to vacuum after to get rid of all the little gold flakes left everywhere, and wherever that glue goes, the gold leaf will be, so be careful!

Almond Macadamia Milk

I’ve been wanting to make homemade almond milk for a while now. My husband loooves almond milk, and since I did some reading on the paleo fad, we don’t do much traditional dairy around our house anymore (except for cheese… because, um, it’s cheese).
I was searching the web for almond milk recipes and came across this one in the NY Times.
And holy moly, is it good.
The macadamia nut adds a fattier component to the milk, making it super creamy, and a perfect compliment to our delicious hand brewed coffee.
Also, it foams amazingly in our milk-frother-thingie! 
I tweaked the NYT recipe a bit, mostly because my husband has a sweet tooth… 

Almond Macadamia Milk

adapted form NYTimes
1 generous cup of raw almonds
(blanched says NYT, but I did a two step overnight soak instead- if you have the time, then why not).
1/2 cup raw macadamia nuts
1/3 cup pitted dates (I used 1/2 cup which was about 4 large dates.)
1 liter of water (which is a little over 4 cups) 
Soak the almonds for about 12 hours at room temperature in a sealed plastic container. (tip: I put them in water in the morning so I could soak everything overnight).
Peel the almonds by firmly pinching the almond on the fat end. The skin will basically pop right off in between your finger. Be sure not to shoot your almonds all over the kitchen. 
Combine the almonds, macadamia nuts, pitted dates, and 4 cups of water in a large container overnight (12 hours or more) at room temp on the counter.
Pour your nut mixture into a high speed blender and blend until completely pulverized. 
Pour contents into a nut bag over a large bowl or container and firmly, but carefully squeeze the mixture until only the nut remainders are left. Funnel into a container and store in the refrigerator. Milk will be good for 5 days, if it even lasts that long….

Tipsy Tuesday: Farewell Todd edition

My husband has this amazing friend, Todd.
He’s an artist, and an incredibly innovative, idea-driven, and talented one at that.
example: he loves climbing trees, so he had this thought to rig a jumpsuit with lights and climb a tree, wearing illuminated said jumpsuit, while capturing it with a long exposure shot. 
The result was this:

 
i mean. GET OUTTA HERE! right?!
amazing.
Well, Toddy has decided to get his MFA…! Unfortunately, in Buffalo, NY.
::insert sad face here::
::insert even sadder husband face here::
For his going away party, Todd asked me to mix up a cocktail in honor of the occasion.
So, of course I needed to create a unique, sweet, and spicy creation, featuring the state spirit of bourbon and some nature/earthy elements to pay homage to the man of the night.

With inspiration from a pickle recipe by favorite local chef, Edward Lee, I created the “farewell toddy punch”, because bourbon jasmine peach chili punch is just way too long. 

click through for the recipe.
and boy oh boy, we’ll miss ya Todd!

Farewell Toddy Punch

[This punch has 3 components: the tea, peach puree, and the liquor.]

1. Make the “tea”:

in a large pot, bring 16 cups of water to a simmer. 
Drop in 6 Jasmine tea bags 
2-3 Serrano Chili peppers (quartered, but seeds and all!), and 
3 star anise. 
Reduce heat and steep for about 30-45 minutes, then strain.

To the tea, Add 1 + 1/2 cups of honey, stir until dissolved, then allow the mixture to cool.


2. Peach puree

Peel and pit 4 peaches and toss into a blender with the juice of 2 lemons and blend until pureed. 
3. Liquor:
Add 1 + 1/2  700ml bottles of good ol’ kentucky bourbon (sorry for the rough measurement on this, I added one bottle, taste tested, and thought it needed some more kick to it!) Also, I used Four Roses bourbon, as i do with all my bourbon punches. No need to spring for the fancy stuff when you’re mixing with so many flavors, but you still want something with a good earthiness to it.  
Combine all parts in a large drink dispenser and chill for 4 hours, or overnight. Serve chilled over a nice giant ice cube, and think about Todd. 

  

keepin it 100

Sooooo, likeeeee, heeeey…..
I’ve been very absent this month. I wish I could say it’s going to pick up at some point, that I’ll actually have time to put all my lovely little blog ideas, photos and life documentation together, but man– my schedule is packed.
Which is good, right? 
because I’m actually living my life, instead of just documenting it…
but still. I love this little blog. few to no readers and all! 
heck, I don’t even know who reads this thing.
[  I know for a fact my own sisters rarely do!  ]
but honesty, I do it for me. To have a creative outlet, to continue to find my voice, and to appreciate and create beauty in my journey and growth.
That being said, this is my 100th post !! 
I wasn’t sure what #100 was going to look like, what I’d say, or if I would even recognize it at all. But I’ve decided that in appreciating the sparkling moments, the diamonds on the vine, if you will… #100 is certainly one of them and should be noted!
So, Happy 100th Post everyone!
In getting my Private practice off the ground, I had a sweet friend of mine take some head shots a little while back, and figured I’d share it. Brooke’s work is really amazing and she made me feel so comfortable. I suggest everyone take a head shot every few months or so… because, why not?
 
xo, A

untitled.

 
I. am. freaking. exhausted.
Clearly, from above pictured Z, he can relate. I’ve just been so cray cray busy. I’ve got a back long of posts and ideas to write and finish. But it seems I just haven’t had time to get much of anything outside of my career-expansion done.
the lack of creativity – It’s starting to weigh.
Good news is, I just got back from an amazing bachelorette weekend celebrating my dear friend Cristina in Key West. As matron of honor, I felt some pressure for planning and making sure everyone was having a good time, but overall the weekend was amazing! 
Though, not relaxing in the slightest! I guess that’s the point, yeah?! to party on down!
I will say, I AM PUMPED to not have to travel anywhere, host weekend guests, or have some major event for the next 3 weekends in a row!!
WHAAAAAAA?!?! 
I know right?! that literally has not happened in over a YEAR. 
:: yep…you read that right ::
Hopefully I can get some creative and productive juices flowing up in here!
xox

Forecastle

https://youtube.googleapis.com/v/Yhg-kycwLnE&source=uds
I. just. can’t. get. enough.
We went to the amazing Forecastle Festival two weekends ago, and man was it a good time! There were so many great bands, the weather was mostly nice, and we got to share time with sweet friends, among the booze, and tunes.
I think we may make it a regular thing each year pending the line-ups. 
(Though my feet and legs were aching for the week after.)
One of my Favorite new discoveries though had to be Johnnyswim. It’s Donna Summer’s amazingly talented daughter and her hot husband. score.