Inspired

My dear friend Ashley (who is also the most beautiful and stylish person I know) has a wonderful blog called Orchard 11. I came across this beautiful post and since copy is the best form of flattery (and I have her permission), I wanted to repost.

What a beautiful idea to keep in mind as we toil through our creative lives. And aren’t we all just beginners?

On authenticity…

This quote from independent filmmaker Jim Marmusch made me think…

Terrarium.

On a recent trip to LA for work, I spent a relaxing afternoon alone on Abbot Kinney in Venice, one of my very favorite haunts from my SoCal days. I came upon a great little shop called The Juicy Leaf, which was brimming with air plants, succulents and just about anything you could imagine for indoor and outdoor garden decor.

I found a great glass box with a hinged top, and filled it with finds from around the store. Some crushed coral for filler, two geodes, white coral, preserved moss and a spindly little air plant. I love the new habitat that now sits among favorite coffee table books, coasters and candles. It will always remind me of my lovely afternoon in Venice.

Moonrise Kingdom.

I am a huge fan of the brilliance of Wes Anderson and am ever-so-anxiously awaiting his upcoming film, “Moonrise Kingdom.” In addition to all of the standard Anderson touches (muted color palette, Jason Schwartzman, deadpan humor and my favorite, Bill Murray!), the film also features Bruce Willis, Edward Norton and Tilda Swinton.

The film is set at a sleepaway camp on an island off the coast of New England in the summer of 1965 and chronicles the story of two twelve-year-olds who fall in love, make a secret pact, and run away together into the wilderness.

Check out the trailer!

Antique Market finds.

Due to the time change, Crumb woke up earlier than usual this Sunday morning. I decided to take advantage of this rare feat and make a trip out to the Alameda Antique Fair. Since it had been raining heavily the night before, not all the vendors turned out (but neither did the crowds!). While I didn’t find the coffee table I was looking for, I did find a great antique oil painting. It was in a beautiful but boring white frame, so I jazzed it up with some turquoise paint. I think it looks quite nice… now to find a place for it!

Double Merrick Prints.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

We just received a call from Pottery Barn that our new couch is set to arrive in the next few days! I couldn’t be more excited. I’ve been searching high and low for a grouping of posters to frame on our wall over the couch, and hadn’t found anything that tickled my fancy… until now! I just purchased this set of three Double Merrick prints from Keep Calm Gallery, which are reminiscent of old French classroom wallcharts. I’m anticipating these will cost a pretty pretty to get framed (since they’re not standard sized), but the final effect I hope will be well worth it. Cheers to redecorating!

Caccio e Pepe

My soon-to-be mother in law just gave me a copy of Gweneth Paltrow’s amazing cookbook, “My Father’s Daughter” and I have fallen in love with nearly all of the recipes it contains. One dish in particular caught my eye: Caccio e Pepe. It’s a classic Roman pasta dish that is almost embarrassingly easy (and practically impossible to mess up). I always have these ingredients on hand, and it’s perfect for a weeknight meal that still feels special.

Ingredients:
3/4 lb. pasta
2 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
2/3 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese
2/3 cup finely grated Pecorino cheese
1 cup pasta water, for thinning sauce
Coarsely ground salt and black pepper to taste

Directions:
Cook the pasta in salted water until al dente. While pasta is cooking, combine olive oil, cheeses, salt and black pepper. Drain the pasta, reserving 1 cup of pasta water. Add about 1/4 cup of the water to the cheese mixture, stirring to thin the sauce. Then add the pasta and stir to combine. Thin with more water if necessary. Serve portions with a few turns of the pepper grinder on top.

**Crumb mandatory: Serve with a bottle of your favorite red wine.