7/52: Found this Week

As the weather gets nicer and nicer, my time online gets less and less. Yes! So, here is what I've found recently in the form of books. It's All Good by Gwyenth Paltrow Oh Gwyenth, so much backlash for your conscious uncoupling. But, I am not here to talk about that or how extraordinarily good looking Chris Martin looks in the Magic video! I am here to talk about this awesome cook book, It's All Good. Nate describes this book part awesome looking recipes and part GP modeling (with some awesome looking food). Gluten-dairy-meat-sugar-free goodness. See, you can live without those things and be really happy ... and look really good.

You Can Heal Your Life by Louise Hay Speaking of being really happy and looking really good. Ms. Louise Hay has some really good things to say in this classic book.

Girl Hunter by Georgia Pellegrini This one is getting me even more interested in the pursuit of bow-hunting my food. This book is intelligent, entertaining, poetic, interesting. Will I be a Yogini turned Hunter? Stranger things have happened.

6/ 52: Found This Week

We had an active week. Nate finished his second quarter of CPE at the hospital and had a few days off. So, we had our first date out since before Owen was born to Jimmy's Mak's Jazz Club on Wednesday. We went to Leach Botanical Garden on Thursday and to the Portland Children's Museum on Friday. I didn't spend really any time online, it was nice. But, here is what I did find that I'm currently obsessed with.

[vimeo 82567200 w=500 h=281] <p><a href="http://vimeo.com/82567200">AG SPRING 2014 CAMPAIGN</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/agjeans">AG Adriano Goldschmied</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p>

AG Jeans: My old friend Cyndi has the best style! I kinda idealize her home and personal style. It echoes my own, but she has it down. Feeling in a style rut after the birth of Owen, I asked her what to wear. She pointed me towards AG. I so want!

Hands Free Mama a book and blog about anyone who wants to let go of daily distraction and perfection to embrace what really matters. Um, yeah.

[vimeo 57166543 w=500 h=281] <p><a href="http://vimeo.com/57166543">The Producers - Yan</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/mrwalker">tiger in a jar</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p>

Being a Turophile. The stinkier, the better! Here's a Huffington Post article on the subject.

5/52 Found This Week

Here is what I recently found that I haven't shared with you yet. Food is kinda my main focus right now. Enjoy. Billionaire's Shortbread Anything sweet with sea salt.

Fish and Game Restaurant in the Hudson Valley. Beautiful site full of inspiring deliciousness. I've been rummaging around here all week!

Hinoki & The Bird Short Rib recipe also from Food and Wine Magazine.

Thomas Keller's Carrot Cake Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting. These are so good and you can even eat them for breakfast. Here is the recipe from Ad Hoc at Home.

Cupcakes 2 cups cake flour 1 tsp baking powder 1 tsp baking soda 2 tsp ground cinnamon 4 large eggs 1/4 cup whole milk 2 tsp vanilla extract 1 cup sugar 1 cup brown sugar 1 cup canola oil (you could use coconut oil) 3 cups shredded carrots 1 1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Cream Cheese Frosting 1 1/2 lb cream cheese at room temperature 1/2 lb (2 sticks) unsalted butter cut into chunks at room temperature 1 1/2 cup powdered sugar 1 tsp vanilla extract

Preheat the over to 350. Line 24 cupcake cups with paper liners. Sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and cinnamon. Set aside. (In a the bowl of a mixer fitted with the paddle) beat the eggs, milk, vanilla, and both sugar until smooth. Mix in carrots and 1 cup of the walnuts. Divide the batter among the lined cupcake cups. Bake for 10 minutes. Rotate the pan and bake for another 10 minutes or until a toothpick/folk comes out clean. Remove cupcakes and let cool on a cooling rack (you'll want them to cool outside of the pan. Meanwhile, beat the cream cheese on medium until smooth. Add the butter, mix until smooth. Add the powdered sugar, the the vanilla. Scrape down the sides and beat for 30 seconds on high speed. Spread the tops of the cooled cupcakes and sprinkle with the remaining walnuts. They are best if eaten that day.

4/52 Found This Week

I have been finding so many wonderful things lately! All that I have found and gathered has inspired a whole mess of new blog posts which I will be rolling out soon. In the mean time, here is a small (small) sampling of what I found this week, and last. Enjoy! Oh Martha Stewart you crazy beautiful b*%#h. Why is everything you make and do so perfect? I can always trust that if I follow one of your recipes it will turn out just perfectly. As I am so very sure that you are a perfectionist, I pray that you also have some fun! I sure did while making and enjoying your recipe for Chocolate Chip Cookies and Vanilla Tea Cake from Martha Stewart Living.

My dear friend Sonja and her wonderful husband Todd have been doing to awesome personal work. I love it when we dive deeper into our own selves! She sent me a values questionnaire which I will be answering soon.

Brendan is now 2 years and 7 month old, what!? He is so full of Coyote energy, always getting into trouble and being very creative in his play. Nate found this article on messy play. We are going to get messy, on purpose, soon.

Ayurveda is clear in its care for breast feeding mamas. I have been doing my best to incorporate these suggestions into the mix.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xap-K_N7OoQ&w=560&h=315]

Intuos creative stylus. I really want one!

A Daily Something blog so lovely and kinfolk-esque. Rebecca's blog is becoming one of my favorites - I have definitely added it to my collection. Thanks Rebecca!

European design blogs like Fantastic Frank (how cool is that name?). Some are out of my league style wise, but I love. Some favorite theme findings I am seeing: soft greys, white, the ocean, natural light, splashes of color, natural elements and of course, Kinfolk.

Lattes. I've been having a really strong craving for lattes. Nate's new coffee making geek-ery tools. New bowls from anthropologie, a desire for a vacation in France?

Madwell brand clothing specifically the oversized shirt look. Oh comfortable clothing, I swoon for you.

3/52 Found This Week

Localmilkblog.com and a recipe for vegan(izable) chocolate truffles. The blog is gorgeous, blogger Beth Kirby's writing in poetic, image invoking and inspiring in a sort of exotic i-can-see-your-dreams kind of a way. I'll be checking this one out on a regular basis for sure. I went to Whole Foods yesterday and got all the ingredients to make the truffles. Beth describes them as  "sensual pleasures that are good for you, that build you up, are basically the holy grail of pleasures...Old power. Deep roots that tend on down. These are bites that taste of the way the world is stitched. They taste like good karma, like floating in the milky way." That is beautiful. I'm so excited to try them out!

In February's Food and Wine magazine (thanks Casey for the subscription!), I came across a receipt for cultered butter that I'd really like to try. It seems easy enough - famous last words. I'll show you what happened when I do.

Portland Apothecary I really love the word "apothecary" but this site is clean, beautiful and really makes me want to spend time outside wildcrafting and mixing healing herbs. I've been enjoying and getting inspiration from the beauty of the site. The products are expertly formulated and I would be proud to display in my own kitchen apothecary (which is still in a box in the garage from our move, pity).

ah Paris I get really excited about fashion exactly two times per year, once in the fall with New York Fashion week and once in the Spring with Paris Fashion Week. I love Paris in the Springtime, don't you?

The Animal Print Shop. Adorable! Art for the nursery/little kids room.

More next week. I'm really enjoying collecting!