Friday, April 29, 2011

Link Love and Lovelies


With everyone in the States LOSING IT over the Royal Wedding in England, I'd thought it would be nice to take a glance back at another nuptial that had the world holding its breath: the wedding of Grace Kelly to Prince Rainier III of Monaco.  Even though this wedding took place in the 50s, Princess Grace is still used as the picture of bridal perfection today.  Just see how often Kate Middleton is compared to her in the next few days!

Here are a few spots around the internet that are a happy distraction from the media onslaught of the Royal Wedding today! (Although, I must say Kate looked stunning!) 

Hope you have a lovely and inspired weekend!
xo.

Thursday, April 28, 2011

Paris: Exploring the Sacré-Cœur

Is it summer yet?  The hail/snow/wind/rain dealio we've got going on right now in Utah is a little crazy.  I'm ready for vacation weather!  I'm taking a little vacation back to Paris today, just as a little mid-week pick-me-up!  It's so crazy that I have almost our entire trip in Paris to still blog about!  So I thought I'd start back at the Basilique du Sacré-Cœur, a beautiful church nestled atop the highest hill of Montmartre (and of Paris.)
 
When we first arrived in Paris, our plan was to take the Metro from the airport to the center of the Red Light district, where we had found a hostel.  Unfortunately, we had chosen a weekend that the Metro was closed from the airport to the city for construction!  Shug and I speak only the crudest of French, so figuring out the logistics of getting from the airport into town was a bit of a challenge...and it took us hours longer than we had anticipated.  A few buses and Metro trains later we were spit out into the beating heart of the Red Light district, with our huge, annoying backpacks and incredibly lost looks on our faces. 
We actually had pretty amazing directions from the hostel, so after a bit of a walk we found ourselves at the base of the huge hill the Sacré-Cœur was built on.  While our hostel had only the barest of amenities, the view from our rooftop was breathtaking!  We had a full view of the Sacré-Cœur!
 After an amazing meal at a little cafe (next to the brattiest American teenagers on the planet), Shug and I decided to turn in for the night.  The next day we explored the Sacré-Cœur and Montmartre.  We had to sneak pictures of the interior, but it looked like we weren't the only ones with that idea!  I felt that if I didn't use the flash, I could be forgiven for breaking the rules!
A word of advice, if you ever are lucky enough to find yourself in Paris, don't visit the Sacré-Cœur (or Montmartre, for that matter) on a Sunday.  It was literally crawling with people!  I tried to snap a few shots of the chaos, but most of the time I was just trying to enjoy the view while Photoshopping all the people out of my way with my imagination.
Even with all of the people, Shug and I managed to have an amazing first day in Paris!  The Sacré-Cœur was so beautiful and such a great place to visit to start our adventure in this amazing city!

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Fashion Bite: Mustard

I am usually powerless when it comes to a lovely mustard yellow.
 Be it in fashion or print form, I am all about mustard yellow!
This hip purse (also known as a kick-ass fanny pack!) was made for me!
Or what about this fringed skirt?  Wouldn't this look so cute with a grey tank?
 These simple enameled disc earrings would be perfect for everyday!

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Jumping Back In.

Yesterday was a big day for me.  This is the last week of classes for my master's degree before graduation and I found out I was accepted to another master's program.  The program is another two years of insane coursework and, of course, tuition. 

I spent the entire day with my stomach on knots.  It was a crazy-competitive program and I got accepted!  But how could I ask Shug to take on another 2 years of lean living and stress?  This program is in an ever-expanding field, but I have a degree in hand that could lead to lucrative jobs in a sadsack economy.  I was so looking forward to not being in school, yet I was mourning my last days of academic discussion and discourse.  This program is something I really want to do.  And be good at.

Two years is such a loooong time, but it seems really short in the grand scheme of things.  Student loans are the bane and the lifeblood of my education.  I worried that my brain isn't going to be as sharp as it needs to be with the difficult coursework, but I feel I can work my butt off to get it to the level it needs to be.  I pretty much worried about everything.

So I jumped back in.  I accepted the position this morning and I start in the fall.  Two more years, or 21 months if we want to be exact, and then, maybe then, I'll be ready for adulthood;)!  Have you ever taken a leap in a different direction?  I only want to hear the positive stories;)!

Monday, April 25, 2011

Music Monday: The Black Angels

 
It took me a little while to come around to The Black Angels.
It may have been their instant listen-ability,
their popularity,
or their tight leather pants that kept me away.

Well, it's all those things that are keeping me around now!

I love their throwback sound and I'm sure you will, too!

Friday, April 22, 2011

Link Love and Lovelies

 
Happy Earth Day!
We should all try to spend this weekend doing 
one or two things to lessen our impact on our planet.

I like this clip because it shows the interconnectedness of people.
If we can think a step further about how our actions effect
the environment, it would be that much easier for us to 
start changing some of our less eco-friendly beavior.

Here is a clip-heavy link love and lovelies for the week!

~ I cried watching this.
~ Still loving on Oh Land.  And that sweater!
~ This old guy really knows how to let loose!
~ Gah!
~ This little girl is the best!  And the song, oh lord, this song.  Love.
~ I love Radiohead, but this still makes me laugh so hard!

Have a green weekend!
xo.

Thursday, April 21, 2011

Bonus: Oh Land

 

Seriously.
Amazing voice.
Amazing style.
Amazing song.

And she's Swedish.

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Deerface

These prints from Deerface would be perfect to hang in
a hallway or entryway.

Lovely, sweet, and a little sinister!

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Recipe of the Weeks: The BEST Gluten-Free AND Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies

Having to eat gluten-free means I've had my fair share of mediocre (and sometimes downright nasty) cookies.  Not being able to eat wheat meant I had to give up one of my most favorite foods on the planet: perfect chocolate chip cookies my old roommate, 11, used to make.  11's chocolate chip recipe was usually tripled and the roommates chose to nourish themselves on these magical cookies for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and our obligatory midnight snacks.  It was chocolate chip cookie nirvana = the perfect combination of chewy and crunchy.

After being diagnosed with Celiac's Disease, these cookies were on the roster of things I could never touch again.  My stomach cried for weeks over this loss.  After that it was one dry, crumbly, gluten-free cookie after the other....Until I found Erin McKenna's recipe for gluten-free and vegan chocolate chip cookies!

My first few attempts with her recipe were great: delicious and definitely worth the cost of the cookbook alone, but the texture and taste were still a little bit less than "the best."  So after multiple batches of this recipe with a few of my own tweaks, I've finally figured out the alchemy behind the BEST gluten-free and vegan chocolate chip cookie!

The Best Gluten-Free and Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies
Modified from Erin McKenna's babycakes Cookbook
Makes ~28 cookies
Ingredients:
1 cup melted coconut oil (just portion out and zap in the microwave to melt)
1 pre-packaged 4 ounce unsweetened applesauce cup, I like Santa Cruz Organics
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
1 1/4 cups evaporated cane juice
2 cups Bob's Red Mill Gluten-Free All Purpose Baking Flour
1/4 cup flax meal ground from fresh flax seed
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons xanthan gum
1 cup vegan chocolate chips

Preheat your oven to 325 degrees.  If you have a convection bake option, now's the time to use it!  Line two cookie sheets with parchment paper.  Be sure not to use wax paper!  Also, for those of you bakers who swear by your Silpat, don't whip it out this time.  For some reason the parchment paper helps with crisping up the edges of the cookie perfectly while absorbing a little of the coconut oil.

A note about measuring: use your "dry measuring cups" (what you'd use to measure the flour or sugar) for your liquids (like your coconut oil) in this recipe!  Using a "wet measuring cup" screws up the proportions!

You need two larger bowls for this recipe, so start with your wet ingredients in one and dry in the other.  In the dry bowl add your Bob's Red Mill flour, flax meal, baking soda, and xanthan gum.  *A side note on the flax seed: I had used pre-ground seed and it left my cookies tasting a little bitter.  I found a great way to combat this is to grind your flax seed right before you use them!  Either in a dry blender or a clean coffee grinder, pulse until the seeds are powdery and light.  Be sure to measure ~1/3 cup to grind, since some of the seeds will get stuck to the blade and sides.  Of course, only use 1/4 in your recipe;)!*

In the other bowl, combine the melted coconut oil, applesauce, salt, vanilla extract, and evaporated cane juice (another tip: if you want to save a little moolah and are are ok with using refined sugar you can replace the evaporated cane juice with sugar!  The amount is the same and our bodies and tongues really can't tell the difference between the two!)  Mix until the sugar begins to dissolve.  Add the dry ingredients to the wet and combine with a rubber spatula until well combined.  Fold in the chocolate chips and incorporate into the mixture well.

Using a tablespoon, portion out a heaping scoop and shape lightly into a ball on your parchment paper.  Don't crowd these little puppies, they realllllllly spread out when baking!  I suggest no more than 9 cookies per 14x17 inch cookie sheet.  Place on the middle and bottom racks of your oven and bake for 9 minutes.  Then rotate the sheets 180 degrees and switch the pans on the racks (the bottom pan goes to the top rack and vice versa for the remainder of the baking time.)  Bake for another 6-7 minutes until the edges of the cookies are slightly crisp and starting to turn golden.  The centers should still be soft!

Remove from the oven and let cool on the cookie sheet for an additional 10 minutes then remove with a spatula to a wire rack to cool completely!  You can store these in an airtight container for up to 4 days OR you can freeze them for up to two months!  Enjoy your perfect chocolate chip cookie!

Just this.


That's all:).

Monday, April 18, 2011

Music Monday: Deerhunter

 
One of the best shows I've ever had the privilege of attending 
was the Pitchfork Music Festival in Chicago. 
The first year I attended, I somehow got separated from my friends 
and ended up in the front row of this amazing DJ named Diplo.

A cute boy had told me to make an effort to check Diplo out.
I was not sorry.

I attended the festival the following year with that cute boy and we
were able to see one of our favorite bands live for the first time: Deerhunter!

This clip is a great marriage of the talents of Deerhunter and Diplo.

Speaking of that, I married the cute boy.
His taste in music was too good to let go;)!

Friday, April 15, 2011

Link Love and Lovelies

Did this week just seem like a bunch of Mondays in a row?  It sure did to me!
Shug and I are looking forward to attending a gallery opening tonight 
with Supermodel and BBF!
The last installation we went to was kinda crazy, but it was still fun!

Here is some link love and lovelies that have inspired me this week:

~ Hands down, the most beautiful boy in the world.

~ Speaking of the most beautiful boy, a great piece on gender-specific fashion.

~ Pretty much all I want to be as an older woman!  She's amazing!

~ I want to spray paint these gold and hang them above our front door!

~ Serious girlcrush happening over here...!

~ Loving this outfit.  And that orange clutch!

~ Being an icon seems all about being yourself.

Have a sunny weekend!
xo.

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Little Things That Make Me Happy

In no particular order:
Essie Clambake nail polish.  Holla!
 Soy lattes.  With cinnamon sprinkles!
 Using coupons or promo codes!  Here's one for serum at Sephora! SHRINK

Speaking of Sephora, I love highlighter for the face! 
I use it on my cheekbones and under my eyebrows
to add a little "light" to my face!
My dorky glasses make me happy!

What little things brighten up your day?

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Fashion Bite: Red Jeans

I have a serious hankering for some red jeans this summer!
They've got to be skinny, ankle-length, and BRIGHT!

I thought I had found my perfect pants form Urban Outfitters,
but when they came in the mail the jeans were decidedly RUST, not RED.

The search continues.
If only these EmersonMade jeans were in my budget!

Monday, April 11, 2011

Music Monday: Radiohead

 
This album has been on repeat in the 'Teef household for weeks!
I am always amazed by the level of beauty, intricacy, and innovation 
Radiohead delivers with every new album.

When I was in Chile, for my study abroad, I braved the bustle of 
downtown Valparaiso and bought the just-released Amnesiac album.
It was the first time out of the U.S. and I didn't speak a word of Spanish.

That album was all this homesick and lonely girl needed.
I used to fall asleep, night after night, to Pyramid Song.
It was just the familiarity I craved.

 
I hope you have a lovely week!
xo.

Friday, April 8, 2011

Link Love and Lovelies

Hooray for Friday!  I'm so glad it's finally here!  Even though there's snow outside, Shug and I are going to try to have a "just us" weekend.  In all of our busy-ness, we haven't gotten to spend more than a few hours together at a time for weeks!  We were planning on long walks with Ruby, but our walks may be turned into an independent movie or two at our favorite local theatre!  We may work on a few projects around the house and I hope we go to brunch, too!

Here is some loveliness for the weekend:

~ LOVElovelove this girl's style. And her bangs!
~ This is how I remember Kurt Cobain.
~ Lovely magazine!
~ I could wear pretty much everything in this fall collection!
~ Great way to figure out what to read next!
~ Lovely and thoughtful wedding gift.
~ Cutest little bikini!

I hope you have a lovely weekend!
xo.

Thursday, April 7, 2011

Ruby Thursday


This puppy had me wrapped around her little paw.  She's pretty well-behaved, is 99% house trained, and she can smile!  She likes to snuggle to the point of smooshing you off the couch, but she's not a huge fan of being petted.  You better be scratchin' if you want her to stay still!

Ruby has a goofy personality and I'm pretty sure she's the best dog in the universe.  (Totally biased statement, I know!)  The thing is, I know she gets kind of lonesome during the week when Shug and I are away at work.  We've been talking about finding her a brother or sister, but we're also scared that we won't love the new pup as much as we love Rubes!  Dilemma.

Do any of you have two pets?  How do they (and you!) get along?
I'd love to hear what you think!

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Triangles



Here, here, and here.


Ooooh! And here!

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Acceptance

 

There is something unsettling about listening to models talk about their insecurities.  It seems like it is just a glimpse into a life style that is completely governed by something almost completely out of a person's control: their body.  

Yes, we can treat our bodies well with exercise and healthy foods, but I'm 5'7'' and there is absolutely nothing I can do about it.  I could get numerous plastic surgeries to my visage, but I will never have the bone structure of Giselle.  I can wish for the ebony complexion of Alek Wek, but I am stuck with my freckled pale skin.  Models have won (and lost, depending on how you look at it) the genetic roulette - they can make money off of these genetic abnormalities, but they are also prey to an industry that is as unforgiving as it is harsh.

I appreciated this clip for the fact that it references all of these issues: being different, inheriting traits that are marketable, and insecurities that come along with just not being a model, but being a woman.  

I tweeted about "throwing a party for my muffin top" yesterday and it was interesting to see how it was taken!  Instead of me hating on my muffin top, I'm going to learn how to dress to work with my curves.  Instead of vowing to change what isn't looked at as "beautiful," I'm going to embrace what makes me ME and appreciate all of the traits I really like (like my feet!)

What are some of your favorite traits?  It doesn't even have to be a body part, because we all know how a great sense of humor or an amazing brain can make a person attractive! 

Monday, April 4, 2011

Music Monday: Warpaint

It is a cold and snowy Monday here in Utah.  
I hope this is the last of the cold weather before Spring really arrives!

To make this Monday a little less jarring, here is a quiet and beautiful video from Warpaint.  
I can't wait for camping and campfire season to start!


Friday, April 1, 2011

No Joke. Promise.


While there are many April Fool's jokes making their obligatory rounds, I wanted to use this first day of April to start a new link-love feature!  This is a collection of things that inspire, nourish, or are just plain pretty.  I hope you like it! 

~Dying over this French-chic spring collection.

~If you DO want to partake in the April 1st Foolery!

~Absolutely heading to the hardware store this weekend!

~An easy and insanely thoughtful homemade gift.

~Still on the fence personally, but love the look of these pretty dresses.

~I want this bench in my house!

~Beautiful and piercing

I hope you have a sunny and warm weekend, wherever you are! xo.
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