rifle paper co. wallpaper

Rifle Paper Co. wallpaper is here! They have partnered with Hygge & West to create a collection of six wallpaper patterns, with each available in 4-5 colorways. And of course, they're amazing.

I have literally been counting down the days until these were released, even though I'm really in no position to be putting up wallpaper in my rental. That won't stop me from daydreaming about which patterns I would choose for my future dream house though...

Not surprisingly, the florals are right on point. Two of Rifle's iconic floral prints were included in the collection, Peonies and Rosa. My landlord couldn't possibly get mad if I covered my walls in something this gorgeous, right?!

I was a bit surprised by how much I am in love with the patterns available on a black background, like the Pineapple and the Queen Anne. I'm usually drawn to lighter colors, but I can't resist the high contrast with that metallic gold! They're so moody and dramatic! I think these would be perfect for a small powder room. Or the world's prettiest closet. 

Someone with kids needs to get the Safari print installed tout de suite! Just look at that little elephant!

Check out Hygge & West for the full collection. For fellow renters out there (or those afraid of commitment), they do sell some removable wallpaper tiles. No Rifle prints yet, but there are some good options (my fave is the Otomi). Hygge & West, if you're reading, maybe you could offer removable options in some of the Rifle prints? Pretty please??


[All images via Hygge & West]

monday links

Happy Monday! Hope you all had a relaxing Memorial Day. Now that summer is officially here, it's time to start thinking about BBQs! And you know what that means- BBQ cook-offs! Check out my post on hosting a cook-off here, as well the re-cap of our Burger Cook-off from last year. And don't forget the homemade trophy!

The Summer Oh Joy for Target line launched yesterday! I checked it out at my local Target yesterday and immediately wanted to have a picnic. Think I'm going to have to order one of these super cute insulated totes (they were already sold out at my Target!).

Oh hey, Beyonce, you like kale, too? Omg, we have so much in common!
Check out Suburban Riot for your own Kale shirt, as well as other clever tees.


[Oh Joy for Target photo via Oh Joy, Beyonce photo via Suburban Riot]

pasta with yogurt, peas, and chile

It's English pea season! If you can get your hands on some fresh peas, you should make this pasta. Even if you have to use frozen peas, you should still make this pasta. If you thought pesto couldn't be improved upon, this yogurt sauce may be a contender. It's pesto's lighter, creamier cousin (that also has a bit of a spicy side!). Trust me, it's delicious. So, so delicious.

If you need any further convincing, just read Molly's description on Orangette. I'm not alone in my love for this pasta.

Pasta with Yogurt, Peas, and Chile
Adapted from Jerusalem, by Yotam Ottolenghi and Sami Tamimi

This recipe originally calls for the garlic to be added to the yogurt sauce raw, but I like to heat it briefly to calm down the bite a bit (am I the only one that finds myself tasting nothing but raw garlic for hours after I eat it?).

2 ½ cups (500 g) whole-milk Greek yogurt
2/3 cup (150 ml) olive oil, divided
2 medium cloves garlic, crushed or pressed
1 pound (500 g) fresh or thawed frozen peas
Kosher salt
1 pound (500 g) small pasta shapes such as conchiglie or orecchiette (my favorite is campanelle)
Scant ½ cup (60 g) pine nuts
2 teaspoons Turkish or Syrian chile flakes, or red pepper flakes
1 2/3 cups (40 g) basil leaves, coarsely torn
6-8 ounces (240 g) feta cheese, coarsely crumbled

Bring a large pot of well-salted water to a boil. Add the pasta, and cook until it is al dente.

While the pasta cooks, warm 4 tablespoons (60 ml) of the olive oil in a small frying pan over medium heat. Add the garlic and saute briefly, just 30 seconds or so until fragrant, you don't want it to brown at all. Scoop out the garlic and set aside, then continue to warm the olive oil. Add the pine nuts and chile flakes, and cook for 4 minutes, or until the pine nuts are golden and the oil is deep red.

In the bowl of a food processor, combine the yogurt, 6 tablespoons (90 ml) of the olive oil, the garlic, and 2/3 cup (100 g) of the peas. Process to a uniform pale green sauce.

Warm the remaining peas in some boiling water (I usually just throw them in with the pasta for the last minute or two of coooking); then drain.

Drain the cooked pasta into a colander, and shake it well to get rid of excess water that may have settled into the pasta’s crevices. Add the pasta gradually to the yogurt sauce; adding it all at once may cause the yogurt to separate. Add the warm peas, the basil, feta, and 1 teaspoon kosher salt. Toss gently. Serve immediately, with pine nuts and chile oil spooned over each serving.

Enjoy!

monday links

Happy Monday! How was your weekend? I helped throw a graduation party for my friend Kait (photos to come!), and I've been working on organizing our spare bedroom to make it more of a functional office. I still have a ways to go before it can really be called anything other than "the room where we stash all our crap and close the door" though. 

Fashionable Selby is my new favorite coffee table book. Like the other books in his series, Todd Selby gives you a behind-the-scenes peak into the studios and lives of a really interesting mix of fashion designers, stylists, shoemakers, and more. This book is like an explosion of inspiration- I feel like I could look at the photos over and over and still notice something new each time. 

How rad is this banana-themed birthday party from The Alison Show?! I love her creative use of relatively simple paper decorations (the Arrested Development banana stand reference might be my favorite part!). She really knows how to take a theme and run with it- even if she does spell Allison wrong ;)

The Songza playlist Good Ol' Timey Eatin' is full of fun and hilarious old songs about food. Great for a listen while you're making dinner. Plus, it features this gem from Doris Day, a.k.a my new theme song. Lyrics don't get much better than, "Must admit your kisses would be missed, but how in the world could I exist without tacos, enchiladas, and beans", amiright??

[top two photos from the Fashionable Selby, banana party photo from The Alison Show, taco photo from Chow]

monday links

Happy (day after) Mother's Day! Hope all you mamas out there had a fantastic weekend filled with family- and beautiful flowers!

I am in love with Gray Malin's photography. His photographs a bit pricey, but I may just have to save up to invest in one because they are so, so gorgeous! The only problem will be deciding on which one. I love the colors in all his beach photography, the Antarctica series is both breath-taking and hilarious, and how can you not love these llamas? Warning: the Dolce Vita series will really make you want to go on vacation. The series he's currently shooting features a rainbow of dyed sheep! Whaat?!

A Cup of Jo featured a great round-up last week of sources for affordable art. She featured some great sites and artists I hadn't seen before. They've got me itching for some new art for my walls! I'm quite smitten with this painting "Married to the Sea" by Clare Elsaesser. 

There's a heat wave coming to the Bay Area this week! They're saying it could be 90 degrees on Tuesday! I'm thinking this might be the time to finally bust out my Zoku and make some popsicles with all the great fruit that showed up at the market this week. These recipes for boozy popsicles sound amazing, as does the raspberries and cream recipe from the People's Pops book. Bring on summer!


[Flower photo via Once Wed, Coogee Beach photo by Gray Malin, Married to the Sea photo by Clare Elsaesser, popsicle photo from Green Wedding Shoes]

grocery store bouquets

Planning on buying flowers for Mother's Day? I'm here to help with a guide for giving flowers this Sunday- or really any time you want to brighten someone's day!

If you're looking to get creative and save some cash, it is possible to put together a pretty bouquet using grocery store flowers. All it takes to make them look great is a little forethought and a few extra minutes of work.

Read on for the how-to:

monday links

Happy Cinco de Mayo! Who's ready for a margarita? I love this festive tabletop from Dish Wish Events! Be sure to follow them on Instagram for more great tabletop inspiration.

No one around here was surprised by this NY Times article comparing Oakland to Brooklyn. In fact, the only thing surprising is that it was just published this week. I feel like I've been reading versions of this article for the last 5 years- usually the NY Times isn't so late to the party.

Delancey, the second book from Molly Wizenberg (of the lovely blog Orangette) comes out tomorrow. I can't wait to get my hands on a copy! I loved her first book, and all it's many delicious recipes, so I'm sure Delancey will not disappoint. You can order a signed copy here.

Did you hear that we may have reached peak beard? A new study has found that now that dudes everywhere are sporting huge lumberjack beards, clean shaven men are going to start to be perceived as more attractive. What do you think? Are you pro-beard? I'm a little dubious that guys who have gotten used to not shaving are going to be rushing to the store to buy a new razor...


[Tabletop photo from Dish Wish, Oakland photos by Thor Swift for the NY Times, Delancey photo by Molly Wizenberg for Orangette, Tom Hanks photo via NY mag]

gift guide: mother's day

Though I'm not a mom yet myself, I have it on pretty good authority that what moms really want on Mother's Day is to spend time with their families and to be reminded of how much they are loved. Of course, a little pampering never hurt anyone. You don't necessarily have to spend a lot, but putting an extra bit of effort in will go a long way towards showing mom how much you care. 

Read on for gifts for all the moms in your life:

bookstore day

Saturday, May 3rd is California Bookstore Day! Support your local independent bookstore while enjoying author appearances, readings, and prizes! I'm most excited about the exclusive selection of books and art pieces that have been created especially for the event (and will only be available Saturday). I'm intrigued by this two-foot-tall book from McSweeney's:

I'd also like to check out this Don Delillo stencil:

Check the directory to find a participating bookstore in your area. Yay book party!


[photos from CA Bookstore Day]