A weekend stroll and a taste of springtime

The weather has been a bit off and on lately, it went from being beautiful sunshine and seventy degree weather to being almost as cold and rainy as winter, in only a few days.  I hope that the weather makes up its mind quickly, and decides to pick a season and stick to it.  But nonetheless, mother nature mood swings and all, it definitely is beginning to look and feel like spring.  Here are some shots from a lovely weekend stroll through foggy bottom and dupont circle.  DC is a really walkable city, i often overlook this fact as i am usually in a hurry to arrive at a destination, but when i do get the chance to slow down and stray away from the beaten path (i get so accustomed to the bus routes, and tend to forget about all the streets in between) it always to be an enjoyable and quite beautiful mini-adventure.

Five Things I Love

1. My hometown

2. Stevie Nicks

3. Cophenhagen

4. Marry Poppins

5. Mom and Dad.

Happy Saturday everyone! Goodnight.

Mixed Tape no.1

Taking inspiration from one of my new favorite blogs to read, Destined to Design, I have decided to add a weekly "mixed tape" post to my blog.  Seeing as how i love posting music on my blog at random intervals, i figure this is a better and more organized way to do the same thing.  

So here it is, mixed tape #1, full of yummy tracks that i am just loving at the moment.

1. Pavement- Gold Soundz

2. Gorillaz- On Melancholy Hill

3. Chairlift- Planet Health

4. Yeasayer- Ambling Alp

5. Steely Dan- Peg

6. Miike Snow- Animal

*Click on song titles to listen to song

Love the Look...

...of these oversized coats featured on the Sartorialist.

Fashion Craving

I've been doing some online window shopping, and my fashion craving of the moment is for these perfect springtime ankle strap flats. 

Hooray for springtime and sunshine! I'm so excited for my toes and legs to get some much needed sun exposure!

all shoes from UO

Asparagus-Spinach and Gruyere Quiche

One of the easiest and yummiest things that i enjoy cooking is Quiche. It is literally SO easy, and the perfect way to use up any random vegetables you may have in the refrigerator before they go bad. All it takes is a pie crust, eggs, milk, and whatever kinds of cheese and veggies that you happen to have on hand. I tend to keep frozen whole wheat pie crusts in the freezer so that whenever i have the urge to make a quiche i'm ready to go. This time i had spinach and asparagus that were on the verge of going bad, so i bought some gruyere cheese and voila! 

Here is how it's made:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees and pre-bake a 9-inch frozen pie crust for ten minutes.  In the meantime, prepare filling: approximately 6-8 asparagus, chopped; spinach (about half a bag like the one shown above) blanched, well drained and a roughly chopped, and 3 cups grated gruyere cheese.

Now i am still experimenting with finding the perfect egg to milk ratio, different recipes will tell you different things, but this one i have found works quite well. In a bowl, combine 4 eggs, 2 cups of non-fat milk (most quiche recipes call for heavy cream, but using non-fat milk helps keep the calories down), a pinch of salt, a pinch of pepper, and a pinch of nutmeg. Mix well.

Remove the crust from the oven and fill with veggies,

Pour egg and milk mixture over the top of the veggies,

Cover with the gruyere cheese, and bake for 45 minutes to an hour, until the quiche has puffed up and browned. 

Enjoy a delicious homemade slice of quiche! And the best part (especially if you're cooking for one like me, you have leftovers for days!!)

Bon appetit!

Blog Inspiration

I spent way too many hours on polyvore last night making this and many more collages.  I really want to create a new banner for my blog, but unfortunately I'm not very skilled when it comes to all this web layout/html stuff.  I read so many other blogs that are so lovely to look at, and i get inspired to change my own. I wish they had a blogging 101 class somewhere because i would take it! Here is my attempt at internet art.

"If you're traveling in the north country fair

Where winds hit heavy on the borderline

Remember me to one who lives there

She once was a true love of mine"

Girl From The North Country - ...

I Really Wanna Go Outside

Having just started a new part-time job at American Apparel, plus interning part-time at Americans for the Arts, and babysitting, work-studying at a yoga studio, and assisting my friend who teaches ballet to groups of adorable little girls at birthday parties, my life has been quite hectic lately.  In addition, this time change keeps throwing me off and i am sad about losing the hour of sleep because i sure needed it. Anyway, things are good, life is good, and despite my sleepiness and sore feet (let me tell you i never realized how painful it could be to stand for eight hours straight!) i really do love being busy again. Here three of my momentary fave new tunes that have been keeping me chugging along. Enjoy!

Fashion Craving

Now that the sun is beginning to shine once again, the temperature is steadily rising, and spring is rapidly approaching, my bulky black and navy wool coats from winter are no longer necessary.  Thus, i have been developing a fashion craving for... a good khaki trench coat.  The trench is a fashion item that i have never owned in the past, but have always wanted to.  When i was younger i always felt that the trench was too sophisticated and "polished" look than i was after, but now that i am a "working girl," i think that a classic trench coat is an appropriate spring wardrobe staple. If i only had the monetary means to satiate this vicious fashion craving, i would be prancing cheerfully around town in my own fabulous trench.  It is definitely at the top of my "to buy when (and if ever) i have enough money to not feel guilty about shopping" list.  For now i will satisfy my desire by lusting over these wonderful examples.

Side note: Does anyone else ever share my slight tinge of jealousy towards the tall, thin, ridiculously good-looking, and fabulously dressed people who are photographed regularly on The Sartorialist?

happy spring everyone!  

Zucchini Ginger Cupcakes

My supervisor at work made these cupcakes over the weekend for a cupcake and champagne party (cute concept) that she attended.  She brought the left over cupcakes into work yesterday to share with staff, and oh my...they were delish! I made her send me the recipe right away. Seeing as i don't have a muffin tin, i will not be making these little delights anytime soon (it's probably better that way) but i just had to share the recipe so that others could enjoy the wonderful splendor of these somewhat "healthy" and oh-so-scrumptious treats. The recipe is below.

 Enjoy!

Recipe for Zucchini Ginger Cupcakes, courtesy of epicurious.

Lust-Worthy

I found this lust-worthy design over at Traditional Home, and i am completely and absolutely swooning over it.  Few things in this world make me happier than a well designed home, and this is some amazing design. I want to live inside of these pictures SO BADLY! 

absolutely in love with the adorable striped love seat, the moroccan style coffee tables, and the bright yellow lamp (it gives the room the perfect pop of color)!

i also love the black and white look of this old chair and dresser

this vanity is the perfect size and such an incredible shape, so simple and elegant. And the decorative mirror adds the perfect whimsical, girly, antique touch. So pretty!

The design of this apartment comes from a mother daughter duo based in New York.  The pictures are of the daughters (Lauren) first apartment that the pair designed together.  I find it totally impossible that anyone just out of college could have such an amazing and incredibly well decorated NY apartment as their "first nest", but needless to say i am extremely jealous! After reading this article, i went on to discover that these two ladies also have a blog, Good Bones, Great Pieces, where they talk about everything interior design. I am officially obsessed and so inspired to redecorate (but first i have to find a permanent place to call home).

 Check it out and get inspired too!