an august evening.

on the table. salad nicoise.

on the turn table. Harvest by Neil Young. 

on the agenda. a trestle walk.

happy eatings & cheers!

the dead weather.

The Dead Weather is not a new band or anything...but they are still super cool. I'm just sayin' that blaring Sea of Cowards with your windows down makes you feel pretty damn cool. So if you're looking for some great summer music, this winning Jack White/Alison Mosshart combination is totally brilliant. If you already love them, well, then you probably know what I am talking about. 

happy listening & cheers!

my summer list.

favorite summer foods.

Strawberries. Pike's strawberries from here in Farmington. They are little bursts of sunshine.

Fulfilling salads. Checkout my summer salad favorites for some easy, minimal cooking, meals everyone will like.

Tomatoes. I use cherry tomatoes to make a lovely sauce that is perfect on zucchini, eggplant or pasta. It also freezes nicely so if you have an abundance of cherry tomatoes--go for it & make a big batch. 

adult beverages.

Brews. This summer I am not only in love with the label of The Atlantic Brewing CO.'s Summer Ale, but the the taste just says summer.

A Versatile Wine. A Verdejo form Spain is always lovely in the summer. It is light, not too sweet & usually reasonably priced.

Getting Creative. Jediah uses this lovely pitcher filled with ice to keep his over-sized beer cool. I have even stolen the idea, but with a different pitcher--I don't want to be a hater.

sunscreen & beach garb.

Sunscreen is an absolute must, not only in the summer, but throughout the whole year. Since my skin is super sensitive, I usually opt for something labeled "baby," like this one from Aveeno.

Protecting my lips is also key, so I have been using Kiss My Face Lip Balm with SPF15 in a minty flavor.

I also opted for a classic black one-piece LLBean bathing suit this year.

This last picture is of my new favorite summer hair...first of all, thanks mom for helping execute it, second of all it is easy after a couple of tries. I got the idea from the Madewell Blog where they show you how to do it. 

my must-see summer flicks.

Moonrise Kingdom directed by Wes Anderson

To Rome with Love directed by Woody Allen. 

The Dark Night Rises directed by Christopher Nolan.

Lawless directed by John Hillcoat

it's the time-of-the-season for outdoor concerts. we all have to get to a few...

Backstage at a moe. concert. 

most importantly, summer is an excuse to spend more time with people I xoxo.

happy summer & cheers!

girls night in.

23 February 2012

Last night I was up to my own devices. For dinner I made tomato basil risotto. Risotto is one of my favorite, favorite meals. This recipe is from Jamie Does...The basic risotto recipe (or risotto bianco) is here, on Jamie Oliver's website.

Tomato Basil Sauce.

olive oil

2 cloves garlic, grated

1 1/2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved

4 basil leaves, finely chopped

sea salt & cracked pepper

--Add to a pan on medium-low heat for about 5-8 minutes. 

--Add to the risotto bianco in the end stage (when you add the butter & parmesan).

For a side, I popped some asparagus under a preheated broiler with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil, maldon sea salt, cracked pepper & finished with a squeeze of lemon. Cook until tender & golden, less then 10 minutes.

I blasted some Adele (her album 21) while I made dinner. Her songs are so addicting & her voice is so killer. Side note: She is also on the cover of the March 2012 issue of Vogue.

With a glass of white wine in hand, I watched Jean Luc Goddard's Pierrot le fou. The French New Wave film is like a Post-Structuralist Bonnie & Clyde with dreamy Southern France landscapes & blissful color imagery. Plus, Anna Karina's wardrobe is enviable & completely adorable. 

happy eatings, listenings, watchings & cheers!

little joy.

photo credit

Little Joy, although not a particularly new band, feels like a breath of fresh air during the severe New England cold. The Brazilian-American indie group is composed of Fabrizio Moretti from the Strokes, Binki Shapiro & Rodrigo Amarante from the band Los Hermanos. They have this great So-Cal indie vibe, infused with the influence of the Strokes & a dash of Astrud Gilberto.

I can't stop listening to their easy, breezy self-titled album. It reminds me of sunny afternoons, drinking wine outdoors & laughing with your pals--who doesn't want to think of that when your staring out the frosty window!

happy listening & cheers!

merry music.

26 November 2011

Thanksgiving is over & the Christmas season has begun (although I am still feeling thankful & all). Here are some of my favorite Christmas albums that make me feel all warm & cozy inside. Hope you enjoy!

1. A Christmas Together by John Denver & the Muppets

Probably one of my most favorite & sentimental Christmas albums. Can not go wrong with the Muppets.

2. Season's Greetings by moe.

Some great classics & a couple newbies & a really rocked-out version of "Oh, Hanukah".

3. James Taylor at Christmas by James Taylor

His voice is like honey, right? I love his version of "Auld Lang Syne".

4. A Very She and Him Christmas by She & Him

This is a new favorite. 

5. A Charlie Brown Christmas by Vince Guaraldi Trio

It does not get any more classic than this album. 

happy listenings & cheers!

an autumn dinner party playlist.

24 October 2011

As you can probably tell, Autumn is my favorite time of year. There are songs that just say "Autumn" to me. Here is a list of some of my new & old favorites that I think work really well together & would compliment the atmosphere at any dinner party this time of year.

I hope you can see the autumnal light, hear the crunch of the leaves & enjoy these songs as much I do.

The Playlist. 

1. The Strokes "Whatever Happened" on their album Room on Fire.
2. Alex Turner's "Piledriver Waltz" for the Submarine soundtrack.
3. Arcade Fire "Wasted Hours" from their latest album The Suburbs.
4. The Kinks "Daylight" from the album Preservation: Act 1.
5. The White Stripes "We are Going to Be Friends" on the album White Blood Cells.
6. Nico "These Days" from the album Chelsea Girl.
7.  Jenny & Johnny "Big Wave" from their debut album I'm Having Fun Now.
8. Coconut Records "I am Young" from the album Davy
9. She & Him covering "Fools Rush In"
10. The Beatles "Good Night" from The White Album.

happy eatings, listenings, hosting & cheers!

coconut records.

21 June 2011

Looking for some fun summer jams? Well, Coconut Records has got it goin' on. Super fun California-indie sounds fused with Beach Boys-esque grooves are perfect for summer days & get to-gethers. Jason Schwartzman leads the creative genius to perfection.

"West Coast" is from Coconut Records first album Nighttiming. Caution: it is crazy addictive. I could listen to it a million times in a row (I probably have in the privacy of my own car). The music video features classic street skater Mark Gonzales making the song even more dope!

Not only is Schwartzman super talented (you know--the acting & the music & all) he also is a happy eater. This informational video is from Plate to Planet: a farm sanctuary project (you can also go to the farm sanctuary website for additional information). It discusses the cruelty of factory farming, food safety, general health for animals, people & the environment. The point is, that our consumer choices make a difference.

Give it a watch, it is not long & is informational & easy to relate to.

happy listening & cheers!