lip-smacking good: orange pineapple berry smoothie

This morning I threw every fruit I'd want in a smoothie into the blender. As I expected, something very tasty came out.  Here's my recipe of sorts.

Do you create your own smoothie recipes?  What smoothie combinations have you experimented with?

navy blazer -- 3 ways

navy blazer -- 3 ways 

I love the versatility of a navy blazer.  Here are three ways I would wear mine.  Do you own a navy blazer?  How do you wear it?

before and after: bar cart

 When I moved into my new place, I had the need for more kitchen storage.  I decided a bar cart would give me the versatility and mobility and display space I wanted in my extra storage.  Not ready to drop the cash for a bar cart worthy of Domino, I settled on a cheap, but sturdy brass bar cart at a thrift store.  As you can see from the "before" photo, the bar cart was in dire need of a facelift.

After scouring the web for contact paper or wallpaper in a design I liked, I found contact paper  with a brass-colored bamboo design at TJ Maxx.  While there were a few designs I liked better, I couldn't argue with the sub $10 price tag of the bamboo paper. 

If you want to similarly change the surface look of your bar cart:

1.  Thoroughly clean your bar cart.
2.  Carefully measure the shelves to be covered. Use kraft paper to make a pattern for your surfaces.
3.  Cut kraft paper to size using measurements, and place on shelves of bar cart to ensure that pattern      fits the surface area perfectly. Modify pattern if needed.
4.  Use pattern to cut contact paper to size.
5.  Carefully place contact paper on first bar cart shelf, and press firmly with a straightedge ruler to
     create a smooth surface without air bubbles.
6.  Repeat steps 4 & 5 with second shelf.
  

I am really satisfied with the way this DIY turned out and have used my bar cart for several get-togethers since moving in.

coral pants -- 3 ways

coral pants -- 3 ways 

I can't get enough of my coral pants.  I'm always trying to think of new ways to wear them.  Here are three ideas I've had of late.  Doyou wear coral pants?  What do you pair with them?

scenes from a weekend: hot air balloons abound

out and about in st louis: balloon glow

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The Great Forst Park Balloon Race
Friday, September 14th  7:00-8:30PM, fireworks at 9:00PM
Central Field, Forest Park
free

I cannot wait for the annual Great Forest Park Balloon Glow tonight.  It is by far my favorite event to take place in St. Louis and I look forward to it with much anticipation every year. This year 70 balloonists will inflate and their balloons across Central Field, lighting them up in unison to the sound of a horn set to go off every 15 minutes.  Standing amidst the billowing, bright synthetic fabric, illuminated by bursts of fire you have the opportunity to talk with the pilots about how they discovered ballooning and what fuels their love of the sport.  I would recommend taking the MetroLink downtown as parking can be a nightmare.  If you can't make the Glow, the next best thing might be the Balloon Race that follows on Saturday morning at the same location.

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3rd Annual Dogtown Street Musicians' Festival
Saturday, September 15th 12:00-7:00PM
1200 Tamm Ave.
free

The only competitive street musician festival in the nation, this festival allows twenty four street musicians to play in front of judges for Best of Show, Best Original Song and other awards. Come be part of the audience and listen to some of St. Louis best street musicians. 

How are you spending your weekend?

lip-smacking good: pesto, avocado, gouda, onion and tomato pizza

homemade pesto, avocado, gouda, onion and tomado pizza

I made this pizza last night and it was a winner.  After deciding we would have pizza for dinner, I discovered that I'd left the cookie sheet I usually make pizza in at Joe's house. Undaunted and unwilling to abandon our pizza plans, I improvised by using two 8" cake rounds.  While the sauce can get a little runny and spill over into unused parts of the pan, the pizzas turned out well and I'd use the method again.  Without further ado, here's what you need to make one pizza like the one pictured above:

1/2 package whole dough
3-4 tbsp of pesto
1 1/2 slices of gouda cheese (ripped into small pieces)
1/4 c red onion (chopped)
1/3 large tomato (chopped)
1/2 a medium-sized avocado (chopped)
measurements are approximate as I eyeballed all ingredients.  Adujust as it suits your fancy.



pizza described in this post is baking on the right

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Press dough into 8" cake pan, making sure it is evenly distributed throughout the pan.  Spread pesto over dough.  Add ripped slices of gouda cheese, red onion, tomato and avocado as desired.  Bake pizza for 13-15 minutes.  Gouda will not melt completely.  Enjoy!

today and every day

I've found the following passages comforting and helpful as I reflect on the day today.  I know that the truth of these statements blesses and heals.

One infinite God, good, unifies men and nations; constitutes the brotherhood of man; ends wars; fulfils the Scripture, "Love thy neighbor as thyself;" annihilates pagan and Christian idolatry, — whatever is wrong in social, civil, criminal, political, and religious codes; equalizes the sexes; annuls the curse on man, and leaves nothing that can sin, suffer, be punished or destroyed. --Science and Health 340:23

In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.

Ps 62:7

pink pleated skirt -- 3 ways

pink pleated skirt -- 3 ways

friday

We are pretty excited that it's Friday over here.  I'm kicking off the weekend by having tea with my mom this afternoon (we're finally using in the Groupon I got her for Mother's Day).  Then Dusty, Joe and I are looking forward to a picnic and long walk in the park.  We may also attempt to teach Dusty how to catch a Frisbee. 

What's in store for you this weekend?



out and about in st. louis: 9/7-9/9

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Camp Out Weekend: Finding Home in an Unstable World
Laumeier Sculpture Park
Friday-Sunday
Friday events free; Saturday night campout $65-$75

Laumeier has packed food demonstrations, talks, walking tours, and ghost stories, among other activities, into their Camp Out Weekend.  On Friday night, resident artist, Kim Yasuda, is hosting Hunt + Gather, a Community Picnic with small samples of Laumeier Garden-inspired dishes created by restaurant partners and South Tech High School.  The night will also include entertainment and some artist talks. Bring your own picnic and enjoy an evening amidst the permanent sculptures and temporary installations.

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For those ready to drop some dough, Laumeier Sculpture Park is holding an overnight at the museum to adults ages 21 and older.  According to the Park's website, the night will include a cooking demo with edible plants, dinner and drinks, cash bar, flashlight trail hike, campfires and s’mores, stargazing, coffee and continental breakfast, Rise and Shine Yoga and green giveaway. Bring your own tent, sleeping bag, and PJs. Each ticket includes a chance to win the night in Dré Wapneaar’s Treetent (pictured above).

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St. Louis Hispanic Festival
Kiener Plaza Downtown
10A-10P Friday & Saturday + 11A-8P Sunday
free
Hispanic arts and crafts, food, live Latino bands, dancers and a Parade of Hispanic Nations are just a few of the things to expect at this year's Hispanic Festival.

Art Outside
Schlafly Bottleworks, 7260 Southwest Ave
Friday-Sunday
free

A three-day juried alternative art festival showcasing quality, affordable, local art.  Art Outside will also feature music from local pop, bluegrass, rock and roll and country artists, puppet theater, and performances by the Fire Technicians (see Schlafly's site for full schedule and details).



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Brave New World: A FarFetched Festival
Plush, 3224 Locust Street
Saturday, 4:00 PM
$10

Brave New World is a music festival that promises to bring together St. Louis's most innovative musical and creative talent.  Sponsored by FarFetched, an artist collective based in the city, the festival with include appearances from rock, funk, soul, hip hop and electronica artists. Music will be complemented by live art,  skate demonstrations, vendors and music making workshops.

apple picking

We celebrated Labor Day picking apples with Joe's brother and sister-in-law in a co-worker's backyard orchard. 

Amazingly enough, we had the orchard all to ourselves, and found out later that we were the first to stop by the orchard this season.

We loaded up on apples and talked about all the recipes we hoped to make with our apple abundance (apple butter, apple crisp, apple pie, apple cobbler).

Joe's sister-in-law is a master pie maker, so we drove to my parent's house near the orchard to make something good out of our apples and share our apple bounty with my mom and dad. 

My mom owns an apple corer and peeler contraption (pictured below) that fascinated the boys, and got them involved in the pie making. Nothing like mechanical contraptions to get guys to participate in activities they might normally shy away from! The pie was amazing, and we finished it off in no time.

 

What is your favorite thing to make with freshly-picked apples?

california: part two

This is the day the Lord hath made; be glad, give thanks, rejoice; Stand in His presence, unafraid, in praise lift up your voice. All perfect gifts are from above, and all our blessings show the amplitude of God's dear love which every heart may know.
Laura Lee Randall, verse 1 "Angels' Song"

ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

Eph 3:17-19 ye

Those that be planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God.

They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing;

To shew that the Lord is upright: he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.

Ps 92:13-15

Grace for today, Thou Love divine,

Famishing hearts and hopes to feed;

Blot out all fear, let Thy light shine

With tender warmth on all our need.

Nemi Robertson