flags for cakes

Saw this on design*sponge today.  What a clever idea for your next birthday cake.  You can find these little flags here on etsy.

spicy quinoa, cucumber and tomato salad

I spotted this yummy looking recipe on Little House in the Big City.  Doesn't it look delish.  It's a spicy quinoa salad with ingredients that are so right now at your local farmer's market or in your garden.
It originally comes from The New York Times.  Here is the recipe:

Spicy Quinoa, Cucumber and Tomato Salad

1 cup quinoa

3 cups water

Salt to taste

2 cups diced cucumber

1 small red onion, finely minced (optional)

2 cups finely diced tomatoes

1 to 2 jalapeño or serrano peppers (to taste), seeded if desired and finely chopped

1/2 cup chopped cilantro, plus several sprigs for garnish

2 tablespoons fresh lime juice

1 tablespoon red wine vinegar or sherry vinegar

3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

1 avocado, sliced, for garnish

1. Place the quinoa in a bowl, and cover with cold water. Let sit for five minutes. Drain through a strainer, and rinse until the water runs clear. Bring the 3 cups water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Add salt (1/2 to 3/4 teaspoon) and the quinoa. Bring back to a boil, and reduce the heat to low. Cover and simmer 15 minutes or until the quinoa is tender and translucent; each grain should have a little thread. Drain off the water in the pan through a strainer, and return the quinoa to the pan. Cover the pan with a clean dishtowel, replace the lid and allow to sit for 10 minutes. If making for the freezer, uncover and allow to cool, then place in plastic bags. Flatten the bags and seal.

2. Meanwhile, place the finely diced cucumber in a colander, and sprinkle with salt. Toss and allow to sit for 15 minutes. Rinse the cucumber with cold water, and drain on paper towels. If using the onion, place in a bowl and cover with cold water. Let sit for five minutes, then drain, rinse with cold water and drain on paper towels.

3. Combine the tomatoes, chiles, cilantro, vinegar, lime juice and olive oil in a bowl. Add the cucumber and onion, season to taste with salt, and add the quinoa and cilantro. Toss together, and taste and adjust seasonings. Serve garnished with sliced avocado and cilantro sprigs.

Yield: Serves six.

Advance preparation: The quinoa freezes well, and the assembled salad will keep for a day in the refrigerator. The leftovers will be good for a couple of days.

sweet room

What a sweet room.

photo husohem

twentyfive

How cute are these dresses from twentyfive?

happy sunny weekend

Have a happy sunny weekend!

photo by simply hue

blossom hill

What a shot of Cyrus and Everett at Farm Camp this week...taken by our photographer friend Shiva of Blossom Hill Photography.  The best is that all of the proceeds go to Blossom Hill Foundation when Shiva shoots a shoot.   The foundation's main goal is to break the cycle of violence for children affected by war.  Click on the links to read more.  The foundation's full website will launch January 2011.

everett's old nursery

Everett's old room was on design*sponge today in a Best of Nurseries post.  Thank you Suzy for letting me know :)

naughty bus and tiger who came to tea

 

We picked up these two very British books for children while in England.  Naughty Bus is a beauty of a book.  The photographs are amazing.  A double decker bus comes to life and gets into some trouble.  The Tiger Who Came to Tea is a classic English story with the sweetest illustrations. Both books are available at Amazon.  Just click on the links.

badger sunscreen & bug repellent

Everett starts Ambler Farm Camp this week.  He needs to be lathered up with sunscreen.  I found this all natural sunscreen/bug repellent made by Badger at Whole Foods.  I am happy to know it's "Highly Rated for Safety and Efficacy by The  Environmental Working Group".
I'm thinking the farm may be buggy so I thought I would kill two bugs with one stone:)
Oh and it's smells really good!
You can also find it here.

second week of art at 358

   

 

 

photo 1:  good old hot crayon melt

photo 2:  colored wooden bead hangings

photo 3:  embellished summer sun hats

photo 4:  glitter galore!

nice deck

What a deck and view via wide open spaces.

hot pink table

Love the hot pink table and the gray walls and floor and pops of yellow.

via design*sponge

i am love

ohhhh. I can't wait to see this. It looks gorgeous.

coasters

Fishs Eddy is one of my favorite stores in NYC.  They carry lots of dishes, glasses and kitchen things.  Love these coasters.  Check out more here.

the full plate blog

Check out my friend Eila's blog, The Full Plate Blog, for great camp lunch box ideas!

magic juice

I discovered the Pimms Cup while in the UK.  Yum.  This is a cocktail recipe I found on *design sponge a while back.  This looks as refreshing as a Pimms...actually it's the same recipe.  Just swap out the gin for Pimms.  I will try this with Nigella's lemonade soon!

canvas

New line/store called Canvas from the folks that invented the Ochre home furnishings line.  LOVE it all.  House Beautiful had a gorgeous spread of the owners home in the June issue (may have been May).

Great Bentley UK

 

 

We have been away in far away Great Britain for ten days.  Here are some photos from one part of our journey.  We went to visit our old friends the Roberts family.  So much fun.  We loved being in their cozy home eating yummy meals together.  Look at their dog Annie....so sweet.