weekend adventures

spent the weekend up north in flagstaff working 

on a cabin install. 

so nice to breath that fresh mountain air and 

feel those cool temps after a long hot summer!

look out for  some fun before and afters 

this week of all we've been working on!

and of course we stopped for pie on the way home. 

an old arizona classic...rock springs cafe.

we always make room for dessert. 

did you do anything fun this weekend?  

honey and jam

looking for a simple little breakfast cake to toast off the end of summer? 

this blueberry corn cake, from one of the shops cookbooks honey and jam, 

makes for a lovely morning or great accompaniment to an 

afternoon cup of coffee. 

the book is such a treasure, drawing its focus on seasonal baking. i'm 

looking forward to trying her sweet potato cupcakes with marshmallow 

frosting, earl grey doughnuts with a blood orange glaze, 

and the cranberry gingerbread cake.

I think her whiskey, pear and maple cheesecake would be 

such a fun treat for thanksgiving...coming up sooner than you think.

pop by the shop, say hi and pick up a book for yourself or a friend!

you can also check out the authors blog 

honey and jam here.

blueberry corn skillet cake:

cake:

3/4 c. fine-ground yellow cornmeal

3/4 c. all purpose flour

3/4 c. granulated sugar

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

3/4 c. buttermilk

5 tablespoons butter, melted

1 large egg

1/2 c. fresh corn kernels

1/2 c. fresh blueberries

compote: 

2 c. fresh blueberries

1/3 c. granulated sugar

to make cake: 

preheat oven to 350. butter a 9 in. cast iron skillet.

in medium bowl, whisk together cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder and salt.

in small bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, butter, and egg. pour mixture into dry and stir until combined. stir in corn and blueberries.

pour into prepared skillet; bake for 30-35 minutes. allow to cool slightly.

to make compote: 

in small saucepan, combine half of the blueberries with the sugar and 1/3 c. water. simmer over medium heat until the berries burst, about 10 minutes. add remaining blueberries and cook for 8 minutes more, until the compote coats the back of a spoon. remove from the heat. 

serve cake with compote. 

ace and jig

roaming around on instagam we came across this whimsical clothing

company, ace and jig.

we love their craftsmanship and awe inspiring process, weaving on 

ancient wooden looms from their own hand dyed fibers. 

they also have a gorgeous bazzar section full of quilts

and pillows: 

{all photos credited to ace and jig instagram or website}

beach garden therapy

some of my favorite gardens of course happen to be at the beach. many a crisp 

cool walk has led me find much of my inspiration for the store and my own home. 

this summer i was fortunate to find myself working on some of my friends

gardens as well as my own. 

i always look forward to this time outside as a therapeutic escape. combining

design and the outdoors to make a home beautiful can be so rewarding.

i love the use of pebbles and succulents for a romantic look that 

suits our arizona summers well!

what are some of your favorite spots for inspiration? 

counting blessings

every summer i find myself yet another year more blessed.

not another year older right, but rather another year to count 

the many blessings i am surrounded with.

i find myself incredibly fortunate to have such a wonderful 

group of grandchildren keeping me on my toes and keeping me 

laughing. 

"God gave us the gift of life, it is up to us to give ourselves 

the gift of living well"

-voltaire

hope your week is off to a great start!

The Spirit of Fall

So, it may still be a bazillion degrees outside and august is not quite over yet, but it never fails that at this time of year i cannot help but feel ready to shake off summer and move on to chillier things (like sweaters, crisp cool air and - most importantly - the comforting smells of fall baking). think: pumpkin, cinnamon, ginger, apple, and (hey, why not?) a bit of chocolate.

summer: you were lovely, but let's be honest, it's time to cool down.

get in the spirit with these:

• get your hands on some quality apple cider and have a go at these!
• here is a fun Sunday treat to try out.
• these pumpkin chocolate chip cookies sound just about perfect
• this ginger apple torte is making my mouth water, and mmmm gingerbread pancakes for the win!
• this looks just lovely and will get you started early on christmas gifts perhaps and when in doubt, chocolate is always a good idea.

while it may still be sweltering outside there is no reason you can not summon fall to come soon. maybe pick yourself up a new pair of killer boots, crank down the ac, and get those fall smells swirling... and if you don't want to bake, you can always simmer some cinnamon sticks and cloves on the stovetop - a good old family trick. cheers!

Drifting Away...

Since fall won't come to the Valley until November, we are anxiously awaiting the arrival of Fall at the shop. Every day we unpack new shipments - all with treasures from our Atlanta buying trip! This got us thinking… It really will be Fall before we know it, so we need to "live up" summer no matter how high the temps! One of our weekend shop girls, Meg, is inspiring us - check out this fun outing she and her (now) fiancé planned at Lake Pleasant. (Congratulations Meg!)

The bow of the boat made the perfect picnic spot!

Meg brought all the supplies for this sweet set-up… We're in love with her eclectic linen collection.

A few good reads.

Paper straws with a summery star print! (Hint: you can scoop these up at several local boutiques!)

This guy can be seen bringing Meg iced coffee on Saturdays. He wasn't sure why they needed to bring sunflowers and mason jars to the boat, but he helped carry everything aboard like a trooper! 

Meg and Johnnie capped off the night watching Friends, by the twinkling of a Linnea's Lights candle. Meg picked Orange Blossom. We are fans of Lavender and Cashmere any time of year. Do you need a new scent?

What fun! Thanks for sharing this sweet date night with us, Meg.

cookies

Welcome to our new bi-weekly post dedicated to all things delicious. What goes better with your lovely designed home than good food to eat, cookbooks to gaze through for inspiration and parties to plan? So, here you will find enticing inspiration for your everyday life or your next bash. Be it sweet, savory or simply beautiful. Today we focus on cookies and one of our new cookbooks, Milk Bar Life, by Christina Tosi. The author, well known for her famed birthday cakes and cereal milk themed sweets has come out with this second book filled with funny family favorites, cookies and some pretty sweet creations like burnt honey mustard dip, mac 'n cheese pancakes and miso butterscotch sundaes. I, of course, was drawn not only to reading the text and hearing the stories behind all the recipes, but the cookie section! I tried out the Ritz cracker cookies, grandmother's oatmeal and classic chocolate chip. Believe me, they do not disappoint. Her innovative use of everyday ingredients, such as milk powder, makes for a fun texture and new adventure. If you're in the market for something fun, give it a whirl. Who doesn't love cookies?