What Katie Ate Cookbook

Hello there. How was your weekend? Hope it was lovely.

I love starting the morning off with some inspiration, especially a Monday morning. So, I thought I would share with you my latest Amazon purchase –

I have been following Katie’s blog for a little over a year now and her gorgeous food styling is nothing short of genius. Layered with texture, color and an amazing vintage flair her images take my breath away. I couldn’t resist pre-ordering her book. It should arrive on my doorstep mid October! Yah! I have had no time for cooking lately but I will happily drool over all the stunning photos…

See what I’m talking about? Crazy beautiful right?! Her compositions are works of still life magic. Oh, and you must check out this sweet video that show’s Katie in action…

There is nothing more inspiring than witnessing an artist at work – creating with authentic passion and intention!

Have a happy Monday!

xo,

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Vintage Home Bars

Hello there! I hope your summer has been fabulous. It’s going SO fast, isn’t it?

So, I just got done posting on my other blog about my love of Vintage Seltzer Bottles. These amazing historic objects are now being sought out, collected and displayed in homes. While they look beautiful anywhere you put them, they fit perfectly nestled among other pretty barware.

With Mad Men influencing style and celebrating the age of martinis, people are pulling out their liquor and putting it on display. And why not? It looks gorgeous! Check out these oh-so-glamorous vintage bar set ups. LOVE!

This weathered trunk makes the perfect pedestal for your bar. Its rustic textures play off the sparkle and polish of the bottles and silver tray. The mirror doubles the glamor. And I just love the mod Lucite chairs.

Drool. (note to self – buy a vintage bar cart asap!)

one word – AMAZING!

make your bar mobile with a wheeled cart!

French flair and elegance at its best. You know you would receive a tres chic concoction from this bar, perhaps a Pompier? Never heard of one?…neither had I but they were a popular cocktail served in Paris during the 1930’s! Made with a black currant liquor (crème de cassis), dry vermouth and club soda, it is meant to be absolutely delicious on hot summer days! Gotta try this one.

Your bar cart doesn’t have to be shiny and new, this well-worn industrial cart has a great masculine, urban feel.

Adore this one. So feminine! In the market for a vintage bar cart? Check out these I found for sale on Etsy – 1, 2, 3.

Don’t want to cart it? No worries, use a table and corral your barware on trays to help define the intention of your display.

Or proudly show off your cocktail fixings within a bookshelf. This is a fantastic idea for someone living in tight quarters.

So many gorgeous ways to add the glamor of a home bar to your space.

Do you have one set up now? I would love to hear how you did it…

Cheers!

xo,

{for more ideas and links to all these images go here}

Tea for Two

Last week, I picked Grace up from school at noon so we could go have lunch together. She begged me to take her back to the “magical tea house”…also known as the Lady Di’s Tea Room. How could I say no to that? Of course, my camera joined us…

Oh so serious…not for long…

the most lovely sweet potato soup and cheddar and tomato sandwiches…yum! Cheese on toast for Grace…

Sweet primroses blooming outside the window next to our table…

for dessert a plate of the most delicious English shortbread! It went fast…I almost missed a photo op!

Sitting there with her, watching the rain outside and nibbling our sandwiches, I couldn’t help but wonder if we were making a memory that would stay with her. I hoped so. My mom used to take me out for lunches like this, just the two of us and I always felt so special. I had her undivided attention and she smiled and listened to all my stories patiently. If I can make Grace feel that same love, that same importance…then perhaps, one day, she will do the same for her child. When I so often feel that I’m not doing enough for her…it felt good to see the happiness in her eyes and hear the excitement in her voice.

A good Mom day.

xo,

Happy Thanksgiving

Hello friends,

Tonight my brother came over to make pumpkin pie with Grace.

It was so sweet. He patiently measured out each ingredient and then allowed her to add it to the bowl. With her tiny hands, she carefully emptied each cup or spoonful, making sure she didn’t spill a drop. I stood back to observe the magic and take pictures…

Grace didn’t like the sound of the mixer but managed a smile for me.

The pumpkin pies won’t win any prizes for beauty but they tasted delicious and my brother and Grace got to bond.  I’m so thankful to have him living here in Portland! It means so much to me that Grace will grow up knowing her Aunt and Uncle.

I hope tomorrow, your family and friends will experience the delight of preparing delicious food together! Being surrounded by those we love is something I will always be thankful for.

Happy Thanksgiving!

xo,

Halloween Pumpkin Face Mask

The past couple of nights we’ve been gutting the pumpkins we harvested and carving them up for our Jack ‘o’ Lanterns. It’s a bit of effort but Grace loves the process. She diligently picks out the pumpkin seeds so we can roast them. What to do with all the pumpkin innards? How about a DIY Pumpkin Face Mask?

Pumpkins are full of enzymes and Vitamin A that exfoliate, soften and smooth your skin, so why not pamper your skin after the trick or treating is over. (You can slather this mixture from head to toe!)

Here’s the recipe I found via Spa magazine.

1 small pumpkin
1 cup yogurt
Juice from 1 lemon
1 Tbsp. honey
1/2 tsp. ginger (freshly grated, preferred)
1/2 tsp. cinnamon

To Make:
1. Cut the pumpkin, removing skin and scooping out pulp.  Place the flesh in a pot with a small amount of water.

2. Cook the pumpkin until mashable with a potato masher.

3. Remove from heat, mash pumpkin, and add yogurt, lemon juice, honey and spices. Use while still warm.

To Use:
1. Sit in the tub or shower and slather the warm pumpkin mixture all over your dry body and face. You may apply to your hair too, if you like.  (Make sure hair is clean.)

2. Rest with the mixture on your body for 10 minutes.

3. Rinse off with warm water.

4. Pat the skin dry and follow with an application of your favorite body and face moisturizer.  For hair after rinsing, follow with your favorite conditioner.

Enjoy and Happy Halloween!

xo,

p.s. Can’t be bothered making your own pumpkin mask? Try this ready made concoction from Sephora.

Gorgeous pumpkin photo via Shaun Ingham

Related Articles

• Use All Of That Carved Pumpkin (doyourpart.com)
• Pairing wine with pumpkin (pour-favor.com)

Peonies & Peas

Yesterday the rain poured down one minute, only to be replaced by the glorious sun the next. It’s the nature of Spring in Oregon and we love it. Unpredictable but beautiful. Silver light and gold.

With a bouquet of gorgeous peonies on my table and a handful of fresh spring peas I figured it was the perfect afternoon for a little team work with Grace. She was so excited to pop open each pod to reveal the tiny green peas. While she delighted in this task, I took pictures. I really loved the green of the peas with the pink of the peonies.

At the end of this lovely afternoon, I cooked up a fresh Spring inspired meal from Rachel Ray‘s cookbook. Check out the recipe here. It was delicious!

Happiness all round.

xo,

Ivy