Going Baroque

Obsessed is not even the word. I simply can't break free... even though I know my kitchen counters will slowly start to look like they're country-style-screaming!! :) I just gravitate toward baroque! My lovely Shavuot guests (thanks Briendy!!!) brought by a gift before the holiday - the most scrumptious mocha-coconut cake in the most awesome ceramic baroque cake dome! And she had never even been in my home!! I placed it right up on the bar, and as you can see - it fight in much too well! Things like that make me smile. Sometimes it's these little beautiful things that make being domestic (i.e. baking a Shabbos morning cake) that much more fun!

Smart Snacking

Sometimes a nutritious snack in only an innovation away. Try adding some bling to their peanut- butter-dunking apple slices for a brain boosting, energy lending, nutrient laden snack! (Yes, it's a bit of sugar and coloring - but this definitely trumps the Bissli! Plus, all together it'd probably equal a half of lollipop.)

Subtle Color in the Kitchen

As you're all well aware of by now, I lean quite toward the minimalist persona. Recently I've been seeing a lot of bland toned kitchens, and I'm smitten!! I've always loved the crisp and classic freshness of a white kitchen, and the warm and textured vibes of a wooden kitchen, but now I'm veering toward the immaculate cold and earthy cement and concrete kitchens (weird, I know!). Anyways, if I lived in even the most amazing cold and colorless kitchen, I'd imagine I'd add pops of subtle color to the heart of the home via colored tools like these:

Ladies & Gentleman Studio Colored Serving Utensils, from $35

Cutting Edge Series Colored Cutting and Serving Boards, from $12

Opinel Colored Knife Set, $68

Summering

Happy, happy Summer time!! Wishing all you mamas heaps of glorious sunshine, golden tan lines (even through that SPF), graceful summer sunsets, and a generous amount of do-nothing relaxation moments!

I can't get over how much Freida grows each summer!! I love when each season ends and another begins; watching life, and change, and growth. It makes me so appreciative of every healthy happy moment....!

I hope you are all whittling down your Summer Bucket List! I've been working on mine, but we are on the precipice of some (gigantic and exciting!) new developments around here which will change around my schedule, location, and planning quite a bit... But here are some of the things I was planning on knocking out this Summer:

- Tim Burton Exhibit at LACMA

- Building an outdoor sandbox

- A Sunday spent on a boat at Sea

- Date-night BBQ on the beach

- Street Art Exhibit at MOCA

- A Sunday hiking Torry Pines Reserve + dinner in San Diego

- Homemade fresh strawberry sorbet

If you're still needing some more Summery-goodness inspiration, check out this awe-inspiring Summer Bucket List from Meg!!

Shout-out to the Daddies!!

Happiest Father's Day to all you fantastical Daddies out there!!

It took me about 4 years to finally realize that the DaddyFroo in this house is not as keen on the sweet breakfasts (french toast, waffles, pancakes, cream etc.) as he would greatly prefer a savory spread. That's what he got this morning. Sunny sides on french baguettes, smoked salmon, garlic and herb butter, muenster cheese, tomatos, basil etc.. Apparently I have been found guilty of committing the all-too-popular male-crime of assuming my spouse liked what I liked. This breakthrough breakfast tray puts us in a better place. :)

We all know the secrets to a happy man: food. (Plus some other more interactive things.) So showing them some yearly gratitude is easy as pie. Or in our case, rye.

Freida usually enjoys the cooking part of breakfast time, so I opted to get her involved in some other ways this year (since we were skipping all that pancake flipping!). We've been working on sprucing up Daddy's workspace (his looks rather drab now that mine is decked out!). We made a simple little framed handprint, wrapped it in newsprint, and topped with a paper tie!

Shout-out to all you wonderfully helpful and happy husbands!! We could never do this job without you!!!