Have you ever had a raw baby bok choy salad? Until last week, I didn’t even know you could (or should) eat it raw. Last Saturday, I went to the Farmer’s market planning to try the broad assortment of lettuce varieties. To be frank, I was a bit overwhelmed with all of the choices. “What is…
It’s officially beach season, yay! I recently bought a practical beach tote (on sale!) for lugging Rocco’s sand toys to the beach. Although practical, I also wanted to get a cute adult-friendly version to go with my new one-piece (seriously, how cute is this for such a steal?!), so I started browsing for black accented…
My last living grandparent, my Grandpa Richard Vivian, passed away at age 86, less than a week before Giada was born. Yesterday was his funeral. Since I was not able to be there, I wanted to take a minute to say goodbye to my grandpa, to share what he meant to me, and what he taught me….
I first noticed fruit inspired fashion accessories when I was window-browser shopping Neiman Marcus’ new handbag arrivals. I fell hard for Edie Parker’s orange slice clutch. Why? Because it’s unique, it’s playful, it’s unexpected and it’s fun. Fruit inspired fashion seems to be everywhere this season, in clothes and accessories. I like the idea of adding…
If you look back at my recipes, you’d probably think I only eat baked-goods. Seriously. I have a problem. But seriously, I eat a lot of vegetables too. They just usually aren’t as interesting to blog about. I changed my mind when I made this shaved asparagus salad the other day. Per usual, my farmer’s…
I love the midi skirt trend this spring. It is ultra feminine and shows off a trim waist and slim ankles. A sheer white midi skirt is crisp, clean and timeless. White always feels fresh in the spring and summer. Some major designers agreed showing head to toe white on the runways for spring. Can you…
Peeps easter candy is are freaking adorable. There is no denying their cuteness, but who actually eats them? The giant chocolate bunny was always the star, while the Peeps ended up stale at the bottom of my Easter basket. So what other creative uses for Peeps could I try? My co-worker told me about this centerpiece…
Women’s jumpsuits are flying off the shelves this spring. Nearly every retailer is carrying them and I’m especially loving all the great printed jumpsuits out there. I’ll be honest. It’s taken me some time to warm up to this trend. I thought jumpsuits were only for those super skinny, model types. But with so many…
OK ladies. No more excuses. I know your Uggs and tennies are comfortable, but that is no way to leave the house when there are tons of adorable and stylish flats for spring under $100. Flats are a wardrobe staple for me. I sometimes get lazy about my look, especially on the weekends. By choosing…
I have a thing for lemons. As if it wasn’t already obvious from the numerous recipes I’ve made featuring lemons (lemon-lime margarita pops, lemon Bundt cakes, and lemon blueberry muffins). Plus, my local farmer’s market always has the most gorgeous lemons–the farmer (see image above) even cut one open for me to see just how…
This past weekend, the farmer’s market was brimming with citrus, winter greens, and first of the season strawberries. Of all the striking produce this weekend, the highly stacked, vibrant purple carrots with bright green stalks, were too gorgeous to resist. I know what you’re thinking. Carrots? Really? What’s interesting or special about carrots? I thought…
It was my husband’s birthday this week. I had high hopes of making him a layer cake of his favorite German chocolate cake, but with a new baby in the house, time slipped away from me. Since cookies are my husband’s favorite baked-good, I opted to turn his favorite cake into cookies instead. Although cookies…
Most Saturday mornings, you will find my husband and me roaming the abundant produce-packed aisles at the Irvine Farmer’s Market. I mentioned this market last summer, when I featured a peach cobbler recipe. This farmer’s market is anything but average. The sheer size, number of vendors, and plethora of produce is unlike any farmer’s market…
Have you ever wanted to give your child the best and couldn’t? What if the best was something that 99% percent of mothers could give but you couldn’t? For me, this happened very early on in motherhood: I couldn’t produce enough milk to feed my first child, my son Rocco. Only 16 months after my…
It’s nearly impossible to avoid Oscars talk this time of year. Most media outlets are discussing which movies and actors won awards and what the stars wore. I’ll admit my favorite part is the pre-show covering the Oscars fashion. I love staring at the glamorous women in their gorgeous dresses, dripping in diamonds. Since the…
