December 28, 2017

Shutterbean Top 20 Posts of 2017:

Herbed Goat Cheese

For entertaining? For weeknight snack dinners? For sandwiches, for FUN!

Vegetable Tempura

This is the best way to use up leftover vegetables. Promise.

Coconut Quinoa Coleslaw

This one is a texture party. You’ll love the dressing.

Getting Organized in the New Year

If you need a reset in your house…..here’s some inspiration.

Baked Ziti

Quite a few of you one dinner with this Baked Ziti dish. It’s the creme fraiche & spinach that does it!

Bullet Journal Layout Ideas

I shared some of the pages in my bullet journal. The internet liked it.

Creating Healthy Habits

To get yourself back on track, create some healthy eating habits. I shared mine!

Lemon Ginger Elixir

Perfect for cold/flu season! Oh and cocktails too!

Breakfast Sausage Pretzel Rolls

The first recipe made from the Over Easy Brunch book by Maj!

Meatballs Marsala with Egg Noodles

I mean….does it get any better?

Small Batch Chocolate Cupcakes

Because we can’t be trusted with a whole batch of cupcakes….

Spinach Artichoke Calzone

One of the ways I use Trader Joe’s pizza dough!

Current Favorite Art Supplies

Everything I’m loving this year art supply wise! I love that it’s inspired so many of you to color and PLAY!

Everyday Pancakes

These are life changing! I make them all the time for Cooper.

Chicken Parmesan Meatballs

Hummina Hummina Hummina. WE ARE SO LUCKY THIS RECIPE EXISTS.

There you go, that’s just a slice of your favorites from 2017. Thank you so much for all your love and support. I appreciate you!!!

I wonder what 2018 will bring…..

my everyday life, Photography

December 24, 2017

My Everyday Life: Week 51

Here’s what this past week looked like- My Everyday Life: Week 51

Well, at least we had a tree up this year!

Cats are terrible gift wrappers.

I got most of my holiday cards sent out this year. We ordered ours from Minted as per usual!

In a daze while Christmas shopping…

Feeling sometimes like I am possessed by my mom.

Benjamin boys putting together a lego Porsche.

Spacing out in a rose.

LISTS

December 22, 2017

I LOVE LISTS

Welcome to I LOVE LISTS! It’s Friday. Here’s a list for you:

Christmas morning would be better with these.
Life changing habits for 2018
What a beautiful kitchen remodel!
Funny kid letters to Santa
Tiny worlds, big imagination
The word of 2017: Youthquake (lord help us)
Most expensive photographs sold at auction in 2017
This church in Copenhagen is something else!
How to organize your day to set you up for success.
The world is beautiful.
Dream: shoes / romper / dress
DIY Melted Crayon Art <— we did this this week!
Funny animal photos of 2017
The most popular recipes on Pinterest this year.
The Instant Pot has invaded our kitchens!
Wear it proud.
The best places to travel alone.
Apparently, in Japan, KFC sells low odor chicken so you can eat it in public…
For David Sedaris & Miranda July fans also this!
A quick holiday pep talk!
Pantry organizing tips. I gotta re-organize mine.

Last Minute Treats to Make for the Holidays:

Cookies & Cream Peppermint Bark

Apple Cinnamon Infused Bourbon

LISTS

December 18, 2017

Intentions for the Week

Hello! Hello! Happy Monday. I had a weekend with family and I’ve got to put the house back together. We’ve got lots to do before Christmas Eve/Day. I’d like to get some baking done somewhere in this week for teachers and friends. Oh and there’s a Christmas pageant and all kinds of other things we have coming up. My brain is still in a fog but I’m somehow making it through and managing.

Intentions for the Week:

start/finish Christmas shopping/white elephant gifts
ship packages/presents
sweat it out in dance class
stay on top of the laundry
remember to eat (I’ve been forgetting…#grief)
make some chocolate chunk blondies for family
try to make peppermint bark for teachers
make sausage soup
check in at parent’s house
catch up on work
catch up on social media
find khaki pants for Cooper
wrap presents
get outside
go for a hike
work on art
write thank you notes
drink more water
start holiday cards (if they arrive soon!)
take good care of myself

Mantra for the Week:

What about you? What are you up to? Leave your intentions in the comments if you wanna get your head in the game.

my everyday life, Photography

December 17, 2017

My Everyday Life: Week 50

Here’s what this past week looked like- My Everyday Life Week 50

This week I took a pause on helping my Dad clean out/organize the house and I tried to focus a little more on getting my life back together. My house is a mess! This week I took a break and drove around Marin County and dropped off some of my mom’s unused crossword puzzle books at some mini free libraries. I plan on doing this with some of her other books.

I know she would have thought that was neat.

Trip into the city for an office party.

This place feels like another world.

I’ve forgotten what city life is like.

One of the weird thoughts you can have when you are grieving is…

WHY IS SHE ALIVE AND MY MOM IS NOT?

It’s really a weird feeling to have. I never thought it before

We were able to have cousin time!!!

COOPER HAS BEEN LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS FOREVER.

He loves his cousins Henry & Eleanor who live in Idaho.

I love Casey’s smile the most.

We had a lot of fun at Benihana.

Getting lost in Japan Town.

Aunt Tracy ended up buying everyone cat ears later on…

Gifts that keep on giving.

The highlight of the week was seeing this picture of my grandparent’s smiling.

So many things to look at while going through closets.

I’ve run into my friend Kris twice this week. We walked to a labyrinth.

It was just what I needed.

The sun was so warm.

Frosty mornings.

When you can’t decide, you have both.

Snugs.

Pineapple Rum!!

I took a detour and found this lovely van.

And this colorful yard!

This caught my eye while thrifting.

Sent out some packages this week 🙂

Made some chicken soup. Gave some to my dad 🙂

Thinking about visiting NOLA soon.

When your friend calls you to hang out and brings her baby you say YES.

Babies are a gift.

A corner in my house that I like right now.

I wore a blazer!!

Hot lips!

My mother taught me how to grocery shop.

When I go to the store we went to as a kid I feel her. It’s full of so many memories.

If there’s calamari steak on the menu, I will order it.

Hot chocolate mornings for Cooper.

My curtains are up now!!!

Last night we hosted a sleepover- my Dad, brother-in-law, and nephew spent the night.

5 guys and me. I really missed having my Mom in the kitchen with me.

It felt very weird and sometimes sad, but I was happy that my Dad spent the night! 🙂

Life is so odd/ silly at times. Make it more silly if you can.

Week 50 in 2016

Week 50 in 2015

Week 50 in 2014

Week 50 in 2013

Week 50 in 2012

Week 50 in 2011

LISTS

December 15, 2017

I LOVE LISTS

Hello friends! If you need some homemade HOLIDAY GIFT IDEAS check out this post! Now here’s a list because I LOVE LISTS:

National Geographic’s 2017 Photography Winners
Outdoor signs that stopped people in their tracks.
My grandma always had these cookies. I LOVED THEM.
A photographer who makes puns come to life.
Frost flowers are gorgeous.
Guerilla flower art! I would love to stumble across one of these.
Living cliffside.
What the end of net neutrality means for you.
If you want to make a pie crust by hand.
Overheard conversations….illustrated!
Productivity is really about what you DON’T do.
Family Favorite recipes! Thanks for the love, Mother Mag!
This pleases me greatly.
Tech Tips from Entrepreneurs!
How to host a sleepover
Time management for creatives.
How Instagram has changed the way we experience ART.
Some signs that your third eye is open.
My friend Helen Jane wrote this 5 years ago. Things have only gotten worse.
I broke my arm twice between first and second grade.

Last Minute Holiday Gifts:

Amazon Echo Dot (we have 2!)
Paperwhite Kindle (the easiest way for me to read on a screen)
Weber Propane Grill (the grill I learned how to grill on!)
Instant Pot (how I make hard-boiled eggs, stock, rice & applesauce)
Kombucha Brewing Kit (for your crafty friend! here’s how I make kombucha)
Fuji XT1 Digital Camera (this is the camera I use! I LOVE IT)
Cuisinart Grill (how we make THE BEST TOAST EVER)
Gift Card to Thrive Market

White Elephant Gifts under $25

recipes

December 13, 2017

Spiced Pineapple Rum Toddies

During the holidays, you really can’t show up at someone’s house empty-handed. That’s why I like to bring something boozy because even during the busiest time of year, I still have the time to make a special alcohol infusion.

Invite me over and I’ll bring the ingredients to make Spiced Pineapple Rum Toddies. I’ll stop by Nugget Market (one of my favorite Bay Area grocery stores!) on the way to pick us up some cheeses for a nice cheese plate or I could order one of their epic cheese platters to pick up instead. They do such a nice job that I can pass theirs off for one of my own creations 😉

Not drinking alcohol? No problem, I’ll add some mulling spices to hot pineapple juice and we’ll have warm pineapple ciders with maple whipped cream.

Just promise me that we’ll do something artsy during this holiday season while we’re hanging out together, OK?

Art aside, I know you’ll love the toddies!

They’re a combination of pineapple juice, hot water, and Spiced Pineapple Infused Rum. The toddies are topped with a maple whipped cream and a dusting of cinnamon. The sweet/spicy combo feels like being in the tropics for Christmas.