Smashion.

{"I have a background in fashion." - or - Spring 2011 New York Fashion Week}

I often say the above sentence. I don't know if it's issued as a disclaimer or as an excuse. Probably a little bit of both, and usually followed by the recipient of said comment looking at me, clearly thinking, "Really? And you dress like that?"

Yes, I do have a background in fashion, it's true. I graduated from design school. I worked as a women's wear designer.

Now, however, my life is much different. I leaf through sensible catalogs such as J. Crew, (which, i must add, is my favorite.) thinking about how practical a garment might be, and if I can find it on sale at my local outpost. It's kind of sad, really. I remember my devotion to fashion. My quest for a perfect piece, one that would become a unique staple in my mish-mash of ensembles, has turned into wondering how many times it can be washed before fading. 

I know it's sensible to wear cotton blends, to keep a complimentary palette, and to buy for longevity. OOOH but I miss the whimsical silk sheath; the 3-inch heels with super skinny pants; the shrunken jacket with baubles; the knee-sock and peep-toe combo. I know not to wear these things in my daily life, because when I try, I ruin them. Or get a back ache.

So now, I enjoy fashion week eating a bowl of rice krispies, in front of my computer. I read some fashion blogs that I love. I live vicariously through Style Rookie and stay trend-current with Things We Heart. I know my place is not at MB Fashion Week, but does it have to be Courtney Love instead of me? Really?

Seriously, I'm so out of the loop I can't even provide commentary. I see things I love and realize it's because it looks like everything else I already have. Where is my style, man?!

Since I have nothing worth-while to say, here are some images I found*. Do you have a favorite? Enjoy.


It should be noted: these images show the designers who are considered the biggest and the best... there is so much more talent that isn't at the upper crust yet, but soon enough, those new designers will bubble up to the top soon.

Carolina Herrera

Betsey Johnson

Chris Benz

DKNY

Diane von Furstenberg

Vivienne Tam

Vera Wang

Jason Wu

The Ports 1961

Z Spoke by Zac Posen

Z Spoke by Zac Posen

Badgley Mischka

Mik Cire

Tadashi Shoji

Andrew Buckler

Trina Turk

Marchesa

Hey, Coop! sorry couldn't resist.

Tory Burch

Rodarte

Proenza Schouler

L.A.M.B.

J. Mendel

Isaac Mizrahi

Michael Kors

Anna Sui

One of my favorite designers is Nanette Lepore.

Here is a little section to highlight her Spring 2011 line.

*photos from www.guardian.co.uk

Sunset.

{"Be this sunset one for keeping . This june bug street sings low and lovely"}

Tonight after dinner I had to make a quick trip to the grocery store. We needed half and half for our morning coffee. I bought everything but half and half.

I asked the kids if anyone wanted to join me, and I got one enthusiastic yes from my sweet Emmett.

On our way we took a detour: As I was systematically driving along Emmett said, "Mommy! Look at that beautiful sunset!"

I turned right at the next light to get to the top of Signal Hill. Emmett said "Mommy, can we actually get out?" of course, I said.

We watched the sunset together and we ran and ran through the cooling grass and Emmett yelled out to me, "I'm laughing, but nothing's funny! I'm just so happy!"

There's a little piece of my heart lost in the grass there now, and when Emmett is grown, I'll go there and hope to find it. But I think it will have gone off with that sunset.

• Sunset Soon Forgotten by Iron & Wine

More Iron & Wine music on iLike

Ice-Cream.

{hello, raspberry-basil darlings!}

For Mark's birthday a half year ago we gave him an Ice Cream Maker. (Kind of selfish, isn't it? We reap the rewards!) An aside: I always thought to make your own ice cream you'd have to spend all day cranking away. That was once the case, but not anymore. We love this thing. Just turn it on, let it run for 25 minutes, allow to set in the freezer for a couple of hours and viola! The best darned ice cream in town, no kiddin'.

Moving on...

I had an obsession to try basil ice cream. We did some experimenting and finally found a good recipe. It was simple to make. 

First, chop the basil!

 

 Next, you boil the basil with some milk and dissolve the sugar. Then blend until the basil is just wee specks of beautiful green.

The bananas just happen to be there...

I poured it through a mesh strainer to get the bits of basil out, but I think next time I'll allow some to remain. Into the ice cream making machine!

The result was a very mild and herby ice cream. One friend even joked, saying it tasted a little... how do you say.... medicinal. It was good enough, though, that the kids took it down.

Just not quite what I had in mind. My dear basil needed a side-kick.

So, I was in a quandry. I felt I was turning my back on my beloved basil. There are a myriad of flavors that compliment basil beautifully. I spent a few days thinking.

I decided I'd serve it along-side a raspberry sorbet. Sorbet is super easy to make in the ice cream maker. Basically, it's just frozen or fresh fruit and simple syrup.

I reserved some sorbet to make these cute little sorbet hearts for my little loves.

I thought it would be cute to make them in cupcake molds and serve them inverted with fudge sauce. I decided to call them darlings, because they are darling, they were for my darlings, and basil is my darling in the herb community.

don't think paper liners are necessary, but my molds have been around for awhile.

I made and froze the basil first, then the next day made the sorbet. Before adding the sorbet over the basil ice cream, I added a smidge of super-rich chocolate* ice cream I had left over in the center. 

Finished product, as plated:

Oh my stars. It was delicious. Duh. Lish. Us.

They would also be cute in a fancy cupcake mold like this:

I'm hoping to come up with more fun flavors and combinations. Mark and I want to be "the ice cream people". As in, "Oh, invite the Rebennacks to the bar-b-que, they always bring homemade ice cream." You'd want us around, right?!

*Best Chocolate Ice Cream: Make sipping chocolate. Turn it into ice cream. Holy Sugar Cone, Batman!

Harvest.

{Considering Introducing myself to an Intro to Gardening.}

 

Mark works at Hope School, which is a school for severly handicapped children. He is the visual arts teacher. They also have a very abundant garden, and we are the benefactors to their bounty.

He brought home these beautiful tomatoes. As with almost everything, I don't really know much about different types of tomatoes. But, I do know a pretty fruit when I see one! (And, I know that tomatoes are a fruit. A berry to be exact.)

I made a tomato salad with the two tomatoes he bought from the school garden. I just added shallots, garlic, salt, pepper and olive oil. Nothing more is really needed on a fresh tomato, grown in a sunny garden and picked at peak ripeness. I swear, I can taste the sun.

We do have a tomato plant growing successfully in the back yard. The kids get a few tomatoes a week, and we use them up. (full disclosure: I don't do any of the gardening, so my interest in gardening as a hobby is kind of a facade. Mark does it all, with help from the kids. But I intend to help out. I'll get there.)

I did a quick Wikipedia read and found out some fun facts. I love fun facts.

• China produces the most tomatoes worldwide
• Tomatoes came to the americas by the spanish conquistadors
• The tomato plant belongs to the nighshade family
• There are around 7500 varities of tomato fruits

So, it seems to me that tomatoes are on the easier side of growing. I see lots of apartment balconies with the Topsy Turvy Tomato Planter. With the availability of stuff like this, there's really no reason to buy mealy tomatoes at the supermarket. Not when you can grow some easily. It not the the aesthetic you're after, but hey...















Any tomato experts out there?  Any hints, advice or tidbits you can share with  me?

Jars.

Glass jars give me a very strange yet comfortable satisfaction. I buy certain jams, sauces or pickles based on the jar... and cannot wait for it to be emptied.

I use them to store opened bags of nuts, brown sugar, and other miscellaneous pantry items.

Well. The ante was recently, as they say, upped.

I got a label maker. I call him Label Baby. (who gets the reference? Winner gets a free label, to label him/herself as the winner of course.) The satisfaction has gone from just comfortable to nearly blissful.




















And really, the story as to acquiring the Label Baby is quite sweet. I wanted one for years. I craved one. But my dear Mark would nay-say, knowing me so well, knowing I'd go bonkers labeling needlessly. But, being the dear love he is... he caved and gave me the Label Baby! Label me excited. I actually didn't even open it for weeks, waiting to allow myself the enjoyment. Well it's been open for awhile now, and it [labeling] hasn't stopped. Nothing is safe.

Is this strange? Readers, be honest. Any guesses into my psyche ?

Love-Song.

{my life to music vol. I}

For many many years I've had this tendency. I like to start the day out with a song. The same song. For months.

It sets the tone for a good day, you know?

I am going to start sharing the songs with you.

I recommend you listen to these songs at full blast, dancing with a baby in your arms. I promise you, you will cry with unabashed joy - your heart will burst and it will be stitched back together with the laughter of your children. Then, they will be so purely beautiful the stitches will rip out, and then your kids will stitch your heart back together, yet again, with their simple, uncomplicated love.

This is the current song, Home by Edward Sharp & The Magnetic Zeros.



holy roly me oh my. you're the apple of my eye.

Enjoy.

p.s. it should be noted that all cool and new music I ever hear comes from my connection to the cool and new world, The Admiral.