Thursday, June 30, 2011

sang and serena company

Hello, beautiful! Sometimes I like to pretend I have lots and lots of money.  It's much more fun to daydream that way.  If this money were real, Sang and Serena Company would get lots of it.  They make the most exquisite bone and mother of pearl inlaid furniture pieces.  The bone (from naturally deceased camels), mother of pearl, and wood are all locally sourced in India, where the furniture is made by artisans. It's so beautiful, so get over that whole dead camel thing already:







As if the furniture wasn't enough, they sell amazing quilts too. These fabrics, unfortunately for my imaginary wallet, are sold out, but they are creating a new line soon.




Wednesday, June 29, 2011

jewelry board inspiration

As I noted on my latest to-do list (Wow, that was awhile ago! Is it okay to make another to-do list before you've finished even started your other one?) I want to make a jewelry organizer.  Here are some images I've collected on pinterest to inspire me:







Actually, I have already started my board, just a few beginner mishaps have set me back a bit.  It should be done soon and I'll be sure to share it with you when it is.  I will be so happy when my necklaces are no longer stuffed in Christmas gift bags repurposed as jewelry boxes.  Ho, ho, ho no more! 

all images found on pinterest

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

one bite

One Bite is a Japanese Grill located on 133rd Street in Kansas City.  Well, technically it's in Overland Park, but you get the idea. A funny thing I've noticed about Kansas City is that the people who live closer to the city (aka north) tend to scoff at the idea of living "out south."  And, while I don't actually know anybody who lives "out south" (to be totally honest, I don't really know where out south begins), from what I have gathered, it seems like they tend to hate on the people who live close to the city.  In summation, there's a bit of a rivalry.  Or a clashing of preferences, if you will.  This division is sometimes so strong that some people rarely make it to the other part of the city.

While Dan's family definitely exhibits a preference for the northern areas closer to the city, they aren't necessarily opposed to "out south."  But, I was surprised when we went all the way to 133rd Street for dinner on a Sunday night when everyone was suffering from jet lag (Dan's parents and sister had just returned from spending weeks in Spain...tough life).  When we arrived at One Bite, I started to understand.  When I tasted the food, I knew: this place is worth the drive.

orange barstools at OB

Fresh, modern decor instantly separates One Bite from other Asian food restaurants.  You will be hard-pressed to find a digital waterfall or goldfish pond here.  Clean lines and punches of bright color give the restaurant a youthful vibe.
a bright take on a seaweed salad
The menu items are just as enticing as the furnishings.  There is no sushi on this menu.  I must admit that I had never been to a Japanese restaurant that doesn't specialize in sushi before, so I had no idea what to expect.  Upon reading the item descriptions, I was tempted to order pretty much everything, but after much debate I settled on the modan yaki.  It is a batter filled with vegetables, topped with noodles, a fried egg and mushrooms.  It is also unbelievable.  If I hadn't already stuffed myself with appetizers - seaweed salad, mushrooms, tofu and edamame - I would have been devastated when I devoured the whole entrĂ©e and had no left-overs for the next day.  Luckily, I had had plenty of appetizers and, with some self-restraint, was able to bring some yaki home with me.

a picture of the vegetable yaki - just like what I ordered, but sans noodles
They offer most of the food with the option of getting a tapas style portion.  I would guess that this is an attempt to promote sharing and therefore an expanded knowledge of Japanese food among their clientele.  However, once I tried my entree, I reaalllly didn't want to share.  But I was polite and let everyone try a bite.  
our strawberry shaved ice dessert
When we had finished our entrees, our waitress (who is maybe also the owner?) was extremely friendly, patient and informative and brought us a dessert on the house.  The dessert was this huge pile of shaved ice with Japanese cream and a homemade strawberry sauce drizzled on top.  It was somehow incredibly light and refreshing while still being satisfyingly creamy.  I don't know how they managed to do that.  But they did.

sauces for sale! with cool packaging, too!
Oh, and they sell their own sauces!  I would love to buy one or two (or all) of them to experiment with in my own kitchen. They even provide recipes on their website to help you incorporate their sauces into your home-cooking.  While I appreciate their desire to share their wonderful Japanese food with me, I have a suspicion that anything I try to make on my own will fall significantly short of the deliciousness I discovered at the restaurant.

Needless to say, I was very impressed.  One Bite is definitely worth the trip.  I can't wait to go back for another, well, bite.

all images from One Bite's website

Monday, June 27, 2011

the little things

One of my favorite blogs/tumblrs is called Little Things.  Every day the author, Nancy, puts up a new little thing for which we could be grateful for or just simply enjoy.  There are so many great things on the website and I only included a few of my favorites here.  












What are your favorite little things?

Friday, June 24, 2011

friday finds

via
This is quite possibly the most hilarious thing I've seen in a long time.  Thanks to Jane for sharing it with me!

My dream job:  a green historic home renovation!

I think I like suzani better than ikat.  Please don't get mad at me.

A diy no-sew bikini?  Unbelievable.

How to steal like an artist. From Austin Kleon.

Dan almost cried he was laughing so hard.

And finally, what I did with my farmers' market buys:



loooove Instagram!

I made a caprese salad - everything except for the salt and pepper was from either a farmers' market, our gardens or The Tasteful Olive independently owned shop in Overland Park! Oh wait, I lied.  The sausage is from Whole Foods.  And roasted tomatoes with Pappardelle's Italian style buffalo ravioli (from the farmers' market) and basil!

Thursday, June 23, 2011

historic downtown overland park

As a newbie to Kansas City, my take on Overland Park (a suburb outside of the city) was that it was lots and lots of suburbia and a Whole Foods.  However, I have been proven wrong.  Yesterday, I went to the Overland Park Farmers' Market in search of Pappardelle's ravioli - something that Dan and I bought (and ate!) a lot of at the Vail Farmers' Market - and I must say I found a new spot to add to my list of Kansas City favorites.


images via
I think I might actually prefer this farmers' market to the one in the River Market (where Dan and I went last weekend).  It is more intimate and the farmers all had signs up about exactly where the produce was grown.  Also, they offer much more than just produce and other foodstuffs. My favorite "extra" being canning classes, so you can learn how to preserve all of the goodies you're buying!  I really want to learn how to can.  Plus, isn't the "discover you can" logo really cute?


But wait, there's more! Historic Downtown Overland Park not only has a great farmers' market, but the streets are also lined with cute and unique shops. I had so much fun wandering Santa Fe Drive and checking everything out.  I started to regret going to the farmers' market first - those tomatoes and turnips got heavy.


image via
The Tasteful Olive, an independently owned and operated business, sells delicious flavored olive oils and vinegars.  They're in big vats at the store and you can taste them all!  I gave myself a bit of a stomach ache, but they were so delicious that I couldn't stop.  I almost feel bad for people who don't live near here and can't experience this first-hand.

image from their Christmas display (the store isn't decorated like that now) via
When I came across Now and Then, a furniture consignment shop, my knees buckled.  The owner, Cheryl Hocker, has done amazing things when refinishing some of the pieces!  If it were socially acceptable, I would have drooled all over the refurbished chairs and tables. I mean this store is what I dream about. It took pretty much all of my self control not to buy anything.  I just kept telling myself that someday, when I have a space of my own, I will be back. And with a vengeance. 

From a bakery, to a sewing store (that offers lessons!), to The Culinary Center of Kansas City (more classes offered here!), to a spice shop there was definitely enough to keep me occupied and still feel like I need to go back for more!  Overland Park: it's not just a Whole Foods anymore.*


*Don't get me wrong. I l-o-v-e Whole Foods and went there next, but still, it's nice to have a main street and a little downtown.

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

abbey road

Check out this webcam with a live-stream of people crossing Abbey Road. It's pretty amazing.  I mean, people are constantly trying to recreate the famous Beatles cover.  Even in the middle of the night! It takes a minute to load, but I promise you won't be disappointed.  I wonder if people have any idea they're being recorded for the whole world to see!

via

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

rough jewelry

Recently, I've found myself really drawn to rough looking jewelry.  Not like biker chains and spikes, but gems and things that haven't been perfectly formed into a certain shape (or have been purposely formed into this roughly cut shape) .  Maybe it all ties into that rustic chic thing I'm going for...



Rough diamond studs and hammered gold stackable rings from LexLuxe 


 

choose a color friendship bracelets and red hot geo earrings from amerrymishap



gold dipped hot pink druzy statement ring and black tourmaline and crystal matrix statement ring from sparklecouture  


Would you buy any of these pieces? If so, which one(s)?


Monday, June 20, 2011

kraft (not the mac and cheese kind)

Not too long ago, if you brought up Kraft, I would have thought of the stuff from the blue box.  But say it today, and a different image will come to my mind - that of a beautifully wrapped present.  I am currently so enamored with kraft paper that I am trying to come up with a way to justify buying and wrapping (!) lots and lots of gifts.

1.

 2.

3.


Kraft paper is all natural and 100% biodegradable, aka you can compost it.  And it's pretty inexpensive.  So you can feel good about buying it and your bank account will like it too.  Who wants a present*?

*Disclaimer: Said "present" might just be an empty box wrapped in kraft paper.


image sources 123

Friday, June 17, 2011

Friday Finds


How amazing would it be to find that sign on a long road trip?  My twelve year old self is rejoicing. Here are a few more of my favorite finds of the week:

What goes around comes around in decorating trends.  Seriously. This is unbelievable.

You know that love of all things linen that I talked about yesterday?  Well, I need to find a job asap so I can buy everything on this site

Ice cream truck + food cart = heaven.

If I didn't already have plans to go to Cape Town, I do now.

Will Emerson ever make anything I don't like? 

Mainers and non-Mainers alike will love this video.

Devastation of the week:  I was so close to buying this bag (pictured below) at an estate sale for $8 a few weeks ago, but couldn't decide if I liked it enough.  Now, it's being reproduced in a Coach Classics line made exclusively for net-a-porter.  Price of the new bag? $300.