Jun
07
Happy Weekend
01/ Long exposure photos of fireflies in a forest.
02/ Easy Fried S’mores. MY HEART.
03/ Every neighborhood needs a Free Little Library, don’t you think?
04/ Decor tracks a city of bread as it deteriorates over a 6-month period.
05/ What your style of eggs says about you.
06/ Feet & Paws, a photo series of dog’s paws next to their owner’s feet!
07/ Realistic hybrid animals. (I’ll take a dorse, or is it a huck??)
08/ Best. Lemonade. Stand. Ever.
09/ Meet Projecto, a tiny projector for your Instagrams.
10/ Happy Donut Day! Now go make this Donut Garland and eat a dozen.
In case you missed it…
Dear Kate: The Starlet (a Giveaway)
Pencil Me In
S.W. Basics
Rachel Gant
On The Hunt
PGH / Digs
Summer Mix-Up Bowl
The Pantone Project
Taste Tour: Vast
SHARE 
TWEET
PIN
Jun
05
Summer Mix-Up Bowl
When summer rolls around (as it unofficially has) this is my go-to dinner that I eat four or five times a week. The Summer Mix-Up Bowl, as I haphazardly refer to it, is light and healthy and takes advantage of not only all the lush summer produce available this time of year but also any leftovers you might have laying around.
It’s really versatile, too. I like to start with a bed of greens, then layer on a grain like brown rice or quinoa, two to three vegetables (some steamed and some raw), then finish things off with some seeds or nuts and a drizzle of vinaigrette. Yeah, it’s that easy. Of course you can always add meat if you’re so inclined, but I’m not.
What’s your go-to summer meal?
May
17
Ten Spring Salads
Click on the image to be taken to each recipe’s source.
All photos copyright of their respective sites.
May
06
Mother’s Day Picnic
Mother’s Day is an important occasion, especially when your mom is as fantastic at her job as mine. I’ve come up with some fun things over the years to show how much I appreciate all she’s done for me. Once it was a container full of memories rolled up on little pieces of paper that she could open throughout the year, another time it was a multi-course from scratch lunch. Since spring has finally decided to stay for awhile I think a picnic would be lovely, don’t you? Lots of little bites, a colorful setting, and even champagne!
ROW 1: Beach Blanket by Steven Alan // Pack a Picnic Basket by Kate Spade // Black Striped Balloons from Oriental Trading ROW 2: DIY MOther’s Day Bouquet from Paper n Stitch // Pack a Picnic Champagne Box by Kate Spade // Everyday Napkins by Alder & Co. ROW 3: Golden Stripe Highball Glasses by C Wonder // Marchena Salad Plates from Anthropologie // Ceramic Utensils from CB2
ROW 1: Raspberry Mint Mozzarella Skewers by Biscuits and Such // Parker House Rolls by Always With Butter // Orange Thyme Jam by Minimalist Baker ROW 2: Honey Feta Chicken Salad with Grapes and Almonds by Branny Boils Over // Secret Fruit Salad by Rachel Schultz // Magnolia Bakery’s Banana Pudding
Apr
12
Happy Weekend
01/ The Human Tower Competition!
02/ Blocks, a photo series of a life-sized block man.
03/ Sweet black and whites of a girl and her tomcat.
04/ This Lime and Coconut Cream Tart needs to happen.
05/ YES to these Zoo Portraits.
06/ You can eat works of art!
07/ Such a fun birthday surprise.
08/ Yes to all things cotton candy, including this lemonade.
09/ Time-lapse video of a full moon rising over L.A.
10/ Need this DIY Bike Bar Cart for summer. And a bike.
This week on Design Crush:
Watercolor Stickers
Grillmaster Serving Trays
Luxury 3 Ways + a Contest
LSTN Headphones
The Statement Door
Sunny Day Sunnies
Canevas Abstract Cushions
Martone Cycle Co.
GoodLife Key Tags
Mar
25
An Easter Lunch
THE APPS
Grilled Corn Crema Mexicana Cilantro Crostini – Epicurious
Raspberry Canapes with Basil and Balsamic Vinegar – Cook the Story
Salt + Vinegar Sweet Potato Chips – Undressed Skeleton
THE COCKTAILS
Sgroppino – Saveur
Pear Rum Blush – Eat Boutique
Meyer Lemon Sour – Honestly YUM
THE TABLE
Tinted Base Tumbler Set – Anthropologie
DIY Ombre Napkins – Once Wed
Vermelho Dinnerware – Anthropologie
DIY Washi Tablecloth – Style Unveiled
DIY Tissue Decal Candles – A Subtle Revelry
DIY Bird Nests – Home Made Simple
Tulips – Blossom Boutique Flowers
Bitty Black Bunny Treat Bags – Mer Mag
DIY Origami Bunnies – How About Orange
THE MEAL
Kale and Fig Salad – Pure and Simple
Risoni Tomato and Bean Salad – At Down Under
Roasted Polenta-Crusted Potatoes – Simple Bites
Zucchini Ribbon Salad – Proud Italian Cook
Wild Rice Mushroom Pilaf – Real Simple
Broiled Spicy Brown Sugar Salmon – How Sweet It Is
THE KID DESSERTS
Speckled Egg Cake Bites – The Cake Girls
Easter Bunny Sugar Cookies – Indulgy
Speckled Egg Cake – The Cake Blog
THE ADULT DESSERTS
Vanilla Rum Custard – Saveur
Brown Sugar Banana Parfaits – Bon Appetit
Raspberry, Pistachio + Rose Cake – The Wild Flour Bakery
All photos copyright of their respective sites unless otherwise noted.
Mar
12
Gone Green
ROW 1: Leprechaun Mojito // Baileys Irish Cream Cookies // Cucumber Margarita ROW 2: Homemade Irish Cream Liqueur // Boozy Shamrock Shakes // Chocolate Guinness Cake with Whiskey Caramel ROW 3: 3D Shamrocks // DIY Shamrock Honeycombs ROW 4: Drunken Grasshopper Fudge // Easy Corned Beef and Cabbage // Green Sangria ROW 5: Irish Soda Bread // Garden Path Wrap // Printable DIY Rainbow Boxes ROW 6: DIY Shamrock Streamers // St. Patrick’s Day Cups // Shamrock Wreath
Mar
06
West African Peanut Soup
Hi. My name is Kelly and I’m addicted to West African Peanut Soup. I’ve made it twice in a week’s time. It’s super easy to put together (most ingredients are pantry staples) and even easier to eat. Spicy, healthy, and did I mention vegan? This soup is all those things and more. Credit goes to Cookie + Kate, with my only changes being the addition of 3 tablespoons chopped cilantro and a tablespoon of fresh lime juice. Why are you still reading this, go make some NOW! I’ll be over in five.
Feb
22
Awards-Worthy Looks
What would Awards Season be without sassy, smart, witty women dressed in stunning frocks? Oh sure, a bunch of awards and acknowledgements about hours of blood, sweat, and tears poured out of actors and actresses. (But really, it’s all about the dresses.) Here are a few of the trends rocking the red carpet during 2013′s accolades.
Ona Leather Bustier Gown by alice + olivia // Florence Gown by Reem Acra
One of my favorite trends that’s always present on the red carpet are layered tulle skirts. So ethereal and ultra feminine, they have the ability to turn any lady into a star for the evening. And they nearly always end up on the Best Dressed lists!
Nicolette Leather Trim Gown by Catherine Deane // Side Drape Gown by Halston Heritage
This year I’ve noticed a lot of cutouts and black/white dichotomies, both are all about geometry. While the striking black and white ensembles are visually powerful, the cutout panels bring a strong confidence all their own. Neither is for the weak at heart.
Wrap Cowl Sequin Gown by Elie Saab // Nannie Sequin Knit Maxi Dress by Calypso St. Barth
Now, as always, sequins and shimmery beading are show-stoppers that a lady simply can’t go wrong with. These dresses say all eyes on me in the best possible way.
Crepe Dress by Marchesa // Embellish Collar Georgette Gown by Elie Saab
Figure-skimming gowns with one embellished area are hot this season. I love the understated quality (if that’s possible in a gown) of these garments, they really allow the women wearing them to shine bright and be the focus.
Baileys Tiramisu Parfait // Easy Baileys Brownies // Baileys Hazelnut & Ice Cream
Everyone knows the best part of any event is the After Party, and when you’ve worked tirelessly to fit into a form-fitting dress the pinnacle are the sweets waiting at the end of the evening.
If you’ll be tuning in to the Oscars this Sunday you can find me tweeting along at @designcrush!
Sponsored by Baileys Original. Join @BaileysOriginal on Twitter to celebrate #girlsnight and the women of the Red Carpet.
Feb
22
You Should Totally: Get a Bar Cart + Make a Grapefruit Gin Sour
A bar cart is something that I’ve wanted for a really long time. I’ve always had dreams of playing the hostess, guests walking in my front door and me smoothly offering them a signature drink. The Leon Iron and Mirror Bar Cart from Arteriors Home is a nice match for the mid-century decor I already have in my home. It’s also nice and narrow, really good for small spaces. And do you spy those antiqued mirror shelves? So good mixed with the industrial iron frame.
So, what goes into putting together a great bar cart? Start with the basic liquors – vodka, whisky, rum, gin – as well as any you use regularly. For me those are tequila, Pimm’s, amaretto, and Cointreau. The middle shelf of this particular bar cart is extra tall and nice for bottles of unusual sizes. But since I don’t have any of those at the moment I had a piece of lumber cut to size, then stained and sealed it to make extra space for the hammered metal bowl I use for an ice bowl by laying it across the end bars. Now it’s easy to leverage the extra vertical space and easy to remove when needed!
Next comes the essential pieces of barware. Most importantly a cocktail shaker, jigger, and some varied glassware. The types I use most are tumblers, collins glasses, and shot glasses. Again, it’s all about making the pieces you find yourself using most easy to access. I also like to keep some disposable coasters around for when there are more than four people and my every day ones are maxed out.
Now yes, I’m aware that not everyone drinks alcohol which is why I also like to add some sparkling waters to the mix. Add a few slices of citrus and it still feels special. Fun accessories like these short stubby paper straws and the (hidden) colored glass stirrers are also great to keep on hand.
You all know there’s absolutely no way I could talk all about bar carts and not give you a new cocktail to try! We’re heading into the last month of super cold weather, which means beating the winter blues and taking full advantage of the bounty of citrus are both of the utmost importance. This Grapefruit Gin Sour takes both things into account, which means you should make room in your weekend to try it out firsthand.
Grapefruit Gin Sour
serves 1
• 1 oz gin
• 2 oz fresh grapefruit juice (or go the easy route with bottled ruby red)
• .5 oz fresh lime juice
• .5 oz simple syrup
Fill a cocktail shaker about halfway with ice, then add the rest of the ingredients. Shake away for about 30 seconds, then strain into glass. Garnish with a slice of grapefruit or lime and enjoy! Sour, sweet, and full of vitamins which means it’s basically a health drink.
Disclaimer: My Leon Iron and Mirror Bar Cart from Arteriors Home was provided by Euro Style Lighting. Thank you for supporting the brands that keep Design Crush going!
