Sun Tea

It's summer here in Pasadena. It's hot and you can't really just drink all day to battle the heat, so I found an alternative: Sun Tea. It's fun to make, because it's easy, and it makes it feel like it's really summer. This past weekend I did a combo of green tea and trader joe's calm tea.

I put three tea bags in an old mason jar and put it in the sun for a couple of hours.



Then I poured it over ice, squeezed in some lemon and added a sprig of mint.



It was delicious. Plus, I realized, it would be a great mixer for cocktails.

So I wrote a post over on thekitchn about refreshing concoctions that start with tea. What's your favorite kind?

Giant Salade Nicoise

Had some people over and decided to make something that wouldn't be too heavy since it's still hot here in LA. I opted for a Salade Nicoise (I loosely followed this recipe) which is fresh, healthy and easy-ish. I love how salty it is with olives, capers, lemon heavy vinaigrette and seared ahi. And then the crunch of the butter lettuce! And heirloom tomatoes. Makes me wonder why I haven't been making it all summer long.

Oh My God.

I have really dropped the ball. I only went on vacation for 2 and a half days and here we are more than a week later and no posts up! What is happening? Well, a lot actually, and only punctuated further by the fact that my mom was able to completely bust up her ankle and leg on monday by falling while working on a garden for a client. A surgeon had to use 2 plates and 10 screws to get her back in the right amount of pieces and now she is home resting comfortably on pain killers (I hope). I am an only child. So I've been sort of taken with that sitch.

So in an effort to catch up with life here will be a run down of things and pictures of things that are happening in my life at the moment. It is worth noting that I have the evening to myself for the first time in...years? and I am spending it virtually redecorating the house on the internets instead resting, sleeping or actually eating dinner. It feels so right though.

Ok so here goes:



The Ace Hotel and Swim Club is Awesome. I highly recommend it. Go there. Get the cheapest room that isn't anywhere near the 24 hour pool and go. And then eat and drink at their restaurant and bar. It is worth it. (You can see a lot more of my pictures on flickr.


I also love that they use these jars for everything from sugar for coffee to their homemade jam to qtips and cotton balls. I have these jars already. Does that mean I'm cool like the Ace?

Ok, so now that I'm 'home' and have some time I'm realizing that this place isn't so much mine as a beige box that I live in with people I love. I do not love this place. So I'm itching to do something to it. I feel like John Robshaw could help:


Along with something stripey or, if I'm just unabashedly looking for something fun and inexpensive that the kids can spill on and is better than the beige wall to wall, I'm considering this. I know it's wrong, but I'm hoping it's so wrong it's right. Also there's a PB close enough that I could go get that tomorrow and cover up the beige wall to wall.

I'd like to take a moment to express that I am really jealous of anyone on vacation, especially if they're in Europe. And somewhat related I want to mention that I get quoted as 'joliet' (my last name, did you know that?) in this sweet blog post about what France can teach you about vacation. It made me feel like a bit of an expert on the subject.

Also I was reading Nick Olsen's blog and he mentioned the Lalanne sheep. I've been noticing more often that people in the states are savvy to Claude and Francois Lalanne and wanted to take the opportunity to mention (show off?) that, yeah, totally my family. Claude is my grandma's sister and they are both artists and that whole side of my family has a pretty amazing aesthetic that has always inspired me to strive to live a life that is beautiful and interesting every day. This is something I'm trying to re-anchor myself to since I've been so stressed and busy lately.

I had more to tell you but I need to go to bed. I'll update more (maybe) in the next week along with a couple more before and afters.

good night my lovelies.

Summertime Bicycle

You guys have all seen this clip from Flight of the Conchords, right? Well then I think you'd understand why I want this bike.

LA Picnic Time with Joy the Baker

Thanks to Illie, a faithful reader, I am now super excited about a blogger/baker picnic here in LA that, if it comes to fruition, will be hosted by Joy the Baker. She is threatening to bring those cupcakes. I am drooling and excited to make it out to meet some fellow bloggers and enjoy some time outside. I'll post about a location as soon as she announces one. Also, did anyone else make it to the Blog Out Loud Event. I was tired so didn't mingle too much...

Smog Shoppe

Smog Shoppe is an event space in Culver City that is so inspiring to me: sort of a mix of Paris meets Anthropologie meets a thrift store meets Flora Grubb. I need to visit in person, and soon. It's time to spend time outside, to grow plants and to embrace summertime. I'm thinking of hosting my annual crepe party (which has been on hold the last couple of years) and finally planning some of those picnics in the park.





Photos are by picotte.

Golden hour and I heart LA

I worked downtown today and on my way home driving across the historic 6th street bridge was the most brilliant golden movie lighting. Everything in the sun's path was a bright warm light and everything else was a pink purple haze. It was the kind of light that makes me fall in love with Los Angeles, makes me nostalgic for summer camp in oak grove park and makes me feel happy to be just where I am.

Thanks again for all your support. I can feel it.

Foodie Update

Summer is such a fun time to just whip things up simply. SO I put on my favorite apron and got to it.

I made the famed chocolate chip cookies again and they were great. If you haven't done it, make them, it's worth the wait. I follow Orangette's version and have not been disappointed (though I plan to add nuts to the next batch). The best part is sharing them because everyone is so happy to get cookies!

I've been sipping on this tea (in my new teapot from Tortoise). It's a mix of jasmine tea that I bought in china with actual rosebuds (I bought them in China too, they're meant to be made in a tea). It's just mild and sweet enough for a summer day. Next I want to make it iced.


I'm one of those people that can eat the same thing every day of the week for weeks, finally tire of it and find something else that I eat for weeks. Right now for breakfast it's granola fro Trader Joes with lowfat yogurt.

And my go-to lunch: a mix of fresh mozzarella, tomatoes, basil and some vinaigrette (and here some avocado). The best part is the vainaigrette and the fresh basil. Sometimes i add cucumbers and sometimes i omit the cheese, but I probably eat some version of this 4-5 days a week.

What have you been eating this summer?