Vibe check! How’s everyone holding up out there? Florida is in the thick of it with COVID-19, so we’re still spending a lot of time at home. (And I’m on the hunt for more cute face masks.)
Last weekend my parents came over for dinner to celebrate my step-dad’s birthday. I made a simple dinner of roasted chicken thighs and mixed veggies (all cooked in the oven on foil-lined sheet pans for the easiest cleanup) and set the table with bright foxtail lilies and some of my summery vintage finds — ceramic cantaloupe bowls and lime green linen napkins. We chatted and ate and celebrated together while my favorite playlist played in the background. We haven’t spent any time together since April, so it was such a special evening.
(Oh! And I made this buttermilk cornbread with brown sugar and honey; 12/10 would recommend.)
This Week’s Good Things
Over on The Stripe, Grace kicks off each week with a list of good things. It’s a mashup of a weekly gratitude list + activities she’s enjoying, self care tips, new podcast/book/blog/Instagram recommendations and more, peppered with the style and beauty products on her radar. I look forward to her updates on Monday mornings.
Out Of Stories
Speaking of blogs I love, my OG blogging friend, Linda, just returned with a new site, out of stories! Linda is a teacher, mom, writer, talented illustrator, and all-around lovely lady with great style and a heart of gold. Her old blog, Little Tin Soldier, was a huge inspiration for me back in the days of A Pretty Penny. I’m heartbroken for her that her old archives are gone, but so happy to see her back online. Go give out of stories a bookmark!
DIY Daisy Chain Sandals
I did a double-take when I spotted these beaded summer sandals in my Instagram scrolling. I got even more excited when I realized they’re a DIY project from HonestlyWTF! This weekend I may fish my old beading supplies out of the donation pile in the garage and give this project a go with a pair of sandals from my closet.
(Remember my DIY days?)
Grain & Veggie Bowls
Lately, I’m all about a one-bowl dinner. Preferably, something hearty and satisfying that doesn’t require turning on the oven. We’re also trying to ease into 2-3 vegetarian or plant-based meals per week. Enter: super adaptable grain bowls. Start with a base of brown rice, quinoa, couscous or farrow, and load it up with summer veggies and an easy protein.
Last week we tried these corn and chickpea bowls with miso tahini from the latest issue of Bon Appetit. *chef’s kiss* So good.
A note about cooking in the time of COVID and quarantine: I’m getting pretty good at adapting recipes! It’s a fun challenge to figure out ways to flex ingredients to use what I have on hand, and there are endless resources for ingredient swaps online. (Bonus: this also helps cut down our weekly food waste considerably.) In this recipe I subbed almond butter for tahini, dried ginger for fresh, and added a pinch of extra salt in place of miso.
Another recent one-bowl favorite: One-Pot Turmeric Coconut Rice with Greens
The One To Watch Audiobook
We’re working on downsizing our design studio at the flower shop, which means lots and lots of organizing. Listening to The One To Watch by Kate Stayman-London on Audible while I do it makes the whole experience much more pleasant! Keep reading for the synopsis.
“Bea Schumacher is a devastatingly stylish plus-size fashion blogger who has amazing friends, a devoted family, legions of Insta followers—and a massively broken heart. Like the rest of America, Bea indulges in her weekly obsession: the hit reality show Main Squeeze. The fantasy dates! The kiss-off rejections! The surprising amount of guys named Chad! But Bea is sick and tired of the lack of body diversity on the show. Since when is being a size zero a prerequisite for getting engaged on television?
Just when Bea has sworn off dating altogether, she gets an intriguing call: Main Squeeze wants her to be its next star, surrounded by men vying for her affections. Bea agrees, on one condition—under no circumstances will she actually fall in love. She’s in this to supercharge her career, subvert harmful beauty standards, inspire women across America, and get a free hot air balloon ride. That’s it.
But when the cameras start rolling, Bea realizes things are more complicated than she anticipated. She’s in a whirlwind of sumptuous couture, Internet culture wars, sexy suitors, and an opportunity (or two, or five) to find messy, real-life love in the midst of a made-for-TV fairy tale. In this joyful, wickedly observant debut, Bea has to decide whether it might just be worth trusting these men—and herself—for a chance to live happily ever after.” (via Goodreads)
other links to check out:
- a helpful guide to avoiding ‘maskne’ (those pesky breakouts around your mouth and chin from wearing a face mask).
- 3 ways to elevate a t-shirt and jeans.
- this is my new daytime moisturizer with SPF 30, and it’s under $20.
Thank you for the sweet mention, friend! Your summer round-up is perfect; I might have to try the daisy chain project, too! Love your sunlit and colorful home.
Thinking that everything that you touch Kura lennox is
so beautiful !
Ever thing that you touch Kura is beautiful!