Ah yes, the Marky Mark I know and love circa 1991. I’ve always been a fan of the classic early 90s tune, Good Vibrations- seriously, who doesn’t like that song- it’s just so, well… likable. Jimmy Fallon has made it even better. Brian Williams (or rather Fallon’s editor) is at it again,this time rapping with the Funky Bunch. You just know that editor is kicking himself for starting this nonsense in the first place, as he no doubt is now taking up residence in the editing room scouring NBC Nightly News clips that will match the next one, but we appreciate it.
Watch it here, it might make your day- or at least your minute:
I came home last week on my birthday to find the prettiest little homemade flower arrangement on my doorstep. It’s amazing how just a few pretty blooms will put such a big smile on your face, or mine anyway.
Isn’t it just perfectly pretty. It was a nice reminder of the power of a simple gesture and of how easy one can pick up a few flowers and fashion them into the most perfect little package. In truth, I don’t know that I would have been able to arrange them quite this pretty, maybe my friend Meg has another career in her future…
I received this beautiful bundle of blooms from another lovely friend:
This one was arranged by the neighborhood florist shop down the street- another reminder of how wonderfully creative and detail-specific your local businesses and shops can be. I know the owner of this shop and she puts her heart and soul into her business. Love it.
I’m digging Mr. Connery’s swim trunks and according to Esquire, this is one of the two looks we women like to see our on our men- the other being Daniel Craig’s swimsuit from Casino Royale. But let’s be honest, we’re talking about the two greatest Bonds ever- what don’t they look good in. Still, they are some cute swim trunks.
I hope you all have fun weekend plans. I’m off to pick up one of my best friends who is in the States from Hong Kong. You all know her here as Amy Abroad. Can’t wait to see her and her little ones.
A little link love:
1. I can’t wait to read this book. Tales from the theater including verbatim notes from the rehearsal process of 1963′s The Cherry Orchard with Uta Hagen… this is bound to be fascinating.
2. And speaking of legends- I’m downloading this one too- My Lunches with Orson, can you even image the stories that are in this book.
3. There’s a new green Coke- green label, that is. But you can only get it in Argentina where Coke is doing a massive marketing blitz to test their new Stevia-based product.
4. I’m digging this video. It’s a graphic design wonderland. Watch it, your eyes will thank you if they’re not too tired.
5. These instagram and twitter highlights from journalist Miriam Elder who spent the past few years in Russia are eye-opening.
P.S.: For anyone with littles, this sanity saving list is pretty great. Thanks Natalia!
Sheesh Kabobs made with Eastern Lubber Grasshoppers- Mmmm.
Would you eat a bug? 80 percent of the world’s population already does but here in the Western world, we have a big yuck factor with regard to insects. We would rather swat, smush or step on them than ingest them, but could things be changing? Insect connoisseur, David George Gordon has penned Eat-A-Bug as a testament to the merits of including bugs in our diet. His recipes are those pictured here. Apparently, bugs are plenty nutritious and a good alternative to beef for both environmental and health reasons and unlike other resources on our planet, they are a-plenty.
But honestly- fried green tomato hornworms? Maybe Anthony Bourdain would dig this, but do you really think Americans are going to go for it, no matter how pretty the presentation? It’s a stretch. Not so though, says Laetitia Giroud. She is betting the farm, her bug farm in fact, on the coming Bug Revolution. Giroud has set up shop in Spain raising beetles, crickets and flies with the hopes of changing the Western world’s perspective. For those less inclined to eat a whole insect, she has cooked up a cricket powder that she says is killer in a chocolate chip cookie. Ok, I would try that. Hey, I would actually eat a cricket, a beetle- maybe, a worm- I just don’t know.
Deep fried tarantulas- now we may have gone too far. What say you?
Today I’m Couch Tripping in the High Sierras just outside Yosemite. Far Meadow provides glammed up A-Frame and traditional log cabin style digs for those who really want to get off the map but stay in style. I’m roasting s’mores, hiking, fishing and just relaxin’ cold maxin’ on my own private 20 acres high above Bass Lake. Sweet. With sweeping views and eco-friendly, sleek interiors, this is not your grandfather’s A frame. Dig it:
A new kind of science magazine- for those of us who would rather upload a TED talk than subscribe to Scientific American- gone are the days of the glossy 70s Science magazines. Nautilus aims to reach that lost audience as well as the next generation of visually oriented, human interest-inclined folks of today. It sure is pretty and it reads beautifully. As much myth as fact, each issue has its own theme such as “uncertainty” and “secrets” and concentrates on storytelling through science. I’m interested.
A great new Thursday read as each chapter is released on the 5th day of the week. Check it out.
Oh Jack, you are so cool. This Vanity Fair photo is kind of the perfect way to kick off the weekend, with a wink and a smile. Thanks Jack.
I hope you’re all off to a fabulous weekend. This link love roundup is a wee tad smaller than usual as I am busy prepping for a shoot this Monday with Anthology Magazine. I will be hosting a Virginia wine pairing dinner party for my family at a local Virginia vineyard for the story, so I’m busy planning menus and tasting through lots of VA. wine. So fun. If you all have any suggestions for me, please send them along. We are doing sort of a picnic chic theme. Lots of yummy French inspired food centered around what’s in season, so lots of ripe fruit and produce. Fun. I hope you all have a great weekend.
Just a little link love:
This article speaks volumes about the state of our society with regard to technology. Thank you for writing it, Mr. Wilson and shame, Apple.
If you have any wine geeks in your life, this is sure to put a big smile on their faces at the end of your next dinner party. Any self respecting wino knows that Riesling rocks. It rocks so much that wine impresario Paul Grieco devotes an entire Summer of Riesling at his infamous Terroir wine bars in NYC. If you’re in the city this month and you love your Riesling, be sure to attend one of their classes.
Back to this dish at hand. From the Aussie cook and photographer over at From the Kitchen comes this ingenious dish. Simple and delicious, here’s the recipe:
What You Need:
500ml Riesling
2 cups water
1 cup sugar
1 vanilla bean
1 cinnamon stick
peel from one lemon
8 Bosc pears
300ml softly whipped cream
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tbsp icing sugar
What You Do:
1. Put all ingredients except the pears in a big wide pot and bring to a boil stirring for a few minutes to dissolve sugar, then reduce to a simmer.
2. In the meantime carefully peel your pears then put all together into the simmering liquid, if they are not fully covered add equal quantities of water and wine to cover them. Leave to cook for about 10 minutes if you have ripe pears, 20 minutes for almost ripe pears and 35 minutes for rock hard.
3. Test for doneness by piercing one (make it yours for later) pear to ensure the point of a knife pierces easily into just soft but not mushy pear flesh.
4. Once the pears are cooked, remove carefully with a slotted spoon and put in a container, standing upright.
5. Next boil the poaching liquid for 30-40 minutes until it is reduced to an aromatic syrup. the good thing about this dessert is that it is equally nice in winter or summer as you can serve the pears warm, room temperature or cold with whipped vanilla cream (add 1 tsp vanilla paste and 1 tbsp icing sugar to 300ml softly whipped cream) and/or vanilla bean ice -cream.
Former showgirl, forever travel junkie, sometime sommelier, and mom to twin bebes. This little blog is a mixed bag of tasting notes, travels, tales of motherhood, and current musings. Thank you for stopping by. Cin Cin! (photo by Amy Dickerson for Anthology Magazine)
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