7.30.2012

Vacation

My vacation this year was super short, just two days + a weekend, but I had a great time. On Friday, Avery and I spent the day out. We got lunch at a Korean restaurant neat Rittenhouse and then walked to the Art Museum. It was soooo hot, and Avery wanted to try to find a new way to get there, which ended up taking longer because there was construction going on. But once we were there it was lots of fun.

Bulgogi lunhcbox! It's our favorite.


I really love the art museum, it might be one of my favorite places to spend time. But there are soooo many tourists who go there just to run up the steps and take pictures with the Rocky statue. We accidentally ended up in some woman's video of her son running up the steps, and there were more people in line at the statue than in line for the museum. There's nothing wrong with doing that, but it makes me sad that so many people don't get to appreciate the beautiful art in the museum.

After that we went to our favorite cafe, L'Aube, to cool off with some drinks. Avery was looking pensive for awhile, but then he caught me sneaking pictures :)


On Saturday we went to my parents' house, and on Sunday, my mom and I went to a flea market and a thrift  store. I made out like a bandit at both of them. I got some jewelry, sewing supplies, and glasses with a matching ice bucket at the flea market. At the store I got two botanical prints and an adorable embroidery, a pair of tapestry-looking shoes, and two scarves.

Also, I'm working on a skirt and a bag tutorial, so look for that this week :)

Enjoy the rest of your day!

7.26.2012

Friday Fancies

Today I'm going to the Philadelphia Museum of Art and then having a picnic by the Waterworks. It is going to be 93 degrees though, and I am not looking forward to being in the heat. Hopefully it's cooler on the river.  Anyway, onto my Friday Fancies.


This jacket is absolutely gorgeous. I can't wait for fall, and this jacket looks so cozy and perfect for crisp autumn weather.

via
A little while back, I got a postcard from my friend Sami, who is studying abroad in Japan. It's nice getting mail from people, it seems more personal than emails, I think.

via
Mid-Century Modern furniture is my favorite, and I love this chair. This style is always so expensive, but I have been lucky enough to find some pieces super cheap at thrift stores and yard sales.


These pancakes look so delicious. I love any kind of fruity pancakes, and peaches are one of my favorite fruits.

Alright, I'm off to the museum. Enjoy your Friday!

Instagram




Just a few instagram pictures :) The top is my boyfriend, Avery, my dog, Harley and my sister's cat, Luna. The bottom is a  picture from my neighborhood and me and my sister, Megan.

Today and tomorrow are my only vacation this summer. I've been spending today relaxing- reading, crocheting, and watching MST3K. Currently I have The Deadly Bees on. It's one of my favorites.

Enjoy the rest of your evening!

7.25.2012

Little Blue Pouch - Tutorial


One of my favorite thrift stores is a tiny place in a basement that benefits a medical mission. It's run by Sisters and they are all so nice. The store is loaded with clothes, housewares, and craft supplies. They have a floor to ceiling shelf that is chock full of fabric that is super cheap. This fabric was an upholstery remnant that cost 25 cents. I think it's so pretty, and when I found this cute little zipper while I was out with my sister, I decided to make a little pouch with it.

7.24.2012

Potato Curry


I love cooking, and Indian food (or Indian-inspired food) is one of my absolute favorite things to cook. Around here, two or three meals a week are usually Indian. The food is so flavorful, simple to make, and affordable. Once you buy the spices, you can usually make a meal for two for less than five dollars. The spices can be a little pricey, so if you don't think you'll be using them a whole bunch and don't want to buy a whole big bottle, I recommend trying to find a place that sells them in bulk. Mariposa Food Co-op in West Philadelphia does this, and you can get a little bag of whatever spice you want for less than a dollar. Middle Eastern or Halal food markets will also usually have spices for less money than the grocery store.


The potato curry recipe below is adapted from here. The first time I made it, I followed the original recipe, and I found it to be very bitter and lacking some of the flavor I was expecting. I think it could still use a few tweaks here and there, but all in all, I really enjoy this meal.

Potato Curry
  • 2 lbs potatoes
  • 2 15oz cans of chopped tomatoes
  • 1 large tomato, chopped
  • 1 can of chickpeas
  • 1 can of kidney beans
  • 1 cup of water
  • 1 small-medium onion, chopped
  • 2 cloves of garlic, minced
  • 1 tbsp coriander
  • 1 tbsp cumin
  • 2 tbsp curry powder
  • 1 tsp ground ginger
  • 2 tsp ground turmeric
  • 2 tbsp butter
  • vegetable oil
1) Scrub potatoes and cut into cubes (I like mine in about 1 inch pieces) and drain and rinse the chickpeas and beans.

2 )Add the potatoes, canned and fresh tomatoes, chickpeas, beans, and water to a medium sized pot. Cover and bring to a boil. Once boiling, turn down to a simmer.

3)  Coat the bottom of a pan with vegetable oil and add onions. Cook until translucent, then add the garlic. Once onions begin to brown, add them to the pot, along with all spices.

4) Simmer until potatoes are cooked, seasoning with salt and pepper, to taste. Add the butter and allow it to melt into the sauce. 

Serve with a dollop of yogurt or sour cream and some naan. Cucumber salad is a nice, refreshing side for this meal and is super easy to make.

Cucumber Salad
  • 2 medium cucumbers or one seedless cucumber
  • 1/2 cup plain yogurt
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • splash of rice vinegar
  • salt and pepper, to taste
  • handful of chopped dill and mint
1) Quarter and chop cucumbers and place in a colander with some salt. Allow to drain for about ten to fifteen minutes. Pat dry in put in bowl. 

2) In separate bowl, mix yogurt, sour cream, vinegar, pepper, and herbs. Pour over cucumbers, taste, and add salt if needed. Refrigerate for at least twenty minutes before serving.


Enjoy with a cold Thums Up :)

7.22.2012

A look ahead...



Over the weekend, my sister and I went to fabric row, and I got a bunch of stuff I needed to continue working on the numerous projects I have going on right now. Here's a peek at what I'm working on. I'll be posting some how-to's and tutorials as things are completed.






We found this great store on 4th and Fitzwater called PA Fabric Outlet. They have an entire wall filled with boxes of buttons from floor to ceiling, huge bins full of discount fabric, zippers, and appliques, and lots of beautiful fabrics. That's where I got the mint and white striped chiffon in the picture above.






All in all, I have two dresses, a shirt, four re-fashions, a scarf, a sweater, and a blanket in progress. I want to get as much done as possible before semester starts up again. So now it's time to get back to work!

7.20.2012

Friday Fancies

It's finally Friday! This week has been super long, but I'm looking forward to the weekend. My sister and I are going to fabric row to get supplies for refashioning some clothes she found at a thrift store. I'm so excited! But anyway, here are some lovely things I have found and fancy.

This sweater is adorable. I need to learn how to knit!
I love vintage linens, and this is a beautiful way to display them .
This dress is gorgeous, I would love to try to make it one day.
My already extensive list of things I want to crochet got a  little longer.

7.19.2012

West Philadelphia



Today is the first day in what seems like ages that it hasn't been about nine million degrees outside. It's breezy and a little cool, and very dreary. I love it. The sky is that lovely whitish gray color that usually means a storm is coming. This is some of my favorite kind of weather, especially in West Philadelphia. When you're walking up one of the streets with the huge old mansions, the overgrown, yet still beautiful, gardens, and the brick sidewalks, it feels like you have stepped into another world. Every garden is a secret garden and every house is a mystery.



Tonight is also the Baltimore AvenueDollar Stroll. I will not be attending because it looks like it is about to pour, and for as much as I like rainy weather, I don't really like being outside in it. Also, I have no dollars, and that's kind of a deal breaker. But there's going to be two more this summer, and next time, I will be sure to be prepared.


*Also, please excuse the phone pictures. My camera is having some lens issues at the moment, which will hopefully be resolved soon.