energy smoothie.

fyi: i add flax to everything & usually chia seeds.

farm burgers & cream.

great news dunwoody-ians!

farm burger is coming to dunwoody and they're

bringing their friends from morelli's ice cream with them.

it's right across the street from my office...

this means (double) trouble.

i can already smell the sweet potato fries frying!

landrie mae.

my soul sista christina had a baby!!

here's baby landrie & mom's 1st pic.

those lips. those eyelids. that nose. yum. 

5 days new baby girl. 

christina and her man tom sure have made a pretty baby.

christina is one of the most creative, loving & special

people i know. landrie mae is going to be a really cool kid.

congrats & mazels to my sweet little tina!

perfect summer salad.

aside from today (it's a bit chilly)

 most of our spring days in georgia have been hot 

& super sunny. the early warm weather has gotten me in 

the mood for my favorite summer salad:

organic baby spinach (always use organic spinach)

strawberries & blueberries

avocado & sliced shrooms

roasted sunflower seeds & slivered almonds

and last but not least... love beets.

& topped w/ trader joe's cranberry, walnut & gorgonzola dressing.

yum!

croquet, cakes & hacky sac.

our pals micah & rachel came to visit.

we had a lot of fun. they came to us straight from

(5 weeks on) the puerto rico beach.

*tara was a bit envious of their tans to say the least...

we played croquet.

slim & micah went to college together

and they hadn't seen each other in 7 years! 

we went to the marietta pizza kitchen and

micah taught us all how to make dollar bill rings.

then we left our creations for a waiter as a bonus tip!

we sat on the porch and ate oatmeal & eggs & fruit.

rachel & micah really love mangos.

they showed us the best way to eat them and we

ate our hearts out. seriously, we just kept eating mangos.

we bought a whole box at harry's!

then we went to the art hunt and all came home empty handed,

except raffy- she found 3 pieces. 2 toilets & a monster.

then we ventured to your dekalb farmers market 

(which is very very super busy on saturdays)

and bought a bunch of delicious foods and cakes and brews

and had a big croquet game in raffy & b & lyric's backyard.

we all took turns using their new push mower.

rachel & jared made up the black (and purple) team.

i think jared just naturally started to have an

australian accent (just like rachel).

they were a fierce & fabulous team.

lea & tara made up the red (and chaco) team.

they liked to call themselves team honesty...

(insert sassy face that says "girl please")

raffy & i were the orange (graphic tshirt) team- also known as

THE WINNERS!

croquet is really fun.

a nice simple game that can easily & quickly become violent.

the boys were all teamed up too..

micah & b were the golden boys, yellow team

and slim & jeff were the green j's team.

they were both the 1st to finish the course and the 1st to 

knock each other out with their poison balls.

even lyric got in on the fun as she played caddy!

levine-hunt's mean muggin.

after hours of crochet and light beers we started on dinner.

we made delicious burritos, guac, smushed plantains & had cake.

then we all did party tricks and played hacky sac & hugged.

then next morning slim, micah & rachel took off for the farm.

the plan is for all 3 of them to ride their bikes and have fun.

micah & rachel are riding all the way home, to new hampshire.

slim is going to ride with them as far as he can.

(before his spring break is over and has to join the real world again)

bon voyage!

best of atl.

slim & i were luck enough to score 2 tickets to

atlanta magazine's best of atlanta party!

*thanks tara jane & camp horizon!

all proceeds went to camp twin lakes

and the party had a campy theme.

we checked out the photo-booth.

where there's pie...

our favorite sample was hazelnut & bluberry tarts.

highland bakery's chocolate cake was a close 2nd.

yum yum cupcakes were tasty & small & cute.

the food trucks were really fun & totally hip.

farm burger with friends.

slim & i ventured out of the burbs & into decatur

to meet our fabulous cori & her sweet little ones.

farm burger is fun & delicious & 100% grassfed, local(ish) beef.

* and they have gluten free buns that aren't reminiscent of cardboard!

here we are with cori's niece & nephew glo & jules.

and of course we had to take a funny picture!

those two kids are so delicious & sweet- just like their aunt!

glo was so funny. we wrote notes 

back & forth throughout dinner.

this one says: "oh come on, you've got to be kidding me"

in response to me declining to play outside in the cold.

stamps & sweets.

i love stamps. i also love cookies.

make your sugar cookies a bit more snazzy!

thank you pinterest.

dehydrate it.

i scored a dehydrated for slim off amazon.

it was supposed to be a birthday present...

but i am my fathers daughter & cannot wait to give presents.

our first batch was farm fresh & local beef jerky.

it was a bit chewy, but we're learning as we go!

the next (and best) were big costco pears.

slim added a bit of lemon juice & 9 hours later....

the perfect snack & trail mix sweetener!

4th night.

another fabulous hanukkah celebration with our family! 

dr. naderi joined us too & brought delicious wine and great convo.

check out this amazing cake my mom made-

it doesn't get anymore symbolic of our people than this!

*it tasted just as good as it looks.

here's the recipe for the 

north carolina cherolkee village brown sugar pound cake

*longest cake name ever, right?

i love this old school menorah.

we've been using this one forever!

happy happy!

the shed & church

i turned 27 on the 17th.

i had a fabulous birthday!

me & the baby- how pretty is she- omg!

the baby surprised me with 2 vintage pyrex pieces!!

lea, jared, jeff, tj, me, raffy, slim & brian williams made up

the most exciting & loud table at the shed at glenwood

*thx for the recommendation cori! it was amazing!

i take making birthday wishes very seriously.

it's a homemade birthday ding-dong!

.d.e.l.i.c.i.o.u.s.

handsome jared- still glowing from his safari.

we went to a bar called church..

(sister louisa's church of the living room & ping pong emporium)

slim kicked some major hipster ping pong booty!

the art was amazing & cringe-worthy.

xxx.

thanks to everyone for making my birthday so special!

cookies #1

cookie madness.

the cookie swap was really fun- 

good friends, amazing & crafty cookies, tickles & meatballs.

 thank you, fabulous cori for sending your recipe- 

hopefully others will follow in your (following the rules)

 footsteps & send me their cookie recipes too!

Cori's Chocolate Chip Brownies

2 rolls of chocolate chip cookie dough- Nestle or Pillsbury

1 can sweetened condensed milk

1 bag semi sweet chocolate chips

1 tsp vanilla (optional)

1 tsp salt (optional)

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  Press one roll of cookie dough into the bottom of an ungreased 9 x 13 pan.  It might not seem like it will be enough dough- but it is, just press it down to a thin layer that covers the whole bottom evenly. 

Then, put the choc chips and the milk in a small pot and melt it over medium heat.  You must keep stirring or it can burn easily.  When it is smooth, add the vanilla and salt if you want and stir until it is mixed in. 

Pour this over the cookie dough and smooth it out as evenly as possible.  It will start to get stiff as it cools so spread it quickly. Then take the other roll of cookie dough and crumble it over the top, again trying to make it as even as possible. 

Bake for 20-25 minutes or so until the top is browned lightly.  You have to let it cool for an hour or two before you cut them or it will be very gooey and not make nice pieces.  If you want to burn yourself though- dig in with a spoon!  If there are any left over- they freeze very well.

Cori's Chocolate Truffles

1 pkg (1 lb 2 oz) Oreo Chocolate Sandwiches, divided
1 pkg (8 oz) Philadelphia Cream Cheese, softened
2 pkg's (8 oz each) Baker's Semi-Sweet Chocolate (I used Hershey's), melted (I did not have a double boiler, so I boiled water in a large saucepan and set a small pot in it with the chocolate)

  

Crush 4-5 of the cookies to fine crumbs in food processor; reserve for later use. (Cookies can be fine crushed in a resealable plastic bag using a rolling pin.) Crush remaining 40 cookies to fine crumbs; place in a medium bowl. Add cream cheese; mix until well blended. You can use your hands and it will be ready when it looks like a ball of dough.  Roll cookie mixture into 42 balls, about 1 inch in diameter.

Dip balls in chocolate; place on parchment or wax paper-covered baking sheet. Sprinkle with reserved cookie crumbs.  For easy dipping, place truffle ball in melted chocolate to coat; roll if necessary. Lift truffle from chocolate using a fork (this allows excess chocolate to run off) before placing on wax paper.

Refrigerate until firm, about 1 hour. Store leftover truffles, covered, in refrigerator. 

g-free pumpkin yums.

this time of year, i love everything pumpkin and cinnamon and tasty.

gluten-free pumpkin muffins

ingredients

*1 1/2 cups quinoa flour (or other gluten-free flour of choice)

*1 teaspoon baking soda

*1/2 teaspoon baking powder
*2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
*1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
*1/8 teaspoon ground ginger
*1/2 teaspoon salt
*1 cup canned pumpkin puree
*1/2 cup olive oil
*1 cup sugar
*2 large eggs
*1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

instructions
*preheat oven to 350°F. lightly grease muffin cups. set aside. 
In a small bowl, combine flour, baking soda, baking powder,
 cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and salt.
*in a large bowl beat pumpkin, olive oil, sugar, eggs and vanilla.
*add dry ingredients to wet ingredients and stir until combined. 
*fill muffin cups 2/3 full with batter.
*bake for 12 to 15 minutes or until muffins are lightly golden brown 
and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
*cool on a wire rack & enjoy with some hot tea!
kudos to with style & grace for the recipe.

veganomics.

bill: from omnivore to vegan.

bill clinton told cnn he is now living a vegan lifestyle.

i think this is awesome.

*didn't he used to run to mcdonald's and eat cheeseburgers?

pot shots.

my girl cori shared this super quirky cool artist,

ashleigh brilliant with me today.

she remembered that slim & i are huge fans of ice cream....

i had d'lites ice cream tonight with my mom-

we both had the almond joy swirl. it was to die for.

*don't worry, slim didn't go hungry, mom got him a cup of reese's.