Café Bliss

 
Cafés are very dear to my heart. Despite the fact that there are millions all over the world, including the 5 within walking distance from our home, we all have one or two cafés we like to 'call our own'. Each one is different in their own special way, but when you find the one that speaks to you and makes you feel at home, you find a delightful comfort in knowing the search is over. For me, this discovery is one of life's sweet little treasures.

We found 'our café' at Cibo. It is an extension of my own kitchen, our dining table, and our living room. It is where we gather with close friends every Sunday morning at the same time without question. It is where the friendly and happy owners and baristas greet us with warm smiles and know us by name. A place we admire for using local, sustainable and organic ingredients in every thing they offer (even the incredible made-with-love pop-tarts!). And they serve Blue Bottle coffee - hands down the best coffee ever!

So tell me....where do you go for café bliss?

[Reverie-Daydream Images]

The Perfect 10

Dearest Sean,

The day you were born, a Perfect 10 was entered upon the scorecard of life!

Happy Birthday to my beloved, my dream-come-true!

I look forward to celebrating many more reverie filled years with you.

All my heart and love,

Simply Yours

[Reverie-Daydream photographs]

heart. racing. | guest post by karey m

{heart. racing.}

i woke up this morning in a panic. the t.ruffles shoppe is re-opening with fresh sweets. i've found myself smack in the middle of a few overseas projects with serious deadlines and giggle-inducing pay. and? i'm speaking at altitude design summit on a panel with the incredibly cool women behind design milk, making it lovely, and petit elefant.

add all of the above to the wails of the girlies three....you promised us a puppy when we moved back to the states!

good morning.

now this. a guest post on this sight. stunning perfection, all the time. airy and calming, more often than that.

{heart. racing.}

then woke esmé. the youngest of my girlies three by day and my hot water bottle by night. she nuzzled her head on my chest and softly declared, oh goodie. your heart is on. and that was that. my panic - poof! - disappeared, and in its place sat a lovely little shot of gratitude. my heart is on, as it should be. better yet? my heart is racing, which only means exciting things ahead. maybe a wee bit of danger, too. brilliant.

because as i always say - since bright and early this exceptionally good morning - danger is a girl's best friend.

now. in the spirit of racing hearts, i'd love it if you love this video. airy and calming, it is not. stunning perfection, it is.

{heart. racing.}

thank you for reading my words. i mean that from the bottom of my racing heart. i've collected more of my words at mackin ink and the sweeterie (ok! we're re-opening today, which means my guest post is serendipitous!), which is also the home of mary swenson's flat-out fab photos. visit any time you'd like. we're always happy to see you. and mel? this was a treat. thank you....and xoxo. karey m. oh! beauty demo found originally on the beauty file and also on lily and the muse.

Walking in the shadow of giants | guest post by SPM

Authors use language as a tool to create art. While I'm more of a visual artist, I am truly in awe of my wife Melissa's gift of the written language. I am also continually impressed with her cherished community of fellow bloggers who produce works of art molded by words.

Last year, Mel, Gaia and I traveled to Spain for a painting workshop and our annual trip to Europe. One of the highlights for me as a new father was to watch, my then 16-month old, daughter walk in the shadows of literary giants. This image is of Gaia walking along Calle de Huertas in Madrid. Las Huertas district is known as the "barrio de las letras" (the neighborhood of letters). The barrio's namesake, Miguel de Cervantes, author of one of the most important books in international literature, Don Quixote, lived and wrote here for part of this difficult life. His creation, Don Quixote, remains a larger-than-life figure not only in Spain but around the world.

Cervantes also gave rise to words such as "quixotic" describing something chivalrous and idealistic. My hope is that my beloved wife and daughter (and each of you) will be quixotic by continually sharing the command of language as a tool to create art.

[photograph by Reverie-Daydream]

GREENS!

When it comes to my closet, you will not find anything green amongst my black, grey and white wardrobe, but in regards to food - green might just be one of my favorite colors!

Greens juice is definitely something I crave. In fact, my entire little family craves it! Nothing like hearing "Greens please!" to bring a big smile to my face. So every few days, the juicer comes out of hiding, and the stacks of greens (kale, parsley, cucumber, and celery) along with fresh flavor enhancers such as apple, ginger, lemon, and lime gather upon the kitchen counter waiting their juicing fate.

Depending on the season and local availability, the ingredients may vary, but the one constant is the color because GREEN = vitamins, minerals and healthy living galore! MMM good!

[Reverie Daydream Images]

A wish for you....

~May peace and comfort surround you this holiday season~

Dream Home

I'll be daydreaming over here today ....

Please come and join me.

[images via ochs design]

Plum Pretty

Ladies (and gentlemen), we all know the importance of finding the ultimate hair stylist/colorist; you know, the one person who can turn those locks into fabulousness! I've been quite lucky for many years to have come across talented colorists, but my luck hit the jackpot of gold when I discovered Danica, the genius and hip goddess behind The Plum Organic Beauty, a fully holistic beauty environment. She works with organic hair color, free of toxins and ammonia, along with organic shampoos, styling products and even organic and bamboo towels in an effort to respect the health of each individual.

Truly, Danica is above and beyond any one else I have ever met in this industry - she fills her very chic space [which includes vintage furniture, reclaimed barn-wood beams as room dividers, and low-VOC paints] with her contagious joy for life and passion for offering healthy, earth-friendly beauty to her clients. Her philosophy sums the Plum up perfectly: a holistic living salon where your truest beauty is encouraged from within and treated organically from without.

I left the Plum feeling incredible! My hair is happy with its vibrant hues of golden bliss, and I am so thankful to Danica for raising the bar even higher when it comes to pure organic living. She definitely rocked my world with her plum pretty style!

****And in keeping with the organic theme, don't forget to enter the Ilha Organics giveaway here.****

Bzzzy Bees

Wishing everyone a very BEE-utiful Halloween!

[photograph of our sweet bees by Reverie-Daydream]

Braising Greens

A very good friend of mine is on vacation this week, so I have had the good fortune of being a 'garden caretaker'. To put it mildly, I am over-the-moon with this so-called task! My darling McDreamy is worried that his city girls have gone country, yet after he enjoyed the soup I made for dinner, which consisted of all the lovely braising greens, turnips, onions, and bell peppers the crumb and I picked and gathered, I believe we might have won him over to our side!

Barley & Braising Greens Soup

6-10 turnips chopped

2 bell peppers chopped

1 onion chopped

1 garlic clove minced

3-4 cups of braising greens (kale, chard, turnip greens) washed, stems removed, cut into strips

1 1/2 cups of Barley

32 oz. of low-sodium broth (chicken or vegetable)

6 oz. of water

2 tablespoons of red wine vinegar

3-4 tablespoons of olive oil

salt

In a large saucepan (soup pot), heat olive oil over medium heat and add onion, peppers and turnips. Cook until tender, then add minced garlic, cook for 30 seconds. Add braising greens and continue to cook until wilted. Add broth, water and barley. Bring to a boil. Lower heat, add red wine vinegar and salt (to taste) cover and simmer for 20 minutes or until Barley is tender.

[photograph by Reverie-Daydream]

Inspiration

“Let the beauty of what you love be what you do.”

~Rumi

[Photograph of Pino's Studio by Reverie-Daydream]

A Beach Escape

We are off to the Sunshine State - the land of pink plastic flamingos and palm trees!
A family gathering (or rather a clan of 20+) converging in one spot to enjoy a bit of fun and sun.
I'll be back in a week, but I'm leaving you in some very beautiful hands while I am away.
Bisous!

Summer's Last Bit of Sweetness

As summer yields its last glorious days,

And warmth still gives way to bare feet,

She will dance underneath the sun's setting rays,

And provide us with cherished moments both happy and sweet.

[photographs by Reverie-Daydream]

E is for Education

Education is something I am very passionate about and believe everyone deserves the chance to learn. Empowerment comes from feeding your mind with knowledge, and this is something that no one can ever take from you. In this great big world, there are children who are not given the opportunity to learn, and if they are, the conditions of their school is less than worthy.

Recently, I discovered the Traveling Mama blog. It is authored by Tina, who lives in Morocco with her beautiful family. She is very creative, and along with her talented photographer husband, Jack, they have opened up an Etsy shop. This may sound like many other great stories you have heard before in regards to artists, etsy, and travel, but this one is different. You see, Tina and Jack (and their Traveling Tribe), are donating 100% of their Etsy profits to go towards purchasing paint, books, art supplies and more for a school in Morocco. You can read more about this amazing 'tale of a school' here and here. They are using their artistic talents to make a difference in this world and to give others a chance to learn. I am humbled by their goodness and gracious hearts.

"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world."

~Nelson Mandela

[Photographs by Jack Fussell]

Fountain of Youth

"There is a fountain of youth: It is your mind, your talents,

the creativity you bring in your life and the lives of people you love."

~Sophia Loren

[Photograph of Auntie Ursula's Gorgeous Garden in Southern California by reverie-daydream]

Hidden Treasures

During our last stay in Paris, we visited the Marché aux Puces, Paris's most famous flea market located in the 18th arrondissement. There are 2,500 to 3,000 open stalls and shops selling everything from antiques to junk. It is a complex labyrinth between the stalls which ultimately leads you to a new discovery at each twist and turn. We spent hours just enjoying every single object that caught our eye, but nothing prepared us for the hidden treasure we came across among a grouping of framed drawings in an art dealer's stall. A sanguine chalk drawing study by Jules-Élie Delaunay not only caught our eyes, but it captured our hearts as well.

Jules-Élie Delaunay (1828-1891) was a French painter who studied at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris. Some of his commissioned works include the three panels of Apollo, Orpheus, and Amphion at the Paris Opera House. He was a very accomplished and talented artist which is evident in this exquisite study we happened upon on that very cold Saturday morning in November 2007. Although she has left her beloved Paris origin behind, she is now part of our family, and we lovingly gaze upon her ethereal beauty morning, noon and night.

The Summer Dance

"Get up and dance, get up and smile, get up and drink

to the days that are gone in the shortest while."

~Simon Fowler

[Rosina-Capri by John Singer Sargent]

Culinary Getaway - Napa Valley

As you can imagine, my weekend was off-the-charts fantastic! I'm still in a state of culinary bliss! Sherry Page truly has to be one of the most generous, fun-loving, talented and enthusiastic chefs I've ever had the pleasure of knowing (and now, I can say, learning from).

The Napa Valley Culinary Getaway began Friday evening with a welcome dinner at Sherry's adorable cottage in Yountville. Every detail of the evening was divine - meeting the other happy attendees (there were only 7 of us because Sherry prefers intimate groups), the tour of Sherry's terraced garden of herbs, rhubarb, tomatoes, chard, peppers, figs, pomegranates, pears, and more, and dining al fresco underneath the rugged beauty of her walnut tree on a warm summer night. It's difficult for me to choose one favorite item from Sherry's 5-course dinner menu, so I'll share a few of my favorites: the Salad of Fresh White Corn, Sungold Tomatoes and Basil, the Roasted Chicken with Roasted Meyer Lemons, and the Lemon Verbena Ice Cream. Not to mention, she pairs each course with an exceptional wine. Are you drooling yet?

Saturday morning, we met at Silverado Vineyards for our hands-on cooking class. Of course, it wouldn't be right if a private winery tour wasn't part of the day, so this is how the sun-kissed morning began along with a glass of Sangiovese in our hands. After the very informative tour, Sherry gave us a class on sea salts which was so interesting and useful. She then passed out our personalized embroidered aprons (she doesn't miss a detail!), and we headed to the kitchen to begin preparing our multi-course lunch of Carmelized Dates with Roasted Almonds and Fleur de Sel, Figs stuffed with Fresh Chevre and Chopped Hazelnuts, Farmers Market Vegetable Paella, Filet of Beef Tenderlion Roast with Tattooed Yukon Gold Potatoes and Dressed Greens, and Balsamic Strawberries with Cracked Pepper and Creme Fraiche. Yes, this was our lunch! We prepared every course with our own hands along with the guidance of our gracious and very patient 'food mentor', Sherry; so when the time came for us to enjoy the 'fruits of our labor', we did so with much glee while dining on the outdoor terrace overlooking the vineyards. Two words: Culinary Heaven!

As a grand finale, on Sunday, we learned to make the glorious galettes I mentioned here, and we made blueberry, nectarine, and apple. (Oh my, look out friends and family, I see lots of these tasty tarts in your future!) After this cooking lesson, we all sat down to Sherry's delicious breakfast of grits with piave vecchio cheese, chicken and mango sausage, fresh seasonal fruit, Bouchon bread with strawberry rhubarb or blackberry preserves, and our fresh from the oven galettes. A very hearty and satisfying Sunday morning indulgence!

Hopefully, my words did this experience justice, for I highly recommend attending one of Sherry's Culinary Getaways. If you love good food, have the desire to learn to cook delicious dishes, and enjoy being taught by a very knowledgeable and fun person, then one of these getaways would be ideal for you. I'm already looking ahead to 2010 in hopes of attending one of the European Culinary Getaways in either Provence or Tuscany. And as a food lover's good fortune would have it, Sherry is also going to start offering one day classes in the Bay Area too! I urge you to sign up for her newletters here; I guarantee you will be just as excited as I am when they arrive in the inbox, for they are always filled with great recipes, reviews, culinary getaway updates, and seasonal tips. This weekend was the perfect combination of incredible food and wine, breathtaking vistas, great people, and extraordinary lessons to expand my culinary knowledge - all wonderful elements that helped to create a blissful memory I will cherish for a very long time.

Pug Love

Allow me to introduce my sweet little pug, Ashton. She entered my life on Valentine's Day 1997, and at 5 weeks old, she was small enough to carry in my coat pocket! Her gentle and cheerful disposition has been the highlight of my days. We take her everywhere with us (including Europe). In fact, she fell in love with Paris (did I mention she was extremely brilliant!?!) because she knew fresh croissants or pastries were around every corner - a pug's dream!

Her cute little face melts my heart daily, and I can't imagine not having her by my side morning, noon and night. She has never met a stranger and is adored by so many. Ashton is one-of-a-kind, and she truly is our beloved best friend.

Cheese, please!

Dear Cowgirl Creamery,

How do you do it?

Every round of cheese is total perfection.

You must know the happiest grass grazing cows on the planet.

Mt. Tam, your signature cheese, makes me drop to my knees with its elegant and smooth triple cream goodness!

Not to mention, you use organic milk, you are environmentally responsible, and you support sustainable land stewards.

Cowgirl Creamery, your artisan cheesemaking is one of the delectable highlights of my life, and I am so grateful to have you nearby.

Please promise me this....you will continue to offer your creamy pleasures now and forever.

With great devotion,

An Artisan Cheese Lover