Lavender Farm

Last week, we enjoyed outdoor adventures in Northern California with Sean's parents.  They have been traveling across country in their beautiful new RV (an eco-friendly, green machine by EverGreen), so we couldn't wait to rendezvous in the foothills of Mt. Shasta. 

One of the many highlights of our camping adventure was the Mt. Shasta Lavender Farm.  It opened to the public on June 12th, and although the lavender blooms were not at their peak of prime loveliness, the beauty of this seasonal destination was magnificent.  Truly, a gorgeous thumbprint of Mother Nature's glory!

[Images by Reverie-Daydream]

A Magical Wedding ~

There are weddings, and then there ARE weddings ~ Beth and Bill's special day of love uniting seriously takes the prize for the most magical and memorable wedding I have ever had the pleasure of attending (and being a part of!). 

Truly filled with organic bliss from the moment the invitation arrived until the bride and groom pedaled off into happily-ever-after.  Nature provided the backdrop to this perfect wedding ~ the ceremony took place within the organic vegetable garden which is grown with love by the Bride's mother and father [one of my favorite people in the entire world], a cellist playing the most beautiful music amidst the green bounty, turkeys and chickens adding their cheerful songs in the distant background, organic | local | seasonal food served underneath a 300-year-old Oak tree, and a stunning bride and groom so perfectly made for one another that one begins to believe that fairy-tales do exist. 

I was honored to bake the wedding cakes [3 vanilla cakes layered with lemon curd, 1 coconut cake, 1 chocolate cake with mocha frosting, and carrot cake cupcakes with cream-cheese frosting], and to see them beautifully displayed upon the Jadeite cake stands was a total delight!  Among the many details that made this love affair so special was the fact that everything was so natural, so real, so made-with-love | decorated with love | organized with love by the blissful couple and those who love them [and you must take a peek at the behind-the-scenes here]. 

[Images by Reverie-Daydream]

Through My Papa's Eyes ~

Dearest Papa,

I was given the blessed gift of your eyes,

To see this world around me,

My hope is that I will learn through you

The appreciation of all there is to see.

Will you teach me to see all the colors

In the world from an artist’s point of view?

And when I travel the world with you,

Will we share the joy of everything so beautiful and new?

Will you help me to understand and

Appreciate the differences among human kind?

Most importantly, will you please

Teach me to have a very open-mind?

As I take my journey along life’s path,

I hope you are beside me each step of the way,

To show me how to love, listen,

Dance, paint, laugh, and appreciate every day.

I look forward to the many times you will

Take me by the hand,

And show me all there is to see

Of foreign cities, seas, and land.

Because looking at the world

Through my Papa's eyes,

Must be this little girl's

Greatest prize.

Je t'aime,

Gaia Miette

[Reverie-Daydream Image]

Nature's Peace

"Walk away quietly in any direction and taste the freedom of the mountaineer.

Camp out among the grasses and gentians of glacial meadows,

in craggy garden nooks full of nature's darlings.

Climb the mountains and get their good tidings,

Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees.

The winds will blow their own freshness into you and the storms their energy,

while cares will drop off like autumn leaves.

As age comes on, one source of enjoyment after another is closed,

but nature's sources never fail."

~John Muir

[Mount Tallac, 1880 - Thomas Hill]

Tomato Tart

Summertime means delicious tomatoes in great abundance!  After a morning of being outdoors, I've always been a fan of a simple tomato sandwich for lunch.  Sprinkling sea salt upon the fresh slices of juicy redness, adding a bit of basil, and settling this fantastic grouping upon a chunky slab of olive oil drizzled wholegrain bread = the best! 

And now that the crumb has adopted her mama's love for tomatoes (especially the heirlooms), there is always a bowl of this hearty fruit on our kitchen counter.  The other evening, I prepared a delicious tart, and it was absolutely perfect paired with a side salad.  Easy, healthy, yummy and a big hit ~ my defining elements for a great recipe. 

Tomato Tart

One Organic Pie Shell

1 - 1 1/2 pounds of cherry tomatoes

6-8 oz. goat cheese (softened)

2 tbsp. olive oil

1-2 tsp. sea salt

1/2 tsp. pepper

2 tbsp. fresh basil (roll like a cigar and cut into strips)

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

Toss the tomatoes in a bowl with olive oil, salt and pepper.

Spread goat cheese inside pie shell.

Arrange tomatoes atop the goat cheese.

Bake for an hour until tomatoes are soft.

Remove and let cool for 10 mins.

Sprinkle basil over tart and indulge while still warm.

[Reverie-Daydream Images]

An Exhibition

With great enthusiasm (and a heart full of loving pride), I am extremely excited to share the news of our first official photography exhibit! 

A collection of his favorite Italian images are now on display at our favorite local cafe, CIBO. 

Limited Edition prints from the Daydreaming in Italy exhibit can be purchased here.

Balance

~ What I dream of is an art of balance. ~

-Henri Matisse

[Palladio's Villa | Italy | Reverie-Daydream Image]

10 Things ~

Have you ever stopped to think about what you can't live without?

The lovely Paloma of La Dolce Vita asked me to share 

10 Things I Can't Live Without {here}.

[Paris | 27 Weeks Pregnant with the crumb]

The Academy

The California Academy of Sciences is one of our favorite places to visit, and it makes me beam with pride knowing it is the largest public Platinum-rated building in the world, and also the world’s greenest museum.  The Academy's sustainability extends to all facets of the facility - from the bike racks and rechargeable vehicle stations outside the building to the radiant sub-floor heating inside the building to the energy-generating solar panels on top of the building!  Not only is this a place to learn about science, natural history and species from all over the world, but we can also absorb a few lessons about living more efficiently and eco-friendly.

We spend hours within these 'green' walls ~ moving from the planetarium to the aquarium, through the 4-story rainforest, pausing for penguin feedings, and getting lost in time as we stroll through the natural history exhibits.  Our minds race, our hearts pound, and our yearning for learning increases more and more.  The Academy is addictive, and their mission ~ to explore, explain and protect the natural world is one I believe we should all adopt.

[Image by Reverie-Daydream]

Enlightened Path

Dearest Gaia Miette,

The role of Mother was never part of my overall life plan,

but you, my sweet crumb, had a different blueprint in mind.

You entered my world and turned it upside down,

proving that life is full of unexpected and beautiful surprises.

I graduated from a top university, read thousands of books, practiced yoga with great teachers,

but you, and your wee self, have taught me more about life than any of the above.

You have shown me the importance of patience, the wonderment of simple things,

the liberation from selfishness, and the significance of living in the moment.

Oddly, I cannot imagine life without you,

And trust me, there was definitely a past filled with lots of extraordinary living.

However, your entrance into my world has only caused me to look forward,

ahead to all the great things you will do, be and give.

The moments we will share together for the rest of our lives,

the numerous times I hope we walk hand-in-hand through it all, the good, the bad, and the spectacular.

My heart is forever changed and filled with an adoration words cannot describe,

and I thank you for diverting my path and adding one of the greatest roles of my life to our story.

Love,

Mama

[Mama & Gaia ~ El Retiro, Madrid, Spain]

A Well-Rounded Treat

I'm always looking for healthy snack foods, and these delicious 'power balls' are filled with nutrient rich ingredients to give anyone a perky little boost anytime of the day!  And they are REALLY easy to make.

Well-Rounded Treats

1 cup chopped pitted dates

1 cup raw walnuts (or almonds)

1 cup sesame seeds

1/4 cup lemon juice

2 teaspoons freshly grated lemon zest

1/2 cup unsweetened dried coconut flakes

Place dates, walnuts, sesame seeds, lemon juice and zest in a food processor.  Pulse and blend until completely mixed.  The mixture will be slightly sticky.  With dampened hands, roll tablespoons of the mixture into balls.  Roll in coconut and chill until ready to serve.

[Reverie-Daydream Images]

Wishes Come True ~

A very dear friend once told me that if you put your wishes out there, they will eventually come true.  I made a few birthday wishes this year, and they all came true and then some!

Celebrations continue throughout the month, but this weekend was especially wonderful because my Dad and Step-Mom were by my side for every special moment!  There is no denying that I am a total Daddy's Girl, so to laugh, talk, and just spend quality time with him was a birthday highlight. 

McDreamy pulled out the 'birthday carpet of love' with my special day planned perfectly from beginning to end.  Delivery of a huge bouquet of shiny silver balloons, a freshly baked gigantic organic pop-tart from Cibo, an afternoon at the Cartier exhibit, and a delicious outdoor dinner with great friends ~ all underneath the sunshine filled blue skies of a 70 degrees day in San Francisco. 

Remember when I mentioned this dream chair?  Well, it is mine!  One of the greatest people to ever walk upon this Earth and into my life gave it to me ~ I'm still speechless, but it's easy to be at a loss for words when daydreaming underneath this chair's beautiful canopy.  

My little brother surprised me with the gorgeous pair of antique French earrings from here (he obviously knows his sister very well!).  Gifts, cards, emails, calls and messages came pouring in from so many loving friends and family.  Truly, I'm not sure what I did to deserve all this amazing love and goodness that has been showered upon me ~ There are so many creative gifts and stories I want to share with each of you, and I will do so throughout the weeks ahead.

Until then, I'm going to go make some delicious lemon desserts from my birthday basket of Sherry's lemons!  My sweet mom just arrived, and we have a lot of fun things planned which includes some serious baking!

[Reverie-Daydream Images]

Deep Within....

~ If you look deep within .... you will find a brilliant light ~

[Hagia Sophia, Istanbul by reverie-daydream]

French Essence

Last week while in Southern California, I had the wonderful pleasure of meeting this beautiful woman [who inspires me with her lovely words, incredible eye for French treasures, and ability to make everyday life feel like a fairy tale] and her equally stunning daughter [who creates exquisite masterpieces with the finest of French materials, adores all things great and small, and has the most endearing heart of gold] ~ it was a glorious gathering of like-minded souls who truly felt as if we had known each other forever! We shared personal stories, dreams, creative thoughts, travel memories and so much more, and we also discussed the power of blogging and its magnificent ability to connect people from all over the world along with the added life bonus of cherished new friendships.

It should come as no surprise to anyone that I adore all things French, so when the kind-hearted and always gracious, Janet and Noel, gave me a copy of French Essence by Vicki Archer, I seriously jumped for joy! I've been a huge fan of Vicki's ever since I picked up a copy of My French Life, and I've been anxiously waiting for French Essence to make its US debut. When I opened my new book friend, I didn't stop reading until I soaked up every single word from cover to cover. Vicki's writing has this special way of making you feel as if you are right there beside her as she describes her joi de vivre in France. She takes your hand and leads you through the beautiful chapters of her life entangling you with her love affair of France, an affair you never wish to end.

HEATH Ceramics

As if the San Francisco Ferry Building couldn't get any better ~ now Heath Ceramics has opened a new location within the beautiful walls of this historic marketplace.

Most likely, Heath Ceramics creations, with their signature style, doesn't need an introduction. Each piece is still made in their original factory in Sausalito, California and crafted in the same manner as it has been for the past 55 years.

This design driven, small-scale, family owned Bay Area company is a perfect fit with the Ferry Building's unique mix of artisanal, local retailers and restaurants ~ the ideal gathering of Northern California's best of the best.

[Reverie-Daydream Images]

Easter Traditions

When I was a little girl, my grandmother always baked a coconut cake for Easter. She decorated it with the green grass, jelly beans, and peeps. I thought it was the greatest thing in the world! It was a tradition that became synonymous with this Spring holiday.

Both of my grandmothers are incredible bakers, so I believe this is where I inherited the love for sweet creations. This year, I decided to start the Easter cake tradition for the crumb. Hand-painted blown eggs (a definite labor of love) set perfectly atop my double-layered coconut cake along with the crumb's squeal of "Pink Eggs!" would definitely make my grandmother proud!

I would love to know your fondest Easter/Springtime memories.....

[Reverie-Daydream Images]

Sweet Friends

~ Life is sweeter when shared with friends ~

[Reverie-Daydream Images]

The Dog Walker

Being a pug-lover, you will understand why I adore this cover of The New Yorker. In fact, it is now framed and hangs upon the crumb's bedroom wall.

Wouldn't it be divine if dog walking was really this civilized and chic?

Green Goodness

One of my must-haves in life is greens ~ leafy, flower, herb, sprouts ~ all types of edible green goodness! Every week, my basket is always brimming with a variety of my favorites from the Farmer's Market. And now that Spring is here, almost every meal consists of at least one generous serving of these fresh vitamin and mineral packed superfoods.

It's hard for me to narrow down a favorite or two, but if I had to choose one leafy green that I couldn't live without, it would be wild arugula (with kale, watercress and mesclun mix as the runners-up).

Now tell me....what are your favorite greens?

[Reverie-Daydream Images]

Culinary Confetti

Eating is a vital part of our lives, and it is very important to realize, 'we are what we eat'. I never put myself into a certain category when it comes to food consumption; meaning, I'm neither vegetarian, vegan, pescetarian, etc. I eat for my health, my well-being, my livelihood.

I'll admit, there are certain foods that make me feel better than others, but mostly, I focus on organic, free-range, local goodness provided by Mother Nature. So when I discovered the 21-day kickstart program in favor of veganism (which I could never fully commit to since I love cheese and eggs SO much), I took a peak because I knew there would be some really good recipes I could add to our overall culinary repertoire. The Couscous Confetti Salad didn't disappoint! It is full of flavor and an array of beautiful colors ~ a true party for your palate.

[Reverie-Daydream Images]