YeeeeeeHaw!

From Knoxville, Tennessee comes sassy sweetness in the form of letterpress loveliness; YeeHaw!  The YeeHaw shop is filled with pages (and pages!) of hand-crafted products, executed on recycled paper, with re-purposed inks, original imagery and beautiful antique typography.  YeeHaw declares, "if this don't light your fire, your wood is wet."  I love 'em for that line alone!  (Fortunately their designs are gorgeous too!!!)  The three farmer's market posters above are my faves.  There are tons more goodies over at Etsy though, including calendars, journals, cards and much (much!) more.

Refresh

One of my favorite blogs Hither and Thither just had itself made over.  This spot is one of the very first blogs I began following.  They definitely helped inspire w&w.  Once I saw them out in New York.  I know that sounds like I'm some creepy stalker- but it was by chance.  I swear.  When they passed me I was actually stalking watching doggies play at the dog park.

So anyway, go check out the revamped site and read all about the husband/wife blogging duo's adventures (though they're more of a trifecta these days, with the recent addition of their wee-one... not that the baby actually blogs or anything- yet.)

They've got lots of NYC themed posts like this trip to the Warby Parker Holiday Bazar, coffeehouse guides and carousel encounters.  The odd recipe is thrown in too (Carmel Pears)!!!  It's the same good stuff with a new hat on.

Good Ol' Cornbread

I've made 5 loaves of cornbread in the last week.  The first 3 were trials, to work out the kinks in my gluten free, vegan recipe.  The fourth and fifth loaf were for Thanksgiving.  They were a hit!

The leftovers were just a delicious (moist and crumbly) as the day they were baked.   This recipe is definitely something I'd happily whip up every winter week.  I love the idea of coming home after a long day at work, making a quick soup or stew and having a thick cube of cornbread ready and waiting!

Also, just a thought... next time I make this recipe I'll try topping the batter with some fresh kernel corn.  Rustic texture.  Mmmmm 


Good Ol' Cornbread

4 teaspoons Ener-G egg replacer & 2 tablespoons non-dairy milk
1/3 cup non-dairy milk (I used light vanilla soy milk but you could use hemp, almond, rice, coconut, etc.)
1/2 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
1/4 cup Earth Balance vegan butter, melted
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 cup well-mashed sweet potato (or yam)
1/4 to 1/2 cup raw brown sugar (use more if you like sweet cornbread, less if you prefer savory)
1/4 cup rice flour
1/4 cup tapioca flour
1/3 cup sweet sorgum flour
1/3 cup yellow corn meal
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon xanthan gum or guar gum
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt

- In a small bowl combine egg replacer and 2 tablespoons non-dairy milk and whisk together until it has a runny consistency.
- In another small bowl combine 1/3 cup non-dairy milk and apple cider vinegar.  Let the mixture sit for a few minutes until it curdles.
- In a large mixing bowl combine egg replacer, curdled milk, melted vegan butter, vanilla, mashed sweet potato and raw sugar.
- In a small bowl combine flours, corn meal, baking powder, xanthan (or guar) gum, baking soda and salt.
- Pour dry ingredients into the large mixing bowl and fold together until just combined.  Don't over mix, it should be fluffy batter.  If you feel the batter is too sticky add a little more sweet sorgum flour.
- Line a 1lb bread pan with parchment or a paper liner.  (You can also oil the pan or use a disposable paper bread pan.)
- Transfer batter to the pan and bake for 35 minutes at 375 degrees.
- Remove from the oven and let cool.  Nibble immediately or wrap in plastic wrap to keep it fresh for later!

*  You could also try corn bread muffins.  Just watch the oven because they'll bake much, much faster!

Etsy Love/ Coco Draws

The print shop Coco Draws is filled with the chic, charming, classic objects every gal covets.  Illustrator Caroline Wang is a working artist, living in Southern California.  Check out more on her blog and Flickr.

Three flirty little prints in these floating lacquer frames would make such a great holiday gift for the girly-girl on your list!

Just In Case...

For all you American readers, have a happy Thanksgiving holiday!  Tomorrow I'm waking up early, meeting up with my little sis, her BF, my BF and heading to the Macy's parade.  We're going to stake out a spot in Herald Square (I would argue the best location for parade watching) and marvel at the balloons as they go by!  Then our troupe is headed out to my BF's parents' home for dinner.  I'm making  gluten free/ vegan cornbread plus a roasted carrot and beet dish. 

In case you're shy a dish, dessert, drink or two check out these delicious looking recipes!

- First things first- my cocktail is a whiskey sour.  Meet my new found holiday drink: the Boston Whiskey Sour.  Complete with apples, maple syrup and a dash of cinnamon!

- For something  non-alchy  to sip on, consider a Carmel Apple Cider.  Decadent, yes? 

- Someone say cranberry sauce?  Duh.  It's Thanksgiving.  I'm determine to make this recipe for Red Wine Cranberry Sauce in the upcoming month.  It looks so, so, so good.

- Maybe instead of baked stuffing try Quinoa with Roasted Chanterelle Mushrooms.  Mmmmmm

- Straight-from-the-1960s comes Corn Pudding casserole.  This comfort dish has been earmarked as a holiday essential in my family (for decades).  I used to bake it for college potlucks too!  Always a hit.

- I love Brussels sprouts.  And I like apples and hazlenuts in/on just about anything.  These shredded sprout salads with apples and hazelnuts are the fresh green dishes that every table needs!

- In need of a squash dish?  A plate of Crusted Butternut would also fit the bill!

- Home baked Dinner Rolls anyone?  Make them gluten free so everyone can enjoy!

- Maybe you want to do a non-pie dessert?  There is no doubt in my mind that this Bourbon Pumpkin Cheescake with Sugared Berries would get raves.  It's goreous!

- This Baked Pumpkin Sour Cream Pudding sounds like a winner too.

- When you have Turkey leftovers (or in my case Tofurky leftovers) get wild and try a Ruben instead of the classic turkey, cranberry sauce and gravy sandwich.  Gotta try this one!  I love Rubens.  Love.  Love.  Love!  Have it with another couple leftover-treats: a Pumpkin Pie Milkshake and slice of Cranberry Sauce Coffee Cake!

Holiday Card Swap!

I love this idea!  For more details visit Brooklyn Bride.  On a sim note, have you already picket out your holiday cards?  I was scouting the tables and shelves over at Paper Presentation on my lunch hour one day last week.  I also did quite a bit of Etsy reconnaissance.  I'm liking this snowflake, these pine cones or possibly one of the NYC themed cards at Moontree Letterpress (that one of the dog park is soooo cute)!

Image by Scout's Honor Co

Pretty (cool) Picture/ Grady McFerrin

I was instantly a fan or Grady McFerrin. He's got loads of great stuff on tumbler too.  He describes himself as, "[someone] who’s kind of obsessed with all things “Olde”.  (See why I'm a fan?!)  He's also a southern Californian residing in Brooklyn.  (Bonus points!!!)  I really like these patterns and wine labels!

Found via Where The Lovely Things Are

Four for Friday

Have a lovely autumn weekend-before-the-big-one.  (The big one being next week's 4-day weekend!)  I'm going to help my lil sis look for winter coats.  (It's getting chilly here!)  I also want to do some trial-baking/cooking so that I'm prepared for next Thursday.  I also need to re-pot an orchid, clean my floors, work on illustration projects, plan a holiday party and do a few loads of laundry.  All that jazz will not be happening.  But acnowleding to-do's get's me one step closer : )

Enjoy your weekend and today's FfF! 

- I discovered  Real Sustenance while looking for vegan GF cornbread recipe.  This website is packed full of recipes I need to try!!!

- Lottie Loves features the cutest and quirkiest posts.  The awesome DIY crafty projects are by far my favorite things within!

- Sweet Paul's holiday edition is out!  There are tooooo many goodies within; the canning/jarring article is aaaa-mazing and I'm in love with this 'Scotty trimmed tree!

- I'll be lurking around Darkroom for a while, pining after things I don't need and wont allow myself to buy.  If I were going to splurge... I'd go for this hand-knit pouf, this scarf and these necklaces!

Etsy Love/ Odd & Old

French nicknacks!  Vintage enamel ware, retro handbags, aged treasures for every corner of your home!  I especially love this orange clutch and these hair pins.

Found via Automatism

Ballet & Chloe

Two of my favorite things; Chloe apparel and a pas de deux!  Found via {frolic}

Trinkets/ Gustav Reyes

Gustav Reyes pieces transcend jewelry, they are wearable art!!!  First, I will admit my bias: I've been a fan of wood ornaments for-ev.  But, these are incredibly sophisticated.  Not your run-of-the-mill cheap-o bangles.  I want to stack a couple of these and wear them out to holiday parties, the ballet, a special date with the BF... of course I'd also be wearing them all day at work.  All day.  Maybe everyday.  Cuz they're edgy, modern and effortlessly cool.  (Plus, I get kicks making all the chic galls in the design office envious.  Keehehe.)

Found via Wit & Delight

Type Happy/ Holt

I'm such a sucker for all things floral.  Isn't this just the prettiest decorative typeface?!!!  I love the "L" of lupine blooms and the "J" made of strawberries (in case you're a bit confused, strawberry is jarðarber in Icelandic). Font creator, Stella Björg says the letters are based on the flora and fauna of Ugluholt (Holt for short).  Check out more of Björg's work on Behance.

Found on Typography Served

Parisian Pictures

As promised, here are a few of my favorite photos from the trip!

Four for Friday

Hey chickens!  Are you glad it's Friday?  I am.  Boy oh boy, I am.  Yesterday I was such a pouty, sleepy, grump!  Life, when you're not in France is not so fun.  Especially- if you're not in France and you're also back at work.  Hump.  This morning I had an appointment with the eye doc.  My peepers got dilated, so I'm just able to read again.  The eye strain gave me a headache.  Ugh, what a complainer right?  Okay, I'll shush up and continue with Friday's four snippets...  (Oh, and have a great weekend!!!)

- I'm smitten with Girls Raised Buy Wolves.  This autumn mood scape is blowing my mind- I wanna live inside this website people!  The blog is jam-packed with crafty-ness, fashionable bits, art, culture and miscellaneous inspiration.  My kind of place : )

- Olive Mana, a pop-up shop featured on100 Layer Cake's marketplace, is filled with goodies!  I want these garlands soooo bad.  And these wooden gift tags.  And one of these pastel enamel pails!

- Hansel from Basil is the cutie-cute-cutest shop ever!  It's all socks and stockings.  The most playfull pull-ons you ever did see!  They've even got a sock of the month club.  A-dor-able.  (They've got a snazzy blog too!)

- I've been trying really hard lately to acknowledge my gluten intolerance and keep away from wheat.  Sad.  I did pretty well in France.  But like I said, it was sad.  I was sad.  Spots like The Wicked Good Vegan get me excited though.  So many good GF eats!  (Def making this pumpkin pie!)

Holiday Fare

Boy oh boy, I had a blast in France!  I'll share some photos from the trip as soon as possible.  Now that I'm back home NYC has transformed.  The trees have begun to litter sidewalks and gutters with golden, rust and burnished red leaves.  Storefronts are getting festive and I'm entering holiday mode!  My mind is whirling... lists galore; recipes to make, gifts to buy, festive events to catch, parties to attend, vacations to plan!!!

Today I'm going to start out by dipping my toe into that first category: recipes to make.  Four custard pies.  Alike in theme but quite different in matter.  The first from Lottie & Doof, an Apple Cider Cream Pie.  This thing sounds incredible!  Sour cream, apple cider and cinnamon are the front running ingredients of this treat.  Second up, Seven Spoons serves up a Maple Walnut Custard Pie.  Like it says, maple syrup and walnuts plus old fashioned oats, vanilla and lots of brown sugar!  Third on my radar is a Pear Custard Pie from Jesse's Kitchen.  This baby is simple.  Just the basic, bare necessities for a custard pie- plus pears.  Looks and sounds darn good though!   Last but not least is another apple-y delight; this one from A Wooden Nest.  It's loaded with buttery soft apples, crunchy nuts, tart yogurt custard and sweetened up with lots of honey.

Paper them Pretty

Hygge & West has the fabest of fab wall paper.  Hands down.  End of story.  Owners Christiana and Aimee collaborate with artist and designers on special capsule collections.  They're all quite whimsical.  Which is why I'm so taken with them, I suppose.  (But I've gotta say, Emily Isabella's bunnies and bows are my choice picks!)

Guest Post/ Instant Joy: The Impossible Project

This past Summer, my wonderful girlfriend (who writes this blog) bought me a Polaroid Spirit 600 CL for my birthday. At first, I didn't know what to think of it. It was quite unexpected. I already have a beautiful Leica, the camera to end all cameras. Why would I want this one? Do they still make film for these? Where do I put this thing? The 600 box type cameras are easily 4 times as large as typical point and shoot.

Probably noticing the bewildered half smile on my face as I unopened it, she assured me that it could be returned if I wasn't into it and pointed out the included receipt. I tend to make up my mind about whether I like something or not rather quickly, but after holding this camera for a few minutes, examining it, opening it up, inserting the fresh film pack (from a company I've never heard of), and then finally taking my first picture, I decided that I absolutely LOVED it. It was beautifully designed, fun to use and had this nostalgic quality about it. No charging batteries, no cables, no memory card, no iPhoto. Pure analog! Instant Joy. The film is still experimental so each shot has it's own unique imperfections and color shifts that your Hipstamatic iPhone app will never be able to replicate.

Since that moment, I began doing my research on the Impossible Project and old Polaroid cameras. About a month later and I now own 6 Polaroid cameras, 5 bags, 4 light shielding accessories and have purchased over 15 packs of film (and they aren't cheap!). I also just recently took a workshop at their NYC Space in Soho on SX-70 cameras, and one of my photos made into their "101Ways" project. I know what you're thinking — "Obsessed much?" I just appreciate beautiful things. You should see my Danish Modern Desk, but that's a blog post for another time.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with the Impossible Project, you should check out their story.

Une Petit Surprise?

Oui!   I didn't tell my BF... today he is going to have a little surprise .  I bought a pretty little lock and I'm going to (nonchalantly) lead him along the Sine.  Eventually, we'll stop over the Pont des Arts bridge and out of my pocket I'll draw our cadenas d'amour!  It's a little cliche but I couldn't resist.

Photo by Garence Dore

Four for Friday

Have a fabulous weekend!  FfF is ready to go...

- Carine Brancowitz has completely stolen my heart.  I particularly adore her use of pattern, color and the incredibly dynamic compositions!

- One of my favorite people, Bernadette Pascua (of Decade) teamed up with Design Sponge for an apartment sneak peak. This is one sexy Brooklyn apartment!

- I have got to get my paws on Rabbit Food Cookbook!  I spotted it over on Manifest Vegan (one of my most fave of all my fave cooking blogs).  Allison sings praises, so I know Rabbit Food has got to be special!  The illustrations alone make this cookbook worth the purchase.

- A Lovely Being is just too much (fashionable) fun.  Tres chic!

A Plus Tarde, Mes Amis!

Bye guys!  It's vacation time for me.  I've got posts saved and scheduled* for you, so be sure to check back daily.  Au revoir!  Bisous!!!

Going away card available on Etsy, from Ticket Booth No 92

* I have serious issues using the "save & schedule" function on blogger.  I know it sounds pretty darn easy but I always seem to screw it up.  So, if posts don't pop up I'm very very sorry!

2 Of A Kind

Wear a dual hued sweater while munching artisan black and white cookies.  Color blocking coco hues feels so right for fall : )

Clothes from Atlantic Pacific and cookies from Crepes of Wrath

Pssst- I'll say b-bye before I jet off, so check back later today!

Snapshots & Palpitations

Tomorrow!  I leave tomorrow!  I can't wait!!!  All photos by Jamie Beck, of From Me To You.