Vietnamese Chicken Noodle Soup

/
Vietnamese Chicken Noodle Soup

It used to be that whenever I would go out of town, Adam would get himself Vietnamese take out and watch a bunch of action movies, two things I claimed not to like. I still don't really watch anything without Colin Firth or Julianne Moore in it (I kid), but I did eventually fall in love with Vietnamese food, including Bun Cha, Goi Cuon-Fresh Spring Rolls, and the simple, easy to replicate Chicken Pho Ga- Vietnamese noodle soup.  I made this today for Jasper who is stuck at home with a nasty outbreak of poison oak, because it is his favorite too, and chicken soup really does make everything better.

Read More

The January Home

/
The January Home

It's January. I know this because the frozen air and my somber post- holiday mood is leaving me with the overwhelming desire to strip my house naked like a tree without leaves.  I love empty space.  I love simple, natural elements. I love air plants, and succulents, and leafy stems, and barnacle covered stones. I made a winter terrarium with them this week. I rinsed the barnacles with cold water and shook the moisture off, then put them on a wooden cheese pedestal with air plants- the moisture from the rocks keeps them hydrated- and covered them with a glass dome.  The air plants look like sea plants to me, and the whole thing looks decayed, and frozen.

Read More

This Is 40

/
This Is 40

On NYE we threw a little shindig for Adam, who celebrates his 40th birthday next week.  The guests were a collection of his old friends from high school and college, and his new friends from Petaluma. This very handsome picture was taken in the photo booth (instagram #adamis40). Today I want to share with you, 40 of my favorite things about Adam Jennings...

Read More

Festoons

/
Festoons

The tree is down. I put it next to our fireplace this year, and totally dried it out.  While I'm a little sad to see Christmas go, I was tiring of the endless versions of little drummer boy I've heard over the last month. Fortunately I have next week's NYE party to look forward to. I'm making my first photo booth for the occasion, and I've been working on some festoons for the party guests. While packing away our Christmas haul, I discovered a box of this net-like craft paper padding, and I thought it might look pretty nifty spray painted gold, fashioned into a paper crown. I also painted feather tips with school glue, then dredged them in old fashioned glitter.  To make both, all you'll need is some cheap-o plastic headbands,  hot glue, masking tape (or washi) and gold metallic spray paint. See photo tutorial below...

Read More

Flourless Double Chocolate Cookies

/
Flourless Double Chocolate Cookies

T'is the night before Christmas, and when Santa makes his way to the house tonight we will wow him with the most delicious cookies in the world.  They are toasty, chewy, and gooey. They are sooo chocolately. And amazingly, they are gluten and dairy free, made with just 6 ingredients that you probably have in your pantry right now. You should go make some...

Read More