Photo: Flickr

We’re heading to a wedding in Carmel Valley this weekend. These sun scorched rolling hills and oak trees that lean to one side remind my of where I grew up in Marin.

Photo: Flickr

Can’t wait to toast the happy couple in this beautiful setting.

What are you doing this weekend?

xo,

Lydia

Invite in true Miami colors

Thanks for all your kind words yesterday, my friends.  Both me and my little GIRL are feeling very loved!  Here are some pix from the pop-up baby shower my mom, sister, aunts and cousins threw for me last weekend in Miami.

My aunt Nancy pawed through hundreds of antique baby block beads to make us all an adorable name necklace.

I got three: one for me, one for Baby Lagro Fletcher and a bracelet to bring home for Angus.  They’ll look cute layered over the corner of a family picture in the baby’s room!

Poufs, baby bottles filled with candies and amazingly good sugar cookies.  The girls brought everything with them to Miami and transformed the restaurant table in minutes.

Shamrock tissue paper covered an Irish sweater

…exactly like the one Angus wore in 1977.

Happy cousins.  Katie on the left is responsible for actually getting me to the party.  I wanted to sleep through what was supposed to be a family cocktail hour (pregnant ladies are tired!), but she texted my sister, who was about ready to kill me for ruining all their hard work, that Martha Stewart was in the bar.  I was only about 10 minutes late and very surprised to see a party and, alas, no Martha. Clever girls.

Thank you, ladies, for such a beautiful and thoughtful surprise!  I loved it!

xx Sarah

]]> http://applesandonions.com/culture/pop-up-baby-shower/feed/ 3 http://applesandonions.com/culture/and-baby-makes-three/ http://applesandonions.com/culture/and-baby-makes-three/#comments Wed, 16 May 2012 07:25:51 +0000 Sarah http://applesandonions.com/?p=14809

Well, my loves, my little secret is out! And getting less little by the day, I might add.  Angus and I are expecting a wee one of our own this Halloween.

(Don’t let the photo confuse you.  We find out today if this chubbub is a boy or a girl.  I just happen to be holding a pink pouf.)

We’re throwing around words like happy and excited in completely non-ironic ways on a daily basis.  Familiar things?  They now seem magical.  We’ve had the baby’s first pancake, first bite of pineapple, first plane ride, first Bruce concert, etc.  The list goes on and on and this tidbit has yet to draw breath.

I’m going to drive everyone nuts once he or she is here, guaranteed.

The best part, though, is wondering what firsts the baby will love.  Will this little person play sports? Be able to sing?  Build things?  Prefer strawberry to mint chip?

Will this babe even like to read?

I can’t begin to fathom the surprises in store for Angus and me.

Off to the doctor now. Can’t wait to share what I’m having.  In the meantime, tell me, what aspects of baby planning would you like me to share?

Tomorrow, images from my “pop up” baby shower in Miami last weekend.

xx Sarah

Watch, Learn, Take Action.

xo,

LEH

Friday afternoon I took my mom and Grandma for blow outs at Dry Bar!

Then we joined the 5:50pm queue outside of Son of a Gun restaurant to get a seat at the communal table. We had an excellent meal, this is a great restaurant to take LA visitors.

My Grandma bought me a pink and white boucle Jackie Kennedy mini dress and it fit perfectly! I’m all set for summer lady functions now.

We spent Saturday at my Aunt’s house playing Game of Things and having deep talks about French Bulldogs and celebrities.

Sunday we gathered for Mother’s Day brunch at Grandma’s. She entertains with her wedding china, crystal and silver which makes everything feel extra special.

A brunch in the sun.

Gram is a fan of shift dresses too.

Hope you all had as lovely a weekend as we did!

Love,

Lydia

… spoke to my inner prep, had to share.

xo,

Lydia

Did you dust off your Where the Wild Things Are yesterday?

I revisited Really Rosie and the Nutshell Kids. I loved them when I was little!  Rosie’s delusions of grandeur still crack me up.  She’s so believable and her world is so beautifully textured that it’s no surprise Sendak was writing about a girl who bossed him around their Brooklyn neighborhood.  I wonder what happened to the real Rosie?

What’s your favorite Sendak?

We toast you, Maurice. You were a great, big deal.

xx Sarah

P.S. Forward the movie to 1:42.  It’s a slow starter.

P.P.S.  Sendak remembers his favorite (and most appropriate!) piece of fan mail.

This is what we served:

Bloody Mary Bar

Bellini Bar- Strawberry-Rhubarb-Vanilla Bean Puree and Peach-Thyme Puree

Iced Tea

Broccoli and Cheddar Quiche

Tomato and Goat Cheese Quiche

Mini Sausage, Spinach and Sweet Potato Frittatas

Quinoa and Beet Salad

Arugula Salad with Strawberries and Pine Nuts

Donut Holes

Mint Chip Ice Cream Cake

more to come…

xo,

Lydia

via

The James Beard Foundation handed it out medallions for excellence in all aspects of the food and bev industry this past Saturday in NYC.  Congratulations to all the winners! We’re thrilled that some of our favorite food writers, recipe developers and editors won.  Ladies, we read and admire you all.

Focus on Health
Super Natural Every Day: Well-Loved Recipes from My Natural Foods Kitchen
by Heidi Swanson
(Ten Speed Press)

Writing and Literature  
Blood, Bones & Butter: The Inadvertent Education of a Reluctant Chef
by Gabrielle Hamilton
(Random House)

Publications of the Year
Amanda Hesser and Merrill Stubbs
Food52

and

Darra Goldstein
Gastronomica

Here’s the complete list of winners.  Anyone you’re especially excited to see?

xx Sarah

This video is of Jeanne Kelley, author of the new cookbook Salad for Dinner.  I just ordered the book and can’t wait to pour over each page. I hope my future self washes her lettuces outside and then reuses the water to nourish the growing garden and drinks wine out of cafe glasses. Oh and keeps port figs handy in her fridge.

Happy Weekend,

Lydia

thanks,

Lydia

via

It’s going to be mucho calor in the A & O kitchen this week.  We’re cooking for not one but TWO Cinco de Mayo parties!   Here’s one of our menus.  What do you think?

Apps/cocktails
Red wine sangria and specialty margaritas plus coronas and lime
Tortilla chips, salsa and guacamole
Tortilla chips and cheesy jalapeno crab dip

Dinner
Baked corn and leek flautas with cilantro lime crema
Carne Asada for grilling
Tequila lime chicken for grilling
Mixed bell peppers,onions and zucchini for grilling
Black beans and rice
Mixed greens with cherry tomatoes, cotija cheese, toasted pepitas and cilantro dressing
Flour and corn tortillas

Dessert
Tres leches cake with fresh berries

Another great option?  Lydia’s weeknight taco party.

How are you celebrating?

xxSarah

Hydrangea Exploded by Qi Wei via

“The world’s favorite season is the spring.
All things seem possible in May.”
-  Edwin Way Teale

Happy May Day, love bugs!  What have you got brewing this spring?

xxSarah

My cutie pie friend Meghan emailed me an invitation she designed for her impending Sunday Summer Supper Club. I thought it was SUCH a darling idea I begged her to let me show the invitation to all of you. The bottom left hand pic is of my dining room table set for company, which she found on A&O!

the front

the back

I say YES YES YES! What do you guys think? Does this invitation get you thinking of starting your own supper club?

xo,

Lydia

via

A quick, hello! and happy weekend!  I’m off on a last-minute trip to Palm Springs.

What are you all doing?

xx Sarah