Happy Long Weekend!

Remembering those affected by wars: the soldiers, the families, and the children from near and far. One day may there be only peace for all beings.

 

 Photo Source : Fernando Gregory at Flickr.

Cuppazoop and End Tables

Lately, I’m all about the reviews over here at V&S. I guess I want to post, but I have so little time that getting the camera all hooked up to the laptop is juuuuust too long of an investment. So here I am with something else I like. This soup. It’s cheap, good, and made with good ingredients. It’s vegan for cryin’ out loud! If you haven’t heard of or tried Dr. McDougall’s soups, just know that they’re all pretty tasty. Much lower sodium, too, than most cups o’ zoop. So, next time you want to stock up on something that’s cheap and good, perhaps for lunches or a light dinner, try these. What, do I work for these people?

I guess I do have something I can share that I actually photographed, too. Went to an estate sale a few weeks ago and found these cool Campaign-style bedside tables. (This is the pic I sent to hubs from the actual sale…) The style got its name from its use by the military; the pieces would be broken down and taken from campaign (war) to campaign with the soldiers. These are not old, maybe late 60s if that. But they’re pretty snazzy nonetheless.

Bye y’all!

Things I’m Loving

From www.Madewell.com – Couldn’t you just fill this baby up?



Also from www.Madewell.com – A fair price ($25) for a cute little summery bracelet.



This tea is so great before bed. Lives up to the name of being comforting. www.aveda.com
 


This is the most delicious smelling hand soap. It was in the bathroom at a restaurant we were at recently and I about accidentally dropped it in my purse. I didn’t! I guess I can buy it here where it’s $12.50. Cool story about the company’s sustainability approach here. As they say:
FURTHER HAND SOAP will not only leave your hands feeling squeaky clean, but will freshen your conscience and inspire your soul. Infused with fragrant oils of bergamot, olive and exotic grasses, FURTHER HAND SOAP creates a perfect sustainable circle.

And last but not least, a girl’s gotta get her fiber so she can lower her cholesterol, right? This stuff is really good. Reminds me of being a kid and eating cream of wheat, which I loved. It’s nutty and yummy and great with honey drizzled over.



And that’s the list for now!
Happy Saturday…
, Robin

They Could Have Had It All, And Still May

Not sure how many, if any of you, follow Gossip Girl. The season finale just aired, and Blair is off to Monaco with her prince. She and Chuck had a bittersweet, if not mature, parting. Oh, thankfully, the door has been left open. There’s just something about Chuck and Blair that I love. Their upper east side roots, their scheming, the wit, the fashion. But I like the “happy” Blair, too, that comes out when she’s with Louis (the prince of Monaco; but who else?). Although, anyone who saw this season finale would have to agree how sweet this chair scene was, played to Adele’s hit song. They were both smiling and laughing like we haven’t seen in many, many episodes! Sadly, I hear next season may be the last. Until then, we’ll wait with baited breath to see: what happens in Monaco, who’s pregnancy test that was in the gold waste basket, and where that whole “Dan” sub-plot is going! Exciting stuff! Gossip Girl, take me away…

Music Love

 

What a telling line: "I don't love you, but I always will". 

Can't we all relate to the struggles of being so close with someone for so long and feeling all that comes with being together so much? Yet, we choose our same mate every day, over and over. A love that just goes on, lives on forever, claims its permanent place in your heart.

Ah, love...

Who Says Cats and Dolphins Can't Be Friends?

 

This just makes me smile. Reminds me of Kate...she'd do something this sweet.

Oh Stop! You're So Cute!

 

Yeah? Yeah?

Music Monday

Just got Adele 21, and it’s so great. This, from the CD. The dancer in the video totally rocks, too. And I don’t know about y’all, but I might like to break a room full of dishes myself! Enjoy…

Adele rocks the room!

A Day at the Marston House

We had a really fun day at the Marston House for Mother’s Day. We started with an abbreviated tour of just the first floor of the house. I’ve been on the full tour, but this was a nice little taste of the beautiful Craftsman interior, even if we didn’t see much. What a simple and grand house!

A couple corners in the library:


And, the kitchen…


The pantry:

There was also a little “fashion” show. All of the dresses were made of paper! (I thought of you, Mrs. Schottlaender.)


Amazing yummies and gardens! This was but a wee sampling of all the good stuff to eat. I sort of focused on eating and not on clicking pictures. Ha! Then, oh!, all the food was gone! This little chocolate mousse was just the right size.




A lovely trio played sweet music as we relaxed, celebrating the happy day…

And this heart spoke to me from a tree in the garden:

And last but not least, a rose for all Mom’s near and afar…

Have a great week, everyone!
, Robin

Mom’s Day…

This is always a fun, but bittersweet, time for me. Fun, because I have a wonderful mother in law that I love, and love spending time with. Bittersweet, because my Mom passed away so long ago when I was 24, and far too young to lose a mother. It was the late 70s, when breast cancer was not treated aggressively and Premarin was given out like candy and doctors took too many chances with waiting. To Mom: I love you still, and always will, and I’m sending the sweetest wishes to you in the great beyond.

This year, unlike most where we do a party at our house, we’re trying something new:

Pictures will follow! Happy Mother’s Day to all!

, Robin

Food Glorious Food

One of my favorite restaurants anywhere is in the Ferry Building: Il Cane Rosso (the red dog). Yes, it’s in San Francisco and I’ve blogged about it before; I should create a category. Ha! For instance, check today’s breakfast menu – yowza! So inventive…
OLIVE OIL FRIED EGG SANDWICH  $8
Boccalone pancetta, aged provolone, sweet onion butter
BROKEN FARRO PORRIDGE $6.00
raisins, toasted almonds, brown sugar
HOUSE-MADE ORGANIC YOGURT $6.00
strawberry-rhubarb compote, granola
CINNAMON ACME PAN DE MIE TOAST $5.00
cinnamon butter, Acme pain de mie
ORGANIC ORANGE JUICE $3.50   STRAWBERRY LEMONADE $3.50  FRESH MINT LEMONADE $3.50
SLOW DRIP PEERLESS COFFEE $2.50 SWEET MINT ICED COFFEE $3.00 MIGHTY LEAF HOT TEAS $2.50
…
This picture was the amazing first course of another dinner I had there last time I was in San Francisco.

Second course: braised greens, sans any sort of ham hock, and served in this cute little red Calphalon pot…

And, well, how can you resist a side of bread from Acme Bakery!!! If you look close, you can see that the butter is salted. They never miss the little nuances that make everything so special. I was, as you can imagine, stuffed after this little feast. *hiccup*

Lazy Sunday

Had a great morning with the in-laws; went to breakfast at my favorite spot in La Jolla – Pannikin. They  make steamed eggs with basil, feta and tomato and they’re so yummy. I think I’ve posted about this same topic like 10,000 times. Shows my true devotion to the eggs. Ha! Then, to the farmer’s market for flowers. Also stopped by Mary’s – she gave me a bunch of garden roses. So gorgeous and fragrant. They almost smell like grapefruit.

I also got some ranunculus and chamomile…at the farmer’s market…


The dude at the farmer’s market said we could take 10 to 20 chamomile buds, put them in a tea cup, pour boiling water over and voila! chamomile tea! We may try this tonight.
I also made some strawberry lemonade today after a stint out in the yard planting a new lantana and some other various and sundry (no pun intended) growing things…

I hope you all had an equally lazy day, full of thinking about nothing but what you were doing and letting any cares fall by the wayside.
, Robin