<<<<<< Chevron >>>>>>>

I love chevron.  Ever since I dismantled my Windowfarm in the kitchen it's been feeling a little bare...  So, I've decided to do something fun with the plain white IKEA shades that were left by the previous owner of our apartment.  The best part of this decor idea was that it didn't cost a thing!  There happened to be a few different colors of spray paint from previous projects in the closet, so I mocked up the pattern, made a stencil, and spray painted away.  I discovered that spray painting is not the most enjoyable activity, but it was well worth it to look at this in the morning!

Spray painting on the ground is hard work!  I must be really out of shape because my legs hurt for *days*.

Here are some patterns I played around with for color combos...

Picnic outfit - happy summer time!

the Masks

Summer is in full swing this holiday weekend and the air in Brooklyn smells of grilled meats and charcoal fires.  I'm still trying to summer up my apartment and wanted to show you these masks I got in Costa Rica.  I love that they have tortugas on them.  I learned that word from Breaking Bad... do you remember that crazy scene?!?  Anyhow speaking of; I can't wait for the 5th season of that show...  but am nervous that it won't live up to the 4th season, which I thought was a perfect ending to a series.  Happy grilling everyone!

Post vacation inspirations

Summer's peaking around the corner here!  Zach and I went on vacation to Costa Rica a month ago and I now feel like I never went.  Isn't that so typical of vacations?  I'm craving that tropical feel again so, I'm thinking if I incorporate a little palm tree in my apartment - I'll feel a little better... so here I am in search for the perfect palm tree that can survive in my NYC apartment.  We get a lot of sunlight here, but I'm wondering if I'll need to do something about the humidity...

Well, while I'm searching for plants to make my home more summery - take a look at my favorite shots from my trip...

Count er maroon

Is it me or does life keep getting busier and busier?  PHEW!  Here's a post I've been meaning to put up here but then we went on a trip... and then came home to no electricity... and other building things... and life... you know how it goes.

The big news around the apartment is... Mr. Z changed out our kitchen counter!  Whoo!  It was not an easy feat, but already the counters don't seem so new after living with them for about a month.  Not liking a color may seem like a small issue - especially since the material was a nice (and expensive) granite - but  I can't think of a color I dislike more than maroon - eek!  There were minor mishaps removing the heavy maroon counter, but he did it ~ and it made a HUGE difference.  Isn't he amazing :D?  We ended up giving the old one away for free on Craigslist and the guy messaged me a photo of what he did with the old counter, which is kinda cool, right?

Planning...

Doing...

And this is what happened to the maroon ones! I'm glad they got a nice new home!

New and improved knobs!

Mr. Z is the best - customizing left and right.  Walnut knobs at $10.

Somedays are just for relaxing

I'm so ready for the beach... already

I'm designing for resort season already... for next year!  Can you believe it?  What year is it again?  I can't keep track.  Anyhow, here are some pretty inspiring images - I can feel the sun and smell the salt just by looking at these... mmm...

Images from here

Happy holidays!

This year I've been uncharacteristically festive for the holidays.  Perhaps it's because Mr. Z and I are staying home (our home in Brooklyn) this year.  I'm usually the scrooge type not wanting to do anything related to holiday festivities, but this year we got a tree AND we went to the Nutcracker ballet!  Whoa - not to mention that I cooked a rack of lamb too.  Now if only we can get snow out here on the east coast... Anyhow, happy holidays to you all!

 

the Warriors

It's hard to imagine these days living without certain things - technologically speaking.  I know a lot of people would say they can't live without their smart phone or their car... or their movie subscription que.  For the past few months I've been living without a movie subscription which has forced me to revisit ones we already have.  I have to say that it's been pretty entertaining - since Mr. Z has a pretty extensive collection.

The Warriors is a movie I recently re-watched.  It's a cult classic and best of all, it's set and filmed in New York City during the late 70's.  Supposedly the film caused sporadic outbreaks of violence in Southern California and Boston, when first released in theaters (see info here).  The NYC gang "the Warriors" wear a uniform that may have inspired this popular pair, don't you think?

Images from here and here

Pecan Pie Recipe {and Crust}

I was never crazy about pie until I made the crust from scratch.  Actually, the crust makes the pie, so now I can never go back to a store bought pre-made crust.  The trick is butter, and lots of it - not melted but cold and broken up with your fingers and clumpy so that when you bake it, the pockets of butter melts, making your pie oh so flakey.  It has become sort of a tradition that I bake a pecan pie every year.  Well, so far a 3 year tradition.

I use this crust recipe from smitten kitchen and this pecan pie recipe from Cooking for Engineers.  Since the crust recipe can yield 2 pie crusts without the top, I double the pecan recipe so that I get 2 pies.  I also cut the sugar and maple syrup in half, since I don't like my pecan pies too sweet, but some friends of mine discourage this.  Happy baking!

Happy long weekend! {Oh, and Thanksgiving}

Phew!  It's finally here, a break - and we get a whole day dedicated to pigging out while laying around doing nothing.  How much more American can you get?  Well, that is if you're not the one cooking.  I've been that ambitious person before, but I have to say that I enjoy the eating part much more.

Here's a pic of me and Mr. Z about this time (4 years ago) when we first met.  My expression in the photo pretty much sums up how I feel about now.  Hopefully your weekend will be just as fun as it was that night.

PENN-manship

A few weeks ago I watched old movies like I was in a marathon of watching old movies.  Sometimes I just get in one of those moods, you know? Lying around like a lump with the radiator whistling in the background, munching on a bunch of snacks under a blanket - kind of mood.  There's a scene in the Seven Year Itch, where the characters are inside the OLD Penn Station.  My heart ached at the fact that we can no longer see this station as it was anymore.  Seriously aches.

This Thanksgiving weekend Mr. Z and I are taking a train ride to Philadelphia to visit my uncle(s).  There's something romantically nostalgic about getting on a train to get out of the city.  Back in Denver (or Chicago) I hardly used the train at all, but on the East Coast trains are definitely a way of getting around.

I'll be going to the new {but not improved} Penn Station to take the train to Philadelphia, wishing that I was alive to see the old Penn Station.  At least I can look at these photos.  Photos via New York Public Library.

New Windowfarms! Pledge, do it - promise?

There are very few things that get me this excited - OK, maybe I'm exaggerating, but this thing I'm about to share with you definitely makes top 10.  The Windowfarms project is kick starting their newly designed farms.  Please please pledge to get the ball rolling on this project - I  did!  Do it here.

Think that you don't have a green thumb?
I'm a window farmer now, but at first I was a little intimidated to start a hydroponic garden - since I've killed several plants and barely kept some alive.  However, growing plants this way is surprisingly easy.  The plants in my garden are much healthier and more flavorful than the potted plants I've attempted to seed!  So don't let that discourage you from starting a farm.

Also if you just want to donate to the cause, you can donate how ever much you want just because you agree that we {as people who live in a community - in this case the United States} need to support and help grow businesses like these {i.e. a business that manufactures in our country and supports easy sustainable living}.  Ok, that's as political as I'm getting - I'm stepping off my soap box now.

Pillow talk

During my unemployed days, I made pillows and sold them on Etsy. So when we finally received our sectional a few weeks ago, I felt like I needed to apply that handmade touch to our living room. I'm not sure why I started searching for grain sacks, but that's where I started.  I love the rustic appearance of vintage grain sacks. I found a nice selection here. They are usually made out of sturdy canvas and the logos printed on them are so unique!  I wonder if the new bags are made the same way?  I made 2 for the couch but ended up placing one in the bedroom, because it didn't look quite right with the other pillows.