waysideviolet » holiday

happy fourth!

Jessica — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 23:21:46 +0000

Happy Fourth of July to you! Whether you’re American or not I hope you’re having a wonderful day maybe even filled with sparklers and picnics. I’m having a perfectly lazy day! Joel grilled and we had a nice little cookout on our patio, complete with the most delicious slices of watermelon. And now it’s rainy and the firework “pops!” have died down.

sparklers were always my favorite!

I prefer this wet Fourth with a cup of coffee, some pretty yarn to work with and looking forward to a day off of work tomorrow. It’s a very happy day indeed!

in the kitchen

Jessica — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 21:23:03 +0000

Yesterday we spent pretty much the whole afternoon in the kitchen making some super delicious food. I made Jamie Oliver’s crispy asparagus and potato tart. It looks so lovely and it’s pretty easy to make. It was so good, we almost polished it off before I could get any photos!

Last week an email from Toast popped into my inbox with a recipe for hot cross buns. As soon as I saw them I knew I just had to make them! They were time consuming but fun and so worth it. Warm from the oven with butter, amazing! Joel’s begging me to make it an “Easter tradition” and I think I just might!

Our house was smelled so delicious this weekend!

Here’s a look at one batch of my hot cross buns. It’s a bit tricky to see the crosses, but are so delicious!

happy easter

Jessica — Sun, 04 Apr 2010 15:15:38 +0000

Happy Easter! I hope you’re having a beautiful day with friends and family and chocolate bunnies! We don’t have any company this year, but if we did I’d try out these adorable place setting ideas. The little nests are too cute!

How lovely is this chalkboard egg! We used this chalkboard spray paint on a wall in Joel’s old office and it worked beautifully! I think it would be perfect for some d.i.y. chalkboard eggs. Speaking of eggs, I would love to find the pretty ones on the right in my basket!

a little bunny love

Jessica — Sat, 03 Apr 2010 01:48:27 +0000

One happy Easter morning there was the sweetest, real-life bunny sitting patiently in my basket. My sister and I were so excited and surprised! We named her Bun Bun and she was adorable! Here are some little cuties that I just had to share, who doesn’t love bunnies, right?

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Bun Bun looked so much like the black and white bunny on the right! Well, I’m off to bake some delicious scones. I’ll be blogging about them soon!

st. patrick’s day

Jessica — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 14:35:40 +0000

Ireland has always held a special place in my heart. When I was little it was a magical land of castles and legends. I’m Irish by ancestry on both side of my family and I remember my mom always playing Irish songs on St. Patrick’s Day.

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The summer between my senior year of high school and my freshmen year of college I got to spend three months in beautiful Northern Ireland and two summers ago Joel and I went to Dublin for a week. I’m always dreaming of going back. When I think of St. Patrick’s Day, I think of the beautiful Irish poems and songs. This year I found myself listening to the Clancy Brothers. Here’s one of my favorites, Finnegan’s Wake…

Yesterday we celebrated with steak and Guinness pie and chocolate cake. I hope your St. Patrick’s Day was sprinkled with an extra bit of luck!

happy heart day!

Jessica — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 22:37:01 +0000

I’m taking a quick little break from packing to wish you all a beautiful and very Happy Valentine’s Day! I hope you get something sweet!

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weekend projects – valentine edition

Jessica — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 17:01:59 +0000

When I was little, my dad would leave a little treat for my sister and me at the breakfast table every Valentine’s Day morning. We were always so excited to see what was waiting for us!

Here are two super cute ideas for your own little Valentine surprises: A pretty straw tutorial from A Field Journal. Perfect for serving with your sweetie’s favorite drink! I would vote for a blood orange italian soda.

I love this secret message ring how-to by Yellow Goat. Cutest idea ever!

his & hers

Jessica — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 05:46:51 +0000

I think Valentine’s Day is such a nice time to send a little love and even a little treat to the special people in our lives. Here are two little gift guides I put together, one for him and one for her:

pretty things for her

marshmallow hearts by whimsy and spice, necklace by corrie berry pie, bobby pin by lara lewis, garland by kristina marie, and cute fox by sleepy king

handsome things for him

arrow tote by lynspataro, plant by monkeysalwayslook, iPod case by tovicorrie, foxhall tie by fieldguided, and cookies by whimsy and spice

hello february

Jessica — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 16:30:43 +0000

February is here at last! It’s so chilly out and even snowy still, the prefect time for curling up with a favorite book and sipping hot chocolate with lots of marshmallows. I think it’s going to be a beautiful month!

pretty photo via dayataglance

I hope your February is full of treats and pretty things!

california christmas

Jessica — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 23:33:00 +0000

My goodness, it’s been so quiet around here! I think I’m slowly emerging from the holiday fog of cookies and long “catch up” conversations with family and friends. A few days ago we drove up to Big Bear Lake (I worked at a camp there one summer). It’s the most adorable mountain town and I was so excited to see it with a little snow. I mostly shot with our Holga before switching to our Nikon D80.

the partially frozen lake

The lake was just a bit frozen and so lovely!

adorable downtown

We wandered around and stopped by North Pole Fudge, the cutest little candy store, for the most delicious caramel apple ever and a handful of almond clusters.

carmel apples beckon

Our last view of Big Bear was so pretty:

leaving Big Bear