The Ferry Building Marketplace in San Francisco is one of my favorite places to visit. The last time I was in the Bay Area, {lovah} and I scooted into the city early one morning to browse the Ferry Building and indulge in lattes at Blue Bottle and sugary treats from Miette Patisserie. Later, we met my sister Erica here for lunch since she works right across the street. With yummy sandwiches from Cow Girl Creamery in hand, we claimed a bench overlooking the bay, and watched the ferry boats coming and going. The Ferry Building is full of incredible artisan shops, delicious eats, and sweet gifts from local purveyors. Every time I visit, I discover something new. It’s a true marketplace.
Ferry Building Marketplace
One Ferry Building
San Francisco, CA 94111
(415) 983-8030
Images by Lauryl Lane.
By a happy stroke of luck, my friend Erin and I recently found ourselves at the Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse in Boulder, CO. We settled in for a light lunch (the greek salad was delicious!) and a repast of tea and scones. We were surprised and delighted by the beautiful architecture and design of the teahouse, which was apparently constructed in Tajikistan as a gift to the city of Boulder. We loved being tucked away into a corner where we could survey our gorgeous surroundings while catching up over our little pots of soothing tea. I even took my {lovah} back a few weeks later to indulge in tea and scones all over again!
Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse
1770 13th Street
Boulder, CO 80302
(303) 442-4993
Images | Styling by Lauryl Lane.
Shot with the iPhone 4, square images processed with Instagram.
To poach an egg perfectly: Crack an egg into a small bowl or cup and let sit. Fill a saucepan with about 3 inches of water and a generous splash of white wine vinegar. Bring to a low boil, then turn the heat down so that the water is very gently simmering. Using a slotted spoon, stir the water rapidly in a counter-clockwise motion, and while stirring, use your other hand to tip the egg into the funnel created in the middle of the water. Remove the spoon just as you slip the egg into the water. The spinning motion will cause the egg to fold into itself as it solidfies. Allow the egg to cook for 2-3 minutes or to the desired “doneness.” Remove the egg with a slotted spoon and place it on a piece of paper towel or on a sieve to dry for a few seconds before serving.
Image | Styling by Lauryl Lane.
More cold, rainy days here in Colorado. I won’t lie- the weather here depresses me. Locals like to talk about how sunny it is, but they are clearly not from Southern California! I never thought of myself as a sun-worshipper since I’m fair-skinned and have always had to make a concerted effort to shield myself from the sun’s rays. Yet after only five months of living in Denver, my doctor informed me that I was Vitamin D deficient! Who knew? I’m looking forward to lots of travel in sunny regions in the days ahead, but for now I’m trying to use bright flowers as mood-enhancers in lieu of sunshine. You’ve heard of pet therapy, right? Well, how about some flower-therapy instead? I’ve heard it can cure a multitude of woes!
Images | Floral Design | Styling by Lauryl Lane.
Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
Image | Styling by Lauryl Lane.
I can’t believe it’s Monday again! Time flies when you’re having fun, right? Well, here are a few of my instagram shots from the past week… these make my week look a lot more laid back than it really was, but it’s good to reflect on the quiet moments in between all the craziness!
Images | Styling by Lauryl Lane.
Shot with the iPhone & Processed with Instagram.
The San Antonio Botanical Garden is a veritable playground for nature-lovers. My grandparents spend their winters in San Antonio, and every few years I join them there for Thanksgiving. I tend to forget that Texas is so far south, so the lovely weather in November never ceases to surprise me. I’ve visited Botanical Gardens across the globe, from Singapore to London, and the San Antonio Botanical Garden remains one of my favorites. From the formal gardens to the plots representing plants native to Texas, this beautiful 38-acre garden reserve is a tranquil place for a long walk with family or friends. It’s also home to a yummy bistro and a gift shop brimming with treasures for your favorite gardeners!
Images by Lauryl Lane.
Although there are many excellent choices for a morning coffee in East Los Angeles, I find myself drawn to Proof Bakery over and over again. It’s a short walk from my old home in Silver Lake, in an inauspicious shopping strip in Atwater Village. Proof is rather tiny, with seating for little more than a dozen people, but it’s utterly charming with it’s dark walls, light floors, and marble-topped tables. I love to grab a latte (delicious!) and split a delectable chocolate croissant and a slice of quiche (the flavors are constantly changing) with my husband, whilst sitting in the window, people-watching – and occasionally waving to neighbors also out for a morning stroll. Proof Bakery is one of the many reasons I love L.A.-living, it’s yummy, cozy, and totally community-driven.
Proof Bakery
3156 Glendale Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90039
(323) 664-8633
Images | Styling by Lauryl Lane.
THE WRAP: When I was in Los Angeles a few weeks ago, browsing the shops on Robertson Blvd. with my friend John, I discovered the POP Phone at Kitson, and it was love at first sight. I purchased the “Retro” handset in red, mainly because I thought it looked pretty swell with my new custom iPhone case from Gelaskins. It feels just like the phones I used when I was young, but it’s more comfortable to have resting on my shoulder due to the soft touch paint treatment! The speaker and microphone work beautifully, and the pickup/hangup button means that I don’t have to struggle with my mobile while accepting or disconnecting calls. Best of all, the POP phone eliminates over 99% of absorbed phone radiation! ❀❀❀❀❀ (out of 5).
Images | Styling by Lauryl Lane.
I recently designed four bouquets, each representative of a different season, for a marketing campaign. As spring is now upon us in my part of the world, I thought it would be appropriate to share the bouquet that stands for spring! I used some quintessentially “springy” flowers, along with succulents, which are heavily indicative of spring to me. In Southern California, succulents begin to show their offspring in the spring- a single succulent can “birth” nearly a dozen little babies! I love seeing the little succulent babies growing, and when they are big enough, detaching them and moving them to their own little plots of land where they can mature and then reproduce themselves!
Although spring here in Denver is not what I am used to, and it brings with it weird fuzz in the air that makes me sneeze, moody weather changes, and more bugs than I’ve ever seen in my life… there is still promise in the air- promise of grass greening, flowers blooming, sunnier skies and warmer days ahead. After the seemingly endless days of winter, this promise of new life, this burst of color, cannot help but bring a smile to my face. And hopefully, to your face as well!
Floral Design | Images | Styling by Lauryl Lane.
