Dear America

Have you seen Zara's new Dear America campaign? 50 photographers from the 50 states in 50 beautiful pictures that capture just how diverse the landscape and life is. I love.

Wyoming



Kansas, Nebraska, Mississipp

Washington



Oregon, Montana

Sheep rocker

I don't really like the idea of luxury children's goods but occasionally I can't stop myself from browsing a site. I saw this rocking sheep on Smallable and thought it was simultaneously grotesque and adorable (and very fitting for a part kiwi baby), which I didn't know was possible. I'm not buying it for anybody nor putting it on any wish list, but definitely thought it was worth a share.

image [via]

The last of the summer

Before we went away to the Alps we had some really glorious days in London. In order to celebrate the last few days of summer I made Bacon Ranch Potato Salad. I served the potato salad with Heston's Veal and Tartare burgers which were in themselves amazing and a great compliment to the potato salad.




This potato salad recipe is very light in taste. I like that the recipe calls for plain yogurt as well as mayonnaise. I have re-posted the recipe below but you can also find it on BakinandEggs. (I also used her French Toast recipe.)

Bacon Ranch Potato Salad
(Recipe source Confections of a Foodie Bride)
also via


Ingredients:
2 pounds potatoes, unpeeled and cut into 1/2-inch chunks
1 tablespoon salt
1/4 cup light mayonnaise
1/4 cup plain reduced-fat yogurt or sour cream
2 tablespoons chives, chopped
2 tablespoons parsley, chopped (I omitted)
1 green onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
Juice of 1/2 lemon
1/4 cup buttermilk
Salt and pepper, to taste
4 slices thick cut bacon, cooked to a crisp and crumbled (I used Turkey bacon - not as crunchy but better for you)


Directions:
Place potatoes in a large pot and cover with 1-2 inches of cold water and 1 tablespoon of salt. Bring potatoes to a boil and cook until just tender, about 10 minutes.
While potatoes are cooking, whisk together mayonnaise, sour cream, herbs, green onion, garlic, lemon and buttermilk in a bowl. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Drain potatoes and transfer to a serving bowl. Let stand for about 10 minutes and then pour half of the ranch dressing over the potatoes and half of the crumbled bacon and gently toss to combine. Refrigerate one hour and then toss with remaining ranch dressing. Top with the rest of the crumbled bacon and garnish with chopped parsley. Return to refrigerator until ready to serve.


Yield: 8-10 servings

Fashion Night Out

Besides the odd sample sale I've never really been to a fashion event. As I get older I am taking more and more of an interest in fashion. When I saw that Fashion Night Out was happening last week I emailed some of my girlfriends to see if they were interested in going. Vale replied with a yes and we made plans to meet in Green Park and stroll up Bond Street.

Map of Fashion Night Out stores
[via]

The whole street was buzzing with beautiful people with wildly different types of fashion everywhere. One of the things I love about fashion in London is that there are so many different types of fashionable people. Fashionable has much stricter criteria in Seattle and this is possibly why I didn't develop an interest until moving to London.


Vale and I weaved our way in and out of stores with our end destination being Mulberry where I heard they were doing a photobooth and nail painting.


Mulberry was absloutely packed and the lines of their activities too long to wait in, but I was able to snap up a goody bag which literally left a smile plastered on my face for the rest of the night. The ultra cute tote came complete with an aminal mask and Clarins mositurizer! Amazing!

Mulberry tote and mask

Vale and I ended our evening by visiting Tiffany's pop art photobooth.

Tiffany & Co photobooth

All and all a great night out!

A week in the Alps

A few weeks ago, the mister and I were lucky enough to be invited to one of our friends' family's chalets in the Alps for a week of relaxing. I cannot even describe how beautiful it was. My pictures certainly don't do it justice. I hope we have the opportunity to go back some day.



View from the chalet

Another view from the chalet

La Clusaz

View from the top of one of the mountains

 market

Relaxing at the lake