bedroom space

fruit of the month: Strawberries

[via a sweet spoonful]

As summer fades into late September, I find myself eating strawberries like they're going out of style season. In my area, the price hasn't completely spiked back to totally-out-of-season-you-shouldn't-be-buying-this range, so I'm taking advantage while I can.

As with most fruit, and particularly berries, buying local increases the flavor about 100 fold. No joke. If you don't believe me, I bet you've never owned a strawberry plant. When I was little, my friend's mom got one and I remember when I first tasted the non-conventional form of these amazing red juice-bombs - I couldn't believe it. That, I thought, is what strawberries are supposed to taste like? I felt robbed! The difference was like flavored cardboard and melting chocolate.

Besides that they are wonderful to eat by themselves by the handful, there are all sorts of lovely things you cook/bake/create with strawberries. A few ideas:

Strawberries and Cream Popsicles [via damn delicious]

Strawberry Crepes [via barbara bakes]

How cute are these?!? [via the capitol baker]

Chocolate Strawberry Waffles [via malibu kitchen]

You don't have to stick to sweets, either.

Goat Cheese Crostini with Strawberry Bruschetta [via dishing gormet]

Strawberry Basil Sparkler [via two tarts]

Balsamic Strawberry Pizza with Chicken [via closet cooking]

Strawberries are great sources of dietary fiber, vitamin C, folate, and potassium. Because of the dietary fiber, they're also a great thing to eat after you've eaten too much - they settle the stomach and, shall we say, get things moving in your digestive tract. That, plus some water, equals a much happier belly!

Plus, come on, who doesn't like strawberries?

Stars

I think it is very important that everyone stay up late on Saturday, and watch the Perseid meteor shower, which is supposed to peak a little after midnight. Already planning a viewing party with friends - excited!

High Country Press

It come around every year, and every year I manage to miss it. Not this year though. I'm stoked for some star-gazing.

It has also been so hot lately, that I haven't done much of anything except for stay in the shade and sip iced soy chais. I feel like summer is swiftly flying past me. Hoping to get out to the lake again before the end of it all, and spend as much time as possible with friends. Here's to the next two months!

Beach time

Headed out to the lake today! Really excited for sunshine and swimsuits and food and wine with friends. Packing a handmade beach bag with a towel, sunscreen, a book (Players and Gentlemen by Joanne Harris), strawberries, cheese and crackers. Thought I'd throw together a little collage of fun stuff.

Modcloth

Anazara & KaiKini via Etsy

Recycled boat sail tote via tumblr & Points East Surf bag

flickerhivemind and eatmyblog

My stuff is not nearly this cute today, mostly because it looks like it's going to rain on us :( Hopefully the sun will come out for a little bit!

solstice

Yoga celebrators in NY

Fremont parade rocks it, Seattle

Solstice bike fest, Ontario

Still enjoying the sunshine on the west coast. Celebrating with a sun dress and a mojito later. Solstice is such a good time to reflect on life's gifts and dance in the sun. I'm so thankful for this beautiful place I live in.

Bought some organizational bags today that I love - I'll post about them later. Also got off of work and cleaned my room to pristine conditions this evening. I now have two and half garbage bags full of clothes I need to thrift, and I still feel like I have too much. Starting a period of simplicity. I'm hoping that will get rid of the feeling of eternal clutter I seem to have developed over the years. Spring and summer cleaning.

Happy summer days.

Photo credits: washington post, tumblr, seattle pi, stonehengetours.wordpress.com

Summer lips

I don't wear makeup much, but bright lips are so gorgeous. I have plenty of dated lip color products around; I just need to rifle through them and maybe blend a few. If you don't and want to indulge, please support your local organic brands, or make your own!

I also stumbled upon this well-written blogpost on Tumblr about safe and natural alternatives to conventional cosmetics. Hope you enjoy!

Photo Credits: womenshealthmag.com, tumblr.com, thesun.co.uk, chasingbow.com

NorCal

Crescent City, first sight of the ocean

Gorgeous Redwoods

Fort Bragg, craggy windy coastline

Muir Beach Overlook, so beautiful

Stinson Beach, unexpected white sand

Had a lot of fun on my little road trip. Made it to just north of San Francisco - not quite as far as I had hoped, but not bad in two days' time.