road trip

there's more on my flickr. it was an epic journey.

happy weekend!

i'm still figuring out film processing here so i don't have any texas photos yet, but they're coming. until then i love that this photo looks like a portrait. this was a beautiful sunset. while ive already seen some incredible ones here i do miss the water.

fort worth has changed alot since i've been gone. i can't wait to check out the food truck scene. there's an event this weekend called texas toast that i'm hoping to go too.

we're also going to make dinner with my brother and his fiancee. i've attempted to make popsicles but they won't come out so far so it might just be a snow cone. but i think it will still be tasty.

i'm also working on a new project that i'm excited about so its keeping me busy as well.

what are yall up to this weekend?

happy weekend!

while i'm no longer by the bay. i'm still a "whimsical girl" so i will still be posting, atleast occasionally, on this blog.

it was a long trip home, i'm processing those pictures now, but it was a really great way to move. it eased us into the heat a bit and gave some time to process and talk and listen to tons of radiolab.

we've rested a bit fortunately and have a full weekend. we are going to a ranger's baseball game, have a big family reunion on my mom's side this weekend, and we're also taking a trip down to austin to hang out with one of my best friends, brit. it's been too long since we got to be together and i'm so glad she'll be close for a bit. even with the heat i'm really enjoying being back in texas.

good bye san francisco

to ensure that this isn't a weepy, melancholy post i've decided to celebrate my time here with a top ten list of places you should experience when you live or visit here, no particular order:

1. hayes valley, cutest spot in the heart of the city. delicious food of all types and blue bottle coffee
2. marin headlands, on the off chance my wedding didn't convince you its an incredible place to ramble and enjoy a break from the city
3. fillmore street, browser books, bun mee, taco bar and crossroads trading company, bam saturday fun is done
4. ferry building, i've shared it all, the farmer's market the food stalls, the secret blue bottle coffee cart out front but the secret i've never shared. 3 $ pork buns at out the door, satisfying, cheap, perfectly steamed.
5. berkeley, this has become a more recent haunt, indian rock, chez panisse, la note, angelina's, local 123 are my favorites, not to mention the best chipotle in the bay area
{atleast most convenient for us}
6. pescadero and pigeon point lighthouse
7. ocean beach, sutro heights park and lands end
8. sightglass cafe
9. chestnut street, i'm going to miss marina meats and grocery, delarosa, marina lounge, the movie theaters, plutos, marina deli, kara's cupcakes and all only a 10 minute walk from my house, can you tell i'm a bit spoiled?
10. crissy field and palace of fine arts- say hi to the swans.

i hate good byes so i'm just going to say see you later. thanks for all you've given me.

happy weekend!

packing, packing, packing is all we've been doing lately besides errands and saying goodbye so it hasn't been the best week. but we can't wait to start our road trip and get started in our new/old home of fort worth. i haven't really talked about the trip because its seemed so far away and not real. but here it is, starting next week we'll head north to portland and then southeast to home, hopefully hitting up the grand canyon on the way. we are so excited but also haven't researched much in the way of sightseeing as we've been overwhelmed about packing it all up, have i mentioned that yet? i hate packing, and getting there, seeing that we have a slightly unreliable volkswagen van.
but that's where you come in, i'd love to hear any ideas for great stops along the way, in portland as well as nevada, utah, new mexico, west texas. we have a long way to go but we don't want to miss anything so hook us up. we'd also love to hear your favorite road trip survival tips. in exchange i'm going to post a top ten list for san francisco next week!

ashram

we visited an ashram last week with a friend from jacob's work. it was in castro valley, which is an incredibly beautiful area with rolling hills and huge skies. i enjoyed the time to think and contemplate, especially as we walked the labyrinth. Amma was the holy lady who visited the area and brought followers from all over the state and beyond. we enjoyed the break from our normal lives and seeing a different facet of california life.

cafe love: nash baker

no this is not a cafe but one of my favorite things to enjoy at a cafe. these pastries, and many more, are served at readers cafe and at the summit. i did not previously think much of croissants. i didn't really understand the fuss, except that they sounded french. i'd tried the pastry before but did not really understand the allure until trying nash baker's. with a gibralter it is perfection, the sweet milk and espresso mixing with the crunchy flakiness of the bread to form the perfect start to a day. i've had customers come in and compare these treats to the likes of Tartine, the standard itself here in San Francisco. i think you'll agree that they're the best and feel that this is one more reason to come by in my last week at reader's cafe.

happy weekend!

packing and preparations filled this week, but we did take a break to eat at Roam. this is the best burger i've ever had (and i've had a lot of burgers). it had an egg on it with a slightly spicy chili sauce. yum. when you add a blue bottle coffee shake, zucchini fries and a ginger lime soda i was in heaven. i highly suggest you eat there this weekend.

i also made these delicious enchiladas. yum. if you crave tex mex and don't have access or have ever wondered exactly what tex mex means. make these, now. they are amazing and encapsulate the flavorful spiciness of the cuisine i love.

i can't wait to make have dinner with some good friends, work a bit and enjoy a cookout. summer is underway. even if that does mean fog, i'll enjoy it while i can. what are your weekend plans?

transitions

i feel that moving has made me very aware of my surroundings. i love the neighborhood i live in. all the individual houses and colorful buildings and interesting doors. all framed by the backdrop of the bay and the golden gate bridge. i am soaking it all up to take with me when we go back home. i think i'll remember the smells the most. as you can see from this door there is an abundance of flowers; roses, snap dragons, flowers whose names i don't know and my favorite jasmine. the blooms fill the even the air with beauty.

cafe love: blue bottle

while i've already shared these photos here, it was not part of my cafe love series and i wanted to share them again. because i like them that much. its true. i also love blue bottle that much. they are the first third wave cafe that i experienced and hold the standard for delicious coffee, attention to coffee farmers and coolness. {vien, my blue bottle trainer, travelled to japan to learn how to brew siphon pot coffee, that says it all}

we sell their coffee at readers cafe, where i work, and constantly get great feedback. i also loved their training. i've gotten very consistent with latte art.

they have cafes at many locations in the bay area and brooklyn with rumors of a larger expansion. fingers crossed that they'll stay true to their quality and standards.

happy weekend!

i think this movie will make your weekend, entirely. yes its that good. jacob now wants to live in paris, i already wanted to so no big news for me that its now on our list.

i'm also excited about preparing for a couple of photography shows this month. i sold my first photo this week and i'm working on getting some more prints prepared and framed. i can't wait to see how it goes, but i'm {trying} not to count my chickens before they hatch.

i read a great book this week, called motion of the ocean. its about a couple who get married and sail around the pacific. but its also about the ups and downs a couple goes through in love and marriage. its beautiful and funny. i love reflecting on and seeing how other people experience transitions. i don't feel i handle them well at all so its nice to get tips and know i'm not alone in my {over} emotions.

i hope you enjoy the beginning of summer. i can't wait for months of tomatoes and sunshine!

french toast

we've been messing around with french toast for a while but last week jacob perfected the creme brulee crust from melissa clark's recipe so i wanted to share the picture and the recipe here.

1 cup packed light brown sugar

8 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and still warm

2 large eggs, well beaten

1 1/2 cups milk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

1 (10 oz) sourdough bread, sliced thinly

1. preheat the oven to 375 '. in a medium bowl, whisk together the brown sugar and butter until the sugar is completely dissolved ( i didn't combine them enough but jacob took it all the way and that's what made it truly delicious) Pour the mixture into a large rimmed baking sheet (about 11x17 inches)

2. in a pie pan or other shallow dish, combine the eggs, milk, vanilla, cinnamon and salt. coat both sides of the bread slices in the egg mixture, letting the bread soak up the custard for atleast 15 minutes, then place them on the prepared baking sheet over the brown sugar mixture. bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the tops of the bread are golden brown and the sugar is bubbling.

3. serve immediately while still hot, with the crunchy brown sugar side up, spooning more of the pan syrup over the tops.

it was delicious, especially with bacon.

chez panisse anniversary

i love how the light in my photos inside chez panisse is incredibly different from outside. they capture how i felt, all glowy and delicious and in a different world. it was wonderful to talk and eavesdrop and taste so many different and delightful flavors. we made a mission statement for this year and reminisced about the incredible nature of this last one. its been wonderful and i can't wait to see what we experience in year two.

cafe love: sightglass

i promised you in this post that i would visit sightglass for this series so when jacob and i were in the neighborhood last week we made sure to stop by. its still a new cafe, they are creating the large espresso bar in the back, which means that the entryway is where you sit, order coffee and chat with the baristas. this open area is a beautiful combination of cement and wood panelling. i can't wait till they reveal the full space, which should occur sometime in june. the coffee leaves nothing to be desired though. i've tried the chemex here in the past but jacob and i went for the v-60 pour over this time. we tried the Genesis and the Berlin. they were both crisp, and full bodied. yet i loved the Genesis. it was a darker roast and had a syurpy texture with peach notes that resonated throughout my mouth. as we sat and sipped we asked the barista about their espresso. its a blend from all over the world whose different flavor parts make it sing. we also discussed the differences in cost of those beans from last year to this. its increased dramatically, many of the beans doubling in price. i've known that prices have risen due to weather and increased demand but it was interesting to see how it directly affects this cafe. no wonder cafe prices have risen lately, something to keep in mind when you visit a cafe. the passion of sightglass is obvious and they will continue to purchase and eat most of the costs of that bean because its the best. and that's what makes sightglass and other third wave coffee houses great is that passion for coffee, coffee farmers and consumers comes first.

happy weekend!

this past week we celebrated our 1st anniversary, i'll be sharing pictures of chez panisse and us in our fancy get up next week, but i wanted to share my second favorite photo from the yashica roll this weekend. the golden gate bridge is always photogenic but i love how its set between the blue sky and turquoise water.

you must check out the blue hour, brian has just returned from italy and the photos are moving, delicious and beautiful.

we're working hard this weekend but i plan on resting on memorial day. that will probably entail curling up with a good book. i've been lax on sharing my favorite books so try and i'll catch up now: i've enjoyed MFK Fisher's serve it forth, elizabeth gilberts stern men, isabelle allende's daughter of fortune, and my most recent favorite the particular sadness of lemon cake. an exploration of the connection of taste to emotion and a girl's journey to adulthood.

i also hope to see bridesmaids. it looks hilarious!

i have some extra strawberries here so i'm going to try this recipe but i've also seen alot of rhubarb cake recipes lately and might branch out in that direction next.

jacob's been working on his new album lately and has posted a demo. this one delves into the themes of journeying on the high seas. listen and share it with your friends!

yashica revealed

i love the vastness of this photo. its my favorite on my first yashica roll. it makes me feel both like setting off for the hills and lying in the grass. thanks harpers for stopping for your crazy picture friends.

cafe love: home

so there are many things to love about brewing coffee at home. you can make it many different ways and to your own perfect taste. and its only a few feet from your bed, the best place to drink coffee. it can be confusing though and it can seem like you need alot of gadgets. but this is not true. there are many options for home brewing and many price ranges. as well as as things that are essential and non essential. i have french pressed coffee for the past few years, and love the rich, oily flavor. but since working at readers cafe i have learned more about the clean, crisp taste of pour overs. a standard grocery cone is about 5 dollars and with a regular kettle a good cup of coffee can be enjoyed. most recently though jacob bought me a chemex and i can't get enough. its sweet, complex flavor has been a wonderful breakfast staple and we are both enjoying mastering the technique. the best way, i've found to learn about new methods and gain skills, outside of becoming a barista is the brew methods website. many roasters have instructions on their websites but this puts them all in one place, and has every method under the sun. how do you like your coffee?

happy weekend!

i am looking forward to this weekend. golden gate seminary's graduation is tonight and i feel like a lot of people are transitioning like us, which makes me feel better. i also can't wait to celebrate my friends' graduate school successes. jacob and i are hoping to hit up sol food as well while we're there.

Also this weekend, i'm preparing to put some photographs up at jacob's starbucks. i'm a bit nervous about curating, printing and framing them, as well as how people will respond. if at all. but i think its a step that moves me closer to feeling like a photographer. another way i'm trying to stay on top of that aspect is updating my flickr.

in the coffee realm,

stuff like this, excites me about moving back to texas.

this recipe was as delicious as i hoped, i'm planning to spend some time in the kitchen with my heart of the artichoke birthday present. i hope your weekend is full of things and people you love.

birthday love

i heard from so many wonderful friends and family. jacob took me around the city, bought me an awesome medium format camera, the yashicha {pictures pending}, we ate bun mee in the park, watched the sunset together and dropped by delarosa.

i can't wait to see what 25 brings.

cafe love: four barrel

four barrel is a brilliant cafe for many reasons. they offer options and simplicity. not an easy balance. in the world of specialty coffee one of the hardest steps is conveying your product to the consumer. explaining why your coffee is more expensive than starbucks, why there are contraptions everywhere and what to order based on the customers taste without being snobby is not an easy mission. but with four barrels well designed cafe you can choose either simplicity and speed with a french press basic coffee or other espresso drinks. Or for those with curious taste buds you can also try one of six pour overs or single origin espressos. the slow bar barista is also excellent at explaining the brewing process and the taste sensations it will produce while preparing your cup. customers are treated to vinyl records while watching the roaster expertly perform his duties on the german probat behind the bar.

the barista at the slow bar called us over and i could not resist the ethiopia leka wato. as i sipped, cherries and lemon zest flitted over my tongue. we took our place at the bar enjoyed the creative atmosphere created by the masters at four barrel.

birthday question

thanks for your response to my birthday question. unfortunately blogger was down most of my birthday and the comments that i saw on wednesday were lost, i'm betting, naively maybe, this is why there are not more responses. but if you commented and its no longer showing up or forgot and want to answer now, you still can. the question for you to answer is where were you at 25? i've gotten some interesting and fun answers so far and can't wait to hear yours.

now for my question: what has it taken me 25 years to learn?

This year has shown me that there is value in slowing down and not always striving for the next thing. i've enjoyed reading and exploring and working without a definite end or goal in mind. prioritizing what i enjoy is acceptable and even valuable at times. in the coming year i have some goals that i would like to attain. {more on that later} but feel that i will be more able, informed and competent because of this year's experiences.

i look forward to hearing from you!