Hi everyone, I hope you had a fantastic weekend! We got back into London last night so I wasn’t able to prep a Marrakech roundup for this AM. There are definitely lots of photos (and insights) to share so I’ll see you back here later.

Oh and that wave? Yeah, that wasn’t for us. If it was it probably would have been followed by a request/demand for money. Lots to share with you indeed :)

Who says you need a full week or two to do something fun? We used to go to Palm Springs for our quick getaways but now we’re headed to a new oasis and I couldn’t be more excited! I won’t let the fact that the forecast calls for cloudy skies and rain dampen my spirit – I’m sure the colors, flavors, and lively market squares will keep me smiling no matter what.

Can’t wait to capture all of the details and share them with you next week. Until then have a wonderful weekend!

Here are this week’s three rad links…

• do you nerd out over design freebies? if so, these handy icons will be your godsend via SimpleSong

• my girl Meg and her non-profit Art Feeds were given an amazing gift on abc’s Extreme Home Makeover. so proud of her!

• dream big. don’t mind if i do. loved this post by Rena Tom for Poppytalk

….and because i’ve got to plug my own thangs too: i added a few new vintage goodies to the shop. enjoy!

image: colorful doors near columbia road, london

Tune Yards – Riot Riot

Joe took this photo during a past trip to La Alhambra in Spain but I’m hoping to see something like it this weekend when we visit Marrakech (!!!!!). I’m still pinching myself at the thought of it. Morocco has been a dream destination for as long as I can remember so when we booked the flights and riad I felt like doing this all over again. Can you believe that it’s only 3.5 hours away on a direct flight from London? Absolutely insane.

Have any of you been to Marrakech or heard of any good tips for visiting, dining, and shopping? One thing I know for sure is that I’m going to be on the hunt for rugs like this or with patterns and textures like this. What would be on your shopping list? Lanterns, textiles, spices, maybe even a charmed snake?

Remember the pillowcase I picked up here? Well now we’re enjoying it as a new set of napkins – just in time to complement my new cooking skills!

I love upcycled projects like this, especially when they’re as easy as one two three (cut, iron, sew – oh and of course pre-wash so make that four).

Buen provecho!

The most formal training I’d ever had in cooking was in seventh grade during my home economics class where we learned how to make pancakes and fry an egg. Something obviously didn’t stick because it took fifteen years to become interested in taking another food related course.

This past weekend I spent the day at the new lab kitchen of London Cuisine in Southwark. I found them online during the Christmas break after getting frustrated about not understanding the basics. Like, why does my oil always burn? What does all that steam mean – good or bad? I know it may sounds ridiculous to you long-time chefs but that’s where I was at. Totally clueless. While trial and error is often the best way to learn new things, I didn’t love that approach when food was involved. Getting things wrong kept resulting in a big wast of money and leaving us with a bowl of cereal for dinner. So, the way I looked at it was this one time investment in a class would save us money in the long run by giving me the confidence to cook well and more often at home … Joe can’t do it all of the time! Actually, I was perfectly fine with him doing all of the cooking but now I want in.

The class was called “Cooking For Blokes” but of course, ladies are welcome. It was a small group of five and the men who were there had been given the class as a Christmas gift.  We started at 10am and had two separate cooking sessions with detailed instructions and demonstrations before each one. It was a nice surprise to realize that we’d be making actual dishes and not simply learning to boil water! Those basics and principles were taught, however, through the preparation of each dish and open Q&A’s throughout the day. We made nine items ranging from parmesan biscotti to french potato soup but my personal favorites were the neapolitan peasant pasta, smoked mackerel and herb fishcakes, and mediterranean tabelleh. Everything was super easy to prepare and to cook but what made all of the difference was understanding the methods to achieve the best consistency, texture, and get the most flavor.

Here are some of the tips I learned…

• never put oil into a cold pan. to get the most out of your oil before it reaches its smoking point you should always heat the pan first, add any high moisture ingredients and then add your oil. otherwise you waste the oil’s lifespan and effectiveness for flavor.

• always add dry herbs last and cruch/rub in fingers before doing so to release essential oils.

• there’s no need to add oil to water when boiling pasta nor after the pasta has been drained. instead, drain the pasta and immediately run cold water over it to stop it from cooking. then place back in dry pot to keep warm.

• salt burns before fat so unsalted butter is best when cooking with it.

• flour should be high in protein for the most flavor. supermarket brands are often low on this so it’s best to compare when shopping.

• the thinner the cucumber the better because the wider they get, the more water content they have (less flavorfull)

• not one oil can/should do it all: olive oil is best for everyday cooking, virgin olive oil is best with indirect heat but should be not directly cooked with in a pan, and extra virgin olive – which has the lowest smoking point – should only be used for on-the-plate coating once ready to be served.

Did any of these surprise you? Agree or disagree? I’d love to hear from you seasoned cooks out there … I’ve got more confidence now but I know that there’s still a lot to learn!

Hi, how was your weekend?

As you can tell mine revolved around food so it was definitely a good one. Things kicked off with a full-day introductory cooking class where I learned practical principles of cooking and created simple yet impressive dishes. I’ll share details in a separate post but for now let’s just say that I’ve got a brand new sense of confidence to get my hands dirty in the kitchen! It’s a good thing because earlier that morning I wandered into Borough Market just as vendors had finished setting up. Everything from cheeses, meats, produce, to spices looked incredible and only served as further motivation to get creative with my homemade meals.

Lately I’ve been surprising myself every time we clean out the fridge and have to make another grocery run.  My once chore-like mentality has turned into excitement to shop for fresh items and try new ingredients and luckily for us, one of our fave neighborhoods, Marylebone, holds a great little farmer’s market on Sundays where we can do just that. It’s amazing how much more enjoyable a farmer’s market can be when you see possibilities instead of road blocks. Can’t help but think of all of the great meals I missed out on when I lived in LA and only bought fruit and fresh-baked cookies from my local ones! Oh well, better late than never, right?

I’ve spotted these tiles around our neighborhood and I’m on the hunt for more. There’s just gotta be more!

Here’s to a weekend of discovery and taking note of the interesting things around us. Enjoy!

This week’s three rad links…
• the art of making bread by Kinfolk. so beautiful and simple via EcoSalon
• okay, jennifer of I ART U has officially convinced me to book with Airbnb. check out that space!
• i love the way sharon designs her yummy instagram photos – that girl can sure cook (and sketch)

With Joe being gone most of the week on business, I’m thinking he may want to take some time this weekend to hang out at one of our favorite pubs. I’ve really come to love their no-frills, come as you are ambiance/attitude and in some cases, their excellent playlists. Give me a song from one of my favorite albums, pair it with a good drink and you’ve got yourself one happy girl.

Sometimes I love my flea markets big but other times small ones do just the trick. When I first learned of the Clocktower Market in Greenwich I was ecstatic to have yet another reason to head East and spend time there. Greenwich has such a charming village feel and this small but quality flea market on its High Street only adds to the area’s appeal.

Not all of the stalls were filled but the vendors who were there were friendly and helpful. I always find it interesting to overhear them chatting amongst each other about how “things aren’t how they used to be” and how slow business is these days. It’s literally the same conversation at every flea market and antique fair that I got to. I wonder how much of it is true or if they’re just trying to indirectly guilt me into buying something. Either way, I appreciate them and all of the vintage treasures they share with us day in and day out. The goods for sale were varied though I did notice that winter coats and fur hats were a major deal for obvious reasons. I, of course, ended up buying a black sequin blazer for twenty quid (that’s “bucks” talk in UK English) regardless of actually needing a winter coat! What can I say, it made me feel like a disco diva and that feeling is hard to resist.

Though tempted by a pair of suitcases (DIY side table?) we left with just my blazer and a funky piece for the shop. The market was perfectly manageable and non-exhaustive which is definitely key considering that just around the corner you’ve got Greenwich Market, Greenwich Park, the Royal Maritime Museum, and the Observatory. Lots of fun to be had!

Alright, so yesterday was a bit of a pity party (thanks for all of your sweet comments!) but really, spirits are still very high. Especially since I’ve recently gotten back into running.

My love affair with running began in high school when I joined the track team to get out of P.E. class. I gave hurdles a chance but didn’t have the necessary speed to jump and then keep on moving. What I did have was stamina so long-distance running ultimately became my sport of choice and I loved it. I loved how it pushed me, kept me outdoors and had an ever-changing scenery. I learned to keep going, keep my head up, and just get through it because the end goal was always there and I would eventually reach it. I never felt better then I did after a five mile run, even if I simultaneously wanted to throw up from exhaustion.

I didn’t run much in college as I was too pre-occupied with with full-time class schedules, full-time work, and part-time parties. My first job out of college was in Santa Monica and for a good while I’d rush to get out of work so that I could run along the beach during sunset. It was incredible and the clarity it provided me was absolutely necessary at the time. Unfortunately, the last several years were plagued with inconsistent spurts of  ”god, I just need to get out and run!” and “ugh, do I really need to change and go outside?”

Now we live in London, literally two blocks from a great park in one direction and a beautiful canal in the other. I have no excuses other than the weather getting colder but even that’s nothing an investment in good gear can’t dispel. Keeping that in mind I’ve been running at least every other day since Christmas and I’m dedicated to making the routine stick. It feels too good to let it slide – physically, mentally, and spiritually. My high-school self was definitely onto something.

photo taken at Endsleigh