Recipes from the Room :: Coffee Rubbed Rib Steaks

This lovely room with it's neutral palette is really brought to life with it's green accents and it's warm anchors of vintage wood.

The first thing that came to my mind was something homey and straightforward. Cue the Coffee Rubbed Rib Steaks served with a fresh green salad.

[Helen Norman photo via Desire to Inspire, recipe via House Beautiful]

Sports anyone?

I have attempted learning to golf more than once and as soon as it hits the triple digits around here I duck and cover. Get this girl to the clubhouse stat! But seriously how cute are these shoes? Makes me want to give it a whirl just one more time.

Is it wrong to want to golf just because they have good accessories?

Retro Blue - Summer Playdate

I'm ready to get in the car

and go play.

[images via vi.sualize]

Wanna Win Something?

It's your lucky day, we (me and Cosmeceuticals) are offering one winner a Perricone MD Advanced Face Firming Activator. It's Perricone MD's best selling product, it refines your skin's texture so your skin is fresh and glowy. What's more to like?

To win this fabulous prize we need to talk beauty. Please leave a comment with your email (a must), why you think this product would help your skin or what you didn't like about another facial product that you have used. I will choose a winner on Thursday, July 16th. This contest is open to readers in the US.

If you complete this Skin Quiz Perricone MD will provide you with a discount (up to $100) if you purchase the recommended products. Just a little thank you if you decide to buy.

Perfect dinner

My husband and I often eat salads for dinner, they're easy and delicious. Our guilty pleasure is feeding the kids first and then eating all by ourselves with a grown up drink and grown up conversation. This Grilled Chicken Summer Salad looks perfect for our dinner dates.

Lots of yummy fresh summer flavors with a chilled glass of wine.

[recipe via Epicurious]

I wasn't invited

Remember this post when I was practically begging Ken Fulk to invite me over for a BBQ and a swim?

image via House Beautiful

Looks to me like he went had a party without me.

This morning I saw this party on Snippet & Ink and knew immediately that it was one of my favorite homes. I wonder if this was a favor for family or a friend or does he rent out his gorgeous ranch for parties? A little detective work might be in order.

My day

Today the morning was spent at the park and the afternoon in the kitchen. So far it's been a pretty wonderful day.

I kinda wish this were my kitchen, I love the fresh green and the banquette.

We tried Jaimee Rose's Zucchini Bread recipe and we even made the Cinnamon-Vanilla Honey Butter to go with it. The bread is still in the oven and well the butter...it's to die. Not to mention I'm getting pretty excited because the electrician is coming over tomorrow to install my new lights. Yay! I don't know about you but when I get new things done to my house it puts me in a good mood for at least 2 weeks. So if you happen to run into me in the next couple of weeks I'm pretty sure I'll be smiling.

[image from The Estate of Things via My Life-My Loves]

What my kids are doing

Thankfully they're busy playing Hullabaloo. Yesterday we went to a playdate and they had this game, it was such a hit we stopped by Tarjay on the way home and picked one up.Big (5) and Little (3) can both play and they can do it themselves (even better). It's like a cross between Twister and Simon Says and has an easy and an easier setting. If you're littles are bored and need something fun I highly suggest it!

City girl

I'm so not the outdoorsy type but I kinda want to be with a tent like this.

[via Country Living]

Personal Style, Defined.

The lovely Paloma from La Dolce Vita asked me to be part of her Personal Style, Defined series and lucky me I got to share today.

Check it out here.

Get your 4th on

We've decided to have a little fireworks watching party with family for the 4th, you can see them from our back yard. Since we have been on vacation I haven't had much time to think about it but today thanks to Etsy I've found what I needed. In comes Paper and Cake.

Easy as pie PDF's to print up some holiday cuteness, all I have to do is the printing and assembly.

Looks like I know what I'm going to be doing tonight.

Soliciting

It's almost July and we're hot and bored at my house and I'm in need of some new tunes and eye candy so please comment with the following:

Labeled by Alicia Bock

1) New music, my ipod is feeling very neglected so any good artists or songs that you love please send them my way.

2) I'm dying to do some Etsy shopping and it sure is a pain to sift through it all. So dish all of your favorite Etsy shops.

Please don't be stingy with the comments ok? I'm needing some inspiration. Thanks in advance.

Lemon Blueberry

Ever since I came home I've been plotting on how to make time to head to Sprinkles for their seasonal Lemon Blueberry Cupcakes. They're gone after July 3rd and I must have one. How pathetic am I??

[image via Sprinkles]

Carats please

I'm home. Waaah. Lots of laundry is waiting for me and it's hot, like Hades hot. So I think in lieu of doing laundry I'm going to eat some popsicles and pretend I'm back in the dreamy weather we had in San Diego.Although I think a ring pop popsicle would be much more fun than the usual don't you think? And then I could make my own...something yummy like mango. Mmmm.

[image via Country Living]

What up?

Good afternoon lovelies. I'm enjoying my first day at the beach. Well the little bit I had so far. My beach babies are worn out so I get a minute to myself. Yesterday I had a quick trip home to meet my darling new nephew that joined the family. My brother's first son Baby B was born yesterday so I flew home and came back last night. We celebrated with champagne and a chocolate birthday cake it was the perfect (but so busy) day. How was your weekend?

[image from flickr via Mary Ruffle]

Beach bound

Busy girl here, tomorrow I'm headed to San Diego for my annual beach trip. Getting the kids packed and house ready for the house sitter all the while making sure I don't go crazy is a pretty tall order.

Hopefully tomorrow I'll be in some enjoying some cool weather and a cold beverage! Any big plans for you this weekend?

[image via vi.sualize]

Get Back

When I feel like looking at eye candy I hit the web and check out Get Back. I often find myself fantasizing about browsing (and buying of course) their delicious vintage furniture.

Doesn't this place just shoot you that come hither look?

Love the table, love the file, love the light...but I really have a thing for the metal cabinet.

Seriously, I die.

Nighty night

Ugh, I'm tired. Coffee is in the works, I'm waiting, waiting, waiting. Hurry up coffee! What I would really like to do is crawl back into bed, especially if it was this one.

Am I the only one who can't go back to sleep if it's light outside? It's like some odd internal clock I have that I wish I could turn off.

[image via House to Home]

I'm over here

Today the darling Sarah from La Jeune Marie asked me to guest blog while she and her husband are on vacay. I was flattered that she would ask me and decided to share what makes my summer.

What makes yours?

[last days of summer by alicia bock]

Dreaming of...

While my day has consisted of a lot of driving and teaching at present you can find me dreaming of a rooftop garden in Paris.

I would have a good book (naturally) and a coffee too.

[image via Marie Claire Maison]