5*31*11

More good mail...

I designed wedding invitations for my friends Christy and Peter. The sweet couple met a couple years ago at Cycle Oregon, and have been riding bikes together ever since. They're getting married this summer at a vineyard in McMinnville.

The future Mr. & Mrs. Lines wanted to incorporate a few things into their invites:

They wanted it to illustrate their love for bikes, incorporate the vineyard theme of their wedding, and be environmentally friendly.

I loved that they wanted it to just be one piece, requesting people to RSVP online. It saves paper (as well as $$$).

Designing the graphics at the top and bottom took a long time, lots and lots of tweaking to get it just right. But it sure feels good to see and feel (these are thermographed, so they have a nice texture) your work on paper.

5*28*11

I've had a bit of an obsession with cookbooks lately. And I think it's because pretty much every one of my favorite bloggers has gotten a book deal lately.

Super Natural Every Day is probably at the top of my list of wants right now. Heidi from 101 Cookbooks makes the most incredible vegetarian dishes that are healthy, practical, and delicious.

Ree of Pioneer Woman Cooks always has lots of fantastic photos (which can really help when trying to figure out a recipe), and pretty much only uses stuff you would find at your local Safeway, so I assume that her cookbook, Recipes From an Accidental Country Girl, would also be a great buy.

And she's not a blogger, but I totally want Gwyneth Paltrow's new cookbook, My Father's Daughter.

But most of the cookbooks I'm super excited about haven't come out yet.

Joy the Baker has been mentioning it.

Smitten Kitchen has one in the works.

I'll buy the book from What Katie Ate, just for the pictures.

Orangette's book sounds pretty promising as well.

Looks like I'm going to be a regular at Powell's.

5*27*11

I don't know how I got so lucky. My Little Sister loves to bake! This is something I have been wanting to do with her for a while now, but I didn't want to push my interests onto her. So I was super excited when she asked me if we could do some baking together!

We decided to make a white layer cake with a Tiffany's blue frosting with small silver balls, and a raspberry-vanilla pudding filling.

We did it all while listening to Mariah Carey and Boys II Men. Which was new music to her. :)

I got to use my new frosting tips, and she added the little balls in each frosting pocket.

Then we stuffed ourselves with all of this sugary goodness.

5*24*11

There's a lot of things I make for myself. Crepes: every few weekday mornings. I'm the only one who eats them. And I loooove them. Falafel: I know Cory doesn't like it, but I do, so tough shit, we're having it for dinner. Ha!

But occasionally I am selfless. Actually most of the time that I bake, I do it because I am hoping that it will make somebody really happy.

This weekend I made another batch of homemade pop tarts for my lover.

He's definitely deserving of it. He works hard at his 9-5 (which is often much longer than 9-5). He has been putting in lots of work on the bathroom remodel. He's been nice in the morning (and that's a real big change!) And let's not forget that he's ridiculously handsome. Duh.

So, yeah, he totally deserves some pop tarts :)

A nice element of this particular batch of pop tarts is the whole wheat flour.

But what really makes them is the apple butter given to us by Cory's uncle.

It's super delicious encased in super buttery dough.

Pop tarts. Make 'em for your lover.

Get the recipe here. And consider using some whole wheat flour (I used 1 cup whole wheat, 1 cup whte). It makes them wholesomely delicious.

5*21*11

North Carolina... part II.

I'm just going to skip to after the wedding. I didn't really take any photos the day of the wedding because I was in it, and I wanted to fully enjoy the day. When there's a professional photographer around, I think its best to just let them do their job. I'll post the wedding day photos when we get them!

Pretty much the next few days were spent enjoying this beautiful area and making the most of our vacation.

We walked out on Kure Beach's beautiful pier.

We rented beach cruisers and rode them all around the island.

One night after dinner we ended up at this fun bar. They have a giant cooler room where you pick out a beer then pay for it at the bar. It was one of the most impressive beer selections I've ever seen.

I was highly amused with their food selection too:

This is part of the bar. It was crazy and interesting and I could spend a lot of time in this place. There's just so much to look at!

The last couple days we got to spend a little time in Wilmington. Its a nice town (city?) with a gorgeous downtown area that's on the water. Perfect for a sunset stroll and some boutique shopping.

5*19*11

I just came back from a seriously awesome trip.

My honey and I went to Kure Beach, North Carolina for my best friend, Loren's wedding to her honey, Ronnie. It was fantastic. Lots of relaxation and fun, and maybe a few tears of joy. I really felt disconnected from life at home. Work, house remodel, bills... not a teeny bit of room for any of that in my thoughts during that week.

Shortly after arriving Wednesday we attended a "Pig Pickin'" at Loren's grandparent's. I don't eat pig (neither does Loren), but I was still impressed. I hear so many wonderful things about Carolina BBQ.

The next day we attended the bridal shower. It was super fun to play games and celebrate our beautiful bride-to-be.

There was also some really fantastic food there. I picked up a recipe that I'll probably post about. And check out these cupcakes! Is it any surprise that I probably gained about 10 pounds while on this trip?

We were staying in a big house on the beach with friends of the bride from Oregon, and friends of the groom from New York. What a fun mix! And within just a few days of the trip, I'd say we were all friends.

Friday was the rehearsal. Followed by the rehearsal dinner. Where I consumed some of the tastiest food I've ever put in my mouth. It was prepared by Ronnie's sister. OMG. If I hadn't been so overwhelmed by all the deliciousness, I might have thought to take some pictures of it.

To be continued...

5*14*11

I guess I should have posted about this earlier in the week, but I'm taking the week off. I'm hanging out in beautiful Kure Beach, North Carolina celebrating the wedding of one of my best and my longest friend, Loren.

I'll update next week!

5*11*11

Today, I'm wishing for...

...one of these freaking adorable Velociraptor Planter and Succulents. Etsy has the most amazing finds!

...and to be able to take a class at Summer School Portland in blogging, photography, or packaging.

...and for an Instant Comfort Pocket Box. Aren't these things so dang cute?!?

...and to someday be half the creative that this gal Joy is. I am enamored with her portfolio. And I just bought her book today, Creative, Inc. I can't wait to dive into it!

...and about 3 more hours in each day. mmmk? thanks.

5*8*11

It's been so long since I've gotten to spend some quality time with myself in the kitchen. I make salads for dinner, and crepes for breakfast, but I've been really itching for some baking time.

So, with my one day off, I decided to sleep all the way in to 7 (AM), and make banana bread. Good, old fashioned, full sugar, white flour, banana bread.

Usually I try to keep it healthy. Don't want to pack on the L-B's. But with banana bread, I just don't think it tastes the same without a liberal portion of sugar and all the gluten of white flour.

And besides... I wasn't making this for me. It's for my neighbor, who's watching the cat while we're gone next week. :)

Banana Bread

• 1/3 cup butter
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 eggs
• 3 bananas, mashed
• 1/3 cup water
• 1 2/3 cup flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon baking powder

Preheat oven to 350.

Cream the butter and sugar.

Mix in the eggs, followed by the bananas and water.

In a separate bowl, mix the dry ingredients.

Stir the dry ingredients into the wet.

Pour into a greased and floured bread pan.

For a 9" pan, bake 50-60 minutes, or for an 8" pan bake up to 1 hr 30 min.

Bread is perfecto when a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

5*4*11

I want my bathroom back.

And my living room, which is housing the new linoleum for the bathroom.

And my kitchen, which is where we now brush our teeth.

And my office, which is holding the bathroom drawers

And my bedroom which is cluttered with my robe, hair dryer and cosmetics.

I want my house back.

...my house with a super cute bathroom!

Look at my paint! I can't wait until I can show off the whole room!

5*2*11

450: Approximate number of food carts in Portland

40: Number of food carts at Willamette Week's Eat Mobile event on April 23rd

15: Price in dollars of a ticket to Eat Mobile

2: Price in dollars of a PBR at Eat Mobile

40 of Portland's finest food carts serving small samples of their fare, accompanied by PBR and Bear Flag wine? Count me in.

Bahn mi sandwich below: awesome!!!

Did I mention live music and a rad setting under the Morrison Bridge?

I ate a lot of food. I drank some beer. I devoured some ice cream.

Eat Mobile is a GOOD TIME!!!