bright colors + a new favorite blog called 'this time tomorrow'

via this time tomorrow

ricotta, mascarpone, and berry tart - can it get any better ?!

it has been such a long time since I've posted about DESSERT! so here it is:

 

this just looks incredibly delicious, and combines three of my favorite things: fresh berries, mascarpone, and ricotta!

via foodgawker.com

men in leather, a glittering ball gown, translucent cake stands, HOT magenta, colorful and musical clutches, and turquoise socks

more pretty pictures...

pretty + COLORblocking images

Shave Ice at Matsumoto's, Hawaii

There's nothing like enjoying a local dessert! On our trip to Hawaii, we all got to sample "shave ice". I decided to order mine with all the extras, including: red beans/paste, vanilla ice cream, shaved ice flavored with coconut, lilikoi, and mango, and condensed milk. Such unique flavors and SO delicious!

vintage gems inside the beachhouse closet, Honolulu, Hawaii

 

When transporting paintings from upstairs into the house's storage closet, we stumbled upon these exquisite dresses dating from the 1930s and 1980s (?) that belonged to my friend's great grandmother and grandmother. I was basically in vintage heaven when I walked through that closet door!

beautifully deconstructed beach house, Honolulu, Hawaii

the view!

 the beautiful chandelier and faceted mirrors!

 the lovely seating area!

 wardrobe and equipment - polished and rugged

 the gorgeous headboard and lamp

Last week I had the pleasure of visiting friends in Hawaii, and staying at a friend's grandmother's house right on the ocean. While it was somewhat of a construction zone, the rooms, furnishings, and balconies were absolutely gorgeous just as they were!

making Krempita with Teta and Baba!

 

{creme 'custard' filling}

Krempita is a traditional Eastern European dessert that shows up at many Serbian gatherings. My Teta (aunt), Baba (grandma) and I decided to make this delicious dessert for my dad's birthday dinner! While it looks very complicated (puff pastry? 'custard'?), it is one of the simplest recipes I have come across. The creme filling consists of whipping cream, two packets of Vanilla Jell-O, milk, 'Whip It' whipped cream stabilizer (so it doesn't leak into the pastry/stays voluminous longer), and a touch of vanilla extract. My Teta stands by the fact that this custard substitute actually tastes better than actual custard! The puff pastry can be purchased at a grocery store or pastry specialty shop, while the chocolate drizzle consists of semisweet chocolate chips, milk, and butter melted in a stove pan and flicked onto the pastry with your fingers (who would have thought?). 

 {thick layer of creme filling...mmm!}

 {the finished product!}

My favorite part was decorating the plates with family member's names, using the chocolate ganache we made!

anthropologie box!

 

This summer I am applying for a visual display internship at Anthropologie (!), and one of the interview components involved creating a box (shoebox) that embodies characteristics of the store. I decided to focus on two dichotomies: urban vs. rural  and modern vs. vintage...so here's what I 'auditioned' with! 

 

{vintage frame and colorful pleated paper flowers}

 {glamorous clip on earrings from the 80s and cityscape}

{view from the outside}