{happy friday!}

Have a lovely weekend everyone, I'm going to enjoy the first bit of sunshine we've had in a long time...xo, amber  image:calico courtney brook via lovely clusters

{SPILL it!} petunia face

The lovely Susannah of Petunia Face has spilled her purse for all of us today, but don't worry, peeking in is encouraged! Here's what she can't live without:
papier poudres (carried somewhere on my person since I was 16)

hair stick thingie (may at times be substituted with black rubber band)

leather hippie wallet (bought at not-so-hippie Anthro for a very un-hippie price)

Clean Well all-natural hand sanitizer (the only one I've found that doesn't smell like an alcoholic ass)

glittery compact

moleskin for emergencies of the fashion-victim kind

evidence of my search for the perfect pink/reddish moisturizing lip stuff: rose salve, fresh sugar rose, propoline, (not pictured: 4 others in hidden pocket). But, really, who am I kidding? I always seem to fall back on good ol' cherry chapstick.

cherry throat lozenges mixed with quarters, sand and inexplicably some pesos (because apparently you never know when you might wake up on a Mexican beach with a sore throat and an overdue parking meter)

strange rotating array of kid crap. Pictured today: rubber rat, bird-shaped Rescue Pet, Eloise's Guide to Life: How to Eat, Dress, Travel, Behave & Stay Six Forever!
Thanks, Susannah, but seriously, where are the tampons & snotty tissues?? xoxo

winter {happy place}

I don't know about you, but a trip to this gorgeous Australian shop would definitely ease the winter blues. via inside the loop

{SPILL it!}

You know how us bloggers are...we love to peek into eachother's stuff. I'm starting a new posting series called "SPILL it!" - each Thursday one of my favorite bloggers will spill their purse open and tell us what they can't live without. A bit too voyeuristic, you're thinking? Maybe, but you want to peek, right? So, this is my spill, it's rather light since I'm usually hauling a diaper bag around these days. Can't live without: my Hobo wallet, Her Glossiness lipgloss, black hair bands, and my favorite silver ballpoint pen. Come back each Thursday for the next big SPILL!

word.

I'm blogging over at Design Crush today in Kelly's "Word." series. It was so much fun, she sent me a picture to write about - no rules - just writing. Fun stuff. xo image via fffound/rednails

hearty soup goodness

I made this super flavorful, hearty tortilla soup last night, and it just so happens to be gluten free (bonus!). I cheated a bit and bought a roast chicken to shred, topped it off with avocado, cilantro, jack cheese and baked corn tortilla strips. Oh my, was it tasty - my husband had thirds.

{happy friday!}

It's been raining for 5 days straight, these flowers remind me that Spring will be here in no time at all...happy weekend, my friends! xo, amber  image:ceciliaivy via flickr

kale chips {freakishly good}

Is it possible to OD on kale? I won't dork out on you, waxing on about how I've been eating my weight in healthy greens, but seriously these kale chips are insane. A little salt, lemon & olive oil, 20 minutes in the oven (weird, I know), and there you have it. I make a fresh batch daily and finish every salty green crumb. Still need convincing? read even more about them here, here & here.

{w.o.w}

Omg. Did you see this dress??? I didn't think it was possible to make a dress of such pure perfection, but here it is, and beyond stunning on Halle. My jaw is still dropped since watching the Globes last night.

{bedtime} mix+match

I've always had a thing for all-white beds, so clean and fresh, ready for uninterrupted dreams. Maybe I'm evolving, but now I want pattern and color, and lots of it! I'm drawn to the mix + match Indian prints by Kerry Cassill and the to-die-for Indian block prints from John Robshaw. The best thing about these prints? They all really do look good together, and of course they make one cozy bed.

mmmmm.

Last night, over dinner, a friend mentioned how he used to have a bread machine and would wake up to the heavenly scent of freshly baked bread. Sounds like pure gluten goodness. Last fall, a friend brought over a gorgeous just-out-of-the-oven bread on a chunky wood cutting board to our potluck - I still think about the simple/rustic presentation - perfection! I've never baked a bread, but I think it's about time I tried. Gluten free update: yes, I fell off the wagon, but I'm back on. Quinoa, here I come!

casitas, bungalows, villas...

Usually around this time of year we escape the frigid temps, pack up the family and head somewhere tropical. We didn't get to planning anything this year, so instead I've been dreaming of secluded beach front casitas, sandy yoga studios and fresh fish tacos. Close your eyes...can't you just feel it??

cookware {a collection in the making}

One thing that became clear this holiday season was my lack of just-the-right-size cookware, it seemed each one was either too small or shallow. Le Creuset seems to be the ultimate in cookware, the big daddy of dutch ovens and by far the best color options around. I'd like to start my own collection, maybe a piece a year (they're pricey, but worth it). The big question is whether to stick with one color or mix it up? Love the caribbean blue and the new casis!