foodie fridays : love is sometimes fishy

hello, friends :) happy friday!!! my goodness...i thought this day would never come this week! it has been a busy week, but oh-so-slow...which is a kind of strange concept...but any which way, here we are and i couldn't be happier :D how are you all doing today? i hope you have had a lovely week! any fabulous weekend plans? seattle is supposed to be sunny...so i am hoping to spend most of my time outdoors!

{via being brazen}

but, tonight is chilly & meant to be spent indoors...it is date night with dan & it's a sushi kind of night :) :) :) i have a BIG love for raw, fishy goodness...i am pretty sure i could live on sushi...i have had a constant craving ever since my first go at it {many moons ago}. we have our regular neighborhood sushi spot, but tonight we are being adventurous and trying someplace new...which is always exciting {especially when it gets great yelp reviews!}

 a beautiful, tasty sushi spread

{via nyqist2000 on flikr}

 +

a little sake

{via kitka}

 + 

ice-cold, scrumptious kirin

{via five prime}

 

=

a VERY happy, happy me :)

{kind of like this adorable little piece of sushi roll here...he's just so happy, i love it!}

oh, and because i am having this sweet tooth that i can no longer ignore...

i think i'll treat myself to a little bonus dessert: green tea mochi ice cream

{via sweet journey of inspiration}

indulge a little...give into your cravings this weekend!

xoxoxo

brynn

WEDnesday : let me do you a favor

hello, loves. happy wednesday! 

how are you all, halfway through this lovely week?

my treat for you today is wedding favors...something that i never really think about for 

my own wedding. {i'm typically more of an ambience & table setting kind of a wedding gal} 

so, i thought that i would go on a little hunt to find some great ideas to thank the guests...

i sought out those that were unique & special...the ones i could tell were made with love :)

{made with love always means more affordable, too!}

p.s. the packaging makes a huge difference...

beautiful packaging is always worth the extra effort!!!

 

this couple chose to give seeds from their own garden, 

then slipped them into pretty packaging and then into a jar, 

complete with a sweet label & twine {always a favored friend for tied goods}

{check out the entire adorable wedding on ruffled}

for music lovers {like dan & me!}...

a soundtrack from the special day...

love this packaging, too!

{the knot}

 ingredients in a bag for the couple's favorite recipe...

complete with instructions & awesome buttons...

simply tasteful!

{one of my all time fave weddings via design*sponge}

having a spring soiree?

how about spring bulbs in super cool vintage tins?!

{once wed}

make your own preserves & special labels...

jar it up & wrap it up with pretty fabric & trusty ol' twine...

& you've got perfectly rustic favors {so great for a barn wedding!}

{portabellopixie}

what would you choose for your favor?

 xoxoxo

brynn

sometimes, it is just about the simple things...you know?

like jumping carelessly in a puddle...

{Imkemper}

a sweet kiss on the cheek...

{the always gentleman}

appreciating a classic...

{photo by elgarbo art, via design*sponge}

feeling nostalgic while eating homemade chocolate chip cookies...

{from me to you}

or enjoying a lovely cup of tea with the one you love...

{just be spLendid}

 

 

these are a few of the simple things that make me...

SMILE

{live, laugh & love}

what are the simple things in life that do it for you?

xoxoxo

brynn

foodie fridays : my ideal easter brunch

{adorable felt peep garland : you can do it yourself via made}

my easter brunch dream...

first, i would put together a fabulous brunch setting in a pretty color palette:

{via pinterest}

then, i would bake my own gorgeous garlic-olive loaf...

and serve it with grassy-delicious olive oil

{no knead olive bread, make it here: ravenous couple }

and opt for a more unconventional meal...

like raw oysters on the half-shell

{seduction meals}

& i would make this lovely & refreshing quinoa, grapefruit & cucumber salad...

{you can make it, too! via eating well, living thin}

...hmmm...

well, we would need something to quench our thirst...

now wouldn't we?...

perhaps a diamond gin fizz would do just the trick!

{a gin fizz made with champagne instead of club soda...

and this one is made with rosemary-infused simple syrup!}

{rosemary's pink diamond fizz via fine cooking}

then there is dessert, too...

it would definitely have to be an assortment...

because it is always so hard to pick just one!

so, how about this yummy salted butter fudge...

{make it here: ciliegina sulla torta...but you will have to translate from italian!}

and these perfectly gorgeous angelfood cupcakes...

don't they look heavenly?

{you can be an angel, too, and whip up these lovelies via the kitchn}

and perhaps some gelato in a jar, too...why not?!
{though the pictured is technically ice cream, i prefer gelato!}

{room for dessert}

then, i would put on my little easter dress...

{marc by marc jacobs "simone" striped dress via bloomingdale's}

and pack everything up...

to take to the park for a fabulous easter brunch picnic!

{plush palate}

...where i already {sneakingly} hid confetti-filled easter eggs...

for all to frolic & find & have a confetti-egg-smashing delight with!

the end.

happy friday, all! i hope you have a sweet easter weekend :) what are your plans {ideal or real}?

xoxoxo

brynn

WEDnesday : how to create a smashing outdoor soiree

hello :) how are you today? i am having a pretty productive work week & blog week so far...hooray! that is a very good week for me :)
i have to tell you, friends, wedding fever is in the air! two of my co-workers - my friends, mina & sara - have weddings coming up in the very near future... {in fact, all three of us sit in a row at the office so we are called "engagement row"} mina is getting married at the end of may & sara will get hitched in august...so exciting!!!
i have also been thinking quite a bit about my own wedding {fall 2012...still a ways off, but there is so much to be done!} because dan & i will be taking a little trip in june to finally book our venue! i think we have known all along that we wanted to have our little soiree in paso robles wine country in california...it has always been a special place for us. it didn't take long to decide exactly which vineyard would be "our spot"...many moons ago, we stayed in this loft above a great little family-owned vineyard and once we reflected back on the great times had, it was just too perfect a spot to celebrate our love with our closest family & friends! so, long story short, i am starting to get more and more excited to go back to the vineyard and book it for our event...which has also got me excited about seeking inspiration for outdoor events. so, i'll quit my blabbing and get on with some pretty pictures :)
p.s. have any of you had or have been to an outdoor wedding or event that you just thought was the bees knees? if so, please share!!! you can send me images direct to chartreuseandatwist@gmail.com...i would love to post them sometime!

 use the gorgeous architecture that surrounds you to keep your event organic...

{photograph by twin hearts photography, via project wedding}

again, using the natural architecture - 

but also use a contrast of some elements that don't come from nature...

{the sweetest occasion}

i love the idea of keeping an outdoor event comfy & casual by using mismatched chairs & such...

and i adore lots of color against the lush green backdrop!

{style me pretty}

create height & draw the eye upward...

{photograph by jose villa, wedding designed by toast of santa barbara}

{via pinterest}

create inviting, lounging spaces where guests can escape from the tables and relax...

{dwellers without decorators}

{lonny mag}

  tent it! 

i love the use of tents...

but if you are going to use one, stay away from the generic and go for interesting & unique...

like this gorgeous one that rachel follett from lovely clusters used for her 2nd wedding anniversary...

{lovely clusters}

i hope you have a gorgeous, spring-y kind of day!

xoxoxo

brynn

p.s. i am looking for engagement photos...do any of you lovelies out there have gorgeous engagement photos you would like to share? if so, please e-mail to the address mentioned above :)

tuesday, huesday : down to earth

well, hello there :) how are you on this tuesday...it is actually sunny here in seattle...i can hardly believe it! my little color treat for you today is in honor of mother earth. with earth day approaching, i decided to draw some inspiration from our earth's lovely tones {think really earthy, like from the ground!}...and i even dug up a little poem from emily dickinson {a little melancholy, but still beautiful}...enjoy!  

 

The earth has many keys,
Where melody is not
Is the unknown peninsula.
Beauty is nature's fact.

But witness for her land,
And witness for her sea,
The cricket is her utmost
Of elegy to me.

 

palette: this lovely palette from bloom caught my eye and was the color inspiration for all other photos shown

soiree: i adore this setting {found on pinterest...original source is unknown} for an outdoor event...earthy yet elegant

fashion: just an absolutely lovely photo from vogue türkiye {january 2011} of an absolutely lovely woman in an absolutely lovely gown

make-up: the naturally glowing, gorgeousness of natalie portman {vogue germany, february 2011}

mange: eat this - homemade falafel sandwich {drooling, yet?...check out the recipe on catsue.bless you.let's eat}

poem: the earth has many keys, by emily dickinson via famous poets and poems

xoxoxo
brynn

bloom{ing}

hello, loves...happy monday :) my apologies {yet again} for going on a bit of a hiatus...i should have known to forewarn all of you that due to recently crazy work conditions i would fall a bit behind on my blogging. but, here i am :) back to being inspired! how have you been? what inspires you right now?

i am feeling inspired by the earthy loveliness and vibrant colors featured in bloom {a french horticulture magazine}. though i have not seen an official magazine {each issue costs a whopping $75} they offer a quite extensive photo library of many of the gorgeous photos that are featured in the issues. you can click here to see the bloom library...i hope you it inspires you, too!

here is a little collage i stitched together of some pretty things that caught my eye {all images via bloom}...

have a lovely day!

xoxoxo

brynn

things that make me say WOW!

hello lovelies & a happy monday to you all :) i am short on posting time today so thought that i would share a few things that make me say WOW! no worries...i will be sharing my portland details very soon!

let it shine...

{inside the loop}

baubles galore...

{lasvit lighting collections}

 bike shop in germany...

{gizmodo}

national geographic built the house from "UP"...

and up it went!!!

{my modern met}

what makes you say WOW?

have a lovely day!

xoxoxo

brynn

foodie fridays: this is how i eat {right now}

{quinoa, lobster tail, spinach, homemade salsa, avocado, sour cream, cumin, oregano, key lime}

oh, hello friday...welcome back! hi, hi friends! how are today? any lovely weekend plans for you? 

i have a full plate this weekend: saturday - 90 early morning minutes of pure relaxation {facial @ the aveda institute}, followed by breakfast & a sewing class with my friend, tarah :) and then i am off to portland to watch a bodybuilding competition...

{yep, you heard me right...never thought that i would say...or write...those words, but it is indeed true}

my friend, angie, is a pretty amazing personal trainer/bodybuilder and i have never seen her in action for a competition... our friend james, dan and I are all going to support :) ...and afterward, we are going to party it up portland style {that pretty much involves AMAZING food and beverages}!!! if you could imagine, a bodybuilder has to be on a very strict eating plan before a competition {lots of chicken and broccoli from what i gather}, so angie is going to be ready to get her grub on!!! and i won't lie...i am pretty excited about it, too!

{p.s. some of you may know & others may not...there is a pretty big foodie rivalry between seattle and portland...i hate to say it, as a seattle gal and all, but i vote pdx...shhhh!}

i, on the other hand...while i have a challenging time limiting myself to chicken & broccoli {hence the non-bodybuilding body}, i have been working on eating on the somewhat cleaner side {baby steps}... dan & i are focusing on whole grains, seafood proteins & LOTS of veggies in our diet. i am a healthy eater by nature {meaning all-natural & mostly organic, whole grains, lots of fresh fruits & veggies, etc.} but being a food lover, i certainly do have my addictions...including, but not limited to...cheese, bread, wine, gelato...what can i say? 

anyways, i have been trying to capture the meals that we have been preparing because they have been so darn delicious!!! so, here you go...this is how i eat {right now}

how are you eating {right now}?

{brown rice, scallops & roasted asparagus, red onion, garlic & bell peppers, basil}

{lobster tail, egg white & spinach omelet, french green beans, grape tomatoes, shallot & curried potatoes -
okay, not really a whole grain, but it was a weekend splurge - with a dollop of greek yogurt}

{israeli couscous, lobster tail, grape tomatoes, zucchini, yellow onion, spinach & crimini mushrooms }

all of these meals were incredibly easy to prepare...just cook your grain {i usually use a vegan bouillon...rapunzel brand, specifically...to season}, sautee or roast your variety of lovely veggies, heat your protein, season & mix it all together... and poof! an instantly beautiful meal!

i must admit, though, after all this cooking, i definitely look forward to letting someone else do the work {aka: all of those fabulous portland chefs} and me purely enjoying! i will definitely report back from the portland food front upon my return! 

xoxoxo

brynn