A taste of New England on the last day of March!

Feels like we went back in time to February, so to keep warm we made a cozy dish of Boiled New England Corned Beef. It was our first attempt at this stew like supper, and it was delish! 

We boiled the corned beef in water with spices and a bay leaf for 2 hrs. Then added carrots, potato, onion, and parsnips. Boiled for 20 more minutes and then added cabbage until tender. Serve with spicy mustard or horseradish. 

These albino looking carrots are PARSNIPS! Very flavorful.

Check out this parsnip bisque we're thinking of making...

http://www.kosherbydesignblog.com/parsnip-bisque/

The flavors make a wonderful broth, but beware of the cabbage smell it will leave in your fridge-still worth it!

Cherry Blossoms, hooray!

The long awaited trip to see the cherry blossoms at the tidal basin in DC became a reality today! And, when I say long I mean since 2007, when Mike and I began dating. Well worth the wait!
Even on a cold and dreary day the cherry blossoms were picturesque, have a look for yourself... 

quack quack

We visited Albert on the way...

Some Cherry Blossom inspiration, enjoy!

http://www.pepperdesignblog.com/

http://marieburgosdesign.com/manoblueblog

So lovely.

http://www.thecakeparlour.com/cupcakes/

Too bad they aren't local, BUT here's a place that is...

image: CRUMBS, Rebecca Kim

According to Northern Virginia Magazine:
Crumbs’ Cherry Blossom Cupcake
Monday, March 28th, 2011


It is that time of year again, the beautiful cherry blossoms are about to bloom in D.C. (now-April 10). CRUMBS Bake Shop (newly opened in Arlington) is celebrating the cherry blossom festival with a charming cherry blossom cupcake for $3.75. The cupcake is a fluffy vanilla cake with cherry preserves, frosted with decadent vanilla cherry cream cheese and topped with a classic cherry. From now until April 10, CRUMBS will donate 15% of sale proceeds from the cherry blossom cupcake to the Red Cross towards the Japan Earthquake and Pacific Tsunami Fund.

The cherry blossom cupcakes are available at the CRUMBS shop in Clarendon as well as at the D.C. locations.

2839 Clarendon Blvd
Market Common
Arlington, VA 22201
703.524.4001
40 Massachusetts Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20002
202.408.1001
604 11th Street NW (F Street)
Washington, DC 20001
202.737.4001

wall decals-cherry blossoms (dual colour) by blank canvas designs

Favorite chair at Crate & Barrel- no longer in stock! Oh no.

Help Japan Relief Donation. Gently Falling Blossoms. A Silver Asymmetric Flower Necklace

http://www.etsy.com/listing/58275730/help-japan-relief-donation-gently?ref=sr_list_30&ga_search_query=cherry+blossom&ga_noautofacet=1&ga_search_type=handmade&ga_facet=handmade%2Fjewelry

cocky before caulking

We are approaching the final stages of our upstairs bathroom make-over, and today I decided to caulk the sink and bath area. How have I escaped caulking the last 28 years? It seemed like an easy, mundane task... no more measuring, leveling, mounting, just good-old caulking- how long could that take? Twenty frustrating minutes and 6 goopy rags later I realized the only adequate tools to get the job done right were my bare hands. Umm yuck.

Score:

Caulk 1   

Michelle 0

I battled the goop (for way too long,) and what did I learn? Take your rings off first, and avoid caulking for 28 more years! 

Also, I'm wondering if caulk and toothpaste are the same ingredients just bottled and labeled differently? I hope caulk washes out of clothes, toothpaste does :)

I thought I was finished, the caulk thought otherwise.

Final Score:

Caulk 2

Michelle 0

the girl with the pearl plant?

I was visiting my Cupcake (aka Jen) the other day, when I became mesmerized by this String of Pearls plant she has hanging from the ceiling. There's even a little birdie peeking out.
Oh, how I love pearls. I think the only kind I can afford are green and require frequent watering... 

Inspired by the string of pearls plant? 

Green glass garland with endless possibilities... 

no watering required.

love is in the air

Our weekend started off on a sweet note, much to our surprise we were featured in a Charlottesville, Virginia wedding blog. 

happy happy joy joy.

http://www.charlottesvilleweddingblog.com/2011/03/real-wedding-michelle-michael-by-cramer-photo/

best day ever.

Then we were off to dinner at my cousin Dave and his girlfriend Lindsay's new place, I mean awesome penthouse in Clarendon! They served a delicious main course of steak, risotto (with truffle oil) and asparagus- Magnifique! We brought along cupcakes, can't go wrong with cupcakes. It was a splendid night out.

This morning we got a call from my mom, who shared the exciting news that my cousin had proposed over the weekend, WAHOO! My lucky cupcakes worked (just kidding,) Cheers you two! 

Or maybe it was my perfectly executed bouquet toss...

See that confident look in my eyes- never fails! Bullseye, every time. Welcome to the family Lindsay!!!

Babysteps

We've been working hard on the house! Here's some front yard photos of the progress we're making...(notice Michael straddling the railing tehe.) 

Our bedroom window had a hanger dangling from the outside, maybe someone used it to hang Christmas lights? Regardless, it's been bugging me since the day we moved in. Oh, and the hideous tape around our window, I mean, really??

BEFORE

Before (Sanded railing)

Remember that bird's nest?!

 Progress has been made!

freshly painted lamp post, railing, sealed stoop, new step stones, and no more hanger or tape!

Front stoop is sealed/painted and ready for phase 2

New walkway, we still need more step stones, and garden bed stones... coming soon

Revived lamp post!

Still working on getting a flame in there. 

We were excited that we could use the original fixture-

the eagle has landed, haha

Side Yard:

More yucky brown railing-not for long

Priming!

Magnolia or Dogwood? Hmm 

We love the detail on the railing

It's coming along

Fin. 

Although we need to work on fixing those bricks-another day!

Bonus!

Found this in our shed when we moved in...so charming (and it now matches our railing, wahoo!)

We have A LOT more work to do so STAY POSTED

Color My World

Last night I went to a "color my world" workshop at local florist, Helen Olivia. I've been attending workshops there since the beginning of the year and I'm LOVING it! Every workshop is fun, interesting, and the best perk (drum roll,) is that I bring home fresh flowers for us to enjoy! Michael gets a kick out of how much fun I'm having with these floral adventures... 

It's addictive. 

complementary color scheme

monochromatic color scheme

Let me know if you need an arrangement!

Here's a link to Helen Olivia's workshop schedule. PS their shop is located a block from our favorite sushi spot Momo, just another excuse to swing by :)

http://helenolivia.blogspot.com/p/2011-flower-class-schedule.html

Miche's Quiches

A couple years ago I went through a quiche phase. I love eggs, so when I started exploring the idea of eggs in a pie crust I was in heaven, and thus became Miche's Quiches... So many delicious combinations, and you can serve it any time of day. Today's quiche called for baby bella mushrooms, leeks, gruyere, and ham. Yum. 

If you can't tell, my fancy-pants pie dish didn't work out as planned... but everything tasted delish! 

Other Favorite Quiche Combos: 

1. sweet potato, rosemary, bacon.

2. spinach, caramelized red onion, sharp cheddar.

3. smoked salmon, fresh dill, cream cheese.

4. feta, olives, basil.

5. sausage, green pepper, parmesan.

don't worry bee happy!

We heart bees and honey. Here's what the Faber's are buzzing about...

me & mr. bee

Gunter's local honey

great on toast with PB, try it.

love this bedding at Pottery Barn, so country chic.

organic & romantic

stamp it ($2.30)

http://www.etsy.com/listing/62175806/bee-rubber-stamp?ref=sr_gallery_9&ga_search_query=bee+stamp&ga_page=2&ga_search_type=handmade&ga_facet=handmade

wear it ($26)

http://www.etsy.com/listing/64001407/sweet-honeycomb-and-bee-necklace?ref=sr_gallery_35&ga_search_query=bee+necklace&ga_spelling_accepted=bee+neclace&ga_page=3&ga_search_type=handmade&ga_facet=handmade

how could I not include this 1992 flashback, enjoy.