CJ gets a garden!

I am very excited about my new garden, I couldn't wait to share!  After some tests results came back,  I was put on a very strict diet for the next 5 weeks.  I basically can't eat the following:  Soy, wheat, yeast, sugar, fruit, corn, or any kind of grain.  On top of all of that I don't eat meat.  Being that I am so limited on what I can have, I buy most of my food from the Santa Monica farmers market.  While I was there last week I picked up seven plants with which to start my garden.

 

7 plants: $24
EB Stone Organic potting soil and 7 ceramic planters: $22.51
1 very strong guy to carry bag of heavy soil: Salad with fresh herbs.
Totaling: $46.51

One week later and I'm having fun creating new flavors with my herbs.  I made a homemade marinate for eggplant and asparagus on the grill.  Details to come...

-CJ

Fancy Fridays: Bon Voyage!

 

Carli is off to Italy today and the department had a little celebration yesterday to celebrate her vacation...is that weird? In any case, Carli purchased the adorable flowy top with the fly-away back to wear on her European vaca, but was so excited she wore it a day early! We all wish Carli the absolute best time on her getaway and have given her stern orders to bring us back something nice.

• Top - Urban Outfitters
• Jeans - Forever XXI
• Sandals - LA Downtown Fashion District

I'm trying something a little different with formatting. Do we like this better? Or back to Polaroid style?

Ciao!

Flattered Beyond Belief

CJ and I have been honored with the One Lovely Blog award from Jenna over at a little blue and Kristin from Change is Necessary for Growth.

Thank you so much, girls! Part of our duties, should we choose to accept them (and we do!) is to list 7 little factoids about ourselves. I'm up first...

7 Things You'd Probably Never Need to Know about Ashley...

• America's Funniest Home Videos can break me out of any funk I'm in within seconds. I usually end up laughing so hard I'm crying and can't breathe. 
• I dream of moving to Austin, TX. I want to own a home, have a large yard with an outdoor living area, and have at least 2 kids. Basically, I strive to be Tami Taylor. This is a 180 from what I thought I'd want for my life not five years ago.
• In talking about moving, I have lived in 3 countries including the U.S. When I was a wee one, my dad was a chaplain in the military and we were stationed in Gelnhausen, Germany. I completed second grade on an army base and when we moved back I was told that I'd slip in and out of German during conversations. I also did a study abroad in Canterbury, England my second year of college. I learned TONS while there, but the most important skill by far to come from that was how to manage money.
• I am obsessed with the Olsen twins. Ashley is my favorite.
• I have to be careful with what I watch when it comes to movies and t.v. shows because I take on all the emotion of what I've just seen. For instance, Monday nights are difficult for Jeff after the drama of an episode of Gossip Girl :)
• I make it a point every day to enjoy a frozen treat before bed. My favorite is ice cream (usually coffee or chocolate), but I try to change it up with popsicles, smoothies, fudge bars and the like.
• I'm working on adopting a "Grin and Bear it" attitude, which does not come naturally and I usually react like the sky is falling when I hear bad news. This one is very much a work in progress, and I must practice everyday. 

Carli is up next!

• I grew up on a farm in a small town in Wisconsin.
• I moved to Los Angeles six years ago completely alone with no job or friends because I woke up one morning with the urge - two weeks later I was on a plane.
• I absolutely HATE exercising so I tried pole dancing for fun and for a new way to get toned. Eight months later and I am obsessed! I dance five days a week, have a better body and feeling sexier than ever!
• I absolutely adore animals, especially dogs! I cannot pass one without wanting to pet/talk to it!
• I hate wearing make-up.
• I cried when Mod Flanders died on The Simpsons.
• Whenever I introduce myself for the first time people always misunderstand me and think my name is Curly Jo.

On to our award recipients... a little blue, Change is Necessary for Growth, My Friend Staci, Katherine Elizabeth Photography, i am baker, Fat Free Vegan, 9 to 5 Chic, J's Everyday Fashion

Fancy Fridays

 

Carli has a theory that if she dresses up for Friday she'll have a good weekend. Fridays are fun, and you never know what the after work situation will be. Happy hour, anyone?

• Blazer - Heritage 1981
• T-shirt - American Eagle
• Jeans - Forever XXI (in the 14 year old section)
• Shoes - Urban Outfitters
• Sunglasses - Forever XXI

CJ Goes Thrifting...

I cannot walk into a thrift store without heading directly to the furniture section.  It's an obsession, I ALWAYS find great pieces, but alas - I have a one bedroom apartment with no yard.  I can't exactly bring home everything I fall in love with but I can take photos and share with others. 


I have a Saturday ritual that I've been doing for almost 7 months now.   I wake up - go to dance class from 10 - 12 then straight to the farmers market for what I call "last call."   Side note: Lilac season is upon us! Lastly to my favorite thrift store: Salvation Army on 11th/Olympic.  Here are some greats finds from this Saturday...

If only the drawers were bigger.  Glass knobs, Dutch chic design. Dresser: $110

If you haven't already noticed I like bright colors! Chairs: $75 each.

Great 50's dinner high top table and 3 stools.  $150 for set.

The Leather on all of the stools are torn, but I was at Joann Fabrics on Saturday and they have this leather in all sorts of colors.

Ahhh, just love the crush orange ottoman. They even had more than one! $38 each.

Does anybody else have a weekend ritual to share?

-CJ

Southwestern Flair Vs. Parisian Chic, dahling.

 

 

How bad is it to mix browns and blacks? I kind of like it, but certainly couldn't get away with it everywhere!

• Top - Levi's
• Belt and Pants - Gap
• Shoes - Calvin Klein
• Ring - BCBGeneration
• Watch - Marc by Marc Jacobs

 

 

Carli says she looks like she's "in mourning." Whatevs, she looks hot!

• Dress - H&M
• Tights - no clue!
• Boots - ideeli.com
• Earrings - Gift from Ashley
• Ring - Vintage

XoXo

 So Valentine's Day was over a week ago, but that hasn't quelled our enthusiasm for sharing how we showed love to our darling boyfriends...we made cookies!!

First up is Carli Jo's homemade sugar cookies for her guy, BK.

She used cute heart and "x's and oh's" cookie cutters.

Don't their initials go perfectly together?

 

 

Next up are my cookies for Jeff. Let me be completely up front and honest, I made these cookies...from a can. *hangs head in shame* I DID, however, make the icing from scratch, so I'll award myself two pats on the back.

 

 

 I went with white and light green icing for two reasons: my adoration of all things jadeite, and that was the only food coloring I had handy. 

You can see a hint of what Jeff gave me for Valentine's Day in the photo above. I asked very nicely for hearts and I got an apartment covered in happy red hearts. He's quite a good guy.

So that, along with a ski trip to Big Bear, is how we spent Valentine's Day! How do you celebrate February 14th? Go all out? Keep it small? Forget the day even exists?

<3 <3 <3 to all!
Ashley and Carli Jo

*The cookie and icing recipe came from i am baker, along with the striped cookie decorating idea.

Gourmet dinINg

Rainy days in LA are few and far in between.  It brings out rain boot fashion, horrible drivers, and oh-so lazy Saturday Nights!  Perfect for gourmet dining at home!  I managed to make it to the Farmers Market before the downpour, where I grabbed fresh artichokes (for this recipe I had been wanting to try, and brussel sprouts (for my Bf who loves them.)

Menu:
Artichoke Spaghetti 
Roasted brussel sprouts w/ mushrooms and onions.
Garlic Bread
Carmel Brownies w/ vanilla ice cream.

A meal in progress...

BK ready to tackle the brussel sprouts.

We steamed the artichoke for 45 mins.

Roasted brussel Sprouts.

Artichoke Spaghetti

Carmel swirled brownies.

Artichoke Spaghetti Recipe found at: http://souvlakiforthesoul.com/artichokes-with-spaghetti

What a great way to spend a rainy Saturday night in,

~CJ

Merry Belated Christmas!

As I sit here, recovering from my holiday weekend.  I have sweet thoughts of the people in my life that made my Christmas and my 2010 so memorable.  It all started on Friday night (Christmas Eve). Plans to travel south were derailed, so my boyfriend and I decided we'd take in a nice dinner in Los Feliz.  Wine was sipped, seafood devoured, and yes the best part - dessert savored.






Then it was Christmas Day -  Being away from family around the holidays has never been easy for me but this year was a little easier.  I was feeling very blessed for the friends in my life that I "spearheaded" (as Bryan calls it) the Christmas committee.  The most exciting part for me was setting the table.  Again, gotta give a shout out to my 99 cent store where I purchased majority of the items for $30!!  

Each plate had a charger, cracker, and name tag.

I got the idea while in the store to use ornaments as name tags.  Blue was chosen for Mark and JD (Bryan's roommates) who are Jewish!

The center piece was a left over charger, red and silver ornaments and a white candle.

The Food - Oh my goodness did we have a vegetarian feast.  The wonderful part was that each of us brought something to the table that represented our families and/or our culture.

Tofurkey

mmm...Mac&Cheese w/ WI sharp Cheddar!

Yams

The feast

A great time was had by all! I hope your holidays were as lovely and memorable as mine were.

With Love,
Carli Jo

XOXO

A Very LA X-mas

For the first time in 5 years, I am not going home for Christmas!! (Home being the great-cold state of WI.)  I know, its rough having to stay in warm, sunny LA in December!  Not being at my parents warm, comfy home with a blizzard outside did not stop me from being festive.  Below, you'll find a collection of photos taken at my apartment this holiday season.  Most of the items purchased are from - yes - the 99 cent store (gasp!) I found some great pieces to go along with what I already had.  You'll notice that I do not have a tree.  Don't worry...a tree did take place, just not at my place.  More on that later.
 

 

 

 

Sylar's position during the Xmas decorating session.

-Carli Jo