Farmhouse Style: California Beach Cottage by Giannetti Home

beach house

Farmhouse Style: California Beach Cottage by Giannetti Home

February 02, 2017

California beach cottage in Santa Monica by Giannetti Home

Thank you so much to all of you who

contacted me and are praying for my

parents in Arizona...I can't tell you

what it means to us as this health journey

continues and we live with uncertainty,

pain, and great love.

No matter your faith or lack thereof,

I welcome your prayers to cover us because

this is an especially tough chapter.

Today, I went with my mom for tests

then out to lunch and shopping, where

two angels showed up in a store

offering support,

hugs, and spiritual maturity.

This seems to happen daily

and reminds us love is alive in realms

within realms we cannot see.

How grateful we are for perfect strangers

so kind and full of goodness and mercy.

It's who I want to be.

I think of you right now as I type.

I think of the battles you are facing,

and my heart swells with compassion.

May grace find you this moment.

May light pierce your present darkness.

May you see that all manner of things will be well.

In Chicagoland, just before I left for Arizona

Since we have been touring several

of Steve and Brooke Giannetti's projects

lately, I thought it would be fun to return

to their beautiful Santa Monica beach cottage

(16th St.) so many of us fell in love with years ago.

They designed their family home

to recall the California

Beach Cottages in the neighborhood,

noting,

"It combines traditional detailing

with a modern sense of space and light."

Construction - Hawkeye Construction

Interiors - Giannetti Home

Gardens - Giannetti Home

California beach cottage in Santa Monica by Giannetti Home

Charming Exterior of California beach cottage with rosebushes in Santa Monica by Giannetti Home

California beach cottage in Santa Monica by Giannetti Home

Don't miss these incredible stories about
more work from the Giannettis here:

Lessons Learned from Patina Farm

Traditional Modern Farmhouse

Malibu Farmhouse Makeover

My Interview with Steve and Brook Giannetti

Do leave a comment if only
to let me know how life is
treating you these days,
I read every one and love to connect.

Peace to you right where you are.

Hello Lovely Studio Michel pointe shoes ballet slippers denim

blueberry muffin recipe

Valentines Day Recipes & Gift Idea for Valentine's Day

February 01, 2017

Vanilla cake: romantic recipes for valentine's day on hello lovely studio

1.
Vanilla Cake for Two

It is one-something in the wee hours of the morning,

and my little tummy is growling as I consider

these mouthwatering recipes to make for

Valentine's Day, Love Day, which is

to say, everyday you find your

heart beating on the big

blueberry earth.

I know I sound like a broken record
lately...but here I go again.
My heart is very tender at the moment.
I'm in Arizona visiting my parents,
both of whom are fighting serious
battles with their health and facing
surgeries and unlovely treatment.
But you would never know it, guys.
They live with true joy,
and they love with such great love
that all who are lucky to cross paths
with them, leave unchanged.

My mom's ongoing fight with cancer
keeps taking twists and turns that offer
new opportunities for transformation.
Not just for her, but for us.
I'm amazed at how she is
surviving the fires which refine her,
and as I keep telling her,
oh, mama, sometimes when you
lose, you win!

I wish the love burning in my heart
could somehow be directed like a
laser beam...to Washington D.C.,
to Syria, to hurting hearts everywhere.
Because love is stronger than death.
Than hate.
Than a political agenda.
Than racism.
Than sexism.
Than cynicism.

*I'm beaming it to you, right where you are.*

So many yummy dishes to make here,

and I would love to hear which one

sounds like a winner to your palate.

I have my eye on the red snapper that follows,

but I'm also thinking about trying to make

a pizza pot pie after seeing an image of one from

the Chicago Pizza and Oven Grinder Co.

The restaurant is one I have walked past many times,

just across the way from the site of the Saint

Valentine's Day Massacre, on North Clark Street.

Although Chicago is known for its delicious deep dish,

this place serves a pizza pot pie which is sort of an upside

down pizza, made in ovenproof bowls.

Image result for chicago pizza and oven grinder pot pie

2.
Pizza Pot pie

The pizza pot pies are flipped over by the waiter

at your table, and this is just the sort of drama

that could be fun around loveday, doncha think?

Speaking of Cupid, love, and Chicago,

on Feb. 11th, hundreds of Chicagoites
will brave the cold in just their underwear
to raise awareness and fund the research
of neurofibromatosis (NF).

Image result for cupids undie run chicago

Image result for cupids undie run chicago

The world's largest organized undie run,
Cupid's Undie Run, is a valentines themed,
1 mile fun run + a massive party, and
I can't think of a better reason to
skip the pants on a chilly February day.

Full details on the Chicago event are here.

On with the romantic recipes for Valentine's Day!

Red snapper: romantic recipes for valentine's day on hello lovely studio

3.
Red Snapper Veracruz

Arctic char: romantic recipes for valentine's day on hello lovely studio

4.
Arctic Char

Magic cookie bars: romantic recipes for valentine's day on hello lovely studio

5.
Magic Cookie Bars

Winter sangria: romantic recipes for valentine's day on hello lovely studio

6.
Winter Sangria

Chicken Aldredo Dip: romantic recipes for valentine's day on hello lovely studio

7.
Chicken Alfredo Dip

Ina Garten's Pot Pie: romantic recipes for valentine's day on hello lovely studio

8.
Ina Garten's Pot Pie

Cherry Tomato Frittata: romantic recipes for valentine's day on hello lovely studio

9.
Cherry Tomato Frittata

Funfetti Cake: romantic recipes for valentine's day on hello lovely studio

10.
Funfetti Cake

Lentils with Kale: romantic recipes for valentine's day on hello lovely studio

11.
Lentils with Mushrooms and Kale

Oh my lord, Cannellevanille served it with this
on the side:

Antipasta: romantic recipes for valentine's day on hello lovely studio

CannelleVanille

Cioppino: romantic recipes for valentine's day on hello lovely studio

12.
Cioppino

Spicy Carbonara Spaghetti: romantic recipes for valentine's day on hello lovely studio

13.
Spicy Carbonara Spaghetti

Filet Mignon: romantic recipes for valentine's day on hello lovely studio

14.
Filet Mignon

Cake Truffles: romantic recipes for valentine's day on hello lovely studio

15.
Cake Truffles

Blueberry muffins in bright yellow bowl by Hello Lovely Studio

16.
My Blueberry Muffins - Hello Lovely Studio

Can blueberry muffins be romantic for

Valentine's Day?

Of course, they can...simply

follow my recipe and feel free to

ADD EXTRA LOVE.

I made these just for you this morning.

A red bowl and spatula will also

add romance...true!

Boo. I had no paper muffin cups for them...and yet we survived.

Hello Lovely Blueberry Muffins

INGREDIENTS
LOVE
3 ½ cups sifted all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons baking powder
¾ cup sugar
Pinch salt
5 eggs, slightly beaten
½ cup milk
1/2 cup sour cream
5 ounces butter, melted and cooled
4 or 5 cups blueberries, fresh
Sugar for topping

1. Heat oven to 400 degrees.

2. Mix all dry ingredients together. Stir in eggs,
milk and butter; do not overmix.
Carefully stir in berries and the LOVE.

3. Grease the top of large muffin tins.
Insert paper cups and spoon batter to the top
of the paper cups.

4. Sprinkle with sugar generously (I'm not gonna lie...I bury these babies with sugar, mama, and you should probably not be so generous, but if you decide to be, I do salute you, kittycats.)

Place muffin tins on middle shelf of oven.
Bake about 25 minutes, until muffins are golden brown.
Remove from muffin tins and cool.

Blueberry muffins in bright yellow bowl on farmhouse table Hello Lovely Studio

Everything tastes better in a yellow polka-dot bowl

And now for the gift idea!

This one's perfect for getting and giving

to everyone, from girls to grandpas.

Recently is a mobile-to-magazine app and

turns your camera roll into a collection-worthy

magazine...yes, m'am, a real hard copy, lovely

paper magazine printed on archival Mohawk paper.

Who doesn't love the idea of their own

beautiful magazine with photography

of loved ones, assorted passions,

and joyful memorable occasions? It's genius.

With a single tap, this app curates and designs

your magazine, but leaves lots of room for

your preferences.

I'm so grateful Recently gifted me with a

subscription, and I can hardly wait to

get publishing.

Your turn.
Which recipe has your mouth watering?
Would you strip down on a winter Chicago day for charity?
Would you love to receive Recently as a gift?

Sending all of my love to you
during these weeks leading up
to the big V.

Peace to you right where you are.