Tiger Eye.

It's starting to feel a lot like Summer - your hair is getting lighter and your skin is getting tanner so naturally it's time to transition your makeup for the new season. And this is the perfect shade to a seamless transition.

Take A Dip.

I hope everyone enjoys the last weekend of Summer, and what will hopefully be the beginning of our Indian Summer here in San Francisco. xx

Grilled Cauliflower with Parsley Butter.

The perfect side dish to celebrate the last weekend of Summer.

Ingredients:
3 medium heads cauliflower
1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
2 tbsp sea salt
1 tbsp freshly ground black pepper
2 lemons
1 tbsp fresh parsley, minced
1/2cup freshly grated Parmesan
2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil

Directions: Turn on your grill to high and once hot, place cauliflower steaks directly on the grill. Heat for 10 minutes. With a large knife, cut cauliflower head lengthwise into 1/2-inch thick slices and cut stalk from the bottom of each slice. Give each cauliflower steak a smear of butter and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place cauliflower slabs on a hot skillet and cook until they show a caramelized crust, 5-6 minutes.

While they cook, halve the lemons and place cut side down in the skillet for 2 minutes. Remote lemons and set aside. Turn each cauliflower slab and grill the other side until caramelized, about 5 minutes. When both sides are golden brown, transfer to a serving platter, drizzle with juice from the grilled lemons and garnish with parsley and Parmesan and drizzle with olive oil. Serve while hot and enjoy!

Surf Spray.

Bumble & Bumble

Three words - beachy, summer waves.

Love.

Home Made Fig Jam.

So simple & incredibly delicious - what's not to love?

Ingredients:
1lb of chopped figs
3/4 cup of sugar
1/4 cup of balsamic
1tbsp of lemon juice

Directions: Bring chopped figs, sugar and balsamic vinegar to a simmer. Reduce heat, continuing to simmer until thick, about 20 minutes. Stir in lemon juice and take off heat to cool. Refrigerate in a jar for up to a month. Enjoy!

3 Things.

Delicious dinners, outdoor summer concert, and wine tasting under Napa blue skies - that's what good weekends are made of.

1. Sushi dinner at C U Sushi

2. Postal Service at the Greek Theater

3. A beautiful Sunday with S, my mom and good friends

Summer Makeup.

Shades of pink & bronze are the perfect compliment to sun-kissed skin.

Skin: Smashbox BB Cream in Light // Jane Iredale loose mineral powder in Golden Glow // Tarte cheek stain in True Love // Eyes: CoverGirl Intense Shadowblast in Brown Bling // Jane Iredale eye gloss in Champagne Silk // Armani Eyes to Kill mascara // Lip: YSL Rouge Pur Couture in Fuchsia Pink // Nails: Essie in Bottle Service

Someday.

Lemlem neon dress / Lemlem striped dress, $155 / Lemlem caftan top

I long for a lifestyle that requires lightweight kaftan's as my day-to-day uniform. I would live in all things LemLem, if it was acceptable.

A girl can dream....

Watermelon Spritzer.

I can't think of anything more refreshing on a warm Summer day. Probably not quite what the Juice Shop was expecting me to do with the watermelon juice, but it's just so damn good. 

Ingredients:
2tbsp of fresh Watermelon juice (Juice Shop SF is my favorite)
1tbsp basil simple syrup
4oz white wine
4oz sparkling water

Directions: First, make the basil simple syrup by heating 1 cup each of water, sugar and fresh basil in a sauce pan until sugar dissolves. Remove basil and store syrup in the fridge. When ready, combine watermelon juice, basil simple syrup, wine and sparkling water together with ice in a glass. Garnish with fresh basil and enjoy!

Summer List.

As mid-Summer rapidly approaches, the days seems to be filling up even faster. To ensure equal balance between work and play, I've pulled together a list of  to-do's that are quintessential to a fun & memorable Summer

1. Go to a Giants day game - a sunny day spent outdoors? Yes, please and thank you to free highlights

2. Walk down to Walton lighthouse (pictured above) at sunset is something I've always wanted to do. I imagine it's gorgeous and want to see it with my own eyes. Of course, I'll share with you

3. Go on a hike because we all know I hate to get sweaty and dirty (btw, if you didn't know - I don't like sweat or dirt)

4. Organize a fund outdoor group activity with friends. Let's go teamwork!

5. Take road trip within California either 2 hours North or 2 hours South. Just roll with the adventure.

6. Attend an outdoor concert - I already have this planned so this is basically already crossed off the list.

7. Get lost in a book. I'm currently debating between this one and this one. Any recommendations?

8. Plant a small herb garden using this DIY

9. Take my love for food trucks to the next level and head to Off the Grid #nomnom

10. A day of nothing. Because it feels soo good.

Sweet Treat.

Kate Spade black white shoes

Does it get any sweeter than black and white polka dots with hot pink accents? I think not.

Watermelon, Balsamic, & Feta Salad.

Full transparency, this was actually my second attempt at this recipe. While it is fairly simple to assemble, it all comes down to the balsamic reduction. During my first trial, I failed to let the balsamic reduce into a syrup and ended up submerging the watermelon in a pool of balsamic. Not good. The balsamic infused in the watermelon and in turn, the taste was overwhelming. You know, the sharp feeling when you encounter something too sour and pucker up like Renee Zellweger? That bad.

Anyway this time, with some patience, I drizzled the balsamic reduction over the top of the watermelon, topped with crumbled feta and garnished with mint. The result was exactly what I had originally anticipated - simple & sweet.

Ingredients:

1/4 cup of balsamic vinegar

1 tbsp of sugar

1 seedless watermelon, sliced

4 oz of feta cheese

mint, to garnish

Directions: In a small sauce pan, whisk together the balsamic vinegar and sugar. Cook over medium heat, until reduced (a syrupy consistency), about 4 minutes. Next, drizzle the balsamic reduction over watermelon. Sprinkle with feta cheese and mint. Serve immediately.

Enjoy!

Summer Treat.

Mint Watermelon Pops



Ingredients:
1 1/2 lbs seedless watermelon cut in cubes
2 tbsp sugar
1/4 cup fresh mint, minced
2 tsp grated lemon zest
sea salt

In a blender or food processor, add watermelon cubes and sugar. Puree until smooth. Stir in mint and grated lemon zest. Pour the puree into popsicle mold and add a pinch of sea salt to each cube.Freeze until hard, or about three hours, but make sure to insert popsicle sticks after an hour and a half of freezing.

Enjoy!

Fresh & Easy.

Summer brings the freshest of fruit and the easiest of recipes. There's nothing better than this watermelon, feta and basil salad on a warm day (and it takes just minutes).

Ingredients:

• 3 1/2 lbs seedless watermelon, cut into 1-inch cubes
• 2 tbs fresh lime juice
• 1/2 cup fresh basil leaves, cut into thin strips
• Coarse salt and ground pepper
• 4 ounces feta cheese, broken into large pieces

Directions

In a large bowl, toss watermelon, lime juice, and half the cut basil; season with salt and pepper. Serve in bowls and scatter the feta cheese and remaining basil on top.

Enjoy!

3 Things.

Time and time again I'm reminded of just how lucky I am for the people surrounding me. Life has been throwing some interesting things my way and I'm enjoying every moment.

1. Beach Blanket Babylon with my friend, Juvella - a date 2 years in the making and so worth it.

2. My first Swirl from Aqui’s. Quite the experience in itself.

3. Another movie date with my mom, this time to beat the heat. Again, her choice. (Question for those who have seen Savages – Chon or Ben?)

Summer Onyx.

OPI's Black Onyx

Typically, I wear dark nail polish in the Winter or Fall, but lately I'm loving how the contrast between a shiny, black manicure with light, feminine fabrics are breathing new life into some of my Summer favorites currently on rotation.

Three Things.

From dinner with the girls, a sunny Saturday at the park, supporting local designers at the San Francisco Design Week fashion show the weekend was nonstop fun. Sometimes it’s the simplest of things that make for the sweetest moments.

1. Ziggy finding some shades at the park

2. Fashionable nights out in the city

3. The last orchid from my stunning birthday bouquet – thank you, Aaron :)

Green Day.

{dress & bracelet, COD street fair; shirt, John Vavatos for Converse (pictured here); jacket-H&M (pictured here); shoes, big buddha; belt, JCrew; sunglasses, DVF; watch, Gucci; rings, The Treasured Accessory & Wendy Mink; lipcolor, Estee Lauder Candy (pictured here); nail color, Big Spender (pictured here)}

Off to find sunshine.

Simple Delight.

Pretty much anything wrapped in Prosciutto is the best thing ever. Don't you think?

Ingredients:

9 ripe fresh figs cut in half lengthwise
12 thin slices Prosciutto
1 cup crumbled fresh blue cheese {I recommend, Point Reyes}
2 tablespoons honey for drizzling

Directions:

Cut 9 slices of the Prosciutto lengthwise in half.  Loosely wrap each fig half with a strip of Prosciutto. Cut the remaining Prosciutto into thin strips and then cut the strips into 2 inch pieces.  In a small pan, sauté the strips until they are crisp.  Drain and reserve.  Place blue cheese crumbles and fried Prosciutto strips on each fig. Drizzle the honey over and serve.