Snow at the Beach and a Cup of Hot Chocolate!

My mom sent me these photos taken from her beach house by my brother,  just this past week when the Puget Sound and the Kitsap Peninsula were once again the coated white with a late winter snowfall.

Blake Island in the background - look how the water is just like glass!

Looking Southwest towards my old house in Manchester with Bainbridge Island off in the distance.  Cannot deny that these are beautiful shots,  even though I am cold just looking at them!  

Maybe a cup of gourmet hot chocolate is in order?

Here's an interesting recipe that I need to try next time we're home with my mom and dad.... Found at Best Bites.com  (the blog post is full of great ideas!)

Raspberry Truffle:
A couple of chunks of dark chocolate on the bottom of the mug, hot chocolate or white hot chocolate, raspberry syrup, whipped cream, raspberry drizzle, chocolate sprinkles.  For the raspberry drizzle either puree fresh raspberries or mix a little raspberry jam with warm water until smooth.  (sounds VERY doable!)

Now to wander over to Etsy - Look at these fun mugs I found for hot chocolate!  (dang, etsy is dangerous!)

Wild Card Pottery - Blue Ring Octopus Mugs

Beyond Jordan Studio - Totally darling!  Sea urchin tea pot and matching seahorse mugs (I want these!)

The Red Mill - so gorgeous with aqua inside and a delicate sea shell on the outside.  Pretty pretty pretty!  

Wishing you all a terrific Thursday -  hopefully you are inside and staying warm! 

Pier 23 - Lunch!

Have I ever told you how much of a Food Network admirer I am?   Cannot tell you how many Saturday mornings are spent watching Paula whip up something that I know that I should never eat, or watching Ann Burrell coax her ingredients into something fabulous, or catching Guy Fieri roaming the streets in his fire engine red Camaro (I WANT one!).....

Last week Tom and I happened to catch Guy hanging out at a local restaurant, on the show Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives - one that we had never tried.  Pier 23, in San Francisco, just off the Embarcadero before reaching Fisherman's Wharf.

Sounded like a fun place to take Alex after his plane landed from Seattle this past Friday.  It was an absolutely stellar day on the Embarcadero.  Around 60 degrees - not a cloud in the sky, no wind.  Felt like 70!

Here's us, waiting for a table - someone walking by was nice enough to offer to take our picture!

Here's our view, how exciting we got to sit right next to the rail.  The sunshine was absolutely magical! Especially for Alex, as he has been suffering through a very long, rainy, cold, yucky Pacific Northwest winter.  (Can you tell that I do not miss one single day of it?)

Alex opted for a seared ahi tuna sandwich.  He claims that it was the best one that he's ever eaten.  

(check out his t-shirt!)

Crab and Shrimp Louie Salad for me!  Piles of seafood...

And of course we had to have calamari.

Thanks Guy for the recommendation - we had a wonderful afternoon lunch in the sun at Pier 23.  

Alex and I are off for more adventures today - a twisty drive up to Pt. Reyes for Cowgirl Cheese, and maybe a stop out at the lighthouse.   Hmmm... too bad Tom went skiing.

Zebra Stripes and Coastal Decor? hmmm...

 Image from Mary McDonald
Hollywood Glam Designer on Bravo's Million Dollar Decorators

Okay, maybe I am coming around to embrace the idea of zebra stripes.  As many of you know, I am such a design and decor magazine junkie - but I had not seen this vignette until today.  Zebra striped rugs, pillows, etc. are just not a new idea any more, I am kind of  "over" the whole stylized look.   But I might be changing my mind.  Love this mix from Mary McDonald,;blue, orange, silver glass modern lamps, and a completely gorgeous collection of specimen sea shells mixed with coral displayed so elegantly on a simple black lacquered console table.  Somehow the zebra striped ottoman and mirror work perfectly!  

We are very excited about our new advertising partnership with Emily Clark Interiors, which is where I found this beautiful image.  I think you will love her style too!