summer, sort of.

For the past 3 years or so, we have been kicking off our Sacramento Summer with an annual birthday bash / family get together at Clay's Uncle's house.  Yup, he's everyone's uncle now.  Happy birthday Clayton!!  Thanks for being born right on the brink of Summer!

Too bad it doesn't quite feel like Summer just yet, but I suspect it is right around the corner.

This year, along with the volleyball games, we had potato sack races and human wheel barrow races.  Pretty dope!

my whole house is great, i can do anything good...

you may have seen this already, as it is floating all over FB, but i just could not resist posting this bit of sweetness.  this kid is so rad!!  and reminding yourself how great you are, that's pretty rad too!

happy birthday harvey !

“I cannot prevent anyone from getting angry, or mad, or frustrated. I can only hope that they’ll turn that anger and frustration and madness into something positive, so that two, three, four, five hundred will step forward, so the gay doctors will come out, the gay lawyers, the gay judges, gay bankers, gay architects … I hope that every professional gay will say ‘enough’, come forward and tell everybody, wear a sign, let the world know. Maybe that will help.” Harvey Milk, 1978

Last week, the lovely Corine totally surprised me with an invite to be her date to the local Harvey Milk Celebration.  It must have been my lucky day... an evening with Corine, who I just do not get to see enough of, and a free pass to an awesome event honoring a true hero.  It was held at the California Museum on O Street.  The evening included a free bar, a performance by the men's choir, powerful speeches, including special guests Stuart Milk (Harvey's nephew) and Bruce Cohn (Producer of Milk).  There were some other celebrity types hanging out that night as well, like Daniela Sea from the L Word, who shares a mutual friend with Corine, so we actually got to chat a bit with her.  

Celebrations continue on tomorrow.  Locally, there will be a celebration at the Capitol: 

Harvey Milk Day Rally and March – Saturday, May 22, 2010 – California State Capitol – West Steps – 4-6pm

“All men are created equal. No matter how hard you try, you can never erase those words.”        

                                                                                                                                         Harvey Milk

How will you celebrate Harvey Milk Day ?!?

strawberry salad - for z

There are hundreds of things I absolutely love about Summer.  Summer salads are right there at the top of that list.  And this one is so very easy!  It is a strawberry and wheat berry salad.  I have been cooking with wheat berries a lot these days, and am totally digging them.  They are super tasty and incredibly healthy.

A couple notes regarding the list above... 

1.  I find my wheat berries from our local Coop.  My guess would be that most natural food grocers would carry them.  Even larger grocery stores may carry them as well in the bulk aisles.  If you cannot find them - you can substitute quinoa or cous cous, for an equally tasty result.  

2.  In terms of how much of each of the listed items above.... well, I find that that is totally up to you!  Play around with the ratio of spinach to wheat berries and see what you like.  If you are looking for more of a MEAL out of your salad, then definitely consider a more wheat berry heavy salad.  I usually use around 1/2 cup of dry wheat berries, and aim to match it equally with spinach. 

The first step in preparing this salad is to cook your wheat berries.  Cooking wheat berries is a simple process, however it is more time intensive than quinoa or cous cous.  There are thousands of helpful sites out there that will provide you with lots of tips and instructions to cooking the perfect pot of wheat berries - for example this one.  FYI - my instructions below do not mention soaking your wheat berries.  The few times I have made this salad I skipped this step, however, I am sure it is beneficial, I just did not realize it was required until taking the time to do this research for this post!  So, soak your wheat berries!

1. Measure 1 cup dry - pre-soaked - wheat berries - pour into sauce pan.  Add 4 cups of water.  Bring to a boil, then turn dial to simmer - and cover sauce pan.  Let sit for about an hour.  Check them to see if they are done.  You will know they are done when they begin to split and are chewy.  Dump them in a strainer and run cold water over them.  Place them in your refrigerator to cool while you continue prepping the remainder of the salad. 

2.  Chop your strawberries.

3.  In a large salad bowl dump your spinach...

cooled off wheat berries,

your chopped strawberries, 

gorgonzola cheese and walnuts.

Add fresh squeezed lemon and some olive oil.  You do not need much, as the strawberries and cheese are so flavorful.  Salt and pepper to taste.  

etsy love

I have major love for etsy.com.  I find myself going there first when in search of... well, anything and everything, really!  

Inspired by the many fashion/design blogs I read on the regular, I have decided to give a post of this nature a shot, and share a collage of some sweet Etsy finds.  Enjoy!

1. darling hat  2. spinthread necklace  3.  black & white heart necklace  4. specs 5.  owl print  6.large wooden ampersand 7.  cloth napkins  8. boy bike tee  9.  antique map of syria  10.  argoflex camera  11.  oxfords  12.  letter press a

maman.

happy mother's day to my extraordinary mother, my friend, and my inspiration.  

and more recently...

you are amazing. love, s.

home

It is tough to return from the most relaxing and amazing 5 day beach vacation.  However, I am finding myself appreciating the little things I missed.

Here are few bits and pieces of my surroundings that are inspiring me.  They are things I see every day -
however, with this new post-vacation perspective, they are making me extra happy...