Yum: Coco-Nutty Buttermilk Muffins

This week’s recipe was inspired (once again) by the poor leftover things languishing in my fridge. Namely this guy:

A Little DIY: Use a Shadowbox To Cover the Ugly

Next up in the entryway makeover:  Getting rid of this useless box of ugly right next to the door – it’s a control panel for an old alarm system the previous owner had installed. It’s really on there and we’re kind of afraid to remove it for fear of setting off a screeching alarm we’d be totally powerless to stop. 

See how I covered up the ugly after the jump!

#100HappyDays – Week Twelve

Time for Week Twelve of my #100HappyDays challenge! (If you’re curious, here are Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, Week 4, Week 5, Week 6, Week 7, Week 8 , Week 9, Week 10 and Week 11).

 <<June 17, Tues – Lamb wrap and savory muhammara spread for lunch at Momed>>

 <<June 18, Wed – Finally checking out the Pacific Design Center – those colors! that scale!>>

 <<June 19, Thurs – Coffee and a homemade two-bite brownie for breakfast>>

 <<June 20, Fri – Koreatown bars have the most over the top and awesome decor – neon, giant flowers, checkered tile, glittery banquets, disco ball!>>

 <<June 21, Sat – Bougainvillea, palm trees and sun: so very LA>>

 <<June 22, Sun – Warm buttery biscuit with stonefruit preserves at Superba Snack Bar>> 

 <<June 23, Mon – Revisiting the delight and endless possibilities of a fresh box of crayons>>

Yum: One-Pot Chicken Thighs with Rice, Tomatoes and Greens

I’ve always preferred legs to breasts – on chickens, of course 😉   Bone-in chicken thighs especially have so much more character (a.k.a. fat) than chicken breasts. And the price! You just can’t beat it, especially when it’s on sale.

That’s like 50 cents per thigh! Wowza. With the help of some bright, fresh ingredients, these chicken thighs make a meal that’s balanced, satisfying and deeply flavorful – and you only need to dirty one pot! See how after the jump.

A Little DIY: Low-Profile Floor Mat (using placemats!)

Do you remember this entryway sadness? 

I’ve been working away at this small space and am pretty happy with how it’s turning out! It’s been a series of sometimes big, sometimes small DIY projects.

First up: a small, easy project with big impact. See more after the jump.

#100HappyDays – Week Eleven

Week Eleven of my #100HappyDays challenge was full of happy discoveries in the everyday stuff. (If you’re curious, here are Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, Week 4, Week 5, Week 6, Week 7, Week 8 , Week 9 and Week 10).

 <<June 10, Tues – Thai tea with chewy boba, brought home by my thoughtful roomie>>

<<June 11, Wed – This mysterious wooden door, flanked by stone and ivy, discovered on a walk around my old LA neighborhood>>

<<June 12, Thurs – Challenging myself to create a dish with just pantry and freezer staples>>

<<June 13, Fri – Introducing Wally to his new buddy Yoda>>

<<June 14,  Sat – Vintage kitchen tools at an antique shop – a reminder of how much cooking has changed and stayed exactly the same>>

<<June 15, Sun – Father’s Day brunch and just being with my family>>

<<June 16, Mon – A leisurely twilight stroll along the Venice canals with my man>>

Yum: Almost-No-Bake Berries & Cream Cheese Pie

Summer berries are here, huzzah! To celebrate, I was going to make a typical fruit tart with cream cheese filling. But then I remembered this wonderful berry pie recipe from Cooks Illustrated and decided to combine the two. It takes some time to put together, but if you like berries and the tangy richness of cream cheese, this pie’s for you!

A Little DIY: Paper And Washi Tape Mousepad

This is what happens when I ask my mom for a mousepad. I have no idea what Korean beauty product this is advertising and the girl’s cute and all, but it’s not exactly something I want to see every time I use my computer. So I turned to some easy materials to spruce it up!

#100HappyDays – Week Ten

Can’t believe it’s already Week Ten of my #100HappyDays challenge! Writing this post every week really lets me appreciate these moments all over again. (If you’re curious, here are Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, Week 4, Week 5, Week 6, Week 7, Week 8 and Week 9).

<<June 3, Tues – Getting in touch with my inner kid at the  LA Natural History Museum>>

<<June 4, Wed – Admiring my old-school neighborhood on an evening walk>>

<<June 5, Thurs – Wandering around Santa Monica with an old college friend (even the parking lot was gorgeous!)>>

<<June 6, Fri – Spending an evening volunteering for an amazing organization>>

<<June 7, Sat – Browsing the irresistibly colorful sale section at Anthropologie>>

<<June 8, Sun – Discovering this sad, slumpy bear while cruising the local shopping mall>>

<<June 9, Mon – Catching up with old friends over classy Tex-Mex at Bar Ama>>

Yum: Vietnamese Summer Roll Party

Ever notice that customizing your food makes it taste better? There’s something about being involved in the process and making choices for yourself… it’s no wonder places like Chipotle and Yogurtland are doing gangbusters. So why not use this basic human psychology for your next lunch party? After the jump, see how to put together a Vietnamese Summer Roll spread so people can make their own, maybe learn something new and definitely have a blast!