A Jar of Sunshine

Sun Jar » Ochelly.com » $34.98 sale

Can you imagine how fun jars of sunshine would be on your porch this summer?

Cooking with an Accent

Several years ago, I was lucky enough to work with immigration lawyer, Mira Mdivani, on a cookbook. Mira asked her clients to contribute a recipe and invited us over to her house to cook and photograph each dish. The result is collection of recipes from all over the world with everyone's personal immigration stories, many of which turned out to be stories of love and family, not the trials and tribulations of the immigration process. Food is always about love, isn't it?

Beth and I had never worked on a project of this scope before. I art directed and designed the cookbook, Beth shot all the photography and we worked together styling all the food. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity for everyone involved. We were all so proud to share our favorite dishes. A bonus about working on a cookbook? You get to taste everything!

The following photos are some of my favorites from the book.

Mira's Summer Salad » recipe by Mira Mdivani

This is the perfect time of year for this salad

and like Mira likes to say, serve it with

"some good bread."

Calamari Salad » recipe by Marwan Chebaro

Shrimp Kebabs with Pineapple Fried Rice

» recipe by Simran and Michael Nutter

Beef & Guinness Stew » recipe by George Vial

Not only does he provide recipes and cook

yummy food, George also came up with

the title of the cookbook!

Brigadeiros » recipe by Monica Mingucci

Fondant au Chocolat » recipe by Laurent and Kathy Denis

Laurent and Kathy publish

The Kansas City Restaurant Guide.

If you'd like to purchase a copy of the Cooking with an Accent: An Immigration Lawyer's Cookbook, click here. And if you need a top-notch immigration attorney who ends up being your friend and family, call Mira. You can contact her here.

All photography by Elizabeth Cook.

Photography...

Some of my favorite shots from Elizabeth Cook, a talented photographer and my best friend.

A view of the ocean...I want to go there.

Children of the Dominican Republic.

Montana - I have this view hanging above my bed.

My mom's pho recipe, captured in a gorgeous photo. Beth and I worked on a cookbook together (details in my next post).

House of Books

A sweet logo by Atelier Ellis. Their mission is to build libraries for homeless children. Read more here.

Keds

I haven't worn Keds since the 8th grade but it looks like they might be making a comeback in my closet soon. Just found out that I can design my own! Click here to go to the Keds Studio site. 

Let's Go For a Ride

{Velorbis, Dannebrog}

This bike is perfect, especially with the sweet basket up front. I want to look this cute riding a bike, but usually my face is all red from huffing and puffing up and down the hills around my house. Or it's frozen in fear as I ride my brakes trying not to get run over. Velorbis is made in Germany and just recently got a U.S. retailer...in Chicago. Just within reach.

{Velorbis, Mobii}

Love this one too, but I want to ride up front, not do all the manual labor from behind.

Birthday Design

{design by Fresh Fish Creative}

Click on image for larger view.

My sister asked me to whip up a birthday invite for her. We both tend to do things at the last minute - from the party planning to the invitation design to asking people to attend! So this request was par for the course. Happy Birthday, Trinh!