The weekend

{Friday Night Dinner: Spicy lentil soup frizzled onions and sour cream, served with samosas and naan, negroni on the side}

On Friday evening we went across the Bay to check out a piece of furniture we've been eying for the last few weeks on Craigslist. It was originally listed for way more than we could afford, so I tried my best to ignore it, even though the intern had me convinced this one piece of furniture could solve our problem of unorganized, overflowing art supplies in the office. The seller reduced the price by half... which made us practically run across the bridge to see it. After the realization that the wardrobe was 3" too big to fit in our trunk, we negoitated, and decided the price was worth it to rent a truck and buy the piece.

We came home from Oakland hungry and tired, and discovered our almost empty fridge... but realized that one of us had brilliantly frozen some spicy lentil soup, and hidden it in the back of the freezer...  along with some frozen Trader Joe samosas and naan , we had dinner ready in minutes. I love it when we do smart things, then forget all about it!

Saturday morning we picked up a Uhaul van, and went back to Oakland to pick up our new wardrobe for the office. It was a lot of kinda sweaty, very heavy work trying to get it up two flights of stairs by ourselves.

The cool industrial lofts where we picked up our furniture

 

 The intern posing for my benefit, and little did he know, the internet too

 

The heavy heavy furniture!

Here it inside and upright... and here it sat at the top of the stairs for several hours while we worked up the energy to keep moving it towards the office. No mom, I promise we lifted with our knees, not our backs. The intern was quite insistent on this, and I got a lot of coaching. I can feel it today, because my arms and shoulders are sore, but my back feels great!

Here is our new mid-century modern wardrobe in the office, all filled up with art supplies, and perfectly organized paper and fabric and glue and buttons, and all sorts of other wonderful things that take up a lot of space.  I keep opening up the top doors so I can see the drawers of organized supplies inside. Simple pleasures, I'll tell you. I'll do almost anything to avoid my homework this evening.

What we ate

Dinner: Chicken potato tacos with pico de gallo and smashed avocado, on corn tortillas.

Dinner: Oven roasted brussel sprouts, yellow peppers and tomato wedges with balsamic chicken

Dinner: Tapas- heirloom tomato salad with greek feta, avocado and olives with olive oil and sea salt

tapas continued: eggplant cutlets with fried eggs over the top

just because I'm on a roll with cats this week... here is Sofia, waiting for dinner to be served:

(ignore the messy kitchen, and the intern in his jammies making dinner for Sofia and kate)

Flea market and comfortable cats

{Kate and intern, photo by Tomas}

On Sunday we gathered a few people and tucked them into the car to spend the morning at the Alemany flea market. It was very sunny and a bit more crowded both with shoppers and vendors. Here we are in the photo above, looking at a suitcase full of very old telegrams and military letters... most of them were teeny tiny! We wanted to pick up a few, but the vendor was selling them for $4-5 each. He thought we were chumps. We are not. We walked away from that joke!

We did see some specials, like this ceramic cat, artfully displayed with this table and chairs... I don't know if the cat was included in the price, but I hope it was. The Intern and I finally found a simple file cabinet for the right price...$15. Our office is about to be so so organized. Just as soon as I find some time to install the file rails, and actually put all our files away. Right now everything is sitting in piles, on the dining room table, on our desk, on the floor.

And, in case you had any doubts, our cats are really, really comfortable here in SF. Really. Very. Comfortable. Lucca's favorite place is the couch, even if a certain intern has tried to arrange every single throw pillow on the couch in such a way as to dissuade Lucca from the couch... it doesn't work. Even if his legs have to hang off the couch, he will find a way to nap there.

Simple Sofia, all she needs is a wine box on the floor, or maybe just a purse or laptop case to sleep on. Thats all she really needs to be happy and comfortable.

Sofia during dinner last night. She acted very sleepy, and very coy, so she could sneak her paws up on the table in hopes of getting some chicken from the weakest link sitting next to her. Sofia succeeded. 

Secret Project number ten

Hello Dear Internet!

It is secret project time once again, and this one comes from our friend Goretti in Seattle. Goretti is a designer and a foodie, a cat lover and she has some serious picnic skills, AND she always throws a good birthday party. We love Goretti, especially since the Intern and I met at one of her birthday parties, and then we fell in love. Thanks for being born Goretti!

Check out Goretti's blog at itterog.com... and if I were you, I'd keep an eye on Acre too.

OK! 1, 2, 3....go Goretti go!




For nearly two weeks in October I lived out of a suitcase, changed three hotels and only used hotel laundry services once. Here are my 10 days of fashion:

For the first part of my trip I was sent to Atlanta for an executive photo shoot. I needed to dress "work appropriate", so I abandoned my typical attire of jeans and boots for a couple of days and made some of the same clothing items I brought along work for both in the office and out.

Day 01:

Banana Republic wide cuff dress trousers in black; grey camisole from MUJI Hong Kong; Club Monaco cardigan in light blue; black Chie Mihara mary janes with dark green trim. These 2008 Chie Mihara's were an impulse buy from Nordstrom. I swear I went in to buy an affordable pair of flats and got my arm twisted by a tricky salesperson! They work well with suits, but also with a dark jean, so they are especially good for work trips.

Day 02:

Black dress trousers, Elevenses black blazer with purple pleated cotton blouse; Chie Miharas.

Whenever I travel I bring a good multi-purpose scarf. It's good for keeping you warm on the plane and for changing up a boring outfit. This one is from Zara Hong Kong -- a gift from my Aunt. I particularly love this scarf because of the multiple striped patterns in black in white -- it always looks a little different every time you wear it.

After the photo shoot and an afternoon of reviewing printer proofs in a very beige cubicle, I headed to the airport for part two of my trip: NYC! I had a bit of work to do, but the majority of the weekend I was free to sightsee, shop and play with friends. My weekend highlights included the American Museum of Natural History, The Kindness Kind at CMJ in Brooklyn, and eating lots of Pinkberry.

Day 03:

Seven organic cotton denim skinny jeans; striped sweater from MUJI Hong Kong; Frye boots.

Day 04:

Hudson Jeans; Forever 21 pinstripe button-down; MUJI socks*; Brooks trainers. No teasing! I wore sneakers specifically for a day of museum hopping. Unfortunately it poured all day, so even though I didn't suffer from debilitating shin splints (NYC, Oct 07), I did have soggy socks. MUJI socks, by the way, are a staple in my wardrobe. These are made of recycled yarn and come in a pack of 5 assorted colors. If I'm not wearing fancy shoes, you'll find me in MUJI socks and furry moccasins.

Day 05:

Sunja Link black jumper from Impulse Seattle, navy and grey striped turtleneck; brown tights; Frye boots.

Back to work! After my weekend of play, I changed hotels on day 05 to stay with my client in midtown. The rest of my trip was going to be spent traveling back and forth to Parsippany, New Jersey and sitting in a large, windowless room for hours and hours. Needless to say, comfort was key!

Day 06:

Seven jeans; black cotton military zip jacket from Banana Republic; octopus tee from Blackbird Seattle; heptagon earrings purchased at Roslyn on the Upper West Side. I should point out that a certain intern has the same green octopus tee, but please don't tell him it's a ladies t-shirt!

Day 07:

Brown raincoat by You Must Create; Earnest Sewn Keaton jeans; sweater from day 03; purple Camper mary janes with MUJI socks. This pair of ES jeans are my favorite right now. They never shrink and always feel brand new every time I wear them.

Day 08:

Denim dress from H & M; black leggings, Frye boots; Cooper-Hewitt tote.

If I ever had to wear a uniform everyday, this would be it.

Day 09:

J.Crew tee and Earnest Sewn jeans; black blazer from day 02; black scarf; aviators; New Balance sneakers in silver with lavender laces. These New Balances are a new addition, the UK color combo reminds me of something Stella McCartney would design. I found these at Tani, a must shoe stop anytime I am in New York. 

Day 10:

Outfit is the same as day 04, but with Frye boots and short tweed jacket from Zara; purse by Brooklyn designer, Rachel Nasvik; MUJI carry-on; trusty Samsonite luggage.

So that's my week and a half of fashion. On day 10, I headed back home to Seattle (where it rains less than NYC, FYI). 

And here's what I learned:

• Three pairs of jeans for two weeks really is necessary!

• I always travel with too many pairs of shoes. If I could, I would carry a separate suitcase just for shoes!

• I am obsessed with MUJI.

• I spend way too much money on clothes (okay, I didn't just learn this!)

• I really like clothes.

The end.

Wednesday

Dear Internet,

I realized I have neglected my blog a bit this week, but I have plenty of excuses! School is winding up, because it is about to wind down... we only have three more weeks left in the semester! Its hard to believe that I will soon be 1/4 of the way through grad school... only 1 1/2 more years left!

I only have two classes next week, since most are canceled for Thanksgiving, which means I'll get a little more sleep next week, and have a little more time for fun things, maybe some projects, and some walks in the sun, and finally some time to plant the winter vegetables the intern and I picked up last week.

Tomorrow I will have a most amazing secret project to post... its very good, and worth the wait. The project-maker took her time... but I didn't nag her, and she will be getting her prize in the mail soon!

In other news, Sofia has made a habit of joining the intern and I for all of our meals. She hops up on a stool, and watches us eat. She is very good and quiet, and only sometimes tries to discreetly crawl up on to the table to help herself to a bite. Mostly she sniffs the air, hoping some kind intern will give in, and give her a bite of salmon, or pancake, or toast, or chicken, or lettuce, or something.

Sorry about the horrible sound on this video, it sounds like there is a vacuum running. Just turn the sound down completely, and watch Sofia's cuteness.

What we ate

I bought these Japanese cupcake liners months ago... maybe almost a year ago, and I finally made use of them. I made some spiced pumpkin pecan muffins last week... I modified the recipe a little by cutting out some sugar, and replacing 1/2 cup of white flour with wheat. They were really moist and slightly sweet, but not too sweet, but they were a little dense. We changed the name of the recipe to dense little f-ers, because, they were dense little you know whats. I don't know if I can recommend the recipe heartily.   If you happen to have pumpkin in your cupboard, yeah, maybe try these. They made good snacks between classes.

Our dinner menus got a little winter-y this week!

Dinner: Steak with red wine reduction, roasted baby bell peppers, sage butter & steamed baby potatoes

Dinner: Flat iron steak with warm butternut squash and arugula salad.

Dinner: Flattened lemon chicken with butternut squash risotto, edamame casserole.

New Etsy Favorites

It doesn't hurt to look. I'm just looking!

Secret Project number nine

Hello Internet Friends,

It is Thursday morning in my part of the world, which means it is time for another secret project post.
Let me remind you dear friends, everyone who submits a secret project isn't doing it for their own personal pleasure (although that is another bonus) they are actually getting a handmade prize. Just think of it, you sitting at home, admiring a Kate-made prize, that is yours forever. If you are ready for your handmade prize, email me at mipiacekate@gmail.com for details. 

Back to the secret project! This one comes all the way from Japan, where my dear Patrick is slaving away, spreading our conquering language to the good people of Japan. He has been away for three years now I think, although it feels like many many more. His absence is felt every single day.To those of us who miss him terribly, it feels like a really bad paper cut on your dominant hand that won't heal.

While Patrick continues to improve himself in Japan, learning new skills and honing his old ones, here is his secret project (which happens to have a little snark and sarcasm, pointed directly, not discreetly at me).

Enjoy!

We’ve all played the game. You know you’ve at some point, played “Zombie Apocalypse,” “Deserted Island,” “Your House is on Fire….” They’re all essentially the same game – just with different antagonists. To some people, it’s more than just a game – to some people it’s a painful reality. By “some people,” I of course mean me; I have to leave my current job for pressing reasons (the soul-crushing loneliness of rural Japan) and will likely suffer a period of unemployment when I return to the States. I’m worried that this will have a negative impact on my ability to cook and eat good food. So, to get me ready, let’s play the, “You have to leave your job because you have never felt so isolated in your life and as a result you will have very limited resources for an indefinite amount of time… what 5 kitchen items will you be sure to spend your money on when you get back to the States” game.  

 

#5 is a food processor. Seems frivolous, I know, but I am positive that in the long run this will save my not only money but the heartache of disappointing store-bought foods. I’m talking about the things that inappropriately expensive when bought and almost always tastier when handmade (food-processor-made). The big two are hummus and pesto but a food processor comes in handy whenever you want to make something that is either compulsively-hyphenated or of a specific consistency. For example, shown in the picture above is Spinach-walnut-red-wine Pesto. 

#4 might frighten you – but I encourage you to open your mind up to this one. When I say “pressure cooker,” you might have visions of yourself on a gurney with your face horribly disfigured by the scalding aftermath of an equipment failure (really though, it wasn’t all that great to begin with…). They’re actually quite safe (now). Not only are they super safe (now) they’re amazingly energy efficient, fast and convenient. They also provide access to dietary staples without the inordinate amounts of planning they once required (I’m talking specifically about beans and brown rice) – after all, we don’t all have an intern to cook us delicious food after a hard day of….wait, what to you do? 

#3 has me feeling a little self-conscious. I accepted, long ago, that I am Kate’s most pretentious friend – but that doesn’t mean I *want* to be. I’ve waffled on this one, and was going to puss out and say, “spatulas” here – but they really don’t cover the range of uses that sai-bashi (cooking chopsticks) do. At the risk of sounding like, “that guy who went abroad and now won’t shut up about how much better is in whatever-country…” I freaking love my big-ass chopsticks. I use them for everything I can think of – which is a lot of stuff (grabbing, poking and flipping being the big 3).

#2 is knives. You gotta have sharp knives (dull knives are dangerous and tacky!). The thing I hate most about cooking at someone else’s house is using the crappy ass knife they hand me when I need to cut something. You can go ahead and see #3 about my feelings about being pretentious – but I’m sticking to my guns (knives) on this one. The good news is I don’t actually have to buy a new set (since good knives last a lifetime), but I will have to pay the postage to ship them back home. 

#1 … a metric crap ton of (sturdy) forks. (sturdy) Forks are amazing – very likely the pinnacle of cooking technology. Every time I cook I end up using a (sturdy) fork – they can do anything. Mash, pulverize, sift, strain, stir, whisk, whip, poke, flip, stop, divide, mix and jiggle – to name a few. As long as I have a (sturdy) fork and a (sharp) knife I can make something good.

One little happy

New Honey from the Farmer's Market in Noe Valley.

 

I don't really like honey that much, but there are a few exceptions, like sunflower honey (delicious with cheese) and this sage honey (delicious on english muffins, and probably with cheese).

Felted Thanksgiving feast!
This was a window display in Portland last year... somewhere in the Pearl District.

Finally something finished.

I told you once I found a moment I would finish this project.

Here it is. The finished sweater. I'd show you the photos the intern took of me in my sweater this morning at 8am... but we were running late, and I look blurry and tired after nightmares (his and mine), and a night of restless sleep. Instead, you can have these photos... with no tired face.

My hair is looking very bedhead-y.