Pepper Design Blog - Page 66 of 438 - A Little of This & That... Renovating, Decorating, DIY Projects & Family

Really Digging… Gold Stud Earrings

November 4, 2014 by Morgan

The start of the day brings with it so many decisions (and so much thought/multitasking/braindrain) all on its own, that I’ve sort of geeked out over the idea of a capsule wardrobe and with it, very simple, classic jewelry. I don’t know if I could pare down my closet to 37 pieces (or if that should be the true magic number), but I do know that I have been edging towards classics in the jewelry department for a couple of years now. Here I shared a gold necklace that hugs a small diamond that was gifted by Kevin when we were dating. I worked with a local jeweler for the longest time to create a very simple, inexpensive setting and haven’t taken off that necklace in maybe five years. In the same post I share about my favorite thin hammered bracelet that I sport with my everyday watch. I still love me some fancy jewelry (or a great pendant necklace), but this daily jewelry uniform feels simple, feminine and complete.

A great set of gold studs rounds out the whole pulled-together look. I have overly sensitive pierced ears so I was a little wary of purchasing a set of gold posts online, but I’ve been wearing these flat dot earrings for most of summer and all of fall and haven’t had a single issue yet. I love them.

Steve Jobs (and even Barack Obama) kept a daily uniform to help minimize wasted brainpower on choosing outfits each morning. Do you think streamlining helps to empower your day? I personally have an affinity for shopping :) but while pregnant I’ve been able to embrace the simple and it’s been refreshing!

PS Also really digging… clay & wooden necklaces (in the opposite of simple), my favorite everyday sunglasses and one great pre-pregnancy solution to making outfit choices easier.

PPS I ended up having to go to my local post office to pick up my gold studs (rather than have them delivered) because they shipped from an Etsy shop based in Israel. Just a heads up if you order the same ones!

Good Eats: Mediterranean Lamb Sliders

November 3, 2014 by Morgan

Thank you American Lamb Board for sponsoring this post. Click here to check out more delicious lamb recipes from American Lamb Board!

How was your Halloween? We had so much fun. We host an annual trick-or-treat party because our neighborhood is on fire for this particular holiday (the little loop around our house is alive with people and fun setups), and this year we brought our friends back to the house afterwards for an outdoor fire, slow-cooked bean soup and cider. Liv dug her little costume and wore it like a champ. T was the cutest little bumble bee you ever did see. I captured a lot of iPhone photos, but not a lot of ‘real camera’ ones.

These past couple of weeks we’ve been cooking up a storm around here, and I’ve decided that there is little that I love more than a really yummy slider. I would much rather a plate of mini sliders over one large hamburger any day, and I always jump at the chance to order these guys when we’re eating out at a diner-type restaurant.

When I was offered an opportunity to partner with the American Lamb Board to share a recipe with you all I knew immediately that it would be Mediterranean lamb sliders on a soft, toasted roll. This recipe makes approaching lamb easy – rack of lamb might not be a weekly occurrence but ground lamb can be used in so many wonderful ways.

The goal was to grill outside, but surprisingly we’ve had rain (!) here in San Diego (fall, I love you) and I grilled these up indoors on our range making them an even quicker meal to prepare.

Mediterranean Lamb Sliders

Makes approximately 10-12 sliders

2 lbs ground American lamb
2 tsp ground coriander
2 tsp ground cumin
2 Tb freshly chopped oregano
2 Tb freshly chopped dill
1/2 – 1 tsp each salt & pepper
1/2 of a medium sized onion, diced
1 clove garlic, finely diced
olive tapenade or whole Mediterranean olive assortment cut up
watercress, arugala or spinach
1 cup feta cheese (1/2 for burgers, 1/2 reserved for topping)
avocado, sliced
mayonaise (with dill & cumin optional)
a dozen dinner rolls, Hawaiian sweet rolls or mini hamburger buns

The trick to these guys is to purchase fresh, natural ingredients (think fresh dill and oregano) and to blend all of the wonderful Mediterranean flavors right into the ground lamb. …

Around Here…

October 31, 2014 by Morgan

Around here, we are:

Sponge painting pumpkins with friends during a Thursday morning co-op preschool (that’s sticky-backed foam that we used for the faces – found at Michaels – to make kid-friendly smiles). Co-op preschool now joins the ranks of the many awesome programs in My Village.

Using up extra foam from the craft store to make Halloween-inspired bath toys (in the same style as this post).

Shocked that the weather is still kind enough for ice cream. And for short sleeves at the park (Taylor is all about the slide now! Not so much a baby anymore…).

Thinking about a Thanksgiving tablescapes (already) – this rustic, plaid one is perty.

Making slow cooked ham and bean soup for a potluck tonight.

Dreaming up a way to add this diy caramel apple slice bar, too.

Thinking up a new spin (I know, again) on this recipe, but now as muffins with a cream cheese frosting and candy corns for Liv’s preschool class.

Totally digging these build-them-yourself gummy monster cocktail skewers!

Getting our costumes ready! T is a bumble bee that will be buzzing around her big sister, Liv in a flower pot costume. Kev and I are the gardeners, though I thought about dressing up the bump as a sprout (who gave me that great idea??) and Kev as a bag of fertilizer. Hahahaha ;)

Happy Halloween!!

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