post tropical

bonjour my friends! 

i hope everyone experiencing this snow-crazed winter with an optimistic attitude--i know it gets tough sometimes. i feel as if everyday is a snow day. i've found myself getting bored and in need of some new activities. all this baking is getting me fat. (though i'd rather be fat and bake than skinny and not eat). i'm back in nh, boston is rather problematic this season. i look forward to the day where grass can be seen again and i can wear shoes without the threat of ruining them due to heavy slush. it's hard to dress cute in such harsh weather! 

here's another week in photos

aint he a cutie? god i love this little man. oh! i forgot to mention, i recently got a gig as a nanny. i am quite content, i love kids and i feel nannying will be perfect for me.

stay warm everyone! 

xxxo

strangeness and charm

good morning loves! 

i will be returning to boston in less than a week and as much as i miss the city, i am sad to leave the peacefulness of country living. i am trying to do my best in appreciating the little things about this gorgeous place. 

what i wore: hand knit beanie, vintage leather, madewell sweater, american apparel skinnies, & my metallic dr martens. 

a view from outside my window

this morning i woke up to the lovely sounds of gatsby-era ragtime music. it was perfect.

i also thought id share my latest painting, dedicated to one of my most beloved fashion icons, edie sedgwick.

one reason i love fashion is because it is like wearable art, and above all other things, i love art. 

xxxo

family + food | nh

i have had a rough week, i apologize for the lack of posts. my boyfriend of two years and i broke up and it has took quite a toll on me. the emptiness feeling mixed with an immense load of course work and actual work has been exhausting. i removed myself from the chaos of the city and traveled to nh to regroup. it has been extremely good for me. i spent the weekend cooking and bonding with 4/5 of my siblings (oldest lives in texas). Bubby and i had a star wars marathon, i worked on my little sister's 5th grade science project all day saturday (i know more about a plant cell than i should), and S and i just read books and had dance parties. children truly help you realize what you should be thankful for. i can't wait to have some of my own
(i'm aiming for 9). 

this is S, you've met before but i just can't get enough of him.

i'd like you to meet Bubby, he is the class clown of the family. it is hard to scold him because he just makes you laugh while you try. at least he is a good student. 

i made chicken & dumplings for dinner kudos to the pioneer woman. i would definitely recommend her recipe:

 The Pioneer Woman Cooks | Chicken & Dumplings

(photo taken from link above) 

my mama made bread, it was maple oat and certainly delicious (as is everything she makes)

it was a lovely weekend. i shall be up and about early tomorrow for my trip back to the city. little breaks from the chaos helps you appreciate it more.

xxxo

garlic and rosemary sweet potato fries

today was another lovely day. i enjoyed errands and sushi with my little sister early afternoon and then continued to slave in the kitchen making dinner for my large family (willingly of course) for the rest of the day.

i made a variation of turkish food, i grew up in turkey and miss it everyday. food is a great reminder of the great country. i made lamb gyros with tzatziki sauce and roasted italian peppers. i very much love turkish style gyros.

 a little hint for turkish cooking: you could never use too much garlic or too much olive oil. 

i couldn't resist making my sweet potato fries with this meal, i found a bag of sweet potatoes in the pantry and went to work.

garlic and rosemary sweet potato fries

recipe: 

ingredients

• 3 medium sweet potatoes, cut into fries (not too thin, 1/2 in thick should do)
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 sprig rosemary, leaves finely chopped
• sea salt and freshly ground pepper
• 3 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 2 Tbsp parsley, finely chopped

directions

• preheat the oven to 425 degrees
• in a large bowl toss sweet potatoes with olive oil 
• add garlic, salt, pepper, and rosemary 
• spread in a single layer on a baking sheet (line baking sheet with aluminum foil)
• bake between 25-40 minutes or until crispy (depending on desired thickness)
• check often, tossing 2 or 3 times during baking
• remove from oven and sprinkle with more salt and parsley

i hope you enjoy this fabulous recipe as much as i do! 

xxxo

nature walks | nh

new hampshire is a beautiful place. i love the woodsy aroma and seeing smoke drift away from chimney tops. normally it would be much (much) colder at this point in the year, but for some reason this october feels like may. i won't complain. i went with my family on a nature hike today. we got wonderfully lost in the woods but it was perfect. my brother and sister each found hiking sticks and we trucked through the abyss pretending we were old pioneers. my mother kept the adventure going tricking them into thinking we were lost and they needed to find our way back--they loved the excitement (as did i). 

Tru has an infatuation with acorns and what he calls perfect 'leafses'. fall makes him excited, he has so many leaves to choose from.

needless to say we had fun. its nice to step away from the busyness of the city and smell fresh air.

i'm in the mood to bake and watch julie and juila. perhaps ill do both. toodles.

xxxo