Guess what was in the plaza near my husband's office yesterday...

Chalkboard Paint

When I was little we had a chalkboard in our kitchen.
I loved it and thought I was so fortunate to have such an integral prop for playing school.
 Writing on it felt so grown-up, as I was rarely permitted to use the one at school.  I remember the thrill of
being allowed during rainy days when we had to stay inside.  I wrote fictitious student names
on the board as warnings and added checks for further infractions. This was familiar to me because
I was so used to having my name on the board in real school due to my incessant talking.
One year, I had to sit right up against the teacher's desk (third grade)!
Later, I used the board as a study aid.  I recall drawing, labeling,
and memorizing the parts of the inner and outer ear, and filling in a blank map
of Africa with countries and capitals (sixth grade). 

For a long time I've been wanting to paint a kitchen wall or playroom in chalkboard paint.
I think the black or dark green is elegant and would give Peacho  and friends hours of
entertainment. And maybe  allow me to cook dinner without constant interruption!
This is also magnetic paint!  Who knew!  Although, it would end up looking like crap
with all our mismatched magnets from Domino's and realty companies!

This looks exactly like my pantry!!!

This looks so Euro.
I wonder if it would make a room look messy after eraser marks and dust build-up set in.  (Lovin' the Rody bouncy horse -Peacho has that color)

 

Because we're renting I think I'll end up getting something like these 
wall decals that can be removed.  
These are from here. 
I hope my daughter will have as many fond, creative chalkboard memories as I do!

Thoroughly Modern Living

Just found out today our household goods have cleared customs, and after
four months they're ready to be released!!!

Our new home is the most modern place in which we've lived.  Also, we've
never lived in an apartment. Usually, we go for the charming cottage-type houses. 

Here's our first house that we are renting out now.

Here was our house in Hawaii.

...and in California.

On the one hand the new departamento is low maintenance and high security, but
I think I'm going to miss  having a yard and a garage.

I love the fact that the building is new, and we can see both the city lights at night

and the ocean.  My style may be a little rustic and vintage, but I'm kind of excited

to have a more modern look.  And I think I might be able to pull it off mixing old
and new (hopefully, I can 86 those awful sconces in the living room. See top photo.).

I am going to post pictures of the progress.

Perfect Pasta Salad

Okay, first of all I don't really like pasta salads, second I've never 

really been an Emeril fan, and third I don't like capers. That is, until now!

 I cannot get enough of this pasta salad!! I've already made it twice this month.

Thank you Stacie for serving this and giving me the recipe!

Ingredients

• Coarse salt and ground pepper
• 1 pound elbow macaroni
• 2 ounces thinly sliced prosciutto, cut into strips
• 1 small shallot, minced
• 1/4 cup red-wine vinegar
• 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
• 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 medium tomato, chopped
• 1/2 cup crumbled goat cheese (2 ounces)
• 1/4 cup pitted Cerignola olives (or your favorite olives), sliced
• 2 tablespoons capers
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley

Directions In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook macaroni until al dente. In a small skillet, cook prosciutto over medium until crisp; discard fat.  Combine shallot, vinegar, and mustard in a large bowl; whisk in oil in a slow, steady stream. Add tomato, cheese, prosciutto, olives, and capers. Drain pasta; add to bowl with tomato mixture, and toss. Add parsley; season with salt and pepper. Cool to room temperature, and serve.      Notes: I used serrano ham (which I am dangerously becoming addicted to), but I really wouldn't substitute bacon because it will be too overpowering.  Also, I used balsalmic vinegar, omitted the olives, and added more tomato and capers.  Most pastas like the smaller penne, fusilli, or gemelli would work. Buen Provecho!  Emeril's Macaroni Salad recipe found here.

French Bench

I have always loved French linen striped fabrics and European grain sacks.
I LOVE the simplicity and vintage feel.
So I saw this yesterday on the Pottery Barn website and was thrilled.
I've been wanting a bench for the foot of our bed.  It just finishes off a bed,
and it would really help our kid and our three-legged cat get onto
our freakishly high bed!




This red tablecloth from here is so elegant. Perfect for a rustic,
traditional farmhouse Christmas!
or... a totally modern high rise apartment (in my case)!

These table linens are from a store in Carmel, CA called Jan de Luz.
When we lived there I used to visit often, and I found it a great place for
personalized gifts. They specialize in beautiful linens which you can
 custom embroider on site!





I saw these totes a while ago and fell in love, but they are pretty pricey.
I found them again here.





So, I am thinking about finding an old bench here in Chile,
or having one made, then finding an upholsterer to pad
and cover it in one of these fabrics, which I'll order
online from Calico Corners. 
I was so surprised to find an affordable, accessible way to achieve
a very chic look!  Just might have to order
some extra fabric for large throw pillows........hmmmmm!


 Semi off the subject....

 

I have been dreaming about this jute Thomas Paul pillow for over a year.  Now we 

live right near the beach.  It would look so great on my couch and it would fit right 

in with the linen bench or pillows I intend to make.  I am thinking of buying it 

for my hubby's birthday.  I mean he's the nautical one in the family so...... 

Oh, who am I kidding, he would see right though my evil genius plan 

of getting him something that I really want for myself!

And he thinks we own

way too many pillows anyway.

 

Here's another great one!

...And another (there's a  Moby Dick-like whale pillow but, personally I don't like the thought of the whole whale hunting scene).

This would be a great splash of color and a necessary juxtaposition of modernity.  Love the crisp yellow and white.  Maybe on our sunny balcony...

All pillows via here.

Wine and Huasos

A beautiful day in the Casablanca Valley at Emiliana Vinyard.
It's an organic, biodynamic vinyard.  Read more about them here.

My daughter gouging out the eye of Josefina, the winery cat.

 

I want a llama!  Are they so cute, or what.  These ones were friendly...ish.
They sold the wool at the gift shop. (The employees, not the llamas)

     Reminded me so much of California.

Then we visited a local rodeo outside of Rancagua.
These are the huasos, Chilean cowboys (pronounced "wassos").

The mayor is on the right kicking off the festivities with
a little drinking from a horn.

Beef and 40's.

 

Bronco busting.

 

A little comedic intermission

Kids' games at halftime. Giant tug o' war.   Peacho's team won (on the left).
Although she was pulling the wrong way at first. They also did sack races.
Man, I love the fact that this country is so devoted to children!

 Then it was time for Rooster chasing!  With a microphone the announcer asked
Peacho (having no idea she didn't speak Spanish) if she could catch it,
and over the loudspeaker we heard a tentative "yeah"!

Unfortunately this is blurry, but it does give you some indication, however slight,
of the beauty.  We were flanked by snow capped mountains
and surrounded by verdant orchards and vineyards.

Can't wait for our next Chilean adventure!

Orla Kiely

 

  

I just got this Orla Kiely purse.  I needed something that I could sling across
my chest, as we have a wee problem with purse snatching here.  And when I say "wee"
I mean BIG.  It's funny, many of the restaurants have little belts on the chairs
with which to hook your purse.  Anyway, I love Orla Kiely's style.  I bought some
of her stuff at Target last year and wish they'd carry her designs again.

I should have bought more of these glasses and melamine dinnerware. 

 

 I DID buy these storage bins for Peacho's room. God, I miss our stuff! 
(It's off the coast of Chile right now according to my obsessed-with-shipping-traffic husband.) 
Now let's see how many months it will take to clear customs!