my happy place...

oh my!  look at these windows in russia!  the detail, the weathered wood, the beautiful blues...who says happy places always have to be beautiful interiors?  certainly not me, and these photos by vladstudio prove it...

eerily beautiful.  xo mrs. french

via the froth

i heart tuesday.

monday!  wait...no it's tuesday...i took yesterday off to spend some time with my fam on the little presidential holiday.  i tried skiing in a blizzard and didn't do so well...awwww, the things you do for family (those silly boys of mine).

you will notice some spring pieces sneaking into my little old list and i have to admit, i am loving it. 

 

i heart these hummingbirds.

i heart this carafe.

i heart these shoes.

i heart this necklace.

i heart this raincoat.

i heart this "barkboard."

i heart this "weaver."

i heart this pillow.

i heart this snap top.

i heart this chair.

i heart this clutch.

i heart this short.

i heart this bracelet.

i heart these lights.

i heart this cardigan.

i heart these booties.

i heart this theatre bench.

i heart this bath towel (melis pinned it first).

i heart this skirt.

how about those skirts?  xo mrs. french

poor kitty...

so, i was thinking i could use a dose of funny today...then i thought maybe you would enjoy a bit.  this made me giggle...

perfect way to start the weekend right?  have a good one!  xo mrs. french

thank you crafty dogma for your divine collection of vintage photos and thank you miss moss for the introduction.

blissful eats with tina jeffers: Creamy avocado pasta

In my opinion avocado makes everything taste better, so why has it taken me so long to top my pasta with it?  I found myself with some extra avocados this week and wanted some pasta so I decided to combine the two and see what I could come up with.  The avocado lends such an unctuousness to the sauce that I may never use cream again.  

I love fettuccine Alfredo but never eat it because it is so full of saturated fat and calories.  And while this dish is not exactly low in calories, it's full of monounsaturated fat which in studies have found to lower cholesterol and it is thought to prevent inflammation.  Avocados are also loaded with 20 vitamins and minerals including vitamin E, vitamin C, folate, fiber, iron and potassium, plus they taste amazing.  I don't believe in cutting out all the fat from my diet, what would I be left with to eat?  Rice crackers and fat free cheese do not appeal to me at all.  There is room in my diet for everything in moderation, I find if I stick with real food, not the kind that comes from a box that I can eat delicious, tasty food without feeling deprived and still be happy with the numbers on the scale.

This dish is perfect for a those nights when you are home late and want to get dinner on the table quick.  It comes together in less than 15 minutes and you probably have most of the ingredients on hand.  The jalapeno adds a nice touch of heat and the lime zest and juice give a nice bright finish to the dish.

Feel free to experiment with the recipe and make it your own.  I can't wait for summer so that I can add some fresh corn and cherry tomatoes to the mix.  For a twist, swap out the basil with some cilantro and top it with a little cotija cheese

If you are craving something rich, creamy and ultra satisfying without all the guilt, this dish is for you!

Creamy avocado pasta

Ingredients:

1 medium ripe avocado, pitted

½ lime

2 garlic cloves

¼ jalapeno

¼ cup packed basil

1 cup spinach

1 teaspoon kosher salt

2 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

¼ cup freshly grated parmesan

1 pound whole wheat spaghetti

1 cup spinach

 basil leaves to garnish

Method:

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat.  Add the pasta and cook until tender but still al dente 9 -11 minutes.  Drain and reserve 1 cup of the cooking water.  Put the cup of spinach in the bottom of a serving bowl and  place the spaghetti on top and toss for a few minutes to wilt the spinach.

While the pasta is cooking make the avocado sauce.  Using a spoon, scoop out the flesh from the avocado and place in a food processor.  Zest the lime and add along with the basil, lime juice, garlic, jalapeno, basil, spinach, salt and pepper.  Blend until smooth. 

Pour the sauce over the pasta and toss everything together adding a little cooking water to loosen the sauce as needed.  Top with the grated parmesan and basil and serve. 

the work of lee jeffries

i have grown accustomed to coming across stunning images...since i started this little blog of mine, i have been lucky enough to see many things that stop me in my tracks.  i am rarely surprised by the talent i now see on a daily basis.  however, at this particular moment i am completely surprised and i can't seem to stop thinking about lee jeffries and his jaw-dropping, thought provoking portraits.

mr. jeffries started his true photographic journey after a brief encounter with a homeless girl huddled in a doorway.  he snapped a photo and the girl took offense...rather than turning away, he opted to sit a carry on a conversation with her.  her story touched him...so much so that he continued to talk to homeless folks and truly listen to their stories.  his compassion and understanding comes through in each photo...I am humbled by lee jeffries' work... 

i want to know the stories.  lee's photos have me craving information, i want to know what each of these little people have been through and i want to make it better.  i suppose lee jeffries is also a humanitarian; imagine if everyone that glimpsed his work wanted to make it better and actually did....just a thought.

xo mrs. french