pate whaaaa?

all images via martha stewart

so this weekend is the official kick-off to summer celebrations and outdoor entertaining.  hoooo-ray!
i stole some inspiration from martha.  {obvi}
and altho we may not all be whipping up the american flag tart this weekend, i think s'mores and a cute beverage cooler with an adorbs ribbon-tied opener is feasible!

for those of you feeling ambitious. . . 


You'll need two 4-by-14-inch tarts to create the flag. One tart has seven rows of berries and the other has six rows, so sort the berries according to size, using the smaller ones for the seven-row tart. If you like, bake another tart shell to have on hand just for serving. We used golden raspberries for the white stripes; red raspberries would work as well.
    • 2 recipes Pate Sucree Pate Sucree
    • Creme Fraiche Filling
    • 4 ounces semisweet chocolate
    • 1/2 cup apricot jam, for glazing blueberries
    • 1/2 cup raspberry jam, for glazing raspberries
    • 2 tablespoons water
    • 2 pints red raspberries
    • Confectioners' sugar, for dusting
    • 1 pint blueberries, picked over

Directions

  1. On a lightly floured surface, roll out a disc of pate sucree 1/8 inch thick to fit a 3 3/4-by-13 1/4-inch fluted, rectangular tart pan with a removable bottom. Brush off excess flour with a dry pastry brush. Carefully transfer dough to tart pan, tuck dough into the edges, gently pressing along sides, and allow excess dough to overhang the edges. Trim the dough by running your rolling pin over the dough against the edges. Gently shape the edges by pressing the length of your forefinger against each flute along the sides. Prick all over the bottom with the tines of a fork. Repeat with remaining disc of dough. Transfer to the refrigerator, and chill for 1 hour.
  2. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Remove chilled tart shells from refrigerator, and line each with a piece of parchment paper that overhangs the edges by at least 2 inches. Fill parchment with pie weights or dried beans. Bake until just starting to color, about 20 minutes. Remove parchment and weights from tart shells, and return tart shells to oven. Continue baking until tart bottom is golden, about 20 minutes more. Transfer tart shells to a cooling rack, and allow to cool completely. Carefully remove tart shells from pan.
  3. In a small bowl in the microwave or set over a pan of simmering water, heat chocolate until it is just melted, about 1 1/2 minutes; stir until smooth. Using the back of a spoon, line each tart shell with chocolate. Refrigerate to set, at least 5 minutes. Meanwhile, heat apricot and raspberry jams in two separate saucepans with about 1 tablespoon water in each; strain into separate small bowls.
  4. Make top tart: Remove one lined tart shell from refrigerator and spread 1/3 of the creme fraiche filling over the bottom. Arrange 3 rows of unglazed raspberries 2/3 the length of the tart, leaving space between each row and at the top and bottom edges for 4 more rows. Dust with confectioners' sugar until raspberries are completely coated. Toss blueberries in a bowl with strained apricot jam. Fill left third of tart shell with a layer of glazed blueberries arranged snugly in rows; top with another layer of blueberries. Toss half the remaining raspberries with the strained raspberry jam, and carefully fill empty rows with some of the glazed raspberries, rinsing your hands as needed.
  5. Make bottom tart: Remove remaining tart shell from refrigerator, and spread a third of the creme fraiche filling over the bottom. Arrange 3 rows of remaining unglazed raspberries, starting at the top edge and leaving space between each and at the bottom edge for 4 more rows. Dust with confectioners' sugar until raspberries are completely coated. Fill empty rows with remaining glazed raspberries.
  6. Arrange tarts on a large board or tray to resemble the flag, and serve with remaining creme fraiche filling on the side. Finished tarts will hold at room temperature for several hours.

    hey martha, you lost me at pate sucree!




jorts: love-love or not okay?

finally it's jorts weather! but are jorts okay?  i mean i worshiped daisy duke when i was way too young to be watching. . .


and then i've spent the greater majority of my adulthood mocking them. . . but now my favorite denim lines are offering them at 180 bucks a pop??
help!

j brand 

citizens


love-love or not okay?

skull-tastic

i don't ask for much.  {ha!}
but seriously, i often remind CBC that i'd be perfectly content with a tastefully decorated beach cottage, preferably on nantucket.  obvi.
like "skull cottage" for instance. . .
{he in turn reminds me that lil hoot needs to generate a bit more business.}

i had the pleasure of enjoying a few bottles of vino at this beauty last weekend.  
it's legit.
and by "legit" i mean, i wor-ship. 
every. last. glorious. detail. 





especially fond of the "movie room" and "candy bar".  
swoon.




love.


mootiful.


in case you were wondering,  at the click of a button, a tv does happen to emerge from the cabinet at the foot of this bed.
yes, please, thank you.

check out the new england home article for all the deets.
or just ask one of my ladies - we would all gladly relive our visit.

{thanks again, balz.  you're the shiz}


oneseas

thank goodness fabulous sarah of hip baby gear sent along this monday punday idea because after my weekend getaway, i'm operating at about 30%.  subtract another 5 due to the weather, and then another 10 just because it's a monday.

anyhoot, check out this adorbs local company. 

in the words of sweet sarah:


we just got in these cute onesies from a local company called Gloucester OneSeas-- part of her sales go back to The Project Ocean:


"gloucester oneseas is a line of children’s clothing that not only expresses our love for the sea and it’s creatures, but also supports it’s conservation. By partnering with The Ocean Project, we encourage parents to educate their children on what they can do personally to “go blue”. We are all connected to the ocean in many ways – the air we breath, the food we eat, even the pollution that makes it’s way down stream to our oceans. Everyone can make a difference, no matter how small, to do their part in conserving seashore and marine habitat for the children of the future. "



keeper

pinch me 

wailer




thanks again, sarah, for this puntastic gift idea.


and big thanks to my ashy for being the hostess with the bestass, to scotty for the toothbrush, and to all the ladies for the fun. fun. fun.  

once my brain cells re-generate {that happens, right?} i'll post more deets . . .

{ladies, i might need some assistance with this.}


frenchie friday: beach bound

i'm off for a gal's weekend with some fabulous ladies and lots o' wine.
{and with any luck a dance party or two . . .  totes just made a mix cd with OPP --among other classics} 

 our destination is my official "happy place."  i've had amazebalz times there with my fam  {and bonus: my favorite person on the planet lives there. obvi}  

the pups love-love it.
they aren't coming today.  {wah-wahhhh} 
but soon!

here's some of my fave pics of them from vacay a couple of years ago . .

ready to leave, in a very full car. . . 
me and my sweet jorge


his glory days . . .

sandy and delicious.

coming home from a long day at the beach



rare family photo of the 6 of us - it still counts if 4 aren't looking, right?
have an awesome weekend everyone and if you see george & loo. . . shhhhhh!  don't tell them where i went. 

hoot hoot! party time! raindrops keep falling . . .

the first time i saw this party- i was so impressed.
and i just revisited it because i thought what better party to share this week for obvious reasons.

check out all the amazebalz details on crossing the bugger-dixon line.    jenny really nailed it with this birthday showers theme for her son noah.  here's a peek at the incredible job she did.





love-love!

if i was at an adorbs party like this- i wouldn't even complain about this miz weather.  way to go, jenny and team!


Sources {as told by jenny}:
head to her blog for the links
Invitation & Celebration Circles by Pen n' Paperflowers
Wellies & Cloud Cookies by Dandy Delights
Flower Cookies by The Sweetest Thing
Rain drop cake balls made by me : )
Table Runner from A to Z Celebrations
Paper Straws and Favor Bags from Sugar Diva
Candy Cups & Giant Balloon (see it here) from Sweet Lulu
Paper Balls & Umbrellas from Oriental Trading

best. umbrella. evah.

packing my bags for a girl's getaway this weekend and the weather simply isn't cooperating.  i was planning on bringing lots of fun spring-y tops, perhaps even some open-toed shoes .  i mean, it is the end of may, for riggins' sake.

anywho, here's a peek at some new inspiration for the trip.


yup, it's jeans {not of the white variety}, Ts and rain boots.
{and no, i don't own the burberry trench and yes, i really will be traveling with a costco-sized bottle of advil.}

ummmm, how phenom is this umbrella?!  need.  it. . . now.