S'meaches

S'Meaches from Claire Thomas on Vimeo.

Cold Spring Tavern, I wish you were closer

Another family trip North! Here's a little more of Cold Spring Tavern:

I had my usual vegetarian quiche and then attempted this poor old piano we found outside... it worked slightly better than it looked like it would.

Today's Picks! *or* A Rant About Black Friday

1. As you probably noticed from current news, peeps are sticking it to The Man lately. Many average American people don't have it as easy as before and nobody likes the people who do. So, in true Occupy Wall St. fashion, support the little guy this Christmas/Chanukah/winter AND save some money on affordable gifts! These bennykelly scarves are ridiculously comfy and completely fashionable. The first circle scarf I ever saw many years ago was from this designer. She's the cutting edge and you need her in your life.
2. Terrariums! Do I need to explain how awesome this is? If you have a black thumb like me, you can buy a complete kit from Terrain. Otherwise, I highly recommend getting creative.
3. Cheap sustainable apparel! I've been buying from Threads for Thought at Whole Foods for years, and you can find even more on the brand's website.
4. Rock your holiday parties and 'damn The Man' (see #1 above) in something truly unique like this necklace I spotted on Etsy. Nobody already saw it at the mall or on someone else.
5. Oh, Lupicia, I love you so! Check out Carol tea which comes out only for the Christmas season each year. It's a favorite at my house. BTW this is a Japanese company. Remember? That disaster we all donated to a while back? They're still cleaning it up even now that it's no-longer top news. Here's a link for the American Red Cross, because we'd all like to think someone would help us if we were in such need.
6. I love the sustainable Christmas trees my family gets every year, but they don't have the strongest scent. This year we're filling the living room with tree scent via these Illume candles from Anthropologie. They smell perfect and they aren't made of poisonous ingredients like the candles I see elsewhere.
7. Is anybody else sick of holiday consumerism? I realize our economy runs on it and Christmas presents are so much fun, but I feel like the US needs to quit overspending! We are a culture that buys crap! Loads of crap! For ourselves, for each other... if the money is in our pockets, we buy crap with it. (Yes "we!" I'm guilty as well!) ...For years I've dreaded holiday shopping, and yet we all go back and wade through crowds to wait in ridiculous lines to give our money away because we have to give our loved ones something else to add to their piles of crap. ::insert painful landfill/my bedroom image here:: ...These are the festive cupcakes I baked and decorated that were served at a holiday charity event recently. (What?! I donated time and money and passed on something else like coffee or a fancy meal out?! Yes! And you can do it too!) I think more of my friends might be getting baked goods this year. *Note: You can waste less food if you share!*

(Also, since I mentioned it, here's a well-written critique of OWS. While I'm a progressive person who cannot blame people for being angry about the state of our economy, I believe in real, practical solutions. I support parts of the Occupy movement that I think can lead to a valuable outcome: financial consciousness in American government and everyday life ... For the rest of it, here's THIS article.)

In conclusion, I'd like to encourage everyone to get creative and even more thoughtful this holiday season, in whatever way you see fit... even if you choose to buy from a large corporation. ...They probably employ lots of nice folks.

Wishing everyone happy and cozy holidays!!!!!!!
(with minimal credit card bills)

Santa Ynez Day Trippin' Part IV: Farm Fresh

Yes, we kept going! Our next stop was the peace barn I blogged about previously. I cannot pass this exit off of the I-101 without buying their organic heirloom tomatoes, and the pumpkin everything was delightful as well.

Wait a minute. There's more. Just past the farms is a hike so easy, it should be called a stroll. Even my mom could enjoy this one. So we took a short detour to see the waterfall and take in some fresh air.

Santa Ynez Day Trippin' Part III: Huber Cellars

Yes, we packed a lot into this one day! ...Next up was wine-tasting. This is something that my family hasn't been interested in for long, but after my parents dropped their last daughter, me, off at school in Santa Cruz, they passed through wine country and stopped on a whim. Good thing, because they could use the excitement! Now they like to do a tasting now and then. None of us have the most sophisticated taste, (I'm thinking of a certain purchase of a case of unpleasant Merlot my mom "loved.") but you really don't have to know much to enjoy yourself.

We went to Huber Cellars because the grandson of the owners sold my dad is last car. Good way to pick a tasting room right? Well, it worked. We had such a lovely experience!

The winery is run by a sweet elderly couple, who's tasting room is attached to their home on their vinyard. You drive up a dirt road lined with vines, park in their driveway, and follow the signs around the side of their house to the patio. Here you'll be greeted by a sweet dog named Heidi, who has two different colors eyes and is beautiful. The tasting room is tiny and built into the house, but we went on such a beautiful day that they'd set up outside. The tasting was accompanied by home-made treats by Mrs. Huber herself, including Jalapeno Jelly which was available for a $5 donation to the Humane Society. (Obviously this woman and I have a few things in common.) Mr. Huber poured the wine and we sat on their patio with their dog and admired the gorgeous property and weather. It was so very comfortable and so perfectly beautiful. To me this was a flawless presentation. ...and the wine was good too. We bought a few bottles of three different kinds. I loved it so much. Huber Cellars is a lovely secret to share with your friends on a beautiful day on the central coast.

Santa Ynez Day Trippin' Part II: Cold Spring Tavern

Cold Spring Tavern, in the Santa Barbara Mountains, is a restaurant my family has visited and loved for years. We even had Thanksgiving there one year, long before I became a vegetarian. I love the place and hadn't been since starting CABINOLOGY, so I ate a lot of good food and took a lot of cabin photos. So many photos, that I had to make a series of collages to make it easier to share most of them. I can't wait to go back soon.

Sweet Autumn

I'm drinking that Sweet Autumn tea from Lupicia right now (with frothed milk) and I just pulled hot pumpkin bread out of the oven. I've never experienced anything like this tea. Roasty-delicious. Perfect for a brisk Fall day. I can't recommend it enough.

Sunset Baking

Every room with a West-facing window was pink this evening at sunset, following a thundery day. 

 ...Then it started to rain (!?) and we could hear all the neighborhood children screaming and laughing as they played in it. It only made sense to bake Chewy Molasses-Spice Cookies... mmmm Fall.

T by Alexander Wang & moto boots

It's been a few years since I've had to go "Back to School," but I still have a hard time embracing Fall. Unfortunately my black pearl anklet from the Maui trip broke off last night, making it very clear to me that Summer is over... and it's also time to update my portfolio again! At least there will be cabin sweaters and Lupicia teas.

So far I've gotten a nice warm and cozy feeling from T by Alexander Wang, Fall 2011:

http://www.style.com/fashionshows/review/F2011RTW-TAWANG

...I also love love love the moto boots trend. I like these relatively affordable ones from Madewell. (Too bad they've been a customer service nightmare or I'd own them!):

http://www.madewell.com/madewell_category/SHOESBOOTS/boots/PRDOVR~18405/18405.jsp

Fall comfort tea: Lupicia's "Orzo Caramel & Honey" mmmmm

http://www.lupiciausa.com/product_p/22280902.htm

Pie

Laguna beach weekend getaways with my friends mean BBQ yum and pies made by Richard of PieADay.com. Amazing.

Summatime

Love these anklets I spotted on a young girl at Cheeky's in Palm Springs. It's been a few years since I spent the summer making friendship bracelets, but I think I need to stop by a craft store soon! (The food is amazing, BTW.)

Good Food Happy Hour at LACMA's Stark Bar

Good Food Happy Hour at LACMA's Stark Bar

A Sunny NYC Saturday

Brunch: 

Tbsp

17 West 20th Street, New York, NY 10011

The High Line:

http://www.thehighline.org/

Poker and Wine on a roof in Williamsburg:

Chocolate Cafe

Today the doorman asked me what state I'm from. He could tell I'm from CA because I'm so "mellow" he said. I was certainly in a laid back mood. I went walking today to Whole Foods and Anthropologie for some little errands, then stopped in at my favorite cafe on 20th st near the apartment, "Chocolate Cafe". ...That isn't actually the name (It's L.A. Burdick), but it has signs in front that say that. I sat alone in a cafe for what may have been the first time. I tried really hard to be comfortable with it and pretend I'm French. Might have to go back and do it again just to make sure...

http://www.burdickchocolate.com/stores-and-cafes-nyc.asp

Yogi wisdom

I'm staying with a yogi while I'm in NYC. Meghan Nichols is highly recommended for classes and private sessions!!! You can check out her website here: http://meghannichols.com/Welcome.html

So far my favorites have been private restorative yoga (my kinda thing! so relaxing!) and her Friday at 12:30PM Yoga Blend class at Sports Club LA Upper East Side, which strikes a perfect balance between difficult and soothing. If I were staying in NYC I'd like to work privately with her on my hammies and I'm dying to try her Zenyasa class.

Wisdom from my favorite tea brand:

http://www.yogiproducts.com/

God's Gifts NYC

I happened upon a rubber stamp shop called "God's Gifts" tonight and completely regret not buying a rubber stamp just for the novelty of it. Might have to venture back for a souvenir...

Elsa, NYC

I went out on the town with a newly-single friend from FIT last night. We visited a lovely little bar called Elsa, which had interesting drinks with creative names like "Invitation to a Beheading" and "Death of a Ladies Man." I was thinking of home yesterday so I ordered a "Surfer Rosa." A glass of spicy yum, similar to a concentrated Bloody Mary, with a bottle of Pacifico to mix to taste. It was cool.

http://www.elsabar.com/

PieADay

A cabin should smell like pie and these pies from PieADay.com are amazing!

http://www.pieaday.com/

And while you're baking/eating pie you can listen to this cabin-y song:

Moroccan Magic

http://wikitravel.org/en/Marrakech

Hotel La Mamounia, Marrakech

http://www.mamounia.com/

Majorelle Garden:

http://www.jardinmajorelle.com

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Majorelle_Garden

And if, like me, you aren't going to Morocco anytime soon enough...

http://www.etsy.com/shop/click2egyptcom

http://www.republicoftea.com/