Simplifying Your Garden Color Scheme

         One of the things we talked about in this month’s newsletter was making a harmonious, simpler palette for your garden.   And with the weather as incredible as it’s been, especially today, I can’t bring myself to sit inside!   Thinking about your garden like an outdoor room can be an excellent way to go about thinking with color.  Playing with pattern can create a really fun look too.   

Simplifying doesn’t mean scrimping on the color and here are some beautiful gardens show just some fun you can have with color!

Via B&L Mama

Via BHG

Via BHG

Via House & Garden

Via My Castle In Spain

WE WANT TO SEE YOUR FAVORITE GARDENS!  Post them on our thread or shoot us an email and we will add you to our Garden Delights Pinterest board!

I hope you all are enjoying the warmer weather—it’s so invigorating.  Here’s to a fantastic weekend of sunshine, family, and friends!

Have a great day,

Good Eats: San Miguel

            The food of San Miguel was so authentic and fresh with exciting ingredients.  I had some absolutely delicious meals from food stalls that were great to pick up a small treat to the beautiful rooftop outdoor dining spots to taste the local cuisine.  I was fortunate enough to take a Mexican cooking class when I was visiting and learned some interesting cuisine history and some great new techniques. 

            One of the best things we made was a traditional Three Milk Cake (Pastel de Tres Leches).  Tre Leches is one of the most popular Mexican dessert exports to the United States and remains popular in Mexico.  It’s a sponge cake soaked in three “milks:” sweetened condensed milk, evaporated milk, and cream.  At home, I have tried some great Tres Leches cakes but none quite topped this—and now I can replicate it at home!

Traditional Tres Leches Cake

Serves 12-15 slices

2 cups           Flour

1 tbsp.           Baking Powder

1 tsp.             Salt

7                    Eggs

1 cup             Sugar

¾ cup            Milk

2 tbsp.           Vanilla

14 oz.            Sweetened Condensed Milk

14 oz.            Evaporated Milk

1 cup             Cream

¼ cup            Rum (optional, but I highly recommend it!)

2 cups           Whipped Cream

(1) Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.  (2) Grease 2 9-inch cake pans.  (3) Place flour, baking powder and salt in a small bowl and blend.  (4) Separate eggs and place in two different mixer bowls.  Beat yolks with sugar for 2 minutes. (5) Blend milk with vanilla.  Add to bowl in three parts with dry ingredients.  (6) Whip whites until soft peaks form.  Fold into batter.  (7) Divide batter between cake pans.  Bake for 25-30 minutes or until done.  (8) Whip 3 milks and rum in blender.  (9) Invert hot cakes onto large, rimmed trays.  Begin pouring milk mixture on top, using toothpick to prick cake to help liquid soak in.  All milk should be absorbed.  (1) Decorate cake with fresh whipped cream.

A few snaps from my cooking course and some meal highlights!

            I hope you try this one out for yourself, it’s definitely a crowd pleaser!  And be sure to send snaps and thoughts about your experience!

Have a great day,

The Beautiful Architecture of San Miguel de Allende

            I’ve just returned home from an inspiring and rejuvenating art trip to San Miguel de Allende in Mexico.  San Miguel recently became a UNESCO World Heritage site and the Colonial and Spanish influence makes it such a quaint, beautiful place.  I was so fortunate to be visiting when the vibrant purple Jacaranda trees were blooming.  And the 'rooftop culture' of dining and outdoor spaces is a year round luxury in San Miguel with the beautiful weather.  Here are a few of my favorite architectural shots from the trip that I am so excited to share!

            Stay tuned this week as I share more from my travels, including a phenomenal Tres Leches cake recipe I learned taking an authentic cooking course!

Have a great day,

The Latest and Greatest from Scalamandre

            Today I was able to go to the unveiling of Scalamandre’s new and reinvigorated collection and boy was I impressed!   Scalamandre dominated the high-end fabric scene in the mid to late 1900s and you couldn’t sit in airliner without sitting on Scalamandre.  Think the glory days of air travel!  Under new ownership, Scalamandre is reinventing their products while paying homage to their unique style and classic prints.  I was impressed with the high durability of the fabrics while maintaining such a soft touch, so you don’t have to sacrifice comfort for style with the new collection.

            Feast your eyes on the new collection of striking chinoiseries, paisleys, and abstract prints in traditional and exciting contemporary hues!

            What do you think of the new line?  Are you a fan of their newest patterns and colorways? 

Have a great day,