Cocktails for Zelda

June 5, 2017

Image by Egle Athari

Hi there and welcome to The Craine’s Nest!

A friend of mine recently invited me to join a book club, and while I’ve always thought book clubs might be stuffy and uptight, I’m happy to have found this one is not! For the most part, it’s a great mix of girl talk, good food and drink, and an interesting discussion about the book that we’ve read. The group is made up of creative, entrepreneurial women, which is my comfy little nook, and I like that I’m reading books I wouldn’t necessarily choose for myself.

The first book that I read with the group, was Z: A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald, by Therese Anne Fowler. I’m not gonna lie… I was pretty bored for the first hundred pages or so and then, unexpectedly, everything turned around. The novel was suddenly brought to life with imagery and color, when Scott and Zelda, the dynamic duo, moved to New York City. Through many different countries and surroundings, Fowler did a great job of capturing their extraordinary personalities and their crazy, mixed-up love. She recreated environments of the era in beautiful detail, making me feel like I was right there with Scott and Zelda, at the many speakeasies, clubs, and hotels they frequented. With her vivid descriptions of the style, food, and drink of the day, Fowler created a lively backdrop for an array of colorful characters.

Fowler also included many a Jazz Era Cocktail (mostly all about gin!), such as the Orange Blossom, which is one of the drinks I’ll be revamping here, today. I jotted down all of the drinks as I read through the book, and I’ve put a modern spin on the ones that captured my imagination the most.

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DIY Seagull Bottle Stoppers

June 1, 2017

Welcome to the Craine’s Nest!

Lately, I’ve been dreaming about Summer. Mostly the cooler, younger summers of my teen years spent on the Central Coast of California. I filled many an afternoon hanging out with friends, getting beautifully bronzed via baby oil (it was the 80’s, what can I say?!!!), and swimming in the salty ocean water. Not a care in the world… it was REALLY fun and sort of heavenly. Free as a bird and completely oblivious- you really don’t realize that kind of freedom ’til it’s gone, do you?!!! Soft warm sand, gentle ocean waves, seagulls flying free… I have sweet and happy memories of those sun-kissed days!

labeled : DIY - Home Inspiration - Seagulls | 4 COMMENTS

Raspberry and Rosemary Mimosa with Sparkling Rose

May 18, 2017

Happy Spring and welcome to The Craine’s Nest!

The sun is shining, flowers are in bloom, and Mimosa Season is upon us!

The truth is, while I love the idea of mimosas, I’ve never been a huge fan of the OJ and Sparkling Wine thing… too sweet, too sticky, too much… so this Spring, I’ve been reinventing the traditional version, using fresh ingredients.

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Modern Spring Gift Wrapping with Flowers, Plants, Succulents, and Seagulls

April 19, 2017

Hi there and welcome to The Craine’s Nest!

Today, I’ll be showing you a modern take on gift wrapping that’s perfect for your Spring Occasion. Whether your heading to a wedding, baby shower, or birthday party, you’ll be able to find something in this variety of wrapping options, that works for you. From bohemian to romantic to beachy, these gift wraps are beautiful and unique.

My usual practice is to grab something right before a party, throw it in a bag with some tissue paper, and call it a day… but, I do love wrapping presents (especially if I’m not rushed!), and I had fun creating these packages. Painting the wrap and making the boxes would be a great afternoon project to do with the kids, and if you’re an organized-planner-type, you can do it ahead of time. It’s always nice to have things on hand when you need them. Done in advance or on the spot, you’ll find that even the most practical person, really appreciates a beautifully wrapped gift!

Giving a thoughtfully wrapped present creates a bit of ceremony. The person receiving the gift knows you took the time to make it special, and in turn, takes just a little more time to appreciate it. It’s a “stop and smell the roses” opportunity. Also, having a beautiful package available for a gift to inhabit, might just inspire and motivate you to buy that present ahead of time, instead of rushing to get it at the very last minute!

Fresh Spring Barbacoa Tacos

April 7, 2017

Barbacoa tacos

Welcome to The Craine’s Nest!

It’s been ages… but I’m back after moving our household from San Diego to Temecula. So happy to finally be settled in. Took me a while, but I can breathe again and I’m really excited about our new surroundings!

We’re here in food, wine, and farming country, and it’s gotten me excited about the idea of growing my own herbs and veggies. I’ve started a garden that consists of herbs like cilantro, basil, and thyme, as well as vegetables like artichokes, variations of hot and bell peppers, and a variety of heirloom tomatoes (and of course, flowers picked out by the one and only, Zoe):

Heirloom Tomato

Lemon balm

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DIY Nest Egg Planters

March 12, 2017

Welcome to the Craine’s Nest!

Spring is here! It’s fresh, it’s clean, and even in Sunny San Diego, where it’s beautiful all year round, Spring feels different. There’s no sign yet, of Summer’s hazy gray smog or 95 degree days. Spring is blue skies and a relaxing breeze. It’s comfort and renewal.

So, to celebrate flowers, green grass, and a breath of fresh air, here are some unique and adorable DIY Nest Egg Planters… and just in time for Easter!

labeled : DIY - Easter - Home Inspiration | 2 COMMENTS

Arugula, Mini Heirloom, and Burrata Bagel

February 5, 2017

Good Morning and Welcome to The Craine’s Nest!

This year I’ve become a big fan of breakfast. I’m usually a go-without-breakfast sort of girl, but recently, everything changed. I started feeling sick if I didn’t eat and mentally foggy, not to mention grumpy and starving! Needless to say, I’ve started eating breakfast. For most of my life, I was not hungry AT ALL in the morning. It was really convenient, because it was one less thing that I had to worry about at the beginning of the day! I’d have a little coffee, and be on my way. But now that everything has changed, and I’m ravenous by 9 am, I’m on a quest to find new and interesting breakfast foods. I’ve been trying out some recipes and I really like this Arugula, Mini Heirloom, and Burrata Bagel that I came up with the other day. Oh, and if you’re a non-breakfast-eater, you can whip this up for a light lunch!

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DIY Goat Planter

January 3, 2017

Hi there and Happy New Year!

It’s 2016 and I’m excited to start a new year! January means it’s time to put away the Holiday goods and refresh! Everyone is organizing, cleaning out, and throwing away… and there’s nothing quite like getting rid of ALL that junk, to clear your mind, and pave the way for new ideas. If you’re lucky, while scouring and purging, you may run across a few old things that seem new and interesting again. Finally, you have the perfect idea for that tacky goat’s head coat hanger you bought ages ago! I KNEW I could do something with this thing… and I’ve had lots of ideas for it along the way. First, I was simply going to paint it, and hang it on the wall. But that was too boring. Then I was going to decoupage strips of a white and gold Moroccan paper that I found at World Market, and hang it on a balsa wood backdrop. I think that would’ve been really pretty, but I never got around to it. Finally, after leaning it up against a terracotta planter, to move it out of the way while cleaning, I realized that was it! Serendipity!

So, here is my DIY Goat Planter. It was seriously easy to put together, and ended up being the perfect accessory for the empty space in my bookshelf. A little gold (or whatever color you choose), a little greenery, and voila! You’ve got an adorable Mid- Century-esque accent to brighten your home… and in this month of the goat, what could be a more perfect birthday gift for a Capricorn? Problem solved. You’re welcome.

This DIY is so simple, that once you have everything you need, it can be done in about an hour. Let’s get going!

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DIY Mini Planter Box 3 Ways

November 15, 2016

Hello and Happy Autumn!

Here are some sweet little planter boxes that I found in the Dollar Bin at Target, for $3.00 each. I don’t think it’s actually called the “Dollar Bin” anymore, since some of the items are $1, some are $3 and some are 5… but who’s complaining when they offer such awesome trinkets, at these prices!

3 boxes. 3 levels of DIY. 3 adorable creations!

These boxes can be used for anything from plants and flowers to office supplies to gift baskets. Fill them with Autumn gifts if you’re going to someone’s house for Thanksgiving dinner or plant them with mini Amaryllis for a Pre- Christmas offering. Stuff them full of beautiful baubles for Christmas or give them as a New Year’s present filled with candles and mini bottles of wine or champagne!

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Indian Chicken Curry with Lentils

November 1, 2016

Hi there! Welcome to The Craine’s Nest!

Today, I’m going to show you how to make a really delicious, really easy, and really healthy Indian Lentil Stew. I’ve been making this dish for years, and to tell you the truth, when I throw it together, it’s never the same as the time before. I have a VERY hard time following recipes… even my own! But, I’ve been asked for this one so many times, that I’ve had to figure out my best rendition… hopefully, that’s what you’re getting here, today.

labeled : Food | 3 COMMENTS