Nectar & Light

finally!  right?  i know, i know.  and i know i keep saying i will be better about posting more recipes, but this time i mean it.  really.  or at least more food related posts.  will that work?

in the meantime, i give you the most delicious shrimp and grits recipe i have had outside of the south.  but this one is inspired by bobby's.  i found his recipe a few nights ago and had to give it a try  - with my own twist of course.  and something about the heat of the day called for an icy cocktail as well.  enjoy...

shrimp & grits:

~ 4 c. water

~ salt and pepper

~ 1 c. corn grits

~ 2 T butter

~ 2 t olive oil

~ 1 c. shredded sharp cheddar

~ 1 c. shredded havarti

~ 1 lb shrimp, peeled and deveined

~ 8 slices of thick rashers

~ 2 t lemon juice

~ 1 garlic clove

~ 1 T fresh thyme

bring water to a boil.  add salt and pepper then pour in the cup of uncooked grits.  stir just a bit then partially cover the pan - let simmer until all of the water is absorbed. {*note:  people can get rather picky about the definition of properly cooked grits - if you like them a bit soupy {like my husband} pull them off the heat when the consistency resembles a thin oatmeal.  if you want your fork to be able to stand up in them - like me - they can go a bit longer}  once cooked, add butter and cheese - stir until well incorporated, cover and set aside.

while the grits are cooking, fry the bacon until cooked as desired.  pat dry with a paper towel and roughly chop - set aside.  add the clove of garlic to the bacon grease - when it begins to turn gold, add the shrimp, lemon juice and thyme.  cook until the shrimp are pink.  toss in bacon.

to serve - plate grits and spoon shrimp mixture over - and holy heaven.

the rangpur sunrise:

let me start by saying that when i mix drinks - i never really measure anything and i tend to pour enough for 4-6 people as opposed to two - just keep that in mind when reviewing the measures... taste it - you will know if it's right.

~ 1 c. tanqueray rangpur gin

~ 1/4 c. fresh lemon juice

~ 4 c. orange juice

mix together well and pour over ice - garnish with orange slices... and be warned it goes down wicked easy. 

happy summer...

xoox~jla

good day.  if you signed up for the photo trade for the summer, you should have received your partner's information yesterday via email.  have fun with it friends...

some things i am loving:

~ this project by my dear friend... she is such a talent and an inspiration; this looks to be amazing.  i hope to participate myself - if you are interested, email her for more information.

~ this has been one of my favorite records for as long as i can remember - it transports me to days of warmth, laughter and the wind fingering roughly through my hair on summer road trips - so i am looking forward to creating new memories with this;

~ loving her work;

~ still loving the bright side project;

~ this photograph;

~ and you need to make these.

xoox~jla

p.s.  i have a recipe for you on thursday... i promise.  i already took the photo and everything. ;)

1.  you were the greatest surprise of my life; i had no concept of how much you would change our existence.  we smile more, we laugh more, we love more - because of you sweet girl.

2.  it is bittersweet love - you are the baby - you always will be; but i see the little girl you are becoming take blossom and radiate with joy and love.  and though i feel as if one of the most significant times in my life is coming to an end, i anticipate the next chapters - you and your sisters growing into little ladies, with the sweetest of happiness.  happy birthday ari rose... i adore you.

xoox~mama

i was so excited to receive the first set of note cards today from chronicle - they are AMAZING.  can you see the envelopes?  polaroid frames where the address goes - perfection!  you can pre-order here.

xoox~jla

p.s.  thank you so much for all of the 'la dolce luce' love - overwhelming!

spend your summer in italy with me... la dolce luce.

p.s.  and check this out - the polaroid note cards!!  you can pre-order now!!!

good day friends.  i have something very special to share with you today.  la dolce luce, "the sweet light", is a special summer shop that will open tomorrow {tuesday} at 10am CST - it will feature the polaroids i took while in italy and be open just for the summer.  to have a sneak peek at some of the work, you can visit la dolce luce portfolio on my website.  and as a summer special, if you purchase any three 8x8 prints, you will receive a 4th for free {further details in the shop tomorrow}.  

more soon...

xoox~jla 

hello there.  i am home, so very tired, but home.  i will share thoughts and polaroids soon {the shot above was just across the lane from the house we were staying in} ... i hope you are all having a lovely summer...

xoox~jla

tomorrow i will be boarding a plane with one of my best friends of 20 years.  after a 9 hour layover in munich {in which we hope to partake in a biergarten or two} we will be heading to pisa and driving to lucca.  work and play will ensue for two weeks.  i have been grappling with the decision of taking the laptop and scanner and trying to stay connected - sharing the experience on the way.  but in truth, what i need more than anything, is to unplug.  the computer is staying.  but i promise lots of love when i get back, the polaroids are coming... three of them.  have a lovely june friends and i will see you on the other side...

xoox~jla

p.s. i was featured in the small bites section of the summer issue of small magazine... enjoy and remember, cookies make everything better.

{image from my first visit with the elusive leaning tower - took den and i hours to find the silly thing - signs are a bit lacking in pisa}

it is with much excitement that i bring you the news that adie loves polly is back.  adie and i {mostly i} will make every effort to post her polaroids every monday.  she has missed sharing her photographs with you so much... please give her a warm welcome back and i read every single comment to her - she just glows - thank you!  if you would like to see her work from last year, click here.

more exciting news... i will start taking sign-ups for the summer photo trade now.  if you are new to The Trade you can check out our rules here and catch up with us here.  so much has changed in the way we did things over the year last year, it is imperative that you read and comply with the posted rules.  we will NOT have a cap on the number of people who sign up this time around.  please sign up here and be sure to do the following {if you miss any of these steps, you will not be included in the trade}:

~ you must email your full name, mailing address and link to your flickr account.  yes, you must have a flickr account to participate this time around.  it makes it fair to all of those involved who take such care photographing their packages for the flickr group pool.  do NOT send your screen name, please send an actual link to your flickr page.

~ you must state in your email that you have read and agree to the rules of the trade as noted here. {again, please disregard the mention of caps on the number of sign-ups accepted}.

note that if you neglect to include any of the above requested information, you will not be assigned a partner in the trade.

*sigh* now that the formalities are out of the way - the theme is obviously... summer!  please submit your request by 22 june - you will be emailed your partner's information on 29 june.  packages should be posted no later than 24 july.  if you miss this trade, we will be hosting a holiday trade this winter as well.  have a wonderful time with this friends...

xoox~jla

my baby brother and his little family of gorgeous women are in town for a few days... it makes me feel whole when he is here and i remember that everyday is such a gift.  have a lovely weekend friends...

xoox~jla