sweets, hearts, and love

unfortunately, i have more studying this weekend than i have time for...

fortunately, i have already prodded around and im thinking that i will need to make the following during study breaks.

some valentines originals and some fun new ones,

all with a little "emily" twist!

chocolate-strawberry ice cream sandwiches

buttercream "xo" cupcakes

classic lollipop flowers

lovers teabags

cute? adorable? simple? lovable?

i thought so:)

januarys obsessions

since this is a little record of a few passions and plans of mine, i decided to let you know about a few of my recent obsessions so that you can try them too!

::: bok choy! i have tried this (and am in love!) and i am anticipating this for tomorrow nights dinner! my dad is also growing a massive amount of soy choy (similar to bok choy im assuming?) so that should be exciting and delicious!

::: social stratification! i am in love with my new class and yes, ill say it, reading the text for the class (ps my professor at cal poly wrote the book, fancy that!). i find it even more interesting when i am able to enjoy a fresh, toasted everything bagel (it even has little sea salt on it) from black horse coffee shop in downtown SLO.

::: michael buble's new cd- "crazy love". buy it on itunes, you wont be disappointed! and while you're at it, "i'm alive" by kenney chesney and DMB (if you aren't already in love)

::: freerice.com check it out, especially as we watch the haiti disaster unfold. for every answer that you get right the united nations world food bank will donate 10 grains of rice

::: anderson cooper's blog where i track everything newsworthy when im not watching the news

::: TOMS! i know its all over this blog but for every pair of shoes that you purchase right now, toms will send $5 to the american red cross. in addition, toms will be dropping off 30,000 pairs of shoes to haiti in the beginning of february... once again i love toms!

i know, i know most of this is about food. i cant help it, ive been raised to cook, eat, and serve other people food whenever possible! i hope your new years resolutions are coming along well!

happy january!!!

lucky, lucky me

only on the central coast is it this beautiful on january 13th. lucky me got to spend the morning at my favorite "jomamas coffee shop" in avila with some great friends, a mocha, and a piece of the most amazing veggie quiche in the world. who needs cars and diamonds when you've got your best friends and good food... not me!

goodbye avila, hello homework!

hwy 1 is for lovers

this year for christmas, brandon and i decided that we would continue our trend of going on a trip together rather than giving an item.

so this year it was cabin 65a in big sur!

we hiked, ate picnics, read books, sat by the fire and had hot cocoa and tea, went exploring all up and down hwy ones beautiful coastline, and ate a fabulous dinner overlooking the ocean. needless to say it was amazing and yet again am so lucky to be dating my bestest friend!

it was beautiful and full of everything "big sur"--- a man in a tye-dye shirt with a bandana gave us our keys to the cabin and threw up a peace sign as we drove off. amazing!

check me out! im getting a little artsy-fartsy when it comes to taking photos. go em!

don't you want your dentist and doctor to take up this style of "office"?

i certainly do!

big sur river hiking with my best friend.

i love you.

nepenthes restaurant for a romantic dinner.

tomato and goat cheese soup with garlic roasted homeade croutons... mmm delicious!

oh!!! and did i mention, this boy that i keep talking about got me a

mountain hardware jacket for christmas too!

he knows the way to my heart... food, the outdoors, and soft, comfy, warm fleece!

away in a manger

every year our extended family draws names to see who they will be giving a gift to on christmas day. this year i picked aunt mary! along with a set of vietnamese newspaper angels and a pair of handmade earrings made by poor, rural guatemalan montessori teachers (!!!!!) i made this nativity scene as a part of the present. thanks to hannah and dad's help we jig-sawed the wood and then i painted, glue, etc. until baby jesus looked just right! might i remind you that aunt mary is a lover of nativity scenes and all things handmade... hopefully this will be a great new addition to her collection of thousands!

merry christmas everyone! may your days be merry and bright!

(stay tuned to see more handmade gifts after then big christmas day!)

keeping it simple.

who doesn't love shortbread cookies and tea?

i know i do. a whole lot.

merry christmas friends! i hope you enjoy!

tutus from emaweee

anyone that knows me, knows that i L-O-V-E children.

and i have a especially soft spot in my heart for lisps, glasses, disabilities, and developmental delays

(i know... i just love them!)

this year its tutus for those that call me "emawee"!!! it wouldn't be christmas without a winter break full of living room ballet dances from my babysitties so i had to make tutus to further my fabulous five year performances. i hope you love them maddie and luna!

(sorry for the baby chair tutu holder, i promise that the tutus are much cuter on 32 lb. girls)

style your sole

as i have previously "blogged" about, i am the campus representative for the cal poly for the TOMS campus club (aka i am the liaison between the TOMS shoe company and the cal poly/slo community). the company was founded on a simple principle..."for every pair of shoes that you purchase, TOMS will send a pair to a child in need." simply awesome, right? i could go on and on about the company and everything but instead ill just let you check it out, here!

anyways, in the beginning of december, the TOMS campus club at cal poly with the help of a few very helpful and diligent people (shout out to sarah, paula, morgan, jennifer, and megan), put on a "style your sole party"!!! this is a social gathering in which people preordered TOMS shoes and then came to our event where we provided tons of paints, crafting supplies, do-dads, etc. to create their very own pair of TOMS shoes. in addition we screened the TOMS documentary called "for tomorrow" which was a bit hit!

idea: order a pair of TOMS for your sister, aunt, girlfriend, nephew, whoever for christmas and a pair of shoes will be sent to a child in need!

(btw this is the pair that i decorated for my sister for christmas... shh!)