Sacramento Street

On the Menu: Herby Lentil Salad

Caitlin — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 20:00:29 +0000

Are you on the hunt for a go-to side or salad for lunch? This recipe from Susan of Peas and Love is the perfect summer salad to bring into the office or to a picnic in the park. The combination of mint and parsley with the lentils is incredibly refreshing.

Herby Lentil Salad

Ingredients:
1 cup Green Lentils
1 cup Water
1 cup Vegetable Stock
1 Tbsp Apple Cider Vinegar
3 Tbsp Olive oil
Juice of 1/2 a Lime
1 Tbsp chopped Cilantro
2 Tbsp chopped Parsley
1 Tbsp chopped Mint
2 Carrots, diced
1/2 Red Pepper, diced

Directions:
1. Cook lentils in water and stock, and bring to a boil.

2. Turn down to a simmer and cook until tender all the way through (adding more water if necessary), about 30 minutes.

3. Toss the lentils with the vinegar, salt and black pepper. Let sit for 5 minutes.

4. Taste and add more salt and vinegar if needed. Add the oil, herbs, carrots, lime juice and red pepper. Stir to combine.

5. Keep cooking until lentils are cooked to softness.

6. Garnish with 1/2 cup crumbled goat or feta cheese.

Recipe & Food Prep by Susan Whang / Photography & Styling by Caitlin Flemming

a brand new week . . .

Caitlin — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 22:40:25 +0000

This Monday morning was a little harder to get back in the groove – we jetted off to Napa for a stunning wedding at Durham Ranch. You can check out the pictures I shared on instagram. Love was definitely in the air that night and it was a pleasure seeing Crystal and Andrew’s love for each other – it was truly magical. Sunday I decided I needed to get a bit more active and went to my first ever Soulcycle class . . . it was motivating, energizing and so so hard. Today I can barely move my arms but that means it’s working, right?

This week I’m inspired by the new issue of Elle Decoration, a few books I have on my bookshelves, the last peony from our Blooms in Season post and a candle by Aerin that has been making our house smell amazing.

I hope all of you have a productive work week ahead!

Photo by Caitlin Flemming

Weekend Inspiration

Caitlin — Sat, 15 Jun 2013 18:15:06 +0000

After a productive work week it’s time to escape the fog and head up to Napa. Eric and I are off to celebrate the wedding of one of my dear friends. Weddings are always a special time – it’s a time to celebrate the union of a beautiful couple, to see the friends and family brought them together, and best of all a time to dance! This wedding in particular is going to be a blast because I have a handful of friends (fellow bloggers) coming in for the celebration.

Whether your staying close to home or going on a weekend adventure, I hope all of you have a lovely weekend!

Image from Jose Villa

I’m Loving . . .

Caitlin — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 15:15:10 +0000

As I work on designing my own workspace I’ve been on the hunt for shelving inspiration – I love the simplicity and clean lines of this design.

Our house is a mix of blues, grays and whites – the colors of this living room have been inspiring me while decorating the new apartment.

I’ve been a little fearful that I can’t pull of stripes on stripes but since my bf Gwyneth does it so well it’s giving me a little confidence to try it out.

Eric and I have been thinking about doing a weekend road trip to somewhere close by and since we’ve never been to Big Sur (shocking since we live so close), we are starting to research places to stay, hikes to take and restaurants to enjoy. If you’ve been please pass along recommendations!

Classic weekend wear is what I love – throw on a t-shirt and sandals and off you go. Why complicate things?

Room Anatomy

Caitlin — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 18:00:10 +0000

To celebrate summers arrival, this week’s Room Anatomy features a fun, fresh and feminine bedroom space with coral accents. A lush cashmere throw, soft watercolor illustrations, and trellis embroidered bed linens each with a hint of pungent coral tones may be all you need to brighten up a simple white space. Inslee Hayes fashion illustrations are a new found obsession! Add a few polished brass accessories such as these featured vintage bookend jacks and a vase of peonies to complete the look.

Image Source: Style at Home

Room Anatomy by Authenticity B. for Sacramento Street

Blooms in Season: June

Caitlin — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 18:15:04 +0000

There’s something very special about peonies – they are beautiful, colorful and most girls favorite flowers. With such a short season every year that can never really be determined in advance (sometimes they bloom early or late) everyone flocks to them when they are in abundance. Right now, they are everywhere – twitter, instagram, and Trader Joes (you have to love the $6.99 price tag). Over the past few weeks I’ve picked up several bunches myself. What I realized is I know nothing about the different varieties of peonies. I thought there were maybe two or three but little did I know there are five! I enlisted Natalie from Natalie Bowen Designs to put together two arrangements – one with one variety and the second with all five. Both are stunning! Read on to learn more about your favorite flower.

How many varieties of peonies are there?

There are hundreds of varieties of peonies that are grown. In the height of the season there are about twenty different varieties available at one time at the Flower Market.

Why are peonies in season May – June so much better if we can get them the rest of the year?

Their season is from the beginning of May until the very beginning of June. This season went by really fast. We are nearing the end of the season in a week or so.

Where are these varieties from?

The varieties here are from Oregon. We get some peonies from California but the Oregon grower really has the best this time of year. During other times of year imports come from Israel, New Zealand and Chile. Shipping from so far away adds to their cost when they are out of season.

When you buy peonies and they are closed, how long does it take them to open?

It depends on their variety and some open faster than others. When they are in their first stage as a small ball, feel them to see how hard they are. If they feel like a walnut then they will take about four days to open. If they are softer, then they will open in a day or two.

Is there a trick to opening them up fast?

Other than patience? Warm water, indirect sunlight, fresh water every day and a sharp cut at an angle all help them open faster.

If peonies aren’t in season, is there an alternative people should use?

In the Summer I suggest garden roses and dahlias and in the Spring I suggest ranunculus. But, there really is not a substitute. That is what makes them so special!

Do you have a soft spot for peonies?

I adore peonies. They have become one of my favorite flowers and I actually chose my wedding date according to when we would get the best peonies that year. I love them because they are so pretty as just one stem own or in a mass.

Check back next month for another fabulous flower post!

Flowers by Natalie Bowen Designs // Photos by Caitlin Flemming

On the Menu: Minty Watermelon Salad

Caitlin — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 19:00:40 +0000

As hot summer days approach across most of the country Susan of Peas and Love and I wanted to create a refreshing salad you can make for lunch or bring to a picnic in the park. I’m eating so much watermelon lately – juice, salad, and even on its own with a little lime. Susan jumped at the chance to share her Minty Watermelon salad with all of you – the combination of mint and cilantro is delicious – I love cilantro in anything. I hope this salad makes an appearance at one of you barbeques in the near future.

Minty Watermelon Salad

Ingredients:

3 cups Watermelon, cubed

1 Tbsp Parsley, chopped

1 Tbsp Cilantro, chopped

1 Tbsp Mint, chopped

1-1/2 Tbsp Crumbly White Cheese (I used Sheep Feta)

1/2 tsp Chili Powder

Juice of 1 small Lime

Sprinkles of Salt

Directions:

1. In a bowl, combine Watermelon, chopped herbs and cheese together.

2. In a small separate bowl, mix lime juice, chili powder and salt together.

3. Pour dressing over the mix of melon and herbs. Toss lightly, serve and enjoy!

Recipe & Food Prep by Susan Whang / Photography & Styling by Caitlin Flemming

Getaway: Zero George Hotel in Charleston

Caitlin — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 12:00:54 +0000

Where do I even begin? Charleston had been on my list of places to visit for quite some time. When I received an invitation to go back to High Point Market in April I knew this was my chance to take a road trip down to South Carolina. My travel companion Grant and I rented a car and took to the southern highways – there may have been a stop at Bojangles and Sonic. As we drove into Charleston I knew we had made the right decision to take a few extra days off to enjoy this beautiful city.

First and foremost, we stayed at a small boutique hotel – the Zero George that was charming, beautifully decorated and the beds were so comfy I didn’t want to get out of bed in the morning. We made friends with other hotel guests over complimentary breakfast and wine in the evening – they were from San Francisco and live a few blocks from our neighborhood (small world!). The Zero George is located right in the middle of town so it’s easy to walk to everything – shops restaurants and Church Street.

Now, onto the food . . . I don’t even know where to begin! I left Charleston saying it’s some of the best food I’ve ever had. I know that’s a big statement since I live in SF. but it was delicious! I have to be honest, Grant and I had done tons of restaurant research before we left and booked dinners, but the first night in Charleston we went to Fig (amazing) and sat at the bar. We just so happened to sit next to two general managers of The Ordinary. After chatting them up about what to do in the city they gave us a detailed food plan for the rest of our trip. I think without that we wouldn’t have had the same experience. Here is where they suggested:

- Two Boroughs Larder (for lunch)

- The Ordinary (for dinner) the oyster sliders are a MUST! This is hands down one of the best places I’ve eaten!

- Xiao Bao Biscuit (for lunch) order one of everything but definitely get the Okonomiyaki and Mapo Dofou.

- Fig (for dinner)

- The Peninsula Grill for the coconut cake.

This entire list has me hungry! I’m already planning another trip to Charleston for next April – I can’t wait to go back and discover more charming places to see and eat. I highly recommend adding this to your list of places to travel in the near future!

Photos by Caitlin Flemming

a brand new week . . .

Caitlin — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 18:50:09 +0000

This weekend was delightful. I escaped the cold misty fog for warmer temperatures in Marin to have lunch with a girlfriend, spent an afternoon at Lowe’s cutting shelving for a few of our closets, put together more furniture and then spent Sunday at home doing just about nothing with Eric finally home. I had full intention of working on organizing my office but when it came down to it I decided that taking the weekend off was more important. So this week, I’ll be working away on the boxes.

Spending time in our new home was such a treat. I played around with my Parsons bookcase styling all of our treasures. This week this stack of blue books given to me by my aunt and cousin for my birthday has me completely inspired! I love the different hues of blue they found.

I hope all of you have a productive week ahead. There are some fun posts coming your way this week and don’t forget to check out the Brooklyn Cruiser bike giveaway and the jcpenney $5,000 sweepstakes over on Pinterest!

Photo by Caitlin Flemming

Weekend Inspiration

Caitlin — Sat, 08 Jun 2013 00:30:26 +0000

After a whirlwind week, I’m winding down from all of my crossed off to-do lists projects that have been accomplished and I’m settling into the weekend with a huge smile on my face. Sometimes you have to push through the hard times and know that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Thanks for all of your sweet and kind words Monday – they definitely cheered me on this week!

This weekend I’m finally unpacking the last remaining boxes in our new apartment. It’s funny how one room always ends up being the dumping ground for boxes you don’t want to unpack or deal with after moving. Since all of them are in my office it’s high time for me to get it under control – I can’t wait to have it all organized and set up.

Hope you all have a glorious first weekend of June. Here are a few of my favorite links from the week!

- I’ll be kicking back and making this drink over the weekend.

- Since we didn’t have an “I’m Loving” post this week, pop over to Joslyn’s amazing inspiration.

- If you live in the Bay Area you should enter this Brooklyn Cruiser bike giveaway!

- Two San Francisco brands launched new sites this week – Cuyana and Bae Home.

- Joy’s post on setting goals definitely resonated with me throughout this busy work week.

- And lastly, be sure to check out jcpenney’s new home collection! It’s beautiful and while you’re at it you can enter their amazing $5,000 sweepstakes.

Be sure to check back Sunday for my Getaway post on Charleston!

Photo from trettien