I haven’t mentioned this here yet, but I just might be headed to Maui on Thursday. I know, AMAZING! Don’t hate me, but I’d understand if you did feel a little jealous. I’d be jealous of myself. So, needless to say, I’m feeling all the tropical vibes these days. And I don’t think you get more Hawaiian then a Mai Tai.
I had to do a little research on this drink and like most cocktails, there are a lot of different versions. But, I kept coming across orgeat (or almond syrup) as an ingredient. Some versions used cream of coconut, but I feel like coconut belongs to the Pina Colada. And you know what, the orgeat is delicious in this drink. This one was a huge hit with my kids.
In a shaker, add the Blood Orange Juice, orgeat, lime juice and ice. Shake and then pour into a glass. This is quite a sweet drink, so be generous with the ice. As you sip, the ice will melt a bit and mellow the drink a bit. Garnish with a straw, a slice of blood orange and an orchid for a tropical vibe.
Adding a fresh orchid and serving these in fun Tiki glasses adds to the Aloha spirit of this drink. I found these glass at World market but, I also found this set of 4 on amazon.
Ok, let’s play dress up, with my living room. I’m not ready to redecorate the whole space, but I do love changing things up a bit.
I don’t know about you, but one of my least favorite things to try to decorate around is a TV. I’d rather not have ours on display, but the truth is, TVs happen. We don’t watch a lot of television, but once the kids are in bed and my brain is dead from the day’s tasks, I need an episode of one of my favorite Netflix shows. To try to give our TV a little less focus in the living room, I’ve hung a gallery wall around it. My hope is that it will blend in and your eye will be caught by an interesting piece of art instead. While we love our current Samsung TV, we have been wanting to upgrade but haven’t found anything to help elevate the style of our room.
But, I think there is a solution, a really pretty, stylish solution. Let me introduce you to The Frame by Samsung. Designed in collaboration with designer Yves Béhar, Samsung’s The Frame is the most beautiful TV you’ve never seen. The Frame challenges the traditional black box TV, by integrating a beautiful design with high-quality display technology. The Frame hangs flush to the wall, like a real picture with it’s revolutionary wall-flush mount, and it’s easy to install. And with its single, Invisible Connection The Frame connects to the One Connect Box, eliminating unsightly cables and uncluttered unnecessary clutter, and leaving your space beautifully curated. And don’t worry The Frame is not all beauty, it’s got brains as well. It offers 4K UHD viewing.
Here’s my living room now:
So, I decided to play a little in our living room. I took out our current Samsung TV and styled and redecorated the gallery wall over our credenza a few different ways. Then I digitally added in The Frame to see how it would work in our space. And, no surprise, I LOVE it. With The Frame I don’t feel like I’m making design compromises because it fits in with any style of decor. It’s just like playing with another piece of art.
I played around with 8 different looks and layouts. What do you think?
The Frame really is another piece of art for your home. The Frame transforms into a beautiful work of art when you are not watching TV. There are 100 curated pieces of art that you can choose from or you can also upload and display your personal photographs of family and friends as well. This feels like a total game changer for me. As someone who likes to change up things in my home, really often, I would love having the flexibility of being able to change the art in the Frame when I decide I want to play with a new color palette or when I want to change with the season.
This might be my favorite look, with a framed piece of Tapa Cloth from Papua New Guinea and the stunning redwood tree wood veneer piece my brother made.
The Frame also has customizable frames that have the flexibility to perfectly complement your home décor, with three additional bezel options in wood, white or metal. I played with the white frame and this fun architectural image from the curated art that comes with the frame.
When I’m in the market for a new TV, The Frame will definitely be my first choice. And then all the re-styling and re-decorating of my living room can be made super easy. I get a little giddy thinking about being able to change out art to match the season, color palette or just my mood.
The Frame just launched and is available in 65” for $2,799 and 55” for $1,999 starting 6/18 on Samsung.com and retailers nationwide.
The post is sponsored by Samsung, thank you for supporting the fantastic companies that help make this blog possible.
Today felt like a good day for a round up. I’ve been doing a lot of local design work lately. I’ve got 3 clients that I’ve been helping lately and a lot of what I do for them is just source products that I think they will love. But, in true Oleander + Palm style, I do hunt down a lot of really great deals. So, I thought I should share some of my finds with you as well.
I’m a huge fan of the round coffee table. I like playing with shapes when a style a space and usually living rooms are full of only squares and rectangles. Rugs, sofas, credenzas, and chairs have straight lines and angled corners. A round coffee table gives you a chance to change things up a bit. One of my all time favorite purchases is my West Elm Marble Topped Coffee Table (which is no longer available – so sad). It’s one of my favorite surfaces to style and restyle. This coffee table shows up on my Instagram Feed all the time. So, since I have so much love for my round coffee table, I felt like a should find some great options for you as well. And I can’t believe the prices on some of these super stylish pieces. All 24 coffee tables are under $200 and many are even under $100.
Happy shopping friends, I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised with the prices of these coffee tables.
This post really is for local folks only, or anyone who would love to move to Bakersfield. You guys, I have this fantastic studio space downtown Bakersfield. It’s 650 bright, white, light-filled square feet. I’ve had folks share this space with me this last year, but some have or are moving on. So, I’m looking for a new studio mate. Who wants to share this creative space with me?
If you are interested, send me an email at oleanderandpalm@gmail.com with Studio Rental in the subject.
Before I get to this super yummy and also very pretty Lemon Lavender Sorbet, I thought I should be honest about life lately. Oh boy, what a week! All the plans I had, kind of got thrown for a loop. That’s life right? Lately I feel like life it’s all up hill climbing, a little down hill or even a stroll through a meadow would be nice. The last 2 days have been filled with the worst kind of plumbing issues. Like ones that smell awful and cost thousands of dollars to repair. But, today we are heading to the mountains for a little backpacking trip. As much as I’m not in the mood to pack and prepare for camping now, I’m sure I’ll be glad to get away and enjoy some beautiful scenery and long hikes.
We are definitely in the 100s for temps now. We have been spoiled the last week with out of the ordinary cooler weather. But, now that Summer is officially here, I’ll be using my ice cream maker a lot more.
We love a anything lemon, so this Lemon Lavender Sorbet will be on repeat this Summer. Refreshing and unique, I can’t get enough of this recipe. I think it’s a winner. Head over to Natalie’s Orchid Island Juice Company for the full recipe.
We’re creeping close to being in our new house a whole year now! Wow, how did that happen? I really thought I would have a lot more done around here. But, man do we love this house, even though there is still lots of unfinished projects. Really, I’m a firm believer in loving where you live NOW, not when everything is finished and renovated. I think little changes and additions can really make a difference. I spend more time in our kitchen then any other room in our house and I don’t think I’ve shared a single picture of that room here on the blog. So, today I’m sharing pictures of our kitchen.
While I’d love love love to change the counter tops, re-tile the floors and repaint the cupboards, that’s just not in the cards yet. So, I’m giving this space a little attention with a few accessories and some inexpensive art. And I really love making things versus buying things for my home. I’ve teamed up with Mixbook again to come up with some fun DIY art for my kitchen.And while I am not an artist by any means, or even very skilled with watercolor paints, I had a lot of fun doodling with watercolors. Be sure to check out the Bathroom Art and California Wildflowers Canvases I made with Mixbook as well. They have so many great products for customizing art for your home.
Kitchens can be tricky rooms to decorate. They really don’t offer to much wall space and it is a space that needs to be “usable”. Real work and messes are made here, so too many cute objects and accessories can get in the way. So here’s a few things I’m doing to make this space our own without spending a ton of money or diving into a big renovation just yet.
There’s not a lot wall space, but I felt like I needed to find a way to break up all the cream cabinets and cream walls and cream trim. I started by making some really simple watercolor art pieces. And ya, if you like them also, you can download them for yourself HERE. I printed these 11×14 images with Mixbook .Their Poster Prints are high-quality large format photo prints that are really easy on the budget. They start at just $7.99 each and they come as big as 24×36. They also come in a glossy or matte finish. I chose matte for these watercolors.
The next change I made was a painted our back door black. It needed to be painted and I decided to take a little risk and try something different from all the cream paint color. The black made all the difference. It’s now the star of them room.
The counter tops could definitely be worse. Really my least favorite part of them is the grout. I feel like i’m cleaning it all the time. I’m really not a huge fan of cluttered countertops. But some pretty plants, fresh flowers, and some a few favorite pieces help disguise the very busy backsplash (which I’m not a huge fan of). Leaning cutting boards and framed art in strategic places gives me little moments and memories to enjoy as a work in the kitchen.
This is post is sponsored by Mixbook. Thanks for supporting the companies that help make this blog possible.
I think we just made the best decision for our Summer plans. We just signed up to for a pool membership! Yep, there is hope we will survive these 100 F plus days. We are only 3 days into Summer vacation, and my kids need a way to get exercise and burn some energy. Summer here is equivalent to a harsh winter elsewhere. Keeping kids looked up indoors all day is a recipe for sibling conflict and endless messes.
So, now that we will be swimming daily, beach towels were on my mind. The couple of beach towels that we own currently are over 10 years old and have definitely seen better days. So, I’m definitely in the market. I put together a little round up of some of my favorite finds. With so many good choices, I’m not sure which ones I’ll pick.
Did one catch your eye? I think my oldest would love the number 23, the Garden Rose. I love the big round towels, not only for the beach but also for a trip to the park or just for hanging out in the back yard. Number 5 is probably is my favorite, I’m always a sucker for Pendleton patterns.
Ok, I think this might be the best idea I’ve had in quite a while. You guys, I’m a huge fan of a gourmet donut. You know what I’m referring to – the $3-4 donut with unusual flavor combinations. Well, my town does not have a fancy donut joint. And while I do like making donuts from scratch, they can be very time consuming and messy. So, I’ve come up with a fun way to have that over-priced, trendy donut fad in your life without frying or spending a lot of money. Let me introduce you to Faux Gourmet Donuts!
I’m taking grocery store donuts (ya the ones that cost $5.99 for a whole dozen) and I’m giving them a gourmet makeover. I already shared the Boysenberry Rose Donuts in Wednesday’s post. But, I’ve have two more winning flavor combinations for you. Matcha Green Tea with Coconut and Lemon Lavender are two new favorites in our house. I topped regular cake donuts with the Boysenberry and Matcha icings and glazed yeast donuts with the Lemon Lavender. Oh my, these are so good. And I totally had my family fooled.
In a small microwave save bowl, combine the lemon juice and lavender. Microwave on high for 45 secs. Allow to cool completely. Strain off the lavender flowers. Add the powdered sugar and zest to the lemon juice. Whisk together until smooth. Dip the donuts in the glaze and top with a sprinkling of zest and a few lavender flowers.
In a small bowl whisk the green tea powder and cream together. Add the powdered sugar and whisk until smooth. This should be a very think frosting. Dip old fashioned or cake donuts in the frosting and top with a sprinkling of toasted coconut flakes.
Aren’t you glad we made it to Friday? Be sure to celebrate with a donut or 2. And if you really want to try taking on homemade donuts, these Lemon Old Fashioned Donuts a good place to start.
During Southern Californian Summers, we often try to do all our outdoor activities early in the day before it really heats up. So, to kick off the Summer I’m all hosting a Brunch Block Party. Move over BBQ get-together in the heat of the day, I think getting an early start is a great idea. Plus, who doesn’t love brunch food? It’s the best of breakfast and lunch. Here’s the menu I put together, I kept it simple and seasonal. I’ve teamed up with Pier 1 Imports to throw this fun Brunch Block Party. There’s a little for everyone. Keep reading, I’m sharing all the recipes.
Our house has a fantastic, huge front porch. Lately, we have been spending a lot of time out there. It’s very shaded and really has so much space for entertaining. I recently re-painted a vintage sofa my mother-in-law gave me. I replaced the cushions with some white and grey pillows from Pier 1 and it’s like a brand new piece of furniture. I also added two slings, which my kids are loving, but they also provide 2 more places for folks to sit. This porch is the perfect spot for a neighborhood block party brunch. With lots of shaded area and plenty of room to spill over onto the front yard, it’s a great space for hosting a crowd. Plus, the best part of outdoor entertaining, is that all the mess stays outside!
I picked up a few outdoor entertaining essentials from Pier 1 Imports to make out front porch feel I little more like another room in our house. I few great pillows, a pretty lantern, some really cool melamine serving dishing and a touch of peach with some fun linens, and now it’s our favorite room in the house.
I love wood grain and marble, it’s such a pretty combination. But, who wants to be hauling heaving dishes and trays in and out of the house. I love these melamine serving pieces from Pier 1. They are modern, minimal and just plain good looking dishes AND they are totally unbreakable. Probably my favorite new outdoor entertaining item is the grey wood grain serving bowls. Not only are they pretty, but you can fill the bottoms on the bowls with ice and they keep your food chilled. How cool is that?
Ok, let’s start with the drinks, because I’m pretty sure a party is only as good as the drinks that are served. Since it’s brunch, coffee and mimosas are a must. I love a twist on something traditional, so I came up with a fun Grapefruit Sage Mock-Mimosa and too keep everyone cool, Mint Mojito Iced Coffee.
Grapefruit Sage Mock-Mimosa
6 cups Grapefruit Juice
1 liter Ginger Ale
1 cup sugar
1 cup water
1 tbsp. finely chopped fresh sage
ice
grapefruit slices and sage leave for garnish
Start by making the sage simple syrup. In a small pot, place the water, sugar and sage. Bring to a boil and boil for one minute. Remove from the heat and allow to cool completely. I like to leave the mint leaves in the syrup as long as possible. When you are ready to serve the drinks, stain off the sage with a fine metal sieve. Store the syrup in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
In a large pitcher, combine 6 cups grapefruit juice, the sage simple syrup and the ginger ale. Stir and serve poured over ice. Garnish glasses with a fresh sage leaf floating on top and a slice of grapefruit on the rim on the glass.
And if you want to make it an adult version, champaign can easily replace the ginger ale.
A party isn’t a party without some sweet treats. So I created some faux gourmet donuts. Ya, I’m making this a thing. Bakersfield is a great place to live, but we do NOT have a fancy donut shop. You know what I’m talking about – the $3 donuts that come in fun flavor combinations with pretty icing. So, I decided I’d make my own. I bought a dozen plain buttermilk cake donuts at my local grocery store. Then I mixed about 1/4 cup boysenberry syrup with 1 cup of powdered sugar. I microwaved it on high for 30 secs. stirred it again and then dipped the donuts in the frosting and sprinkled some dried rose petals. Ta-da – instant gourmet donuts.
But hey, if you have a fun donut shop, pick up a dozen, and serve them at your brunch. I guarantee your guests will be pleased and it will save you sometime.
To balance out the donut situation, a yummy green salad is always a good idea. I mentioned it earlier, but these grey wood grain melamine bowls are pretty darn cool (literally). You can fill the bottom part of this bowl with ice and not worry about your salad getting warm or wilted outside in the heat.
White Nectarine and Macadamia Nut Salad
3 white nectarines
1/2 cup whole macadamia nuts
1 cup yellow cherry tomatoes, halved
6 oz. log of herbed goat cheese
a bag of mixed spring greens
zest and juice of one lemon
1/4 balsamic vinegar
2 tbsp. honey
1/3 cup oil oil
salt and pepper to taste
Start by making the balsamic salad dressing. In a large mason jar, add the lemon juice, zest, vinegar, honey, olive oil, salt and pepper. Shake vigorously to mix. Store in the fridge in an air tight container. Allow the dressing to come to room temperature before serving, if the olive oil is too cold it will become a solid.
Toast the macadamia nuts in a dry frying pan until they are golden brown. Toss the spring greens, sliced nectarines, macadamia nuts and cherry tomatoes. Dot the salad with small spoonfulls of the goat cheese. I chose to serve this dressing on the side and allow guests to put as much or as little as they wanted.
This easy recipe is my take on a brunch dish I had the last time I was in Maui. Fresh, ripe pineapple wedges were served with a yummy sweet cinnamon yogurt dip. When I saw delicious ripe pineapples on sale at the grocery store, I knew this recipe needed to be on the menu. And the mini version of the iced melamine bowl was perfect for keeping this yogurt dip icy cold.
Pineapple Spears and Cinnamon Yogurt Dip
1 pineapple
2 cups vanilla greek yogurt
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
Cut pineapple into long spears or wedges for dipping. In a bowl, whisk together the yogurt, brown sugar and cinnamon. Keep chilled until ready to serve.
This final recipe is one that I’ve wanted to share here for quite awhile. I love the idea of a savory waffle. There is no need to turn on the oven and heat up the house with this recipe. Did you know that you can cook corn bread in a waffle iron? Well, you can and it sure does make cute bite sized corn bread.
Green Chili Cornbread Waffles
1 can of chopped green chilis
2/3 cup frozen or canned corn
2 boxes of Jiffy Cornbread Mix
2 eggs
2/3 cup milk
chopped chives or green onions
6 slices of bacon
1/4 cup crumbled cojita cheese
Start by cutting the bacon in 1/2 inch pieces. Fry until crisp, drain on a paper towel. In bowl, mix together the green chilis, corn, Jiffy Mix, eggs and milk. When the waffle iron is hot, spray with nonstick spray and cook the waffles according to your waffle iron’s instructions. Top the warm waffles with chives, bacon and cojita cheese.
Aren’t you ready for some fun Summer entertaining? Head to you local Pier 1 or shop online for all your outdoor entertaining essentials.
This post is sponsored by Pier 1 Imports, thank you for supporting the companies that help make this blog possible.
A friend recently described Philz Coffee Mint Mojito Iced Coffee to me and I immediately went home and made my own version. I already had mint simple syrup in my fridge, so a couple of shots of espresso and a dash of cream later, I was enjoying the best iced coffee I’ve ever had.
Mint Mojito Iced Coffee
1 cup sugar
1 cup water
1/2 cup fresh mint, chopped
2 shots of espresso or strong cold brew
crushed ice
half and half
fresh mint for garnish
Start by making the mint simple syrup. In a small pot, place the water, sugar and mint. Bring to a boil and boil for one minute. Remove from the heat and allow to cool completely. I like to leave the mint leaves in the syrup as long as possible. When you are ready to serve the drinks, stain off the mint leaves with a fine metal sieve. Store the syrup in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
In a glass filled with ice, pour two shots of espresso or a generous amount of your favorite cold brew (I like this kit). Depending on how sweet you like your coffee, add 1-2 oz. of mint simple syrup. Then finally top the glass off with half and half. Stir and garnish with fresh mint leaves.
I’m telling you, this might sound kind of weird, but it’s sooooo good. It’s sweet and refreshing and there is not a more perfect pick-me-up for a warm afternoon. This will be my Summer go-to coffee of choice. And now I need to get to Philz and try the real deal.
I had to do a little research on this drink and like most cocktails, there are a lot of different versions. But, I kept coming across orgeat (or almond syrup) as an ingredient. Some versions used cream of coconut, but I feel like coconut belongs to the Pina Colada. And you know what, the orgeat is delicious in this drink. This one was a huge hit with my kids.
We love a anything lemon, so this Lemon Lavender Sorbet will be on repeat this Summer. Refreshing and unique, I can’t get enough of this recipe. I think it’s a winner. Head over to 
