Tag! You're It.

Image flickr baklein62

I was tagged today by sweet Kate at Kids & Cocktails. It's my first tag too, so, this is rather exciting!

4 things I did today
1.) Went grocery shopping
2.) Finally bought the newest Domino
3.) Played Frisbee with one of my pups
4.) Watched my husband solder my laptop power cord to make it functional again! It was a scary moment when I thought it was a goner. He is definitely my hero!

4 things on my to-do list
1.) Learn how to fly a plane (long term to-do!)
2.) Travel to Russia... and Peru... and India... and Ireland... and New Zealand... and ok, I'll stop here because truthfully the list is almost endless!
3.) Make Apple Crisp- I've been wanting to make some for days, but haven't gotten around to it.
4.) Finish some wedding thank-you notes (ack! I know, Mom! Some of the gifts only came in recently though.)

4 of my guiltiest pleasures
1.) The Hills & Army Wives...hokey shows? Yes. Am I addicted? Yes.
2.) Currently, Peanut Brittle Ice Cream (sadly, a seasonal flavor)
3.) Magazines (see below...)
4.) Starbucks (which I haven't had in a while b/c I've been making my coffee at home every day. Oh, but a flavored soy latte and slice of pumpkin loaf- yum!!)

4 random things you probably didn't know about me
1.) I've been a vegetarian for 12 years, although for the last 6 or so, I have only been a semi-veg, as, on occasion, I will eat fish.
2.) I am a complete magazine-addict and have a degree in Magazine Journalism, but I've never worked at a magazine.
3.) I hate tomatoes (it's a texture thing,) but I love tomato-things: tomato soup, tomato-based sauces, salsa, etc. Oh, and fried green tomatoes- delicious!
4.) In second grade when my youngest brother was born, I told my entire class his name was the one I had wanted, rather than the name my parents actually had given him! Embarrassing when I was busted two weeks later... :)

Thanks Kate!

If you'd like to participate, consider yourself tagged! Leave a comment; I'd love to read your list.

This little piggy...

I read about the Etsy shop Chez Sucre Chez on Design*Sponge today, and I am absolutely smitten with this tote! I really do adore pigs, and for me, this the sweetest way to imagine the ending of "This little piggy goes to market!"

Oh Sew Sweet

I love that these Etsy shops have given new life to sewing patterns by repurposing them into new items.

Etsy Shop Natuur/-e

Here

Here

Here

Etsy Shop Paperwerks

Here

Here

Etsy Shop JenniferConway

Here

Here

Etsy Shop Blue Valentine Press

Here

Here

Etsy Shop copabananas

Here

Sew, a needle pulling thread

I have been thinking a lot of about sewing this week. It started with this post by Stephanie. Then came Courtney's post. Finally, today, Anna Maria posted this.

image from flickr r.black67

There is such beauty and inspiration in the pieces that go into sewing: the notions, the tissue paper patterns, and the fabrics. When I was younger, I loved tagging along with my mom to the fabric shop where I happily wandered the aisles and gazed at the embroidery floss, the threads, and the buttons. I would glance through pattern books and dream of creations to make and wear. And, of course, I would weave my way through the fabrics, touching and examining their beauty.

While my tastes have evolved and I would probably not reach for the same fabrics as I did then, the feeling and inspiration I get while in a fabric shop is still the same.

Photo at Etsy shop craftyfolk

Photo at Etsy shop AuntieMsChildApparel

Embroidery Floss at Etsy shop beckandcallgirl

Embroidery Floss at Etsy shop beckandcallgirl

Embroidery Floss at Esty shop TRUECOLORSFORYOU

All of these images and the aforementioned posts have me wondering if it is time to break out the sewing machine and embark on a new project!

A Room Reveals A Wedding {A Relaxed Elegance}

This is the first post of "A Room Reveals A Wedding," a new segment that will be featured on Under A Paper Moon. I enjoyed Cassandra's Inspiration Board Contest so entirely that I wanted to be able to showcase this concept on a regular basis.

Inspiration for weddings can come in many forms, and one such source can be a room, which speaks to a person's style and taste. In "A Room Reveals A Wedding," a room's mood and design will be interpreted into an event inspiration board.

This first inspiration room is an elegant, yet relaxed bath featured in Homes & Gardens. I love the tranquility in this space; it's very easy to imagine unwinding in this bath after a long day. Through the use of warm-hued whites, accents of tan, brown, and green, and varying textures, the bathroom feels quite inviting.

The Inspiration RoomHomes & Gardens

The wedding based on this room would exude the same warmth and relaxed elegance.

The Inspiration Board

Row 1: L to R- Homes and Gardens, Our Labor of Love photography, West Elm
Row 2: Kelley & Nate- Photogen, Inc., Carrie Patterson Wedding Photography, Tulips via flickr kmjdepalma
Row 3: snowberry bouquet- Martha Stewart, Whitebox Weddings, Rebecca Cole Design
Row 4: Leigh Miller Photography, Programs- Dasha Wright photographer via Brides.com, candy buffet- Martha Stewart

The Whole Foods Market Food Blogger Budget Recipe Challenge

Gluten-Free Goddess blog has made it into the finals for The Whole Foods Market Food Blogger Budget Recipe Challenge. The recipe? A personal (and family) favorite- my Sweet Potato Black Bean Enchiladas. Why am I mentioning this? Because, Dear Reader, if you visit and vote for my vegetarian enchilada recipe, you just might win a $500 Whole Foods Gift Card- and other prizes!

How cool is that?

This audience sweepstakes will run from today through Wednesday, October 8th. Anyone who posts a comment on any of the contest recipes (at the Whole Foods website only) will be automatically entered to win a $500 gift card or other prizes. So please support Gluten-Free Goddess by giving the Sweet Potato Black Bean Enchilada recipe some comment LOVE.

The winning recipe will be selected primarily on audience feedback, and the winning blogger will receive $250 worth of Whole Foods gift cards (I'm giving mine to my two sons, Colin and Alex, if I win). The winning recipe will also be featured on the Whole Foods website.

Starting this Friday, September 26, 2008 the Whole Story blog will feature a daily Q+A with one of the 6 finalists.

And much good luck to my blogging pals: Hannah, Jaden, and Rachel!

Stay tuned-

And thank you for your support!

Art Gallery {Stella Alesi}

"Pomegranates"

Not only are Stella Alesi and her husband, Brian, talented wedding photographers, but they are both accomplished artists as well.

I am simply in love with this painting by Stella, which she posted on their blog yesterday. I kept the tab open all day and constantly found myself going back to stare at it again.

There is an ethereal beauty in the color and light of this composition. For me, it speaks to the joy of summer, and I can imagine the smile it would bring on a cold and dreary winter day.

We may not win every game...

In the center of The University of Mississippi's campus lies the Grove, a beautiful park full of trees. On any given day, you may find students sitting at tables and lying on blankets, reading, studying, and socializing. A stream of people pass through the Grove during the day, as they walk between buildings on campus, but, despite the traffic, the park retains an air of peace and calm. While the Square is the heart of Oxford, the Grove, especially on a home football game day, is the heart of Ole Miss.

This is the Grove

Photo from flickr flannel.gary

This is the Grove on Game Day!

Photo from hottytoddyblog.blogspot.com

A favorite saying among Ole Miss fans is, "We may not win every game, but we've never lost a party." The Grove is where those parties take place on days of home football games, and the trees seem almost hidden by the tents that stretch as far as the eye can see (no cars allowed!) Shouts of "Hotty Toddy," the cheer and greeting used between Rebel fans, are heard frequently on football Saturdays.

Ole Miss fans have escalated tailgating to an art in the Grove. With elaborate food spreads in every tent, silver platters hold enough fare to serve the hosts and any guests who might stop to visit. Flower arrangements adorn tables covered with fine cloths, while candelabra and chandeliers provide lighting. None of this seems out of place against the backdrop, until you remember this is tailgating for a football game.

When I arrived at school as a freshman, I was unaccustomed to Game Day traditions. The unspoken requirements of game day attire baffled me completely; women wore heels and dresses, while men sported khakis and collared shirts. Dressing up for a football game? It sounded completely absurd.

On the day of the first home game that year, I found myself standing in a familiar place, yet staring at a scene that was completely foreign. The area I knew to be so peaceful and calm was suddenly overwhelming. I stared at the vast sea of tents dotting the horizon, and it felt as though the space had multiplied endlessly; finding a specific tent seemed a near impossible feat. I fumbled my way through that first hot Saturday, all the while cursing the blisters on my high-heeled feet.

After a few games, I realized that it no longer felt overwhelming to head to the Grove. Finding specific tents still proved difficult at times, but it was easier done with friends, and while I made my way through the maze of poles, I found myself taking in the beauty and unique atmosphere surrounding me.

I grew to love the fashion of game day; by the end of college, wearing jeans and sweatshirts to a game seemed as preposterous as the notion of wearing dresses and heels once had. The blisters? Those never seemed to get better. In all four years, no matter how comfortable the heels seemed, inevitably the end of a day spent "Groving" was met with searing pain in my feet. But I loved every minute of it.

"Hotty Toddy"

Row 1: L to R- Two images from Myrtle and Marjoram Photography, photo from flickr matt house, wired chandelier from Wisteria Summer '08
Row 2: Photo from flickr lowemasterpro, photo from Brides.com, photo from flickr matrianklw, photo from Brides.com
Row 3: Nicole Miller dress from edressme Summer '08, photo from Holland Photo Arts via Brides.com, photo from flickr CatchYaL8RG8R
Row 4: Photo from flickr Miss Bria, photo from JCrew, photo from flickr pellet13

20 x 200: Cotton Field, Mississippi

Cotton Field, Mississippi- by Shuli Hallak

This print is one of the editions available this week at 20 x 200. Check it out!

Blue Corn Muffins with Green Chiles

Harvest time in New Mexico is just an excuse to declare a fiesta and eat roasted green chiles and corn until the cows come home. Or you turn blue. I'm not kidding. I can't keep up. I love me my Green Chile as much as the next Gringa, but. Breakfast, lunch and dinner? Hola. Maybe I lack the gene. I'm starting to crave lettuce. Celery sticks. I'm dreaming of multi-colored cherry tomatoes. Something crisp and raw and fresh.

You know, bunny food.

And speaking of blue, higher-in-protein blue corn just happens to be a New Mexican specialty. (There's even a Blue Corn Cafe in Santa Fe, and rumor has it- if you call ahead they'll accomodate a gluten-free request). When you bake with blue cornmeal it it isn't exactly blue, I find. More like dark green. But maybe it's just me. We all see colors differently you know.

No two people see the exact same shade of blue. Kinda like politics. And life.

Continue reading

The Square

Oxford, Mississippi is home to 19,000 residents and The University of Mississippi, lovingly called Ole Miss. Writers, artists, and musicians populate the city, and there is also a large sorority and fraternity scene that thrives on campus. Add in working professionals, especially in the area of law, other college students, and the intellectuals who populate the ranks of the university faculty, and you'll find an area that manages to be both artsy and preppy, and traditional and eclectic at the same time.

The Lyceum at The University of Mississippi. Photo by flickr user rachelluttrell

While there are many different types of people who populate the city, the epicenter of life in Oxford is, undoubtedly, "The Square." The Lafayette County Courthouse sits in the middle of the historic square and is flanked by City Hall, as well as numerous stores, restaurants, and bars. The boutiques and eateries even spill out onto the surrounding streets that lead in and out of The Square.

Photo by flickr user jimmywayne22

Beautiful photos of The Square at night- here, here, and here. Photos by flickr user briantmurphy

With an ever growing and changing restaurant scene, I can't speak for all the joints in town, but there are certainly some tried and true favorites that are must-visits for me when I am in town.

Breakfast or brunch can't be beat at Bottletree Bakery. It is located just off the Square, and, with its fabulous pastries, coffee, sandwiches and other delectables, there is surely something to please any appetite.

Love the reflection in the image at left! Photos here and here from flickr user UGArdner (away for a while)

With its southern-style cooking, delicious vegetable plate, and fried pickles (Yes, seriously. Fried pickles. If you've never had them, they're amazing, and these are by far the best fried pickles anywhere!) Ajax Diner is always on my list. The atmosphere compliments the food to make the whole dining experience quite perfect.

In the photo on the left you can barely see the sandwich toothpicks in the ceiling. They are shot there through straws. Quite a tricky feat. Photo on left: deepfriedkudzu.com. Photo on right: flickr user lucianveutian

City Grocery, an Oxford institution since 1992, is an excellent choice for fine dining. The restaurant has an extensive wine list and a variety of southern-influenced entrees, including Tabasco Bacon-Seared Swordfish and an upscale take on Shrimp and Grits. Find their menu online here.

Exterior Photo found here. Interior Shot found here.

Although not located on the Square, just a few miles outside town you will find Yocona River Inn. Another fine dining establishment, this small and cozy restaurant is housed in what was once a small country store. Yocona River Inn is located in what is a dry county, so this eatery is BYOB.

While this is far from a through account of all the amazing restaurants in Oxford, you can find a full list of dining choices here.

A Gluten-Free Pasta with Ragù You Can Mangia

Gluten-free pasta with homemade red sauce.

Before I share my new ragù pasta sauce recipe, I have a note about the blog. Gluten-Free Goddess now has a FAQ page. (Thank you, David Lebovitz for the reader-friendly blogging tip.) What took me so long? Who knows, Babycakes? I sure don't. I could blame it on my preoccupation with Mad Men. Or hot flashes. Or the simple fact that living out here in the rural sand swept hills of Northern New Mexico is making me crazy. Not shooting caribou from a helicopter crazy, but. 

Crazy enough.

At any rate, now that I've come to my senses (I'm sure it's only temporary) you, Dear Reader, will find a platter of helpful links and answers to the most frequent questions asked here at the brand spankin' new Gluten-Free Goddess FAQ page. If I've overlooked anything obvious or important, I'm sure you'll let me know- won't you?

On to ragù! Up until quite recently I had never attempted a meat ragù. My red gravy of choice was always a simple vegetarian marinara sauce with plenty of garlic and basil- vegan by default (and choice). It's a recipe that I've been simmering on my stove or in my slow cooker for years. Decades, in fact. Way better than the jarred stuff. But lately I've become an omnivore. (to heal my broken hip) and I'm appreciating the virtues of grass fed Black Angus beef.

So I made a meat ragù. And here's the recipe.

Continue reading

Remembering

"Blue Sky" by Justin Clayton

To blog. Not to blog. That's been a question for me today. Take a day for silence? If yes, tell people I was doing so? Commemorate the day? Blog like normal?

I have debated this all day in my mind. I suppose the answer is for me to say this...

The events that took place 7 years ago changed many peoples lives that day, and in ways, has changed all of our lives since. Changed world views. Changed security measures. Changed.

On Sept. 11, I couldn't have fathomed the ways that it would change my future life. A brother who felt the calling of country before self. A friend and future husband who'd answered the same.

On that day, I would never have guessed. And today, they are both, thankfully, home safe.

While my husband and I now face a future where deployment is unlikely in our lives, there are still many of our friends, and beyond that many families, for whom deployments will remain a part of normal life.

For them and for all the lives that have changed, today, I remember.

From the Runway

While there are so many inspiring pieces that have already come down the runways in New York this week, with no doubt many more to come, on Wedding Wednesday it seems fitting to look at things from a bridal point of view. Below are a number of shown looks that provide inspiration for the bride.

Monique Lhuillier

Dennis Basso

Carolina Herrera

Malandrino

Hanii Y


Diane von Furstenberg

All Photos from Style.com

For the Love of {Plaid}- Part 1

Last winter, I missed out on a red plaid shirt I came to love at J.Crew, and I haven't stopped thinking about it since. While that red number slipped through my fingers, there are many plaids out there that could certainly try to take its place!

Part 1- Dresses

Kimchi Blue dress at Urban Outfitters

Black Plaid Popover Dress at Gap

DKNY dress at shopbop

Rory Beca dress at Active Endeavors

Tailored Plaid Dress by Isaac Mizrahi for Target