STUFF I LIKE | BY GINA ESPOSITO

IS IT OK FOR A NEW YORKER TO LOVE LA?

2012-02-08T13:11:00.000-08:00

WELL I GUESS I AM A SAN FRANCISCAN NOW, BUT IS IT OK FOR A NEW YORKER TO LOVE LA?
EXPLORED THE "SECRET STAIRS OF LOS ANGELES" BOOK WITH MY FRIEND JAIMEE THIS WEEKEND. HAD A NICE HIKE IN PACIFIC PALISADES - CASTELLAMMARE.
JAIMEE'S SITES ARE HERE: 35MMINUTES.TUMBLR.COM | INSTAGRID.ME/OHHAIITSMEE
MY INSTAGRAM PAGE HERE: INSTAGRID.ME/GINAESPO
THE WEEKEND WAS REFRESHING, RELAXING, HAPPY, ADVENTUROUS, INSPIRING AND OVER-ALL GREAT. THANK YOU LA.

COLOR

2012-01-24T13:01:00.001-08:00

Still & Co. for Sit and Read from Sit and Read on Vimeo.

DEVELOPED

2011-12-06T19:16:00.001-08:00

NOT SURE WHERE TO BEGIN WITH THIS ONE. I JUST DEVELOPED THREE DISPOSABLE CAMERAS (WALGREENS BRAND); AND I HAVE A LOT OF FAVORITES, BUT IN DIFFERENT CONTEXTS. I DO BELIEVE THAT THESE FOUR ARE MY MOST FAVORITE.

CHECK IN ON MY TUMBLR PAGE FOR THE MORE CONCEPTUAL STUFF, AND MY FLICKR PAGE FOR THE WHOLE STEEZ.

SOON GONE

2011-11-28T19:48:00.001-08:00

WORKING ON A LITTLE DYEING PROJECT THIS EVENING, AND THIS BEAUTIFUL STREAM OF DYE WAS HEADED TOWARDS THE DRAIN.
COULDN'T MISS THE OPPORTUNITY TO CAPTURE THE MOMENT.

SUNDAY EVENING

2011-11-13T20:48:00.001-08:00

SAN FRANCISCO, 2011

a random stroll on a sunday evening. good way to end a weekend.

LATEST OBSESSION

2011-10-17T23:18:00.000-07:00

My new latest obsession is filling old House Kombucha bottles with dried plants

Mexican Wrestler & Sugar Skull from Mixcoatl Arts and Crafts

SUMMER

2011-08-23T19:14:00.001-07:00

(click any photo to enlarge)

CRISSY FIELD, SAN FRANCISCO
JULY 2011

(WALGREENS 35MM DISPOSABLE)

urban

2011-08-05T13:16:00.000-07:00

i'm sure you can imagine this photo was taken with some special lens, in the middle of nowhere, texas, on a warm summer night; but alas it was taken right here in the heart of the mission district on a cool winter evening, in the backyard of a bar ... with my iPhone.

grid

2011-07-25T20:18:00.001-07:00

during sunset

men and their details

2011-06-18T14:14:00.000-07:00

above: my friend Tomo Saito (an amazing photographer). he found this shirt, with the cacti already cut out of the chambray yoke, at a thrift store. i mean ...above: "a private man, living a life of genius" - aka an anonymous friend who preferred to be called that. he is a painter, hence the paint. gorgeous color story. well done "private man".

Mini-Mood

2011-06-07T21:03:00.000-07:00

Amber Canvas, Vintage Cotton Heather, Twill, Hand-Painted TwillI literally almost passed out, maybe even died a little, (then almost bought it) when I saw this opening ceremony yarn-dye at Welcome Stranger Image taken at Welcome Stranger, ties for first with Unionmade as my favorite SF mens shopsBoots at the SF-new Freemans Sporting Club & FSC Barber Shop on Valencia. Our Refinery 29 shoot & article here: http://www.refinery29.com/first-look-a-peek-inside-freemans-barbershop-on-valencia

kind of awesome / kind of disgusting

2011-06-05T15:15:00.000-07:00

i secretly want a bird on my shoulder at all times, but as my mother pointed out, they poop. moms. they know everything !

bird dude @ 24th street bart station

2011-04-30T12:18:00.000-07:00

lately i've been obsessed with all of the streets east of mission street between 17th & and below. so many hidden spots, and so quiet and peaceful compared to the hustle of the mission heart. i love the combination of the industrial and mexican vibe. not that this photo has anything to do with either. (ps i got a new lens)

i still love you california

2011-03-28T10:09:00.001-07:00

lots of changes going on in my life this past month. march was rainy, but the sun broke through on friday evening when i popped off the bart. lovely view.

taken with my iPhone using the camera+ app

this next photo was taken on good old dearborn street. this is a block from my apartment. i love this color story.

what i would like to be wearing by next week.

2011-03-10T13:57:00.001-08:00

what i would like to be wearing by next week. by ginaespo featuring crochet socks

first signs of spring

2011-03-03T08:54:00.000-08:00

hello state flower.marin headlands. i love that all i had to do was bike a few miles north of the city to be here.

good morning from san francisco.

2011-02-28T09:41:00.001-08:00

the light in my apartment is brilliant in the morning. taken with my iphone.

(cactus: stolen | crystal: ebay | ranunculus: bi-rite)

bag or no bag

2011-02-16T20:17:00.000-08:00

i'm really fortunate/grateful/amazed that i only live half a block from bi-rite market. i got a compliment at work today on the color combination of my outfit (the middle shirt is vintage light blue-hard to tell in the photo), so i was planning on shooting it when i got home. (don't worry, the stories eventually intertwine). after a brief shopping trip at bi-rite, i was asked if i wanted a bag. i said 'no thank you' because of the very few goodies i had picked up. on my short walk home, vegetables and groceries in tow, someone stopped me on the street and said "god, i love san francisco"; pointing at my stalk of broccoli and random grocery items i had loose in my hands. i almost cried/hugged him. it's moments like these.

coated sweater: h&m | light blue tee: vintage gotcha surf shirt from ebay | silk skirt: brian reyes | tan: maui
organic broccoli, organic bananas, organic crimini mushrooms, pecorino romano: bi-rite market, san francisco

repetitive.

2011-01-27T15:58:00.000-08:00

jacket: eudon choi

i posted this photo on my tumblr page the other day (re-blogged from fay frisco finds but originally seen on style bubble back in november - amazing article), and since then, day by day, my love for this jacket grows and grows. maybe it's the gorgeous washed out model who wears it so perfectly (that i don't look anything like, so can i pull this off?), but mostly i think it's the placement of the varied tonal utility pocketing. it's a new take on the over-saturated/much too literal military trend, that (much to my disapproval) ended up taking over the mass market industry (don't get me wrong, i am all about authentic military, it's when it gets overdesigned by certain huge companies, with gross pilly fabric, that upset me).
anyway! i got side-tracked! since posting it on my tumblr, my love has grown. yesterday i even printed it out and pinned it to my desk area as you see here. (yup next to it, is that karla spetic skirt i have been obsessing over). should i add this jacket to my wishlist or are the epaulets too much?

please note my new banner/logo. thoughts?

i like my new shirt.

2011-01-23T22:42:00.000-08:00

i was testing out my make shift tripod the other night so i could take photos for my etsy shop (selling a bunch of vintage stuff! click here!) and accidentally took a photo that i unexpectedly really like, of my new shirt .. that i really like. it's from zara and i got it on super sale.

la garconne (does it to me again).

2011-01-20T09:59:00.000-08:00

i literally just received this e-mail from la garconne about their new lookbook l'objets, and literally died when i saw this photo. i'm very sad that the striped bag is not in stock yet. i'm going to hawaii in a week; can't you just picture me frolicking on the beach in this outfit (or at work maybe with this madewell blazer thrown over, or possibly this A.P.C. jacket)? too bad i would never wear a precious proenza schouler dress in the wild. enjoy (but don't die).

2011-01-17T22:45:00.000-08:00

i spent sunday 1 | 16 | 11 in the marin headlands exploring. it was one of those days where you are unsure if everything surrounding you is real. it started with a very foggy and cold morning and suddenly the fog started to roll away gracefully ..

(click any photo to enlarge)

N.I.C.E. collective launch

2011-01-12T12:14:00.000-08:00

tuesday night i attended the N.I.C.E. collective launch party/store opening on church & market in san francisco. the party was crowded, but i was able to get some shots with my iPhone. i loved the military/NASA/sterile vibe it had going on, they sort of created their own army in a way. i also didn't realize that the creators of N.I.C.E collective had previous careers in science, so it all started to make full-circle sense after a while (read their history here). the store concept and clothing matched seamlessly. i can't wait to browse the store again.above: the dressing room (!!!)above: dressing room mirrors

elin kling for h+m.

2011-01-10T13:12:00.000-08:00

does anyone else find it unfair that the elin kling for h+m collaboration is only going to be sold in sweden? did they think it was a risk to sell it anywhere else? maybe we can start a protest (please re-blog) ? here are the two items i would wait in line at 12am the night before for:see the collaboration here
see the new york magazine article here

2011 resolution #1.

2011-01-05T11:04:00.000-08:00

if you follow me on twitter you saw that one of my 2011 resolutions was to only have meaningful purchases this year. what i meant was, to not spend my money here and there ($60 at h&m for some shirt that i am not in love with and just feel like i need, etc.), and make myself save money, make more clothing and treat myself once in a while to those pieces i can't live without. speaking of, how incredible is this rachel comey shoe? i know this shoe isn't new news, but i can't stop thinking about it, (neither can francesca, hi!). i've been looking for that perfect clog boot and thought i found one in the jeffrey campbell lief boot until i saw this piece of perfection. no one else did or will do the clog better. seriously.
(you can see more of the items i think are incredible and classic, that i plan on saving up for in my side bar list of stuff i want - can you tell i love la garconne?)rachel comey bernard clog boot via la garconne

two thousand eleven.

2011-01-03T16:29:00.000-08:00

some photos from two disposable cameras i just developed, taken all the way back in 2010 (ok, i admit, a few were taken after the ball drop). taken with walgreens disposable cameras. they are my favorite to use for daytime shots, but take some sweet night time shots from time to time as well.

happy 2011!

outer sunset.

2010-12-13T22:10:00.000-08:00

the outer sunset.

above: an art studio next to the general store, i loved the sweater and work space.the general storethe back of the general store looking at the door to the backyard this photo is just one of the many reasons i love san francisco. no explaination needed.

wishes.

2010-12-09T19:45:00.001-08:00

if a magic genie came into my life and gave me only two items of clothing and/or accessory i could buy for an entire year, these two would be it.
what would you wish for?skirt: karla spetic | image via yvan rodic. (also re-blogged on my tumblr)alexander wang anouck beatle boot. found here | here | here etc.

sketch.

2010-12-07T18:38:00.000-08:00

some sketches (by me) on my desk. image via miss chriss.

savory bread pudding.

2010-12-05T13:27:00.001-08:00

i know it's been a while since i've posted any food, so i thought i'd ease back into it by posting my most favorite, favorite breakfast ever. just trust me on this one and make it.savory bread pudding

serves 4-5
ingredients:
. a cast iron skillet is recommended, so you can easily transfer from stove to oven
. a small loaf of day old bread of your choice (if using fresh bread, spread on baking sheet and and bake in the oven on 350 for less than 10 minutes)
. any vegetables you want. i like to use broccoli, sweet onions or leeks (or both!) and nettles, and top it off with rosemary and chives
. 1 cup of heavy cream (i use organic clover)
. 1 cup of milk (i use 1 percent organic clover)
. 5 free range, organic eggs (glaum's!)
. salt and pepper to taste
. a few dashes of ground nutmeg
. unsalted butter (organic clover again!)
. cheese of your choice (i use vintage cabot and a bit of pecorino from bi-rite market)

melt butter on pan and grill up your chopped onions or leeks (or shallots or whatever you're using!), cook until slightly transluscent and add your vegetables for a few minutes. don't sautee these until they're soft or they will be too mushy when you take them out of the oven. just sautee for a few minutes and set aside.
in a bowl, whisk together your eggs and salt. when well whisked, mix in your milk and cream, nutmeg, grated cheese and pepper until blended.
place bread in pan with vegetables.
add the egg/milk custard mixture to pan. cover bread with mixture, but not all the way. it is good if there is dry bread popping up!
bake in the oven on 350F for about an hour and voi-la! a super easy and absolutely delicious dish that will not disappoint. enjoy and share your story!

mission market.

2010-12-03T20:09:00.001-08:00

if you can make it, all should go to the mission farmers market on thursday nights from 4-8. location: bartlett @ 22nd. it's quite amazing (and boy are the arepas incredible!)

t-givz

2010-12-01T21:49:00.000-08:00

(click any photo to enlarge)

my friend matt who writes for the blood beat ps thank you selma for hosting thanksgiving (and teaching us bosnian dances). love love love.

welcoming the fall in san francisco

2010-11-21T13:52:00.001-08:00

the temperature dropped this week, and finally feels like fall. the sun is still shining though. i love northern california.

in other weekly news; i made a card:made this:brainstormed with selma:realized i need a new lens:and woke up to this:

charcoal thoughts

2010-11-10T14:22:00.000-08:00

last night, i walked home in the misty rain through a beautiful and quiet little neighborhood. it felt like a perfect fall evening. i don't mind when it gets dark early. it's sort of nice. when i got home, i whipped out my ollllllld charcoal from art school. i spread out some recycled brown paper (from cliff's variety on castro street) and got to work. something about fall makes me want to be in art school all over again. taken with my ghetto phone.

tuesday style likes with a few quick thoughts and a birthday shout-out.

2010-11-09T21:58:00.001-08:00

well, i was going to start doing a once a week 'style like' post, but since yesterday; you ladies of the web really blew my mind today! something about these photos felt new and fresh: a turn of a page, a turn or season, a turn of time ... i'm not really sure, but it felt different and refreshing. thank you for sharing.

p.s. HAPPY BIRTDHAY FRANCESCA! (blogger won't let me draw hearts, so here is a link to one instead)

image via miss chrissimage via blushing ambition christina of profresh style

the mint color of that collar/bow makes me feel all warm and happy inside. image via hanneli

i love susie bubble. her crazy style is so subtle and unassuming. that girl knows something genius when she sees it. image via style bubble.

i so wish i was on the highline right now during my favorite season in new york. images via elshane

monday style likes.

2010-11-08T16:36:00.000-08:00

ps have you followed me on twitter yet?
pps have you seen my new blog about san francisco bathrooms?what do i not love about this photo? my dear friend, jaimee via theladeethecat

another dear friend & dvf stylist extraordinaire, lauren via elshane

(this is so something i wear + love the color of that wall too) emma via spin dizzy fall

another dear friend, chrissy via miss chriss (remember her interview here?)love the pop of navajo via trop rouge this photo screams fall and those fishtail braids! girl give me a lesson! jennie via going west

i love liz's mix of textures & patterns and of course mix of colors; via late afternoon

tavi via style rookie

that bag & that popped lip, anja rubik via hanneli

misssss chriss.

2010-10-20T14:25:00.000-07:00

i've decided it was time to do an interview. why? because people are obsessed with people and why not feature one of my many inspiring friends (yup, i'm coming for y'all!). my dear friend chrissy (her blog: misschrissx.blogspot.com) always amazes me with what she is wearing. she's not afraid to push it. she is a fashion designer & blogger out of brooklyn; we went to fashion school together! she induces her blog with photography, editorially-done outfit posts, inspiration, food & her own incredible sketches and DIY creations. she's always going on some sort of adventure & is also in the process of launching her line: miss chriss. an inspiring character indeed. here is a little interview i did with her.

(all photos property of miss chriss)

first things first. what did you do or think when you woke up this morning?

i woke up this morning thinking and re-thinking the exact same thought i fell asleep to. i think i'm falling in love. i then realized i've been going to bed the past three days wearing this incredible chunky, vintage chanel bracelet i came across this weekend. i can't seem to part with it, even for a few hours.

who are you! and what do you do! and where do you live!

hi! i'm chrissy, i'm twenty-four years old and i currently live in a teeny tiny studio apartment in brooklyn, ny. i am currently a freelance womens wear designer, and also have my own line, miss chriss, in the works on the side. i'm constantly inspired by...well, non-typical things. i once based a collection on room service, and another on over-worked chic grannies. i long for unexpected, sometimes odd, details. each day my surroundings supply my mind with an overload of visual snapshots. i think while i'm showering and those few minutes right before i fall asleep, i sift through them all and build my future creation blueprints. i never seem to notice it until it's too late, but each person i encounter subtly molds each idea that blossoms out of my busy little head. thank you friends, thank you strangers, thank you strangers that should be friends.

what was your upbringing? were you surrounded with fashion, art and the like?

all i've known is new jersey and new york. as a small girl, my parents would take me to new york city all the time. i was constantly swallowed by the sea of art and culture. my grandmother, lois, has always been a great inspiration for me. she fell in love and married young, started a family and spent her days sketching, painting and sewing dresses for her children and herself. her dream was to study fashion design, but she was far too busy raising a family and constantly moving from the west coast to the east coast. the way her eyes would widen at the sight of a garment of mine in progress, or a pile of my illustrations will never, ever, be forgotten. my father was always doodling. my aunts were always traveling and taking beautiful photos. my other grandmother was always sewing me things to wear for halloween. i consider myself more than lucky to be surrounded by a creative family.

give us a frankensteined version of how you dress.

like a little kid that wants to wear all of their favorite things at the same time, regardless of the weather or how it all looks when combined.

describe your creative process.

inspiration - a shape, a detail, a hairstyle, a movie, an accent, the way something moves...who knows. when it comes, it comes.

gathering - sketches, fabrics, tear sheets, anything tangible...all put into my design journal

get into it - final product: whether it be a garment, accessory, or anything i've created. it's complete.

what inspires you? | how do you recharge the creative batteries?

a new personality. go dancing or for a long ride to allow myself to space out. (train, bike, car)

color you can't live without?

black. and if you won't accept that as an answer, soft soft soft pinky-ivory. it compliments all skin tones and somehow magically puts a spotlight on best features.

most perfect vintage piece you own or covet?

my olive green gucci coat. $11 bucks. eat that.does music or food have a role in your creative environment?
yes yes yes. the creative side of my brain doesn't work without music. food keeps my belly happy, my mind working, and inspires me for color and texture.

who's home (anyone living or dead) would you like to see and why?
alexander mcqueen. there must have been some crazy shit in that guy's place.

what is your super power?
i rarely run out of energy. ever. it's odd.

any way you'll give up your secret vintage spots?

would you sell your soul?

fashion pet-peeves?

matching your eye shadow to your outfit, dressing for comfort ALL the time and when guys cuff their dress shirts only once...to create this wing-like thing. why?

describe your perfect day.

i never like doing the same thing in a day, but certain things somehow compiled into one day make it perfect. tea, an awkward moment with a complete stranger, hearing "this must be the place" at least once, sitting on my apartment floor and sketching, finding new vintage pieces, eating some type of asian food or frozen yogurt, taking a bike ride, dancing, walking until i find something new, stepping outside to be pleasantly surprised by the weather and sharing or feeling love.

what is one of your life goals?

to design beautiful and ugly/beautiful things until the day i leave this place. and may i add that there are no restrictions. that feels right.

i feel that fashion blogs (and blogs in general) have a new type of voice and fresh perspective, although i still love LOVE magazines and books. blogs also give a new type of exposure that couldn't necessarily have been done before. how do you feel about the importance of blogs?

i'm completely addicted. i hop from blog to blog at some point in my day. you have all of these different views on fashion within seconds. it can sometimes be overwhelming but unlike magazines and books, blogs sometimes make me feel like these clothes are within reach. fashion seems a bit more, real. text wise, all of these blogs leave readers not knowing what to expect next. magazines always have the same articles, the same 'menswear inspired,' 'military inspired,' blah blah, but blogs are real people that don't always color within the lines.

thank you chrissy! be sure to follow her blog: misschrissx.blogspot.com

brown that butter!

2010-10-16T11:44:00.001-07:00

*update on 10/18/10 - see bottom of post (browning butter)*

ok, i know i promised i would start being better at this, but alas, i lied. anyway, here are the rings i've been wearing lately on our new kitchen ledge. i am obsessed with our new apartment. apartment post soon.

oh! and check out my new tumblr page. i'm starting to clean up my computer desktop and archiving the inspiration folder to the internets: ginaespo.tumblr.comleft triangle ring vintage from alameda flea ($5! sterling silver!), the one on the right is from wasteland our view from the kitchen overlooking some rooftops of the mission district. sometimes i like to think i'm overlooking paris rooftops.left stud ring: h&m; bone rings: marc by marc jacobs.random thought: i'm obsessed with browning butter right now. whenever i cook something with butter, i brown it first. try it. it will change you.

* UPDATE 10/18/10: a few readers requested that i have a browning butter tutorial. instead, i've found one for you on allrecipes.com: http://allrecipes.com//HowTo/browning-butter/Detail.aspx *

alameda flea.

2010-10-03T20:16:00.001-07:00

had a lovely day with the bf at the alameda flea market today. the weather felt very fall in new york. major nostalgia. i scored a new ring, some vintage cookware and an outdoor table.

it's the small things

2010-09-28T18:51:00.000-07:00

jicama salad from mijita

my robert.

2010-09-26T21:29:00.000-07:00

i love me some robert. our friday night consisted of organic fried chicken sandwiches (the sycamore - check it!), dancing (probably with our eyes closed) until our hair was (SOAKING) wet from sweat, drinking lots of bourbon and going to bed at 12am. i love early nights. and photobooths.

for mom on her 50th.

2010-09-09T13:58:00.000-07:00

agate stingray claw ring by Lauren Wolf from Paxton Gate

the most beautiful ring on the planet for the most amazing mom on the planet. happy 50th!

ode.

2010-09-03T10:23:00.000-07:00

h&m boater hat

hi.

2010-08-25T11:32:00.001-07:00

LD tuttle the blue shoe via creatures of comfort

bye bye new york, i love you.

2010-08-04T22:03:00.002-07:00

it was a good week.

guy kibbees!

2010-08-02T19:31:00.000-07:00

i'm not really sure how the story goes, but for some reason my family calls this breakfast treat "the guy kibbee" aka: eggs in a basket? my boyfriend is obsessed with them. do your families have any funny nick names for breakfast dishes?

**UPDATE: the story goes like this: the famous film actor from the early 1900's: guy kibbee made "birds in a nest" in a film without calling them anything in the film, so my great-grandmother made them and called them guy kibbees. ALSO: the actor olympia dukakis makes them in the film moonstruck- so my family also called them moonstruck at one point**

guy kibbees:
+ organic, free range, vegetarian fed eggs (we LOVE glaum organic eggs - they are beyond delicious)
+ your choice of bread - i love bread with a mix of different seeds - ESPECIALLY sunflower seeds - i am loving them in my bread and chips lately (please don't use white - for my & your health's sake!).

cut a hole in the center of the toast, put a little butter on a skillet, throw the toast on the skillet and crack the egg right into the center. cook to your liking.

off to the motherland.

2010-07-27T22:20:00.000-07:00

i am so lucky that new york is my home(-away-from-new-home).
(zara skirt, h&m shoes)

i really love disposable cameras.

2010-07-25T21:18:00.000-07:00

just. can't. stop.

disposed.

2010-07-17T13:08:00.001-07:00

(click to enlarge)

big sur.

(taken with walgreens disposable camera)

back in the kitchen.

2010-07-01T13:04:00.001-07:00

(click on any photo to enlarge)well it's been a while since i've posted anything food-related - or for that matter, blogged. i haven't really had the urge to do any creative cooking lately. why? i'm not sure, but i'm starting to get the urge again! today i didn't cook anything interesting, but thought that a good, fresh, from the garden taco recipe would be just fine. i'm sure you all have your own way of making tacos, so please share them in the comment section!

p.s. it's SO nice being back in the land of fruits and nuts with rainbow grocery, trader joe's and farmers markets galore at my disposal (yup, you read that right ... that's 101 bay area farmers markets!).gina's straight from the garden taco recipe:
+ large spring onions
+ red chard - chop the red part off for the bean mixture, keep the leaves for the taco.
+ organic black beans (from the can not the garden)
+ cilantro
+ hand-made corn tortillas (not from garden, but soon i will grow corn and hand make these)
+ organic colby jack cheese
+ sea salt & freshly cracked pepper to taste
+ tapatio
+ organic unsalted butter (or oil of your choice - unfortunately, sesame oil, olive oil and really flavored oils do not work good here - i would stick with a vegetable or canola)

melt butter on cast-iron skillet or pan. place chopped onions in skillet, add some sea salt & pepper to taste. let onions cook for 5 minutes. then add red chard (or rainbow or whatever chard you got!), cook for a few minutes then add black beans until beans are hot. while the black beans are cooking, throw in a small handful of cilantro for taste.
tortillas: throw a bit of butter (or oil of your choice, i love me some butter) on the skillet, let melt/get hot and throw on a tortilla. let it cook for a few minutes, then flip over. let it cook on the other side for a few minutes then add CHEESE! when cheese is melted add the bean mixture to the tortilla, let it warm up a bit, fold over the tortilla and let it cook for a minute or two until a bit crispy.
add tapatio/hot sauce of your choice and some cilantro and voi-la! bon appetit.
sometimes i add the tapatio to the bean mixture while it's cooking for a nice flavor. i also like to add my chard leaves to the bottom of the tortilla on top of the cheese.

gallery open.

2010-06-22T18:00:00.001-07:00

(click on any photo to enlarge)first things first: i've opened an etsy shop to sell some photos. check it out! and buy some stuff!
gina esposito shop.

next up: these two photos are my two favorite new photos from my latest disposable adventure (no pun intended).

they were taken with a no name disposable camera from a tiny little grocery on divisadero street. when the guy took the cameras off the rack, they were filled with thick black dust (that he so nicely cleaned for me) - talk about o-l-d / a-m-a-z-i-n-g.

the above photo was taken at art murmur in oakland, which is the first friday of every month. always a good time and of course good art.

i am in love with the colors of the below photo and the way the right side can look like an old run down iron train pillar, but really it is just a messed up photo. i love the way the "paint" looks like it's bleeding into the right side. to me, it looks like a work of art.

radio habana social club.

2010-06-03T18:24:00.000-07:00

favorite. place. ever.

disposable stuffs.

2010-05-25T18:21:00.000-07:00

my best friend jaime was out visiting me in SF last week. we had a blast. here are some images from my disposable cameras of pretty stuff.

(click on any photo to enlarge and leave some comments why don'cha! i'm back!)

tuscan poppies at lynmar winery, quail hill, sonoma.

the beautiful telegraph hill. it was semi-raining this day, so it felt like we were in the rain forest. yes to fun!

(shoes from urban outfitters, flowers from not just flowers in SF.)

room re-vamp.

2010-05-23T20:05:00.000-07:00

finally moved back into our place in sf after a beautiful winter in telluride, co. here are some photos of the room re-decoration process.

(click on any photo to enlarge)

the heart on the left is a pin from my grandfather from the 1960's. he used to get these funky pins and bring them home for my mother and her sisters and leave them under their dinner plates as an amazing little surprise. i've "inherited" (aka: stole) most of the pins my mother owned.

the little geisha pin on the right is from the Japanese American National Museum in LA - honestly the best gift shop i've ever been to - actually tied for first with the Contemporary Jewish Museum in SF (Yiddish Magnetic Poetry? own it!)

2010-05-06T13:00:00.000-07:00

so! i've been busy. i can't believe it's almost been a month since i last posted. i hope you can welcome me back with open arms. after my last post, i spent 2 weeks back in new york visiting family and friends. after new york, chris and i flew back to colorado, only to pack up all of our belongings, stuff them into a uhaul, and drive back to the joyous san francisco. it's been a hectic - yet amazing - few weeks. since i'm back into the swing of things over here, i promise to get back to posting more frequently.

here are some photos from my trip back to new york. enjoy!

(click on any photo to enlarge)

topshop shoes, forever 21 socks & jcrew skirt.
enjoying decibel sake bar before the hot chip concert @ terminal 5.the beautiful fort greene park.

now for (some of) the food:

fig and almond spread from the bedford cheese shop, goat cheese & pignoli nuts on toasted french baguette.
nettle & pignoli nut ravioli @ aurora restaurant in williamsburg.
slow roasted halibut with breadcrumbs & shaved asparagus and fennel salad. recipes here: http://www.bonappetit.com/recipes/2010/04/slow_roasted_halibut_with_shaved_asparagus_and_fennel_salad
lunch at mexicana mama. my grandmother's favorite spot and a place we frequent when i'm home.cupcakes and wine @ sweet revenge.organic beef hot dog with kimchi & nori flakes @ asia dog at the brooklyn flea. serious YUM.

leek, zucchini, spinach, mozzarella fritatta! (topped with chives!)

2010-04-09T10:38:00.002-07:00

yesterday we were in quite the food coma from our incredible dinner the night before (will post soon), so i mosied on up to the kitchen semi-late and made an amazing fritatta. along with Artichokes, Figs & Goat Cheese, Leeks are also my god, which is another reason why i had such motivation to cook this baby up.

Gina's Leek, Zucchini, Spinach, Mozzarella Frittata
(serves 4-6)

Ingredients (all organic):
Unsalted Butter
2 Medium Leeks - Chopped
1 Large Zucchini - Sliced/Chopped
Large Handful of Spinach (steamed)
Mozzarella to your liking
6-8 Eggs (1/2 Full Egg 1/2 Egg Whites)
Salt & Pepper to Taste
Tapatio (optional)

+ Pre-Heat Oven to 450º F
+ Melt Butter on a Cast-Iron Skillet or a Pan/Skillet that can go in Oven
+ Place Chopped Leeks in Pan for 5 minutes, then add Zucchini
+ Cook Leeks & Zucchini for about 10-15 minutes or before leeks brown
+ in the MEANTIME, crack 3/4 eggs into a bowl, then crack remaining eggs into egg whites. Add Steamed Spinach and Mozzarella to Eggs, along with Salt & Pepper (I also like to add a few drops of Tapatio), whisk everything in the bowl.
+ Turn off heat on Cast-Iron Skillet. Wait a few minutes, then add egg mixture to Skillet.
+ Top off Skillet with chopped chives & place in Oven for about 15-20 minutes, or until eggs are fully cooked to your liking!
+ Slice and Enjoy!

(image from ffffound!)

p.s. happy birthday hunter! we're making you a red velvet cake today!

recent finds and a little breakfast.

2010-04-01T15:41:00.000-07:00

life has been busy the past week, which hasn't given me much ... actually any, time to cook/take photos/do much. i did have time to make pancakes this morning and also had some amazing clothing/accessory finds this week. here are a few.oxford boots from topshop. my new favorite footwear.

vintage bear necklace & (very itchy) grandpa sweater from pip's consignment in telluride, co.the most amazing pancake recipe on the planet:

serves 8 (half the recipe for 2 people)
+ 1 1/2 cups unbleached organic flour
+ 3 1/2 tsp baking powder (aluminum free!)
+ 1 tsp light tasting sea salt (salt with no bite!)
+ 1 tsp organic cane sugar
+ 1 1/4 cups organic whole milk (we use raw milk, but raw milk is banned in a few states so whole milk will do!)
+ 1 cage-free, organic, grass fed egg
+ 3 tbs organic unsalted butter - melted

+ in large bowl, SIFT together flour, baking powder, salt & sugar
+ make well in center and pour in milk, egg and melted butter
+ mix until smooth
+ lightly oil pan over medium high heat and cook!

the best coffee on the planet. four barrel coffee roasters in san francisco. my favorite blend is the organic ethiopia mordecofe.

when using a french press, COARSELY grind the whole beans. if you are using a drip cup, FINELY grind the whole beans. and for an automatic coffee maker grind the beans somewhere in between but more towards the FINE side. i highly recommend investing in your own grinder so you can freshly grind the beans everyday before making your coffee. it gives it a bit more flavor when they are freshly ground. mmmmm i love my coffee.

small details here and there.

2010-03-24T15:38:00.000-07:00

some images from our bedroom.

(butterfly from paxton gate in san francicso)

a birthday to remember.

2010-03-22T16:22:00.000-07:00

saturday was my friend blakely's 25th birthday. on sunday she had an incredible dinner & party at her beautiful house. not only is blakely and incredible chef, but her mom is unbelievable too! blakely and her mom prepared a ridiculous meal. i went over early to lend a helping hand getting set up (didn't we do a great job!). i ended up searing some queso fresco with an incredible sauce for all to enjoy. get the recipe here. your mouth will be very happy. i also made butterballs (italian wedding cookies). the recipe will be at the bottom after the photos. as for the rest of the food, peel your eyes to the photos and let your mouth water.

(click on photos to enlarge)

mr. samsonwhat i wore on my head (forever 21 necklace converted to headpiece).

blakely hard at work on some quesadillas.

previously noted seared queso fresco with cilantro sauce (again, here is the recipe: http://www.bonappetit.com/recipes/2009/09/seared_queso_fresco_and_queso_panela_with_cilantro_mojo)my main squeeze.

lamb.i don't even know how to explain this dinner. there's salad on there, some sweet potatoes, rice, beans, chicken, lamb & apricot lavender sodabread. this sentence gives it all no justice. polly, maybe you can help me out with this one on the comment section...

(rhea just so happens to be my new favorite wine)

Butterballs (Italian Wedding Cookies)
makes around 80
(and extremely easy recipe)

Ingredients:
+ 1 1/2 cups unsalted butter
+ 3/4 cup confectioners' sugar
+ 3/4 teaspoon salt
+ 1 1/2 cups finely ground almonds (or almond flour - same thing)
+ 4 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract (plus extra of course!)
+ 3 cups sifted unbleached all-purpose flour
+ 1/3 cup confectioners' sugar for rolling

Directions:

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
Cream butter or margarine in a bowl, gradually add confectioners' sugar and salt. Beat until light and fluffy. Add almonds and vanilla. Blend in flour gradually and mix well.
Shape into balls (or crescents) using about 1 teaspoon for each cookie. Place on ungreased cookie sheets, and bake for 15-20 min. Do not brown. Cool slightly, then roll in the extra confectioners' sugar.

happy birthday blakely!

asparagus soup with SAFFRON croutons.

2010-03-19T10:37:00.000-07:00

i'm going to start posting less things per post because i feel like i've overwhelmed you all! the other night i tried this recipe from barbara lynch's cook book: stir (jen & kristen, go to her website!). i wasn't really sure what the outcome was going to be and how it was going to taste but we were definitely pleasantly surprised and was even claimed a favorite soup by many.

**we changed a few things in the recipe - instead of using shallots, we used leeks and made a world of a difference**

(click on photo to enlarge)

Asparagus Soup with Saffron Croutons
(all ingredients organic)
serves 6
_______________
+ 2 bunches asparagus (about 2 pounds)
+ 4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter
+ 3 medium/large leeks
+ 2 cups of heavy cream
+ 2 cups water
+ Kosher salt & freshly ground pepper
+ 1/2 teaspoon fresh lemon juice, plus more to taste
+ 2 teaspoons finely chopped chives (or more, they really boost the soup)
+ Saffron Croutons (recipe to follow)
_______________
+ trim tough/bottom parts of asparagus off and cut the rest of the spears into 1-inch pieces.
+ melt butter in a large saucepan over medium-low heat. add the leeks and cook, stirring occasionally, until the leeks are soft and starting to brown a bit (5-10 minutes).
+ add the cream, 2 cups of water, 2 teaspoons of salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper.
+ increase heat and bring liquid to boil. add asparagus, lower to a simmer, and cook until the asparagus is tender but still quite green.
+ add the lemon juice & puree the soup in a blender or food processer
+ season to taste - top with the croutons & chives for garnishing
_______________
Saffron Croutons (beyond yum)
makes 1 cup
_______________
+ 3 thin slices bread (preferably brioche but sour dough works great too!)
+ 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
+ 2 pinches saffron threads (about 1/4 teaspoon)
+ 2 pinches sea salt
_______________
+ heat oven to 325 F
+ cut slices of bread into 1/4 inch cubes to yield about 1 cup
+ heat olive oil in skillet over low heat
+ add saffron threads and gently cook for about 1 minute to infuse oil with the flavor
+ add bread cubes, season with salt and toss to coat the flavored oil
+ spread on baking sheet and toast in oven, tossing occassionally, ntil golden and crunchy - about 10-15 minutes
_______________

try this recipe out, it is absolutely delicious. and the croutons are amazing and so gorgeous!

xx

p.s. after the soup we had this
rigatoni with spicy italian sausage and cannellini beans
i would share the recipe but it will take me 10 hours to type up, so go buy the book!

a jumble of food PART 1.

2010-03-16T10:56:00.001-07:00

we had a field day cooking this weekend. i'm just going to start off with a few easy dishes (part 1) and at some point this week i'll add in the harder, more intense ones (papusa's! polenta pie! carrot ginger soup!).

the first is going to be an incredible yet incredibly easy, salad. i asked my friend Blakely who is a amazing personal chef in Telluride, CO (her website: eatjbandme.com) for this amazing salad dressing she makes for us a lot. i added some avocados to some organic greens + the dressing and voi-la! Easy as 1-2-3.Here is the recipe for the dressing... it doesn't have a name, so let's call it:
Blakely's Amazing Dressing
+ 1 TB Dijon Mustard
+ 2 Garlic Cloves
+ Handful of Parsley
+ 2 TB Lemon Juice
+ 1 TB Orange Juice
+ 2 TB Walnut Oil
+ 1 TB Olive Oil
+ Pinch of Salt
Blend all in a Food Processor and finished! If you are making a big salad, I recommend doubling or tripling this recipe, or just doubling or tripling it because you want to have extra.

next up is my Great-Grandmothers phenomenal and very simple recipe for making Artichokes. everyone who knows me, knows that Artichokes are a (small) obsession of mine (notice how i'm capitalizing the A in Artichoke - yes they are my god). the only thing about this recipe that is not simple is the amount of time they need to cook. so if you are making this easy recipe, give yourself a good 1-2 hours before eating.

Mama's Artichokes
+ Artichokes - tops trimmed off (i recommend using a serated knife to trim off about 1/4" off the tops)
+ 1 Large Garlic Clove per Artichoke
+ Olive Oil
+ Water
+ Pinch of Salt for the Water
+ Optional: Fresh Tarragon Leaves for Garnishing or Cooking

Directions: After trimming off the tops of the Artichokes, slice Garlic in long slivers and stuff a slice in each leaf. Trim off 1/8" off the stem and throw out, then cut off the entire stem so the bottom of the Artichoke is flat. DO NOT THROW OUT THE STEM! It is full of fiber and iron and will be cooked with the Artichoke(s)! Pull off some of the smaller leaves around the outside of the Artichoke and throw out - these leaves are super tough and hard to eat. Fill your pot with water HALFWAY up the Artichoke (see diagram below). Place the Artichoke into the water & pour in at least 2-3 tablespoons of Olive Oil into the water (I like to pour mine directly onto the Artichoke so it slowly seeps into the water but it's all a matter of preference). COVER the pot and turn on the stove to LOW heat - the lowest possible. THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT, so again, make sure the water is on LOW! Cook for about 1 hour - 2 hours. You will know when the Artichoke is finished when the leaves are really easy to pull off. Test it out by pulling off a leaf and taking a bite/drag off the leaf. When you get to the center, you'll notice a furry layer. Use a spoon to REMOVE the furry stuff... it will hurt your throat if you eat it. Once the furry stuff is removed, you will be looking at the Heart of the Artichoke. EAT THIS and ENJOY because it is the best part! I also like to eat the stem before I dive into eating the leaves. A lot of people may not think the stem is good, but I love it + it's full of amazing nutrients. (p.s. if you need information on eating the leaves of the Artichoke, just ask!)

next up: Indian Popcorn! I received these amazing ears of corn in my CSA box through White Buffalo Farms a few weeks ago and finally had the chance last week to enjoy them. all you do is pop off the kernels, put some butter in a large pot, throw on some high heat, cover the pot and shake the hell out of it until the popcorn starts popping.

here is a list of some CSA's on Long Island & Brooklyn. CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture. i think it is an extremely important time to get involved with a CSA. not only does it support these small local farms, but they are organic - therefore being good for you. they can also save you a lot of money on food spending. they are also fun and supports your exploration with food. this is an official shout out to my friends in new york. get involved! xx

Golden Earthworm Organic Farm
Garden of Eve Organic Farm
Clinton Hill CSA (this one is for you cuz!)

Here is a list of all CSA's: http://www.greenpeople.org/csa.htm

what is to come..

2010-03-15T12:53:00.001-07:00

excuse me for my absence. we've had terrible internet connection lately. this week i will be sharing some recipes. we had some incredibly delicious dinners this weekend (especially last night thanks to my wonderful boyfriend + ralph + hunter) and i want to share them all! so stay tuned...

some more sketching.

2010-03-06T10:41:00.000-08:00

i spent the other day in the sunshine sketching away. here are just three. i'm not sure, but i think i miiiiiight be a bit inspired by the extreme amounts of 90210 i've been watching lately. yes, i rented season 1 and season 2 of the ORIGINAL (haven't seen the new one and don't plan on it) and am having a total blast watching it. the clothing is U N R E A L and i spend many moments pausing the show and sketching/writing down ideas. hellllllllo 1990!

P.S.! chris & i are most likely baking tonight aka: macaron try #3. i'll let you know how it goes. cross your fingers for success!

P.P.S. http://theladythecatthewardrobe.blogspot.com/2009/04/9021-ohhhh.html

source of inspiration.

2010-03-03T19:36:00.000-08:00

so i'm not always eating and cooking. i am a designer too. and a lot inspires me. i'm going to share a few images with you - some are things i see and some are sketches. i'll be sharing a lot more of my design stuff with you from now on, so hold tight and enjoy!
(p.s. you can always click on each photo to enlarge)

chartpack AD markers (prismacolor markers are bleh!).

and some images by me - patterns and colors that inspire me:

view from jaime & lindsay's apartment in greenpoint, brooklyn. the yellow is to die for.above photo: chris restivo

(ok, ok... had to add some food in here of course... how GORGEOUS is that deep purple!)
the bathroom in the 500 club (SF).

above photo: chris restivo

(all images: gina esposito unless otherwise noted)

breakfast appreciation.

2010-02-27T12:40:00.000-08:00

breakfast is obviously a very special part of the day, especially when you make time for it. it truly is the most important meal of your day... if you eat enough protein, your energy levels will rise and curb your hunger so you are not starving by lunch time. for breakfast, i usually eat cage free, grass fed, organic eggs (over medium please!) with a little bit of salt & pepper. very simple and very delicious. i believe that eating the right eggs (and food) are very important... you are what you eat after all (growth hormones & antibiotics in your body? weird and gross).

i added these pea greens one morning to the cooking pan right as my eggs were finishing up cooking. they weren't that delicious but i loved the way they looked on the plate (the artist in me comes out in most of my meals).

another breakfast treat mostly everyone enjoys are bloody mary's! i don't like to drink them in the morning, but thought since i am doing breakfast appreciation, i would add my bloody mary recipe to the mix. everyone has their own recipe, so i wanted to share mine and hope you think it's very special.

gina's bloody marys
+ vegetable juice (i like using vegetable juice instead of tomato juice so it brings out all the vegetable flavors in the drink)
+ 1/2 a teaspoon of dijon mustard
+ a teaspoon of balsamic vinegar
+ vodka
+ freshly cracked pepper
+ sea salt
+ juice from 1/2 a lime
+ horseradish
+ worchestershire sauce
+ tapatio
+ a dash of oregano
+ a dash of cumin
+ pickled okra
+ 1 or 2 pepperoncinis
+ pickled jalapenos
+ pickled green beans
+ 1 or 2 mint leaves
+ large spanish olives
+ and of course a stalk of celery

don't forget the fresh flowers at your breakfast table! it will seriously brighten your morning.

i found this tiny snowman on the ledge outside our place in telluride. always have your eyes peeled for even the tiniest inspirations. i know this has nothing to do with breakfast, but i just love this little guy and thought i would share him.

clint eastwood, where are you?

2010-02-21T10:52:00.000-08:00

well, yesterday was my 26th birthday (above photo: the face of a newly turned 26 year old). it's been snowing like crazy since thursday night, so the boys booked a skiing day in silverton, colorado. it's apparently the best skiing in the continental US (shaun white even has his own private half-pipe here!). there is 1 chair lift and it is comparable to heli skiing without actually going up in a helicopter. pretty neat-o. well anyway, i am currently sitting in a great coffee shoppe in silverton because i am just not at that level (and don't ever desire to be snowboarding in avalanche ridden terrain...!!!). this coffee shoppe is the only place that is open in this town. when i walked out of the hotel this morning i didn't see a soul on the street, the snow is just billowing down and this old west town looks so beautiful. it was a great start to my morning - this town is so peaceful and so unique. you kinda feel like you want to have a shoot out with clint eastwood. anyway, i wanted to share this experience with you because it is truly wonderful to be here.

the beautiful lemon tart chris got me for previously noted birthday. mmmm mmm!

this morning at our very tacky hotel room at the grand imperial. check out that florida floral!

almond vanilla macarons try 1 and try 2.

2010-02-18T17:04:00.000-08:00

so yesterday i tried making macarons. i am obsessed with these little french treats, and it was time to make this beautiful little sweet myself. i've searched for many MANY recipes on the internetz and they were all different, so i got very confused. yesterday at the library i dove into the cooking section and again found nothing.... when i noticed a "french feasts" book in the "new" book section! i turned to the index and found... MACARONS! i thought it was worth it to give this recipe a shot.

the first try (below photo), i clearly made the cookies too large, so now they are sitting on the counter in cookie form waiting for some lovely mouths to eat them:

after realizing these were too large and letting the batter sit out and get stiff for a while, i piled tiny dollups (about 3/8" in diameter) onto the parchment paper for my second try. the recipe i was following says to place the dollups on the parchment paper and THEN let it get stiff for 15 minutes, but i found that letting the BATTER sit and get stiff FIRST was more efficient so the batter doesn't run all over the parchment paper when you place the dollups on there. does this make sense? ALSO, the "roof" of the macaroon is VERY thin. i am not sure why, but i had to let them dry for a lonnnng time before peeling them off the parchment paper just to be safe.

anyway, here is the photo of the final turn out. obviously they don't look perfect like the ones you see in the bakery, but i am going to try out a few more recipes and report back. also, i don't think i let the almonds grind in the food processer long enough so there are tiny little almond chunks, which gives it a nice and very real texture. they don't look perfect but OOOOH WEE are they delicious!

and now for the recipe!
__________________________
macarons
makes 30
preparation time: 15 minutes
cooking time: 15 minutes + 10 minutes drying time (i recommend longer drying time)

confectioners sugar: 1 3/4 cups
ground almonds: 1 1/4 cups
egg whites: 3 1/2 ounces

1. mix together the sugar & ground almonds. sift the mixture.
2. beat the egg whites into stiff peaks and carefully incorporate the sugar/almond mixture with a rubber spatula.
3. pipe mounds of identical size onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. allow to dry 10 minutes.
4. bake in a preheated 315º oven for 15 minutes. sandwich together with a filling of your choice (recipe below).
***i also added about 1/4 teaspoon of vanilla extract to the eggs while whisking them!***

macaron filling
makes 3 cups
3 large egg whites
1 cup sugar (i used organic raw cane sugar)
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature, cut into pieces
2 tablespoons of honey
1/4 teaspoon of vanilla extract

1. in bowl of an electric mixer, whisk egg whites and sugar. set mixer bowl over a saucepan of simmering water and heat mixture, whisking often, until it feels warm to the touch and sugar is dissolved, 5+ minutes. while this is warming, i added 2 tablespoons of honey & 1/4 teaspoon of vanilla extract.
2. transfer bowl to mixer, and fit with the whisk attachment. whip on high speed until mixture is still and shiny, 3-5 minutes. add butter, one piece at a time, and continue mixing until butter is thoroughly incorporated. the filling can be kept, covered and refrigerated, up to 1 week. bring to room temperature before serving.
***optional: add 1/3 cup of finely ground nuts of your choice to the batter for different taste***
__________________________

when i try a new recipe (a la this one: http://cannelle-vanille.blogspot.com/2008/04/macarons-and-my-love-for-vanilla-beans.html) i will certainly be posting my success and/or failure.
xx

p.s. my munny (a birthday present from whitney) noming on these puppies:

a spin on the christmas tree angel.

2010-02-17T21:05:00.000-08:00

got this ornamental paper geisha at a shop in the japantown mall (SF) for my mom's christmas tree this year. a beauty, no? i based my choice (there were SO many to choose from and all so different) on the pattern of the back bow. one of my favorite ways to dress in color (it's mostly black for me, so when it's color, it's color!) is to mix-match patterns and colors that don't go together at all, but have some sort of intriguing & stimulating combination. that is probably why i'm drawn to things like these. if you met my family, you'd understand... one day i'll do a post on that crazy bunch.

good afternoon, sandwich and good day, cake.

2010-02-17T17:08:00.000-08:00

since i'm spending the winter in telluride, colorado and not really doing too much besides drawing, photographing & snowboarding, i've truly taken cooking to another level. since i have the time, everyday is a new recipe and adventure in the cooking world. so from now on, i will be posting more food stuff (along with the other goods).

want to know what this delightful sandwich is made of?

see below the picture:

+ cindybread sour dough loaf made into garlic bread (spectrum organic olive oil, hand-pressed (by moi) organic garlic, parsley, powdered garlic)
+ organic baby chard (in my CSA box from white buffalo farms)
+ organic roasted turkey breast
+ goat cheese
+ grass fed, antiobiotic & growth hormone free applewood smoked bacon (i can't find certified organic bacon anywhere in telluride)
+ freshly cracked pepper
+ yum

for chris & therese's birthdays, i slaved away and made this ridiculous cake:
fuji apple spice cake with cream cheese frosting
are you ready for it?

for the recipe, click here.
the only changes i made were: (obviously) all organic ingredients, not using fuji apples, slicing apples on top & using the left over cake from shaving some off, baking it with some extra frosting to make it crunchy, then crumbling it on top. oh and i made it sloppy (instead of like that gorgeous photo on the bon appetit recipe).
i get the apples in my CSA box from white buffalo farms.

hope your mouth doesn't water too much
xx
ginap.s. happy birthday youz guyz.

sad day in fashion.

2010-02-11T12:20:00.000-08:00

RIP alexander mcqueen.

your beauty will live on.

a day late on this bday card.

2010-02-04T14:14:00.000-08:00

happy birthday to one of my best ladies ever, ms. jaime m. brooks.
you are a gem and i love you very much.

some recent things i see and like.

2010-01-21T15:28:00.000-08:00

some images from Wallpaper* October 2009 issue.

fierceness on another level, duh.

boogieing at the brooklyn bowl (sharon jones... what a diva)

gallery in telluride, colorado.

organic cookies: bananas, walnuts, oatmeal, chocolate chips, organic sucanat (replacing sugar), extra vanilla. mmmm mmmmm.

crested butte, colorado

driving through gunnison, colorado

snowboots & red sage brush. somewhere in the gunnison national forest.

kombucha, books & bugs. things that are hot right now.

mesas.

camera matches.

earrings turned into ring.

homemade pizza.

cross country skiing? new obsession.

royal oak, brooklyn, new york.

jim's, los angeles, california

debbie harry & fresh flowers.

new people.

2009-11-25T13:29:00.000-08:00

japantown in san francisco is one of a kind. i checked out new people - an incredible new mall type thing - yesterday and woweeee! i wasn't allowed to take photos everywhere but here are a few.the creepy new hand/ring holder i got for only $12!

nailz.

2009-11-14T11:56:00.000-08:00

love this new (?) line of nail polish i "found" at urban outfitters. the colors, the packaging, the way it goes on... all amazing. even the font on top of the bottle got me.

big umbrella studios: monster show.

2009-10-31T11:28:00.000-07:00

last night we went to friends gallery: big umbrella studios to see the monster show! a day before halloween, costumes were encouraged. it was a great time and of course great art (and amazing music!). here are just some of the beauties from the show- unfortunately i couldn't photograph everything because of the good crowd:

a little diy.

2009-10-30T15:38:00.000-07:00

post-it loves.

2009-10-27T15:55:00.000-07:00

i just die for post-its. for some reason they are the only stack of paper i have with me at all times. i try to keep sketchbooks with me all the time but there are so many of them i can't keep track. but for some reason i have packs of post-its in all of my bags, which is very convenient because i am always coming up with some random thought or idea and it can hit me at any moment. then i just stick them around my desk when i get home so i don't forget about them.

my mantle.

2009-10-27T13:47:00.001-07:00

my obsession with collecting plants is no secret. neither is my obsession with color. check out my mantle and my new beautiful plants and their beautiful colors.

i got this succulent & amazing pot at the incredible paxton gate on valencia street @ 19th (sf).

these gorgeous clover flowers i got from blooming floral design on sutter street between steiner & pierce (sf).

frist museum.

2009-10-27T11:17:00.000-07:00

beautiful floors at the frist museum in nashville, tennessee. i love the patterns here.

blue circles.

2009-08-03T19:20:00.000-07:00

beautiful bar in new york.

om

2009-03-26T16:40:00.000-07:00

in late january i was at the SF MOMA and was intrigued by a font & color combination on the wall about one of the exhibits. i took a photo of it and posted it to the blog (http://ginaespo.blogspot.com/2009/02/blog-post.html). i haven't really been able to stop thinking about how i am going to translate these letters onto a tee and today i figured it out. there is a beautiful line crossed here in san francisco. there are hundreds of types of people but all have a similar passion: peace. i have not met a bad-souled person here yet. there is also an amazing urban-skate vibe which i love, so i have kind of meshed the two together.

inspired present wrapping

2009-03-26T14:52:00.000-07:00

people think of present wrapping as a tedious task, i think of it as a fun and creative way to express, well... my creativity! no matter what size the present i always find a unique way to wrap it up, always using paper i have around the house. it's no fun for me to buy patterned wrapping paper designed by someone else. here are some recent samples of my "work":dane's christmas present 08. (not totally sure he knows what to do with it....)

a little lavender to spice it up! matt's housewarming gift (a roll of tri-x).

rosenmunns

2009-03-26T14:30:00.001-07:00

not sure how i only just discovered this shirt by local SF designers rosenmunns (i ate mary-kate). but it sure is amazing. it's sold out on anicaboutique.com, but maybe i'll be able to get my paws on it somehow.

i remember discovering rosenmunns about 1-2 years back when i was thinking about moving to SF and fell in love with their SS08 collection. thank goodness i was reminded today of their amazingness. it's definitely inspiring me to start my own thing sometime soon.

topshop

2009-03-23T16:04:00.000-07:00

checked out the topshop website today and found this amazing top as a photo on the tops section, but i CANNOT find it ANYWHERE for sale on the site! i looked all over their site and absolutely cannot find it. please help!

shred

2009-03-21T18:03:00.000-07:00

forget buying $100 6126 tights, shred your own! (or let it happen naturally...)

2009-03-20T15:58:00.000-07:00

while taking a little road trip north of sf to tomales bay, on our way to lagunitas and back down to sf, we came across this quaint town called forest knolls. we couldn't resist this antique shop called valley antiques. everything was set up beautifully, and surprisingly the prices were super low! this handcrafted native american mocassin from the 1950's was only $40 (came in a pair)!

3.1

2009-03-10T22:01:00.001-07:00

i would love to see more of this shirt from fall 09 3.1 philip lim runway.

in love, yet again.

2009-03-10T13:23:00.001-07:00

dear band of outsiders,
your models are h-o-t, and your mens collection is even hotter.
love,
gina

dries

2009-03-10T11:14:00.000-07:00

dries van noten i love you. i really do, but i found it really hard to post your entire fall 09 collection. these are the only 4 pieces that i loved. and i love them, i really do; but usually i would go ahead and post your entire collection. you'll always be #1 in my heart, but if you keep this up, i'm going to be very sad - as sad as these models faces look. but i do LOVE these 4 looks. better luck next season. (i also love the lipstick colors - orange/red - california poppy if you will.)

shu

2009-03-08T23:20:00.000-07:00

it is no question that i love shu uemura. i tried a bunch of new lipsticks (on my hand) at their store on fillmore street the other day, and continued to walk around the rest of the day - hand covered in lipstick - because i loved the way it looked and wanted to take a photo, but didn't have my camera with me. love love love their lipsticks... that much!

ACNE

2009-03-05T15:34:00.000-08:00

loving this dress from acne fall 2009. didn't really love the rest of the collection, but this dress caught my eye. the shape is not only interesting, but clean and the perfect black dress.

yogi teas

2009-03-03T19:51:00.000-08:00

i love the yogi tea bags little tags. it's been a while since i've had one. alana and i used to drink the "weight loss" ones, aka feel sick for 2 days with no results (not that we had any business trying to lose weight anyway), but i usually stuck the little inspirational tea tag sayings on our fridge in our tiny tiny kitchen on the upper west side. oh how i miss the days.

while laying in bed drinking tea the other night, i laid my cup down on my mantle next to my bed and just laid there reading magazines and looked over at my glass and there it was: the tea tag that i had forgotten about for years! and what a saying it was! so fitting to my life right now... except it didn't solve any of my situations, just reminded me that my heart desires to be in so many different places. but i feel the happiest here in san francisco, so that is where i'm going to be.... for now.

zach i love you

2009-02-27T12:35:00.000-08:00

while sending myself into what i like to call a "beirut trance" this morning (listening to beirut on almost maximum volume with my nuevo sonido 2xL headphones in my ears, almost missing my bus stop, probably with a creepy smirk on my face), my very dear friend ralph must have some serious extrasensory perception, because he sent me this interview with zach condon (of beirut) via e-mail a little while after lunch.
gotta love a man in a 3 button suit.

shoes.

2009-02-24T14:10:00.000-08:00

these shoes make me happy.

and these.

opening c. online store

2009-02-24T14:02:00.000-08:00

FINALLY! opening ceremony has an online store!!!!!!! it's torture being in SF without the presence of opening ceremony in my life. the recession is realllly going to hit me now!
http://www.openingceremony.us/

poladroids.

2009-02-16T17:39:00.001-08:00

birthday party

2009-02-15T14:48:00.001-08:00

birthday cupcakes. (i have the best friends)
the aftermath.

2009-02-15T14:43:00.000-08:00

alexander wang, fall 2009! (i need these shorts)

karen walker, fall 2009!

2009-02-15T14:21:00.000-08:00

happppppy birthday chris.

2009-02-14T12:28:00.001-08:00

happy love day.