Hypnotized lobsters

Much more humane way to kill a lobster. I can't reveal my secret of how I put lobsters to sleep (some Maine secrets can never be revealed) but they sat this way until it was time to go in the pot.

Beachy Cupcakes: lemon blueberry cupcakes with cream cheese frosting and Swedish fish.

Super easy to make: Lemon cake mix and 1 cup of blueberries for the cake part. One of these days I won't be lazy and make my own cake. But for now, my main man Duncan Hines will do.

Frosting: 2 8oz packages of cream cheese, 3/4 cup of butter softened, 4 cups of confectionary sugar, 1 tablespoon of vanilla, 1 Meyer lemon squeezed, 1 tablespoon of water and a few drops of blue food coloring. Mix like crazy!

After frosting the cupcakes I attempted to make waves with a little darker blue icing. Icing is pretty easy to make and should certainly always have booze in it. I made mine with 1 cup confectionary sugar, a few teaspoons of melted butter and rum until it looked like icing. Few drops of blue food coloring and now you got waves.

Decorate with some Swedish fish and umbrellas and you're good to go.

Lesson learned: Drink umbrellas are very useful. 

French toast casserole with almonds and peaches

I never really get a chance to make an actual breakfast casserole since usually I'm flying through the door in the morning with a smoothie. So when my lovely friend/former roommate in Italy Kelli came to visit this past weekend, this was a great chance to try out my french toast casserole. Also, the leftovers just got better and better the next day.

Here is the recipe:

Ingredients:
1/2 loaf of bread (I use Italian because like most things, it's the best)
3 eggs
1 cup of 1% milk
1/2 cup of brown sugar
1/2 tablespoon of vanilla
1 tablespoon of cinnamon
1 peach
1/4 cup of sliced almonds (walnuts could work too)
1/2 cup of syrup
powdered sugar

(optional: blueberries and raspberries to put on top after)

In a bowl, mix eggs, milk, brown sugar, vanilla, and cinnamon. Cut the slices of bread in half and dip in the mixture. Place the first layer of soaked bread in a casserole dish. Cut up slices of the peach and place them on top of the bread. Next, place a second layer of soaked bread on top. Pour some of the mixture over the bread- the more, the soggier- your choice. Place the last of the peach slices on top and sprinkle with almonds.

Bake at 375 for about 25 minutes. After 25 minutes, take out the oven and pour syrup over the bread. Let it sink in for a minute or so and then sprinkle some powdered sugar on top.

Blueberries and raspberries also were great with this. I got mine from an awesome little local berry stand.

Rosi Golan Can't Go Back (lyrics)

So incredibly beautiful. Chills.

Love.

Oh good, I was worried knitting wasn't manly...

Mom & Dad

Summertime in Maine is better than summertime anywhere else

It started off with a morning dip in the ocean with a friend and ended with lobster dinner with family. After an awesome extended weekend, here are some of the Maine things I love:

1.) On Board Fabric: Boothbay area

Not only do they sell the Waverly fabrics (seen below) they have all of the Amy Butler and designer, hard to find fabrics. I'm making pillows. Love.

2.) Boot truck

Freeport, Maine

This is an obviously-going-to-be-in-Maine photo.

3.) Block printing

Freeport, Maine

This wonderful woman was doing an art project where she created a block print and mailed it any where you wanted. So I asked her to mail this postcard to me since I love it so much...

4.) Fourth of July

Portland, Maine

So I dressed as a firework...

5.) Add to the resume: Lobster Hypnotizer...

This little guy sat on his head for almost 20 minutes... He was missing a claw so that's why he's un-symetrically leaning against a vase. He was also delicious. 

6.) Coastal Botanical Gardens

Up north, Maine

If you get a chance, check this place out. Gorgeous and a great place to get ideas for a garden you may have in the future if you ever grow up and get a house.

7.) Rock Skipping competition

Boothbay Harbor, Maine

I'm pretty sure my buddy, Tony, would be killer at this.

8.) My bike, Patricia, and my car, Bubbles

Both don't get out nearly enough, but I'm working on getting Patricia around town more. 

9.) Friends being charmingly inappropriate

Port Lobster Company in Portland, Maine

'Nuff said. 

10.) Fireworks

Every year, I take a million photos and video clips of the fireworks. I get so excited and reminiscent of childhood summers, running around barefoot on Kennebunk beach with friends I'm still close with today. It's by far my favorite holiday. So while this photo may be nothing so special, the sentiment definitely is. 

The new ginger movie

Lobster Mittens

Just painted this for a good friend of mine on her birthday. She sent me an email one time saying "Between my lobster claw hands and your epilepsy, this is why we can't have nice things." I painted this to remind her why we can't have nice things.