Easy, Breezy, Beautiful
On getting back to basics
Casa de Chamlee is in the final stages of a gut kitchen remodel. I hate reno life and am not cut out for it. Having no appliances (nor running water, so not even the capability to clean dishes) for more than a month meant that my typical ritual of over-the-top meals was out of the question.
Instead, I had to go back to basics, making things that required nothing more than plastic utensils and raw — or, at least, uncooked — foods. That meant lots of lettuce wraps and chopped salads (poorly chopped, I might add, because I was using plastic knives).
But as annoying as it was, it was kind of fun forcing myself to be more simple. I’ve stuck to it, in a way, even after out appliances have been installed. No more weird lettuce wraps, thank god, but I am cooking more simply and devising on-the-fly meals that are easy (and healthy, to boot). I included one below — plus a roundup of the very vibrant, easy-breezy things I’m loving of late.
These sandals have everything: a little height (but a platform, so they’re easy to walk in), a very stylish design, and a price point that isn’t out of control. As soon as I saw my style icon Olympia wearing them, I fell in love.
Lately, I am feeling very inspired by the work of Nicole Wittenberg, whose hyper-saturated, pink-toned sunsets seem like a more modern version of a Florida Highwaymen painting.
I love makeup but lately, my skin freaks out when I wear it. So I try to keep my routine pretty minimal. But if I’m meeting a friend for lunch, or going somewhere I might run in to other human beings, I take it up exactly one notch: with this creamy, very subtle highlighter that gives you just a little added something … without weighing your skin down.
My friend Natalie designed and co-founded this incredible tarot company, The Garden Journey. Their tarot deck is about as chic as it gets — a fun idea for a party, for a gift…. and even if you don’t know how to read tarot (Natalie says there’s nothing to it), the stack of cards look stunning on your desk or nightstand.
I shared a towel last week by this very perfect brand called Carne Bollente. And then I found this blanket they designed and I …. just kind of want them to outfit every single part of my life?
Here’s my recent obsession: a rice noodle bowl that comes together in, no joke, ten minutes.
Here’s what ya need:
1 tin smoked salmon (I use Fishwife which I LOVE and totally believe is worth the hype)
1 package rice noodles (enough for 2-4 servings; you can halve the bag if you want)
2 green onions
1-2 tablespoons chili crunch (I use the kind from TJ’s)
Start some boiling water for the noodles in a big pot; heat a separate sauté pan over medium heat.
Once the water is boiling, throw the noodles in the pot according to package directions (usually this takes no longer than 10 minutes).
While the noodles are boiling, put the chili crunch in the warm pan and let it sizzle (but not burn) for a few minutes. If you need to add a little bit of oil, feel free! Usually chili crunch has lots of oil in it but you’ll want a solid tablespoon of oil.
Open the tin of fish and add it to the chili crunch, using a wooden spoon to flake it up in the pan.
Once the noodles are finished, drain them then add immediately to the pan with the chili crunch and the fish and use tongs to toss everything together.
Top with green onions (plus sesame seeds, cilantro, some flakes of nori, an egg if you like…whatever you have on hand) and serve.
Recommended reading:
• How a Southern California woman found $36,000 in cash in a chair she scored for free on Craigslist.
• Why no one wants to work in an office anymore (I mean, duh).
• Leave it to The Ringer to give us the best take on the resurgence of Kate Bush (whose song, Running Up That Hill, has raced up the charts more than 30 years after it was released, all thanks to Netflix’s Stranger Things). I personally became reacquainted with Kate’s music the old-fashioned way (after it was featured in Season 2 of Hulu’s The Handmaid’s Tale).
And I’ll leave you with this….