Make It: Vintage-Esque Map Frames

Man, this week is just whirling by in a cloud of goodness and kinda-craziness. We’re prepping for an evening of sharing our entertaining and design tips for summer at West Elm tonight and ramping up for an exciting direction at Valley & Co. this summer. Of course, we’re also getting ready to really enjoy the season as well and have the perfect plan in place to do so. Coastal Living put out a 99 Days of Summer article with daily activities, so we’re taking that as a challenge and we’ll be putting our own creative spin on the fun.

Mr. Valley had the great idea of putting out our own summer challenges for you – our awesome readers – where we hope you share summertime BBQ, camping and fun pictures and ideas! Today we’re starting off our challenge by sharing our Vintage-Esque Map project using a battered old frame that jumps to life with a map print of Italy. Anyone can create this inexpensively and it instantly transforms a space, either indoors or out. You could even use patterned paper!  

You’ll need: a paper map | an old frame | tacks

This project really only requires one step! Take your map and align it centered in the middle of your frame. Turn it over and firmly tack the paper in place around the perimeter of your frame. Ta dah! It’s the perfect way to use old paper, cool maps and prints and old frames without glass. The investment is next to nothing and you can easily swap out prints and maps.

Photos + how-to by Valley & Co.

Pretty fun, right? So…how will you be spending your 99 Days of Summer? Will you bring our Vintage-Esque Map project to life?

 

Make It: Milk Chocolate-Dipped Strawberries

Remember that decadent {but oh-so easy} truffle recipe we shared last week? You can take that simple approach and whip up strawberries dipped in milk chocolate and serve at your next summertime bash. With schedules and calendars being crazy making each moment and celebration, no matter how large or small, extra special is so important to us. Hand making decadent bites and mixing and matching store-bought with homemade speaks volumes to your guests. After all, you want them to feel welcomed and special – send home dinner party guests with a box of these tasty bites and they’ll love you!

You’ll need: whipping cream | 7 oz. milk chocolate | strawberries

Step 1: chop up the chocolate loosely and place in a double boiler {or a glass heat-proof bowl} over a pot filled with water

Step 2: pour the cream into a sauce pot and gently bring to a boil – at the same time turn the water on the second chocolate pot

Step 3: once the cream starts to boil slowly add to the chocolate, whisking as you pour

Step 4: whisk until the chocolate is combined and nice and smooth and pour into a glass bowl. Dip your stawberries and lay out on a heavy-duty tray to harden. Place in the fridge until the chocolate creates a shell.

Delightful, aren’t they? So tasty and the perfect summertime treat.

Photos + how-to by Valley & Co.

Will you be whipping up some of these chocolate-covered delights this summer? What are you most looking forward to this summer?

To Market, To Market

To market, to market….ah, the market. Is there a better way to spend Saturday morning than taking in the smells, sights and sounds of local artisans and farmers? The Port Townsend Saturday Market in Uptown is such a delight, complete with gorgeous edible flower farmers, wood carvers, candle makers, cheese mongers and everything in between. It’s the perfect way to sample the best of the Pacific Northwest.  

Mt. Townsend Creamery is Aleah’s absolute favorite cheese maker and their Seastack is decadent and soft, coated in a light and airy layer of vegetable ash. Alder is a firmer, earthier cheese perfect to nibble on by itself. We will be planning a dinner party solely around these magnificent cheeses this summer!

Pick up local favorites and stage a bites and sips party with wine, smoked salmon, goat cheese, cow’s milk cheeses, crudites and baguettes. Going totally local and planning an evening around the freshest ingredients is not only fun but it can be oh-so delicious. There’s no need to plot out an extensive menu or stress. Simply pick up what’s fresh and at-the-ready.

Who doesn’t love chocolate at a dinner party? Pick up small packages of chocolate nibs and send guests home with them at the end of your party.Another fun idea is to gift guests with summertime seeds, like these charming little packets from organic farmers Oatsplanter Farm.

This dog was adorable and kept eyeing the camera!

Photos by Valley & Co.

Perfection. How do you peruse your local market? Are you ready for on-a-whim entertaining this summer?

Goat Farm Fun & a Chèvre Recipe

Home. There’s something so wonderfully refreshing and relaxing about going home and just doing nothing but leisurely activities and being with family. Last week Aleah was home on the island for some special family time and favorite things like the Saturday Market, beach walks, and a visit to Mystery Bay Farm, an island goat farm that makes the best goat cheese around. It was hilarious watching the mamas and their little ones and listening to them chattering with each other.

Absolutely adorable! These little guys all have darling names and come running as soon as they hear you coming. Talk about full of energy!

The owners of Mystery Bar Farm set up a delightful display at the Port Townsend Saturday Market in Uptown every week, complete with their assortment of cheeses and tasty recipe cards.

We can attest: theirs is a really incredible goat cheese with layered flavors and a smooth texture. Aleah’s parents often bring the farm chives from their own gardens {they have kitchen gardens, varying gardens, orchard gardens, permanent gardens, flower gardens….you name it!} for the chive chèvre. How fun!

We used their chèvre to make our Summer Strawberry Crisps for the hat party and they were a hit!

You’ll need: tiny potatoes | good goat cheese | strawberries | basil | salt and pepper | olive oil

Step 1: wash your potatoes and use a mandoline to slice them into paper-thin chips. Drizzle with olive oil and salt and pepper and place on an ungreased baking sheet.

Step 2: bake for about 20-25 minutes at 350 degress, or until crisped and golden. You likely won’t need to turn them over, but keep a close eye on them as they’re so thin they can burn quickly.

Step 3: slice the strawberries into thin slices

Step 4: place your chips on a decorative tray and place the goat cheese in a plastic baggie, trimming off the tip {an instant pastry piping bag!}. Let the cheese set out for about a half an hour so it’s pliable.

Step 5: pipe a dollop of goat cheese onto each chip

Step 6: cut the basil into tiny threads {roll up like a cigar and cut into thin strips}

Step 7: top the chips with strawberries and basil

This is such a delightful summer bite that will surely impress your guests as it’s refreshing and unexpected. You can prep all of the elements in advance, but assemble right before your party as you don’t want the chips to become soggy.

Photos by Valley & Co.

Don’t these look so refreshing? They’re quite the unexpected tasty bites! Summer entertaining is upon us; how do you like to entertain during the summer months?

Summer Style with Valley & Co. at West Elm

Happy Friday, friends!

We are so so excited to cordially invite you all to an evening of entertaining tips and summer design fun with us at West Elm! We’ll be sharing three of our favorite summertime styles and design tips, how-to summer projects and festive recipes. We would love to see you there! Please come and say hi and RSVP to 619.543.0117. See you next Thursday for summertime fun!

Effortless Nautical Inspiration

Ahoy landlubbers! You know us by now, right? If so you know that not much makes us happier than entertaining effortlessly, enjoying the ocean and nautical goodness and spending quality time with our family and friends. These moments are what makes like so sweet so why not capitalize on entertaining with ease? Today’s casual nautical get-together was inspired by just that. Setting the stage for a memorable day filled with laughter with a nautical spin perfect for welcoming warm summer nights and beach bonfires.

Vintage print press blocks are the perfect place holder for intimate summer dinner parties and they pair as a take-home gift!

Tin treat cans filled with peanuts and cinched with twine can be enjoyed table side or sent home with guests post-bash.

We’re big fans of bistro glasses, both small and tall, for sparkling water, wine and cocktails.

An abalone shell we’ve had for years becomes and instant centerpiece when filled with candles.

We love this nautical stationery from HB Designs!

Polka dot straws and julep cups bring in a pop of whimsy.

Make our lemonade by mixing 1 can of limonata with 1 oz. good vodka. Top with ice and garnish with a mint leaf.

We also mixed and matched our nice wedding china {that happens to be in silver and cobalt patterns} with casual silverware and long pillowcases we used as a table runner. Shh…

 

Tips + Photos by Valley & Co.

 So what are you most looking forward to this summer? Are you big on entertaining? If so, we’d love to hear your top entertaining tips!

Make It: Sweet Summer Hostess Gifts

Summer is inching nearer and we’re brimming with ideas for effortless entertaining and making the most out of the longer days and warmer evenings. You’ve likely seen us Tweet tips for entertaining on Twitter and post snippets on Facebook; one of our favorite musts is sending guests home with something delicious after your celebration. Today’s how-to is quite easy, yet can be seasonal and is an oh-so tasty idea everyone will enjoy.

You’ll need: jars of jam or honey | kitchen twine | light summer fabric | fabric glue

Photo by Llanes Weddings for Valley & Co.

Step 1: Cut your fabric to about 8″ long by 3″ wide.

Step 2: Dab a long strand of glue vertically down the jar and place the end of the fabric, holding in place until it stays.

Tightly  wrap the fabric around, securing with another bead of glue.

Finish off with kitchen twine in a not.

There you have it! Why not make up a couple dozen of these for at-the-ready hostess or guests gifts for the summer? Tell us, friends….what are you most looking forward to this summer?

Make It: White & Milk Chocolate Truffles

We’re back, friends! We missed you, but the best time back home in Western Washington was had. Aleah’s favorite things to do back home on the island were all experienced, including beach walks, watching the sailboats pass, Saturday market perusing, family time, scooter riding, a visit to the Mystery Bay Farm to visit the baby goats and see the cheese making facility, and lots of tasty meals. Yes, it was quite marvelously perfect!

Remember that hat party I was telling you about? You know, my parents’ 15th annual? Well that was a hoot and such a hit. My hat won best engineered, which I was thrilled about! It was a two-tiered hat brimming with storybook “fantasy” characters and was so much fun {that was the theme – a photo was posted on our Facebook page}. I also helped out in the kitchen and whipped up some tasty bites, including these chocolate truffles. They’re pretty easy to make and you can prep them in advance. I based these loosely on an Ina Garten recipe I saw on tv and they’re tasty tiny little bites packed with decadent flavor.

You’ll need: 7 oz. good white chocolate | 7 oz. milk chocolate | 1/2 cup whipping cream or heavy cream | chopped walnuts

Step 1: chop up the chocolate loosely and place in a double boiler {or a glass heat-proof bowl} over a pot filled with water

Step 2: pour the cream into a sauce pot and gently bring to a boil – at the same time turn the water on the second chocolate pot

Step 3: once the cream starts to boil slowly add to the chocolate, whisking as you pour

Step 4: whisk until the chocolate is combined and nice and smooth

Step 5: pour the chocolate into a bowl and place in the fridge to set

Step 6: once the chocolate is solidified remove from the fridge and have your white chocolate and walnuts prepped

Step 7: take a small melon baller {or a tiny ice cream scoop} and scoop balls of the milk chocolate

Step 8: temper the while chocolate {Ina Garten says this method will cause this to create more of a shell} by placing the heat-proof bowl in the microwave in 30-second increments, removing and stirring after each until smooth.

Step 9: drizzle the while chocolate atop the milk chocolate to your liking and sprinkle with walnuts

Allow them to set up and they’re ready to serve of package up for a sweet gift! 

Photos & how-to by Valley & Co.

So, friends…what did we miss over our long weekend away? Were you having fun in the kitchen?

How-To: Citrus Candle Centerpiece

Happy Thursday, lovelies! How is your week going thus far? It’s been jam-packed with goodness so far – we announced our entertaining and summer design class at West Elm {wow!}… While you’re reading this we’re likely en route to Seattle for a marvelous weekend {remember A’s parents’ 15th annual hat party on the island?} filled with Pacific Northwest goodness like the Port Townsend Farmers’ Market, decadent cheeses, ferry rides and beach walks {complete with searching for driftwood and sea glass} and family….cue the effortless fun and relaxation!

You know us; we’re all about effortless living and relaxing. Last week we were so excited to share a simply sweet how-to with you, to great response. Today is a spin off of that herbed candle centerpiece - a citrus centerpiece that appeases the senses and doesn’t take much to create. It’s effortless entertaining at its best.

You’ll need: a metal bowl | citrus slices {we chose lemons and orange but anything would look lovely} | floating glass discs {you can buy at a flower supply store or online for about $1 each} | tea lights | darling place settings and twine

Step 1: slice up your oranges and lemons into thicker slices, removing the seeds. Ours were cut to 1/4″ thick.

Step 2: fill your bowl with crystal clear water and carefully float three glass discs in the water, placing the tea lights in the discs.

Step 3: layer the citrus slices until you achieve the look you want. We love the contrast of color with the pale buttery yellow and canary.

Step 4: light your candles and place plates with a good white cloth napkin and silverware wrapped in twine on the table. It’s all about setting the stage for an evening of simple magic with sweet touches.

Ta dah! You’ve made a delightfully unexpected and thoughtful centerpiece for only a few dollars, but it looks decadent and sweet.

Beautiful. To finish off the look top each plate with an orange or lemon to complete the citrus theme.

How-to and photos by Valley & Co.

 So, friends…what do you think of today’s idea? Will you be entertaining effortlessly this weekend?

Effortless Entertaining Ideas for Mother’s Day

Our mothers are positively, simply, wonderfully amazing and such a huge support system for what we do. They instill drive. They make us smile. They are beyond beautiful and lovely. So we’re always excited to celebrate them on Mother’s Day – and throughout the year {with thoughtful cards and letters and handmade gifts}. Our moms have taught us so much and lead by example. They drive much of what we do today and Aleah is ever-so-grateful growing up with a mom {and dad!} who entertains with such panache, loves to have fun {you’ve likely been hearing about Aleah’s trim home for her mom and dad’s 15th annual hat party!}, bake, travel and garden and enjoying the pleasures of life in such style. Even better, she was taught to entertain with flair, all while being effortless and understated. Thank you to our marvelous moms for being so darned spectacular. We love you!

Today is extra special as we’re sharing Mother’s Day entertaining ideas and gearing up to talk all about mom and entertaining, recipes, how-tos, and all things deliciously wonderful in this month’s #HolidayHQ Twitter chat we’re co-hosting. We hope you join in the fun and enjoy our effortless entertaining tips!

No. 1 Dressing up your tabletop for a Mother’s Day brunch or dinner needn’t be overwhelming. Jazz up tin cans with fanciful patterned papers or vintage maps and fill with herbs or flowers. Our how-to: here.

No. 2 Create a sweet gift for the mother who loves to bake: lemon-infused sugar.

No. 3 Prep mini baking dishes like these from Le Creuset the day before with cobbler or granitas. Serve up buffet-style on a whimsical dessert sideboard.

No. 4 White flour sacks are a must for effortless entertaining in the spring and summer months. Simply cinch them with ribbon or twine for a sweet look. | Crate & Barrel 3 for $9.95 {We keep stacks on hand for simple hostess gifts, too!}

No. 5 Berries are oh-so delicious this time of year, so serve up assorted ramekins of berries and cheese boards and a berry shortcake buffet. We’re sharing Nick’s Amazing Berry Shortcake here.

No. 6 Our burlap and brooch wraps make up these charming potted plant “belts,” a darling gift for mom with a homemade touch.

No. 7 Anchor your table top with our homemade polka dotted runner made from craft paper and wine cork stamps. It can be tailored to mom’s favorite colors!

However you choose to entertain and celebrate your mom this Mother’s Day, keep it effortless and you’ll all be able to sit back and enjoy.

Hop on over to these blogs of our splendid co-hostesses and see what they’re offering for Mother’s Day ideas. Be sure to join the Twitter chat fun #HolidayHQ tonight. There will be two Hamilton Beach goodies to win as well: a smoothie machine and an ice cream maker!