Seaside Wedding Centerpieces:

      While attending my friend Sabrina's wedding, I couldn't help but adore all of the centerpieces that dotted the banquet room! Sea foam green and amber glass bottles were filled with colorful arrays of flowers and stacked on top of famous literature. Profound and tender quotes from the couple's favorite writings were a subtle yet poignant theme of Mike and Sabrina's special day and I loved how they tied that into the decor. I thought that the bits of glass and vintage bottles had a very distinct ocean vibe which was perfect since the wedding was held in Monterey at the picturesque Stone Chapel by the sea. I think the most impressive part of the centerpieces was that Sabrina's beautiful sister and maid of honor, created each arrangement on a whim that morning after the florist wasn't able to construct the arrangements (a death in the family, my condolences!). Natalie also made the bouquets for the bridal party herself as well which you can see here. If you happen to be looking for some simple and beautiful ideas for centerpieces, I hope this leaves you with some inspiration!

Yours,
Nico

PS: I'll be taking a quick get away for the next couple of days with Shahin! I will be posting but you can see the play by play of my adventures on instagram at www.instagram.com/SatinAndSalt!

La Selva Beach:

      
      With Summer fast approaching, I have already begun spending more time than ever exploring the different beaches in my area. I love how even in one coastal stretch of land, the beaches can all be so different. Last week I shared photos of Natural Bridges here in Santa Cruz which is called that because of the massive archway that has formed in one of the ocean rocks as a result of natural weathering. Today, we are taking a little sandy journey to La Selva Beach. "La Selva," actually means "the jungle," and I couldn't think of a more suitable title for this particular stretch of sand. Walking down this beach, you see a massive expanse of ocean in one direction and in the opposite direction you will see high cliffs covered in foliage and trees much like a beachside jungle. So why don't you kick off your shoes and get your toes wet in the ocean waves and take a short walk thru Jungle Beach with me:

      As previously mentioned in my cozy casa post earlier this week, I have been getting up at the crack of day light each morning to scavenge the beaches for sea glass. Sea glass is formed when Mother Nature intervenes in human mistakes. Glass bottles and other trash make their way into the ocean and the litter gets violently tumbled by the ocean waves and sea sand to form smooth and frosted pieces of glass. You can view some pieces I have collected here and here as well as see some jewelry I have created with these rare bits of glass by clicking this link. I like to begin my day as early as 5am and hit the beach for some exercise and also for the pursuit of unique treasures. I find that if I start my day early and in a productive manner, I am set up for success thru out the day. I'd love to know, how do you get your mornings off to a good start?


Yours,
Nico

Outdoor Grilling:

      I've been cultivating a little garden sanctuary in my own backyard for quite awhile now and by the time June arrives, it is the perfect hide away for outdoor cooking! For this particular occasion I prepared marinated chicken, roasted beet & chevre salad, spicy vegetable quinoa, grilled fruit with melted chocolate, and vodka sunrises to drink. I am lucky to have some ground to tend to, high fences for privacy, and a quaint patio for al fresco dining and grilling. Needles to say, and I take advantage of the situation as often as I am able. Lately I am discovering that I sometimes (okay almost always) prefer dining at home over spending money to dine out at a local restaurant! After working on a garden that truly has grown on me, I want to enjoy the atmosphere as often as possible and what better way to do so than to cook a delicious early evening dinner!

*When grilling fruit, make sure the cooking surface is extremely clean so that you don't get any raw meat on the produce while it's cooking!

*I also try to grill fruits, vegetables, and breads before letting any meat touch the grill.
This will improve the taste and make your vegetarian friends very happy too!

      I keep my bar cart stocked with a variety of different alcohols that I typically use for cooking projects (like these recipes for pancake syrup & truffles) but it's also fun to mix a cocktail or two! I really enjoyed these vodka sunrises that I made recently, made with equal parts mineral water, orange juice, grenadine, vodka, and a twist of lime! 

If you haven't tried grilling fruit yet I highly recommend giving it a go! The flames really caramelize the sugars and bring out all the best flavors! Some of my favorite fruits to grill are:
-Apples
-Oranges
-Peaches
-Nectarines
-Pineapple
-Apricots
-Plums
-Bananas

Simple Chicken Marinade:
-Mix olive oil, salt, pepper, the zest/juice of one lemon, finely chopped rosemary, and finely chopped fresh garlic in a large bowl. I don't ever use measurements for this because it's so effortless to put together for an easy dinner, just add ingredients according to your taste buds! Make sure that chicken is completely coated in olive oil while it is marinating in the fridge for 15 minutes to half an hour, cook and then enjoy! 

     
       I hope that this inspires you to get outside and get cooking this Summer, maybe even in your own backyard! Oh and if you have any recipes you think I should try, please let me know in the comments because I'm always looking for new ideas!

Yours,
Nico

Cozy Casa:

The gem fair rolled thru the Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium and I picked up this
 amethyst candle holder. I think the fire light looks enchanting on the raw crystal clusters.

      On overcast days like today, I get eager to return to the cozy confines of my home. Filled with curiosities and treasures, I don't think I could ever reach the point of boredom while stashed away in my apartment. This morning I ventured out to the beach at 5:30 AM to enjoy the salt air and collect "findings," you can follow me on instagram for updates on pretty bits and bobs that I find! While I love to venture out and about to get things done thru out the day, it's home that I always look forward to!

Lately I've been spinning records at home and mixing my own drinks. It's like they always say, why go out when you could stay in?

Simple purple freesia that perfume the house.

I have a little collection of seeds that I use for my backyard gardening projects
and this walnut box was the perfect catch all for the small seed packages. 

More flowers, this time festive dyed daisies in hobnail milk glass vases.

A peek at my bookshelves littered with personal objects including
Russian nesting dolls, a old manual camera (that I used while taking
photo classes in high school), and raw citrine. 

I may love bug brooches (as seen here and here) but I don't love the type of bugs that eat my plants. I've been reading Mother Earth Magazine for tips and tricks. 

My dad has a bay tree and rather than spend money for the leaves in my local grocery store, I  dry out branches my dad brings and I spend a few moments plucking the leaves. 

This fabulous crystal ball only lived in my home for a couple days but I did enjoy it's sparkle before I delivered it to Sabrina as her wedding present. 

Diptyque: Which would you select?

Diptyque: Which would you select? by nsaich on Polyvore

      After visiting the "fragrance museum" also known as the diptyque boutique in San Francisco, California I have become entranced and mesmerized by any and all of their luxurious scented candles. I took menthe verte (green mint) home with me as a lone souvenir from my last trip to the city and I really do love it's fresh and slightly spicy smell. However, deciding on just one fragrance has been an impossibility that my nose can hardly handle! So I have to ask, which would you select? I have to say that feuille de lavande (lavender) is high on my list and I may have to travel back to San Francisco one day!

Yours,

Nico