Carrot-Ginger Coconut Curry

LOCATION: PALO ALTO, CALIFORNIA • MAY 8th, 2020

Outfit Details: J.Crew Cardigan, Club Monaco Cami, Club Monaco Leggings, Missoma Necklaces

I’ve been making this delicious carrot-ginger coconut curry recipe nonstop during our period of shelter-in-place (during the quarantine) and I’m so excited to share it with you today! It’s so flavorful and absolutely delicious. I love that it’s so veggie heavy and you only need to pair it with some steamed rice for a complete meal (makes for great leftovers too).

The best part is that you can easily customize the curry by switching up the protein (shrimp, pork, tofu) and using whatever vegetables you have on hand (green beans, asparagus, corn, etc). So this recipe is also very vegetarian and vegan friendly too. I typically make this dish with chicken. Mostly recently, I used baked tofu and D said he actually preferred it over the chicken. That is a real husband win! The coconut sauce can also be made several days ahead and then heated and poured over the rest of the ingredients right before serving.

Carrot-Ginger Coconut Curry
Adapted from Malibu Farm Cookbook
Ingredient (makes 4-6 servings):

Coconut Sauce:
1 (14 ounce) can full fat coconut milk
1 medium carrot, rough chop
1 inch piece of ginger
2 jalapenos, keep the seeds of one pepper for a mild kick
1 garlic clove
1 cup fresh cilantro (or parsley if you prefer)
2 limes, juiced
3 tablespoons soy sauce
½ teaspoon ground turmeric

1 pound chicken** or baked tofu, thinly sliced
1 yellow onion, thinly sliced
3 carrots, thinly sliced
1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
1 yellow bell pepper, thinly sliced
1 (10 ounce bag) sugar snap peas
1 (15 ounce) can baby corn, halved
1 tsp of sugar
Olive oil
Salt & pepper to taste
**Chicken (or other meat): I like to marinate chicken before I saute it to keep the meat tender and juicy. In a small bowl, combine chicken, 2 tsp water, 1 tsp soy sauce, 1 tsp olive oil, and 1 tsp cornstarch (or flour if you don’t have cornstarch). Let sit for 10 minutes while you prep the sauce.

Step 1: In a blender or food processor, combine all of the ingredients for the coconut sauce and blend until smooth. I like to use an immersion blender and a small saucepan to save time. Gently heat the coconut sauce. Do not bring to a full boil as it may break.

Step 2: In a large skillet, and in a little olive oil over high heat, saute vegetables in order of how long they need to cook. Saute onions and carrots for 3-4 minutes. Add peppers, saute for another 2-3 minutes. Add snap peas and baby corn. Season with salt and pepper, saute for 2 minutes. It’s important not to overcook the vegetables, especially the snap peas. Remove veggies from the skillet and set aside.

Step 3: Continue with the skillet on high heat and add 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Add chicken/tofu and let it sear 1 minute per side until it is about 90% done. Add veggies back and combine until uniform. Turn the heat to low and pour the coconut sauce over chicken and vegetables. Add the secret ingredient - 1 teaspoon of sugar. It brings out the coconut milk and tempers the acidity of the sauce! Salt and pepper to taste and remove from heat.

Step 4: Serve with rice or some other grain that can absorb the sauce. Bon Appetit!

Item Details: All-clad Immersion Blender, All-clad Sauce Pan, Le Creuset Dutch Oven, Crate & Barrel Wood Utensils, Crate & Barrel Bowls, Williams Sonoma Glass Prep Mixing Bowl Set, Williams Sonoma Towels

How to Design a Gorgeous Gallery Wall (with your TV included)

LOCATION: PALO ALTO, CALIFORNIA • MAY 1st, 2020

Outfit Details: Sezane Top, J.Crew Pants, Ferragamo Heels, Miansai Cuff Bracelet

When we moved into our apartment in Palo Alto, I knew immediately that I wanted to create a grand gallery wall as a focal point in our new home. Since our entryway, living room, and dining room are all one continuous space, it was important to me to create some resemblance of sections using our furniture. It’s no secret that Danny and I are huge Marvel and Star Wars fans (hello Disney +) so we spend quite a bit of time watching movies together. Since the TV takes up a lot of space in our tiny living room, rather than try and hide it, I wanted to incorporate it into the décor!

There are no hard rules when it comes to building the perfect wall. It simply takes time to collect things you love and a little bit of massaging to get all of the pieces to fit together. There are a lot of art services out there that offer “pre-curated” gallery walls, but I find that I usually don’t love every piece. A personal rule of mine was that I had to love each art piece for the piece itself, beyond how it fit into the gallery wall. I wanted it all to be something I will carry from home to home.

Art, left to right: Guide to New York, Days in Paris, Otto - Woodblock Print,
Fig Print, Press for Champagne (silent version here), New York Door Drawing, Close Print

Creating the Gallery Wall in PowerPoint

This is the step-by-step guide of how I created my gallery wall from start to finish and the following will contain some screenshots where I show you my process.  I found using PowerPoint for PC was the easiest way to visualize how the pieces will look once they are hung together.

1. Starting with a blank page, mock up your space using a 1:1 (inches to feet) conversion. Make sure to get the page size right with how high your ceiling is. Our ladder shelves are Crate & Barrel and the TV console is Ikea so I copy + pasted similar items to the slide. Remember to include anything you can’t move (grrrr thermostat).

2. Finding Art – Save anything that catches your eye and speaks to you either aesthetically and sentimentally; copy + paste them to your next blank slide. Don’t worry about whether it matches or not right now. Think of places you have traveled to and loved or art that speaks to a hobby. Remember to include art you might already have in your home (find the picture online or upload a photo from your phone).

a. Inspiration: I used artists that I love as inspiration like Rodin, Degas, and Ellsworth Kelly and then found pieces that invoked feelings of their work.

b. Mixed Media: I also challenge you to include items that are not framed art  – like this wool & tassel wall hanging or these hanging baskets. You can also use a canvas piece or something with an ornate frame.

c. Online Sources: Some of my favorite absolute places to find art include Minted, One Kings Lane, Anthropologie Home, and McGee & Co.

3. Selecting Your Art - Start rearranging your art onto the first slide of your mock up. Having pieces you already love and know you want is the easiest starting point since it gives you something to build off of. New York City holds a special place in both of our hearts so when I saw this “My Guide To New York” map, I knew instantly it would become my anchor piece. Consider the following as you play around with the configuration. Remember to “overlap” your art with your TV since you want it to feel like it is apart of the collage!

a. Cohesive Pallet – I chose to go with black, white, and neutrals with a pop of gold. It’s ideal to have an array of different shades of the colors you choose so things don’t look too matchy-matchy.

b. Different Orientations and non-traditional art pieces – the key to having a successful gallery wall is having a mixture of shapes and textures. This is why I think it’s important to have a piece of non-framed art. It elevates your gallery wall and really gives it that pop. I choose to go with this “Press for Champagne” piece and yes, the bell really does ring!!!

c. Different colored frames – three of the pieces I had picked out were pre-framed so I had to choose what colors I wanted for the rest.  Originally, I really wanted the “Guide to New York” framed in black, but it didn’t fit well here since that TV is black so the color ends up dominating the space. Companies like Minted offer framing and mounting options to pair with your art so you don’t have to go to the frame store yourself. Remember to include frame size estimates into your PowerPoint.

4. Putting together your wall – As the saying goes “measure twice, cut once.” This is absolutely true for hanging art! Cut brown paper (or wrapping paper) out into the shapes of your frames and hang those first so you can mark where the nails will go. I can’t stress this enough. Luckily you don’t have to play with the layout since you already did that in PowerPoint!

5. Other thoughts – As you can see in my original selection of art, I had a lot of pink and feminine art pieces. Since this was a shared space of D and mine, it was important to me that the gallery wall reflected us, so I shifted away from those pieces. That’s not to say that I won’t purchase them for my home office or put them somewhere else.

I hope you found this post helpful and inspirational. Feel free to leave your questions and comments below!

XO,
Tiffany

33 THINGS I’VE LEARNED AT 33

LOCATION: PALO ALTO, CALIFORNIA • APRIL 24th, 2020

Outfit Details: BHLDN Dress, Miansai Cuff Bracelet

I love being in my thirties! In high school, I once lamented to my best friend that I couldn’t wait until we were old enough to have coffee table books and now I have arrived! So in honor of turning 33 this week, I’ve put together a list of things I’ve learned over the years. Some of these things have come naturally to me, while others I struggle with and am still working on a daily basis. Here they are, in no particular order:

33. The only predictable thing about life is that life is unpredictable. Like none of us expected this pandemic (ok, maybe except Bill Gates). 

32. You can’t always change the world, but you can change how you view it.

31. Embrace your current season of life.

30. Your biggest critic is yourself. Learn to ignore your inner critic when you know it’s wrong and learn self talk. Self talk can help pull yourself out of a spiral of negative thoughts.

29. Just start. Stop waiting for permission from yourself or other people. This is one that I often struggle with and I’m still working on.

28. Get enough sleep. If you think everyone hates you or you hate everyone, you probably need sleep (or food).

27. Stop apologizing for not being into things everyone else likes: sweatpants, Game of Thrones, beer.

26. Life’s too short to wear clothes you hate. It’s time to donate or consign those pieces you bought, but have never worn. They sit in the back of our closets and haunt us. I know we all have them.

25. Be the bigger woman. Be the first to reach out if you think you’ve hurt someone one, either to try to clarify misunderstandings or to apologize. Also give other people a chance to apologize and learn from it. The best apology is changed behavior.

24. Saying “no'' to some things allows you to say “yes” to others. I used to say “yes” to everything because I had a fear of missing out. Now I’ve started saying “yes” only to the events and projects I really want to do. This also helps with preventing social burnout.

23. Being a feminist is believing in the right to have a choice. A woman who chooses to stay-at-home with her kids and a woman who chooses to have a full time job are both exercising feminism. Let’s stop judging each other for the choices people make. We are called to do different things and find fulfillment in different ways.

22. Learn a good skincare routine. Y’all I used St. Ives facial scrub all the way through graduate school. It’s basically taking sandpaper to your face! We’ve all made bad skincare mistakes. With the right products, I was able to fix the redness, the dry patches, and the hormonal acne. 

21. Build a relationship with your local pharmacist and ideally stick to one pharmacy (chain). It’s important to have the history of all the medications you are taking or have taken be in one place. We are always on the lookout for potential drug interactions between what you are taking and we see you more often than your doctor does. 

20. Social Media is a tool meant to enhance your life. Periodically reevaluate its role in your life. Learn to use the unfollow button. There is a reason it exists. 

19. Single people have single people problems, married people have married people problems. Don’t compare problems, listen more.

18. Wear sunscreen, protect your skin.

17. Find a good taylor you trust. A few well-placed stitches can change the entire look and feel of an outfit.

16. Learn to save money. Set a budget or financial goals and reward yourself when you hit milestones.

15. Comparison really is the theft of joy.

14. Teach people how to treat you. This is a huge one I learned from my mother. She used to remind my brothers and I that people don’t have the innate sense of how you want to be treated, you have to teach them. People often step on your toes simply because they didn’t know it was something that bothered you. This is also a great way to judge other people’s character - do they listen when you ask how you want to be treated? If not, it’s time to move on from them.

13. Family first, but only if they act like it. Families are supposed to love you unconditionally and want what’s best for you.They are not entitled to you simply because you share DNA. 

12. Hold your head high even when people are trying to tear you down. Don’t stoop to their level. Some people just don’t want to see you succeed. Learn to trust in your own self-worth!

11. Diversify your reading habits. Educate yourself to both sides of an issue so you can engage in thoughtful conversations. Read books. 

10. Find an exercise routine you enjoy and stick with it. It doesn’t have to be running or yoga. I discovered The Bar Method when I moved to California and it was life changing! Their live stream is keeping me sane during this quarantine!

9. Be with someone who pushes you to be the best version of yourself and you do the same for them. The best relationships are where both people think they got the better end of the deal. 

8. Learn your love languages and those of your partner. This will help you articulate how you want to be loved and learn how they want to be loved.

7. Quality over quantity. This goes for friends, shoes, and alcohol.

6. Invest in true friendships, people that have your back and you lift each other up. It’s ok to grow out of friendships too. Don’t forget to reach out to the ones who are in a different stage of life than you are. I’m often guilty of this when I think my friends with children are too busy and probably don’t have time for me. I promise they will love to hear from you.

5. Take care of your health before you have to and listen to your body. I now eat relatively diary-free and no longer have stomach pains/reactions/inflammation. Make your annual health appointments and commit to them!

4. The best way to eat healthy is to learn to cook. Read food labels - you’ll be shocked to find how much sugar and sodium is packed in processed food! Learn the basics, have 5 dishes that you can make over and over again with confidence! You don’t need expensive or fancy equipment, but I highly recommend an Instant-pot!

3. Nourish your inner child! Life is meant to be enjoyed - have a spontaneous picnic in an open field or jump on your bed in a dress. This time spent in quarantine has really shown me the importance of creating your own fun.

2. Pray or meditate. This will help you find inner peace and give you time to self-reflect. 

1. We are all more interconnected than we realize. This pandemic has taught us anything, it’s how much we depend on each other.

An extra for good luck: Live generously. Everyone has been blessed with different gifts; find ways to positively impact other people whether it’s with your time, your wealth, or your talents. My mother was a big believer in using the good china whenever we had guests. It didn’t matter if we had one guest or twenty. She always asks that people not try to repay her, but to pay it forward. 

XO,
Tiffany

A FORCE FOR POSITIVITY AND WAYS TO HELP

LOCATION: SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA, CALIFORNIA • APRIL 17th, 2020

Hello! It's been two years since I’ve been on here and yet this blog has been on the back of my mind the entire time. I’ve continued to create content elsewhere - constantly taking photographs, creating flatlays and recipes that never made its way on here.

When I started this blog, I had just moved to Baltimore. A new chapter: new city, newly married, with my first big-girl pharmacist job. I had more than one person tell me “I’m so sorry you’re living in Baltimore now” or “Is it anything like The Wire?” or “I’ve been to the Inner Harbor once, the city seems nice.” Realizing how little people knew about the city, I wanted people to join me as I explored my new home. Together we would discover the beauty of a place with a rich historical and cultural significance that has also seen many hardships and challenges. Thus the blog was born - the title is an ode to Baltimore’s nickname “charm city.” Through this lens, I found myself falling in love with Baltimore. I loved the strong sense of community, the people, the vibrant food culture, and colorful art scene.

For personal reasons, I stepped away from the blog. And then we moved across the country to Palo Alto, California. These two cities could not be more different. When I finally sat down to write again, I found myself stuck. I didn’t know what the purpose of this space was anymore. So here it sat.

Now our world has come together to battle a common invisible enemy, Covid-19. For the past few weeks, I’ve sat in isolation with my thoughts trying to process the overwhelming amount of grief/tragedy/change and seeking solace in others as they share their support and stories.  

As a healthcare professional myself, I felt responsible to do my part in shaping the conversation. So amidst all the uncertainty and anxiety, I now have clarity in what I want this space to be. A place where we can start thoughtful dialogue. A place that sparks joy. A place that inspires.

With that in mind, here is a highlight of some organizations and positive things that resonated with me these past few weeks. I hope you will join me in finding ways to give back or help during this time.

CAUSES THAT ARE MAKING AN IMPACT

Second Harvest of Silicon Valley is one of the largest food banks in the country that Danny and I have donated to. Other local San Francisco Bay Area organizations to support include Silicon Valley Strong, Street Life Ministries, and the Stanford Blood Center. 

Hospitals have released sewing patterns for masks, including Johns Hopkins Hospitals, and are asking the community to sew and donate masks for non-patient care settings. Please check with your local hospital, they may have their own guidelines and patterns. 

The CDC now recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings (4/3/20). I've been helping my dear friend Cailin design washable, reusable cotton masks. She is creating two styles: a standard accordian-style and a form-fitting style that would fit better when worn under other masks. With the shortage of disposable surgical masks for hospital workers, these masks are a great alternative. I’ve already placed my order with her and I'm excited to receive them soon!

UNC graduates (my alma mater) have created Feed the Fight and teamed up with local restaurants to support healthcare workers at UNC Hospitals. They have also started a fundraiser campaign for Duke Hospital. Our close friends at Brothers Vilgalys Spirits, along with other local distilleries, are making hand sanitizer according to WHO guidelines and FDA-approval. 

Invisible Hands is an organization currently supporting New York City and parts of New Jersey to deliver groceries and supplies to the most at-risk members of the community during the COVID-19 outbreak. They are also in the process of expanding to San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Boston. Other NYC charities to donate to include City Harvest and ROAR NY.

Google launched a comprehensive COVID-19 hub and this video that made me teary-eyed, reminding us that “where there’s help, there’s hope.” There are resources for educators, students, small businesses, first responders and more. Google will also match $2 for every $1 you donate to the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund for the WHO through the UN Foundation.

If you have any organizations you would like to share, please leave them in the comment section below!

FOR A GOOD LAUGH & SOME JOY

This family’s rendition of “One Day More” from Les Miserables was the highlight of my morning.

Ina Garten’s hilarious Cosmopolitan Cocktail video recipe on Instagram IGTV.

This is a must watch for Hamilton fans on the second episode of John Krasinski’s new youtube channel ‘Some Good News.’

I may have to go down a rabbit hole of Disney movies, after watching Kurt Tocci’s video of Disney Characters in Quarantine.

Watch Daisy Ridley aka Rey, read “Star Wars: BB-8 on the Run” for storytime, great for children and adults alike.

Stay Safe, Stay Healthy, Stay Home!!!

Thank all the health-care workers and other essential employees fighting on the front lines during this coronavirus pandemic by doing your part and staying home! We are at our strongest if we all work together. We can all use some more optimism and positivity in our daily lives, so I hope this space will provide you with a little joy.

XO,
Tiffany

Everlane Sweater, Zara Dress, Polene Bag

Moondust & Stargazing

LOCATION: BALTIMORE • MARCH 20th, 2018

Outfit Details: 
Free People Dress (similar here), Pumps, Saint Laurent Bag, J.Crew Earrings (similar here)

When spring has arrived, but there is snow in the forecast - what better way to spend to spend an afternoon than staying indoors and gazing up at the stars? The Baltimore Museum of Art currently has two exhibits on display that are for the dreamers…

“Moon Dust” is a perfect example of the harmony of when science meets art. The artist, Spencer Finch, created an impressive light installation representing the chemical composition of moon dust gathered from the Apollo 17 mission. The diameter of each globe corresponds to the size of an atom - small globes represent helium, while the larger oxygen. This exhibit is breathtaking and it also makes my nerdy little heart beat with excitement!

The second exhibit, "Entangled Orbits" by Tomas Saraceno features installations inspired by clouds, bubbles, and spider webs that are suspended across entire rooms. I love how the artist captures the iridescent shimmer of bubbles. Secretly, many of us dream about playing with bubbles the size of cars. It is incredibly beautiful and inspiring.

I'm a huge fan of the monochromatic palette when putting together an outfit, favoring creams and neutrals regardless of the time of year. I often look for versatile pieces that transition well between the seasons and this midi dress fits those criteria really well. Made from lightweight cotton, the fabric makes it an ideal summer dress, but it's easily paired with a jacket or trench for spring or fall. The dress is also perfect for dressing up or down; add some sandals and a straw tote and you have the great look for a beach vacation. I definitely plan on wearing it from spring to fall this year!