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Greece: day 14

Kea & Athens

Our last day...we fly home tomorrow.

Work-in-Progress Living Room

This is my In-laws recently remodeled living room. It's obviously still a major work-in-progress, but I wanted to share what we have done so far.

Things we still need to do:

1. window treatments installed (they will be linen-like cream fabric panels with antique brass hardware)
2. find accent pillows for sofa and chairs
3. receive small accent table for between to cream armchairs
4. receive new end tables for each side of sofa from Baker
5. receive ottoman from Hickory Chair
6. artwork or something for mantle
7. artwork for right side of fireplace
8. accessorize

This daybed from Baker is quite possibly the most comfortable piece of furniture I've ever sat on!

Looking towards the water (can't tell from this picture though, bummer). The sofa was from the previous home that we had reupholstered in a Kravet charcoal linen. The cocktail table and cream leather wing chairs are Baker. The carpets are all from Safavieh.

These two chair were from their previous home that we had reupholstered in embroidered fabric from Robert Allen. That victorian table is not staying there. We're replacing it with a brass directiore style table with a granite top.

A better view of the Baker wing back and cocktail table. We have ordered a tiny accent table to go on the left side of this picture.

A close up of the beautiful antique Italian sconces found at http://www.1stdibs.com/. I love the way they glow.

Greece: day 12, 13

Mykonos

Mykonos...crazy, beautiful, Mykonos

Mmmmm Scallops!

Here is another one of my favorites from

WS Essentials for Healthful Cooking..

(there is a lot of text, but it's really not difficult, trust me)

Spicy Scallops with Vegetable-Rice Pilaf

Ingredients:

Kosher salt
1 cup long-grain white rice (I used
brown rice)
3/4 cup shelled fresh or frozen peas
1 slice preservative free
bacon (I used 3 slices of organic turkey
bacon)
1/4 cup finely chopped
red onion
1/4 cup finely chopped green onion (scallion), white part only

For the spice mixture:

1 teaspoon sweet paprika
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon growd or finely crushed thyme
1/4 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
1/4 teaspoon ground white pepper
Kosher salt and ground black pepper

3/4 lb sea scallops
2 teaspoons canola oil
lemon wedges (optional)

Cook rice until tender. If using fresh peas, while the rice is cooking, bring a small saucepan three-fourths full of water to a boil. Add the peas and boil until tender, about 5 minutes, Drain and set aside. If using frozen peas, set them aside.

Just before the rice is ready, in a frying pan over medium -high heat, fry the bacon until it start to brown, transfer to a paper towel to drain, then chop into 1/4 inch pieces. Return the pan to medium-high heat, add the red onion and green onion to the bacon fat remaining in the pan (note: since I used turkey bacon, I didn't have much fat to work with, so I added a drizzle of vegetable oil to the pan) and saute until translucent. 3-4 minutes. Stir in the cooked peas. Transfer the rice to a large bowl and add the vegetable and bacon and combine, trying not to mash the rice.

To make the spice mixture, stir together the paprika, garlic and onion powders, thyme, cayenne, white pepper, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Measure out 1 1/2 teaspoons to use on the scallops. Store the remaining mixture in a tightly sealed container at room temperature for up to four weeks.

Remove the small muscle from the side of each scallop, if necessary. Halve the scallops horizontally. Sprinkle the 1 1/2 teaspoons spice mixture over the scallops pieces, turning to coat each side.

In a large, nonstick pan over medium-high heat, warm the canola oil. Add the scallops in a single layer. Cook until seared and slightly blackend around the edges, 2-3 minutes. Using tongs, turn the scallops and sear the other side, about 2 minutes.

Mound one-fourth of the rice in the center of each (warmed) plate. Arrange one-fourth of the scallops around each mound of rice. Accompany with lemon wedges, if desired.

Yum!

Greece: day 10, 11

Paros

http://travel.nytimes.com/2006/09/17/travel/17nextstop.html?adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1210223959-TmXPjSfnA/BR3uBBqSHiyA

The Perfect Sleeper

Why in the world are sleeper sofas so ugly? I'm trying to find a somewhat stylish sleeper for our family room and it's not an easy task. I found a couple that I think are ok, but I'm not totally in love with any of them. They are just lacking that certain style factor that I'm looking for.

Here is the room that I'm working on (that's the previous owner stuff). The red wallpaper will be coming down.
These brown leather chairs are going in there

As well as these mirrored end tables and
an ottoman similar in style to this to use as a coffee table/ottoman

Here are my options for sofas so far...

Sleeper #1: Room and Board (in a color similar to the one pictured)
Sleeper #2: Room and Board (in a lighter grey)
Sleeper #3: Mitchell Gold and Bob Williams (in a light medium grey)

Sleeper #4: Baker (in a silvery grey velvet)

What do you think?

How To Live In 500 Square Feet

Here are some pictures of the studio we lived in while in Manhattan. We loved it and it was only 500 square feet!

My office/dining area. What a mess!

Greece: day 7, 8, 9

Ios, Santorini, Oia

{beautiful image courtesy of: http://www.flickr.com/photos/xenia_k/265124923/}

{beautiful image courtesy of: http://www.flickr.com/photos/gbatistini/1558043301/}


{image courtesy of: http://www.flickr.com/photos/oboulko/2264912077/}

After a 8 hour (50 mile) sail we arrive at the island of Ios for a day of sightseeing or just relaxing at one of the beautiful beaches. Dinner will be at the famous Lord Byron's Taverna. The following day we take a high speed ferry to the island of Santorini where we will be staying for two nights at a hotel (we've been sleeping on the boat until now). During those two days we will visit the towns of Thira and Oia.

Greece: day 6

Milos & Kleftiko

{Fabulous image courtesy of: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ezaricos/sets/72157601782836269/}

After a half day in Milos we set sail for 3 hours (18 miles) to Kleftiko well known for it's beautiful cliffs and grottos. Dinner cliffside completes the evening.

Greece: day 5

Milos

We set sail from Hydra at 6 a.m. for 10 hours (65 miles) to the Cycladic islands. Once we arrive at port, we clean up and head to the hilltop town and see the greek amphitheatre where the famous Venus of Milos was found. Dinner and drinks follow at a restaurant overlooking the Milos' huge volcanic crater. Spend the night in Milos.

Greece: day 4

Hydra (day 2)

{photos courtesy of: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jimtsap/tags/hydra/}

Greece: day 3

Today is my birthday and I am celebrating it from the islands of Poros and Hydra!

Happy Birthday Dad

Love you!

Greece: day 2

Aegina & Poros

We set sail early in the morning from the marina in Athens for a 2 hour (12 miles) sail to Aegina island. Once we dinghy to shore we are taking a hike to see the Temple of Aphaia. After a quick swim we then sail another 2.5 hours (16 miles) to Poros island where we will be spending the night. Tomorrow on to Hydra.

Greece: day 1

Athens

We arrive late on Friday evening to Athens. Saturday, the plan is to wake up early, visit the Acropolis and then head to the marina in the afternoon to meet up with the rest of the family. We will have dinner on the boat and stay over night at the marina. Sunday we set sail for Aegina and Poros.

The Anniversary {Part Three}

We took a 5 week vacation to Spain and Italy as our "last hurrah" after the Mr. got his MBA and before he started working. It really was the trip of a lifetime for us. I don't think we'll ever have that kind of time ever again. We celebrated the anniversary of the year I turned 25 in Madrid with a fantastic dinner at a restuarant serenaded by opera singers and then met up with some friends for a crazy night out on the town!

Our trip began in Sevilla (this was our hotel)

Next we headed South to Granada (the Alhambra)

Then to Madrid (nightclub on my b-day)

Then on to Barcelona

Yep, I'm a dork (at Mies van der Rohe's Barcelona Pavillion)

Next was Rome

Then Tuscany (the B&B we stayed at in Cortona)

Florence (the rooftop of the hotel)

And last, Venice

Seriously, THE most romantic dinner of our lives was here at this restaurant. They have a private table set up in an old entrance from the canal. You have your own waiter and total seclusion (except for the gondolas floating by).