The Avo Bocce set screams American classic, hand-finished, timeless pastime. Bocce reminds me of hanging out with my family, summer nights spent in the backyard with the adults sipping cold beers and the kids running around exhausting themselves until the sky went dark. This set would be such an amazing hand-me-down, especially as each oak ball builds up its own unique patina. If you think this set is as beautiful as I do, click over to Avo Bocce’s Kickstarter page and stake your claim.
A to-scale set of interlocking porcelain plates resembling the fifty states called The Fifty United Plates? SIGN ME UP. No you don’t have to purchase all fifty, but wouldn’t that be incredible?
Their uses are plentiful; baking dish, serving tray, conversation piece, collecting tray, tapas plate, etc. They can act as stand alone state plates, pieced together as regions on your dinner table, or hand picked to be the places that mean the most to you. The entire spread will measure 8 feet by 4 feet with Texas sized at 24″ by 25″ and Rhode Island as the smallest state at 1.5″ by 1.5″.
To wrap up this first edition of Oklahoma City Week we’re going out with an artist instead of a shop. Meet Jason Pawley, the brilliant mind behind these neoned, patterned, exciting works of art that I can’t stare at long enough. ( If you’re the observant type you probably noticed his handiwork on the back wall of DNA Galleries yesterday.) I like Jason’s patterns on their own, but am completely blown away by the pieces that include subjects tattooed with those same lines and angles. And I’ve just convinced us all that he would design great tattoos as well, right?
One of my favorite summertime accessories is a great pair of shades – particularly the large, bug-eyed variety (I even remember purchasing my first pair the summer before college at a discount store!). I love the protection they offer my light sensitive peepers, so I’ve stuck with them and basically worn every shape for the past fifteen years. TOMS summer eyewear collection is beautiful, so when they asked me to help them get the word out there was no way I could say no! I’ll admit it was difficult not to fall into my old bug-eyed ways, so I struck a compromise and went with the Kitty Pink Tortoise style. I love their classic shape, trendy colorblocked arms, and the hint of pink in the tortoiseshell design. Did I forget to mention that I’m a pro at losing sunnies? Because I am. Luckily these gals arrive with a sturdy zippered which helps me do a better job of keeping track.
Now of course what TOMS is best known for are their super comfortable shoes and their One for One movement where a pair of shoes is donated to someone in need for each pair purchased. (This also extends to their eyewear now – woohoo!) I’m a happy owner of the Earthwise Orange, and now a pair of these wedges too. I actually haaate wearing heels of any sort, and can 100% honestly report that these are the most comfortable I’ve ever had on my tootsies. I took a chance on the color and pattern – I’m much more of a black/white/grey girl – and have to say I love how they go with just about everything in my closet! (As a matter of fact, I didn’t wear everything in these two images together, but I’m starting to think I might have to.) And I also like how the pattern goes all the way to the floor for a more fluid look as opposed to it just being on the upper straps. Now I’m eyeing up TOMS Cordones for fall!
Disclaimer: Product was provided for review by TOMS. However, all words and opinions are my own. Thank you for continuing to support the brands that keep Design Crush going!
DNA Galleries is a small contemporary art gallery and artist-made retail space that is a key part of the burgeoning art scene here in OKC. They showcase artists who like to work in non-traditional styles, host artist openings the second Friday of every month, and have several works for sale under $50 for collectors who are just starting out. Also a whopping 95% of their goods are locally made! DNA recently moved into a new shop that’s nearly double the size of their old location and are making great use of the space, I’ll be sharing more on that killer wall mural later this week!
Eat more pie! I think that’s a pretty good mantra to live life by, and so does Pie Junkie. This small shop is run by two moms with a passion for classic baking with a modern twist, who both grew up by their grandmas’ sides in the kitchen. Pie Junkie offers a mean menu full of both sweet and savory crust-encased goodies, along with the occasional spur of the moment addition. (So far) I’ve tried their southwestern quiche and coconut cream pie, both of which made me close my eyes and emit mmmm sounds of delight. I’m already deciding what to order next!
When I was visiting Olive & Co. last week and sampling way too many balsamics (hello, heartburn!), one of the brilliant employees mentioned that she likes to put a little of their strawberry balsamic vinegar into her son’s water to make him drink more. Which obviously led to us talking about cocktails and how wouldn’t it be equally amazing to add a little to our vodka. Which got me thinking and concocting. (If these are slightly too tart for you, consider adding half an ounce of simple syrup.)
Strawberry Balsamic Vodka Cocktail
• 1 oz. vodka
• 1 oz. quality strawberry balsamic vinegar
• 2 oz. soda water or ginger ale
• ice
• strawberries
Combine vodka, strawberry balsamic, soda water or ginger ale, and ice in cocktail shaker. Shake it up good. Pour into tumbler and garnish with strawberries, whole or sliced. (Or make it a virgin by eliminating the vodka!)
Grapefruit Balsamic Vodka Cocktail
• 1 oz. vodka
• 1 oz. quality grapefruit white balsamic vinegar
• 2 oz. soda water or tonic
• ice
• grapefruit
Combine vodka, grapefruit white balsamic, soda water or tonic, and ice in cocktail shaker. Shake it up good. Pour into tumbler and garnish with a slice or wedge of ruby red grapefruit. (Or make it a virgin by eliminating the vodka!)
The second stop for Oklahoma City Week is Olive & Co, a shop full of 20+ premium olive oils and 16+ balsamic vinegars. One of my favorite appetizers in the world is a simple dish of olive oil with a (sizable) dollop of balsamic and all the crusty bread I can get my hands on, so Olive & Co is a veritable mecca for me. The moment you walk in you’re encouraged to try as many of both as you’d like, little plastic cups and bread are located on the tables. Each cistern has a description of its contents similar to that of a wine which is vastly helpful, and oils and vinegars are available in four sizes that they decant directly from the cisterns you see here . Turns out the vinegars were so delicious I didn’t even need the bread and just tasted from the cup after the first! Both the traditional balsamics and white balsamics were so layered in flavor and depth that they were seriously life changing to the palette. I picked up bottles of strawberry balsamic and grapefruit white balsamic and have a little something up my sleeve to share with you all later today – stay tuned!
7602 North May Avenue Oklahoma City, OK 73116
405.242.6457
