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July 3, 2013

Nissan Versa Note

While in San Diego I had the chance to check out the new 2014 Nissan Versa Note. I have some serious brand loyalty when it comes to these guys – my last two cars have been Nissans – so I was definitely interested in what new technology they would be bringing to the table.

If you’ve been a Design Crush reader for a few years you might remember my last trip with Nissan, which resulted in 18 hours in Seattle. I’m happy to report that since I had arrived in town a few days early I didn’t miss any of the fun this go around! Thursday night we were treated to a delicious family style dinner at the newly opened location of Stone Brewing Co. at Liberty Station, it’s in a 60,000 foot space making it the largest restaurant in San Diego. That sounds sort of awful, but the way it’s sectioned off into smaller spaces makes it feel extremely intimate. And they have a bocce court!

We enjoyed our hor d’oeuvres and dessert in a beautiful courtyard. The space was perfectly green and peachy and full of succulents and chairs made out of whiskey barrels. So much inspiration! Then when the sun went down they projected a surfing documentary on this exact wall, no audio only music. It was honestly one of the most perfect nights, in the name of business or not.

Friday morning we were treated to the sight of an entourage of Nissan Versa Notes lined up outside of the Andaz! I was lucky enough to have Kirsten Grove as my driving partner, and she took the wheel for the first leg of our test drive. But before that we checked out the car and oohed and aahed over it’s 40 mpg capacity, best in class cargo space, and the Around View Monitor (AVM) that gives you a 360-degree view of your car. This little car packs a serious punch.

I love how Nissan built our drive around a few stops at interesting places specific to San Diego. After a drive through the high desert our first stop was Shaper Studios, where we had the chance to try our hand at shaping a surfboard! Along with giving birth to boards they also give lessons on shaping and glassing your own! So rad.

Our second stop (after a drive through beautiful vineyards and country) was Belly Up, the famed club in Solana Beach that’s known for getting bands right before they hit it big. We grabbed lunch right next door at the Wild Note Cafe. I had about ten minutes to give the menu a once over, order, and eat before catching my shuttle to the airport. Thanks for a fantastic experience, Nissan!

Disclosure: Nissan provided me with travel and hotel accommodations to attend the 2014 Nissan Versa Note media preview.

Posted In sponsored post, technology

July 2, 2013

108 Ways to Scream For Ice Cream, Frozen Yogurt, Sorbet + More

So I went a *little* bit crazy on today’s ice cream roundup didn’t I? I know you’ll forgive me, because it’s National Ice Cream Month and because we can all agree ice cream is the epitome of summer. Words are actually failing me as I look at all of the gloriousness below. I mean ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHT recipes for ice cream, froyo, sorbet, and sherbets. I think they speak for themselves.

ROW 1: Almond Joy (Coconut) Ice Cream – Naturally Ella // Apricot Frozen Yogurt – Pixels + Crumbs // Apricot Sorbet – pies and plots ROW 2: Backyard Mint + Honey Ice Cream – Sift & Whisk // Baklava Ice Cream – Vegetarian Ventures // Balsamic Cherries & Almond Ice Cream – The White Ramekins ROW 3: Banana Almond Butter Ice Cream – knead to cook // Banana Caramel Ice Cream – Martha Stewart // Beer Ice Cream – The Endless Meal

ROW 1: Berry Crumble Ice Cream – Take a Megabite // Black Raspberry + Chocolate Chunk Ice Cream – the little red house // Blackberry Coconut Sorbet – Cafe Johnsonia ROW 2: Blackberry Ice Cream with Amaretto – eCurry // Blackberry Rosewater Ice Cream – Cafe Johnsonia // Blueberry Buttermilk Ice Cream – Savory Simple ROW 3: Blueberry Cheesecake Ice Cream – La Famille Noire // Blueberry Muffin Ice Cream – How Sweet It Is // Blueberry Pie Frozen Yogurt – Kleinworth & Co

ROW 1: Brown Butter Ice Cream – Always With Butter // Brown Sugar Brandy Ice Cream – Pass the Sushi // Buttermilk Ice Cream with Honey Baked Nectarines and Biscoff Cookie Crumbs – 350 Sweets ROW 2: Caramel Swirl Brownie Chunk Ice Cream – Barefeet In the Kitchen // Chai Coconut Ice Cream – Cookie and Kate // Chocolate & Hazelnut Praline Gelato – The Kitchn ROW 3: Chocolate Hazelnut Ice Cream – Completely Delicious // Chocolate Pretzel Frozen Yogurt – Pick Fresh Foods // Chunky Apricot Ice Cream – The View from Great Island

ROW 1: Cinnamon Dolce Ice Cream – A Beautiful Mess // Cinnamon, Honey & Toblerone Ice Cream – Tutti Dolce // Creamy Watermelon Sherbet – Relish ROW 2: Crunchy Banana Ice Cream – Foolproof Living // Crunchy Peanut Butter Ice Cream with Brown Butter Graham Cracker Crumbs – dash and bella // Dark Chocolate Coconut Ice Cream – A Couple Cooks ROW 3: Dark Chocolate Ice Cream – The Fauxmartha // Double Oreo Ice Cream – Chocolate Therapy // Fruity Summer Sorbets – Lunchbox Bunch

ROW 1: Funfetti Cake and Icing Ice Cream – Style Me Pretty // Goat Cheese Balsamic Ice Cream – Brooklyn Supper // Honey Almond Frozen Yogurt – Vintage Mixer ROW 2: Honey Ice Cream – Thank Heavens // Honey Pineapple Greek Froyo – Food Doodles // Honeycomb Semifreddo – Herriott Grace ROW 3: Honeysuckle Sorbet – The Messy Baker // Horchata Ice Cream – Serious Eats // Key Lime Pie Ice Cream with Mango Swirl – Grandbaby Cakes

ROW 1: Lavender Ice Cream – A Beautiful Mess // Lemon Cream Pie Frozen Yogurt – Mother Thyme // Lemon Curd Ice Cream – Relishing It ROW 2: Lemon Meringue Pie Ice Cream – Simmer & Shoot // Lemon, Honey + Thyme Sorbet – My Darling Lemon Thyme // Lightly Poached Guava Ice Cream – Drizzle and Dip ROW 3: Limoncello Gelato – Bon Appétit // Macaroon Ice Cream – chattavore // Malted Condensed Milk Ice Cream – Savory Simple

ROW 1: Mango Cheesecake Ice Cream – Around My Family Table // Mango Ginger Sorbet – Kitchen Confidante // Maple Ice Cream – Immer Wachsen ROW 2: Mint Froyo with Dark Chocolate Chunks – the Fauxmartha // Mint Julep Frozen Yogurt – Back to Her Roots // Mocha Ding Dong Ice Cream – Bake at 350 ROW 3: Mocha Latte Frozen Yogurt – Diethood // Mocha Sherbet – Pastry Studio // Olive Oil-Saffron Ice Cream with Burnt Orange-Caramel Swirl – Food 52

ROW 1: Orange Creamsicle Ice Cream – Baked by Rachel // Orange Mascarpone Ice Cream – Keep Calm and Eat On // Orange Spice Sherbet – Pastry Studio ROW 2: Orange, Sweet Potato, and Carrot Sorbet – Culinary Adventures in the Kitchen // Peach Coconut Sorbet – Real Food. Real Deals. // Peanut Butter and Cayenne Ice Cream – A Beautiful Mess ROW 3: Persimmon Gelato – she who eats // Pineapple Gelato – Juanita’s Cocina // Rhubarb & Strawberry Ripple Froyo – Green Kitchen Stories

ROW 1: Rhubarb and Gin Sorbet with Rose Cream – Apt. 2B Baking Co. // Rhubarb Ice Cream with Pistachio Chunks – What’s Cooking Good Looking // Rhubarb Sorbet – Delicious Shots ROW 2: Rhubarb Raspberry Ripple – Rose and Henry in the Kitchen // Rich Chocolate Sorbet – University Foodie // Roasted Apricot Buttermilk Ice Cream with Almond Streusel – Reclaiming Provincial ROW 3: Roasted Banana Coconut Milk Ice Cream – Ari’s Menu // Roasted Cherry Vanilla Ice Cream with Bourbon and Chocolate – The Bojon Gourmet // Roasted Peaches and Lavender Ice Cream with Lemon Salt Shortbread Cookies – Tartelette

ROW 1: Roasted Strawberry Coconut Milk Ice Cream – Sprouted Kitchen // S’mores Ice Cream – Oh, Ladycakes // Salty Honey Ice Cream – A Cozy Kitchen ROW 2: Sangria Sorbet – Dessert For Two // Snickerdoodle Ice Cream – Beantown Baker // Strawberries + Angel Food Ice Cream – A Beautiful Mess ROW 3: Strawberry Cardamom Sherbet – Scoop Adventures // Strawberry Crème Fraîche Soft Serve – Food 52 // Strawberry Lemonade Ice Cream – Chocolate Moosey

ROW 1: Strawberry Mascarpone Ice Cream – Scoop Adventures // Strawberry Pop Tart Ice Cream – Foxes Love Lemons // Strawberry Swirl Buttermilk Ice Cream with Candied Pink Peppercorns – A Cozy Kitchen ROW 2: Strawberry-Peach Frozen Yogurt – Lemons and Anchovies // Strawberry-Raspberry and Mint Frozen Yogurt – Turntable Kitchen // Strawberry Sour Cream Ice Cream – Katie at the Kitchen Door ROW 3: Strawberry, Basil & Balsamic Frozen Yogurt – Roost // Sweet Potato Ice Cream – Lady and Pups // Tarragon Gelato – La Cucina Italiana

ROW 1: Tiramisu Ice Cream – Playful Cooking // Toasted Marshmallow Coconut Milk Ice Cream – How Sweet It Is // Triple Coconut Sorbet with Kirsch Soaked Cherries – Gourmande in the Kitchen ROW 2: Vanilla Bean and Fresh Mint Ice Cream – Nourished Kitchen // Vanilla Rhubarb Frozen Yogurt – offbeat + inspired // Cinnamon Doughnut Ice Cream – Spicy Icecream ROW 3: Meyer Lemon Sorbet – This Homemade Life // Red Velvet Cake Ice Cream – Drizzle & Dip // Sweet Corn and Raspberry Ice Cream – Design*Sponge

All recipes and photos copyright of their respective sites unless otherwise noted.

Posted In recipes, round up

July 2, 2013

Alphabet City Coasters

Joanne Dugan’s ABC NYC: A Book About Seeing New York City is loved by adults and children alike, from subway signage to graffiti she captures the visual vocabulary of New York City like no other. Now Dugan’s urban typography is available for your living room, Alphabet City Coasters feature 28 letterforms and two symbols. Perfect for the typophile or city lover!

Posted In accessories, house and home, read up

June 28, 2013

Happy Weekend

01/ How amazing is this reflective optical illusion house?!
02/ A sandcastle art installation showing the starkness of suburbia.
03/ This is not Photoshopped.
04/ 3D printed hands to hold your artwork!
05/ The Grapple Coat Hanger is a little black-room-butcher-shop, but I love it.
06/ Make a set of DIY toy animal corn cob holders, because why not.
07/ The Sandwich Book. ‘Nuf said.
08/ Tiny paint swatch paintings!
09/ Furniture made using the power of the wind.
10/ New electronic baggage tags that save time + paper.

This week on Design Crush:
Tips&Tricks: Photography
Periodic TableWare
Strawberry Galette with Sugared Crust
unihook
The Present Company Project
Hello, San Diego
Ikebana Bowls + Soe Cups
Andrew Lyons
InstaJune

Posted In accents, accessories, create, furniture, happy weekend, house and home, installation, kitchen, make it, painting, paper, photography, read up, technology, travel

June 25, 2013

unihook

I first spied the genius unihook in Alyson Fox‘s Austin home this past April and fell in love. I meant to ask her where/who they were from, but I was having way too good a time to remember to do so. Now I’m happy to report that they’re by Pat Kim and each one can support up to 30 lbs! I love the versatility – use it to hang dish towels in the kitchen, hand towels in the bathroom, or even coats. (via swissmiss)

Posted In accents, house and home

June 25, 2013

Strawberry Galette with Sugared Crust

Making a galette is easily my favorite fast summer dessert. With the bounty of berries available this time of year and the wonder of pre-made pie crust it takes less than fifteen minutes from counter to oven! (You can check out another version right here.)

Strawberry Galette with Sugared Crust

• 1 pre-made pie crust (or the real thing if you choose to go that route)
• 1 pint fresh strawberries
• 1 Tbsp vanilla
• 2 Tbsp agave syrup
• 1 egg
• 3 Tbsp sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and set out pre-made pie crust to warm slightly. Rinse berries to clean, then cut into quarter inch thick slices. Place in bowl, add vanilla and agave, stir to coat, then allow berries to sit for 5 minutes. Line cookie sheet with parchment paper and unroll pie crust in center. Pile strawberries in the middle of dough, allowing for a 1 1/2 to 2″ border. Fold up edges of dough, wetting your fingertips with water to seal and act as glue. Pinch together where dough overlaps. In a small bowl beat egg. Use a basting brush to lightly coat folded over dough edges. Sprinkle the same area with sugar. Bake 15-20 minutes. Serves 4-6 – extra tasty with fresh whipped cream, vanilla ice cream, or both!

Posted In recipes

June 24, 2013

Periodic TableWare

Good barware is a staple in my life, which is why I was immediately drawn to Periodic TableWare. It’s a line of drinkware based on the look of classic laboratory glass. Can you imagine how fun it would be to host a mixology party featuring this collection?! If you’re into it as much as I am, pop over to Kickstarter and give ’em a little support.

Posted In house and home, kitchen

June 21, 2013

Happy Weekend

01/ Photoshop in real life.
02/ Snapcat, an app that lets cats take selfies by touching paw to screen!
03/ LEGO maps of the London Underground.
04/ Skateboard + Stroller = LongboardStroller
05/ Botanical weaponry, my favorite kind.
06/ Hot Tub Cinema, a pop-up movie theater with hot tubs!
07/ Beastie Boy Mike D’s gorgeous Brooklyn townhouse.
08/ One Million Bones, a “visible petition” against ongoing genocide and mass atrocities
09/ Quiet, a cocoon-like chair where you can get some privacy.
10/ A DIY geometric paper torso.

This week on Design Crush:
Zelma Rose (A Giveaway)
Design Crush + Anthropologie + Oklahoma
The Scent of Departure
Feliz
DODOnotes
Sweet Summer Hellos
June DIYs
Medius Collection
Popsicles + Poptails ’13

Posted In create, grand design, happy weekend, illustration, make it, mixed media, paper goods, photography, sculpture, technology

June 21, 2013

Popsicles + Poptails ’13

Our summer popsicle and poptail roundup is sort of legendary. Each year without fail it ends up being one of the highest viewed posts, and we love that because who doesn’t love popsicles?!? This year we’ve rounded up 54 of the tastiest frozen treats on a stick you’ve ever seen. Some are simple, some are definitely culinary experiences, and others are adults only. Hope you enjoy! (Psst… you can check out past years pops here, here, and here.)