Hog Island Clam Chowder

Seeing leaves turn amber shades of red and yellow as I stroll through my neighborhood reminds me yet once again that a new season is upon us and it's time to pull out my cozy sweaters and concoct sweet & savory dishes in my kitchen. After all, it was only last week that I found myself with a serious urge to brown butter, roast brussel sprouts, and subsequently whip up two dozen homemade chocolate chip cookies all in one night. But last night, I just wanted to curl up with a hot cup of something warm and rich like this hearty bowl of comforting clam chowder that I whipped up a few months ago for an amazing photo shoot that was featured on Style Me Pretty Living. It's taken me a while to share it, but I thought it best that I wait for the weather to get a bit chillier before I bring it to the blog. So, here it is.  For the complete recipe, head on over to SMP Living.

About the Recipe:
Hog Island Oyster Farm, located in beautiful Marshall, CA, is known for its sinfully decadent, perfectly briny and fresh sweet water oysters.  And if you ever visit its famous oyster bar in the San Francisco Ferry Building, you wouldn't ever leave without also ordering their signature bowl of clam chowder! As an homage to the West Coast-style chowder where we throw in the entire clam (shell & all), this Hog Island-inspired chowder was made with succulent morsels of Manila clams that will comfort you even on the chilliest of days.

Hog Island Clam Chowder | via Chandara Creative | Amber Gress Photography

Blog Tutorial: Adding a Custom "Pin It" Button + Social Media Icons

Nothing makes me smile more than learning a new skill for my blog. Ahh..progress, I do love you. Like many of you, I don't have time or funds to invest in sitting in a class or workshop to learn everything there is to know about graphic design, so I rely on the good 'ole internet when push comes the shove and I need to learn a new skill...fast! And everything on this blog is truly a labor of love and a work in progress as I delve into the realm of CSS and graphic design (which is world's away from my undegrad degree in Political Science).

A) ADDING a CUSTOM "PIN-IN" BUTTON

Recently, as you may have noticed, I installed a custom "Pin It" button to my images, and it's got me beaming from ear to ear. I wanted to share my knowledge with you just in case you're also wondering how to make it happen for your own blog. So here it is:

For Blogger templates, you can follow the tutorials on the following sites just like I did via:
Spearmint Baby
Code it Pretty

For Wordpress templates, follow the simple steps to creating your own custom "Pin It" button via:
Hello Monday Creative

B) ADDING FREE SOCIAL MEDIA ICON BUTTONS to BLOGGER

Do you like my new social media icons? Well, you can have them, too! And all for free thanks to From Her New Leaf. I love blogs that share and in keeping with this sharing spirit, here's my tips on how to install social media icon buttons on your own blog!
NOTE:  I only researched how to do this on Blogger because that's the platform from which I blog. 

These are a set of social media icons in the Glacier color family.

1. First you need to find a site that provides free social media icons OR you can purchase them. You can go to the link above, or simply search Pinterest or Google for "[free] social media icon." You will get a bunch of lists that populate really cool icons, and this is by far the most difficult portion of this tutorial.

2. Save the files to your computer and follow this YouTube Tutorial by Blogaholic Designs. This is by far the quickest and easiest way I found without having to host your icons on a 3rd party image hosting site (i.e. Photobucket) or tweaking any HTML code. So unless you feel like doing extra work, give it a try, and have yourselves a Fab Friday!

Happy Halloween!

There's so many things I love about the month of October: the hoopla surrounding Halloween when children get dressed up as adorable little characters and adults who get insanely creative with their get-ups, the sweetness of homemade caramel apples like the ones made by my friend, Liren of Kitchen Confidante, and of course, the...

Pumpkin Patch | Photography via Chandara Creative

Cheers to a bewitchingly sweet and happy Halloween to you and your families! What's your favorite part of this time of year? 

Currently Coveting: The Art of Hand Lettering + Calligraphy

In a world consumed by telecommunications, where social media outlets run rampant and emails and text messages have now replaced the good 'ole pen and paper, I sometimes begin to wonder if the art of hand lettering has been lost to this new generation--a generation where the movement of your thumbs along a screen seem to trump the smooth, gentle strokes of ink gliding across the textured surface of pulp.  I once read an article about how some parents were beginning to question the validity of practicing a child's penmanship, specifically cursive, in school when the vast majority of our communication portals require the mastery of a keyboard.  And as I did so, I gasped and began to wonder how different my life would have been had I never learned how to properly hand write a letter.

And it seems rather ironic that I'm typing all this up on my blog when in fact, I feel like I should be penning my words in a notebook that's been tucked away for much too long. But please forgive me because I'm actually one of the few in a burgeoning minority that truly values and appreciates the written word and all its artistic forms of expression. As a child, I remember learning to perfect my penmanship in class, and with each stroke I drew, I became even more fond of the intricacy of the letters that formed each word. To this day, there is really nothing that warms my heart more than receiving a handwritten note, and it is in this spirit that I wanted to share with you what I'm currently coveting this week (actually that's a lie b/c I've long coveted this), which is the art of hand lettering:  an art that seemed to exist only in ancient manuscripts and official documents of centuries past, but has since been revitalized thanks to a richly talented community of calligraphers who share my same sentiment. Here, I'm sharing a few of those whose work I deeply admire and continue to keep me inspired. Enjoy!

1. Feast Calligraphy

Feast Calligraphy | Jen Fariello Photography

Feast Calligraphy | Jen Fariello Photography

2. Neither Snow

Neither Snow Calligraphy | Jose Villa Photography via Blog

Neither Snow Calligraphy | Jose Villa Photography

3. Anne Robin Calligraphy

Anne Robin Calligraphy | Marianne Wilson Photography

Anne Robin Calligraphy | Rad + In Love Photography

4. Kathryn Murray Calligraphy

Kathryn Murray Calligraphy | Katie Stoops Photography

Kathryn Murray Calligraphy | Coco Tran Photography

FAB FRIDAY: Currently Coveting

It's been a while since my last post, and rest assured, my silence on the blog has been for good reason (much of which I can't divulge just yet), but there's been some changes in my life that have me giddy with glee and in due time, I'll share it with the world starting with you! In the meantime, I wanted to announce a new series that I'm going to start posting since there are so many moments as I'm surfing the web and I stumble upon something amazingly cute or worthy of a feature, and I realize I cannot possibly dedicate an entire post to one instantaneous bout of joy (although I might break this rule here and there).

My "Currently Coveting" series is my little treasure chest of goodies that I'm currently oohing and aahing over, and I figured what better audience to share it with than my lovely readers. There are times in my life when I'm searching for something and Google just doesn't cut it anymore, especially when it turns up random search results that aren't curated for taste. So, it's my collection of curated items that I'm loving or lusting over, and I'm hoping you'll love as well. Enjoy and let me know what you think!

*****************
1. Gold Polka Dots
While chevron is taking the world by storm, I still believe there's something so classic about polka dots, and when they're blinging gold...it's really hard for me to resist.  When I spotted this chic golden bedding collection by Emily & Meritt on Glitter Guide, I was ready to hit the roof. But alas, the designers partnered with PB Teen, so of course, the bedding doesn't come in a King/Cal King size, but for those of you who nestle your heads on something smaller, you are in luck!

And then there was this nursery that I spotted on Grey Likes Baby that left me swooning since I'm a sucker for any kind of design that gives you more bang for your buck by allowing your little one to grow into a room from the moment they're born to the moment they become teenagers. I think gold polka dots does the trick...cute enough for baby, but classy enough for a lady!

Emily & Meritt Metallic Dottie Collection | Via PB Teen

Gold Polka Dot Nursery | Via Grey Likes Baby

2. Rose Gold Flatware + Jewelry
While we're on the topic of gold, I can't seem to get enough of rose gold metal. It's soft, subtle, and much more feminine than its traditional cousin, and most importantly, it's got me smitten beyond belief! These metal sensations at West Elm are simply stunning to admire and add that extra touch of class and fancy to your next dinner party...perhaps for the holidays? I can already see myself 20 years from now...the little old lady polishing my rose gold stemware with a smile on my face! Yes, pretty shiny things make me that happy!

And then, there's this gorgeous ring that looks like an heirloom piece from the moment you slip it on your fingers and walk down the aisle. And the best part was that the tropical island wedding was just as dreamy as the ring.

Rose Gold Flatware | Via West Elm

Rose Gold Ring | Via KT Merry

3. Amber Vintage Stemware from Casa De Perrin
Let's see...how many times do I spend drooling over the exquisitely curated collection of tabletop rentals from Casa De Perrin? Too many, but who's really counting, right? There's something particularly mesmerizing about amber vintage glasses that takes it to the next level for me--reminds me of the alluring autumnal season that beckons a cozy throw wrapped around my shoulders while I sip a steaming cup of pumpkin spiced latte and savor a good book. I absolutely adore them and would love nothing more than to stockpile a little arsenal of these lovelies for my own amusement. Now, if only I can convince the hubby that having my own supply pantry would be befitting of this small obsession.

Casa De Perrin | Via Style Me Pretty | Bryce Covey Photography

Case De Perrin | Via Style Me Pretty | Tec Petaja Photography

Flash Giveaway: 17th Annual Kendall-Jackson Heirloom Tomato Festival with Muir Glen Organic

Via Style Me Pretty | Pill Photography

Friends, I have a special flash giveaway to announce. I was fortunate enough to receive a pair of tickets from the wonderful team at Muir Glen Organic for the 17th Annual Kendall-Jackson Heirloom Tomato Festival happening this Saturday, September 28, 2013 in Fulton, CA from 11am-4pm, and I would love nothing more than to give them away to one of my lucky readers.  (Note: Tickets to this event are currently all sold out!)

I absolutely adore heirloom tomatoes...there is nothing like the sweet, succulent morsels of sun-ripened goodness when biting into this late summer fruit.  So, just imagine spending this Saturday sipping amazing KJ wines, tasting over 175 heritage tomato varietals, and sampling the finest culinary delicacies of the region's best restaurants!  And because this is a 24-Hour FLASH GIVEAWAY....it's happening real fast!

UPDATE: Thanks for your entries. The giveaway has ended! Stay tuned for next time!

Here's all you have to do to enter:

1. Like Chandara Creative on Facebook
2. Post a comment below indicating what's your favorite heirloom tomato recipe AND include your email address or instagram handle (if your profile is public).

DEADLINE:
Entries/Comments will be accepted until 8pm PST, Thursday, September 26, 2013 and the lucky winner will be contacted by 8am PST, Friday, September 27, 2013. Tickets will be emailed to you, so make sure you include an email address in your comments.

Good Luck!!!

Disclosure: This giveaway is being sponsored by Muir Glen Organic. One winner will be randomly selected to receive a pair (2) of tickets to the 17th Annual Kendall-Jackson Heirloom Tomato Festival (valued at $75/ticket).

Published on Style Me Pretty Weddings: A Summer-Inspired Wedding Editorial

I'm absolutely honored Style Me Pretty Weddings featured this amazing summer-inspired wedding editorial today. There are so many things that inspire me, but what tops it off is my favorite color palette: coral + peach-toned hues to match with my favorite summertime fruits: melons! Here's a few snippets  from the shoot captured on film by my amazing friend, Coco Tran Photography, and be sure to visit SMP for the entire collection!

 

Photographer :Coco Tran Photography | Creative Vision+ Styling: Coco Tran | Flowers: Vo Floral Design | Makeup: Cathy Dung | Hair: Gabi Baker | Food Styling: Chandara Creative | Models: JE models Alana+Edward | Linens: 1000 Fine Events | Stationary  + Calligraphy: Kathryn Murray  | Ceremony Location: Private Backyard, California | Bride's Dress: Bo Lee Boutique  |Groom's tux: Banana Republic |

Bride's Earrings: David Yurman