Joe's Birthday Napa Wine

It was Joe's birthday yesterday and he got to take the day off of work. At first we were determined to make it our lazy day, but then we decided to head to Napa for some wine tasting at V. Sattui Winery. We got lunch at the winery, enjoyed the pretty landscape architecture of it, and of course, took some photographs!

Vessel Jewelry

I love this vessel necklace by Nervous System jewelry. Jesse and Jessica, jewelry designers from Massachusetts, create wonderful and intricate designs based on science and structure. (photo credit: Nervous System Etsy)

The Best of Etsy: Week 2: Birds

This week I'm doing the best bird finds I've found from Etsy, from wonderful art to lovely accessories.


(photo credit: Hummingbird art by The Mincing Mockingbird)


(photo credit: Bird cuff by Albina Rose)


(photo credit: Handpainted bird necklace by iamabird)


(photo credit: Seagull silhouette by bialaKura)


(photo credit: Bird clutch by Sew Lola)


(photo credit: Goose with flower wings by Chipmunk Cheeks)

She's the First Bake-Off

A little over a week ago, I helped Tammy Tibbetts, founder of She's the First with their cupcake bake-off fundraiser webpage, and I just fell in love with the organization, which helps girls all over the world reach their education potential. And now the She's the First bake-off signups have begun! Last year this fundraiser raised $22,800 in only one week to sponsor the education of 48 girls that wouldn't have had the opportunity otherwise. The challenge website also states that there are 40 million girls in the world that aren't getting the education that they should be, something that seems so crazy and sad to me. Are you ready to do a tie-dye cupcake bake-off to raise money to give another, if not more, 48 girls a chance at an education? To read further details click HERE or the banner above.

Pizza Made on the BBQ

Joe did it! He made pizza on the BBQ and I've got to say it came out pretty scrumptious for only having a few ingredients.



What you'll need:
1 package of pizza dough. (Got ours at Safeway.)
1 large tomato
1 bunch of basil
1 clove of garlic
1/4 cup of olive oil
Good soft cheese


How we made it:
1. Prepare your dough, roll it out on a bed of flour.
2. Chop up a few leaves of basil and a clove of garlic then mix them with about 1/4 cup of olive oil.
3. Chop up your tomato.
4. Add the basil and olive oil mix to your tomato and on top of your dough.
5. Prepare your cheese and have your basil leaves washed and ready.
6. Go to the BBQ and set it at high temperature for about five to seven minutes while it heats up.
7. Put your dough and tomato on the grill and close the lid for approximately two minutes.
8. Flip your dough around, and smooth your cooked tomato over it as a paste.
9. Add the cheese and basil leaves onto the dough.
10. Let it cook for another two minutes.
11. You're done!

Figlicious

Davis has a great farmer's market, and during our trip there this weekend, Joe and I picked up some great looking figs that I just had to take photographs of! I set up a quick lighting set using none other than our ironing bench, simple flash-through-umbrella lighting, and a couple of lids from some of our home decor items as a background.

iPhone Scuba Suit

In a world where the iPhone is quickly becoming everyone's most used--if not loved--camera, this is a perfect iPhone accessory for anyone that loves underwater photography! This scuba suit aka water protective case for your iPhone is available at Photojojo, and needless to say, I want it for Christmas or simply just because. Buy the The iPhone Scuba Suit at the Photojojo Store!

Friday Finds: The Best of Etsy Week 1

What are your plans for the weekend? Joe and I are hoping to sleep in this weekend. Joe's also planning to make BBQ pizza! Not pizza with BBQ toppings, but literally a pizza cooked on the BBQ. Lets see how it turns out! I've decided that in celebration of my love of Etsy craft-makers, I would start a segment featuring my favorite items from the week. And, I guess I'll start off with a ring that made me literally think "Oooooo." I love with this sapphire engagement ring by Sunday Owl. It's rustic and romantic, and would be perfect if your love is the vintage type. (photo credit: The Sunday Owl Etsy) Other finds: Adorable hedgehog print. If you have kids, this Alice in Wonderland cut-out set is awesome! Rustic and vintage utensil rack in baby blue. Navy blue back-pack perfect for college attendees. Coral and spotted pouch. An artist teddy the child in your life will love forever. Follow me on Pinterest to see more of my favorites!

To Autumn

Do you ever get distracted?

I took some new photographs of my photo earrings yesterday, and halfway through I ended up taking photographs of the props I was using!

I'm not complaining, I love autumn, especially the changing of the leaves; these photographs turned out to be my welcome to autumn!

ZoiShop Earrings!

After much work, I finally listed the first eight of my photo stud earrings!

I'm so stoked!

They're petite and delicate and each pair features a mini-print of one of my original photographs.

To view all eight, click the photo below:

Book Review: South of the Border, West of the Sun

In his poetic book about star-crossed lovers, Shimamoto and Hajime, Murakami is at once innovative and zen-like in South of the Border, West of the Sun. The start of the novel drags on, while we learn about Hajime's past; one that has led him to a happy, yet unfulfilled life as husband, father of two, and successful business owner of two Jazz bars. Although these stories are necessary to understanding our protagonist, the book doesn't pick up until about halfway through, when Shimamoto, Hajime's childhood best friend, reappears one night and changes his life forever. Their relationship is at once intriguing and never feels forced; Hajime and Shimamoto are simply better together. You can't put the book down during the last few chapters, but the ending leaves you wanting more; more answers; more interaction; more of a definitive ending instead of the poetic ones that are signature Murakami. South of the Border, West of the Sun is not for the faint of heart. Expect a sad tale of true love that's even more distressing than Katniss and Peeta's, but that leaves you cheering on the lovers just as much. At only a little over two-hundred pages, the book is a quick and easy read; and can easily be finish in less than a week if you read even a little of it every day. The translation isn't the best, as Murakami's imagery is excellent but the words don't always transpose into English the correct way, diminishing the impact of several key moments. There was also an evident grammar mistake within the text, which turned out to be a turn-off. But looking past these details, you're looking at a few hours of a unique read that will leave you thinking about your own life, and what makes happiness work. Length: 213 pages Favorite Quote: "The cement that makes you up has set, so the you you are now can't be anyone else."

2013 Calendars

I am so stoked to have released the first eleven ZoiShop 2013 loose-leaf calendars! They're available in two sizes, 4x6 and 5x7. Each calendar comes with thirteen pages-one cover page, and twelve calendar pages. This year, I wanted to make sure to bring back my jellyfish photo calendar, my most popular.

These are just my mini calendars though, I'm working on releasing poster-sized calendars I hope to have listed before the end of the month!

ZoiShop on Society6

I've been working on adding a ton of new prints on the ZoiShop Society6 shop. You'll find iPhone cases, t-shirts, cards, and photo prints I don't sell anywhere else!

Photo Prints: Starting at $18 USD

iPhone Accessories: $35 USD

T-Shirts: $18 USD