Skip the Coffee Shop this Weekend & Make this Instead

Entertaining

A post on a Saturday? Well, I did promise to share my recipe for the Almond Iced Coffee I featured in this post earlier this week. This iced coffee recipe is the perfect weekend treat – mix one up for yourself, or better yet for the moms in your life on Sunday – but fair warning, only if she’s ready to be highly caffeinated!

HOMEMADE ALMOND ICED COFFEE

Ingredients

12oz freshly ground coffee
2-3 cups cold brew concentrate
1/4 t almond extract per 2 cups of concentrate
Iced Coffee
Almond Milk
Sugar to taste

There’s nothing complicated about this delicious iced coffee recipe. Simply measure out approximately 2 cups of cold brew concentrate – which you can find pretty much anywhere these days, but I indulged in a store-bought version from Stumptown – a favorite roaster of mine. However you can make your concentrate at home. I’ve included that bit below.

Next, mix 1/4 t almond extract into your concentrate and freeze in an ice cube tray for 4-6 hours, preferably overnight.

Step 3, make (or buy!) iced coffee. I used the excuse to get myself a Chemex and make some good pour-over coffee and put it in the fridge for four hours.

Finally, fill a high ball with your coffee concentrate ice cubes, pour your iced coffee until the glass is about 2/3’s full and then fill the rest with your favorite almond milk. Give it a mix and enjoy! The almond flavor will intensify as your ice cubes melt. As will your level of caffeination so watch out.

Home-made cold brew concentrate: combine 12 oz freshly ground coffee and gradually add 7 cups cold water in a jar or bowl and stir gently until all coffee is moistened. Let sit covered in cheese cloth at room temperature for at least 8 hours or overnight.

The next morning, line a fine mesh sieve with the cheese cloth and pour mixture through into a clean pitcher to strain coffee concentrate, removing all the grinds. Clean out the jar you just used and put a coffee filter in your sieve. Pour your coffee through the filter into the jar. This could take up to 30-45 minutes for it all to drip through. Store the cold coffee in a sealed jar in the fridge.

ENJOY!

original photography for apartment 34 by ashley batz

The Easiest Way to Entertain Outside

Entertaining

It’s official – it’s May – five months into the year people! – and that means the heart of outdoor entertaining season is upon us. But between work, family, chasing a 12 month old – trying to find some me time perhaps – it can feel overwhelming to even figure out how to feed yourself, let alone invite a bevy of friends to join you. But that doesn’t mean you have to turn into a hermit. You can in fact enjoy entertaining in your outdoor space with almost no work at all. Don’t believe me? Well, here’s proof.

It starts with breakfast. Everyone eats it. In fact, on a Saturday or Sunday morning they’re willing to wait hours for it. So why not skip the brunch lines and instead invite everyone over to enjoy some breakfast treats in their bare feet? It’s the easiest meal to bring together. But I will get back to the food in a second.

While you do want to set a scene for your gathering, you don’t need to worry if you haven’t decked out your backyard with a complete outdoor patio set yet (although this one rather nice). Having just moved into our house a couple of weeks ago, we definitely haven’t gotten our outdoor space together. But you can easily repurpose a few of favorite indoor pieces to create a cool, casual seating area! Side tables, ottomans or poufs do the trick rather nicely. I used two Nate Berkus for Target side tables to create a “table” in our new backyard(!). A killer carved wood tray created my serving area. All I needed was a couple cushions and throw pillows (loving this one and this one) for seating. I even flipped over a large seagrass basket to be a chair! You don’t even have to think about florals when there’s no fancy table to set. I brought my new favorite plant, the cactus, out to add a pop but when you’re outside extra foliage often isn’t necessary.

I do find it helpful to have an indoor/outdoor rug (or two – I’m a sucker for the layered look). If you don’t have tons of seating it offers people more places to lounge and is nicer on your feet. It’s kind of like throwing a picnic in your own backyard.

As previously mentioned, breakfast is the perfect meal for entertaining because there is no need to stress about the food. Ain’t no shame in some store bought pastry – albeit hold out and grab the good stuff! Almond croissants & scones from San Francisco’s B.Patisserie come to mama. Add in some granola and yogurt for DIY parfaits, maybe a bit of fruit or even avocado toast if you really feel like you must “cook” something. That’s really all you need for a nice morning hangout sesh – without ever having to run to and fro.

To make your tasty treats feel “fancy,” serve everything up in nontraditional vessels. Trays, Decorative wood bowls, metallic platters, porcelain plates and details like cloth napkins and cool flatware elevate everything. I’m obsessed with this flatware set with faux-wood handles – they added a nice rustic chic touch to my breakfast set up (although this set is also fab and these are hot too).

One easy place to throw in some extra effort is with your beverages. I created an almond iced coffee recipe (that I’ll be sharing later this week!) to offer my guests an extra special touch. And I’m sorry, but use your real glassware outside. Everyone freaks out about it being breakable, but you’re not throwing a rager at 10AM and I just find drinking out of plastic to be such a downer. If you lose one high ball it’s not the end of the world. This set is crazy affordable.

And that’s really all there is to it. You can take advantage of the warmer weather and quickly pull together an al fresco hang out sesh with friends without having to slave away. I feel a backyard brunch club coming on! Wanna come?

original photography for apartment 34 by ashley batz

This post is brought to you by TargetStyle. Shop the new Home collection in stores and online.

This post in in partership with Target. Thoughts and opinions are 100% my own. Thanks for supporting partnerships we’re excited about and have kept apartment 34’s doors open.

Elevate Your Monday with Nespresso

Decor

We all know the old adage: breakfast if the most important meal of the day. You can’t fight the science – properly fueling up before you head out helps your health, helps your brain power and is just generally more civilized.

See, doesn’t that look lovely? But in those early months of motherhood, lovely went out the window. The days were all about survival. Very little attention was paid to my morning routine. But now that Carter is six months old, I’m attempting to add a little more sanity to daily life. I’ve recommitted myself to enjoying my mornings again. This includes something warm to eat, a nice place setting and a perfect cup of coffee!

Coffee is such a soothing morning ritual. I’m still drinking decaf after giving up caffeine last year, but it’s actually the taste – the experience – that I crave, not the jolt. In the past I would always go out to get my coffee. Even with an old school manual espresso machine sitting on my counter {a long dormant wedding gift}, I never felt like I could make something as good as a barista brewed. But standing in line for your espresso in your pajamas {and running into your neighbors!} is not a good look!

Thankfully, the Nespresso VertuoLineTM Evoluo is here to save me and my coffee loving soul. It brews both large-cup coffee and authentic espresso at the touch of a button – aka it’s fool-proof. That’s very necessary for this continually sleep-deprived mama. I need as much automation as the world can offer me right now!

So rather than run all around, I’m making a point to carve out a few minutes of my morning for me. It feels so nice to have a bit of time back to leisurely enjoy an amazing cup of coffee and a gorgeous spread. Ok, ok, I cannot tell a lie. I haven’t figured out how to have leisurely morning yet. I probably only get about five minutes max, my table rarely looks so beautifully set and while I am now making my own blissful cup of coffee at home, I have my pastries delivered from Craftsmen & Wolves! Regardless, if you can find a few minutes to elevate your everyday, you’ll be amazed how it helps you get through the grind.

Maybe next month I’ll recommit myself to actually cooking!

PS: If you need a little extra convincing, you don’t have to take my advice. Take George Clooney’s! He’s signed onto Nepresso’s Experience A Cup Above campaign and as I always say, WWGD?!

styling by bianca sotelo // original photography for apartment34 by suzanna scott

This post was created in connection with my appointment as a Nespresso “A Cup Above” participant. Thoughts and opinions are 100% my own. Thanks for supporting collaborations that have kept Apartment 34’s doors open.

Iced Lavender and Vanilla Almond Milk Latté

Entertaining

Today we are super excited to be over on Lonny talking about the ultimate indulgence: stress-free weekend mornings. They’re like, my absolute favorite thing! When you wake up on the right side of the bed, take your time to relish a little breakfast in bed and actually get to enjoy some light reading, it sets the tone for the ultimate lazy day. While I love to walk down to the local cafe and order a piping hot cappuccino, during the summer this Iced Lavender and Vanilla Almond Milk Latte has been my coffee go-to. It’s so tasty and refreshing – you have to try it! Did we mention, it’s super easy to make too? No need to get out of my PJs. Perfect for a fun-filled Sunday with le bebe!

Iced Lavender and Vanilla Almond Milk Latté

1 cup cold brew concentrate
1 vanilla bean
1 cup sugar
1 cup water
1 tbls culinary lavender
1 cup almond milk

First, you’ll want to make coffee ice cubes. Using a cold brew concentrate and diluting it 1:1, freeze 4-6 ice cubes overnight.

To make your iced coffe, fill a tall boy glass with coffee iced cubes, pour a shot of straight cold brew concentrate into the glass and then add one cup almond milk. Stir in 1T Vanilla and Lavender syrup (see recipe below). Garnish with a sprig of lavender and enjoy!

For the vanilla and lavender syrup, stir sugar and water into a saucepan. Split vanilla bean, scrape out seeds and add to the sugar liquid. Add lavender. Simmer over medium heat until sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat and let steep for 20 minutes. Strain. Pour syrup into glass container (can add vanilla bean and extra lavender blossoms to finished syrup for more steep time) and store in fridge. Continually taste test for desired flavor.

Be sure to head over to Lonny to check out the rest of our must-haves for the perfect Sunday morning at home. Spoiler alert: there’s a seriously killer giveaway involved!!

photography for apartment 34 by bess friday // styling and original recipe by bianca sotelo

How to Shoot With Film 101

Travel

This summer during a trip to New York, our editorial intern and Instagram guru, June, traded her phone for a film camera in an effort to capture simple moments in the bustling city. Before we had to sadly bid her adieu for the new school year, we picked her brain on all things old school photography and New York! We think you’ll love her observations – and photography tips – as much as we do!

Manhattan looks different on film. Sure, the lure of provocative new exhibits, ever-changing eateries and the buzz of a sleepless city never fades. But in contrast to the speedy snapshots we’re surrounded by everyday, there is a revisited sense of stillness that comes from capturing New York City on film. When I found out my family was traveling to Manhattan for a week this summer, two things immediately came to mind. First, that I would melt in August’s humidity. Second, this same heat would not hinder my efforts to explore and document as much of the city as I could!

All of you film enthusiasts know that there is nothing more satisfying than pulling the camera’s metal lever, hearing the film strip move forward, followed by the ringing ‘click’ of the manual button. We’re so used to pristinely edited photos, taken quickly and by the masses. Seeing the grain of film photos is such a rare pleasure. Having bought a film camera earlier this year, the best advice I can give to new shooters is to simply pick up the camera and start experimenting, like I did!

Top 3 Tips for Shooting with Film:

> Lighting and Balance: Although professional classes aren’t necessary, a little technical knowledge will go a long way. Light balance and exposure are the most important factors for a film camera, and especially after using a digital camera, you’ll want even more natural light than you typically need.

> New perspectives are everything. Try things from different vantage points. If you’re taking a shot from above, try cropping certain objects in the frame in interesting ways. Disproportionate details can help an image look far less staged!

> Price- or lack of service shouldn’t stop you! Film is expensive and finding stores that develop film can be a challenge. But the result? Completely worth it. Just be sure to understand the correct loading and unloading method- this will save you from an accidentally overexposed strip!

Now that I’ve shared a few tisp for getting behind the film camera, I can’t leave without sharing a few of my fave New York stops!

> Cafes: Grand Cafe Lafayette: order croissant with apricot jam + mocha, Toby’s Estate in Flatiron or Brooklyn: order cortado and avocado toast

> Bookstores: Dashwood Book, McNally Jackson, and Creatures of Comfort

> Restaurant: Saxon+ Parole

>Leisure: Washington Square Park at night, Egyption Room at the Met Museum

Whether you love photography or simply wish to see things from a new {or should I say older!} perspective, picking up a film camera and exploring a new city is so incredibly rewarding. There is nothing instant about it and that’s what makes it so worthwhile! — June

photography by June Rustigan

Calligraphy + Coffee 101

Decor

There is nothing quite like receiving a beautifully handwritten note in the mail, wouldn’t you agree? The rarity of a greeting sent “the old fashioned way” is especially endearing. Old-fashioned cards make the sender feel just as good as the recipient- there’s something so satisfying about actually dropping a note in a mailbox! So why don’t we send out more “thank you’s”, “thinking of you” notes or love letters anymore?? In a world of electronic everything, from emojis to emails, it’s almost as if we’ve forgotten how to express ourselves on pen and paper.

Now, we’re the first to admit we rarely send out cards in the mail ourselves. So, in an attempt to keep the handwritten note from becoming a dying art form, we decided it was time to brush up on expressing ourselves on paper- no laptop or keyboard required!

To help us out, we enlisted on local calligrapher, Kim from Bright Room Studio, to school us on fun writing treatments to jazz up our snail mail. We all gathered round the table on a Saturday morning (with much needed coffee in hand!) to learn some tricks of the trade – and of course we had to share it all with you!

our favorite card stock, envelopes & paper goods from Tiny Prints

When it comes to a handwritten note, where to start is easy: cute stationary is a must {we love this set and this set!}! Then you just have to decide to whom you care to send a special note. We have a little {pretty!} notebook in the office to keep track of ideas. It doesn’t have to be a cousin who is celebrating an upcoming birthday or a friend who is expecting. In fact, we argue that it shouldn’t be. We love the idea of sending “just because” notes; they’re such an unexpected gesture that will no doubt turn any friend’s mid-week frown upside down!

But if you’re still feeling stumped on how to write something that’s actually longer than 140 characters, we’ve got your back!

Get Past Notecard-Writer’s Block With These “Just Because” Ideas:

> Send a loved one your favorite memory of them
> Tell a person why they inspire you
> Start a card with “thanks for” & express what you truly appreciate about the recipient
> Share something that will make them laugh- something you’d normally text to them
> Write out a favorite quote from the book you’re reading and send it off for someone else to enjoy

Once you’ve got your note ready to go, here’s where you can take some additional creative license: addressing the envelopes! There are a couple of different writing styles Kim showed us.

> Calligraphy is a classic way to put a sophisticated spin on your mail. It takes practice to perfect, but it’s so much fun. We urge you to pick up a nib and try it!

> Watercolor is so on trend right now. You can either write with a thin, rounded tip paintbrush or paint a watercolor background and print with a pen over it. We’re obsessed with this playful and free flowing style. Let the paint do its own thing- embrace its imperfections and runs.

> Combine fonts and sizes, spacing between characters and colors to instantly take your handwriting from drab to fab.

The key here is to simply let your creativity flow!

And for us creativity definitely starts after coffee! Since it was early and we needed to stay focused on our craft, we set up an ultimate coffee bar with three different roasts from our favorite Bay Area-based coffee roaster, Wrecking Ball {you may remember them from here!}. We felt a little like coffee aficionados while we sipped the different blends. Since you usually get whatever is being served at your local cafe that day, we certainly indulged by taste-testing a cup or two {or three}!

Don’t you just love that print Kim made for our coffee and calligraphy date? You can get your own {in black or white, or both!} here!

So one of these weekends, why not motivate a handful of your gal pals for a different kind of “girls day.” Set up a fun coffee bar; indulge in your local coffee shop’s beans and grind them yourself to really bring things back to basics. Dust off your cutest mugs that quickly get forgotten amidst the convenient thrill of to-go cups. Set out all your pretty paper and cards {don’t forget the address labels either!} with a couple of different writing tools, and you’re set to go for a really simple and super fun weekend activity. We’re here to attest that calligraphy and coffee is the most inspiring way to start off a Saturday!

original photography for apartment 34 by Aubrie Pick // art direction + styling by Bianca Sotelo

This post is sponsored by Tiny Prints, where every choice is a stylish choice. Thoughts and opinions are 100% our own. Thanks for supporting our partnerships!

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