Summer Entertaining With Michael Aram And A Reader Giveaway!

When the folks at Madhouse found out that Cocoon was hosting a Botanical Trunk show, they sent a sampling of Michael Aram's new collection of dinnerware for the event.  With metallic and pearlescent finishes, unique textures and nature inspired shapes and designs, the series proved to be a perfect fit for our plant abundant evening.  Not only did they send enough product samples for the festivities, but also included plenty for giveaways both for our trunk show and for the blog.    Take a look at how we utilized the Olive Branch collection to entertain our guests and see below how to win your own Michael Aram Madhouse collection for your next party.

You can enter to win a Michael Aram's Lemonwood tray  with coordinating napkins and plates by doing  3 simple things:

1.  Visit the Madhouse site here and check out the amazing collection.

2.  Comment below on how you would use it, should you be our winnner.

3.  Lastly, visit Madhouse's Facebook page and give it a like.  If you haven't already liked Cocoon's FB page do so here.

Contest ends on midnight Wednesday June 19th.  Good luck!

Congratulations to Shirley S., our trunk show giveaway winner!

Bamboo Mural: Before And After

We've been fortunate to have had interesting, kind people for neighbors in every place we've lived.   In the past, some kept bees, others made cheese, one was a sommelier, and now, our closest neighbor is an artist and fellow garden enthusiast.  When I casually mentioned my plans to wallpaper our children’s bathroom in a bamboo print to replicate the view from its window, she immediately offered to paint a mural instead.  AND did she ever!   Take a look at her amazing brush strokes:

Thank you AM for lending us your friendship and insight, as well as your talent.  We love your work!

A big shout out to all our past and present neighbors for the jars of honey, the bottles of wine and the many spontaneous visits that make our friendships memorable and lasting.

A Redwood Adventure

Over the weekend we visited Redwood Regional Park with the intent of taking a leisurely stroll, but the allure of the majestic redwoods enticed our kids to take on a more challenging trail. We ended up on 5-mile hike through the forest, an unexpected but welcomed change in plans.  As we walked we shared jokes, used twigs as bows and arrows, tracked fairies and often walked in silence.  When we returned to the van, the children were relieved to rest their legs but were very proud of the journey they had taken.  With summer upon us,  I'm looking forward to a quieter schedule, more outdoor adventures and lots of quality time with friends and family.

What are you looking forward to this summer?

A Feathered Affair

My feathered affair began in winter when I decided to make jewelry, and even though my beading attempts never fully materialized, feathers are very much still an obsession of mine.  They keep finding their way into Cocoon botanicals, a dedicated pin board and a very recent purchase.  Whether tucked into a lapel or wrapped as a delicate bouquet, the ethereal beauty of a feather is absolutely timeless.

How do you feel about feathers?

Images: 1./2./3./4./5./6.

Off The Counter: The Classic Cobb Salad

This week's Off The Counter is inspired by an old favorite, the Cobb Salad.  It was  a staple of ours years ago but only recently have we integrated it back into our culinary repertoire.  It could be the perfect summer meal:  light,  filling and good for you at the same time.  Ingredients and instructions below.  Take a look at this classic:

Ingredients:

Baby spinach, blue cheese, bacon, hard boiled eggs, avocado, dijon mustard, olive oil, lemon, salt and pepper.

Instructions:

Cook the bacon and boil the eggs. We like it with lots of eggs so we use 3-4.  Combine with the spinach, blue cheese and avocado.  Salt and pepper to your liking.  For the dressing mix olive oil, some dijon mustard, juice from a lemon and salt and pepper.  Drizzle on top and toss.  Enjoy!

Do YOU have a favorite go-to salad?