erica schrag

Summer eats and treats 1. Portobello mushrooms and summer...

Wed, 23 May 2012 22:05:04 -0400

Portobello mushrooms and summer squash

Trinkets and my favorite summer scent, C

Candles

Morellis Ice Cream

Summer eats and treats

1. Portobello mushrooms and summer squash

2. Trinkets and my favorite summer scent, Chanel Chance

3. Weeknights at home with bougie candles

4. Morellis Ice Cream (raspberry and chip)

I’ve been reminiscing about last summer and my little home...

Tue, 22 May 2012 12:02:58 -0400

I’ve been reminiscing about last summer and my little home on the other side of Euclid Avenue with the lime and turquoise green walls. Always mindful of the question, “What makes a house a home?”

For posterity, I have to make note of the following about my first home in Atlanta:

the smell of the A/C unit
hang drying my laundry
cups of coffee on my front porch
this message greeting me every morning
rowdy people hanging out in the Star Bar parking lot after hours

Last night I started covering my walls with Polaroids that have hung proudly in at least 5 other different homes. It was like seeing an old familiar friend. I’m in search of a very large map to cover a wall in my living room. It needs to be at least 6 feet long. Anyone know where I could find this?

More importantly I have a killer pool. If anyone is in search of a summer pool to hop, message me. I don’t have a pool companion for the summer as I have high qualifying expectations.

"Love is a temporary madness, it erupts like volcanoes and then subsides. And when it subsides, you..."

Tue, 22 May 2012 10:03:08 -0400

“Love is a temporary madness, it erupts like volcanoes and then subsides. And when it subsides, you have to make a decision. You have to work out whether your roots have so entwined together that it is inconceivable that you should ever part. Because this is what love is. Love is not breathlessness, it is not excitement, it is not the promulgation of promises of eternal passion, it is not the desire to mate every second minute of the day, it is not lying awake at night imagining that he is kissing every cranny of your body. No, don’t blush, I am telling you some truths. That is just being “in love”, which any fool can do. Love itself is what is left over when being in love has burned away, and this is both an art and a fortunate accident.”

- Louis de Bernières

Last week I went to Salvation Army and grabbed a handful of...

Fri, 11 May 2012 13:03:11 -0400

Tattoo carbon framed

Framed Crooked Fingers poster

Frame backing

Estevan Oriol print framed

Family photo framed

Tattoo carbon framed

Recycled frames

Last week I went to Salvation Army and grabbed a handful of frames with matting. I recycled over 10 of them by tearing apart the custom framing. The total cost was $46.00 (thanks half off white tag sales!).

I finally framed my Estevan Oriol print, my Crooked Fingers poster, a handful of my tattoo carbons I’d held onto and other keepsake family photos. I have a massive wall in my loft space. It will most likely take years before it’s covered, but I’m okay with slowly framing my way up.

Saturday I made my first visit to Paradise Gardens during the...

Tue, 08 May 2012 13:35:00 -0400

Howard Finster Paradise Gardens

Howard Finster Paradise Gardens

Howard Finster Paradise Gardens

Chapel at Paradise Gardens

Howard Finster Paradise Gardens

Howard Finster Paradise Gardens

Howard Finster Paradise Gardens

Howard Finster Paradise Gardens

Howard Finster Paradise Gardens

Howard Finster Paradise Gardens

Saturday I made my first visit to Paradise Gardens during the annual Finster Fest in Summerville, Georgia. Rev. Howard Finster is the creator of Paradise Gardens, a product of his folk art and a museum of symbolic sculptures and structures.

At 16 Howard was called to preach. He built several churches and held many tent revivals. The story is told that he gave up preaching because one Sunday night he asked who remembered his Sunday morning sermon. No one did.

He began Paradise Gardens around ’61 before he had a vision to do sacred art. In 76’ he was rubbing paint onto a bicyle with his fingers. He saw the image of a face on the end of his finger and had a vision. A voice told Howard to do sacred art. He replied that he couldn’t do art because he wasn’t a professional. The voice asked him repeatedly, “How do you know?” - Howard Finster Biography

I struggle with the same question in my creative endeavors. I can’t do XYZ because I am not a professional. What inspires me about Finster is that he was an ordinary man called to create for a divine purpose. He did extraordinary things by allowing his passion to consume him.

Finster designed album covers for R.E.M. and Talking Heads. In 1996 the Coca-Cola Company commissioned Finster to paint an eight-foot Coke bottle to represent the United States in an art exhibit for the 1996 Olympic Games.

As I walked through the gardens it was clear that he loved freely and lived simple. I feel strongly that this is how one should go about living to enjoy the fullest of lives.

For all your Coca-Cola loyalists - Finster built a small house made entirely of Coke bottles, a drink he said God made. This is a shared sentiment. Concerning soda preference, for me it will always be all things Coca-Cola with no room for debate.

His drawings of Coke bottles feature slogans such as “Some people would stand on their heads all day for a cold Coke,” “Drink Coke—Drive Home Sober,” and “There are no Cokes in Hell.”

In closing, the secret to a good life - love freely, live simply and drink lots of Coke.

Inn at the Crossroads is a Game of Thrones cooking blog. Let me...

Mon, 07 May 2012 12:13:05 -0400

Honeyed Chicken

Honeyed Chicken

White Beans and Bacon

Inn at the Crossroads is a Game of Thrones cooking blog. Let me repeat that. Inn at the Crossroads is a Game of Thrones cooking blog.

Sunday nights are reserved for a standing dinner to celebrate the newly aired episode of Game of Thrones. Earlier in the week my dear (and fellow Game of Throne enthusiast) friends came over to make two recipes from the Inn at the CrossRoads blog.

The menu included: Honeyed Chicken, White Beans and Bacon, King Slayer Spears (which is what we’re calling Asparagus) and “Where Are My Dragons” Rhubarb pie with vanilla ice cream.

Personally, the white beans and bacon stole the show. If you’re ambitious, here are recipes organized by region from Game of Thrones. NERD ALERT. NERD ALERT. NERD ALERT. Also noteworthy - my friends recommended the AV Club’s Game of Thrones for Newbies, since I have yet to read the books!

I went again this year to the Inman Park Tour of Homes. The tour...

Mon, 07 May 2012 10:01:19 -0400

Inman Park Home Tour

Inman Park Home Tour

Inman Park Home Tour

Inman Park Home Tour

Inman Park Home Tour

Inman Park Home Tour

Inman Park Home Tour

Inman Park Home Tour

Inman Park Home Tour

Inman Park Home Tour

I went again this year to the Inman Park Tour of Homes. The tour of homes (during Inman Park Fest) is in its 41st year! I’m always inspired to see the time, patience and love people put into making their house a home. Later this month on May 19 and 20 is the 10th annual Tour of Homes at the Kirkwood Spring Fling. Very interested in attending this and soaking up as much inspiration as possible! Forever I love Atlanta!

My favorite friend Chris Stalcup and the Grange played a benefit...

Thu, 03 May 2012 22:25:33 -0400

Chris Stalcup and the Grange

Chris Stalcup and the Grange

Chris Stalcup and the Grange

My favorite friend Chris Stalcup and the Grange played a benefit show last weekend at Faces Lounge (a bar most certainly representative of how Atlanta really exists in an imaginary universe suspended in time but simultaneously participatory in modern day affairs).

Despite a 40+ hour work week, he’s found the time to record a beautiful album and play out as much as possible. Love creative friends and creative friends helping creative friends. Did I mention I love creative friends?

A few years ago lost (by lost I mean, left sitting at a coffee...

Thu, 03 May 2012 22:03:49 -0400

A few years ago lost (by lost I mean, left sitting at a coffee shop accidentally) my canon. While I was saving cash to buy it back, I found it fetching to tote around this cheap CVS 35 mm film camera. At the time CVS was offering a lifetime of free film as long as you use the camera.

I used this thing all the damn time. I kept it in my purse, or left it sitting at the bar, the pool - didn’t matter. Being uninhibited allowed me to quickly capture the moment. I was able to enjoy it instead of primping and prodding to stage it, thus removing myself from the moment itself.

I get a kick out of the comments on SongMeanings. I think...

Thu, 03 May 2012 21:10:00 -0400

I get a kick out of the comments on SongMeanings. I think looking up songs on this site is easily one of the most enjoyable Internet pastimes. This song to me reminds me of that feeling you get when you’ve met someone new. According to the comment section of Cinnamon by The Long Winters, it’s a song about German militants who’s love story has taken an unfortunate turn for the worst.

Atlanta really exists in an imaginary universe suspended in time...

Thu, 03 May 2012 20:41:00 -0400

Inman Park Fest Parade

Inman Park Fest Parade

Inman Park Fest Parade

Inman Park Fest Parade

Inman Park Fest Parade

Inman Park Fest Parade

Atlanta really exists in an imaginary universe suspended in time but simultaneously participatory in modern day affairs. I’ve curated my snapshots from Inman Park Fest to attest to this. Atlanta is the perfect blend of city and country, artistic and conservative. However, concerning soda preference, it will always be all things Coca-Cola with no room for debate.

I’ve heard the saying (somewhere along the way) that there...

Thu, 03 May 2012 20:13:00 -0400

Trade Joe's Chocolate

Trade Joe's Chocolate

Trader Joe's Flowers

I’ve heard the saying (somewhere along the way) that there is freedom in discipline.

Sticking to a routine and getting comfortable with the idea of just being comfortable is a novel idea for a girl who spent most of her twenties living off Hollywood Boulevard.

I’ve really enjoyed the act of coming home and agreeing to simple pleasures instead of making every evening a race to the finish line of life. This has allowed me to take great joy in simple things (a cup of tea, cooking dinner for myself, aspiring to get to bed at a godly hour) - like grocery shopping (despite an ever packed parking lot at Trader Joe’s) and stopping to think of my sweet friend when I saw the packaging on this chocolate bar (which reminds me of The Old Man and the Sea).

Last week I found this apple fritters recipe. I am embarrassed...

Tue, 01 May 2012 13:12:00 -0400

Apple Fritters

Apple Fritter Recipes

Apple Fritter Recipes

Apple Fritter Recipes

Last week I found this apple fritters recipe. I am embarrassed to admit that I have never made any deep fried recipe and further, do not own a deep fryer. My shame is telling as I aspire to incorporate (the sweet) parts of southern culture into my life with deep admiration.

The apple fritters were arguably my biggest baking success. My gauge being my co-workers eating all of them and circling my desk for remains. Other deep fried recipes on my radar: fried oreos and fried kool aid.

Life Unordinary

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 01:11:58 -0400

Life Unordinary:

My sweet colleague and friend Gayatri keeps a blog here. She wrote this little post about me. I can’t say enough kind things about her.

Damn. Caramelized banana pudding. Easily the most decadent...

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 19:25:00 -0400

Banana Pudding

Banana Pudding

Banana Pudding

Banana Pudding

Banana Pudding

Banana Pudding

Banana Pudding

Banana Pudding

Banana Pudding

Damn. Caramelized banana pudding. Easily the most decadent dessert I’ve ever made. And featured recipe from February’s Southern Living.

Sunday afternoon at 4pm I embarked on the task of making two...

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 19:11:04 -0400

Sunday afternoon at 4pm I embarked on the task of making two Southern Living recipes (Caramelized Banana Pudding and Spicy Shrimp Coconut Soup) for an 8pm standing dinner date (um, it’s an hour before Game of Thrones starts).

I went to Kroger hoping to find the majority of my needed ingredients and ended up at Bed, Bath and Beyond to buy my first pair of Ramekins followed by a quick stop at Sevanada for red curry paste. It must have been 6pm by the time I started both recipes.

When I started on the caramelized banana pudding - I couldn’t find the eggs. I looked everywhere, then ran to my car to find them sitting on the front lawn of my apartment complex beside my car.

I took a good five minutes to pause and collect myself. Why was I baking as if I could bring back the dead? Recently I’ve started to ease into my skin and I’m getting comfortable with the idea of just being comfortable. Accepting the things I can’t control and the whole serenity prayer in full action. The things we (try) do for love and (with good intentions) out of love.

Well, the soup turned out fantastic (this month’s Southern Living came on Saturday and it featured a handful of Gulf Shrimp recipes, including this one) and the caramelized banana pudding, dare I say, was the most decadent dessert I’ve ever made.

The bold truth is it is all out of our control. We can only pray to accept our surroundings and circumstances. Ask for the courage to make changes to things that are within our realm of control, and wisdom to know when to act and when to stay still.

I’m of course talking about the meringue that did not make the top of my caramelized banana pudding…

I hate to admit I grabbed Shazam to find out what band was...

Sun, 22 Apr 2012 15:09:00 -0400

I hate to admit I grabbed Shazam to find out what band was featured as the cigna commercial song. Turns out it was 1 joy zipper. On heavy rotation in my spring mix for the season.

Two weeks ago I took a Saturday to buy new indoor plants and...

Sun, 22 Apr 2012 14:51:00 -0400

Two weeks ago I took a Saturday to buy new indoor plants and repot my existing ones. Indoor growing is a challenge. What I wouldn’t give to have a backyard or front porch, but the lighting in my loft is great to care for succulents. Slowly making this house a home.

My friend Bayle came over today to the Bass Lofts to do a...

Sun, 22 Apr 2012 14:31:31 -0400

My friend Bayle came over today to the Bass Lofts to do a mini-photo shoot. His friend Josh Weiss shot some killer photos today! Love creative friends helping creative friends. Be on the lookout for Bayle’s badass ATL gas mask tees!

Audio

Tue, 17 Apr 2012 23:05:00 -0400