Lentils and roasted vegetables

I saw this recipe on Sacramento Street last week and immediately pinned it.  

I think I've pinned all of Caitlin's "On the Menu" posts and made quite a few of them.  They've all been delicious!

Apparently everyone that I follow did the same because it kept popping up in my feed.

Then I saw it in a few linked posts as well.  I figured I had to try it.  

(I think I just discovered the basic principle of advertising).

While I was making it, I definitely had a few moments where I thought "there's no way this is turning out".  Add to that I was making it for my future mother-in-law who is an amazing cook and I was a bit stressed.

I'm a very good baker, an okay cook, but not a food stylist in anyway. So bear with me here.

{hers}

{mine}

I feel like this could be one of those "nailed it" posts on pinterest. But I don't mind because it was delicious - delicious enough that we had it the next night too.

Notes on the recipe:

- 2 cups makes a lot of lentils - a lot more veggies can be added than what's listed in the recipe

- I added herbs de provence on the veggies before roasting and cooked them 20min, flipping them part way through so they browned on both sides and didn't dry out

We served it with an arugula salad that had dried cranberries, parmesan, pomegranate balsamic and a bit of olive oil.  Perfection.

LMF

photo editing

I'm not great at photo editing.  I have photoshop on my Mac for work, but it's not completely user friendly.  I've googled tutorials but haven't put enough effort in to really learn it.

So I usually end up using iPhoto for most of my editing. Even without being a seasoned pro I can tell it's very limiting.  I use "Enhance" and then I play around with the adjustments, particularly the contrast and definition.  I know, it's very technical.

But no more!

One of my favorite blogs, lark & linen, recently posted photos from her trip to the amalfi coast (my next dream vacay).  Her photos are gorgeous!  Like I want to move right in.

This week Jaclyn so graciously did a tutorial post on our she edits her photos in photoshop, complete with a link to free actions from WishWishWish.  I feel like it's Christmas! 

I followed the tutorial on a few of my Paris photos and they turned out beautifully!  Since I'm not great at photoshop, I did have to google a couple things in her instructions, but it was fairly easy even for a beginner like me.

Here are the before and afters.

Straight from the camera:

{no laughing! - I have trouble holding the camera straight. I need to stop using the screen and use the viewfinder more.}

iPhoto edits:

Definitely better, but still dark.

Photoshop edits {by lark & linen} :

Amazing.  It's the Paris I dream about.

Thank you Jaclyn and Carrie!  You've made my life so much prettier :)

LMF

Monday morning reading

Happy Monday!

I've had a few links bookmarked that I've been wanting to share:

via

When we started thinking about our honeymoon, it was definitely a tough decision for me between relaxing on the beaches in Bora Bora or exploring the Amafli Coast.  Jacquelyn's photos, featured here on Style Me Pretty have me already planning our 1st anniversary trip to Italy.  Seriously, I want to move into this gallery. 

Love this list! It could also be titled "things to stop doing in general"

Hilarious article by David Sedaris on middle age and guest rooms.

Such a beautiful letter from a mother to her son.

A too true video on being 32.

A little inspiration for my bridal brunch here and here.