When we moved into our new apartment a year and a half ago I had a vision and wish list for the pieces I wanted. There is nothing I love more than mixing old and new together. With that being said, incorporating a touch of modern with antiques in each room is important to me. The quest began for a chair for a corner in our dining room. It’s been sitting empty, waiting to be filled with the perfect lounge chair. I’ve always had a love affair with white Barcelona chairs. I’ve dreamt of having one in my own home for years. When I began my search for one I found that my dream chair was a little to pricey for my budget. That’s when I was introduced to Rove Concepts who offers mid-century modern replica designs that are more affordable. Friends, it’s one of my new go-to sources for client projects. When my Barcelona chair (in Siena White) arrived I was in awe of its beautiful soft leather. Let’s just say, what used to be an unused spot in our home is now my favorite spot to sit back to enjoy a warm cup of tea, a stack of magazines or catching up on my favorite sites. I have to say, although this chair is modern – it will forever be timeless in my eyes. I know that I’ll be able to move it from room to room if I ever get the itch to redecorate. And we all know that happens quite often! This post is a partnership with Rove Concepts. All opinions are my own. Thanks for supporting sponsored posts that keep Sacramento Street doors open. Photos by Heather Day for Sacramento Street #interiors

Hope all of you have had a great start to your week. Weekends seem to come and go so quickly – especially when we have beautiful spring like weather. While most of the East Coast was preparing for the snow storm, we enjoyed lunches outside and a long hike around the Presidio. It was just what the doctor ordered since our household has felt like we are coming down with colds. A little fresh air made us feel so much better. To all of you on the East Coast – stay warm and be safe out there! Photo by Caitlin Flemming #lifestyle

Breakfast is one of those things that’s really good for you but no one seems to have time for it. Or at least I don’t. For a while my breakfast was two cups of coffee and nothing else. I quickly learned that by 11 am I was so hungry that I would eat anything that was in sight. Hangry doesn’t even begin to describe it. Also, it is not the best tactic if you are ever trying to watch what you eat. These days I am making more of an effort to remember breakfast, not in a brunching French toast sort of way, but in a healthy, lets start the day off right kind of way. Enter the acai bowl. If you haven’t heard about acai before (I only recently discovered it) it is a superfood berry that is filled with antioxidants and nutrients. The fruit is from South America and is extremely perishable, so it is usually sent to stores frozen or in powder form. For my acai breakfast bowl, I use the frozen packets that are found in the frozen food aisle of many supermarkets and grocery stores. I recently found it at Costco so I think it is safe to say that acai is pretty readily available. Because it is frozen it is perfect for a breakfast bowl or smoothie. I like to blend acai with some frozen fruit, coconut milk, and honey, then top it with whatever fruit, granola and other toppings I can find. My favorite these days is granola, lots of fruit, a sprinkle of bee pollen (which is also really good for you) and my newest food obsession, Dang Coconut – if you haven’t had Dang yet, run, don’t walk to your nearest specialty food store, I am obsessed with it, it is so good. Enjoy! ~ Amanda Acai Breakfast Bowl Ingredients 1 3.5 oz frozen acai packet, run under warm water until slightly thawed 1/2 cup frozen berries ½ cup coconut milk 1 tablespoon honey Toppings such as: Berries, bananas, kiwi, mango, granola, coconut flakes, honey, bee pollen, maple syrup Directions 1.) In a blender combine frozen acai, berries, coconut milk and honey. Blend until smooth. 2.) Pour acai in a bowl and top with assorted toppings. Serves 1 Recipe & Photos by Amanda Frederickson for Sacramento Street #entertaining #cooking

I honestly cannot believe that four weeks have passed since we welcomed Jackson Flemming into the world. It has quite possibly been the best weeks of my entire life. He’s grown and changed so much in these few short weeks – at times I want to stop time so that I can cherish these first moments and milestones we’ve had together. Jackson decided he wanted to join us a whole ten days early – I don’t blame him for not wanting to be born on Christmas Day. We weren’t quite prepared for him to come that early. We arrived at the hospital at 2am and twelve hours later we welcomed him into this beautiful world at 6 lbs and 11 oz. Both Eric and I have been completely in love ever since. Each day brings on something new – whether it’s him opening up his eyes a little bit more, a new cry we haven’t heard before, or him sleeping an extra hour longer! I’ll be sharing more soon on new-mom must haves (boy do I have a list) and much more! In the meantime, check back regularly for posts during this quiet time – I’ll be popping in regularly, but thanks for understanding me taking this time with my little man. Photo by Delbarr Moradi #lifestyle

I am no expert, but I am pretty sure chicken pho cures everything. A while back I travelled through Vietnam and I came down with the usual travellers sickness. I was down for the count until I tried my first bowl of pho. It completely cured me. More recently I enjoyed a couple too many glasses of red wine one night over the holidays and woke up feeling pretty awful. One bowl of chicken pho and I was back to normal. Chicken pho is my version of chicken soup. Not only does it have magical healing properties (in my opinion), pho is also really good for you. It is filled with protein, minerals, spices, and herbs. Since we all are trying to eat a little better this New Year, this is the perfect antidote to the holiday season. There is a great pho place near my house that has become a Sunday night takeout tradition. But that doesn’t mean I can’t recreate that delicious pho whenever or wherever I want with my faux chicken pho. This by all means is not traditional pho; I wouldn’t even pretend how to master that. I’m pretty sure that takes years. This is my version, it skips a lot of traditional pho steps but still has great flavor and I promise the healing properties are still the same. ~ Amanda Faux Chicken Pho Ingredients 1 ½ lbs (approximately) bone-in skin-on chicken breast 2 teaspoons vegetable oil 1/2 onion, diced 1 3×1″ piece peeled ginger 1 jalapeño, seeds removed and diced 6 cups chicken stock 2 whole, star anise 3 whole cloves 3 Tbs. fish sauce 1 Tbs. sugar 1/2 tablespoon salt, plus more to taste 6 oz rice noodles Directions 1.) Toppings – thinly sliced red onion, basil, cilantro, lime wedges, sriracha sauce and jalapeño. 2.) Heat oil in a medium pot over medium-high heat. Once the oil is hot, add the chicken breasts skin side down. Cook chicken breasts until browned then remove, about 3 -4 minutes. In the same pan, sauté diced onion until translucent, about 2 -3 minutes. 3.) Add ginger, chicken stock, star anise, cloves, fish sauce, sugar and browned chicken in the pot. Cover and simmer until chicken is cooked through, about 15 minutes. Remove chicken and set aside to cool slightly. 4.) While the chicken is cooling remove the star anise, cloves and ginger and discard. Add in rice noodles to soften. When the chicken is cool enough to handle, remove the skin and gently pull the meat off the bone. Once the rice noodles have softened return the pulled chicken back to the pan. 5.) Taste pho broth for salt and adjust flavor with fish sauce if needed. (Don’t be afraid, fish sauce is a little funky but it is that funky umami that makes dishes like this so delicious) 6.) Ladle pho into bowls and serve with lots of herbs like cilantro and basil, thinly sliced red onion, lime wedges and jalapeño. Serves 2 to 4 Recipe & Photos by Amanda Frederickson for Sacramento Street #entertaining #cooking

Saying goodbye to 2014 is a little bittersweet – it was an incredible year being pregnant and welcoming our little man into the world. I promise, more is coming soon about the birth story and everything I’ve learned in these first few weeks of being a mom. The past three weeks have been some of the best of my life, which has brought on a whole new meaning for life. Although I can’t predict what each day will bring, each amazing moment and challenge make me love life even more. This year, my resolutions, or as I like to call them ‘inspirations,’ are a little bit more focused on motherhood. Be in the moment. Enjoy each second I get to spend with my family. I’ll be cherishing this time with baby Jackson – he’s already growing so fast I know that in a blink of an eye he’s going to be running out the door. Start using the cookbooks in my pantry. I’ve been wanting to cook my way through the dozens of cookbooks that sit in our pantry. This year it’s happening. Travel. Plan a few trips to show Jackson this beautiful world we live in. Although they may be small trips near home, it’s important to still pursue something I love that I can share with him. Buy fewer and better things. My philosophy is quality versus quantity. I’m going to continue that this year but only purchasing things for our home and my closet that will last. Last year, I made this resolution and all the pieces I’ve bought I still love! Be the best mom I can be. Through the good times and hard times being a mom is the best thing that has ever happened to me. During the hard times I need to remind myself of the beautiful moments we have together. I know it’s going to take some time to get used to this new schedule and life change, but I wouldn’t change it for the world. Each day, I feel as though I’m learning something new – whether it’s something a fellow mom has shared with me or I’ve learned on my own. Taking each day at a time is going to be key. What are your goals for 2015? I’d love to know! Photo from automatism #lifestyle

With 2015 right around the corner, it’s time to focus on sprucing up your house. There is nothing I love more than creating a cozy bed for cold winter days. Lately it’s been especially chilly. Now you may think I’d be the type of gal to have an all white bed, but that’s not the case. When it comes to putting together bedding I’m all about a layered look with multiple patterns mixed together. To show you how I put together my layered bedding I’ve partnered with Anthropologie to show you how I’ve mastered the art of bed layering. The best way to mix patterns and textures is by using the same tones. If you keep them in the same color family, everything will pair together beautifully. Want more tips on the art of layering together different bedding? Pop over to Anthropologies blog to get more tips from me. You can also achieve this same look in your own bedroom with the items below. I know I’ve been wanting to stay in bed a little bit longer now that it has all of these soft linens on it. Faux-Fur Pillow | Tiveden Fringe Throw | Move and Work | Soft-Washed Linen Euro Sham | Flora Sheet Set | The Inspired Home | Soft-Washed Linen Duvet | Pinched Glass Vase This post is a partnership with Anthropologie. All opinions are my own. Thanks for supporting sponsored posts that keep Sacramento Street doors open. Photos by Claire Giffen for Sacramento Street #interiors

Tis the season for wreath making. For the last Blooms in Season post of 2014, Natalie and I wanted to do something a little different. We’ve featured beautiful arrangements all year long helping inspire and teach you what flowers are in season. We’ve both been asked by family, friends and readers about the details that go into wreath making. I can honestly say, I had no clue. I usually venture down to the flower market after Thanksgiving to buy mine. That’s when Natalie and I decided it would be fun to put together a simple and easy wreath making tutorial for all of you to use. What I quickly learned from Natalie is that it’s not that hard and it’s quite fun to play around with the greenery and branches in order for the wreath to reflect your style. Read on to learn more from Natalie! Wreath Making Step – by – Step: 1.) Making a wreath is far easier than it may appear. Once you have your supplies it is easy to play around and a get a feel for how it all comes together. The first tip is to have a wire wreath-ring. This is the frame and backbone of your wreath. With medium gauge wire and a pair of clippers, you will be able to make a beautiful wreath. 2.) Start your wreath by gathering some of your foliage and attaching it to the ring and then repeat and add in a circular direction. Personally, I like to start in the lower left corner, where I usually concentrate more of the design, and move around the ring in a counter clockwise direction. You will feel this part out, and depending if you are right or left handed, you may go in a different direction. 3.) While designing the wreath, I keep in mind the overall shape that I want the wreath to have, whether it is asymmetrical or full and even. I continue to add as I go around in a circle but once I am done I always go back and fill in where I want to make the wreath more dramatic. This is the stage that could go on forever. It can be hard to know when to stop! 4.) Once you are done you can either hang the wreath on a nail, a wreath hook on the door, or create a little hook in the back with a wire. You can even use ribbon and tie it to the wreath to hang it lower. Like all arranging, there is no right and wrong way to do it. Once you have your materials it is up to you to create and play. I hope all of you enjoyed all of the arrangements Natalie and I created together this year. We have a lot more in store for you in 2015! Wreath by Natalie Bowen Designs | Photos by Heather Day for Sacramento Street #lifestyle

A gougere is just a fancy name for a cheese puff. It is made out of pâte à choux dough, one of the most universal pastry doughs out there. The basic dough is made with just a couple ingredients, water, eggs, flour and butter. Once you learn the technique, the recipes you can make with it are endless. When I was in cooking school, some of my fellow classmates and I had the genius idea to start a food truck that only sold food made from pâte à choux dough. We wanted to sell gougeres, eclairs, cream puffs, profiteroles and churros all around San Francisco. Thankfully that food idea faded away once we graduated and got jobs in the culinary world, but if we had gone through with that food truck idea, this is the gougere recipe that I would have made and sold from that truck. A cheesy gougere might just be the perfect holiday party appetizer recipe because they can be made up to two weeks in advance, baked, then frozen. Throw them in the oven just before your guests arrive and voila, you will have a delicious appetizer and no one will know it came from your freezer. Another great part about a gougere is that you can play around with any flavor combination. Feel free to swap the cheddar for Gruyere and use rosemary instead of thyme. Or add cracked black pepper to give it a kick. Another option would be to make giant gougeres and stuff them with bacon and pickled shallots, kind of like a gougere sandwich (yum, now that is a food truck idea!). The possibilities are endless. So when you are entertaining this holiday season, try these gougeres, I promise they will become your secret weapon for all future entertaining. ~ Amanda Ingredients 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter 1 cup all-purpose flour pinch of cayenne pepper large pinch of kosher salt 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons grated sharp white cheddar cheese 1/2 cup, plus 1 tablespoon grated Parmesan 2 teaspoons fresh thyme, chopped plus more for garnish 4 large eggs Directions 1.) Preheat oven to 400°F. 2.) Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper. In a medium sized saucepan bring butter and 1 cup water to a boil over medium high heat. Remove from heat. Add flour, cayenne, and salt and stir well to blend. Return the saucepan to medium high heat and stir vigorously until the mixture forms a ball and a thin, dry film forms on bottom and sides of pan, about 1 minute. Transfer mixture to a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. (You can also do this by hand with a wooden spoon) Add 1 cup cheddar, ½ cup Parmesan and thyme; beat on low speed to blend. Add eggs, one at a time, fully incorporating each egg between additions, and scraping down sides of bowl as needed. 3.) Spoon dough into a pastry bag fitted with a 1/2″ tip and pipe dough onto prepared baking sheets in 1 ½ ” rounds, spacing 1″ apart. If you do not want to use piping bag, use 2 spoons to place small dollops of gougère dough on the baking sheet. 4.) Dip your index finger in water and gently pat each gougère to form a rounded top. Sprinkle with remaining cheddar, Parmesan and thyme. 5.) Bake gougères until puffed and golden brown and centers are cooked through but still moist, 20-25 minutes. Let cool slightly and serve. (If you want to make and freeze ahead, fully bake the gougères, let cool and store in an airtight freezer bag for up to two weeks. When ready to serve, rewarm in a 325F oven for about 5 – 10 minutes) Recipe by Amanda Frederickson | Photos by Emma Fineman for Sacramento Street #entertaining #cooking

Friday kicked off my last client install before baby Flemming arrives. It was incredibly rewarding going into the weekend with it done until I’m back working again on design projects. It’s such a stunning home (a sneak peek above) and I can’t wait to keep working on it in a few months. This weekend was all about doing some last minute holiday shopping at the Remodelista Market, finishing up sending out Christmas gifts, and spending time at home doing some nesting. Both Eric and I can’t quite believe that baby Flemming could arrive in less than a week. These last nine months have certainly flown by! There is quite a bit in store this week – a plethora of gift guides for last minute shopping, a new recipe you’ll want to make this season, a new Blooms in Season post with Natalie and much more. Be sure to pop back in regularly! Have a wonderful week everyone. #lifestyle