6/25/12

Video Attempt: The Vivianne Moves

The Vivianne has had quite a run on Bon Appétempt. We first introduced you to her here. Then she showed up with an explanation as to her origins here. There she goes again here; once more here, and now, we give you our most recent tribute. Yes, she’s moved with us to the new house. Will there be more Vivianne-centric posts? That’s a clown question, bro!

Also featured in this video is one of the most perfect summertime drinks I’ve had the honor of sipping on a sunny Los Angeles afternoon: an herb-infused clara con limón, which I discovered via Sarah at The Yellow House—one of my favorite sites to check in on. Her beautiful photography coupled with this sentence: "We walked down to the creek, claras in hand." stayed with me this past month and all the way to to my post-move trip to the grocery store, which I carried out in a zombie-like state because, I don’t know if you know this, but moving is exhausting. And if you’re at the age where your parents have downsized from the house you grew up in and have thus mailed back to you everything that might have been yours between the ages of zero and eighteen, and your grandma is beginning to go through her many items and has decided to send you your grandpa’s lifelong penny collection, your move may also include boxes full of individually-wrapped pennies (from the 80's!) and diplomas, which now seem like framed, mean-spirited jokes.

Speaking of everything you’ve ever held in your possession, here are a few highlights:

1. You know how in high school on Valentine's Day you could send crushes carnations with a little message attached, and then on the morning of Valentine's Day, if you were lucky, one would be waiting for you in homeroom? Well, here's one Matt sent me:

2. The movers cleared things out faster than I’d anticipated, so all of these weird items I didn’t immediately know what to do with ended up on this one table, until the movers were ready to take that table and had to ask: “Uhm, what do you guys want to do with these things?” Naturally, I responded by taking a photo.

3. This book, A Place in the Sun, is super rad. Totally forgot about it.

4. Remember, friends?
If any of the above has a message, I think it may be to embrace the stranger things in life. (Particularly if one of the things is a faux-gilt-framed oil painting of a little rosy-cheeked boy/girl with—possibly, probably—no hands.)

Herb-infused clara con limón (a.k.a. shandies) via The Yellow House
For the simple syrup:
1 cup water
1 cup sugar
1 cup loosely packed herbs (Sarah used thyme, so I used thyme. And honestly, it was perfect!)

For the lemonade:
3 lemons, juiced
4 cups water

For assembly:
Lightly flavored beers, such as a pilsner or lager (Sarah gave the go-ahead here for low-end beers like Amstel or PBR, and I totally took her up on it. That 6-pack of Simpler Times cost $3.29!)
Ice
Herbs for garnish

Directions
In a saucepan or pot with a lid, bring simple syrup ingredients (sugar, water, herbs) to a boil, stirring. Immediately remove from heat, cover, and allow to steep for 10-30 minutes, depending on how strongly herb-flavored you want your drink. Strain out the herbs if you like (I didn't!).

In a pitcher, dispenser, or something from which you can easily pour, mix the lemon juice, 4 cups of water, and 3/4 to 1 cup simple syrup. Taste for sweetness. Keeping in mind that the drink will be diluted with beer when you mix it. Sarah says she tends to go a bit sweeter than she normally would with lemonade, and I totally agree with that call.

Add ice to the lemonade if you’re serving to many people right away; or add ice glass-by-glass for more all-day-long consumption.

Fill a tall glass (with or without ice) halfway with the lemonade. Top up the rest of the glass with beer. Garnish with an herb sprig.

If you have leftover simple syrup, it will keep, in a sealed container in the fridge, for a week.

28 comments:

Matthew said...

The Vivianne totally moved. Also, sorry about that Valentines Day note! xoxox

Clare Vivier said...

welcome to the 'hood! can't wait to run into you at cookbook and have afternoon shandies with you. xox

ileana said...

Your new house is beautiful! I just made a similar drink this weekend - lemonade, thyme simple syrup, and gin. Delish.

Andrea said...

Your house looks beautiful! I just love this post for so many reasons!

Jessica said...

Beautiful! Your new house looks so sweet!
-Jess

la domestique said...

This is wonderful for so many reasons. I'm flying across the country in a couple of days to see my sister and she's got a box of family bric-a-brac I need to take off her hands. Can't wait to see what's inside!

Neal said...

Hey neighbors!
Best video ever????
Dropping by unexpectedly,
Neal

Matthew said...

Hey, neighbor! Did ya recognize any of those views?

Neal said...

:37 looks pretty familiar!!

Kara said...

You bought a HOUSE!!!

And, this is the best damned video. I LOVE it. Thank you!

Mary Anne said...

Congratulations again on your BEAUTIFUL house! You both look so happy. And you totally deserve it. Beautiful video, beautiful house, beautiful views!

But how the heck did the Vivianne move down that hallway. I replayed that about 6 times and can't figure it out!!!!

sara said...

One of the best things about moving is finding old weird shit to laugh at/pore over/get nostalgic about (and then throwing away the non-amazing-valentiney contingent of it.)

Love the video and you guys. Happy house owning!

sara said...

Also, I want to make that drink asap.

Mark and Marsha said...

There is not a thing about that video we don't love -- not a thing!!!!

Carmen said...

awesome (video/house)

Alex said...

There are so many things I love about this post, one being Matt's hate note! :D When you guys move is it always such a beautiful, zen-like process?!
That’s a clown question, bro!

Katherine @ eggton said...

This post is hilarious. And I haven't even watched the video yet.

Anonymous said...

The new house looks AMAZING!! I can't wait to visit!

Love,
Fave

pirlita said...

You have an Argentina marble ashtray - that's AWESOME! :-)

Melanie said...

This is super sweet and moving. I totally love it!

Amelia Morris said...

Thanks, everyone!!

@Mary Anne, the Vivianne gliding down the hallway like that was an old magic trick of mine finally put to use!! Can't believe I never showed it to you before.

@Pirlita: it was a gift from my Argentine host family!

sg said...

dude! your new home looks super beautiful! this is one of the best videos and posts xo

Katherine @ eggton said...

The video was AWESOME! I love the shot of the swirling drink. What fun.

Alison Bolen said...

That table with all the random objects? That's my life. Like every day. I've never mastered "a place for everything and everything in its place" because my life is full of random objects like that.

Lindsey Joy said...

You guys bought a house?!?! I am so happy for you! Love the video...love your story...congrats!

Matthew said...

Thanks, Lindsey! Totally miss ya. Hope Texas is treating you well!

Paula @ Vintage Kitchen said...

What an entertaining post. Is that an ashtray with the shape of Argentina? I love Yellow House too

Anonymous said...

Hi
This post is fabulous..i love the way you have expressed each thing..Pictures are very nice..thanks for sharing it..

Valentine's day Gifts