Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Beverages

The weather is getting warmer and I am getting thirstier. I collected a few recipes that look like they could quench anyone's thirst. Some of them are alcoholic and some are not. All of these recipes are easily adaptable to go either way.


I love Cherry Limeade. I usually order mine from Sonic, but this looks way better.

Cherry Limeade



Honeydew, Cucumber, and Mint Mojito

Lemon- Thyme Soda

Frozen Cherry Mojito











Gallery Wall

I am in the middle of decorating the apartment I moved into in April. I have several large walls that need to be filled. To fill one of the spots, I was thinking about doing a gallery wall.

There are two approaches for doing a gallery wall.

The first is having the images and frames "go" together. This process often involves mixing and matching frame sizes and finishes as well as images. I have never been particularly good at making things "go" together. So I am not very interested in this process. However for those of you with a natural talent for this process, I recommend this approach for more informal settings.


The second approach is matchy match. This limits variation in images and/or frames. I already purchased a set of identically colored and styled frames. I am also using very similar prints for each picture.


Here is my set of frames I plan to work with:

I really like the idea of botanical prints. I have already found several that I like, but I am having a hard time find smaller images for the 5x7 frames.

I really like this look:

Image





The botanical prints add a nice pop of color. If I can't find botanical prints, I may do photos instead. Pictures of what? I have no idea at this point. I might hop on down to the rose garden or the Japanese garden downtown, to get some inspiration and to take a few pictures.


Monday, June 17, 2013

What's In My Purse

I really like the posts that show what someone carries in their purse.  I decided today I would show you what is in my purse. I only carry my purse when I don't have class and only need the minimum to get through the day.



1. Now that it is summer I bring my Cole Haan shades with me everywhere. You can find great deals on Cole Haan sunglasses here.

2. Nautical makeup bag. I got this bag from ipsy, back when I was a regular subscriber. Ipsy is a great service if you are really into makeup, but I found I wasn't using the samples as much as I thought I would.

3. Tweezers are a must have.  You never know when you might need them. I use LA CROSS Slant Tip tweezers.

4. La Fresh Travel Lite Makeup Remover Wipes I love these wipes for on the go. Sometimes I just cant wait to get my makeup off.

5.  Boiing Eyebright To Go  I just started using this and I love it. One half is concealer and the other is a brightener.

6.  Smashbox Tabloid Not too glittery and a great color for my skin tone.

7. OPI Sephora Cuticle Oil

8. Maybeline Great Lash Mascara It is cheap and works well. I lose my mascara too much to buy a good kind.

9. Ulta Lip Crayon I use Charmer which isn't available anymore.

10. Cover Girl Perfect Blend Eyeliner I prefer elf liner but this is my second choice of liner.

11. Physicians Formula Nude Palette They don't sell my exact palette anymore but they offer similar ones.

12. iPhone 5  I am an Apple junkie. I love love love my iPhone.

13. Coach Wallet This wallet that I've had for years it has just the right compartments. I will be sad when this wears out.

14. Sharpie Pen I love these pens. I have them in all of the colors offered.

15. Day Planner Even though I have an iPhone I need to write down my appointments.




Monday, June 10, 2013

Bling

I love looking at jewelry. If it is sparkly or shiny, I usually like it. Some exceptions always exist of course like large hoop earrings or anything with to much edge (skulls, bullets).

I am testing out picture as links. Click on the picture to take you to the image source.


Isn't this ring divine? I do have a hard time feeling comfortable wearing rings now that I am married. It seems a bit flashy to have a diamond ring and bauble like this on at the same time. But a lot of people do it so maybe I am just being ridiculous.

I have been obsessed with initials. I love how dainty this necklace is.


This necklace is so simple but very pretty. It would be easy to wear so many ways. It can be paired with others for a layering effect or worn alone.



This necklace had layering built in.



Fashion faux pas you say? Mixing silver and gold has been a large area of debate, much like wearing black and brown (which I don't). But I fully support this mixed metal find.


This necklace is a little out there for my usual picks. Scaled down it could be a cute bracelet too.

Thursday, May 30, 2013

Fancy Food

Today I have been thinking about upping the ante when it comes to cooking dinner. Having a large kitchen mean I can prepare more elaborate meals. I looked for recipes that were visually appealing, unique, and  were rated medium to high in difficulty.

Last year I was introduced to romesco sauce. I had it at a great restaurant in Portland, Oregon  called Toro Bravo. It is the one place to eat that I recommend to all out of town visitors. Ever since I have tasted it, I have tried to perfect it at home. None of them have been just right. Either too much garlic or it comes out with an unpleasant texture. Hopefully this recipe will be the winner!

Pork Loin Chops with Romesco and Grilled Onions

While I was eating paleo, I cut out all dairy. Which meant my love- hate relationship with cheese had to be put on hold. While I know that I feel better on paleo, I haven't been good about sticking to it. I'd say my weeks are about half paleo at their best. This cheese dish is most definitely tempting. If you haven't heard of burrata yet, you will. Once only seen in Italy and fine dining restaurants, it is becoming a big player in the foodie sphere. I'm trying to find a cheese shop that sells authentic burrata. Some Whole Foods sell a version of it, but I want the real deal.

Burrata with White Wine and Garlic Sauteed Tomatoes
My husband finds plain pork chops unsuitable for eating. This recipe has no sauce or breading, but maybe I can win him over with the fact that they are stuffed with deliciousness.

Spinach, Feta, and Sundried Tomato Stuffed Pork Chops


I really love peppers and I also love spins on traditional Latin American dishes. This stuffed poblano pepper recipe is so unique. It is like nothing I have ever seen before. It incorporates sweet and savory with the combination of plantains, apples, pears, and pork. Topped with a walnut sauce. This is on my must try list!

Update: Tried this recipe this week. It was TONS of work, but my husband loved it. We made some  slight modifications to the walnut sauce by adding more salt and some jalapenos! Very yummy!

Chiles en Nogada

This last recipe is also very interesting it could be a big hit or a big miss with my crowd. I think it is worth trying. If we don't like it, we don't have to make it again.

Grilled Pork Tenderloin with Jezebel Sauce








Sunday, May 26, 2013

Summer Wardrobe Picks

Earlier this month Lucky Magazine posted 100 Cheap Summer Finds to Heat Up Your Wardrobe.

I decided to go through and make a few picks myself. I tried to incorporate all the summer trends without breaking the bank (most of the time).

Top Left: Forever 21 $19.80 Top Center: Old Navy $12.50  Top Right: Express $32.94
Middle Left: Tilly's $39.99 Center: Zara $89.99 Center Right: Anne Klein $35.60
Bottom Left: Asos $50.91 Bottom Center: J. Crew $54.50 Bottom Right: Nordstrom $47.40


Top Left: Forever 21 $19.80 Top Center: Nordstrom $76.80 Top Right: Zara $49.90
Middle Left: Nasty Gal $68.00 Center: Quicksilver $38.99 Middle Right:Lulus $43.00
Bottom Left: Topshop $52.00 Bottom Center: Asos $76.36 Bottom Right: Banana Republic $130


Top Left: Asos $71.27 Top Center: Target $24.99 Top Left: Bloomingdales $94
Middle Left: J. Crew no longer available Center: Asos $117.09 & $89.04 Middle Right: Nordstrom $29
Bottom Left: Nasty Gal $110  Bottom Center: Asos $27.15 & $16.97 Bottom Right: Asos $33.94 &$27.15



Top Left: Asos $54.30 Top Center: Lulus $36 Top Right: Zara $16.90
Middle Left: Asos 50.90 Center: Urban Outfitter $49 Middle Right: Alloy $32.90
Bottom Left: Forever 21 $15.80 Bottom Center: Bloomingdales $78 Bottom Right: Asos $18.07