Friday, February 27, 2009

i'm going back to cali


And I'm off! I'm going back to Cali, and I cannot wait! I am headed to the sunshine state (or is that Florida?) for 9 action-packed days full of a bachelorette beach trip, champers, yummy food, manis/pedis/massages, spray tanning (what? I'm pale), more champers, wine, wine, wine, hair and makeup done by professionals (!) and the wedding of my dear friend Laura. I played an integral role in setting her up with her sweetie, Allan, so I earned a coveted spot as a bmaid. Lucky me!


I hope you guys have a lovely next week or so. I might pop in, but then again I may not. We shall see! California, here I come! Woo hoo! Cheers lovelies!


Most awesome tattoo ever by
Max Wanger, via Brooklyn Bride.

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

fur vest


I have been keeping an eye out at vintage stores for a vest exactly like this one. The Zoe would be so proud.

P.S. I only do vintage fur, as I see it as a form of recycling. What is old becomes new again.


Lamb Fur Vest by Richard Chai on Gilt, $698 (orig. $2305).

sorry for the silence

Sorry for being so silent lately. My grandmother has been having extreme health issues and family has been my number one priority for the last week. I promise to return to regular posting soon. If you are the praying type, please pray for my grandmother, Carol, and her recovery from open heart surgery among other health issues. Also that my family can feel at peace about the situation, as it is in God's hands. Thanks so much.


-------------------------------------------------


In the meantime, here is a catchy tune to brighten your Tuesday. It has been seriously stuck in my head for weeks.


Spit on a Stranger, Nickel Creek

P.S. I particularly love this Nickel Creek version, but the original version by the 90's band Pavement is pretty great too.

Friday, February 20, 2009

i'll take one of each, please

Powdered Sugar Dress, $375.

Every custom made piece by etsy seller, Sarah Seven, is to.die.for. The pleating, boning and structure (mostly via vintage corsets) is stunning. I seriously love. The frothy confection (above) is my favorite, but I would love one of each.

With All My Love Dress (bridal collection), $1210.


Tea Top & Crumpets Skirt, $115-$125.


Mayflower Dress, $195.

Have a wonderful weekend my lovelies. Hope it is full of flowery, fabulous fun.

all american


Something about this photo makes me want to be Diane Kruger in all her Hilfigered glory. Maybe its the glasses, or maybe it is the arm candy. You be the judge.


Pic via
Fug Girls.

Thursday, February 19, 2009

a view to


Oh how I love etsy. I just do. It provides such constant inspiration and an endless stream of lovliness. Exhibit A: these rockin colour cards from aviewto. Getcha some for just $3 bucks a pop!




sassy sense of humor


These darling little hand drawings by Kate Micucci are right up my alley. I think they are whimsical, clever, sweet, sometimes a touch sad, but mostly a hoot!





the kissing tree


A and C, sittin' in a tree. K-I-S-S-I-N-G. Make your own on the Elizabeth Messina's lovely new site here.

Saturday, February 14, 2009

oh lovely day

Happy Valentine's Day, my lovelies! Hope it is fantabulous. 


And I leave you with this:

 "You know you're in love when you can't fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams." -Dr Seuss, the man himself.

P.S. Also, I encourage you to rock out this three day weekend. I plan to. Yippee!

Kiss me via Kate Spade

Friday, February 13, 2009

valentines foodie: part two

So, Glamour has been touting this magical recipe as the be all-end all to yumminess that makes him want to propose since 2004. I am not sure if I believe all that baloney, but I will reprint it here in case you want to give it a shot.

Engagement Chicken
(Adapted from Marcella Hazan's More Classic Italian Cooking)

1 whole chicken (approx. 3 lb.)
2 medium lemons
Fresh lemon juice (1/2 cup)
Kosher or sea salt
Ground black pepper

Place rack in upper third of oven and preheat to 400 degrees. Wash chicken inside and out with cold water, remove the giblets, then let the chicken drain, cavity down, in a colander until it reaches room temp (about 15 minutes). Pat dry with paper towels. Pour lemon juice all over the chicken (inside and outside). Season with salt and pepper. Prick the whole lemons three times with a fork and place deep inside the cavity. (Tip: If lemons are hard, roll on countertop with your palm to get juices flowing.) Place the bird breast-side down on a rack in a roasting pan, lower heat to 350 degrees and bake uncovered for 15 minutes. Remove from oven and turn it breast-side up (use wooden spoons!); return it to oven for 35 minutes more. Test for doneness—a meat thermometer inserted in the thigh should read 180 degrees, or juices should run clear when chicken is pricked with a fork. Continue baking if necessary. Let chicken cool for a few minutes before carving. Serve with juices. Serve with veggies/starch of your (his) choice.

Ed Note: I would suggest adding 10-15 additional minutes to the cooking time. Nothing says "I love you" like pink, undercooked chicken.

Recipe and pic via Glamour.

spreading the love

This one goes out to all my faves: my neverending, always loyal, ever lovin' girls. Only one more day...


And one for the bf, too.




A little note via Kate Spade last year, via Unruly Things, via Lena Corwin. Puddles via Coco+Kelley.

Thursday, February 12, 2009

valentine's foodie


Loverly food for an evening full of love. Yummy. After a day of surprises from the bf (he won't tell me what we are up to!), this is what I will be serving my honey on Saturday night.


BBQ Chicken PizzaTime: 15-20 minutes prep, 20 minutes in oven

2 tablespoons olive oil
Butter for pizza dough
Crushed garlic spread for pizza dough (or sub garlic butter)
1/2 pound chicken tenders
2/3 cup barbecue sauce (recommended: Sweet Baby Rays)
Flour, for dusting surface
1 (13.8-ounce) package pizza dough (recommended: Pillsbury Classic)
3/4 cup shredded Gouda or crumbled Goat Cheese
1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella
3/4 cup shredded Parmesan
1/2 medium red onion, thinly sliced (opt)
Thinly sliced mushrooms (opt)
2 Thickly sliced Roma tomatoes (opt)
3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro leaves

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken tenders and sauté until golden brown, about 12 minutes. Remove from heat. When chicken is cool enough to handle, dice chicken (yields a little over 1 cup). In a small bowl, toss chicken with 2 tablespoons barbecue sauce. Set aside.

On a floured surface, roll out dough and place on a greased sheet pan or round pizza pan. Shape to fill the sheet pan, pinching edges. Spread thin layer of butter and garlic (or garlic butter) and remaining barbecue sauce evenly over pizza dough. Sprinkle Gouda/Goat cheese, 1/2 of mozzarella, Parmesan, onions, and chicken over top. Top with slices of tomato and remaining mozzarella. Bake for 20 minutes or until cheese bubbles. Sprinkle with chopped cilantro and cut into pieces.


Leafy SaladTime: 5 minutes
Toss Red Leaf lettuce (similar to Romaine) with thin slices of pear, pine nuts and shavings of parmesan cheese. Drizzle with balsamic or raspberry vinaigrette.

OR

Low Country Salad –Time: 10-12 minutes
Toss mixed greens with thin slices of sweet red apple, lemon infused goat cheese (at Central Market), and barbequed cashews. Drizzle with mustard vinaigrette immediately prior to serving.

Mustard Vinaigrette
Finely chop one whole shallot. Soak in one tablespoon Chianti Red Wine Vinegar for 5-10 minutes to lessen the onion flavor. Mix equal parts olive oil and Chianti Red Wine vinegar (about 3 tablespoons each). Vigorously stir in one tablespoon spicy brown mustard. Add shallots mixture. Add pinch salt and black pepper. Add additional vinegar or olive oil to taste. Shake or vigorously stir before pouring over salad.


Molten Chocolate Cakes (serves 2) –Time: 20 minutes prep, 7 minutes in oven

You can make the batter ahead of time and refrigerate it, just increase the baking time by two minutes.

1 1/2 tablespoons butter, plus more for the ramekins
1 1/5 oz. chocolate
1 egg, plus 1 egg yolk
1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar, plus 1 teaspoon
2 1/5 tablespoons all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons crème fraîche
1/2 teaspoon vanilla (for crème fraiche)

Preheat the oven to 450°F.
Generously butter two 4 oz. ramekins.

Melt the butter and chocolate together in a small glass bowl set over a small pot of simmering water. Let it cool a bit while you whisk together the egg, egg yolk and 1/2 cup of confectioners’ sugar in a separate bowl. Whisk in the melted butter and chocolate and then the flour.

Fill the ramekins and bake for 7 minutes. The edges and top should be just set.
Meanwhile, whisk the crème fraîche together with the remaining teaspoon of confectioners’ sugar and the vanilla. (or substitute whipped crème or caramel/chocolate sauce drizzle)

Remove the cakes from the oven, let them cool for a few minutes. Invert onto dessert plates and serve each with a spoonful of crème fraîche or ice cream and caramel/chocolate sauce drizzle.


Bon Appetit!



BBQ Pizza adapted from Sandra Lee. Salads by moi & roughly adapted from Central Market Cooking School class. Chocolate cake adapted from Gwennie's GOOP. Picture of adorb Kate Spade VDay ecard via Smitten.

valentine's attire


Anyone have $498 (on sale at Gilt Groupe, from $1550) to lend me for this shiny, sassy Valentine's frock? I would greatly appreciate it.

poetry for the heart


i carry your heart with me(i carry it in
my heart) i am never without it (anywhere
i go you go, my dear; and whatever is done
by only me is your doing, my darling)
i fear
no fate(for you are my fate, my sweet) i want
no world(for beautiful you are my world, my true)
and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant
and whatever a sun will always sing is you
here is the deepest secret nobody knows

(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud
and the sky of the sky of a tree called life;which grows
higher than the soul can hope or mind can hide)
and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart

i carry your heart(i carry it in my heart)

-e.e. cummings


Pic via a fave, le love.

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

the promise

The Promise, Tracy Chapman


I heard this song this morning and was once again struck by how amazingly good it is. Love it. This one is also great. And while we are at it, one more.

Friday, February 6, 2009

hjntiy


Tonight I am off to see He's Just Not That Into You with my roomie and some girlfriends. Wahoo! I never read the book, but I am still seriously looking forward to this movie. Especially because Bradley Cooper is smokin hot. (Did I say that?) The rest of the weekend is filled with JL, a wedding, church and relaxing. I hope to fit a bubble bath and some wine in there somewhere.

What are you doing this weekend? Whatever it is, I hope you have a wonderful, relaxing time. 'Til Monday lovelies!


Movie poster via Wild About Movies.

handle me at my worst


"I'm selfish, impatient and a little insecure. I make mistakes, I am out of control and at times hard to handle. But if you can't handle me at my worst, then you sure as hell don't deserve me at my best." - Marilyn Monroe


I know that true love is loving someone because of their flaws, not despite them. I am honored to be loved by those that love me, and I pray that I can truly love them in return.


Lovely thought via
Le Love.

drown me in love

These songs have been on repeat this week (on iTunes, and in heavy rotation in my head). Lovely. You really must listen.


Come on Get Higher, Matt Nathanson

Dream Catch Me, Newton Faulkner
Blindsided, Bon Iver

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

picking a pooch

(Caveat: I am not getting another dog anytime soon, but that can't stop me from constantly thinking about it!)

So I took this Animal Planet quiz that is supposed to help you determine the type of dog you should own based on some arcane formula that calculates ratios based upon how often you want them to bark, jump, run and play. Anyway, lo and behold, what type of pup received a 100% match?


A French bulldog of course! See babe? What have I been telling you?! Below are my top 8 matches.


And just for fun, here is a picture of the little one who greets me eagerly every time I get home. Love this little stinkbug.



Animal Planet quiz found on
Pink loves Brown. Pics via AP, except for Madison. That one's mine.

love is a serious mental disease

Love him? Put it in writing. Here are a few Vday cards from etsy to help you.

You and Me , ParAmourDesigns

Crazy Love II, Up Up Creative

Geek Love, Paper Stories

fontastic


I am uber excited to create my own personalized font using my handwriting. How cool is that? It would be such a neat thing to do for party invites or holiday cards, and your hand never gets tired!


Tuesday, February 3, 2009

the day the music died


50 years ago, today, Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, The Big Bopper and Roger Peterson (the pilot) died in a tragic plane crash. I first got into Buddy Holly and The Crickets when I lived in Lubbock. Charles Hardin Holley, the "pioneer of rock and roll," was from the great LBK, and there are streets and museums named in his honor in downtown. The bf is really into him too-the first tape he ever bought was a Buddy Holly record. Today let's take a minute to honor the man who inspired artists like The Beatles, Paul Simon, The Rolling Stones and Bob Dylan. Truly amazing. 





Buddy Holly glasses via our visit to the Buddy Holly Center in Lubbock circa April 2007.

puppet on a string


I am seriously obessively loving these finger puppets from etsy seller Abby Christine. All adorably had made of felt, sold puppets include famous historical and fictional characters and couples, including Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera, Lloyd Dobler, Andy Warhol, Flight of the Conchords, Breakfast Club, Amelie, Juno and Paulie, Willie Nelson, and Obama and McCain. Her shop also includes other goodies like little felt pouches, and she will even do custom orders.

These are my favorites that are currently for sale in her shop (from $10-$40).


The Darjeeling Limited.

John and Yoko.

python perfection

Is it wrong to want to match everything I own to one pair of shoes? These.are.so.perfect.

JCrew Magdalene Python Strappy Heels, $450.

well rehearsed

What's a girl to wear to a March wedding-in-Cali rehearsal dinner?


1. Sweet floor length floral with a loose chignon and wedges. Very boho-chic.

2. Audrey-style vintage 1950's black and white goodness. So classic.

3. Lace skirt and silky top. Prim and pretty. (Bonus-this is 30% off with code "candy")

4. White vintage damask tunic. Is it proper to wear white if you are not the bride?

5. Sheer, paisley, pretty. I am not gonna lie, I will probably buy this anyway.

6. Wide leg pants + ruffles + my favorite shade of grey. Pretty stellar.


7. Paper bag waist skirt and layers. Love, love, love layers.


8. Yellow silk sheath. Gorgeous silhouette, but the bmaid dress is yellow. Might be too much.


What do you think? Help a sister out and leave your vote in the comments. Muchas Gracias!




P.S. If I was 12, I would totally wear this from JCrew CrewCuts: