Working For The Weekend

Happy Friday, folks.  Any fun weekend plans to speak of?  I don't have much on the agenda at the moment but Nashville's rainy forecast has me considering a marathon of some variety (and by that I mean a baking marathon, movie marathon or another marathon of that nature.  Absolutely no running will take place).  Hope whatever plans you make come together seamlessly...oh, and if you're in the greater South Jersey area, come hang out with us tomorrow at Moorestown Day!  Enjoy the links and we'll catch you Monday.

So excited about this!!!

This is kind of great.

My new favorite snack.

Fail to plan and you plan to fail...

Aunt Martha is always coming up with some fresh and delicious idea.

You've gotta love technology!

Too funny...

Awesome idea.

MmmMmmmMmmmmmmm....

The Foodie Files

I don't know what it's like where you are but this is the first week I've really felt the summer heat...which, obviously, I think is the greatest ever.  But as wonderful as I think the warm weather is and as much as I love to cook, there's nothing worse than an overheated kitchen on a hot day.  To minimize this issue, we've been munching on a variety of picnic food at our house lately...pasta salad, cold thai veggies, all kinds of good stuff.  Last night I even whipped up some refreshing watermelon agua fresca!  It's so simple but a tasty, tasty treat.  My advice?  Go find you a patio and get sipping!

Ingredients:

4 Cups cubed, seeded watermelon

1/2 cup water

4 slices of lime

Fresh mint leaves

Puree the watermelon and water in a blender until smooth.  Put one lime slice and a couple mint leaves in each glass and crush with a cocktail muddler (or, if you're me, the handle of a lemon juicer).

Add ice if desired and pour in the watermelon agua fresca.  Stir before serving. 

Mirror, Mirror

Is it too hot outside to wear leather pants?  Probably.  But for some reason I really want to!  I'd also have a grand 'ol time with this necklace...I love the effect of pairing it with a simple t-shirt, don't you?  As for the splash of cobalt, it gives the whole look an extra bit of life (because the diamond and leather combo is just boring...I kid).    

1. Jersey T-Shirt, Alexander Wang $100  2. Stretch Leather Leggings, Helmut Lang $920  3. Suede Sandals, Giuseppe Zanotti $695  4. Crystal Floral Necklace, J. Crew $168  5. Crystal Clutch, Noir $425

Get It Together: Birds of a Feather

1. Crane Table Lamp, Z Gallerie $499  2. Sundial Chair, Serena & Lily $1,795  3. Petrified Wood Bookends, Anthropologie $148  4. Petite Magnifiers, Jayson Home $16  5. Exotic Avian Pillow, Anthropologie $88  6. Vanguard Frames, Z Gallerie $19.95-$29.95

Design Musings

Working For The Weekend

What a wonderful week it's been!  I've been whatever the road-tripping equivalent of a jet setter is for the last few days, traveling from Virginia to Nashville to St. Louis and back for various fun reasons.  While I love to travel, one of my favorite things about it is how it makes me open my eyes to the comforts of home.  It'll be nice to get settled for the next few weeks before I head out again to who knows where.  Have an incredible long weekend (three cheers for Memorial Day) and enjoy the links!    

There's some pretty decent deals here.

Looks like it's time to resurrect my rock collection!

Great ideas.

Finally, this exists.

This is on my summer 'To Buy' list...

Hmm...I like where this is going.

Perfect summer dress!

A big time hair trend right now!  I'd try it...

The Foodie Files

I've detailed my tendency to make pick-me-up macaroni and cheese many times, but yesterday I wanted to take things to the next level.  When I found out one of my dearest friends got some sad news, I pulled out the big guns and made lobster mac and cheese.  The recipe varies a good deal from my regular macaroni and cheese routine but the results are certainly richer and more substantial.  All in all, a winner!

Ingredients:
1 1/2 pound cavatappi
3/4 cup heavy cream

3 1/4 cups milk
6 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
8 ounces Gruyere cheese, grated
8 ounces extra-sharp Cheddar, grated
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1 pound cooked lobster meat
Salt and pepper to taste

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.  Add pasta to a large pot of boiling salted water and cook according to the directions on the package, 6 to 8 minutes.  Drain well.

In a large pot, melt 6 tablespoons of butter and add the flour.  Cook over low heat for 2 minutes, stirring with a whisk.  Still whisking, add the milk and cook for a minute or two more, until thickened and smooth.  Off the heat, add the Gruyere, Cheddar, salt, pepper, and nutmeg.

Add the cooked macaroni and lobster and stir well. 

Transfer to a baking dish or individual ramekins and bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the sauce is bubbly and the macaroni is browned on the top.  Serve and enjoy!

Mirror, Mirror

This look calls for bold cat-eye liner, a big 'ol top knot bun and just a bit of bounce in your step (which shouldn't be too tricky in a dress this flattering).  I tried to accessorize with a bit of edge but you could just as easily take it in another direction by swapping out the necklace and shoes.  

1. Scoop Back Dress, Kate Spade Saturday $150  2. Dressed To Kill Lipstick, Nars $26  3. Long Lasting Eyeliner, Sephora $12  4. Besso Textured Sandals, Jimmy Choo $795  5. Flat Spike Necklace, Eddie Borgo $386  6. Graphic Berry Nail Laquer, Dior $24  7. Geo Tote, The Cools $780

Get It Together: The Modern Hunter

1. Tom Dixon Bronze Shade, ABC Home $685  2. Velvet Indigo Pillow, Room & Board $89  3. Deer Head, Z Gallerie $69.95  4. Linen Napkins, MK Limited £64.51 per case  5. Stud Poof, Zinc Door $2,025  6. Dakota Table, Jayson Home $4,995. 7.  Perspective Dinnerware, Z Gallerie $19.80-$27.80  8. Heath Bulb Vase, The Century House $66

Design Musings

The Foodie Files

My Dinner and a Suit boys are back from tour!  I'm so happy I don't even have words.  Nina and I made a big 'ol welcome home dinner for them last night and whipped up these peanut butter cookies for dessert.  The reviews were highly positive...give 'em a try!

Cookies:
1 1/2 cups quick oats

1/2 cup flour

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 cup honey roasted peanut butter (you can find it freshly ground at Whole Foods. all it is is honey roasted peanuts ground into peanut butter, which gives it a slightly sweet, roasted honey flavor)
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened

1 egg

Filling:


1/2 cup confectioner’s sugar

1 cup smooth peanut butter

Preheat an oven to 350°F.  In a medium bowl, mix the oats, flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.  Set aside.

In a large bowl, mix butter, both sugars, egg, peanut butter, and vanilla.

Pour oat mixture into peanut butter mixture, stirring until just mixed.  Place rounded teaspoonfuls of batter on an ungreased baking sheet, leaving 2 centimeters between each one.  Using your finger, pat dough down so they form small flattened circles.

Bake for 8 minutes.  Let cool completely on cookie sheet.

  While the cookies are baking, whisk together the confectioner’s sugar and peanut butter until light and airy, about 5 minutes.



On a work surface, place half of the cookies upside down.  Whisk the filling to lighten it.  Dollop 1 tablespoon of filling into the center of each upside down cookie.  Place second cookie on top of filling and press together until filling just comes to the edges.

Mirror, Mirror

Sometimes outfits need to serve two seemingly opposite purposes.  If, as a...hypothetical example...I was taking a 9 hour road trip and meeting my boyfriend's family for the first time tomorrow, I'd want to be both exceptionally comfortable and exceptionally put together.  An outfit similar to this- with it's comfortable material and shape yet sharp style and color- would do the trick.  Also, by hypothetical example, I meant that's 100% literally what's happening...I have got to go pack!

1. Shannon Pleated Chiffon Maxi Skirt, Alice + Olivia $396  2. Whisper Tank, ShopStyle $58  3. Pretty Tough Necklace, ASOS $84.85  4. Luella Sandals, Loeffler Randall $295  5. Sally Hansen Nail Polish in Petal Pusher, Amazon $4.47  6. Rockwell II Ring, The Cools $315  7. Hawaii Beach Bag, ASOS $22.04

Get It Together: Blue Ribbon Ready

1. Check Black Cushion, Bonnie and Neil  2. Horse Takes the Cake Plate, Vane Broussard $90  3. Celia Table Lamp, Ro Sham Beaux $412  4. Conrad Elder Chair, jcpenney $1,225  5. Oxide Frame, CB2 $29.95  6. Threshold Iron Wire Table, Target $59.99

Design Musings

Working For The Weekend

I'm all about countdowns at the moment...T-minus 1 day 'til the roomies and I go see Gatsby, T-minus 5 days til my favorite Dinner and a Suit boys come home from tour, T-minus 6 days 'til I get to meet my boyfriend's family for the first time and T-minus 10 days 'til my brother's 25th birthday.  It's all very exciting!  Since I'm in planning mode for all of the above I'm gonna keep this short and sweet...there's lots to be done!  Hope you guys have a spectacular weekend.  Enjoy the links!

Some great ideas here...

Very cool, very cool.

My Dad has a great signature...I'd totally wear his.

While they don't seem to grasp what easy means, there's a few homeruns here!

I just loved this.

Cheers!

Really lovely.

A couple Mother's Day hail mary's for those of you still looking...

The Foodie Files

My ability to discern exactly what I'm craving at any given moment is both a blessing and a curse, depending- of course- on whether that particular item is available to me in the somewhat immediate future.  Sometimes it creates a wonderful opportunity for instant satisfaction (cue craving for asian pear and vermont cheddar cheese, walk to kitchen, eat asian pear and vermont cheddar cheese).  Other times it just makes me miserable (cue craving for my Dad's brick oven pizza...weep and pout).  Earlier this week, for example, I knew I had to have some Thai inspired food.  The fact that I had stacks of tupperware filled with Cinco de Mayo leftovers was all of a sudden irrelevant...it was Thai or bust and that was that.  Some of my favorite recipes were born in moments like this so at this point I don't even get aggravated with myself, I just get cooking.  Come to find out, this Thai vegetable salad is what's been missing from my repertoire...it's delicious, healthy and a great staple for summer.  And if the satisfied craving wasn't enough, I even got to christen the gorgeous Jadeite bowl my grandmother gave me!  It was a banner evening.  Now- get to enjoying this salad.  You're gonna love it!  

Ingredients: 

2 medium zucchini
2 cups carrot matchsticks
1 cup edamame, shelled
1 avocado, cubed
1 TBS black sesame seeds
2 TBS chopped cilantro

Dressing:
1/4 cup Thai peanut sauce
1 tsp sesame oil
1 tsp basil infused oil

Create ribbons by peeling zucchini with a simple potato peeler, rotating until you reach the seeds.  Cut ribbons into matchsticks and set aside.

Combine dressing ingredients in a small bowl (if you don't have access to basil infused olive oil, simply double the sesame oil), then throughly mix with carrots, zucchini and edamame.   

Add avocado cubes, cilantro and sesame seeds and toss gently.

Since the Thai peanut sauce has a little kick of heat to it, I served the salad alongside some simple coconut friend rice (which is another recipe for another day).  The combination was so tasty and strangely filling, especially for a completely vegetarian, nearly raw meal!

Mirror, Mirror

This last week was so glamourous!  I mean, not for me but for some people...the Kentucky Derby, the Met Gala, it was just bucket list event after bucket list event.  Needless to say it's put me in a fancy mood (hence today's bejeweled Mirror, Mirror).  I think I'll get it out of my system (to the extent which I'm able to get fancy out of my system) this weekend when I check out The Great Gatsby.  And yes, of course I'm dressing up to go see The Great Gatsby movie...don't be silly.

1. Sybill Embellishe Peplum Top, Net-a-Porter $1,187  2. Morley Metal Box Clutch, Kotur $395  3. Straight Leg Pants, Alberta Ferretti $885  4. Four Gold Vermeil Rings, Saint Laurent $1,180  5. Topaz Earrings, Larkspur & Hawk $800  6. Geometric Gold Tone Cuff, Anndra Neen $475  7. Suede and Metal Sandals, Luis Viaroma $650  8. Cat Eye Sunglasses, Saks Fifth Ave $315

Get It Together: Siete de Mayo

1. Tribal Zipper Hook Pillow, Zinc Door $44  2. Lumiere Table Lamp, YLighting $1,351  3. Drohgo and Bronn Candleholders, CB2 $4.95-$5.96  4. Waterstone Succulents, Etsy $18  5. Zaha Chair, Jayson Home $1,195  6. Vintage Bolivian Rug, Imogene + Willie $550

Design Musings

Working For The Weekend

As much as I love to travel, I'm kind of delighted to get to spend this weekend in Nashville.  I've got some housekeeping to catch up on, a couple DVRed shows to watch and some very important sleeping-in to do.  I'm super psyched.  Since, try as I might, I can't ignore the fact that Sunday is Cinco de Mayo I'll have to squeeze a few slow cooked chicken tacos into the schedule as well...it's a heavy burden but someone's gotta carry it.  Enjoy your weekend (and the links), friends!

A few festive Cinco de Mayo posts...here

...and here (yum!)

An incredibly intuitive travel site.  I'm hooked!

This list makes me hungry.

How badly do I want to stay here? (Very bad indeed)

This made me chuckle.

Sooooooo tasty!

Am I loosing it?  Why do I want to buy a bunch of these?

Beyond gorgeous...seriously...

Nope.  Can't even believe this is possible.

The Foodie Files

With Cinco de Mayo coming up on Sunday it seemed irresponsible to make anything but a delicious Mexican treat for this week's Foodie Files.  And when I came across this recipe for churro cupcakes...well...my hands were basically tied.  I love a good churro but I'm not a huge fan of frying (I wish I could say it was for health reasons but- if I'm being honest- it's mostly to my distaste for hot oil splatters) so I was doubly excited to give this treat a go.  I (quite literally) whipped up a cinnamon mascarpone frosting and drizzled a little dulce de leche over the finished cupcakes and that my friend was a delight in and of itself.  This one is a dessert worth making for sure!

Cupcakes:
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 (1 stick) cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup milk

Frosting:

1/2 pint heavy cream
4 ounces (1/2 tub) mascarpone cheese
1 TBS cinnamon sugar
1 tsp vanilla

Dulce de leche to taste

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  Line a muffin pan with cupcake liners and set aside.  In a medium bowl, combine the flour, cinnamon, baking powder, and salt; set aside.

In a large bowl (preferably the bowl of a standing mixer) combine the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy.  Add the eggs, one at a time, until just combined then stir in the vanilla and oil.

Add 1/3 of the flour mixture and gently stir in until barely combined.  Pour in half of the milk and mix.  Repeat these steps with the remaining flour mixture and milk, ending with the flour.  Do not over mix.  

Fill each cupcake tin with 2 tablespoons of batter, or until the cupcake tin is filled half way.  It'll look a little empty but trust me on this one.

Bake the cupcakes for about 15 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with one or two crumbs clinging to it.  Allow the cupcakes to cool completely before frosting.

For the icing, whip the heavy cream until stiff peaks form, then whisk in mascarpone, cinnamon sugar and vanilla.  Top with dulce de leche and serve!

Mirror, Mirror

The verdict is in: tropical leaves are all the rage, ladies and gents.  And I'm into it!  I found a few other fun takes on this print at H&M, Michael Kors & Adriana Degreas...it's definitely on trend to say the least.  I married classic with trendy by playing with shapes (the lady-like bag with the harem pant) and texture (the high end jewelry with the casual shoe)...it's a lovely little look, don't you think?  Add some killer Wayfarer sunglasses and you're ready for your closeup!

1. Banana Leaf Print Tee, Topshop $76  2. Enameled Sterling Silver Bracelet, Bottega Veneta $2,150  3. Arai Silk Tapered Pants, Theory $190  4. Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Nail Laquer, Sephora $10  5. Enameled Sterling Silver Necklace, Bottega Veneta $6,450  6. Vitello Elite Tote, Fendi $2,430 7. Taipa Wedges, Aldo $70