Paradise Island: Jessie

Welcome to Paradise Island, week 9!  If you're behind on our Table for Twelve summer series, there's no time like the present to get caught up- click here to checkout everything you've missed thus far.  As for today, I've got the spotlight shining bright on my BFF, Jessie.  At the risk of spiraling out of control with sap, I'll just give you the facts.  Fact 1: Jess is the closest thing I've ever had to a real sister.  Fact 2: We make a really, really good team (in life and in board games) and balance each other out in just about every area.  Fact 3: She's the most hilarious person I've ever met.  Fact 4: There's nothing I would't do for her.  For more facts, you'll just have to wait on the release of the book we're co-authoring (though you might have to wait awhile for it...over the last two years the only thing we've finished is the introduction.  And there's a really good possibility we may have misplaced it).  I'm outrageously thankful to have such a loyal, stylish, beautiful right hand gal.  Now check out her Paradise Island picks!

Q&A: If Jessie was famous, it would be for winning Big Brother, discovering she's a long lost Kardashian, or having her own reality television show.  Her celebrity BFF would be Zach Galifianakis and he would help her steal every last item in Suri Cruise's closet.

1. Hammock, Via Nativa $89  2. Classic Shoe, Vibram Five Fingers $75  3. Continuous Protection Sunblock, Aveeno $9.59  4. Sport Top Bottle, Lulu Lemon Athletica $25  5. Light Blue Fragrance, Dolce & Gabbana $87  6. Groove Pants, Lulu Lemon Athletica $108  7. 'Pearl' Tankini, Nordstrom $58.90  8. Lip Balm, Burt's Bees $3  9. The Duron Boys :)

The Foodie Files

I had a "I've gotta get rid of this stuff in my fridge before it goes bad" moment last week that just so happened to coincide with a stroke of genius.  Thus, these fried dough pork sandwiches were born.  Are they healthy?  Probably not.  But they sure did taste good.  

Ingredients: 

Approx 1 lb sliced pork tenderloin

6 oz bag of Baby Spinach

1 lb pizza dough (I used Trader Joe's pre-made dough...it's my fav)

2/3 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

2-3 garlic cloves, diced

Extra virgin olive oil

Salt and pepper

Brown about half of your garlic in 1 tbs extra virgin olive oil.  Cut pork tenderloin into bite sized pieces, sprinkle with salt and pepper and saute in oil until fully cooked.

Take a moderately sized piece of dough (should be smaller than your palm) and create an opening down the center.  Stuff with cheese and reseal.

Fry dough until golden brown and set aside.

Brown your remaining garlic in extra virgin olive oil and saute spinach.  Use salt and pepper to taste.  Place your pork and spinach on top of the fried dough and serve as an open faced sandwich.

Mirror, Mirror

Despite the fact that I'd love to hang onto this warm weather for as long as possible, my mind is already well into autumn when it comes to my wardrobe.  Fall fashion is my favorite...the layers, the color palates- I love it all.  This little number would be perfect for a mild September day, don't you think?

1. Tied & Tabbed Blouse, Anthropologie $88  2. Gold Laurel Bracelet, Lulus $14  3. Vanessa Mooney Wire Wrap Rainbow Quartz Necklace, Shopbop $82  4. Vintage Braided Ring  5. On Your Way Skirt, ModCloth $64.99  6. Dolce Vita Carina, Piperlime $129.99 7. Emerald Password Purse, ModCloth $92.99

Get It Together: In Living Color

1. Haute Culture Mini Garden, A+R Store $28  2. Bright Bouquet Coasters, Store03 $18  3. Pink Silk Flamestitch Lumbar Pillow, Store03 $70  4. Ikat Frame, Store03 $35  5. Stackable Hee Dining Chair, A+R Store $325  6. Danish Red Candle Holder, Etsy

Back to School

Going back to school was always equal parts fun and traumatizing for me.  Even though it meant summer was over, it was still exciting to get to reconnect with friends, go on a mini shopping spree and (perhaps the most exciting of all) buy fun school supplies.  I've got a looooot of teachers in my life these days, so "back to school" is still a very real part of our lives.  And I'll be totally honest- I'm a little jealous of the school supplies.  It's ridiculous, I know, but I think Office Max, Staples and the like are a little pieces of heaven and I miss the opportunity to raid their shelves annually.  I mean, check out these gems!  Can you blame me?! :)

1. "The New Black" Pencil Set, Fred & Friends $6  2. Maru Calculator, Moss Online $85  3. Magenta Tape Dispenser, Poppin $8  4. Velvet Lined Journal, Designwallas $11  5. Yellow Scissors, Poppin $8  6. Orange Ruler, Poppin $5  7. Walking Day Trip Backpack, Modcloth $64.99  8. Sushi Stapler, Urban Outfitters  9. Penguin Paperclips, Modcloth $7.99

Sweet Southern Belle

Let me start by saying this...I was born a northern girl.  Regardless of where I end up, I'll consider myself a northern girl 'til the day I die.  I love our cities, our food and our culture and I'll be the first one to jump to the defense of our crazy people.  That being said, I really love the South, too.  The older I get, the more I seem to appreciate and respect how classy southern culture can be.  I get to see glimpses of old southern class in Nashville (although there's a lot of honky tonkers that are...admittedly...well, you know), but I always have a newfound respect for it when I travel to places like Savannah, Georgia or Louisiana (where- not coincidentally- I'm visiting at the moment).  I may never be a southern belle, but their territory sure is a fun place to explore.  Just for today, here's to the south!  

Photos Via Hannah Hay, Dashboard, Photo Per Diem, Southern Living, Atlantic Pacific

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