Happy Weekend!

T minus 9 minutes until the weekend.

Not that I am counting or anything.

My dear, sweet mother is coming down tomorrow (Father in tow) to personally address all the Save the Dates (they are going out Monday!).  I may or may not have tricked her into doing this through flattery.  She literally has the most beautiful handwriting I have ever seen, not to mention it's extremely consistent.  My handwriting quickly changes fonts when I am in a hurry, but not Donna's.

Some girls just have it all (sigh)...

In the meantime, check out this awesome Save the Date which doesn't require hours of manual labor from your loving mother :)


Save the date! 31 july 2010 from Kishi-Grover on Vimeo.

Happy Weekend!

Perfect Fit

 

{via Things She Loves}

 I'm am just loving this simple little picture.  

It's the perfect way to start a Friday morning:)

Just Made

I am on a roll this week with actually cooking.  Must be the weather... Another easy weeknight recipe for the books:

Paprika Spiced Pork Chops with Spinach Saute
(Real Simple)

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 4 bone-in pork rib chops (about 1 inch thick; 2 pounds total)
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• kosher salt and black pepper
• 4 scallions, sliced
• 1/4 cup golden raisins
• 1 10-ounce package spinach (about 16 loosely packed cups)
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

Directions

1. Heat oven to 400° F. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season the pork with the paprika, ½ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper and cook until browned, 2 to 3 minutes per side.
2. Transfer the pork to a baking sheet and roast in oven until cooked through, 10 to 12 minutes.
3. Meanwhile, return the skillet to medium heat, add the scallions and raisins, and cook, stirring, for 30 seconds. Add the spinach and ¼ teaspoon each salt and pepper and cook, tossing, until just wilted, 1 to 2 minutes; stir in the lemon juice. Serve with the pork.

Style Me Pretty Garden Party

Want some beautiful inspiration on this dreary day? 

Check out my second Style Me Pretty post featuring a completely inspiring garden party photo shoot by Style Perfect Events.

P.S.

Good Ol' Days

I am a firm believer I was born in the wrong decade. 

Put me back in the good ol' days and I think I would actually be normal (or at least much closer to normal than I am now). I am, however, quite excited that the old school ways are coming back to us through fashion.  There is a good reason Old Hollywood style doesn't go out of style - it's amazing!

I'm especially excited to see the Old Hollywood trend come back in swimwear. Please tell me you are just as excited as I am to see the swim cap below:

Jantzen Swim Cap/ Staked Odds Bikini/ Medina Poncho/ En Pointe Bikini

I feel glamorous just looking at that cover up.  For just a moment, it made me actually forget about the horrible weather outside.

Just Made

And it is pretty darn good...(and easy for weeknights!)

Angel Hair Pasta with Shrimp & Basil

Ingredients

1/4 cup olive oil, divided

1 (8 ounce) package angel hair pasta

1 teaspoon chopped garlic

1 pound large shrimp - peeled and deveined

1 (28 ounce) cans Italian-style diced tomatoes, drained

1/2 cup dry white wine

3 tablespoons chopped fresh basil (I used more...)

3 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan cheese

(I also added some mushrooms for fun....)

Directions:

1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil, and add 1 tablespoon oil. Cook pasta in boiling water until al dente. Place pasta in a colander, and give it a quick rinse with cold water.
2. Heat remaining olive oil in a 10 inch skillet over medium heat. Cook garlic, stirring constantly, until the garlic is tender, about 1 minute. Do not let the garlic burn. Add shrimp, and cook for 3 to 5 minutes. Remove shrimp from the skillet, and set aside.
3. Stir tomatoes, wine, parsley, and basil into the skillet. Continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until liquid is reduced by half, 8 to 12 minutes. Add shrimp, and continue cooking until the shrimp are heated through, about 2 to 3 minutes. Serve the shrimp mixture over the pasta. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.

Rain, really?

It's pouring buckets in the Super Burbs this morning (weird for February, right?), and of course that is when I stop and think to myself - 

"I have absolutely no idea where my umbrella is..."

To be completely honest, I don't think I've ever owned an umbrella that didn't die the first day I used it, isn't from the local drugstore, or cost more than $9.99.  I think it might be time to make an investment.  

And what do you know, I opened this month's Real Simple and they literally read my mind (they are good like that). They did all the leg work for me - check out the nine Best Umbrella's according to Real Simple. I personally like the one below:

To buy: $35, echodesign.com

 

Stay Dry out there today! 

Paloma's Nest

So, I am about to order something online. I feel the need to come clean. It's for the wedding, so it is completely allowed. Right?

Guilty shopping conscious aside, I need to share a new website from an old Etsy favorite.  Paloma's Nest has been a fan favorite for awhile now - and as of last week, their new website is alive and kicking.  Not to mention it is drop-dead gorgeous. 

 

 

Also, a little bird told me (aka twitter) that they are offering free shipping worldwide thru Monday! Take a little Tuesday break and explore the new site - you deserve it (and it will make me feel better about my purchase:).

My Mind = Random

I am just about positive each and everyone of you has days where your mind literally does not stop. Not only does it not stop, but it jumps from one random life assignment to another.

Well let me just tell you, my mind is literally on overdrive this morning.  For instance, at 5am I organized all the mail in our house.  As of 8am - we now have a complete, organized mail system in the Super Burbs (with color coded folders of course). Issues.

Midway through the organization process, I realized I need (yes, need) vintage stamps before the Save the Dates go out this weekend! So it looks like ebay & I will be BFF today. If you have any good Rhode Island vintage stamp leads - send them my way...

{via 100 Layer Cake}

I think someone put something in my Starbucks this morning.

Stamp of Approval

Well, this is an awesome gift idea. Even if the recipient is yourself. 

I feel as though Holly's Houses might be hearing from the Super Burbs in the oh so near future.

{Holly's Houses via Design Sponge}

Added Value

My future MIL mentioned this to me one weekend when we were visiting because I have a HUGE problem with loosing earrings. I swear I loose one a week, easy. She always finds them throughout her house, like I am leaving a little trail of where I've been.

Always one to find a solution, she mentioned this Real Simple article. My lonely earrings with no purpose, now can hold up my most important memories! So clever.

Long story short, I really lucked out in the MIL department.

{John Lawton via Real Simple}

Oh Doily

The 80 year old woman in me is really loving the fact that doilies are making a comeback.

Ok, let's be honest, the 27 year old woman in me is pretty happy too.

{Gretel via Oh Joy!}

{Ladies and Gentlemen via Oh Joy!}

 

{Elly Nelly}

  

 {Track and Field Designs}

  

{andfurthermore}

I feel like I need to break out the tea & cucumber sandwiches now...

Time for the weekend!

We made it! 

I am picking up fresh flowers on the way home tonight to force the arrival of Spring in our house. So what if we have a good 2 months of Winter left in the Super Burbs?!

I also picked up these cool lantern things at Homegoods last night...

Not 100% sure what I will do with them, but they made me smile. Any ideas?

(Mr. C -  I promise that is all I purchased;)

Hope you all have a fantastic weekend - 

Sail Away

Navy stripes + ropes + starfish = Nautical. And boy do I love the nautical look.

If I had my way, I would wear navy stripes with red accents everyday (ok, that's an exaggeration). Long story short, I love how classic & stylish it looks on everyone. Not to mention, the look is easy to pull off and it's a nice little shout out to New England.

With all that said, I was quite excited to come across these gems on my morning online stop at Anthropologie:

(sidenote: I currently have 20 items in my shopping cart, that will probably sit there forever, but I feel better having them there - do you do that? Or is this me just being weird again?)

{Anthropologie - The New Nautical}

Check it all out here.

Oklahoma, O.K.!

I am a country girl at heart - I've even hoed tobacco before (yep, just ask me about that one) - so this Style Me Pretty wedding from Erin Ever After makes me want to break out my line-dancing skills (yep, I have those) and dust off my cowboy boots.

Wait till you see the hay bales. Love.

{Aaron Snow Photography}

Fabulous Version

Sometimes I stumble upon homes that I could see the fabulous version of me living. You know, the person that walks around in beautiful shoes, a perfect outfit and her hair done all the time. That version. In my mind, she is pretty spectacular and would definitely host lovely, perfectly pretty gatherings at a place that looks like this.

After seeing Anna Malin's home on Decor8 this morning.  I am convinced that Anna is just around the corner in these photos of her home - in beautiful shoes, being fabulous.

 {Helt Enkelt via Decor8}

See the "A" and the "&"?? She is definitely the fabulous version of me.

Glad to know she is out there somewhere:)

See it all here.

Harvey Faircloth

First, I love the name.

Second, I LOVE their story.

Third, I need everything in their Spring/Summer 2010 Collection. Yes need.

Oh Tuesday

This snowy Tuesday I am melting over:

DIY Decoder Save-the-Dates via Ruffled Blog

 { Kellan Studios}

Pioneer Women's celebration of Fat Tuesday.

DIY Google Map Envelope liner via Dog N' Bird (I've actually been melting over this for a while now)

"Makeunders" are the new makeovers according to Oprah (and I agree completely).

Phew.  It almost makes Tuesday look good :)

Dive in

Looks like we can have a few margaritas this year and not worry about the repercussions! 

Spanx created a swim suit line!

(I have to admit, I am a huge fan of a classy, understated one-piece bathing suit a la Jackie O - surprised?)

My only fear is that this might feel a little constricting & hot - but I am sure this will be a hit.

What do you think? Will you be ordering one?

Bring on the sunshine!

You might need to sit down...

...Because this Style Me Pretty wedding is making me stop in my tracks.

Beth Helmstetter, you just made having to work today that much better ;) Thank you for bringing this wedding to our attention!


See all the beautiful, drool-worthy details here:

{Amy & Stuart}

Happy Valentine's Day!

We just got home from a fantastic trip to Philly.  It was definitely one for the books.

Appropriately, the first picture I came across while Mr. C cooks scallops (yum!) and I get my life back in order was this one:

{ Stephane Massa-Bidalvia Black*Eiffel}

It's an inside joke - but we definitely went with all of our heart this weekend. 

Thanks again to the wonderful host & hostess;)

Happy Valentine's Day :)

Road Trip

Mr. C & I are leaving the Super Burbs tonight and heading to Philly for the weekend! 

I'll be back on Monday because we don't have the day off..

(boo, hiss, boo)

Have a great weekend everyone!

{Source? First thing that came up on Google Images when I entered Road Trip}

Sparkles in the Sunlight

Please, please, please check out the awesome Twilight inspired tablescape on Style Me Pretty right now brought to us by the lovely voice of Erin ever After ...

Not that you love Twilight or anything, you just love tablescapes...right....

Go here.

 {Meg Perotti Photography}

Here's to the Singletons...

Once upon a time, long before Mr. C, I made a big decision for a holiday loving, party throwing, detail appreciating gal...

I decided I wasn't the biggest fan of Valentine's Day.

What's that you say? How can that be?

Now, don't get me wrong - I wasn't cynical, jaded or sad (this is me you are talking about! I'm endlessly optimistic! I use exclamation marks like they are going out of style!!).  I just felt bad for all those people that literally felt lonely on a day companies use to boost retail sales after a slow January. 

Alas, I decided to celebrate Valentine's Day as Singles Awareness Day, more commonly known as S.A.D*.  Since then, I made it my mission to Singletons everywhere to make this day about them...

And I still do.

So...Here's to you Singletons! Go out! Dance on stages, flirt with wild abandon and make fun of your relationships gone bad (or eat a pint of ice cream, whateves)!

Because let's face it, everyday in a relationship should be Valentine's dayish.

February 14th is for the Singletons.

Cue Single Ladies.

* I swear I was one of the first people to initiate this movement - Gatlin, you can confirm this.

All the cool kids are doing it:

Kinda Loving These

Think of all the fun messages you could send with these cookie cutters:)

 

  

{Williams Sonoma}

Booked.

Lately, I feel like all of our weeks and weekends are completely booked.  Want to know what we are doing at 3pm on April 24th? 

I could probably tell you unfortunately. 

Don't get me wrong - some of it involves fun trips or the such, but every once in awhile I get the craving to turn off the phones, computers, etc. (not the blog of course) and just hang out.  

This morning, Mr. C asked me if we had a free weekend and I could do anything in the world...what would  want to do..

The spontaneous, life-loving side of me answered this:

 {via Coastal Living}

But the homebody low-maintenance side of me would be more than happy with this:

{ Peter Lindbergh via Dress, Design & Decor}

Happy Thursday everyone:)

DIY See-Saw

The snow is starting to really come down. Lucky for me (& the blanket), Style Me Pretty is cranking out some beauties today (per usual). 

Fellow guest blogger Labellebride just posted this must-see DIY dream come true. 

I particularly like the DIY see-saw.

{Mary Jane Photography via Style Me Pretty}

Snow Dance Success = time for SMP

The Dance was a success!

Mr. C & I both get to work from home this afternoon, so I now have plenty of time to ooo and aww over all the pretty little details of this Style Me Pretty barn wedding brought to us by Gwyneth Paige.  She is uber sweet - so it is no surprise that this wedding is just the same.

{Jen Kroll Photography via Style Me Pretty}

Doesn't it look so warm and inviting on this snowy day? Check out more here.

Snow Dance

The sky is heavy and gray in the Super Burbs this morning. 

Mr. C & I are in full snow dance mode, praying like little kids that "school" will let out early.  We loaded the porch with firewood and our shovels, mittens and boots are ready for business.

Speaking of boots, I've been jonesing over these for the wedding.  Hunters are a must have in the Super Burbs, so I think a pair of these would be good to have in my back pocket in case the weather decides not to cooperate.

 

or these (my colors are turquoise & yellow)

 

{HUNTER}

Ok - back to dancing!

Right on Target

I have a love/hate relationship with Target.  Love because I feel like I can always find something perfect (and cheap) when I am there.  Hate because I NEVER leave empty handed (sorry Mr.C).

Ok, hate is a strong word - I could never hate Target.

We didn't have any furniture* when we moved to the Super Burbs, so we take home decorating one Target trip at a time.  These are currently on my list:

From the top: DwellStudio Yellow Rosettes Pillow/ Dwell Studio Lattice Pillow/ Glass Accent TableWoven Decorative Ball / Coral/ Smith & Hawken Woven Basket/ Glass Vase /

I love a good Target find...if you have any more, send them my way!

*Any furniture I approved of:)

Envy.

Take a guess as to why this closet makes me extremely happy:

1. The LV bag
2. The fresh flowers 
3. The gorgeous chandeliers
4. The way the shirts are organized by color

{Canadian House & Home}

And here are some more images to get you through your Tuesday....

 

 

{Canadian House & Home}

Typography Heart Strings.

I don't even need to say anything because I bet you can all imagine how excited I was when I came across this piece of typography heaven on The Sweetest Occasion (Cyd you are emazing). Thank you, thank you for bringing this to the world's attention.

 

  

{Kyle Read via The Sweetest Occasion}