designer bags and dirty diapers

The Look For Less

2012-03-01T04:17:00.000-08:00

MILLY VS OLD NAVY
I so wish the Old Navy version of this blouse was out last year when I dropped a pretty penny on my Milly Sailboat Blouse. They look pretty similar. I am sure the quality of the Milly Blouse is better, or at least that is what I am telling myself since I already own it! The Old Navy one is so cute for a fraction of the price! Get yours HERE!

MILLY VERSION SPRING 2011, $295

OLD NAVY VERSION, $29.94

Do A Little Good With Rue La La

2012-03-01T04:15:00.000-08:00

Ladies you must check out Rue La La today. Rue La La partnered with celebrity mom Busy Philipps to create a boutique that not only beckons you to live out loud, but helps do a little good. The boutique is filled with Busy’s favorites from Tibi, Tutu Couture, Alex Toys, Twirls & Twigs and more. In turn, Rue La La is donating $10,000 to the Step Up Women’s Foundation in Busy’s name. The Step up Network for those who don't know is an organization that does two things simultaneously: It puts professional women in a mentoring position with undeserved teen girls, and puts like-minded professional women in contact with each other, helping to advance women all across the board. So go and get your shop on for a good cause! The sale starts at 11 today.

Foil Baked Fish With Black Beans and Corn

2012-02-29T04:50:00.000-08:00

Fish it's whats for dinner. At least in the Mason household. I have been trying to incorporate more fish into our diets. I mean we live at the coast we should be eating fresh fish all the time. I found this recipe on Pinterest and made a few changes (I highlighted my adaptations in pink). This dish was cheap, healthy, so easy to whip together, and super tasty. I made it for dinner while one of Matt's friends was in town visiting and we all cleaned our plates. The sign of a great meal. Then I proceeded to break my plate (wine at playgroup + more wine later= broken plates). I have a feeling we will be making this meal many more times. Perfect for entertaining. Here is my picture of our packets- not as pretty but oh so good! Enjoy!

Foil-Baked Fish with Black Beans and Corn
•4 skinless white fish fillets (6 to 8 oz each), 1-inch thick (we used Mahi)
•salt and pepper
•4 Tbs unsalted butter, softened
•2 tsp minced chipotle chiles in adobo sauce (I couldn't find so I omitted)
•1 tsp grated orange zest
•2 Tbs freshly squeezed orange juice
•2 cloves garlic, minced
•1 (16-oz) can black beans, rinsed and drained
•2 cups corn kernels (I used 3 ears fresh corn shucked)
•1/2 red onion, minced
•2 scallions, minced
•1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro

Adjust the oven rack to the lower-middle position and heat to 450 degrees.

Pat the fish dry with paper towels and season with salt and pepper. Using a fork, mix together the butter, 1 teaspoon chipotle, orange zest, half the garlic, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp pepper in a medium bowl until well-combined. Spread butter mixture over the fish. ( I only mixed my butter with garlic and salt and pepper)

Combine the beans, corn, onion, scallions, 2 tablespoons of cilantro, orange juice, remaining chipotle, remaining garlic, scallions, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper in a bowl.

Lay four 14-inch lengths of foil on the counter and divide the bean mixture evenly over the lower half of each piece of foil. Top with fish, and fold the foil over the fish, folding the edges to seal.

Arrange the packets in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet and bake until the fish is just cooked through, 15 to 20 minutes. Carefully open the packets and sprinkle with remaining cilantro. Serve.

Top picture and original recipe Via

Obsessions

2012-02-28T04:14:00.000-08:00

ABSTRACT ART BY SARAH SWANSON
I am so excited I won this beauty by Sarah Swanson over at Eileen's blog this week. If you have not checked out Sarah's Etsy site you must. All her abstract paintings are only $10. Such a steal for beautiful artwork. I love the idea of grouping several of these together on a wall to make a statement. I am going to order a few more now that I own one to hang over my desk. Hard part will be narrowing down which other ones I want!

PHILLIP LIM 3.1 SLEEVELESS TANK DRESS
Man do I love Phillip Lim. This dress is perfection in my book. The perfect color and fit. I need this baby for summer.

YELLOW, AQUA, AND BROWN COLOR COMBO
I would never think to pair these 3 colors together but I am digging it in a major way.

OLD NAVY SWIMWEAR
I was shocked when I saw these bathing suits were from Old Navy. Normally I never have luck at Old Navy but these swim suits are so cute and the prices are even better! A tript to Old Navy may be in my future!

PARTIDA ANEJO TEQUILA
I admit it, I am a true tequila lover. I know most of you are cringing picturing yourself taking a shot of rank cheap tequila and wanting to vomit right now. But trust me, if you buy good tequila you will love it too. This is the best tequila I have ever had, hands down. It is so smooth with no after taste or burn. I tried it first during a trip to NYC a few years ago and have been hooked ever since. Sadly, they don't sell this tasty gem in North or South Carolina. My sister just traveled to PA last week for work and brought down a bottle this weekend that we enjoyed. Reminded me how good the stuff is. Good tequila is made to be served room temperature straight up and sipped slowly. If you ever come across this tequila I highly recommend you buy some, it is amazing.

Tibi Stalking...

2012-02-27T04:30:00.000-08:00

You might remember this dress I blogged about awhile back. I have been stalking the Tibi site weekly to see if it has been released yet.

Well it turns out this is actually a camisole and skirt.
I still really like it, but I am not sure how that pleated skirt would look on my hips. I feel like I might look huge in it. For some reason maxi skirts are not the best look for me. I am curvy and have wide hips so this is a hard look for me to pull off. And adding pleats is a look that is never cute on me!
{TIBI ARIZONA CAMI}

During my Tibi stalking session I found this other dress. Same pattern but a different style and I really love it. I think it would be so versatile. Cute with heels for a night out or flats to run errands during the day. It comes in lavender and tan. I am thinking I like the tan better. I feel like I would wear this more than the cami/skirt combo. Other thought is to order just the Camisole which I could wear with jeans or shorts. Thoughts?
{TIBI ARIZONA SLIP DRESS}

And I think these DV Dolce Vita shoes would go perfectly with the slip dress or any outfit. A real steal for $69. I seriously want to buy the black, tan, and hot pink for that price! Get yours HERE

For all my preggo friends. I think this Tibi dress would be the cutest maternity dress ever. I think it would be hard to pull off not preggo but so adorable with a baby bump!
{TIBI ARIZONA LONG DRESS}

Thoughts For Friday

2012-02-24T04:55:00.000-08:00

Happy Friday Loves. This has been a long week for me in more ways than one. I am glad its the weekend and I am even more excited my sister is coming in town. We have a wine date planned for Saturday afternoon and I can't wait!
Get ready for some randomness...

I am really drawn to this dining room. It is gorgeous. It is filled with so many unique things but they all seem to go together perfectly. I love the table, pillows, wall color, and light fixture in a major way.

I picked up Alicia Sliverstone's cookbook The Kind Diet a few weeks ago. I found it on clearance for $10 and figured I couldn't go wrong for that price (although maybe it was on sale so cheap because it sucks). The cookbook seems a little on the hippie side but alot of the recipes actually look pretty good. Anyone own it and have recipe recs?

I am thinking this is going to be the first recipe I test out, Cheesy Guacamole Bean Dip.

I did my Tracy Anderson DVDs this week for the first time in weeks. Man am I sore today. I forgot what a good workout those DVDs are. I heard now that Tracy is pregnant she is working on a set of pregnancy DVDS for each month of your pregnancy. Supposedly Gwyneth recommended the idea to her and it will document her pregnancy. I hope these come out by the time I decide to get pregnant again!

I am loving my Hive and Honey Maxi Dress.

My mother in law gave Sterling this book for his birthday. Read this book if you never have it is the sweetest story. Although I will say neither Matt nor I could finish it without shedding a tear.

Liz posted this outfit inspiration on her blog, Sequins and Stripes yesterday and I am officially obsessed. Now I want a bright yellow maxi skirt. Well really I want the whole outfit.

My two old is a wild man. Seriously, every night after bath time it is a struggle to catch him and put his PJ's on. This is what he normally does. Every. Single. Night.

Thank goodness for my nightly glass of wine, helps me deal with the craziness. I picked up this Cab at Earthfare this week and it is awesome. It is on sale for $13.99 and it is excellent! 14 Hand 2009 Cabernet, go buy some you will love it!

This quote has provided me with alot of inspiration lately.

Have a great weekend! xoxo

Juicing It Does a Body Good.

2012-02-23T04:40:00.000-08:00

I have to admit it, I am hooked on juicing. When I first got my juicer I wasn't sure how much I would love it or how often I would use it. Now that I have it, I can't start my day without my juice! If you don't have a juicer I can't say enough good things about them. Do yourself a favor and invest in one, its so worth it! The Breviile Juicer came highly recommended to me so that is what I bought. It is easy to use and clean. It works perfectly.

I do not use the juice as a replacement for a meal. I am a girl likes to eat, for real. I dream about my next meal as soon I finish my current meal. No cutting out meals for me or just drinking them. I make a batch of juice first thing in the morning when I wake up and drink it before I eat breakfast. I swear I have had more energy and my skin has been clearer since starting to juice. Also my hair has been growing crazy fast- not sure if that is a juice side effect too. By starting my day with juice I know I will get at least one big serving of fruits and vegetables for the day!

Most days I drink my green juice (see recipe below). It came recommended by Dr. Oz and we all know he is right on in the health department. I do switch it up occasionally with the carrot fruit juice (also below). Matt won't touch the green stuff so I have to make him fruit juice which I try to sneak carrots in so he will get a veggie!

My 2 Go-to Juices Every Morning:

Carrot Fruit Juice

3 Carrots
2 Oranges (peeled)
1 Grapefruit
Chunk of Fresh Pineapple

Green Juice

3-4 Leaves of Kale
Handful of Spinach
1 Granny Smith Apple
1 lemon (peeled)
1 Baby Cucumber
1 inch piece of Ginger skin removed

These are a few juices I found on the Martha Stewart Whole Living website that I plan to try out soon!

Beet, Apple, Mint Juice

1 small beet, chopped
5 carrots, chopped
1 apple, cored and chopped
1/4 cup fresh mint sprigs
Press beet, carrots, apple, and mint sprigs through a juice extractor. Stir and serve immediately

Green Juice

1/2 head broccoli (or 6 leaves kale), chopped
1 cucumber, chopped
4 stalks celery, chopped
1/4 cup fresh parsley sprigs
Press all ingredients through a juice extractor. Stir and serve immediately.

Grapefruit, Carrot and Ginger Juice

2 chopped grapefruits (peel and pith removed)
5 chopped carrots
1 inch fresh ginger, peeled and chopped
Press grapefruits, carrots, and ginger through a juice extractor. Stir and serve immediately

Vegetable Juice
I am thinking this would make a killer Bloody Mary- so fresh!

3 medium (about 1 1/2 pounds) tomatoes, cut into large chunks
7 celery stalks, each cut into 3-inch pieces
1/2 pound carrots, each cut into 3-inch pieces (do not peel)
1 piece fresh horseradish, (2 1/2 by 1/4 inches), peeled (or 2 1/2 teaspoons prepared horseradish)
1/4 teaspoon coarse salt
2 1/2 teaspoons freshly squeezed lemon juice, plus lemon wedges, for serving
Working in batches, press the tomatoes, celery, carrots, and horseradish through an electric juicer into a large bowl. Stir in salt and lemon juice. Pour vegetable mixture through a fine sieve into another large bowl or a pitcher. Divide vegetable juice evenly between 2 glasses. Serve each with a lemon wedge.

You can find more Juice Recipes on the Whole Living Site. I am always looking for new juice recipes so if you have any favorites please send them my way! Happy Juicing!

Mexican Chicken Tortilla Soup

2012-02-22T04:30:00.000-08:00

There is nothing I love more than a big pot of homemade soup. I have seen several Chicken Tortilla Soup Recipes floating around lately so I decided to give it a try. I went my girl Ina's recipe, because let's be real she never disappoints in the cooking department, her wardrobe choices however are a different story. I swear she must own 50 navy and black button up shirts, that is all she ever wears! But back to the important things, the recipe. This soup was so good and super easy to whip together after a long day. I picked up a Rotisserie Chicken to cut out the cooking the chicken step (and I don't like dealing with raw chicken, it really grosses me out). The fresh cilantro, avocado and chips were the perfect garnish for the soup. The flavors mix together perfectly! We ate this three nights in a row! Enjoy!

MEXICAN CHICKEN TORTILLA SOUP
Ingredients
4 split (2 whole) chicken breasts, bone in, skin on
Good olive oil
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 cups chopped onions (2 onions)
1 cup chopped celery (2 stalks)
2 cups chopped carrots (4 carrots)
4 large cloves garlic, chopped
2 1/2 quarts chicken stock, preferably homemade
1 (28-ounce) can whole tomatoes in puree, crushed
2 to 4 jalapeno peppers, seeded and minced
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground coriander seed
**3 Ears Fresh Corn shucked (not in original recipe but I added in)**
1/4 to 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves, optional
6 (6-inch) fresh white corn tortillas
For serving: sliced avocado, sour cream, grated Cheddar cheese, and tortilla chips

Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Place the chicken breasts skin side up on a sheet pan. Rub with olive oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and roast for 35 to 40 minutes, until done. When the chicken is cool enough to handle, discard the skin and bones, and shred the meat. Cover and set aside.

Meanwhile, heat 3 tablespoons of olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven. Add the onions, celery, and carrots and cook over medium-low heat for 10 minutes, or until the onions start to brown. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds. Add the chicken stock, tomatoes with their puree, jalapenos, cumin, coriander, 1 tablespoon salt (depending on the saltiness of the chicken stock), 1 teaspoon pepper, and the cilantro, if using. Cut the tortillas in 1/2, then cut them crosswise into 1/2-inch strips and add to the soup. Bring the soup to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer for 25 minutes. Add the shredded chicken and season to taste. Serve the soup hot topped with sliced avocado, a dollop of sour cream, grated Cheddar cheese, and broken tortilla chips.

Print Recipe HERE

Obsessions

2012-02-21T04:29:00.000-08:00

Happy Tuesday Loves. I hope many of you got to enjoy a day off yesterday!
1)RACHEL PALLY SAL TOP
How cute is this top? I am always a fan of navy and white stripes, so classic and chic. My favorite part is the back. Love the bow and the sexy peek of the back.

2)TRADER JOES RAISIN ROSEMARY CRISPS
Can you tell I am obsessed with Trader Joes? These crackers are my newest find and I am hooked. They are the perfect combo of sweet and savory and taste great with any cheese you can imagine. Go buy some you will be obsessed too!

3) GRASS CLOTH WALL COVERING
This is my newest design obsession. Pretty sure this is going to happen in Sterling's big boy room or perhaps when we have another baby.

4) THE VOICE
This show is my newest TV obsession. It is so much better than American Idol. Matt and I just started watching last week and we are hooked. Plus looking at Adam Levine ain't so bad.

5)JENNIFER ZEUNER CROSS NECKLACE AND BRACELET
Jennifer Zeuner is one of my favorite jewelry designers. I love how feminine and delicate her pieces are. I own one of her monogrammed necklaces and wear it almost everyday. I am in love with this cross necklace and bracelet. They are so simple yet stunning at the same time. I could see myself wearing these everyday.

Sterling's 2nd Birthday Party

2012-02-20T04:40:00.000-08:00

We celebrated Sterling's Birthday this Saturday and had the best time. I am not one for planning themed parties so kept it simple and just decorated for a kids birthday. We had a painting station for the kids and a booze station for the parents- everyone was happy:) Here are a few pictures my sister snapped from the big day! It was so fun but I am glad it's over, every year I forget how much time and effort it takes to put a party together! Most important thing though, the Birthday Boy really enjoyed himself!
The Birthday Boy

The Goody Bags for our Guests

The Food Spread

The Painting Station

My little man's works of art.

Artwork by the Other Kids. Pretty Impressive

A Few Decorations

Family Pics with the Birthday Boy

And for those who are interested, My Outfit. This was before I decided what shoes I was wearing. I went with the right ones because they were more comfortable, always best when chasing kids around.

JCrew Blouse, Stella and Dot Clover Necklace, 7 for all Mankind "The Skinny" Jeans, Micheal Kors Shoes.

The Bob: An Update

2012-02-17T04:27:00.000-08:00

So, I went for it and decided to chop my hair off. Ladies this is major. I have not had short hair since 8th grade. But I was ready. I went in prepared and did not shed a tear and truth be told I like my short hair. Actually I love it! It was so processed and dried out before and now it looks and feels so fresh and healthy. Afterwards my hair dresser even said the texture looked like a 10 year old's hair . A major compliment to a bleachaholic! This is what I brought in for my inspiration pictures (You all know how much I love me some Gwennie). I thought her bob was perfection and if Gwyneth can rock short hair then so can I!

Here is the pic I snapped when leaving the hair salon.

And here it is the next day. Styled by Moi and still looking good!

Love it. I am sure I will be ready to have long hair again come the Fall but for Spring and Summer I am so happy with my new "do"!

On another note, thanks for all the sweet Birthday wishes for Sterling yesterday! We had a wonderful day! Here he is making a wish for his Birthday:)

Have a great weekend! I am off to finish up everything for Sterling's party tomorrow! Pictures to come next week! xoxo

I Heart.

2012-02-16T14:24:00.004-08:00

Today I am also over at Anna's gorgeous blog A Newfound Treasure sharing a few fashion and home decor items I love. Anna's blog is a must read if you have not visited it before. Anna is a momma to two sweet baby boys and has an amazing eye for style and design. Her blog is always filled with beautiful eye candy! One of my favorite daily reads! You can check out my post HERE

Happy Birthday to My Sweet Baby Boy

2012-02-16T04:15:00.001-08:00

I don't even know where to begin this post. I just went went back and read my post on Sterling's Birthday last year (Here) and it brought a tear to my eye. I can not believe my baby boy is turning two today. Two years ago at 9:46 am on this day I welcomed the most precious bundle of joy into my life.

Every day I am amazed that Matt and I created this perfect little boy. Being a mother to Sterling is such a blessing. I knew my life would change when I had a child but I never understood the extent of how much you can love something until Sterling came into my life. Being a mother is quite possibly the hardest yet most rewarding job ever. I have never laughed and cried so hard in the last two years. My days are filled with far more worry than before but I would not change it for a minute. I thank God everyday for gifting me with this bright, smart, and handsome baby boy. His laughter and smiles fill my heart with so much joy sometimes I feel like it might burst. My day is not complete until I walk in and check on my little man sleeping. There is something so special about seeing your child sleeping so peaceful. I walk in and look at him and feel like the luckiest mom alive.

This year has brought many changes since last year. My little man is a talking machine. He likes to repeat everything we say even bad words! And when he says "Frog" It does indeed sound like a bad word. He loves his Popsicles and Lollipops, they are his favorite "treats" as he calls them. He is quite the artist, loves to paint and color. He greets me every morning with a huge smile and "hi" when I come to get him out of bed. He loves to wear socks on his hands kind of weird but also kind of cute at the same time. His favorite foods are yogurt and oatmeal. I think he would eat breakfast for every meal if he could. He is beyond obsessed with the show "Little Bear" on Nick Jr. We watch an episode every morning when he gets up, it is our cuddle time. He loves to shop and wear my jewelry around, which secretly makes me smile because I know he is my child! He is the most loving little boy ever, always ready to give a hug, especially when you tell him "no."

Happy Birthday to my sweet son. Sterling, you are the light of my life and I am so proud to be your mom. You have infinitely made me a stronger and better person. I look forward to each and every day we spend together. You bring more love and happiness to my life than you will ever know! I love you to the moon and back again a million times over.

Quinoa Mac and Cheese

2012-02-15T04:50:00.001-08:00

I have been wanting to make quinoa mac and cheese for awhile now. I finally went for it last weekend. This dish was super easy to make and so tasty. The recipe I found called for a few sauteed veggies added in but you could totally do it without veggies if you want. I used tomatoes, shallots and spinach and thought it was the perfect combo. Next time I plan to add in a few different types of cheese to spice things up. I think it would be killer with feta or goat cheese added in. I am actually eating the leftovers as I type this post, it reheats perfectly! I served my quinoa with an arugula salad and fresh toasted bread. I thought it was the perfect meal (side note- The hubs disagreed about this meal and said we needed some meat). Enjoy!

QUINOA MAC AND CHEESE
Ingredients
•2 tsp olive oil
•1 med. leek white and pale green parts halved and sliced (1 cup)- I used one shallot instead
•1/2 cup diced tomato (I also added in a few handfuls of fresh spinach)
•1 1/2 cups quinoa, rinsed and drained
•good pinch of salt
•2 cloves garlic, minced
•2 large eggs
•1 cup milk
•1 1/2 cups grated Cheddar cheese, more for sprinkling
•Optional- Panko Bread crumbs for topping (I used Panko Bread Crumbs)
•Toppings (optional)- salsa, hot sauce, sour cream, scallions (you get the picture)

Directions
1.Heat oil in med. saucepan over med. heat. Add leek and tomatoes (or any veggies you want really); cover and cook 5 mins or until tender. Stir in quinoa and garlic, and cook, uncovered, 3-4 mins, or until grains start to turn opaque. (They will not fully be cooked yet.)

2.Add 3 cups water ( I used two cups water and 1 cup chicken broth for added flavor) and season with salt and pepper. Cover and reduce heat to med-low and simmer 5-10 more, or until most liquid has been absorbed. Remove from heat and let stand 5 mins.

3.Preheat oven to 350 F. Coat 13x9 inch dish with cooking spray. Whisk together eggs and milk in large bowl. Fold in quinoa mixture and cheese. Stir very well and let some of the cheese melt. Transfer to prepared baking dish and if using Panko Crumbs or Bread crumbs add now and bake 30-35 mins, (or until browned around edges.)

Obsessions Valetines Style

2012-02-14T04:22:00.000-08:00

Happy Valentine's Day!! The hubs and I are usually pretty low key on Valentine's Day. We like to cook a fabulous meal at home instead of going out. This year marks our 11year dating anniversary. Yep, we were lame and had our first real date on Valentine's Day 11 years ago in college. Now we celebrate our wedding anniversary instead of our dating anniversary. This year I plan to cook up some lobster tails and make some truffled mac and cheese to accompany it for our date night at home. We don't usually exchange gifts (I am pretty happy with champagne and flowers) but if we did here are a few things I love!

DAVID YURMAN WHEATON RING
I love all David Yurman jewelry but especially this ring! I really want this pink beauty on my hand! Maybe for our wedding anniversary:)

TIBI SLIT BACK SHIFT DRESS
If we were going on a date I would want to wear this hot number. I love the color and shift dresses are my favorite style of dresses. Tibi really knows how to rock out a killer dress!

ZERO + MARIA CORNEJO SWIM SUIT
I really love a good one piece, especially since having a baby and my stomach ain't exactly the same if you know what I mean. The hot pink makes me swoon and how gorgeous is the back? A chic one-piece for sure.

VOSAGE CHOCOLATE
I am obsessed with this candy. Best chocolate ever. I would be a happy lady to have a box of these chocolates!

MUMM NAPA VALLEY BRUT ROSE
This is my favorite champagne. I could and would like to drink an entire bottle of it tonight!

On another note I am guest posting over at Gaby's blog, The Vault Files, sharing whats in my make-up bag.

If you don't already read Gaby's blog you should. It is filled to the brim with fabulous fashion and decor. Plus Gaby makes and sells her own line of gorgeous jewelry. Check out her Etsy shop HERE Here is one necklace I have my eye on:

Pretty gorgeous, right? It comes in different colors, but you know me and how much I love hot pink! So please go check out my guest post HERE and visit Gaby's amazing Blog!

Scenes From Our Weekend

2012-02-13T04:25:00.000-08:00

I picked up my first batch of Valentine's candy. I had been trying to avoid it but I can't resist a Reese's Heart. So darn Good! I ate 5 right when I got home with the bag!

My sister and I made these Pimento Cheese Cookies from Southern Living. They are sweet and savory as they are filled with strawberry preserves. Kind of similar to a cheese straw. Delish, I highly recommend!

I also finally made this Quinoa Mac and Cheese I had been dying to make. It did not disappoint- recipe to come Wednesday.

Matt had a law seminar all weekend so I had alot of quality time with my little man. We enjoyed an afternoon at the beach near our house.

I watched two movies, Horrible Bosses and The Change-Up Plan. Really enjoyed them both but definitely liked the Change-Up Plan better. What's not to love about Ryan Reynolds and Jason Bateman in the same movie, and it was hilarious! Both movies reminded of how much I love Jason Bateman.

My patience paid off, guess what I found on sale finally? My JCrew dress! Happy Early Birthday to me!

I always love when I see celebrities in non-designer dresses. Makes me appreciate them for shopping at regular stores. Love that Drew Barrymore wore my dress on the Jay Leno Show.

In case you can't tell I am officially obsessed with the Instagram app! I swear I don't even use my camera anymore. If you are on instagram you can follow me @snoopnattynat. Yep I know the name is cheesy- long story but it was a nickname from College!
Happy Monday Dolls!

Brook Bertschy Photography

2012-02-11T04:37:00.000-08:00

In honor of my little man turning two I wanted to get some pictures done of him. One of my good friends from High School's sister just moved down here and contacted me about her photography business. She has 4 year old twins of her own so I knew she would be a pro with photographing kids, because let me tell you it is hard to get my little man to sit still for 5 secs.

The name of her her photography business is Brook Bertschy Photography and she did an amazing job! I can't say enough wonderful things about Brook, I look forward to working with her again soon! She was so good with Sterling and the pictures turned out gorgeous. If you live in Charleston and need a photos done you must call Brook. She does parties and events as well as family photos! Check out her facebook page HERE for a peak at more of her incredible work! I wanted to share a few of my favorite photos from our photo shoot. I could not be happier with the results! Big thanks to Brooke!

If you want to contact Brooke to do photos (and trust me you should:) her info is:
BROOK BERTSCHY PHOTOGRAPHY
843.276.6276
BROOKBERTSCHYPHOTOGRAPHY@GMAIL.COM

Your Dose of Random Thoughts This Friday

2012-02-10T04:34:00.000-08:00

I wore my Greylin Blouse this week and love it. Thanks to all who encouraged me that blondes look good in Hot Pink. I think this may be the perfect blouse. I am seriously considering ordering the Cobalt Blue version. You can order yours HERE. **It may look like a deer in the first picture behind me, but that is just our extra large boxer. Our girl likes to eat.**

I was so excited this week because the OC Housewives started back. Just as I was sad the Beverly Hills girls ended this new season starts. A few thoughts: so glad Vikki and Don got divorced their marriage seemed so awkward. But what is even more awkward is that they are still living together. Gretchen and Slade annoy the crap out of me. Are people really buying Alexis's clothing line? She acts like it is doing great but those clothes are ugly. I think I might like the new girl, always nice to have a fresh brunette amongst all the blondes.

I started my garden for the year. I went to Hyams, the best garden store in Charleston, and was ecstatic to find that they had swiss chard and kale. I potted them and they are doing great. I can't wait to use them in my juices and cook with them. Anyone know where I can find arugula? I want to grow it too but can't find it anywhere.

I also couldn't resist these gorgeous pink flowers. Hot pink flowers make me very happy!

I took my little man to the Outlets yesterday for a morning outing. He loved riding the race cars,

I loved the Jonathan Adler Goodies I found at 60 percent off.

I have a new lunch I am obsessed with. Cut-out Toasts with Hummus, Avocado, and Roasted Tomato. Make this asap it is the perfect combination! I found the recipe HERE. Trust me you will be addicted to these tasty treat!

This is my last weekend to hang out with my one year old. Sterling turns two on Thursday. A little bittersweet for me. I am excited to celebrate his birthday but I can't believe how fast my sweet baby is growing up.

And here is your quote for Friday. So True. Have a wonderful weekend friends.

Two For Thursday

2012-02-09T04:50:00.000-08:00

I am not one that normally buys Architectural Digest. Don't get me wrong I love looking at the houses but at $6 an issue that is kind of steep for a magazine. The issue for March lured me in, with the tittle "Celebrities at Home." I am sucker for all things celebrity related so I greedily grabbed the issue and shelled out the $6. The issue did not disappoint. My favorite celeb house featured in it was by far Brooke Shields home. She has incredible taste and style. I loved getting a sneak peek into her home. I really loved her dining room and gallery wall over her desk. The magazine also featured Diane Von Furstenberg and Adam Levine's houses- it was a good read.

On another note I was reading the newest issue of Instyle last night and was so super duper excited to see that Diane Von Furstenberg is collaborating with The Gap and coming out with a kids line this March.

I showed Matt the article and his exact words were "Man I am glad we don't have a girl." I am seriously considering buying a few dresses to save if I ever have a girl or if my sister does. They are too cute to pass up. The dresses are adorable in her signature bold geometric prints. Coming to Gap Stores March 2012.
(sorry for the crappy iPhone pictures I could find no pictures of the DVF line online).

images via Architectural Digest

Veggie Ranch Pizza

2012-02-08T04:19:00.000-08:00

I am about to introduce you to your new favorite pizza. Crescent Rolls, Cream Cheese Ranch Mixture, Veggies, and tons of cheese = the best pizza ever. My mom made this while I was home last week and I remembered just how darn good it was. This pizza is always a hit with kids and adults. For those of you attending Sterling's Birthday party next week it will be served:) You can use any veggies you have on hand but the ones listed below are what my family normally uses. The original recipe doesn't call for olives or onions but I think they give the pizza great flavor so we always add them. If you are feeling extra lazy and don't want to cut up veggies you can buy a bag of the broccoli slaw and use that instead. But it really is better if you chop the veggies. Enjoy, I think you will love this tasty spin on pizza.

VEGETABLE RANCH PIZZA
Ingredients
2 (8 ounce) packages refrigerated crescent rolls
2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
1 cup mayonnaise
1 (1 ounce) package dry Ranch-style dressing mix
1 cup fresh broccoli, chopped
1/2 cup sliced red onion
1 cup chopped cauliflower
1 cup shredded carrots
handful sliced green olives
2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese (I usually add more)

Directions
1.Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
2.Roll out the crescent roll dough onto a 9x13 inch baking sheet, and pinch together edges to form the pizza crust.
3.Bake crust for 12 minutes in the preheated oven. Once finished cooking, remove crust from oven and let cool 15 minutes without removing it from the baking sheet.
4.In a small mixing bowl, combine cream cheese, mayonnaise, and dry Ranch dressing. Spread the mixture over the cooled crust. Arrange broccoli, cauliflower, shredded carrots, onions, green olives and Cheddar cheese over the cream cheese layer.
5.Bake at 375 degrees for about 15 minutes or until cheese is bubbly.

Obsessions

2012-02-07T04:30:00.000-08:00

TWELFTH STREET BY CYNTHIA VINCENT MAXI DRESS
I adore this dress for Spring. The colors are so pretty and I always love a good maxi dress. I try to add a few new maxi dresses to my closet each year. They are the perfect summer staple. Easy to throw on and be casual or dress up.

DAVID BECKHAM H&M AD
Victoria is one lucky lady. Wowza is all I can say. This ad makes me very happy. And their ad campaign sure is working because I now want to buy Matt this underwear. He will look just like this if he wears it, right?

KASHI CINNAMON CRUMBLE CEREAL
This cereal is my new jam. I swear I ate half the box as soon as I got home from the grocery store with it. I try to be pretty healthy with the cereals I eat. I was burned out on Kashi for awhile but this new cereal has me loving it again. Get some, it's real good.

WHITE LIVING ROOM
I know this room will never be a reality for me because let's be real Sterling would ruin that room all of 5 secs. All white rooms and kids don't mesh in my opinion. But a girl can dream, there is nothing I would love more than to have this clean and fresh room in my house. Dying over the coffee table, chairs, and light fixture!

SAM EDLEMAN GIGI FLAT IN CITRINE
I love these Sam Edleman sandals. Not only are they super affordable but they are cute. I really like the bright yellow for summer. The perfect punch of color for any outfit.

Monday's Musings

2012-02-06T04:30:00.000-08:00

This weekend my diet consisted of Pizza (twice), Chick-Fila, Nachos, and Homemade Big Macs. That is right I ate like a fat kid this weekend. My sister and her husband came over Saturday night and cooked us the Homemade Big Macs via Pinterest and they were amazing. The sauce tasted just like the real kind.

Then after our Big Mac's we watched several episodes of the show Oddities on Discovery Channel. Please tell me someone else has watched this before. It is about these people that own a shop called Obscura in NYC and they sell the weirdest things like sculptures out of fingernails, mummified private parts and animal fetuses. I know you are thinking why the heck were you watching this? But it was like a train wreck I couldn't look away it was so intriguing.

I am hooked on these Cranberry Oatmeal Dunkers from Trader Joes they are ridiculously good. You will not be able to eat just one.

Have you seen this artwork by Cozamia? It has been floating around Pinterest and Megan from Honey We're Home blogged about a piece she just bought. I love the unique prints. You can pick and choose your size and framing options and it is super affordable! I can't decide which one I love more

I am obsessed with everything about this outfit. Anyone know where I can find jeans this color?

I have to admit I did not watch any of the game last night (I am so not a sports person) but I did watch Madonna's half time show and I really enjoyed it. I was pretty impressed, for 50 years girl can bust a move and looks pretty amazing! I loved that she did some of her old songs and loved when Cee-Lo came out.

Ok, that is all the randomness I have for this Monday Morning. Enjoy your Day!

Stuff You Should Buy

2012-02-04T04:50:00.000-08:00

Happy Saturday Loves! Here are a few bargains I spotted recently!

I was at TJMaxx (the one in Mount Pleasant for you locals) and saw these Sam Edleman Renzo Spiked Heels for $99. A real steal considering they had been $250. And Oh how I love the leopard. I wrote about my love for the bootie version HERE

Colorblock Tunic from Forever 21. It is $17.50, enough said.

Please buy this cheese from Trader Joes. It is so darn good. Each one costs $5.50 and they taste amazing. You just pop it out of the container and it looks like this beautiful cheese appetizer you made. I will be buying these often!

Thoughts For Friday

2012-02-03T04:20:00.000-08:00

I have been home this week visiting my parents and it has been lovely. We have been running around like crazy shopping and working on stuff for little man's birthday.

I found these great coffee table books at The Habitat store for $4! And I finally got my brass sea urchin I have been eyeing for months! I can't wait to get home and set them all up on my coffee table.

We cooked the most delish dish for dinner last night. Quinoa with Greens and White Beans topped with Roasted Salmon. So darn good! Check out the Recipe HERE. We just added salmon to ours and roasted the tomatos per WayWay's suggestion.

I highly recommend this Pinot Noir to any red wine lovers. It was so good and I believe it cost less than $15. We tasted the Cab as well but everyone preferred the Pinot.

Guess what I finally got? After thinking about this blouse since Monday I finally bit the bullet and bought her. They had 3 blouses left in the Charlotte store and one happened to be my size, I like to think that was fate!

I stopped in West Elm, why in the world don't we have a West Elm in Charleston? That store is filled with so many cute things! I originally went to get this front door mat for our house.

But instead I picked up this mat. It was a touch bigger and the chevron rug was more gray in person and I needed black for our front porch.

I also got these adorable owl measuring cups in the light blue. I plan to use them as bowls when entertaining as well.

I can't wait to get home and read my new Bazaar with Gwyneth on the cover. I am beyond excited to read her interview, love her!

I came across this quote and love it. It is so true. Something important for us all to remember.

Have a great weekend! xoxo

Party Planning

2012-02-02T04:10:00.000-08:00

It is hard to believe but my baby boy's second Birthday is 15 days away! Where did the last two years go? I am just starting to plan his 2nd birthday party. Yep, I am slack like that and just ordered his invites yesterday, but I work best under pressure. Thank God for Pinterest. I have been scouring the site for ideas for the big day. We are doing a low key party at our house. I like to have parties that are fun for the kids and adults (hence why booze will be served). Here are a few ideas I am loving. Any other fabulous Birthday Party ideas shoot them my way please!

Flavored Vodka for the Adults a definite yes.

Anti-Pasta Skewers. Love this unique spin on skewers.

Cute Pigs in a Blanket decomposed.

Adore these Fish Cupcakes, just not sure if they might be better suited for a birthday party with kids older than two!

Balloons with Streamers. This needs to happen on my porch.

Rainbow Skewers, perfect for the kids and pretty to look at.

Love the presentation of this veggie bar.

I am seriously considering buying some canvases for the kids to paint. Obviously not this large, Mama can't afford that, but I thought some small ones might be cute set up on a table. I like the idea of a craft the kids can take home and I adore all the paintings Sterling has created.

I am also working on goodie bags. I hate goodie bags filled with random stuff Sterling will never use or eat. So tell me moms, what are your favorite things to find in goodie bags for your child? Thanks for all your help during crunch time!

Oreo Layer Dessert

2012-02-01T04:00:00.000-08:00

I was look for a quick dessert to whip together last weekend for our dinner guests. I had a crazy busy day so I needed something with not too many ingredients that was easy to throw together. I had seen this recipe floating around Pinterest (are you surprised, I stalk that site for recipes daily) and thought it looked amaze. Let me tell you this dessert did not disappoint. It was so good. Sometimes simple desserts are the best! Matt actually wanted to throw the leftovers away because he could not stop eating it! Seriously make this next time you need a tasty dessert. If loving oreos is wrong I don't want to be right.

Oreo Layer Dessert
1 pkg of regular Oreos
1/2 c. of butter
1 lg box of instant chocolate pudding
2-8 oz cool whips
8 oz. of cream cheese, softened
1 c. powdered sugar

Crush the whole package of cookies either with a food processor, or in a bag and a rolling pin. Save a 1/2 c. to sprinkle on top of dessert when it's done. Pour remaining crumbs in a 13x9 pan. Melt butter and pour into crumb mix. Stir it up good and press crumbs in bottom of pan to make a crust. Make chocolate pudding according to package directions and let it setup in the fridge. In a mixing bowl blend cream cheese until nice and smooth and then add powdered sugar, mix. Then fold in 1-8 oz thing of cool whip. Top oreo layer with cream cheese mix, then pudding, then your last 8 oz thing of cool whip, and then sprinkle remaining Oreo's on top. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Recipe and Photo via

Obsessions

2012-01-31T04:00:00.000-08:00

BELLE CHEVRE BREAKFAST CHEESE
I am a huge fan of goat cheese. I know that not everyone is but if you do like it you must try this breakfast cheese spread. I saw it at Harris Teeter and it retails for $11.99 which I would probably not normally pay, but right now they have it on special for $4.99. I bought the Fig flavor and I have been eating it on toast every morning. It is also tasty on crackers! There are 5 different flavors. I think I will try the Honey one next. It is kind of similar to cream cheese and so delish.

JCREW STRIPPED BLOUSE
I was browsing in JCrew yesterday and saw this beautiful stripped blouse. I love the kelly green and navy color combo. Since the New Year I have implemented the 24 hour rule for purchases where I really think about how bad I want/need the item. Well I can't get this blouse out of my head. I am picturing it with skinny jeans, long gold chains, and high heeled booties. Sigh, it's 24 hours later and I am still dreaming about her. I think I need to buy her.

LITTLE WHALES WALLPAPER
I am convinced I need to wallpaper Sterling's bathroom in this adorable whale wallpaper. It comes in three color choices: gray, blue, and aqua. I am leaning towards the gray. How adorable is it?

HAIRCUT
Ladies trust me when I say I will never have really short hair again (and I mean it). I did it once, along with going very dark brown (also a horrible idea) and will never do either again. That being said I am thinking about cutting it a little bit. I have the itch for a new do for Spring. I am smitten with Gwennie's hair in this picture not to mention her color. Thinking about bringing this to my hairdresser in a few weeks. Dish- Love the long bob it or Hate it?

THIS QUOTE
This quote reminds me of both my boys. LOVE.

Admiring.

2012-01-30T04:40:00.000-08:00

One of Matt and my favorite shows to watch is the CBS Sunday Morning Show. Yesterday I was so excited that they featured a segment on Tory Burch. I already loved her but this interview made me admire her even more.

I knew she came from a family of privilege and was married to Chris Burch who was beyond wealthy and helped her launch her line, so yes financially she had things easy to start her brand but without her vision it would be nothing. She wanted to create a luxury line at a lower a price point and I think she highly succeeded. "Luxury itself is not exclusionary" Tory said in an interview. She created clothes she herself wanted to wear. She even designed her infamous tunic for her mom because she had a hard time finding clothes that fit her properly.

and named the popular ballet flats "Reva" after her mom as well.

She is such a family person. She has three sons and three step daughters from her marriage to Burch and always talks about how important they are. She started off working at Ralph Lauren and Narcisco Roderiguez where she said she gained invaluable info on the fashion world. In February 2004 Tory started Tory Burch out of her Upper East Side Apartment, to fill a void in the fashion industry. By offering an affordable, accessible, luxury lifestyle brand, Tory innovated the marketplace. The first year her brand took off but it was really after Oprah featured her tunic on her show that the brand became a household name. Tory said that day their website received 8 million hits. Today it is a multi-billion dollar company with flagship stores all over the world.

The designs of her stores are equally impressive to me. Not only does she have an eye for fashion but also interior design. I love the bright colors and mix of patterns. The TB store in Charlotte is one of my favorite places to shop when I am home!

Not to mention Tory's own personal style is pretty impeccable.

This was the first year she did an actual Runway show at NYC Fashion week to showcase her Spring 2012 line. All the clothes are beyond gorgeous.

Here is my top pick from the Spring line I am lusting after!
TB Wildflower Maxi Dress

I also wouldn't mind owning this white tunic. The perfect white shirt for summer. Love it paired with the pale pink jeans and I think it would also be cute with shorts.
TB FLOR KNITTED TUNIC

Can you tell I am pretty smitten with Miss Burch? I have a major girl crush on her. She is such a successful entrepreneur with great taste and values on top of that! Do you love Tory as much as I do?

The Look For Less

2012-01-29T09:14:00.001-08:00

I keep coming across this picture from the Elie Saab 2011 Spring Fashion line on Pinterest. I am obsessed with the maxi dress and the gorgeous green color. Sadly Elie Saab ain't in this Mama's budget. Well guess what, I came across a pretty similar dress at a fraction of the price!!
I present to you The Hive and Honey Maxi dress from Piperlime for only $79!

And if you don't like the green it comes in this gorgeous coral color too that would look pretty amazing with some turquoise jewelry!

I seriously want to order the dress in both colors. What a steal for a cute maxi dress! You are so welcome for this Sunday Deal of the Day!

Thoughts For Friday

2012-01-27T04:40:00.000-08:00

I finally jumped on the band wagon and made a Facebook page for my blog. And when I say I did it, I mean my sweet sister set it up because I am so bad with computer stuff. You can check out my page HERE and please show me some Love and "like" my page!

I am currently lusting over this Hot Pink Greylin blouse. I really want her to wear with my white shorts this summer. I keep remembering my mom saying hot pink is not a good color on us. Tell me do you think blondes look good in Hot Pink or is it too Barbie looking? I love pink and think I am going to go for it. Best part the blouse is very reasonably priced. It also comes in white, black and cobalt blue.
GREYLIN PINK SILK BUTTON DOWN

I love this quote from Gwyneth. I thought about it the whole time I was on the treadmill yesterday. It is so true it takes alot of hard work to have a fit and toned body. I love how honest she is about how hard she works out. Most celebrities are not that truthful about it. Something for all us to remember. It ain't easy but its worth it!

My little man may be Matt's twin but he is alot like his Mama. He loves good jewelry (My necklaces are his new favorite thing to play with and I kid you not it took me a good twenty minutes to unknot all the ones he is wearing) and he loves shopping. A man after my own heart.

Have you seen these "slutty brownies" floating around Pinterest? I am pretty sure these will be made in my near future. Brownie Mix with Oreos and a bottom layer of cookie dough = pure heaven.

Matt has the alarm on his his phone set up to play Lionel Ritchie's "Hello" every morning at 6:00. I can't tell you how weird it is to be awoken by a voice saying "Hello is it me you're looking for."

How gorgeous is this kids bedroom? I want to do something similar when Sterling moves to his big boy room next year. By similar I mean I would like everything in this room especially the bed and light!

Have a great weekend! We have a busy one filled with Carson's 3rd birthday party, time spent with my brother and sister-in-law, and a few house projects!
I will leave you with one of my all time favorite quotes from Elizabeth Taylor!

Currently Stalking...

2012-01-26T04:35:00.000-08:00

I think you all know how much I love a gorgeous handbag. Well, I have found my next purse. Enter the Celine Boston Purse. I am pretty smitten with this purse and have been stalking her all over the Internet. I need this purse in my life, like bad.

Blair from Atlantic Pacific has one

Bradley from Luella and June has one

Camille from Camille Styles has one

As do a slew of other celebrities. So naturally now I want one.

I think she might quite possibly be the perfect purse. I am even thinking it is big enough to serve as my next diaper bag too. Hardest decision is what color to get. I am initially drawn the Camel one.

But I kind of love the bright blue one! It would add such a fun pop of color to my everyday life!

The black one would go with everything and is probably the most practical.

Then there is the half canvas version- although I see this one getting the dirtiest.

Decisions, decisions. What color do ya'll like? I just asked Sterling and he said "Mama Black purse" and pointed to the black one, so I guess his vote is for the black one! My little man is quite practical when it comes to purse choices! Here's to hoping one day I will own this beauty!

Superfood Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette

2012-01-25T04:20:00.000-08:00

As soon as I saw this recipe on Pinterest I knew I had to make it. Then I saw on WayWay's blog that she made it with raving reviews, so I knew it was gonna be fabulous. This is a quick and easy weeknight meal filled with so many healthy foods. Even the hubs who snubbed it because there was quinoa in it, absolutely loved it. He ate two bowls and then took the rest for lunch the next day. I promise you are going to love this dish. It is filled with so many flavors that mesh together seamlessly. "Try it , You Might Like it." For those of you familiar with Yo Gabba Gabba you know what I am talking about- that song haunts me. Bon Appetit!

(This is the picture from Pinterest, a little prettier than mine)

Superfood Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette

Ingredients:

1/2 cup dry quinoa

1/3 cup red onion, chopped

1 orange, peeled and segments chopped

1 avocado, chopped

1 cup canned black beans, rinsed and drained

1 cup pomegranate arils (about 1 pomegranate worth)

1 cup frozen corn, thawed

1/3 cup cilantro, chopped

salt & pepper

For the Lemon Vinaigrette:

2 lemons, juiced (need 1/4 cup juice)

2 garlic cloves, microplaned or finely minced

dash of sweetener (agave nectar, stevia or white sugar)

salt & pepper

6 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

Directions:

1. Cook quinoa according to package directions. Set aside to cool.

2. For the Lemon Vinaigrette: combine all ingredients in a jar with a tight fitting lid, and shake to combine. Or, add lemon juice, garlic, sweetener, salt and pepper into a small bowl and whisk in oil.

3. Combine cooled quinoa with red onion, orange segments, avocado, beans, pomegranate arils, corn, cilantro, salt and pepper. Pour Lemon Vinaigrette over the salad and stir to combine. Serve cold or at room temperature.

** I didn't use the pomegranate seeds and also didn't use any sweetener in my dressing. I added sauteed mushrooms per WayWay's recommendation. We marinated the shrimp in olive oil, salt and pepper, and lots of Siracha hot sauce, also WayWay's recommendation. It really gave the shrimp amazing flavor- I highly recommend you marinate them the same way.) **
You can view the original Recipe and print it HERE

Obsessions

2012-01-24T04:18:00.000-08:00

THIS DRESS.
I saw it on Pinterest. Someone please tell me where I can find it. When I click on the link it takes me nowhere. I really want this dress for the Summer!

PHILLIP JEFFERIES METALLIC GRASSCLOTH WALLPAPER
I love this wallpaper, like alot. I would love do a silver or gold one in our next nursery (nope not pregnant so don't read into it). This wallpaper comes in 22 different colors that are oh so pretty.

KALE
Yep it's official I am hooked on this superfood. Here are three of my current favorite ways to enjoy it.
{Fresh Pressed Green Juice, Kale Chips, Kale and Lentil Salad}

KARTELL KIDS LOU LOU GHOST CHAIR
I love these chairs in a big way. I am asking for two of the light blue one's for Sterling's birthday gift. I think they will be adorable at his little white table where he sits and colors.

TORY BURCH CLOVER NECKLACE
I love the detail on this necklace. I feel like it could be worn everyday dressed up or down! My girl Tory never disappoints!

Scenes From Our Weekend.

2012-01-23T04:30:00.000-08:00

I hope everyone had a great weekend. We had another relaxing weekend with no big plans. Sometimes those are the best weekends when you have nothing to do!
We spent a lovely afternoon at the beach near our house.

My little man is obsessed with his rainboats. Seriously, everyday he says "boots, boots" and picks them out to wear that day. He even trys to wear them to bed at night. The boots are by Hatley and I highly recommend them to any of your with kids!

I picked up some Tulips. Tulips are so some of my favorite flowers, so I am always so excited when they are in season and available!

We cooked up some amazing meals.

{Black Bean Tacos and Brie, Apple, and Arugula Quesadilla}
I caught up reading a bunch of my glossy magazines. The perfect way to spend a dreary Sunday.

I found a new TV Show I am obsessed with. It is called Scouted and it comes on E. It follows a modeling agency that scouts girls to be models. This show is good, real good. It is amazing how they transform these plain girls into supermodels. Watch it, you will love it.

I am kind of upset Heidi Klum and Seal are separating. They always seemed so in love and like they had a really good marriage. I guess the Hollywood Marriage curse hits again.

Enjoy your Mondays. We are off to run errands and hit up the playground.

Go Get Your Shop On

2012-01-21T06:13:00.001-08:00

For all you locals, please go visit Antiques of South Windermere this weekend. Look at all the goodies I spied there yesterday. I only wish I had a spot for all these beauties in my house, or that the hubs didn't have me on such a tight budget so I could actually buy them. I am especially lusting over the Lucite Bar Cart. Someone please go buy these things and report back to me so I can viciously live through you! And you are welcome for me personally selecting the best items for you!

Thoughts For Friday

2012-01-20T04:45:00.000-08:00

This week is restaurant week in Charleston, which means amazing three course meals at great prices. Last night we dined at Fish downtown. We got 3 courses for $20, a real steal!

I enjoyed the Snapper and Butternut Squash Creme Brulee. Both were amazing, I cleaned my plates! I highly recommend this place to any of you locals.

They just announced Emily Maynard is set to be the next Bachelorette and they will be filming in my hometown Charlotte. I have mixed feelings about Emily, she seems sweet but I have heard she is a bit of a gold digger. I do look forward to see what she is wearing. I really liked her wardrobe choices on the Bachelor (word is they were provided by Poole Shop and Capital, two amazing stores in Charlotte). Thoughts on Emily, do you think she was a good choice?

I picked up the most adorable maxi dress at Target this week while stocking up on toiletries and cleaning supplies. Gotta love a shop where you can buy Bleach and a cute dress all in the same spot. The maxi dress has me ready for a tan, summer cocktails, and a day at the beach!

I have been getting super organized around here. I saw this idea on Pinterest and quickly organized all my manuals like this. It is such a genius idea.

I was super excited to get my new Elle in the mail this week featuring Reese Witherspoon. I am a huge fan of her and think she looks gorgeous on the cover.

I found quite possibly the perfect snack combo. In my attempt to eat healthier and cleaner I have started popping my own popcorn and avoiding the chemical filled bags. It tastes so much better when you pop your own. and Target has a whole grain version that is so good, especially drizzled with truffle oil!

Found this amazing quote from one of my favorite Mumford and Sons songs. Love it!

Have a great weekend!

Charleston Hot Spots According to Yours Truly!

2012-01-19T10:19:00.000-08:00

I totally forgot to mention this morning in my post that I am also guest posting today over at Natasha's Blog Schue Love.

Her blog is one of my all time favorite reads, filled with good eats, gorgeous interiors, and now pictures of her growing adorable baby bump! Natasha is such a doll so please go check out her blog and show some love.
I am sharing my favorites things to do in Charleston, SC! Here is a sneak peek of one of my favorite meals in town. Now head over HERE to read the rest!

You Like What You See?

2012-01-19T04:50:00.000-08:00

We have a new addition to our house. This little beauty. And guess what I painted her! I know, I know, peeps all over the blogasphere are whipping out paintings and it is nothing new to create your own abstract art, but darn it I am proud of myself and want to share it. You see I repainted this canvas three times to finally achieve a painting that I like. Abstract painting ain't as easy as it looks. If only I had captured the ones in between (well maybe not they were pretty bad, bad enough that my mom recommended I take it down). 3 coats of white paint and 4 paintings later I love the end result. This was a true labor of love!

Here are a few paintings that inspired my little masterpiece. All of these artists are insanely talented. I could look at their work all day long. Their paintings are beyond gorgeous and I would love to own any one of these pieces (hint to Matt because my Birthday is coming up)!

{Made By Girl}

{De Kooning}

{Kate Long Stevenson}

{Helen Frankenthaler}

{Joesba Eskubi}

{Sally King Benedict}

{Yolanda Sanchez}
So tell me, do you love abstract art as much as I do? I know it is not everyone's taste but I sure do heart an abstract painting.

Tuscan Chicken Cakes + Cauliflower Soup

2012-01-18T05:00:00.000-08:00

As promised I am back with the best menu ever for the next time you have guests over. This week you lucky gals are getting two recipes instead of just one I have my friend Melissa to thank for this delish Tuscan Chicken Cake Recipe. As soon as we made plans to have friends over I immediately texted her and told her to send me her favorite entertaining recipe. She is a great cook so I knew I would not be disappointed. These Chicken Cakes are very similar to Crab Cakes. I absolutely love the Mediterranean twist on them. Adding in a little pesto and roasted red peppers gave the cakes great flavor. The best part is that you can make them ahead. I made the cakes and both sauces the morning before our friends came over and just refrigerated them til I was ready to cook them that night. They also look pretty beautiful plated. You and your guests will love these tasty cakes.

TUSCAN CHICKEN CAKES WITH TOMATO BASIL RELISH
3 Cups Cooked Chicken shredded and chopped
½ Cup finely chopped red onion (**I use a Rotisserie Chicken**)
2 TBS Olive Oil
1 Cup Italian Breadcrumbs, divided
1 pkg of mixed greens
¼ Cup Mayonnaise
1/3 Cup Balsamic and Oil Dressing (I just made my own with olive oil and balsamic vinegar)
1 Egg, lightly beaten
Golden Aioli (see directions below)
¼ Cup prepared basil pesto
Tomato Basil Relish (see below)
2 tsp honey mustard
1/3 Cup finely chopped roasted red peppers, drained
1 Package mixed salad greens.

DIRECTIONS:
In a large bowl, mix together chicken, ½ cup bread crumbs, mayo, egg, pesto, honey mustard, roasted red peppers and onion. Shape chicken mixture into 8 cakes. Lightly coat each with remaining ½ cup bread crumbs.
In a large nonstick skillet, place oil over medium high heat. Cook chicken cakes 3 mins per side. Drain on a paper towel.
Toss salad greens with balsamic dressing and divide among 4 serving plates. Top each with 2 chicken cakes; drizzle with Golden Aioli and a dollop of Tomato-Basil Relish.

GOLDEN AIOLI:
Whisk together ½ cup mayo and 2 TBS honey mustard

TOMATO-BASIL RELISH:
Mix together 1 cup seeded and chopped plum tomatoes with 1/3 cup chopped red onion, 2TBS silvered basil leaves, 1 tsp basil pesto, and 2 TBS balsamic/oil dressing.

CAULIFLOWER SOUP
For a starter I made Cauliflower Soup. I have actually never made Cauliflower soup before but I recently had some at the Glass Onion and knew I needed to recreate it asap. It was such a silky smooth soup with amazing flavor. I googled a few recipes then ended up creating my own version. This soup was so easy to make and I just let it simmer for a few hours before we ate. It reheated fantastically the next day as well. This just might become your new favorite soup. I added in truffle oil and crumbled bacon which let me tell you made this soup freaking fantastic- but you can totally leave them out if you prefer.

CAULIFLOWER SOUP
1 head cauliflower
1-2 garlic cloves
1 carrot diced
1 celery stalk diced
1 small onion diced
2 tablespoons olive oil
4 cups chicken broth
1 teaspoon finely chopped parsley
2 bay leaf
1.5 cups heavy cream
1-2 tablespoons truffle oil

Preheat oven to 425°F.

Cut cauliflower into 1-inch flowerets. In a large baking pan toss cauliflower with oil to coat and roast in middle of oven about 30 minutes, or until golden.

Sautee celery, carrot, onions and garlic in olive oil for about 5 minutes.

Add in broth, roasted cauliflower, and herbs. Simmer 30 min-1 hour, or until cauliflower is very tender. Discard bay leaves and in a blender puree soup in batches until smooth (or use an immersion blender if you have one), transferring to a bowl. Return soup to bowl and stir in cream and salt and pepper to taste. Heat soup over moderate heat until just heated through. Stir in truffle oil just before serving. Optional- we served ours with crumbled bacon over top.

Obsessions

2012-01-17T04:20:00.000-08:00

Thank you all for the great time out suggestions! I truly value everyone's opinions and so appreciate all the advice. I will let you know how it goes! Here are my latest Obsessions this week!

CHARLES ALBERT AGATE RING
I am pretty smitten with this ring. I am drawn to the pink because hello, I love me some pink but I am thinking I would probably wear the nude version more often.

TUFTED HEADBOARDS PLUS AMAZING WALLPAPER
This might quite possibly the perfect bedroom combo in my humble opinion. I love the idea of just wallpapering the one wall behind the bed. I am still lusting after a tufted headboard for our bedroom.

IMAGES VIA DECORPAD AND PINTEREST
TOM'S BALLET FLATS
I have to admit I am not a huge fan of regular Tom's. When I see other people wearing them I think they look cute but on me they just look plain stupid. I am however very excited about the new line of Tom's Ballet Flats coming out this Spring. Since I am almost 5'10 I live in ballet flats. I have my eye on the leopard pair!

ESSIE PINK PARKA
I am 100 percent on board with the neon trend this summer. I can't wait to paint my nails this gorgeous Hot Pink shade by Essie!

BANANA REPUBLIC MOD PRINT PINTUCK SHELL
In keeping with my hot pink love affair I picked up this Banana Republic Blouse last week. I love that they send you rewards and coupons all the time. I got this baby for practically nothing. Right now they are having 30 percent off everything with code NEWYOU. I think this top will be super cute with my skinny jeans and a cardigan til summer hits and then I will wear it with shorts.

It looks cute with my workout pants, right?

It also comes in a black version that is equally as cute.

Scenes From Our Weekend

2012-01-16T04:10:00.000-08:00

Happy MLK Day Friends!
Who watched the Golden Globes last night? I love award season (Well, I really just love the red carpet, the awards can be a bit snoozeville). My top picka for best dressed ladies were:
Reese Witherspoon. Great color and love the hair. Although side note- Matt said she looked pregnant. I thought she looked gorgeous and I love a woman with curves who shows them off!

Salma Hyeck. Girl looks gorgeous in her Gucci dress. I love the 70's vibe of it.

Paula Patton. I love this girl. I think she is always stunning. Yellow looks amazing on her.

Heidi Klum. Nude plus turquoise is the perfect combo. She looks freaking amazing to have 4 kids.

Nicole Ritchie. I am always a fan of Nicole. Love her hair and silver gown. She has come a long way since The Simple Life!

Jessica Alba. All I can say is she is my inspiration post baby. Girl can lose some baby weight so fast! I wonder if Brad styled her for this?

We had friends over for dinner Friday night and cooked up some amazing food (recipes to come Wednesday)

Drank some delicious wine- you can find this at Whole Foods, so darn good!

We really enjoyed ourselves!

I finally watched Food Inc. Wow. I probably won't ever look at meat the same way again. A few things I will change in my life- I will now only buy organic milk, eggs, and meat. I honestly don't eat a ton of meat anyways but this really made me look at chicken, pork, and red meat in a whole new light. I will also try and buy more from local Farmers to reduce my carbon foot print and support them. I really recommend watching this, it gives such a great behind the scenes look on food production.

I ate a crapload of the Energy Balls I blogged about Friday!

And spent alot of time cuddling with this nugget who was sick.

This is him teaching his elephant how to blow his nose. I heard him saying "Booger, nose" to the elephant. Too funny.

Time Out.

2012-01-15T04:46:00.000-08:00

I couldn't help but laugh at this chair with an hour glass underneath for time out. Then I got to thinking maybe this is really a genius idea. You see we have hit the terrible two's early. Tantrums all the time. If we don't get the car shopping cart at the grocery store a full on tantrum occurs. If we are out of fruit snacks screaming ensures. Oh and he also likes to pull hair, which hurts pretty bad for such little hands! And to top it off my little man's favorite word is "no." Do you want to take a bath "no", do you want to eat dinner "no", should we go to the store "no". You get the idea. It is exhausting around here.

Anyways I am starting to think he is at a good age to start Time Out. I need advice. How does this work? How do you get your child to actually sit there and for how long? Where do you keep the time out chair? So many questions! So lay it on me ladies and give me all your honest advice. I want to start teaching my little man some discipline and manners, because we all know nobody likes a bratty kid.

How chic is this time out chair?
Hour Glass Time Out Stool via Wisteria Lane.

Thoughts For Friday

2012-01-13T04:20:00.000-08:00

Jayz and Beyonce picked out the most amazing crib for Baby Blue Ivy. If I had an extra $3500 I would totally buy this Lucite crib too. Hopefully hers isn't filled with all those bouncy balls- weird.

And Have you heard the beautiful song JayZ wrote for his new baby girl? It brought a tear to my eye (That was just for you Lauren).
You can listen to Glory B.I.C Here

I am kind of obsessed with It's a Brad Brad World. I wanted to stay loyal to Rachel Zoe and be on her side but I can't help but love Brad and his adorable BF Gary. Watch this show you will love it. Bravo on Mondays.

You must make these No Bake Energy Balls this weekend. They are freaking amazing for Health food. Only 6 healthy ingredients and so easy to make. I ate about 10 after I made them, which probably wasn't that healthy. Thank you Katie for my newest addiction!

I am dreaming of this JCREW Dress. It is the same style of my beloved leopard dress. I am pretty sure she will be mine soon! Isn't the blue floral gorgeous?
JULES DRESS IN ASHBURY FLORAL

It is also available in a blouse version that my girl Chassity blogged about yesterday- equally adorable! JCREW ASHBURY BLOUSE

I ended up exchanging a few Christmas Gifts and was able to get my beloved Breville Juicer! She was delivered Wednesday night and I am beyond obsessed with juicing. My first batch of juice was beets, apples, spinach and pineapple- so tasty. If any of you have any favorite juice combinations please do share!

This year I decided I wanted a daily devotional to read nightly. I had heard nothing but good things about Jesus Calling so I picked it up. This little devotional is spot on. It is only a short page to read every day and each day I read it, it relates to something I am struggling with/worrying about that day- crazy right? I highly recommend this little book, it is the perfect daily devotional.

I hope you all have a great weekend. We are having friends over tonight and I am trying out a new recipe to share with y'all next week! xoxo

Feeling Neon.

2012-01-12T04:55:00.000-08:00

I don't know about y'all but I am having a major neon moment. Maybe it's the fact that it is January and the holidays have passed and that makes me a little sad. Or that I am overwhelmed trying to clean out and organize (man we have alot of s*&t in our house- I might should be on hoarders). Or that I am trying to eat healthy (sucks). Or the fact that the Hubs wants me to make a budget and live on an allotted allowance each week (sucks even more than cleaning and healthy eating). Yeah, it's official I am in a January Funk. But these bright neon's have me really looking forward to Spring and shopping again!

Happy Thursday! After working all weekend and then working til 11 everynight this week I finally get to spend some time with my hubby. He has a big trial today so say a big prayer that he does well (as I know he will)! xoxo

images via Sterling Style and Pinterest

Low Country Huevos Rancheros

2012-01-11T04:30:00.000-08:00

As part of my New Year life make over I am vowing to try and reuse leftover food more often. I am embarrassed about how much food we waste in the Mason Household. I will admit it, I am a snob when it comes to leftovers. If I have it one night I really don't want it again the next night. So I have been getting creative with leftovers. This recipe is what I came up with from our New Years Leftovers.

We frequently make Huevos Rancheros with our taco leftovers so I thought why not give it a Southern twist. For all you non-Southerners you may not even cook black-eyed peas and collard greens for your New Years Day meal. But it is tradition down here, we do it every year and they are some of my favorite veggies. If you don't have collards and black-eyed peas on hand you could most certainly substitute spinach or kale and use black beans or white beans instead. Just use whatcha got! This was a simple way to use up our leftovers and so delicious.

First you start with a quesadilla filled with whatever cheese you have on hand (I used Cracker Barrel Jalapeno Cheddar) then you spread a good layer of left over Collard Greens (or whatever greens you want to use). Cook in a skillet until shell is crispy and cheese melted.

Next top with cooked Black-Eyed Peas. I added chopped green onions just because I had some in the fridge that were about to go bad.

Then add a Fried Egg plus a drizzle of your favorite Hot Sauce. Simple, Fast and Delish.

LOW COUNTRY HUEVOS RANCHEROS
Cooked Collard Greens or Spinach
Flour Tortilla Shells
Shredded Cheddar Cheese
Cooked Black Eyed Peas or Black Beans
Fried Egg

Hot Sauce for Drizzle

Assemble quesdilla with cheese and greens. Cook in skillet until melted. Top with heated leftover beans. Fry an egg and place on top. Drizzle with hot sauce and enjoy!

Obsessions

2012-01-10T04:45:00.000-08:00

PHILLIP LIM 3/4 SLEEVE SHIFT DRESS
This dress is so my style and I love the rich green color. I own a few Phillip Lim dresses and they are such timeless pieces I know I will own forever. This is making its way on my Birthday List.

OSBORNE AND LITTLE VOLTE FACE WALLPAPER
I am smitten with this wallpaper. I am toying with the idea of doing it a bathroom or hallway. LOVE.

REWINED CANDLES
These candles are made locally here in Charleston. I just got one of these candles for Christmas and it smells amazing. Each candle is poured into a recycled wine bottle, such a cool concept. Fragrances include Merlot, Cabernet, Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, Pinot Noir and Champagne. I have the Pinot Noir one and it smells heavenly. They sell them at Vieuxtemps on King Street and online HERE

HGTV MAGAZINE
One of my favorite channels came out with a magazine, duh I love it. I only wish Bravo would follow suit. This magazine was a great read with helpful tips, budget finds, and room make-overs. I devoured it!

THIS CEILING
Need it in my house somewhere!

Scenes From Our Weekend.

2012-01-09T04:50:00.000-08:00

How is it Monday already? I feel like this weekend flew by. It was just what I needed though, we made no plans and it was lovely to relax after the whirlwind Holidays.

I have been on real health kick this week (yeah,yeah I know everybody is and mine probably won't last long). But I have been really into juicing and making Green Smoothies. I found this great recipe for a Pineapple Kale Cucumber Smoothie and I highly recommend. All it consists of is kale, pineapple, cucumber and raspberries. So it is super healthy. Get Recipe HERE. Picture via.

I got organized in the kitchen. I found these containers at Walmart of all places, only $1.99. I used them to put all our sugar, grains, pasta, and dried beans in. Now I love opening my pantry.

We enjoyed some afternoon cocktails on my father-in-laws sailboat. Gotta love 70 degree days in January.

We ate brunch at an amazing new restaurant on James Island called HEART. Seriously all you locals must try this place. They have a great menu and so many delish specialty drinks. They hand squeeze all their juices and they make their own Bloody Mary mix as well. Everything was so fresh and delish.

Here as a peek at what we enjoyed: Sausage Egg and Cheese Sandwich, Cauliflower Hash with Eggs, and Broccoli, Roasted Red Pepper and Feta Frittata. The Frittata was mine and it was amazeballs. I can't wait to dine here again!

I spent a little time browsing at Barnes and Nobles. Yep, I know I am a nerd but I love browsing at bookstores. I found this beauty on the clearance table- I mean why was this gem of a cookbook on clearance? I heart The Beekman Boys and this cookbook is filled with some mouthwatering recipes. I was happy to bring her home at 50% percent off and add her to my expanding cookbook collection!

I put my little man in jeans for the first time. I don't know why but babies in jeans makes me a little sad. I love a baby boy dressed in rompers and bubbles. I feel like he will be wearing jeans the rest of his life so I like to dress him like a baby while he is a baby, but my little man is quickly turning into a toddler. These jeans are truly vintage, they were my brothers from the 80's. Gotta love the Calvin Klein Jeans right? Pretty darn cute!

It was a good weekend, hope yours was too!

30 Things....

2012-01-07T10:21:00.000-08:00

I don't what is about this New Year but I am particularly inspired. I have made a bold decision and made no resolutions this year. I am just making life changes. I am focusing on being grateful for what I have and not comparing myself to others- which is pretty hard in this wonderful world of blogging. I always see houses that are nicer than mine, clothes that are better than mine, people that are craftier than me, Kids with cooler rooms than Sterling's, I could go on and on. But this year I have decided to be happy with who I am and what I have. Yeah I might hate a DIY project but I am good at many other things. Yeah my house is small and not as nice as others but it is our home and we have made so many wonderful memories here. I am learning to be grateful for what I have because my life is pretty darn good.

I came across this article, 30 Things to Stop Doing to Yourself, and found it very inspiring. I really related to 22, 23, 27, 28 and 30. We all could learn alot from this list. It is a long read but worth it! New Year, New Me (or at least til next week when I drop my diet, start complaining again, and get jealous of someone else). Happy Saturday Dolls!

30 Things to Stop Doing to Yourself
1.Stop spending time with the wrong people. – Life is too short to spend time with people who suck the happiness out of you. If someone wants you in their life, they’ll make room for you. You shouldn’t have to fight for a spot. Never, ever insist yourself to someone who continuously overlooks your worth. And remember, it’s not the people that stand by your side when you’re at your best, but the ones who stand beside you when you’re at your worst that are your true friends.

2.Stop running from your problems. – Face them head on. No, it won’t be easy. There is no person in the world capable of flawlessly handling every punch thrown at them. We aren’t supposed to be able to instantly solve problems. That’s not how we’re made. In fact, we’re made to get upset, sad, hurt, stumble and fall. Because that’s the whole purpose of living – to face problems, learn, adapt, and solve them over the course of time. This is what ultimately molds us into the person we become.

3.Stop lying to yourself. – You can lie to anyone else in the world, but you can’t lie to yourself. Our lives improve only when we take chances, and the first and most difficult chance we can take is to be honest with ourselves. Read The Road Less Traveled.

4.Stop putting your own needs on the back burner. – The most painful thing is losing yourself in the process of loving someone too much, and forgetting that you are special too. Yes, help others; but help yourself too. If there was ever a moment to follow your passion and do something that matters to you, that moment is now.

5.Stop trying to be someone you’re not. – One of the greatest challenges in life is being yourself in a world that’s trying to make you like everyone else. Someone will always be prettier, someone will always be smarter, someone will always be younger, but they will never be you. Don’t change so people will like you. Be yourself and the right people will love the real you.

6.Stop trying to hold onto the past. – You can’t start the next chapter of your life if you keep re-reading your last one.

7.Stop being scared to make a mistake. – Doing something and getting it wrong is at least ten times more productive than doing nothing. Every success has a trail of failures behind it, and every failure is leading towards success. You end up regretting the things you did NOT do far more than the things you did.

8.Stop berating yourself for old mistakes. – We may love the wrong person and cry about the wrong things, but no matter how things go wrong, one thing is for sure, mistakes help us find the person and things that are right for us. We all make mistakes, have struggles, and even regret things in our past. But you are not your mistakes, you are not your struggles, and you are here NOW with the power to shape your day and your future. Every single thing that has ever happened in your life is preparing you for a moment that is yet to come.

9.Stop trying to buy happiness. – Many of the things we desire are expensive. But the truth is, the things that really satisfy us are totally free – love, laughter and working on our passions.

10.Stop exclusively looking to others for happiness. – If you’re not happy with who you are on the inside, you won’t be happy in a long-term relationship with anyone else either. You have to create stability in your own life first before you can share it with someone else. Read Stumbling on Happiness.

11.Stop being idle. – Don’t think too much or you’ll create a problem that wasn’t even there in the first place. Evaluate situations and take decisive action. You cannot change what you refuse to confront. Making progress involves risk. Period! You can’t make it to second base with your foot on first.

12.Stop thinking you’re not ready. – Nobody ever feels 100% ready when an opportunity arises. Because most great opportunities in life force us to grow beyond our comfort zones, which means we won’t feel totally comfortable at first.

13.Stop getting involved in relationships for the wrong reasons. – Relationships must be chosen wisely. It’s better to be alone than to be in bad company. There’s no need to rush. If something is meant to be, it will happen – in the right time, with the right person, and for the best reason. Fall in love when you’re ready, not when you’re lonely.

14.Stop rejecting new relationships just because old ones didn’t work. – In life you’ll realize that there is a purpose for everyone you meet. Some will test you, some will use you and some will teach you. But most importantly, some will bring out the best in you.

15.Stop trying to compete against everyone else. – Don’t worry about what others doing better than you. Concentrate on beating your own records every day. Success is a battle between YOU and YOURSELF only.

16.Stop being jealous of others. – Jealousy is the art of counting someone else’s blessings instead of your own. Ask yourself this: “What’s something I have that everyone wants?”

17.Stop complaining and feeling sorry for yourself. – Life’s curveballs are thrown for a reason – to shift your path in a direction that is meant for you. You may not see or understand everything the moment it happens, and it may be tough. But reflect back on those negative curveballs thrown at you in the past. You’ll often see that eventually they led you to a better place, person, state of mind, or situation. So smile! Let everyone know that today you are a lot stronger than you were yesterday, and you will be.

18.Stop holding grudges. – Don’t live your life with hate in your heart. You will end up hurting yourself more than the people you hate. Forgiveness is not saying, “What you did to me is okay.” It is saying, “I’m not going to let what you did to me ruin my happiness forever.” Forgiveness is the answer… let go, find peace, liberate yourself! And remember, forgiveness is not just for other people, it’s for you too. If you must, forgive yourself, move on and try to do better next time.

19.Stop letting others bring you down to their level. – Refuse to lower your standards to accommodate those who refuse to raise theirs.

20.Stop wasting time explaining yourself to others. – Your friends don’t need it and your enemies won’t believe it anyway. Just do what you know in your heart is right.

21.Stop doing the same things over and over without taking a break. – The time to take a deep breath is when you don’t have time for it. If you keep doing what you’re doing, you’ll keep getting what you’re getting. Sometimes you need to distance yourself to see things clearly.

22.Stop overlooking the beauty of small moments. – Enjoy the little things, because one day you may look back and discover they were the big things. The best portion of your life will be the small, nameless moments you spend smiling with someone who matters to you.

23.Stop trying to make things perfect. – The real world doesn’t reward perfectionists, it rewards people who get things done. Read Getting Things Done.

24.Stop following the path of least resistance. – Life is not easy, especially when you plan on achieving something worthwhile. Don’t take the easy way out. Do something extraordinary.

25.Stop acting like everything is fine if it isn’t. – It’s okay to fall apart for a little while. You don’t always have to pretend to be strong, and there is no need to constantly prove that everything is going well. You shouldn’t be concerned with what other people are thinking either – cry if you need to – it’s healthy to shed your tears. The sooner you do, the sooner you will be able to smile again.

26.Stop blaming others for your troubles. – The extent to which you can achieve your dreams depends on the extent to which you take responsibility for your life. When you blame others for what you’re going through, you deny responsibility – you give others power over that part of your life.

27.Stop trying to be everything to everyone. – Doing so is impossible, and trying will only burn you out. But making one person smile CAN change the world. Maybe not the whole world, but their world. So narrow your focus.

28.Stop worrying so much. – Worry will not strip tomorrow of its burdens, it will strip today of its joy. One way to check if something is worth mulling over is to ask yourself this question: “Will this matter in one year’s time? Three years? Five years?” If not, then it’s not worth worrying about.

29.Stop focusing on what you don’t want to happen. – Focus on what you do want to happen. Positive thinking is at the forefront of every great success story. If you awake every morning with the thought that something wonderful will happen in your life today, and you pay close attention, you’ll often find that you’re right.

30.Stop being ungrateful. – No matter how good or bad you have it, wake up each day thankful for your life. Someone somewhere else is desperately fighting for theirs. Instead of thinking about what you’re missing, try thinking about what you have that everyone else is missing.

ARTICLE VIA

New Years Blog Sale

2012-01-06T12:35:00.001-08:00

In keeping with my New Years compulsion to clean out and edit every room in our house. I have finally started tackling my closet. It is a work in progress. I have yet to tackle my dresses and jeans so there may be more to come. I am going to list these on Ebay but thought I would list here first. Shipping is a flat rate of $5. Email me with questions or if you are interested at nataliemason24@yahoo.com. I will invoice via paypal. TGIF!
TRINA TURK GEOMETRIC BLOUSE
SIZE=2 (CAN EASILY FIT A 4)
100% SILK
RETAILED FOR $275
$75.00

JUICY COUTURE EYELET BLOUSE
SIZE= SMALL
100% COTTON
RETAILED FOR $225
$75
SOLD

PRAIRIE NEW YORK BEADED TANK
SIZE= SMALL
100% MODAL
RETAILED FOR $198
$60

JOIE SWEATER
SIZE= XS
100% MERINO WOOL
RETAILED FOR $350
$99
SOLD

REBECCA TAYLOR COTTON BLOUSE
SIZE=2
RETAILED FOR $275
$85
SOLD

KARTA EMBELLISHED TANK TOP
BRAND NEW WITHOUT TAGS
SIZE=MEDIUM
100% POLYESTER
RETAILED FOR $250
$100

TORY BURCH MOCCASIN BOOTS
SIZE 9
WORN TWICE EXCELLENT CONDITION
RETAILED FOR $390
$150 (SHIPPING FOR BOOTS IS $10)

REBECCA TAYLOR DRESS
SIZE=4
100% SILK
RETAILED FOR $225
$105

M MISSONI DRESS
SIZE=2
88% COTTON, 12% VISCOSE
NEW WITH TAGS
RETAILED FOR $795
$260

JUICY COUTURE STRAWBERRY BLOUSE
SIZE=SMALL
100% SILK
WORN TWICE, MINT CONDITION
RETAILED FOR $225
$55

MISS DAVENPORTE BLOUSE
SIZE=4
100% SILK
RETAILED FOR $320
$75

BANANA REPUBLIC SILK BLOUSE
SIZE= SMALL
RETAILED FOR $89
$25.00

Thoughts For Friday

2012-01-06T05:00:00.000-08:00

Last night I enjoyed a much needed night out with two of my bestie bloggers, Chassity and Caycee. We dined at Rue De Jean one of my favorite restaurants in town. They have the most amazing burgers and Sushi.

via
Has anyone seen Food, Inc yet? Funny to go from talking about Burgers to food documentaries but that's how I roll. My friend Katie has convinced me I need to watch it. Renting it this weekend. Here's to hoping I will still want to eat Cheeseburgers afterwards.

Do yourself a favor and go buy some of this Chocolate, VOSGES. I got some in my stocking this year and it is the most delish chocolate ever! I got the mini library set and the Carmel Toffee Bar knocked my socks off!

I am really lusting over these adorable cuffs, from Banana Republic of all places!

Graphic Enamel Cuff

Dot Bangle

Exotic Bracelet
Banana Republic is offering 30% off all regular priced Merchandise so now is the time to scarf these babies up!

I just picked up this book after reading Nancy's review here. I can't wait to dig in and simplify my life and get organized! I read the first chapter last night and think it is going to be a great read.

Happy Friday. Have a great weekend!

Making Room For New

2012-01-05T04:30:00.000-08:00

New Year means time to clean out my closet and organize. Now if only my closet looked like this I would be in business. But I guess you gotta work with what you got!

I like to clean out old to make room for new. Usually I pass stuff off to my sister for first dibs and then either list on EBay or take to Goodwill. Here are two new dresses (Christmas Gifts) that I am making room for in my closet.
TIBI CONSTELLATION SHIFT DRESS

DIANE VON FURSTENBERG FLORANE LILY CREPE MINI DRESS

It would be an understatement to say I am obsessed with Tibi and DVF. They are my favorite brands and I can't wait to wear these beauties.
I found this great guide to cleaning/organizing your closet over on Julia's Blog. It has some great rules to follow.

Happy Closet Cleaning!

Baked Brie Bites

2012-01-04T04:05:00.000-08:00

I ended up making the Baked Brie Bites for our News Years Eve Party and trust me you will want to make these for your next party. They were super easy and melt in your mouth good. I found this recipe on Pinterest which led me to the original site it was from, PlainChicken.com. You must check out this site if you love food. Her recipes are amaze. I will most definitely be making these tasty treats again. They also reheat well if you have leftovers. I served them again the next day and just redrizzled with honey and baked for a few minutes and they were just as delish. Enjoy!

Baked Brie Bites:
mini phyllo tarts
Ile de France brie cubed
brown sugar
chopped pecans
honey

Preheat oven to 350. Place a cube of brie in each phyllo tart. Sprinkle each tart with approximately 1/2 tsp brown sugar. Top with approximately 1/2tsp chopped pecans and a dollop of honey. Bake for 15-20 minutes, until brie is melted. (use more or less of each ingredient according to your preference).

Picture via Plain Chicken

My Newest Gadget Obsessions

2012-01-03T05:00:00.000-08:00

For Christmas I got several new gadgets that changed my life. Now I am totally not a gadget girl, I never buy these kinds of things. I would rather spend my money on clothes and home decor, but I love to ask for gadgets as gifts. So far I am obsessed with these 5 items.

1) KEURIG COFFEE MAKER
I love this coffee maker. It makes the perfect cup of coffee. I feel like our old pot of coffee would sit and get stale. Not this thing, it makes a fresh cup everytime. Can't recommend this enough. It has a clean sleek look so I don't mind it sitting out on my counter. I also love it for making hot green tea as well.

2) SONICARE TOOTHBRUSH
You may be thinking what a lame Christmas gift, a toothbrush? But this thing is amazing. I used to always laugh when my dentist would tell me I really needed to get one of these, a $150 toothbrush, umm no thanks. My parents surprised us with this and I swear I will never go back to a regular toothbrush. My teeth feel so clean! It is set on a two minute timer to make sure you really clean your teeth well. Before I got this I swear I must have only brushed my teeth for like 30 seconds because 2 minutes seems like forever. My teeth have never felt cleaner.

3) THE NINJA BLENDER
I never got the Breville Juicer I wanted for Christmas but I did get the Ninja Blender. This makes the best smoothies ever. It really will puree anything you put in it. I am off to the store this morning to get the stuff to make my favorite green smoothie (part of my New Years Detox)!

4) WARING ELECTRIC WINE OPENER
Ever since using my parents electric wine opener, I was obsessed. Santa was nice enough to bring me one and I love it. It makes opening wine so easy and you all know how much I love my glass of wine.

5) KITCHEN AID IMMERSION BLENDER
I love to make homemade soups, but always have to pour the mix into my food processor to puree. This usually makes a huge mess. This immersion blender makes pureeing my soups so much easier. Love the sleek white look of it and it is small enough to stash in a drawer or cabinet.

I am definitely no techie or gadget pro but these are a few of my new favorites that make my life easier!

Scenes From Our New Years

2012-01-02T11:45:00.001-08:00

I hope you all had a wonderful New Years! I am not going to lie I am a wee bit hungover. Way too much booze has been consumed around here the last few days. I am in major detox mode now. Motivating to go jog off all the food and booze from the Holidays. One of my best friends and her fam came and stayed with us for the weekend and we had the best time! Thought I would share a few pictures from our long weekend! Here's to 2012 being a fabulous year!

Thoughts For Friday

2011-12-30T04:48:00.000-08:00

Hard to believe this is the last Friday of 2011!! We are in the midst of undecorating and getting ready for our second annual New Years Eve Party. It is nothing fancy just a few of our closest friends and their kids but we sure do have fun!

I am thinking about whipping up these babies for the party- Baked Brie Bites. There is nothing I love more than melted Brie!

I am in the market for a new planner for 2012. I know nowadays everyone uses their phone for dates and appointments, but I am old school and love to hand write things down. I am contemplating, The Erin Condren Planner and the Sarah Pinto Planner. Any thoughts or recommendations?

I am 100% obsessed with this dress Mackenzie wrote about on her blog this week. Need it for my Spring wardrobe!
Rachel Pally Stripe CutOut Dress

I am convinced my little man is going to be famous artist. Check out his latest work of art. As hard as I try I can never create anything as fabulous as what he paints! Or maybe I am just biased because he is my son!

Hope you all have a festive and happy New Years! I will be wearing my new JCrew leopard dress

and undoubtedly drinking lots of this!

Oh and the best part- I have an amazing house cleaner for the next day. He is pretty good with a vacuum...

HAPPY NEW YEARS DOLLS!

Snickers Fudge

2011-12-28T05:00:00.000-08:00

This past week while I was home my mom and I baked our tails off. This was one of our favorite new recipes that we tried so I had to share it. If you like Snickers you are going to love this fudge. It really tastes just like a Snickers! It was easy to assemble because you do it in steps. You could honestly make one layer a day if you wanted to. We would make a layer then wrap gifts, make another layer and run errands and before we knew it was ready. It does taste best if you let it refrigerate over night. Enjoy and trust me you will not be able to eat just one piece!

SNICKERS FUDGE

INGREDIENTS
First Layer
1 cup milk chocolate chips
1/4 cup butterscotch chips
1/4 cup peanut butter

Second Layer
4 tablespoons butter
1 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup evaporated milk
1 1/2 cups marshmallow creme
1/4 cup peanut butter
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 cups chopped salted peanuts

Third Layer
14 ounce package caramel cubes
1/4 cup heavy cream

Fourth Layer
1 cup milk chocolate chips
1/4 cup butterscotch chips
1/4 cup creamy peanut butter

DIRECTIONS
First Layer Prep:
Lightly spray 9×13 baking pan with cooking spray.
Over medium heat, melt milk chocolate chips, peanut butter, and butterscotch chips in small saucepan. Stir together until completely melted and smooth, then pour into the baking pan. Spread the mixture evenly with a spatula, then refrigerate until set.

Second Layer Prep:
Melt butter over medium-high heat in saucepan.
Add sugar and evaporated milk and bring to boil. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from the heat and quickly mix in marshmallow creme, peanut butter, and vanilla. Add peanuts to mixture and spread evenly over chocolate layer.
Refrigerate until set.

Third Layer Prep:
Melt caramels and heavy cream over low heat until smooth.
Pour over peanut mixture and refrigerate until set.

Fourth Layer Prep:
Repeat step one.
Melt chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, and peanut butter over low heat until smooth.
Pour over caramel layer and refrigerate for at least one hour before cutting.

Christmas with the Family

2011-12-26T12:17:00.000-08:00

This year Christmas came and went so fast! We had a wonderful Christmas. It was a little stressful and a little crazy at times but overall it was fabulous. We were all spoiled rotten and watching Sterling open his gifts was priceless. My mom busted out these napkins last night and I could not stop laughing- so true!

This year, I drank way too many of these. Lord I love a dirty martini.

Ate so many sweets I swear I gained 5lbs but I am avoiding the scale til I feel skinny again. (check back tomorrow for the recipe for this amazing sweet treat, you don't want to miss it!).

And loved watching the joy in my little man's face. Children really make Christmas that much more special. He was so excited about all his gifts, he absolutely loved Christmas. Santa brought him this new red electric car that he is obsessed with! Watch out if you live near us, Sterling is a speed demon in his car!

I hope you all had a very merry holiday season with your families! xoxo

Pixie Lily Sample Sale!

2011-12-22T04:15:00.000-08:00

As many of you know Pixie Lily is one of my favorite baby lines ever! The designs are so precious and the outfits are so soft. Here is Sterling in one of his first Pixie Lily outfits, adorable right??

Pixie Lily is hosting a huge Sample next week on December 27th and 28th in Charleston. If you live here or nearby you don't want to miss this sale! The sale will take place at 48 Society Street (the corner of Anson and Society). The preview sale for facebook fans will be on Tuesday, December 27th from 1-3. Shoppers must bring a print out of their facebook likes page with Pixie listed in order to gain entrance. If you are not already a Pixie Lily fan on Facebook click HERE to do so and gain early entrance to the sale!

Wednesday, Dec 28th doors will open at 9:00 and will close at 4:00 or whenever they sell out ...whichever happens first. All layette, toddler and womens loungewear is $16.00 (regularly $52.00-135.00) Blankets: $13.00 (regularly $44.00) Hats, Booties, Mittens: $2.00 (regularly $17.00-20.00) Bibs, Burps and Diaper Covers: $4.00 (regularly $18.00-24.00). These prices are amazing!

This is a great time to stock up on essentials for your baby or gifts for friends. Trust me you don't want to miss this sale!

PIXIE LILY SAMPLE SALE
48 SOCIETY STREET
DECEMBER 27TH 1-3 FOR FACEBOOK FANS
DECEMBER 28TH DOORS OPEN AT 9

Obsessions

2011-12-21T04:22:00.000-08:00

5 days til Christmas and I could not me more excited. I love this time of the year! As I am typing this Sterling just walked over to me and says "poo" and he was holding a piece of dog poop- I am not kidding. Great way to start the day off!
BCBG COLOR BLOCK MINI
I am convinced this dress needs to be mine for the Summer. Love everything about it!

Peanut Butter Twix
If you have not tried these you need to immediately. They are my newest addiction.

ALESYA PURSES
How amazing is this purse that is actually a laptop bag? This stylish yet oh so functional laptop bag was designed by Alesya. Alesya is from Charleston, so I always love to support my local girls! The bag is available in Eggplant, Equestrian Tan, and Kelly Girl Green. But if you want one you better hurry the Eggplant is already sold out! You can check out Alesya's fabulous blog and shop HERE!

Added Bonus, how cute is the wrapping paper that Alesya uses to package the bags?

COPPER LIGHTING
I love that Copper is making a comeback. The Copper lights are perfection in this Kitchen!

The LayOver
Anthony Bourdain's new show the LayOver is awesome. I have recently watched the New York and Miami episodes and he featured so many great places I want to hit up next time I travel. The best part is this is one TV show the hubs and I can agree to watch together!

Loaded Baked Potato Soup

2011-12-20T04:15:00.000-08:00

I have really been in the mood for comfort food lately, I think it's just that time of year! I had a bunch of potatoes left over from a Beef Stew I made last week and decided to put them to use in a Loaded Baked Potato Soup. I googled several recipes but just ended up creating my own with what I had on hand. What made it truly amazing was mixing truffle oil in in while it cooked and then drizzling more on top afterwards! We chopped up some Hot Sausage (It was the Hillshire Hot Sausage links that look like hot dogs) we had in the fridge and sauteed it for the top. It was the perfect addition of heat and flavor with the potatoes. I think this would also be amaze with crumbled bacon too. This soup was so cheap to make and easy. Trust me you are going to love the creamy goodness of this soup!

Ingredients
8 potatoes, peeled and cubed
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
3 cups milk
3-4 cups Chicken Broth
1 small onion chopped
1 (8 ounce) container sour cream
3/4 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
2-3 Tablespoons Fresh chopped Parsley
3-4 Tablespoons Truffle oil

Garnish
Fresh Diced Chives
Truffle Oil
Cheddar Cheese
Sauteed Sausage (or crumbled Bacon)
salt and pepper to taste

Directions
1. Boil Potatoes about 25 minutes until soft.
2.While the potatoes are cooking, melt the butter in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add in onions and cook about 5 minutes. Whisk in flour until smooth, then gradually stir in the milk and broth. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium, and simmer for 5 to 10 minutes, or until slightly thickened.
3.Drain Potatoes. Mash 3/4 of the potatoes and reserve the rest to add in as chunks to give the soup more texture. Add Potatoes into the milk and broth mixture. Stir in the sour cream, Cheddar cheese, parsley, and truffle oil until melted and well blended. Season with salt and pepper. Let soup sit on low heat for 30-1 hour. We found the longer it sat the more the flavors came out.
Garnish with Fresh chopped Chives, Cheddar Cheese, Sausage, and Truffle Oil

Weekend Recap

2011-12-19T04:50:00.000-08:00

I got a flat tire Thursday night leaving the park. There was a huge screw stuck in my tire. Luckily they were able to just patch it and I didn't have to buy a new tire. Sterling loved playing with the tires while we waited. I am sad to admit Sterling is wearing his last bubble in this picture, much to my dismay my little man is too old for bubbles now:(

Had friends over for dinner and made the most delish appetizer. It is so easy just two ingredients turkey kielbasa and crescent rolls + dijon mustard for dipping. Make it you won't regret it. All you do is wrap the kielbasa in the crescent rolls and bake about 20-25 mins until brown.

Here is my outfit from that night:

Rebecca Taylor Nailhead Blouse

Steve Madden Intyce Boots

Finally watched Sarah's house, my newest obsession on HGTV. Girl can decorate the heck out of a house.

Wrapped ALOT of Gifts

Drank the most amazing Chardonnay.

A successful weekend.

Melts My Heart

2011-12-18T11:41:00.000-08:00

Enough Said. This little boy is most certainly my whole world.

Thoughts For Friday

2011-12-16T04:30:00.000-08:00

A little over a week til Christmas! Yikes. I feel like I have so much left to do. I will say I work best under pressure though and this week is crunch time.

I finally got our Christmas cards addressed and mailed. I went with the solo picture of Sterling trying to open the door, it was too cute not to use! I am very old fashioned and traditional when comes to cards. I like the kind where you attach the picture yourself and hand write a message. Time consuming yes, but I love a gorgeous Christmas card. This year our cards came from Crane and Co and the photo was taken by the fabulously talented Julia Ryan.

Around this time of the year when I am Christmas Shopping, I start to get a little selfish. As I am buying gifts for others I start to look for things for myself. This quote really put things in perspective for me and helps me to realize I have more than enough! That's not to say I still don't browse for myself- I just try not to buy!

Sterling's school had a holiday fundraiser this week. They had a bunch of different companies come and set up booths with proceeds going to his day school. I picked up this Stella and Dot Serpent Bracelet. I absolutely love it. I thought it would be a piece I could wear daily. and I am not going to lie the fact that Kelly Ripa has one and wears it all the time made me want it even more!

Sterling and I baked a batch of these Christmas Tree Sugar cookies this week, how cute are they? Although I have to say mine did not look nearly as cute as Martha Stewart's- how does that woman do everything perfectly?? I will say by accident I bought regular M&M's instead of minis so that was part of the problem-lesson learned.

Have y'all seen this Tory Burch Blanket? I want it so bad!

Have a wonderful and festive weekend Loves!

Thursday Five

2011-12-15T04:27:00.000-08:00

The New list of Pantone Colors for 2012. Love everyone of them. Tangerine Tango is the color of the year.

Marble Islands.

Hygge and West Petal Pusher Wallpaper

Ashley Stark's Dining Room. I love every detail in here. How amazing are the lamps and table not to mention the chandelier!

Amazing Use of Color

Stylish Bunk Beds. I couldn't stop at 5 had to add one more beauty to the list today.

Chicken Pot Pie With Puff Pastry Crust

2011-12-14T04:29:00.000-08:00

Last week the weather was cool and I was looking for something comforting to make for dinner, enter this pot pie. I have mentioned my love for Katie Lee Joel's Cookbook "The Comfort Table" many times. It really is an excellent cookbook, I have used mine so often the pages are falling out! Who knew Billy Joel's ex was such an amazing cook?

I found this Chicken Pot Pie Recipe in there and was sold. It really was easy to make and even reheated well the next night. I love the twist of using Puff Pastry instead of regular crust.

**A few notes- I just roasted 3 chicken breasts in the oven and shredded them vs her method of boiling them in the broth. I also just made one big pot pie instead of 4 mini ones. For one large pot pie you just need one sheet of puff pastry rolled out. I actually used a rectangle baking dish so I didn't need to cut the puff pastry at all. Make sure you don't skip brushing the puff pastry with the egg this helps it brown nicely.**

Chicken Pot Pie

One 14 to 17 ounce good quality puff pastry (such as Dufour), thawed according to package instructions
1 quart low-sodium chicken broth
1 large yellow onion, quartered
2 bay leaves
1 teaspoon whole black peppercorns
3 sprigs fresh thyme, plus 1 tablespoon chopped
4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/2 cup peeled fresh pearl onions
2 medium diced carrots
1 cup sliced white mushrooms
1 cup fresh or thawed frozen peas
5 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1 cup milk
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 large egg, lightly beaten

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. On a lightly floured surface, roll out the pastry dough with a floured rolling pin. Transfer to the baking sheet, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate while preparing pie filling.

Combine the broth, quartered onion, bay leaves, peppercorns, and thyme sprigs in a large pot over high heat. Bring to boil, reduce the heat, and simmer for 30 minutes. Add the chicken breasts. Raise the heat and return to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until the chicken is just cooked through, about 10 to 15 minutes.

Transfer chicken to a plate and set aside. Strain the stock and set aside 2 1/2 cups. Reserve the remaining stock for another use. When the chicken is cool to the touch, cut it into bite-size chunks and set aside.

Preheat the oven to 375 F.

Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the pearl onions and carrots. Cook, stirring occasionally, for about 5 minutes. Add the mushrooms and peas and cook another 5 minutes. Stir in the flour and cook 1 minute more. Add the reserved stock and the milk, stirring constantly. Cook until the sauce begins to thicken, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and add the chicken, the chopped thyme, salt, and pepper. Set aside.

Remove the pastry from the refrigerator and set out four 2-cup individual oven proof bowls. Using one of the empty bowls as a guide, cut the pastry into four circles. Spoon the filling into each bowl and place one circle on each pot pie, pressing around the edges to seal the pastry to the bowl. Cut a vent in the center. Using a pastry brush, brush the entire surface of each pie with egg.

Bake until the pastry is puffed and dark golden brown, about 35 minutes. 4 Servings, 1 hour prep time, 35 minutes cook time.

Recipe and Photo from the Comfort Table by Katie Lee Joel, Simon Spotlight Entertainment,2008

Obsessions- Christmas Wish List

2011-12-13T04:30:00.000-08:00

Today I thought I would share a few things I am hoping to find under the tree this year!

PYTHON TRAYS
I have wanted one of these forever. The Zhush has such incredible stuff at her online store including these beauties. (side note- I may have just ordered one for myself who has time to wait for Santa).

MINT JULEP CUPS
This may totally be a Southern thing but I really want a set of Mint Julep Cups. Not just for boozing purposes but I love them for flowers too. I saw these at the Zhush online store too. For those of you in Charlotte Elizabeth Bruns has beautiful Mint Julep cups too.

TBAGS PRINT BLOUSE
It is no secret I freaking love blouses. They are my standard daily outfit. Love this T-Bags one. The pattern is gorgeous.

ALEXIS BITTAR CRYSTAL ENCRUSTED EARRINGS AND RING
I Love Alexis Bittar jewelry. He makes such unique stand out pieces!

BREVILLE JUICER
This is top on my list of things I want. I always buy myself clothes but never want to spend my money on gadgets. I have been wanting a juicer forever and I heard this is the best one around.

Tween Love

2011-12-12T04:30:00.000-08:00

Normally I don't browse on Pottery Barn Teen. However, while I was reading House Beautiful they had an online article about personalized gifts and I fell in love with these Needlepoint Pillows from PBTeen. They remind me so much of the Jonathan Adler pillows but for a fraction of the price. I am pretty sure a few of these will be ordered for our home.

ALPHABET NEEDLEPOINT PILLOWS, $29

While browsing I also came across these POM-POM blankets. Love them. Would love the pink or white one for our den!

POM POM ORGANIC THROWS, $79

and this Kilm rug is divine. Who would have thought PBTeen rocked out so many wonderful things?
DIAMOND KILM RUG, $199

And while we are talking tween stuff I still have not seen the new Twilight Movie, it is driving me crazy! I need my Edward fix. Who has seen it and is it good? dish!

Lastly, two of my dear friends have teamed together for a fabulous art sale you don't want to miss. My friend Chassity from Look Linger Love is doing an art sale with Katie Long Stevenson. I know you must remember me talking about my friend Katie and how talented she is and how amazing her artwork is. Well, now is your chance to own a piece! The prices are ridic, I wanted every single painting. Check out the sale HERE!

Happy Monday Dolls. Less than two weeks til Christmas, yikes!

Damn You Auto-Correct

2011-12-10T05:00:00.000-08:00

I had to share these. A few had me laughing so hard I may have peed my pants a little. These were revealed as the 9 funniest texts of the year from the website Damn You Auto Correct. Enjoy:)

Thoughts For Friday

2011-12-09T05:00:00.000-08:00

We have a busy weekend coming up. We have house guests, my sister is in town, and the hubs is running a half Marathon in Kiawah. I desperately need to finish my Christmas shopping too!

This week I have been baking the Oreo brownies I blogged about Tuesday and assembling tins for my friends. I think they turned out pretty cute! Every year I always say I am going to bake treats for friends and never get around to it, so this year I started early so I would have time to get it done!

I am pretty much obsessed with the White Fudge Oreoas. They are amazeballs, knock your socks off good. They only come out at the Holidays so go pick up a box before they are gone. You will thank me!

This guy definitely loved the Oreaos.

My JCREW cobalt Blouse came and I love it. The sleeves are little more sheer than I thought but I still really like it. The fit is great, it runs pretty true to size for those wondering. I wore it to our girls Christmas Supper Club last night. I paired it with an old Bib Necklace from Banana Republic.

A few of you asked about the back view and how the buttons look- so here is the view from the back.

I just picked up Thomas Keller's Cookbook "Ad Hoc at Home." I saw a great special about him on the CBS Sunday Morning show a few weeks ago and have been obsessed with him ever since! This cookbook is so informative and has great recipes.

I hung my Sally Benedict Painting in Sterling's room and love it. It makes me happy every time I walk in there!

My little man is so ready for Christmas and loving the cooler weather!

Have a great weekend!