Weekend Happenings + S&D Winner

How is it Monday already??  The weekends fly by and the weekdays drag by!  We had a jam packed weekend which was fun but really left us no down time for relaxing!  So now it is Monday morning and I am exhausted.  And all weekend Sterling has decided to wake up around 6 yelling "mom" every morning to ensure I hear him and get my butt out of bed. 

Friday night was our date night which actually turned into a couples date night after the wine tasting!  The wine tasting was really fun,  but you know me I love wine and learning more about it.  One of my favorite drinks we sampled was a Sparkling Shiraz.  I had never had this type of wine before and it was quite delicious.  I wish I remembered the exact name but it was from Australia and sold at Total Wine for $15.99.

My outfit from our date night was an old T-Bags dress.  I have had this dress for probably 6 years but still love it.  T-Bags remains one of my favorite brands for maxi dresses.

This is the next T-Bags maxi I hope to add to my collection soon!  They really fit so well!

{T-Bags Venezia Maxi Dress}

 

This is all of us girls after the wine tasting at dinner.  We embarrassed our husbands and made them snap pictures of us at the restaurant.

We ate dinner at Al Di La, one of my favorite restaurants in West Ashley.  I had the shrimp Gnocchi and it was amazing!  There is nothing better than fresh homemade pasta.

On Saturday we took our boat out for our first family boat ride of the year.  Our boat has been broken the past 6 months and Matt finally fixed it.  I am so proud of him because he completely rewired the boat on his own.  Now she runs great and we had a blast. Except Sterling it had been so long since he had been on the boat he wasn't so sure about it.

You might notice my dress I am wearing on the boat.  It is my newest obsession.  I found it at the Gap and I have it in three different colors.  It is the perfect casual summer dress.  So comfortable and fits really well too!  They are online HERE and HERE, but I found mine in the actual store.

I also got it in the Royal Blue and wore it to church Sunday with my JCrew necklace.  I told you I seriously love this dress!  It is so versatile.

I also tried on this T-Shirt maxi dress and now I am wishing I bought it.  I think I may order it in the black because it would go with everything.  It was so soft it felt like pajamas.  A plus for running after a kid all day in!

Gap T-Shirt Maxi Dress

Ended the weekend with a trip to the Farmers Market where I found these gorgeous Hydrangeas!

And now what I am sure you all waiting for!!  The winner of the Stella and Dot necklace is:

Kelly Gail- kellynwatson@yahoo.com

Ashley will contact you to get your shipping info.  Hope you love the necklace Kelly!

Don't forget if you didn't win the trunk show is open for two more weeks if you want to order something! 
You can check out the trunk show HERE!

Thoughts For Friday

I am so glad it is Friday!  And guess why?  My in-laws are keeping Sterling for the night (and I mean overnight) so Matt and I can go to a wine tasting and then date night!  We have not been out on a date in forever!   Oh the joys of finally having family living in town!

I picked up my Silhouette of Sterling that WayWay did and I could not be more pleased. I love it in a major way, it is pure perfection!!  If you are looking to get a Silhouette done of your child you must contact WayWay.  She did a stellar job.  Now I am trying to decide where to hang in his room or our hallway? You can check out more of WayWay's work HERE.

Speaking of WayWay she turned me on the best way to cook Okra, roasting it.  All you do is slice down the middle, toss with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper.  Roast at 400 degrees about 20 mins.  It is

so good.  Matt and I were eating them right off the pan like they were fries.

I need some reader help.  I am obsessed with this Milly Sari Hostess Dress.  I really want it for a wedding I have later this month but I can't find it in my size anywhere.  I found it online at Neimans and had it in my basket when someone else (snatched) bought it while I was looking.  I need it on sale not full price for sure..  So tell me where can I find it???   I saw it on Rent The Runway but I would rather own it.  I hate to pay $100 just to wear it once.

I went to Banana Republic yesterday to check out the Trina Turk Collection and I was not too impressed.  Nothing fit me just right so I left empty handed.  This dress was probably the cutest I tried on but just not digging it for me.

{Cochella One Shoulder Dress}

Is it weird I want to go see Magic Mike?  I know it will be a cheesy movie but,  tell me it isn't wrong to want to look at all those hot men shirtless?

My sister has me intrigued about a drink she and my mom made this week, a beet martini.  I have been all about drinking my beet juice in the mornings to cleanse my liver but I am just not sure about a beet martini.  She promises it will rock my world.  May try this weekend, wish me luck!

LOVE this wallpaper.  I need to wallpaper a room so bad. 

Happy Friday!  Don't forget to enter the Stella and Dot giveaway it ends Sunday!

Stella and Dot Giveaway!

Hey ladies!  I am so happy to host the best giveaway ever today.  I am pretty sure we all know and love some Stella and Dot jewelry.   Well today I am offering one lucky reader the chance to win this amazeballs necklace!

{Stella and Dot Bahari Necklace}

I think you all know I have been quite obsessed with statement necklaces lately.  This is one beauty I would love to add to my collection.  It retails for $98 and I think it would go with anything!

The gorgeous Katherine Heigel has been spotted out and about wearing it more than once.

Doesn't it make you want one too?  It is such an awesome necklace!

You have several chances to win, make sure you leave a separate comment for each one and that you include your email address.

1) You must be a follower of Designer Bags and Dirty Diapers

2) Like Ashley's Stella and Dot FB Page

3) Like Designer Bags and Dirty Diapers FB Page

and if you want 5 extra entries......

4) Place an online order HERE and tell me what you ordered.

And seriously even if you win the necklace isn't there something else you would like to order from Stella and Dot??  If not for yourself,  the pieces make the perfect gift!  If you need ideas of what to order two of my most favorite Stella and Dot Purchases are The Clover Necklace and Serpent Bracelet.  I wear them both all the time, really almost daily!

And on my current wishlist, that I want to order:
Clover Double Wrap Leather Bracelet

Zahara Bib Necklace

Pegasus Gold Bib Feather Necklace

Harmony Band Rings Set of 3

On The Mark Necklace

This the perfect necklace for layering.  As seen on LC.

Graceful Nomad Necklace

As seen on my favorite girl Giulianna.

Good Luck Ladies!  You have til Sunday at midnight to enter.  I will announce the winner Monday Morning!

xoxo

Addictive Brussels Sprouts Salad

I don't know about you guys but for a long time I hated Brussels Sprouts. I remember my mom cooking them all the time while we were kids and I had to be bribed to eat them. A few years ago I tried them roasted and I was a changed woman. Now I love them. I recently bought some fresh ones at the Farmers Market and knew immediately what I wanted to do with them. Of course this recipe comes from Pinterest, my new cooking bible. This salad is ridic. I could not stopping eating it.  I am sure you are thinking a raw Brussels sprouts salad can not be that good, but it is!!!  I promise you will be pleasantly surprised by this gem of a salad.  The flavors were so fresh and crisp. Try this salad and tell me you don't like Brussels Sprouts.

 

ADDICTIVE BRUSSELS SPROUTS SALAD- adapted from Shutterbean

•24 Brussels sprouts, shredded

•1/2 cup Parmigiano-Reggiano, finely grated

•1 cup toasted walnuts, in pieces

•9 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

•3 tablespoons apple cinder vinegar

•2 teaspoons Dijon mustard

•salt & pepper

Shred the Brussels sprouts in a food processor, mandolin or chop with a knife! Toss the sprouts in a bowl, top with toasted walnuts & grated cheese. In a small jar, add the olive oil, apple cider vinegar and mustard with a sprinkle of salt & pepper. Put a lid on the jar and shake it up! Pour the dressing over the salad and stir thoroughly! Best served immediately, although I ate leftovers the next day and it still held up well!

Original Recipe and photos 2 and 3 Via

My Entertaining Essentials

Having a toddler means that we entertain at our house alot.  It is easy to put our little one to bed and then have friends over for happy hour.   Sterling is at the age where he is not fun to take out to restaurants.  All he wants to do is run around and pour salt and pepper all the table.  I can't ever really relax so it is much easier to entertain at home sometimes.   I have a few essentials that I always keep on hand in the fridge for quick or last minute entertaining purposes.  If you stock up on these things during your regular grocery store visit you will always be prepared for invited or uninvited guests!  Plus who doesn't like tasty snacks and booze sitting around their house?

The most important thing in my opinion is alcohol.  Duh.  That is what happy hour revolves around.  My three favorite wines that I always keep in on hand are:

FOXGLOVE CHARDONNAY, $13.50

CHALK HILL SAUVIGNON BLANC, $13.99

B.R. COHN CABERNET, $14.99

All three wines are under $15 and always crowd pleasers. I buy FoxGlove at our local ABC store (on Harborview) and you can find the Chalk Hill and B.R. Cohn at Costco.  If you are looking for a great bubbly to have on hand I highly recommend Contempo Prosecco.  It is light and refreshing and not too sweet.  Most grocery stores carry the Contempo line.

CONTEMPO PROSECCO, $11.99

My favorite go-to appetizer is a cheese tray.  I like to always have three different varieties of cheese on hand.  Usually an Aged Gouda, Soft Brie/Goat Cheese, and a white Cheddar.

My favorites are:  A Dutch Masterpiece aged Gouda, KerryGold White Cheddar, Triple Creme Goat Brie.

In addition to the three cheeses,  I always put out a dish with Kalamata Olives and Pickled Okra.   If I have time I like to buy fresh olives from the case but I usually keep a jar on hand for times when I can't stop at the store.

I like to serve one meat with the cheese, either Pepperoni or Salami.    Harris Teeter has some great pre-sliced meats right under the deli meat case.  They are vacuum sealed and really quite tasty.

Add a few crackers and you have the perfect, easy to throw together appetizer. Currently I am loving the 34 degrees Crispbread Crackers.  They are so thin and super crispy and pair great with cheese.  I buy these in bulk at Costco but Earthfare carries them as well.

 

This is a tray I threw together last minute a few weeks ago with what I had on hand.  See, it pays to keep these few things stocked up in your house for unexpected guests.

Two other staples I also always keep on hand are Sabra Hummus and Palmetto Pimento Cheese.  Both are my favorite snacks and easy to toss in a dish and serve with crackers for guests.  I always put the hummus in a dish and drizzle with olive oil, salt, pepper and paprika- it makes it look fancy!

Keeping a few simple things on hand makes your entertaining life much easier!  So sit back enjoy that wine and don't stress about uninvited guests!