Home and Entertaining Favorites

Hello Thursday!  Today I wanted to share a few favorites for the home.  

Table Runner | Napkins | Cheese Board | Stemless Glasses

I recently picked up a few new entertaining items from Nordstrom and have been loving them.  It is no secret I love a good happy hour spread and this is what ours looked like last night.  We frequently have neighbors and friends over for happy so I knew this runner and napkins would be used often!   I never met a cheese board I didn't like.  What I love about this one though is it is only $34 and the perfect size for light pre dinner nibbles.

A few other cheese board options all under $50.  These would make a great gift, especially a hostess gift!

ONE | TWO | THREE
FOUR | FIVE | SIX 

The Nordstrom Home Department has you covered whatever you need.  They have so many great options for your home, bedding, bath, kitchen and entertaining!  I desperately need some new bath towels and I really love these with the fringe detail.

Bath Towels

I am also convinced I need a round beach towel.   I love the colors in this one.

I had no idea that Nordstrom carried LeCreuset until I started browsing.  LeCreuset pots are hands down some of my favorite pots to cook with!  We received several pieces as wedding gifts and are still using them 8 years later.  This skillet is one of my favorites- I just recently used mine for our blueberry crumble and it is perfect for cornbread too!  I have the white but I love this new Hibiscus color.

Cast Iron Skillet

I also love this Oval Dutch Oven.  I use this size frequently for cooking veggies and beans.

A few other home favorites and guess what??  Everything here is under $100!  I have the Mexico Cookbook and not only are the recipes great, it is a gorgeous coffee table book as well.  We also have the steak knife set, I love the pretty bold colors when I set the table!

Pom Pom Blanket | Pillow | Bath Organizer | Turkish Towels | Pillow
Salut Glasses | Mexico Cookbook | Rug | Succulents | Marble board
Pouf | Towels | Knives Set| Basket

So many fabulous options for your home!  Nordstrom always price matches and offers free shipping and returns.  They also offer gift boxing if you wanted to send a gift.

Thanks to Nordstrom for partnering on this post! 

3 Veggie Sides + All White OOTD

Hello Wednesday.  I have a list a mile long of things to get done before we leave town and of course I have waited til the last minute to do it all and now I am stressed out! Today I wanted to share 3 easy veggie recipes plus an outfit.  I think I shared the cauliflower recipe on here awhile ago but I had a request to share again, so here you go!  These 3 veggie sides are made almost every week in our house.  They are easy to make and added bonus my kids will eat them and they are PICKY about veggies these days.  Monday night we had the cauliflower and okra with navy beans for our "Meatless Monday" meal. Btw I am obsessed with purple cauliflower it is such a gorgeous shade of purple.   I have been mixing it with the white cauliflower the past few times I have made this dish but feel free to just use the regular white cauliflower. 

 I hope you love these sides as much as we do!

S P I C Y  R O A S T E D  O K R A

1-2 pounds okra

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 tablespoon hot sauce

1/4 tsp red pepper flakes

1/4 tsp garlic salt

1/2 tsp paprika

salt and pepper

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  In a bowl toss the okra with the olive oil and hot sauce and then add in red pepper flakes, garlic salt, and paprika.  Mix all together and season with salt and pepper.  Place on a baking sheet and bake 20-25 minutes.  I like my okra crispy so I cook it a little longer. 

R O A S T E D  C A U L I F L O W E R +  C H I C K P E A S

via My Father's Daughter Cookbook

1 14-ounce can chickpeas, rinsed, drained and dried

1 head of cauliflower, outer leaves removed and discarded, cut into bite-sized florets

3 tablespoons plus 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil, divided

Coarse sea salt

1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

1 tablespoon seeded mustard (i.e., grainy mustard)

1 tablespoon white wine vinegar

Freshly ground black pepper

1/4 cup chopped Italian parsley

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees and set the rack in the middle. Toss chickpeas and cauliflower together in a large roasting pan with 3 tablespoons olive oil and a big pinch of salt. Roast, stirring now and then, until everything is dark brown and the cauliflower is quite soft, about 45 minutes. 

2. Meanwhile, whisk together mustards, vinegar, and 1/4 cup of olive oil with a big pinch of salt and a few healthy grinds of black pepper. While the chickpeas and cauliflower are still warm, toss them with the mustard dressing and the parsley. Serve warm or at room temperature.

P A R M E S A N   R O A S T E D   B R O C C O L I 

Via Back to Basics Cookbook

4 to 5 pounds broccoli 
4 garlic cloves, peeled and thinly sliced 
Good olive oil 
1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt 
½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 
2 teaspoons grated lemon zest 
2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice 
3 tablespoons pine nuts, toasted 
1/3 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese 
2 tablespoons julienned fresh basil leaves

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.  Cut the broccoli florets from the thick stalks, leaving an inch or two of stalk attached to the florets, discarding the rest of the stalks. Cut the larger pieces through the base of the head with a small knife, pulling the florets apart. You should have about 8 cups of florets. Place the broccoli florets on a sheet pan large enough to hold them in a single layer. Toss the garlic on the broccoli and drizzle with 5 tablespoons olive oil. Sprinkle with the salt and pepper. Roast for 20 to 25 minutes, until crisp-tender and the tips of some of the florets are browned. 

Remove the broccoli from the oven and immediately toss with 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil, the lemon zest, lemon juice, pine nuts, Parmesan, and basil. Serve hot. 

.......................................................

I also wanted to share my outfit from yesterday.  I have been loving some all white this Summer.

I have this tee shirt in green as well and loved it so much I bought the white.  It is from the junior's section so I sized up and went with a medium because I like a looser tee shirt fit.  It also comes in black and wine.

Tee Shirt |  Shorts | Sandals | Necklaces| Tote | Ring

Another all white look from last month.  These jeans are the best white jeans!  They offer the perfect amount of stretch, and are not see through.

Blouse | Jeans | Sandals | Necklace | Ring

Obsessions | The Cover-Up Edit

Today it is all about the Cover-up!  I love a cute cover-up.  Between boat rides, beach trips and taking the kids to the pool I feel like I am frequently in a cover-up.  

Below are a few I have my eye on and I am also sharing some personal favorites as well. 

ONE | TWO | THREE | FOUR | FIVE | SIX
SEVEN | EIGHT | NINE | TEN | ELEVEN | TWELVE | THIRTEEN

Pitusa Cover-Up

I love this one so much I ordered a second color for our upcoming trip.  It is the softest thing ever!   Feels like you are wearing a worn in tee shirt but way cuter. 

It also comes in a long version.

also pictured: Doughnut Float+ Tote + Sunglasses

Mara Hoffman Tie Front Cover-Up (on sale ) also HERE

I am always a fan of anything Mara designs.  This cover-up as been my go-to lately.  I like the slouchy fit and how it ties in the front. 

also pictured: sunglasses + cooler + bathing suit

Tory Burch Smocked Dress also in RED

I bought this before I went to Dallas and it has been pretty much sold out but I found it in a few sizes and also in red!  

also pictured: sunglasses + earrings + tote

Mara Hoffman Swing Dress (50% off)

Mara always comes out with this swing dress in a few patterns every year.  I love this style and you can actually wear it as a dress too.  It is currently 50% off 4 patterns.  I am wearing a size XS, runs on the large side.

also pictured: sunglasses

also on major sale in this color option.

Tunic Cover-up (also in Gray) | Similar Style same brand

I will be packing many of these for our two upcoming beach trips in the next month!

Scenes From Our Weekend + Shaved Zucchini Salad Recipe

Happy Monday!

Thursday night I headed out for a girl's night with a few of my best friends.  We hit up The Avondale Wine and Cheese Bar which is always a favorite spot.  They have a great wine selection, and so many delicious meat and cheese choices! We devoured this platter. 

Starting to pack for vacation!

Tee Shirt + Bathing Suit + Necklace (available at Beckett Boutique in town)+ Shorts + Tote

Friday we took the kid's shark teeth hunting after dinner.  Sterling is so good at finding them.  

We caught a pretty gorgeous sunset too.

Sterling and Matt found all these in like 20 minutes. It slightly terrifies me that there were this many teeth on our beach! 

Sweet Frances Moon.

Friday's OOTD

This dress just came out in 2 new color options.  It is such a great easy tee shirt dress.   I am wearing a size 1 for reference.

Dress (also in blue stripes) + Necklace + Shoes

Saturday was the Farmer's Market.  I have a new breakfast obsession from The Outta My Huevos food booth.  It is Carolina gold rice with local veggies, feta, chimichurri sauce and 2 eggs over easy.  It is so good.

Right after the Farmer's Market we hit up the pool because it was such a hot day!

Wearing:  Hat + Caftan

That night we met up with my parents for happy hour who were in town with some friends for the weekend.  I am so thankful I get to see them often because I really miss living in the same city.

Mom's Blouse was just restocked too, such a great white blouse.

My Outfit details:

My dress was just reduced.  It runs on the large side so size down at least one size. I am wearing a 2 but almost could have worn a 0.  It is fully lined and I really like the lace detail.

Dress (also Here and HERE) + Necklaces + Sandals + Ring

Sunday we went to church and then lunch with my Father-in-law to celebrate father's day early.  

Then a boat ride to No Name Beach.

I asked Frances Moon for a pretzel and clearly she was not in a sharing mood.

All that anger made her sleepy on the ride home.

Sunglasses + Cover-up (on sale)

I also wanted to mention Progeny Shoppe one of my favorite shops for the kid's is running a sale right now and most summer items are already 30% off and then you can use code SCHOOLSOUT to save another 10% making everything 40% off! 

This romper is one of my favorite outfits for Frances Moon.

A few other precious finds.  Photos by Petite Simone

Tunic + Cover-up

A few people wanted the recipe for this Shaved Zucchini Salad I made over the weekend.  It could not be easier! 

|| S H A V E D  Z U C C H I N I   S A L A D ||

- 2 squash

- 2 zucchini

- 1 small bag sliced almonds

- fresh basil

- juice from one lemon

- olive oil

- parmesan cheese

Using a vegetable peeler slice the squash, zucchini and parmesan cheese into strips and place in a bowl.  Drizzle with olive oil, juice of one lemon and salt and pepper.  Sprinkle in basil and toss all together.  Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil on medium heat and cook the sliced almonds about 4-5 minutes stirring frequently so they don't burn.  remove from heat and place on a paper towel and sprinkle with salt.  Add to salad right before serving.

Smile Today!

Father's Day Gift Guide | All About Shoes

Father's Day is one week from Sunday!  That means it is time to get shopping for all the men in your life.  Matt and I will be out of town on Father's day so we decided to celebrate a little early with the kids this week and give Matt his gift.  Matt is a pretty simple dude and requested some new sneakers and Sterling wanted his to match- so they both picked out some New Balances.

Matt picked this bright blue pair called "The Summer Classic " which I really love.  

My two boys together with their matching sneakers.   It is pretty adorable that Sterling wants to be like Matt.

As you can see Sterling is still rocking his leggings.  He dresses like he is going for a run every single day:)

 Matt New Balances | Matt Shorts |  Sterling's New Balances

I always think shoes are nice gift idea.  Most men don't want to buy them themselves but they like them.  Last year we gave my Dad these Sperry's which are always a great choice.  

Nordstrom has a killer shoe selection right now.  I rounded up 12 pairs all under $200 and most are under $100,  that would make the perfect Father's Day Gift.

ONE | TWO | THREE
FOUR | FIVE | SIX
SEVEN | EIGHT | NINE 
TEN | ELEVEN | TWELVE

Thank you to this handsome guy for modeling and being an awesome Dad:)
Happy Early Father's Day Matt!

You can shop all the shoes below:)
Nordstrom will price match too, if you find any of these shoes cheaper elsewhere.   They always offer free shipping and free returns too.

Thanks to Nordstrom for partnering on this post.