Ann Taylor Revamped

I have to admit I have not stepped foot in an Ann Taylor store probably since Junior High. I am in Charlotte this week visiting my rents and my mom wanted to stop in today to show me a dress she liked. Boy was I pleasantly surprised. I think they are trying to revamp their image. They now have Kate Hudson as their model who I really like. They had some great neon stuff in the store for way better prices than most boutiques around town. I used to think AT was just for older women but I was proven wrong.

Both my mom and got this blouse, it is on sale plus you get an additional 30% percent off. I love navy blouses because they go with everything.

Ann Taylor Navy Cargo Blouse

ok and does anyone think this model really looks exactly like Courtney from The Bachelor (Ben's Season)?? Just saying. Tell me you don't agree....

This is not a clear picture but I promise this blouse fits super well and looks cute.

I also picked up this dress.

Ann Taylor Decomposed Sheath Dress

And excuse my horrific roots in this picture. My hair needs to be colored bad! I thought the dress was super cute and such a great color. I figured I could dress it up or even wear it to church. I knew I had made the right decision when I saw Eva Longoria wearing the same dress!

A few other things I really liked:
Neon Marquis Stretch Bracelet, Lace Shirt, Riley Patent Strappy Sandels

Ann Taylor is rocking it this season.

Summer Corn Cakes With Tomato Avocado Salsa

You might remember WayWay posting this recipe a few weeks ago. I think we both made it the same night! I originally saw it on Pinterest but then realized I own the cookbook it was from. It comes from Sara Foster's Southern Kitchen and if you don't own a Sara Foster Cookbook you should. I own all 4 of her books and they are my absolute favorite cookbooks. She opened a restaurant called Fosters Market in Chapel Hill that was my favorite place to eat while I was in college. It was always filled with the best salads, homemade breads, dips and sandwiches. I still dream about that place now that I no longer live in Chapel Hill but her first cookbooks are filled with all the recipes from there.

This is the perfect light and refreshing Summer dinner. I made them one night when Matt was working late because he all know he hates meatless meals. It was delicious and if you wanted to add meat I think it would be killer with grilled shrimp or some fresh crabmeat. The avocado relish really made the cakes. It was the perfect combo of flavors and paired wonderfully with the corn cakes. Two cakes plus some white wine equals the perfect summer dinner!

Summer Corn Cakes with Chopped Tomato and Avocado Salsa

Adapted from “Sara Foster’s Southern Kitchen”

Makes about 12 large cakes; serves 6 to 8

3 ears corn, shucked

1 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 cup cornmeal (If you can only find cornmeal mix, skip the baking powder.)

1/4 cup diced red onion

1/4 cup thinly sliced fresh basil

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

2 large eggs, lightly beaten

2 tablespoons well-shaken buttermilk

2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

Canola oil, for frying

Chopped Tomato and Avocado Salsa (recipe follows)

1.Preheat oven to 200 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with a brown paper bag.

2.Cut the corn from the cobs into a large bowl, and scrape the stripped cobs with the back of the knife (or a spoon) to release the juices into the bowl.

3.Place 2 cups of the corn kernels into a food processor, and pulse several times, until the corn is slightly pureed but still chunky. Scrape into the bowl with the remaining corn kernels.

4.Add flour, cornmeal, onion, basil, baking powder, baking soda, salt and pepper to the corn. Stir to mix.

5.Add the eggs, buttermilk and butter, and stir just to combine. (Do not overmix.)

6.Place a large skillet over medium heat. Add just enough canola oil to barely cover the bottom, and heat until sizzling hot.

7.One heaping tablespoon at a time, scoop the batter into the skillet. Cooking in batches of 4 to 5 to avoid overcrowding, fry the cakes 1 to 2 minutes per side, until golden brown.

8.Drain on the lined baking sheet, and place in the oven to keep warm while cooking the remaining corn cakes. Serve warm topped with a heap of Chopped Tomato and Avocado Salsa.

Obsessions

GAP FLOPPY SUN HAT
Now that the weather has been warm here we have been spending alot of time outdoors and at the beach. I think a sun hat looks so chic. I picture this with my black strapless one piece. It is a steal from The Gap of all places!

NEAR EAST TABOULE SALAD
This is my latest lunch obsession. I make a batch at the beginning of the week and then eat it all week long for lunch. I usually serve it with hummus, pita chips, and sauteed kale. All you have to do is add hot water to the mix and let it sit for 30 mins. I always add fresh lemon juice, olive oil, chopped tomato, onion, and fresh mint to mine. This salad is so good!

INFLUENCE BY MARY KATE AND ASHLEY OLSEN
I just got this book and love it. It is filled with interviews with so many great people like DVF, Lauren Hutton and MK and Ashley. It is gorgeous coffee table book.

TIBI IKAT SHORTS
I heart these shorts. I only own plain jean shorts and I am looking to spice up my shorts wardrobe this summer. Would you believe I never owned a pair of shorts til after I had Sterling! I never thought I was a shorts type of girl. But now I love them. I think this Tibi pair is perfect because they would be cute for running errands with a white tee or dressed up with a blouse and heels!
TIBI LAYLA IKAT SHORTS

SABINE NECKLACE
I have really been into statement necklaces lately. I love this one and it is only $24! The white would go with everything!

Must Drink Cocktail + Our Weekend

I have to share with you the tastiest cocktail ever. One of my readers (Thanks Mandy) emailed me a recipe for an Elderflower Martini. I made them Friday night for my sister and I and we both loved them! It was such a fun new cocktail to try! Elderflower Liquor is so good. It is a little sweet and normally I don't like sweet drinks but the acidity of the lemon and grapefruit really helped to cut the sweetness down. We both happily went back for seconds.

ELDERFLOWER MARTINI (makes two cocktails)
4 shots Vodka
half a grapefruit squeezed
2 shots St Germain Elderflower Liquor
1 lemon juiced
Shake all in a martini shaker and enjoy.

If you aren't familiar, this what Elderflower Liquor looks like. It is a flavored liquor and so tasty. I think it would also be delish in champagne.

Here we are enjoying our martinis!

On Saturday night we had a sprinkle for my dear friend Caycee. She is due in 3 weeks and looks amazing! She is having a baby girl and couldn't be more excited! I wish I had taken more pictures but she got the cutest gifts.

My little man is obsessed with sunglasses. He wants to wear them all the time. He even accosted a little girl at the park trying to take her glasses.

If you need a new activity to try with your kids try shell painting. My friend Erin told me about this idea and Sterling loved it. We went to beach Saturday and collected shells and then sat outside and painted them. I always save old egg cartons to use to squirt the paint in, keeps the colors separated and works great. Sterling still keeps saying "paint shells." Kept him occupied for a little which was nice:)

Piperlime is having 20 percent off the whole site today, so go get your shop on!
I am thinking about getting this maxi dress. It is only $69, so with the additional 20 percent off it will be a real steal.
Ark and Co Colorblock Maxi Dress

I also really want this Michael Stars maxi dress. I love Michael Stars dresses. They fit so well and you can wash them (I hate dry cleaning it is so expensive). They have alot of stretch in them too, so you preggers girls could totally wear them now and later. This dress comes in turquoise and orange which color do ya'll like best?
Michael Stars Smocked Strapless Maxi

Can you tell I love a Maxi Dress? I live in them during the Summer! Happy Monday, hope your week is off to a great start!

The Look For Less: Color Block Maxi Dress

I blogged about this super cute Splendid Dress last week. And while it is a pretty good price for a maxi dress I found an even better deal!
{SPLENDID TEE MAXI DRESS}, $138

{F21 COLORBLOCK MAXI DRESS}, $14.50
I honestly think I like this dress even better because it doesn't cut off right at the hips. It would look so cute with a belt or a statement necklace. Consider her mine.

And speaking of Forever 21 I picked up this cute dress in the store. I could not find it online yet but it is currently in the King Street store. It came with a belt but I ditched because it looked cheapo. It is a great mustard yellow color and I see myself wearing it all summer. It has such a loose easy fit!

Thoughts For Friday

I am so excited because this weekend is the opening of the Calypso St Barth store in Charleston! I am sad because I had to miss the opening party last night. Having a kid plus a husband that works late= I never get to go to things!
I bought this cover-up/dress at the Chicago Calypso store years ago and I still love it.
Cool Change Pull On Mini

And these are two things I have my eye on in the new store:

Hanne Bloch One-Piece, Irene Ikat Skirt,

I think I want to buy a Popsicle maker for Sterling. My GF told me that she uses the leftover juice from her juicer to make pops for her son. She said he will even eat beet/veggie ones. This is genius to me since Sterling has a major aversion to most vegetables. I looked at the ZOKU one at Williams Sonoma but did not buy it. I would prefer one that would make more pops at once. But then again maybe I don't need to make that many all at once. Any recommendations? Anyone own the ZOKU?

I am hooked on this Citrus Kale salad I made for lunch the other day. Several of you asked what was in it so here is the recipe. The dressing is so good and the citrus in it helps cut the bitterness of the kale. I added fresh shreds of Parmesan to mine.

I am finally finishing up the Hunger Games books. I am on the third book, sad for it to end but this one has not been nearly as good as the first two. Next on my reading list is Fifty Shades of Gray. I keep hearing about this book and want to see what all the hype is about.

I also picked up Hoda's biography. I have kind of been obsessed with her ever since she was on Bethenny plus I love the third hour of the Today Show with her and Katie Lee. Hoda seems so sweet and down to earth, can't wait to read her story.

What are your thoughts on denim shirts? I really dig the look in picture (I think it might be Emily Maynard) but I can't get past the fact that I used to wear denim shirts in like 8th grade. Are they still cool?

I have my eye on this one by Joie. Thinking it would look cute with my colored jeans, white jeans, or black jeans.
Joie Pinot Denim Shirt

Sterling has been on Spring Break all week. I never realized how much I needed those 3 hours every Tuesday/Thursday morning. It has been a long week. and this quote is too true around here (applies to the husband too)!

Have a great weekend!

8 Things You Should Try at Trader Joe's

I have to admit when Trader Joe's first opened here in Charleston I wasn't sure what all the hype was all about. A new grocery store? What could be so awesome about a grocery store? Well primarily their prices are amazing. I can grocery shop here for super cheap and the store is filled with all sorts of fun new food items to try. I live about 20 minutes away from the Mt Pleasant store that opened here, yet I find myself making the trek pretty much every other week to stock up. I now see what all the hype was about. I thought I would share with you my staples that I buy every time I shop here. These are tried and true favorites that I love. So, now you dish and tell me what are your favorite things to buy at Traders Joe's!

WILD MUSHROOM AND BLACK TRUFFLE FLATBREAD
This is so good. I am sucker for anything with truffles in it and you can really taste the truffles in the pizza. Side note- I do always add extra cheese to ours before I bake it.

SAVORY THIN MINI EDAMAME CRACKERS
These crackers are my favorite snack. They are tiny, (which makes me think I can eat alot of them), crispy, and salty. Perfect to dip in hummus or enjoy with cheese. I buy two bags every time I go because we eat so many of them!

ARCANCINI BITES
These little rice balls are addictive. Heat them up and dip them in tomato sauce and you have the perfect appetizer or meal served with a salad. Even my little man gobbles these up.

CILANTRO JALAPENO HUMMUS
This is hummus is so good. The jalapeno and fresh cilantro combo works together perfectly. It has a slight bite to it which we love. Try dipping the edamame crackers in this, it is my favorite snack!

PICTON BAY SAUVIGNON BLANC
This wine sells for $7.99 and it is delicious. I am picky about Sauvignon Blancs I do not like it when they are too sweet. This one is not. It is light, crisp and refreshing. I always pick up a bottle or two to have on hand.

RISING SUN FARMS CHEESE TORTAS
For $5.50 a piece these tortas make the perfect quick appetizer to put out when entertaining. They both are delish but the Sundried Tomato and Pesto one is my favorite. It looks beautiful sitting out and tastes just as good.

ROSEMARY RAISIN CRACKERS
I always serve these with the Sundried Tomato/Pesto Cheese Torta. Seems like a weird combination but I promise the flavors work great together. These crackers are tasty alone or paired with plain cheese too.

ORCHIDS
The orchids at Trader Joe's are gorgeous and only $12.99. A real steal. I buy a fresh one for my house every few months. They also make great hostess and birthday gifts for friends. This is my orchid I bought there a few weeks ago on my foyer table, beautiful right?