Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Roasted Veggie and Smoked Gouda Pasta


Today I am coming at you with another awesome vegetarian meal. We are on week two of meatless Mondays and I am loving it. The hubs not so much.  I really liked this pasta, it was filled with all my favorite veggies and loaded with smoked Gouda.  Plus you can make it ahead of time and just pop it in your oven.  It makes a huge dish you could easily split this in half and take half to a friend.   You could make this with any veggies you have on hand but I like the combo of the veggies below.  Load up on the cheese and Enjoy!



|| R O A S T E D  V E G G I E  A N D   S M O K E D  G O U D A  P A S T A ||
adapted from How Sweet Eats

Ingredients:

1/2 orange bell pepper chopped
1 sweet potato, peeled and chopped
1 1/2 cups broccoli florets, chopped
1/2 red onion, chopped
1/2 pound brussel sprouts, stems removed and sliced
8 ounces sliced mushrooms
2 garlic cloves, minced
3 tablespoons olive oil
3 tablespoons honey
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pepper
1 pound pasta shells, cooked (I used shells but any pasta would work)
1 (28-ounce) can diced tomatoes
8 ounces smoked gouda cheese, freshly grated (one round of smoked Gouda)
1/4 cup panko bread crumbs
1/2- 1 cup heavy cream
freshly grated parmigiano-reggiano cheese for topping

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
Place the chopped peppers, sweet potato, broccoli, onion, brussels, mushrooms and garlic cloves on a nonstick baking sheet. Drizzle the veggies with the olive oil and honey. Sprinkle them with salt and pepper and then give them a thorough toss. Roast the veggies for 25 to 30 minutes, tossing them once halfway through. I cook the pasta while the veggies are roasting.
Drain pasta and then toss with heavy cream and 1/2 smoked Gouda and Parmesan cheese.  Mix together.
Spray a 9x13 baking dish with nonstick spray. Add the pasta and half of the veggies, then spoon half of the diced tomatoes over top. Add half of the grated cheese, then layer again with the remaining pasta, veggies, diced tomatoes and cheese. Finish the top off with a sprinkling of breadcrumbs. Bake the pasta for 25 to 30 minutes, until the cheese is golden and bubbly on top. Serve with extra cheese for grating on top.
This stays great in the fridge for 4 to 5 days - it's an awesome make ahead meal.

Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Piperlime 40% Off all Sale til Midnight!!

Ladies this sale is too good to miss. Tonight until midnight you can get an additional 40% off all sale merchandise on Piperlime. The prices are a steal! Check out the sale HERE. A few of my top picks! Happy Shopping. Use code TODAY when you check out!
I may have snagged this floral shift for me:)


Obsessions

Ever since seeing this cardigan in the new JCrew catalog I have been convinced I need it.  It would be the perfect cardigan to pair with a tee and leggings.  I love all three colors it comes in:  Navy, Gray, and Burgundy.
http://rstyle.me/~VOT6

Love this lucite bib necklace.  Would be perfect for the Holidays!  It is a steal at $42, I have seen similar ones that are $200+!

http://rstyle.me/n/cqyifgf5

|| Joie Armelio Sweater ||
I am loving the asymmetric hem on this sweater.  Joie makes the best sweaters.  This would be great with leggings or skinny jeans.   Such a great cozy light weight sweater.
 || Steve Madden Booties ||
How awesome are these booties?  They are the perfect shade of cognac brown!  They would go with everything!

|| F21 Ribbed Poncho ||
I tried to find this poncho in the store but all they had left was a size large.  In person it really looks way more expensive than it is.  Definitely ordering a small.  Would be so cute over dresses or with jeans.   Such a great deal at $29It also comes in camel color.  Great for any of you preggos too.


|| Tibi Silk V-neck Dress ||
Somebody please snag this dress, it is on sale right now at Saks.  Such a great color for Fall and fit!  I bet it would work for early pregnancy too!


|| West Elm Mid Century Three Tier Dessert Tray ||
I adore the modern sleek look of this three tiered serving piece plus it is on sale for $39.  I love these as table toppers at the Holidays pilled with glass balls.
also love the ice bucket


|| Boys Glow in the Dark Christmas Pjs ||
I love to get Sterling fun Christmas Pjs every year, in fact we are still sleeping in ours from last year:)  Love this JCrew version that actually glows in the dark- how cool is that??


Monday, November 4, 2013

Scenes From Our Weekend + What I Wore

Happy Monday Friends. Did everyone have a good weekend? Here is what we were up to.
 Friday night we took a stroll on the beach near our house, we are so lucky to love so close to the beach.  We saw a giant snake, Matt tried to snap a picture but it was moving too fast and got way- it was definitely creepy.  It was huge with black diamonds- the stuff nightmares are made out of.


Saturday Morning I took Sterling out to breakfast, Matt got up early to surf with a friend so it was just me and my little man.  Really savoring these moments just the two of us.  Normally I would have been lazy and picked up drive thru food but figured with the impending arrival of baby girl it might be awhile til the two of us can do a solo breakfast date again.  We both were craving pancakes so we hit up Sweetwater.  Please take a look at the amount of syrup on my little mans plate.  The pancakes were swimming in it!


I finally started writing thank you notes from my Sprinkle two weeks ago.  My friend Sam designed me the most adorable note cards with our family on them.  If you are local she works with Mac and Murphy and does these custom note cards.  I love mine! It looks just like us, right?


I received the sweetest package in the mail Saturday from my friend Sarah Swanson (Flourish Design and Style), she sent some of her watercolor paintings for the nursery.  You must check out here Etsy site Here, all her paintings are only $10- you could do such a fabulous gallery wall for cheap with these beauties!

 Saturday night we met my brother and wife for happy hour and apps at the Roof Top Bar.  It was the perfect weather for outdoor dining!


 I wore my David Lerner coated leggings that I blogged about last week, I love them!  Paired them with an old Joie Blouse (similar versions HEREHERE, HERE ) and Rebecca Minkoff Booties.  Seriously the leggings are the best so comfortable!



Sunday we all went to church together which was nice because it is normally just me and Sterling.  Sometimes it is hard to convince Daddy to join us.  I bribed him with the lure of Bojangles afterwards and it worked. 


 I wore my JCrew Sweater dress.  The colors in this dress are so awesome for Fall.  It is on major sale right now online.  Runs on the larger side, I got an XS.

and now we are down to two weekends til my due date,  freaking out a little.
xoxo


Saturday, November 2, 2013

Weekend Style Files : The Winter White Sweater

One of my favorite simple looks for the Fall is a white sweater with jeans. It is such a classic and timeless look that always looks put together and chic. I invested in a white Vince Sweater last year that I was lucky enough to find at Marshalls and it remains one of my favorite sweaters, Vince is always worth the money!  Similar version to mine HERE on sale now.
 Look how amazing my girl GP looks in her Winter White Sweater.

 I rounded up a few of my favorite white sweaters in different price ranges.  Always a great investment for your closet!



Friday, November 1, 2013

Thoughts For Friday

It has been awhile since I did a Thoughts for Friday post, so here is your daily dose of random this lovely first Friday in November. 

We had a super fabulous Halloween last night.  Sterling is at such a fun age he loves everything about Halloween and who doesn't love all the candy??  I need to be cut off I ate so many Twix yesterday.


I am super flattered because Carolina Style Magazine named me one of The Carolina's top bloggers of 2013.
You can check out my feature HERE!


The light finally arrived for our nursery and I am smitten with it.  We installed it this week, now just to find a few replacement bulbs because several were broke while trying to hang this beauty.



Pretty certain these Carne Asada Nachos will be made this weekend.  How amazing do they look?


 I am so excited about this book that was just released by Aerin Lauder.  I love her and her style.  It is definitley on my Christmas List!

Piperlime is having a great sale right now, like seriously good prices.  I snagged this dress to save for next Summer.  Check out the sale HERE.  With my rewards and all I ended up getting this dress for $30!


Lastly, I am officially full term this weekend.  37 weeks!!  This pregnancy has flown by!  Normally I don't do full on bare belly shots but I wanted to document the size of this belly, that and the fact I really have no belly button anymore.  Things are about to get real.


Happy Weekend!



Thursday, October 31, 2013

Leggings: Two Must have Pairs for Fall.

Leggings you either love em or hate em and I absolutely love them. First and foremost they are comfortable which is always nice. Plus I think they make for a really cute fall outfit. A few of my favorite leggings outfits (now if only my legs looked like Blake's):


I recently found two pairs of leggings that I am smitten with and I know you will be too!    I have found you don't want leggings that are too loose and have no structure that is just plain unflattering. Both of these leggings fit like a glove.  So far they are the best leggings, I have tried but I am always open to suggestions!  Since I am 9 months pregnant I won't scar your eyes with pictures of me in the leggings but just trust me they are amazing.  Both are a little on the pricey side for leggings but I swear they are worth every penny!

These are great everyday leggings,  they suck you and are so flattering.  I love the waist band at the top it really sucks you in and flattens out your tummy.  They run true to size, I ordered a size small.
They are a cotton blend and super comfortable.


I have wanted a pair of coated leggings forever and these came highly recommended.  They are super comfortable, I am actually able to still wear them pregnant.  They come in black, espresso, and merlot.  I went with classic black, and they also run true to size I have a size small.  They don't have quite as much structure as the Spanx but I still found them very flattering.  Great for a dressier pair of leggings.


Choosing tops to go with leggings can sometimes be a struggle, I rounded up a few of my choices.  The key is to find tops that hit at your hips or a touch longer.    I love sweaters or loose blouses with leggings. 
Leggings


I am living in leggings this last month of my pregnancy so I have to sing their praises!
xoxo