Thoughts For Friday

I have to admit I have not been glued to the Olympics like most people- don't judge I just have a short attention span for sports and they make me so anxious.   I used to get so anxious at my little brother's basketball games.  Competitive sports bring out crazy anxiety in me!   I have tuned in for a few events mainly the swimming for one reason: Ryan Lochte.  Ok, is he not incredibly sexy?  I can't take my eyes off him and that body.

My little man has decided he now wants to dress himself.  He pitches a fit if I put him in something he doesn't like.  Makes me a little sad that our days of smocked outfits and jons-jons are coming to an end.  This is what he picked out this week.  Jeans and a sweater hat for 90 degree day + a t-shirt.  Ugh.

Went to an event for Fringe Boutique last and scored this adorable Maxi dress.  You can order one here.  Super affordable and super cute!

We are headed to the beach tomorrow for a week long vacay with my whole family!  I seriously live for this week every year.  We always have so much fun.  To spice things up a bit I am making infused Strawberry Vodka.  To use for Strawberry Basil Martinis.  I will report back if it is as good as it looks!

The Gap Friends and Family Event started yesterday and lasts thru Sunday, if you enter the code GAPFRIENDS, you get 30% off your entire purchase.  I think I am going to get a pair of these ankle zip jeans for fall.  Also loving the stripe cardigan.   They look so cute together and I feel like they would pieces I would wear often.

{Gap Ankle Zip Jeans, Stripped Drape Front Cardigan}

I also really want these for my little man.  They are skinny and kind of trendy but I think paired with a button up or classic sweater they would be so darn cute.  and with 30% they are pretty good deal!

{Colored Skinny Jeans}

I am smitten with this new Zucchini recipe I found on WayWay's blog.  It is so delish.  I had it for dinner and then again for lunch the next day.  Lately I can't get enough zucchini!

It is so simple all you do is slice Zucchini and roast with olive and oil and salt pepper at 400 degrees for about 20 mins.  Take out of oven and while warm toss with dressing of lemon juice, olive oil, minced garlic and S&P.  Then add fresh basil and Parmesan cheese!

In case you are wondering my big "detox" lasted one day.  I am pathetic.  Oh well,  I ran today to combat the booze and food.  I am just not a summer dieter.  I have some great guest posts lined up for next week while I am vacationing,  involving designs for Sterling Big Boy Room, trust me you are going to want to see these!  Hopefully I will be back with a few pics from vacay to share as well.   Have a great weekend and stay cool!

  

Trader Joes What You Should Buy Part 2

After my first Trader Joe's post, I got such great feedback.  So many friends told me they bought everything off my list.   They said they loved it because they were always too were overwhelmed and didn't know what to shop for at Trader Joe's.  So,  I decided to do a little more research ( and alot of eating) and bring you round two of things you should buy at Trader Joe's.  I keep finding great new things at TJ's that I had to share!  Trust me you are going to want to stock up on everything on this list!

REDUCED GUILT SPINACH & KALE GREEK YOGURT DIP

This is a creamy dip you don't have to feel bad about eating.  It is made with Greek Yogurt instead of Sour Cream or Mayo plus it is filled with two leafy greens,  spinach and kale.  Serve with some pita chips and you have the perfect no fuss tasty appetizer for your next happy hour get together.

PASTRY BITES WITH FETA AND CARAMELIZED ONIONS

These puff pastry bites are so good.  They are always a hit at parties.  Best part is all you have to do is pop them in the oven for a few minutes and you have a kick ass appetizer. 

COLUMBUS PEPPERED SALAMI

I think most of you know I love to have all the makings on hand for a killer cheese tray.  This salami always makes it way to my cheese tray.  It is all natural,  meaning no nitrates and the pork is raised without anti-biotics.  It is hand rolled in cracked black peppercorns which give it the perfect bite. 

STEMMED AND PEELED BABY BEETS

Beets are one of my favorite foods and bonus they help detoxify and cleanse your liver which makes me love them even more after a night of too much vino.  If you have ever cooked beets you know it is messy, your hands turn pink and the beets stain anything they touch.  They are tricky to peel as well.  That is the great thing about these beets,  the hard work is already done for you.  They are cooked, peeled and ready to eat.  Toss in a salad and you have a fab easy meal.

MINI HEIRLOOM TOMATOES

I love heirloom tomatoes.  They have a much better flavor than regular tomatoes but usually they are way more expensive.  Not at Trader Joe's,  you can get this pint for $2.79.  At other grocery stores it is about $5.  I use my  mini heriloom tomatoes in an arugula salad or thinly slice on mini pizzas.

SHAVED BRUSSELS SPROUTS

I have this Brussels Sprouts salad I am obsessed with but never want to make it because it is such a pain in the arse to shred all the Brussels Sprouts.  It is hard with a knife and my mandolin scares me.  Holding tiny Brussels Sprouts puts my fingers way too close to that razor sharp blade.    I was so happy when I found this bag of pre-shredded Brussels Sprouts at TJs.  Great for salads.

and if you need inspiration here is the recipe for my favorite Brussels Sprouts Salad.  It is mouth wateringly good!

ORGANIC KALE

I have really been into Kale salads lately but I hate the prep work of washing the kale, and chopping off the stems.  This bag of Kale is already chopped and ready to use.  You can eat raw in salads or sautee with a little olive oil and balsamic vinegar for a tasty side dish.

This is my go-to Kale Salad.  Make it with the TJ chopped kale, I promise you won't be disappointed!

DARK CHOCOLATE ALMOND BITS

These are hands down the tastiest sweet treat ever.  But be warned they are addictive.  I could almost eat the entire container.  The almonds have a touch of sea salt on them which makes the flavor pop with the dark chocolate.

MINI MILK CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER CUPS

If you love Reeses Cups as much as I do then you must try these.  They are tiny,  so you can eat several without feeling too guilty about it!

BARBERA D'ALBA WINE

I first tasted this wine at my parents house.  I loved it so of course I went back to buy more and was shocked to see it was only $6.99 a bottle.  Go buy a case of this wine.  It is amazing for the price.

Shrimp Enchiladas with Jalapeno Cream Sauce

I made these Enchiladas for dinner last night,  and ladies it was off the hizzy good.  Like for real.   I will be making these beautiful babies many more times.  As type I am contemplating eating one for breakfast, they were that good.

I will be honest though, it was not a quick meal to make.  It took me awhile to cook and assemble the enchiladas because there are 4 steps: roasting the shrimp, cutting and cooking the veggies, making the jalapeno sauce, and then assembling the enchiladas.   But it is so worth the time.   Best part is it is packed full of fresh veggies and shrimp,  so I like to think it is the healthy Enchilada version, minus the jalapeno cream sauce- which by the way is the best part.  I was literally licking the pan and spoon after I made the sauce it is so tasty. 

While these do take awhile to make, you can totally make them ahead of time and then just pop in the oven when ready to serve.  I made them during Sterling's nap time, then at dinner I had nothing to do but enjoy my glass of wine and toss the dish in the oven.  I of course added lots of extra cheese (I am a cheese freak and always add way more than any recipe calls for).  If you don't eat Shrimp I think this would be killer with shredded chicken, beef , or even black beans.  Bon Appetit!

{Roasted Shrimp}

{Sauteed Cabbage, Spinach, Carrots, Onions, Garlic, and Spices}

{Serve with Guacamole, Hot Sauce, and Black Beans}

Roasted Shrimp Enchiladas with Jalapeño Cream Sauce (adapted from Damn Delicious):

Yields 3-4 servings

INGREDIENTS:

•1 pound medium shrimp, peeled and deveined

•2 tablespoons olive oil, divided

•Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

•2 cloves garlic, minced

•1 small onion, diced

•2 cups shredded green cabbage

•1 carrot, peeled and grated

•3 cups baby spinach

•2 tablespoons chipotle pepper, in adobo sauce

•1/4 teaspoon oregano

•1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper

•12 (6-inch) corn tortillas, warmed

•2 cups Monterey Jack cheese

For the jalapeño cream sauce:

•2 tablespoons unsalted butter

•2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

•1 1/2 cups chicken broth

•3/4 cup sour cream

•2 jalapeños, seeded and minced

•1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

•Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

•1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro

I added in about 1 cup of shredded Mexican Cheese

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Place the shrimp onto the prepared baking sheet. Add 1 tablespoon olive oil, salt and pepper, to taste, and gently toss to combine.

Place into oven and roast just until pink, firm and cooked through, about 6-8 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool before dicing into bite-size pieces.

Reduce the oven temperature to 375 degrees F. Lightly oil a 9x13 baking dish or coat with nonstick spray.

Heat remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet. Add the garlic and onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions become translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the cabbage, carrot, spinach, chipotle pepper, oregano and cayenne. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the spinach just begins to wilt, about 1-2 minutes. Add the shrimp and gently toss to combine.

To make the sauce, melt the butter in a large saucepan. Whisk in the flour until lightly browned, about 1-2 minutes. Gradually whisk in the chicken stock and cook, whisking constantly, until incorporated, about 1-2 minutes. Stir in the sour cream. Add the jalapeños and garlic powder and simmer until the sauce has thickened, about 2 minutes; season with salt and pepper, to taste. Remove from heat and stir in the cilantro.

To assemble the enchiladas, lay the tortilla on a flat surface and spoon 1/3 cup of the shrimp mixture in the center; sprinkle with cheese. Roll the tortilla and place seam side down onto prepared baking dish. Repeat with remaining tortillas and shrimp mixture.

Pour half of the jalapeño cream sauce evenly over the top. Place into oven and bake, covered, until lightly golden and bubbly, about 20 minutes.

(I poured all the sauce over mine since I made them in advance and it worked out perfectly)

Serve immediately with remaining jalapeño cream sauce, garnished with cilantro.

Obsessions + A-Thread Winner!

BANANA REPUBLIC STRIPPED BACK ZIP TOP

Really loving this cute blouse from BR.  The back zipper detail makes it look so chic.  The yellow and gray stripes could easily be worn now and into fall under a cardigan.  It also comes in gray and  navy stripes.  It is only $69.50 plus you can get 30% online only until 8/8 with code BRGOLD.

BANANA REPUBLIC YELLOW CREPE DRESS

Not like me to include two items from BR but after reading my new LUCKY last night and seeing this killer dress, I had to add it to my list (and ordered it for myself).  Love the yellow color for fall and it looks so cute with booties.  Such a versatile dress. It reminds me alot of this Tibi shift dress I have been wanting at a fraction of the price,  $130 plus the 30% off.  A real steal for such a great dress.

SAM EDELMAN LOUIE BOOTIES

As you all know I have really been wanting the Rag and Bone Newbury Booties, but at $500 that is so not in my price range.  I found these Sam Edelman booties when I was home in Charlotte and love them.  They look so cute with dresses, shorts and jeans.  A great price at $160.  I see myself wearing them now and all through the fall.

SERENA AND LILY CRAB SHEETS

I need these crab sheets to happen for Sterling's big boy room.  I seriously love them.

CUSTOM MONOGRAM ETSY PILLOW

Found this great pillow on Etsy for $27.  It looks almost identical to the Jonathan Adler ones that are $100.  Thinking it would be cute in a kids room.

QUOTE

__________________________________________________________

 I am happy to announce the winner of the A-Thread Giveaway is:

Stacey Claassen said...


I love the Basic Open Blazer! So cute for fall

Congrats Stacey!  Shoot me an email at Nataliemason24@yahoo.com with what size you want the blouse in and your mailing address.  Thanks to everyone who entered!

Scenes From Our Weekend

Happy Monday. I know you all are dying to know who won the giveaway but guess what I am going to keep it open for one more day!   So any new readers you have til Monday at midnight to enter the fabulous A-Thread Giveaway! 

My weekend got to a fab start on Thursday Night. You see I was in Charlotte all last week visiting my parents. Thursday my mom and sister and I decided to check out the new Wolfgang Puck Pizza Restaurant and it did not disappoint. All you Charlotte locals must check it out at Phillips Place.  Our favorite pizza we tried was the lamb sausage pizza. I'm drooling thinking about it.

Sterling loved some quality time with his Aunt Taylor (as did I).  Notice the funny face yet again, sigh.

And I truly enjoyed some time with my mom.  I miss her so much and wish we lived in the same city.

Before I left Charlotte, Mom took Sterling and I to do a little back to school,  tax free shopping.  Hey, even though I am not in school it is a great excuse for new clothes:)  I picked up this BB Dakota dress I blogged about awhile back.  It was super affordable and so cute on - although Matt insists I look like Peter Pan in it.  But what does he know about fashion?

{BB Dakota Ashton Dress}

We bought these bright green aPuma's for Sterling.  They are a little trendier than what I normally dress him in but I love the look.  They are seriously adorable on- I highly recommend for any of you with boys.

{Puma Whirlwind V Kids}

Saturday Matt and I took the boat to meet his parents at Morgan Creek Grill for lunch. I had never been before but loved it.  Great views.  I had the crab cake sandwich and a glass of chardonnay = perfect lunch.

Sunday I enjoyed brunch at Husk with my favorite blogging friends!  It was so great to have Julia in town for a quick visit.  We really miss our Richmond friend.  Our brunch lingered on til 5- no joke we had alot of catching up to do.  And we were so loud and giggly an older woman asked me if we were celebrating a Bachelorette Party and I said no just a day without kids and husbands:) 

(me, Caycee, Julia, and Chassity)

 Guess what I wore?  My Peter Pan Dress:)  Haters gonna hate.

We leave for our family vacation on Saturday and I have some fun posts lined up for you guys.  This means I am in detox mode this week.  I am trying to make it til Thursday with no alcohol and only fruits and veggies and maybe fish.  Not sure I can do it but I am going to try because I know next week will be glutinous!  Wish me luck! xoxo

Honored.

I went back and forth about writing about this on my blog, but ultimately decided I wanted to share because darn it, I am proud of myself.  I shared awhile back that Charleston Magazine asked me to contribute to their local online blog,  CharlestonGrit.  I have been doing this for several months now and love it!  If you are a local you should definitely be reading it, it is filled with so many diverse topics and stories that highlight not only the low country but anything and everything!  Last Thursday night, they had  a happy hour party to thank us bloggers and to give out a few awards.

The party was held at Rebekah Jacobs Gallery on Upper King Street.  The location was perfect.  Rebekah houses some really amazing art in her gallery.
  

There was an entire wall filled with photographs that were knock your socks off good.  This is Matt browsing, but boo he didn't let me buy anything.

Matt and I hung out and chatted with the owner Rebekah for a long time, such a great gal with insane taste in artwork!

They provided us with amazing food catered by Newton Farms and delicious beer and wine.  I was a happy camper.

Now, onto the exciting part,  I won the award for most viewed blogger!  I was honestly shocked!  I mean of course I write about what inspires me, but I wasn't sure who all would want to read what I write!  This is me and Rory Johnson and Ellen McGauley, my two favorite gals at Charleston Magazine after I won my award.

This is all of us winners:

{John F Abess, Desmond Kinlaw, Me, Chassity, and Andrew Peterson ]

I debated so long about to wear that night having no clue I would win an award!  I just wanted to look cute.   I ultimately choose my DVF Maxi dress and I think it was a good choice.  I bought this maxi dress almost 5 years ago right before Matt and I got married.  I wore it the day after our wedding for our plane flight to St. Thomas for our honeymoon, so it holds a special place in my heart.

I am honored each and every day that you guys take the time to read my blog.  This blog brings so much happiness and inspiration to my life.  I truly love writing it and your comments always make my day.  So big thank you to all my wonderful readers who want to read all the random crap that I write because most of the time my mind is all over the place.  I am a lucky girl to have found a creative outlet I love.   And extra big thank you to Charleston Magazine for asking me to be a blogger for their new blog! I am happy to be part of such a great team. 

You can check out my posts on Charleston Grit HERE!  

______________________________________

Yesterday I forgot to mention i was guest posting on Dominique's awesome blog, COMFY COZY COUTURE!  Her blog is one of my new finds and I love it!  She has great style and taste!  I am sharing my favorite Summer recipe for Shrimp Nachos!  Check it out HERE and show Dominique some love!
Happy weekend! xoxo

photos via Charleston Grit