Thoughts For Friday

Have you gals heard about the new jeans by 7 for All Mankind called "The Slim Illusion" Skinny jeans.  They are fan freaking tastic.  Please do yourself a favor and order a pair for Fall.  They suck you in, like seriously suck you in and I swear they make you look 5 lbs thinner.  Its likes spanx but jeans!  For all you moms they sit a little higher on the waist,  which I love to suck in my muffin top.

This is how the 7 For All Mankind team describes them "Intense stretch creates a sexy slim silhouette. Exclusive technology provides total shape recovery. Makes you feel at least one size smaller. Tighter construction creates a perfect fit."

 I just got them in the Blackberry (dark purple) color for fall and love them. I love them so much I am seriously considering getting another pair.  I will post some pictures soon but trust me on this one and go ahead and order a pair STAT.  They come in some really fab colors for fall.

{Slim Illusion Ginger}

{Teal Slim Illusion}

{Slim Illusion Blackberry}

{Slim Illusion Fuchsia}

 

While I was at the beach I read Gone Girl and Where We Belong.  Both were great reads, I highly recommend them.

 Next, I just picked up Bringing up Bebe to start reading.  I heard it is super interesting about the differences in how the French discipline and raise their kids compared to the US.  I need all the help I can get, because my little man has turned into quite a handful these days!

How great are these monogrammed hand towels from Etsy?  They are only $22.90 for the pair.  You can do any mix of colors but I am loving the pink and orange.  I think this would be such a cute hostess gift.  Check out the Etsy Shop  HERE.

I am really digging Gwyneth Paltrow's Boho look at the End of Watch movie premiere this week.  Love the dress, although I might would have preferred her hair straightened.

Our Strawberry Infused Vodka we made for our beach trip was a huge hit.  All we did was quarter a pint of strawberries and then pour a fifth of vodka over it.  Let it sit in a cool dark place for 4 days and then enjoy.  We served ours over ice and it was delicious!  You must make this!

This Ecard cracks me up.  Only because Matt and I joke it about it all the time.  Our recycling bin is usually filled with beer and wine bottles:)

We don't have too many plans this weekend just a birthday party for Sterling's friend Harper tomorrow and then drinks with friends after.  I do plan on making my mom's Seafood Lasagna this weekend.  It is truly amazing, I posted the recipe here awhile back- it is so good!  I am thinking I am going to add Spinach to it this time like this recipe.  I'm drooling thinking about it!

 

Happy weekend!

Pixie Lily Fall + My Little Super Model

I think you all know about my love affair with Pixie Lily Baby Clothes.  They are quite possibly the cutest baby clothes around.  I was so excited when Leda Jackson, the designer and creator of Pixie Lily,  decided to start making clothes past the 24 month mark and up to 3T.   My little man can still rock these precious clothes for another year (yeah me)!

Well good news is the Pixie Lily fall line is set to launch next week and it is super cute.    I want every single piece for Sterling.   And even bigger news- do you recognize the tiny model with the curly hair??  Yep, that's my sweet boy Sterling doing his first professional modeling gig for my favorite baby line.  I about died.  I am one happy and proud Mama!  And Sterling ate it up, he actually cried when his camera time was over.  I think I might have a little male model diva on my hands.

For all you Charleston Locals.  Pixie Lily will be hosting a Fall Trunk Show:

Monday August 27 thru Thursday August 30 from 9-2

48 Society Street (corner of Anson and Society)
Charleston, SC 29401 

Here is a sneak peak at some of the new fall items you will see at the trunk show and online.

{Sailor Suit and Sailor Dress}

{Long Button On Suit}

{Red Poet Smocked Dress and Short Button on Suit}

{Buff Apron Suit}

{Blue Apron Suit}

{Poet Dress}

{Ruffle Dress}

{Smocked Dress}

The Fall line is pretty adorable right??  All you locals should definitely stop by the Trunk Show next Monday-Thursday,  and for all you non-locals you can shop online HERE.  If you are out of town and have to miss the trunk show you can always call 843-579-0364 to set up an appointment to stop in the Pixie Lily Studio!

Black Bean Cakes With Corn Salsa and Avocado Cream

For all my Vegetarian readers (and trust me you non-vegetarians will love this too) I have a kick ass recipe.  Matt had a late night at work last night which = the freedom to cook anything I want to cook, and that is always a vegetarian meal.   These cakes were surprisingly easy to make and full of so many delicious flavors.  Trust me when I say, Vegetarian meals do not have to be bland and boring.

 

Small piece of advice do not skip the refrigeration part with the cakes before you cook them.  It really helps to bind them together before you cook them so they don't fall apart.  The corn salsa and avocado cream were amazing.  I was shoveling down spoonfuls of them while I waited on the black bean cakes to cook.  This recipe was good, real good.  It will be made many more times in the Mason Household (even if it is only when Matt works late).  Plus it is healthy.  Two bonuses.  I served my cakes with a healthy dose of hot sauce, no meal is complete for me without some sort of hot sauce.  No brainer you should make this meal asap.

Black Bean Cakes With Corn Salsa and Avocado Cream {Adapted From Baked Bree}

Black Bean Cakes:
1 (14-ounce) can black beans, drained
1 clove garlic
1/2 cup red onion
1/2 cup red pepper
1/2 cup corn kernel
1 egg
1/4 teaspoon chili powder
1/4 teaspoon chipotle chili powder (I didn't have this spice so I just doubled the Chili Powder)
1/4 teaspoon oregano
1/2 teaspoon cumin
salt and pepper
1 cup bread crumbs

Corn Salsa:
1 cup corn kernels
1/4 cup red pepper
2 green onions
10 teardrop tomatoes (I used diced regular tomatoes)
juice of 2 limes (I only used the juice of one lime)
salt and pepper
(I added a few dashes of Texas Pete and one diced Jalapeno)

Avocado Cream:
1 avocado
1/2 cup sour cream
1 teaspoon cumin
1 Tablespoon lime juice
salt and pepper

Instructions:

1.Mix together garlic, onion, red pepper, corn, egg, chili powders, oregano, and cumin. Season with salt and pepper.

2.Mash the black beans a bit and add to the bowl.

3.Stir in the bread crumbs.

4.Form into patties, and chill in the fridge for 20 minutes or so. It helps keep the patties together.

5.Mix together all of the ingredients for the salsa while the black bean patties are chilling.

6.To make the avocado sauce, put the avocado, sour cream, lime, and cumin, in the blender. Blend until smooth. It is a very thick sauce, you can thin it with more lime juice or some water. (I did not use a blender I mashed my avocado with a fork and then hand mixed it with the sour cream and lime juice).

7.Heat a pan over medium heat. Pour in a few Tablespoons of olive oil and put the patties in the pan. Resist the urge to flip the cakes to soon. They will fall apart. Cook until they brown and then flip. Cook the other side.

8. I put mine on a bed of chopped spinach leaves. Top with corn salsa and avocado sauce. And hot sauce if you like.

 **If you have never checked out the Baked Bree Website, you should.  It is chocked full of so many fabulous recipes.**

Obsessions

REBECCA MINKOFF BECKY JACKET

I have been obsessed with this Rebecca Minkoff jacket since last year when I spied it in the red version.  Now I see it is back and in one my favorite shades of green..  I need this jacket for fall. It would look cute with everything!

JALAPENO JACK PRETZEL CRISPS

This is the new flavor of Pretzel crisps that was recently released and they are awesome!  They have a slight bite to them and are so good dipped in hummus.  They are my latest snack obsession.

GAP SKINNY COLORED JEANS FOR KIDS

I posted about these a few weeks ago and my mom ended up ordering Sterling a few pairs for back to school.   We got the gray and green ones and I could not be more obsessed with them.  I hate little boys in baggy loose jeans and these are a more slim fit which I adore.  Sterling loves them too, even though it is hot outside all he wants to wear are his "green pants."  Order these for your little men ladies, you will love them.  Plus they are on sale right now for $23.

MADEWELL SILK CANDLELIGHT BLOUSE

Love this blouse in a major way. It would be perfect for fall with my skinny jeans.  I am can't decide what color I love more!  I always love royal blue but I am leaning towards gray because I am smitten with it for fall with colored skinnies.

LUCITE STOOLS

Ladies someone please tell me where I can find stools similar to these.  They would look perfect in my den!

Found it: The Perfect Chambray Shirt

Good Monday Morning Ladies!  I am happy to report I am back from vacation, well rested and ready to tackle the world including the extra 5 lbs I gained while consuming way too much of anything and everything at the beach!

 The good news is, I have finally found the perfect Chambray Shirt.  Trust me when I say I have looked everywhere:  JCrew, Old Navy, Gap the list goes on.  Every shirt I tried on was too thick of a material, the wrong shade and/or made me look butch (ladies you all know what I am talking about,  some button-ups can make you look butch).  While on our beach vacay, my sister in law was wearing the cutest Chambray Shirt.  She let me try it on and it was love at first site. 

I introduce to you the Madewell Chambray Ex- Boyfriend Shirt in Ferrous Wash

Here is what I like about this Chambray shirt compared to others: 

• Fitted but not too fitted.
• Love the lighter blue color
• Super light weight.
• Super comfortable and cute

Right now I love pairing the shirt with my white jean shorts.  Added bonus it looks cute with all my statement necklaces. (Don't mind the dead orchid in the corner of the top picture, I swear I can't keep any indoor plants alive).

  This is how I would rock the Chambray shirt this fall with two different looks.

{Madewell Chambray Ex-Boyfriend Shirt, 7 for all Mankind The Skinny Jeans, JBrand Skinny Jeans, Matt Bernson Leather Booties, Tory Burch Eddie Flats, Rachel Zoe Necklace, American Outfitters Scarf}

Ladies, seriously go to your nearest Madewell store or order online here.    It is free shipping and no sales tax for us Charleston gals or any city that doesnt have an actual Madewell storefront.  Trust me, you are going to want to add this shirt to your closet. 
Heads up it runs on the large side.  Mine is an extra-small and I usually wear a small, so order accordingly!

Cucumber Gimlet + Friday Randoms

I am writing this post from our balcony over looking the ocean, savoring our last day of beach vacation.   This has been a much needed week of relaxation for me and my family.

I wanted to pop in today and share a new cocktail we made this week that was hit with everyone.  I introduce to you the Cucumber Gimlet.  It is light, refreshing,  and ridiculously good.

It all started with our girls lunch at a restaurant here in Pawleys Island called Chive Blossom.  We all ordered the Cucumber Gimlet and became obsessed with it.  We knew we had to recreate it!

The original recipe at Chive Blossom called for Gin but all of us ladies subbed Vodka for Gin.  Is it just me or does Gin taste like Christmas trees?  I just can't drink it.  Could also be the fact that in college my drink of choice was gin and tonic.  I drank so many of those I will never touch it again.   This cocktail is pretty simple, all you need is Vodka, Cucumber, limes,  and a touch of simple syrup.

CUCUMBER GIMLET

- 1 English Cucumber peeled and half finely diced, half sliced

-6-7 limes

-1/2 cup simple Syrup (simmer 1/2 cup sugar in 1 cup of water on stove til sugar has melted)

-Vodka

Take the diced cucumber and the juice of 6 limes and slightly puree in a blender with ice. You don't want it to be pure liquid just slightly pulsed.  In glasses add ice and few pieces of the sliced cucumber.  Pour about a shot glass worth of the pureed cucumber/lime mix over the ice in a glass and add in 2 shots of vodka and let it sit for a few minutes.  It helps to let it sit to infuse the cucumber flavor in the vodka.  After a few minutes add in simple syrup to your liking.  We each added in about 2 teaspoons per drink.  You can make as sweet as you want but we don't like our drinks too sweet.  We also squeezed an additional half a lime over the top of each drink.

Enjoy!

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I found a new nail polish color I am obsessed with thanks to my sister- Essie E-nuf is E-nuf.  It is a gorgeous color.  Perfect for the end of Summer.

 I had to share our attempts to try and get a family photo this week.  We really don't have many photos of the three of us so I really wanted a good one.  This is so not easy with a two year old.  This was the beginning of the week.  Pretty standard he cries everytime the camera comes out.

{Attempt One}

{Attempt Two}

This time he wouldn't take his hands out of his mouth.  Plus my hair is a hot mess.

{Attempt Three}

Finally by the end of the week we got this quasi successful picture.  We are totally shaded out by the sun but oh well at least we are all looking at the camera!

Also, just because I can't resist, I have to share one picture of my little man looking adorable.  This is our last summer in jon-jons so I have to relish it!

In keeping with my fabulous guest posts from this week, I purchased the first item for Sterling's Big Boy Room at a shop here in Pawleys Island.  How adorable is this Burlap Pillow?  I am going to use it on his Eames Rocker.

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Lastly,  I am guest posting over at Lindsay's blog Sadie + Stella.

 I am sharing my recipe for this amazing Butterbean and Shaved Zucchini Salad. Trust me you are going to want to make it,  and frankly I need to eat it everyday next week to make up for all the junk I consumed this week.  You can check out my recipe HERE.

Have a great weekend!  I will be savoring every last minute til back to reality Monday!