Thursday, July 23, 2015

The Tassel Dress | Cooper and Ella

Meet my new favorite dress.  She is light weight, comfy and has tassels:)
Cooper and Ella is a fairly new line created by a mom of two, and it has quickly become one of my favorite lines.  The pieces are so versatile and I love all the fun patterns. 



  I just adore the fun print.

My Gigi Crossbody was just reduced to 40% off.
I can't tell you how often I carry it!
For those curious about Cooper and Ella sizing, it runs TTS.  I always wear a small in pieces from their line.

If you follow me on instagram,  I have great news you can win a Cooper and Ella Tassel Dress!   It comes in 4 different patterns/colors and you can choose the one you love best!  So follow me @snoopnattynat to enter the giveaway.  I will be starting it later today.







You can shop my look below.




Wanted to mention my rose print blouse also from Cooper and Ella was just reduced.
The black and white is so classic.
The dress version is also reduced!





Wednesday, July 22, 2015

Chicken and Bacon Pasta with Cream Sauce + Lou and Grey 50% Off


I don't cook or eat pasta often, but when I do I forget how good it is.  I came across this recipe on Pinterest and trust me you will want to make this.  It is a one pot easy weeknight dinner.  It honestly took me about 30 minutes start to finish.  Super easy and so delicious.  Even though it is a cream based sauce it didn't feel too heavy.  Everyone in the family loved it, Sterling even went back for thirds!   I used more half and half than the recipe called for because I wanted mine creamier.  I also added a bit more cheese too.
Enjoy!




|| C H I C K E N   A N D  B A C O N  P A S T A  W I T H  C R E A M  S A U C E ||
Recipe Via Julia's Album

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 pound chicken (chicken breast or tenders)
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning (thyme, oregano, basil - combined)
5 medium tomatoes, chopped in large cubes
1 cup cooked spinach ( I used fresh spinach in the plastic container and used the entire container)
5 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon crushed red pepper
6 bacon strips, cooked and chopped
1 and 1/3 cups half and half  ( I used the whole small container of half and half)
1 and 1/3 cups Parmesan cheese, shredded
10 oz penne pasta1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated, for serving

  1. In a large skillet, on high heat, heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil until hot. Add chicken and cook on one side on high heat for 1 minute. While it cooks, sprinkle the uncooked sides of the chicken with paprika and Italian seasoning. Flip the chicken over, and cook on the other side for 1 minute on high heat. Reduce heat to medium, flip chicken over again and cook, covered, for several minutes until no longer pink in the center. Remove chicken from the pan and keep chicken warm.
  2. To the same pan (but without chicken), add chopped tomatoes, spinach, garlic, crushed red pepper, 1/3 of the chicken (sliced into small strips) and half the bacon (already cooked and drained of fat). Mix everything.
  3. Add half and half and bring to boil. Only after half and half starts boiling, add grated Parmesan cheese - immediately reduce to simmer and stir, while simmering, until the cheese melts and makes the sauce creamy, only about 1 minute (at most 2 minutes). Then, immediately remove from heat. Season with more crushed red pepper and salt, if needed.
  4. In the mean time bring a large pot of water to boil, add pasta and cook it according to instructions. Drain the pasta, rinse with cold water and drain again.
  5. Add pasta to the skillet with the sauce. Add remaining half of bacon (cooked and drained of fat). Season with more salt if necessary. Slice the remaining 2/3 of chicken into thin strips. To serve, top the pasta with chicken strips and grated Parmesan cheese.
...................................................................
Lou and Grey is quickly becoming my favorite part of Loft.  The quality is great and I love the easy simplicity of the pieces.  Today only they are offering 50% off all Lou and Grey.  I bought this top several weeks ago and love it.  It comes to only $27 with the discount.
I also picked up this cotton tank dress.  It is super soft!  Comes to $25 with the discount and also comes in black.



A few other Lou and Grey Favorites:






Tuesday, July 21, 2015

Home Updates and Home Obsessions

We have a few fun new projects going on at our house right now.  

First of all we had a pergola built.  One of Matt's best friends just started his own business and we hired him to fence part of our yard and build us a pergola.  I could not be happier with the results.  We have to let the wood sit for a good month to dry out before we paint it.  I plan to grow some Confederate Jasmine over the top and hang some globe outdoor lights.
This was my inspiration picture.  What color should we paint or stain the wood?
I am thinking white or maybe dark gray.

Since Sterling is starting kindergarten this fall, he has requested a big boy room update. I have not really done anything to his room since he was 2.5 years old and we switched him to a big boy bed.  First up was I ditched the Gallery Wall above his bed for this large print.  
Next up a fresh new paint color on his walls. I am tired of the brown and want to brighten up his room.  I am either doing Decorators White or Aloof Gray.
Two big boy rooms I am using for inspiration.


I am so excited because I am going to be working with Alex Kaehler Designs to re-do our dining room.  I have been a huge fan of Alex's since I started blogging.  I just adore her taste.  She recently started doing E-Design services.  Since we opened up the kitchen to the dining room I have been wanting to spruce things up and overhaul the room.
This bathroom and bedroom are some of my favorites she designed.


 A view of our kitchen into the dining room that will be re-done. I can't wait to get started!  I have already filled out the questionnaire and done my measurements of the space and furniture, so we should be starting soon.   I will document and share what we do with the space along the way!


A few pretties for the Home, that I am loving.



This is one of my favorite coffee table books.  I love the pop of pink.  I have ours in our den.  Currently on sale.




I have one of these on a stack of books in our den and love it.


This coffee table is amazing.  
Copper glasses are my new obsession because they keep your drinks super chilled.  These are perfect for entertaining and so cool.

These are perfection.

Such a fresh and fun light fixture.
This rug is so dreamy.  I wish I had a spot for it.


 I love the idea of these to store the kid's toys in our den.
Currently on sale too!

There are so many great new Gray Malin prints on One Kings Lane right now.  I love this one with all the blue and white.
I am considering these for beside Sterling's bed.

I love these gold lamps and they are such a great price!!


I had no idea that my favorite baby blankets were made in throw sizes for living spaces.  These are hands down the softest blankets and part of the Nordstrom sale right now too.  I so want one for our den.  Perfect to cuddle up on the couch with!
How awesome are these flutes??  Also part of the Nordstrom sale.  I really like the gold designs and vintage feel.




Monday, July 20, 2015

Scenes From Our Weekend

We started the weekend off with playgroup Friday afternoon.  We all have been so busy this Summer our play groups have been hard to schedule.  It was great to catch up, enjoy a glass of wine and let the kids play.
I always like to serve some fun snacks for the ladies.  My sister turned me on to pickled okra stuffed with pimento cheese. It is so easy and so tasty!

I love this picture my friend Krystine snapped of me and Frances Moon.  It is definitely a framer.  I mentioned my dress Saturday, Frances Moon's dress is Target (on clearance for $10)

To beat the heat we got a cheap pool from Walmart.  We have a neighborhood pool but Frances is so wild these days with no fear that it is hard for me to take the kids alone if Matt is not home.  The cheap pool was a genius idea, the kids loved.
Afterwards Frances decided to read my new Vogue:)  She is deep in thought about Fall fashion.


I hit up the Farmers Market with the kids Saturday morning and used my goodies to make my first ever Panzanella.  I will share the recipe soon!

I have been getting so much wear out of this white fringe top from Loft.
Necklace is Theodosia


Saturday night we met some friends out for dinner with the kids.  Frances had a major blow out and of course I was unprepared with no clothes, I figured we were past the blow out stage.  So Frances enjoyed dinner in her diaper.  She obviously could care less.


Sunday we were finally able to make it to church.  We have been traveling so much lately that it had been a few weeks since we had been.  Felt good to get back

Our boat has been broken most of the Summer.  Anyone who owns a boat knows what a money pit they are!!  Always something wrong.  We fnally got her fixed and we were all loaded up and ready for a boat ride when a storm rolled through.  Just our luck.
I was all ready for the boat in my LemLem Tunic.

I made some nibbles for the ride that we enjoyed anyways.
Tortellini + mozzarella balls + cherry tomatoes + pesto
Once the storm cleared we took the kids to the Yacht Club to play.

Matt gave Frances a kit kat and she was in heaven.  She is like nobody touch my kit kat.

Here's to Monday.