pop of color

It's not a secret that I like the color black, but I'm going to try and embrace the "pop of color" trend. Brad Goreski must be rubbing off on me! I had to go to my Polyvore closet to make that happen. I like using a purse, necklace, or scarf to add the POP of color.

Here are three different pops of color on the same outfit...

turquoise

coral purse

pop of scarf

This was actually my first time using Polyvore. I can already tell that I will be obsessed. Who wouldn't like putting outfits together with endless possibilities? 

oscars 2012: top 5

All I can say is WOW.  The dresses (and the "stars") were drop dead gorgeous last night.  I loved so many, but five stood out above all the rest!  My top 5...

#1

Jessica Chastain in Alexander McQueen

and Harry Winston Jewels

She looked absolutely stunning, and her jewels were to DIE for!

#2

Octavia Spencer in Tadashi Shoji

Academy Award Winner!  She looked like a million bucks.

#3

Stacy Keibler in Marchesa

Love the gold. Hollywood glamour!

#4

Gwyneth Paltrow in Tom Ford

A beauty in white!  Gorg.

#5

Tina Fey in Carolina Herrera

I've never seen Tina Fey look better.  This dress is fabulous.

and let's not forget about the best looking guy...

George Clooney in Giorgio Armani

gold

I am constantly seeing gold and I'm loving it.  Hoping to add a few of these to my closet...

tory burch emmy sandal

h & m

lilly pulitzer bow belt

kenneth jay lane bamboo hoops

anthropologie

essie golden nuggets

h & m

Hope you all have a good weekend!  I'll leave you with a funny.  Episode 2 is actually my favorite.  I can't believe I ate all that...

sh*t girls say, episode 2

crazy coupon lady

So you all might think I'm crazy.  The hubs does...I was on the phone with Chase last night trying to sell her on a site called ebates, and she said "Clay just texted me and said to tell the crazy telemarketer to get off the phone."  Haha! I found this site (ebates) online that gives you cash back when you shop.  I kind of feel like Kourtney Kardashian when she started couponing on the show. 

kourtney in action

A friend told me about e-bates a few days ago, and I was skeptical at first.  I thought it would give me a virus if I clicked on it.  My friend has been using it for awhile, and just got a check in the mail from her Christmas shopping.  Well, I'm hooked!

All you have to do is go to the store from the ebates website and you will get 3% to 6% cash back (they send your check quarterly).  If you're going to shop online anyway, you might as well get money back...right?? 

Oh, and if your cart is already full and you didn't click on ebates first, you can still click on the store through the website and it will transfer the items in your cart. 

Some of the stores include: J. Crew, Shopbop, Piperlime, Gap, Gilt Groupe, Tory Burch, Nordstrom, Saks, Target, Bloomingdales, etc.

**I just told Clay that it included Nordstrom and he's ready to sign up too.  Looks like this telemarketer isn't so crazy!

Just click here to get started!

cover me up

I know it's only February, but I am already thinking about Summer.  I'm in the market for a new cover-up.  I'm starting early because if you wait too long everything will be gone.  For all of you Tar-Jay shoppers, you know what I'm talking about.  Those swimsuits go quick!  I'm guilty of already purchasing three.  I think I'm cut off??   I am now avoiding that section of the store. 

I have yet to buy a cover-up, but I am loving all of these...
 

roberta roller rabbit

roberta roller rabbit embroidered

milly crochet tunic

j. crew knit tunic

tory burch gauze tunic

tory burch terrero caftan

I just need this view...

The Royal Hideaway, Playacar

garlic parm chicken

This recipe is all Patsy, and it's one of my favorites!  When she used to make it in high school, all of our friends would want an invite.  The best part about this recipe is that it is SO easy, and tastes like it took hours. 

Garlic Parmesan Chicken

Ingredients:

2 cups ritz cracker crumbs

3/4 cup parmesan cheese

3 or 4 cloves of garlic (crushed)

salt & pepper to taste

butter (melted)

boneless, skinless chicken breasts (5 or 6)

Directions:

-preheat oven to 350 degrees F

-mix the first four ingredients

-melt the butter

-pound the chicken to 1/2 inch 

*This is probably (definitely) my least favorite part.  I am convinced that I'm going to get and give salmonella when I cook with chicken. It has NEVER happened (yes, I'm knocking on wood right now).  It always scares me.  I bleach the kitchen down each time...along with my hands.  Hopefully I'll get over it one day.

-Dip chicken in butter and roll in crumb mixture

-Place in a greased baking dish

**My chicken breasts were HUGE.  I only had 4, but I had to put them in two separate dishes because they wouldn't fit in one.

-Bake for 25 to 30 minutes

(I cheat and cut the chicken to make sure it's cooked...)

The finished product! Yum.

I like to serve this meal with green beans, white rice, and bread.

--From start to finish this meal takes 45 minutes. 

 

tunes

I'm really loving the song "We are Young" by FUN featuring Janelle Monáe.  The song was also featured on Glee in December.

And the Glee version...

The first video is pretty weird...but I still love the song.  Both of these versions have made it to my playlist!



cookie monster

I literally live with the cookie monster.  I find myself making chocolate chip cookies for Clay at least once a month (sometimes more). He's pretty picky and only likes cookies made from scratch.  Our neighbors invited us over for dinner last Saturday night, and I said I would bring dessert.  Of course, Clay requested cookies.  I didn't want to bring just cookies, so I made ice cream sandwiches!

I use the NESTLE® TOLL HOUSE® recipe on the back of the package, and add my own variations. 

Chocolate Chip Cookies

(ready to go in the oven)

 

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

1 cup butter (I use cold butter)--I get it out of the fridge and put it in the microwave for 5-10 seconds

3/4 cup granulated sugar

3/4 cup packed brown sugar...maybe a little more (I use DARK brown sugar)

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 large eggs

1 (12 oz.) package NESTLE® TOLL HOUSE® Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels  (semi-sweet is key)

• Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F
• Combine flour, baking soda, and salt in a small bowl.
• Beat butter, sugar, dark brown sugar, and vanilla extract in a large mixing bowl.
• Add the eggs one at a time beating well after each one.
• Gradually beat in the flour mixture.
• Stir in the chocolate chips (I use the mixer for this, and put it on stir)
• Drop rounded tablespoons onto an ungreased baking sheet

--I bake the cookies for about 7 to 8 minutes.  Do not over bake. 

I let them cool on the baking sheet for about a minute and transfer them to a cookie rack to let them cool completely.

On a sidenote...

I like to freeze some cookie dough when I make cookies. I lay wax paper in tupperware and layer it.  It's nice to have some cookie dough on hand to bake or just eat! 

And for an extra special treat I like to make a few ice cream sandwiches.  I wrap them up in press and seal with an outer layer of tin foil so they won't get freezer burned. 

Clay was so excited!!

Enjoy the weekend! 

love day

A few days ago, I was watching The Today Show and they suggested fixing lasagna for Valentine's Day.  That's just what I'm going to do!  Mom got all three girls Ree Drummond's (The Pioneer Woman) cookbook for Christmas.  It is so good, and I've been dying to try out the lasagna. 

You can get the cookbook here.

She also has a great website featuring a TON of recipes (including the lasagna recipe). 

The Best Lasagna Ever

I'm using fresh herbs and shredded mozzarella.

--Serving with a salad and garlic bread

For dessert, we are having heart-shaped scotcharoos.  My Nana used to make these all the time, and we have certainly carried on that tradition. I think that this recipe is rice krispie's best kept secret.

I used a heart cookie cutter to make the heart.  You can find the recipe here.

grammys 2012: superlatives

I love Awards Season.  Seriously, love every thing about it.  For the Grammys, I thought I would give out superlatives.

Julianne Hough in Kaufman Franco

Most Effortless

I feel like Julianne channeled her inner Jennifer Aniston.

Rihanna in Giorgio Armani

Sexiest

Nicki Minaj in Armani

Weirdest

 Sophia Grace and Rosie

Cutest

Can't wait to see these two on Ellen!

Adele in Armani Prive

Classiest

Congratulations to Adele!  Her wins were well-deserved.

And I don't want to forget about Whitney Houston...we will always remember how great she was!

I'll leave you with one of my favorite Whitney songs.

 

barbour love

For Christmas my sister, Chase, received a Barbour jacket from her boyfriend.  I immediately became obsessed with all things Barbour.  Here are a few of my faves.

barbour vintage tweed quilted jacket

olivia palermo in the barbour bedale jacket

barbour roadster quilt

I need want a light weight jacket that's warm.  I thought a Barbour would be perfect, but I just wasn't ready to buy one!  A couple weekends ago, I was shopping in Newburgh at Flutter and I found a Barbour alternative.

This jacket is made by KUT, and will definitely satisfy my Barbour craving (for now).  It was on sale "as is" for $33 because it's missing the top of a snap (I can live with that).  I did a little research online and I found the jacket here for $52.99.

inspiration

I thought I would share the inspiration for my own blog.  I met Allison in Champaign, IL four years ago when we were visiting our boyfriends (future husbands) and we were instant friends.  She has incredible style and I'm always learning something new from her.  She started her own blog a few months ago, and I find myself constantly checking it for updates. 

Go visit and follow Allison at born in black & white.

eat that salad

For those of you that know me, know that I'm not big on working out.  I did, however, get in really good shape before the big day (thanks to Suzanne Motsinger at S & M fitness in Harrisburg, IL). 
Well...I don't have Suzanne in Evansville telling me to (making me) work out. 
We are members of Bob's Gym (right across the street),  and sometimes I can't make myself go.  So, in the meantime, I've been doing this workout I found on pinterest.

40 jumping jacks

30 crunches

20 squats

10 push-ups

It's supposed to make you burn 100 calories.  I'm not sure if I believe that, but I try to do this a few times when I "can't" make it to the gym. 

Here are a few of my favorite fitness things:

lululemon astro pant (tall)

yes, these pants come in tall. obsessed.

emi-jay hair ties

hair ties that don't leave a dent.

champion racerback bra

so comfy

I'm going to make it to the gym today.  Hopefully, Clay will go with me.  If not, I have Brit Brit (Britney Spears) on Pandora.