Outfit #1: Club Monaco Sweater, J.Crew Top, Seven Jeans, Steve Madden Heels, Deux Lux Purse
Outfit #2: Old Navy Sweatshirt, Old Navy Striped Tee, Ann Taylor Loft Skirt (similar style), Zara Heels, Michael Kors Purse
Outfit #3: J.Crew Jacket, J.Crew Top (similar), Anthropologie Necklace, Forever 21 Skirt, J.Crew Sandals
Outfit #4: Vince Sweater, J.Crew Necklace, J.Crew Skirt (similar), Jessica Simpson Heels (old)
I must have been in La La land while I was grocery shopping this week because I didn’t get half the stuff on my list, thus resulting in some difficulty in making my menu for the week. BUT there was a silver lining – I was forced to use the ingredients i had and and make a menu for the week. I even (gasp) changed up recipes to work with what I had (I’m an avid rule/recipe/direction follower). Here is what I put together this week:
BBQ Ribs with Coleslaw and Chili
This is the epidemy of a cheater meal but boy was it worth it. I picked up the pre-cooked ribs at Trader Joe’s (already marinated, you just bake in the oven), grabbed a can of chili (Jeremy’s request – you could do baked beans, cornbread, sweet potato fries, etc), and whipped up some vinegar based coleslaw. The perfect meal for when you want to spend less time in the kitchen and more time enjoying these warm spring nights in the backyard.
Baked Pasta with Sausage and Spinach
I was planning on making lasagna but forgot to pick up more ricotta (plus Jeremy and I don’t really love lasagna… so why did it make my menu? No idea.), so I tried to find some good options that used the ingredients I had bought. I came across this baked pasta recipe from Skinny Taste that is only 398 calories a serving! I cut the recipe in half and cooked it in a square 9×9 dish and despite the low fat ingredients this meal was a real winner (plus there were leftovers for lunch!).
Seared Scallops with Shaved Fennel, Cucumber and Grapefruit
This was a fabulous meal that took 20 total minutes to throw together! I would just advise that you swap step 3 and step 2 (with exception of topping the fish which I would recommend you do once the scallops are cooked :), because I prefer to have seafood served hot. Also make sure to really dry your scallops before you cook them (pat them with paper towels to really pull out the water), it will help them to get that gorgeous brown crust. It was an elegant yet easy meal… fabulous!
My sister, Taylor took me to Hops and Hominy and introduced me to the marvelous cocktail Gin and Jam. Since then she has mastered the cocktail at home and has put her own spin on it, so when her boyfriend’s mom sent her home with some homemade jam she had to share with our family.
Here is the recipe of Taylor’s signature drink – the James Taylor.
Step 1. Gather your ingredients – homemade jam (any flavor), sweet and sour mix (or in our case simple syrup and fresh lime/lemon juice) and gin.
Step 2. Fill mason jar with ice.
Step 3. Add 2 ounces gin to mason jar.
Step 4. Add 1 ounce simply syrup and 1 ounce lime/lemon juice (or 2 ounces sweet and sour mix instead).
Step 5. Add a heaping spoonful of jam.
Step 6. Securely attach lid and shake to combine.
Step 7. Enjoy!
Jeremy and I are learning that a queen bed is not ideal for two people averaging 6 ft… so I’ve been investigating bedding options while we plan out our upgrade. Here is what I’ve learned so far:
Thread Count: Often used to help determine durability and smoothness of sheets – higher the thread count the better. General consensus seems to be – Never buy something lower than a 200 thread count, 300-400 will be a soft, nice option and anything over 800 will be a waste of money. While thread count is a factor, I learned it’s actually more important to determine the type of cotton.
Material: Best option is 100% Egyptian cotton (retail pricing on sets will be around $500). The threads are long and produce a strong, long-lasting yet thin and luxurious fabric. Runner up would be 100% pima cotton (aka Supima – retail pricing on sheet sets will be around $200). This cotton is also soft and will pill less than standard cotton. Don’t be tricked by labels that just say 100% cotton because these sheets tend to be more rough. (Note: other options are available, but not recommended for a splurge – ie flannel sheets are great for boys or a cabin house and silk sheets are just creepy and not really good in any situation – in my opinion).
Weave Types: When shopping you will come across terms like percale or sateen – these are weave types. Both are great options, percale is a matte, plain weave – has a cool, crisp feel (great for summer or those that heat up when sleeping). Sateen is very soft but a heavier fabric with a smooth finish (similar to satin).
Where to Buy: My mom has always said Restoration Hardware has some of the best bedding and I have to agree! My mother-in-law gifted us this bedding for our wedding and it’s amazing. The great part is it gets better/softer with each wash! Just make sure to wash your sheets in lukewarm water and not to dry on high heat because heat will breakdown the weave of our sheets. Anyway, I’m partial to Restoration Hardware (keep an eye out for sales!), but Bed, Bath and Beyond (use those 20% coupons!) are another great option, as well as online shopping resources – Overstock.com, Gilt.com, OneKingsLane.com, etc.
We spend almost half of our life in bed so it might as well be a good one! Sleep tight!
My mom’s most famous recipe is her homemade snicker bars. I haven’t bought a Snicker bar… well pretty much ever. And here is the reason why…
Josee’s Famous Snicker Bars
Directions:
Notes:
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