Thursday, January 31, 2013

A Catered Affair

Working in Catering has its perks. You get to eat well, and get paid for it too. Here's an example from tonight's dinner:


 One of the Hors d'eurves: Beef Tartare with Cured Egg Yolk & Fried Caper


Course #2: Rosemary Grilled Petit Lam Sirloin with Potato Galette, Caramelized Root Vegetables


Course #4: Petite Buttermilk Panna Cotta with Cardamom Scented Roasted Pineapple and Coconut Tuile


Taking home flower arrangements at the end of the night!

Honey Lime Shrimp

This week is definitely one of those weeks where I'm trying to get rid of everything in my fridge and freezer. I've had shrimp in my freezer for a bit, so I decided to make this Honey Lime Shrimp recipe. It's super simple, and extremely easy to make.


 What you'll need: Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Honey, Limes, Garlic, Shrimp (Deveined), Salt, Pepper, Red Pepper Flakes (Optional)

Place all the ingredients into a Ziploc bag


Add the shrimp into the bag and seal the bag shut (try to get as much air out of the bag as possible). Leave the bag to marinate for about 30 minutes, flipping the bag over occasionally.


Once the shrimp is done marinating, heat a large pan to medium-high heat. There is no need to add extra oil or butter as the marinade has enough oil to keep the shrimp from sticking to the bottom. Cook for about 1 minute on each side, until shrimp curls up and turns pink.


Ready to serve! You can serve it on salad and even on rice. I prefer on a corn tortilla with some Mexican cheese (as I'm trying to get rid of that also...)

Granola Me More

I made a promise to myself many years ago that I would cut out as much processed foods as possible, and that majority of the waste from my kitchen will come from whole foods (aka stems, seeds, pits, peels, etc) rather than boxes and bags.

I love granola, but the hard part about it is that some brands put so much sugar in it that it actually becomes more unhealthy than healthy for your diet. And, I've seen some brands add extra ingredients in their granola that I can't even pronounce, nor do I have a clue what it is.

I was at my favorite local bakery today, Flour Bakery & Cafe, and found their granola. Everything made in this bakery is homemade and delicious, so I had to try a bag!


Ingredients: Oatmeal, Wheat Germ, Coconut, Oil, Sunflower Seeds, Walnuts, Almonds, Honey, Cranberries, Sesame Seeds, Vanilla, Cinnamon, Salt


This is the best granola I have ever had, as of yet. One day, hopefully sometime soon, I hope to make my own batch of granola. Tune in for that!

Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Homemade Marinara

Did you know, Marinara was the way parents used to get their kids to eat vegetables?

For the past week, my boyfriend has been asking me to cook something to get rid of his ground turkey in the fridge. After deciding on making a pasta with Marinara sauce, I went searching for the best recipe out there. Luckily, my roommate has a family recipe that is absolutely delicious!

This is the original recipe:
1         Celery Stalk, diced
1         Carrot, diced
1         Onion (medium or large), diced
1         Green Pepper, diced
2-4      Cloves of Garlic, minced
1 Tbs   Dried Ground Thyme
1 Tbs   Dried Oregano
1 tsp    Dried Rosemary
1 lb.     Ground beef (can also use Chuck or a meatloaf mix)
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Salt
Pepper
2 28-oz Cans of Plum or Crushed Tomatoes (San Marzano is the brand I used)


1. Place celery, carrot, onion, green pepper, and garlic into a food processor. Pulse until vegetables are finely chopped. Be careful not to overdo the pulsing as it may turn your vegetables into mush)

2. Coat the bottom of a pot with olive oil, and saute the vegetable mix in the olive oil. When they soften, add a little salt and pepper (keep the heat low, as to not burn the vegetables)

3. Add the dried herbs and stir briefly

4. Add the tomatoes, some salt and pepper, and a pinch of sugar (the sugar adds a bit of sweetness to the tomatoes)

5. Cover the pot and simmer on a very low flame for one hour (I left the pot at 2.5 out of 10 on the burner). Remove lid and stir from time to time. If you want the sauce to be thicker, remove the lid for the last 20 minutes or so.

...while the pot was simmering

The end product!

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Cacao & Cardamom

Like Nesting in Texas, another friend of mine, Annie Rupani, opened her own chocolate shop in Houston called Cacao & Cardamom. What makes her chocolates special, is that she infuses different herbs and spices that she's come upon from her travels around the world. Because of the uniqueness of the chocolates, I had to try a few pieces for myself!


 Clockwise starting from right corner: PB&J, Cardamom Rose, Mango Caramel, and Lychee Basil


 Left to Right: Guava Tamarind and Szechuan Peppercorn


Not only were her chocolates delicious, but they make great gifts as well! There are a variety of gift boxes to choose from, or you can customize your own box of her chocolate creations!


My favorite flavor was the Guava Tamarind, and my boyfriend's was the Mango Caramel. Yum yum!!

Ravioli Please

Pasta isn't my favoritest food in the world. Between most restaurants, the pastas are same, as are the meats and flavors. So there isn't too much to be excited about (in my opinion). But then again, nothing can compare to homemade pasta. If it's homemade, I will definitely try it. I was strolling the Harvard Square farmer's market, and came upon Valicenti Organico. They make a large amount of homemade pastas, raviolis, and sauces in a crazy amount of flavors. Exhibit A:

Porchetta w/ Fennel & Chili Ravioli


Some other unique flavors that they have are Spicy Sriracha Spaghettini, Duck Confit with Ginger & Shiitakes Ravioli, and Slow Barbeque Lamb with Caramelized Sweet Potato Ravioli. Yum! And because some of their more unique flavors are so flavorful, they recommend sauteeing the pasta in a garlic and olive oil, so as not to overpower the ravioli's flavors.





Sunday, January 27, 2013

Italian Leather

RABEANCO is a great brand of Italian leather bags that come in a rainbow of colors. Over the years, I've collected my fair share (I think five bags in total) and am always looking to add to my collection. The bags come in all shapes and sizes, and are fairly uncomplicated. They're easy to match, and overall, a great brand that has yet to make it to the U.S. Here's a peek at what some of their bags look like!





This is one from my own collection, from a few seasons ago.


Friday, January 25, 2013

A Picnic in the Park

This Arctic tundra weather that we're having only makes me want to be outside more. And what a better way to spend the time outside than with a picnic in the park? Update the red checkered picnic blanket with this teal chevron print!



Image via Etsy

What is Success?

I'm having a rough day. But on the bright side, this picture is quite possibly the most relevant picture I've seen lately...




Image via Google

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Think Pink

I don't think pink on a regular basis. I actually shy away from the color because I think it can be a bit too feminine. Of course, that depends on what shade of pink we're talking about. Bubblegum pink, for instance, reminds me of our playground days. It's very youthful and very fun, but a bit too girly for my likes. But then I saw this Cynthia Rowley dress, and things changed.


Monday, January 21, 2013

Vintage Suits

Finding a retro swim suit is hard without it somehow making you look a little off. With those who are vertically challenged (read: me) the high waisted shorts can make you look even shorter than you are. And sometimes the extra fabric or fabric pattern can you look bigger than you really are. This 1940s retro swimsuit seems to fit between retro, modern, and girly. The shorts are high waisted, but not so much that could take a few inches off of your height, while the top is still a modern cut. But the best part is the pattern! It has polka dots and a floral element that when all put together, is an impossibly cute bathing suit.




Images via Etsy

Saturday, January 19, 2013

Evita

Evita is a gem of a movie if you haven't seen it yet. Released in 1996, this is hands down Madonna's best movie. This musical was originally released on Broadway in 1976 with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Tim Rice. Nominated for five Golden Globes - the cast took home three for Best Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical, Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy, and Best Original Song. These are some of my favorite looks:






Images via Google

Back to Basics

The nice thing about solid colors is that its easy to mix & match and layer with. With dresses in particular, there is a lot of opportunity to do so with bright colored/textured/patterned belts, sweaters/cardigans/blazers - the list can go on and on. My favorite type of look? Simple and feminine. This American Apparel dress works well for all seasons. It comes in a variety of colors, and can be worn by itself on a nice spring day, or be dressed up for the winter. How would I wear it? I have a belt similar to the Jcrew belt below from Madewell that I would pair with this dress, and if it's cold outside? I would pair the dress with black tights, my black riding boots from Jcrew (also below), a cardigan and a peacoat.


Peach Skin Lola Dress

Calf Hair Skinny Belt


Booker Boots


Image via American Apparel and Jcrew

Summer Weddings

I just received news that one of my best friend's will be getting married this year! She and her fiance are planning a destination wedding (they're hoping Bora Bora or Fiji) and I can't help but jump to looking at potential dresses. I've eyed this dress for a long time (read: over a year), but haven't had the proper wedding to wear it to. Maybe this one will be the one?




Image via Jcrew

Friday, January 18, 2013

Tick Tock

Knowing what time it is is vital at my job. And since I've graduated from college, I've realized how awful and unprofessional it seems whenever I pull out my phone to tell time, especially when a client is standing in front of me. Yes, watches are a huge investment, but they're well worth it. They are so many different looks that you can create with a watch, whether that be one that is more feminine, something with more of an edge, or even one that's more masculine. The possibilities are endless!


 I love this Marc Jacobs watch. The color of it makes it look very sleek, and yet it's still very simple in design.

I like watches with leather bands (when they're done right). This Michael Kors is simple, and still feminine with the double wrap strap.


Images via Piperlime

Birchbox

Who doesn't love sampling products? If you haven't heard of Birchbox already, you'll definitely want to check it out! Birchbox was founded in Boston on the foundation that everyone loves to sample products and get reviews from friends. For just $10/month, subscribers will receive 4-5 samples a month based on your customized grooming/beauty profile. Their product samples range from make-up to skincare products to hair products, and their brands range from Benefit to Kiehl's to Bvlgari. The great thing about having a customized profile is that the samples are catered to you. I have shoeboxes full of product samples at home, and I haven't touched half of them because I either don't use that type of product, or it's not meant for my skin type. They also recently just launched their Men's line for $20/month.

I'm expecting my first box soon, and I can't wait! In the meantime, I'll be keeping myself busy reading up on their blog and their tutorials posted on the website :)


 Co-Founders Katia and Hayley
Read their featured article in the January issue of the Improper Bostonian here

Floral Goodness

I want to relax on a beach and drink some fruity drink with an umbrella in it. But I am stuck in the dead of winter with snow on the ground. And to make things worse, I'm bikini shopping. I just want something cute to wear for the imaginary cruise I'm planning. Does that rationalize buying a new bikini?


Top & Bottom from Asos


Thursday, January 17, 2013

Nesting in Texas Part 2

My custom made jewelry dish came in the mail today. Hooray!



Online Shopping

The best thing about online shopping is that there are so many more styles that you can find online versus in store. With online retailers, it's so much easier to shop at stores that you can't physically get to and to find new designers who don't necessarily have a store (like Etsy) While browsing yesterday, I came upon ShopRuche.com:

Sunrise Romance Butterfly Sleeve Dress

Art Gala Peplum Dress in Royal Blue

Ocean Riches Bangle Set

Dahlia Elegance Necklace

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Brooch + Bouquet

Who knew brooch bouquets were a thing?! My mind is blown. After doing some research, I am absolutely sure of one thing - they are simply gorgeous. By keeping floral and feminine elements, it keeps the bouquet from looking clunky from the metal. And adding a pop of color never hurt anyone either!


Jangle Bangle

I'm trying to be a bracelet person. It's hard enough to wear a watch. My arms just feel very constrained having something on them, and then the worst is when it's a hot summer day and the bracelet/watch starts sticking to your arm because of your sweat. Icks. I've had my eye on these bracelets for a while from Alex & Ani:

 
Set of 3 Expandable Wire Bangles (2 textured, 1 smooth) in Yellow Gold

Quill Feather Expandable Wire Bangle in Russian Gold



Colored Totes

Bags and dresses are my vice. And with spring around the corner (which is basically everywhere else, except Boston) most stores have begun selling spring collections full of bright colors and warm weather attire. And since the snowy weather doesn't seem to be letting down anytime soon (nor my winter monochrome closet), colorful bags will have to suffice in brightening up my monochrome closet. I found this today:

The Lovelock Tote, Madewell
(Currently 40% off  + free shipping due to Insider Favorites Sale. Click here)

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Flickering Lights

The best feeling at the end of a day is to come home and relax by turning the lights down low and lighting candles. The great thing about candles is that you can probably find any scent possible, and in any combination!


These are some of my favorites:

Lafco Little Luxuries Candle, Lafco New York

My friend gifted me this candle for my birthday and it smells lovely! There are so many different scents to choose from, ranging from sweet to savory to botanical. It even comes with its own matchbook!


Jacinta Candle Pot, Anthropologie

I bought the above candle about 2 weeks ago to follow my resolution of lighting more candles at home. This candle comes in 3 different scents, but the Sweet Poppy was my favorite.

Botanika, DayNa Decker

DayNa Decker candles are my absolute favorite. Instead of a traditional wick, she uses EcoWood wicks. And with an EcoWood wick, because it is thicker and made of wood, it sounds like a real fireplace (because it crackles and pops) when you light the candle. The candle itself is organic, so when you go to blow out the candle, there is no lingering smell due to the candle wax.