so this week has been a bit of a culinary experiment.

husband and i are relatively handy in the kitchen (him more than me, i think), but we typically just throw things together and make quick, easy, and pretty tasty dinners of our own creation. think- quesadillas, basic pastas, etc.

this week we decided to test out his niftay epicurious ipad app to find exciting new recipes. let me tell you- it is SO cool. you just mark the recipes you like, and it creates a shopping list for you by section (produce, dairy, etc)!

here are my favorites from this week:

the topping! i was so proud of my fresh minced parsley.

White Bean, Tomato, and Zucchini Gratin

this one was pretty easy- and healthy, too! i was excited because i finally got to use a gorgeous cobalt blue emile henry casserole dish we got as a wedding gift.

absolute favorite of the week. hands down.

Greek Salad with Orzo and Black Eyed Peas
oh man. please make this recipe. it is possibly my favorite ever- definitely the most tasty dinner i think i have ever made (sad, right?). this would be so perfect for a summer barbeque or party- the lemon and feta are fabulous with each other!

Not from epicurious- but DEFINITELY a new favorite… already made these twice:

yummmmm

Flourless Peanut Butter and Jelly Cookies- this recipe is from Joy the Baker (add to your reader! so great!)

please make these cookies. they are so so easy and tasty. your office friends will love them too, i promise. it’s worth noting that i used super healthy PB that has flax seeds in it, and they are still delicious. it’s also worth noting that the second time i made these, i only used only 1/2 cup PB and 1/2 cup sugar, added a little vanilla extract, and left the other measures the same (so i ran out of sugar. whatever, i still really wanted some cookies). they turned out quite a bit puffier and were actually extremely delicious… the point being, this recipe is clearly dumb-proof!

i love it when easy recipes make me feel like an accomplished chef. and also help me not look like a poor crazy person who brings two peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for lunch at work every day (so serious).

happy friday, friends! <3

these pictures are making me want my hair to be that color.

like, RIGHT now.

isn’t it funny that just when you get to finally really liking your hair… you come up with some weird plan to change it (or maybe that’s just me)? i have been thinking about going red for awhile, but i think i would tire of it too quickly. or, i just wouldn’t know what to wear with it. anyway, today- i am loving it.

*images via jones fife via marthastewart

i really do.

the summer issues of martha stewart living are usually pretty awesome. my favorite of the year, i think it’s safe to say. apparently, in july’s issue (which is out now… i don’t have it yet) there is a whole feature on….

STRIPES.

hooray!

you can view the projects online, but have to pick up the magazine for the full instructions methinks. here are a few that caught my eye:

bracelets!

aren’t these cute? they’re apparently just simple tissue paper decoupaged onto basic wooden bangles. easy peasy. i like it.

throw pillows!

these are throw pillows which were created from super inexpensive stripey woven throw rugs! you know- the ones they have at ikea for like $3. i think i have also seen them at target… and maybe even gas stations.

so there ya go! homemade stripes- perfect for summer.

images via marthastewart.com

my buddy sent me a link to these pictures… which made me seriously crave some beach action.

so fantasy me would totally be parked on a beach somewhere right now.

image via max wanger. who is amazing.

fantasy me would wear a bathing suit just like this one

and these fantasy amazing karen walker sunglasses which are sold out

and my fantasy feet would sport these jangley flip flops

fantasy me would tote all of my essentials (fantasy sunblock! fantasy water! fantasy magazine!) to the beach in a fantasy straw bag like this one

and plonk my fantasy butt down on this bright fantasy towel

and then fantasy me would paint my fantasy toes this new color by essie, which is similar to my new favorite (but darker and brighter!)

le sigh.

where would fantasy you be?

images via: max wanger, j.crew, target, google image search, eyegoodies, and essie

this weekend was just glorious. one of those weekends that you mourn the loss of when it’s over.

it was sunny outside, sooo hot. husband and i spent lots of time just hanging out, running errands, napping, and watching silly movies. add in no work and lots of good food? heck yes.

i did a little crafting too!

i made fabric flowers!

fabric flower success! i sewed them to a piece of grosgrain ribbon- intended to be a necklace. they lay a little bit funny, so i’m still working on that part… but the flowers came out nicely! either way, it works very well as a belt… or a very poufy headpiece…

i also did a bit more work with the chain + beads designs i was working on last week…

might be my favorite so far...

vintage beads (from husbands mom!), glass seed beads, faux gold chain

this one might be my favorite so far… a very close run with the white bead necklace from last week (which i have been wearing non-stop)

do you go through phases with your jewelry and accessories? i definitely do. sometimes it’s all about how much i can pile on, big, statement-y fun pieces… and other times, it’s all about cool simplicity. this is a simplicity phase.
my formula lately: one of these simple chain necklaces, a thin gold bangle worn high on the arm, and done.

you know what i haven’t done in ages? a style blog post. hmm…

anyway, hope you like! happy monday! <3

so the other day husband and i went to target in search of veggie burgers.

of course, when you go to target, you find more than what you’re looking for. i made friends with these:

which you can find online, here. they were the last pair in my size.

husband- being the dutiful guy that he is- convinced me that i didn’t need them, that they looked kinda man-ish and dumpy on (which they did) and that for $17 they weren’t that awesome. so they stayed at target.

in a marvelous and serendipitous happening, i went to my favorite thrift store the very next day and found these…

look! on my feet!

a more nicely made, girly, wedge-y espadrille version of the very same shoes! much more me. and only $6.

serendipity! i had to have them. doesn’t it work that way with thrift shops? they are there! barely used! in my size! so inexpensive! it’s a charitable donation to school children! there’s only one chance for them to be mine! it must be meant to be.

do these things happen to you when you thrift? maybe it’s just me…

either way, i hope that you have a ‘serendipitous’ afternoon <3

i have been looking for an easy way to make fabric flowers for a long time. actually, the feverish hunt started with the posting of this photo (9/8/08):

image via the sartorialist

and continued when i saw more things like this:

also via the sartorialist

those of you who know me (or have read my recent posts) may know that i am not so awesome with fabric-thread-needles-and most specifically-my sewing machine. so, i was SUPER excited to come across this tutorial on heyjenrenee, which i found via the oh-so-pretty creature comforts blog:

one of the steps...

another one...

look! so pretty!

i know what i’ll be doing with my fabric scraps! and i don’t even have to use my sewing machine. fabulous. i think these would look so pretty bunched on a chain or ribbon as a necklace… or tied around your wrist! maybe i missed the bulk of the trend, but i still think they’re so cute.

excited? inspired? go here for the full tutorial. yay!

images via thesartorialist, heyjenrenee

maybe the prettiest, most girly flower there is.

they were on sale at the grocery on sunday… i didn’t buy any, but took a few pics!

hope you have a pretty tuesday <3

this weekend was a funny one… lots of ups and downs. on the whole i’ll say… it was good. it’s always nice to spend long amounts of time with my two favorite boys.

as husband had lots of papers to grade, i decided to embark on a sewing mission. my sewing machine and i had an epic battle, lasting the better part of 1.5 days and involving scrap fabric and an internet skirt pattern.

the sewing machine won.

feeling the bitter sting of defeat (yes, i cried), i felt the need to make something successful.

sorry for the not so awesome photo!

enter: old beads and bits of chain to the rescue!

weird view of my arm. yeah, sorry about that too.

these aren’t the greatest photos ever… for that i apologize… but i’m happy w/ the turnout and i think i might experiment with this idea a bit more in the future.

i might be destined to never be good at sewing- but i can make jewelry and damn good dessert. at least we have that. <3

you may remember that i love cute dish towels…

how cute is this?!?! you can see more frenchie towels here.

came across the link to this super cute online shop- todryfor- via creature comforts.