Saturday Night Shenanigans

What an awesome weekend!

Ian and I spent hours and hours in the yard.  We switched out all of our pinestraw for mulch, created some new beds, replanted two bushes that bit the dust, fertilized some plants, planted some new flowers (daffodils, tulips, hyacinth, creeping phlox, pansies) and about 30-40 bulbs (stargazer lillies, tiger lillies, elephant ears, gladiolus).  We planted a leyland cypress, a topiary tree, a pink camellia tree, and two forsythia plants. 

Sigh.

We're beat.

Saturday night was tons of fun and a really nice break from yardwork.  We went over to our friends' house and had some really good Southern food -- ribs, coleslaw, baked beans.  I made banana pudding for dessert.  And we got to love on a very sweet baby!

If that isn't the coolest diaper around, I don't know what is.  Little pirate booty.
 

Brand new mama Kim got her first sip of wine after about 41 weeks!

In true tradition, the boys got Irish Car Bombs readied for us.
 

The banana pudding was a hit!

We are very lucky to have such a fun group of friends.  Truly blessed.
 

I hope your weekend had as many laughs as ours did!

Friday This & That

It's been an awesome week in Charlotte!  Spending the whole workweek in my own bed was just what the doctor ordered.  No waking up and thinking "wait - what city am I in now?".  Sounds a little dramatic, but it's true.

Plus, I was able to put together home-cooked meals Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday (details coming next week).  Thursday is Ian's long-standing "wing night" tradition with the guys, and I get to spend my evening doing exactly what I want.  Last night that consisted of a long walk around the neighborhood with Drake, an easy but healthy "clean out the fridge" meal, and my favorite hot mess Housewives.

Time for a little Friday randomness.

{1} I just listed a few new necklaces to my Etsy shop!  I've been experimenting around with layering some of the looks, like this one which is made of this necklace on top of this necklace.

Also loving this combo of this necklace over this one.

{2} This weekend will be the perfect time for a little baking, and I think I'm ready to attempt these delicious cookies that my sister Laura blogged about this week:

Source: reedyriverrecessionista.blogspot.com via April on Pinterest

{3} Where to find us this weekend: in our yard!  (Oh, and Home Depot's lawn and garden area, too).  Tons of yardwork awaits us, and while I'm a little nervous about another potential cold snap before spring, we've decided to go ahead and start getting our yard ready for the warm Carolina weather.

I've got daffodils and tulips that are already sprouted just ready to be added to our yard.  I'm also on the lookout for some trees to add to big planters on our patio.  Lemon trees would be just the ticket ... wonder if I can go a season without killing the poor thing?

Source: whiteonricecouple.com via April on Pinterest

I'm envisioning a welcoming patio this summer filled with lots of greenery and colorful blossoms.  The perfect place to gather on a Friday after work with a cocktail, a magazine, a husband, and a dog.  My idea of perfection.

Jewelry, cookies, and yardwork, oh my!  A random but happy assortment.


PS: I'm selling a Vineyard Vines bracelet on eBay should you be interested... the listing ends Sunday.  Find it here!

The Organized Traveler, Part I

So now that I'm breathing a sigh of relief from my hectic travel schedule in the first part of the year, I thought I'd recap some of the travel basics that keep me sane. 

Many of you have said that you really enjoy reading my travel tips (thank you!) -- I think it's always fun to connect with others who may be able to share ideas.

This is part one of a three part series, and I'll post these on Thursdays ... right in time to get you ready for weekend travel or the next week's work travel!

Travel Tip 1
Personalize, personalize, personalize!  If it's yours and you want to keep it that way, brand it.  Thanks to my washi tape, my iPhone charger now has a fun and funky wrap.  That cost was what, a penny or two?  Not only does this help me claim it as my own, but it's a bright addition that reminds me to pack it up.

Travel Tip 2
Keep a fun pair of socks in the carry-on bag that you always use, and once you wash them, put them right back in that bag.  Know what's gross?  Airport security lines.  All of those bare feet.  Think about it.  Know what else is gross?  Hotel rugs.  Same reason.  Cute socks keep those toesies warm and funk-free.  Now that we're getting out of boot weather and into loafer, heel, and sandal weather, you'll probably find yourself in what could be a potentially precarious foot situation.  Prepare for it!

Travel Tip 3
Think outside the box when it comes to your travel toiletries bag.  Keep a few essentials always packed in that bag ... they are cheap enough to own duplicates so that you never have to remove them.  For me, that's a pair of nail clippers and a file (broken nails are so easy, and you don't want to risk having a pricey fix at a nail salon where you are, if you even have the time to book it!).  A pair of earplugs can also be a lifesaver.  Noisy neighbors = never really fun.  Also, while it's easy to remember your travel shampoo and conditioner, you may want to keep a razor always packed.  When you are returning home after a few days away, you don't want to be prickly!  Am I right?!

I'd love to hear from you.  Have you used any of these ideas before?

Dressing + Drinking

Two very, very fun updates today.  All revolving around dressing and drinking!

Dressing
I'm so very excited ... because I just ditched my "clothing spending freeze" that I self-inflicted yesterday afternoon.  Yep, that's all it lasted.  But in my defense, I saw a dress pop up on Rue La La that I've been wanting for a while!

It's the Tart Collections High-Low Convertible Infinity Dress.  I know that's a mouthful.  Originally $257, Rue La La has it for $54.90. 

It can be worn a ton of different ways.  LOVE.

That one above is the very one I ordered.  The black color is just perfect for an upcoming trip we've got planned, but they have other great colors available, too.

Yes, that's all the same dress, just styled differently.  I can't wait to get this in the mail!
If you need an invitation to join Rue La La, here you go.
 

Drinking
My friend Ashley shared her awesome lychee martini recipe with me, and I can attest that it's the best recipe for this cocktail that I've tasted yet.

FACT: I've tasted a lot of lychee martinis.

Ingredients
1 oz white cranberry juice
1 oz peach schnapps
2 oz lychee juice
1 oz vodka

Directions
Freeze 1-2 lychees in each martini glass to serve as decoration and keep your bevvie chilly.  Mix all ingredients together in a cocktail shaker, give it a good shake, and serve.

Notes
Some of you may not be familiar with lychees -- they are an Asian fruit, and oh so tasty!  I find mine in our grocery store (Harris Teeter) in the Asian foods area ... the very same place you'd find soy sauce, seaweed for sushi, and sticky rice.  You can also find them at Asian grocery stores if you have one of those in your area.

Ashley mentioned that next time, she may reduce the amount of lychee juice in the martini from 2oz to 1oz.  It just depends on whether you want it lighter and sweeter or less sweet and a little more, shall we say, potent.

Bottoms up!

Weekend Happenings: Girls' Reunion

Some of my very best girlfriends are ones that I met in college.  This weekend, three of us got together in Greensboro for a mini-reunion. 

We met in 2000 -- right at the beginning of our freshman year at Furman.  All three of us pledged ADPi and formed such a special friendship.  This friendship is now almost 13 years old and it's gotten nothing but stronger with each year.

Ashley and her husband have just built their beautiful forever home, and Kerry and I couldn't wait to get up there and see it.

After battling crazy traffic on the way up, Ashley had lychee martinis ready for the taking!
 

Ash's husband Chase is a fantastic cook, and he made us the most delicious pad thai.

After dinner, Chase cleaned up everything and we three just chatted away until we realized it was 1:30am.  Time to call it a night!

Coffee was most appreciated the next morning, and then we headed into Winston Salem to SilkRoad Spa.  We all had scheduled facials at the same time.  The girls there were so sweet, and they even offered us a glass of wine after our services when they heard we were having a girls weekend.

Ash had the perfect lunch planned for us at Mozelles, and we were able to sit outside and enjoy the sunshine and a crazy-good brunch.

The place was so sweet, they even had blankets outside on the chair backs for anyone who got chilly!

I got the crab cake sandwich ... it was so darn delicious.
 

After lunch, we hit up two of my very favorite spots ... Marshall's and Trader Joe's!

That night, Ash and Chase had some people over for the Duke v. Chapel Hill basketball game.  We knew most everyone who came over from her wedding weekend, so it was great to catch up with them.

More martinis!
  

The cheese in front is one Kerry turned us onto and it was so delicious ... truffle cheese from Trader Joe's.
 

I can honestly say I didn't watch a single minute of the game, but I did spend the evening talking and talking and talking with friends.  It was perfect!

Nutella Mousse {Italy In A Glass}

Good gracious, do I have a sweet to share with you!

Recently I was looking for a dessert recipe with a little "international flair" ... and something that packed a punch in a small glass.  We were getting together with friends for dinner, and they had a really good menu planned.  I knew we'd be stuffed by the time we made it to dessert.  This Nutella Mousse recipe was easy to put together, and the little cups were such a hit with everyone. 
 

 

 


Nutella Mousse
Recipe slightly adapted from original recipe at Erica's Sweet Tooth

1-1/2 cups whipping cream
1/2 cup Nutella spread
 2 tbsp hot water (not boiling)
2 tsp instant espresso
Dash of Kahlua
Chopped hazelnuts for topping

- Dissolve instant espresso in hot water in a medium sized bowl
- Add the Nutella and Kahlua, beating with an electric mixer until smooth
- In a separate bowl, whip the whipping cream until it forms stiff peaks
- Gently fold the Nutella mixture into the whipped cream until the color is uniform
- Divide mousse into serving glasses
- Sprinkle toasted hazelnuts (to toast, just stick them in a 350 degree oven for about 10 minutes) on top

I'm already looking forward to our next dinner with friends -- another excuse to make this sweet Italian treat again.