being brave

I love almost every aspect of my job. I love teaching, I love researching, I love the subject matter, I love my coworkers. However, before you gag on all this love, I do want to clarify that there is one aspect of my job that I emphatically do NOT like: presenting at conferences.

Here is my summary of academic conferences for those of you not familiar with them. First, a bunch of academics gather together to revel in their collective genius. Then, scholars present on their most recent brilliant idea/analysis/critique/etc. Finally, other scholars point to potential issues/problems/questions in said work. Then everyone gets drunk and wild rhetorical scholar shenanigans ensue.

Not really. Although there is booze involved. The last part is my favorite for obvious reasons.

Unfortunately, presenting is a necessary evil in my profession. In fact, I will be presenting this very weekend. Yikes! Something about presenting my work in front of others makes me all nervous and sweaty and rashy on my chest and all those things together are extremely unpleasant.

Thus, the above quote. My survival plan is to exude confidence this weekend. My hope is that others will be so awestruck by my composure and confidence that they will believe anything I tell them. We'll see how that goes.

However, I must say that I am excited about the project I'll be presenting so hopefully others will be too. If not? Well there's always the free booze afterwards. Win win. :)

I hope you all have some fun plans the next few days. Have a great weekend and think good thoughts for me!

strong is the new skinny

I post a LOT about butter and sugar here. Busted. I do love me some baked goods. However, I have another hobby that I don't post about quite so often...working out. Yes, I do realize the irony here. My hobbies basically cancel one another out. These two hobbies create a delicately-balanced equilibrium, constantly negotiating the middle place between Mrs. Claus and Madonna's arms. Okay, honestly, I'm nowhere near either of those extremes...and I'd like to keep it that way.

I've gone through several workout phases over the years. For several years, I was a die-hard Pilates advocate. Every day, an hour a day. Never fail. But sometimes a girl just wants to get her sweat on. Then, I went through a gym phase, clocking hours every day between the cardio room and the weight machines. But, seriously, gyms are not my thang, for three reasons. Creepers, cost, and who has the time??? Next came a phase of workout DVD's. I spent a few months ogling Sean T during my Insanity phase and then I moved on to Jillian Michael's 30-Day Blast. But, doing the same workout every day? Boring!

So, I'm on to my newest obsession. Bodyrock.tv. This site is completely free and posts new workout videos every day, Monday through Friday. I can do the workouts in my own apartment (Fun Fact: I do my workouts in my kitchen because it's the biggest room in my apartment!). And most don't require any special equipment. Plus, these high intensity workouts are usually between 12-20 minutes. Perfect for a busy schedule!

BODYROCK.tv

Okay, I sound like a spokeswoman but I honestly just love this website. I'm a definite convert. I've been "body rocking" for about three months now and these workouts still kill me every day. Love!

While I'm on my fitness soapbox, I'm also going to put in a plug for The Color Run. It's a 5k run with a twist. Color Explosion! Check out the website link above to see what I mean. :) The run has locations all over the US throughout the year and proceeds to go a different charity in each city. Some friends and I just signed up for the run in Tulsa this June and I am SOOO excited!

The Color Run

Okay, that's my healthy post for the month. Hope this inspires you to get yo' sweat on! :)

quinoa & chicken greek salad

Dinner. In Progress.

After a winter filled with soup and homemade bread, pasta of every variety, chili and cornbread, macaroni and cheese, and more homemade bread, I have decided it's high time I emerge from hibernation mode. My love of all things carb-y was on maximum power all winter. However, now it is time to come to terms with the fact that there are only a few months separating me from the moment I have to be seen in a bikini...in public...in a bikini. Yikes.

Gone are the days of relaxing in the privacy of my parents' pool. No creepy oglers, easy access to a clean, indoor restroom, alcoholic beverages at the ready in the fridge. That was the life! This summer, however, I will be beaching it up. Don't get me wrong. I'm not complaining by any means. An entire summer by the beach? I'll take it.

I'm just saying...my body is not what it once was back in the days of my youth. This gal requires a little more maintenance than she did at 18. (sigh) Thus, I am now eating salad. However, if you gotta eat salad, eat this salad. Chicken, Feta, Kalamata olives, cherry tomatoes...everything about this salad is right.

Fresh. Healthy. Colorful. Yum.

Don't be scared off by some of the ingredients in this salad. It's totally customizable. Can't find Kalamata olives? Well, you're missing out...but you can use black olives. Intimidated by quinoa? You could totally use rice here or a small pasta. But quinoa is really not scary, promise. Plus, it's loaded with protein. This is one filling salad. Make it, love it, know that you're gonna look awesome in a bikini this summer! :)

Quinoa & Chicken Greek Salad

Quinoa & Chicken Greek Salad

For the Salad:
1 cup quinoa
2 cups water
2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1/2 teaspoon olive oil or non-stick cooking spray
1 pint grape tomatoes cut in half
2 ounces Feta cheese, crumbled (about1/2 cup)
1/2 cup kalamata olives, sliced (about 20 olives)
1/2 cup fresh spinach, coarsely chopped

For the Dressing:
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
Juice of one lemon
1 1/2 Tablespoons Dijon mustard
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly cracked pepper
1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/2 cup feta cheese crumbled

Rinse the quinoa and add it to a saucepan. Add the 2 cups water and bring to a boil. Turn heat down to low and simmer for 15 minutes until the quinoa is tender. Cool.

Heat a non-stick skillet to medium-high heat. When hot, spray with non-stick cooking spray or add olive oil. Sautee chicken breasts 3-4 minutes on each side until no longer pink. Cool and slice. Set aside a few slices for garnish.

In a large bowl, add quinoa, chicken, tomatoes, feta, kalamata olives and spinach. Mix well.

In a mason jar combine the vinegar, lemon juice, mustard, basil, garlic, salt & pepper. Cover tightly with lid and shake.

Add remaining ingredients (olive oil & feta) to the jar, cover tightly and shake. Add the dressing to the quinoa salad and mix well. Serve room temperature or cold.

This can be made in advance – cover tightly in the refrigerator. It’s even better the next day!

Serves 6
Adapted slightly from Perry's Plate

summer wedges

Source: My Theresa

Lately I've been absolutely drowning in work. Between my own schoolwork, the two courses I teach, and an upcoming conference presentation, I've been just treading water fast enough to keep my little ol' head above water. Two things have been helping me maintain something resembling sanity during such crazy times:
1. The knowledge that this is my second to last year of classes! Ever! Ever, ever, ever! A whole year may sound like a lot to some, but after seven years of college classes, having only ONE year left is like a dream come true. I. Can. Do. This.

2. Dreams of summer. As a new resident of the Baby State, I have been daydreaming of this summer for months now. Trekking down to the beach each morning to work on my tan and watch the surfers do their thang. Going for dinner and drinks in Newport on warm summer nights. Road tripping to Boston, DC, Philly, and any other place that sounds good to be a full-on tourist. And the clothes...maxi dresses, breezy tops, and summery wedges.

These are the things that have been keeping me sane. So, let's talk shoes! These are some of the summery shoes aiding in my sanity. First, I am obsessing over the wedges above. Love the hot pink straps and the zig-zag wedge pattern. So fun! Too bad they're slightly out of my TA budget at $800+. Yikes!

Source: Pinterest

These Tory Burch wedges may be my favorite of the post. If a New England summer could be transformed into a shoe, this would be it. That bright orange-red color plus the nautical rope look is perfection!

Source: DSW

These wedges are definitely the most understated of the bunch, but they are so versatile! They'd go with almost any outfit. Pair them with capris and a casual cami for everyday wear or with a bright dress for a summer wedding. Plus, they're totally affordable. Double score!

Source: Lulu's

Now these babies, on the other hand, are not so versatile. These are some statement-making shoes perfect for a summer night on the town. I'd rock these babies with white skinny jeans and a neon top...cause I'm crazy like that. :)

Source: Jessica Simpson

Are these not the preppiest heels you've ever seen? I'm obsessed with white and navy blue, especially in the summer, so these would be the perfect addition to my wardrobe. Plus, these suckers would make me like seven feet tall. And that'd be pretty neat. :)

Source: Saks Fifth Avenue

My philosophy when it comes to heels is typically something like "the taller the better." However, these Kate Spade wedges caught my eye because they'd be perfect for work. The low heel is practical enough to be comfortable walking around campus, while the gold braiding makes them cute enough for a date night. I'd get some serious use out of these babies.

Source: Kate Spade

These wedges were a last minute addition to this post. I happened across them on Pinterest and immediately fell for the technicolor espadrille wedge coupled with the high platform. These would liven up even the most boring jeans and a tank outfit. So adorable.

So, you've seen my summer dreams. Are you looking forward to any summer trends? Are you just trying to make it through the rest of the semester? Only about a month left! We can do it!

citrus butter cookies

Citrus Butter Cookies

THESE are the cookies. The cookies I shamefully ate, one after another, as I sat engrossed by a movie I swore never to watch. Yes, it's true. Just like Twilight, these cookies will suck you in despite your best intentions. And then, after it's all said and done, you will wonder at your temporary insanity and wallow around in shame. And then you will desperately try to locate the second Twilight movie...because you really need to know what happens!

I don't know. Maybe it's just me. Apparently, Twilight and Citrus Butter Cookies are my Kryptonite. Things could be worse.

Warm Cookies + Citrus Glaze

Here's the thing about these cookies. At first glance, they look like regular ol' cookies. Yawn. But then you take a bite and they're totally not. In keeping with my recent citrus obsession, these cookies have a dose of orange, lemon, AND lime zest plus orange, lemon, AND lime juice. Plus, there's a healthy dose of citrus glaze all up in there for good measure.

If you don't have all the necessary citrus on hand, try making these with what you have around the house. I bet they would be awesome with just lime...but I'm kinda a limey gal. :) I dunno. If you try it, let me know.

Also, don't be discouraged if the dough is very sticky. I halved this recipe and my dough was verrry sticky. Like, I almost trashed the dough because it was so sticky. But I didn't and the cookies turned out wonderfully. So...have faith! You won't regret it...except when you are mourning your lack of will power in regards to these little devils. You've been warned.

In conclusion, seriously, does anyone know where I can find the second Twilight movie?!? I've already tried Netflix, Redbox, and OnDemand. This is just getting embarrassing. I'm a woman obsessed. Ugh.

Citrus Butter Cookies

Ingredients:
2 cups (4 sticks) salted butter, softened
1 1/2 cup sugar
2 whole large eggs, separated
4 cups all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons orange, lemon, and lime zest (approx 1 tablespoon each)
2 tablespoons orange, lemon, and/or lime juice (2 tablespoons total)

Icing:
3 cups powdered sugar
2 tablespoons whole milk
2 tablespoons orange, lemon, and lime zest
juice of 1/2 lime
juice of 1/2 lemon
dash of salt
extra zest, for decorating

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Cream butter and sugar until combined. Add egg yolks and mix until combined (set whites aside for the icing.) Add the zest and the flour and mix until just combined, then add juice and mix until combined.

Scoop out heaping teaspoons of dough, then roll them into balls between your hands. Place on a cookie sheet and bake for 13 minutes. Remove from the oven and keep on the cookie sheet for 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from the pan with a spatula and allow to cool completely before icing.

To make the icing, combine 1 egg white with the rest of the icing ingredients. Whisk thoroughly until combined, adding either more powdered sugar or more juice until it reaches a pourable but still thick consistency.

Drizzle the icing over the cookies. If desired, sprinkle with extra zest before the icing sets.

Yields 36 cookies

Source: The Pioneer Woman

deep, dark confessions plus a movie review

I have a few confessions to make today. I feel the overwhelming urge to purge my guilty soul and I only hope that you will not judge me too harshly. But, if you do, I totally get it.

Confession #1: I maybe kinda sorta watched Twilight last night. I know, I know. Let me explain. Exhausted after several days of non-stop work, mentally and physically spent, I flopped myself down on the couch and switched on the tube. Typically, I'd tune in to something educational and fulfilling like The Office or House Hunters. However, fate intervened when, lo and behold, there it was. Twilight. Opening credits still rolling. And so I skeptically thought to myself "let's see what all the hype is about." (insert eyebrow raise and skeptical chuckle here)

Which leads me to my next confession...

Confession #2: I could not stop watching it! I was sucked in. It sucked me in the same way that a trashy harlequin romance novel sucks me in. Or the way Jersey Shore sucks me in. You've all been there, right? You're watching and you already know what's coming. You predicted the ending within the first five minutes. You know that you should stop watching because it's turning your mind to mush. But you just can't. I don't know why. It's some kind of evil power. I somehow need to harness that power, that hypnotic, can't change the channel power, and use it for good.

However, with my soul now cleansed and laid bare, my little Katy brain has to nitpick a bit. It's what I do!

So here's the thing with Twilight. You know how there are websites that point out movie bloopers? Like, "in minute 37 of such-and-such film, you'll notice that the coffee cup is all of a sudden facing the opposite direction." Well, did any of you notice the blooper in Twilight? When I tell you, you're going to feel so silly for not noticing!

Ok, here it is. If you look closely though out most of the scenes, you'll notice that they forgot the dialogue! How did the producers let that one slip by? Sheesh!

But jokes aside, thinking about the young girls watching this movie and obsessing over this movie is slightly frightening to me. I don't want to whip out my feminist theory on y'all, but...yikes. That's a whole mess o' issues I don't have the time or energy to get into now. I'll just say that this movie is gonna give some gender studies student a grand dissertation someday.

Okay, I feel as though I've done enough confessing for one day. I'm glad that's off my chest!

Oh, one more thing...

Confession #3: I made cookies and ate four in one day. Ugh. I'll post the recipe next week so that you can all bake cookies and eat four in one day and watch Twilight and be filled with self-loathing, too. Misery loves company!

Have a great weekend everyone!

Baby Shower Recap

Food Table + Sock Monkey Napkins!

It's here! It's here! The baby shower recap is finally here! Well, kinda. After reviewing the pictures on my camera and phone I had the shocking realization that (gasp) I didn't take many pictures! Apparently, in the hustle and bustle of the pre-shower preparation, I got a bit sidetracked from documenting everything.

Luckily, my mom must have been on the ball that day because she had some great pictures so many of these photos are courtesy of Momma K. That reminds me, I should give a shout-out to Momma K, Melissa (Renee's sister), and Shan for their part in planning and orchestrating this shindig. These three did so much in helping prepare the food, decorating the church, and generally keeping my crazy ideas from stretching our budget to ridiculous proportions! So...thanks!

Now, let's talk food...

Rainbow Food!

 We tried to keep the menu simple for this shower since it was in the middle of the afternoon. And by "we" I mean the other planners convinced me to keep things simple. :) So, here's the menu breakdown, complete with links to recipes where applicable.

Baby Shower Menu
Herbed Goat Cheese Sandwiches
Veggie Cups w/ Ranch or Hummus
Fruit Skewers
Chunky Monkey Bites
Strawberry Cupcakes w/ Cream Cheese Frosting
Chocolate and Vanilla Monkey Cupcakes

Veggie Cups

The sandwiches, pictured in the top photo, were a subject of contention in planning this party. As soon as I said "goat cheese," certain people began giving me concerned/judgmental looks. However, I persisted and the sandwiches were a hit! We just called them "Cucumber Sandwiches" at the shower but, nevertheless, they were delicious and a little food went a long way (as you'll see from the recipe).

Fruit Skewers

The veggie cups and fruit skewers were an attempt to turn something normal or PJ (plain Jane) as my mother would say, into something a little more exciting. Putting these together was super fast and easy and the presentation made it easy for people to just grab a cup or skewer rather than fumbling with scooping up dip and fingering through the vegetables. Yuck.

Dessert Platters

Finally, my favorite part of every shower...the dessert. In this case, we were doing a monkey theme (as you can see from the napkins in the second photo), so we decided to run with it and do monkey themed desserts! On the far right are the Chunky Monkey Bites, which were filled with peanut butter, banana chips, honey roasted peanuts, and chocolate chips...nothing bad about that! And, on the three platters in the middle and in the picture below, are our monkey cupcakes! These were Momma K's idea and I thought they turned out super cute! We just frosted the cupcakes with chocolate frosting and then used half of a peanut butter sandwich cookie for the mouth, Nutter Butter Bites for the ears and chocolate chips for the eyes. Adorable!

I do have one confession, though. At the shower, one guest asked that I send her the recipe for the cupcakes...I didn't have the heart to tell her they were from a box. I'm so ashamed. It went against everything I believe in and stand for but time constraints left me with few options. I was a desperate woman and those boxed mixes were just calling to me so seductively. How shameful...

Monkey Cupcakes

Aside from the food, we decorated the place up so cute. I wish I had more pics to share. Best the First United Methodist Church fellowship hall has looked in years! :) In addition to the eating and the gift opening, we also had guests decorate onesies for the baby. The idea came from this blog post. Momma K manned the ironing station and we simply provided the guests with an assortment of scrap fabric, various sized onesies, a bit of iron-on backing, and some ideas. The onesies turned out better than I had even hoped! My friend, Jessica, and I made the one in the middle on the bottom row...Olive You! Get it? :) And the momma-to-be made the middle one on the top row...love the flower petal design. So cute!

Decorated Onesies!

Finally, perhaps the thing I'm most proud of, the favors! I stumbled across this idea on Pinterest and knew I had to make it happen. They are pint-sized cookie-in-a-jar mixes. I got the recipe for them here. We called ours Monkey Munchies to fit with the theme and dressed them up with red fabric, twine, and cute monkey tags. Luckily, my mom already had plenty of mason jars on hand so these were even relatively cheap to put together. Aren't they cute?

Monkey Munchies Jars

Most importantly, I want to say how fabulous it was to see all my friends from back home...I've missed you all more than you can imagine! If all else had gone awry, seeing friends and family would have made the whole thing worth all the work. :)

All the Gals

Tribal Patterns

Source: Fashion Salade

I've posted this picture before. I found it a few weeks ago during my incessant search for all things chambray. And, while I posted it before for that reason, I felt this particular outfit was worth posting again for another reason...the skirt. Maybe it's the warm spring temperatures making me feel tribal. Or maybe my grandfather's obsession with the Southwest has traveled down the family tree to my particular branch. Whatever the reason, I'm loving the tribal pattern on that skirt! Paired with distressed leather accessories and a worn chambray shirt? Heck, grandpa would have been totally jealous of that outfit! Except the whole "old man in a mini-skirt" image. Not good. Sorry about that.

Source: Cherrywhore

I'm seeing this trend in skirts a lot this spring. While grandpa may not have loved this skirt quite as much as the last, I'm completely obsessed with it. What could make a tribal pattern skirt better? Oh, probably sequins! I love it paired with a simple top here to tone down the wild on bottom. May need this.

Source: Polyvore

I love that this version is a bit more toned down. It's subdued while still looking vaguely tribal. Perfect for a night out.

Source: A Shore Thing

Now...this is a skirt for the brave! I have to admit, I saw a similar skirt at Target last weekend in a size that normally makes me laugh. However, for kicks, I decided to squeeze my booty into it. Let me just say...no. Us apple bottom girls were not made for Spandex mini skirts. Let the proclamation be made for once and for all. No matter how cute that girl up there looks in her neon mini and crop top, just know that look isn't going to be a winner for the rest of us. A girl can dream though...

Source: Vestique

I've also been seeing these bright tribal pattern turn up on maxi dresses for the summer months. I am in love with the dress above. Those bright colors are so fun! Too bad this little number is all sold out...the search continues.

Source: Shopbop

Here's another more toned-down maxi dress option. The colors of this one are great and I love the sweetheart neckline. I could live in that thing.

Source: Pinterest

And finally, for the less brave...those not willing to commit to neon tribal print from head to toe. How about a cute clutch? This one is adorable! I am also gonna need that girls outfit...and her awesome tan while we're at it.

Source: Pinterest

Last but not least, my very favorite accessory (as many of you know)...a big ol' scarf. Red and turquoise together is my kryptonite so I'm doubly in love with this scarf. Plus, check out the Southwestern-inspried bracelets! Yay!

So, there's my fashion thoughts for the week. Now that I've got all these tribal patterns out of my head, maybe I'll be able to focus on other things like grading papers, researching rhetorical phenomena, and revising a conference paper. Or, maybe I'll just keep thinking about tribal patterns. :)

Happy Hump Day!

Cinnamon Brown Butter Breakfast Puffs

Cinnamon Sugar + Brown Butter = Deliciousness

Happy first day of spring everyone!!!

Today is the first day of spring and it definitely feels like it! I am in love with this weather lately! After soaking up the 70 degree temperatures in Kansas last week, I was dreading my return to the blustery, wintery Northeast. However, I was pleasantly surprised to return to 75 degree temps and sunny skies. I've officially turned off the heat and opened every window in my apartment. Happy day!

Here's a strange fact about me. All winter long I crave Italian food: big, hearty bowls of pasta and crusty, herby bread. But now that spring has sprung, my appetite has taken a complete 180. Now all I want for dinner is a glass of wine with some cheese and crackers or a fresh salad. It's like a switch flips in my brain. Perhaps it's my more practical subconscious responding to the fact that swimsuit season is drawing near. Whatever the cause, give me a glass of cabernet, some tapas, and a patio and I'm a happy girl. No complaints from me!

I know I promised you a recap of last weekend's baby shower but I've been going overtime playing catch-up at work this week after my Kansas vacation last week. However, I promise by the end of the week I will have it for you!

I offer these Cinnamon Brown Butter Breakfast Puffs as a replacement. They are light, fluffy, and delicious. I made full-size muffins, but I would totally recommend making these in a mini muffin pan so that you can pop a few without feeling guilty. :)

Cinnamon Brown Butter Breakfast Puffs

If you don’t wish to use buttermilk, you can replace it with regular milk and nix the baking soda (keeping the baking powder). I like to get the toppings ready first because they take so little time to bake, you don’t want to be scrambling to have something to dip them in.

Coating:
2/3 cup granulated sugar
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
6 tablespoons unsalted butter

Puffs:
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon table salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup (5 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon) unsalted butter, at room temperature, plus extra for greasing muffin cups
1 large egg
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/2 cup buttermilk

Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter 12 standard size or 30 miniature muffin cups, or line cups with paper liners.

Prepare coatings: In a small saucepan, melt 6 tablespoons butter over medium heat and continue to cook it, stirring frequently, until brown bits form on the bottom and it smells nutty and heavenly. Immediately remove from heat and set aside. In a small bowl, combine 2/3 cup sugar and cinnamon. Set aside as well.

Prepare puffs: Whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and nutmeg together in a medium bowl and set aside. In the large bowl of an electric mixer, beat softened butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Add egg and vanilla and beat until combined. Mix in 1/3 of flour mixture, followed by 1/2 of buttermilk, repeating again and finishing with the flour mixture. Mix only until combined.

Spoon into prepared muffin cups, filling only 3/4 of the way. (I filled mine higher and they ended up spilling over a bit and doming less than they are capable of.) Bake standard sized muffins for 20 to 25 minutes and miniature muffins for 12 to 14 minutes. When finished, muffins will feel springy to the touch and a tester inserted into the center will come out clean. Transfer them in their pan to a wire rack.

As soon as you feel you’re able to pick one up, take your first puff and roll the top and upper edges in the browned butter. Don’t be afraid to pick up the browned butter solids at the bottom of the saucepan; they’re the dreamiest part. Let any excess butter drip off for a second before gently rolling the butter-soaked cake top in cinnamon-sugar. I find if you roll too firmly, or have too much wet/not absorbed butter on top, the sugar can clump off, which is heartbreaking. Transfer puff to wire rack to set and repeat with remaining puffs. Eat warm.

For an even more indulgent, doughnut-like puff: Make an extra two tablespoons of the browned butter and roll the whole puff in it and the cinnamon sugar.

Do ahead: Puffs are best within hours after they are baked. They can be made it advance and stored in a freezer bag until needed, too. Simply spread them out on a baking tray and reheat them until warm in the oven.

Yield: 9 to 12 standard muffin-size puffs or 30-ish miniature ones

Source: Smitten Kitchen

Kate Spade Watch Collection

Seaport Grand $225

So remember this post, when I claimed my eternal and undying love for Michael Kors' Layton watch? Yeah, about that. While I still adore that watch, I may have just met my new watch soulmate. Last Thursday, Kate Spade debuted her first watch collection and I am head over heels. While the entire line of watches is pure watch perfection, the Seaport Grand above is my personal favorite. This watch fulfills all my must-haves: it's gold and chunky with a huge face. And the little pink spade? It's like the cherry on top! I may have to get a second job to make this watch mine!

Gramercy Grand $225

I don't want to ignore all the other amazing watches in this line. The Gramercy Grand is a close second to the Seaport Grand. I love the face of this one, especially combined with the chunky gold band. Very unique.

Metro $175

I'm not usually much for leather strap watches. I tend to go for a metal or ceramic link bracelet. However, this pink Metro watch has me second guessing that decision. I love that the face perfectly matches the leather strap and this watch comes in a number of different colors. The pink is just so fun!

Cooper Strap $195

The Cooper Strap is another leather strap watch from the collection. The face of this one reminds me of my grandmother's watch, a look I normally wouldn't go for...but juxtaposed with the modern turquoise strap? I'm kind of obsessed with this watch.

Carousel Bangle $250

The collection also features a number of bangle-style watches that could serve as a dressier option. I love this black one because it's perfect for a night on the town with the girls. It would blend in perfectly with a big stack o' bangles. The Carousel comes in several colors from basic black or white to yellow or hot pink and each one has an adorable inscription on the inside. This black one reads "an ace up your sleeve." Too cute!

Carousel Bangle (Sold Out)

This was initially my favorite bangle bracelet of the bunch, featuring Kate Spade's signature gold polka-dot pattern on a white background. I would wear this with everything! Sadly, many others must have agreed because this beauty is already gone from the website. Boo hoo. I'll keep my fingers crossed for it to come back in stock!

Until then, I'm going to be pinching my pennies to make that Newport Grand mine. Is anyone else as obsessed with this new line as I am? Kate Spade, apparently, can do no wrong.

I'll be back tomorrow with a recap of my baby shower extravaganza from last weekend. I think I can safely say that it was a success so I can't wait to share everything with you!

Happy Monday!

Weekly Obsessions

My new Kate Spade work bag.

Happy Friday! I'm up to my eyeballs in baby shower plans today. Menus, decor, activities, favors. For a gal who knows roughly zero about baby stuff, I am definitely getting an education. Here's a fun fact: did you know that a common shower game is to melt various candy bars in diapers and then have people taste test to guess the candy bar? One word: vile. Who ever thought this would be an enjoyable game?!?

Hey! I have a great idea...let's find something that looks like baby crap and make everyone lick it! That will be gobs of fun! So enriching. Who could possibly object?

Gag.

Needless to say, this shower will have none of that rubbish. I'm hoping to share pictures first thing next week of all the food, decorations, and activities. Fingers crossed that it goes off without a hitch!

In the meantime, here are some random things on my filling my Katy-brain this week.

1. The photo above is a quick pic of my new computer bag. Ba-na-nas. I keep staring at it. It's unhealthy really how much I love this thing.

2. I am in love with the scarf below. It's perfection but I cannot figure out where it's from. Grrr. The woes of Pinterest.

This gorgeous scarf.

3. I've been on a major nail polish kick lately. Lavender, mint green, hot pink. I'm in full-on manicure mode. This, however, is hands-down the cutest manicure I've seen. This will be happening as soon as I get home from break. How could you not smile at that manicure?

Springy manicures.

4. I found these adorable cake toppers online. But $20? For a wooden skewer and some tissue paper? And that's the sale price? Let's get real. I'll DIY that biz-nass so fast it'll make your head spin. Stay tuned.

Cake toppers!

5. Finally, can we all just agree that Ben was quite possibly the worst bachelor ever? Ugh. I have been an avid Bachelor/Bachelorette watcher for several seasons. Not this season, though. No sir. I'm a fully converted Voice fanatic. Side note: I totally got goosebumps during the final match-up this week when Lamar sang "I Want to Know What Love Is." Seriously amazing.

Fact.

Well, that's it folks. Have a great weekend! If you're coming to the shower, I can't wait to see you...no diaper-licking involved! Otherwise, next week I'll be back, posting from Rhode Island once again. In the meantime, enjoy your days off! :)

Grasshopper Pie

Grasshopper Pie

Happy belated Pi Day! As many of you probably heard, yesterday (March 14th aka 3.14) was Pi Day. An entire day for my most beloved of desserts...and yet, somehow, I always miss it. So here I am, a day late and a dollar short, with pie. Sigh.

However, this is also a "two birds with one stone" pie. With it's minty flavor and green filling, I'm gonna go ahead and call this a St. Patrick's Day pie. Look who's two days ahead of the game now?!? And, for the record, this is totally authentic Irish grub. I'm fairly sure that this pie is what my Irish ancestors ate when potatoes got scarce. Oreos, marshmallow creme, creme de menthe...yeah, this pie was a dietary staple back in the day. The recipe originally comes from leprechauns, I think.

No. Not really. That's silly. Don't believe everything I say.

But do go watch this video immediately. You won't regret it.

Nevertheless, this pie is still a great way to celebrate the St. Patty's festivities. Let's be real, St. Patrick's Day is basically an excuse to drink an excessive amount of alcohol and embrace all things green. And guess what? This pie is a winner on both counts. Booze? Check. Green? Check. Just carry this bad boy around with you on Saturday and you'll be set.

Grasshopper Pie

Ingredients:
16 whole chocolate sandwich cookies
2 tablespoons butter, melted
24 whole large marshmallows (or container of marshmallow fluff)
⅔ cups half-and-half
2 tablespoons Creme De Menthe liqueur (more to taste)
2 tablespoons Creme De Cacao liqueur
drop or two of green food coloring
1 cup heavy cream
extra cookie crumbs, for sprinkling

Directions:
Throw the cookies and melted butter into a food processor and pulverize (or you can crush them in a large Ziploc bag). Pour into a pie pan and press into the bottom and up the sides of the pan. Set aside.

Heat marshmallows and half-and-half in a saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly. As soon as it’s all melted and combined, place saucepan in a bowl of ice to cool down quickly. (Stirring occasionally will hasten this process.) Once cool, add creme de menthe and creme de cacao. Taste and add more creme de menthe if needed. Add one to two drops green food coloring (optional!)

In a mixing bowl, beat whipping cream until stiff. Pour cold marshmallow mixture into the whipped cream and fold together gently.

Pour filling into chocolate crust. Sprinkle extra chocolate crumbs over the top. Place pie in the freezer and freeze until very firm, at least two hours.

Remove from freezer ten minutes or so before you want to slice and serve.

Serves 12

Source: Pioneer Woman

Chili and Cornbread

Comfort Food

As I've mentioned before, I often branch out with my cooking. I love trying new ingredients and testing new recipes. However, sometimes a girl just wants something familiar. Comfort food, that is. For some people it's macaroni and cheese or tomato soup and grilled cheese...I totally get that. For other people it's meatloaf. Why? Just, why?

For me, the most satisfying comfort food is a bowl of chili and some homemade cornbread. I could eat this meal every single day and be happy as a clam. A fat clam, mind you. By the way, why do we assume clams are so stinking happy? The clam seems like an odd prototype for happiness. ANYWAY, chili and cornbread make me happy. 'Nuff said.

This is my go-to cornbread recipe. It's definitely a sweet cornbread, which pairs well with the spice in the chili. I find that many box mixes end up crumbly and dry. Not this cornbread! It's moist and delicious. Once you've had this cornbread, you'll never go back to the Jiffy box.

The chili is a newer recipe. I've grown accustomed to my mom's chili (which is awesome), but I wanted to branch out a bit. This recipe includes a mix of ground beef and sausage and it got good reviews all around. I'm still on the hunt for my ultimate chili recipe, but this one is definitely the best I've made so far.

Chili and cornbread is the international food of grey, gloomy days. And looking out the window right now, it looks like this might be a grey, gloomy day. So I guess what I'm saying is...make this!

Rather Good Chili

Ingredients:
1 1/2 lbs. ground chuck
1/2 lb. ground sausage
2 medium onions, chopped
2-4 cloves of garlic, minced
1/3 cup chili powder
2 Tbsp. all-purpose flour
1 Tbsp. oregano
1 Tbsp. sugar
1 tsp. salt
2 (14.5-ounce) cans diced tomatoes
1 (15-ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 to 2 cups water, if needed (I didn't need to add any)

Directions:
In a large pot over medium-high heat, combine beef, sausage, onions and garlic. Cook until the meat is no longer pink. Drain most of the fat. (Leave about a tablespoon so the meat doesn’t start sticking to the bottom of your pot.)

In a small bowl, combine the chili powder, flour, oregano, sugar and salt. Add to meat mixture, and stir. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes.

Add tomatoes and beans, cover, and cook for an additional 45 to 60 minutes, until the beans are soft. Stir occasionally, and add water, if you need it. Serve with your choice of crackers, Fritos, cheese, sour cream, green onions – or use it to top a hot dog. It all works!

Source: Jennifer Rather c/o Ezra Pound Cake

Grandmother's Buttermilk Cornbread

Ingredients:
1/2 cup butter
2/3 cup white sugar
2 eggs
1 cup buttermilk
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup cornmeal
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt

Directions:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease an 8 inch square pan.

Melt butter in large skillet. Remove from heat and stir in sugar. Quickly add eggs and beat until well blended. Combine buttermilk with baking soda and stir into mixture in pan. Stir in cornmeal, flour, and salt until well blended and few lumps remain. Pour batter into the prepared pan.

Bake in the preheated oven for 30 to 40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Serves 9

Source: AllRecipes

DIY Statement Necklace

Bling Bling

Typically my DIY efforts are pretty focused on home decor. However, this weekend I decided to do a little Katy decor, too. I found this necklace tutorial on Pinterest (surprise, surprise) and the whole process could not have been easier. From start to finish, this necklace took me less than an hour and most of that was drying time. Plus, purchasing a big statement necklace like this at a boutique would cost you a pretty penny!

Supplies

Here's the cast of characters. From left to right, chunky gold chain, necklace findings (including clasps and jump rings), and large faceted teardrop beads. Both the chain and necklace findings are from Joann and cost me roughly $6 total. Joann also had large teardrop beads for $3 a piece. However, I found mine right up the road from my parent's house at Haverhill Antiques. They set me back 75 cents a piece. Not too shabby! I bought enough supplies for two necklaces and all told each necklace ended up costing me $6.75. I don't know about you but I'm loving that price!

Old Nail Polish

Here's the fun part of this project. You get to customize the beads with your choice of colors! I dug through my old basket of nail polish and found an assortment of pinks, reds, and oranges; however, I'd like to do another in blues, greens, and turquoises. Use your imagination with this part. You'll also need a clear coat to protect the color from chips.

The Finished Product!

Once the beads are painted and dry, attach them to your necklace chain using jump rings. The polished side of the beads should go to the back. The color of the polish will shine through, giving the impression that the bead itself is tinted.

And...that's it! That's the whole shebang! Easiest. Craft. Ever. I'm already planning my next necklace. You can play around with chains, colors, bead shapes, everything. Now go forth and create!

Directions:

1. Lay beads out on newspaper and paint one side of each bead with nail polish. You may need to do multiple coats depending on the polish.

2. Finish with clear coat and let dry.

3. Trim chain to desired length and add clasp to ends.

4. Place jump rings on necklace. I spaced mine out approximately every four links, but play around with it depending on your chain and desired look.

5. Attach beads to jump rings with polished side to the back. Admire your handywork!

Source: Made By Girl