No Fail Recipes

Part of my 12 accomplishments for 2012 includes trying new recipes and actually eating dinner at home. We tend to eat out entirely way too much. Not to mention, we have a 1 1/2 year old that gets fussy around dinner time and does not want to sit still for an entire meal! For the past month we have actually stuck to our guns and I've been getting to know my kitchen. See, it is possible to pin things on Pinterest and then actually try them! Here are some of the no fail recipes we have tried and devoured!

Avocado Salad

Baked Crispy Cheddar Chicken

Baked Zucchini Sticks

Spinach and Ricotta Shells

Crispy Chicken with Creamy Italian Sauce

Scallops with White Wine and Lemon

Cilantro Lime Shrimp

We made tacos out of these! I mixed lime juice with sour cream and dalloped it on top with some shredded lettuce and salsa. They were healthy and delicious!

For these and other recipes you can follow me on Pinterest! Happy pinning and cooking!

World Market Round-Up

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Last week I posted about this pillow that I found at World Market. The good news is that it's not sold out and is back online now. I browsed through all their new items that are now in store and there are super cute and stylish finds. Go browse for yourself. 

The Sofa Winner Is..

Chloe! She had me at hello! 

 I went out on my velvet hunt over the weekend and surprisingly it was a rather quick excursion for a new sofa. While browsing some blogs I stumbled upon a design board with this lovely lady above. The clean lines and the tufting really caught my eye. And, total bonus that she's covered in velvet. That was my goal.

I was shocked to find this beauty at Macy's. We ran right over, checked out the quality/comfort, and scooped her up. Now we just have to wait a month for her to arrive because she's so popular. 

If you are on the hunt for a new sofa, I think this piece is affordable, and well made. I even sprawled out to make sure it was comfortable. 

Yes, we are probably totally nuts to purchase an ivory sofa when we have a little one. But, the stain protection is supposed to be remarkable! We shall see. 

My Weekend

Any big plans this weekend? None here really. Going to check out a few pieces of furniture and might hit up H&M. Would really like to find this blazer:

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Might sport some of my new birthday duds today like this bright shirt from GAP:

or this:

Loving my new Maya Brenner necklace!

Hope you have a bright and beautiful weekend! 

 

Currently Coveting...

VELVET!

As I scour pinterest, design publications, and other blogs, I can't help but notice all the velvet furniture pieces I'm seing these days. I'm becoming very envious of them and wondering where such a piece could play a role in my own home. Maybe my living room?

We have tossed around the idea of new living room furniture since ours are caving in. Maybe it's from hubby occupyng them so often, or maybe from my precious Lily dog laying there all day every day! Whatever the reason, we will be investing in quality pieces this go round and the dog will get a furniture eviction notice!

I'm keeping my eyes peeled for velvet sofas and chairs. It's always a possibility. Maybe I need 2 velvet chairs to replace the now sunken in loveseat. Loveseats are pointless anyways. I mean, it's not like you have company over and 2 people try to squeeze on a loveseat. Awkward! I'll get much more use out of 2 chairs, plus the velvet will be nice and soft for everyone's tush!

Here's some velvet pieces I'm adoring.

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This is one of my all time favorite office spaces! Love the yellow velvet chair!

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An unexpected touch in a kitchen.

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Or on a headboard..

Velvet, it's not just for your grandmas's sofa! Although, I would happily take my grandma's velvet sofa.

A New Love

I was scouring the web the other night looking for products for a new client when I stumbled upon this beauty! I'm loving everything about the pattern, colors, and definitely the price tag! I went back to check it out the next day and they were GONE! Are you kidding me? So, like a crazy pillow stalker I naturally called my World Market to get my paws on them. Thankfully, I was told that they are brand new and will arrive in stores next week! They were pulled from the site while they are being sent to stores. They might be available online again, but check your store next week for them.

How great would it look paired with a navy patterned pillow and orange velvet?! Loving it..

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So, next week it is. I'll be hitting up my World Market for a pair of these babies! I'll keep you updated on them!

Closet Heaven

Do you ever pretend to be Carrie Bradshaw with a closet full of designer duds and shoes galore? I mean, who doesn't love Carrie? I know you secretly wish for a space to dress up and dance around in without feeling crammed. I guarantee if you had one of these fabulous closets then you could dance to your hearts content.
In my pretend world which I like to visit every now and again, I would convert a whole bedroom into my closet. That's how big it would be. I'm thinking any of these would work for me!

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The gold chandy is mouth watering!

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Don't we all need a display case for our shoes so they don't get dusty?! Pure genius!

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This space feels elegant and sophisticated. Love having natural light and drapes in a closet!

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So sleek and clutter free!

Would any of these closets suit your fancy? Do you prefer light and airy of dark and dramatic?

Lamp Deal

Do you ever turn to JC Penny's home department when on the hunt for something? I can't say that I do, until now, thanks to Pinterest. I discovered this Double Gourd lamp for only $40! That is one heck of a deal! It comes in multiple color ways. It's available in the stores too, which is even easier to hop on over and pick one up. 

       

So, would you purchase one of these lamps? Which color way is your favorite?

It's My....

BIRTHDAY! 

We had a fabulous time celebrating our big days over the weekend. Thanks to our friends for making it special!

I think the festivities should continue all year long!

Tonight I'm celebrating with mom and dad. That means the restaurant of my choice and mom's homemade chocolate pie by request! It's so rich and yummy that I can't even explain. It's just that divine! I'll save you a piece. :)

It's the Weekend

Any big plans for your weekend? I plan on spring shopping and adding lots and lots of bright hues to my wardrobe. It also happens to be the hubs birthday on Saturday so we have a birthday dinner with friends planned. Oh wait, it's my birthday dinner too. And our friends. Our birthdays are all 2 days apart meaning my big day is on Monday! I'm going to be 30, AGAIN! Funny how that works!

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I absolutely love BIRTHDAYS! It's my one day out of the year to live it up! I really prefer birthday weeks, but that's hard to justify since hubby shares the week. 

A birthday dinner means a birthday outfit. So, I ordered this skirt and I'm really hoping it arrives in time.  I'm going to put my own spin on this outfit including a sleeve since it will be cool.

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Here's to a wonderful birthday weekend! Anyone else celebrating a birthday this weekend?

Rugs and More Rugs

Listen up, it's a huge rug sale people. If you were thinking that your floor needs a new covering, then now is the time. I happened to stumble upon this sale because of a black and white chevron rug I've been eyeing. I was rug stalking it to see if the price had changed and bingo! It was marked 50% off! That means I got a 5x8 rug for $53. No shipping fee either. I'm anxiously awaiting the arrival of my new bargain. Hopefully it's a decent quality and doesn't fall apart. 

While browsing I found some other amazing styles too.

All rugs via Rugs USA. 

In no way was I compensated for my thoughts. These are my own personal opinions. 

Button Art

Ever since viewing this adorable nursery designed by Caitlin Creer, I have been dying to tackle button art for A's room. Being a rookie, I attempted a much smaller version and tweaked it a bit. I must admit that you need a lot of patience to try this at home. You will also find yourself visiting the craft store on multiple occasions for more buttons. Just when you think you have enough, think again! Overall, it turned out adorable and I'm sure A loves it too!

I started my printing the largest A that would fit on my card stock. I cut it out larger than the printed area and traced it on the paper. 

Then the button gluing madness begins. And yes, be prepared to burn yourself over and over again the with glue gun!

2 weeks, 2 days, and 2 hours later, voila'! 

I used buttons of all sizes and scrapbook brads to fill in the tiny gaps. The key was layering the buttons.

 The bright colors are so vibrant and fun in her room. This inexpensive project is a great addition to any kids room or playroom. 

*Linked up here: Delightful Home, Mopping the Floor, Under the Moon, Home Sweet Home, The Gunny Sack, Sumo's Sweet Stuff, Craft O Maniac, Embellishing Life, CRAFT, Skip to My Lou, Between Naps on the Porch, The Girl Creative, Mushki Loves, Sugar Bee Crafts, Uncommon, My Uncommon Slice, Today's Creative Blog, Tip Junkie, Project Queen, Boerman Ramblings, Someday Crafts, It's Overflowing, Savvy Southern Style, The Sasse Life, Clean and Scentsible, Ginger Snap Crafts, Somewhat Simple, Between You and Me, Fireflies, Ibratina, Saved by Suzy, House of Hepworths, Shabby Chic Cottage, KatiesNesting, The Shabby Nest, Beyond the Picket Fence, French Country Cottage, Passionately Perfect, Creation Corner, Momnivore, Simply Sweet, Sassy Sites, Chocolate, Chic on a Shoestring Decorating, Delicate, Karisma,  Finding Fabulous, Five Days Five Ways, Remodelholic, A Blondes DIY, Fingerprints on the Fridge, Mom 4 Real, Fun to Craft, Tatertots and Jello, Gingerbread, Family Ever After, Serenity Now, A Vision to Remember, Funky Junk Interiors,  I Heart Naptime, Nifty Thrifty Things, The DIY Showoff, Homemaker on a Dime

My Little Valentine {19 1/2 months}

Valentines at our home was spent enjoying the gorgeous spring like weather. How crazy is it that Sunday night it was snowing while I was watching The Grammy's and today it was sunny and 61'! We took full advantage of the weather and ventured to the park for an impromptu photo shoot and some playing. My munchkin had a blast and was so full of life! Once again, I just can't believe how big she is getting. Such a  difference from last Valentine's Day.

She was very excited to receive a gift from Grammy and Poppy! Dora books are always a hit!

After more gifts from mom and dad, we had a nice family dinner at home. We cooked fresh halibut, asparagus, and sweet potatoes. Delicious! 

I hope your day was filled with joy and love as well!