temperamental weather. chicago – one day it’s 60 degrees, the next day it’s 19 degrees. when it’s warm, i’ll take advantage of it!
my accessory of choice: starbucks americano
jeans: seven for all mankind
purse: vintage louis vuitton – richard prince watercolor speedy 35 – ebay it
gold dotted shirt: target
necklaces: vintage jcrew – something similar here
vest: vintage urban outfitters – something similar here
turquoise earrings: vintage anthropologie – something similar here
ahhhh, the day of celebrating love. i spent a wonderful day with the hubby doing much of nothing. we relaxed and said a lot of i love you’s. well, we really say that phrase a lot in general but it’s cupid’s day…it’s extra special!
we got all jazzed up {time to dress festive!} and skedaddled to one of our favorite restaurants, roy’s. it’s always consistent in service, food, and flavor. it’s also an extra perk to know the managers, sommelier, servers, and bartenders {loves them}. we started with the confit pork belly & rock shrimp ceviche appetizer [whoa]. onto our delicious wild mushroom bisque soup. my entree was the hawaiian sea salt crusted scallops, braised korobuta pork cheeks {amaze}, + okinawan potato puree. hubby charming had the smoked pepper crusted bone in rib eye {medium rare} fromage blanc, braised escarole, + truffle mac + cheese. redic. seriously. and finally…sensational sweet endings: pineapple upside-down cake + red velvet cake + cream cheese ice cream. sounds freakin’ over the moon divine, right?!
my roses from cattails
hee
i really had to dress the part…c’mon, it’s v-day! cupid shot me with his arrow!
well, after imbibing + gorging like we haven’t eaten in days, we were ready to go home and put on our drawstring sweatpants! it was a beautiful day. happy love day! xoxo
my wonderful friend, jodi, is having her first baby!!! baby boy s. will be here in mid-march. oh boy oh boy…a baby! so life changing! i am very excited for her & she is definitely meant to be a mommy. i was so excited to shop for her gifts, well, shopping in general is my favorite pastime no matter what the occasion is! baby stuff is just so stinkin’ cute! her shower theme was so adorbs! an animal theme through and through, from the animal cookie favors to the cute little elephant sign holder. so many thoughtful touches executed by her step mom, kelly! we can’t wait to meet the cute little bugger {yay!}; see you soon!!
mommy to be, jodi, me, + kt
write a wish for baby boy s.
kt + moi
cute little details
purty wrapped gift
the goods!
another mommy to be, kim!
what a sweet time it was! so excited for the baby boom going on around me! we are all so very blessed.
children are a gift from the LORD; they are a reward from him. Psalm 127:3
after a day and night of being icky sickly, i awoke to a doting hubby charming! voila, breakfast was awaiting me. he had prepared a quaint breakfast spread {coffee, mimosas, quiche, and fruit}. i was still feeling a bit under the weather but it was quite nice to be able to sit together; spend our time talking, eating, and relaxing. i love spending quality time with him since he’s been traveling so much for work {insert sad face}.
* Over medium-low heat melt butter in a large saucepan. Add onions, garlic and broccoli. Cook slowly, stirring occasionally until the vegetables are soft. Spoon vegetables into crust and sprinkle with cheese.
* Combine eggs and milk. Season with salt and pepper. Stir in melted butter. Pour egg mixture over vegetables and cheese.
* Bake in preheated oven for 30 minutes, or until center has set.
later that day: i was feeling much better, thanks to the meds [although i’m not a meds type of gal]! anyhoo, i pulled out my new shoes {love!} they are soooo comfy! i am not a sneaker kind of girl but i love how it has the hidden heel [love the height], it’s a little bit funky, and the street feel of these shoes are rockin’. it was a part of my ‘click and buy’ streak of late. prancing around in these chaussures makes me smile.
[some delicious, spicy stew // not for the timid tastebuds]
we wanted a cozy night in and the hubby charming really wanted to cook up something to eat. he put together a beef stew in our fabulous slow cooker. we debated on just a vegetable stew but we succumb to the cow :p
slow cooker beef stew
2 pounds beef stew meat, cut into 1 inch cubes
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 clove garlic, minced
1 bay leaf
1 teaspoon paprika [we replaced this with cayenne!]
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1 onion, chopped
1 1/2 cups beef broth
3 potatoes, diced
4 carrots, sliced
1 stalk celery, chopped
directions
*Place meat in slow cooker. In a small bowl mix together the flour, salt, and pepper; pour over meat, and stir to coat meat with flour mixture. Stir in the garlic, bay leaf, paprika, Worcestershire sauce, onion, beef broth, potatoes, carrots, and celery.
*Cover, and cook on Low setting for 10 to 12 hours, or on High setting for 4 to 6 hours.
we both want to abate not so good foods from our diet and strive to balance out a healthier palate {cross our fingers}. i am in awe of folks who are so resolute with always eating healthy, organic, and fresh! i love sweets, although i have somewhat diminished my intake by the pounds/per year {heh}. i think ordering the 20 boxes of girl scout cookies might negate the above positive thinking {yikes!}.
sometimes work clothes, for me, can be so mundane. my utilitarian uniform is your basic black. for some, it’s their staple color; for me it’s sooooo boring. i know it’s a classic, stylish choice {i do think black can be so sophisticated} but when it’s a forced everyday option, it can be quite trite versus putting in the effort to be creative. i try at times but usually fail. i was particularly loving this shirt. i don’t wear it often but when i put it on today {i usually don’t wear flow-y type tops}, i was feeling like it was going to be a good day! throw on an accessory and bam! you’ve got yourself an outfit.
so, at the end of the day…it was a great day. thanks to my nifty, flow-y top and necklace. sometimes, it’s the little things, huh? you made me feel a bit more chic today, merci.
