Looking Forward: August

August 1st, 2010

Wow, it’s August! Can you believe how fast this summer is going? In a simple month it will be the start of fall, exciting!! This month I’m looking forward to:

- Celebrating a newish (but becoming a great!) friend’s birthday
- The prospect of a very exciting opportunity with a sustainable company
- Listening to some jazz and seeing some amazing art at the Bechtler Museum
- Having two of my sister-in-laws + their kids visit
- Attending a friend’s baby shower
- Attending book club to discuss Three Cups of Tea

Cheers to a great August!

Image: Unknown

Be Good

July 30th, 2010

Happy Friday to you! What fun do you have planned?

I’m very much ready for this weekend! I’ve been wrapping up a lot of final vendor details for a wedding I planning in September as well as doing a lot for Blue Feather Media. Everything is finally coming together, but boy am I beat this week!

Tonight we’re hanging out with some dear friends and then on Saturday Stephen’s off for work and I have some quality me, myself and I time lined up.

I hope you have a relaxing few days. Cheers to a great weekend!

Image: seri*

Sustainable Friday: Catalog Choice

July 30th, 2010

I’ve discussed this topic a few times before because it’s seriously something I have a love/hate relationship with. Love because I adore catalogs. I eat up the pretty pictures and styling of a select few, ahem, J.Crew. Hate because I seem to get added onto a million catalog and junkmail lists I don’t want. Additionally,  I think about how millions of trees are cut down each year just to produce them. Not to mention the toxic ink chemicals that go into printing!

So, when I think about it that way, the pretty pictures I love looking at are so easily replaced by online shopping and my desire to help the environment.

Which is why I mention Catalog Choice again… I seriously love their service. I haven’t visited in 2-3 months and was able to check the status of a few I’d submitted awhile back but am still receiving. I also submitted to have a few companies notified again since apparently the first time didn’t work!

If you have 10-15 minutes this is such a great, easy way to help the environment, cut down on the sh-t you have to wade through in the mailbox and help cut down on the never ending clutter we all seem to accumulate in our lives!

Inspired: 07.30.10

July 30th, 2010

Take Two into the Music by Jazzyblue TR

Loving…

July 29th, 2010

As always, I’m still trying to update my wardrobe. I’m seriously lacking in the nice shirt department. Love this one from Ann Taylor Loft.

Beautiful leather moleskin covers. I definitely wouldn’t purchase one simply for a notebook, but I love the buttery soft leather.

Neapolitan’s new mini boxes sold in her Etsy shop. I want to frame the top middle and top right sheets of paper as pretty original artwork.

This super awesome faux python print iPhone cover. I spotted it in Oprah with a 50% off coupon code– which I think I love just as much as the cover.

Inspired: 07.29.10

July 29th, 2010

Untitled by Alk Beng Chia

Local Stops: Yoga Palace

July 28th, 2010

Ever since my yoga instructor moved to a new studio pretty far from home, I’ve been on the hunt for somewhere to practice. Since I wasn’t quite sure what I needed, I contacted her for a recommendation and was told about Yoga Palace which was to open “later in the summer”. Well later this summer is finally here and I attended my first class on Monday.

People, I loved it. The Vinyasa class was a great pace and boy am I feeling it, even today. I’m excited to try classes with the different instructors and find out who is the best fit.

And the specials for their opening month. Wow, amazing!

If you’re searching for a new studio in center city (it’s on East by the Harris Teeter) with moderate sized classes I definitely recommend.

P.S. Yoga Palace has given me no financial contribution for this post. I simply loved them and thought you might too!

Image: Unknown

Inspired: 07.28.10

July 28th, 2010

ume blossom by ARCHiPhone

Table Talk: Pork Loin Chops with Red Wine Sauce

July 27th, 2010

Hi All! So I’m starting to run low on recipe ideas and thought I’d start incorporating some guest bloggers featuring their favorite recipe!

This week we’ll kick things off with Tonya, The Bee Charmer. She says this recipe is surprisingly simple but comes across as a meal you slaved over. Great for dates, in-laws, small dinner parties…

Enjoy!

Pork Loin Chops with Red Wine Sauce
Chops
2-3 Pork Loin Chops, about 1 inch thick
Dijon Mustard
3 Tablespoon freshly ground black pepper
3 Tablespoon Olive Oil

Sauce
1 cup chicken stock
1 cup good red wine
2 Tablespoon softened, unsalted butter
2 Tablespoon flour
::
1- Prepare pork loin chops by patting dry with paper towels and lightly salting both sides.

2- Coat each chop on both sides with dijon mustard and then press black pepper into mustard to fully coat all sides of chops.

3- Heat 3 Tablespoon olive oil over medium heat in deep sided skillet, preferably stainless steel.

4- When oil is hot, place pork chops in oil and cook for 5 minutes.  Do not disturb the chops by moving them around.  Just place them in the pan and let them sear.

5- Turn chops and cook for 5 more minutes on other side.

6- Remove the chops from pan and cover with aluminum foil.  Let rest for 10 minutes.

7- Deglaze pan by adding chicken stock and wine.

8- Stir to remove all brown bits from the bottom of the pan.

9- Reduce heat and simmer until liquid is reduced by half.

10- When liquid is reduced, mix flour and butter together to make a roux and and whisk into liquid to thicken sauce.

11- Cook for several more minutes to cook out the flour taste and to desired thickness of sauce.

12- Salt and pepper to taste.

Image: Unknown

Inspired: 07.27.10

July 27th, 2010

Pylon by Jason L. Parks

Inspired: 07.26.10

July 26th, 2010

Image: Unknown

Happy Monday

July 26th, 2010

Happy Monday to you! How was your weekend?

The wedding was beautiful, just stunning, and I was so happy to see our good friends get married. Boston, where we spent Wednesday, was a blur and I can’t wait to go back! Maine, where we spent the remainder of the week and weekend was a blast. Great friends, beautiful weather, time by the lake and all around a party atmosphere!

I hope you had a relaxing few days, cheers to a great week!

Be Good

July 23rd, 2010

Happy Friday to you! What fun do you have planned?

We’ve been in Maine since Wednesday because we’re celebrating our friends marriage! Yesterday was the rehearsal luncheon at their “camp” and tonight it’s being held on a small island in the Portland, Maine harbor. The weather has been gorgeous and I’m super excited to celebrate with them tonight.

We’ll be home on Sunday and hopefully I’ll have lots of gorgeous pictures to show off.

Cheers to a great weekend, be good!

Image: roamer57

Sustainable Friday: Vintage Shopping

July 23rd, 2010

As a newish homeowner I’ve been decorating on-and-off for months. As part of my desire to live a greener lifestyle and let’s be honest, have a stylish, unique home, I partake in vintage shopping. Not only is it reusing and recycling, two green principles, I get awesome stuff for a steal!

Here’s a sampling of the goodies I’ve picked up the last two trips to Sleepy Poet, my absolute favorite vintage shop in Charlotte. Sleepy Poet, by the way, has seriously stepped it up in the last few months and their styling has become much better. If you haven’t visited in awhile or felt overwhelmed the last time you were there I recommend you check it out again.

A perfect storage console. It has a travertine top, tightly woven rattan doors, ample amounts of storage and amazingly fits in our hallway perfectly.

Blenko Glass candlestick holders.

A fun mixed drink or iced tea pitcher. Way prettier than all clear glass.

Faux bamboo brass picture frame and solo sterling silver candleholder. (That’s the stock picture that came in the frame. Something else will be replaced soon!)

Now here’s the kicker, would you believe if I told you all of this together cost less than $225?! Yep, it’s true! Vintage shopping is green and economical!

Happy shopping!

Inspired: 07.23.10

July 23rd, 2010

Red and White Big Top by Simply Hue