lemon & rosemary asparagus

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Asparagus is a favorite and I am giddy to see it happily peeking out to say “Hello!” at farmer’s markets. I recently started an herb garden and needed a good excuse to use an herb in a dish. Cue the rosemary.

Ingredients

1 lemon

1 bunch o’ asparagus

several sprigs of rosemary

olive oil

Directions

Preheat oven to 400.

Prep asparagus and line on a non-stick baking sheet.

Slice lemon into slices.

Drizzle olive oil and place sprigs & lemon slices on asparagus.

Roast for 15 minutes, turning the asparagus over halfway through.

Bon appetit!

To make it a complete meal, I added Trader Joe’s Pacific Flounder Stuffed with Crab Meat. For $2.99, I consider this item an “everyday luxury.” It won’t break the bank, incredibly simple to prepare and tastes out-of-this-world delicious. Simply place the flounder on a non-stick pan and heat at 400 for 15 minutes. Essentially, you can prepare the fish as the asparagus roasts. Perfect timing, no?

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pearls & prose: commencement

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So far, so good on my summer reading list! I finished Commencement by J. Courtney Sullivan in about three days, giving me a head start on the rather lengthy More Than You Know.Commencement follows the college and post-college lives of four girls who meet at Smith College and become inseparable. Figuring out relationships, dating, your first big girl job, I felt the characters were pretty relatable. Maybe a little extreme at times, but for the most part, I could identify in a way with each character.

You are able to gain insight into each of the four girls chapter by chapter and I enjoyed hearing a girl’s story from her friend’s point of view and then hearing it from the girl herself’s eye. It reminded me of an often repeated saying of my favorite high school English teacher, “Perception is reality.”

The tales and journeys were gripping and while I wasn’t crazy about the ending (I felt it was a little rushed in tone compared to the rest of the book), I thought it would be a good beach read…or in my case, a bus read!

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beauty basics

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I’ve talked about it before on my blog but I am just not really a makeup girl. While I love a good Sephora trip every now and then, I’m not the girl to have an arsenal of eyeshadows and lipsticks. But then Estee Lauder offered a Lilly Pulitzer tote with purchase…

Foundation | Lipstick | Moisturizer (similar)

DC’s muggy summer heat does not play nicely with foundations, I used to use BareMinerals but I felt that by the time I arrived at work, I had to re-apply. It just did not stand up to the humidity. Estee Lauder’s Double Wear Light stays in place and also gives nice coverage for those pesky blemishes.

I am not brave when it comes to lipstick at all. I stick with my usual coral but more often than not, I am simply applying Burt’s Bees. I need to make a big girl resolution to experiment with lipstick more, I’ll keep you posted.

In the morning, I apply DayWear anti oxidant creme with SPF 15. I let it sink into my skin as I blow dry my hair and wait about 15 minutes before applying foundation. I love that it has SPF in it and goes on lightly, you feel as if nothing’s there.

I loved my Estee Lauder bag and I cannot wait to show you my Lilly tote. Happy Friday!

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thirsty thursday: trader joe’s wines

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I know I am a total girl when I say this but I love white wine. When I go to a bar with friends, I’ll usually order a cocktail but at receptions, I stick with my tried-and-true white wine. I also keep my wine rack in my apartment stocked in the event of a last minute party or a friend dropping by.

Wine is an acquired taste and I remember when I first tried wine, I did not enjoy it at all. However, around this time was when I first discovered Trader Joe’s and wanted to take advantage of their more than reasonably priced wine selection. White wines became my go to although red wine is still not on my beverage list.

Currently, I have three bottles from Trader Joe’s on my wine rack. The priciest bottle is the rose on the left at $6 and the least expensive is Green Fin at $4 (love the woody on their label!).

All three wines are excellent on their own especially for summer. I love the rose as a dessert time drink because it has just the right amount of fizz (I’m slightly addicted to fizzy drinks).

In the summer, my meals center around vegetables and seafood. I adore grilled shrimp and scallops in the summer. And frankly, in DC it gets way too hot and muggy to have a heavy meal. The sauvignon blanc and California table wine’s crisp taste pairs nicely with lighter fare. It’s 98 degrees and 95% humidity. DC summer is not the time for rich food and drink.

Another favorite white wine from Trader Joe’s is the Happiness chardonnay, you can always spot this bottle because it sports a huge smiley face. Who says you can’t find happiness in a bottle?

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lapiz of luxury

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Sometimes, a girl needs a little pick me up. A fresh coat of nail polish is this girl’s little moment of sunshine. I love when my nails are painted, painting my nails is actually a Zen time for me. If I get stressed, I’ll toss on a fresh coat and suddenly, the world is a little brighter.

I usually stick with variations of hot pink for my nails although Turquoise & Caicos and Ladylike are personal favorites. On Sunday, I decided to pick a fresh color I’ve never tried.

Lapiz of Luxury is a wonderful shade, maybe more so for spring but I will still wear this hue throughout the summer months. It’s a bright shade yet subdued enough to wear to work. And it matches my irises : )

Funny behind-the-scenes story: I purchased my Essie through the CVS self-checkout. A combination of being on the phone and a list of errands led to me forgetting to actually toss it in my tote…a fact I did not realize until two hours later when I was at home and ready to paint my nails. Luckily, CVS has great customer service. I swear, sometimes I think I’d lose my head if it wasn’t attached to me.

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balsamic-roasted brussels sprouts

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I was a very bad blogger and did not get around to posting my recipe on Sunday. Instead, I spent my Sunday reading and giving my apartment a good spring cleaning. I could wait until next Sunday to share my recipe but honestly, it’s too delicious to keep to myself.

Ina’s Balsamic-Roasted Brussels Sprouts from Foolproof

Ingredients

Brussels sprouts

Pancetta

1/4 cup, olive oil

salt & pepper

1 tablespoon, balsamic vinegar

Directions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

In a bowl, add the Brussels sprouts, pancetta, salt & pepper.

Drizzle olive oil and toss to evenly coat.

Spread evenly onto a baking sheet and put into oven.

Roast for about 20-30 minutes until tender and slightly browned.

Halfway through, toss to evenly roast.

Once completely roasted, immediately drizzle with balsamic vinegar.

Bon appetit!

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monogram monday: chalkboard frame

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My latest home decor project is a gallery wall next to my dining table. Right now, I’m starting this project by making a wish list of pieces I’d love to have on my wall. I want to beyond just having various photographs and paintings, I’m excited to share the finished product with you

Marley Lilly’s chalkboard frame is exactly the whimsical piece I’ve been looking for: it fits with my cottage glam motif, I already have similar frames to match and the monogram is the icing on the cake.

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mudbound

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Every so often, I find a book that I cannot literally put down. The kind of book that keeps your eyes seemingly glued to the page. For me, Mudbound was that kind of book. I finished this book in about 2 days because, quite frankly, I couldn’t drag myself away from it.

Mudbound made me wish I was back in high school AP Literature class, discussing prose and analyzing the symbolism. My favorite class in high school was an honest to goodness tie between Literature and American History. With Mudbound, you get both.

Mudbound tells the story of a family who moves to the Mississippi Delta shortly after WWII to start a farm and live a simple life. However, a brother traumatized from the evils of war, a racist father and a wife who longs for her civilized Memphis roots do not ensure the simple, rustic life in the least. When an African-American war hero returns to the Delta and becomes frustrated that his station in life is practically worse than before he joined the Army, tensions and passions come to a blistering apex.

For those looking to really kickstart their summer reading list, I think starting with Mudbound would certainly do the trick.

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summer 2013 reading list

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On the last day of school from third grade to middle school, I went to school with either my dad or mom to pick up my final report card, listen to my teacher tell my parents about my excellent behavior at school (read: I was a goody two shoes) and receive my summer reading list.

Falling under the “goody two shoes” category, I lived for my summer reading list. Once we left the school, I would beg my parents to immediately drive to Barnes & Noble to purchase my books. I would also beg them to go to Office Max to purchase my school supplies for September but that’s another story.

My parents are avid readers and would indulge me to visit the bookstore so I could peruse the aisles. It was no surprise that I needed glasses by the fifth grade.

Since I’m no longer in school and I won’t be picking up my beloved summer reading list from my teachers, I took matters into my own hands.

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I’d love for you to pin it and read along with me! I already finished Mudbound, to say I could not put it down is an understatement. Visit my blog tomorrow for a review

If you aren’t already, friend me on Goodreads. I love seeing which books people are reading. Do you have a summer reading list?

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simple sangria

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#signsofsummer has been a favorite hashtag lately and it takes the entirety of my willpower not to Instagram, tweet & #signsofsummer every picture I snap lately.

I thought it was only fitting to show my favorite, less-than-10-minutes sangria. Are friends swinging by unexpectedly? Throwing a summer soiree? Just need a cocktail to sip as you work through your summer book list? I’ve got you covered so you can…

Ingredients

1 container, red raspberries

1 container, strawberries (quartered)

1 bottle, moscato

1 can of diet citrus soda

These are the proportions I used for my pitcher but the beauty of this recipe is that it can be easily increased, just taste test

Directions

Pour moscato into pitcher.

Add raspberries & strawberries (cut into quarters).

Add diet lemon-lime soda.

Mix.

If you are in need of a quick sangria supply, this drink can be served immediately. However, for best results, let sit in your refrigerator for at least 2 hours.

Cheers!

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