Madewell - Seeing Spots

I'm waiting on a few photos for a full weekend recap but it definitely passed way too quickly.  On Sunday my friend and I strolled through Soho, which included a stop into Madewell.  Let me just say it was hard to leave empty handed.  I wanted one of everything, including all the spotted patterns.  I don't own anything with spots right now but 15 minutes in the store and I was really feeling this needed to change.  Such a great pattern to play with:

Dotty Dress / Silk Dotty Passenger Skirt / Natalie Wood - Bugged Dress / Silk Dotty Sunshade Top / Polka-Dot Sidewalk Skimmer /  Silk Dotty Tangent Tank

50 Shades of Gray

Ok who's read it?  I just finished the last book of the Hunger Games and have to admit I was a bit disappointed with it, one and two were definitely better.  This is next on my list and judging from what I’ve heard it's going to be quite an interesting read - cannot wait!

It might have to wait until Monday though since one of my best girlfriends is visiting for the weekend from Cali!  Very exciting for all that's in store!!

Have a great weekend!

Wedding Sneak Peak


Before we get to the sneak peak, ever since I posted Chuck's risotto recipe I've been craving it so last night I made it, with the addition of diced tomatoes, and alongside one of my favorite go-to salad recipes.  All you need is your favorite lettuce blend, dried cranberries, toasted walnuts and gorgonzola cheese, mix all ingredients together with your favorite vinaigrette and there you go, the simplest salad you can make in 5 minutes (no chopping involved!).

Now for a little wedding reveal. I don't want to share all the details but last night I came up with a creative little detail for the rehersal dinner, which involes these materials:

Any guesses?!

Bedroom Update

With my parents new house about 3 months away from move in time I'm constantly dreaming up ideas for the interior design.  Lately my focus has been on the bedroom.  I'm not kidding when I say in their old house, also the house I was born in, they had the same gold metal iron bed for some 25 years - serious update needed.  Here my inspiration: 

 

via

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Reminds me of the layout of the master bedroom with the large window and fireplace except instead of country there’d be ocean.  I could spends days here with one of those books.. via

It seems I'm definitely drawn to white, which could be a problem when you have a 80 pound black puppy-bear that has a minor shedding tendency. 

 

Last night my company had our upfront complete with signature cocktails and plenty of wine.  The night ended at Aspen Social Club with Chuck Hughes.  Now many probably don't recognize the name but give it 2-3 years and I'm certain he'll be up there with Bobby Flay.  Right now he hosts a show - Chuck's Day Off - on the Cooking Channel but I see much more in the future.  He's literally the most down to earth celeb I've ever met.

In his honor I'm sharing a recipe of his that I love: Spinach and Lemon Risotto :

You'll need:

4 cups Chuck's veal stock - I use chicken or veggie

1 onion, finely chopped

1 tablespoon olive oil

2 cups Arborio rice

1/4 cup butter

1 cup grated Kefalotyri cheese

1 cup cubed feta cheese, plus more for garnish (I normally use only parmesan)

4 cups spinach

Zest and juice of 1 lemon

Shrimp

1 tablespoon canola oil

12 large shrimp, cleaned and de-veined, tail intact

2 tablespoons ouzo (or some white wine)

2 tablespoons butter

Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

1/4 cup finely chopped fresh parsley

In a saucepan, bring the stock to a simmer over medium-low heat.

In a large saucepan, cook the onion in oil over medium-low heat, stirring, until softened, for about 5 minutes. Add rice, stirring until each grain is coated with oil. Add about 3/4 cup simmering stock and cook over medium-high heat, stirring constantly, until the stock is absorbed. Continue adding stock, 3/4 cup at a time, still stirring constantly and letting each batch be absorbed before adding the next, until about 1/2 of the stock is remaining. Reduce the heat to moderate, if necessary to keep the risotto at a simmer. Continue adding the stock in the same manner until the rice is tender and creamy looking but still al dente, about 20 minutes.

Reduce the heat to low, add the butter then the cheeses. Mix well. Add the spinach and the lemon juice and continue mixing. Remove from the heat and keep warm.

In a heavy-bottomed frying pan, heat the canola oil and saute the shrimp for 2 to 3 minutes. Take the pan off the heat and immediately add the ouzo and light it. Let the flame subside. Season the shrimp with salt, and pepper, and set aside.

Garnish each portion of the risotto with grilled shrimp, parsley, lemon zest, and feta cheese.

 

Enjoy!

 

Weekend Recap

Spent the weekend at home in MA, which was great as I got to spend some quality time with my parents and this guy:



 

It kills me everytime I have to leave him.

I also got a sneak peak at the progress of my parents' new house:

wall of windows

The deck - where I plan on spending most of my weekends this Summer.

Spring Additions

I'm currently trying to make sure my apt gets all the spring updates it needs and right now my number one item is a festive spring pillow for our couch.  I picked up 2 of these a few weeks ago on One Kings Lane but I think the couch could still use a little more Spring color.

I've narrowed down some options and my top choices as of today are:

 Pink Eye Pattern

Pink Flower Pattern 

 Not as much color as I'd like but still find myself coming back to this Thom Filicia Burnet Pattern

You can't go wrong with Chevron but I'm not sure it will mesh well with the pattern on the pillows I already have.

Lastly, I'm in awe of this beautiful DIY pillow by Katie at Creatively Living and may need to try this out with some pink flowers!

Decisions, Decisions...

Obsession of the Month: Mint

If you took a look inside my closet you would pretty quickly see I'm more of a neutral kinda gal.  I have a resolution to change that.  Starting this Spring I am only allowing myself to buy things with color and I have fully fallen for the new mint color that I'm seeing everywhere this spring.  This past Saturday I even got my first minted manicure.

Can't get enough of it.  Which got me thinking - what else comes it this lovely color?  Turns out everything:

1. Skinny Jeans 2. Shorts 3. Dress 4. Shoes 5. Dress 6. Shoulder Bag 7. Bangle

Now all I need is some mint chocolate chip ice cream :)

David Burke/Pranna/Luna Piena - Weekend Review

I had quite a busy weekend!  DSG and I celebrated 6 months to go til the wedding at David Burke at Bloomingdales.  I had high expectations since we've been to Townhouse before, which still is one of the best meals I've ever had.  Alas, after dinner at the Bloomingdales location we'll most likely be returning to Townhouse instead.  For a quick bite to eat after some shopping this would be perfect but the Lobster Mac and Cheese I had wasn't the best, I'd stick to a simpler option next time.  However, the dessert made up for it -   

This root beer float brought me back to childhood when my grandma use to make them.  To take it over the top they add pretzel toffee at the bottom - yum.  It was basically my dinner.

Saturday was my one of my dear friend's birthday and she certainly celebrated it in style.  We had noon brunch reservations at Pranna.  When we were seated and I saw this in front of me my jaw dropped

$28 for brunch with bottomless drinks in NYC?! It is true.  I started with a spinach and goat cheese quiche that was delish and ended with more than one mimosa.  Now this place is great for a nice brunch with yummy food and endless drinks between 12 and 3, but I will warn you around 3:30pm this place turn into an all-out-brunch-gone-wild.  I'm talking girls dancing on chairs and tables-college days kinda wild.  I felt old.  We did enjoy some fun times and it certainly brought us back to our college days.  Around 4pm after we had handled about as much as we could of our most ridiculous brunch experience we strolled back to my friend's hotel room for some r&r.

Dinner was at Luna Piena and I basically could have eaten a full meal on just their bread, burrata appetizer (creamy mozzarella deliciousness), and olive oil - basic ingredients at their best.  I also enjoyed their pesto pasta which was also amazing and you could tell everything was homemade.

Overall 3 very different spots sent me into food coma by Sunday.

Happy Monday All!

Welcome to Inside Out! 


This is my place to let it all out and escape from tiring work days and the never ending to do list.  Since this is my first post what better way to begin than to get to know me – so here we go:

Me in 10 seconds: Born and raised outside of Boston, boarding school in CT, college in upstate NY, first job out in Chicago and now bringing it all back to NYC where I work in advertising.

The highlights:

-          I have an OCD with even numbers (alarm is set for 6:44 never 6:45 – that kinda crazy)

-          I’m 5’1”, on a good day

-          I’m addicted to traveling, even though I’m terrified of flying.  I spent 4 month abroad in York, England and spent much of my time there traveling all over Europe.  I wish I could do it again and again.

-          I have never been to Italy – even though I was in Europe for 4 months.  What is wrong with me

-          This October I’ll be marrying my best friend DSG – there’s never a day that I don’t think I’m the luckiest girl

-          2 quotes I live by: ‘Everything Happens for a Reason.” & “In the end it’s not the years in your life that count it’s the life in your years.”

-          I actually watch commercials (except during Gossip Girl)

-          I ride horses or still believe I do even though I haven’t in over a year and miss it every day

-          I hate decision making and a lot of times I rely on rock, paper, scissors with DSG or eenie-meenie-miney-mo

-          St. Maarten is my home away from home

 The Obsessions:

-          Horses and puppies

-          Spring cleaning

-          Family, my Mom and Dad are my superheroes, my little sister is just awesome

-          Finding ways to add pink into our apt without DSG hating it

-          Celebrations

-          Finding ways to have fun, enjoy life and be a kid again

-          Memories – I keep too many things as ‘memories’ but end up loving it when I go through them all

-          Finding truth in what my Dad always taught me: ‘It’s not work if you love it.’

Stay tuned for a bountiful assortment of posts from design to recipes to everyday thoughts – it’s sure to be a whirlwind J

~ Let it Out ~