haagen dazs doesn't have to be fattening

we had dinner at a friend's home a few months ago where i was introduced to haagen dazs' line of irresistable sorbets. literally so delicious that when i glanced at the side of the carton and saw a big fat zero next to the fat line i almost went back for thirds. not only that, but the colors are simply beautiful. scoop up the raspberry and the mango during your next grocery store visit; you and your guests won't be disappointed.

in keeping with the black and white

i think the chevron-curtain-searching has gone to my fashion head. decorate with some bold black and white chevrons and wear some black and white stripes! from spiegel, no less. it's a less expensive version of the one i fell in love with at anthropologie a few months back that has since sold out. on sale for $69.

this one's for you, saundra (michelle, tell her to check it out).

bring on some chevrons

now that the hoodlums have decided to target our home, i'm taking this window treatment thing seriously. i was taking my sweet @ss time finding something for the kitchen but i've decided to speed up the process. i'm considering doing a DIY chevron curtain situation like the one below by kristen f davis designs. am i crazy, you ask? yes. i think i am. if anyone knows of a killer navy blue and white chevron drape material, send it my way. k, thanks.

below: kristen f davis designs

below: lonny mag

below: i couldn't find a source :( contact me if it's yours.

sorry for the disappearance

sorry for the disappearance, folks! nick and i skedaddled up to VA for the weekend for his aunt denise's wedding and it was gooooooorgeous! unfortunately, we left the day after some hoodlum decided to test our house alarm by throwing a giant rock through the living room window :( apparently that's what they do - break a window to see what happens and then they come back later to steal all of your stuff. needless to say we have an appointment with ADT to make sure everything alarm-wise is in tip-top shape. not that we have anything worth stealing...what hoodlum would want my forever 21 shoes and gap jeans?

i went crazy on etsy: framed chalkboard

growing up, i had a chalkboard in my room that i'd use to study. i'd write down everything i needed to learn, wipe it clean, and do it again - until i had it all absorbed into my brain. there's a wall in my kitchen that is just screaming for a shabby chic vintage-framed chalkboard. and so i bought one. as always, photos to come once it's hanging. you can find tons of them on etsy or ebay - and shabbychalk's shop is super cute.

i went crazy on etsy: milk glass (and some blog love)

above: joi's kitchen, nuestra vida dulce

i have a new favorite blog that i just happened on last week - nuestra vida dulce - and i have gotten so much inspiration from this lovely lady. the first thing she inspired me to do is re-do my dining room tablescape to include some milkglass. i haven't decided if i'm going to plant some succulents or if i'm going to do something a little cratfier...i'll let you know.

below: pair of large hobnail vases, $17, countryhomecityhome

below: scalloped vase, $14.50, mymilkglassshop

below: hobnail candy dish, $9, mymilkglassshop

i went crazy on etsy: pillows

i went a littttttle crazy on etsy this weekend. i mean - how could i not with so many awesome options? today i'll tell you about the throw pillows i found for the living room couches. i'll DEF take pictures once they all arrive and are tucked cozily where they belong.

below: navy blue quatrefoil pillow, $32, willa skye home

below: deer valley antlers pillow set, $28 for two/no inserts, pillowmio

below: red bird on a branch pillow, $25, freshline

recipe: turkey meatballs

meatballs were probably the first "real" meal i knew how to cook - and it remains one of our staples now that i'm [technically but not really] grown up. nick and i had turkey meatballs for dinner last night and i'm looking forward to the leftovers tonight.

what you'll need:
1 lb ground turkey
1 clove garlic
1/2 medium onion
1 egg
1-2 cups breadcrumbs
dash of oregano
salt and pepper

mince or dice the garlic and onion. stir together with remaining ingredients and form 1-inch balls using hands. i like to bake mine on a cooling rack tucked into a cookie sheet so they bake evenly. bake for about 20 minutes at 350 degrees. when they're done, place into a pot of sauce (i use classico four cheese) and put on your pot of water at the same time. let the balls-o-meat simmer in the sauce while your noodles cook. dunzo!

ps - i was so hungry that i forgot to take a plated shot. oops.

a jumpsuit connection...a french one...

swoon! want! sigh! french connection does it again with this fab romper. i totally swiped the link from an old college friend who posted it on her fb page and just couldn't get enough (check out her blog here). dare i spend $200+ on a romper in preparation for my girls trip to mexico in november? french connection drape crepe playsuit, asos.com, $219

sparkle it up

i'm a big big big fan of this fall's military and simplistic styles - which is why i appreciate this bag for a little girly and sparkly flair. sure, leather messenger bags are all the rage - but what about a nice evening out with friends? you don't want to rock a 20 lb bag in one hand and a glass of bubbly in the other. steve madden blustful crossbody bag, $38.95

outfit in action: making a statement at a wedding

bcbgeneration dress, swell necklace, zara shoes (even though you can't see them)

i mentioned my new wowza-thats-a-statement-necklace last week and here are some photos of it in action. nick and i attended a friend's wedding in maryland over the weekend and they couldn't have asked for more beautiful weather. i heart weddings, especially when i get to catch up with some really great people that i haven't seen in years. and helloooo...that's the view from our hotel room. we got to watch them set up for the ceremony and cocktail hour, both of which were awesome. congrats, julie and todd!

it's gettin' chinchilly up in here

my ski teal we drop manicure finally bit the dust (lasted two weeks, woot!) so i decided to go back to an old favorite from earlier this year - chinchilly by essie. i finished it after the second coat but i kiiiiinda think i coulda gone for a really thin third. a great transition color from bright summer hues to the darker shades of winter, chinchilly is a lovely option this fall. it's funny, though - it looks more green in the photos than it does in real life (it's really grey in the sun) and i kinda like it! goes with the military trends of fall.

caldrea for target

if you've been reading the blog since day 1, you'll probably remember my obsession with molton brown hand soap. i have a special bottle of molton brown naran ji next to my kitchen sink, and while i love love love it, it pains me to think i'm spending roughly $.50 every time i wash my hands. i decided to pick up some of the new target line by caldrea as my "i don't need to spend fifty scents washing bacon grease of my hands" kitchen soap and let me tell you, it's awesome. i picked up the olive oil scent ($7.99, not available online) and it's exactly what i'd like next to my kitchen sink. now i don't feel so bad when i wash my hands...

that's what i call a statement

nick and i are heading to a friend's wedding this weekend and i decided it's about time i got myself a new fall dress for weddings just like this. i found a bcbg navy blue number on super sale last week and decided to go for this orange statement necklace to top it off. i plan to take photos during the weekend so i can blog about the entire ensemble upon my return. zad statement necklace from swell, $39

anniversary gift from the bridesmaids

today is by bff katie's birthday. what better timing considering i've been meaning to blog about the anniversary gift the other bridesmaids and i sent for her one year wedding anniversary a few months ago. we were all so thrilled for katie when she married the love of her life (who i adoringly call w-squared), so we wanted to send something special their way to commemorate a whole year of marriage. these personalized wedding vases by maidofclay are amazing. this is the second time i've given one as a gift and it's a guaranteed hit. so much more special than something off the registry - yet not so "special" that it goes in the "ummmm thanks" pile. and felicia of maidofclay is outstanding. give her shop a look!

ps. happy birthday katie!!

outfit in action: canadian tuxedo

banana republic top, new york and company jeans, michael kors wedges, belt from nyc street vendor, banana republic cuff, danielle stevens necklace

when the chambray shirt came back into favor last year, i admit i was a bit skeptical. jean on jean = canadian tuxedo in my book. however, i've embraced the chambray craze (and so has my dad for the last 25 years) and i rocked it all day and all night. it was a super comfy work outfit and transitioned well to see tosh.0 at bass concert hall that night.