paid up top

tissue paper carnations

2011-09-01T08:00:00.000-04:00

i stole this entire idea (down to the milk glass vases and color of the carnations) from one of my favorite bloggers, joi of nuestra vida dulce. she has the best ideas and puts lots of love into her creations. hop on over for the how-to and to see how joi styled her kitchen with them. i love them and the pop of pink in my blue and white kitchen is perf! thanks, joi!

glimmy glam glam

2011-08-31T08:00:00.000-04:00

lulu's gilt-y pleasure grey top, $71

while perusing new arrivals at lulu's the other day i also came across this little gem. a bit pricey for lulu's but it seems the glimmy glam glam detail would make up for it. cute with skinny jeans and some stacked heel or over the knee boots, no?

bought for hawaii: equator pink shorts

2011-08-30T11:29:00.003-04:00

lulu's equator pink shorts, $29

love. perfect for casual dinners or beachside breakfast in hawaii. paid an arm and a leg for 3-day shipping so they get here in time but the $29 price tag for the shorts makes me feel better about exorbitant shipping costs. will likely pair them with wedges and a silky top for dinner.

recipe: a cucumber cocktail

2011-08-23T08:00:00.000-04:00

my new favorite bar/restaurant here in austin is called contigo and they have the. best. cocktails. my ultimate favorite is the el pepino, an incredible combination of cucumber, mint, lime and tequila. i like it so much that i decided to give it a go here at home and i think mine came out pretty darn good. sure, it was a lot of work but totally worth it for a fancy, refreshing cocktail at home.

how to (warning, this recipe is totally ambiguous...): peel and blend a cucumber, turning it into a slushy pulp. drain and reserve the tasty part - the cucumber water - with a fine strainer and toss the leftover pulp. juice a few limes into a glass, throw in a spoonful of sugar and a few leaves of mint and muddle together. add ice, tequila and a bit of bubbly water and top off with the cucumber water. garnish with a sprig of mint and a slice of cucumber.

backyard lounging

2011-08-22T08:00:00.000-04:00

while nick and i are still a few months away from hiring a landscaper (we're waiting for spring), there have been a few backyard touch-ups this summer. we were looking for a couch and comfy chair situation to replace the $79 target table and chairs but when we saw this double chaise on sale we knew we had to have it. can't wait for the temps to drop so we can sleep outside. the chair cushion was on backorder so the one you see here is placeholder for 4-6 weeks.

the next order of business was finding some good throw pillows to adorn the chaise. even though i loved the red and blue options ($9 per pillow from homegoods), the white stripes were too bright white.
the final winner?

$13 per pillow options from pottery barn outlet.

i still want to make some smaller ones in navy and white chevron, but i'll have to put that on the DIY to-do list. you'll be the first to know if i ever get around to it!

miles of macrame

2011-08-18T08:00:00.000-04:00

when was the last time you owned anything macrame? if it was any time between 1983 and 2007, i'm not sure we can be friends. but since today is not within that time period, i was lucky enough to find this little gem of a macrame purse for $9 minus 30% off at the austin antique mall. it could use a little clean up but it will be perfect for a weekend of music, sundresses and brewskies during ACL in a few weeks.

prepping for hawaii: dreaming of dvf

2011-08-16T08:00:00.002-04:00

nick and i are soon heading to maui for our annual labor day week of vacation. while i'm in very limited clothes shopping mode, i have been keeping my eye out for hawaii must-haves. after seeing diane von furstenburg's ethyl dress on blair of atlantic-pacific, i knew it had to be mine. i rarely splurge on clothes more than $150 so this took a lot of nail biting and obsessing before i bit the bullet.

but there was a problem. since it was from the spring 2011 line and popular with people way richer than me (here and here), it was nowhere to be found. after fruitless trolling of dvf.com, ebay, craigslist and multiple blogs, i finally gave the dvf 800 number a call. halleluja, the very last one in dvf's posession was in desert hills, ca and it was in MY SIZE. meant to be? YES.

i'm waiting with baited breath for this beauty to arrive so i can tuck it away for a good dinner out with nick in maui. it better be worth every one of those 4,000 pennies.

check out atlantic-pacific for some amazing shots of the dress in action.

blue ball jars

2011-08-16T08:00:00.001-04:00

i was telling my friend heather about my search for a new console table (as noted the other day in my re-debut post) and she suggested i head to austin antique mall. it's exactly what it sounds like - a giant warehouse full of vendor booths that are chock full of goodies. you've just got to be prepared to find the hidden gems. i didn't come home with a console table but i did come home with a smorgasboard of old skool green and blue bottles (some of you know about my obsession with ball jars, especially blue ones) to fill up my boooooooring mantle in the living room.

i'm going to fill a few of them with single fresh white flowers for special occasions.

and i think one day i'll change out those sconces. they're a little tooooooo victorian for this girl.

before: yawn

after: full of "antique" goodness; reminds me of growing up a stone's throw from the beach

ps. wondering what those "things" are next to the media console? speakers. nick's. new. they blend...right? *sigh*

it's been a while. sorry. i've been stenciling.

2011-08-15T17:21:00.014-04:00

remember back in june when i said i was back in action and would be blogging regularly again? apparently i am a full fledged liar, especially when you consider that today is august 15th and my last post was july 3rd. i guess that's what happens when you're so burnt out that you're taking a break from work/real life/typing/shopping/wearing makeup/communicating with other humans.

but...now that i'm out of that funk...i've been up to a few good projects that i'll blog about over the next few days (because i don't want to overwhelm you guys [read: i don't want to waste all of my posts in one day]) but i thought my biggest project of them all would be the best re-debut.

introducing our new entryway wall.

you: "is that wallpaper?"
me: "nah, it's stenciled."
you: "as in my-great-aunt's-southwestern-print-sponge-paint-in-the-ugly-bathroom stencil?"
me: "yep."
you: mouth gaping open in disbelief.
me: "i know!"

i've been debating what to do with this space since we moved in almost a year ago. it's been totally empty for 11 months and this post by joey and lana over at making a house a home finally got my entryway juices flowing (you don't think i come with these ideas on my own, do you?). their master bedroom stencil adventure came out so beautifully that i decided the zamira print from cutting edge stencils would be the perfect "holy f now THAT's an entryway" print.

five days (yes, FIVE DAYS), two crossed eyes, two sore legs, one cracking wrist joint and a quart of glidden navy blue eggshell later, it was finished. AMEN, i've never been so happy to be done with a DIY project in my entiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiire liiiiiiiiiiiiiiiife. but i lurv it. lurv lurv lurv lurv lurv it.

and i lurv even more that when i'm over it in a year all i have to do is whip out a few sheets of sandpaper and some paint and voila, it's gone.

i temporarily flanked the wall with an ugly broken side table, dusty lamp and DIY chair that got booted from the guest room. it's definitely not permanent. now the space is dying for a console table, lamp, giant mirror and door mat. here are the pieces i'm currently carefully considering.

ikea

ballard designs

four hands home

loft home

bonus: i found this on my desktop just now and thought you guys deserve a little laugh at my expense after i ditched you for six weeks. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz (the sound the segway makes).

the doyles are going greenish

2011-07-03T08:00:00.000-04:00

you guys know all about nick's garden in the back. well, knowing how much nick could use the compost and after spending a few days at a friend's ranch out in central texas where they compost like craaazy, i realized just how much useful trash i was throwing away. so i decided we'd become a composting family. i found this super cute countertop compost bin at world market for $14.99 and after a fruitless search on craigslist for a used composter, we ended up buying a relatively inexpensive one for $98 from home depot. i spent about 45 minutes in 100 degree weather putting it together so it better make the best compost in the world.

btw, it's not like we're a farm or anything...although we do have egg-laying hens now...more on that soon.

reader question: what to wear with the tiered skirt

2011-07-01T08:00:00.003-04:00

i had a reader write yesterday asking if i could suggest some tops/jackets/cardis to go with the banana republic tiered ruffle skirt in wednesday's post. here are just some of the options i came up with after a few clicks around the world wide web (admittedly, i found a lot of keepers at zara). any of these strike your fancy? i can keep looking...it really depends on how work-appropriate you'd like to be...and really, any top could be paired with any jacket.

to be honest, my go-to top would probably be a white wifebeater and I'd take a summer scarf along in case there's a chill. easy and simple.

combo #1: lulu's superfine lace white tank top, $41 paired with zara's buttoned blazer, $69.90 on sale for $49.99

combo #2: urban outfitters' ecote embroidered cami (love the back!), $59 paired with zara's short/vintage retro jacket (has awesome zipper cuff details), $129 on sale for $99.99

combo #3: zara's pintuck blouse, $39.90 on sale for $29.99 paired with zara's blazer with lapel, $159 on sale for $99.99

combo #4 (and the one i'd choose): victoria's secret's silk button-front henley, $68 on sale for $58.50 paired with victoria's secret's quilted leather moto jacket, $129 (don't forget to use an offer code!)

there's no evening chill in texas

2011-06-30T08:00:00.000-04:00

above: evening chill pullover, $88, anthropologie

but this evening chill pullover from anthropologie is toooo diiiiieeeeeeee. i want so badly. picture it pulled over a maxi dress during a vacation when the sun goes down? i may just need it for our september vacation in maui...

a few from banana republic

2011-06-29T08:00:00.001-04:00

even though i'm on a semi-permanent shopping ban due to my elective unemployment, i can't help but read the emails that come through from banana republic. sure, some of their stuff is totally boring and same old, same old - but there are also always a few gems thrown in the mix, too. these are what caught my eye when the last email came through yesterday.

below: sequin sweatshirt, $59.50 (that is a total steal!)

below: aliana eyelet racerback dress, $130

below: printed ruffle tier skirt, $79.50

i'm sure all of these will go on sale soon - if you're willing to risk the sell-out factor.

summer reads: going old skool

2011-06-19T08:00:00.000-04:00

i decided a few weeks ago that i wanted to read one of those easy-to-read suspense slash murder mystery slash thriller slash cop drama books - so i ended up downloading michael connelly's "the lincoln lawyer" for the kindle. i figured i should read the real thing before the movie comes in the mail via netflix - and it was exactly what i was looking for. moved pretty fast, likable main character (perfectly cast with matthew mcc, might i add...i was imagining him as the main guy the whole time i was reading), twists and turns, a little action - a great combo for a summer read.

knowing that michael connelly has been a best selling author for yeaaaaaars but never actually picking one up until "the lincoln lawyer", i decided to go for the whole shebang and i am now reading every single one of his books in the order they were published. next up?

the black echo, published in 1992...

...followed by black ice, published in 1993. all on my wonderful little kindle. did we even have the internet back in the early 90s? i can't remember.

just a heads up that i'll be off relaxing and reading at a friend of a friend's ranch for a few days. will be back soon!

summer essentials

2011-06-16T08:00:00.000-04:00

while the start of summer here in texas was about three months ago, i know some of you are just now getting to dust off last year's bathing suits. it's always torture to dust them off, try them on, and rip them right back off again - and the way i make myself feel better is to buy some new suits. i tend to spend about $500 on bikinis from victoria's secret, buying all sorts of shapes, sizes and colors so i can try them on in the comfort of my own home - and return all the duds to bring the total price to something way more manageable. these are the few that made the cut and are now in regular rotation:

below: paisley u-neck halter top and bikini bottom, top $38 marked down to $28 and bottom $16 marked down to $12

below: gold coral bandeau and string bottom, top $25 marked down to $18 and bottom $24 marked down to $18

below: floral ruffle bandeau top and bottom, top $31 marked down to $23 and bottom $18 marked down to $13

and don't forget to google for discount codes or free shipping - they're always out there for vicky's. always!

homegoods finds

2011-06-14T08:01:00.000-04:00

so in full disclosure i actually made this trip to homegoods about a month ago...but i'm just blogging about it now as my "welcome back to bloggerhood" post! i figure it's as good as any to get back on the wagon, especially because i am 100% obsessed with that yellow chair and it is the peeeeerfect piece for the guest room (yes, i moved out my DIY chair that i made the chevron pillows for to make room for this new gem...i'll find somewhere good for the old one, don't worry). what an amazing find, no? i need to get a new job stat just so i can get back to shopping so i have some more great things to share with you guys.

below: yellow patterned chair, $129 - totally reminds me of a thomas paul print; and the nailhead? lurv.

below: shell, $19.99

below: black and white bird plate, $8; to be hung in the red, black and white guest bathroom one of these days

below: cynthia rowley bowl, $19.99

remember meeeeeeeeeee? oh and it's my birthday.

2011-06-14T08:00:00.001-04:00

oh my god, guys. OH. MY. GOD.

remember me?

yes, me.

finally...

i'm back! i'm baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack!

it's been a long couple of months, as you can guess from the lack of posts. i apologize a million times over for abandoning you like that, but the good news is that i'm back with a new fire in my belly. where was i? well...

...i was working. a lot. i mean, A LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOT. and i wasn't happy about it or happy where i was. it just wasn't right for me and the blog took a backseat. but the good news is that i realized life is way too short and (after a lot of sleepless nights, pep talks from nick and tons and tons and TONS of tears) that i needed to leave the job behind so i can get myself back in balance. after ten years in the ad agency biz, i think it's time to move on to something different. what is that something different?

NO IDEA.

but i do know that i'm excited to actually eat dinner at a normal hour (and with my husband, woot!), get back on the exercise bandwagon, reconnect with friends i've been neglecting, restart the blog (!) and turn my focus back on what's really important to me. the good news is that you guys get to play along with me as i spend my days soul searching, job hunting, experimenting with new recipes, hanging out with emilio, running errands and trying not to spend money. that last one is going to be killer.

oh, and it's my 32nd birthday today. couldn't ask for a better day to kick start the ole' blog.

i'm back, bitches. LOVE!

ps. i'll do my best to post as often as possible, but don't hate me if i make it a slow kick-start. i am on a budget, you know.

recipe: time to make the bagels

2011-05-04T08:00:00.000-04:00

most of you know that i'm born-and-bred new yorker - meaning that i take my bagels quite seriously. one of the hardest things to give up when coming down to texas was the confidence that i could walk into any mom and pop bakery and get a kick ass bagel. after countless duds and our refusal to go to einsteins, we have been lucky enough to find local Wholy Bagel, run by a couple from new jersey who moved down a few years ago, got sick of eating bad bagels, quit their 9-5s and opened up a bagel shop. hands down the best bagels in town, they convinced me to give it my own shot at home.

dough:

1 1.2 c warm water (110-115 degrees)
1 tbsp dry active yeast
1 tbsp sugar
1 tbsp vegetable oil
2 tsp malt syrup (which i couldn't find, so i used molasses instead...ok substitute but i recommend you try to find the real thing)
2 tsp salt
4 1/2 cups unbleached flour

kettle water

6 quarts water
2 tbsp malt syrup
1 tsp salt
and i added a little bit of baking soda - i heard it helps make the outside crunchy while the inside stays chewy

instructions:
in a large mixing bowl, stir together water, yeast, and sugar. lstand for 5 minutes. with a wooden spoon, stir in oil, malt and one cup of the flour. add salt, then enough of remaining flour to make a stiff dough. on a lightly floured surface, knead for 10 to 12 minutes. cover with a floured dish towel and allow dough to rest on a board for about 15 minutes. divide dough into 8 sections and form each section into 10-inch long strips. roll the ends together to seal and make a ring. place on a lightly floured surface, cover, and let bagels rest 15 to 20 minutes, rising about halfway and becoming slightly puffy.

meanwhile, fill a large cooking pot or dutch oven three quarters full with water. add the malt syrup and salt. bring water to a boil. preheat oven to 450 F. line two large baking sheets with baking parchment and, if desired, sprinkle generously with corn meal. set aside. line two other baking sheets with a kitchen towel, set near your stove. reduce boiling water to a simmer and cook 2 bagels at a time (do not crowd the pot). simmer bagels for about 45 seconds on one side, then turn and cook other side for another 45 seconds and then drain bagels on the towel-lined baking sheet.
carefully place bagels on the parchment-lined baking sheets. bake bagels plain or sprinkle with a topping of your choice. place in the hot oven, immediately reduce heat to 425 F, and bake about 17 to 25 minutes. when almost baked, turn bagels over (a pair of tongs do the job easily).

would i quite my 9-5 and open a bagel shop? definitely not. would i eat these over einsteins? 100%.

pink parade at zara

2011-05-03T08:00:00.000-04:00

zara's store right now is filled with all of the essentials required for a kick-ass colorblocked outfit. i went with two specific pieces in mind (pink shorts and a red blazer) and while i did come out with none of the above, i instead came out with all of the below.

below: loose white blouse, $39.50. will be perfect weekend wear with some jean cutoffs (which are now on my shopping list - a DIY version did not make the cut - pun intended). sorry for the wrinkles.

below: pink blazer, $79.50. love!!!

below: pink and white striped top, $15.50. perhaps paired with a white, green or yellow skirt?

"where do you get your nails done?"

2011-05-02T08:00:00.000-04:00

i have never in my life been asked so many times where i get my nails done. all thanks to a little lady named sally hansen. my sister-in-law and two of her besties came to visit last weekend and they were awesome enough to bring me a set of sally's salon effects polish strips. i love them, they seem to be lasting forever, and like i said, have gotten so many compliments on them. i stocked up in tons of colors and designs at walgreens and cvs this past weekend - beware, some of the best designs are hard to find.

on my toes? essie's lovey dovey.

stocking up at asos

2011-04-20T08:00:00.000-04:00

i had the pleasure of spending last weekend in vegas with my bff katie and her hubs warren. katie wore the cutest dress ever from asos and reminded me how much i like asos' selection. i decided to order up a few to see if any make the cut and find a home in my closet. here's what i'm expecting from the mailman in the next two weeks...

below: pleated long sleeve shift dress, $71.72 on sale for $35.86

below: frill sleeve swing dress, $53.79

below: antique style beaded embellished layered dress, $75.31

below: armor swing dress, $98.62

like going home again...in vegas

2011-04-19T08:00:00.001-04:00

now living in a place where h&m doesn't exist, any time i go anywhere where there IS an h&m, i make it a point to make a visit. nick and i spent last weekend in vegas and my last trip was quite a fruitful one -- not only did we win big playing craps but i'm also psyched by the goodies i brought home from h&m. i've already thrown away all of the tags so the prices are ballparks...

below: orange and white striped beach bag, $25

below: tiered maxi dress, $60

below: black romper, $40

below: scallop edge sheer cream blazer, $60

life keeps happening

2011-04-18T08:00:00.000-04:00

there have been some crazy goings-on around the doyle household lately, which somewhat explains the absence of blogging lately.

while i've been working some INSANE hours (IN. SANE.), doing some fun traveling on the weekends, running around for appointments and prepping some visitors, we also came home from vegas last weekend to a dog with an eye infection and a crazy huge cut on his leg. we took him to the 24 hour vet hospital and he had to undergo anesthesia and came out with three sutures. we got his stitches out over the weekend and unfortunately he wasn't ready yet...and it popped back open! we had to take him back in for 8 staples in his leg and now he's wearing a cone for two weeks. poor guy. cover your eyes if you get queasy, it's kinda gross...

in the realm of good news, the garden has also been growing like crazy. the weather here in austin has been unbelievable, and the roses and vegetables are loving it. nick's green thumb is awesome and we've been enjoying tons of fresh veggies all week. it's amazing how much better stuff tastes when it comes straight out of your backyard.

outfit in action: gaga for peter pan shorts

2011-04-07T08:00:00.004-04:00

last night i pretended to be a little monster and went to see lady gaga with my friend andrea. while i can't call myself a huge fan, this was one of the most entertaining shows i've seen in a long time. maybe it was because we were able to sneak down to the floor for the encore, or maybe it was because i have a secret love for "bad romance." either way, i was psyched to wear my new peter pan shorts (as nick calls them) for the day at work, dinner and drinks at local restaurant vivo, and to the frank erwin center for lady gaga. i was definitely the most conservatively dressed in the joint. i guess that's what happens when you go from the office to gaga - and you're 31 years old. oh, i also bought these shorts in white. love. and you get to see these shoes in action!

below: she was born this way, bitches.

below: proof of me being under dressed. or over dressed. no, she's not peeing. she's resting.

below: gaga and the fame monster

recipes: cinnamon buns

2011-04-05T08:00:00.001-04:00

my work friend amber makes a mean dessert. i mean, any dessert. i decided to take one from her book (literally) and borrow her bread baker's apprentice cookbook, and make cinnamon buns.

i spent a few hours on sunday making this recipe, and although the dough took me two tries (i forgot an ingredient, wtf), i'd say they were a huge success. in fact, i'm eating one as i type and i'd go so far as to say they kick pillsbury's ass.

6 1/2 tbsp granulated sugar
1 tsp salt
5 1/2 tbsp shortening or unsalted butter or margarine, at room temperature
1 large egg, slightly beaten
1 tsp lemon extract or grated zest
3 1/2 cups unbleached bread or all-purpose flour
2 tsp instant yeast
1 1/8 to 1 1/4 cups whole milk or buttermilk, at room temperature
1/2 cup cinnamon sugar (6 1/2 tbsp granulated sugar plus 1 1/2 tbsp ground cinnamon)

1. cream together the sugar, salt and shortening on medium-high speed in an electric mixer with a paddle attachment (or use a larger metal spoon and mixing bowl and do it by hand). whip in the egg and lemon extract until smooth. then add the flour, yeast, and milk. mix on low speed (or stir by hand) until the dough forms a ball. switch to the dough hook and increase the speed to medium, mixing for approximately ten minutes (or knead by hand for 12 to 15 minutes), or until the dough is silky and supply, tacky but not sticky. you may have to add a little flour or water while mixing to achieve this texture. lightly oil a large bowl and transfer the dough to the bowl, rolling it around to coat it with oil. cover the bowl with plastic wrap.

2. ferment at room temperature for approximately two hours, or until the dough doubles in size.

3. mist the counter with spray oil and transfer the dough to the counter. roll out the dough with a rolling pin, lightly dusting the top of the dough with flour to keep it from sticking to the pin. roll it into a rectangle about 2/3 inch thick and 14 x 12. don't roll out the dough too thin, or the finished buns will be tough and chewy rather than soft and plump.

4. sprinkle the cinnamon sugar over the surface of the dough and roll the dough up into a cigar-shaped log, creating a cinnamon-sugar spiral as you roll. with the seam side down, cut the dough into 8-12 even pieces about 1 3/4 inch thick.

5. place the buns about 1/2 inch apart on a baking sheet lined with parchment. proof at room temperature for 75 to 90 minutes, or until the pieces have grown into one another and have nearly doubled in size.

6. preheat the oven to 350 degrees with the oven rack in the middle shelf.

7. bake the cinnamon buns for 20-30 minutes, or until lightly golden. cool the buns for about 10 minutes before covering with icing (recipe below).

now, being the pillsbury officionado that i am, i decided to google a recipe for the icing just like the one that comes in the little plastic cup with the pop-cardboard-cinnamon-bun things, and here's the secret behind the magic:

2 cups confectioners sugar
2-3 tbsp heavy cream
1 tsp vanilla extract

mix together (adding heavy cream or confectioners sugar appropriately to get the consistency you want) and spoon over warm buns.

uh-may-zing. thank you, bread baker's apprentice.

guest blogger: korie's san tan-tonio

2011-04-04T08:01:00.000-04:00

what's better than a guest post to kick off my return from hiatus? :) - annie

----

Loving the new OPI Texas collection. Tried the San Tan-tonio...love it! Def will do this one again sometime.

back in business

2011-04-04T08:00:00.001-04:00

hey guys! sincere apologies for last week's unannounced/unexplained hiatus from the blog. i had a sudden family emergency back in baltimore last weekend and didn't feel up to tackling blog posts at all last week. i'm also buried in emails, so if you've written me and i haven't responded, it's nothing personal. i'll get back to you as soon as i dig out, i promise. however, i am back this week and ready to roll - with some good recipes and fashionable finds coming your way.

nick and i spent the weekend doing some really fun things - thursday night was the AMP party at ACL live where nick and i stayed up way past our bedtime so we could dance it up with ghostland observatory, friday night was a coworker's birthday party followed by cold war kids at stubbs, saturday was a bit of shopping at one of my favorite austin boutiques fab'rik, the lonestar roundup out at the expo center, drinks at perla's and dinner at vince young steakhouse, and yesterday was breakfast at torchy's, grocery shopping, cooking, cleaning, about 600 loads of laundry and dinner with our neighbor at hut's. and through all of that, i didn't take a single photo to share with you guys. bad blogger. bad.

in other news, emilio is once again becoming an escape artist from the backyard. rather than climb the chain link fence like he did last time, he's now squirreling in between two fences, shimmy-ing his way through 10 yards of fence to freedom. makes me nervous that he's gonna get hurt. thank you to our neighbors for keeping an eye out for him until we figure out a permanent solution.

thanks again for being patient with me during last week's hiatus. i'm back in biz.

color blocking for vegas

2011-03-25T08:00:00.000-04:00

nick and i have a trip to vegas planned in a couple weeks. i'm really looking forward to ditching reality for a few days to gamble, lay by the pool, eat some great food and check out all of the new casinos (i haven't been since right after the wynn opened) - OH, and to go to the biggest H&M in the united states! anyway, i'm anticipating saturday night to be an opportunity for nick and i to whoop it up at some of the new bars/clubs so i decided i'm going to break out of character and wear something super tight and a little over the top. being that i'll most likely never wear it again, i went to my local forever 21 (where i am obviously a regular, just like emily from the bachelor) and spent a whopping $25 on this colorblock bandage dress.

i got home and immediately went for a 7-mile run, my first run in about 8 months. i also did not forget to pick up my very first pair of spanx. i heart them already.

prison stripes

2011-03-24T08:00:00.000-04:00

you all most likely know about my obsession with black and white, especially in the bathroom or when reminiscent of prison stripes. well, thanks to fellow blogger the possessionista (she has the best as-seen-on-tv fashion finds, particularly when it comes to emily from the bachelor) i was able to get my hands on a new top that feeds my obsession. truth be told, i saw this $58 pins and needles top on a girl in a wine bar over the winter and didn't have the b@lls to ask her where she got it, so thanks, possessionista, for helping me find it. it's en route from the urban outfitters warehouse as we speak!

the flock of seagulls is grounded

2011-03-23T08:00:00.000-04:00

sad news, ladies. sad, sad news. remember my flock of seagulls dress i wrote about last week? remember that i spent almost $100 on the dress? weeellll, since i wanted to get as many wears out of it as possible, i wore it all day saturday for some errands around town. i paired it with a cute little crossbody bag that has a handy zippered pocket on the backside that is perfect for my iphone.

and apparently also perfect for ripping my flock of seagulls dress to shreds. i didn't notice until i got home in the evening that the zipper had literally shredded all of the seagulls on my right hip/butt area, about the size of an 8.5x11 piece of paper. i was <---> this close to throwing it out but decided i will still wear the dress when i can cover it up with a sweater and/or if i'm sitting down all day. just to prove to myself that it's ok, i wore it out for dinner that night with my friend mckinnon - with a strategically placed bag.

but since i was feeling so bad for myself i allowed myself a little replacement. only about a quarter the price of the flock of seagulls dress, this one shoulder number from forevs should do just fine. i wish i like it as much, though...

wrapped up in hearts

2011-03-22T08:00:00.000-04:00

i can't get enough of rompers. every time i see one i rush over to it, hug it like it's my long lost sibling and barely glance at the price tag before throwing my debit card over the counter. such was the case when i saw this navy and white one at express ($69.90)...i typically don't go into express unless i need a cami or some ubiquitous work pants situation, but the tiny hearts on this guy caught my eye through the window. it's silk and it's lined, which makes the $70 price tag easier to swaller. i'd say it's the perfect situation for a summer show or two at stubbs with my new stuart-weitzman-look-for-less aldo wedges (blogged about here). and in case you're wondering, it's officially in the 80s daily here in austin. hearts!!!

guest blogger: korie's sex and the city knockoff

2011-03-21T08:00:00.001-04:00

everyone, please welcome korie back to the blog! (if you missed her first post last week, check it out here) i hope she becomes a regular contributor because i love the flair she brings to paid up top. yay korie! -- annie
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I’d been looking for something fun and fancy for a wedding we have in Buffalo, NY in late April for a while now. Being a mom of 2, I don’t get out much so when I get the chance, I really like to dress up…and go big or go home. During naptime I had been looking online for a fun gown to wear to this party. Probably totally overdressed, but that’s ok. I found a couple on Bluefly.com when they had their 15% off evening gown sale. But, when I got them and tried them on, they were not nearly as cute on me as they looked on the models online. Shocker, I know. So I returned them and being that one was Nicole Miller and one Badgley Mischka, it was probably for the best in terms of my bank account. 15% helped, but still not necessarily cheap dresses. So I kept looking…

Remember the Sex in the City episode where Carrie was modeling and she first tried on a black floral long gown….i think by Dolce and Gabbana? But then she ended up wearing the sparkly underwear type deal and falling on the runway. The long floral gown was worn by Heidi Klum and this dress I found totally reminds me of it.

for japan with love

2011-03-17T21:49:00.007-04:00

i've been watching more cnn than ever since the devastating earthquakes and tsunami in japan and have felt so helpless. an old friend of mine lives in tokyo with his family and i can't imagine what it's been like to live through such an experience. he has kept in touch with his friends and family using facebook throughout the week and up until yesterday was still reporting about aftershocks, an empty pantry and no one on the streets. i pray for those who have lost loved ones, lost their homes, and continue to face the impact of the devastation every day.

tomorrow my blog will be quiet because i'll be participating in a bloggers day of silence for the people of japan. for japan with love was organized by fellow bloggers lydia of ever ours and lucia and henny of utterly engaged and all donations will go to disaster relief efforts for the people of japan. from lydia of ever ours:

"we have handpicked ShelterBox as the organization we'd like to donate to. we know that their volunteers are already there in Japan helping, so please be assured that your donations are being put to good use. ShelterBox provides emergency shelter and lifesaving supplies for families around the world who are affected by disasters at the time when they need it the most. Each large, green ShelterBox is tailored to a disaster but typically contains a disaster relief tent for an extended family, blankets, water storage and purification equipment, cooking utensils, a stove, a basic tool kit, a children’s activity pack and other vital items."

if you'd like to donate directly to shelterbox, please click here. thank you for your support, and until monday...i'll be praying for you, japan.

necklace in action: sailor knots

2011-03-17T08:00:00.000-04:00

i started out the week with some bad iphone photos so i figured i'd continue the trend...with more bad iphone photos. i just don't leave enough time in the morning to set up the tripod before bolting out the door to get to work on time. man, do i look tired. aaaaanyway...

my new banana republic sailor knot necklace arrived the other day and i luuuuuurv it. i bought mine with a discount code and a merchandise credit, bringing my grand total to $9, but i'm still annoyed that of course NOW it's on sale. oh well. i'm just glad i have it! get yours for $48.50 today. i think i'm gonna wear it again tomorrow.

piperlime's girl on a budget

2011-03-16T08:00:00.000-04:00

i don't know about you but i love me a website that understands me. and piperlime does. they recently launched a girl on a budget section of their site and its one of the first things i click on when visiting. they break out it out by must-haves, shoes, clothes, jewelry and accessories - all under $100. ch-ch-check it out, you're sure to find something to love. these are just a few of the things i spied when checking out the latest options.

below: tinley road lesley shoes, $59

below: aryn k stripe blazer, $94

below: collective concepts ruffle tank dress, $49

outfit in action: flock of seagulls

2011-03-15T08:00:00.000-04:00

i was so late for work today but i just had to take a pic of what i was wearing - even though i look slightly bloated and/or possessed in this bad photo. i finally decided to go for it and wear my new summer maxi dress, which a coworker lovingly dubbed my "flock of seagulls" dress. i got this bad boy from austin boutique fabrik and it's made my collective concepts. belt is new york & company and the cardi is H&M (btw, i get to go to the biggest H&M in the US in a few weeks when nick and i go to vegas for a weekend, woooot! i miss this store SO MUCH!).

guest blogger: korie's vintage finds for a good cause

2011-03-14T08:00:00.000-04:00

introducing paid up top's first guest blogger, korie! i met korie while on my girls' trip to mexico and i loved getting to know her. korie is a native austinite turned minnesotan and a true fashionista who puts me to shame when it comes to looking super stylish without spending tons of loot. please welcome korie to paid up top and help her choose a mask for her masquerade ball! - annie

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If some of you know me, you know that I moved up to Minnesota to work for my aunt who started a nonprofit organization called the Hope Chest for Breast Cancer (www.hopechest.us). The organization has 2 stores here in the Twin Cities that sell very upscale designer clothing, accessories and home goods that are donated new by retail stores or gently used by individuals. The money made from the stores and other fundraising efforts supports different breast cancer causes.

I don’t work there anymore, but I do still love to support this cause near and dear to my heart. So, when I heard that they had been collecting designer vintage stuff for over the past year to sell at this one day only event, I marked it on my calendar! I took my daughter, Ryan, and we made the 40 minute drive out to the Hope Chest store in Wayzata, MN. We were told by the store manager to get there early because they had received lots of press about the event and the place was sure to be packed. And it was! We were among about 10 others waiting in line to get in right at 10 a.m! And boy was it worth it!

Here are some of my finds from that morning. I wish I had taken pics while I was there so yall could get a glimpse of how awesome this store is…and well…how cute my daughter was dressed up in vintage gold beads and greeting shoppers at the door.

Below: Yellow Mohair Jacket. I wore this to church last weekend and got a ton of compliments on the color.

Below: Long Garden Party Dress (this one looks Lily Pulitzer-esque to me). Thinking I’ll wear this to Easter brunch since it will still be cold here (ugggh!) and this dress has long sleeves. Maybe a gold statement necklace or earrings to bring it a little more modern.

Lace Cocktail Dress. This was done by a custom designer from Vancouver. Not sure when. But its totally on trend with the lace and the jewel tone deep blue. I plan on wearing this one to the Friends of St. Judes Masquerade Ball in May. I purchased 2 different masks from www.partyoasis.com to match! Which one do yall think I should wear?

Below: Turquoise/Black Cocktail Dress. Probably wear this to a rehearsal dinner I have in late April in Buffalo, NY. But it’s so classy and simple that I think I will wear it to a lot of places. I love the black on the back of the sash and the cap sleeves. And the bright blue is on trend for spring. I am thinking black pumps with this one.

Below: Navy Cotton Dress w/Gold Collar. Loving the pockets. So comfy, simple and something I could wear to a lot of different types of things.

All of these were at a fraction of what they would cost normally and all for a good cause….basically GUILT FREE! Plus I decided to give up shopping for myself and my children for lent. Only necessities….so this was a good place for one “last hurrah”.

Please remember that anyone can donate things to the Hope Chest…from anywhere. You’ll get an itemized receipt in January for your taxes and the shipping of the goods to Minnesota is also tax deductible!

Great finds - Great Prices - Great Cause

entryway reflections

2011-03-10T08:00:00.000-05:00

the next project i'll tackle in the house is some sort of console table and wall decor for the entryway. i haven't yet found a console table that i love, but i already know that i'd like to cover the wall above with lots and lots of mirrors. i'm envisioning all different mirrors in plenty of shapes and sizes to make for a really cool entry into the place nick and i call home. these are some of my favorites from ballard designs (i turned down like every other page in the most recent catalog!).

below: victoria mirror, $369

below: constance mirrors (2), $219

below: antique kristen frameless mirrors, $49 each

below: bone sunburst mirror, $269

strawberries and gold

2011-03-09T08:00:00.000-05:00

i keep forgetting to blog about this fun surprise that came in the mail just before valentine's day. it's a hand painted tote bag from blogger jessica of flourish the blog. she went out of her way to make something like 20 of these for readers who signed up to receive her special valentine's gift - and if all of them are as awesome as the one i got, she has some lucky readers! check out her blog, you'll like it.

oh, while i was outside taking photos i decided to show off the activity in our tiny little vegetable garden. every single thing we planted has sprouted. i can't wait for the teeny tiny strawberries and broccoli florets to turn in to something edible!

tart deco and coat azure

2011-03-08T08:00:00.000-05:00

not only have i been buying spring/summer clothing lately, i've also decided i'm ready to go light with my nail polish. while opi's russian navy and essie's chinchilly have been my staples as of late, a trip to ulta over the weekend inspired me to lighten up with essie's tart deco on my fangers and coat azure on my toes. do you have a favorite shade for spring?

this weekend's shopping gems

2011-03-07T08:00:00.000-05:00

i don't know about you but i have spring on the brain like crazy. i know the austin summers are just around the corner so have been spending most of my shopping money lately on warm weather gear. these are the gems i brought home with me this weekend to celebrate the onset of the best time of the year (in my opinion).

below: bird maxi dress, collective concepts, $94 and leather/elastic belt, new york & company, $24

below: nautical skirt with red belt, forever 21, $15.90

below: bead trim sweater, rory beca for forever 21, $24.80

stylin at nine west

2011-03-03T08:00:00.000-05:00

i seem to have a huge hankering for anything shoe-related lately, and after seeing gwyneth rock the colorblocked christian louboutins at the grammys i can't seem to get colorblocking out of my head. nine west sent me an email (ok, they sent their email list an email) telling me that i HAD to partake in the trend and snatch up these stylin (that's the style name) 70's inspired platforms immediately. at $89, they're more than i typically spend on a pair of shoes, but i have the feeling they'll be worth it. if only they shipped sooner than 4/26. maybe the shoe fairies will help a sista out and they'll arrive way before then (and before the trend is over, too).

rugging it up

2011-03-02T08:00:00.000-05:00

i've been looking for ages for the perfect jute rug to put in front of the back door, and as of this weekend, the search is over. i wandered into world market over the weekend to look for coasters and instead walked out with this 3x5 jute rug for $49.99. i love that the pattern matches our living room rug from anthropologie AND the blue matches our blue kitchen cabinets (you can see some of the cabinets to the left of these photos). the rug doesn't seem to be on world market's website yet but they had plenty when i saw it in-store.

putting up our crate and barrel dubois mirrors

2011-03-01T08:00:00.000-05:00

i've had my eye on these dubois mirrors ever since we first purchased crate and barrel's colette bed about two years ago. while i don't usually copy rooms item-for-item from the store catalog, these just go together like peas and carrots. for christmas i was gifted a set of two from my parents and a set of two from nick's parents, and i gifted myself the last set this past week. my handyman nick helped me put them up over the weekend.

the last step is to find new bedding to better match my white and green curtains. i'm thinking all white. any other suggestions?

below: before

below: work in progress

below: the instructions that were clearly written by someone who does not speak english. "driller the wholes"?

below: emilio admiring our handiwork

my oscars picks

2011-02-28T08:00:00.003-05:00

because it wouldn't be the monday after the academy awards without it, here are my picks for best dressed at last night's oscars. i had the privilege of watching the show with some of my favorite girls here in austin and most of us agreed on the best dressed of the night.

ps. anne hathaway was pretty good but james franco was a big. fat. dud.
pps. all images from justjared.com
ppps. jeffrey rush was robbed.

below: mila kunis in elie saab haute couture; too bad she's making scary faces

below: gwyneth paltrow in calvin klein collection; my friend andrea said it best - she is margot tenenbaum in the flesh with that white blonde hair

below: cate blanchett in givenchy couture; the circle was a bit weird but she pulled it off like the veteran she is

below: michelle williams in chanel haute couture; hair is perfect, dress fits perfect - redemption for the bad daisy dress at the globes

below: jennifer lawrence in calvin klein collection - bombshell!

help me choose: door pulls for the media console PART 2

2011-02-25T08:00:00.000-05:00

thank you for all of your votes last week to help me choose the new door pulls for the media console. and...drumroll...the winner is the clear gemstone knob! i think they add just the right amount of flair for an already flaired-up piece of furniture.

i did it...i bought my tom fords

2011-02-24T08:00:00.000-05:00

remember way back when when i first blogged about my obsession with the tom ford jennifers? weeeellllll, i finally bit the bullet and bought them for myself!! woot!!! i brought these bad boys home from nordstrom over the weekend and i can't get enough of them. i'm kiiiinda wondering if i should have gone with the brown/brown rather than the brown/bronze but they didn't have them in store. i may order them and return one...decisions, decisions.

below: brown/bronze

below: brown/brown

the look for less: stuart weitzmans or aldo

2011-02-23T08:00:00.000-05:00

flare jeans and platform sandals are everywhere i look right now, and while i really appreciate the trend, i couldn't decide which pair of platform sandals to partake in until i found these over the weekend. i really love a wedge because of their versatility - good for work, good for a night out with nick, good for a concert outside at stubbs, good for running errands. remember when jennifer aniston wore stuart weitzman's alex wedges ($365) all last summer? these connally wedges from aldo are pretty much spot on (with the straps crossing in the back rather than in the front...no big) for a mere $50. the biggest decision here is do i want the taupe or the khaki?

below: taupe

below: khaki

a backyard vegetable garden

2011-02-22T08:00:00.000-05:00

just like michelle obama said we should, nick and i spent our day off yesterday making a kitchen garden. we waited until the austin cold seems to have gone for good (it was in the 80s yesterday, woot!), scoped out the best spot in the yard and put in a 5x5 raised bed and a few pots full of broccoli, beans, brussels sprouts, asparagus (which btw takes three years to show any yield, wuh wuhuuu), peppers, tomatoes, potatoes and strawberries. we've also recently planted a fig tree, a peach tree, blueberries, grapes and a calamondon tree. pretty soon you might see us with a booth at the local farmers market (ok...not really). emilio was a very good helper...until he walked right through the garden in an attempt to catch a squirrel in a tree above. it has since been surrounded with chicken wire.

ps. here's a nice shot up emilio's nose. he loves mooching it up for the camera.

i'm currently coveting: rag and bone maxi skirt

2011-02-17T08:00:00.001-05:00

when styled impecabbly like on blogger rachelle hruska in this month's lucky, the spring trend of maxi skirts is that much more appealing. i plan to embrace the trend as the temperatures rise steadily in austin over the next few weeks. the biggest hindrance? the price tag of those i've fallen in love with so far. rag & bone has some serious beauties, including this one for a hefty $395. i'm on a mission to find one just as gorge. anyone seen any good ones for less?

try on trip to forever 21 (via the internet)

2011-02-16T08:00:00.000-05:00

sometimes i like to peruse the new arrivals at forever 21 to see if there's anything interesting. last night i spent a few minutes looking at the "view all" page of the new arrivals and decided i'd be trying on the following items if i can find them in store. have you found anything good at forevs lately?

below: woven panels tunic, $15.80

below: berries n cream contrast dress, $29.80

below: belted knit dress, $19.80

below: silk feathers top, $29.80

below: peace dove open cardigan, $17.80

below: sleeveless brush stroke top, $15.80

below: small basketweave leatherette bag, $22.80

below: circle embellished knit top, $19.80

below: falling flower top (also in white), $14.90

below: failing blossom tie up dress (also in blue), $18.90

grown up lucky charms

2011-02-15T08:00:00.001-05:00

"When kept as a talisman, a horseshoe is said to bring good luck. Many believe that to hang it with the ends pointing upwards is good luck as it acts as a storage container of sorts for any good luck that happens to be floating by, whereas to hang it with the ends pointing down, is bad luck as all the good luck will fall out. Others believe that the shoe should be hung the other way, as it will then release its luck to the people around it."

i decided to take these words to heart and found myself two antique horseshoes at local store uncommon objects. they're dirty and most certainly used, and the perfect good luck charms to hang over our front door. i'm sure you're supposed to hang them outside and i'm sure i'm canceling out the good luck by hanging one each way, but whatevs. it's the thought that counts.

ps. the metallic gold marker in this pack came in handy when i handed nick white nails to use to hang rusty bronze horseshoes. oops. i promptly asked nick to do some coloring to try to make the nails blend in.

gypsy queen

2011-02-14T08:00:00.001-05:00

the new swell catalog isn't something i usually pore over, but being laid up in bed all weekend from a minor teeny tiny surgical procedure (no, i didn't have a boob job) left me looking for reading material. if i were sixteen and still had the boobs i had back then, i'd definitely be rocking this little number, the gypsy 05 orian maxi dress for $168. you all know how much i love me some chevrons...

ps. happy valentine's day!

help me choose: door pulls for the media console

2011-02-11T08:00:00.003-05:00

i blogged earlier this week about the new media console and how pumped i am that it has arrived. i decided i hate the door pulls it came with so i took a little trip to anthro on sunday for a few replacement options (great suggestion, erin!). help me choose which to use...even though i think i already have a favorite. let me know which one you like!

below: the orig/boooooooooring

below: ceramic melon knob in aqua

below: ceramic knob in linen

below: gemstone knob in clear

this one's for amber: closet tour

2011-02-10T08:00:00.001-05:00

i had a special request come in last week from my colleague amber. she begged and pleaded (slash kinda suggested) that i post a little tour of my closet. while i do think this is a fun way to check out what's in my toolkit, nothing is the same as going in an rifling around. am i right? how awesome is it to root through your BFFs closet and borrow to your heart's content? anyway, i hope you enjoy the tour and one day get to come over and check it out in person!

here's the video tour with a still version below for those of you without video/sound capabilities at work...i couldn't get it to fit in the window, so you can watch it on youtube by right clicking.

below: behind closed doors

below: the broad view

below: the hanging shoes...the ones i don't wear as often

below: shelves full of jeans and cardis, plus racks of blouses and tanks

below: racks of warm sweaters and sweats, plus racks of dresses, skirts, pants and jackets

below: the shoes i wear most often alongside a stack of scarves

below: dresses flanked by skirts/pants and blouses - my fave fancy bags on the top shelf

below: a basket full of clutches and smaller bags

currently coveting: blue maxi from anthro

2011-02-09T08:00:00.000-05:00

this girl (pointing at myself) took a little detour to anthropologie while running errands on sunday. i had zero intention of buying anything aside from options for door pulls for the media console table and came out successfully without buying a thing not on the list. but what i also came out with was a lust for this silk in the abstract dress. obsessed. the only reason i didn't walk out with it right then and there is the $248 price tag. come oooooon, go on saaaaaaale!

the new console table is in

2011-02-07T08:00:00.002-05:00

happy superbowl monday! nick and i had an awesome weekend - friday i went to a movie with some girlfriends, saturday we cleaned our entire house top to bottom, went out for sushi and caught a show at antone's (robert randolph and family band, so good), and yesterday we ran some errands and had some friends over for ribs and the superbowl. and the new console table for the living room (first blogged about here) arrived just in time. i looooooove it and just have a few details to work out - the decorations on top of it and replacements for the hideous door pulls it came with. stay tuned!

ps. yes, that's ferris.

snow in austin!

2011-02-07T08:00:00.000-05:00

dudes, you're not going to believe this but we actually had a snow day in austin on friday! the crazy winter storm hit austin like a ton of bricks with temps in the teens and almost an inch of snow. needless to say the city has no freaking clue what to do with any snow or ice so everyone was advised to stay home for the day. emilio was SO CONFUSED about the cold white stuff.

trying out le garage sale

2011-02-04T08:00:00.001-05:00

le garage sale is self-identified as the "coolest independent boutiques all under one roof" - and all at clearance prices. every other season or so le garage sale makes its way to austin and all of the local boutiques bring their seasonal merch to the palmer events center and slash prices. for a $10 ticket at the door, you can spend all day digging into racks and racks of shoes, jewelry, clothes and other accessories. it doesn't look like much from my bad iphone photos, but it was chock full of designer (and some not designer) gear worth a look. kinda like a big huge sample sale that brought me back to my nyc roots. i spent a few hours there on sunday (they slash the prices continually as the weekend goes on) with my friend andrea and walked out with a bright blue maxi dress for $30 that was originally priced at $130 and that will be perfect for the spring and fall months here in austin. andrea got a staple boyfriend blazer for a mere $20. worth the $10 entry fee, i'd say! not sure if it's a national thing or just a few cities here and there, but it's definitely worth a look for one in yours.

recipes: aunt linda's penne a la vodka

2011-02-03T08:00:00.000-05:00

it has been WAY too long since i made this recipe. sourced from my lovely aunt linda back home on long island, this penne a la vodka will bring all the neighbors knocking on the door. it's super easy and super delicious - and it makes a lot so you can feed a few people and have plenty of leftovers. nick and i actually split the sauce into two parts and freeze one for a quick, delicious meal when we don't have time to cook.

below: onions, scallions and garlic in butter and olive oil (the recipe calls for four shallots but i usually do half onions, half shallots instead)

below: after adding the tomato

below: instead of getting the ginormous bottle of local dripping springs vodka down from the top shelf of the pantry, i used this nip that was randomly on one of the lower shelves. exactly the amount i needed. i'm wearing opi's opi on collins ave on my nails.

below: all of the ingredients together for a quick simmer

below: ready to serve. love! we also had these on the side.

i meant to pick up some fresh basil or spinach while at the grocery store and completely forgot. instead, we whipped up some gulf shrimp to add more lean protein to our meal. i'll eat more veggies for lunch tomorrow to make up for the missing food group (i'm guessing parsley doesn't count).

opi texas collection launches today

2011-02-02T08:00:00.000-05:00

i'm back, bitches! and what better timing than to commemorate the launch of the opi texas collection? i haven't seen any of the hues in person just yet but i look forward to trying austin-tacious turquoise, san tantonio and do you think i'm tex-y. i don't think those names could be any better. i haven't seen many of the colors for sale online yet but this entire set could be yours for a mere $73.

ps. thanks for sticking with me during my hiatus. it's been a crazy long couple of weeks but it was also super rewarding. i finished up yesterday with a massive presentation and work product under my belt and i couldn't be more pumped. now i have time for my fun, non-paying blogger job, yay!

my paying job comes first

2011-01-25T23:51:00.002-05:00

hey kids - bad news...I have to take a tiny blog breather for a few days. working weekends and 14 hour days leaves roughly zero energy and time to post. plus, what could I possibly have to write about after being trapped in excel spreadsheets, powerpoints and conference calls all day?! things should go back to normal soon and I promise to be back in full force. Don't abandon me, it will only be a few days. promise. ps. I swear I love my job...my hours and stress level may be brutal but I love what I'm doing so it makes it all worth it.

if i can't afford dvf for myself...

2011-01-25T08:00:00.000-05:00

...then i'll let my kindle wear it. i haven't mentioned yet that my awesome father in law gifted me a kindle for christmas this year. it was one of the top things on my wish list so i was so pumped to get it - and then, my just-as-awesome sister in law gifted me a gorgeous diane von furstenberg kindle cover (in garden animal kayley print, $85). love it! as you can tell, the first book i'm reading on the kindle is stieg larsson's the girl who kicked the hornet's nest. i'm about 75% of the way through and i can't wait to know how it ends...

flowers in bloom

2011-01-21T08:00:00.000-05:00

remember when i planted this amaryllis bulb from target a few weeks before christmas? look how beautiful it is! i get so sad that they only last one bloom, but the good news is that it lasts for a long time. i love looking at them as i wash dishes from my magical culinary creations (note sarcasm).

i'm not really a waitress...really.

2011-01-20T08:00:00.000-05:00

over the weekend katy and i decided to use the bad weather as an excuse to relax our butts off and treat ourselves to a mani/pedi. i chose a "classic" color for my fangers - opi's i'm not really a waitress - one of their best sellers. i never ever wear red nailpolish, and although i wanted to try essie's fishnet stockings, the salon i like only carries opi. i really like it...and i can't wait to try some of the new spring colors in the next few months.

having a ball in the bathroom

2011-01-19T08:00:00.000-05:00

one of my favorite stores to peruse here in austin is uncommon objects, a store of "curious goods". we went by while katie and warren were here last-last weekend and i picked up this old skool blue ball jar. i have been going nuts trying to figure out what to do with the towel rack in the master bathroom (aside from hold towels) and i have a good start with the new ball jar and monogrammed decanters from pottery barn (no longer available from what i can see; a wedding shower gift from my lovely friend laura in new york).

i'm currently coveting...neutral shoes

2011-01-18T08:00:00.000-05:00

i have nude on the brain. nude shoes, that is, along with a few other neutral shades. these are just a few styles i'm currently coveting. i already have too many shoes i don't wear, though, i so i'm holding out to see if i'm still coveting one (or all) of them after the next few weeks. plus, i feel like my taste changes so much between the time when spring styles first come out and the time when the weather is warm enough to actually wear them. right?!

below: vince camuto mimis sandal, $129. would be good with almost any dress or skirt.

below: guess lopran heels, $125. would be perfection with wide leg jeans and a tucked-in flowy floral top.

below: nine west chartre, $79. you can't tell in the picture, but the fabric is canvas tipped with leather. cute!

below: vince camuto alexia ankle boot, $125. the picture doesn't do these shoes justice. have had them on the brain since before christmas and i'm waiting patiently for them to go on sale. come on already!

my golden globes picks

2011-01-17T08:00:00.002-05:00

i couldn't resist posting about my favorite golden globes looks. i have to say that in general, i didn't like so many of the looks (i'm talking to you, scarjo) and i couldn't believe how many ladies were rocking the same hairdo (e.g., eva longoria, claire danes) but there were some gorgeous ladies and gowns on the red carpet. i couldn't narrow it down any further than this!! here are my favorites.

below: anne hathaway in giorgio armani prive. that back!!! and perfection on the hair. (image from justjared)

below: mila kounis in vera wang (this chick is hot...what was she doing with kevin from home alone in the first place?) (image from justjared)

below: eva longoria in zac posen. love the train.

below: jennifer lawrence in louis vuitton. gorge! (image from justjared)

below: emma stone in calvin klein. i am digging the simplicity of it (although her hair could be a shade or two brighter rather than whiter)

below: january jones in versace (obviously i choose her! she's my fave...)

help me find mid-priced denim

2011-01-14T08:00:00.001-05:00

i have a problem.

a big one.

i have been searching high and low for mid-priced jeans that aren't too skinny and aren't too wide. like straight-up stovepipe. not hugging my calf nor too flared or bootleg. not too cheap but not too expensive. and i can't find them.

i started with gap, trying on every style in every size and color. always skinny, $69.50 / real straight $69.50

next i went to the matchsticks from j.crew ($98), but i'm not sold. they're way too long (even the short sizes) and i hate hemming jeans because they never look the same.

then i went to anthropologie (i have a gift card, woot!) and tried on every single pair they had in store. every. single. pair. again, either too skinny or too wide. ag colette bootcut, $168 / ag stevie, $168 / joe's muse, $158

and now i'm waiting for these to arrive from ann taylor although i think they'll be too skinny. (i think the outfit is so cute, btw) - $88 plus 40% coupon EXTRA40

these *might* be good, but it's so hard to tell from the shoddy fitting on the model (really, loft, really?!), $59.50 plus 40% with code EXTRA.

if you were me, where would you turn next? i really don't want to pay more than $100 but i just might have to...and is it a pipe dream? are there no straight leg jeans for less than a benjamin out there anymore?

oooooooooooooor maybe i'm not cut out for straight stovepipe jeans. maybe it's all in my head. just maybe.

ps. can't wait for my cousin katy to arrive!!! she gets in tonight and we have so much to catch up on. can't wait can't wait.

knitted mug koozie

2011-01-13T08:00:00.000-05:00

it's freakin' freezing here (it was in the 20s when i woke up yesterday!) so this is calling my name. do any of you wonderful readers of mine like to knit? dying for one of these but i'm THE WURST when it comes to knitting needles and yarn. wouldn't it be the perfect accessory during your morning cup of tea?

get the knitting pattern (and photo credit) here.

recipes: chicken enchilades verdes

2011-01-12T08:00:00.001-05:00

my latest recipe escapade was a batch of homemade chicken enchilades verdes. i combined a couple of recipes to create my ultimate in green chile goodness. any excuse to eat beans and my mexican rice is my idea of a dream come true.

verde sauce:

1 lb tomatillos (about 15), husked and cut into quarters
1 1/4 cup chicken broth
a pinch of salt
1 jalepeno pepper, seeded and chopped

combine all ingredients, bring to a boil and reduce heat, letting the combo simmer for about 15 minutes (or until the tomatillos are soft). use an immersion blender (or a food processer or real blender, whatever) to puree the mixture. bring it back to a simmer for just a few minutes to let it reduce a little bit more.

filling:

4 shredded chicken breasts (shred after boiling in water for 20 minutes with half of a white onion and two cloves of garlic)
1/2 up queso fresco
1 cup shredded cheddar
1/3 cup fresh minced cilantro
1/3 cup sour cream
1 tbsp fresh lime juice
1/2 tsp cumin
salt and pepper

combine all ingredients and fill tortillas (i prefer flour), rolling and placing in baking dish side-by-side. make sure you'd spread some of the salsa verde in the bottom of the baking dish first. sprinkle with more cheese and top with plenty of salsa verde. cook for 10 minutes at 400 degrees and serve after the salsa verde starts to bubble and the tortillas get a tiny bit brown.

rain, rain, go away...but fill up my barrels first

2011-01-11T08:00:00.001-05:00

i told nick a few weeks ago that the backyard is officially his domain. i planted a bunch of stuff over the summer that i promptly started to neglect so decided to throw my hands in the air and let nick do his thing. he has since done some awesome things such as rip out a half-dead tree and replace it with a baby peach tree, put in a fig tree, grapes, blueberries, a few flowering plants and a tangerine tree.

his latest escapade is rain barrels, which came in over the weekend...just in time for the rain on saturday night. a tiny bit of rain turned into two completely full barrels, which will be enough to keep the plants watered for quite some time. he's so green and it'll save us plenty of cash in water bills. i heart him.

ps. happy 1.11.11!

weekending it up

2011-01-10T08:00:00.000-05:00

me and nick at salt lick mid-bbq coma

nick and i had an absolutely fantastic weekend with my bff in the entire world and her husband. katie and warren came for a visit from their new home of LA and we did our best to show them the highlights of austin. you'd think we'd be pros by now, but i still get worried we won't be able to show how awesome austin is with just one short weekend. we spent friday night on the east side (takoba, the good knight, cheer up charlie's), saturday at salt lick, mandola...ahem...duchman winery and dinner at uchi (best hot rock evvvveerrrr), and yesterday was more relaxing with breakfast/lunch at tacodeli and a freezing/wet walk around s. congress and mt. bonnell.

i miss katie tremendously and can't wait to plan a trip out to LA to see her new home. hearts!!!

the guest room vision: almost done

2011-01-07T08:00:00.000-05:00

it's been a few months since we moved in and the guest room is almost done. remember when i had visions of the viceroy santa monica dancing in my head? well, i'm on my way there. i'm still looking for a new bedframe, i want to spruce up the white curtains with something (although i'm not sure what), and there are a few details here and there that i'd like to refine. but overall, i'm digging it. who wants to come visit and spend a few nights in that cozy bed? eh? bueller?

before: the blank slate

after: on my way to the viceroy (kinda)

DIY: i love me some chevrons

2011-01-06T08:00:00.000-05:00

remember when i posted about how much i love chevron curtains? well, since i haven't figured out how/if i'm going to create them for the guestroom i decided to whip out the sewing machine and add some chevron flair in a smaller way. i bought this sewing machine about a month ago to have for my mom's visits to austin (she's a master and loooooooves when i give her hemming, curtain trimming and other jobs when she comes to visit...note sarcasm) and decided it was about time i figure out how to use it.

i spent practically an entire day teaching myself how to thread the dang thing, then how to sew a straight line, then muddled my way through actual creation.

and i must say, i'm pretty dang proud of myself! and i know my mom's proud, too.

i love you, chevrons.

ps. i got the fabric here.

DIY: giving an old chair new life

2011-01-05T08:00:00.000-05:00

i searched craigslist for about a month looking for an old armchair. i knew i wanted something for the guest room but couldn't find anything off the shelf that i really loved (or wanted to spend that much money on...armchairs are expensive!) so turned to craiglist for something previously loved. i found this guy for $40 from a woman who inherited it from her grandpa. it was no masterpiece but i knew it was a diamond in the rough. i spent a few days sanding, cleaning, scraping, gluing, removing rogue nails, etc...

i was mid-paint when i started wondering if i should paint it yellow to be a bright statement in the white/yellow/purple guest room...but decided to keep it white and repaint it later if i still wanted to.

and voila! the finished piece. there are a few more details, too, which i'll share later this week.

my favorite blogs

2011-01-04T08:00:00.002-05:00

similar to how i started off 2010, i thought i'd start 2011 with a round up (in no particular order) of some of my favorite blogs. i found all of these in the past year and i can't get enough. i only hope to one day be as successful and creative in the blogging world as they are (if only i had more time and energy to put into it!!). enjoy.

copy cat chic

reichel is a master at finding looks for less when it comes to the home. she blows me away regularly with the things she finds - it's definitely a blog to visit once a week, at least. reichel regularly answers reader questions, too, which is always fun.

blank white frames
jen at blank white frames is so freakin' cute. she lives in dallas, works in fashion, and is someone who comes up with really great outfits, amazing finds on etsy, and regularly highlights the newest trends. i think what i like most about reading her blog every day is her enthusiasm.

flourish
jessica at flourish has a really great eye. i dunno what it is about her, i just like to visit her blog every day. maybe it's because she is open, honest and completely real. she also has unique DIYs, i love her handwritten "weekend agendas" on fridays, and just overall good taste.

nuestra vida dulce
all i can say about joi is she's AWESOME! she's had a huge year with winning blog/interior design contests, making an appearance on the nate berkus show, contributing to a local tv show about entertaining/home decor, and she's got an impeccably-decorated home. she's a regular source of inspiration for me as i decorate my home, and i especially like to see how she evolves each room over time as her tastes change ('cause we all know our taste change...).

atlantic-pacific
blair's style is incredible, to say the least. i can't get over the ensembles she puts together and i can only dream to one day have as much style as she has. her combinations of inexpensive trendy items with staple investment pieces are enough to make any woman swoon with "ohmygod i wish i could pull that off" whispers. MUST. READ. she doesn't post every day so the anticipation of her next one makes her outfits that much more exciting.

young house love
the husband/wife bloggers at YHL are the cutest and funniest ever. i really enjoy that they tag-team the posting so you get to see both personalities shine through. they loyally document every little thing they do as they turn their house into a home. and i also really enjoy the anecdotes about their baby daughter clara and doggy burger (short for hamburger and he has his own blog). they just moved in to their second home and i'm pumped to see what they create.