The Kate Effect, Part Deux

I am currently scheming ways to get my hands on a pair of Kate Spade 'Licorice' pumps in every single color and material they are offered in.  I could say that it's because a gal in the working world can never have too many pairs of sensible pumps {if you consider 3.5 inch heels sensible}.  But I would be lying.

It's because they are a deadringer for the Manolo Blahnik 'BB' pumps favored by the Duchess of Perfection at half the cost.

Jackpot!

Eleven Questions

Let's shake up this rather blah Tuesday with a little Q&A, shall we? The fabulous Lindsay over at everything LEB tagged me to play along in the Eleven Questions posts.

Here are the rules:
•You must post the rules.
•Answer the 11 questions that the tagger posted for you; then create 11 questions to ask the people you've tagged.
•Tag 11 people and link them in your post.
•Let them know you have tagged them.

Here are my answers to Lindsay's questions:

 

1. What is tops on your bucket list?

France.  Paris, of course, but the entire country.  I've technically been, if you count flying in and out of de Gaulle, but I don't count that.  I am just totally enamored with the idea of France.  The food, the culture, the fashion, the lifestyle.  All of it! I'm afraid once we visit, I'll never want to come back.

2. Whats your favorite tool in your toolbox? 

A level.  I get really Type A-plus when it comes to hanging things. I have a compulsive need to know that they are perfectly perfect. 

3. What's the best quality about yourself?

Aaaah, I feel like I'm on a job interview.  My best quality is also probably my worst: I am an absolute perfectionist {see above}.  On the plus side, I always give my best effort and then some.  On the down side, sometimes I get so overwhelmed knowing that I can't do things just so and I check out.  Which is why it is taking me so long to decorate our house! I am terrified of making the "wrong" decision.

4. If you could drop what you are doing right this second and go somewhere, where would it be?

See question 1.  Or I would go back to East Winds Inn, our honeymoon location.  It was a little slice of heaven that I never wanted to leave!

5. If you could be an animal what would you be? 

A turtle.  I am OBSESSED with turtles. I have an entire Pinterest board dedicated to them. They are totally stubborn {like moi} and have been around forever. Like, 215 million years forever. I love how ornery they look.  And, hello, some of them live in Bora Bora and Hawaii.  I am just dying to go on an Earthwatch trip to Costa Rica or Trinidad to work with endangered turtle protection. What an amazing experience!

6. What is one junk food/candy/snack that you can't get enough of?

I don't really have a sweet tooth, but I do love me some french fries in any way, shape, or form.  I would trade my firstborn for an endless of supply of Ben's Chili Bowl chili cheese fries {and a guarantee that I wouldn't gain any weight from them}.

7. If someone offered you a $5,000 shopping spree to just one store, what store would you choose?

Is it completely cliche to say Chanel? Because another bucket list item is to own an iconic Chanel tweed jacket.  

8. If you could live anywhere in the world (besides where you live now) where would it be? 

England. I did my study abroad there and absolutely loved it. Amazing people, beautiful scenery, and close proximity to lots of great travel destinations.  I would move there in a heartbeat.  The above picture is my favorite pub, The Trout.

9. Chocolate or hard candy?

Chocolate. Obviously.

10. What's your favorite color?

 

I feel like it's kind of obnoxious to say it's a tie between navy blue and orange, since those are my alma mater's colors.  But it's true.  Navy blue is definitely my favorite, but orange is such a close second! 

11. What's your most treasured item in your home?

A quilt that my Grandmama made me when I was in elementary school.  I had a Samantha American Girl doll and got a catalog with a cover that had a little girl and her Samantha doll in a bedroom that I adored. It had pink gingham pillows and curtains and a beautiful bedspread.  My mother made curtains, pillows, and a bedskirt for me in pink gingham and my Grandmama made a replica of the bedspread.  She even let me help her {that's how I learned to cross stitch.}  I hope to pass it down to my own little girl someday.

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I'm tagging a mix of some of my old blogging favorites and some of my new followers:

1. Katie at The Perks
2. Emily at Life with Emily
3. L at Milltini Straight Up, With a Twist
4. J at Miss Mindless
5. M at Blair's Headband
6. AEP at Posh Peach
7.  Preppy Girl Meets World
8. Sarah Beth at Dixie Gator Gal
9. Natalie at wishful nals
10. Jennifer at Belclaire House
11. Ashley at The Blonde in Africa

Here are my questions:

1. What is your favorite drugstore beauty product?
2. Are you a morning or a night person?
3. What is your least favorite food?
4. Are you a cat or a dog person?
5. If you had to live in one place for the rest of your life, where would it be and why?
6. What is your favorite cocktail?
7. If you could see any singer/band, dead or alive or not still together,  in concert, who would you see?
8. What are you currently reading?
9.  Coke or Pepsi?
10. What is your go-to/signature recipe?
11.  Are you a city girl or a country girl at heart?

Can't wait to see your answers!

Menu Monday

The first half of last week's meals were old standbys, the second half are new favorites.  Enjoy!

BIG Salad {Summer is a Verb}

 

Sometimes you just need a big bowl of fresh salad, no? Alice's"recipe" never lets me down.  Sadly, M hates artichokes and goat cheese {I. KNOW.}, so we replace them with diced green pepper and feta.  Still delicious!

Pasta with Roasted Red Pepper Sauce {Pioneer Woman}

 

It's hard for me to put into words how much I love this dish. It is the ultimate comfort food to me.  Even if you think you don't like roasted red peppers, you will love this dish.  If you haven't made it, I insist you do so posthaste.  M and I did Rock, Paper, Scissors for who got the leftovers. I won. Naturally.

Roasted Tomatoes with Shrimp and Feta {Real Simple September 2004}

 

First time I've ever made this, and it is now a top 5 recipe.  One dish, 30 minute cook time, INSANELY delicious, even using crappy winter tomatoes.  Make sure you have lots of crusty bread or some fluffy rice on standby for soaking up all of the yummy juices!

Meatloaf {A Feast for the Eyes} and Cheesy Cauliflower Puree {I Breathe...I'm Hungry}

 

 The meatloaf recipe was delicious! Next time I think I would just do a full teaspoon of the marjoram and leave out the thyme all together; it was a little too overpowering. Otherwise, I wouldn't change a thing. We enjoyed the leftover meatloaf sandwiches all weekend.

I had such high hopes for the cauliflower puree and it just fell flat. This is the second cauliflower recipe I've tried that claims to be JUST like potatoes. And neither of them have been anything like potatoes. I followed the instructions without change and mine were watery and grainy and just not that great. I'm going to try to turn the leftovers into little patties for a different take on Eggs in Purgatory tonight.  I'll report back...

Bon appetit!

Suzy Homemaker

 

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Y'all. The above three products have changed my life.

I realize that's kind of an aggressive assertion for kitchen products that together total less than 50 bucks, but I stand by it.  They're that good.

We have some seriously nasty hard water in our county and is has been destroying all of our beautiful new kitchenware that we got as wedding gifts.  No way I was going to let hard water ruin my beautiful new Lenox flatware!

I did lots of online research and discovered the genius combination of Finish Powerball tabs + Glass Magic.  AMAZING.  No more icky white mineral residue all over our dishes.  And to all you All-Clad users: this stuff makes it shine like new.  I'm hoping it will help me cut back on my Barkeeper's Friend dependency.

And the knives are just plain awesome. I use them for basically every kitchen task now, which saves my big knives for the heavy-duty projects.  They cut like a dream.  Plus, they're in those cheerful colors, so they make me happy when I use them.

On a separate note, I did finish all of my to-do list from last week, so I treated myself to a new tote bag. I've been needing one for ages and I saw this super cute JPK bag and just had to have it.  I can't find it anywhere online, but it appears to be the East/West Shopper.  I'm pretty sure the colors in the top picture are from last year's collection.  Mine is a very pretty steel blue color and the store also had them in kelly green, so maybe it's the new Spring/Summer 2012? I'm not sure.

Anyhoodle, it has lots of room and 2 big pockets inside.  I love the longer shoulder strap, something that was sorely missing in my old work bag.  Please ignore the big CVS box. I was a bit under the weather this week.

What are you lovelies up to this weekend?

Daydreaming

This is just about the time of year when I start daydreaming about what it would be like to have a "real" house.  You know, one that we actually own.  With a yard.  And where I would be able to renovate and decorate to my heart's content.  My Martha Stewart dreaming, if you will.  For a variety of reasons, that's not really in the cards for us right now, but it doesn't stop me from fantasizing. 

One particular fantasy is to have a room, preferably a dining room, that has a mural.  Martha Stewart's Turkey Hill entryway has been a long-term source of inspiration.

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When done right, I think wall murals are so elegant and timeless.  Jackie Kennedy agreed; in 1961, she had the panoramic wallpaper "Views of North America" installed in the Dipolmatic Reception Room at the White House.

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Some other gorgeous examples

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So imagine my excitement when Chinoiserie Chic posted about Paul Montgomery Studio earlier this week.  Be still my heart!

It was all over when I discovered that they have a Virginia-themed paper.

Since we've got nothing but time until we purchase our first home, I think I'll use it wisely and figure out a way to convince M that it is TOTALLY worth it to have a custom painted mural in our future dining room.  Don't you agree?

The Kate Effect

 credit

 

Le Chameau

Is it ridiculous of me to want these Le Chameau Vierzon boots just because the Duchess of Perfection has them? Even though I already have a perfectly lovely pair of Hunters?

Don't answer that.

Also, I would be lying if I said I hadn't been researching cocker spaniel rescue groups in our area.

Don't judge me.

Menu Monday

*This was meant to be posted yesterday, but I was home sick and tried posting with the iPhone Blogger app. FAIL.*

Flounder Piccata with Spinach {Cooking Light March 2008}

This is an old favorite for me. I made this meal a lot for myself in my single days, and now M loves it as much as I do. Easy, fast, and healthy. I used tilapia because it was what my store had. And I use the 90-second microwave brown rice to make the meal even faster.

Jamaican Brown Stew Chicken with Red Beans and Rice {Skinnytaste}

This was our Mardi Gras meal. I know it's a bit of a spin on the traditional red beans and rice, but it was so delicious. I found that mine needed to cook quite a bit longer than the recipe called for, but the sauce was so yummy and honestly, next time I would add more pepper. We love spice, and this wasn't nearly spicy enough.

I bought a King Cake at our grocery store for dessert. Can you believe M had never heard of or tried King Cake?! I guess that's what happens when you marry a boy who went to school in Connecticut. Considering this was purchased at a chain store in northern Virginia, I was impressed with how tasty it was.

Best. Takeout. Ever.

Taken on Instagram, a relatively new discovery for me. Come join me! I'm @belleonheels.

M had a game on Wednesday night, so I treated myself to a falafel platter from the kabob shop across from our condo. This place is one of the highlights of where we live. The falafel and hummus are perfect and I fantasize about the chickpea stew with yogurt sauce. Sooooooo good!

Worst. Date Night. Ever.

I got M tickets to see Jim Gaffigan in D.C. last Thursday for his birthday. I made reservations for us to have dinner a sweet little French bistro before, and we were both looking forward to a night in the city.

Now, I know DC pretty well. At my last job, I went there for work quite a bit. So I know what to expect with DC traffic and factored that into our travel time. Basically, I gave us an extra hour of travel time above and beyond what it usually take to get there.

And it was plenty of time. We got into the city with time to spare. Until we tried to find a place to park. Half of the garages close at 7pm, and it seemed like most of the 24-hour garages were full. We drove around a 5-block radius for 45 minutes until we could find a place.

Needless to say, my dreams of a romantic dinner did not come true. Instead, M got fast food Mediterranean food {where I proceeded to have an emotional meltdown inside. It was a long day.} and I got a Filet O Fish after the show. Insert heavy sigh here.

Creamy Caprese Pasta {How Sweet It Is}

I had high hopes for this dish, since it's all flavors I love, but I though it was kind of blah. I felt like the pasta to sauce/cheese ratio was way too high. I doubt we'll see this one again.

Bon appetit!