Miscellany Monday

I feel like I have so much to share today! Thank goodness Carissa hosts Miscellany Mondays!

1. Bustin moves

My brother & sis-in-law bought one with giftcards from Christmas. i am SOOOO not a dancer... I refuse to dance, but I have become obsessed with Dance Central game, we have played it the past two weekends! I am addicted. It's so fun, and I have been getting like 4 stars on dances... maybe I CAN dance?!

(two of my cousins playing it at Olivia's bday party)

2. Throwing clay

Chris & I went to a 'date night pottery class' Saturday night. It was so much fun! I took a lot of ceramics classes in high school, and being on the wheel again made me fall in love all over. Chris had a lot of fun too, I was hesitant as to whether he'd like it or not (it was a surprise date night I had planned for us). We talked to the guy who led the class about taking more!

3. Gettin crafty
I was finally able to make it to another Indy Modern Quilt Guild meeting on Saturday afternoon. I had a blast! I often complain that I have no good friends who are crafty and like sewing like me, so it's fun being around a group of ladies close in age that enjoy that kind of stuff just like me!
We made name tags! I am kinda in love with mine... is that weird? ha It felt so good to be around people who just want to make pretty things!


4. Payin the big man
I knocked out my taxes this weekend. I do my own, and was so scared that they would be super difficult now that I own a home. Nope, not the case! And I'm getting a nice little chunk o' change back. Yippee!


5. Relivin the memories
Sometimes when I'm bored (or on the toilet... what don't act like you don't facebook from the throne) I look through old vacation albums on facebook. There are so many hilarious photos and happy memories!

This one in particular had me cracking up. It was our first trip to Jamaica and my friend Casey and I participated in some sort of obstacle course/game? I ended up winning it for our team thanks to my immaculate hoola-hooping skills! (Sigh... i want to be that tan again! And have sand between my toes!)


6. Donating my time
I am attending an orientation tonight to become a volunteer for the Indianapolis Zoo. I'm really excited about it! I looove the zoo! I am not sure what exactly I would get to do, but I draw the line at picking up elephant poop.

7. Being the dirty kid
Just kidding! But really, my mom got me this scarf for Valentine's Day (yes we get Vday gifts... so what!)
I love it and want to wear it everyday!

8. Winning Things
Don't forget to enter my giveaway! Only a few days left =)


Meh - that's all I've got for now. Guess I should get some work done, huh!?

Dining Room Plate Wall - in progress

Thanks to Molly, I became obsessed with the idea of having a plate wall somewhere in my home!

One afternoon I stopped by GW (actually the same day I got my craft room dresser!) and spent a good 35 minutes clanking around in the plate shelves.

9 plates (I still have one left to hang) and a package of Command Strips later, my plate wall is nearly complete!




For a grand total of $5.61 spent on plates and $3.99ish on Command Strips. Not too shabby if I may say so myself!




And my favorite part... Even though I used only white plates, they each have their own unique pattern!





Side note: It's funny to me how orange my dining room photographs with my super high tech camera (a la iPhone) it's actually much more coral in real life... 5a and 5b!

Did you do anything crafty this weekend?!

Mixer & Mingle Fridays : Orange Juliette

I've got another delicious and super easy cocktail recipe for you this week! I'm sure by now you've heard of Pinnacle's Whipped Vodka... it's a huge hit and completely crazy the way it tastes JUST like whipped cream!

I discovered this drink as a fluke (all I had in my fridge was fruit juice) but it turned out so good!

Just mix Pinnacle Whipped with Orange Pineapple Banana juice, and it tastes just like an Orange Julius (my favorite 'mall drink' from my childhood!)

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I call it the Orange Juliette =) Enjoy!



PS Don't forget to enter my giveaway !

PSS There is a sales meeting going on outside my office, and I just caught a whiff of Dolce & Gabanna mens cologne... yum, can I go sniff around til I find the wear-er and just sniff him!? hah!

Daydreaming of a beachy living room - with a perk!

THIS GIVEAWAY HAS ENDED! BUMMER!

Sometimes I wander around my house imagining what it would look like if I did a beachy/calm theme (a la Young House Love or Lettered Cottage).

I imagine my living room having white billowy curtains and a big seagrass rug under my couch.

I think about all of the other options I have for LCD TV Stands for the corner that my television is on...
wouldn't this one look perfect and beachy!? I love the teal color!

As I'm daydreaming right now, I'm finding all sorts of fun beachy/chill decor on CSN! And that's why I'm so excited to tell you I'm working with CSN to offer a $35 giveaway to you guys!

I'm gonna make it super simple too! To enter, all you have to do is (of course, in addition to being a follower of mine) visit CSN and find a teal and/or beachy item that you love and then come back and tell me what it is!

See, simple. Only need to leave me one comment! Giveaway will end on Wednesday, March 2nd at midnight.

Ready... set... go!
(This giveaway is only open to US and Canada residents!)

Pinots and Piccasso's

A few weekends ago we had a little GNO (girl's night out) and indulged in Tapas for dinner and a painting class.

Dinner, as always, was delicious. If you're ever in Indy I highly recommend Barcelona Tapas. Especially the churros. And the asparagus. Yum.

Here's all of us with our finished works of art! It was really fun, I'm glad we discovered our city had one of these places (I've read about a few of you southern girls having them near you!). Everyone's painting turned out awesome! We had so many laughs, and the beer and wine they serve made it that much more fun!

It was only $35! We're already looking into going again in March... this time for some poppies!

A large Frova please

I've struggled with migraines for a while now. Bad migraines. The kind that make me lose my vision, and throw up, and render me completely useless for hours on end.

Excederin Migraine was my saving grace. That is, until I started becoming immune to it. And over time it began to help less and less. I was a doctors dream patient. I ate well-balanced meals every few hours, I got a good amount of sleep, I stayed away from caffeine (for the most part), all that jazz that they warn you about.

However I was (and am) still getting them atleast once a month. It sucks!

So, imagine my delight when I discovered that our new insurance at work will make it possible for me to actually get the prescription for the migraine medicine, Frova, that my doc subscribed months ago!Through my last insurance, it would have cost me well over $600 to get it filled. Sure it was a 3-month, 90 pill prescription but if I'm only getting a migraine a month, that would last me well over 7 years. $600 you guys! I wish I had that kind of money lying around!

Now, it would only cost me $150.00. For those same 90 pills. But get this - my insurance would cover the other $2041.43.

Go re-read that last part again. You're telling me those tiny little white pill costs around $2200. As in two very nice all-inclusive vacations? 22 pairs of really cute shoes?! Nearly 15 pairs of jeans?! 3 mortgage payments?!

Am I the only one that finds this insane?! Regardless, I'm hoping to get it filled soon and enjoy some headache free months ahead of me.

On the subject of cleaning

I decided this past week that there was just too much cleaning to be done at my house and I didn't have the time, so I hired a cleaning lady.

Err, cleaning lad.






If only I could get him to clean the toilets I'd be elated!

Mixer & Mingle Fridays : Tequila Bottles

I'm a very aesthetic person (I partially blame my parents!). I like things that look good. Alcohol doesn't miss the radar on this category either! Thanks to my job I get to see lots of bottles daily, and am exposed to ones that I may not see in my local grocery store or liquor store.

If I'm going to have alcohol out on a sideboard or bar, I want it to be pretty, or atleast interesting! Not only can unique bottles be a conversation starter, but they also add a bit of spark to your decor!

So today I'm going to share some of my favorite tequila bottles with you...
One of my newer favorites is Corzo Tequila. It reminds me of a flask or a cologne bottle! I love the squared off design

1800 Tequila had an artist's series, where various artists designed bottles. Tell me that these wouldn't spark conversation!

I love the purple (anejo) Casa Noble bottle, I think all three together would make a fun little display for a margarita/fiesta party!

I have the El Zarco Gold bottle (the purple one) on my bar right now... every person who comes to my house picks it up to check it out!

Maestro Dobel has a pretty masculine and sleek bottle.I bet you can think of a gentleman in your life who would appreciate this as a gift!

Pink lovers! Gran Centenario's Rosangel Tequila would add a touch of pink to your liquor cabinet!  (or make a perfect little gift for a girlfriend!)

I like the dimpled bottle and unique shape of Sauza's Tres Generacionnes too!


That's just my input on the topic! Do you choose a bottle by it's shape? All the bottles I mentioned have awfully tasty stuff inside too, if you're into that! ;)

Not only would they look great on your own bar, they make a pretty cool and unique gift too!

(I'm not being compensated in anyway, I just like to share things I find interesting! All bottle images are property of the brands/suppliers)

Is this considered Business Casual?

As if the wool dress coat, pantyhose, scrunched socks and tennis shoes aren't bad enough... she had to take it to the next level with the bum-shaping shoes!

In the Kitchen: Oreo Cupcakes

I busted out the teal baby a few nights ago to whip up some cupcakes. She didn't get recruited for just any ol' cupcakes though... I had a song in my heart, and that song was singing Oreo Cupcakes!Chris LOVES Oreo's, and he always gets Oreo blizzards when we go to Dairy Queen so I knew he would love these as a slightly late Valentine's gift!

The icing is my favorite... it is soo good! It tastes like an Oreo milkshake... it took every bit of willpower I have not to just say screw the cupcakes and eat it right out of the piping bag!


And for all who are interested, here's the recipe! (Although I can't remember where it came from...whoopsy!)

Oreo Cupcakes
Yield: 24 cupcakes

Ingredients:
For the cake:
2 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder, sifted
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
12 tbsp. unsalted butter, at room temperature
2 cups firmly packed light brown sugar
2 tsp. vanilla extract
4 eggs
1 1/2 cups buttermilk, at room temperature

For the frosting:
1 3/4 cups plus 2 tbsp. whipping cream
3 tbsp. powdered sugar
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
6 tbsp. Oreo cookie crumbs

For garnish:
24 Oreo cookie halves

Directions:
To make the cupcakes, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line two cupcake pans with paper liners.

In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda and salt; set aside. In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat the butter on medium speed until smooth. Gradually add the brown sugar and continue beating until fluffy, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. Beat in the vanilla. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.

With the mixer on low speed, add the flour mixture in three additions, alternating with the buttermilk, beginning and ending with the flour mixture. Mix just until all the dry ingredients have been incorporated, being careful not to overmix.

Divide the batter between the prepared cupcake liners. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 18-20 minutes. Transfer the cupcakes to a wire rack and let cool to room temperature.

To prepare the frosting, in the clean bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, combine the whipping cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract. Beat on medium-high speed until the whipped cream holds stiff peaks. Gently fold in the cookie crumbs with a spatula.

Scoop the mixture into a pastry bag and pipe frosting decoratively on top of the cupcakes. Garnish with Oreo cookie halves.

Just one whiff

Inspired by this post at Newlyweds Next Door, I decided to trace my 'scent-istory' back through the years...

When I first began my foray into 'smellygoods' it started with B&BW Sun-Ripened Raspberry. I segued into a few other scents, but this was the main one.

At some point in middle school I 'graduated' to a real perfume, Tommy Girl. I remember spraying it on to go to all the 8th grade dances. You know the ones - where your friends tell your crushes friends that you want to dance with him...

Once I was in high school, TG just wasn't cutting it and I started wearing Gucci Eau de Parfume II. I still love this perfume... I have a small travel size bottle that goes with me on vacations!
Somewhere around the early 2k's, Hollister opened up a store in Indianapolis. Thus bringing me to Hollister August - this will always remind me of high school. No really, I think just about every girl in our high school (myself included) wore it!

After using up my third bottle of Hollister August I decided to go back to a real perfume, and decided on Dolce Gabbana Light Blue. I wore this for a few years until a good friend of mine got it. Maybe I'm weird, but it really bothered me that she "copied" my scent, and I didn't want to smell like each other any time we were together... Thus bringing me to Lacoste Touch of Pink. Although this didn't last long, it's a bit too sweet for me.
Around that time I discovered Philosophy's line of bath products and fell in love with their perfume, Amazing Grace. I still wear this one on occasion, but my bottle is dangerously near empty!

I dabbled slightly in Calvin Klein Euphoria. It's too rich for everyday wear though. It's more of a date night perfume I think

Same goes for Tom Ford Black Orchid. Although, honestly, I may have just bought it because it was made by Tom Ford, and he's pretty.

Now my everyday scent is D&G #6 (L'Amoureux). I love it! It make me smile every time I put it on!
However, I get distracted easily, and have been secretly sniffing out the perfumes every time I'm in Anthropologie. I see nothing wrong with switching up your scents!

It's funny how I can catch a whiff of any of these scents and all of these memories flood my brain! What do you wear? Do we share any scent-istory?! Are you flitty like me and switch perfumes yearly?!