Holiday Wishlist 2012: For Fun

the best, brightest (and gone-to-soon) show

iPhone case

my newest gaming obsession

more inspirational to travel

Holiday Wishlist 2012: Home Edition

'I Love This Town' letterpress print

something for the kitchen

the most modern, practical alarm clock

brass pig

a reminder that manners matter

If I Had Won the Powerball Last Night...

Someone in Missouri won the Powerball millions last night... but it wasn't me. #wimpwomp

But if it had been me, I would probably...

• Pay off my student loans. And, what the heck - help out my family with any of their debts too. 
• Travel, travel, travel. Europe with my family. Pacific Northwest trip with Joe. Rent an RV and travel the western US with my sister. Go to Patagonia. Greece. And that pink lake I saw on Pinterest. Or any place I saw on Pinterest. 
• Get some matching couches in my living room. 
• Buy a rug from West Elm and not even think twice about the price tag. 
• Buy all the nice kitchen stuff you can only get if you register for it when you get married (PS: I have a real issue with this. What if you choose to never get married? Does that mean you aren't entitled to have nice things?)
• Donate to animal rescue charities. 
• JCrew shopping spree. 
• Buy a teardrop camper. 
• Start shopping big houses in STL close to Lafayette or Tower Grove Park. 
• Buy that Samsung TV Joe keeps obsessing over. 
• Hire Jennifer Aniston's hair stylist. 
• Get a maid service. 
• And an intern for my life. 

Holiday Wishlist 2012: Style Edition

American Apparel tees. 

cable-knit sweaters in navy and cream. 

knitted infinity scarves. 

loose, printed cardigan. 

classic black flats. 

funnel-neck sweatshirt. 

Long Hair, Don't Care

Even though Pinterest is trying its damnedest to tempt me with 'lob' hairstyles, I am determined to keep growing mine out.

Going in tonight for a trim, some layers, possibly some side swept bangs. And then, investing in some good anti-breakage shampoo, argan oil and a sh!tload of dry shampoo.

via Holy Hair on Pinterest

Thanksgiving Side Dish: Caramelized Butternut Squash with Cumin and Paprika

Made this for Thanksgiving #1 this weekend and it was delicious. It was inspired by this recipe, but we decided to spice it up with cumin and paprika. Ended up with something that reminded me of my trip to Morocco.

Ingredients

• 2 medium butternut squash (4 to 5 pounds total) 
• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted 
• 1/4 cup light brown sugar, packed 
• salt, pepper, paprika, cumin

Directions

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. 
• Cut off and discard the ends of each butternut squash. Peel the squash, cut them in half lengthwise, and remove the seeds. Cut the squash into 1 1/4 to 1 1/2-inch cubes and place them in a casserole dish. 
• Add the melted butter and brown sugar. Sprinkle with salt, pepper, cumin and paprika. With clean hands, toss all the ingredients together and spread in a single layer. 
• Roast for 45 to 55 minutes, until the squash is tender and the glaze begins to caramelize. While roasting, turn the squash a few times with a spatula, to be sure it browns evenly. Taste for seasonings and serve hot.

Get On My Nails. Winter 2012 Edition.

On the search for dark blues, greens and burgundys + light neutrals this fall. Here's a tip, find the Essie color you like, and then skim the cheaper racks for the same color. Saves a buck, plus I find brands like Revlon and Sally Hansen don't chip as badly. 

Word Vomit.

I want to blog about something, but I'm not sure what. Could be the half-written posts about my new house, my old house, my brother, pictures of bar carts or holiday scenes. But I just don't feel like it. I'm exhausted. And creatively-drained. Staring at my inbox is brutal. Staring at the boxes and dishes and clothes scattered throughout my un-unpacked house is a bore. I'm distracted. I keep making lists - for this trip, for the house, for clients, for life, for this blog, for groceries - but can't seem to cross anything off.

Life. It'll get you sometimes.

Vacay! St. Petersburg, Florida

We're heading to St. Petersburg on Saturday for a little four-day getaway and staying on a sailboat! On my agenda:

• a day at the beach
• wine on the deck of the boat
• coffee on the deck of the boat
• deep sea fishing at Hubbard's Marina
• grilled steak dinner on our dock
• quality time with my BFF Karyn (she lives in Orlando)
• any one of the restaurants pinned on my 'gulfing' Pinterest board
• perhaps a massage at the Vinoy? bike riding on the beach? parasailing?

Have you been to St Petersburg? Any tips?

images 1, 2, 3

How I Packed for LA

In October, I went to LA for four days for a conference -

(Sorry I didn't tell you about it before... it was rather uneventful, and all the pictures were dark/blurry. However, I did get to visit the Eames House which was awesome, and I highly recommend eating/drinking at Beer Belly, Baco Mercat and Wurstkuche if you ever get the chance.)

- and I have to say, I've impressed myself with my light packing yet again (Check out how well I packed last year for a conference in Baltimore and for my two-week trip to Rome and Morocco).

The List: 

• 3 bottoms (regular skinny jeans, oxblood skinny jeans, black pencil skirt)
• 1 black/white printed dress
• 3 tops (grey v-neck tee, navy/white striped tee, black/white polka dot blouse)
• 1 mustard cardigan
• 2 blazers (one striped, one oxblood)
• 2 pairs of flats (tan, grey) 
• 1 black scarf
• Assorted gold accessories

Add to that my one quart bag of toiletries, my CHI straightener and my laptop and that's it. All in a small black duffel bag (that still zipped easily, might I add). 

Also, notice a color scheme here? Looks like I stuck to my fall shopping list!

Easy White Chicken Chili

If you're looking for an easy chili recipe that is easy on the spice (I think Taco Bell sauce is spicy.) then look no further - Easy White Chicken Chili. This has been my go-to chili recipe for the last couple years, ever since a friend of mine made it for a Mizzou tailgate. 

Ingredients

• two 16 oz cans of canned white beans 
• 2 large onions, chopped 
• 1 stick unsalted butter 
• 1/4 c all-purpose flour 
• 3/4 c chicken broth 
• 2 cups half and half 
• Tabasco, chili powder, ground cumin, salt and pepper 
• 5 boneless skinless chicken breasts 
• 2 c grated Monterrey Jack 
• 1/2 c sour cream 
• Chopped peppers - any kind you like! I just use 1 red and 1 green pepper. 

Directions

• Heat a large skillet over moderately high heat and add butter and olive oil. 
• Coat your chicken with salt, pepper and chili powder. Put them in the skillet and resist the urge to turn them over. Leave them for five minutes, or until nicely browned, then flip them. Flip them every few minutes until they are done. 
• Remove the chicken from the pan. When the chicken is cool enough to handle, shred it (with your fingers or chop it with a knife) and set aside. 
• While waiting for chicken to cool, cook the onions in the same pan with 2 tbs of butter until softened. 
• In a heavy pot, large enough to hold all the ingredients, melt remaining 6 tbs of butter over moderately low heat and whisk in flour. Cook the roux, whisking constantly, for three minutes.
• Stir in the onion and gradually add the broth and half and half, whisking the whole time. Bring mixture to a boil and simmer, stirring occasionally, 5 minutes, or until thickened.
• Stir in tabasco, chili powder, cumin, salt and pepper. 
• Add beans, chilies, chicken and cheese, and cook over moderately low heat, stirring occasionally for 20 minutes. 
• Add sour cream.