OPI is releasing its new Spring line inspired by one of my favorite states, Texas! I was really hoping for a margarita hued lime green, but alas I will have to settle for drinking them rather than sporting them on my nails. I am, however, partial to the "Austin-tatious" sparkly teal. Not only is it named after my favorite city, but it is my favorite color combo: teal + glitter.
I have recently become enamored with Monica Bhide's third cookbook, Modern Spice. A food writer in the D.C. area, I first heard of her while listening to a weekend favorite - The Splendid Table on NPR. She described the food she loves with such passion and intensity it made me salivate at the thought of actually cooking one of her recipes. As soon as my library put it on the "New" shelves I snatched it up and got to work. I enjoyed the cookbook so much, my husband purchased a copy for me that week. The book has simple to make recipes with easy-to-find ingredients, which make the most divine meals. Not to mention they are all incredibly healthy. Lots of good whole ingredients made special with various infusions of spices. Got 20 minutes? Try the tamarind chicken curry, your guests will be begging for more. A huge fan of Indian food, I am so happy to have found an accessible cookbook. It's my go to cookbook for spicing up bland weeknight dinners.
I have recently re-discovered the Starbuck's Frappuccino. I know many coffeehouse snobs turn up their nose at the idea, but I cannot deny my love for them. Sweet, cold, delicious coffee - perfect to begin a hot sunny day. They do, however, put quite the dent in the wallet. In order to slim down expenses, I decided to set myself up to make them at home. Cheap, easy, and best of all, I control the ingredients!
The only problem was, I didn't have a coffee maker! And those dern espresso machines are prohibitively expensive. I mean, someday it will be worth the investment, but that day is not today. As a compromise I purchased an inexpensive Bodum French Press. It's small, easy to use, and it makes a pretty decent faux espresso! Plus, it only cost the equivalent of three frappuccinos. Double win.
Tomorrow morning I plan on starting my day with a home made frappuccino. I brewed 8oz. of espresso coffee tonight, and froze plenty of ice cubes. Tomorrow I will pop the ingredients in the blender, add my fave vanilla almond milk and perhaps some almond extract. I can't wait to experiment with different flavors!
Thisfrench press might prove to be one of my favorite kitchen accessories.
Here is (my fvorite) Alton Brown explaining how to make a faux latte with a french press.
I am officially obsessed with Shopstyle.com. It is a website that allows you to access every major online retailer's goods and create inspiration board looks on your own. I may or may not have a shopping addiction, so this lets me sate that desire without breaking the bank. Plus it is a great creative outlet as each layout challenges the eye not only with fashion, but design. My favorite part are the "challenges" set up by groups on the website. Each group has an inspiration theme like food, music, or style icons. Each week a specific inspiration is chosen - the more random the better!
Here is on of my latest creations inspired by the color peach.
This might be the best two days in college sports: the first two days of the NCAA College Basketball Tournament. Sixty-four teams, 32 games, two days, and countless hopes and aspirations dashed. A thrilling combination! I, like many red-blooded, competition loving Americans, created several brakets for the sole chance of some smack-talking and bragging rights. Instead, I have already felt the smack down. In the first afternoon my bracket suffered dearly with the several upsets today. The games were exciting enough, though, that I really don't mind.
OPI is releasing its new Spring line inspired by one of my favorite states, Texas! I was really hoping for a margarita hued lime green, but alas I will have to settle for drinking them rather than sporting them on my nails. I am, however, partial to the "Austin-tatious" sparkly teal. Not only is it named after my favorite city, but it is my favorite color combo: teal + glitter. 
