Weekly Wrap-Up

Our Valentine's Day bowling crew. "No one left behind." My team won though, obvs.

Here are my favorite posts from the week!
Kayley from Down the Rabbit Hole shared her love for double exposure photography, which is always so stunning to me. I love the examples she showed!
Trish from JellyBones posted a recipe for spiced pear cider that looks amazing and doesn't require a ton of ingredients.
Katie Ann from It's All Happening shared a few pictures from her visit to see The Chew. I love hearing about behind the scenes stuff like that! I got to go to The Ellen Show once!
I love these photos of Eastport, Maine from Amanda at Little Lady Little City. I have never been to Maine, but I would love to go.
I, too, have a style crush on Carrie Brownstein after this post from Sierra at Exceptionally Ordinary. Andrew and I have been watching Portlandia and it's so totally weird, I love it! I also embarrassingly didn't realize she made her claim to fame in Sleater-Kinney until like a week ago. Whoops!
And lastly, I love all of my girl Shell's posts on Kitty and Buck! This week she shared some mango gelato all melted over her hand. So silly and for a second made me forget about all the snow outside!

Best thing I ate this week:
I made avocado enchiladas with a side of black beans and white sangria to drink. I love making that dish because not only is it super rewarding (I bust out the food processor and make the enchilada sauce from scratch) but it reminds me of when I had the original inspiration for the recipe at the Little Chihuahua in San Francisco with my favorite cousin, Andrea! Good times.

Favorite day of the week:
I would have to go with Monday because I got two questions right at trivia! I normally feel useless, but these had to do with the Beatles so I excitedly wrote down the answers. I know you want to know the questions: 1. After what deceased celebrity was the Liverpool airport renamed for in the early 2000s. 2. Eric Clapton's wife Patty was formerly married to which rock star? I didn't actually know the first one, but I encouraged us to go with John Lennon, and George Harrison's first wife was obviously Patty! I mean, who doesn't know that?! ; )

Best purchase of the week:
I actually didn't spend that much money this week. I indulged on a half shamrock half chocolate shake from McD's a couple days ago, so I'll go with that!

Something I learned this week:
I have been watching documentaries lately - Vegucated, Freakonomics, and Hungry for Change. So I learned a lot watching those! I also got to see a doctor of Chinese medicine speak at work, so I learned about acupuncture and diet. Lots to think about when I consider what I put into my body. Andrew and I are trying to cook more and eliminate a lot of artificial things from our diet, but it's not easy!

Eating My Vegetables: Kale

Ugh, I can't believe I let myself go without updating for a whole week! I think I've definitely felt uninspired because I have the winter blues, and it snows like everyday and our heating bill keeps going up and up! I just want the sun and a temperature above 30 degrees! I tried not to let it all get to me, but it's getting to me. End rant! Send your warm vibes my way: )

So, I recently decided that I want to try and incorporate some new vegetables into my diet, because there are so many that I still haven't tried! My first choice was one I've had a few times before, but never actually purchased and cooked with myself - kale! Kale seems to be everywhere right now, so I figured it's about time I jump on the bandwagon. I bought a big ole bunch for $1.49 and just figured I'd make kale chips because I've tried those before. I ended up not making kale chips, but found another recipe with an Indian influence. The primary ingredients were chickpeas and kale, and I thought it turned out great! I almost always fail when I try and make Indian dishes, so I was really excited that this one worked out - and better yet, was completely vegan! Here's a link to the recipe, from Fat Free Vegan Kitchen.

{Photo from Mixed Greens Blog}

I had some kale left over, so I added it to the salad I brought to work the other day. I thought it complemented my spinach well, and tasted a bit like broccoli...? Anyone else experience that? Anyway, I'm glad I experimented with it and definitely think I'll be buying kale again.

What are your favorite kale recipes? And what other lesser used vegetables should I try next?!

Weekly Wrap-Up

Good morning and happy Saturday! I just whipped up some banana chocolate chip muffins and am enjoying some coffee while I wait for my better half to wake up. (It's almost 11am!)

Time to share my favorite blog posts of the week!

I love this post with some great guy accessories from The Wood. I know Andrew would look extra gorgeous in all of these!
I think it's great that Gentri Lee met up with her best blogging friend! It's amazing to me what a great community bloggers sometimes have: )
I love Sofia's Valentine's grahams that she created! They look delicious!
I do not remember the last time I had chocolate pudding. A Cup of Jo makes me want to revisit it!
Kitty Cat Stevens shared some vintage finds from the Nashville flea market. I want to go!
These photos of New Orleans from Wanderlusted were great for Mardi Gras. I have never been, have you?
Chantilly shared a secret about using cornstarch as face powder. I'm not sure I would do it, but I think it's a pretty cool idea!
Lazy Explorers shared some wants that I also want, including some awesome fox bookends. I still have yet to get very far on my fox collection!

Best thing I ate this week:
Hmmm, I think I would have to go with the Vietnamese Pho I had yesterday. I still don't completely get the concept (I should have researched how to eat this before I went), but it was a fun new dish with lots of fresh herbs involved!

Favorite day of the week:
Valentine's Day was fun! Since we have a big group of friends, some of us single and some of us dating, we all went to happy hour and then bowling! No one was left behind: )

Best purchase of the week:
Kate Nash tickets! I love love love her, and this will be the first time I have ever seen her live! I didn't even know the show was happening until the venue posted that the tickets were almost sold out! A very close call.

Something I learned this week:
How much I paid last year in student loan interest. Almost a grand! Grrrr.


What do you have in store for your weekend? I need to finish a cover letter for a job I'm applying for, and tonight we are volunteering for a Grand Rapids Symphony event, which means we get a really nice free dinner!

Friday Foodagram!

Before I had an Instagram I heard some people complaining that they didn't like when people posted photos of food. But I love food! And Instagram makes it so attractive. Here are a few shots!

My Olive Garden "dessert"

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip cookie dough. Should I post the recipe?

Indian food from a box, thanks to Target. The naan came separately.

Scrambled eggs with feta and hot sauce!

Jet's Pizza. Life is short, eat better pizza. Yum!

P.S. Follow me on Instagram!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Are you all enjoying your V-Day? I just got out of work and I am going to a happy hour and then bowling my single and taken friends tonight. No one gets left behind! At work today the chefs whipped up a whole bunch of goodies for me to sell at the coffee bar. I took some pictures: )

Chocolate truffles!

Cherry Chip cupcakes!

Chocolate cupcakes with a bonus chocolate covered strawberry on top!

Yum!

I also have a somewhat Valentine's related trivia question for you, if you're into that!

Which Chocolatier first introduced the box of chocolates?

a. Hershey

b. Ghirardelli

c. Godiva

d. Cadbury

Leave your guesses in the comments!

Tuesday Treasures #12

This Tuesday, I wanted to focus on a few housewares that I would love to have adorning my home. I have this issue though where I am inspired by so many different styles that things can get a little crazy. I guess it's not that bad of a problem to have, as long as I don't look like a hoarder, right? Anyway, take a look!

Oh, please, someone get me these hedgehog measuring cups from Anthropologie.

These champagne flutes from Crate and Barrel have been on my want list for a long time now. I saw them (or a verrrry realistic imposter) on Gossip Girl a few years back and thought they looked so classy! Love!

This sushi pillow from DCI has my mouth watering!

This gorgeous heart cutting board from WoodInk was featured on the front page of Etsy. So pretty!

Lastly, this is more furniture than housewares but I pretty much need this owl side table from Urban Outfitters! So awesome! 

Happy Fat Tuesday! Are you going to indulge? I'm no fun and stay away from that stuff!

Johnny Cash and a Kitten

I finally saw Walk the Line this weekend. Andrew kept suggesting it and I kept saying no. Of course I ended up liking it, and now I'm listening to he and June on Spotify. Then I wanted to see what he looked like when he was younger since I'm only familiar with the photo of him flipping his middle finger. Then I found this! Aww.

And that's all I wanted to share! What does your week hold? And what did you think of the Grammys last night?

Weekly Wrap-Up

I have felt a little uninspired and a lot busy this past week! I plaaaaan on updating more next week. Today is the last day to enter the sweater clip giveaway from my friend Kat! Good luck!

Stevie and me (he doesn't really like to be picked up, but we love each other)!

Here are my favorite posts from the week:

Kanelstrand had a great guest post from Vivid Please about DIY constellation cards! Such a neat idea for Valentine's Day!
I just love the concept of The Little Brown Book - Ella reviews great places in London in her handwritten brown book and shares her experience on her blog. It's a really beautiful result! Her latest post is about a place called The Riding House Cafe.
Anna-Rosa has another gorgeous blog that I drool over, especially with her post about homemade chocolate-peanut butter cups! Yum!!
Um, Moorea Seal has some absolutely gorgeous amethyst rings in her etsy shop that she shared in her blog, I wish I was that talented!
Not only is Shell's (from Kitty and Buck) backdrop and entire outfit theme amazing here, but the red bow in her hair is beyond rad.
I love when other bloggers share (which is partly why I started sharing), and Yellow Bird, Yellow Beard did a nice post highlighting some great Etsy and Storenvy shops. Simple and sweet!


Best thing I ate this week:
Truffle Fries, in particular, the ones from The Green Well

Favorite day of the week:
Wednesday actually ended up being really great. A friend handmade us ravioli, which was amazing, and we all drank too much wine for a Wednesday.

Best purchase of the week:
Kate Spade had a super secret sale on Monday and I finally bought myself a bag! And then it came like two days later. Pictures soon: )

Most useful thing I learned this week:
How to remove borders from the pictures on my blog! That was realllllly annoying me!


Hope you found a new great blog to follow! I'd love to hear your favorite bloggers in the comments, or yours; )!

Happy Thursday!

It's been such a busy week! Just to let you know I'm still alive, here are a few pictures. Don't forget to enter the giveaway I have going on!

Stevie watching his first birdie youtube video.

The view from the 4th floor at work yesterday morning.

Good friends making me dinner. Nothing better!

Have a great Thursday!

Giveaway! // Certain Something Vintage and Handmade

EDIT: Thanks to all who entered! We have a winner - Birgit! Congrats!

Happy Monday! I love starting out the week with a giveaway. This one is with my friend, Kat, who runs Certain Something Vintage and Handmade on Etsy. I love gazing through her shop because she finds the neatest vintage things and also creates her own sweater clips and shoe clips. Her shop will spice up your wardrobe in no time! She is kindly giving away one of her adorable sweater clips today! First, a little about Kat!

"I'm Kat, a 25 year old gal living in heart of the Mitten State. I work during the day as a receptionist, but I moonlight as a photographer, artisan, and vintage aficionado. (I'm also a crazy cat lady and self-proclaimed fashionista).

I grew up in a small town in a house that has been in my family for several generations, and it is full of all kinds of relics from the past. I was always intrigued by old things as a child and was constantly asking my parents about every single thing I found in the house, and that interest only grew stronger as I got older. 

My mother (and her mother, and her mother...) is a very creative lady, and also a very talented seamstress. I'm quite thankful for that having been passed down to me! We spend a lot of time together looking at vintage fashions and exchanging ideas. She is a great source of inspiration for several of the things that you will find in my shop. I love that so many times, when I show her one of my latest vintage finds, she'll look at it and say "Oh! I remember those!" and go on to share all kinds of nostalgic memories with me.

I get so much excitement and exhilaration from traveling around in search of those rare vintage items that have that special "certain-something." Every once in a while I find an incredible piece that jumps right out at me and nearly makes my heart stop--and those are the items that find their way here! My vintage hunts and research also fill me with countless ideas, and the other half of my love of all things vintage is creating accessories inspired by styles of the past. I'm constantly inspired and overflowing with ideas, and I am always so excited every time I have a new one to share!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Get this gorgeous 1970s Polka Dot Ruffle Dress here!

You know how much I love owls! It's available here.

P.S. Kat is offering Lovely Llorys readers a 15% discount during the giveaway! LLORYS15 is the code! She also will be putting most of her jewelry and shoe clips on clearance this week, so definitely head over to her shop!

Good luck! The giveaway ends this Saturday at 11:59pm and is open worldwide!

Cozy Saturday Lunch

What's better to eat for lunch on a day like today...

(Today)

than grilled cheese and tomato soup? Nothing that we could think of. I had exactly four pieces of bread, one avocado, a nice new log of goat cheese, and my new Campbell's Go soup, which is my current BzzCampaign. Of course I just found out that a blog post isn't an activity for this one, but I thought I'd show you anyway.

I love our dining room: )

I made our grilled cheeses with avocado, goat cheese, and colby jack slices. Sooo good with the extras!

Here's the soup - we tried the Creamy Red Pepper with Smoked Gouda. The only other vegetarian choice sounded better to me - Golden Lentil with Madras Curry. I can't wait to try that one! Anyway, we thought it was pretty good - I'm not a huge soup fan, so anything that can be done to make it a little more interesting helps enhance my soup experience. Plus the packaging is so fun. Have you tried Campbell's Go yet? There's a dollar off coupon on their website.

How is your Saturday going? There is so much snow here! We probably won't leave the house today.