Crossbody Bags

I am loving the crossbody bag trend right now. They are so convenient, and there are so many cute options. The only problem is that most of them are a bit out of my price range at the moment. Last summer, Becca Crow had the cutest Rebecca Minkoff bag, so I was inspired to search her site. I found the BF Pouch, and I am obsessed! Its the perfect size for my phone, camera, a small card wallet and lipgloss. The strap length is perfect, the bag sits right at my hip. It seems like a steal at $150 and I can already tell it is going to get a lot of use this summer!

Spring has Sprung!

Today is the first 80 degree day in Dallas in 160 days! I couldn't be more ready for Spring after one of the coldest, snowiest winters on record! We have an adorable flower bed next to our front porch, so on Sunday Trey and I went to a couple of nurseries to pick out some herbs and marigolds and I got to planting! I love the end result, and really enjoyed digging around in the dirt. I might even use this weekend to start a garden in our backyard, bring on the sunshine!

Why don't you hang a Papier Mache Rhino in your living room?

I hung these simple white shelves in our living room when we first moved in so that we could display the "gun" Trey bought me last Christmas by Dallas artist Margaret Meehan. After we got the rest of the room in order, I felt we needed something above the TV. Originally I wanted a pair of antlers, but then I saw this Papier Mache Rhino head while perusing the Anthropologie website one day. It was made in Haiti from recycled books, and I think its the perfect artistic alternative to deer antlers. It really pulls the room together don't you think?

LowLuv

Last night Trey and I went to a trunk show for model and Dallas native, Erin Wasson's new jewelry line, LowLuv. The event was at my favorite Dallas store, although I can rarely afford to buy anything there, V.O.D. They carry such cute lines such as, Zero Maria Cornejo, Alexander Wang and Isabel Marant, just to name a few. Also, we hang work from the gallery on consignment and they are currently showing several Allison V. Smith photographs. LowLuv is such a cute line! I got this fantastic long gold ring with hieroglyphic style engravings (worn with my Robert Lee Morris for Elizabeth and James cobra ring). The ring was $65 and there were several other affordable pieces that I would love to own. I had my eye on a really cool gold necklace and hopefully Trey got the hint ;). I am not sure what other stores are carrying the line, but since Erin supposedly spends a lot of time in Austin and New York, I am sure she is in boutiques in both places. So be on the look out for these hip, affordable jewels!

Delicious Dumplings

Claire and Jessica are in town for Market today, and stayed with us last night. They got here just in time for dinner and I was so excited to take them to Royal China. I had heard that they had great dumplings but hadn't been yet. When Claire and I lived in New York, we spent many Sundays laying around and ordering pork buns from the Happy Dumpling, so I knew she would be excited. The dumplings at Royal China were incredible! Perfectly steamed and delicious, but the dim sum selections were even better! We had the "Purple Haze" which looks a bit like a sushi role, but is actually eggplant wrapped around pork dumpling filling. And the Pearl Rice Dumpling Balls, basically a pork meat ball covered in rice, were to die for! Buck's BBQ Spare Ribs were tangy and saucy, although a bit messy (I may have ruined my shirt). In addition to the delicious food, they serve really good sake and in the cutest little individual size bottles. Trey and I will definitely be back as it is really close to us, at Preston Royal and very affordable. And for all of you who do not live in Dallas, just another reason to come visit me! :)

New Jewels

I always seem to be looking for new jewelry, which is probably because I only seem to buy cheap, fake, trendy jewels. I am always looking at other people's necklaces and earrings wondering where they got them and assuming I can't afford them. I recently read about Lux Revival on a Style/SWOON, and am obsessed. You can purchase the pieces on Etsy, and while perusing I found several other amazing necklaces from different designers that were all under $150. I especially love this dangling feather necklace which retails for $125. The price point is doable, but I am hoping Natalie is reading this entry right now and thinking. "I could make that. I should make one for Cassy and give to her as a gift for being such an awesome friend." ;) See you in a few weeks, Nat!

Soup Cans

I have lately become obsessed with fresh flowers. They make our still-coming-together-house seem more polished and complete. I especially like Gerber daisies because they are so bright and cheery, but also because they are cheap :) Keeping fresh flowers around adds up quickly! I usually just display them in simple glass vases, but this past Sunday Trey and I were at the Ft. Worth Modern to see their current show, Andy Warhol: The Last Decade and they had the cutest arrangement on the welcome desk. I love the Campbell Soup and daisy tribute to Warhol, and thought it was such a great alternative to the usual plain glass vase. While this was not the highlight of the exhibit, it was the one thing I could hope to have in my home. And although it is sweet, I am not sure it translates as well outside of the museum. But, until I can afford one the Rorschach pieces it will have fill my Warhol craving.

White Satin

So as you all know, I am obsessed with nail polish. I love manicures and pedicures and cannot remember the last time I have had bare nails, it has been at least more than 5 years. And while I usually love deep dark blues, or poppy pinks and reds, I have been following the trend lately for more subdued colors. (Although right now I am wearing OPI's "Jade is the New Black," I haven't had time for a manicure since St. Pattys). Claire gave me OPI's "Barefoot in Barcelona" for Christmas and I recently bought Chanel's Patriculiere, both of which are a sandy grayish color, and I have switched between for the past few months. But, now I want even lighter colors. Chanel's White Satin is perfect for Spring! Light and pretty and still a bit different. Quite a change from all time favorite Chanel color, Blue Satin, of which I have gone through 3 bottles, seriously, and given as a gift on many occasions. White Satin is already out of stock online, so I will be racing to the Chanel boutique after work today in hopes that they have it. Last time I missed out on one of Chanel's limited edition shades I almost paid $75 for it on ebay. Luckily, I have Trey to talk me out of crazy things like that, or maybe I should say unluckily as I still love but don't have Jade. Either way, 20 bucks for nail polish seems like a steal compared to that!

Corned Beef Recipe

I feel like this is turning into the Corned Beef blog! But, I have had several requests for the recipe, so here it is. After this, no more corned beef posts, until next year at least!

Ingredients

1 lb corned beef per person (it comes in a package like fajita meat)

cabbage

potatoes

carrots

cloves

maple syrup

butter

Directions

The day before serving, boil the corned beef with the seasoning packet that comes with it for 4 - 6 hours. Refrigerate in the pot with the water overnight.

The day of serving, remove corned beef from the water and trim the fat. Place corned beef on baking sheet and push cloves into the entire brisket. Cover with maple syrup and place in a 200 degree oven for at least 20 min.

Meanwhile, boil the potatoes, carrots and cabbage in the corned beef water. More water can be added if necessary. Keep in mind potatoes and carrots take longer than cabbage to cook, total boil time should be about 20 minutes.

Melt at least one stick of butter.

Place corned beef in center of platter, surround with vegetables and pour melted butter all over. Bon appetit!

St Patty's Inspiration

Yesterday I posted a picture of my Corned Beef and Cabbage, and today I am showing you what my mom's looks like. Although mine tasted great, I clearly have a lot of work to do on my plating. Hers is so much prettier than mine! I hope you all had a wonderful and fun St. Patrick's Day! Way to go Mom!

Happy St. Patty's Day!

Every Year for Saint Patrick's Day my mom makes Corned Beef and Cabbage. It is one of my favorite meals of the year! Its basically like my equivalent of Thanksgiving, since I don't really like turkey. Its buttery and fattening and delicious! The past few years I have not been home on March 17th and so I have missed this amazing dinner. This year Trey and I are going over to his parent's house for steak, but I couldn't bear to miss another year of Corned Beef, so I decided to try and make it myself. So this is what we feasted on last night! It was so good! I was afraid that, like my apple pie, mine wouldn't be as good as my mom's, but it was! And even though Trey told me on Sunday that he didn't like corned beef, he scarfed his down and loved it! Happy Saint Patrick's Day everyone! I hope you get to have some good Irish food and drink a green beer today!

Going for Gold

I am obsessed with my new gold top-siders! Not only do they remind of the greatest fisher-woman I know, Claire Fields, they are also the cutest and most comfortable shoes I own! I wore them all day on Saturday which was the infamous St Patrick's Day Parade on Greenville and I didn't get a single blister! And even though I thought I looked a little like a leprechaun in my green shirt and gold shoes, I got tons of compliments! I highly recommend that everyone get a pair. Claire, of course, already has some and hers are pink :)

Why don't you start a blog?

I decided to start a blog after I began writing one for work. I enjoy posting pictures and news about what is happening in the gallery and thought it would be fun to do the same for my personal life for my friends and family to read. Everyone I told about the idea asked me the same thing, "What will it be about?" Well, I don't really know what it will be about yet, but it will be inspired by the fabulous and stylish Diana Vreeland. Her Harper's Bazaar column, "Why Dont you..." which started in the 1930's encouraged women to try new and sometimes outlandish things for example, "Why don't you... have an elk-hide trunk for the back of your car? Hermes of Paris will make this." And, I think if she were still here to encourage stylish women to do amazing things, starting a blog would be one of them. So I will try to post things I like, new places I discover, of course, good things I eat :) and I hope you enjoy and comment with your own fabulous experiences and outlandish ideas.