Family Beach Trip 2012

This year we went to Wrightsville Beach for a week long trip with Dean's side of the family.  It was a great time.  For Diane's (my mother-in-laws) birthday we got her a photography session and while she was there got the opportunity to capture these great pictures.  



Pillow Talk

Say no more to a boring sofa.  In my search to jazz up a sofa I found some fun pillows that can turn your sofas frown upside down.  It doesn't take much or a lot of money.  And please remember that you don't have to match.  There is something to be said for a sofa with four different pillows! We call it Fabulous.



http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/index.jsp

And don't forget, All Shapes and All Sizes are preferred!

http://www.roomandboard.com/rnb/

Here is a quick look at some room shots with multi-pillows.

http://www.ruemag.com/

http://www.lonnymag.com/issues/35-may-2012/pages/1#p83

http://www.lonnymag.com/issues/35-may-2012/pages/1#p85

Easter Basket, Which One?

With Easter right around the corner I had to start thinking about a fabulous Easter Basket for Sophia. My childhood memory from Easter is my basket. we had the same one growing up and it was apart of my childhood. I could not decide if I wanted to go with the not-traditional Easter Basket or the more traditional one.

I found these awesome non-traditional ones from a website called Just So Posh. And let me tell you if nothing else, this site is amazing. So if you need anything personalized or fun check it out.

But at the end of the day, I search Etsy, and found the perfect traditional Easter Basket. I just couldn't give up tradition. I found Carmen Custom Creation on Etsy and she is going to make me the perfect white wicket basket with a cut polka dot fabric. Personalized with Sophia and cute little ribbons. She also is creating a crayon holder for the go out of the same fabric. She has been great to work with.

I will post pictures as soon as it arrives.

The Best "Red" for Valentine's Day

It would only be fitting to share the Best "Red" for Valentine's Day!

BEST RED DRESS

(Of all the red dresses at the Emmy's, I did like Nina Dobrev's Donna Karan dress the best )

BEST RED NAIL POLISH

BEST USE OF RED IN A ROOM

BEST RED PAINTED WALLS AND FURNITURE

BEST RED SHOES EVER

BEST RED TOP FOR MY SOPHIA

A Master Bedroom Transformation

So I recently finished a project for a client where we transformed her brown, neutral Master Bedroom into a Bright and Relaxing, Grey and White, Bedroom. Here are some amazing Before and After Shots.





Here is her new Master Bedroom. This is one of my favorite Master Bedrooms that I have done in a long time!

52 THINGS I LOVE ABOUT YOU!!

Bring on Valentine's Day! This is what my husband might get, I love this idea. Chocolate is so last year and who needs those extra pounds, not me!

*it's just a deck of regular playing cards with holes punched in 'em, held together with 1 inch binder rings (I got mine at Office Depot).

The possibilities for this project are endless, but I wouldn't do anything fancy. I would just write down the first 52 things that popped into my head, and print them out.

Happy Valentine's Day!!

Best Chicken Enchilada Recipe Ever

CHICKEN ENCHILADA

I have to say that Dean usually cooks dinner but this week with Restaurant Week, it is up to me! So I decided to try this Chicken Enchilada recipe from the Pink Parsley blog! It was amazing. And yes it does take time, well the first go around, but I was so impressed with my cooking ability, or maybe the ability to follow a recipe to the tee! You have to try this. And you have to visit the Pink Parsley Blog if you want amazing recipes.

Chicken Enchiladas with Red Chile Sauce adapted from Tide and Thyme, originally from America's Test Kitchen

1 medium onion, chopped fine
2 jalapenos, seeded and chopped fine
1 teaspoon canola oil
3 medium cloves garlic, minced
3 Tablespoons chili powder
2 teaspoons ground cumin
3 teaspoons sugar
1 15-oz can tomato sauce
1 cup water
1 large beefsteak tomato, seeded and chopped
1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts (2 large breasts)
1 cup extra sharp white cheddar, shredded
1 cup Monterrey jack cheese, shredded
1/2 cup minced fresh cilantro
12 (6-inch) soft corn tortillas
cooking spray
salt and ground black pepper

Preheat oven to 425.

Combine the onion, jalapeno, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and oil in a large saucepan. cover and cook over medium-low heat, stirring often, until the onions and peppers have softened, 8-10 minutes. Stir in the garlic, chili powder, cumin, and sugar, and cook until fragrant, less than 30 seconds. Stir in the tomato sauce, water, and chopped tomato. Bring to a simmer, and cook until slightly thickened, 5 minutes.

Nestle the chicken into the sauce. Reduce heat to low, cover, and cook until chicken is cooked through (thickest part reaches 160 degrees), about 12-20 minutes. Transfer the chicken to a plate, and set aside to cool.

Strain the sauce through a strainer into a medium bowl, pressing the onion mixture to extract as much liquid as possible. Transfer the onions to a large bowl and set aside. Season sauce with additional salt and pepper to taste.

Shred the chicken into bite-sized pieces. Add to the onion mixture, and add 1/4 cup of the enchilada sauce, 1 cup cheese, and the cilantro. Toss to combine.

Stack the tortillas on a plate and cover with plastic wrap; Microwave on high until warm and pliable, 40-60 seconds.

Spread the tortillas on a clean work surface, and spoon 1/3 cup of the chicken mixture evenly down the center of each. Tightly roll each tortilla and lay seam-side down in a greased 9x13 inch baking dish.

Lightly spray the tops of the enchiladas with cooking spray. Place in the oven, uncovered, for about 7 minutes, or until the tortillas start to brown slightly (skip this step if you don't like the crunch).

Reduce heat to 400. Remove enchiladas and pour sauce evenly on top. Top with the remaining cheese. Cover dish with foil, and bake an additional 20 minutes, or until heated through.

Remove foil and bake another 5 minutes, until cheese browns. Remove from oven and let stand 10 minutes before serving.

Serve with sour cream, guacamole, salsa, additional cilantro, etc.