Friday, July 1, 2011

A big pause for little paws...

Wow!  What a difference 3 months makes!  I took a longer than expected pause from blogging due to the arrival of my sweet puppy Sophie.  She is my lovable babydog - all 3lbs of Shih Tzu cuteness that seems to take up all extra time.  Soon we will be back up and running full speed!


Wednesday, April 6, 2011

My Lucky Day

I have been doing a lot of research lately and decided to wander into our local Half Price Books to pick up some bargain knowledge - so imagine my surprise when I flipped open my $6 copy of Laurie Smith's "Discovering Home" and it was AUTOGRAPHED!!  The same fabulous Laurie of Trading Spaces fame has touched this book!!  This is WAY more exciting than when I found out Candace Olson and I drive the same car...



Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Blogging from an iPad

Testing the Blogger+ app for iPad - please excuse the testing, more fun things to come




Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Chic for Cheap: Leopard Scarf

Well...I have lots of catching up to do, I caught a little virus on my laptop so Mr Big Sunglasses has set me up on one of his (its not nearly as cute or pink as mine, but I could get used to this 19" screen) 

Anyone who has taken a peek in my closet knows that I love two things - the color black and animal print.  I have a fairly unhealthy obsession with all things animal print, so its no surprise when I saw Kyle Richards sporting a beautiful leopard print Louis Vuitton Sprouse scarf on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills I couldn't even pay attention to the catfight that broke out in New York, I was too busy adding that beautiful scarf to my wish list

So I almost fainted when I wandered into J Crew and saw this beauty...

  and then I saw the price tag of only $59 and I squealed with delight!

Here's the original scarf that I was lusting after, and in its defense, it is the same length but twice as wide, but with a price tag of $820...
I am happy to not be quite as fabulous as Kyle Richards if I have an extra $761 in my pocket!




Standby...

well...it appears that my laptop has contracted a virus, so please excuse my previous lapse in posts, should be up and functional in the next day or so

Monday, March 21, 2011

Just Another Manic Monday...

When your Monday starts with a 4am alarm, you know its going to be one of those days.  Mr Big Sunglasses had an early morning flight and after he left I realized we forgot to pick up the dry cleaning this weekend, so it was a frantic dig through the closet, and after all was tight, I hopped on the scale (I knew better, but once you start to spiral, you might as well go for it) and I was horrified, grabbed my fatty costume (a black Ann Taylor sheath dress that hides all that is wrong with the world and a black J Crew Jackie cardigan) and made up my mind to make little changes to get back on track. 

There are 4 areas that I am weak when it comes to a little weight management and they are:

1. I love dessert too much - I mean really, has anyone ever had a crummy cupcake? 
2. I avoid exercise like its my job. 
3. I make bad (but extremely delicious) choices when I eat at restaurants. 
4. I go overboard with the soda

So my first order of business is to get this dessert thing down.  After a hectic morning it was time for my traditional Monday bribe, a la dee da Kate Spade notepad and a trip to to Starbucks for a green iced tea (unsweetened of course) and a new petite red velvet moonpie and I have to say, for under 150 calories, it was fantastic!



After the success with the moonpie, I tried a fat free brownie mix from Trader Joe's, used the applesauce variation and to my surprise it was incredibly easy and absolutely delicious - I highly recommend the edges, they are incredibly crispy, I need to get that Oprah brownie pan with all the edges.  In a twist of irony, when I got the mail, taaah daaah, nothing other than the Vogue 10th Anniversary Shape Issue...I think its a sign!



Tomorrow I tackle my nemesis...the elliptical
Sweet dreams...


Sunday, March 20, 2011

Sneaky Peek...

Between a wonderful dinner with my parents, a beautiful walk outside, and a few errands I still found a little bit of time to start on the Meg Cave (ok, its a craft room - but I like the sound of Meg Cave)  I have posted a couple of the pieces I've made for the gallery wall, but after this little sneak peek I'm going to go silent until the time of the reveal, soooo, without further ado, here is the sneak peek



I can't wait to share the rest...so how did I do?  Do you approve?


Spring is in the Air...and in the Stores

I wandered into a local furniture store and was just in love with all of the spring accents - how can you not LOVE the little chair candle holders?  I think I may just have to throw a dinner party just so I can use them in a tablescape! 


So how are you spending the first few days of spring?

 

Monday, March 14, 2011

Two Reasons to Love Monday

Two reasons to love Monday...a blank to-do list AND my weekly bribe to lure myself back to work was Nicole by OPI's Fell from a Tree nail polish.



Feeling festive and ready for St Patricks Day!



 

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Breakfast of Champions

I'm still getting used to Mr Big Sunglasses' travel schedule, for the last 11+ years I have had him all to myself, but for the last few months he's been on the road about 80% of the time and sometimes it just downright stinks!  However, I have finally found one thing to like about all of his travels.....

Biscoff Cookies!!!

I love Biscoff cookies, and more than just Biscoff cookies - I love FREE Biscoff cookies!!!  Mr Big Sunglasses has started hoarding these little packets of joy for me on all of his Delta flights, and was sweet enough to put some in my purse last night we he got home...Awwwww isn't that sweet!!    


Monday, March 7, 2011

Celebrating National Nutrition Month

Well March is National Nutrition Month, and to celebrate I present to you my version of dinner and a movie


I'm sure you're all dying for a recipe so here it is:
Combine one (full) glass of Rex Goliath Chardonnay, one white chocolate brownie, and the latest issue of Vanity Fair then put on a little Bethenny Ever After on in the background and ENJOY!

Sunday, March 6, 2011

How Have I Never Noticed...

So Mr Big Sunglasses is off to Boston and I am having my own little girls night (a wonderful flourless chocolate cake from Gateway Market here in fabulous Des Moines + Rex Chardonnay + Sex in the City 2 = a personal girl's night) and I'm watching, coveting the gorgeous closet and then it appeared.  The gallery wall of all gallery walls -  and I almost dropped my glass when I saw this beautiful gallery wall above Carrie's bed.  I wish I could find a better picture - but behold the gorgeousness...
Image from Elle Decor

Well it's about time for me to go to sleep, and dream of this gorgeous room...

Monday, February 28, 2011

Another Piece Done for the Gallery Wall

I just got the call that my special order fabrics are in!!  While I am incredibly excited for the sewing bonanza to begin, this of course happens when I am being sent out of town for a couple days - ahhhh the agony of waiting.  My poor little orphaned special orders, just sitting in a store room until I can rescue them and take them to their "forever home" (and by forever home, I mean they'll probably last a couple years before I redo the room again) 

Well until the rescue mission, its more art for the gallery wall (which despite my best efforts didn't get finished this weekend) and since I stayed away from the wine it was safe to use an exacto knife which means...drum roll please....Kate Spade ampersand knockoff!

Here's the finished product


So here's how to start - use google image search to find the Herb Lubalin Ampersand, edit it in paint or picasa or whatever your photo editor of choice is until it fits your canvas, and print that puppy out


After you have your printout, cut out clear contact paper to the same size and tape it down on some cardboard over the top of your ampersand - if you use clear contact paper you should be able to see the lines through. 


Trace around the ampersand with your exacto knife, starting in the middle and working your way towards the edges until you have cut out the ampersand


Once you've made your ampersand "sticker" stick it onto your canvas (these are for directions if you want the ampersand to be white, like the color of your canvas, you can also use the other part of the contact paper and make the ampersand the colored portion you paint)


Use a big stencil brush at 90 degrees to your canvas, with a very minimal amount of paint on your brush and move around starting on the outside


Keep moving around until the entire canvas is covered

While the paint is still wet, gently and carefully remove the ampersand "sticker"


Smooth out any edges with a small paintbrush, then hang on the wall!


ENJOY!!!


Its Monday...Back to the Salt Mines

Unfortunately i'm not independently wealthy and I actually have to work for a living...sigh...
But, remember when you would start off the school year with a new box of crayons?  Well, to help coax myself back into the mine, I bought the adult equivalent, the fabulous multicolor pack of Paper Mate Flair felt tip pens!!  




Now only if they smelled like a new box of crayons - someone should really make that a candle scent! 

What do you do to bribe yourself back to work on Monday?

Sunday, February 27, 2011

and the Oscar goes to...Prime Rib!

I could have done Steak Oscar, but that's just a little bit obvious and it has been so dreary outside that a little comfort food is in order, and nothing is as comforting to your Oscar party guests as a big prime rib roast with some roasted red baby potaoes and portobello mushrooms.  So if you're having a crew over, Oscars or otherwise, here is my favorite recipe for making a big batch of food in one giant pan that knocks out your main course and a side in one fell swoop.  Just add a salad, some desert, and a great bottle of wine and you're all set! 

Meg's Prime Rib

Equipment Needed:
- Roasting Pan with Removable rack
- Food Processor (I use a mini - its a small batch)
- Digital Meat Thermometer
- Paring Knife to Cut Mushrooms and Potatoes
- Measuring Cups and Spoons
- Spatula for Spreading
- Carving Knife
- Large Serving Dish

Ingredients:
- Boneless Prime Rib Roast (Anywhere from 4-6 lbs) Trimmed of Fat that is in Excess of 1 Inch
- 2 Packages of Portobello Mushrooms, Sliced about 1/4 in Thick
- 2 lbs of Scrubbed Baby Red Potatoes, Eyes Removed and Quartered
- 8 Sprigs of Rosemary Stripped off the Stem or 1 T Dried Rosemary
- 4 to 6 Cloves of Garlic, Peeled (Adjust to Your Liking, You Can Add or Remove)
- 2T Coarse Kosher Salt
- 1/2 Cup of Olive Oil

Set roast out on the counter a couple hours before you plan on putting it in the oven to let it warm up to room temperature.

Preheat oven to 500 degrees

While oven is preheating, put the rosemary,garlic, salt and olive oil in the food processor and pulse until the mixture has the consistency of a thin paste.  Spread the paste mixture all over the roast with the spatula, put the thermometer probe into the meat and place it in the rack in the roasting pan.  Pour the remaining paste mixture into a large ziploc bag and add the mushrooms and potatoes, seal the bag, and shake until coated.  Put the potatoes and mushrooms at the bottom of the roasting pan under the roast so that they can absorb all of those delicious drippings.



Place the roasting pan into the 500 degree oven for 15 minutes.  After 15 minutes, turn the oven down to 325 degrees.  As a rule of thumb it takes about 17 minutes per pound to get to rare and 22 minutes per pound to get to medium but you will want to rely on your themometer.  I like mine rare so I take it out when the thermometer reads 120 degrees and let it sit tented with foil for 20 minutes.  Remove the foil, place it in the serving dish and surround with the potatoes and mushrooms. 

The roast just placed in the oven - waiting to become delicious

The roast and potatoes after being released from its foil tent

Look at that gorgeous color, Yum!

Well, it's 30 minutes until the Oscars kick off, time to eat this wonderful meal!  I'm guessing from the tight dresses on the red carpet that I may be the only one serving prime rib and potatoes tonight! 


Friday, February 25, 2011

Hello Weekend Projects...

I have such a fun weekend ahead of me - I just can't wait! 


Fabulous online stationery from http://www.iomoi.com/ - I'm so excited that Mr Big Sunglasses got me a subscription to their digital stationery!

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Easiest Piece of Artwork You'll Ever Make...

So the plan for this evening was to cut a stencil and paint a knock-off of the Kate Spade ampersand canvas, BUT today was downright crummy and the only solution was a couple of glasses of wine (today's winner was The Show Malbec, $12 at Target) Which means whipping out the exacto knives to cut stencils after a couple (ok, it was 3) glasses of red didn't seem like a great idea, so it was on to safer and easier pastures.  Its a reinterpretation of the shopping bag gallery wall - I have saved all of the little special snippets from Mr Big Sunglasses over the years and this Tiffany box was dying to escape its plastic bin.  If you have $10, 10 minutes, and a special snippet that you need to display - you can make your own version of this piece.  Please forgive the night photos - I will try to be better about getting daylight photos because the colors look so much better without the flash.

Here's the finished product!


Things you will need:
  • Ribba Frame from Ikea or other suitably deep photo frame with mat
  • Coordinating scrapbook paper
  • Adhesive of your choice - I used a combo of double sided tape and glue stick
  • Paper cutter (or scissors if you have steadier hands than I do)
  • Jewelry box lid or other meaningful snippet you want to display

Take the back off of the frame and use the backing as a template to cut your scrapbook paper to fit.  After you cut your paper, center the jewelry box lid on the scrapbook paper and run the glue stick around the edges and also run the double sided tape around the edge as well for double adhesion and stick the lid down


Now that the jewelry box lid is secured to the scrapbook paper run the glue stick around the back of the matting, and center the scrapbook paper inside the mat.


All that is left to do is put the back of the frame back on and enjoy!


The entire project took less than 10 minutes - so don't keep those memories in a box, throw them up on the wall! 

Enjoy!