spinach salad = delish

this spinach salad is super easy, and really good. you can do it without the chicken as a side, or with the chicken as a meal. here's what you'll need:

2 bunches of spinach
4 cups strawberries sliced
sliced almonds
goat cheese
diced red onion
cooked chicken (optional)

dressing, whisk all together:
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup white vinegar
1/2 cup white sugar
1/4 teaspoon paprika
2 tablespoons sesame seeds
1 tablespoon poppy seeds

friendship bracelets are BACK

the other night i was feeling crafty, and whipped up a homemade friendship bracelet. inspired by a past post, i incorporated some rhinestone gems and a charm. they need a little perfecting, but a fun old-school treat to give a friend!

utility + style

hunter now makes rain wellies with a wedge! the cool, yet functional, wellie brand has stepped it up this season. they're a bit more expensive than the original boot, they retail for $195. i wish it rained more in denver :)

keep it personal

i've read about sarah chloe jewelry in a few magazines and am really digging her monogramed bangles. you can get a single initial or select from an array of monogram styles. if you want to get all fancy, she has a version that incorporates diamonds!

view here: http://www.sarahchloe.com/store/index.php/personalized-jewelry.html

pssst...

recently i've been trying to do my hair a favor by washing every other day. on 2nd hair days, i keep it lookin fresh with some spritzes of dry shampoo. there are several brands on the market these days, and i have tried a few. my favorite thus far is called "pssst" my friend erin and roomate sara are also pssst lovers.

it's sold at places like cvs, walgreens, and wal-mart. for a whopping $4.

sweater tights

these "sweater" tights are thicker than the average tight, keeping you warmer during this cold winter weather. i wore them the other day and was extremely comfortable, all day long. plus the cool geometric pattern adds a little somethin' to your outfit. they're mostly brown, with a hint of black.

and for $8, i give them a double thumbs up.

rosemary cashews

these rosemary cashews are super easy to make, and i have yet to meet someone who doesn't like them. plus, these would make a great host or holiday gift. just package in a glass jar (the kind using for jarring foods, you can get a dozen at the store for $6) and tie with a festive bow! ta-da!

ingredients:
1 1/4 pounds cashew nuts
2 tablespoons coarsely chopped fresh rosemary leaves
1/2 teaspoon cayenne
2 teaspoons dark brown sugar
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 tablespoon melted butter

directions:
preheat the oven to 375 degrees.

place the nuts on an ungreased baking sheet and bake for about 10 minutes until they are warmed through. meanwhile, combine the rosemary, pepper, sugar, salt and butter in a large bowl. toss the warm nuts with the rosemary mixture until the nuts are completely coated.

old navy boots, oh my!

old navy makes winter boots now, who knew?!

we all already have uggs, etc., but these are a cute take on the winter boot. i'd wear them in the mountains with jeans tucked in...they just scream "apre ski!" and, for 40 bucks, they're a fun winter boot alternative.

check them out here: http://oldnavy.gap.com/browse/product.do?cid=62002&vid=1&pid=797632&scid=797632002

nico and lala

i noticed my friend lisa just became a fan of "nico and lala" on facebook and i wanted to check it out. and good thing i did!

they started with cards and invitations, but now have a lucite line of goods (similar to those of dabney lee, i blogged about her earlier), party favors, and more!

check our the website at www.nicoandlala.com, and then also click on their blog.

i think these personalized champagne and wine labels, showen below, are great for $3.50 each. and so are the lucite signs, with cute monogram or wording on one side and photo on another.

diy party ideas

i threw an engagement party for my friend bryann a few weekends ago, and couldn't have had more fun organizing it! here are a few inspirations for some diy party crafts and planning ideas...

recycle your blues

gap has a new program called "recycle your blues." you bring in a pair of old jeans (any brand) to recycle and they give you 30% off a new pair. plus, they have some great fitting styles these days!

i'll be digging in my closet this weekend to find an old pair i no longer wear...

target boots, a must buy!

it's that time of year again...fall. when we all start incessantly wearing boots for the next 6 months. and it is always a challenge to find the right pair, with the right heel, the right fit, at a decent price. once again, target is here to help! i found some great, inexpensive ($35) boots there the other day. they're a knock off of a steve madden pair...flat, some hardware, adorable red zipper up the back. they come in grey, brown, or black.

check out target.com to order a pair! sizes were starting to run low in the stores.

all she wrote...

it's not only a saying, but also the name of a fabulous store in lincoln park, chicago. when i was visiting last weekend we stumbled upon it. it was probably a good thing i only brought a carry-on, otherwise i would have stuffed my bag full with gifts and trinkets!

they shop is famous for their papers, invitations, monogrammed items, gifts, and home decor. luckily you don't have to be in chicago to enjoy their goods, their website is fully functioning. visit www.allshewrote.com.

plastics galore!

a couple weeks ago i blogged about dabney lee, and mentioned her cute lucite, monogrammed trays. well, i found some that are similar but far less in price! at swoozies.com they have tons of colors, fonts, sizes to choose from.

they also have these geometric patterned, colorful, plastic plates that would be perfect for outside dining or picnics.

look here: http://www.swoozies.com/store/category/20791/Home

craving mexican? here you go...

i have used this recipe for several occasions, and love it just as much each time. it's easy, good for a group, and makes 2 pans...eat 1 now, freeze 1 for later. hope you like too!

6 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves
1 Tablespoon butter
1 cup chopped onion
1 green bell pepper, cored, seeded and chopped
1 red bell pepper, cored, seeded and chopped
8 ounces grated cheddar cheese
1 4-ounce can diced green chiles
1 cup purchased green chile salsa
½ cup chopped cilantro
4 teaspoons ground cumin
2-3 canned chipotle chiles in adobo sauce (optional)
salt and freshly ground pepper
12-15 burrito size flour tortillas (or corn tortillas, heat up before stuffing so they aren't so dry)
10 ounces jack cheese, grated
1 cup whipping cream
½ cup chicken broth

Place chicken in pan of rapidly boiling water to cover, and simmer 15-20 minutes. Remove from heat. Drain, cool and shred chicken using a fork. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Cook onion and bell peppers until just soft, 5-8 minutes. Transfer to large bowl. Add chicken, cheddar cheese, green chiles, salsa, cilantro, cumin and chipotle chiles, if desired. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Mix well.

Grease 10x15 inch baking pan. Place 1 tortilla on flat surface and place about 1/3cup chicken mixture along one edge. Roll up, tuck sides and place, seam side down in pan. Repeat until done. Sprinkle with jack cheese.

Combine cream and broth and pour over enchiladas. Cover with foil and bake 30 minutes. Remove foil and bake 10 minutes, until heated.

friendship bracelets are back, with some bling

how can you not love a friendship bracelet? it reminds us of our favorite childhood craft, summer camp, your best girl friends, and our sweet commitments to "never take it off." the colorful woven creations are something we can all remember loving.

now, in 2010, friendship bracelets are getting a modern update. designers are adding rhinestones, beads, and extra bling to modernize the old classic. i love the ones from frieda + nellie. they're a bit pricey, but you could attempt to duplicate if you felt inspired. the duo has also teamed up with j.crew to create a line exclusivley for the store. hopefully coming out soon!

take a look here: http://www.friedaandnellie.com/index2.html

love. bright. prints.

dabney lee has the most colorful, geometrically perfect patterns. she does everything from stationary to home goods. i particularly like the monogrammed (shocker!) lucite tray and the salt & pepper shakers.

check her stuff out here: http://www.dabneyleeathome.com/

statement jewelry, target prices

while recently at target, i found myself wandering the jewelry section while en route to the toothpaste aisle. and it turned out to be a valuable "short cut," as i found some real gems. right now they have some awesome, statement type of necklaces. similar to those at j.crew or anthropologie...but a third of the price.

take a gander here: http://www.target.com/Statement-Necklaces-Jewelry-Womens/b/ref=sc_iw_r_1_1_1038588?node=2235268011

a. must. try.

noosa yoghurt is the hottest hit in the dairy aisle.

this extra thick, almost tangy, yogurt recipe originated in queensland, australia. (fact: the name "noosa" is after a small coastal queensland town). since then it's made its way over to the u.s. and now the boulder based factory, founded in 2009, is busy selling products to health food stores like whole foods and vitamin cottage.

flavors include honey, mango, raspberry, blueberry, and (the latest) strawberry-rubarb.

wake up to some coconut

i recently tried this delicious flavor of coffee-mate creamer...which i never even dreamed existed! prepare yourselves for this one: COCONUT CREME. it made my cup of coffee taste like a tropical dessert. what a way to start the day!

letter perspectives

shout out to my friend, lisa, who showed me this site! she is giving one of these framed letter signs to her brother for his upcoming wedding...of their last name. i think it's a great gift idea that anyone would love. plus, as you all know, i love anything that's monogrammed or personalized :)

check it out: http://www.letterperspectives.com/

footnote: baggies on the go

i just discovered this company, RuMe, is based in denver! love them even more! it's fun to see neat, locally-based companies.

giada spotting...at target!

our beloved target recently launched a new line: Giada De Laurentiis for target. an exclusive line of affordable cookware products and specialty food items...perfect for making irresistible and budget-friendly meals at home.

the products are substantial and well-designed, and the sauces and mixes make it easy to re-create giada's dishes. molto bene! (translation: very good)

check it out...http://www.target.com/b/ref=gp_se_search-results-box/185-6809184-4587320?ie=UTF8&node=2233939011

baggies on the go

by now we are all hooked on carrying reusable, eco-friendly bags...at the grocery store, farmers market, and just for general hauling purposes. here is a new bag trend: re-usable snack baggies. RuMe makes bags the size of ziplocks, in bright patterns, all of which are dishwasher safe and machine washable. perfect for packing a lunch or taking snacks to go!

view here: http://www.rumebags.com/shop/RuMe-On-The-Go

tom's, with a wedge

i think tom's is a really neat company. they make shoes, fabric slip on types, and have an insanely generous community component. they call it their "one-for-one movement"...meaning that for every pair of shoes sold, a pair of shoes is donated to a child in need.

this summer they have added a new style...the tom's wedge. super cute, and you can walk tall feeling good about your purchase :)

view here: http://www.toms.com/womens/wedges?view=all

online shopping? yes, please

breaking online shopping news: madewell now has a functioning website that you can buy from!

the clothing company has stores in major cities, and just launched online orders. they're knowen for vintage-y denim, great sweaters, colorful printed scarves, etc.

visit their website at www.madewell.com. but first, a quick disclaimer...if you look you will want to buy!

sandal season

my friend bryann was wearing some perfect little, brown leather sandals last weekend. i assumed they were from nordstrom or maybe j.crew. nope, TARGET! so upon further web research i disovered an array of great summer sandals, all under $30. here are a few of my top picks, but i would suggest that you take a look too!

comfort is key

these cute burmuda lounge shorts from gap body are AMAZINGLY soft. they're comfy enough for lounging, and cute enough to wear in public...what a perfect combo! they also come in a shorter version for those who want to show some more leg :)

http://www.gap.com/browse/product.do?cid=5953&vid=1&pid=710179&scid=710179002

magic wand

abri-cadabra, one swoop of the wand, and my eyelashes look perfect!

upon recommendation from my roomate, sara, i tried covergirl lashblast mascara this morning. i loved it and will be heading to walgreens today to get my own tube. it's awesome! no clumps, perfect application, and the fluffy brush has more bristles than your average mascara so it hits every lash.

and, at a very reasonable $8.50, you cannot go wrong.

please note...

how adorable these little cards are! these small notecards are better than a post-it, but not a full card. perfect to jot down your daily to-dos, or to write sweet nothings to someone else.

take a look here: http://www.lillypulitzer.com/Circle-Notes/invt/e1095&bklist=icat,5,shop,accessoriesandgift,paper,organizers

hey, a girl can look!

everyone loves a good wedding. it's just a fact.

and, at the age of 26, the wedding bustle is in full effect...and will continue for the next 3+ years. it's a fun and exciting time, and what girl doesn't like to sit around and gab about their ideal dress, ring, and night?

this website is overflowing with amazing wedding pictures and ideas. so take a quick visit...because, hey, a girl can look!

http://www.stylemepretty.com/

dear whole foods, thanks for the recipe! xo, sarah

if you like to cook and are always on the hunt for new and simple recipes, i would suggest subscribing to the whole foods recipe newsletter. i have been impressed with the content, which is of course (a la whole foods) built around healthy and fresh ingredients. it comes twice a month, via email.

subscribe here: http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/newsletters/

bon apetit!

tea time

yesterday my boss treated me to a tea at starbucks, and i discovered this amazing new tea called vanilla rooibos. i'm not typically a huge tea fan, but this was tasty. not bland or boring.

starbucks says it's a: a lush and indulgent blend of rooibos, tahitian vanilla, sweet cinnamon, apples and peaches. translation...it's good! give it a try.

Young House Love...must see site!

this is the cutest, most inspiring, full-of-fun-ideas site! if you're a new home owner or just need some encouragement to diy, take a peek.

http://www.younghouselove.com/

personal touch

who doesn't love a good monogram? i know i do! it's such a simple way to personalize anything, while adding a bit of class and prep.

i especially like to give monogrammed gifts. a personal touch screams: "i thought about what to get you!"

these initialed clay vases are adorable and reasonably priced. perfect for a wedding. take a look: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=26883709

hot cross BUNS

this is a delicious and incredibly easy recipe for cinnamon bun pull-aparts...courtesy of my friend greta.

made for dinner club a few weeks ago and they only lasted about 5 minutes from oven, to table, to being eaten. be sure to use a bundt pan for them! and it sounds like a lot of brown sugar, but trust me on this one. save this recipe, def a good brunch standby!

1 package of rhodes frozen dinner rolls (about 14)
1 small package dry butterscotch pudding
1 1/2 sticks butter
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 T. cinnamon

grease bundt pan. melt butter and 1 cup brown sugar together. put about 14 rolls in the bottom of the bundt pan, and pour butter/brown sugar mixture over them. sprinkle the dry butterscotch pudding, remaining brown sugar, and cinnamon over. cover with a towel and let rise overnight (or during the day). bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. invert onto plate and serve warm!

report: diy boot decoration

as mentioned below in the "dress up them boots" post, i promised to try this craft project. the boot decoration straps retail for around $65, and i ended up spending $15 at joann fabrics. i then wore them to a country concert and they held up just fine! see steps below:

1: hot glue a pretty ribbon on top of a thicker grosgrain ribbon

2: measure around top of boot with the ribbon and cut to size, then trim off an inch or two

3: measure a small piece of elastic to sew to either end of ribbon (making a circle), so it will be snug around top of boot

4: adhere a bow to outside of strap, or decorate with gems, etc.

5: wear!

ca-raf-ty!

this site has the most fun, adorable, hand-made pieces...wall art, tea towels, aprons, etc. and even better, they're reasonably priced! a framed wall decoration is $35. i discovered when flipping through country living magazine.

check it out here: www.artgoodiesonline.com

boot up, baby!

i have been wanting a pair of the frye harness boots forever, and recently lucked out while at target. as goes the typical target trip...i was shopping for toothpaste and light bulbs, and just stumbled into the shoe department. i found these boots for $49.99 that look amazingly similar to the real-deal fryes.

check them out here: http://www.target.com/Fashion-Boots-Womens-Shoes/b/ref=sc_iw_r_12_1/181-6705758-3130316?node=14291631

jar it up

like the average girl, i have too much stuff.

to keep all my bracelets organized and contained, i like to store them in this jar. it's inexpensive ($6, the container store), simple, and looks cute on your dresser! just toss your jewels in and enjoy being clutter-free! you could use this jar method to store a variety of trinkets.

TAG, you're it!

last friday i met some friends for happy hour at TAG, a swanky, new-ish place on larimer. here is the result:

2 x $5 dark and stormy (ginger beer/rum cocktail) + $5 avocado CA roll = mere $15 later, feeling satisfied and slightly buzzed

the happy hour offerings also included gourmet mini sliders and generously filled tacos. i would recommend to others, especially given the reasonable prices. i'm interested in trying for dinner as well, the menu is creative and the place got packed!

check them out here: http://www.tag-restaurant.com/

dress up them boots!

i came across this post on dailycandy.com (awesome site, i strive to be even similar to it). these are straps you put around your boots to dress them up. how cool?!

boots are expensive and take up lots of precious closet space. like me, you probably only have a pair or two. now you can easily change your look. the straps are all different...some are colorful, some metallic, others leather and studded.

check it out here: http://the2bandits.com/

and if you're feeling crafty, as i often am, you could DIY (do-it-yourself). just some fancy ribbon, elastic, glue gun, and some gems or charms if you'd like. i think i'll try this weekend, in fact! will keep you posted...

make em' roll

it's always good to have a joke in your back pocket. my friend kristen gave me this one, and i thought it was quite funny. plus, appropriate for all ages!

q: how do you wake up lady gaga?
a: you poke-her-face!

bark, bark

over the holidays i tried out a new barefoot contessa recipe, french bark. i cannot take the credit, as ina told me exactly what to do, but i did make 3 batches and recieved rave reviews.

this is a perfect eat-with-your-fingers dessert to serve at a party, wrap up as a hostess gift, or indulgence for yourself. but more importantly, it could not be easier.

and so, i share:

9 1/2 oz. very good semisweet chocolate, finely chopped
8 oz. very good bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped
1 c. whole roasted, salted cashews
1 c. chopped dried apricots
1/2 c. dried cranberries
(note: you could substitute any dried fruits you prefer)

melt the 2 chocolates in a bowl in microwave. meanwhile, line a sheet pan with parchment paper, turning the paper facedown on pan. pour the melted chocolate over the paper and spread to form a rectangle, taking up the entire pan. evenly sprinkle the cashews, apricots and cranberries over the chocolate. set aside for 2 hours until firm. break apart and serve.