Brussels Sprouts Chips

Kale chips are pretty much all the rage - a small bag from the market is around $5!  I've taken to making them at home, but just saw this recipe for Brussels Sprout Chips, and think I'll be adding this to me repertoire 

Just as easy, and it is a nice way to switch up a healthy snack.

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Brussels sprouts weren't exactly my favorite vegetable for a long time - I'm not a picky eater by any stretch of the imagination, but this is one food that I only started enjoying recently.

Turning them into a roasted crispy snack with fresh flavors like lemon and sea salt take away the pungent flavor that comes with steaming them.  Not a route I like to go!

Ingredients: 

 - brussels sprouts

 - olive oil

 - sea salt

 - lemon

Instructions: 

First separate each leaf from the brussels sprout. The smallest leaves won't separate so you can either go ahead and cook those too or save them for another meal idea. 

Lightly coat the leaves in olive oil. Bake at 400°F for 8-10 minutes until edges begin to get crispy. Be sure to keep an eye on them, as they can burn quickly. 

Remove from oven, squeeze on some fresh lemon juice and sprinkle with sea salt.

It doesn't get much easier than that!  Enjoy!

Rustic Coffee Table

I've decided that our living room needs some more "natural" elements.

The annual Restoration Catalogs may have helped sway me in this direction, but I've realized that pretty much all our furniture is painted, or made of man-made materials.  Obviously, a huge reason for this is because I've been making the most of what we have, and slapping paint on anything I can to extend it's life in our apartment, but the main reason we have all this faux-material furniture is because I was on a TIGHT budget when buying furniture the first time around.   Particle board was my best friend.

Not anymore... we need some rustic up in herreeee!

These bad boys started this whole thing!!!

I've been toying with the idea of a little DIY on our coffee table to take it from this... shiny and really dark...

To something more like this...

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Or this... (even though this is a dining table... you get the idea)

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I even toyed with the idea of painting it white, and getting a plate glass top to protect the paint on top (something like the below photo).  The glass would be essential here since it gets A LOT of wear and tear, and I suspect paint wouldn't stick so well to that slick surface.

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But then, the point here is to get more rustic going on, and less painted furniture.... so I was back to the idea of using reclaimed wood (or at least wood that LOOKED reclaimed).

I had been thinking of getting some fresh boards from Home Depot, banging them up, and then applying this "aging treatment" that I read about here to oxidize the wood with vinegar and steel wool.  Will it work?  I've heard mixed reviews, but supposedly it takes brand new looking wood and gives it the weathered, greyed out look... ultimately, I'd be nailing these boards to the table top, and painting the base white, or a lighter neutral color...

I've been toying with this idea for a few weeks, but then today, I saw this table on World Market's site, and it got me thinking....

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The Cameron Coffee table is $229, and I currently have a 25% off coupon that would make it $172. Things just got interesting... While I haven't totally ditched the idea of trying my hand at adding an aged wood top to our existing table, simply buying this new coffee table will be way easier (obviously), and possibly cheaper.  In the event that in the event that this DIY completely flops, I'll need to get a new table anyway!

Here are a few few pictures from the glowing reviews on World Market's site, that people posted of the table in their homes!

Cute right?  Rustic, natural wood, and apparently quite sturdy... Lots to think about!  Just need to make sure it's not too small - I like a good sized coffee table.

I also saw this weathered leather chair...

There is something about it that I love - obviously the nailhead, but I also really like the mottled looking leather, and low back.  And as you know, I've been looking for a reason to get rid of the wicker chair that DOES NOT belong in the living room... I may have just found my reason.

I'd love to see this in person - sit in it, see how comfortable it is... I want a deep seat!  Something to lounge in with my coffee on Saturday mornings.

Very excited about my potential new living room finds!

Summer Colors

I'm soooo obsessed with this color palatte...

Also, that Hermes scarf is to. die. for.  Just had to get that out there.

With this warm weather, my trip to Miami next week, and my girls trip to Cabo at the end of the month, my eye is drawn to everything that says "summer" and I'm pretty sure that hot pink and orange say just that.

If you want to bring just a bit of these bold colors into your home, use these rooms as inspiration:

Sources Clockwise from top left: #1, #2, #3, #4

Incorporate the colors of summer through a bright floral arrangement, a vibrant book strategically placed on an entry table, or a happy hued throw blanket, pillow, or a garden stool.  Totally temporary, but these small updates instantly say "it's not winter anymore" to guests.

If you are feeling a little more gung-ho over seasonal decor, go all out and incorporate these happy summer colors into your home in bolder ways...

Sources Clockwise from top left: #1, #2, #3, #4

Bright happy bedding will ensure you wake up ready to seize the day, and hot pink dining room chairs wake up the senses at meal time.  If you are feeling gutsy, paint the back of a bookshelf tangerine, or if you are REALLY feeling bold, paint the whole room!

By the way, how cute are those bucket seats around the kitchen table??  On the heels of my Ikea Chair Hack post from the other day, a can of hot pink spray paint could easily transform any of those Ikea options for minimal cost...  just sayin!

For the fashion minded, I say it's time to start bringing the brights into your wardrobe!

                                                  Source I                                                                                     Source II

Who could forget that amazing Halston dress from the Sex and the City II movie??  Oh if only it were mine!  A full skirt and structured top stay grounded for cooler spring days with black accessories, but couldn't you imagine this with nude heels and a cute raffia clutch for a summer wedding??

And if head to toe isn't your thing, these colors would wake up any neutral outfit through accessories!  My cousin would always say, "Accessories MAKE the outfit"... and she is SO RIGHT!

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So what do you think??  How will you be incorporating tangerine and shocking bright pink into your life this summer?

Porch Topiaries

It's probably because we are renters.... AND live in an apartment building....... AND do not have a "front door" to call our own, but I find myself dreaming about how I plan to style the hypothetical front door of our future home. 

I pray it isn't a dinky little door on a narrow step, because I really have my heart set on twin topiaries flanking the front door.

Just. Like. This.

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Le sigh.  

There is something about the symmetry that I absolutely adore.  And the glossy black door??  So chic.  Unfortunately I have a total brown thumb, otherwise I'd love to plant out around the topiary with pretty flowers and low growing greenery.

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It's even better on a porch with more space - double topiaries!  The white and blue planters are so classic, but I love the moroccan feel of the lantern.  A subtle mix of eclectic on an otherwise completely traditional porch.

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And another very french take on the glossy black front door, with flanking topiaries.  And so like the french, it is simple, and PERFECTLY manicured.  

I wonder if they have to trim those shrubs daily?

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... and then at Christmas, you could swap out the globe topiaries, for mini Christmas trees (and a lush garland to boot).  

Overall, I prefer a black front door, but there is something very clean and "winter white" about this scene.  I wonder if the door is white all year around, or if they painted it just for Christmas?!  Wouldn't that be extravagant??

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And don't get me started on that live moss wreath - perfect all year around if you ask me.  I saw one at a local florist a few weeks ago, but for $250, I decided to pass (as though $250 for a wreath was even an option!)

A Bite of Heaven... aka Whipped Bleu Cheese Bites

I'm officially on the one-month countdown to our girls' trip to Cabo, which means no fast food (what does that mean), no cheese (how can I possibly eliminate a food group like that), and only "good carbs"... which makes finding mouth watering blogs like Iowa Girl Eats impossible to look at.  

This recipe for Whipped Bleu Cheese Bites with Balsamic Reduction, guest posted by fellow blogger Dana, of The Minimalist Baker had me at the first picture... and it sounds as good as it looks.  You are welcome in advance...

I mean... humina humina...  take her description of this appetizer:
Each luxurious bite melts in your mouth with a distinct airiness from the bleu cheese dip and a crisp finish from the baguette. The flavors are spectacular, melding together create the perfect savory, sweet bite.

Um.... how freaking fast can I ditch this "healthy eating thing", and jump on the ooey-gooey-bleu-cheese-dip-wagon?!

Answer: not fast enough.

If you're a fellow cheese lover like myself, scroll down for the full recipe and instructions...

Ingredients:

4oz (1/2 cup) bleu cheese crumbles

4oz 1/3 fat cream cheese

1 Tablespoon white vinegar

2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

pinch black pepper

~ 1/4 cup 2% or whole milk

3/4 cup balsamic vinegar

8-10 sprigs asparagus and/or 1/2 red onion

12-14 slices wheat baguette

Directions:

 Preheat oven to low broil and position rack on second from top position. Slice baguette into 1/2 inch pieces and arrange on baking sheet. Plan for 1-2 per person. Set aside.

Prepare bleu cheese dip by placing bleu cheese, cream cheese, vinegar, olive oil, and pepper in a food processor and mixing until well combined. Drizzle in milk 1 Tbsp at a time while mixing until desired consistency is achieved. It should be thick like frosting. Scoop into a large plastic bag and set aside.

Saute asparagus and/or red onion in a large saucepan over medium heat until tender. Season with salt and black pepper. To properly caramelize the onions, make sure to keep the lid on to lock in moisture and get them really soft. Set aside.

Prepare balsamic reduction by placing balsamic vinegar in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally and being careful not to boil. Cook for about 10 minutes or until the liquid has reduced by about half and a wooden spoon scraped across the bottom leaves a visible line – it should appear somewhat “syrupy.” Pour into a small ramekin for serving.

Pop baguette in the oven and watch closely, toasting until light golden brown. Then remove from the oven, pipe on whipped bleu cheese, and top with sautéed asparagus and/or caramelized onion. Drizzle with balsamic reduction and serve immediately.

Estimated nutrition per bite: 142 calories, 9 g fat, 1 g saturated fat, 124 mg sodium, 9 g carbohydrates, 1.7 g fiber, 1.8 g sugar, 6 g protein

Inspired by The Sprouted Kitchen Cookbook

10 minutes prep time

20 minutes cook time

30 minutes total

MUST. MAKE. ASAP.