Hump Day Home Makeover / Nicole Gibbons Of So Haute

July 31, 2013


Nicole Gibbons from So Haute's living room caught my eye somewhere along my daily blog crawl. There are a lot of pieces in this room that I'm drawn to - the brass coffee table, Greek key trimmed curtains, Louis XVI chair, lucite chair and sun mirror to name a few. My roommate and I have been settling into our newly shared apartment and mixing some of the random decor pieces we have on hand to design our living room. Three of them where featured in Nicole's living room in a totally new style than we are working with and I loved the inspiration.

Here's how you can get the look:


6. Greek Key Curtains image (source) - DIY idea

Spinach Pasta Recipe

July 30, 2013

Spinach Pasta Recipe

Published:
This is a summer pasta recipe packed with antioxidants and vitamins. Despite it being painstakingly hot this summer in New York, I have had some serious cravings for pasta. You may have noticed from my previous recipes that I like to cook healthy food and hardly ever create recipes with straight up white bread. In this recipe, I used gluten free spinach pasta to get some nutrients out of the noodles and packed the sauce with spinach.

Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Yield: 2 servings

INGREDIENTS
Spinach Fettuccine 1 packet (I used RP’s Gluten Free Spinach Pasta from Whole Foods)
Finely Chopped Spinach :1 cup
Chopped Basil 1/8 cup
Shredded Parmesan Cheese 1/4 cup
Dry White Wine (I used Chablis) 1/8 cup
Squeezed Lemon:1/2 lemon
E.V.V Olive Oil :1 tbsp
Minced Garlic 2 cloves 
Salt & Pepper: To Taste


DIRECTIONS
1. In a medium sized saucepan, bring 12 cups of water to a boil.
2. In the meantime, get your other ingredients for the sauce ready as it won’t take much time at all to cook. Finely chop spinach and basil and set aside.
3. Grate Parmesan cheese.
4. Once water has boiled, drop in spinach pasta and cook for about 2-3 minutes.
5. While the pasta is cooking, in a medium sauce pan heat 1 tbsp of oil and add minced garlic.
6. Add spinach, basil, Parmesan cheese, white wine, lemon juice. Stir and let cook for about a 1-2 minutes.
7. Remove from heat and set aside until pasta has cooked.
8. Once pasta is done, strain and serve with sauce.
9. I added feta cheese and extra basil to mine and served with corn and broccolini.


Do you have a go-to summer pasta recipe?

Coca-Cola Glazed Baby Back Ribs Recipe

July 29, 2013

baby back ribs recipe

In Atlanta, Coke is a big deal. 
Let's just say requesting a Coke at a restaurant that doesn't carry Coke almost always goes something like this...

Waiter: "What would you like to drink?"
Customer: "I'll have a Coke please"
Waiter: "Is Pepsi okay?"
Customer: "I'll just have a water."

It's no surprise that Virginia Willis's Baby Back Ribs with a Coca-Cola Glaze recipe is a hit back home. We make these ribs every year for the 4th of July, and with about 1 month left in summer I had to share! 

INGREDIENTS
1 cup Coca-Cola Classic
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
11/2 cups firmly packed light brown sugar
2 Scotch bonnet chiles, chopped - without seeds
2 racks baby back ribs (3 pounds total)
Salt & Pepper


I serve this dish with a caprese salad and extra barbecue sauce. With the baby back rib glaze being sweet, I like to mix it up and serve them with a more vinegar based barbecue to give the ribs a sweet and sour flavor.

Mark & Lisa Poulier's Melbourne Home

July 26, 2013

I have something going on with Australian design.
It just gets me.


I recently came across this incredible home in Melbourne, owned by designers and store owners, Mark and Lisa Poulier. Their style is a perfect mix of crisp whites, dark and moody tones, and an eclectic collection of artistic, gold and antique accents. 

Love is an understatement. 








Notice the lucite chairs they use throughout their home?
I had been on the fence about lucite chairs before seeing this home, and am now on the bandwagon. 


images via 

Soysage Avocado Sandwich

July 25, 2013

Have you ever tried soysage? Don't let the name scare you. 
One of my favorite vegetarian/vegan restaurants in Atlanta, Cafe Sunflower, has the best soysage, avocado sandwich that even my carnivorous boyfriend likes it. 


The flavor is dead on, but without the greasy and fatty feeling of real sausage. Plus, it's full of protein making it a great lunchtime meal that will keep you full throughout the day.

INGREDIENTS
1 whole wheat pita
1/4 avocado, sliced
1 tbsp vidalia onions, chopped
1 tsp cappers
1/4 cup sharp cheddar cheese, shaved
2 soysage links, Smart Sausages, smoked flavor

Servings: 1 sandwich

NUTRITIONAL INFO
Calories: 367
Total Fat: 20.1 g
Carbs: 29.3 g
Fiber: 7.3 g
Protein: 20.3 g
Points Plus: 10
Old Points:8
Dont' be alarmed by the fat in this recipe. Some fats can actually be good for you! monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fat have some surprising health benefits and make up the majority (75%!) of the fat in this sandwich thanks to the avocado. Studies have shown that foods full of these kinds of fats improve blood cholesterol and can reduce the risk of heart disease (source: Mayo Clinic).


STEPS
Wash. pat dry and slice or chop avocado and onion. Cut pita in half and add capers, avocado and onion to the pocket. Cut links in half from the top to the bottom. Follow the instructions on the packet for cooking the soysage either in the microwave or skillet. Should only be about a few minutes. Once soysage is cooked, slice it into more oblong strips and add to sandwich. Use a cheese grater to grate desired cheese on each sandwich. 

Serve with greens and a light vinaigrette.

Hump Day Home Makeover / Bedroom Decor

July 24, 2013

I have been having an insanely hard time trying to find the right bedding, curtains, and color scheme to go with my navy tufted headboard. I love the deep and moody velvet, but man is it hard to decide on the right pairing. Do I want to do boho and add some crazy patterns and pinks or neutrals and florals?? Seriously, you guys need to help me!

I'm currently thinking these ikat pillows could be the perfect fit. What do you think?



Some inspiration:

Royal Baby Is On The Way

July 22, 2013

With the royal baby on its way (finally), it felt like the perfect day to share some of the fun British themed decor I've loved recently.

Royal blues, union jacks, crowns and of course tea cups are a must. 


Are British accents a do or don't in your decor?

**Update 3:49 PM**
It's A Boy!

Industrial Design / Tom Dixon Copper Pendant

July 18, 2013


I may have told this before, but I am a sucker for a white and gold combo. The simplicity of white lets gold pop, giving the decor a really fresh yet chic look. I stumbled upon these industrial Tom Dixon pendants the other day, and I am definitely going to have to add copper to the gold/white crush list. 

If you've seen it before, I'm not surprised. It's a true statement piece that can work in a lot of different styled spaces.
Photo by Sean Fennessy
Photo House To Home 
via Stylizimo
Photo - Apartment Therapy
Photo Patric Johansson
Photo House to Home

Copper Shade sold by Tom Dixon

Hello Rachel Zane's Apartment / Hump Day Home Makeover

July 17, 2013

While most of America was anxiously watching to see where Rachel and Mike's relationship would stand after last season's steamy Suits season finale, I was shamelessly gawking over Rachel Zane's lovely apartment. Here is a "get the look" on her lovely apartment!


A great mix of traditional and modern pieces and pattern combos. Dark wood, cast iron windows and gold gilded framed Impressionist work. 
A+ to the set designers and writers! 
Anyone else tune into the season premier of Suits last night? 

What do you think of Rachel's place?

GET THE LOOK



Shop the Post:

Guest Post + My Nephew's Nursery Update

July 16, 2013

I've been doing a lot of cooking recently and have loved trying out new seasonal recipes.  Today I'm sharing one of my latest summer recipes, a peach, ricotta chive, balsamic reduction pizza on GlamourMash! Salty, a bit sweet and creamy doesn't disappoint! 
Check out the recipe here.


With all this cooking going on, I've been totally neglecting design and decor. You may have read before that my sister is pregnant and expecting any day now! She's finally finished decorating her nursery and I had to share. I love all of the personal touches with homemade artwork (She painted the animals above the changing table! and pieces from local Charlottesville artists like the hanging monkey. 



Curtains - Target | Letters - Michaels | Rug - HomeGoods | Chair (hammy down) | Crib - Pottery Barn (hammy down, similar) | Changing Table - Pottery Barn | Changing Table Accessories - HomeGood | Picture Frames - HomeGoods 

Farmer's Market / Union Square

July 15, 2013

I truly love the premise behind Farmer's Markets. I feel good supporting local farmers by buying their produce and admire the organic, no spray practice. On Saturday, I grabbed a coffee and wandered around the Union Square Greenmarket. The market is always full of energy happening every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 8AM-6PM on the north and west sides of the park. The sea of fresh produce, seafood, meat, jams, honeys, wines, and flowers is overwhelming but in a good way. It's the perfect atmosphere to inspire new seasonal recipes and concoctions for Decor-Eat. I picked up some fresh corn, tomatoes, golden beets and sunflower greens, and am excited to cook up new seasonal dishes.

Every time I go to the market something new seems to always catch my eye. This trip, it was the array of green chickpea pods and sunflower greens. Evidently, sunflower greens have nearly as much protein as chicken! 

Are you a Farmer's Market regular or fan? 

Strawberry, Banana, Almond Butter Smoothie

July 11, 2013


I love a good ole strawberry banana smoothie, but have recently starting playing around with the mixture. I love adding in almond butter to add a creamy and nutty taste. It's turned into a great motivator for exercising as my post-work out treat. Hope you like it too!

INGREDIENTS
1 cup frozen strawberries
1/2 frozen banana slices
3 tbsp skim milk 
1 tbsp almond butter
2 tbsp apple juice
1 tbsp orange juice
hand full of ice

Servings: 2

NUTRITIONAL INFO
Calories: 139.4
Total Fat: 4.7 g
Carbs: 24.2 g
Fiber: 4.1 g
Sugars: 11.2 g.
Protein: 2.9 g.
Points Plus: 4
Old Points: 2

First, peel and cut half of a banana and place in the freezer for 30 mins. Then mix all ingredients in a blender, and blend until smooth. Use a spoon to stir the mixture to ensure all pieces are blended. 

Peet's Coffee / Do You Give A Cup?

July 09, 2013

Why is it that drinks we love as adults tasted terrible as children?


I remember being offered a sip of wine as a kid in France.
It was terrible.
Coffee followed a similar pattern. I couldn't understand why adults loved the stuff. Double hot chocolate with whip was my go-to at Starbucks. But today, there is hardly a morning you find me without a coffee in my hand. 

You guys know I love a good digital/social campaign probably about as much as I love my morning coffee, so I'm glad Peet's Coffee introduced me to their new campaign, Do You Give A Cup?. To launch their new single cups, Peet's is hosting the Internet's first social sampling campaign. Each week, Peet's asks America to vote if they give a cup or not about a topic. Those votes then determine where Peet's Sip Truck will host its next free sampling event of the new single cups. New York voting opened last week, and I'd really like to try some of the new single cups. Free coffee?? Yes please!



Aside from the free coffee appeal, I love the premise behind Do You Give A Cup?. It's hard to narrow down just one thing I care about, so for this week I'd have to say I #GiveACup about fitness. In the past 2 weeks or so, I've joined a new gym after a year hiatus, and committed to getting back into a workout routine. I'm a huge fan of yoga and have really missed taking classes 2-3 times a week. So far, I've managed some type of 30 minute cardio 3 times a week, and ran the Peachtree Road Race 10K in my best time yet!

How about you? What do you #GiveACup about?



*This post was sponsored by Peet's Coffee & Tea. All opinions and reviews remain my own, and are in no way indicative of the opinions or positions of Peet's Coffee & Tea.*

Gazpacho Recipe

July 08, 2013

Today, I'm letting you in on a family secret... our homemade Gazpacho recipe.

I've said it before, but my mom is a great cook, and someone who I credit almost completely for my cooking knowledge. This recipe is one that I grew up with and helped perfect throughout the years. It's one of our family's favorites for the summertime, and a new favorite of mine since it's low in calories and fat (only 2 or 3 points on Weight Watchers new or old!!). It's also a great way to get nutrients from summer vegetables, and it's even better the next day making it great for leftovers.

A fair warning though, once you try this recipe, you won't be satisfied with gazpacho ordered at a restaurant. 

INGREDIENTS
6  medium juicy vine-ripened tomatoes, peeled, seeded and chopped.
1 medium Vidalia onion, peeled and diced 
1 medium green pepper, seeded and chopped
1 large cucumber, peeled, seeded and chopped
3 small garlic cloves, minced
1 teas. chopped parsley
1 teas salt
1/2 teas freshly ground pepper
1/4 teas Tabasco sauce
Juice of one lemon
2 tbs olive oil
1 tbs tarragon vinegar or unflavored (white wine, apple cider) vinegar and dried tarragon
1 11.5 oz V8 juice

Servings: 6

NUTRITIONAL INFO
Calories: 101.8
Fat: 5.2 g
Carbs: 13.7 g
Fiber: 2.7 g
Protein: 2.4 g
Old Points: 2
Points Plus: 3

STEPS

First, wash and pat dry all of your veggies. The next step is to peel your tomatoes. 


There is actually a relatively easy way to do this and all you need is some boiling water, an ice bowl and a knife. I tried my first instavideo the other day to show you how it's done.


Once the water is boiling, drop each tomato in one at a time in the boiling water for 15-30 seconds. Then, plunge the tomato in the ice water for 1-2 minutes. Repeat for each tomato. Once out of the ice water, use a knife to start the peel, and remove the skin easily with your hands.

Once tomatoes are peeled, seed and chop and add into your food processor. Next, add the chopped onion, and green peppers. Peel and de-seed the cucumber. The easiest way to do this is to cut the cucumber lengthwise and use a spoon to scoop the seeds out. Chop the seeded cucumber and add to the processor. Continue adding minced garlic, parsley, salt, pepper, Tobasco sauce, olive oil, tarragon vinegar and V8 juice.


Pulse the food processor 3-5 times for a course and crispy texture like the below. 


This recipe is best when it sits overnight. So, I'd recommend moving it to a container and refrigerating it to serve the next day. Serve with a dollop of sour cream and enjoy.


GAZPACHO COOKWARE




How-To / Watch The 2013 Wimbledon Finals

July 05, 2013

Happy Friday everyone! I hope everyone had a wonderful 4th of July. Around here, we ran the Peachtree Road Race and celebrated my dad's birthday with ribs, wine and Wimbledon. My family is a big tennis family, and we love watching Wimbledon. We got hooked on the women's semifinals on the 4th and intrigued by Sabine Lisicki. After knocking Serena out of the tournament early on and coming back from being down against Radwanska, this girl has heart and endurance. It is her first major finals, and I can't wait to cheer her on.

The game starts at 9AM EST tomorrow (men's is 8 AM EST 7/7), so here are my picks for cheering her on bright and early in the 2013 Wimbledon Women's Finals - champagne and strawberries and a traditional German breakfast. I can't leave out the bright orange dress (mostly because I'm really loving the color at the moment) for your Saturday night celebrations. 


// nutella //
Proudly designed by Mlekoshi playground