Wordless Wednesday

I found this photo on Pinterest last week and it is just too fun!

Happy Wednesday!

Speedy Spinach Quiche

I have been wanting to make a quiche for some time now so on Sunday I got busy and investigated some recipes. While I did want to make a quiche I did not want to make the crust so I suppose I really just wanting to make the actually filling... Anyway, I searched and searched for a good recipe and finally Epicurious came to the rescue (if you do not have their app you must download it now!) with Speedy Spinach Quiche. This recipe originally appeared in a 1991 issue of Bon Appetite and it is simply delicious and easy too! You use a frozen pie crust and then the rest of the ingredients are things you most likely already have making this a winner! I made this on Sunday, but actually did not end up eating it until Monday evening. It tasted delightful and was perfect with a small salad on the side (my plate looks somewhat bare, but I promise it was filling and more than enough!). If you are ever in need of a delicious dish that can be made in under an hour (baking time included) you must add this to your list!!

Ingredients:
1 tablespoon butter
1 onion, chopped
1 10-ounce package frozen chopped spinach, thawed, drained well

1 9-inch refrigerated ready piecrust (1/2 box)
1 teaspoon all purpose flour
1/2 cup (about 2 ounces) grated Monterey Jack
1/2 cup (about 2 ounces) grated Parmesan
4 eggs
1/2 cup lowfat cottage cheese
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon dried dillweed (I skipped this)

What to do:
Melt butter in heavy medium skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion and sauté until translucent, about 8 minutes. Add spinach and stir until spinach is dry, about 3 minutes. Cool slightly.

Preheat oven to 375°F. Dust 1 side of crust with flour (my pie crust already was dusted so I skipped this). Transfer to 9-inch-diameter quiche dish or pie pan, floured side down (many frozen crusts are already in dishes in which they can be baked so I also skipped this...less mess). Press into pan, sealing any cracks. Trim edges. Sprinkle both cheeses over bottom of crust. Top with spinach mixture. Beat eggs, cottage cheese, salt, pepper, nutmeg and dillweed (I left this out) in large bowl to blend. Pour over spinach. I also topped my quiche with a little bit of cheese on top. Bake until filling is set, about 50 minutes. Cool slightly. Cut into wedges and serve.

In other news I simply in LOVE with my new Lilly Eryn dresses! They are such a perfect fit and a timeless cut!

Happy Tuesday!

Getting Lost

I love the Design District and decided to venture down to Lost Antiques after reading that The Pink Pagoda (whose prints I have featured before!) has a booth there. I had an amazing time and found so many lovely items that spoiled my eyes. I literally got lost in Lost on Saturday!

Isn't The Pink Pagoda's booth divine? I love all the bamboo, elephants and blue in white!
On second thought, I think it is because it reminds me of my kitchen :)
The Pink Pagoda also has lots of her prints available for purchase in her booth. If you are in Dallas you should check them out here rather than on Etsy...instant gratification!

If you have been to The Mermaid Bar at Neiman Marcus the above likely looks familiar. It is red rather than blue, but is by the same artist, Bjorn Wiinblad, that did the NM ceramic mural. This piece is from the Trammell Crow collection and can be yours for $13,000.

This was another favorite booth of mine. Everything was so affordable and good looking. That lovely chair was just $89 and the ottoman was under $50.

There was loads of fun china in this booth as well as numerous candlesticks. In fact, the above antique replica candlesticks were just $10!

See, I promise I am not the only one that paints my walls bright pink :)

I was in search of gold sconces on Saturday and this was as close as I came to finding the perfect pair. However, they still did not go home with me as I was not 100% in love with them. They were beautiful though!

I loved this revamped antique vanity stool. The pink zebra had me from across the room.

These chairs were so vibrant and just FUN! They were only $135 for the pair which goes to show that antique stalls are not only often cuter than chain stores, but much more affordable too.

Wouldn't this pink croc chair be darling in an office?

Chinoiserie goods were everywhere at Lost!

This Baker chest was just darling and also had a great price tag. It would make a perfect side table or even a nightstand.

I feel in love with this unique, mahogany table. The shape was so different and the shelves were perfect for additional storage. I can think of so many places for this piece!

Last but certainly not least is my favorite find of the day...the almost two foot chinoiserie monkeys I spotted as soon as I walked through the front door. While I only got a photo of one, there was a set; the more the merrier :) These were just stunning and as you know I adore monkeys and elephants and decor so these were right my my alley.

Lost was full of so many fabulous finds as was Found which is right next store (yes, they are called Lost and Found). It's easy to see how I got lost now, isn't it?

End of Summer BLOG SALE

I am trying something new with today's blog sale and have uploaded ALL the many photos to an album on Facebook which can be found HERE. All sales will be handles through comments on the photos and you MUST leave a comment with your email if you would like to buy an item. If you leave a comment then you ARE COMMITTED to that item. Please ONLY leave a comment with your email if you would like to purchase the item. Of course feel free to as questions in a comment if need be. Paypal invoices (only Paypal will be accepted) will be sent this evening to all those that leave emails in comments and items will be shipped tomorrow evening. All prices are included in shipping. Happy Shopping!

Here is a sneak peak of the items:

LOTS of Lilly! Some NWT!
J McLaughlin Ribbon Skirt!

More Lilly!

There is some Tory Burch and an Elizabeth McKay dress too!

The Look for Less: Skirts

I love to wear dresses, but I also love skirts. I am not much of a pants person unless they are white jeans or skinny jeans with boots when it gets cold. You will likely almost always find me in a dress of skirt these days.

Elastic waistband skirts have been quite popular these past few months. Lilly has had a great collection of these at a moderate price point too. Sadly, I did not bite the bullet early enough to score this Whitney:

However, I was at Target a few weeks back and it seems like I did not really miss out after all when I stumbled upon this:

Now, they are in the girls section (I know, I know, I am 26 and should not be wearing children's clothing), but they are very generous in length and size. This style in general is quite generous and if it fits right can also be flattering. The best part about these skirts is that they are only $12.99! YES, just $13 friends! However, this week they happen to be on sale for just $10! I picked up the floral skirt (which is extremely reminiscent of that Lilly I sadly missed out on) for Fall as well as the denim. After all, I do live in Texas and the denim will look great with cowboy boots year round. The skirts are a nice canvas material and not at all thin or dingy. I am extremely impressed and highly suggest you head on over to Target this weekend and take a look at today's "look for less"!

Hostess with the Mostess on a Budget

I am a sucker for anything from the Slatkin line at Bath and Body Works. I was a fan of Slatkin back when they were not at all related to BB&W and am so happy Harry's new line has done so well in their stores. I always stock up on their candles when they are 2 for $20; Fresh Bamboo, Verbena Waters and Lilac Blossom are my favorites as they are very reminiscent of the old Slatkin scents as well as the new NEST candles. Anyhow, I was thrilled to see that Bath and Body Works now has Slatkin room sprays....and for only $5 a bottle! Not only are they a steal of a deal, but they are cute too:

These room sprays would make the PERFECT hostess gift. They are cute enough to give on their own or you could pair them with a matching candle for something more substantial. Either way, they are both budget friendly and sure to be a hit! While I personally am not too into food scented candles or sprays there were plenty of options to choose from. I love a fresh citrus scent year round and Fresh Lemon fit that bill. A good, clean scent is a must at times so why not buy a bottle of Eucalyptus Mint to have on hand? Finally, with Fall just around the corner a nice wooded smell keeps you in a good mode and Fireside and will be my go-to for that. I have been so thrilled with all the Slatkin products I have tried and just from testing these room sprays in the store I know they will be wonderfully fragrant as well.

Next time Bath and Body Works has one of their amazing sales you know where I will be and what I will be stocking up on. Some deals are just too good to pass up (just like the Lilly Endless Summer Sale which is happening now and is somewhat deadly!)!!

Restaurant Week in Review

I LOVE Restaurant Week and take full advantage of it every year. The only year I did take part was the first year I lived in Dallas and I happened to be in Scotland at the time so I suppose I have a good excuse for missing out. Anyway, just about every restaurant I dine at throughout the year participates in KRLD Restaurant Week. During Restaurant Week you can enjoy a three course meal for $35 while also helping local charities. You see, $7 of each of the $35 meals goes to one of two local charities, The North Texas Food Bank or the Lena Pope Home. Dallas Restaurant Week has become a "summer fundraising tradition" in the opinions of many!

If you live in Dallas you know that there are several restaurants that fill up all their Restaurant Week reservations the very first day they open their books. I learned this three years ago so ever since I have tried to be on top of my game and call in mid-July. This year I got a hold of The Mansion on Turtle Creek while Melissa was able to get Fearings to pick up their phone; success! In addition, I also went to my beloved Cafe Pacific and tried NOBU. I have included my thoughts and reviews below for my reference and in the event that you just might happen to be in the the Dallas area and you are looking for a place to dine they might help. :)

Cafe Pacific

Grade: A+

I simply adore Cafe Pacific and actually happened to have brunch there the day before our reservation. This was not at all a problem for me because I love everything they serve and their Restaurant Week menu did not disappoint. Cafe Pacific was just voted the Best Seafood Restaurant in Dallas so they were having each guest toast with a complimentary glass of champagne as well as crudites for the table. I choose a light salad to start, the short rib followed and I ended with their famous pecan ball. The short rib was one of the BEST I have EVER had. It literally fell apart if your fork just tapped it. Simply divine! The pecan ball is one of my top three favorite desserts in Dallas (the coconut cream pie at Capital Grill is another), it NEVER lets you down:

NOBU

Grade: D-

I have to admit I was incredibly disappointed by NOBU as was everyone else I dined with. I have heard great things from acquaintances, but it did not at all live up to the hype, in any way whatsoever. While I understand Restaurant Week can be busy, that is not excuse for bad food. The server was incredibly pushy at first when trying to get us to order but then the service for the rest of the evening was slow and frankly just off; our plates were cleared and the next course did not come for another 20 minutes. The food was not very good or tasty. In fact, we all left hungry and went home and ate. On a happier note, the atmosphere was very neat, but that is not enough to make me ever want to return to NOBU. Overall, it was a real letdown and I think everyone I dined with would agree that they took advantage of their Restaurant Week clients which will only hurt them (as well as the two charities that benefit from RW) in the end.

The Mansion: A

After a disappointing night at NOBU I was looking forward to The Mansion as they never let me down. We had a reservation for the first seating which worked out very nicely. We were escorted into the famed Mansion bar to wait while all the tables got their finishing touches. Once everything was ready we were directed to our table where the staff pulled out our chairs and placed out napkins in our laps. Our server was wonderful and so attentive (and we later found it was only his second evening!). The food was phenomenal again this year. I started with grilled zucchini topped with feta, I enjoyed the 'Diablo' chicken for my entree and finished with a Texas peach Sundae. The dessert was again the highlight of my meal, simply delicious! As mentioned, the Mansion never lets you down!!

Fearings

Grade: A-

We had a late reservation at Fearings (9:45pm), but still enjoyed an incredible meal. We had a wonderful table with delightful views and a very interesting server. While you can of course order off any restaurant's menu during Restaurant Week what I liked about Fearings is that they allowed one to order combine the menus. You could order your appetizer from the three RW selections, but then substitute your entree with one of their famed entrees for an additional fee. This was a great way to do it in my opinion. I started with the watermelon gazpacho and a tamale:

Both were very Texas and very delicious! I then enjoyed the filet followed by a trio of desserts. Everything was wonderful though the server was a bit off as mentioned which made for an interesting evening.

All in all Restaurant Week was a huge success. It is a great time to try new restaurants and add new favorites (or in my case, new places you will never return to) to your list while enjoying great food!

Do you have Restaurant Week in your home town??

Pink Pillows

I am SO excited that I have finally been able to add a touch of pink to my love seat as my pillows have been completed:

They add a bit of fun and whimsy into the room and coordinate perfectly with the pink in the kitchen. Everything pulls from everything else in my small space.
I am still debating on how I should organize all the pillows...decorating can be fun, but hard! I am thinking of moving the blue pillows onto another chair, but put them back for this photo so you all could see them too. I do want to have some blue on the sofa so that everything can pull from everything else and coordinate as mentioned above, but am totally up in the air right now. Regardless, the pink pillows are divine and now have a happy home on the sofa.

For those that inquired, the pink fabrics are both Premier Fabrics. They have the most well priced, trendier fabrics for the home and design. I am dying to go back to a store that sells them in Dallas and get the key fabric for a dress and their elephant fabric for a skirt! The blue and white "bird" pillows are Oscar de la Renta Home and were purchase about four and a half years ago at Horchow. Finally, the love seat is from Haverty's and is part of the Cottage Chic Collection.

Things To Look Forward To...

It is hard to believe summer is coming to an end, didn't it just begin? While we still have HOT weather here in Dallas schools do start tomorrow and everyone is getting back into the swing of things. While it is sad to bid farewell to the pool parties and cookouts (not so much the extreme temperatures though) there are lots of things to look forward to in the next few weeks. While most of the below items are day (okay, more like month) old news they are sure to be fabulous!

Kate Spade Lipstick (photo from Google Images)

I am so excited about the Supercalifragilipstick by Kate Spade! With colors like Fuschia Fete and Pop Art Pink and prices at around $25 a tube these lipsticks are sure to put a smile on your face, or rather, lips!

Elizabeth McKay Fall Line and STORE

If you are a fan of Elizabeth McKay on Facebook you have likely seen the sneak peak photos for their first Fall shipment. I simply adore everything, but the Ireland Cape is my absolute favorite item! This AMAZING brand is also opening their first store in NYC (on Lex) this Fall. I cannot wait to make it one of my first stops on my next trip!

Laduree NYC (photo from Laduree)

Another stop I will be making is at the new Laduree NYC which opens on Friday. I am SO thrilled that after years and lots of rumors that Laduree has finally arrived on this side of the Atlantic. Now, what flavor macaron to order....caramel, strawberry or lemon? Actually, I say all three, please!

Missoni for Target (photo from Google Images)

Target has done it yet again! Another wonderful designer collaboration will hit stores on September 13th, 2011. The clothes and home accessories looks divine, but I admit that I am most excited about the bobby pins. Set you alarm and run to your local Target on the 13th, if the Calypso line sold out, Missoni is sure to go like hotcakes!

Free Quote Printables

I have had the same set of 8x10 gold frames for about eight or nines years now. I bought them off eBay when I was still in high school or early years of college and had some fun Vogue prints in them for years. When I moved I had planned to do a "picture wall" with all gold frames. However, that never materialized as each frame found a happy home around the abode. I had tired of the Vogue prints so I decided I would try printing out a few quotes for them. I had already had an Audrey Hepburn "I Love Pink" quote, but decided to a few more so I could have a grouping (please excuse the not-so-straight iPhone photo):

I used a Julia Child and a Coco Chanel quote I love and simply formatted them in Word in fun fonts and voila! I had instant "art" to be hung in my bathroom.

While these were nothing special to create (remember I am often challenged when it comes to electronics?), but I thought I would share them with you in case you might have a spot for them at home or in your office too. They are fun quotes, by fabulous women and they always make me smile. I have included both quotes below as PDFs for you to download or print if you so wish. I hope this works as I have never tried it before, but Scribd is often very reliable. Please let me know if their are any kinks (you should be able to click the links if your browser will not pull up the Scribd items) that need to be worked out and have a wonderful weekend!

Coco Chanel

*NOTE: The word "happiness" is not showing up here on the blog for some reason.... It will, however, print correctly. I tested it and it should be good to go!

Julia Child

This Is Me, This is Who I Am

Today I received a comment that made me stop and think and made me feel the need to defend myself and the life I have chosen (much like Kelly and Erin have had to do recently as well).

I started my blog three and a half years ago with NO intention of anyone ever really reading it. I never in a million years dreamt I would have more than a handful of readers nor did I think my blog would allow me with unique opportunities. However, if you have been reading for some time you know that I have been INCREDIBLY blessed when it comes to blogging. I have been featured in various forms of social media and have also enjoyed being able to work with different companies I love. With that being said it has been exactly that, three and a half years, since I started my blog. People grow and change over time. The things I loved and wrote about almost four years ago have changed to some degree. While I still enjoy many of those things they are no longer my "obsession" so to speak. My blog has grown and changed with me.

I am thankful for all the readers I have met along the way that have chosen to continue to read my blog, but I by no means have ever expected anyone to follow me. I no longer share every detail of my day-to-day activities on my blog as it lead to several issues in my personal life. While blogging has become a huge part of my life I also value my safety and privacy (to some extent). On that same note, I try to post about fun events that I go to rather than my monotonous daily activities (trust me, I would bore you all with this). My life may seem glamorous, but as mentioned, I do not include all the details of my life on my blog. I have worked very hard to get where I am today and I know I am lucky to live this life God has blessed me with.

While I love all of my readers dearly and appreciate all your kind comments and advice at the end of every day I am never going to be able to make everyone happy. However, I do have the ability to make myself happy and by living the life I am living and working hard, I am doing exactly that. I know that criticism and negativity come with this territory, but I do not force a single one of you to read my blog. If you think I am snobby, rude and self centered there are plenty of other blogs on the internet which you might enjoy a bit more. I am by NO means perfect and I often stumble and fall, but I am not going to change my posts to better suit others. I am going to continue to grow and change in the years to come and my blog will continue to grow and change with me. I thank all of you all who have contributed to shaping Monograms and Manicures and I look forward to continuing my life journey with many of you in the days, weeks and years to come.

*Comments have been turned off on this post. I am not in need of sympathy nor do I want to spark any additional drama.*

Before and After: Coffee Table

I went a little crazy with re-doing things before I moved. As you know I painted my bar cart and chinoiserie bird cages and also my coffee table. I still need to do my bamboo plant stand and my bamboo chairs, but that is another story for another day.

Anyway, I have always loved glass top, brass coffee tables. I originally bought my glass top coffee table with the intention of painting it a more neutral color but just never got around to it until last month. The table is timeless when it comes to style, but the color did not match my new abode's decor. However, this was not a problem a little spray paint could not fix! I was pleasantly surprised to find out my preferred color of spray paint was available in a special primer/paint bottle when I visited Home Depot. I snatched two bottles and went home and got to work. I sprayed on one coat one evening and then added an additional coat for maximum coverage (the brown took more coverage as you can guess) the next night.

Ta-da:

The result is fabulous and is the exact look I was going for! My steal of a coffee table has been revamped and looks like it could be on a page of a magazine. Oh, the wonders of spray paint!

Questions Answered

Several of you all have left questions in comments or sent some via email and the last few weeks. I decided to answer them on here as many of you have the same questions. Happy reading!

*What paint colors did you use?*

All my paint is from Sherwin Williams. I got very lucky and just happened to buy mine when they were having a huge sale. The living/dining room is Scanda; the kitchen is Exuberant Pink and my bedroom is Lighthearted Pink.

*What kind of spray paint did you use on your bar cart?*

I used Rust-Oleum spray paint from Home Depot. There is a matte gold and a extra shiny gold. I used the matte gold on my coffee table (post to come later today) and the shiny on my birdcages and bar cart.

*Do you collect milk glass?*

No, I do not collect any milk glass at this time.

*What plate hangers do you use?*

I use plate hangers made by Tri-Par which I purchase at a local china shop called The Ivy House. Many antique stores also carry this brand and they can also be purchased online. I am not a fan of the plate hangers found at Target. The ones I use are a bit more substantial and only a tad more at $2 each.

*How do I keep things on my stainless fridge?*

I use stronger magnets and have had no issues unless the paper is extremely thick. I have secured some thicker items with multiple magnets just in case.

*I cannot find you on Facebook, but want to add you as a friend; can you add me?*
After a few issues I now only add people I know/have met on Facebook. However, I have a Facebook fan page for Monograms and Manicures which is frequently updated and I am also on Twitter so there are numerous ways to keep up with me via social media outlets.

*How did you make your new header?*

I am writing a separate post about this actually. It is incredibly easy though :)

*I am going to India and would like the name of your purse marker. Can you send their information to me?*

Unfortunately, I cannot pass on the purse makers information. Consider this a blessing in disguise as they are EXTREMELY difficult to find (it took us numerous tries and hours to find the shop even with explicit directions and a driver who know New Delhi like the back of his hand.) and not the quickest on meeting deadlines. However, he does make beautiful bags and I will likely have more available in October and January.

Before and After: Dining Room

I certainly hope you all like the condo photos, because I am no where near done showing you all the different rooms. In fact, we have really only covered the kitchen which leaves me with at least four more posts after today's Dining Room addition :)

The condo was painted in very neutral tones when I purchased it. This was great because the buyer (aka MOI) could leave the walls as is with no issue. However, as you know, I choose to add some pizazz to the walls and really bring them to life with a vibrant (but not neon) blue.
I simply LOVE the shade of blue that I used. The living/dining room as well as the small hall towards the bedrooms is painted in this same blue. I think it is very soothing, but also elegant. It does not overwhelm and looks great at all times of the day, even when the sun shines in in the afternoon.

As mentioned, my mother came this weekend and she was in charge of hanging everything on the wall. She has a great eye and I thought it was best to just leave this up to her. She did a FABULOUS job everywhere, but I especially love the wall in the dining room!



She also perfected the set-up of the bar cart. Doesn't it look much better?
Of course the set-up was not complete without some decor hung above. I still need to look for two sconces to hang in those empty spots, but I am thrilled with how this nook turned out!

Madre was HARD at work all weekend (the bamboo chairs still need to be painted, but I am up in the air on the color. Please ignore the non-matching white chair for the time being!), however we did find time for her to meet some of my friends!

I invited people over to see the condo (pre hanging things on the wall) and for treats and sweets. We had a grand time and of course mother did not let the ladies leave empty handed:

Her signature little gift is Caspari tissues. She brought everyone a pack (sorry Jennifer and Melissa, she ran out before you arrived!) along with a caramel from our favorite sweet shoppe in Edina. We really had a fabulous time and got SO much accomplished this weekend! Everything has finally come together and the house is much more of a home.

Before and After: KITCHEN (and Giveaway WINNER)

When I looked at my condo for the first time I just knew the kitchen was going to have to be painted. While the greenish-gray color was not bad, it was just not for me.

Here is the kitchen BEFORE:I wanted something vibrant and fun so as you know I went with a lovely magenta. The kitchen looks lovely with one coat of pink on the walls, but it looks AMAZING with its' second coat and all the blue and white:

These after shots have a bit of a glare and really do not do the kitchen justice. It is nothing short of sheer perfection in my opinion!
The kitchen has gone from DRAB to FAB!

The pink works so well with the blue and white plates and the white cabinets.

I am SO thrilled with how everything turned out and especially thankful for a mother who is good at hanging plates!

Things are finally on the walls and everything is coming together wonderfully! I cannot wait to share more photos throughout the week.

Also, thank you to all who entered the Graphic Image giveaway. I am thrilled to announce that COMMENT TWO was the number random.org chosen as the winner. Congratulations to Simply Sara; please email me and I will get you in touch with the wonderful Graphic Image people! Also, remember to use the code "DATEBOOK" to receive 20% off your ENTIRE order. Stock up on back to school items (leather notebooks anyone?!) and get a head start on that Christmas shopping today

Wedding Snapshots

Two weeks ago I was in a BEAUTIFUL wedding! Andrea and Heath got married here in Dallas and it was such a lovely ceremony (at HPMC) and I feel honored to have been part of their big day.

The weekend kicked off with a Bridal luncheon at the Zodiac Room at Neiman Marcus.
The food was a combination of all my favorites things served at Neiman Marcus! Each bridesmaid also got LOVELY pearl bracelets and we also left with darling wedding cookies from Celebrity. This was the perfect and most feminine way to kick start the wedding weekend!

After the rehearsal at the church on Friday evening we headed to Catina Loredo for some authentic Tex-Mex. YUM! We called it an early evening as everyone needed their beauty rest for the next day.

On Saturday, we all met at the hotel the bride and maid-of-honor were staying in before heading to the salon. We enjoyed some light bites and great conversation before the festivities began.

All the bridesmaid's had pretty up-do's while the gorgeous bride wore her hair down. I was NOT on the ball when it came to calling and making a make-up appointment, but thanks to Dior Airflash, I was able to do it on my own (for once) and it looked much better than normal. I am now addicted to Dior Airbrush and HIGHLY recommend everyone try it; you will never look back!

The bridesmaid dresses were Lula Kate (my favorite). The cut and color was flattering on everyone!

Andrea wore a stunning dress from Priscilla.

The second best part of a wedding (behind the happy couple being united of course) is the cake in my opinion! We enjoyed two delicious types of cake made by Frosted Art. While the very southern meal was yummy, the cake just about did me in!

Congratulations and Andrea and Heath! Also, a huge thank you to Laura who supplied all the above photos from the special day!