Homemade flavored H2O

It's crazy hot outside!

Heat and air quailty advisories are popping up all over the country.  One of the best things you can do to stay safe is hyrdate.  While this is a great idea for water junkies, I find plain old water needs some shaking up every now and then. 

To get the max flavor, place all fruits and vegetables in a glass pitcher and add water. Allow to infuse for two hoursbefore serving over ice.

Here are some of my favorite combos for freshening up your drink without the calories.

Mojito water - fresh lime juice & mint leaves
Citrus craziness - slice of lemon, lime and orange
Morning wake up water - herbal tea and small amount of agave
Before bed refresher - lavendar with mashed pomegranate
Fruitful fun - thin peach slices and sliced strawberries
Fancy looking, fresh tasting - slices cantelope and sliced cucumber

Whip It, just Whip It Good

One of my absolute summer favorite desserts is fresh fruit topped with whipped cream.  I'm pretty sure that since it's just produce and dairy it can be considered a healthy dessert, as long as you don't over do the whipped cream.  The sweetness of the fruit and the fluffy texture of the whipped cream is a phenomenal combo and it's evern better when you make the whipped cream yourself.

Here is my favorite simple whipped cream recipe (also below).  It's easy and it adds a chic touch to any dinner party where you are trying to impress.  You really will be able to taste the difference between homemade and store bought.

1 cup heavy cream

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 tablespoon confectioners' sugar

In a large bowl, whip cream with an electric mixer until stiff peaks are just about to form.

Beat in vanilla and sugar until peaks form.

Make sure not to over-beat, cream will then become lumpy and butter-like.               

My Chic Chicken Dish

Sunday night I tanked dinner.  I tried to make a family classic and it was the opposite of good, worst part, it was a salad. 
So last night I decided to boost my culinary ego and make one of my favorites.  Souffle Stuffed Chicken looks like a tough recipe, but is actually quite easy. 

I don't believe in garnishes.  If I'm not going to eat it,
why should it be on the plate?

It's light and fluffy with just enough tang from the sauce to make it really yummy.  The chicken breast is crisp on the outside from a quick browning while the souffle is delicate and soft. BONUS, it makes for great leftovers the next day if you store it with the sauce.

The ultimate bonus, it's low in calories and very filling.  Thank you South Beach cookbook.

I had to pound out the chicken to get enough surface area
to wrap it all the way around the souffle

The stuffed souffle will start to expand and run from
inside the chicken.  It doesn't make it less
delicious.

Lc's Lust List (beach bag edition)

In honor of calendar summer finally catching up with temperature summer,  I thought we'd take a look at some of my most desired beach/pool bags .

$256

The Wrightsville Tote bag is a delicious dark chocolaty brown.  This gives a richness to the bag, also making it compatible with just about any swimsuit or cover up.  While the leather accents might not scream "take me near a ton of water," the the crochet raffia sides lend themselves to sand and sun, and come on, who doesn't love a tassel.

$225

I adore Tory Burch.  This Tory Burch Tory Jesse tote would be great for a day at the pool,  The PVC exterior will make it easy to see where everything is in your bag and the open top makes it ideal to pack in the towels.  Coming in a variety of colors you can get one for every suit.  As a side note, I am also pretty obsessed with her Rattan Turnlock clutch, not at all appropriate for a beach day, but I still wanted to mention it.

$49 for a very short time!!! Retail price, $96

SUPER CRAZY DEAL ALERT!  This butter yellow Hat Attack's On the Road Canvas tote is on super sale on Gilt.  This canvas classic will be in season for decades of summers to come, and the dual bow details will keep the bag from fading into the background.  It also comes in black and white if you want a more classic look.

Few things get a summer party going like a great song. You can be the one rocking the tunes in more than one way with this Kate Spade "Rock the Casbah" tote. The canvas bag with cowhide trim and 14 karat gold plated hardware says you have come to play... and you're packing a lot of supplies underneath your zip closure bag.

$248

Below is the Original Still Life Bag available at Anthropologie.  It's AMAZING!  It's a one of a kind piece made in Belgium.  It's made by affixing a vintage oil painting atop a re-purposed canvas bag.  This specific one is perfect for summer for obvious tropical reasons.  Unfortunately, you don't get a one of a kind piece without a price tag, but I think it's well worth it to carry around a little piece of art history, even if it is just for a day at the beach.

$498

Well Hung

There is something very warm about walls filled with picture.  I love how they all come together to form a large collage of the people/place/things I love, but it's not always easy to figure out where the pictures should go.

Here is an easy way to find the right spot for your frames, without filling your wall with holes.

Trace the outside of all your pictures on paper and cut them out.  Put a "T" where the top of the picture is and make a note of where the nail would be placed.  I also like to make a note of what the picture is so I can spread them out appropriately.

Experiment with wall placement using painters tape to hold up the templates.  You can see how the pictures mesh together.  You can move them as much as you want before committing.

Once you have everything where you want it, put the nails where you marked and remove the paper template.  Now you can start putting the actual pictures on the wall.  Now just sit back and admire your handy work.  

The process doesn't take too long, but if you don't feel like making full size templates, you can also do some simple math and make a to scale model of the wall and all the images.  An easy transition is 1 foot= 1 inch.

From Retro to Revamped

This old dresser with top compartment was my latest adventure in furniture reincarnation. It was in one of my great aunt's homes for years until it made it's way to our home.

You won't believe what it looked like before...

Mojito Bread, 'nuf said

Not to sound like a lush, but one of my favorite things about summer is the cocktails.  They are all so light and fresh.  They just put that extra bounce in any meal.  Being an over-achiever, I decided I to take my love of libations a step further and I found this delicious Mojito bread recipe.  It's surprisingly easy and I think you'll love the results...

courtesy; TasteSpotting.com

My version, which turns out more like a cake, is after the jump...

Lc's Lust List (tops edition)

I'm not a billionaire, which can only mean one thing.  I, too, have a lust list.  A tally of items I dare not buy, lest enticing bill collectors to start calling me asking what I am thinking.  So, instead of purchasing the amazing Erdem print dress or snapping up The Row jacket I've had my eye on, I'll simply tell you about them.  Hopefully inspiring you to pull out your wallets and buy, buy buy, so I can borrow, borrow, borrow.

Sadly, this is a snapshot of my actual summer closet...before laundry day.

While staring blankly into my closet (above) today I decided tops would be my focus, seeing as I decided I had no acceptable option, despite the crowded mess of hangers holding dozens of blouses.

So let's take a look at some of my most desired summer styles, some of which are actually affordable.

Amber; Does More than Make Dinosaurs

You might remember the scene from Jurassic Park when the owner of the park explains how a mosquito trapped in some sap millions of years ago led to him recreating dinosaurs...

This jewelry is much easier to work into your wardrobe than
 making a dinosaur come back to life.

Well, thanks to designers, amber isn't just for making dinosaurs anymore.  My mom went on a recent trip to Europe and brought back some of my new favorite pieces of jewelry for the summer... and they are all amber!

Topping it off (for about $15)

Since the move I've been trying to make the place feel a little more like me, starting with my room.  After painting the walls and bringing life back to the nightstands I felt like I was in the home stretch.  I am obviously using most of my own furniture, but I still needed a headboard.  I wanted something that would take up a large section of the wall, all the while allowing the vibrant blue to peek out. The size of the piece was also key.  It's a big wall and I didn't want to fuss with lots of extra art.   Keeping with the natural pallet was important to keep the room flowing well.  After looking for a few weeks I couldn't find the headboard of my dreams, so i made one... 

I really like the way the lace pops against the bright blue!

This is what I came up with, and here's how I did it for about $15!

I'm feeling fancy & French

I, like most women, am obsessed with how I look.  I can't tell you how many times I've read "French Women Don't Get Fat" in the hopes of becoming skinny by osmosis.  While I haven't reached the point of control where three bites of a brownie will suffice any craving, I have picked up on a few fun French foods, which aren't as calorie laden as a burger and are just as delicious...like the crepe.

This fete of culinary skill is very intimidating, but can easily be conquered with practice.  The light texture and versatility makes it the perfect dish for any time of day.  Bring out your favorite fruit and you've got a delicious breakfast.  Saute some thinly sliced veggies and there is dinner.

Here is a simple recipe for crepes from food.com; it's pretty easy once you get the hang of it.

If you're feeling a little intimidated by the task at hand take a few tips from the master!

Know Your Place (Settings)

I love dinner parties.  There are few things better than gathering friends and family around a table to enjoying great food.  I recently went to a friend's home and she did an amazing job; I would almost say it was over the top.  It was way more than just salad, dinner and dessert.  She was absolutely showing her appreciation for us through food and ambiance.  The only issue was that many of us weren't expecting this and hadn't brushed up on our table manners, including how to dissect a formal table setting.

Don't let this be your Everest

Most of us just played "Follow the Leader" when it came time to choose a utensil, but it got me thinking that a quick recap on place settings could be in order...

Summertime and the Sangria is Easy

Summer is a great time to get your cocktail on! 

From the deck to the dinner table, one of my favorite drinks to cool down with when the weather gets hot is sangria. It's not only great for intimate dinners, but it's also a knock out for a big parties.

Sangria is fresh and fun with enough kick to ensure your night gets just a little silly (be responsible when getting silly).  The refreshing flavors are perfect for any occasion and any crowd (over the age of 21), not to mention it's super easy.  Keep the night simple with some light cupcakes and you'll be ready to entertain.

After the jump you'll get a look at one of my FAVORITE sangria recipes, with a fruity twist.

Twice Half Baked Potato

Forget the confusing name of the dish, it's DELICIOUS!  This healthier choice to a half baked potato cuts the calories and amps up the taste, while keeping the texture and flavors on point.

I substituted most of the potato with cauliflower giving a great veggie substitute that you barely notice because the potato is still there.

Clothing by the Classics

I love old movies.  I love the storyline.  I love the music.  I love the dialogue.  Most of all, I love the fashion.

Vogue, cover circa 1940

Watching films like West Side Story, High Society & Gilda, I can't help but to be inspired to alter my wardrobe.  While I don't have a costume crew or J. Crew's Jenna Lyons on call, it's still pretty easy to get that old Hollywood feel without a time machine.

Take a look at some of my favorite looks, updated...

Nothing Fancy, just AMAZING Sausage & Peppers

I have really been trying to hone in my culinary skills.  It seems that most of the women in my family were blessed with the gift of culinary consciousness.  I, on the other hand, was given a rudimentary knowledge of how the microwave works.  I have been working to try and bring my food resume to hold more that just pizza rolls and toast.

So, I was scavenging the fridge when I found some Italian sausages and I was hit by a flavor memory.  I had the sudden urge to make Sausage & Peppers.

WARNING; This isn't low calorie, but it is delicious.

Having no idea how to do this I consulted my old friend the Internet.  I found the BEST and easiest recipe for this classic dish. It was three easy steps, which took under an hour to one of the tastiest meals I've ever made.

(Abbreviated ) Adventures in Lc Land

Over the past month I've spent more time on the road than under my own roof.  While I had a blast be-bopping between some of my favorite places, I have completely neglected this site. 
So I thought I would catch you up on what could have possibly taken me away from you...