29 February 2012

Breakfast Tacos

ORIGINAL RECIPE: COOK THIS, NOT THAT // INSTAGRAM IMAGES: EMJT


Have breakfast for dinner or whip up this easy recipe on a lazy Sunday morning. Whenever you decide to make this dish, you will be left satisfied.

INGREDIENTS
-----------------------
4 Strips of Bacon, Chopped
Half of an Onion, Chopped
2 Cups Sliced Mushrooms
1.5 Cups Fresh Spinach
6 Eggs, Beaten
Salt & Black Pepper to Taste
8 Corn Tortillas
Half Cup Shredded Monterey Jack Cheese
Pico de Gallo or Bottled Salsa

PREPARATION
-----------------------
First, over medium heat, cook the bacon thoroughly in a large, nonstick skillet for about five minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon & set aside on a paper towel.

Discard all of the bacon grease from the pan before adding the onion & mushrooms which should cook for about three minutes or until the onions appear to be translucent. Next add the spinach; continue cooking the mixture until the spinach is heated all of the way through. Rid the pan of any water that accumulates if using frozen spinach instead of fresh spinach.

Add the eggs to the mixture & use a wooden spoon to scrape them from the bottom of the pan consistently as they begin to set; constant movement of the spoon will result in light, fluffy eggs. Season generously with pepper & lightly spread salt.

Heat the tortillas in a separate pan over medium heat or wrap them in a damp paper towel to microwave for thirty seconds. Divide the cheese among the eight tortillas before topping with the egg mixture & then spoon the desired amount of pico de gallo or salsa overtop.


ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: MAKES FOUR SERVINGS, COST PER SERVING: $1.52, 360 CALORIES, 17g FAT, 450mg SODIUM






27 February 2012

On The Daily

PHOTOBOOTH IMAGE FROM LAST MONTH // LIGHT GRAY INFINITY SCARF - GAP (OLD)// DARK CHARCOAL/WHITE STRIPED CARDIGAN - J. CREW // HAIRCUT + COLOR/HIGHLIGHTS AT REPUBLIC SALON IN DOWNTOWN ATHENS, GEORGIA (ASK FOR DERSY)


DAILY MAKEUP ROUTINE
--------------------------


FACE // 6/ Bare Escentuals bareMinerals Warmth // 7/ Bare Escentuals bareMinerals Blush in Boost // 8/ Bare Escentuals bareMinerals Matte Foundation in Fairly Light (after applying a light moisturizer -- currently using Neutrogena)

LIPS // 9/ Smashbox Lip Gloss in Infinite (product pictured is a different shade) gifted by my Aunt B -- sometimes I layer it over a lipstick (like Revlon's Pink Pout in this snapshot), but mostly I wear it solo






23 February 2012

Honey Bee

IMAGE: AUSTRALIAN HOMESPUN MAGAZINE


The honey bee teapot that I designed at work last year was recently featured in Australian Homespun Magazine. My co-worker stumbled upon it; there are some other very cute items included in this roundup.













21 February 2012

Stuffed Jalapenos

RECIPE: COOK THIS, NOT THAT // INSTAGRAM IMAGES: EMJT


INGREDIENTS
-------------------------

Four ounces Mexican style Chorizo (casings removed)
One cup cremini or button mushrooms, diced
Half of an onion, minced
Half cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
Half cup 1/3 fat cream cheese
Salt & black pepper to taste
Twelve jalapeno peppers


PREPARATION
------------------------

Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit

Cook all of the chorizo in a medium sized skillet over medium heat. Break up any clumps with a wooden spoon as the chorizo heats. Once cooked thoroughly, remove the meat & drain off all of the fat. Set the chorizo aside temporarily. Add the mushrooms & onions to the pan then cook for about three minutes or until the onions are translucent & the mushrooms are browned. Then stir the chorizo back into the skillet.

In a medium mixing bowl, combine the cheese, cream cheese, a generous pinch of both salt & pepper, & the chorizo mixture. Use a pairing knife to cut the jalapenos in half, use a spoon to scrape out as much of the white membranes & seeds in each pepper as possible. Wash your hands immediately afterward and especially before touching your face and/or your eyes.

Stuff each pepper halve with a spoonful of the cheese-chorizo mixture. Line up all of the peppers on a baking sheet lined with aluminum foil. Bake them for about fifteen minutes or until the peppers soften & the cheese browns & bubbles. Enjoy!

Additional information: Makes four servings, cost per serving is $1.59, 250 calories, 19 grams of fat (9g saturated), & 620mg of sodium









17 February 2012

New for the Night

IMAGES COURTESY OF NEW FOR THE NIGHT

Be on the lookout for the soon to launch site, New for the Night, where you will be able to browse a variety of apparel & accessories by a range of designers which will be available for rental. Borrow something beautiful for four to ten days for as little as ten percent of the item's retail cost. Once you've worn the items, you can then send them back in their pre-paid return envelope -- easy peasy. Sign up now at their website for e-mail updates, so you'll know when you may start renting.

If you live in the Houston, Texas area then you've got the upperhand -- you may visit the New for the Night Showroom which opened it's doors earlier this month. Preview the dresses firsthand in order to borrow something gorgeous for upcoming events & formal affairs. To make an appointment, contact the Showroom by telephone -- 713.526.1166 or e-mail them -- appointments[at]newforthenight[dot].com.

Can't wait to lend some items for myself once the website goes live.








*FULL DISCLOSURE: FOR PROMOTING NEW FOR THE NIGHT, LUXE & LACE WILL RECEIVE A SMALL CREDIT TO BORROW SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL & EXPERIENCE THIS NEW SERVICE FIRSTHAND.

16 February 2012

Parisian Wine Tasting

INSTAGRAM IMAGES: EMJT

Can't believe that I almost forgot to share these images from the wine tasting we took while in Paris. My co-worker discovered this tour online & booked seats for us before we even left the States. After a full, long day of work, we booked it to the subway to get to O'Chateau for an extravagant happy hour. One of the things we learned is that Parisian wine is named by the region from which it derives, not by the type of grapes from which it is made -- and that it tastes really, really good. Informative and delicious.

If you're in Paris or visiting, you should carve out some time to experience the tasting at the bar location & if you're vacationing then you should take one of their day trips to an actual wine region. After sampling one champagne & five wines, I was able to purchase two bottles of my favorites from the evening to bring back home to share with John. Now we both want to go to Europe to experience their wine country together.













14 February 2012

06 February 2012

26

ORIGINAL IMAGE: JASON MARTIN

Today my little sister is celebrating the beginning of her twenty-sixth year. Carrie is one of the hardest working twenty-somethings that I know. I admire her dedication to teaching severly learning disabled children everyday with positivity & sincerity. I feel very lucky to have her as a sister & friend.

Love you, CEJT!











Paris




INSTAGRAM IMAGES: EMJT

1/ Tomato & Mozzarella Sandwiches // 2/ Macarons in Pretty Colors // 3/ Fresh Bread at the Sandwich Shop // 4/ Afternoon Walk Around Town // 5/ Evening Traffic // 6/ More Traffic // 7/ Gorgeous Architecture // 8/ Samples of Chocolate & Caramel Spreads at Angelina // 9/ Lots of Takeaway Treats for Purchase at Angelina // 10/ Large Cups of Angelina Hot Chocolate -- Perfect for Afternoon Jetlag // 11/ Lovely Lit Ferris Wheel that We Kept Passing While Walking Around // 12/ Retailing at Printemps for Product Inspiration Photos // 13/ Chocolate Mousse with Lunch // 14/ Inside Maison & Objet // 15/ Hall 5A of the Exhibition // 16 - 18/ Cute Little Cafe for Lunch // 19/ Afternoon Cappuccino Pick Me Up // 20/ Sparkly Macarons While Retailing at the Mall // 21/ The Cutest Little Street Covered in Red Awnings








03 February 2012

High Museum of Art

INSTAGRAM IMAGES: EMJT

These are some of my favorite pictures taken during our visit to the High Museum of Art in Atlanta during our staycation. The exhibit, which is currently on view until April 29th of this year, Picasso to Warhol is full of great pieces; many of which I studied through numerous art history courses while completing my Scientific Illustration Degree at the University of Georgia.

All of the following iconic 20th century artists are featured in the exhibit: Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, Constantin Brancusi, Piet Mondrian, Fernand Léger, Marcel Duchamp, Giorgio De Chirico, Joan Miró, Romare Bearden, Alexander Calder, Jackson Pollock, Louise Bourgeois, Jasper Johns and Andy Warhol. I thought the Pollock's would be my favorite, but I really enjoyed seeing pieces by Brancusi (frames six & seven pictured above) in person.

It was a great time for John to experience the Museum for the first time. There he is in the last frame looking quite cute.


Lookout for Paris pictures next week.







01 February 2012

Georgia Aquarium

INSTAGRAM IMAGES: EMJT


1/ Shark overhead in the ceiling tank // 2/ Stingrays in the touch pool // 3/ The cutest little penguins (my second favorite to the otters which I forgot to take a picture of because they were so cute & engaging) // 4/ Crazy big crab // 5/ Gorgeous fish (love their color) // 6/ Small sharks in the touch pool


We had a great time visiting the Georgia Aquarium during our staycation almost a month ago. These are a handful of my favorite pictures we took. We witnessed some of the excitement of kids while we were there; their excitement & interest is so cute & infectious. If you have young children, I'd definitely take an afternoon to visit.