2 things I love

Two things I love are:
1) finding something on SALE

2) finding something great in an unexpected place!

While doing some light shopping at the mall, I came across these great pavilion verandas from Z Gallerie. Z is one of those stores I pass by but never go into. For some reason I decided to stop in this time. The pavilion verandas look like much pricier versions, but are only priced at $399-$499! I can see one of them set up for a poolside party. The styling inside the veranda could use some help, but I'm willing to overlook it for the price.

Z's other offerings were fairly impressive as well. They seem to be doing a Jonathan Adler/Hollywood Regency thing these days. Keep it up Z, and get to work on that styling!

Pavilion verandas are available in green, black or chocolate trim.

summer paper goodies

Being that I am a self-proclaimed paper junkie, I am always looking for seasonally appropriate paper goodies. A couple of my favorites for summer to send you off for the weekend!

 From top: Blue Dot gift wrap from Jack and Lulu, Creamsicles from Pie Bird Press, On the Town/Beach invitation from Hicks Paper Goods, stripe gift wrap from Peculiar Pair, and Oriental Silhouette note paper from Whitney English.

summer food safety 101

During the summer months I always go the grocery store with a cooler in tow. The last thing I want to give my guests (or myself) is spoiled meat! I picked up this cute red cooler from Cynthia Rowley's 'Whim' collection for Target in May. It is large enough to stash most of my perishable foods, and small enough to keep in my car all the time. The friendly guys in the seafood department always give me a bag of ice, which makes it sooo easy. I can still head to the gym across the street from the grocery store for a brief workout and get back home with my food safely cooled. Now if I can just remember my cloth shopping bags, I'll have the whole system down pat!

summer party tunes (the cheater's edition)

Invite- check! Food- check! Decor- check! Music...uhhhh...

When preparing for a gathering, I often forget to create a music mix until the last minute. I used to get myself into a mad panic and would often end up spending hours on iTunes searching and searching for just the right tunes. The stress! The agony! But no more! (here's the big secret...shhh...) 

A year or so ago I had the bright idea to google my favorite Nashville radio station. It's the station I listen to when I'm not listening to my 7-month old's 'Music City Music Together' cd. It makes me feel cool, in the know, and mentally takes me to a place when I was younger and firmer. It makes me want to roll down the windows, let my hair blow in the breeze, and maybe even hum, if I'm in a really good mood. The music is usually THAT GOOD. And they always have something new and different, but not too different, if you know what I mean. 

So I started snagging their playlists for myself. And when we have people over, I always get questions like, "Who is that (playing on the ipod)?". And I feel so cool that I am that in the music know. Like I am so in tune with the music world that I have all the latest greatest indie bands. But now you know my truth. 

If you want to impress your friends at your next party, checkout the playlists from Lightning 100...www.lightning100.com

Image from geministudio on Etsy...it's also a hint as to what's in store for next week's posts!

I’m not scared of a little tomato

Just yesterday my husband noted that I've fixed all tomato-based meals this past week: gazpacho, pasta with spinach and tomatoes, tomatoes and mozzarella... the list goes on. While tomatoes are piling up at grocery stores across the nation in the midst of the 2008 tomato scare, I'm one of the few loading them into my cart. I don't know whether I feel bad for the tomato farmers or I'm simply getting that summer hankering for really good, ripe tomatoes; but nonetheless, I've thrown caution to the wind and am devouring them every chance I get! I'm not completely foolhardy– I am staying away from the ones the FDA has warned against, but I simply can't turn my back on tomatoes altogether. If you (and your guests), like to live dangerously as well, then perhaps you'll enjoy the gazpacho recipe below, taken from Ina Garten's first cookbook, The Barefoot Contessa. 

The best part about this recipe is that it is really hard to mess up. You can put in more or less of something you like or don't like, without having to be particular about quantities. If you have a food processor, it is SUPER easy, since it will save you from lots of chopping. Just be careful...I went a bit over on the processing, and while it was still good, I would have preferred it to be a bit chunkier (see my version pictured above). This makes a LOT, so you will probably have some leftover (always a bonus, in my opinion).

It's perfect for a summer gathering!

gazpacho

2 cucumbers, halved and seeded, but not peeled

3 red bell peppers, cored and seeded

8 plum tomatoes

2 red onions

6 garlic cloves, minced

46 ounces of tomato juice

1/2 cup white wine vinegar

1/2 cup olive oil

1 T kosher salt

1 1/2 t freshly ground pepper

Roughly chop the cucumbers, bell peppers, tomatoes, and red onions into 1-inch cubes. Put each vegetable separately into a food processor fitted with a steel blade and pulse until it is coarsely chopped. Do not overprocess! 

After each vegetable is processed, combine them in a large bowl and add the garlic, tomato juice, vinegar, olive oil, salt and pepper. Mix well and chill before serving. The longer gazpacho sits, the more the flavors develop.

Enjoy!