ZARA

Had to share with you a few goodies I purchased this week from Zara!  You can't beat the prices and the things for kiddos...oh my!!!!  That Pinterest is to blame hubby:)

These are too cute and comfortable for words...loving the color!!!

Gotta be honest. I haven't tried these two dresses on because I was too busy shoving the box under my bed before Big R got home:)  Hoping they fit?!

ALL ZARA

And this may be my favorite!  This shirt is actually a washed out neon pink with gold stud buttons.  Comes in several colors but this was my favorite. 

 White jeans + neon pink top=summer staple!

My Paintings

Ok people.  Hope I'm not boring you to death with these new paintings??  I cannot tell you how happy it makes me to be painting abstract again!!!  I think I was in a rut and just needed some new inspiration.  Call it Spring in the air or Pinterest-ha!, but I've got the itch to paint all day long (if I could!!!!!)    So here we go.  Finally got a few framed and up to Novel. 

Really bad glare:(

Did a little painting with my littlest

I was amazed how well Mr. Big did with the paintbrush and watercolors! It is a total toss up at his age-he will be 2 on Easter Day!  But he actually dipped in the paint, painted paper, dipped in water, dipped in paint, etc...never muddying the colors.  I have to admit I am one of those people whose blood pressure rises when I see all the colors being mixed together without a rinse in between-then everything is brown you know!  I know, horrible and I do consciously try to sit back and encourage whatever they want to do.  Are any of you like that?  Where you want to jerk the paper out from under them before they "ruin" it with a big muddy brushstroke??!!!!  I do it.  I can't help it sometimes.  I always say, "let me get you a clean piece of paper" and trade it out.  

Here is an example of a piece both boys worked on together.  Great idea in theory.  Things quickly got out of hand and a lot of whining and crying ensued about who was painting on whose side, so before a huge hole appeared from intentional big brother heckling, I jerked it out from under them and took it inside to dry.  Guess who was the only one left smiling?

A few more framed pieces

And a neon collection that are in need of frames.

Anyone else out there painting or creating anything fun?  

Pattern Play

Digging the triangular arrow shape in these patterns below.  I don't know about you but I am tiring of the chevron pattern.. I do love chevron but it's been WAAAY over done don't you think?  Think I'm lovin' the brights in these pics..makes me smile.

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Go left

pinterest

Or lets meet in the middle?

No, maybe up?  or down?

Guess where I found this?  On our soon to be new screened in back porch of all places.    The guys working on the house must have had a few minutes to kill and came up with this pretty awesome configuration.  Hoping they're leaving it for us...maybe I'll go neon with it if so????  Impressed with these guys already....

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So many options left right up down

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 Alright, definitely left

Anyone else out there as indecisive as me?  I tell ya, I know what I don't like, but man is it hard for me to make a lasting decision regarding our house on what I do like!  So many options AND decisions to be made in the near future...makes me crazy!!!  I may just start flipping coins to narrow down the choices.....

Tuesday Food Day

I gotta start by telling you I had a major case of the MOOOOOOONDAYS yesterday all starting with the microwave blowing up.  Yeah, not a great way to start our week off.  FIRE, EXPLOSION, THROWN out on the deck.

Followed by 5 or 7 knock down drag out temper tantrums by not only my soon to be 2 year old but also my almost 5 year old wha??!!!!

Getting locked out the house with a 120 lb lab with no collar to wrestle still until key arrives, dog escapes into busy street, dog comes inside and either has major upset stomach out the lower end or right out the mouth-hard to tell......Oh yeah all happening while Mr. Big is having an outer body thrashing temper tantrum that looked like his eyes were about to pop out....ALL because daddy is on the riding lawnmower outside without him:(  SOOOO long story short I ended up in tears, hubby laughing his arse off at me and me shoving the boys back in the yard, one shoe on one shoe off...all so I can sip my wine and make this delicious meal in peace!!!!!!

WHEW!!!!
Here we go...still with me?

This is yet another great foodie pin from my gal pal Natalie over at Designer Bags and Dirty Diapers!  Great food driven minds think alike, aye??!!  I instagrammed a picture of this recipe in the making last night and Natalie commented that she was planning to make the same thing-too funny!

Tomato + Avocado Salsa

My Iphone pics of our supper

  You should check out her Pinterest boards to get the BEST recipes out there!!!!  She also has one of my most favorite blogs so be sure to check it out!  I know it will become a daily read for you if not already!

Summer Corn Cakes with fresh Tomato and Avocado Salsa

Mouth watering yet?

This was one of our favorite meals!!!  Big R had three-I made them big too!!!!  We both thought they would be delicious with lump crab meat on top with a squeeze of lemon or fresh grilled shrimp!  You could also incorporate black beans into the corn mixture before cooking-that would be another delicious vegetarian option!!!  So many options, gotta love  a recipe like that!!!  Here is the recipe via 

Ezra Pound Cake

Summer Corn Cakes with Chopped Tomato and Avocado Salsa

Adapted from “Sara Foster’s Southern Kitchen”

Makes about 12 large cakes; serves 6 to 8

• 3 EARS CORN, SHUCKED
• 1 CUP ALL-PURPOSE FLOUR (3/4 cup all I had on hand)
• 1/2 CUP CORNMEAL (IF YOU CAN ONLY FIND CORNMEAL MIX, SKIP THE BAKING POWDER.) (used Jiffy)
• 1/4 CUP DICED RED ONION
• 1/4 CUP THINLY SLICED FRESH BASIL
• 1 TEASPOON BAKING POWDER (NONE)
• 1/2 TEASPOON BAKING SODA
• SEA SALT AND FRESHLY GROUND BLACK PEPPER
• 2 LARGE EGGS, LIGHTLY BEATEN
• 2 TABLESPOONS WELL-SHAKEN BUTTERMILK (forgot so used applesauce instead)
• 2 TABLESPOONS UNSALTED BUTTER, MELTED
• CANOLA OIL, FOR FRYING (Olive Oil and butter)
• CHOPPED TOMATO AND AVOCADO SALSA (RECIPE FOLLOWS)

1. Preheat oven to 200 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with a brown paper bag.
2. Cut the corn from the cobs into a large bowl, and scrape the stripped cobs with the back of the knife (or a spoon) to release the juices into the bowl.
3. Place 2 cups of the corn kernels into a food processor, and pulse several times, until the corn is slightly pureed but still chunky. Scrape into the bowl with the remaining corn kernels.
4. Add flour, cornmeal, onion, basil, baking powder, baking soda, salt and pepper to the corn. Stir to mix.
5. Add the eggs, buttermilk and butter, and stir just to combine. (Do not overmix.)
6. Place a large skillet over medium heat. Add just enough canola oil to barely cover the bottom, and heat until sizzling hot.
7. One heaping tablespoon at a time, scoop the batter into the skillet. Cooking in batches of 4 to 5 to avoid overcrowding, fry the cakes 1 to 2 minutes per side, until golden brown. (mine took about 3-4 minutes.  I get impatient and flip over, flip over, etc....)
8. Drain on the lined baking sheet, and place in the oven to keep warm while cooking the remaining corn cakes. Serve warm topped with a heap of Chopped Tomato and Avocado Salsa.

Chopped Tomato and Avocado Salsa

Makes about 2 cups

• 1 LARGE TOMATO, CORED AND CHOPPED
• 1 SCALLION, TRIMMED AND MINCED (none on hand so used onion) 
• 1/2 JALAPENO PEPPER, CORED, SEEDED AND DICED
• 1 TABLESPOON CHOPPED FRESH BASIL
• 1 TABLESPOON CHOPPED FRESH CILANTRO
• 1 GARLIC CLOVE, MINCED
• JUICE OF 1/2 LIME
• 1 1/2 TEASPOONS EXTRA-VIRGIN OLIVE OIL
• 1 1/2 TEASPOONS WHITE WINE VINEGAR
• SEA SALT AND FRESHLY GROUND PEPPER
• 1 AVOCADO, PEELED, PITTED AND DICED

1. Place all of the ingredients (except the avocado) in a bowl, and stir to mix. Refrigerate in an airtight container until ready to serve, for up to 2 days.
2. Just before serving, add the avocado, and mix gently.

This recipe made exactly 12 large corn cakes like it said!  We are planning to indulge again tomorrow night possibly with some grilled shrimp on top!  Such an awesome spring/summer recipe you NEED to try!!!!

*Big R made a low fat dip for his using light sour cream and Sriracha.  He loved it, I am not a big fan of sour cream so I'll take his word for it!

Currently Obsessed

Am I the last to know about this site????  This is awesome!!  For those of you unfamiliar, click on this link.  It will take you to Currently Obsessed and you too will become obsessed.  Here you can "stalk" your favorite bloggers style.  Excuse this post if this is old news!!!!

For instance, this is Atlantic Pacific's page.

I'm stalking.  Who wouldn't?

I found out about it on Shannon Darrough's blog, I Love You Crazy.  If you're not a follower, you should be!  

Happy Weekend Friends!!

Watercolor Paper

Having fun with acrylics on watercolor paper...

next up is framing

And....

Save The DATE

 Rikshaw Design is coming to Charleston!!!

Where:Novel. Charleston Showroom

341 King Street

Suite B

When: Thursday, May 10

Friday, May 11

Time:TBD

For the ladies 

and the kiddos.

Mark your calendars!

Funkify your Stick

These have been catching my eye lately and I thought it could be a fun project for the boys to do with me while on Spring Break.

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Far left-Mr. Big's stick-aka Angel Baby

Middle-Little R-aka First Baby

Right-Momma's stick

(I didn't get to finish mine because I was busy snapping photos and wiping paint out of hair, ears, feet-ugh!!!)

*Maybe do this project in the bathtub for any child under 5-ha!!!!

I also bought  some of this mason line in neon yellow thinking we can incorporate it into our project!

Maybe even hang it like a mobile....

When we're all finished, I figure I can put together a necklace similar to this with all my extra line!  

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Novel. Recap + Sweet Potato Fish

Are you confused by my post title?  I couldn't get my act together over the weekend to gather my pictures together from our Novel. event last Friday.  So here they are combined with my Tuesday Food day post.  Hope you don't mind?!

 Fun mix of Bon Vivant's notepads with Blue Chickadee totes and mini bags for the notepads.  Back wall showcases all of Balboa's gorgeous earrings!

Custom designed notepad+hand painted mini bag+1 Le Pen=

 $20

Large neon arrow tote

$27

Look at this fashionista donning a Library Vintage shirt dress.  I think this dress was meant for you Lindsey!

 Packing and wrapping up little goodies all day long!

More fun Balboa pieces

Tags and bags

Thank you to all who came out and supported all four of us last Friday!!!  Means so much to have your continuing support as we approach our first year at Novel.!!!!

On to my food post of the day!  Y'all have got to try this recipe.  My picture looks horrible-I didn't put it on a bed of lettuce and black beans as suggested because...well, call me lazy and I was suffering from  a mild case of STARVATION.  I also had not put the delish dressing on yet-Cilantro Lime Viniagrette.

*I left the mayo out of the dressing because I cannot stand it but I am sure it makes the consistency a little less runny than mine was.

via 

Sweet Potato Crusted Fish with Cilantro Lime Vinaigrette

ingredients:

Cilantro Lime Vinaigrette (Yields: 1/2 cup):
1 cup cilantro - packed
1 medium clove garlic
2 limes- juiced (about 1/4 cup)
1/2 cup light olive oil
1 tablespoon mayonnaise(No mayo)
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
pinch of sugar (1/2 tsp)

Fish: 
1 pound mild flaky fish (Dolphin, Tilapia, Grouper, Snapper, Halibut etc)(I used Tilapia)
2 medium sized sweet potatoes, peeled and shredded
1 egg plus 2 egg whites
1/2 cup flour - seasoned with a little salt & pepper
2 TBS canola oil (or any light oil)
2 TBS butter

Salad:
Mixed Greens
2-4 oz Goat Cheese(no cheese for us)
1 cup fresh green beans, blanched
Handfull of Grape or Cherry Tomatoes
Black beans, drained and rinsed (used TJ brown rice)

directions:

Combine vinaigrette ingredients into a food processor, mini chopper, or blender and pulse until well combined. Refrigerate until ready to use.

If serving over salad, prepare salad now so it is ready to go.

Add flour to a pie plate (or any dish with sides) and season with salt and pepper. In another one, whisk together 1 egg plus 2 egg whites.

Preheat oven to 375°. Heat a large oven-safe skillet over medium to medium high heat. Add 1 tablespoon of butter plus 1 tablespoon oil (you may need extra if it's a large skillet - you want the entire bottom coated). Allow this to heat up.

Eyeball the size / shape of the pieces of fish and then, add a thin layer of shredded sweet potatoes about the same size & shape (one for each piece of fish).

Quickly dredge the fish into flour mixture, then egg wash, and set on top of the sweet potatoes in the pan. Repeat with each piece of fish. Cook for about 4 minutes (the fish should have a nice golden crust), lift fish out of pan with a spatula.

While holding fish with the spatula, add another thin layer of the shredded sweet potatoes to the pan (again matching the size of your fish filet). Carefully flip the fish onto the new "bed" of shedded sweet potatoes. Place entire skillet into the oven and allow to finish cooking (about 4-7 minutes depending on fish size).

The fish doesn't dry out due to the natural moisture in the potatoes! When fish is fully cooked (opaque in color), remove from oven and immediately serve over mixed salad. Top with cilantro lime vinaigrette.

recipe from my life as a mrs.

Soooo good!!!

Happy Cooking!

Spring Fling at Novel.!!!!

Today is THE day people!!!  

If you are in Charleston, SC today A) you will be the envy of all your friends because it is going to be 80 degrees again today!  and B)  You get to come to Novel.'s Spring Party for Champy and Shaaaa-pping!!!!

So here we go....

Little collab with my bud Liza of Bon Vivant!!!  Hand painted/ block printed mini bags + notepads + Le Pen = AWESOME!!!

$18

Perfect friend birthday gift or end of the year teacher gift!

Hand painted hand towels...that's crazy sounding???  Well, anyway, they're new and they're ready for purchase..heehee

Who doesn't need a mint green tote for Spring?

Fun Jewels via Balboa.  

Speaking of which, Jane Pope Cooper is HERE-pit stop from her Southern Tour!!!!

You will not believe all of the jewels she brought with her...to D.I.E. for!!!!!

Beach tote

$27

Work in progress from last night.....

AND

My boys.  We went back to the dock.  A boy's (and momma's)  heaven!

Why oh why is it so hard for them both to look at me at the same time??????

Sooooo, come on by today 10-7 and get yo shop ON!!!!!!

Lots of other FAB finds not photographed

Library Littles aka Vintage clothing for the young ones

Loads of Jane Pope Collection and Balboa Jewelry-spring/summer colors galore!!!!!

Neon Brights + Springtime colors on paper, tags, notepads, notecards a la Bon Vivant

And fun hand painted any and everything from Blue Chickadee too!!!

341 King Street

Charleston, South Carolina