Thursday, April 28, 2011

royal nuptials

Are you going to get up at 4am with me to watch Will and Kate get hitched??

Just kidding, I'm not.  But I will probably take an extended break from packing to watch the 5 hours of E! coverage I will have on my DVR.  I (along with the rest of the world) can't wait to see Kate's dress.  Maybe it will look something like one of these beauties from David Fielden Couture.  Either way, pretty sure I'm going to love it. 




I will also be taking a break from packing to go to BYU Women's Conference and see my fabulous SIL's Melinda and Corrine speak!  The fact that they are speaking at it just proves how awesome they are. 

Enjoy your friday!

going green


 I have been on the green smoothie band wagon for about 2 months now.  If you haven't tried one, you need to.  I have one every morning, and I feel like I can eat all the junk I want just because I had such a healthy breakfast.  Probably not the best approach, but whatever.

 

In my blender I mix:

1 banana
1 apple (peeled and cored)
1/2 C frozen peaches
1 C fresh spinach
1 C kale
1/2 C yogurt
a spoonful of OJ concentrait
 1 C cranberry juice, or water 

Mix it up real good, then add about 5 ice cubes and mix again.


Once you get over the fact that you are drinking something green, they are pretty addicting.  I don't even notice the taste of the greens.

I tried a sample in Costco where they had added in 1/2 a lime (peeled).  It was amazing.  I tried it at home, and the lime core didn't blend enough, so it was a little too chunky for me.

The best part is that Bradley loves them too!

 I feel like I'm cheating or something.  I can't believe I can drink something so good and get so many veggies in my system.

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

lavender love

I stepped  even further out of my comfort zone with this one.  This is the first time I have made an actual dress, without taking the top from an existing shirt.
(unless you count my Laurel project when I was 16.  But lets be honest, my mom did all the work.)

I used every single last scrap I had left of this awesome purpley-pink striped knit that I made my cardigan out of.  I would call this more of a test run than anything.  I didn't know if it would turn out how I pictured it in my head.  

I just laid down an existing sleeveless dress I had, pinned it to my fabric, and created my pattern from that.  I outlined each piece of the dress with a 1/2" s.a.  The original dress was a little more fitted around the bootay, and had a boat neck.  I changed mine to a scoop, and made it fitted at the top, but then had it flare out a little more at the bottom.  Knits aren't greatest at hiding things, so I didn't want to feel like the dress was suctioned to my body.


I knew I wanted rouched sleeves, so I took a shirt I had with ruched sleeves, stretched out the sleeve, and traced it as best I could onto pattern paper.  To get the ruching effect, I just stretched out some thin elastic along the middle of the sleeve, and sewed it to the seam allowance.  


bag: anthropologie, shoes: Enzio Angolini, jewlery: forever 21

Friday, April 22, 2011

Easter Weekend


Have a great Easter everyone!  We are going to spend the weekend dying eggs, eating, and spending lots of time with family and all the kiddos. 

Thursday, April 21, 2011

dreamy

I am completely smitten with this gorgeous home designed by Alison Royer and photographed by Ashlee Raubach. I can't get over the color pallets.

The big painted panels on the wall really add some depth.  I love that they are painted a darker shade of gray.

 
That light aqua headboard is fantastic.  It really adds a classy pop of color.

love  this wall color


These pictures might be my favorite.  Both sofas are to die for.  Love the nail heads, mirrored side table, and lamp.


Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Berry Pancakes with Ricotta and Boysenberry Syrup

I made these for breakfast this past weekend and they are divine.  I found the recipe randomly in one of my Glamour magazines and thought I'd give it a try since I happened to have the ingredients on hand.  That and the fact that I was starving.








I'm not the biggest pancake fanatic (I would much prefer crepes or Kneaders french toast), but these were light and fluffy.  I love raspberries more than anything, so they made them that much better.

 You should try them sometime:

  • 1 lemon
  • 1 pint fresh or thawed frozen raspberries
  • 1/3 cup plus 1 tbsp. sugar
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/4 tsp. salt
  • 1 tbsp. baking powder
  • 1 cup part-skim ricotta cheese
  • 11/4 cup milk
  • 4 large eggs, separated
  • Maple syrup, for serving (I used boysenberry)
1. Working over a bowl, use a grater to zest the lemon, being careful not to remove any of the bitter white pith. Cut the zested lemon into wedges, and set them aside.
2. Add the raspberries to the bowl containing the lemon zest. Stir in 1/3 cup sugar, gently crushing the raspberries with a wooden spoon. Set aside while making the pancake batter.
3. In a medium bowl, combine the flour, salt, 1 tbsp. sugar and baking powder. In another bowl, beat the ricotta cheese with milk and egg yolks. Add the flour mixture to the ricotta mixture, and stir until just combined. Let the batter sit for 10 minutes.
4. Beat egg whites with a handheld mixer until they hold soft peaks. Next, gently fold the raspberries with their juices into the batter, and then fold in the egg whites. (You want little clumps of whites in the batter. The important thing is not to overmix it.)
5. Heat a large nonstick skillet over moderately low heat. Melt 1/2 tbsp. butter at the center of the skillet, where you will spoon the batter.
6. Spoon batter into the hot skillet, directly onto the melted butter.
7. Cook each pancake until the bottom is golden brown and the bubbles on the surface begin to break, about 2 minutes. Using a spatula, flip the pancake quickly. Cook until golden brown, about 1 minute longer.
8. Serve finished pancakes with maple syrup and lemon wedges. (or substitute bacon for the lemon wedges.  That's what I did.)


It makes a ton, so I stored them in a bag in the fridge and then just pop them in the toaster for breakfast throughout the week.



even Bradley loved them

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Featured: Striped Cardigan on Ucreate




So surprised and thrilled to see my striped cardigan featured on Ucreate today!  BIG thank you to Kari, and a BIG welcome to all the new followers!

On a side note, you guys should see my sewing room today.  Thread and fabric everywhere.   I am constantly straightening and re-straightening, because it drives me crazy to see it so messy.  But I leave for DC in t minus 10 days and I am bound and determined to finish a clients custom dress order by the end of the week.  I can't wait to show everything to you!

Monday, April 18, 2011

sewing class

Last week, I taught another class on making shirt dresses to my Relief Society.  For the first hour I instructed on how to make the dress, and then the second hour the girls got to work each making their own.  There was a great turn out and it was fun to see all the different fabrics the girls brought to make their own shirt dresses.

I totally spaced on bringing my camera, but luckily my friend Merrick was nice enough to grab a few pics. 



I was shocked the next day when I already had a few emails of some completed dresses.  They all did a fabulous job.  I'm all about spreading the satisfying feeling of being able to make your own clothes.  It's so empowering!



BreAnne


Aren't they adorable??  There were even more girls wearing their dresses in church on Sunday.  It was awesome!

Friday, April 15, 2011

happy friday!

I got a fine little package in the mail yesterday.  When I opened the door, this beauty was waiting for me.  It will come in very handy while we are in DC this summer.

I have been so excited to get my hands on it. 

This weekend I plan on hanging out with my little man while the hubs hits the books before finals.


My fingers are crossed that we will have some fine spring weather this weekend.  I love when the trees first start to bloom.




enjoy your weekend!

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

pale neutrals

I love the spring trend of pairing a handful of nude colors with a pop of color.  


Here are a few pale neutrals that scream spring to me.  I love how light and airy they feel.


via

nordstrom

via
via

j.crew

via

via

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