What Goes With Pinot Grigio?

Elliott is coming to town for almost 2 weeks during my late Spring break and we have a fantastic trip to San Francisco planned. One of our adventures is going to be a trip to Napa Valley to visit some of the the gorgeous vineyards and hopefully find some new favorite wines we can enjoy at home to remind us of our time in together in the great state of California. I wanted to find something that would be pretty and comfortable and J.Crew factory had the perfect yellow dress to fit the bill. I know it will be an even nicer color when I finally get some sunshine and tan up! The 50% off sale ends tomorrow! Shop away!

A Factory Weekend

Just got my favorite kind of email from J.Crew Factory! Everything in store is 50% off this weekend, including the new arrivals from this week. There is some really great stuff coming out so be sure to hit up your closest store for some of those great pieces that will get you through the coming summer months. If you aren't already signed up, you need to get on their email list. They release the new arrivals early and I get some seriously awesome coupons. The store at Ontario Mills is awesome! The people that work there have a great style and are so happy to help. I can't wait to go and try stuff on there tonight! Enjoy this beautiful Saturday!

Factory 3" Seersucker Short, $34.50

Seersucker shorts scream preppy! Summer on the Cape anyone?

Factory Novelty Linen-Cotton Mini, $59.50

I adore the idea of mixing dots and stripes. This would be adorable with a pink striped top.

Factory Anchor Beach Towel, $27.50

Love this anchor beach towel. Mostly just because I love anchors.

Factory Boys Wavechaser Storybook Tee, $15.50

I really wish my godson was old enough to wear J.Crew already. They need infant clothes at Factory!

Birchbox

I am super excited because I signed up for my first Birchbox today. For those of you that don't know it is a monthly subscription for beauty samples. It costs $10 a month and they ship it right to your house so you can try everything from hair items to fragrance. I have recently been getting really into skincare and makeup. I can't wait to share what's in my first box!

Sunday Dinner

I felt totally unproductive today, but then again I didn't really have anything I had to do. I cleaned the bathroom and went to Target and somehow spent a small fortune on everything from the Justin Timberlake CD (Yes, I didn't have it yet! GASP!) to a brush to clean my water bottle. I decided I needed to channel my energy into dinner. I had made the most delicious crab cakes when Elliott was visiting so I thawed the last one and started concocting. The recipe for the crab cakes and spicy remoulade sauce came from Gwenyth Paltrow's cookbook My Father's Daughter which I love for both the name and the deliciousness inside. I adapted the sauce to be made with plain nonfat greek yogurt instead of Mayo. I had some eggplant leftover from making eggplant fries last week and sauteed that up. Lastly, I made the most phenomenal kale salad with sauteed onions. The recipe calls for just a little bit of soy sauce and a sprinkle of cheese on top. It is one of the most delicious things I have ever eaten.

Wilted Greens Salata by Giada De Laurentis 

Ingredients
2 bunches Swiss chard, or kale (or 1 bunch each)
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 large yellow onion, peeled and thinly sliced
4 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 cup chicken broth
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
3 ounces ricotta salata cheese or parmesan 

Directions
Wash the greens, but do not dry. Trim the large stems and coarsely chop. Set aside.

Warm 3 tablespoons of olive oil in a large, heavy pot over medium-high heat. Add the onions and saute for 4 minutes. Add the garlic and saute for 4 minutes longer. Add the greens, chicken broth, soy sauce, and pepper. Cook, stirring often, until the greens have wilted and become tender, about 7 to 10 minutes.

Transfer the cooked greens to a serving plate and crumble the ricotta salata cheese over the top.

Read more at: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/giada-de-laurentiis/wilted-greens-with-ricotta-salata-recipe/index.html?oc=linkback

Girl's Day Out

So yesterday Kendall, Christina and I had the perfect girls day out. We started with brunch/lunch at Porto's in Glendale. The place is an absolute madhouse, but they have a ton of seating and the sandwiches and pastries are so delicious you forget about the chaos and just indulge. I highly recommend getting a sandwich on a croissant. They are so flaky and buttery! YUM! Next we went to the Americana at Brand. I am obsessed with this mall. I like the Grove for sure. It wins me over with the Sprinkles Bakery and J.Crew Men's Shop, but the Americana has a better vibe. It was full of people but not once did I get run over by a stroller or feel like I couldn't get the attention of a salesperson to help me. It was a actually a relaxing shopping experience and the selection is spot on. I grabbed another pair of my favorite heels at H&M for $15 in blue and got a cute new Lululemon workout top. We grabbed drinks at Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf and I came so close to finding my perfect banquet dress. It was unfortunately a size too small. but now I am going to be on the lookout for a very similar style- sweetheart neckline maxi dress with double slits. I also popped into Baby Disney, had a heart attack over how cute everything was and got my godson Gianni the cutest Nemo sandals ever for summer.

In J.Crew I splurged a little on the perfect Spring jacket. I have been looking everywhere for something versatile and in my favorite neutral- navy! When I saw the downtown field jacket online I had high hopes. As soon as I put it on I knew it was exactly what I was looking for. The style is very classic and it can transition through the seasons based on accessories. Don't forget to use your student ID; J.Crew offers 15% off all regular price purchases! I cannot wait to wear it!

The Downtown Field Jacket, J.Crew, $148 (Also in Mossy Brown)

Our last stop of the evening was a long-overdue trip to our absolute favorite eatery, Katsuya by Stark. We usually go to the one in Hollywood, though I have now been to 5 locations across SoCal. The Katsuya at the Americana is more casual and less expensive. They have many outdoor tables with heaters which are perfect for viewing the water show on the fountain. We tried a few new rolls including the Lemon Salmon and Katsuya rolls along with appetizers like the Corn Fritters and our all-time number one pick, the Creamy Rock Shrimp Tempura. For me the best dish of the night went to the Crispy Brussel Sprouts. I could have easily eaten an order myself. They are definitely going on my must-order list. Doesn't the food look to die for?

Sperry Season

I got Elliott a great new pair of Sperry's for his birthday. The navy blue fabric screams summertime and I know they will look great with shorts and v-neck tees and also khakis and button downs. He loved them. I think everyone should invest in a new pair when the weather gets nice!

RIP Lilly Pulitzer Rousseau

An incredible fashion icon famously know for her amazing prints and love of pearls passed away today. She was an incredible role model not only for her style, but her successful business. RIP Lilly. You made the world a more colorful place.

Spring Has Sprung

Even during my my last few days of break in Connecticut, I could tell that spring was upon us. The weather had taken a turn for the better, the crocuses were starting to pop up and there were robins in the neighborhood. I really love this time of the year because everything feels very fresh and new. It is a time for new beginnings, especially in your wardrobe. The colors get brighter and everything starts to feel a lot more fun. I was extremely pleased with the Spring collections at J.Crew factory and Banana Republic where I picked up Elliott's birthday gift- clay colored chinos and a linen button down. They went over very well. What are you most excited for this spring?

They had this skirt on a mannequin with a white v-neck tee and a chambray shirt tied around the waist. I had to have it. What a perfect piece to go from school to casual!

I picked up these for Ell for his birthday. I love how when you roll the cuff there is another fabric inside. The Emerson fit is narrow but still relaxed. 

If there was any chance of rain in California I would have to have these Chooka flats!