TND: Sentimental Style
So, it was about three years ago this month that I made the decision to move from NYC to come back to my hometown, Louisville. I have had no regrets whatsoever about this decision-- I love, love Louisville and I feel so at home in the midwest-- but there are times when I go through really strong NYC withdrawals. I mean, what's not to love about this? Ahhh, Central Park on an amazing, spring day something like 5 or 6 years ago (crazy!!)
This week I've been missing New York a lot, in particular, our adorable pink house in Fort Greene, Brooklyn and the sweet little neighborhood it is housed in. There was nothing I loved more than stepping out that front door and taking a stroll through the park and up and down the towhouse-lined streets for hours at a time.
Not to mention the fact that I kind of miss these girls, too.
My roomies Stephania,
and Caitlin. (This was our Derby party-- leave it to the Kentucky girl to make her northern friends partake in hourse racing).
So maybe I'll get to the city sometime soon for a nice visit, but until then, I'm revelling in memories and photos and oh, so many songs that remind me of my time there. Here's one of our ultimate go-to recipes that we made very often at New York Thursday Night Dinners. This one is great for those Lazy Thursdays (which seem to happen more and more often these days :)
Enjoy!
xoxo,
colleen
Personal Pita Pizzas
by Stephania Stanley and Colleen Reilly
What you need:
- 4 flat, whole grain pitas
- 8 oz package mozzarella cheese
- 1 jar of your favorite tomato sauce
- 8 oz spinach
- ½ large red onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, diced
- ½ green pepper, diced
- ½ red pepper, diced
- ½ yellow pepper, diced
- ½ zucchini, sliced and quartered
- ½ head of broccoli
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- Olive oil spray
- 1 Tablespoon dried basil
- 1 Tablespoon dried oregano
- Pepper
- Cayenne pepper
What to do:
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
Heat olive oil in a non-stick skillet. Dice the onion and garlic while the oil is heating. Sautee onion and garlic and begin dicing peppers. Add the peppers after the onion and garlic have sautéed about three minutes. While the peppers are sautéing, begin dicing the zucchini and chopping the broccoli into small florets. After about two minutes add the zucchini, broccoli and spinach. The spinach will cook down quickly, so don’t be intimidated by how much there is. Add basil, oregano, pepper and cayenne. If you use fresh herbs, remember that a little goes a long way! While the veggies are working in the skillet, place the pitas on olive oil-sprayed cookie sheets. Spoon out tomato sauce onto each pita and spread it around until the pita is covered with saucy goodness. After the veggies have sautéed about five more minutes, turn off the burner and scoop an even amount of veggie mixture onto each pita. Sprinkle each with the desired amount of cheese, and place in the oven. After fifteen minutes or when the cheese has begun to brown, take the pizzas out of the oven, slice each into four pieces with a large knife or a pizza cutter and devour!
TND: Greek Easter/Passover Dinner
Happy Thursday! A few weeks ago my darling Jewish boyfriend, Dave, and I had a combined Greek Easter/Belated Passover holiday dinner.
We've been having many conversations lately about what it means to have a reformed interfaith relationship and this was our first attempt at really coming together and combining our two family traditions. We both dug out our family recipes, I got on the phone with my Uncle Greg for grilling instructions, and we spent two full days preparing for our giant feast. Our friends arrived one by one, I put on Shovels & Rope (because obviously that is the perfect Greek Easter/Passover music), we poured wine, and it began.
After some of the more complex discussions we've had about what our possible, future family would look like we took all that we had learned thus far and came together and shared our favorite traditions with our nearest and dearest. We spoke Hebrew and Greek and ended the night with our favorite American dessert, s'mores.
By the end of the night, we were all making plans for the next one.
Enjoy!
stephania
Grilled Greek Lamb
by Stephania Stanley
What you need:
- lamb (1/2 lb per person)
- olive oil
- fresh oregano
- salt and pepper
What to do:
Coat the lamb with olive oil and generously salt and pepper both sides.
Assemble charcoal around the edges of the grill (so that the heat will be around the edges of the grill and not directly in the center). Place an disposable aluminum pan with 1" of water in the center. Heat up the grill. Grill lamb until the center of the meat reads 140°F. We grilled a butterflied 7Lb lamb and it took a little over an hour.
Once the lamb is ready, let it rest for about 20 minutes and slice diagonally in 1/4" thick slices. Pour the liquid from the aluminum pan into a serving bowl (now au jus) and add a spoonful or so over the lamb when serving.
TND: Decoupage Frames
Happy Thursday! If it's been a little quiet around here, one of the reasons is I just started a new job. I think that I am really going to like it, but the process of starting a new routine and learning a new gig is seriously wiping me out! I am sooo tired. But it's a good kind of tired.
Here's a craft that I am really liking right now. I made these frames for my girlfriends as 30th birthday presents and gave them to them when we were all together on vacation in Miami. I tried to pick colors that would go with their houses and personalities. The only problem is, I forgot to make one for me, so I still have to do that.
Enjoy!
Decoupage Frames
by colleen reilly
What you need:
- plain 4x6 frame (choose one that is flat and doesn't have ridges or decorations on it)
- craft paper
- scissors
- x-acto knife
- craft glue
- mod podge
- paint brush
What to do:
Choose a color of paper for the front of your frame. Choose a coordinating color of paper for the back of your frame. Lie the frame face down on the paper you choose for the front (place both on a piece of cardboard so you don't ruin your surface. Cut the piece of paper with the x-acto knife to the size of the frame by tracing along the outside of the frame with the knife and cutting out the inside. Do the same for the back and sides. Glue paper on to frame with craft glue. When dry, brush over entire surface with mod podge to make it shiny.
TND: The Perfect Iced Coffee
The Perfect Iced Coffee
by Stephania Stanley
What you need:
- coffee ice cubes (make a fresh cup of coffee the night before and use it to make coffee ice cubes throughout the week)
- 8 tbsp coffee
- 6 cups water
- milk and sugar to taste
What to do:
I used a french press to make my coffee, but a drip coffee machine will work just fine. Make your coffee with the extra scoops with your chosen hot drip method. Once the coffee has brewed, fill your heat safe coffee glass (or cup) half way with ice and pour the brewed coffee. Give it a couple of stirs and enjoy!
TND: Spring Fever Crafting
Bauble Necklace and Bracelet
photo from a beautiful mess
Necklace
Bracelet
photo by colleen
What you need:
- craft paint
- wood beads (in whatever size you choose)
- gloss (triple thick or gloss spray)
- paintbrushes
- leather cord or ribbon
What to do:
Choose the beads you want to use and a color scheme. To paint and gloss mine, I cut off the bottom of a Q-tip and placed the bead on the cotton end of the Q-tip and then painted the beads. I then stuck the Q-tips into a scrap piece of styrofoam to let the beads dry. Paint beads with a second coat of paint. When the beads are dry, spray or paint with gloss to make the beads shiny. When the gloss is dry, string beads on leather cord or ribbon and you're ready to wear!
TND: Officially 30 and Plantain Adventures
(Our running path for the week in Miami.)
Plantain Chips
adapted from Gourmet; November 2008
Photo: Ditte Isager
What you need:
- 4 cups vegetale oil
- 2 lbs green plantains
- salt and pepper to taste
What to do:
Peel plantains and cut off the ends. Using a sharp knife cut very thin, vertical slices. In a large non-stick skillet, heat about 1/2 the oil (depending on the size of your skillet) over medium-high heat. You want to get the oil hot enough so that the plantain slices will fizzle as soon as you place them in the pan. Working in batches, place about 12 slices of plantains into the heated oil. Turn frequently and fry until they are golden brown. Place on a sheet of paper towl and quickly sprinkle salt and pepper. Repeat until all plantain chips are cooked.
TND: Friend Inspiration
Lauren's Wishlist
Happy Tuesday! Today we are continuing our wishlists with the very talented floral designer, Lauren Lowman. Check out more of our wishlists here, here, and here!
xo,
stephania
Natural Touches for the Holidays
by Lauren Lowman
There is nothing better than the holidays. It brings us together with people we haven't seen in a while and those closest to us. It is always hard trying to figure out exactly what to get people and how to decorate your indoor space with style. I have a few tips for this holiday season that will get you started.
Berries add a touch of classy color to any room. They are also a great gift to give. They last for a long time and add a touch of the season to any home before, during and after the holidays.
Next, I am giving white two thumbs up this year. I think a white orchid in a white container is the way to go for any plant gifts or indoor plantscaping for the holidays. It is a nice way to add a natural feel to any room, it glows perfectly with twinkling lights and hopefully the snow outside!
White pots and containers are very nice to give and receive. They are a perfect addition to any centerpiece or table.
Botanical Gardens are awesome gifts to send. You can choose a poinsettia, amaryllis, festive ferns and paperwhites to make a gift to remember and to last throughout the entire holiday season.
Floral arrangements are next on my list of must haves for the season. They are necessary for any holiday parties, cocktail hours, or events. I have shown below a few that I have recently designed that I think are fun!
Adding a little glitter and gold really makes the white in this arrangment pop.
Traditional red roses are my favorite to really match Santa's outfit! All of your guest will love them!
Even though the weather outside is frightful, bring in some living plants and flowers to make it delightful. Cheers & happy holidays!
(all photos were taken at Michaleen's Florist and Garden Center)
Give the Gift of Great Hair
Give the Gift of Great Hair
By Megan Kramer
Are you working on your list, checking it twice and getting ready to head out to your favorite stores? Don't you love shopping this time of year? You have to buy things, have to- and, you aren't buying them for yourself (except for that sweater you simply had to have) so you can't even feel guilty about handing over your well worn credit card! This year why not give your friends and family the gift of beauty? Help them look and feel great this holiday season! If you still have a few people on your list that you aren't sure about, here are a few of my favorite hair products and accessories that just might help you move through your shopping a bit more easily!
XO,
Megan
For the Gym Girl
This Stila hair refresher is my all time favorite hair powder/dry shampoo; and I have tried a ton of them. It's a powder that you shake on, not a spray. It absorbs oil without making my hair feel flat and gross after an hour, like others can; plus, it smells great! At $28, it's the perfect gift for someone who hits the gym, but doesn't wash their hair every day!
I love these hair ties from Summer's Inspirations. They hold my hair without pulling and leave less of a crease than regular hair ties do. They also come in tons of colors and make your pony a little cuter without any extra effort! They make a great stocking stuffer- 10 for $10.
For Everyone
Oribe is such a great product line; I love pretty much everything he makes! For the holidays, they have these great gift sets! This one is the Ultra Gentle set, made to be moisturizing and add softness and shine. It comes with the Ultra Gentle shampoo, conditioner, and mask- all in a beautiful box you won't even have to wrap! Everyone needs shampoo, so this is a great gift when you don't know what to get- you can't go wrong!
For Frizz Fighters
Like a lot of other girls I know, I constantly fight the battle of taming frizz without weighing my hair down. I love this Bamboo Smooth Styling Lotion from Alterna. It's more of a cream than an oil, so it doesn't get too heavy and leave my hair flat. It smells great, smooths frizz, and doesn't feel greasy. Great stuff!
For the Accessories Addict
I have been dying for all of the metallic hair accessories out lately. I love the vintage feel that these two gold bands from Nest Pretty Things have. They are the perfect accessory; beautiful, but understated- love them!
For Your Man (or dad, brother, friend... all men really)
I have been a stylist for almost 12 years. In all that time, my favorite product for men with short hair has always been, an still is Bumble and Bumble's Sumotech. It's somewhere between a wax, paste, and a cream. Somehow it's the perfect texture to make guy's hair look styled, but not too done. It also has a matte finish so they can use product without looking like a cast member of the Jersey Shore. All of this for $26. Best stuff ever!
Xo,
Megan
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