the simple things

Sometimes you just have those difficult days. It could be for one big reason, or a reason you can't quite explain, or several little reasons piling up.  Regardless of why these days happen, the fact is they do happen. As unfortunate as they are, when I have those days I tend to find comfort in the small, simple things.

Things I should really find comfort in all the time. And learn to appreciate more.

lattes

pelican watching

la jolla, california

broken arrow, oklahoma

rocky, my hike-loving pup

macaroons

crested butte, colorado

an organized closet

a home-cooked breakfast

out and about

I don't know about the rest of you, but for me this week has been dragging on and also somehow been crazy busy.  I'm unsure how that can happen, but apparently it can! I still have several things in the works to share but for now I wanted to provide some internet inspiration.

image via could i have that

It's Friday, and I think these cocktails are just what the doctor ordered for my friends and I. The recipe for these beautiful cocktails can be found here.

image via wit + delight

Speaking of friends, how fun is this picture? This reminds me of college when Oklahoma weather forced us to hide from tornadoes in bathtubs...granted, our attire wasn't quite like this (oh, the days of Nike shorts and North Face jackets)...

image via food coma

Okay, I'm going to be honest here and say that I am not much for the DIY craze that's currently sweeping the blog community.  I tend to be a little lazy and would rather someone more creative than myself make my jewelry, clothes, etc.  But this chalkboard cheese platter is a DIY I can get on-board with. Mostly because I love cheese. And labeling things. But mostly cheese.

image via cup of jo

This feature gives me the craving for both traveling and shoe shopping...at the same time, preferably. I also find it incredibly useful since I tend to have an over-packing problem, specifically because I just can't cut down the amount of shoes I bring with me on trips. I also love this post about plane picnics.

image via wit + delight

I fully intend to cook something of this caliber this weekend. Get in my belly, you delicious breakfast.

These cinemagraphs blow me away. All of these gorgeous moving photos are shot in Malibu, too!
Everyone have an amazing weekend!
xx

coffee date

[alternative apparel shirt,h&m blazer,bdg jeans,nine west booties {last seen here},janie bryant mod bag,cc skye blossom ring, bracelets: lia sophia {gifted}, david yurman, michael kors rose gold watch, nail polish: opi merry midnight]

I wore this outfit to work last week and on a little lunchtime coffee date with my lovely roomate Lisa. When I asked her to snap some photos for me, she took so many great ones and we just had a blast with it! I love how comfortable and versatile this outfit is--it can take me from work to coffee to dinner with friends. There is such a great balance of comfort and chicness, which in my opinion is basically the greatest combo there is! I wear variations of this outfit often.

My wonderful boyfriend bought me this Michael Kors watch for Christmas! I was so excited--it's exactly what I'd wanted.

And if you're wondering where my coffee is from--it's a chai tea latte from Clementine.  This is one of my favorite spots for coffee and baked goods...seriously, their brownies are severely addicting.

Everyone take a minute to treat yourself and enjoy the week!
xo

baked chicken (or beef) enchiladas

I could eat Mexican food every single day of my life.  It's easily my favorite type of food, and its simplicity makes Mexican my favorite kind to cook as well.  I've definitely made my fair share of queso and quesadillas, but these enchiladas are my favorite to make.  But I tend to use the largest tortillas I can get my hands on, so I guess you could classify these as burritos if you wanted to.  

Either way, they're delicious. 

Here's what you'll need to create your own:

1 pkg flour tortillas

1 lb skinless boneless chicken breast or lean ground beef (I've made these both ways)

2 cans enchilada sauce (I prefer medium--it gives a nice little kick)

2 cans chopped green chiles

1 pkg shredded mexican-blend cheese

A few dollops sour cream

 Chop chicken into small cubes, trimming the fat, and place pieces into a non-stick skillet. For ground beef, just take the packaging off and put the meat immediately into a skillet.  Cook thoroughly on 350 degrees.  Once the meat is cooked through (about 10 minutes), turn the heat down to warm.

 Pour enchilada sauce over the cooked chicken or beef, stirring until all the pieces are coated.  Next add a few large dollops of sour cream, again stirring until the meat is coated.  Then add the green chiles (note: make sure you drain the juice out).  The amount you use depends on how much spice you like--the more chiles you add, the more spice the enchiladas will have.  You can omit them completely if you'd like, although I think they kick the flavor up a couple notches. Now sprinkle cheese on top of the mixture, stirring it in, and topping with more cheese.

 Keeping the concoction on warm, begin spreading sour cream on the tortillas.  This is also a good time to preheat the oven to 350 degrees and grease the baking pan.  You could use non-stick spray for this of course, or more sour cream if you love it like I do.

 Fill the tortillas with the meat, sauce, cheese, and chiles, and wrap up as tightly as possible.  This is where I usually open up the second can of enchilada sauce, and pour some over the enchiladas.  Top with cheese, and then more enchilada sauce and more cheese!

 Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes (depending on how good your oven is).  Since everything is already cooked, this just seals in the flavor and melts the cheese.

Now comes the best part--eating them! These babies are incredibly filling and flavorful, and as much as I enjoy making them for my friends and family (I was able to cook these for my Momma a couple times), I enjoy eating them even more.

Enjoy!
xo

thursdays

I love Thursdays. LOVE them. Besides the realization the next day is Friday, Thursdays also mean the farmer's market comes to Century City, right behind the building where I work.  This means I get up from behind my desk (a rare occasion, sadly), venture out into the sunshine, and peruse tons of fresh food.

lemons and grapefruit bagged up and ready for purchase 

[tank top c/o target,baci (boutique in santa monica) maxi skirt,sandals c/o target, janie bryant mod bag,sunglasses c/o santa monica farmer's market, david yurman bracelet, michael kors watch]

It was around 78 degrees today, so I dressed like it was summer and sipped fresh watermelon juice as I sampled just about everything in front of me.

It's almost Friday--enjoy the rest of your evening!
xx

a lesson from mom in organization

After a wonderful vacation, I returned home to the dirtiest, most unorganized room I've probably ever had (actually, that's a big lie, but just go with it).  While attempting to unpack, I realized I simply had too much stuff, and not enough space.  Keep in mind my room is not small.  Looking around the room stressed me out.  Since I had the day off yesterday, I decided to take advantage and de-clutter my living space.

I cleaned out and organized my closet, and it has never looked better (this is the truth).  It's amazing how one small tip can make a difference, but I'll get to that later.  What I wanted to share now is a trick my mom taught me a few years ago.  Even though she isn't around to remind me, it stuck with me and I almost forgot how useful it was.

I am a major scarf connoisseur--I have one in just about every color, and all kinds of patterns.  I love how they keep my neck warm and add something special to an outfit, and I tend to wear lightweight ones in warmer weather as well. The problem with owning so many scarves is that I run out of space to store them.  My mom noticed this problem when I was in college and showed me how rolling the scarves saves space and makes it easier to grab one before I run out the door.

 Start by folding the scarf in half both ways. Obviously all scarves are different sizes, so this will vary per scarf.

 Start rolling until you have a nice tight roll, and place the scarf into your storage bin.  I have a plastic tub of them under my bed, and a little drawer (yes, I realize I'm a freak).

This is a super easy method to keeping organized! For those of you who aren't into scarves, a similar method works for t-shirts and hoodies as well.  I roll my hoodies the same way and stack them at the top of my closet.

For t-shirts, I fold them normally but place them upward so to save space.  Now I just need to work on everything remaining organized.   I'll keep you posted on how that goes...

Happy Wednesday everyone!

x

sequins for new years

I'm not one to typically wear sequins, especially not paired with a short dress.  But New Years Eve called for both, in my opinion. I kept my jewelry simple and wore only one ring so to not overpower my new jacket.

[american apparel dress,express sequin jacket, nine west booties,cc skye blossom ring, polo ralph lauren glasses,opi merry midnight nail polish, mac lipstick in morange]

I had a fabulous New Years Eve with close friends and family.  It was low key and perfect--I couldn't have asked for anything more! My dad bought me a bottle of Veuve Clicquot champagne because he knew I wanted to try it.  It was so fun trying different types of champagne before the clock struck midnight.

I hope everyone has big plans for 2012!
xo