Wish List: Bethenny Frankel's Necklace

I was a huge fan of Bethenny Frankel when she was on Real Housewives of NYC and Bethenny Getting Married. So naturally I park myself on the couch on Monday nights to watch Bethenny Ever After! As I've been watching, I've become more and more obsessed with a necklace she wears during one of the "interview" clips.

I absolutely LOVE this necklace. It is perfect and sparkly without being over the top. Plus I can't get over how amazing it looks with the midnight blue silk top she's wearing.

So I scoured the internet, but had trouble finding who made the necklace. I finally found it today on http://www.housewifestyle.com/. It's called the Diamonds Cascade Necklace by Park Lane Jewelry (which seems to be similar to Stella and Dot in the regard that you need to buy it from a rep): I'd love to get it... but it's over $400 and I can't justify spending that on fake diamonds. I've been trying to find something similar, but so far no luck. Any ideas???

Happy Blogaversary!

Today my little blog is 1 year old! The past year has been so amazingly fun and an incredibly opportunity to get to know new people and learn new things! And of course shop! :)

Thanks for following along with me. Cheers to a great year!

And stay tuned for a blogaversary giveaway!

xoxo

sarah

Recipe Friday: Power Foods!

I've been trying to make an effort to eat better lately. Not just to lose weight (hello, 8 months till my wedding!), but to feel better and have more energy. Plus I feel like I just eat so much junk! So I recently bought a new cookbook called Power Foods.

It's by the editors of Whole Living magazine and has an introduction by Martha Stewart. I've tried a bunch of the recipes in it, but so far this one is my favorite.

Soba Noodle Soup with Shiitake and Spinach
(serves 4)

Ingredients
2 tablespoons canola or safflower oil (I used canola.)
1.2 ounces shiitake mushrooms, stems removed, caps cleaned and thinly sliced (I used slightly less than this and it was plenty.)
4 scallions, trimmed, white and green parts separated and thinly sliced
1 garlic clove, minced
1 tablespoon minced peeled fresh ginger
Coarse salt
4 cups reduced-sodium chicken or vegetable broth
3 cups water
4 ounces soba noodles
1 bunch flat-leaf spinach in bite-size pieces
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1 tablespoon low sodium tamari soy sauce (I used about 2 tbsps to add more flavor.)

Directions

1. Heat oil over medium in a large saucepan. Add mushrooms, scallion whites, garlic, ginger, and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until mushrooms are tender (about 6 minutes).

2. Add broth and water; bring to a boil. Add soba noodles; reduce heat to a simmer and cook for 5 minutes. Add spinach; cook until just wilted (about 1 minute). Add lime juice and soy sauce. Garnish with scallion greens and serve!

{249 calories per serving}

The finished product:

Delicious and light!

Pink & Green Thursday: Meg Carter Designs

Happy Pink & Green Thursday!! I absolutely adore the jewelry from Meg Carter Designs... as I'm sure many of you do too (or will after you check out the pieces below!!). I'm thinking of giving my bridesmaids a pair of Meg Carter earrings, but it's going to be so hard to decide which ones! She has some fabulous pink and green options which are perfect for every occasion.

Audrey Drops in Pink and Green
The Audrey earrings are my personal favorite - especially the 2 pairs below!

Audrey in Celadon and Coral

Alice's Holiday Dangle in Green

These earrings are named after Alice, of Summer is a Verb fame.

Starfish Studs

Big Pearl, Little Lime Studs

Big Pearl, Little Pink Opal Studs

Palm Beach Necklace

The description on MC's website says, "So very Lilly Pulitzeresque, it could only be named 'Palm Beach.'" Love it!!

Chilmark Necklace

Named after one of my favorite places on earth - Martha's Vineyard!

Olivia Dangle in Pink Camelia

What are your favorites?

xoxo

Wedding Wednesday: THE Dress

It's been a long time since I've done a Wedding Wednesday, but I have indeed be busy wedding planning! I have exciting news about it that I've been meaning to share for awhile (for about a month anyways)....

I got my dress!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It was total serendipity. My mom and I had just left a dress appointment at another store where I found NOTHING and basically tried on several dresses just to be polite. I was really discouraged, but a bridal salon in a nearby town came to mind. We didn't have an appointment so we called first and the woman at the store told us the store was closing. And this was their last day. But they still had dresses.

Long story short - tons of beautiful dresses that I loved, a wonderful, helpful staff at a family-owned business, and I finally narrowed it down to one that I loved. 40% off a designer dress didn't hurt either.

I don't want to give too much away before the big day.... but here's a preview:

How did you find your perfect dress? How long did you shop before you bought it?

Lilly Sale Scores!

Did you guys snag anything good at the big online Lilly sales last week?

I got the Shauna Tunic Dress in Booty Caw for a great price, but was so disappointed that the fit just didn't work for me at all. Too big on top, too tight in the middle - has anyone else found that with the Shauna dress? I love the Booty Caw print though!

So yesterday I swung by In the Pink on Newbury Street and was thrilled to find out they were having a 50% off any green item promotion in honor of St. Patrick's Day. I scored the Jacqueline Dress in gorgeous kelly green - and for half off!

I think I may wear it for Easter!

While I was in the shop, I of course had to browse some of the other fabulous dresses they had. I am in loooove with so many. I hope I can resist temptation to buy them all!

Weekend Recap

This weekend was so fun and I'm bummed that it's over! Sunday night means one thing to me - tomorrow is Monday morning! :(

After a long day of work on Friday, I met up with some girlfriends for dinner/drinks after work. We went to Four Green Fields, a relatively new bar downtown that had live Irish music playing (St. Patrick's day is a weekend-long affair in Boston). My favorite thing about this place is the little thatched roof house in the bar.

On Saturday, my fiance and I drove to NH to pick up some bar stools at The Christmas Tree shops (he's turning the third floor of his house into a "man cave" and building a bar in it...) and then stopped at the outlets in Kittery. Yay outlet shopping! I got a couple of cardigans at the Old Navy Outlet (pink and white... does anyone else need to buy several white cardigans a year? Mine do not stay white at all after a couple of wears!). I also did a little damage at the JCrew oulet...

A tweed dress for work.

The twist in this dress makes it different and it is SUPER flattering. I can't wait to wear this in the summer.

I also got a navy pencil skirt (again, for work), but I can't find a picture of it.

Then we took the scenic route up to Yarmouth where one my friends just moved a couple weeks ago. We saw her adorable apartment (rustic-chic!) and met her new boyfriend (!) who is very nice and seems like an all around great guy. Finally a couple we can hang out with!!! Do any of you have trouble finding a "go-to" couple??

We had dinner with them at this great little pub in Portland and then drove back to Boston. So fun!

How was your weekend?

May the road rise to meet you...

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Giveaways!

Head over to Pink Martinis and Pearls and check out her fabulous Vera Bradley (Giveaway) Everyday! Today she is giving away this beautiful Jewelry Roll in Laguna Blue (one of my fave prints!). Click here to check it out and be sure not to miss the previous days giveways!


*While you're there, I highly recommend checking out the AMAZING cookies that Pink Martinis and Pearls bakes and decorates.*


Another fabulous giveaway is going on at Magnolias, Marriage, and Manhattan - she is giving away a lovely J McLaughlin bamboo clutch. The clutch is soooo perfect for summer! Click here to check out Magnolia, Marriage, and Manhattan's giveaway and fabulous blog!

Have Courage

I recently purchased a new Kate Spade bag and it arrived at my office during a particularly bad day at work. Finding the package waiting for me on my desk was enough to brighten my day, but it got even better once I opened it and examined the silky material, the shiny leather, and all the wonderful little details. I almost missed the zipper pull on the top, but the gold lettering caught my eye and I read what it said:

HAVE COURAGE

Courage is something I feel like I desperately need these days. I keep telling myself that I need to make decisions, but that isn't the case. I've decided what I should do, I just need to find the well, courage to act on it. I'm trying to find it.

What gives you courage?

Some courage-related quotes that I find inspirational:

"Hope is faith holding out its hand in the dark." -George Iles

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"Courage is grace under pressure." -Ernest Hemingway

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"The best way to make your dreams come true is to wake up." -Paul Valery

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"Where there is no struggle, there is no strength." -Oprah Winfrey

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"Follow your bliss and the universe will open doors for you where there were only walls." -Joseph Campbell

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"I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw something back." -Maya Angelou

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"The greatest barrier to success is the fear of failure." -Sven Goran Erikkson

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"Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, 'I will try again tomorrow.'" -Mary Ann Radmacher

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"Promise me you'll always remember. You're braver than you believe and stronger than you seem and smarter than you think." -Winnie the Pooh

Best Fries Ever!

It's no secret to those who know me how much I LOVE french fries. But I'm picky about them too - I hate the kind that are, what I refer to as, "Burger King fries." The type with some seasoning that don't even taste remotely like a potato. (Does anyone else know what I'm talking about??) But other than that I love them all - waffle, curly, crinkle-cut, steak, etc.

So when I heard that a new restaurant that serves only belgian fries (well, not only, but I'll get to that in a second), called Saus, was opening in Boston's Faneuil Hall area I knew I had to try it. I went yesterday with my fiance and his friend that was visiting.

via

One word. LOVE. The fries were absolutely delicious -crisp and perfect. They were served in a delightful cone and even came with a wee little plastic fork. I wish I had taken a picture! One of the best parts was the dipping sauces that came with it. We got the Cheddar Duvel (cheddar and Duvel ale), Truffle Ketchup (to.die.for), Ole Chipotle, Ranch, and the Vampire Slayer (garlic mayo). I honestly can say I loved all of them, but my favorites were the Truffle Ketchup and the Vampire Slayer.

Other amazing things? The people working there were SO nice and friendly. Saus is also open until 2 am on weekends and conveniently located near dozens of bars. Maybe the best new drunk food ever? They also serve poutine (aka my favorite Canadian treat) and belgian waffles. I didn't try either, but trust me, I'll be back.

Check out the menu here and check out the place for real if you are ever in Boston!!

Where are your favorite places to get fries??

Cardigan-crazed

Valentino sure knows how to make a cardigan. I'm head-over-heels for these ones that are on Rue La La today. I love cardigans and wear them constantly. They are perfect "business casual" clothing for work. I also like to wear them with jeans - I'd much rather throw on a pretty cardigan to run errands than a hooded sweatshirt!

I love love love the lace on this one. I would wear it with everything - dress pants (like the model), skirts, jeans, etc.

The sheerness and the lace are just lovely on this. I love how subtly sexy Valentino Pret-a-porter clothes are.
The beading on this one makes it fancy, but not overdone! And of course I love the bow.

So pretty and sparkly.

A great color and again, just the right amount of beading topped off with an adorable bow.

Hope you all had a wonderful weekend!