Garlic Shrimp by Skinnytaste

 We realize it has been AWHILE since we have posted! Where did this summer go?   Today we wanted to share a new recipe with you: Garlic Shrimp in Coconut Milk by Skinnytaste. It was absolutely delicious and added bonus: healthy too! We added in extra salt and red pepper flakes for more taste (which we recommend). Sadly all the avocados at Wholefoods were too hard so we left that out.   We also recommend serving with an extra lime wedge. You can also add in sautéed onions and mushrooms and if you feel you want a thicker dish you could also add in cornstarch. Enjoy!!

 

Skinnytaste Garlic Shrimp

 

So good!

 



Favorite Spring Shoe

Happy First Day of Spring and Tuesday! In honor of spring we are featuring our favorite spring sandal. They look JUST like the Hermes but cost a lot less! They are from a local boutique Charlotte's in Raleigh-they have the cutest things. For those of you who don't live in Raleigh be sure to check them out on instagram-they ship! I fell in love with the tan but they also come in black, red and orange. Now only if the weather would warm up...spring hurry up!

 

FS/NY sandals

 

 

 



Weekend Recap

Hope everyone had a great weekend! Friday we went to one of our favorite spots for oysters, St. Roch. Hands down one of the best restaurants in town.

 

 

 

Saturday night we headed to Wilson and went to the Beefmastor. Such a gun girls trip and the food did not disappoint. I think this is going to become an annual trip.  We were too busy tailgating and eating so sadly we did not take a lot of pictures.

 

Pregaming ;)

 

 

 

And lastly this sums up today's mood-ha!  Have a great day! xo

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



TGIF

Happy Friday! Sharing a random post with you guys today! :)  Have a great weekend!

 

We had snow on Monday in Raleigh but fortunately it has warmer up the past two days. Aren't these tulips beautiful?  I hope this means Spring is here and winter is gone!

 

 

 

My favorite new snack. The wasabi flavor is so good! I found it at Harris Teeter. Added bonus: I love it has protein.

 

 

 

Newest finds from J.Crew and Tuckernuck. The pattern on this swimsuit is so pretty and this hat is the best. Order it-you'll be glad you did! Pool day ready!

 

 

My mom did some spring decorating yesterday and we love this wreath and how she styled in the dining room. The wreath is from Pier 1-such a great find!

 

 

 

 Made the best smoothie this week. It was so good and had lots of healthy ingredients in it.  Try it, we think you will love it too! Do you have a favorite smoothie recipe? If so-let us know! We would love to try it! 

 

Green Smoothie

Two handfuls of spinach

Two scoops of protein powder

1 Frozen banana

1 scoop of Liveglen Sweet Potato Flour

Almond Milk

1 spoon peanut butter

Blend and serve

 

 

 

 

 



Tortelliini and Veggie Soup

Good morning and Happy Tuesday! Today we are sharing one of our favorite soup recipes. It is the perfect dinner to make on a cold night. It is also super easy to make so it makes a great weekend night too! It is full of so much flavor! Enjoy! xo

 

 

 

 

Tortellini and Veggie Soup

 

1 clove of mined garlic

dash of salt and pepper

1 ranch packet (we used Hidden Valley)

1 package of cheese tortellini

1 pound Italian sausage (we used hot)

3 small carrots chopped

1 zucchini chopped

1 yellow squash chopped

1 cup fresh spinach

8 cups chicken stock

1 onion chopped

1 can (14 oz) seasoned tomatoes

Fresh Shredded Parmesan Cheese

 

Heat skillet with a tad of olive oil and brown onions and garlic for a few minutes. Be careful not to burn. Add in sausage and cook.

 

In a large pot add in the sausage, carrots, zucchini, squash and diced tomatoes. Add in chicken stock and season with salt and pepper. Add in ranch packet and bring to a boil. Add in the tortellini and cook for about 7 minutes. Lastly add in the spinach and stir. Serve with fresh grated parmesan cheese. 

 

 



Weekend Recap

Hope everyone had a great weekend! We celebrate Ashley's birthday round 2.

Friday night we went to Brewery Bhavana. Such a fun spot and their food is always amazing.

 

 

We started the night off by getting blow outs at Parlor. Always a treat to get your hair styled for a night out (obviously we still had to change and do our make up;)

 

 

 

Saturday we went to Zest with our mom for lunch. It is one of our favorite spots to go on the weekends. We each got the short rib sandwich which we highly recommend. They also have a really cute store and were getting ready for Easter.

 

 

Our parent's lab Gertie had surgery Friday am and we were so glad she is feeling/doing better. She is the sweetest. Had to snap this picture of George. He always sits like this...so regal!

 

 

How great are these Chanel sunnies? They are actually made of rose gold and I loved them. The bigger the better.

 

 

This tunic by J Crew is so fun. I can't wait for the weather to warm up. I also love these wedges by Marc Fisher and the sunglasses are by KREWE.

 

 

 

 Have a great day!

 

 

 



Friday Thoughts

Happy Friday! Today's post is a lot of randomness...enjoy! xo

 

Last night we had the best dinner with our parents at Stanbury for Ash's birthday. Their food is amazing and one of the best restaurants in town. Always a treat to go there! Their cocktails and small plates are always on point. Highly recommend their crab dip and short ribs.

The birthday girl!  

 

Can we talk about this cake? We always order our cakes from WholeFoods-they are so good! I recently saw the prettiest cake on Pinterest with hydrangeas and asked WholeFoods if they could recreate the look. I think the nailed it! I thought it turned out so pretty!

WholeFoods for the win!

 

After cake we headed to one of our new favorite spots in town, Hummingbird for cocktails. It is the cutest little place and the atmosphere is so cool. If you haven't been yet be sure to swing by! They also have tasty cocktails (and food!).

Cheers!

 

If you haven't tried Essie's new line: Treat, Love and Color we recommend it. It really helps strengthen your nails and the line features so many fun colors. Some of our favorite are "Sheers to you", "Indi-Go-For-It and "In a Blush".

Essie

 

 

H&M has been killing it with their sweaters. I honestly haven't shopped there in years but recently stopped by and was pleasantly surprised. My nicer sweaters always pill and sometimes I can't justify spending $200 on a sweater knowing that will happen. The fit on both of these sweaters is amazing and the price is too. I loved the color of the green one and the simplicity of the cream. They both have the same slouchy, oversized fit which I loved.

 

 

 

Have a great weekend!

 

 

 



Happy Birthday!

Happy birthday to the best partner in crime and sister! I hope you have the best day and can't wait to celebrate tonight and this weekend! Time to pop the bubbly! xo

 

 

 

 

 



Better Late Than Never

So sorry for the lack of posts this month. Things have been really busy and this month flew by! Can you believe tomorrow is March 1st?! And it's just not March 1-it's Ashley's birthday! Can't wait to get the festivities kicked off tomorrow! Today we are sharing an outfit with you that Ashley rocked for work. She started a new job this month and she has been buying the best transitional pieces. I am pretty sure she nailed the polished, yet relaxed office look here. I also love how this can carry you straight to happy hour-just a fresh swipe of lipstick and you are good to go!  xo

 

Bag: MCM, Sweater: Vince, Booties: Rag and Bone, Blouse: J Crew and Denim: J Brand

 

Lettuce Wraps and Snow Day

Happy Tuesday! Are you getting snow where you live? It is coming down this morning in Raleigh. While I do love a good snow day, we are ready for spring. Snow days aren't quite as fun when you are over the age of 12...there are no such things are snow days (aka work from home and it gets boring). On a different note today we are featuring an easy and delicious recipe found on Kitchn: Asian Lettuce Wraps. You can get the recipe here. Perfect for a busy week night. Clean up was easy, it took about 20 minutes to make and is relatively healthy. Enjoy! Stay warm and safe! xo

 

Chicken Lettuce Wraps

How To Make Chicken Lettuce Wraps

Serves 2 to 4 as a main course, or 6 to 8 as an appetizer or side dish

What You Need

Ingredients

3 to 5 tablespoons

hoisin sauce (gluten-free, if needed)

2 tablespoons

soy sauce (or 1 tablespoon tamari, if gluten-free or coconut aminos)

2 tablespoons

rice wine vinegar

1 teaspoon

sesame oil

1 teaspoon

cornstarch, optional

 

1 pound

ground chicken, white meat  (or ground turkey)

2 teaspoons

vegetable oil, divided

8 ounces

mushrooms, chopped small

1

8-ounce can water chestnuts, drained and chopped small

3 cloves

garlic, minced

1-inch piece ginger, minced (about 1 tablespoon)

1/2 cup

sliced green onions (from about 6 green onions), divided

2

small heads Bibb or butter lettuce

Red pepper flakes, to serve

 

Hot sauce, to serve

Optional extras: chopped onions, chopped bell peppers, chopped or grated carrots

 

Instructions

Mix together the sauce: Combine 3 tablespoons of the hoisin sauce, soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, and sesame oil in a small bowl. Whisk to combine with a fork and keep near the stove. If you'd like a more thickened, glossy sauce, whisk in 1

teaspoon of cornstarch.

 

Cook the ground chicken: Heat a teaspoon of oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the ground chicken and cook until cooked through and no longer pink, 7 to 8 minutes. Break up the chicken into small crumbles as you cook. Transfer the cooked chicken to a clean bowl.

 

Cook the vegetables and aromatics: Warm the other teaspoon of oil in the skillet. Add the mushrooms, along with any other optional extra vegetables you want, and cook until tender, 4 to 5 minutes. Stir in the water chestnuts, garlic, and ginger, and cook until aromatic, about 30 seconds.

 

Combine the vegetables and chicken: Transfer the cooked chicken back to the pan with the vegetables, along with half of

the green onions.

 

Stir in the sauce: Pour the sauce over the top of the chicken mixture and stir to coat. Cook just until you hear bubbling and the sauce is warmed through, 30 to 60 seconds. Taste a spoonful of the mixture and add more hoisin sauce if you'd like a stronger flavor.

 

Serve with the lettuce: Break off all the lettuce leaves and pile them on a plate in the center of the table, along with small dishes with hot sauce, red pepper flakes, and the remaining sliced green onions. Transfer the hot chicken mixture to a serving dish, or serve straight from the skillet. Give everyone a spoon and let them dig in — place a generous spoonful of chicken mixture in the middle of a lettuce leaf, top with green onions and hot sauce or red pepper flakes, and eat right away.

Recipe Notes

Make-Ahead Chicken Mix: The chicken filling keeps very well in the fridge for 3 to 5 days. Reheat just what you need and add a splash of chicken broth if the mixture seems dry.

 

 

 

 



The Love Potion Cocktail

TGIF! Today we are sharing this delicious cocktail from Lark and Linen. Meet "The Love Potion". It looks super easy to make and sounds amazing! Perfect for Valentine's, "Gal"entine's Day or just to toast your fabulous self! We hope you have a wonderful weekend! Cheers! xo

 

 

 

Ingredients
 

FOR THE BLACKBERRY SYRUP

1/3 cup blackberries, plus 8 more for garnish

1/3 cup water

1/3 cup sugar

 

FOR THE COCKTAIL

1 bottle of prosecco or champagne

 

FOR THE GARNISH

4 sprigs of thyme

 

Instructions

1. In a small saucepan, bring the blackberried, water and sugar to a boil. Turn to low and let simmer for 10 minutes. Strain blackberries and let syrup cool.

2. Add 2 tbsp. of syrup to the bottom of each glass. Top with champagne and add in a sprig of thyme and 2 blackberries!

Warm Weather Wants

Today feels like a major heat wave...the high 60's and we are loving it! The past few weeks have so brutally cold and this warm spell has us dreaming of spring. With that being said I have a few items on my list that I am eyeing for the warmer weather. All items below are available from Shopbop, one of our favorite shopping sites. Now if only it would stay like this...what's on your spring list? xo

Caroline Constas James Blouse
Obsessed with the style and color. Bold colors are big this season and we love anything by Caroline Constas! Would look great with light denim or white. Love this!

 

Joie Yaritza B Blouse
Floral is big this spring and I love this blouse by Joie. Always love a good white blouse and the pattern would look great with dark denim and good pair of wedges.
 

 

Clare V. Alice Tote
Clare V. makes the best clutches and we love this woven shoulder bag. It would go with so much and a piece you could use all spring and summer.
 

DVF Crew Neck Tent Dress
This color is everything. Love bright pink and the style. This would be perfect with a nude pair of heels...perfect for a spring wedding!
 

Mara Hoffman Valentina Dress
Love anything Mara Hoffman. This is gorgeous dress is perfect for those spring nights and we love the bold stripes. Wedges or flats would work with this too.


 

Stuart Weitzman Naked 65mm Kitten Heels
We love all Stuart W shoes and these are a new update on a classic. Kitten Heels are another trend this spring. Hurry though...the sizes are already selling out.
 

Jonathan Simkhai Bikini
We love classic black swim suits and this classic style. Black is slimming and you can't go wrong with it!
 

 

Lizze Fortunato Daisy Earrings
Speaking of flowers-love these earrings! The color is amazing and you could wear them with so much!












 



This and That

Hope everyone had a great weekend. We did! Friday night we hit up one of our favorite spots 42nd Street for some oysters. So good!

 

 

 

 

Have you heard Justin Timberlake's new song, "Filthy"? In our book JT can do no wrong...we're obsessed.

 

 

 

NC STATE! What a game! We were so happy the Pack took down Duke. Even Ashley who is a Tarheel pulls for the Pack when playing Duke (and I pull for the Heels when playing Duke). Did we mention we don't like Duke? :) The picture below is when we were at the 2013 game when State beat Duke. Our scarves are by Tradition Scarves, a local Raleigh company. You can check out their collection here.

 

 

 

The weather has been so cold the past few weeks and we have been making a lot of soups/comfort foods. We made a new jambalaya recipe last night. It was so good and very easy to make: our kind of recipe. You could also add beans if you want or other veggies, but we stuck to the original recipe. We served ours with buttermilk biscuits and it was the perfect meal for a cold Sunday night.

 

 

 

"This is Us" comes back tomorrow night. Can we talk about Sterling Brown. Our in opinion he is the best character on the show. We love some Randall. Congrats on his Golden Globe, very much deserved! We can't wait to tune back in tomorrow.

 

 

 

 

The weather is finally supposed to "warm" up this week. Bring on the warmer temps! Hope you have a great Monday! xo

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



A Winning Combo

Happy Friday and...2018! So you may have noticed the posts were pretty slack last month but the holidays are so busy with trips, parties and celebrating the season. We hope you had a great holiday and your new year is off to a great start. Today we are sharing one of favorite beauty combinations for eyelashes. Trust us when we have said we have tried almost all mascaras out there...and Chanel's Le Volume Mascara truly is the best on the market. Ashley has used it for forever and got me and our mom both hooked. I had been reading a lot about eye lash primers the past few weeks but never really used one because Chanel's mascara is just that good. Over Christmas break I popped into Sephora and picked up Dior's Maximizer 3D Lash Primer. The verdict:  LOVE it. I also got it for my sister and mom to put in their stockings and they have been loving it as well. Needless to say this primer really does work some serious magic and makes your eye lashes look even better (if that was possible). I will never go back to using just mascara. Hope you have a great (and warm) weekend! xo

 

Chanel Le Volume Mascara and Dior 3D Primer