A silent and stately Roosevelt Hotel
A beautiful Hollywood sunset
A grinning goon
A photo of a photo
Life According to My iPhone
Home Goals: Kitchen
My dream kitchen is bright and open with white cabinets, light countertops and rich hardwood floors. The kitchen in our new home possesses only one of those characteristics – it has light countertops. Nothing else about it is quite in line with my dream but you know what? That is totally okay with me because this beautiful little jewel of a kitchen is going to be a huge upgrade!
Our current kitchen has not been modified since our building was built in the 1980’s. All of those gross features that flash through your mind when you think of a 1980’s kitchen are alive and well in my current home. It was never a huge deal for my fiance because in his last job he was constantly on the road and was never home long enough to be too bothered by it. I however was immediately horrified by the state of disrepair and did my best to scrub every surface I could get my hands on. I figured that even though it would never be easy on the eyes it could still be a lot cleaner and in working order. I never loved our current kitchen, I never even liked it, but it was what I had and I was going to make the best of it.
All of that changes next Thursday! We are going to say farewell to the 1980’s kitchen and hello to a gorgeous remodeled one! I’m brimming with excitement over having such a beautiful space to cook in. Since I found out about the move and viewed an example of the kitchen I have been collecting loads of images and ideas for how to lighten up the small, somewhat dark space and really make it my own.
This image is a great example of how a kitchen can still feel open and uncluttered even with dark cabinets. Major kitchen envy!
I am incredibly excited to accessorize our beautiful new kitchen and am going to do everything in my power to make it as lovely as possible since I’m the one who spends the most time in it.
I adore these natural elements and plan on bringing in a lot of existing items I have for a similar feel.
I love the overall neutral and natural feel of these accessories and plan on using several of these ideas in my own kitchen.
Creating a better system of organization in this kitchen is another aspect I am looking forward to. Storage space is very poorly utilized in our current kitchen and that is all changing with the move. While I won’t be able to do a complete overhaul immediately, I have definite storage goals I am working towards. Having a feeling of uniformity inside the cupboards is high on my list and I plan on using a method similar to the one featured below to achieve it.
Image via 86 Lemons
Thank you all for joining me in my kitchen dreams today, it is a lot of fun to share my vision and home goals with all of you!
The Liebster Award
This is certainly an awesome way to start off a new month! Rosie of the beautiful blog Crab & Rose has been kind enough to nominate me for a Liebster Award and I could not be more flattered and excited to be a part of this community of nominees! This award is such a wonderful way for readers to get to know new bloggers and for bloggers to support and connect with one another.
The Rules for the nomination process are easy:
1. Once nominated, make a post thanking and linking the lovely person who nominated you.
2. Include the Liebster Awars sticker (like the one above) in your post
3. Nominate 10 other new blogger with less than two – hundred followers who you think are worthy of this award. Let them know they have been nominated by commenting on one of their posts. You can nominate the person who nominated you.
4. Answer the ten questions asked by the person who nominated you and then make ten questions of your own for your nominees.
5. Lastly, copy these rules into your post.
Rosie’s questions for me were:
1. What fashion item is on your wish list?
Since I’m dreaming big I will say a Birkin. Birkins have such a classic structure and can be dressed up or down depending on the occasion. That said, I would be terrified to carry it out of the house!
2. Who is your style icon?
As I have gotten older I have become drawn to a casual, rock and roll vibe. Kate Moss best emulates my ideal style – she looks as comfortable in an elegant gown as she does in jeans and a concert . She has a clear sense of style and is able to incorporate the latest trends without losing sight of her personal aesthetic.
3. What is the first thing you do in the morning?
The first thing I do in the morning is feed my dog, Lola. Once she is eating I can then start my day. If I don’t feed her immediately upon waking she starts to harass me.
4. What is your biggest source of inspiration?
Pinterest is without a doubt my biggest source of inspiration when it comes to anything – style, home decor, quotes, recipes, etc. I have been going back through early pins in search of inspiration for my new home and have been noting how my personality and style have evolved since my early days of pinning (4+ years ago!). I have a much more clear idea of who I am and it is fascinating to have a record of that progression on Pinterest. What a great resource!
5. What is your motto?
“Life isn’t about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.”
6. Who is your favourite blogger and why?
I really love Juley of The Upperlyne. She is such a creative, beautiful, inspirational soul. I have gone back through some of her old posts and it seems that she has done so much in terms of making her dreams come true. I would love to be friends!
7. Where in the whole world is your dream destination?
I have wanted to go to Eastern Europe for some years now. I would love to rent a car and take a month to explore several countries. I know much less of Eastern Europe than I do of Western Europe and know that it would be a fabulous crash course in history and culture.
8. Heels or flats?
I used to wear heels to work each and every day because I am on the petite side but I’ve gotten to the point where I usually stick to flats during the day and only bring out the heels at night.
9. Where do you see your self in 5 years time?
From a broad perspective I know without a doubt where I want to be – married to my husband with a child and continuing to work in a field that really satisfies me and makes me happy. When it comes down to the details I am open to whatever comes and is right for us whether it be Los Angeles, San Francisco or Timbuktu (just kidding on that one). As long as we are together, happy and healthy it doesn’t matter much to me where we are living and what we are doing.
10. What is your favourite Instagram account to follow?
Caroline Receveur Lucas is my current favorite Instagram to follow. I love the photographs she posts, she presents a truly beautiful life. And can we talk about her hair?!
My Nominations:
- http://xroseolivia.blogspot.com/
- http://posh-princess.co.uk/
- http://sophielaviniat.blogspot.co.uk/
- http://www.ladylamode.com/
- http://blonde-gypsy.com/
- http://www.goldentoempire.com/
- http://blog.seaofatlas.com/
- http://www.properhunt.com/
- http://www.confettiandstripesblog.com/
- http://thegrayedition.com/
My Questions:
- Why did you start blogging?
- How did you come up with your blog’s name?
- What is your favorite thing to blog about?
- What is your dream job?
- Who is a hero in your life?
- What is your favorite quote and by whom?
- If you had one day without any commitments to spend in any way you wanted, what would you do?
- If you were offered a plane ticket to anywhere in the world, where would you go?
- Do you have any hidden talents?
- Describe yourself in three words
I apologize if any of those I nominated have previously been nominated…it just means your blog is really great! Thank you for providing such beautiful, insightful inspiration ladies. I’d love to read your answers to my questions if you have time to respond. Thank you again for the lovely nomination, Rosie!
Heavenly Hummus Covered Chicken
When it comes to chicken entrees we have a clear fan favorite in our house. It combines juicy chicken breasts, fresh vegetables and…drumroll please…HUMMUS! When I first stumbled across this recipe for hummus covered chicken on Pinterest I was a bit skeptical. It seemed like a strange combination of flavors that could easily go awry. However one quick look at the original recipe on Ali’s gorgeous site, Gimme Some Oven, convinced me that it was worth testing out because that woman KNOWS HER STUFF. This recipe is 100% Ali’s, I simply want to share it with all of you because it has become a staple in our household and is too delicious to keep to ourselves!
While the amazingly flavorful end result makes this a win in my book, perhaps the best part about this recipe is that it is exceedingly quick and easy to prepare. And guess what? You’re only dirtying one baking dish and one bowl when you make it so clean up is a breeze!
Yellow squash, zucchini and lemon ready to cover the dish!
Ready to bake!
If you guys are fans of hummus I highly, HIGHLY recommend giving this recipe a try. I promise you will not be disappointed!
Dinner is served!
Bon appetit!
This delicious and easy hummus covered chicken recipe combines fresh garden vegetables, hummus and chicken to create a delightfully unique dish.
| Servings | Prep Time |
| 4 people | 15 minutes |
| Cook Time |
| 30 minutes |
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This delicious and easy hummus covered chicken recipe combines fresh garden vegetables, hummus and chicken to create a delightfully unique dish.
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Ingredients
- 4 chicken breasts boneless, skinless (I generally use frozen)
- 1 zucchini chopped
- 1 yellow squash chopped
- 1 cup hummus
- 2 lemons
- 1 tbsp olive oil extra virgin
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
Servings: people
Instructions
- Pre-heat oven to 450 degrees
- Prepare a large baking dish (I use a 9x13 Pyrex) by coating it in cooking spray or olive oil
- Chop squash and zucchini and toss with olive oil, salt and pepper
- Spread squash and zucchini over the bottom of the baking dish in an even layer
- Pat chicken dry and season with salt and pepper to taste
- Place chicken in baking dish on top of squash and zucchini
- Coat chicken breasts evenly in hummus
- Squeeze juice of one lemon over baking dish
- Slice additional lemon and place slices throughout baking dish
- Sprinkle the dish with paprika
- Pop in the oven for 30-35 minutes
Recipe Notes
Ali uses one medium chopped onion in her recipe. Somebody around here doesn't like onions so I leave it out and it still tastes delicious.
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The Transition Into Fall
For the past twenty-plus years of my life the transition from August 31 into September 1 was been a bittersweet one. It marked the end of the bright and languid days of summer and meant that the crisp, hurried days of fall had arrived. It never quite felt that fresh school supplies, the new wardrobe you were finally allowed to sport and being reunited with classmates was a fair trade off for what you were leaving behind. Once the hustle and bustle of the first week of September began to wane, so too did my spirits.
It was not that I disliked school. In fact for the most part I immensely enjoyed school. I relished in the structure of the days, I appreciated my teachers and their endless efforts and I did not even mind the immense amounts of homework my Catholic schools gave out. What I struggled with, no matter how hard I tried, regardless of what new attempt I made to reinvent myself over the summer, was fitting in with my classmates. I never quite found my “people” in school and as a result spent the majority of my childhood and adolescence feeling very isolated and becoming increasingly withdrawn. It seemed as if every time I started to make friends and finally feel like a part of things, somebody would discover that I was an impostor and out me. I realize now of course that I would have been better off just being myself in all of my awkward, somewhat nerdy glory.
Summer however was a time when I could truly shine. It was a moment in the sun when I could shake off nine months of uncomfortable moments and allow myself to be free. When I was growing up this meant running around the neighborhood barefoot all day, climbing trees, riding my mountain bike around the local parks until dusk, hiking and kayaking with my dad, reading a novel a day, and getting to be around my “people”. As I got older these pursuits led me to working at summer camps, universal haven to an amazing number of overly enthusiastic misfits just brimming with generosity and originality. It was there that I thrived, there that I found my “tribe” and there that I wished I could stay forever. But all good things must end. Without fail, August 31 would come roaring around all too quickly feeling like a slap in the face.
Things did not necessarily feel any different for me in college. I reinvented myself once again and did an alright job at playing the role I had written but always felt a bit like my apprehensive fifteen-year-old self on the first day of school. My twenties continued on in much of the same manner until I woke up one morning, decided that the life I was living was not the authentic one that I so longed for, and turned it upside down. In the process of this I fell in love with a man who is so unapologetically his brilliant, quirky self that he can’t help but inspire the same legitimacy in others. His acceptance of every aspect of me – my strange little idiosyncrasies, both the lightness and darkness bundled inside of me, my somewhat offbeat interests and goals, even of my little Lola, made me realize that I really was okay just being me. It took seeing myself through someone else’s eyes to really see and appreciate who I have been all along.
This year as August rolls into September I am finally embracing the transition into fall. I am embracing the fresh faces, new experiences and unique lessons these upcoming months will bring. I no longer fear it. In fact this year I am running towards it with open arms, excited for all the adventures and changes coming my way. I will wake up on September 1 a little more comfortable in my skin that I was the day before, knowing that I’m good enough, I’m smart enough, and doggonit, people like me! At least the people that matter do – my partner in life, my family, my close friends, and maybe, finally, even me.