Apartment Week: Color Schemes

I have been struggling with finding the right color combinations for sections of my apartment. Although I have a studio, I wanted to separate the “living room” from the “bedroom” section. Thus I have slightly different color schemes for each. My “bedroom” section is white furniture with white bedding and accent throw pillows. I found the bird pillow at a Marshalls and wanted to build the whole bed set around it. I am still debating on the peach pillows but for now, they will do. (They have removable covers which help immensely if/ when I redecorate) I like the idea of white bedding with a pop. I’m looking to invest in a more down comforter for the winter, but until then. My living room couch is a coffee tan color. I wanted to do an Americana theme but I have settled for the coffee tan color, whites, and red accents. The side tables and coffee table being white, I needed a little pop. I found the red throw pillows at Walmart for $5 each but I couldn’t find any oversized and comfy white pillows I liked. So I was researching online and found the no-sew DIY pillow covers. They are interchangeable and I made for half the price thanks to Hobby Lobby coupons and discounts. Now I have three white pillows with different prints, two red accent pillows, and I am debating on throwing in another pillow. (Picture to the right is a preview of my apartment)  I am also excited to make plaid covers for Christmas time and just pop off the white ones and switch. I also have two throws I want draped over my couch, giving it a very homey feel. I still haven’t found a rug that I love and with the wood floors, I feel like I need one. So that will be my next project. I’m planning a trip to Kansas City once their Ikea opens so hopefully I find one!

Here is the link to the DIY pillow cover tutorial (for someone not crafty, this was super easy!)

http://purposedlyreinvented.com/how-to-make-a-no-sew-pillow-cover/

If you are looking for great color combinations for decorating, check out Design-Seeds.

http://design-seeds.com/

Have fun!

XOXO

Easy Pasta Dinner

I like to peruse through the food & drink section of Pinterest to get ideas for meals and parties. Most of my "new" recipes come from my "Pilates? I thought you meant pies and lattes" food board on Pinterest. When you are on a budget, thank you grad school, it makes for cheap and easy meals to be a priority. I found this pasta recipe a few months ago and it has become a normal occurrence. This tomato basil pasta is one of the easiest and most delicious recipe. My mom's garden is growing like crazy, and so I was able to walk outside and clip a few basil leaves and grab a few tomatoes. I normally use the tomato juices, olive oil, and garlic to cook the pasta. Tonight I was lazy and just boiled the pasta and drained it. I then threw in the diced tomatoes, basil, and garlic. After letting it simmer for an hour, (I was swimming...) I shredded fresh Parmesan to top it off on my plate.

Happy Eating, 

XOXO

Apartment Week: Pantry Checklist

Now I won’t be stocking up on ALL of these items but this gives me a pretty good idea of what I need in my cupboards, refrigerator, and freezer. 

I know I am stocking up this week! 

XOXO

Update: Basically didn't buy ANY of this until yesterday. Big fail on my part! 

Apartment Week! Kitchen Essentials Checklist

Making lists is kind of my thing. I have lists everywhere and then when I lose my list, I make a new one. The cycle repeats. I have had running lists of everything I need for the apartment for months, slowly checking off each. There were things I wanted vs things that I needed. I think it was Christmas my sophomore year of college when I got my first pots and pans set. It had not been opened and has been sitting in my closet patiently awaiting my first place on my own. The Christmas of my first year of grad school, I got my KitchenAid from a friend. Honestly, my pride and joy. You know you’ve made it when you have a beautiful white KitchenAid sitting on your counter for the world to see. It’s so pretty.  But here is a list of the essentials of a kitchen and a few extras. Just to get you started… I’m sure I am forgetting something and I will be running to Target soon enough.

Tools:

Strainer

Whisk

Grater

Can Opener

Spatulas

Timer

Tongs

Wooden Spoons (slotted, non-slotted)

Potato Peeler

Pizza Wheel (or you can always use a large knife)

Garlic Press (*I’m lazy)

Cutting Boards

Knives:

Bread knife

Chef’s knife

Paring knife

Steak knives 

Knife Sharpener

Bakeware: 

Casserole Dish (small, medium)

Cookie Sheets (I have three or four)

Cooling rack

Meatloaf pan

Mixing Bowls (the more the merrier)

Muffin pan (1 large or 2 small)

9 or 10 inch pie plate

1 Large mixing bowl

9 x 12 casserole pan

Measuring cups

Measuring spoons

Cookware:

Large frying pan

Large pasta pot

4 qt sauce pan

2 qt sauce pan

Small sauté pan

Lids for all of the above

Tea kettle (Screaming kind is the best!)

Bar:

Beer Coozies

Champagne Flutes

Bottle Opener

Shaker

Tall Beer Glasses

Wine Glasses- Red, White

Glassware:

6 coffee cups (with saucer)

2-3 travel mugs

High ball glasses

Drinking glasses

Tumbler

Carafe

Serving:

Bowls (large, medium)

Flatware

Pie wedge

Pitcher

Platters

Salad bowl

Serving spoons

Serving tray

Dishware:

Soup bowls

Salad plates (6-8)

Dinner plates (6-8)

Dessert plates (6-8)

Silverware (buy a set with extras)

Miscellaneous:

Aluminum foil

Food containers with lids

Qt freezer bags

Gal Freezer bags

Napkins

Napkin holder

Paper towels

Paper towel holder

Sandwhich bags

Spice rack- spices

Brita water pitcher

Wax paper

Saran wrap

Scissors

Vase

Cleaning Supplies:

Baking soda

Bleach

Scrub brush

Dish detergent

Disinfectant wipes

Wood floor cleaner

Swiffer

Trash bags

Vinegar

Glass cleaner

409 cleaning spray

Small Appliances:

Keurig

Crock Pot

Hand Mixer

KitchenAid

Toaster

Linens:

Tea towels

Wash cloths

Drying towels

Placemats

Oven mits

Pot holders

Unpacking all week! 

XOXO

New Haircut!

Two inches off the front and three off the back with some thinning and layering. I'm obsessed! If you live in St. Louis, Ginger Bay Salon and Spa has been my place seven years and I have never been disappointed. Not only do you get a head massage before your cut, they are just amazing! I had Miranda today and loved her cut so much I made an appointment in November with her! I love getting my hair done! 

Happy Saturday!

XOXO

Haircut!

I haven’t had a hair cut in 8 months. Yes, I said 8 MONTHS. Partially because I have been busy, my hair stylist is super busy, and I couldn’t afford to pay the $80 for the services when groceries were more important. Well, I finally had it, called my salon, and made an appointment for tomorrow and since its last minute not with my stylist. My hair is getting really long, is in desperate need of trim, and no matter the amount of “no heat this week” I do, will save it. I have long, coarse, thick hair. It’s naturally curly and wavy when air dried and the slightest humidity has me starring in the Lion King. I don’t plan on doing anything crazy, just long layering to take out some of the weight and about two or three inches off. Last December, I needed a change and I stupidly got a side bang. It wasn’t bad, it was a great cut. But I regretted it after a week and had to wait for it to grow out and get out of my eyes. I have also had a pixie cut for a year. My military college shaves your head to an inch or two inch long hair. So to save my long locks- I had it done early before I reported and donated my hair. 14 inches off later, I had a Twiggy-esque haircut. It was pretty fierce when styled correctly. But it also took me years to grow out upon finishing my first year of college and being allowed to grow it out. (Citadel problems) Although I will never go inch to 2 inches short again, I will be cutting it off in November after the Marine Corps ball. So to give y’all a little bit of a hair history, this is my hair from senior year of high school (2007-2008) to now.. 

(Senior Year of HS)

(That time I went brunette for a study abroad in the Panama Canal above right) 

(Senior Year)

(Grad School)

(last weekend)

Wait until Saturday for my next selfie with my new hair cut from Ginger Bay Salon and Spa! 

AHHHH way too excited!

XOXO

Copying {Jestine's Kitchen Onion and Pickled Cucumber Salad}

I have been on the hunt for a great copy of Justine's Kitchen, a restaurant down in Charleston, "table pickles." Also known as onion and pickled cucumber salad, since the cucumbers are still fresh. I found a few recipes on Pinterest and after a few Google searches, also found a few knockoff recipes. They are so amazing, I could eat them all day!! My mom's garden is growing like crazy, so after one night of picking cucumbers and washing 15, I decided to try the different recipes. This was the closest, and also my dad's favorite- he said it was closest to his late mom's.





Onion and Pickled Cucumber Salad:

Ingredients:
2-3 cucumbers, thinly sliced (you can peal them, I prefer not to)
1/2 vidalia onion, sliced in rings
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup oil
1/2 cup vinegar (White)
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup water
1/8 teaspoon pepper

(1 tsp of dried herbs optional- dill, basil, etc, I did not use any)

Directions: Cut up cucumbers and onions, add to mason jar, add additional ingredients, cover with lid. shake.
Refrigerate and enjoy!!

So yummy! 

XOXO