Scenes From our Spring Break

Happy Monday Friends!  I hope you all had a great weekend.  We have been in Charlotte for the last week and it has been glorious.   Sometimes it is so nice to have a change of scenery.  Here is a little peak at our Spring Break.

We got in town to await the birth of my nephew.  This is my sister two days before she gave birth, she looks amazing right??

While I was home Mom and I did what we love best, shopping.  We found some great deals at The Gap, all on Super sale!  You can 15% off everything online with code GAPSTYLE.

{ Neon Stripped Tote |  Stripped Tee |  Blue Tunic Dress }

The next day my sister went into labor.  I have to admit I was a bit envious of her labor.  I was in labor for 32 long hours.  She arrived at the hospital at 8am and had her baby at noon.  A super fast delivery right?  and she looked amazing afterwards.  Even my dad joked how rough I looked post birth compared to her!  I cried the second I met my nephew- who they named Finley Wilburn Powell.  I was so overcome with joy.  I was filled with so much emotion seeing my sister become a mom and welcome this perfect baby into our lives.  Witnessing a newborn enter the world reminds you there is a God and babies are such miracles.  I am such a proud aunt and filled with so much love for this sweet fella. (No pictures of my sister she didn't want hospital pics of her floating around the internet).

We decided to surprise my sister with some of her favorite cake.  It is the caramel cake from Reids.  If you live in Charlotte you must try it.  It is hands down the best cake I have ever tasted.  It is 13 layers of icing, enough said!

I rocked my new Baublebar necklace alot.  It is the perfect statement necklace to wear with a tee!

I also wore my Camilla and Marc Dress from Social Dress shop.  It is on major sale,  somebody needs to snag the last ones left.  I got so many compliments all day!  I have been living in it since I got it.  It is the perfect Summer Dress and so comfortable!

Sunday we hit up Freedom Park.  I forgot what a great park it was.  Sterling absolutely loved it!

We definitely had a great and relaxing Spring Break!  Cheers to Monday!

xoxo

Happy Weekend + Girl Crush

Happy Friday Friends.  This week flew by!  Sterling and I decided to stay in Charlotte a few more days to visit with my parents since we won't see them again for over a month til they are down in Charleston again!  We have had the best week here so far! We have had some incredible meals, done some fun shopping- and I became an Aunt!  Details to come on Monday!  Todays' post is short and sweet!

Today I am also so flattered to be featured over at Tartans and Sequins as their Girl Crush of the week.  Please check out my feature HERE!

Have a great weekend friends,  I know I will.  Nothing better than your parents spoiling you and helping out with your kid!  I have not cooked once this week, such a luxury for someone to cook for me!
xoxo

Blazers Yes or No?

I have to be honest I always feel like a man when I put on a blazer.  I have a complex- I had the same complex about denim shirts but I got over that quickly.  I love, love, love blazers on other people but for a long time I thought they weren't for me.   You see my friend Katie, inspired me.  She was on the search for the perfect blazer and it made me think I need one too. About a year ago my mom gave me this Tahari Boyfriend Blazer that she no longer wanted.  It hung in my closet a very long time before I busted it out.  I wore it last week and really quite liked it.  You know I feel like I might be starting to like blazers now.

Look even my girl GP Loves a good blazer, I can be converted to wear anything if GP does.

There are so many cute ways to wear a blazer Spring or Fall.

Here are a few of my favorites I am stalking.  Tell me do you rock a blazer and if so who makes the best ones?

Shrimp Sandwiches with Jalapeno Coleslaw.

This was my Birthday Dinner from last week.  Matt and I were inspired by the new cover of Bon Appetit to create a kick ass sandwich.  This one did not disappoint.

 The original recipe called for fried chicken which I am sure is amazing but we were in a seafood mood so we used Shrimp instead. The spicy mayo and jalapeno coleslaw paired perfectly with the shrimp.  I ate my whole sandwich in minutes it was that good.  The coleslaw is better as it sits and soaks in the juices.  I used a mandolin to get the cabbage, onion, and jalapeno sliced super thinly.

My mouth is watering just thinking about this spicy goodness. 

Enjoy!

:: S H R I M P   S A N D W I C H E S  W I T H   J A L A P E N O    C O L E S L A W::

Ingredients 

• 1 lb Shrimp peeled and devined
• Whole Wheat Buns (or any buns you prefer)

Spicy Mayo and Slaw

• 1 garlic clove, finely grated
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 1 tablespoon Louisiana-style hot pepper sauce
• 1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced
• 1 jalapeño, thinly sliced
• 4 cups thinly sliced cabbage
• 1/2 cup Bread-and-Butter Pickle slices, plus 1/4 cup pickle juice

Directions

Marinate Shrimp in Olive Oil, Salt and Pepper and a few dashes of Siricha.  

 Mix garlic, mayonnaise, and hot pepper sauce in a small bowl; cover and chill. 

Toss onion, jalapeño, cabbage, pickles, and pickle juice in a large bowl to combine; cover and chill. 

Heat a medium- large skillet with Olive or Vegetable Oil.  Cook Shrimps until Pink about 5-6 minutes.  Toast Buns in oven (we added a touch of butter to our buns before toasting to make them crisp up nicely).  Spread bun with spicy mayo, layer on shrimp and jalapeno coleslaw.

 

Obsessions

{BB DAKOTA WILK HI-LO DRESS} 

I love BB Dakota.  They make such cute affordable dresses.  I am about yellow for this summer and love the simplicity of this dress.  There is so much you could do with it.  Wear it now with a jean jacket/leather jacket and booties or rock it in the Summer with a cool necklace and flats.  So versatile.

{AGATE PLATTER}

After seeing these on Natalie's blog, I became obsessed with them.  I really want the large one!!  It would be so cool for serving cheese or to display jewelry, the possibilities are endless!

{MARA HOFFMAN LEOPARD PRINT SHIRTDRESS}

I posted a picture of this dress on Instagram and got mixed reviews but you know what I love it.  I think it is such a cute unique dress.  I see myself living in it this Summer.  Plus I never tire of leopard.

{JONATHAN ADLER CURTAINS FOR JCPENNY}

How amazing are these curtains?  They are from Jonathan Adler's new collection for JCPenny.  They are such a steal at only $40 a panel. I am thinking I want a pair for our guest room!

{OLD NAVY MAXI DRESS}

I swear this dress looks just like a Velvet one I saw online for $150.  This one is only $27.  So cute. I will be buying this for Summer no doubt.

I also really like this Stripped one as well.  Reminds me of LemLem.

{SPLENDID CONGO FLATS}

Loving these chic shoes from Splendid and they are such a good price.  I love the black because I feel like it would go with everything but a part of me wants the neon ones.

{JCREW PAINTERS FLORAL BIKINI AND ONE PIECE}

I am beyond obsessed with the print on these bathing suits.  Now I just need to decide one piece or bikini.....

{GWYNETH PALTROW ITS ALL GOOD COOKBOOK}

It is no secret I am pumped about GP's cookbook that was released today.  I can't wait for mine to arrive at my doorsteps.  First up I want to make this Salmon with Siriacha Sauce.

Scenes From Easter Weekend

First of all Happy Birthday to my Sister!  Today is her Birthday and I can't wait to celebrate once we get in town!  Maybe my nephew will be born on her birthday- although now that I think about it hopefully not,  who likes to share their birthday?

We had a lovely low key Easter in town. We decided we wanted to celebrate just the three of us, no traveling til after.  Friday night we used the leftover chicken from our Crockpot tacos to make some kick ass Nachos. The chicken saved really well.  It was a great way to use the leftovers.

Saturday we spent alot of time outdoors.  We walked this cool oyster trail near our house.

Then we made Val's Chocolate Peanut Butter Easter Treats.  They were so good.  I could not stop eating them.

This is Sterling patiently waiting to dig in.  Not really I could hardly snap the picture before his greedy hands snatched one!

 Later that afternoon the ice cream truck came thru our neighborhood.  Who knew the ice cream man started in March?  Sterling was thrilled he had never seen a truck filled with all ice cream!

 Sunday we of course hit up the Early Easter Service at our church.  I wore my old Ann Taylor Dress and BaubleBar necklace.  Pink and yellow seemed like the perfect Easter combo to me.

 Sterling woke me up at 6:45 to see what the Easter Bunny brought him.  He was so excited.  How could I not let him eat some of the candy.  He was definitely on a sugar high when I dropped him at the church nursery.

I have to thank my blog reading friend (I should have asked your name!), we were outside trying to get pictures of each other with Sterling and she stopped and offered to take a family picture.  It turned out so well.  We have so few pictures where we are all looking at the camera and smiling.

As much as I love and really enjoy cooking this weekend I just wasn't feeling it.  We picked up the most amazing Easter Dinner from Piggly Wiggly.  Matt and I swear they have the best fried chicken in town.  It was a Southern Delight and so nice not to cook for once!  I cleaned my plate in seconds and then felt ill for eating so much!  But it was good.

 Check out my new About Me Page.   Sara, from a dose of pretty created a new page for me and its awesome!  Shoot her an email if you are interested in one too.  She is only charging $25.  I love mine!

Happy Monday!