June Favorite Finds

I cannot believe we are already a week away from the fourth of July!  June has been such a busy month for me both at home and at work.  It all really feels like a blur.  

The one thing I have noticed is that being so busy lately has made it hard to recall everything that I have accomplished over the past month.  I know it sounds ridiculous, but it if wasn't for my daily Instagram postings, I probably wouldn't have been able to recall all of my favorite finds and fun moments from this past month.  So I guess what I am trying to say is- thank goodness for Instagram! 

To give you a short recap, here are a few of my favorite moments over this past month:

• Attended a Nationals vs. Cubs baseball game with my husband (see photo above). 
• After 8 years of service, I finally achieved Sustainer Status with the Junior League of Washington.  The Junior League is a non profit organization with branches around the country.  It's a great way to get involved in community service work and meet new friends. 
• Learned how to install my own lighting fixtures in my home (blog post coming soon).
• I've been busier than ever with my day job and really excited with all of the work I have been doing lately.
• Discovered and became slightly obsessed with these fab finds detailed in today's blog post. 

CB2's Rona Wine Glasses

CB2's new Rona Wine Glasses are a current obsession of mine at the moment.  From their stately size to the modern silhouette, I am currently all about this updated look when it comes to my stemware.  The rona wine glass is offered in two sizes (22oz and 12oz), are dishwasher safe and cost $5.95/glass.  Love love love!!!  Definitely a chic and affordable way to update your stemware this season.  

Peonies 

If you have had a chance to take a look at my Instagram over the past month, I am guessing that you are not surprised to see this on my list.  June is their in-season period and I literally cannot get enough of this gorgeous flower!  They are voluminous, fragrant and come in the most most fabulous array of pinks, purples and whites.  So far, the best deal I can find on peonies is at Trader Joe's (about $7.89/5 stems), but oh how I wish that I had my own bit of land to grow these gorgeous blooms myself.  Seriously so envious of my friends and family who have their own peony plants growing in their backyard.  My big tips when purchasing and arranging peonies that I did want to share-- make sure to thoroughly inspect your blooms before buying.  The cut stems should be wet from sitting in water and there shouldn't be any signs of brown on the bulb petals.  When arranging, make sure to avoid over-crowding your peonies.  They need sufficient space to open and if they are crowded in a vase, you won't see maximum "bloomage."

Silicone Whisk

The silicone whisk is a kitchen essential for anyone who has ever made a recipe that involved whisking in a pot or pan.  Metal whisks will scratch the surface and can ultimately damage your cookware over time.  In order to keep your pots and pans looking their best, use a silicone whisk when stirring or mixing ingredients in your cookware.  

Cotton Shoulder Covers

Recently I have been spending a lot of time helping my little brother move into his new townhouse.  Not so much the manual labor but more with the decor and organization.  Last weekend we focused on organizing his closet using hangers I've featured in this post and getting rid of clothes he no longer wore.  While on one of my many trips to the container store, I came across these most fabulous cotton shoulder covers.  Dust on coats and pants is no longer an issue thanks to these most ingenious shoulder covers.  Each cover can fit a couple of bulky garments and all shoulder covers are machine washable!  Not only did I buy a few for my brother, but I also went ahead and bought covers for both my coats and my husband's suits.  This is a simple and inexpensive solution that will help protect your clothes from dust and keep your garments looking sharp.   

District Doughnut

While I do love a good cupcake, I have to say that gourmet doughnuts are on the rise and even quite possibly the new cupcake.  This past month, District Doughnut opened a pop-up shop in Georgetown and I have to say that after trying one of their delicious doughnuts I was immediately hooked!  Their store offers flavors like Baklava, Brown Butter, Sea Salted Dulce de Leche, Fluffernutter and Chocolate Creme Brûlée (which they will brûlée right in front of you!).  The store is a total experience and I have even taken to serving their gourmet doughnuts for dessert at my latest dinner parties along with a scoop of ice cream.  If you are visiting DC, I highly recommend trying District Doughnut and if you live in DC, great news- District Doughnut offers delivery!

Installing Drapes: My DIY Guide

I love DIY home improvement projects and find them to be extremely rewarding for a few reasons.  Not only is it empowering to realize what I am capable of accomplishing, but I also love how much money I can save by foregoing the hourly contractor fees and doing some of the simpler projects myself (ex. installing simple lighting fixtures and putting up my own window treatments). 

Over the years I have learned through quite a bit of trial and error (plus research) how to properly install drapery hardware on my windows at home.  While I won't be spending today running through a complete how-to guide for installing drapes, I did want to share my best tips from lessons learned when it comes to achieving those picture perfect window treatments.  

Installation Supplies

• Cordless Power Drill
• Drill Bits
• Pencil
• Measuring Tape
• Zinc Anchors (*make sure to check the weight capacity)
• Screw Drivers - Philips Head and/or Flat Head (drill or manual)
• Drapery Hardware (Rod, Finials, Pulls, etc... as applicable)

Measure

Precision is key when it comes to hanging your window treatments.  After going to the trouble of buying and installing your drapes, the last thing you want to see is a slanted drapery rod or two windows with mismatched drapery rod heights.  Take time to be precise about the location of your drapes and where to drill the anchor holes.  *Tip- hang the rods a few inches higher than the top of the window to make your room/ceiling feel higher.  

Here is a link to one of my favorite Drapery Guides.  This is a great resource for learning how to measure your window for drapes and learn about the many different options available in the world of drapes.  

Use 2 different sized drill bits

When drilling holes into the drywall to fit your anchors, I recommend starting with a smaller drill bit and then going through the same hole with the appropriate sized drill bit second.  I know there are differing schools of thought on this topic, but in my opinion/experience, I have found that this gradual approach for drilling into dry wall will reduce your chances of having the wall crumble while installing your drywall anchors.  

Anchors

The first time I hung drapes myself, I installed a very lightweight curtain on one window and then a heavy duty blackout drape on another window (both without using wall anchors).  The result?  The screws used to support each drapery rods buckled under the additional weight and the rods dislodged from both windows.

Anchors are an absolute MUST when installing draperies.  These zinc and/or plastic screw pieces will provide your drapery hardware with the additional support needed to hold your window treatments in place securely.  Once you have drilled the nail holes using the two different drill bits (see above), simply twist the anchor into the drilled hole using a philips head screw driver.  Once the anchors are in place, you can fasten the drapery rod mount to the anchor.  Super easy and absolutely essential when hanging drapes.   

How to fix an oops 

Mistakes are inevitable and I am one who has certainly made plenty during my DIY endeavors over the years.  The secret is knowing how to fix the mistake.  When it comes to anything with drywall, I am a huge fan of using DryDex spackle.  This product is great for filling in nail holes and even larger spots caused by mishaps.  Simply apply, smooth and allow to dry.  Once dry, cover the DryDex spackle with a coat of paint and you will have a wall that is as good as new!

May Favorite Finds

This past monday I celebrated my 31st birthday.  For many reasons (ex. 31 is a non-milestone year and the fact that my birthday fell on a Monday) this year should have been a quieter celebration.  However, to my surprise and delight it was anything but that!  

The morning started off with my favorite tradition of birthday breakfast in bed (see this post), followed by a great day at the office and then coming home to find that my husband had organized a surprise birthday party at our house with all of my friends in on the surprise!  If that wasn't enough my husband even made a recipe from Redefining Domestics for the party! I was completely blown away by the entire evening and touched that everyone would make the effort to come and help me celebrate my not so significant birthday on a school night.  This birthday really couldn't have been any more perfect and I am still smiling as I sit here typing this recap to you all.

Now, onto my recap of this month's favorite finds.  I am absolutely loving this new monthly series because it's providing me with the perfect vehicle for bringing you all my list of latest favorite things.  This month's list is a collection of finds that are great for enjoying during any time of year, but especially during the warmer months.

Spindrift Seltzer

Flavored carbonated water is a hot trend at the moment.  La Croix and Vintage Seltzer have been two personal favorites, until recently when I discovered Spindrift Seltzer.  Why is Spindrift so great?  Well, in addition to have a lovely fizz and great flavor variety, the biggest reason for it's jump to the top of my seltzer list is the fact that it is made with real juice and not synthetic substitutes.  Nothing beats the taste of real fruit flavor in my opinion and for an additional 10-15 calories per can and 0-2grams of sugar, it is totally worth it! My favorite flavors at the moment include: Lemon, Raspberry-Lime and Grapefruit.  I really cannot get enough of these delicious and refreshing flavored seltzers and definitely recommend trying Spindrift ASAP if you haven't already.  Here is a link to Spindrift's Product Locator. 

Mini Citrus Juicer

I have my fair share of citrus juicing tools, however over this past weekend I came across this mini citrus juicer and had to have it!  Why? Not only is it small enough to easily fit in a kitchen drawer, it can juice and/or store both lemons and limes, is dishwasher safe and cost less than $10!  Citrus juicing made even easier and most definitely a new favorite tool in my kitchen.

Microplane Garlic Mincer

We all know my love of kitchen tools and especially my obsession with all things Microplane (see here, here and here).  While perusing my favorite kitchen stores a few weeks ago, I came across the latest in microplane technology...the Microplane Garlic Mincer!  This tool minces garlic with ease, comes in a small compact case for easy storage and is completely dishwasher safe!  Microplane's new garlic mincer is an item that I would highly recommend adding to your kitchen tool collection. 

Martha Stewart's Cowboy Coconut Bar Recipe 

Lately I have been turning to baking as a way to destress.  It's a great way for me to break away from my computer at night, try a new recipe and earn immediate satisfaction with a delicious finished product.  I came across this recipe while perusing the May Issue of Martha Stewart Living Magazine and was immediately intrigued.  I've made endless cookie and brownie recipes, but very few cookie bar recipes over the years, so the thought of a chocolate coconut and toasted pecan cookie bar really caught my eye.  Martha Stewart's recipe for Cowboy Coconut Bars is an absolute MUST TRY!

Woodberry Kitchen

I attended a bridal shower in Baltimore this past month to celebrate the upcoming nuptials of a family member from my husband's side.  All of my husband's extended family drove to Baltimore for the shower which took place in the afternoon.  Since it isn't every day that we can get the entire family together, we all planned to go out for an early dinner before everyone headed home.  

I had heard about Woodberry Kitchen from my foodie friend at work, who raved about it and said it was a must try and boy was she right!  This restaurant is absolutely FABULOUS!!  Woodberry Kitchen focuses on supporting the local agriculture of the Chesapeake by creating a menu based on ingredients that are both seasonal and local to the area. In addition to the fabulous food, the ambiance is to die for!  The main dining room has massive vaulted ceilings with a rustic chic decor vibe throughout and the most picturesque outdoor garden area seating where I enjoyed the most delicious whiskey smash cocktail (pictured above).  And how could I forget to talk about dessert!?  I ordered the S'more Kit for one which was served in the most adorable packaging with a roasting skewer so that I could roast the homemade marshmallow (included in the kit) myself in their fire pit located on the back patio of the restaurant.  Talk about an experience!  If ever in Baltimore, a visit to Woodberry Kitchen need to be on your list!

Simple Tips for Improving Your Kitchen Space

Between all of the entertaining and cooking that I do on a weekly basis, I have developed a few tips over the years that have really helped to maximize both the practicality and functionality of my kitchen.  These are really easy tips/adjustments that can be made in a matter of minutes and will not only increase the organization level in your kitchen, but also enhance your kitchen's overall convenience factor.   Whether you have a big dreamy kitchen or a cubby kitchen (like yours truly) today's post will help you achieve some serious "Kitchen Zen!"

Trash Bags in the Bottom of Trash Can

This is a tip that I learned from my mom and have implemented throughout my home because it is so genius!  Keep a stack of fresh trash bags at the bottom of your garbage can.  By doing this, you will be able to quickly and easily line your garbage can with a fresh bag when it's time to take out the trash.   Storing your extra bags in the bottom of your garbage pail will not only alleviate storage space in your utility closet but it will also save you from having to fumble around for a fresh bag every time your trash can needs freshening.   

Pen and Post-its in Kitchen 

Pen and post-its are a party prep must have!  The day before hosting a party I usually like to get as much of the food prep done as possible.  For example, assembling a hot dip so that I am only left with minimal cooking/heating right before the party.  I love using post-it notes to label the bake time and temperature on those party foods I have made ahead of time.  By using post-it notes I can avoid having a million cookbooks out and clear countertops for plating/serving.  Post-it notes are also great to use for assigning foods to serving dishes when prepping for a party, grocery shopping reminders and notes to your significant other and/or kids.  An all around fab kitchen addition that I have found to be supremely helpful.  

Labels

When most people think of using labels in their kitchen, it's typically to  list the contents of a container.  While that is certainly a great use for labels in the kitchen, I have found using these mini dot labels to be extremely helpful for keeping track of food expiration dates.  I cannot even begin to tell you how I have struggled over the years with those perishable items that read "use within x days of opening."  Who can remember all of those dates!?!  Use these labels to mark your perishables with the date opened so you will never lose track again!  In addition, I have also found these labels to be extremely helpful with tracking the age of my spices (because the expiration date isn't necessarily an accurate indication that the spices are at the end of their shelf life--- see this article).

Keeping Lighters in every room with candles or votives

Lighting a kitchen candle, birthday candles, tapers on my dining room table, etc... I have found it to be so convenient having a lighter stored in my kitchen drawer.  Not necessarily one of those tools you would naturally think to include in your kitchen drawer, but one that I would definitely recommend adding.  

DIY Herb Bouquet Place Cards

This weekend we are having close friends over for a fun DIY pizza party.  This type of occasion naturally means -- a perfect opportunity to tablescape!  With all of the traveling I have been doing so far this year, it occurred to me that my last dinner party and tablescape was Christmas!  I cannot believe that it is almost May and I have been tablescapeless.  Needless to say, I am thrilled to have the chance to finally create my first tablescape of 2016!

While the full tablescape and menu details will be on the blog next week, I wanted to use today's post to share the details on the DIY project included in this latest table creation - Herb Bouquet Place Cards.  

Place cards are a tablescape essential for my parties because I find that they are a great way to insure that your guests have the opportunity to chat with new people.  In addition to mixing up table conversation, they can also add an extra pop of color or decor to your table setting.  I absolutely love the fresh pop of green these herb bouquets add to each place setting and the blue cards tie in perfectly with my buffalo check napkins.  These bouquets are super easy to make and relatively inexpensive.  Fragrant and very fitting for entertaining during the warmer months, these place cards are a fabulous tablescape addition. 

Supplies (Makes 4 Bouquets)

• Package of Place Cards (pictured in Night)
• Gold Marker Pen (medium-thick point)
• Scissors
• Gold Ink Pad
• Laurel Rubber Stamp
• Raffia Ribbon
• 4 Packages of Fresh Poultry Herbs 
• 1 Package of Fresh Rosemary
• Hole Punch

Instructions

1. Cut each place card on the fold crease to create 2 individual cards
2. Stamp each cut piece and fill in each guest's name
3. Trim the edges of each card
4. Hole punch the top right corner of each card and then set cards aside
5. Cut raffia ribbon into eight 12" long pieces
6. Arrange one package of poultry herbs into a bouquet adding extra sprigs of rosemary or thyme where needed in order to create a beautiful mini bouquet
7. Wrap an entire piece of cut raffia ribbon tightly around the base and secure the ribbon by making a small knot
8. Loop a second piece of ribbon through the hole punched place card and secure the card to the bouquet by tying a bow
9. I recommend keeping these bouquets in the refrigerator until right before you are ready to use them in order to keep them looking fresh and crisp.