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Redefining Domestics

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Redefining Domestics

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June Favorite Finds

June 24, 2016 Callie Cagney
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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! 

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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. 
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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.  

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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."

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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.  

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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.   

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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!

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In Decorate Tags Peonies, District Doughnut, Container Store, Kitchen Tool, CB2
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Creating an All-in-One Hors D'oeuvre Platter

June 17, 2016 Callie Cagney
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I'm constantly evolving and fine tuning my entertaining style.  Of course I love trying new recipes, hosting different groups of people and on occasion, even coming up with different themes for some of my get togethers.  While the party presentation is certainly important, it's equally (if not more) important that I create a sound, efficient and effortless (in appearance), operational process for every gathering. As a hostess the last thing you ever want to do is spend the party running around and looking frazzled.   Your guests have come over to spend time with you, so you need to make sure that you do just that.

In an effort to minimize the time I spend clearing a cocktail/hors d'oeuvre spread before serving dinner, I have developed an all-in-one hors d'oeuvre platter.  This platter is made up of all of my favorite go-to cocktail party foods with the added benefit of only having to serve and clear one dish!  I am really kicking myself that it's taken me so long to figure this out.  Fab summer veggies, hummus, two different cheeses and even those tasty cocktail nuts can be served on one platter! Less time making trips to the kitchen to add and/or clear food means more time with your guests.  Cocktail parties made even easier!  What's not to love about that?!?

See below for full details on this All-in-One Hors D'oeuvre Platter.  

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Food Details

  • Trader Joe's Herb & Garlic Brie
  • Trader Joe's Formaggio Lagorai (mild, semi-soft cow's milk)
  • 34 Degree's Poppy Seed Crisps
  • Watermelon Radishes
  • Mini English Cucumbers
  • Sugar Snap Peas
  • Endive Leaves (Red & Green)
  • Organic Red Grapes
  • Purple and Orange Carrots
  • Marcona Almonds
  • Fresh Dill
  • Lemon Hummus (garnished with fresh thyme)
  • Red Pepper Hummus (garnished with chili flakes)

Wine Details

  • Napa Cellars Syrah Rose (*A perfect pairing with this spread and time of year)
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Entertaining Essentials

  • CB2 Large Cuatro Platter
  • CB2 Marta Tasting Glasses
  • World Market Event White Wine Glasses
  • Caspari Emerald Damask Cocktail Napkins
  • Sur La Table Cheese Knives
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In Entertain Tags Napa Cellars, Cheese Board, CB2, Caspari, Summer Entertaining, Veggies, 34 Degrees
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Heirloom Panzanella Salad Recipe

June 7, 2016 Callie Cagney
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Nothing beats the taste of fresh summer produce!  Literally this is probably what I look forward to most with the start of the summer season.  Whether your enjoying the delicious array of berries that are now in season or the abundance of fresh herbs like basil, summer is the best time of year for enjoying all things fresh and colorful. 

In an effort to come up with a recipe that best celebrates the array of delicious summer flavors, I spent some time researching recipes in hopes of finding inspiration.   All I can say is that it was time well spent, because I came across the most fabulous collection of Panzanella Salad recipes and could not have been more excited to create my own.

My Heirloom Panzanella Salad recipe is really a meal in and of itself - carbohydrates, protein, dairy, fresh veggies and healthy fats.  In addition, this recipe is super easy to make (minimal cooking involved) and can keep for up to 3 days in the fridge (making it ideal for meal planning and entertaining).  Here is how I went about creating this most delicious seasonal dish:

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Ingredients

  • 1 Loaf Fresh Italian Bread (cut into 1" cubes)
  • 1 Lg Heirloom Tomato (cut into 1/2" cubes)
  • 1 pkg Mini Heirloom Tomatoes (sliced in halves or quarter pieces)
  • 1c Fresh Basil (sliced into strips)
  • 1/2 Red Onion (sliced into thin strips)
  • 5 Mini English Cucumbers (cut into 1/4"semicircles)
  • 1 Jar Capers (drained and rinsed)
  • 1 8oz Ball Fresh Mozzarella (cut into 1/4" cubes)
  • Sweet Mini Peppers (about 1c of sliced pieces)
  • 1/2c Olive Oil
  • 4 Tbs Red Wine Vinegar
  • 2 tsp Dijon Mustard
  • 1 Shallot (finely chopped)
  • 1/4 tsp Freshly Cracked Pepper
  • 1/2 tsp Kosher Salt (+ more for seasoning bread)
  • Spray Olive Oil (about 3-4Tbs)
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Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees fahrenheit
  2. Place bread cubes on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper
  3. Spray tops of bread with olive oil and then sprinkle with kosher salt
  4. Bake in the oven for about 15 minutes until golden brown
  5. Meanwhile, in a very large bowl (like this one) combine onions, capers, peppers, cucumbers, tomatoes, basil and mozzarella.  Then set aside
  6. In a small bowl (or glass measuring cup, which is my preference), combine 1/2c olive oil, red wine vinegar, mustard, shallot, pepper and 1/2 tsp salt
  7. Pour vinaigrette over mozzarella/veggie mixture and toss
  8. Add toasted bread cubes (once slightly cooled) to the vinaigrette coated veggies and slowly toss until all ingredients are sufficiently incorporated.
  9. Allow the salad to sit for at least an hour before serving so that the flavors have time to blend together.  

*I love serving this salad alongside freshly grilled steaks or packing this salad for a picnic with friends.  

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In Food and Drink Tags Recipe, Summer Vegetables, Summer Entertaining, Salad, Heirloom Tomatoes, Picnic Food, Healthy Recipe
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Installing Drapes: My DIY Guide

June 1, 2016 Callie Cagney
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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.  

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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)
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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.  

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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.  

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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.   

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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!

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In Decorate Tags Draperies, Window Treatment, Hardware, DIY, Home Improvement, Tools
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May Favorite Finds

May 25, 2016 Callie Cagney
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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.

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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. 

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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.

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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. 

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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!

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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.  

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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!

In Decorate Tags Microplane, Citrus Juicer, Woodberry Kitchen, Spindrift Seltzer, Martha Stewart, Recipe, Dessert
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