Wrap up

It's been a busy week. Lots of work and lots of fun! Shopped a little, cooked a little, family, friends, and a concert. Here's a picture wrap up.

 New purse

(became obsessed with studs this week)

Not much into outfit posts, but newish yellow wool skirt + last day for bare legs + new purse!

= a great day! 

 Divine Fits

 Pancho chilling at the lake

Surf and Turf family dinner. Amazing! 

  Niece 

Fall Party

Even before we bought our house I was planning our first big party. I guess it's my nature. Once we moved in I set a date to have a housewarming/fall party. Having set the date early gave us time to make "to do" lists and prioritize what we wanted done to the house before it's big debut.

To say I got stressed is an understatement. Party planning with menus and decorations is my thing, but throw in some renovations and cleaning and I'm a wreck. If you are a homeowner you know that you will never have everything perfect or done there is always something else that needs painted or remodeled. This is difficult for me as I like things done and I like them done NOW.

In the last couple months since moving in, we have made some significant changes and we are proud of the way it looks. It was nice to have all our friends over and to hear their thoughts and ideas since most have owned homes much longer than we have and have handyman type skills (which we don't).

The party went well and unfortunately I have no pictures. I didn't take a single one. Maybe I was having too much fun. But I did take some of the food (of course) and here are a few of some other areas in our home.

Chicken Noodle Soup

Whipped Vodka, Pineapple juice and Diet Sunkist (Amazing!!) 

view from my window

Chicago: fabric shopping

If I want fabric here in Indianapolis I only have a few options or I have to order online. I am constantly getting ideas from shopping for clothes I would like to make but can't find the right fabrics. The big box fabric stores just don't have everything I want and they seem to cater to the quilter with a lot of cottons. I don't know why it took me so long to go fabric shopping in Chicago as I visit there a few times every year, but I finally did.

A friend on facebook recommended Fishman's fabrics. I believe there are several other great stores, but this was the only one I had time to visit, and it was enough! It was like heaven with all the fabrics I want and currently am seeing in stores: brocades, sequins, leather, silks, etc. Fishman's had a much greater inventory than the stores we have in Indy. I wish more than anything I had a great fabric store to run to in my city when inspiration hits me.

I didn't have any ideas in mind specifically of garments to make, but I did buy 2 fabrics. Both are brocades and gorgeous! A little more expensive than I usually spend, but worth it to have something different.

I'm anxious to make time on my next trip to visit several stores and see the variety.

These are the two that I bought. 

All the pretty buttons! 

Chicago

I went to Chicago this past weekend to see some of my friends. Several of my sorority sisters and my best friend from high school all live in Chicago. It was such a great weekend filled with shopping, good food, and fun times with my friends.

I saw a lot of sequins, lace, brocades and of course peplums! I love it! Great inspiration. 

I went fabric shopping as well and I loved it! I'll dedicate a whole post to that soon. 

Amazing food! Had a fabulous brunch and then my friend Katye and her husband Sean had us all over for dinner on Saturday. They had several types of savory pizza's including the fruit pizza above. 

DIY: Piano Bench

We were able to take a few things from my grandparents house before it was sold and this bench was one of them. My mom had previously covered the bench to match my grandparents bedroom where it sat for probably over 15 years.

I spray painted the legs and it was so easy and turned out so well that I went in search of other things in our house to spray paint. I didn't really find anything, but spray painting is a lot of fun and I can't wait to do it again. Here's the before and after.

Before

After

Don't let the Mustard Fool Ya!

I've probably mentioned before, that Dan doesn't care for mustard. He's afraid of it. For real! So I hide it sometimes in recipes and I'm glad I did with this one, because it's awesome! I have made this 3 times in the last few weeks. Twice with pork and once with chicken. The picture is chicken. Both are great, but something about pork chops is just so tasty!

This original recipe is from Eat Yourself Skinny. I made it slightly different. But it's still not too bad for you! It's 210 calories and 5 WW points.

Herb Crusted Pork Chops/Chicken

Ingredients:
4 Boneless pork chops or chicken breasts
2 Tbsp Dijon Mustard
1/2 cup Panko Bread crumbs
1tsp thyme
1 tsp parsley
1/8 tsp salt
1/8 tsp pepper

Directions: Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Mix Panko and spices in a small bowl.  Coat pork chop with mustard on both sides and drag through mixture to evenly coat. Place on baking pan and bake for 30 minutes until inside is done.

I served it with Roasted Red Potatoes and salad.

Enjoy!

Almost Famous Lasagna

Lasagna is one of the first meals my mom taught me how to make. I remember her telling my sister and I to watch her layer the ingredients once saying that we will need to know how one day. When I first moved out on my own after college it was one of my favorite meals to make.  I've altered the original recipe along the way and I think I have it pretty much perfected now. It's of course a little spicy.

Ok, maybe it's not famous or almost, but my old roommate still talks about me making it for her and that was 5 years ago. And, I like to think it's pretty good! So if you need a new recipe try this one out! I hope you like it!

Ashley's Almost Famous Lasagna
Makes 8x8 pan.
Ingredients:
-1 lb spicy italian turkey sausage links
-1 jar Classico Spicy Tomato and Basil pasta sauce
-1 cup of low fat cottage cheese
-1 egg
-lasagna noodles
-3/4 tsp Italian seasoning
-2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

Directions:
1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2.  remove casing from turkey sausage, crumble and brown the meat.
3. one meat is brown add sauce. You really only need 3/4 of the jar.
4.  in a small bowl mix egg and cottage cheese with a small whisk. Add italian seasoning.
5.  spread a little plain pasta sauce on the bottom of your pan so it won't burn
6.  begin by layering noodles, cottage cheese, meat sauce and repeat.
7.  finish with top layer of shredded cheese, you won't use the whole 2 cups.
8. cover with foil and bake for 45 minutes.
9. remove from oven and let cool for 5-10 minutes (this is the hard part)

Enjoy!! 

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