Outfit Inspo: Monochrome

sources: style.com elle.com harpersbazaar.com

can't go wrong in black and white

La Dolce Vita

I was lucky enough to spend the past weekend tucked away in the chilly Colorado mountains and decided to take advantage of the rustic setting by cooking a traditional Italian meal for my boyfriend. This is a meal I learned in a cooking class I took while in the Chianti region of Tuscany. Be prepared for a serious carb coma!

Antipasti

Tomato and Basil Bruschetta

1 Package Cherub Tomatoes

Fresh Basil

Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Fresh Baguette

1. Dice tomatoes and set aside

2. Chop basil and add to tomatoes

3. Add Extra Virgin Olive Oil to bowl so that mixture is 3/4 submerged and let marinate for at least 10 minutes

4. Slice baguette diagonally in 1 inch pieces

5. Place sliced baguette on baking sheet and brush with olive oil

6. Broil for approximately 3 minutes or until bread is golden brown

7. Remove from over and spoon tomato basil mixture evenly over slices, draining excess oil

8. Salt and pepper to taste

Primo

Spinach and Ricotta Ravioli

Premade Spinach and Ricotta Ravioli

Butter

Parmesan

1. Bring small pot of water to a rolling boil

2. Add pasta and cook until pasta is puffy and floating on top of water (approx. 3-4 minutes)

3. Drain pasta and add butter

4. Serve warm with fresh parmesan

Secondo

Roasted Pork Loin with Herbed Milk Sauce

1 kg pork loin

1 liter whole milk

4 sprigs fresh rosemary

1 clove garlic

skin of half a lemon

10 grams fennel seeds

100 grams butter

olive oil

salt/pepper

string

1. Take herbs, garlic, lemon and cut finely

2. Take meat, make couple holes at each end with a knife an fill it with herbs previously prepared

3. Rub the meat with the left over herbs and tie it with a string

4. Put the meat into a casserole/heavy deep pot, add milk, butter, olive oil, some salt and pepper and cook it on the stove with no lid on medium heat, for an hour, turning it after half an hour

5. Remove meat from pot and let rest allowing remaining sauce to simmer and reduce until thick

I chose a rustic table setting to go along with the Tuscan theme and a bottle of Chianti Classico to compliment the meal.

Buon Appetito!

Best Dressed: 2012 Emmy's

Loving Zoey Deschanel in this whimsical Reem Acra gown.

Allison Williams killed it in this jade Oscar de la Renta.

Julie Bowen wowed us with her color choice in this bright Monique Lhuillier.

A stunning and pregnant Claire Danes in Lanvin.

 

 Obsessed with Leslie Mann's quirky Naeem Khan gown with amazing detailing.

LFW In Review: Burberry Prorsum

 

All images via Style.com

Texture, color, fabric selection, pure genius from Christopher Bailey.

We can't get enough.

Girl Crush: Miroslava Duma

Via Give a Mouse a Cookie

With NYFW in full swing, there has been a flood of street style pics on the blogosphere. Thus, we decided to dedicate this week's "Girl Crush" post to someone who is owning the scene in Manhattan: Miroslava Duma. From bright green tweed minis, to crop tops to the most amazing cut-offs we've ever seen, this freelance editor has officially stolen our hearts.

Via The Cut

Via Because I'm Addicted

 Via Cherie Coeur

Via Young Style Guide

Via All Pretty & Petite

Lust List: Ankle Booties

From Left to Right: Rachel Zoe Charlie Boot, Jeffrey Campbell Suede Rumble Boot, Joie Bright Fire Booties, Michael Kors Wayland Boot, Aldo Fastrost Boot

Currently obsessing over mini skirts/shorts/dresses + ankle boots. Total must for Fall in LA. If only I could pick one pair to purchase... 

NYFW in Review: Alexander Wang

black and white, sporty cutouts, strappy sandals

Alexander Wang's downtown girl is cooler than ever this spring. 

#obsessed

The Lust List: NYFW

Unfortunately, we're not heading to New York Fashion Week this year. But as everyone else in the blogosphere is preparing we thought we'd share what we would wear if we were going (and had unlimited funds, obvs)

Caroline:

Blazer: Rag and Bone, Tee: Saint James, Skirt: Helmut Lang, Necklace: Lulu Frost, Boots: Elizabeth and James, Bag: Kate Spade

Sarah:

Vest: Calypso St. Barth, Bodysuit: Alice + Olivia, Pants: A.L.C., Shoes: Alexander Wang, Bag: 3.1 Phillip Lim

Collages made via Polyvore

xx

Sarah + Caroline

Outfit Post: Transitional

Blouse: Marciano, Skirt: Urban Outfitters, Scarf: BCBG, Shoes: BP, Watch: Tissot

I was lucky enough to get to spend the holiday weekend up in San Francisco with my family. Visiting a new city is always the perfect excuse to debut new outfits and the cooler weather up north definitely got me anxious to start dressing for fall! Since I couldn't exactly break out the full scarves and boots looks I've been dreaming about, I decided to put together a transitional look that can carry from one season to the next. Wearing a fall scarf and booties with a skirt and tie front airy blouse is the perfect way to get that fall feeling without piling on too many layers. 

xx
Caroline

DIY: Sunburst Mirror

Sunburst mirrors have been all over the design world lately. I love the interest they add to the decor in any room; from living rooms to foyers to bedrooms. These gold mirrors add just the right amount of glam to each space, don't you think?

Via decor8

Via little green notebook

 Via the decorista

After seeing these spaces, I thought a sunburst mirror would be the perfect addition to our then-bare back hallway.

Supplies:

                          1. Twelve inch bamboo skewers.  

                          2.  Round mirror. I used a 14" beveled mirror from Michaels. 

                          3. Gold spray paint. Krylon "Gold Foil" is a great one. 

                          4. Glue gun

                          5. Ten inch square craft wood. 

                          6. Gorilla Glue

First, you'll need to approximately position your skewers around your mirror. I decided to stagger mine by hot gluing them closer or further away from the edge of the mirror. I started with the longest "rays," 16 in all. Then I went back and evenly spaced the medium length rays in between, and the shortest after that. 

I used the piece of craft wood to finish the back and make the mirror easier to hang. Simply glue it on top of the skewers with the Gorilla Glue and weigh it down for a few hours to make sure it's secure. 

Next, it's time to spray. Tape off the front of the mirror and spray with gold paint. Make sure you cover all sides of the skewers--you don't want any of the wood showing through. 

Remove the tape and hang! I used picture hanging strips to hang mine.

Pillow Wheel

Pillows via One Kings Lane

When we moved into our new apartment we each brought a lot of large pieces. Lucky for us, we have similar taste and were able to piece together a cohesive floor plan and design aesthetic. Even though the bones are there, we are still desperately missing those finishing touches that pull a space together. Enter our latest colored pillow obsession. We love the idea of mixing and matching a variety of colors, prints, shapes and sizes to liven up our neutral loungers. One Kings Lane recently had a great flash sale so we pulled some of our favorites (though we wish we could have purchased them all) as well as some inspirational images from the blogosphere.

Via Zuhairah

Via Fabric Warehouse Direct

Via Sketch 42 Blog

Via Better Homes & Gardens

Via House of Turquoise