and the oscar goes to...

Oh, the Acadamy Awards - The movies, the red carpet, the glitz and glam. Swoon. The love for this wonderful night might date back to one year when I was younger. My Mom and I put on fancy dresses, drank sparkling cider in champagne flutes and watched the big show like we were there. So cheesy, but so fun and a great memory. Oh, what I would give to attend the extravagant event in person. Instead, I watch and imagine myself walking the red carpet...In honor of, Stephanie and I selected some of our best dressed and accessorized of the evening...

i feel it in my fingers

...spring that is. I had a manicure on Saturday and couldn't have picked a better nail color for spring. It's from the new Texas OPI line; the color is called "Big Hair...Big Nails." Pick it up pronto. It will make you happy.

good eats

I'm a sucker for comfort food. and cheese. So, of course my go-to comfort dish is a delectable mac & cheese. On this snowy day (yes, it's still a winter wonderland in KC), I might opt to staying in with B, opening a bottle of rooster red and making this amazing mac & cheese - spotted in a bon appetit magazine at my office.



Is your mouth watering yet? The best part... the pimentos. I'm a huge fan of pimento cheese after spending many weeks in ATL.

Make this. eat. and enjoy.

Ingredients
1 7- to 8-ounce red bell pepper, seeded, cut into 1-inch pieces
2 garlic cloves, halved, divided
1/2 cup panko (Japanese breadcrumbs)
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature, divided
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, divided
3/4 cup drained mild Peppadew peppers in brine, 1 tablespoon brine reserved
1/4 teaspoon ground ancho chiles
1 1/4 cups (packed) coarsely grated extra-sharp cheddar cheese
1 cup (packed) coarsely grated whole-milk mozzarella
8 ounces medium shell pasta or gemelli

Preparation
Bring 1/2 cup water, bell pepper, and 11/2 garlic cloves to boil in small saucepan. Cover; reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer until pepper is soft, about 15 minutes.
Toast panko in skillet over medium-high heat until golden, stirring often, 5 to 6 minutes. Transfer to bowl; cool to lukewarm. Rub 1 tablespoon butter into crumbs to coat. Mix in 1/4 cup Parmesan.
Transfer bell pepper mixture to processor. Add Peppadews and 1 tablespoon brine, 2 tablespoons butter, ground chiles, and 1/2 garlic clove; then add cheddar and 1/4 cup Parmesan. Blend until sauce is smooth; season to taste with salt and pepper.
Preheat oven to 400°F. Butter 8-cup baking dish (or 6 individual dishes). Cook pasta in pot of boiling salted water until tender but still firm to bite. Drain; return to pot. Stir sauce and mozzarella into pasta. Season with salt and pepper. Spoon pasta into dish. Sprinkle with crumb topping.
Bake pasta until topping is crisp and sauce is bubbling, about 25 minutes (15 for individual). Let stand 10 minutes.

if the shoe fits...part II

What's better than a big bow? A big PINK bow. I love these sandals from Nordstrom. Now if it would just be spring so I could wear them!

xoxo

if the shoe fits

I love Michael Kors.  I love gold.  I love espadrilles.  I love Michael Kors' gold espadrilles.

nordstrom 

Good news for me and any other Michael Kors' gold espadrille lovers out there, Kansas City is getting a Michael Kors store on the Country Club Plaza! Happy Friday!

love songs to love

Love song are playing through my head allllll day, and I'm loving it. Download a few of these to get into the spirit...

Van Morrison - Tupelo Honey
Aretha Franklin - Natural Woman
Ben E. King - Stand By Me
Ingrid Michaelson - You & I
Van Morrison - Have I told You Lately That I Love You
Train - Marry Me
Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings -How Long Do I Have To Wait?
Louis Armstrong - La Vie En Rose
Lady Antebellum - Our Kind Of Love
Steve Pile Band - Wake Me Up
The Beach Boys - God Only Knows
Jackson Browne - Never Stop
Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros - Home
Dave Barnes - Nothing Fancy

xoxo

Happy Valentine's Day!  I took the plunge and baked some cupcakes yesterday...with the help of my good friend Betty Crocker.  

 We hope your day is filled with love and happiness!

rifle paper co.

I am head over heels in love with Rifle Paper Co. They have the sweetest stationary, cards, invitations, etc. and even have personalized prints and recipe cards available.  Too cute!  

rifle paper co

rifle paper co.

rifle paper co 

rifle paper co 

rifle paper co 

rifle paper co 

rifle paper co

Also, I spotted the cutest wedding on Style Me Pretty that used their wedding invitations and they were lovely.  Good news! Online wedding invitations are coming soon...exciting! 

weddings by two via style me pretty 

weddings by two via style me pretty 

cupid, draw back your bow...

bluefly

etsy 

shopbop

la dolce vita 

1stdibs

etsy

antiques

mirror, mirror

I think my black bathroom is going to need a lovely, antique venetian mirror...

photo courtesy of myhomeideas

photo courtesy of domino

photo courtesy of decor pad 

photo courtesy of my design chic 

photo courtesy of chic today 

photo courtesy of hgtv

photo courtesy of decor pad 

photo courtesy of design musing 

photo courtesy of design sponge

the way to a man's heart...

G and I have decided to spend Valentine's Day at home with the pup and enjoy a low-key dinner since we've planned a little getaway to Napa is the following weekend. This delicious recipe from our icon, Pioneer Woman, will most definitely be on the menu.

photo courtesy of the pioneer woman

if the shoe fits...friday

My obsession with neutral colored shoes continues...

photo courtesy of j.crew

color me happy

I'm in the mood for love...and shades of pink, red, and poppy.

photo courtesy of nordstrom

photo courtesy of kate spade

photo courtesy of anthropologie

photo courtesy of anthropologie

photo courtesy of luxe paperie

photo courtesy of ducduc

photo courtesy of anthropologie

photo courtesy of fred flare

photo courtesy of luxe paperie

photo courtesy of j.crew

bake me a cake as fast as you can

I don't enjoy baking. At all. Maybe it's measuring out all the ingredients perfectly or simply the patience that it requires, but it's just not my thing. Now cooking on the other hand, that is my favorite past-time. I think it's because I'm allowed to improvise; I'm pretty good at that.

Eventually I'm going to have to tackle baking, so I think it's best that I start small. This cake from Sweetapolita is definitely not "starting small", but it's just so darn cute! Doesn't it just scream Valentine's Day? Love.

there's ::snow:: place like home

We've been snowed in here in kansas city for a couple of days now... and I'm okay with that. Working home home with B and louie, hot chocolate and a cozy blanket cannot be a bad thing. And the best part - turning on the crock pot on low and slow - a hot meal ready to warm you up when you need it. (TPW's Beef Stew would be perfect on a night like this.)

I hope all our blog friends are out there safe, warm and bundled up.