Sprinkled Stilettos

Obsessions

2011-07-08T06:11:00.000-07:00

{The world's most adorable mud pies.}

{Sassy cards from Uncooked}

{Ocean jet-skiing!}

{A handmade leather wallet inscribed with our wedding song & date}

{New hair! Chopped it off & died it uber blonde. :)}

Frock Yes!

2011-04-06T05:00:00.000-07:00

Spring has sprung and summer is well on its way.

For me, that means rounding up an assortment of easy, breezy summer dresses.

Here are a few of my favorites!

1.) TopShop White Rose Embroidery Sundress, $75.00 (Currently out of stock)

2.) Delias Abstract Print Tube Dress, $44.50

3.) Delias Nautical Stripe Knit Dress, $39.50

4.) Miss Selfridge Navy Spot & Stripe Dress, £10.00

5.) Warehouse Retro Feather Halter Dress, $72.00

6.) Miss Selfridge White Lace Long Sleeve Dress, £40.00

7.) Alice & Olivia Cabella Dress, $355.00

8.) Rare Stud Tie Dress, $72.00

9.) Motel Check Bella Dress, $96.00

Little Bee

2011-04-05T07:03:00.000-07:00

A couple weeks ago, when Borders was going out of business, I picked up a handful of books at a discounted price.

Little Bee, by Chris Cleave, was #2 on the Best Seller's List, but I knew nothing about it.

The back cover was of no assistance, and yet, it drew me in:

"We don't want to tell you what happens in this book.

It is a truly special story and we don't want to ruin it.

Nevertheless, you need to know enough to buy it, so we will just say this.

This is a story of two women.

Their lives collide one fateful day, and one of them has to make a terrible choice, the kind of choice we hope you never have to face.

Two years later, they meet again- the story starts there.

Once you have read it, you'll want to tell your friends about it.

When you do, please don't tell them what happens.

The magic is in how the story unfolds."

Here's the problem.

While it was a solid read, Little Bee did not deliver on the promises made on its back cover.

In truth, it was a dime a dozen story about a refugee girl who escapes to London and the British family she affects.

In truth, there is no "magic" in how the story unfolds, and I probably would have liked it better if I wasn't duped into believing it had some mysterious & secretive ending.

I don't know whether to curse the author's cunning back page paragraph or praise it.

At the end of the day, this book held some brilliant ideas, but set itself up for failure by creating expectations it could not meet.

Tomboy Edge

2011-04-04T10:10:00.000-07:00

My favorite clothing combinations usually involve mixing flirty feminine pieces like this black & white mini with a masculine edge.

Today I accomplished the look via my husband's dog tag, an oversized sweater, & my Coach for Converse sneakers.

Bright Bags!

2011-04-01T05:00:00.000-07:00

Every Spring, I look forward to the resurgence of bright colors and cheery prints.

A friend asked that I keep an eye out for affordably priced and rainbow-colored handbags.

Most items are less than $100!

1.) Dooney & Burke Beauty Continental Clutch, $125.00

2.) The Sak Pax Leather Shopper, $64.35

3.) The Sak Silverlake Convertible Crossbody, $64.50

4.) Zappos Big Buddha Bahama, $95.95

5.) DKNY Croco Leather Medium Carryall, $85.00

6.) Tignanello Perfect 10 Shoulder Bag, $99.95

7.) Aldo Zembower Clutch, $45.00

8.) ASOS Boxy Lock Bag, $44.83

9.) Dooney & Burke Croco Large Slim Wristlet, $95.00

10.) Dooney & Burke Petunia Mini Barrel, $88.00

Rainy Day Blues

2011-03-31T05:11:00.000-07:00

Starting with Monday's movie marathon, my week has felt increasingly non-productive.

The weather has been atrocious, and I've barely ventured outdoors.

Since I've felt unmotivated to do an Outfit post (or anything else,) I'll share my musical inclinations.

Below are 10 songs I never shuffle through on my Ipod, along with an accompanying lyric.

John Mayer- Gravity

"Oh gravity, stay the hell away from me
And gravity has taken better men than me (now how can that be?)"

Jack Johnson- Better Together

"There's no combination of words

I could put on the back of a postcard,

No song that I could sing

But I can try for your heart,

Our dreams, and they are made out of real things,

Like a shoebox of photographs,

With sepia-tone loving,

Love is the answer

At least for most of the questions in my heart..."

Something Corporate- Globes & Maps

"And dreams came around you in a hazy rain
You opened your mouth wide to feel them fall
And I write a letter, from a one-way train
But i don't think you'll read it at all"

Death Cab For Cutie- Lack of Color

"And when I see you
I really see you upside down
but my brain knows better
it picks you up and turns you around
turns you around
turns you around
If you feel discouraged
that there's a lack of color here
please don't worry lover
it's really bursting at the seams
absorbing everything
the spectrum's a to z"

Matchbox Twenty- You Won't Be Mine

"Take your head around the world
See what you get
From your mind
Write your soul down word for word
See who's your friend
Who is kind
It's almost like a disease
I know soon you will be

Over the lies, you'll be strong
You'll be rich in love and you will carry on
But no - oh no
No you won't be mine"

Damien Rice- Delicate

"We might kiss when we are alone
When nobody's watching
We might take it home
We might make out when nobody's there
It's not that we're scared
It's just that it's delicate"

Jason Mraz- If It Kills Me (Acoustic)

"Well all I really wanna do is love you
A kind much closer than friends use
But I still can't say it after all we've been through
And all I really want from you is to feel me
As the feeling inside keeps building
And I will find a way to you if it kills me
If it kills me"

The Honorary Title- Petals

"Petals broke from tips of roses hidden underneath my arm
All the framed, different poses of places I'll soon forget
That I'll soon forget

Tell me again that part how you didn't feel a thing
That part how you never actually really ever did
And lift yourself from my grip
But don't fall asleep"

Remy Zero- Fair

"Hey, are you lonely?
Has summer gone so slowly?
We found the ground,
but that damage was done.
It's cold as you fade into the sun.
Where'd you go? To me?"

Gavin Degraw- Over-Rated

"Take my home
Take everything I own
Take it, take control
You will feel better
You will feel whole
You're so good
You stopped me where I stood
And let me look at love and I feel better
Oh, I feel good
I just want to give it all to you
I want to share this with you
Make you mine and mine will be all yours
Whatever you want and more
What I'm anticipating
Everything else will be over-rated"

Obsessions

2011-03-30T05:00:00.000-07:00

{This gigantic Pink Hydrangea.}

{A glass of Velvet Devil Merlot was a great choice at Funky Monkey Wine Company.}

{My perpetual favorite at the Downtown Disney Art Festival.

This artist transforms scrap metal & unused nails into amazing animal figures.}

{How gorgeous is this seahorse from the Georgia Aquarium!?}

{A ladybug landed on my purse! Isn't that supposed to be good luck?}

Pecan Pie Cookies

2011-03-29T05:00:00.000-07:00

Don't get me wrong, I love Pecan Pie as much as the next girl, but sometimes the buttery crust and decadent filling feel slightly excessive.

Using a basic sugar cookie base, these scrumptious snacks are filled with a topping that packs all the flavor of pecan pie.

Definitely a unique spin on a classic!

Ingredients:

1.5 Cups Packed Brown Sugar

3/4 Cup Butter, Softened

1 Egg

2 t Vanilla

2 Cups All-Purpose Flour

1 t Baking Powder

1 Cup Chopped Pecans

1/4 Cup low-fat milk (use heavy cream or whole milk if you're feeling decadent)

Directions:

1.) Heat oven to 350 degrees.

2.) Combine 1 Cup Brown Sugar, butter, egg, & 1 t vanilla. Slowly add in flour & Baking powder.

3.) Shape dough into 1.5 inch balls and place 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheets lined with wax paper.

4.) Use thumb to make an indentation in the center of each cookie.

5.) In a small bowl, combine chopped pecans, 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1 t vanilla, & milk. Spoon filling into cookie indentation.

6.) Bake 8-12 minutes, until lightly browned.

Enjoy!

Top 10 Romantic Movie Moments...

2011-03-28T05:00:00.000-07:00

On blah days (like today), nothing tops curling up on the sofa with a can of boiled peanuts, a personalized concoction consisting of equal parts Sprite & Cranberry Juice, a soft blanket, and a stack of movies.
Here's a list of my favorite romance flicks (in no particular order), along with a memorable quote from each film.
Let the movie marathon ensue!

Slumdog Millionaire

"Jamal: Run away with me.

Latika: And live on what?

Jamal: Love..."

Elizabethtown

"I'm going to miss your lips. And everything attached to them."

-Claire Colburn

Pride & Prejudice

"Miss Elizabeth. I have struggled in vain and I can bear it no longer. These past months have been a torment. I came to Rosings with the single object of seeing you... I had to see you."

-Mr. Darcy

Garden State

"I don't want to waste another moment of my life without you in it."

-Andrew Largeman

The Princess Bride

"As you wish."

-Westley

Breakfast At Tiffany's

"You're afraid to stick out your chin and say, "Okay, life's a fact, people do fall in love, people do belong to each other, because that's the only chance anybody's got for real happiness." You call yourself a free spirit, a "wild thing," and you're terrified somebody's gonna stick you in a cage. Well baby, you're already in that cage. You built it yourself. And it's not bounded in the west by Tulip, Texas, or in the east by Somali-land. It's wherever you go. Because no matter where you run, you just end up running into yourself."

-Paul Varjak

Australia

"I sing you to me."

-Nullah

Beauty & the Beast

"Ohhh, isn't this amazing / It's my favorite part because, you'll see / Here's where she meets Prince Charming / But she won't discover that it's him / 'Til chapter three."

-Belle

Stardust

"You know when I said I knew little about love? That wasn't true. I know a lot about love. I've seen it, centuries and centuries of it, and it was the only thing that made watching your world bearable. All those wars. Pain, lies, hate... It made me want to turn away and never look down again. But when I see the way that mankind loves... You could search to the furthest reaches of the universe and never find anything more beautiful. So yes, I know that love is unconditional. But I also know that it can be unpredictable, unexpected, uncontrollable, unbearable and strangely easy to mistake for loathing, and... What I'm trying to say, Tristan is... I think I love you. Is this love, Tristan? I never imagined I'd know it for myself. My heart... It feels like my chest can barely contain it. Like it's trying to escape because it doesn't belong to me any more. It belongs to you. And if you wanted it, I'd wish for nothing in exchange - no gifts. No goods. No demonstrations of devotion. Nothing but knowing you loved me too. Just your heart, in exchange for mine."

-Yvaine

Titanic

"Rose, you're no picnic, all right? You're a spoiled little brat, even, but under that, you're the most amazingly, astounding, wonderful girl, woman that I've ever known..."

-Jack

Obsessions

2011-03-25T05:00:00.000-07:00

{The way my Goldendoodle (Nahla) dotes on her ball.}

{The deliciousness of Bourbon mixed with the guiltlessness of Coke Zero.}

{My "On Safari" Romper.}

{A hot fudge sundae from Kilwan's. They put a layer of marshmallow fluff under the whipped cream!}

{The understated simplicity of this gorgeous centerpiece at the Four Seasons, West Palm.}

Flashback: San Francisco

2011-03-24T05:00:00.000-07:00

{Chartering a private sailboat through the Bay provided a unique perspective of the Golden Gate Bridge.}

The second leg of our California road trip (click here to see Napa Valley) was San Francisco.

In spite of being colder and foggier than I planned, I thoroughly enjoyed this segment of the trip.

We saw city highlights like Pier 39 and Alcatraz, shopped in the famous fashion district, ate truly delicious cupcakes at Kara's, and still managed to squeeze in an award-winning musical.

San Fran was not as relaxing as Napa, but it compensated with a truly amazing atmosphere.

{Taking a snapshot with a friend at the base of curvy Lombard Street.}

{The landscaping on Lombard was incredible. I've never seen so many beautiful plants and flowers!}

{We alloted a night to see Wicked at the Orpheum. What a phenomenal theatre/show!}

{After our sailboat tour, a seal pup beckoned us back to shore.}

{Since half our trip was spent in foggy conditions, this is the best Golden Gate Bridge snapshot we could get. :( }

{I've never seen so many Louboutins as I did shopping Union Square!}

Spring Sparkle

2011-03-23T05:00:00.000-07:00

I planned on saving this leather skirt for a Bond Girl shoot

(you know the look: black stockings, ankle booties, dramatic cat-eye, etc...),

but I got impatient and the weather was too gorgeous for all-black.

I feared the netting on this green BCBG tank might limit it to beachware, so I was pleasantly surprised at how well it complimented my Dolce Vita heels.

Now that the weather in Florida is beginning to sizzle, I'm having a lot of fun mixing casual tanks and tees with polished pieces to create a more sophisticated look.

Oversized Jewelry + Simple Tees + Bright Skirts...

2011-03-22T05:00:00.000-07:00

Ideally, this post would feature 3 neon maxi skirts, but it seems the trend is taking its sweet time finding its way to retailers.

I settled for the only bright maxi I could find, but all three of these looks scream Spring to me!

1.) Sequin Tribal Necklace, $145.00

2.) House of Harlow Tribal Cabochon Ring, $80.00

3.) House of Harlow Tribal Triangle Pendant Necklace, $60.00

4.) House of Harlow Triangular Zig-Zag Earrings, $98.62

5.) Sequin Hammered Large Link Necklace, $60.00

6.) House of Harlow Black Cluster Ring, $110.00

7.) Your Eyes Shh Cropped Tee, $50.00

8.) T by Alexander Wang Classic Short Sleeve Tee, $81.00

9.) Vivienne Tam Embroidered Cotton T-shirt, $80.00

10.) Minimarket Tiered Jersey Skirt, $81.00

11.) Tibi Pleated Silk Maxi Skirt, $295.00

12.) Lisa Marie Fernandez Color-block Skirt, $88.50

13.) Steve Madden Fantasha Pump, $99.95

14.) TopShop Peach Flat Top Sunglasses, $32.00

15.) Dolce Vita Jade Suede Wedge Sandals, $190.00

16.) Christian Louboutin Greissimo Peep-toe Pump, $895.00

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

2011-03-21T06:35:00.000-07:00

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip cookies are my absolute favorite.

Something about them makes them drastically better than a standard chocolate chip.

I adopted this recipe (here) from good ol' Betty Crocker.

If you've never made an Oatmeal Chocolate chip cookie yourself, give it a shot!

Foyer

2011-03-18T05:00:00.000-07:00

Personally, I think the entryway to a home is one of the most important places to showcase your style.

As the first spot a guest sees, it's often a snapshot representation of the whole house.

As evidenced here & here, my husband and I purchased an older home and made several updates to the space.

Throughout this process, there were several moments (when the amount of work felt overwhelming) that I wished we'd bought a house in a new development- one that was actually move-in ready.

However, an older home provided us an established neighborhood with lush landscaping.

Unless we planned to build our house from the ground-up, it seemed newer developments had trouble competing with the charm of older neighborhoods.

In our foyer, we took a sledgehammer to the brick and ripped out the antiquated wood paneling and trim/baseboards.

We replaced the brick with the wood-shaped tiles that run through much of our home, and opened up the room with a simple white column in place of the wood paneling.

After a fresh coat of paint, a new light fixture (my husband calls it a PF Chang's light), & a romantic art piece, the space is good as new!

Obsessions

2011-03-17T05:00:00.000-07:00

Super-sized Lizards in Key West- we just booked a trip for July!

Oh Starbucks, it's been months since I've had a Dark Cherry Mocha. I do want one. I really do!

Strawberries! They are 3 cartons for $5 at the grocery store. You can't beat that!

The bouquet of tulips sent to me by my husband.

Swan peddle-boats at Lake Eola- a truly romantic and fun way to exercise with your significant other.

Retro Flair

2011-03-16T05:00:00.000-07:00

I'm loving the resurgence of 70's fashion. It's like, totally psychedelic.

Of all the retro/vintage items pictured above, I'm most interested in finding a decent pair of bell-bottoms.

Jeans are notoriously difficult for me, but I'm definitely on the hunt!

1.) Alexander Wang Retro Sunglasses, $325.00

2.) Urban Outfitters Tea Lovers To Go Cup, $18.00

3.) Sass & Bide Simple Not Easy printed silk maxi dress, $495.00

4.) Urban Outfitters Diana Mini with Flash en Rose Edition Camera, $120.00

5.) Fred Flare Ocean Breeze Fedora, $34.00

6.) Rag & Bone Mid-Rise Flared Jeans, $180.00

7.) Fred Flare Cornflower Canvas Dolly Bag, $38.00

8.) David Yurman Pave Diamond Peace Sign Cable Collectibles Ring, $495.00

9.) Modcloth Library Science Heel, $107.99

10.) Jack & Friends Crosley 1950's Pink Pay Phone, $89.95

11.) Modcloth Parisian Patisserie Top, $92.99

Blueberry Crumb Cake

2011-03-15T05:00:00.000-07:00

Of all the Food Network Goddesses, Ina Garten and Giada De Laurentiis are my favorites.

While I turn to Giada for entrees and appetizers, no one tops Ina Garten in the dessert department. In my opinion, no one even comes close.

Her Blueberry Crumb Cake (recipe here) is slightly sweet with a crumbly strudel topping.

Fresh blueberries and lemon zest give the cake a burst of flavor.

It's light enough to pass for breakfast, yet decadent enough for dessert.

Enjoy!

Coral Me Bad

2011-03-14T05:00:00.000-07:00

Hello. Please meet my new favorite dress.

Besides being slightly wrinkled at the bottom (sorry), it's perfection.

I love the way it fits, the gathered segments of fabric, the asymmetrical neckline, and the vibrant color.

The shoes aren't half bad either. :)

Sheer Genius

2011-03-11T05:00:00.000-08:00

Lately, I'm craving pieces that match the crisp & breezy coolness of Florida in the months before it becomes unbearably humid.

Trust me, once the real heat sets in, I'll live in tank tops, shorts, & flip-flops.

I'm savoring the sheer while I can!

1.) Sandro Jet lace-trimmed mini skirt, $255.00

2.) Isabel Marant Lincoln printed silk-georgette blouse, $605.00

3.) TopShop Sheer Bow Blouse by Wal G, $56.00

4.) Mara Hoffman Embroidered Story silk-chiffon kaftan, $310.00

5.) Norma Kamali Bill Embellished Bikini, $850.00

6.) TopShop Rust Sheer Sleeve Shift Dress, $100.00

7.) Miss Selfridge Petites Sheer Midi Skirt, $35.00 (converted from British pounds)

8.) TopShop Patsie Skirt by Motel, $116.00

9.) TopShop Burgundy Tubular Jumper by Boutique, $76.00

Obsessions

2011-03-10T05:00:00.000-08:00

New Cat-eye glasses atop "The Postmistress" (my in-between book club read.)

Hot Tea brewed in mini teapots.

Animal Crackers! Can't. Put. Them. Down.

Perfect shade of purple on these blossoms off Park Avenue.

My husband's David Yurman Necklace.

Chocolate Popcorn

2011-03-09T05:00:00.000-08:00

Earlier this week, a reader requested the recipe for the pink popcorn photographed at my Wicked Book Club meeting.

Using the basic concept, I've been experimenting with a variety of flavors- pictured above is chocolate-caramel popcorn with walnuts.

Not only is it easy and fun to make, this treat makes for a beautiful presentation!

Here are the basic instructions- Don't be afraid to mix up the add-ins!

1.) Microwave a bag of plain/natural flavored popcorn (NO butter or kettle corn flavoring.)

2.) While the popcorn cooks, line a large baking sheet with wax paper.

3.) Spread popcorn evenly across the baking sheet, carefully removing any unpopped kernels.

4.) Pour a bag of chocolate chips (white, milk, or dark) into a microwave-safe bowl. Heat chocolate in 30 second intervals, stirring at the end of each interval, until chocolate is melted and smooth.

5.) Using a spoon, drizzle chocolate evenly over popcorn, using the spoon to turn popcorn in melted chocolate until covered.

6.) Place baking sheet in refrigerator for 20 minutes, allowing the chocolate to harden.

Enjoy!

* For Pink Popcorn, I placed 5-6 drops of pink food coloring in melted white chocolate before drizzling. This idea is great for any color-themed event!

* For Chocolate-Caramel Popcorn, I melted Caramel kisses instead of chocolate chips, scattering walnuts over the mixture while the chocolate was still hot.

I can't wait to try more add-ins, like heath bar or shredded coconut! Yum!

Brilliant Bows

2011-03-08T05:00:00.000-08:00

I love the floral pattern, the size, and the bright colors on this headband.

My one beef with the hair accessory? Inevitably, it leaves me with a headache as oversized as the bow!

Alas, beauty is pain my friends. Beauty is pain.

Wicked

2011-03-07T07:57:00.000-08:00

For book club this week, we discussed Wicked by Gregory Maguire.

Keeping more in line with the play than the book, our meeting was themed pink for Galinda or green for Elphaba (the main characters.)

While I love the Broadway musical, I'm not a big fan of the book.

I find it long-winded, depraved, and depressing.

Of the 12 book club members, only 2 gave it an above average rating.

Our next read is a Sci-Fi novel, and I'm hoping it will be a breath of fresh air!

Galinda's Pink Popcorn

Elphaba's Green Tea Cupcakes

Pink & Green Candies + The Wicked Musical Soundtrack

Group Photo Op- My mom is the Green Lady. :)

Obsessions

2011-03-03T05:00:00.000-08:00

Fresh Blueberry Waffles.

Panera's Green Tea- Just the right amount of sweetness!

Crushed Candy Crackle Nail Polish. So cool!

Blooming Tabebuia trees. I call them Yellow Tabbys- it's easier to pronounce.

The revolving plays at the Orlando Shakespeare Theatre. Beowulf was my favorite!