The meeting started late and ran over, but I still had an important mission ahead: see how close to Orlando, FL we could get after work. Normally, I would see if I could leave early to get a head start on the road trip, but I just started a new project for my consulting company the Monday before, so I decided to just be glad they were okay with my previously scheduled vacation. The meeting was at 4pm, but it didn’t start until closer to 4:30pm. So, that, plus the work I needed to do before leaving the office for over week, plus some last minute double-checking of the packing job from the night before, put us on the road right around 6:45pm. Doh!

We made it to Columbia, SC before needing food. A quick stop at Panera did the trick, and we were on the road again. Hubby got Starbucks before leaving Columbia and was able to make it to almost 1am, which put us in Jacksonville, FL – a bit further than we originally planned.

Luckily, we found a pet-friendly hotel called Hotel Indigo with a very friendly staff. It wasn’t right off the highway, but it wasn’t too far either. Not only was the room nicely decorated and clean, they let us stay until 2pm! This was essential because hubby had important phone conferences he had to take from in front of a computer with wi-fi. We had toyed with the idea of trying to make it to Orlando after breakfast, but based on the meeting schedule, it just wasn’t going to work out. Alas. We took our time with breakfast and walked around the lake behind the hotel. Hubby took his calls. I grabbed a quick lunch. And then, we were off again, Disney-bound so I could attend the 2013 Food Blog Forum conference.

We ran into some traffic on the way, so we got there a little later than I had hoped – 5:15pm. I thought I was going to miss the 5pm conference check-in, but after frantically running over there, I got my packet! The nice girl doing check-ins must have stayed a bit for the late ones, like me. Phew! I felt SO lucky because my Disney park tickets were in my packet, and I needed them for dinner plans later.

We stayed at the Grand Floridian, which was so beautifully manicured, as all Disney parks and hotels seem to be. I wanted to wander around more, but I had to get ready for the welcome party!

{Welcome party outfit – thanks to Annelies for taking my photo!}

Late seemed to be the theme for the beginning of this trip, and I was late for the welcome party, too.

I got a little chatty meeting lots of fabulous, fellow food bloggers, so I only ended up sampling a couple of the dishes.

But, all was well because I had dinner plans for later!

I headed over to MGM (which is really Hollywood Studios, but I can’t help but call it by its former name) for a dinner hosted by Glam.

We hit up The Brown Derby, a replica of the Hollywood original.

A few of us had the special cocktail – coconut rum, cranberry, and (I think) pineapple.

I don’t really remember exactly what was in the drink. I just knew it was fruity and came with a glow-cube! Hello!

We shared some appetizers…

…and I got the filet for my main course. The steak was wonderful! Despite my proclivity to enjoy meat cooked a little too much (medium well), the filet was very tender. Gosh, my mouth is watering just blogging about this again! The dish also came with mashed potatoes, haricot verts, and golden beets. Oh, and a crispy potato chip for garnish, propped up by (what I think was) shallot butter. Hey, baby.

I shared berry cobbler with Kasey’s Kitchen for dessert. We were going to get the champagne cheesecake, too, but they were out! Next time!

The dinner was so fun, and I was glad I was able to meet other bloggers in a smaller group environment so we could really chat. I met so many cool girls! Thank you, Glam, for the wonderful dinner!

After dinner, I met back up with hubby at the hotel. He had spent the evening watching the new Star Trek and wandering around Downtown Disney.

He even brought back the biggest caramel-chocolate-cookie-something-apple I’ve ever seen! Even though I’d already shared one dessert, I couldn’t resist splitting another. The cookies tasted great with the rest of the toppings, though they did make the apple a little harder to eat. Somehow, we managed.

We wandered around the Grand Floridian, enjoying the lights…

…and wild life.

Despite some scheduling challenges, the trip was off to a great start! I was super pumped for the full day of conference ahead, and I was looking forward to seeing my new blog friends and meeting more.

Next time – Food Blog Forum Day 2! Thanks for reading!

I must have jinxed myself when I said that I didn’t see myself dressing up for work in the near future. Next thing I know, the project that sent me to Pittsburgh ended, and a new one was starting up. Yesterday, I felt a little like a kid getting ready for their first day of school. I was nervously excited, and I went ahead and picked out my outfit and laid it out in preparation for the big day ahead.

I actually got some really cool silk track pants when I was doing some last minute shopping for my upcoming vacay this past weekend, but I decided to stay conservative for my first look on the job. I wanted to scope out what the other ladies are wearing so I don’t wear something totally crazy. I went with simple black cropped pants, a fitted white tea, and a Jackie cardigan. I decided on understated jewelry (studs and a simple pearl bracelet) and added this lightweight coat since it was a little cooler outside than I originally expected. It was a little cooler inside the office than I expected, too, so I actually wore my coat for most of the day. The new work environment is pretty conservative, but I think fun accessories, like my hot pink purse, will work out great. And hey, at least I don’t have to wear a suit every day, right!?

Here’s what I wore:

Outfit details:

• Cropped black pants: Banana Republic
• white t-shirt: Gap
• Jackie cardigan: J. Crew (scored on sale recently!)
• Jacket: Armani Exchange
• Peep-toe pumps: Banana Republic
• Purse: Kate Spade
• Jewelry: gifts from family

By the way, I recently scored some deals at J. Crew for some work clothes. I’m thinking of doing a “haul video”. It sounds like there’s some interest based on a Facebook post from the other day, so maybe I’ll put one together? Video makes me nervous, but I think haul videos are fun, and I like watching them. Maybe I won’t look too ridiculous if I make one, too?

Anywho, I’m actually really excited about putting more work looks together to share with you guys. Does anyone need more work outfit ideas?

And how great of an “investment” was this purse? I was just thinking today how much I’ve enjoyed using this purse since I got it. I’ve been using it almost every day for (I’m guessing) about a whole year! I love it when I can splurge on one quality item and use the heck out of it! Especially when I get that item on sale, like how I scored this purse 50% off! Quality > quantity. It’s the Parisian Wardrobe way!

Thanks for reading!

So, I got my hair cut this weekend.

{If you’re new to the blog, my hair used to be much longer – like this}

I’ve been considering going short for awhile, but I finally worked up the guts to do so this past weekend.

Here are some tips if you’re thinking about going short with your hair:

• Decide whole-heartedly: Doing a dramatic hair cut is not a permanent decision, but it’s going to take a really long time, depending on how fast (or not) your hair grows, for it to get back to where it was before the big chop. I’ve been wanting to cut my hair for over a year now, but I always waffled. I wanted to be 100% sure that I wanted to cut my hair before I did so.
• Make an inspiration board/document: I found lots of examples of the hair cuts that got me excited for shorter hair. I made a Pinterest “Hair Chic” board with examples, and I also created a multi-page Microsoft Word document with lots of examples and angles that I showed to my stylist. When I felt unsure about cutting my hair (over the last year and especially the past month), I looked at the photos in my Pinterest board to see if I was still happy and excited about going shorter, and I was.
• Know what you will and won’t do: Be honest with yourself and your stylist about how you plan to maintain your new cut. If you are a low-maintenance kind of gal, and you don’t like breaking out the curling iron or straightening tool every day, then please do not get a hair cut that will require that level of styling. Please…for your own good. You may be willing to take on this higher required level of effort, but if you’re not, you may want to reconsider that super cute photo you repined a couple days ago. Either way, make sure your new hair style will be something you can manage.
• Know what you can and can’t do: A good stylist will cut your hair however you want, but they’ll at least tell you what they think will work best. They’re the hair expert, so listen to them. I’ve wanted super short hair, blond hair, and other things that simply won’t work for me. Sometimes you try these things against their opinion and you learn the hard way. Sometimes you realize just have to do *you*. Your stylist should help you understand your best looks and options. See next bullet.
• Trust your stylist: I don’t recommend doing anything drastic with someone who is relatively new to styling you. They may be the best stylist in the world, but I think when you see someone for awhile, they get to know your hair personality, as well as, your personality. They’ll know what works for your hair type and what styles you’ll actually (be realistic!) be able to maintain on your own. I actually wanted to cut my hair a little shorter than what you see above. But, my stylist (Jason at Salon 42 – if you’re new, tell him I sent you, and we’ll both get a little discount) told me he didn’t think it would work with my hair texture. Good thing this is one of the photos I showed him. He said this would be a much better length for me. He also asked me how I’d style it. I consider myself fairly lazy with hair styling, which he knows. But, I’m planning on wearing this look mostly curly, which is pretty easy for me to do. Yay for easy hair styles! Jason also knows that I teach Zumba and like to get my hair out of my face, so he cut it so I can juuust get it into a mini pony tail. And it’s in a pony tail as I type. He knows me so well!
• Consider the season: I like to either cut my hair or add highlights in the spring/summer, in general. We’re going to the beach soon, and I thought the shorter hair would be more manageable and less hot. Well, I’m hoping it will be less hot for the whole summer, not just vacay. Some people actually prefer to go short in the winter, but it’s really just up to you and what makes sense.
• Consider donating: If your hair is long enough, you can consider donating it to Locks of Love. My hair wasn’t even close to the required length, but if you’re getting a lot cut off and you meet the requirements, it will go to a good cause. Click here to learn more about their donation process.
• Consider transition hair: You may want to keep your hair short for awhile, but if you’re like me, you’re going to want to grow it out again. I’ve also been looking for and pinning photos of transition hair styles that I can work towards as my hair grows out. I feel like this gives me something to look forward to, as well as, inspiration for my future, longer hair.

Have you dramatically changed your hair? What tips do you have to share? Leave them in a comment!

***

In work news, I’m starting a new project tomorrow! Eep! Wish me luck!

One of my favorite, family comfort foods is Filipino pork adobo. My mom’s pork adobo is one of the simplest meals I make. It’s not the fastest, but what it lacks in quickness it makes up in simplicity and ease of cooking. And sometimes you don’t mind being patient if you can’t throw something together without much effort. I’ll typically get this started and while the meat simmers for an hour, I prep and turn on the rice cooker. So easy. And while I’m feeling lazy, steamed veggies of some sort (especially broccoli or cabbage) usually get added as a low-stress side. Chop, steam, done. Easy does it.

Hello, deliciousness!

I tried to take a photo of what the sugar looks like when it’s time to add the pork. The sugar goes in clear, almost white, but when it turns golden, it’s time to get the pork cooking.

There are many variations of pork adobo. Each family seems to have their own take. This recipe is how my mom cooks hers.

The soy sauce does make the dish salty, but it’s meant to be eaten with plain rice. The rice helps balance out the saltiness. You may want to reduce the soy sauce and sub in more water (or even broth) if you don’t like things very salty. Or maybe just try the recipe as is one time and adjust from there according to your preference.

Mom’s Filipino Pork Adobo

Here’s one of my family’s comfort food recipes from our house to yours. I took some photos and wrote some tips above to help you out with this recipe, so read through the photos for some extra info. This may be a little salty for some so be sure to serve it with plain rice to balance out the flavors. The pork isn’t traditionally shredded like the photos show, but that’s my sister’s touch on the recipe, and it’s how I like to eat mine, too. This meal requires few ingredients and though it’s not the fastest, it is one of the easiest things I make. Enjoy!

PS: I like to double this recipe so I have leftovers. I don’t like leftovers of many things, but this re-heats nicely.

Cook Time: approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes
Serves: 3-4 (I seem to consume extra pork when we have this recipe, so I’d lean towards this serving 3 and double it if you want to serve more)

Ingredients:

Directions:

1. Heat oil in a large pan (I like using my le creuset style pot) on medium heat. Add sugar. Watch carefully for when the sugar turns golden brown. Add pork. Add salt and pepper and cook 3-5 minutes without turning/stirring, until the bottom is browned nicely. Turn and cook another 3-5 minutes without turning/stirring until the bottom is browned nicely. Note: If doubling recipe, cook the pork in batches. Otherwise, the pork will get crowded and it won’t brown.
2. Add garlic powder and onion powder and stir. Stir in soy sauce and water and cook until boiling. Stir in vinegar and cook till boiling. Cover, reduce heat to simmer, and cook for 1 hour, or until tender, stirring occasionally.
3. If there is still liquid left in the pan, increase heat to medium/medium-high) and cook until the liquid is almost evaporated. If you’re shredding your pork, while the liquid reduces, use the back of a wooden spoon, pushing down on the pork, to shred the meat. Note: It’s not traditional to shred the pork like this, but it’s how my sister and I like it.
4. Serve with plain rice. Enjoy!

Reader question: What’s your favorite comfort food from your family?

One of my closest friends is moving to NYC. Though I’m sad that she won’t be in town any more, I’m really proud of her achievements and am excited for her future in the big apple. This past Monday, I met up with her and some of her other friends for one last get-together before her big move. Here’s what I wore:

I actually wore this top earlier in the day to work (and I actually had to dress up a bit!). I swapped out my cropped, black pants and cardigan for something a little more casual for my dinner outing.

I got to wear the new-to-me locket that I scored at the Green Jeans sale for $10.

Outfit details:

• Top: J. Crew
• Distressed Jeans: Zara
• Bow Peep-toe heels: J. Crew
• Jacket: Banana Republic
• Purse: Kate Spade
• Necklace: vintage (purchased via the Green Jeans sale)
• Bracelets: ALDO, Banana Republic

***

Here’s a photo from my Bahamas wedding in 2008. Dana was one of my bridesmaids (third from the left).

And since you guys like eats photos, too, here’s what I ordered for dinner – the BBQ brisket sliders…

…and a side of sweet potato fries.

***

Good luck in NYC, Dana! I’m going to miss you. Please come visit soon, and I’ll try to visit you soon, too!

Eating well has always been a high priority for my family. There’s sort of a long story behind that, but I’ll save that one for another time. Growing up, we didn’t have a lot of expensive hobbies, we didn’t travel much, and we didn’t spend a lot on fancy cars or other randomness. We pretty much ate our money. It’s sort of what I do today (plus some clothes shopping). hehe

Basically, a visit to see my family means we’ll eat lots of delicious food.

Friday

Hubby and I worked on Friday, came home, packed up, and hit the road to visit family. Luckily for us, they cooked us dinner when we got there – teriyaki shrimp (I got the recipe to try out, and if it works okay, I’ll share it!), green beans (frozen from their garden last year), rice, and toast. Sis is on a big bread kick, and I love carbs anyways…there will be lots of bread this weekend!

***

Saturday

My family is pretty traditional with their breakfasts – scrambled eggs, cheese on the side, dad’s famous potatoes, bacon, and (you guessed it) toast. Plus, coffee and OJ and all that good stuff.

After watching my sister’s dance performance, we took my mom out for an early Mother’s Day lunch. Her choice – PF Changs. But, her choice didn’t stop there.

{wonton soup}

We ordered her favorites and shared everything family-style

{Chicken lo mein}

{Shrimp with candied walnuts}

This one didn’t sound very appetizing, but it was surprisingly good. It had a sort of creamy sauce and was served with cantaloupe. Seriously weird, seriously good. I don’t know why it works, but it does.

{Mongolian beef}

This dish totally reminded me and my sister of the pu-pu platters we used to order when we were kids. Have you ever ordered one? It’s an appetizer medley that usually comes with a mini grill. I remember getting steak on sticks and cooking it over the flames. The beef in this dish tasted so much like that but better.

{Spicy green beans}

Ok this was a suggestion from us – mom is not a fan of spicy food.

We also ordered a couple desserts to share – sis’s choice – salted caramel chocolate mini cake…

….banana spring rolls with tropical ice cream.

Mom <3

Mom wanted to show me her garden. She has a lot growing for this time of year – lots of lettuce, kale, broccoli, and herbs. I’m excited to see how their summer garden shapes up, too. It makes me miss having a garden, but we’re trying to figure out where to start one up again in our backyard.

Since we had such a big lunch, we kept things light with dinner and just snacked on some light fare – olives, cornichons, baguette toasts, and brie.

I was the only one who wanted dessert, so I made an individual blueberry crisp (basically this recipe, just 100% blueberries). They’re not just for breakfast!

***

Sunday

My sister made beautiful salads for our Sunday lunch using lettuce from the garden.

{Parmesan toasts}

{breaded chicken tenders, rice with a soy sauce drizzle, and more green beans}

Another great and delicious weekend of eats and QT with the family!

Btw, you guys are some serious Les Mis fans by this vote on Facebook! Thanks for chatting on Facebook and via blog comments. I love hearing from you!

Glitter, jewels, feathers…you’ll see all of that at a dance performance.

We went to my sister’s dance performance this past weekend, and I was her official photographer. I took over 300 photos, but I just picked a couple to share with you guys.

Feathers – check! Bling – check!

My sister did a fabulous job, as I knew she would. She’s been dancing for a few (several?) years now, and I love watching her performances.

Here’s that Juicy Couture dress I scored for $34 at the Green Jeans Sale. I love it, and it’s so comfortable!

I have lots of eats photos to share with you guys, but I decided to put all of those in a separate post that I’ll share soon.

***

In random news, my sister and I stumbled upon this Les Mis flash mob video, and the songs totally got in my head again.

After also watching the 10 year anniversary cast online, I decided to purchase the 10 year cast recording, which is my favorite, mostly because I love Lea Salonga who plays Eponine. She is a talented singer, has done many Disney tracks, and is Filipina. Do you have a favorite Les Mis cast?

Have a great week, everyone!

A new cookie has taken the lead as my favorite cookie – oatmeal chocolate chip. The old favorite was chocolate chip. I know, it’s not much of a difference. And yet, that simple addition of oats gives the texture and flavor something special that I just love.

Of course, this meant I needed to come up with a recipe so I could make the oatmeal chocolate chip cookies just the way I like – a little chewy. I started with this recipe for butterscotch oatmeal cookies that I made a couple years ago with good success, but I made a couple changes, also looking at my dough ball recipe for some ideas. I liked the flavor and chewiness of those butterscotch cookies, but I wanted to reduce the sugar and make them less flat, plus I wanted to make far fewer cookies. I played with the recipe over several batches, about 8 or 9 over the last couple years. I started by halving the butterscotch cookie recipe, adding flour, and reducing the sugar amounts. The first couple tries were decent but not great. I thought simply adding flour would make the cookies less flat, but it didn’t work as I expected. I tried some batches with far less sugar, far less flour, different amounts of butter, using baking powder instead of baking soda, and many other variations. Each try was just okay but not just right. I tracked my adjustments and made notes along the way. Most recently, I tried doing some google research.

I did some online searching for how to make cookies chewy, and it turns out sugar is one thing that that helps make them chewy (so much for reducing it lol). Apparently using melted butter and baking soda instead of baking powder helps, too. So, I tried a couple more times, tweaking things all along the way. The final result is what I’d consider a “just right” oatmeal chocolate chip cookie – a little chewy, a little soft, and a little crispy all in one delicious package.

Just Right Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

The ingredients are simple and the results are delicious. They whip up pretty quickly, too! I started with this cookie recipe and experimented, analyzed, and re-experimented, and re-analyzed over several batches until I was happy with the results. According to some google research, melted butter, sugar, and baking soda help give the cookie a chewy texture, so keep that in mind if you modify the recipe at home, especially if you like chewy cookies, too. Be sure you use kosher salt or reduce the amount if you use table salt instead. And mini chocolate chips distribute better than large ones, so I was able to reduce that amount versus the 3/4 cup of the regular size chocolate chips I’d recommend. Hope you like these cookies as much as I do!

*Vegetarian, vegan options listed below*

Prep time: 10 minutes
Bake time: 10-12 minutes
Total time: 20-22 minutes, plus cooling time

Ingredients:

• 1 1/4 cup quick-cooking oats (old-fashioned would probably work just fine, too)
• 3/4 cup flour
• 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt (reduce amount if you use table salt, maybe 1/4 – 1/2 depending on how you like your cookie flavor)
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, melted and cooled slightly (vegan – sub Earth Balance or similar product)
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1 egg (vegan – sub a flaxseed egg)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips (or use 3/4 cup regular sized chocolate chips)

Directions:

1. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees F. Prepare three baking sheets with parchment paper. Note: I could bake all the cookies in one batch with 2 shelves and 3 baking sheets.
2. In a large bowl, add oats, flour, salt, and baking soda. Whisk to evenly combine.
3. In a medium bowl mix butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar. Make sure butter mixture isn’t too hot so it doesn’t cook the egg when add it, and add the egg and vanilla. Whisk to evenly combine.
4. Pour wet mixture into dry mixture and gently mix with a large spatula. Fold in chocolate chips.
5. Using a medium sized sorbet scoop (2 tablespoon), scoop dough and evenly distribute on baking sheets, leaving about 3 inches of space in between each ball of dough.
6. Bake 10-12 minutes, until edges are slightly brown. Remove from oven and let cool on baking sheets to room temperature. Enjoy!

Happy baking! Thanks for reading!

Which do you prefer: regular chocolate chip or oatmeal chocolate chip?

The weekend shopping continued on Sunday, but this time, we shopped for furniture.

Hubby found a cute new store with vintage-inspired furniture. We saw several things we liked and took measurements to see if things would fit in our house. I definitely prefer to think about large ticket purchases, so we’ll give them some time before we commit.

We grabbed Pio Pio for lunch. They have really tender, delicious, rotisserie style chicken among other delicious eats.

Just outside, I noticed a truck with the words “mobile clothing boutique.” You know this shopaholic had to check it out.

Inside was a for-real-boutique complete with shopping racks, clothes, and accessories.

Sunday was the kick off for Motor Couture, a spin-off from Jordanos, which is a local boutique here in Charlotte.

Not only does Motor Couture have a fun concept and a nice selection of clothes, they also have big plans to turn the idea into something to help the community. They’ll be donating a portion of sales to their non-profit “Project Reover”, and they have other ideas to get gently worn clothes into the hands of kids in need.

{the dressing room}

Here’s Karen who is the brains behind this operation. I loved chatting with her about her ideas for helping the community.

We kept dinner simple – mom’s pork chops, rice, and steamed broccolini.

This is always a hit in our house, and it’s so easy and affordable, too.

Next up here on The Chic Life – get your mixing bowls ready because you’re going to want to make these easy Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies! I’ve been working on this recipe over several batches, and it’s finally ready to share!

Have a great weekend!

I’m definitely still trying to figure out my new style. I’m not a 20-something, Abercrombie-cut-off-jean-skirt-wearing kind of girl any more, though we’ve talked about that before. One thing I’ve recently noticed is that I’m no longer the business professional type working in a formal corporate America environment, and I may not be for awhile (if ever?). As a consultant, I could work in any environment, but more and more companies are relaxing their dress codes. I can’t remember the last time I had to wear a pencil skirt to work, and I think I wore a suit maybe three times last year.

All of my clothes lately are trending towards comfy (baggy?) and casual, both at home and work. I’m also noticing that I’m gravitating away from preppier clothes (which seem to be most popular here in the south) towards a more laid back LA-style. I don’t think I actually have LA style, I’m just saying that’s been my inspiration lately when I’ve been shopping and getting dressed. Who knows where I’ll land style-wise, but I’m going to have fun playing with clothes along the way.

Here’s my outfit from when I went shopping with my sister. I really felt like I needed sleep Saturday morning, so let myself sleep in. Sis slept in, too, so I guess it worked out. But, after that, we were under time constraints the rest of the day, so we sort of had to rush to get ready. I threw my hair into a quick bun and skipped make-up to make up for slept lost time. I just got this Sincerely Jules top from ShopBop (LOVE the inspirational message), so I really wanted to wear it since it was new and super soft. I knew we’d be running around most of the day, so comfort was key. I paired my new top with these boyfriend jeans that I almost consigned since they’re a bit baggier than I’d prefer. I decided to keep the jeans to try them out a few more times, and I’m actually kind of liking the over-sized fit.

I scored the green Banana Republic jacket on super sale a couple years ago for around $30. It was a great lightweight coat for the spring weather. And, I just purchased these shoes from Summerbird (literally on this day). It was a great weekend for consignment shopping.

Outfit details:

• Dream Believe Achieve t-shirt: Sincerely Jules via ShopBop
• Distressed boyfriend jeans: J Crew
• Jacket: Banana Republic
• Shoes: Miss Sixty
• Twisted vine necklace: Gorjana via ShopBop
• Bracelets: Spiked one found at the Green Jeans sale, chain by Juicy Couture purchased via Piperlime
• Purse: Kate Spade

Thanks for reading!

How has your style changed lately? Are you getting more dressy or more casual?