A New Addition

Photos courtesy of Sung Shin

Blouse-Alice & Olivia 

Coated skinny jeans-Rag & Bone

Hat-H&M

Purse-PS11

Bracelet-Hermes

Ring-David Yurman

Sunnies-Karen Walker

Hi everyone, I'd like to introduce you to the newest addition to my purse family: the PS11! I've been eyeing her for over a year now and finally took the plunge when Saks was having their Friends and Family promotion and included Proenza Schouler in their designer list. This bag embodies everything I love for everyday usage: it's a cross body, there's a strong structure to it, the design is simple yet there's a definite cool factor. She will definitely be making repeat appearances on the blog;)

Have a great week! Xo.

Weekend Snapshots

This weekend I....


1. Played around with my new iphone that was finally delivered last week. I didn't have time to get acquainted with my new phone yet since it was a hectic and tiring week at work, so I got to play around with it this weekend. Now I need to find a nice case for it...

2. Wore my new Clover Canyon dress for a night of classical music at the Strathmore Center in Rockville, MD. I'm so in love with the print...

3. Was invited by Washington Performing Art Society for a night of piano classical music by pianist Yuja Wang at the Strathmore Center. Confession time: I've played piano for 18 years of my life and was thisclose to majoring in piano performance in college because it was such a huge part of my life but life ultimately led me to another profession. Attending classical music performances whether it be conducted by a solo pianist or an orchestra is something that I enjoy tremendously, so a big thanks to WPAS for inviting me this weekend. Be sure to check out their monthly calendar for performances that vary from classical music to dance and jazz.

4. Dined at Rose's Luxury in Washington, DC. It just opened up several weeks ago but I've been so curious about this place because the Chef is an alum of Momofuku Noodle Bar and I'm part of the cult following of David Chang's empire. I don't know even know to begin but I'm in love with everything about this place. I love the fact that there are two separate dining areas which is catered for couples and larger groups. The 8 (?) seat bar seating downstairs is situated right in front of their open kitchen which allows you to see the staff at work. Chef Aaron Silverman was in house and was overseeing the staff and serving the dishes to the customers. He even explained on how to optimize the flavor components on some of the dishes we ordered that night. The popcorn soup w/ lobster is getting lots of hype which literally tastes like what you would imagine a popcorn soup to taste like, but with lobster bites. Mixed feelings about this one. The highlight for me of the night was the caramelized cauliflower w/ Greek yogurt and raisin puree (and I don't even like cauliflower!) and the spicy pork w/ lychee and crispy garlic which played wonderfully on the sweet and savory notes. I probably could've had 3 bowls of that dish. Be warned, they don't take reservations but I HIGHLY recommend checking this place out because I have a feeling it will become popular very, very fast.

5. My friend Sung and I were getting some snacks and coffee at Dean and Delucca in Georgetown and while we were walking out, we noticed a macaron shop, Olivia Macaron that was next door. We were both curious about it because we had no idea a macaron shop would be opening up in that area, so naturally we ordered macarons to taste test. We asked the staff how long the shops been opened and they told us it just opened up last week! We ordered the lemon, rose, pistachio, salted caramel, vanilla, and rasberry flavors but the only ones that stood out were the pistachio and rasberry. I would've liked the outside texture to be a bit softer and some of the flavors to be more pronounced but since this shop just opened up I am willing to give it another try later down the road.


How was your weekend?

NomNom: Snickerdoodle Cookies

The first time I encountered a snickerdoodle cookie was at Reading Terminal in Philadelphia several years ago. I know, what has my childhood been about for me to come across it so late in life? Anyway, the follow day I attended a friend's bbq and was excitedly telling them about my new cookie discovery as I usually do when it comes to anything food related I enjoy. One friend nonchalantly told me that she has the best snickerdoodle recipe from Magnolia Bakery. Yes, the famous Magnolia Bakery that is probably more well known now for being featured in Sex and the City. On a side note, I don't think their cupcakes are that good but this snickerdoodle cookie recipe makes up for that tremendously.

For those of you who aren't familiar with what a snickerdoodle cookie tastes like, it is reminiscent of a sugar cookie that is rolled in a simple yet delicious concoction of cinnamon and sugar. Not only do these cookies taste like awesome, but the texture is right up my cookie preference alley. I prefer cookies that are soft and chewy---none of that hard and crunchy texture will be up in here. Ever.

Another great quality about these cookies is that they continue to stay soft and chewy for days later. Cookie and coffee for breakfast the next day? Obviously.

Have a great weekend. Xo.


Ingredients (Adapted from Magnolia Bakery) Yields: 3 dozen
2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
2 teaspoons cream of tartar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 large eggs, at room temperature
2 tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
6 tablespoons sugar mixed with 2 teaspoons cinnamon, for sprinkling

Procedure
1. In a small bowl, combine the flour, cream of tartar, baking soda and salt. Set aside.

2. In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar until smooth, about 2 minutes. Add the eggs, milk, and vanilla and beat well. Add the dry ingredients and mix thoroughly. Wrap the dough tightly with plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for 2 hours.

3. Preheat over to 350 degrees.

4. Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets, leaving several inches for expansion. (I recommend leaving extra room between these cookies because they spread more than most.) Sprinkle generously with the cinnamon sugar mixture. Bake for 12-14 minutes.

5. Cool the cookies on the sheets for 5 minutes and then remove to a wire rack to cool completely.

On Repeat

Photos courtesy of Sung Shin

Sweater-Vince

Button down-Banana Republic (old, similar style here)

Skirt-F21

Shoes-Kor Michael Kors

Purse-Balenciaga

Sunnies-Karen Walker

Necklace-Alexis Bittar (similar style here)

Happy Wednesday everyone! It's been a busy past couple of days which is a contributor to my lack of post on my usual Monday weekend snapshots (sorry!) and a special thanks to Mel for watching my little Mandu for a couple of days:)

When life gets busy, I am a repeat offender with my outfits. I might add variations to my outfits (change out pants to a skirt or vice versa or add different accessories) like I did when I initially wore this sweater HERE. But now that the temperatures are starting to drop, I decided to layer the cropped sweater with a long sleeve button down instead of a tank to add more warmth. I'm a huge proponent of recycling the items you already have in the closet and remixing it...trust me, your wallet will thank you.

Have a great week. Xo.

NomNom:PB&J S'mores

When I was younger, I would consume a lot of PB&J sandwiches. I'd add some banana slices in between the bread and wash it down with a cold glass of milk and that was pretty much my idea of the perfect sandwich as a kid. Now that I'm older and much more uhhh fancier....I still eat it the same way. Same goes for s'mores. Eating them now is such a throwback to happy childhood memories by the campfire.

So this super simple recipe is literally a hybrid between a PB&J and a S'more. It's so easy to make that I'm not sure if I would call it a recipe but more like an assembly. You spread peanut butter and jelly on one side of a graham cracker and the other cracker half gets a generous spread of hazelnut chocolate and marshmallow creme and then they kiss. Oh.my.yum.

This is one of those type of desserts/snacks that will appeal to both kids and adults and well, visually it looks fun to eat. I mean, who doesn't love fun? Add sprinkles or chocolate chips if you're feeling a little extra that day.

Enjoy your weekend. Xo.


Ingredients (Adapted from Chef Elizabeth Karmel of NYC's HIll Country) Yields:6
1/2 (14.4 oz) box graham crackers
Peanut butter
Chocolate ganache or hazelnut-chocolate spread
Strawberry, rasberry, or grape jelly
Marshmallow creme
Sprinkles
Mini chocolate chips

Procedure
1. Break a graham cracker in half. Spread a generous teaspoon of peanut butter on 1 cracker half and a teaspoon of chocolate on the other half.

2. Spread a thin layer of jelly over the peanut butter and thicker layer of marshmallow creme on the chocolate,

3. Place the 2 halves together and press gently to seal the filling. For a more finished presentation, dip the sticky edges of each s'more in sprinkles or mini chocolate chips.


 

Leather and Lace

 

 Photos courtesy of Sung Shin

Lace shirt-H&M (old)

Boyfriend jeans-Zara

Belt-J.Crew

Moto jacket-Free People

Shoes-Pour La Victoire

Sunnies-Karen Walker (use code INTHEFAMILY25 for 25% off)

Moto jackets are huge this season and pairing it with something feminine like a lace shirt or a dress downplays the toughness of the jacket. Sweet yet tough;)

Have a great week. Xo.

Weekend Snapshots

This weekend I....

1. Made one of the most easiest and delicious desserts using a recipe submitted by the Chef of Hill Country in NYC for People Magazine. It's basically a marriage between a PB&J and a S'more. SO GOOD. Often times the most simplest things are the best. Will post recipe later this week.

2. Was invited to Veritas Wine Bar to kick off DC Wine Week (Oct 12-19). It was a great night of sampling wine and charcuterie pairings, along with my girl Mel. If you're a wine lover like myself, be sure to check out the schedule on the website as they have events everyday this week. Many thanks to the DC Wine Week team for the invitation and hosting a great event.

3. Was planning on attending Taste of DC with Mel but due to the weather, we decided against it and stayed in to do some recipe tasting. I finally made the Moroccan lentil soup I learned from a cooking class I took awhile back and Mel made a delicious baked brie and apple appetizer along with a cheesy corn dip. Friends that cook together, stay together.

4. Received my online order of these shoes I bought a week ago from Cusp NM. I've been wanting to add some color to my fairly neutral shoe collection and couldn't resist this pair with the cute bow detail.


How was your weekend?

NomNom: Grilled Cheese with Dates and Ham

Rainy and cold October days calls for grilled cheese sandwiches and a piping hot bowl of soup. But when you're feeling fancy in the kitchen and want to dress up that simple sandwich, I highly recommend you adding dates, basil, and ham to that melted cheese. It is at that point that grilled cheese sandwich then becomes a big deal.

I'm not sure why I love sandwiches so much. Maybe it's the crusty bread and all the glorious fillings in between those two pieces of awesome carbs. I find it melodious and this sweet and salty combo of ham and dates just sings with its delicious simplicity.  

Have a great weekend. Xo.

Ingredients (Adapted from Food Network Magazine April 2011) Yields 4 sandwiches

4 tablespoon unsalted butter, softened

8 slices crusty bread

8 slices ham or prosciutto (about 2 ounces)

8 slices monterey jack cheese (about 4 ounces)

1/2 cup pitted dates, thinly sliced

1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, torn

Procedure

1. Spread the butter on one side of each bread slice. Heat a large skillet over the medium heat. Put 2 bread slices in the skillet, buttered side down. Layer 2 slices of ham, 1 slice of cheese, one-quarter each of the dates and basil, and another slice of cheese on each piece of bread. Close each with another piece of bread, buttered side up.

2. Cook, pressing sandwiches occasionally with a spatula, until the cheese melts and the bread is golden, 3-4 minutes per side. Repeat to take 2 more sandwiches.

Modern Prep

Photo courtesy of Sung Shin

Cardigan, Gingham shirt-J.Crew

Skirt-Forever 21

Shoes-Sam Edelman

Sunnies-Karen Walker

Necklace-Kenneth Jay Lane

Ring-David Yurman

Happy Wednesday! Nothing like updating a preppy look with some leather, right?;)

Have a great week. Xo.

Weekend Snapshots

This weekend I....

1. Was really worn out from the past work week and just wanted to stay in all weekend to catch up on sleep and decompress. There are times I have these anti social moments where I just want some time to myself after being around people literally all day at work and this weekend was one of those moments. Anyway, closet purging/reorganizing has been on my list of things to do for awhile now and I started on that project. Let's just say I didn't succeed much. I was tired. It was surprisingly overwhelming. To be continued.

2. Made ice-coffee after Summer decided to visit us on the east coast over the weekend. The temperatures rose close to the 90's which is all sorts of strange as we are in the month of October. I really dislike the taste of watered down ice-coffee so I usually freeze the leftover coffee I made from that day into my ice-cube tray so that when I make ice-coffee I won't have to worry about that horrible watered down taste.

3. Went to go eat at the ever popular Peking Gourmet Inn in Falls Church, Virginia. If you've never had peking duck before, I highly recommend this place for traditional peking duck. They expertly carve the whole duck table side for you into thin slices along with the delicious crispy skin so that you can wrap it in their house made tortilla, along with the onions and hoisin dipping sauce it comes with. The meat is moist and the skin is crispy with the perfect amount of chew. Major nom. However, it's pricey as a whole duck is about $40.

4. Started thinking about where I want to travel abroad next. I've been wanting to explore more of Asia since I've only been to Korea and have already traveled to Europe quite a bit. China and Japan are high on my list and are possible places to visit for 2014.

How was your weekend?

Think Pink

Photos courtesy of Sung Shin

Sweater, necklace, belt-J.Crew

Jeans-Zara
Baseball cap-Express

Purse-Celine

Sunnies-Karen Walker

Shoes-Pour La Victoire

Not only is the month of October American Pharmacist month (kinda geeky but whatever!) it is also Breast Cancer Awareness month. Working as a health professional in the industry, there are certain diseases that cloud my thoughts a bit more as a female. I can't stress enough the importance of simply being aware of this disease and the steps you can do to detect breast cancer early on.

Knowledge is power, ladies. Xo.

Day to Night

Photos courtesy of Sung Shin

Dress-Clover Canyon

Blazer-Theory

Clutch-Chanel

Shoes-KORS Michael Kor

Cuff-John Hardy

Sunglasses-Karen Walker

One of my favorite purchases I made in the past couple of months has been this sleeveless dress by Clover Canyon. I discovered the label this past year while shopping with my mom and we were both drawn to the amazing prints and colors that were consistent in their clothes. The first item I bought from this label was a v-neck neoprene dress earlier this year, but because of the v-neck cut on the dress, I usually reserve it as my "going out to dinner" dress. Clover Canyon has easily become one of my favorite designers not only because of their beautiful and colorful prints but the fit is just as amazing. It can get difficult to find petite friendly clothes that fit well with out having any alterations done, so when I find a label that does I'm pretty loyal to it. And I love that their clothes are made in USA. 

This dress is versatile enough to wear to the office with a blazer or cardigan thrown over it especially if exposing arms isn't suitable in a conservative work environment, but is also great to wear for happy hour or for those dinner plans you have right after work. Throw on a bold accessory, grab a clutch, and you're ready to go without having to change;)

Have a great rest of the week! Xo.