Oscar Fashion

Since the Oscars seemed a little boring this year {except, of course, for seeing my friend from long ago starring in a commercial!!}, I decided to focus on the most exciting part of the evening - the fashion!  These dresses were complete stunners - I'm especially obsessed with the dark green and sparkly fabrics.  Oh, and my absolute favorite red carpet moment - Kate & Leo :)

Rachel McAdams

 Saoirse Ronan

 Alicia Vikander

 Cate Blanchett

 Naomi Watts

Kate & Leo forever

Who was your fave?

xoxo,
stephanie marie

Oscar Night

It took a lot of weekends at the theater and a few Netflix rentals, but I actually did it this year - I watched all 8 Best Picture Nominees for the 2016 Academy Awards!  There are some really good ones in the bunch {and some I never really need to see again} and I can't wait to see who goes home with the trophy on Sunday night!

I have to admit - a lot of The Big Short was a little over my head.  I don't know a lot about banking and mortgages {except my own}, but I loved how this story was told with Ryan Gosling narrating and the cutaways for explanation in layman's terms.  While 2007-ish was a truly devastating time for many, it was fascinating to watch what happened behind the scenes.  Definitely one I want to watch again.

 

 

I finally watched Bridge of Spies this week and liked it more than I thought I would.  The first hour was a bit slow, but the second half really picked up.  My favorite lines?  Tom Hanks {the lawyer} to his client: "Don't you ever worry??"  His Client: "Would it help?"  Words to live by :)

 After hearing great things about Brooklyn, I quickly picked up the book and read it within a week or two.  While also starting a bit slow, I fell in love with the subtle details and the hardships & triumphs of Eilis, the lead character immigrating alone from Ireland in the 1950's.  I thought the film was a beautiful depiction of the book, and I keep wanting to find out what happens to the characters after the credits rolled.

 Ok, so maybe I just didn't get this one, but Mad Max: Fury Road does not get my vote for Best Picture.  At all.  Yeah, it was a pretty cool action movie, had some amazing chase and fight scenes, and was probably insanely difficult to make, but from the Hannibal style masks to the guitar playing mascot of the fighting, I honestly couldn't wait for this one to be over {hey, you can't like 'em all, right??}.

 I had heard from a lot of friends that The Martian was a great book, but since I'm not super into sci-fi, I didn't think I'd be that into it.  Boy was I wrong.  I could not put the book down, and even though it's not a funny story, I couldn't help but smile and laugh at Watney's realistic and entertaining monologues {you've got to make getting stuck on Mars alone entertaining, right?}.  The movie was fun to watch, but in my opinion is no match for the complexity and thoroughness of the book.  I would highly recommend picking it up if you're looking for something new to read.

 I made my movie buddy Ian go with me to see The Revenant, since I had heard some crazy stories about several scenes in the movie {namely, a horse and a bear} and I didn't want to watch alone.  While I'll say I fared better than the woman next to me {who I'm pretty sure covered her eyes the entire 2 hours and 36 minutes}, it was a pretty brutal and intense movie to watch.  The scenery is gorgeous and the story riveting, and though some parts can seem a bit slow, I can't see how this movie does not win Best Picture {and if Leo doesn't win Best Actor, then the whole thing is rigged}.  

 I read Room several years back and loved it, and was so excited to see it made into such a great movie.  While the subject matter is tough, the movie is about so much more than kidnapping and captivity.  Watching Jack be introduced to the world outside Room at 5 years old is a sad yet beautiful thing to witness, and the acting in this movie is beyond superb.

My favorite movie of the bunch is Spotlight, the story of the Boston Globe reporters that exposed the massive child molestation scandal by the Catholic Church.  Michael Keaton is one of my all time favorites, and there's something about this movie and the cast that I could watch over and over again.  The acting is brilliant and the story profound, and if you are going to watch one of these movies this year, I'd recommend this be it.

Which was your favorite??  

xoxo,
stephanie marie

Cotton Candy Sunrise

I wanted to share some pics from a few weeks back when we had a few days of some insane sunrises.  I would walk out my front door in the morning and instantly run back in to get my camera to capture the cotton candy skies before they were gone.  They seriously looked like they were painted on to the sky :)

 

 

Something pretty for your Thursday!

xoxo,
stephanie marie

Honey-Lime Sweet Potato, Black Bean, & Corn Tacos

This past weekend I was looking for something new to make, and decided to try something meatless yet filling.  I came across these Honey-Lime Sweet Potato, Black Bean, & Corn Tacos on Cooking Classy and even though they looked a little different, I decided to give them a whirl {I mean, how can you go wrong with tacos, right?}.  They came together way quicker than I had anticipated and made a ton of filling, but I've made do by having awesome leftovers all week long.  While the pics aren't great {I really need to work on my presentation, eh?}, you can go to her blog to see how pretty these can actually be.  And you'd never know they had no meat!  They're so filling and the flavors are delicious that I was completely full and happy.  Yay for new recipes!

Honey-Lime Sweet Potato, Black Bean, & Corn Tacos

Ingredients
1 large sweet potato {about 1.5 lbs}, diced into 1/2 inch cubes
4 Tblsp olive oil, divided
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp paprika
1/4 tsp coriander
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
Salt & Pepper
1 small onion, diced
1 clove garlic, minced
1 (14.5 oz) can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 cup frozen yellow corn, thawed and drained
3 Tbsp honey
3 Tbsp fresh lime juice {from about 1-2 limes}
2 Tbsp fresh cilantro, chopped
Tortillas
Toppings - Feta cheese, diced avocados, fresh salsa, sour cream, hot sauce, radishes, etc.

Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 425.  Line baking sheet with foil.  Place sweet potatoes on foil and drizzle with 3 Tbsp olive oil.  Toss evenly to coat.  Sprinkle evenly with cumin, paprika, coriander, cayenne, salt & pepper, and toss.  Bake 15-20 minutes, tossing once halfway through, until potatoes are tender.
2. In a large skillet, heat remaining 1 Tbsp olive oil over medium high heat.  Add onion and saute until soft {about 6 minutes}, then add garlic and stir, cooking about 1 minute.  
3. Reducing heat to medium low, add in black beans, corn, honey, and lime juice.  Stir and heat until warmed through.  Toss in sweet potatoes and cilantro.
4. Serve with warm tortillas and desired toppings.

Serves 5-6

adapted from Cooking Classy

xoxo,
stephanie marie

Witness

After Le Faux, Kelsey and I weren't quite ready to go home, so we wandered down the street until we ran into Witness - a new-to-us bar decked out like a Southern Baptist Church {with pews and all!} and a delicious and inventive cocktail menu.  We lucked out that two seats at the bar opened up right as we walked into the packed place, so we snagged the spots and quickly ordered up two of their fabulous cocktails.  We spent the rest of the evening sipping our drinks and laughing about the show we had just seen, and while it was such a fun spot, I can't wait to head back some morning and try their awesome looking brunch.  Yum!

xoxo,
stephanie marie

The Weekend {In Pictures}

{the yummiest breakfast sandwich}

 {mossy driveway + sunshine!}

 {those little red shoots are peonies}

 {what happens when you forget to use gloves while spray painting}

 {i wish you could smell this winter daphne through the computer - it's the best thing about my yard this time of year}

 {saturday dinner courtesy of trader joe's}

 {sunday brunchin' at home}

{sunday night treat}

Hope you had a great one!

xoxo,

stephanie marie

Happy Friday!

Happy Friday!  For being a short week, it sure felt like a long one, right?  But it was a good one!  I celebrated 1 year in my new job with a promotion - Not bad, eh?  :)  I've never had a job that challenges me like this still one year in, but that's what I wanted when I signed up for it, so no complaining over here.  Instead, I'm going to spend the weekend being a bit lazy, celebrating - and probably catching up on some work :)

Happy Friday, friends!

xoxo,
stephanie marie

Le Faux

A while back, Kelsey had asked if I wanted to go see this diva drag show on Capitol Hill at Julia's on Broadway.  Um, yeah I did!  We finally went last Friday night and it was one of the most fun nights I've had in a long time.  We got there early for dinner and drinks, then settled in to watch Le Faux, which consisted of these amazing impersonators of such icons as Cher, Britney Spears, and Mariah Carey.  They sang all of their top hits and the impersonations were eerily on point.  We had a blast singing and dancing along to all of the songs and before we knew it, the show was over way too quickly.  I definitely want to go back and take friends or out of town guests - if you're in town I would highly recommend it for a fun and random night :)

 cher

 pink

 mariah carey

 adele

 taylor swift

 britney spears

xoxo,
stephanie marie

Rogo's {Valentine Brunch}

Saturday afternoon, Mom came down to Seattle for one of our mother-daughter outings.  We saw How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying {it was so amazing!} then had dinner at the Nordstrom Grill before doing a little shopping and coming home to watch a movie.  Sunday morning, since it was Valentine's Day, I had made reservations at this cute new restaurant in Magnolia, Rogo's, and treated my mama to a little holiday brunch.  The restaurant was pretty quiet when we arrived, but we loved the ambiance and decor - I could totally see cozying up to the bar on a cold winter night for a hot toddy and snacks.  We each had some yummy breakfast drinks {my spicy bloody mary was awesome} and since I tasted both of our dishes, I can confirm they were both absolutely delicious.  I love finding new gems in my neighborhood, and I can't wait to go back and try the rest of their yummy looking menu.  Thanks for being my Valentine, Mom!

xoxo,
stephanie marie

Valentine's

How was your long weekend?  I had a pretty great one and have lots to share, but first wanted to share my Sunday evening at home.  After a day of some home projects, I headed out for Thai takeout and opened up a bottle of red {is it weird that I associated Velvet Devil with Valentine's Day???}, then settled in for the Bachelor wedding special and some DVR time.  It was a super relaxing and chill night - exactly how I had wanted it to be - although I wouldn't say no to a few more days off :)

xoxo,
stephanie marie

Valentine's Weekend

 

Happy Valentine's Day Weekend!  What are you up to?  I plan on starting the day with my Mama at brunch, then ending it with some Thai food and champagne on the couch - which is perfectly fine with me {although I miss celebrating like this and this - where are all the single gals at?!?!?}.  Anyway, I'm mostly excited for the long weekend :)  Nothing like celebrating a holiday with an extra day to stay in bed and forget the alarm.

Happy Valentine's Day! Have a fabulous weekend!

xoxo,
stephanie marie

Spicy Beer Queso with Chorizo & Black Beans

You're probably wondering what that amazing dip was that landed me a controversial second place at DAP.  Well, look no further than right here.  A few weeks ago I started researching dips for the party, and I kept coming back to this Spicy Beer Queso with Chorizo & Black Beans from How Sweet Eats.  It had all the components of a winning dip {or so I thought} - cheese, meat, and a bit of a kick.  The spice is pretty mild, so don't shy away if you're not into spicy.  I promise if you bring it to your next get together, it'll be gone by the end of the night - it's that good.  Like, second place good. 

Spicy Beer Queso with Chorizo & Black Beans

Ingredients
1/2 lb chorizo
1 large shallot, diced
1 small jalapeno, seeded and diced
1/2 red bell pepper, diced
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 Tblsp olive oil
12oz bottle of your favorite beer
1 - 8oz block of cream cheese, softened
12 oz white cheddar cheese, grated
1 - 14.5 oz can black beans, drained
sliced green onions & cilantro for topping

Instructions
1. Heat large skillet over medium heat.  Remove any casings from chorizo and add to skillet, using wooden spoon to break apart the sausage until it crumbles.  Cook until fat is rendered and sausage appears to be cooked through.  Remove with slotted spoon and place on paper towel to drain.  Clean skillet with paper towel.
2. Heat skillet to medium-low.  Add olive oil, red pepper, garlic, shallot, & jalapeno with a pinch of salt.  Stir well to coat.  Let cook until softened, about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
3. Turn heat up to medium and add beer.  After a few minutes, add cream cheese and continue stirring until it's melted and creamy.  Add white cheddar, stirring until melted.  Reduce heat to low.  Stir in black beans and sausage.  Remove from heat and top with green onions and cilantro.  Keep warm for serving.

adapted from how sweet eats

xoxo,
stephanie marie