It's My Party

This weekend, I get to spend quality time with some of my most favorite people.  With happy hour and who-knows-what-else scheduled for tonight with awesome coworkers and a ladies only Sunday brunch set with my bestest girls followed by dinner with the fam, this weekend is sure to be fabulous.  I'll try to take Andrew's advice (above) and keep calm, but I'm so excited to get the party started!  Here's to a weekend filled with yummy food, lovely friends, fancy cocktails, and a cupcake or two :)

xoxo,
stephanie marie

The Perfect Hard Boiled Egg



Need to make a potato salad?  How about some egg salad sandwiches (perhaps for a picnic dinner at an outdoor movie)?  Or just want to know how to make the perfect hard-boiled egg?  Look no further than my most used cookbook by Martha Stewart.  Here are the almost too easy to follow directions to get the perfect egg every time.  Enjoy!

Place eggs in saucepan and add enough water to cover them by 1 inch.  Bring the water to a simmer over high heat.

Remove from heat, cover, and let stand for 12 minutes.  Drain and rinse under cold running water.  Unpeeled eggs can be kept in the refrigerator for up to one week.

xoxo,

stephanie marie



Happy Birthday Shaun!

Happy birthday to the sweetest, kindest, funniest brother in the world.  Don't tell him this, but he's pretty great.  I just can't believe my little brother is a quarter of a century old!  Here's to a birthday filled with Funfetti cake, golf, and lots of home town lovin' (thanks to a visit from the parents).  Don't worry little bro - I'll be over soon for a much needed visit.  I love you  :)

xoxo,
stephanie marie

Baguette Box

One of the most tasty sandwiches I've ever had (and I pride myself on being quite a sandwich connoisseur) is the Coconut Braised Tofu sandwich at Baguette Box.  My friend Andrew introduced me to this place years ago, and it never disappoints.  Even though their menu is so enticing (ranging from Drunken Chicken to Grilled Chorizo to Braised Pork Belly) I can never stray from this delicious tofu sandwich.  And I'm not even a fan of tofu!  It's that good.  Please - next time you're in Seattle, stop by and try it out.  I think I will have to do the same to kick off the birthday week.  Oh, and perhaps I'll throw in a side of truffle fries as well.

xoxo,

stephanie marie

Fleur De Lys

After more than a year of being in love with these plates from Anthropologie, I finally decided to give them a permanent home in my kitchen as an early birthday present to myself.  I love how delicate and "ladylike" (as the description says) they are, and I'll be able to accent them with any color in the future.  I can't wait to have a mini dinner party with them - or perhaps a birthday brunch?

xoxo,
stephanie marie

Members Only

Via Spiga Sheri bootie

As I've said, one of my most favorite days of the year is the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale.  To my surprise and extreme excitement, I was invited (along with all other Nordstrom card holders) to preview the sale 2 weeks early with a personal shopper.  Not only was I able to view all of the sale items in special tents set up around the store, I also could bring my purchases home that day and receive double reward points.  Yay!  Since some of my favorite purchases aren't even available online anymore(including my awesome Rebecca Minkoff wallet that I picked up on a whim), I'm so glad I snatched these up before everyone else had a chance.  Here are a few of my favorite things that will be joining my closet for the fall.

Tahari sheath

 Frye 'Melissa Button Back Zip' Boot

Michael Kors 'Small Layton' Crystal Index Watch (that i've been coveting for years)

xoxo,
stephanie marie

Linguine with Shrimp & Lemon Oil

After flipping through my Giada de Laurentiis cookbooks a few weeks ago with Erika and chatting about how everything looked delicious, I felt inspired to make a Giada recipe this week.  I chose the Linguine with Shrimp and Lemon Oil for two reasons - it would be quick and simple to whip up on a weeknight and I would get to use my new best friend, the Microplane grater.  This thing is amazing.  If you are doing anything with the zest of a lemon or orange, or need to grate cheese over any dish, I demand you go out and buy one immediately.  This grater has changed my life, and it will change yours too.  Oh, and the pasta was delish :)

making the lemon oil with my grater

  

xoxo,
stephanie marie