Fruit Trees

Calamondin Orange Trees for sale

I love the idea of adding plants not only outside, but inside of my home. Currently I have a few orchids inside, but I would love to add a small citrus tree. Not only do they look good, they smell good!

Above pictured is the Calamondin Tree which is a beautiful, cold tolerant ornamental tree with small, sour orange fruit. This tree however is grown more for looks than fruit. Apparently is a great patio tree or clipped hedge. When the weather drops to about 20 degrees, they would have to come inside.

Meyer Lemon Tree

I was surprised to see that Williams and Sonoma were selling lemon trees! These are not just regular lemons but Meyer lemons- a sweeter, juicier and more fragrant lemon. Meyer lemons can be used as a garnish for cocktails, tossed into a stir-fry to provide a citrusy zing, grated over dishes or eaten right off the tree. I also like that these produce white flowers which are notable for their creamy, delicate, tropical fragrance.

Williams and Sonoma is also selling Blood Orange trees and Key Lime trees as well as Olive Trees.

If anyone owns or have owned any of these, please let me know your experience. I'd love to keep in my front sunny window or out on the deck this summer!

Read between the lines

Right now, it's all about the stripes!

Every store is stocked with striped everything. It's a classic print that is timeless. There is the bold stripe and the think stripe, two colors or a rainbow of colors.

 Here are a few of my favs...

Express Keyhole Dress- I bought this last week!!

VS Bikini

VS Dress

Lilly Pulitzer

Burberry

Forever 21

Diaz in Michael Kors

Lilly Pulitzer

Lemon and Rosemary Chicken

When you sell produce for a living, you and your co-workers tend to talk a lot about food!

This recipe was given to me from another sales rep. Michelle.

I made this dish tonight and it was fantastic and easy!

LEMON ROSEMARY CHICKEN

• 1 3.5 lb chicken (cut into 8 pieces)
• 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 1/2 cup fresh rosemary leaves
• 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
• 10 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
• 1 lemon, peel removed, pith and pulp chopped
• Kosher salt & freshly ground pepper to taste

How to:

1. Toss chicken with oil, rosemary, lemon juice, garlic, lemon, and salt and pepper in bowl. Marinate for 1 hour.

2. Heat oven to 450 degrees. Arrange chicken in a 9" x 13" baking dish; add remaining marinade. Roast, flipping once until cooked through, 30-40 minutes.

 

I searched the Internet a bit and I found a grilled variation that sounds just as good and perfect for the warmer weather approaching....I posted below

LEMON ROSEMARY GRILLED CHICKEN

• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 tablespoon minced rosemary
• 1 tablespoon lemon zest
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 whole chicken, butterflied open

How to:

1. Mix together the butter, rosemary, lemon zest and salt.

2. Lay the chicken breast-side up on a large sheet pan. Carefully separate the skin from the flesh of the chicken with your hand held flat between the skin and the flesh. Spread the butter mixture between the skin and the flesh, making sure not to displace the skin so that the skin covers the whole chicken. Pat skin dry with paper towels.

3. Heat grill until very hot (400 degrees if you have a thermometer on your grill.) Place chicken flat on grill, buttered side down. Place a large heavy skillet (cast iron works great) on top of the chicken. Close grill cover and cook 8 to 10 minutes, watching closely so as not to burn chicken skin.

4. Turn grill off and turn chicken over. Place skillet again on top of chicken. Close cover and let cook 25 to 30 minutes, until chicken is cooked through.

It pays to shop around....

PSSST! I'm here to let you in on a little secret....it's called the Internet and it is some times the best way to find a deal.

 Let me show you my latest score!

This jacket by Jack Candena (which is BB Dakota) is currently selling in stores and online at South Moon Under for $90. I spotted in the window at the Harbor East location. But $90? So I did a little research online...first went to the South Moon Under Website and found the item, then Googled the name of the item.

First I found the jacket on the BB Dakota  website, for the same price, $90- boo.

Then on Jupe Boutique for $80.

Then I found the same jacket on the Lulu's website for $78- better, but I kept on.

I then took to Ebay and I ended up buying the jacket, new with tags, for only $29- jackpot. I did have to pay shipping, which brought my total to $34.00.

I estimate if I would have bought the item in store with tax, I would have paid almost $100.

Sometimes doing a little research can pay off- in this case about $66!!

Here's your sign....

I do!

True Story

HAHAHAH right!

Funny how that works :)

Valentine's Day

To me, it is obvious, that if you do not like Valentine's Day you are possibly:

1. SINGLE

2. BEEN SINGLE FOR A LONG ASS TIME

3. BROKE

4. DIETING

5. ALL OF THE ABOVE

I love still love this holiday and I am on a diet :)

What a cute way to remind you how great it is to be in love!

You do not have to be in a relationship or married to enjoy this holiday...how can you not like a holiday when the main color surrounding it's decor is PINK? Who doesn't like a reason to eat candy?

Here are some of my favorite V-day things.....

Awesome Movie- I cry every time

Pretty Pink Dress

I wish I could buy the one here on Blake by Michael Kors!

Martha Stewart Heart Wreath

Red Velvet Cup Cakes- YUM!

 More YUM!

So true and so my hubs!

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

C'mon Summer

This is just one reason I cannot wait for warm weather to arrive....
especially when paired with my matching bikini :)

Random

"So much of life, it seems to me, is determined by pure randomness."

Sidney Poiter

Called out

I allowed this until tonight...getting upset about wasted time is a waste.

 I get upset about the wasted time of my last career path and think, "UGH! I could be done grad school by now!"
 Truth is, I would not be in grad school. Hating my job as much as I did gave me the drive to apply to grad school and pushed me to find a career that makes me happy.

"Don't lose your spark and don't become deflated"

Time is on my side....

Okay, yeah right...I'm always late and out of time! Maybe this well help...

Kors Watch sold here at Nordstroms

I'm eyeing up this gold beauty from Michael Kors. I love the idea of paring with multiple bangles and a leather cuff or two (or ten)  like this...

I also like the price...it's reasonable and not really an investment!

AFC CHAMPIONSHIP!

My beloved Ravens have made it to the AFC Championship and what better way to celebrate- drink and eat amazing food! We are having a few friends and family over at our house tomorrow to watch the big game and tonight got a jump on the food prep :)

 

Started with homemade choc chip cookies (ulta low fat splenda only recipe- Jason is not happy! He honetsly would have not known if he would not have seen the splenda bags out!)

After that a super easy chocolate covered strawberry (used the chips)

Tomorrow I will be making my delish homemade chili and brownies (don't tell the guys, but I'm also making that in a healthy way...post that recipe after tomorrow!)

So while we are eatting good, I sure hope my Ravens are playing even better!

GO RAVENS!!



BLING BLING!!

I'm a sucker for anything sparkly and anything bearing my lovely name, so when I saw this I phone case I fell in LOVE!

I'm dying to find this case online (it is not made by T&CO)



I think in Spring

It may be under 30 degrees here in Maryland, but my eyes are all set on the warm weather that's just around the corner - okay months away, but you get the idea. The Nordstom catalog arrived featuring all the Resort/Spring wear...I want like everything they are selling from bold colored pants to color blocked dresses!

While at Nordstrom RACK the other day, I picked up these oh so adorable Michael Kors heels, which I can't wait to wear....and with the awesomely low price...I just could not pass them up :)

My lust for warm weather continued today. I began my morning with a trip to the salon for some highlights- nothing new there! Then I got a mani and pedi in a lovely girlie pink by China Glaze, named "Rich and Famous".

Doesn't this color just scream Spring? It's actually part of the brand's breast cancer awareness line.

 And no that is not my hand...you would be surprised how many images come up in Google when you type in a color of nail polish!

Lastly I finished up my afternoon with a spray tan, Mystic of course. I just needed some color!

If you never tried spray tan, I recommend it! Here is a pic of the booth, looks very space age!

Crazy the stuff us girls do!