Monthly Archives: September 2011

Leaf It to Me

Fall is in the air! Well, to be honest, it’s not really in the air here in Los Angeles.  The leaves haven’t fallen and the temperature is still a little too hot to pull out the sweaters and boots just yet (sorry, Midwesterners!).  But I refuse to let that stop me from jumping into the  Read More...
Posted in Be Merry, Chic Crafty, Chic Decor, Chic DIY, Chic Entertaining, DIY Not?, Featured, Home & Garden | Leave a comment

Setting Up a Baby Room

For starters – congratulations! Having a baby is the most exciting time! When Rachel asked me to start a baby blog I had so many ideas. Our baby boy just turned five months old. It’s amazing what the learning curve is like on your first child. We really knew nothing going into parenthood. Now, there  Read More...
Posted in Be Merry, Chic Decor, Featured, Home & Garden | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Antipasto Salad

Necessity is the mother of invention. Not that I necessarily invented an antipasto salad but last night was the first time I ever thought of making one and it was due to lack of other green vegetables. You see, as a rule, if I’m going to actually make dinner, I want it to be wholesome  Read More...
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Crockpot Curry

The onset of Fall means the return of crockpot dinners to our kitchen! I love the ease of use involved… throw a bunch of stuff in a pot in the morning and come home to a perfectly cooked dinner in the evening, what’s not to love? If you’ve never tried using a crockpot, what are  Read More...
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Penne with Pancetta and Fresh Peas

Dinner’s Ready This is one of those dinners that was SO simple to make when I finally tried it that I wondered what had taken me so long. The ingredient list is short but honestly, the flavor is out of this world! Here’s What You’ll Need: 1 lb of Whole Wheat Penne Pasta – Regular  Read More...
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Defensive Gardening

Sometimes gardening becomes less about growing and more about protecting. This little grasshopper was a friendly surprise compared to other things I’ve been dealing with lately. He minds his own business, he doesn’t destroy my plants, and he looks so pretty – grasshoppers are on my good side. These guys, however, are on my bad  Read More...
Posted in Be Merry, Chic Gardening, Home & Garden | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Cooking Lesson: Housemade Cavatelli with Braised Rabbit

  Ok, yes, this recipe is a bit more intricate than you’re used to. There’s the homemade pasta, cavatelli to be correct. There’s the whole braised rabbit part… I know, that’s a little intimidating too. But here’s the thing Readers, this is a chance to challenge yourself to cook aspirationally! That’s what lessons are all  Read More...
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Momfession: I Shop at The Goodwill

It’s true, I shop at the Goodwill. I also shop at the Salvation Army, Yard Sales, Flea Markets, and I am the queen of the hand-me-down! I was looking around my house yesterday and I realized just how many things I own that I didn’t buy new and I thought it might be a good  Read More...
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Rachel Hollis Gives Emmy Party Planning Tips

Chic Events owner Rachel Hollis knows how to throw a party for the best of them. Known for celebrity party planning, she gave “Extra’s” Adrianna Costa an inside look at how she brainstorms concepts for parties — and how anyone can plan a fun Emmy party at home on a budget! Hollis says you can  Read More...
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Presto Pesto

These days my basil is growing faster than I can pick it (literally, the photo above is a tower of harvested basil leaves NOT a whole plant!) I love making pesto because it’s easy to whip up and goes great with salads, pasta and as a topping for grilled meat. Also, it makes a great  Read More...
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