Two new things I love

DH and I had Ethiopian food for the first time last night.  It was soo good.  It wasn't nearly as messy as it looks in the movies (I am thinking of Along Came Polly.)  We had sambusas for appetizers, yebeg alicha (lamb with sauteed onions) and a veggie combination (lentils, collard greens, potatoes, and other fun stuff). And it wasn't that spicy either.  You can make it spicy if you like, which I do.  I didn't take a picture, but I found one one on Wikipedia.

We went to Etete  which I read about in one of the DC restaurant review sites.  It's the smallest place and it doesn't have cushions on the floor or anything. (I say that because the guy at the table next to us kept complaining to his date about how it disappointed him because it lacked said cushions.)  But it was definitely good food.

And oh my gosh, I am OBSESSED with this new smoothie at Starbucks, the Chocolate Banana smoothie. It is so chocolatey and delish-ious.  It has 20 grams of protein and only 270 calories.  I can't believe it!

Madewell 1937

I just got a coupon in the mail for Madewell.  I've heard of them as being owned by the same company as J. Crew, but I've never been to one since the first one in the DC area that I know of will be opening August 5th.  (At Tysons Mall.)

I am excited about checking out this new store.  Has anyone shopped here before?

Layla Grayce

Has anyone ever shopped from Layla Grayce? I found this online store when I was looking for a rug. EVERYTHING is so, so pretty, chic, and cheerful looking. They have nursery bedding and furniture and beautiful home accents.

I don't have anything I have to get yet, but maybe someday I will have a reason to buy some of their bedding or furniture items. If I could describe my ideal decorating style in an ideal house (with an unlimited budget of course) it would be Pottery Barn-ish with an emphasis on the Layla Grayce look. I just LOVE white furniture and soft or bright colors. And I really like the classic/vintage look.

Blue and White Bridal Shower

I hosted a bridal shower over the weekend (for Keeper's Girl) and wanted to share some pictures.  Megan's colors are blue and white, so I went along with that theme.

The menu. I had a fruit platter, bruschetta, chicken salad sandwiches, lemon-lime bars (recipe from BHG magazine), goat cheese morsels, and Raspberry filled Vanilla cupcakes (recipe below).

 

The drinks and table accents. I made a cocktail called the "Bubbly Bride" in martini pitcher and served it in martini glasses rimmed with blue sugar.  The flowers were hydrangeas I got from Safeway's floral department. The tablecloths were fabric I got cut at the fabric store.

The invitations.  For the shower I used a Crane's printable invitation.  I also included a Bachelorette party invite (which followed the shower) that I made with Crane's cardstock which happened to be the exact color of the shower invite envelope.  The flower is a sticker from Martha Stewart Crafts that I got at Michaels.

The gift table.  I used fabric from the fabric store as table cloths.  The favor bags (on the right) are white bags from Michaels that I stamped with "Thank You" and some flowers.

After I frosted the cupcakes I added a blue artificial flower to each one and displayed them in a Martha Stewart cupcake tree I love. 

The cupcakes were a recipe that I got from a good friend, and they were DELICIOUS.  Since I am not that great a cook, I can only attribute their deliciousness to the recipe.  For those of you who would like to try, here it is:

Raspberry-Filled French Vanilla Cupcakes (it's been altered a couple of times, but I believe the original version is called Bride's Cake in the Cake Mix Doctor.)

Cupcakes

White Cake Mix

1 Stick Butter

1 cup Whole Milk

3 eggs

1 tsp. Vanilla

Make cupcakes as directed on box, substituting, butter, milk, and eggs for the oil, water and egg white. And add the vanilla. Bake. Cool.

Filling

1 jar of Raspberry Jam (I used Black Raspberry)

Use a piping bag and a filling tip to squeeze the jam into each cupcake.  It should go in about an inch and be squeezed for a couple of seconds. (Or you can just use a knife to make an incision and use a ziplock bag with a tiny whole cut in the corner.)

Frosting

8 oz. Cream Cheese, softened

1 stick butter, softened

Confectioner's sugar

1 tsp. Vanilla Extract

1 tsp. Raspberry Extract

The recipe I got from my friend included melted white chocolate and less butter, but the bride doesn't like chocolate (in any of its glorious forms), so I added more butter and raspberry extract.  I was a little nervous about the raspberry extract (how it would taste and adding color to the frosting) but it didn't, and it tasted so yummy with the cream cheese.

Whip butter and cream cheese until combined.  Beat in about 2.5 cups of confectioner's sugar.  Add more if necessary.  Add the extracts.  

Frost the filled cupcakes.  Enjoy!  I made these a day in advance and refrigerated them until a couple hours before the shower.  (They aren't good cold.)

My Company C Lookalike

So I LOVE the rugs from Company C.  But they were a tad out of my budget.  So, I searched high and low and found a similar rug from Home Decorators for a lot less.  The colors in the picture don't do it justice.  But it is actually very vivid.  I was so excited to put it in my living room!

Sales and discounts!!!

These are some pretty sweet deals:

Ann Taylor

Use coupon code 83500001

for $50 off $100 exp. 4/5

J.Crew

Use Coupon Code SHHH

for 20% off any purchase of $175+

exp. 3/28

Bloomingdales

Use coupon code PSALE3

for 20% off of any purchase*

exp. 3/28

*excludes Burberry, Fendi, Gucci, Longchamp, Marc Jacobs,

Milly, Tory Burch, Toy Watch,Ugg

Also Filene's Basement is having a great sale on designer denim. They have Seven For All Mankind, True Religion, Paige Premium, Joe's Jeans, and more, for men and women. Most pairs are under $100!

(Though if you're short like me and looking for the Joe's Provocateur line, they don't have them)

And if you happen to find something on clearance while you are shopping for your designer jeans use this 25% off coupon:

The Bachelor: London Calling

Well the new season aired on Monday, and I finally got a chance to watch it last night.  

Matt Grant is the Bachelor.  He's from England, so that adds a little twist to the show.  I haven't decided how much I like him.  From the previews he looks little womanizing, so that doesn't bode well.

I really liked the girl who got the first impression rose--Amanda.  She has a chronic case of the hiccups--she hiccups when she gets nervous.  I thought it was kind of cute.

I also really liked both Erins, Michelle P., and Robin.  They all seemed down to earth but interesting.

Of course the editing is designed to make me feel a certain way.  I found a great blog that has an insider's look at the Bachelor show written by a former bachelorette, Kate Brockhouse from the Andy Baldwin season.  

Since reading her blog, I have to say Brad Womack is actually my favorite Bachelor.  Of all the guys he seemed to be the least womanizing and most sincere about being on the show.  And he was definitely the most attractive.  

Speaking of Brad, how cool is it that Deanna gets to be the next Bachelorette?  She was the one Brad left standing without a proposal.  All I can say is, it's about time!

Did anyone else watch the Bachelor?  What did you think?