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Menu Board

I know I haven’t done a home tip in a while, but this is a really good one. Creating a menu board for your kitchen is a really helpful way to solve a lot of common problems. I always plan out our meals for the week but it seems like by the end of that week, a lot of the ingredients have gone bad which forces us to completely change the menu or have to buy the ingredients twice. This board is incredibly easy to make and since it’s dry erase, I can play around with different meals organizing them in a way that makes the most sense. I make it so the meals that have the most fresh herbs/easily perishable ingredients go earlier in the week and the things that can be frozen/have a longer shelf life go later in the week. I like this board for a lot of different reason as well… it allows my husband to check every morning and see what we’re having for dinner which is nice to include him, it allows me to only buy groceries that we need instead of buying a bunch with no set plan, and it’s so easily customizable that it can fit anyones decor. Click here to get the step-by-step tutorial!

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Light Chickpea Curry with Basmati Rice & Naan

I love the bold flavors of Indian cuisine, but what I don’t love is the heaviness and calories that come with a lot of their dishes. Most entrees use high-fat coconut milk or clarified butter as the cooking liquid so I wanted to replace that with water and share a recipe that had the same delicious flavor but was much lighter and satisfying! A quick cooking vegetarian curry, served with yellow curry basmati rice and garlic naan bread… this meal is perfect to keep you warm on these cold nights and fill you up without weighing you down! If you leave off the Naan, this dish is a vegan one. Click here to get the recipe and see how it’s made!

DVF “Trelodie” Blouse


This is my first post in the new Designer DIY section of the website, and I’m really excited to share it with all of you. I saw this DVF blouse a few months ago, immediately fell in love with it and knew I could make it pretty easily and for much cheaper (it retails for $225). I had gotten this burberry sheer chiffon for a crazy good deal (a 2 1/2 yard remnant at 6$ a yard, on sale at 50% off with an additional 15% off coupon) and had been racking my brain as to what to use it for… and then it hit me that it would be perfect for this project! I used Burda’s 7299 pattern in view B. I always make my garments out of muslin first so that I can have a fabric pattern and also to ensure a perfect fit and in this case I’m glad I did. I made the muslin in the size true to my measurements according to the patterns chart and it was enormous. I ended up cutting the final pattern two sizes smaller and still had to take in 1″ on both sides. I love this shirt for the endless options it leaves for making it… you could use a satin like it’s pictured in the mint color or a use chiffon like I did, you could take the sleeves off to make a fantastic top for summertime, etc.  Click here to see more pictures and better views of all the details!

Designer DIYs

Since I started sewing, one of my favorite things to do is sit down with the Vogue Collections books, pick out my favorite designer clothes and then find ways to make them myself for much cheaper. I think a lot of women are like me, we love fashion and all things designer but let’s face it- none of us can afford 99% of those things. With this in mind I’ve decided to add a new section to the website… Designer DIYs. At least a couple times a month I’ll share one of my projects where I’ll teach you how I’ve taken an expensive designer item (I’ll do accessories and home decor, not just clothing) and made it for a much more reasonable price. If you guys have something you’d like to see DIY-ed, send me an email and I might include it in the section! 

Framed Jewelry Box

I’ve been trying to come up with the best way to do this for quite a while and it was definitely worth the wait! I was having the same problem I think a lot of women have… I have a lot of jewelry and haven’t really found a great way to store it all. I wanted a way to store the jewelry while putting it on display at the same time. I’ve seen a couple ideas where people put chicken wire or string behind a frame on a wall and hang things on it but I wanted something a little more put together to hang in my office. My solution was to literally make a “jewelry box” and frame it in the same style frame as the Alexander McQueen prints. It’s the perfect touch on the blank wall above my reading chair and I think it’s really unique. The best part is you can make it any size, shape or color you want to fit the room you’re putting it in and that allows you have a one-of-a-kind piece of art that doubles as storage… plus it’s perfect for the gifts everyone got for Valentine’s Day!  Click here to get the step-by-step tutorial!

Chicken Milanese with Tomato Fennel Sauce

This is the third and final meal for my Valentine’s Day Menus. This is one of my go-to recipes all year round because it’s fairly simple but so flavorful and a nice change of pace. It’s also really easy to multiply this recipe and cook for a lot of people… I actually served this meal for Christmas at our house a couple years ago. Chicken breasts pounded into super thin cutlets, breaded in hand-seasoned breadcrumbs topped with a creamy tomato fennel sauce with roasted red potatoes on the side… this menu is sure to please!  Click here to get the recipe and see how it’s made!

Spice Rubbed Cod with Lemon Rice

This is my second of three menus for the Valentine’s Day (find the first one here) and what makes it great is how light the dinner is, saving plenty of room for all those decadent desserts! Cod rubbed with a coriander spice mixture that’s steamed over lemon basmati rice and zucchini, this dish is fit to impress while keeping you out of the kitchen so you can enjoy yourself! If you don’t like fish, you can always make the rice separate and rub chicken or pork with the spice before grilling or roasting it. Click here to get the recipe and see how it’s made!

Paper Heart Garland

This is a really quick, easy and super cute craft for Valentine’s Day.  I love this because it’s something so simple that really adds a unique decorative touch to any area of your house. It’s a versatile idea too, it would be fantastic for a kid’s birthday party! You can play around with different colors and prints, change the sizes or even add more strips make this craft truly yours! Click here to get the tutorial and see how it’s made!

Restaurant Steaks with Compound Butter

This will be my first of three menu ideas for a romantic Valentine’s Dinner menu, and it happens to be my favorite! My husband and I love dining out at steakhouses but with the hefty price tag I set out to make the same thing at home. Strip steaks cooked in a cast iron skillet topped with a garlic rosemary butter served with grilled asparagus and mashed potatoes, this will impress your date without keeping you in the kitchen all night! One thing I would highly suggest is cooking these outside on the burner of a grill if at all possible. We made them inside and the smoke was kind of overwhelming so I learned two things:  if you are going to cook them inside then just unplug your smoke detector and know that as soon as they steaks go in the oven the smoke will dissipate quickly. Click here to get the recipe and see how they’re made!

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