Ramblings

10 random thoughts to carry you into the weekend.

1. This blogging three times a week thing is hard, like really hard.
2. I'm totally obsessing over these at the moment

Peanut Butter Cup Ice Cream Sandwiches a la Erica's Sweet Tooth

3. Golden retrievers are awesome. Fluffy, friendly, amazing.

4. Josh and I are having a movie night with Velveeta tomorrow and I feel a little bit like this about it

5. Confession: I don't wear socks when I run

6. High School was the best 4 years of my life. Judge on.

7. I ate a whole roll of bubble tape by myself last week

8. I need new sneakers (see number 5)

9. True story. I'm addicted to ice cream

10. I never set my alarm to a round number. 7:12, 8:14...you get the idea

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Falling for Fall

I know I'm a day late with my first ever trends post (so I'm my mother's daughter) but it comes with a snazzy blog make-over so get over it.


Now, before you chastize me for wishing away my all time favorite season, read on.

I'm a Summer girl through and through. I live for warm weather, iced coffee, sun dresses, deeply tanned skin and flip flops. Not to mention no makeup (see deeply tanned skin), weekends at the beach, pedicures, cocktails with hints of citrus, and the endless number of evenings outside.

That being said, I can't stop the changing of seasons. Trust me- I've tried. I've tried to hold on to Summer not letting the leaves change but every year without fail, Summer slips into Fall. So what have I learned with all of this hanging on i.e. denial? When Fall arrives I'm never prepared and I always hate my closet.

So in the spirit of learning from my mistakes, I'm soaking up every bit that's left of Summer but also preparing for when my sleeveless dresses look a tad out of place and my flip flops are forced to be retired.

Here are 3 trends I'm adding to my closet in preparation for Fall:

• Leather Infused Pieces- Leather made a big debut last Fall and while many were afraid of how far to take it (or how long it would last) with this year's September issues in full swing, and Leather a star, I'd say it's here to stay. I'm loving the look of leather mixed with other fabrics and textures. (1. Zara, 2. Piperlime)

                         

                             

• Studded Flats- Flats are a Fall staple. When it's too cool for sandals and too warm for boots, I always reach for flats. My problem? I only own two pairs (ok, two I'd actually wear). I'm aiming to change that this year and I'm loving the look of studs to add a bit of an edge to an everyday shoe. (1. Gilt (Sale has ended), 2. Sam Edelman for Piperlime, 3. Piperlime)                  

• Short mixed-texture jackets - You heard me. Everywhere I look, structured jackets stare back at me. Online, in store windows, off the pages of look books; From Gap to Nieman's, they seem to be the season's hot commodity. These jackets are the perfect way to add a flare or pop to an outfit and many are very affordable. Note to self: pick-up mom's houndstooth version from home closet.     (1. H&M for under $50, 2. Intermix for a pretty penny)

                   

          

So there you have it, three of my must have trend for the impending Autumn season. I could go on, but frankly, my photoshop skills are not good enough to add any more trends #rookiebloggerproblems.

Check back in tomorrow for an update on life, love and the pursuit of happiness.

xoxo

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Recipe Roundup

Good afternoon! For the first installment of Recipe Roundup I figured I'd go with a classic. I'm an avid baker, always looking for a new recipe, new tip or trick to take things to the next level. I often find inspiration on pinterest and have collected more than a few dream worth recipes (if you're interested you can check them out on my Decadently Devine board here). Although I wish I had all the time in the world to sift through these recipes and actually bake them all (gasp, sugar overload!)... I don't. So, in deciding what to bake in my tinycrampednostorage darling kitchen, I try to go with a mix of recipes that feature unique ingredients or combinations, something with a wow factor or a basic that will improve my "classic" arsenal.

This weekend I opted with the latter. While I'm a diehard Toll House girl, their chocolate chip cookie recipe never quite does it for me. They often wind up too thin, over baked (no matter how under-time I cook them for), and a bit lackluster.

In perusing the world of pins a few weeks ago I stumbled across a recipe promising to be the most chewy and delicious recipe out there. I knew I had to try it.

Since yesterday was a rainy Sunday, it was the perfect day to give this recipe a whirl. A quick look in my cabinet revealed that I didn't in fact have everything needed for this recipe so I hopped to the store and immediately set to work.

I found the recipe on pinterest, but it's original comes from a baking blog I truly admire Sally's Baking Addiction. I doctored the recipe just a bit (duh) and the end result is to die for. The cookies are light in color, super thick, chewy but not overly so and give a nod to the best part of cookies: the dough.

Here is the recipe with my adjusted proportions.

Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients

• 2 and 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon cornstarch
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
• 3/4 cup dark brown sugar, loosely packed
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1 large egg + 1 egg yolk
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract



Photo credit: Sally's Baking Addiction

• 1 cup chocolate chips

Instructions

• Combine the flour, baking soda, cornstarch and salt in a large bowl. Set aside.
• In a medium bowl, combine the butter, brown sugar, and white sugar until no brown sugar lumps remain. 
• Add in the egg, then the egg yolk. Finally, add the vanilla. 
• Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix together with a large spoon. Cover the dough and chill for 2 hours (don't skip this step).
• Take the dough out of the refrigerator and let it sit at room temperature for a few minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 325F. Grease two baking sheets- set aside.
• Roll the dough into balls, about 2-3 Tablespoons each. Roll the cookie dough balls so that they are taller rather than wide. Put 8 balls of dough onto each cookie sheet.  Bake the cookies for 11-12 minutes. 
• They will look soft and underbaked (light in color). They will continue to bake on the cookie sheet. Allow to cool on the cookie sheet for 10 minutes.
• Try not to eat them all! But if you do, it's ok I wont tell anyone. 

Enjoy! If you try them, I'd love to know what you think, what you liked, didn't like etc. I'm always looking to improve "perfection".

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Structure...we all need it. We don't always like it.

Happy Monday loyal followers. Over the weekend I started to think about all the ways my life (and I) have changed over the course of the year and half that I've been writing. I've moved twice, I'm no longer single, I've changed careers and I've officially entered my "late" twenties. With these personal changes, it seems only fitting that my blog make some changes as well.

With that being said, I've decided to add a bit more structure to my posts. I'm going to try and post 2-3x per week on a variety of topics. The schedule I'v landed on is as follows:

• Mondays: Recipe Roundup. Food inspiration that's got me itching to cook.
• Wednesdays: Trends I'm Trending. Fashion, food, exercise, decorating..you get the idea. All things trendy that I'm hitching my wagon to (and think you should too)
• Fridays: Weekly Musings. Life happenings, trip recaps, family drama...the works.

This will be the best kind of structure, I promise.

Can't wait to see you all later for this blogs first installment of "Recipe Roundup". 

Xoxo,

Sari

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Summer Book Round Up

Every summer I get the reading itch. A desire to lounge by the pool, on the beach, or in the house to get lost in the land of make-believe.

So far this summer I've been slow- I've only read two books, but Josh and I (see I didn't even call him the boy) are leaving on Thursday for vacation for 10 days (yes 10 whole days, canyoubelieveit!?!?! Clearly I'm not that excited) down on the Outer Banks in Nags Head. His family has been vacationing here for years, might I even say decades, and this will be my first summer joining.

In preparation of our trip, I've scoured the internet, tapped my book sources and compiled a list of must-reads. I have 4 shiny new novels en route to our apartment and I can't wait to sink my teeth in. Here is my reading round up for the summer.


What I've Read So Far

1. The Last Original Wife-  A classic beach read. This newly released page turner by Dorothea Benton Frank caught my eye in the Penn Station book store en route to Fire Island. It was hard to get started but once I did, I couldn't put it down and wound up finishing it during our weekend trip to Newport.

    2.   Firefly Lane- This one totally caught me off guard. Josh and I were up at my
          parents house this weekend house sitting for the dogs when I realized, GASP,
          I didn't have a book. Resorting to my ultra lazy ways, I decided to scour the house
          for hidden gems (aka please don't make me go to the book store). Right in my
          room, underneath my high school yearbook and Camp Watitoh scrapbooks lay
          this paperback. I remembered trying to read it in years past with little luck, so I
          was reluctant, but upon digging in- I was hooked. I read all 479 pages in 2 days.


What's On My List

    3.   The Widow Waltz- With a place on the "Best Books of 2013 So Far" this classic
          beach read had me intrigued from the moment I heard about it

    4.   Revenge Wears Prada- The devil is back and better than ever. Or so I've been
          told. The sequel to the much-talked about 2004 page turner, is supposedly better
          than the original. When my good friend and book confidant suggested I read this,
          how could I say no? Start your engines people.

    5.   Chose the Wrong Guy, Gave Him the Wrong Finger- Called off engagements,
          second chances, and high school sweethearts- say no more. When a girl leaves
          her perfect fiance for his less than perfect brother, I want a front row seat.

    6.   Summer People- Family drama and the island of Nantucket, what every beach
          read is made of. A friend of a friend said this was a "must read". I don't often hear
          that and like what i see in the synopsis. So when the stars aligned, I added this
          one to my cart.


I can't wait to get on the plane on Thursday, arrive at the house and totally disconnect. I'm planning to turn off my phone, I know big moves, and avoid Facebook, email and Instagram to the best of my ability. While the sound of drama, status updates, make-ups and break-ups won't be keeping me company, these books definitely will.

What are you reading this summer? I'd love to know!

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Introducing...The Boy

I know, I know...it's about time! Given the fact that the boy and I have been dating for over a year and now live together, I figured it was time I gave him a proper introduction.

While many of you know him personally, and others feel you know him through this very blog, several loyal readers have nudged me to formally introduce him. 

So I give you, "the boy". The one I have so affectionately referred to on this blog in many posts, most notably here, here and here, the one whose dating life has been splashed across the tabloids social media (this is not exactly E! news, people) and the one who has made my life better in ways I never imagined, is officially unveiled. 

Profile of "The Boy"

Name: Josh
Age: 27
Hometown: Sunnyside Gardens
Profession: Art Director (duh, that's how we met)
Favorite Sport: Hockey
Team: Rangers
Favorite Food: Velveeta (leave judgement at the door)
Passion: Music
Pet Peeve: Moldy towels, unlocked doors, poorly folded shirts

So there you have it, a quick glimpse at the guy I love who puts up with me, supports me, laughs at my jokes, massages my feet and takes tons of road trips even though he'd be perfectly content staying home, ah love (I do plenty for him too, it's not completely one sided).

From now on, he will be referred to by name and not affectionately as "the boy" as has previously been the norm.  It's been a good run, but everything runs its course. 

Happy Tuesday!

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Battle of the Sexes...Sort Of

I can't believe it's been nearly two months since my last post. Hellooooo abandonment!

I promise I have a good reason for my absence, or a few reasons at that. But first, we'll focus on the big one.

The boy and I moved in together. We had been planning it for months; talking about it, anxiously awaiting it, organizing for it, discussing it and then finally- it happened! We packed up our apartments (in a few more trips than either of us expected), loaded the moving van and departed for our new home. All I will say is this: nothing prepares you for moving in with someone, except actually doing it. We had boxes labeled, furniture picked out, lists on hand and several "we're together all the time anyway, it won't be any different" conversations behind us but the truth is, living with someone is different.

It's the joining of two lives. Two styles of living... and yes, that means all aspects of living, not just those you want to compromise on (which is where maintaining separate apartments totally leads you astray). Eating, sleeping, alarm sounding, towel hanging, cooking, food buying, remote controlling, bed making, schedule adjusting- everything. The sudden realization that the way you've lived for the last 5 or so years is going to take a hit, in order to compromise (key word) to accomodate for another person, is not always easy. You've made your bed a certain way for years, allowed your alarm to go off endlessly (probably a bit too endlessly) and left the apartment door unlocked because you have some false sense of security in new york, without impacting anyone but yourself.

Now, that's all changed. Everything you do, and say, impacts another person.  I think I was more surprised than the boy was at the amount of compromise that would be coming our way. He's been great- super accommodating and understanding of my control freak need to have the bed made, and perfect, all day every day (thanks Mom) and very willing to compromise. I was the one who had a bit more work to do.

All in all, moving was more of a transition than I anticipated but once we had some conversations to straighten me out- it's been smooth sailing and we are loving day to day life together. Everything from cooking dinner to commuting to work together is definitely more fun now that we're under one roof.  We had our first dinner guests last night and the boy cooked an amazing meal- it was nice to entertain in a space that's ours.

This weekend we're off to Newport! I've never been and I'm excited to spend the weekend by the water in a new place.

More to come on work, pictures of the apartment and other daily musings. And I promise it won't take me two months to post....really, I do.

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