Monday, January 31

Look the Part {Siren Song}

Bianca Jagger. I am definitely digging her style. Fashion icon, activist, ex-wife of Mick Jagger {How could he resist her?}, close friend of Andy Warhol. Well known for her fabulous wardrobe and her wild child ways at Studio 54, to me, Bianca is the essence of the Riviera in the summertime. The flowing dresses, the bright colors, the golden skin. She is my Summer style inspiration! I am attending an outdoor wedding in the Keys in April {which may as well be Summer} and I'm swooning over this "Bianca" Lilly dress. It has Sirens on the half-shell with a little bit of sparkle! While Ms. Jagger is more St. Tropez than Palm Beach, I think she would approve of her namesake dress. After all, Sirens are so much sexier than Mermaids, no? Absolute perfection. Absolute Bianca. 

{No.1} Bianca dress, Lilly Pulitzer, {No.2} 18 karat Filigree Hoop, Isharya, {No.3} Straw Hat, {No. 4} Sunglasses, Gucci, {No. 5} 18 karat gold dipped Lace Cuff, Aurelie Bidermann, {No. 6} Lona Terra sandals, Alexandre Birman {No. 2, 4-6 can be found at Net-a-Porter}

Sunday, January 30

Sunday Supper


It's almost supper time! At the beginning of every week, Parker and I decide on a traditional, Southern, Sunday meal {"traditional" meaning something is nearly always fried or a stick of butter is used}. It's usually our splurge meal of the week and we love cooking together from family recipes and perfecting our favorites. This week we decided to take a little break from convention and make some yummy BLFGT sandwiches {the only thing that would make this better would be to add pimento cheese}, my best Mac & Cheese dish from the Deen Brothers recipe and homemade Banana Pudding. I hope y'all enjoy the recipes and kindly make any suggestions! Have a wonderful week.

Bacon, Lettuce and Fried Green Tomato Sandwich {serves 4 or more}:
  • 2 large green tomatoes, sliced medium to thick
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 3 cups yellow cornmeal
  • 3 cups canola oil
  • 1 lb. of thick sliced bacon
  • 8-12 crisp lettuce leaves {we prefer Bibb lettuce}
  • Dukes mayonnaise
  • Toasted sandwich bread
Season slices of green tomato with salt and pepper. Dredge in the cornmeal. Heat the oil in a skillet. Fry the tomatoes until crisp and golden on both sides. Remove from pan and place on paper towel-lined plate to absorb any excess oil.

Spread the mayonnaise on the toasted bread. Build your sandwich with the lettuce,  fried green tomatoes and cooked bacon.

The Deen Bros. Baked Macaroni and Cheese {serves about 8}:
  • 2 cups of uncooked elbow macaroni
  • 8 ounces cheddar cheese, shredded (about 2 cups)
  • 8 ounces American cheese, shredded (about 2 cups)
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter, cut into pieces
  • 1 teaspoon bottled hot pepper sauce
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish; set aside. In saucepan, cook macaroni according to package directions; drain. Return macaroni to saucepan.

While macaroni is hot, add the cheeses to the pan; stir well. Spread the macaroni mixture in the prepared baking dish. In a bowl, whisk together the milk, sour cream, eggs, butter, hot sauce, and salt. Pour the milk mixture over the macaroni.
 
Bake for 35 to 40 minutes or until golden brown and bubbling. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.

Banana Pudding {serves 4 to 6}:
  • 2 cups whole milk
  • 2/3 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 egg plus 1 egg yolk
  • 3 tablespoons cornstarch
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 box of Nilla wafers
  • 2 large bananas, sliced 
  • 3/4 cup heavy cream, chilled
  • 1/4cup powdered sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Heat the milk, sugar and salt in a medium saucepan over medium heat until simmering, stirring occasionally to dissolve the sugar. Meanwhile, whisk the egg and yolk in a medium bowl until thoroughly combined. Whisk in the cornstarch until combined and the mixture is pale yellow and thick, about 20 seconds.
 
When the milk mixture reaches a full simmer, gradually whisk the simmering mixture into the egg mixture to temper. Return the mixture to the saucepan, scraping the bowl with a rubber spatula; return to a simmer over medium heat, whisking constantly, until a few bubbles burst on the surface and the mixture is thickened and glossy, about 30 seconds. Off the heat, whisk in the butter and vanilla.
 
Strain the pudding through a fine-mesh sieve set over a medium bowl. Place plastic wrap directly on the surface of the pudding to keep a skin from forming.
 
Line the bottom of a 1½-quart serving dish with vanilla wafers. On top of the wafers, place a layer of the sliced bananas. Pour ½ of the pudding over the bananas, and spread to the edges of the dish. Repeat the vanilla wafers, bananas, and pudding again. Press plastic wrap against the surface of the pudding and refrigerate for at least 4 hours.

Sweet Sunday Snapshot


It feels like Spring. {a bryan photo}

Saturday, January 29

A Sip of Southern



Fiddle dee dee! I just love this little ol' drink named after Miss Scarlett O' Hara. After the release of Gone With the Wind, Southern Comfort decided to shake up a cocktail that's one part sweet, one part spicy. Just like Miss Scarlett herself. Popular in college bars as a shot, the Scarlett O' Hara is best left to sipping for those of us who prefer our libations "adult". Why, just like her character, Miss Scarlett is mighty cunning and will sneak up on you after one or two. Preferably, this cocktail is best served right after the final pages of Miss Mitchell's classic and frankly, my dear, after reading that Southern saga, you're going to give a damn...and need a drink.

Scarlett O' Hara
1 1/2 ounces Southern Comfort
1 1/2 ounces Cranberry Juice
1/2 ounce Rose's Lime Juice or more to taste
{Rose's is a sweetened Key lime juice. Use it instead of regular lime juice, which can be too tart}
Garnish with a lime wheel or maraschino cherry

Pour all ingredients except the garnish into a cocktail shaker filled with ice; mix well. Strain into a chilled martini glass or an old-fashioned glass filled with ice. Add the garnish.

Thursday, January 27

Dixie Lit


You would have to have lived either under a rock or way above the Mason Dixon line {like, Canada} not to have heard about Kathryn Stockett's The Help. Set in turbulent 1960's Mississippi, Ms. Stockett highlights the complex relationships between employers and their employees. An underlying message of the employer valuing "the help" as family, yet keeping a distance and drawing an unmistakable line because of skin color.

I am in the midst of reading it for the second time and love it more and more with each flip of the page. Ms. Stockett has done an exceptional job of writing from the perspective of three characters, two of which are African American. Her ability to weave the lives of these characters, all with multifaceted backstories and in a convincing voice makes her a wonderful additon to Southern literature.

The much anticipated movie will arrive in theaters in August of this year. The fabulous Emma Stone will be playing the role of Eugenia "Skeeter" Phelan and will be surrounded by a wonderful cast including Sissy Spacek, Viola Davis and Bryce Dallas Howard. I am truly looking forward to the performance of local actress, Octavia Spencer, in the role of Minny and the addition of South Carolinian, Anna Camp. Ms. Stockett even makes an appearance in her Junior League finest! Keep your eyes peeled for the movie release date. Get the book at Amazon.com.

Tuesday, January 25

Look the Part {Anchor Splash}

I am thoroughly bored with cold weather. Aren't you? Personally, I cannot wait for the first {mildly} warm winds of Spring. I long to be like Jack and Jackie. Hop on a sailboat, feel the whipping wind in my hair and taste the salted sea spray. While I am quite a drive from the sea, I can at least look the part, no? Jackie was famous for her collection of Jack Rogers and I adore this neutral slim jute ballet flat; brand new for the Spring. And doesn't this jacket look like something she would wear to Regatta? I loved it so much, it's hanging in my closet! There are at least a couple more months of drab weather, but the promise of a nautical Spring awaits. The cheery colors of the coming season should be enough to brighten the rest of your chilly Winter days.

{No. 1} Corey Lynn Calter, It's In The Details Jacket @ Anthropologie {No.2} Giles & Brother Gold Plated Anchor Necklace @  {No.3} Canby Zebrawood Sunglasses @ Shwood {No.4} Cashmere Vest in Tangerine @ Top Shop {No. 5} Marui One mustard yellow skirt {No. 6} Jack Rogers

Saturday, January 22

A Sip of Southern

I am a lover of all things ancient. Soaked in story and rich in history. Almost always, I choose the old over the new. It's no wonder then that New Orleans plays a siren song for me. There is no explanation, I have no ties to the city, however, when I am there I am present. I feel alive and filled with such a joie de vivre. I understand this happens to a lot of folks down there. One specific gift I have received from the Crescent City is my signature cocktail, the Pimm's Cup. Imbibed for the first time in the Carousel Bar at the Hotel Monteleone, the bartender wove such a fantastic tall tale about the cocktail, I was sold {it's also quite refreshing}.

True story: in 1840, Pimm's No. 1 Cup was created by James Pimm, a bartender in London's Financial District. Originally created as a digestive tonic, Mr. Pimm blended a concoction of gin, quinine and a mixture of herbs. He began selling Pimm's No. 1 commercially and according to the company, only six people know the original recipe for the liqueur. The Pimm's Cup is still the most popular cocktail of choice at Wimbledon.

If you are in New Orleans, a Pimm's Cup at the Carousel Bar or, the more popular choice, the Napoleon House is a must. Thankfully, the mixologists at H. Harper here in Atlanta make a lovely version as well. I'll clink to that!

Pimm's Cup Recipe
Fill a tall 12 ounce glass full of ice
Pour 1 1/4 ounce Pimm's No. 1
Add 3 ounces of Lemonade
Top off with 7-Up
Garnish with cucumber

Sunday, January 16

Sweet Snapshot Sunday


Apologies for my long absence! I have finally dug myself out of the snow and am ready to take on the new year {about time!}. As you will notice from some of the last "Sweet Snapshots", the direction of my blog is ever-evolving and has started to deviate a bit from all things "wedding". With that said, I have some big announcements coming throughout the year and hope that you will bear with me. Until then, I am happy to say that I am officially under construction!

Monday, January 10

The Office

I haven't worked in an office in almost two years. I wake up, roll out of bed and go to "work" at my desk in a tiny nook in my home. Oh, how I long for a workspace! A bright, shiny space all my own where I can relax, be inspired and create. Naturally, I have come to the conclusion that I want to put an Airstream trailer in my backyard. Parker thinks I'm a crazy person. I have had this desire for quite some time, however, the picture above from Anthropologie has just added fuel to my fire {the fact that it's pulled by a Country Squire "Woody" makes it even more exciting}. It literally is bright and shiny! It would have wooden floors and a small, fluffy rug. A long cork wall for all of my visual inspiration. Bright white inside with small pops of color. It makes me breathe easier just visualizing it all. One day, the Airstream will be mine. In the meantime,  my backyard and I, we patiently wait.

Monday, January 3

Twenty-Eleven


It is the third day of 2011 and I haven't set any goals. While usually I would be panicking at this point for not having "a goal", this year I don't intend to. For me, 2011 is going to be, quite simply, the year of decisions.  I have spent the last part of 2010 digging and honing and cultivating myself. Answering tough questions about who I was, who I am now and best of all, who I am going to be. I am confident when I say that this year will be nothing short of phenomenal! A good friend suggested some action steps for decision making in the new year and what valuable advice it is: 1.Evaluate what didn't work in 2010, 2.Define what did work, 3.Get clear and write out your fears, 4.Evaluate the people you surround yourself with, create a vision and an inspiring environment, 5.Create a list of 2011 decisions and action steps to take. I can not stress the importance of breaking big dreams into tiny action steps. Anything is possible with action.

Above, you will find one of my very own action steps, my personal vision board for this year. Obviously, it doesn't encompass everything I have planned, so here are some of my decisions for 2011: This is the year that I get serious about my business and put my whole self out there. This is the year that I release my inner brilliance and stop living small. This is the year I become a mentor. This is the year of travel. This is the year I master floral design. This is the year I am social. This is the year I focus on my health. This is the year I remember to experience the little moments with my husband. This is the year we join a church. This is the year we unplug for an entire week and go away, just the two of us, for the first time since our honeymoon. This is the year of education. This is the year of authenticity. This is the year of faith. This is the year of love. This vision board will be tacked up on my inspiration wall by my desk as a daily reminder of all that I hope to accomplish in 2011. I will also be posting a monthly journal entry with a self-portrait {an idea I got from this awesome lady} so I can keep a running tab on my successes and failures and celebrate them all at the end of the year. A year from now you will wish you had started today-Karen Lamb. Make it count!