Summer Wishlist

Its Wednesday, which means I am only 3 days away from my first ever bridal shower! I can't wait! It will be so much fun to see tons of friends and family, have lots of yummy brunch food and too many mimosas. Brunch is seriously one of my favorite things ever! Plus, I need a little fun after finding out today that my car has a warped head that has to be replaced to the tune of $1500. Sadface. Plus, our little boo Calvin had to go to the vet this morning with some unpleasant tummy issues. Not a fun night at the Price/Kreiling household! This also means that all of the gorgeous treats on my summer wishlist are taking a backseat to car repair and vet bills. I guess thats called being a grown-up, huh?

But just because I can't shop (right now) doesn't mean I can lust after these pretties...
Enjoy!

XO
-L

Summer '10 Wishlist by OliveandBleu featuring Anthropologie

Liquid Bouquet Tank, $88
Micro Climate Pants, $88
Circle The Globe Skirt - Anthropologie.com, $68
Steve Madden - Women's Fall Essentials, $130
MARC BY MARC JACOBS 'Classic Q - Hillier' Hobo, $398
Ecote Mixed Straw Clutch, $38
NARS Lip Gloss Coup de Coeur, $24
Speck | Fitted Case for iPhone 3G & iPhone 3GS

I wanna be THIS organized!

I am a list maker for sure. I always have my pink leather planner and a couple of Moleskin Notebooks in my bag at all times, and even though my iPhone has plenty of list-making apps, I prefer to write them down and cross them off when complete. There's just something about a handmade list. I seriously thought I was pretty organized with all my list-making goodness, until I ran across The Project Girl. Um, Holy Organization Batman! Jenallyson, the smarty-pants behind this site, is a professional graphic designer that designs for scrapbooking paper company My Mind's Eye as well as digital files for two other companies. Her site is loaded with cute crafty ideas and free project downloads- everything from A Weekly Meal Plan (LOVE THIS!) to a food journal, weekly chores list and vacation packing chart. I love that she is taking list-making to a new (more well-designed) level. Thank you for sharing all your organizing loveliness with us Jenallyson! Check out her site and get some free downloads of your own!

XO
-L 

Meal Planner Image by The Project Girl. 

Cannibal Hippos & White Dresses

What does the title (the Cannibal Hippos part) have to do with this girly blog you ask? Absolutely nothing. But it was on Animal Planet while I was typing this post, and for some reason I found it hilarious, so here it is. I love being the boss of this blog! :)

So, after my super-depressing week last week (see previous post) I am back to my beloved blog and trying to put on a happy face. And nothing perks me up like a little retail therapy. On that note, I have been on the hunt for the perfect white dress for summer.  Yes, I've already bought a white wedding dress and a white rehearsal dinner dress, so maybe I have white on the brain. But I'm talking the perfect little white sundress here, one that will be cute for summer concerts with my old cowboy boots, or look hot with sky high nude platforms for a night out. Check out my picks below (I'm leaning toward the 1st one from Banana...)
Hope you all are having a lovely Monday!

XO
-L

1. Twist Back Veranda Dress from Banana Republic
2. Emma Shift Dress from Alloy
3. Daytime Jersey Scoopneck Dress from Victoria's Secret
4. BB Dakota Caleb Dress via Zappos
5. The Way you Look Tonight Dress from Ruche

Flank Steak Pinwheels & A Long Weekend

Happy Friday! I'm so glad summer-and memorial weekend- is here! Its time for a long weekend spent with family and friends and my super cute fiance. YAY! We are headed to Big Ol' Lubbock, TX to spend time with my fave people. I can't wait for cookouts, pedicures, and time at the pool. I will be back on Tuesday with more bloggy goodness. Until then, I leave you with a fantabulous recipe that we had for dinner last night (the grilling madness continues!)
Enjoy and have a happy Memorial weekend! 

XO
-L 

PS- Don't forget to thank a veteran or service member of the military- this weekend is for us to remember their sacrifice and service. A special WOOT to Dustin Trammel (Laine's hubby) and Randall Markham (Laine's little brother)- My 2 fave military men! Thank you for all you guys do!

Meaty little yummies before going on the grill!

FLANK STEAK PINWHEELS
(Recipe via Eatingwell.com)

INGREDIENTS
2/3 cup sun-dried tomatoes (not in oil, package should say ready to eat...)
1 pound flank steak, trimmed of fat
1 clove garlic, minced
3 tablespoons light herbed cheese spread (we used a wedge of Laughing Cow Garlic Cheese)
1 cup baby spinach
Steak Seasoning (we Love Swamp Venom from The Dizzy Pig-YUM!) 

PREPARATION
Preheat grill to high.

Meanwhile, place steak between 2 large pieces of plastic wrap. Pound each side of the steak thoroughly with the pointed side of a meat mallet until the steak is an even 1/4-inch thickness.
Season the steak liberally (on both sides) with the Swamp Venom (or steak seasoning.)
Rub garlic all over one side of the steak. Spread cheese lengthwise in a 3-inch-wide strip down the middle of the steak. Top with the sun-dried tomatoes and spinach. Starting at one edge of a long side, roll the steak up tightly, tucking in the filling as you go. Turn the roll so the overlapping edge is on top. Push 8 skewers, evenly spaced, through the roll, close to the overlapping edge to hold the roll together. Slice the roll into 8 equal portions, roughly 1 to 1 1/2 inches thick, with a skewer in each. Lay the slices on their sides and push the skewer through so it sticks out about 1 inch.
Oil the grill rack (with PAM for grilling.) Grill the pinwheels 3 to 4 minutes per side for medium-rare. Use a spatula when turning them to prevent too much filling from falling out. (Don't worry if the ends of the skewers burn. They will still hold the pinwheels together.) Remove the skewers; let the pinwheels rest for 5 minutes before serving. 

We served with Sweet potatoes and sauteed spinach- healthy and yummy!

Cake pops and doodle bops (and some stuff I'm craving)

Hello random Thursday. What's a doodle bop you ask? I have no idea- it just rhymes with cake pop, so I threw it up there. I'm a little silly from staying up way too late making some cake pops for a fun girls weekend this Saturday, and doing laundry-because we are totally out of clean clothes. If you are not familiar with cake pops, where have you been? They are amazingly delicious little balls of heaven. I have made the oreo ones about a billion times, but last night I was feeling adventurous so I made Red Velvet cake ones too. YUM. 

Oreo Cake Pops image via slash food

Red Velvet Cake Pops image via bakerella

Oreo Truffle Balls (adapted from this recipe)

Ingredients
• 8 ounces light cream cheese, softened
• 1 Bag Oreos, chopped into powder in the food processor
• White or Milk Melting Chocolate

In a large mixing bowl, beat cream cheese for a couple minutes to smooth out. Add in just over 1/2 of the chopped Oreos and mix until thoroughly combined. Add in the rest of the Oreos and mix just until combined - some bigger pieces are ok.

Cover bowl and chill for an hour or 2. Scoop out dough and roll into 50-60 balls. (I like to use a small ice cream scoop to make them all even.) Cover and place back in the refrigerator to firm up.

Melt the chocolate in the microwave according to package directions (be sure to watch it closely so you do not scorch it.) Remove and stir to melt the rest of the chocolate. Dip each truffle ball in the chocolate and set aside on foil or parchment paper. If the chocolate mixture starts to firm up, gently - in the microwave. Store in the refrigerator after all are dipped. I like to take the opposite color of chocolate and pour into a plastic baggie, then I snip off the end and drizzle it over the truffles to make them stripey and pretty.

To make Red Velvet Cake Pops, simply swap the crushed Oreos for a baked Red Velvet cake- mix it with the cream cheese and follow the rest of the directions after...(or get the full recipe here.)

Viola!

And because I'm feeling totally random this Thursday, here are some treats I am craving right now.
Enjoy!

XO
-L

1. The SAK Silverlake Crossbody Bag in Dark Amber via Piperlime
    (My friend Julie & I got this for my friend Laine for her birthday and I loved it
    so much now I WANT ONE!)
2. Roxy Day Trip Romper here
3. Wandering Dreams Sleep Pants via Anthro
4. Great Mustaches Mug via PlasticLand
5. Feather Catchall Dish via Urban Outfitters
6. Pictorial Webster's Rubber Stamp Kit via Plasticland