Late week musings........

Hi and happy Saturday to you .... this is another one of my "all over the place" posts but part of the fun of these is just speaking what's on my mind, and sharing what I have discovered or what is exciting me as of late.  But first things first....the lucky winner of the 8 gorgeous Fleur glasses from my tabletop giveaway. The lucky winner is.....

 Result: # 59

Leslie May 29, 2013 at 11:23 AM

Gorgeous post Tina with LOTS of alfresco dinning ideas! My favorite is the Provencal line .. with blue and white porcelain, wicker chargers .. and also the glasses:) 

Congrats! Please email me here to provide your shipping details!

Moving along........let's get started and of course I love to know whats new in your world and if there is anything you might want to share!!

Anthropologie......I enjoy occasional visits to this mecca of bohemian coolness. You just never know what you might find....and I have found everything from neat bath products to closet and door hardware to a great robe to countless tops. Lately I snatched a few really cute summer finds, very "Calypso-ish", take a look........

This is cute and light and airy for every day, love it with white shorts or capris

LOVE this top......

As I do this one...you aren't surprised given the colorway are you:)

I think this is adorable, love the light sheer organza, very chic (not loving the shoes with it, too heavy)

These are so cute...could see these with white jeans and a simple white or navy t........

How cute is this scarf? Love the patterns and colors...been buying a lot of scarves lately. Even with just a white t, it can instantly jazz up any outfit.

I could think of a million ways to use this adorable jacket, timeless and seasonless.......

All from Anthropologie.....go figure! Click here to visit them!

A few great recipe ideas, all of which I will be trying over the next week or two. Am hosting a small birthday lunch for one of my dearest friends and a big Fathers day family party, so am on the prowl for some great new ideas, here is one! The internet is limitless on both ideas and inspiration.

{Tex-Mex Salad with Creamy Lime Dressing}

Butter, for preparing 8 by 8-inch glass pan
1 bag of tortilla strips (original recipe called for cornbread which I replaced with tortilla strips)
1 large egg
1/3 cup milk
1 (15.5-ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 packet sazon seasoning
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 cup salsa
2 tomatoes, seeded and chopped
1 head romaine lettuce, cut into strips
Creamy Lime Dressing, recipe follows
1 1/2 cups grated Monterey jack cheese
1 1/2 cups grated Cheddar


OMIT FIRST FOUR INGREDIENTS IF YOU ARE NOT USING CORNBREAD ( I USED TORTILLA CHIPS INSTEAD) Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Grease an 8 by 8-inch glass pan with butter. Stir together the cornbread mix with the egg and milk. Evenly spread into prepared pan and bake on the middle rack for 20 minutes. Remove from oven and cool in pan for 10 minutes. Remove from pan to cool completely. Mix together the beans with the sazon and season with salt and pepper. Toss the salsa with the tomatoes. When ready to serve, cut the cornbread into 1/2-inch croutons. Toss the lettuce with 3/4 cups of the dressing. In a clear trifle dish, layer the Tex-Mex Salad beginning with the black beans followed by the Monterey jack cheese, the tomato salsa mixture, the Cheddar, the dressed romaine and top with the cornbread croutons. Serve the remaining dressing on the side.

Creamy Lime Dressing: (I added extra cilantro for more zing)
2 tablespoons freshly chopped cilantro leaves
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
1 teaspoon lime zest
1/4 cup lime juice
1/2 cup sour cream
1 clove garlic, smashed
1 tablespoon honey
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Blend all the ingredients except the olive oil until smooth. While machine is running, slowly drizzle in the oil until incorporated. Season, to taste, with salt and pepper.



A new blog I am obsessed with.  Yes, need that like I need another blue and white ginger jar, but I simply cannot help myself. Just as I am trying to figure out ways to spend less time on the computer, I find a site like this that keeps me glued with every click, take a look at some of the gorgeous inspirations found at The Party Dress (love the name too)! I click on the parties tab and just can't stop looking, tons of awesome inspiration over there!

Awesome! They might look like your average boy band but they sing like seasoned operatic superstars!! Amazing voices, such poise and now taking the world by storm. Have you heard Il Volo? Not to mention they are totally adorable. Sorry to any of you who might be "Biebs fans" but they put him to shame.......AND they wear suits not pants down to his knees, how refreshing!

A cool beverage tub. Just ordered this, I love it because its quite  a bit bigger than others I found. I also show you a much less expensive alternative (much smaller too but great looking nonetheless)

This is the one I ordered, love it for summer entertaining.....

Measures a whopping 33" across , click here to order it from Plow and Home

And here is another from World Imports, much smaller but a great deal at 39.99!

 Click here to visit this one.....

Birthday lunch that I gave. And finally a few pics (few being a relative word) of the little bday luncheon I threw yesterday...originally was going to have it outside but it was just too hot and muggy so we had my peach sangria and appetizers (crostinis with fresh mozzarella,basil and tomato and shrimp cocktail) outside in the loggia then moved inside for lunch.

For lunch I made the above tex mex salad and it was a HUGE hit, my usual the Asian Chicken salad, the fresh corn/tomato/cucumber salad in endive leaves and mini pitas filled with olive tapendade, hummus and sprinkled with feta...super tasty. Everyone loved the menu and we all ate liberally without an iota of guilt! The peach sangria and Pellegrino flowed freely. We had fruit and a yummy yogurt cake for dessert so though we ate well, it was nice to know nothing was crazy fattening......

 The fresh corn/cucumber/tomato salad being mixed up with fresh lemon juice, olive oil, sea salt and pepper getting mixed up before serving

 Everything ready for the Chinese chicken salad

 Put together a last minute blue and white table....when in doubt its always a safe bet!

 Love my chargers!

 And of course the gorgeous napkin rings!! I put a different one at each persons place setting.....

 White hydrangeas... a regular favorite of mine (you didn't' know its en vogue to have a water cooler in the background? haha)

 The chargers are as beautiful without a plate as they are with!

 My crostinis getting assembled.....they are lucky they even made it to the bread (a definite weakness of mine)

 Endive leaves at the ready!

 This is the messy stage...I am like a mad scientist but soon everything gets cleaned up and looks sparkling again!

 Yum...peach sangria, added fresh blackberries which gave it a darker color

 And always several sprigs of mint leaves

 Love my new glasses.....

 Too bad it didn't work out to eat outside, but we did have appetizers and drinks for a short while....

 Ahhhh...it was mighty nice to move into the cool air conditioned indoors!

 Shrimp cocktail compote

 The tex mex salad getting assembled in layers.....

 Ready to serve!

 Pretty and so fresh and healthy!

 All that needed to be added was the tortilla strips...this was as pretty as it was delicious.

 And loved these, and they are so cute (and really really tasty)!

 Ready to eat!

 Yogurt cake and fruit....don't you just love guilt free desserts!!

Isn't my new horsebit tray a beauty?  (from my online shop)

I know what you are thinking....."who am I kidding about this being anything close to dietetic with the heaps of M and M's"! That was a surprise but I will be honest one I didn't mind getting:)

 She loved her gift, she had admired this set from my online shop and was so happy to get it (plus the plastic glasses and pitcher)

Put it in a huge silver nickel tub that doubles as a beverage holder.....

So there you have it! That wraps up what's new over here. Do hope you have a fabulous weekend. Tomorrow its going to be another scorcher, I so hope this finds you doing well and that you enjoy a wonderful and relaxing weekend. Thank you as always for stopping in to see what's new in my corner of the world. Speak to you next week!