Oh how I love Boden!

Have you ever shopped at Boden? Me either. but someday I will. Their clothes and accessories are so colorful yet sophisticated. Here are my favorites from their summer collection:

Top row, left to right:
Flippy Panelled Skirt
Patent Ballet Flats
Raw Edge Trim Top
Santorini Cardigan
Smart Knitted Dress

Bottom row, left to right:
Hepburn Shirt
Wrap Jersey Dress
Glam Tunic
Satin Plimsolls
Flare Chinos

Brown Bag Burritos

I found this recipe last year, and I've made it every couple of months since then. It's so wonderful to have a bag of burritos in my freezer for a quick meal whenever I want one. I've made them with all kinds of different ingredients, and they turn out differently every time, but still taste great!

It's called Brown Bag Burritos from The Finer Things in Life




Ingredients:

• 2 lb. ground beef
• 2 cans re-fried beans (I make my own)
• 1 1/3 c. enchilada sauce
• 1/2 c. water
• 1/3 c. minced onion (I use dried)
• 1 Tbsp. chili powder
• 1 Tbsp. garlic powder
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. dried oregano
• 3 c. shredded cheese (cheddar, Mexican blend, whatever)
• 20 flour tortillas (burrito-size)

Brown ground beef; drain. Add remaining ingredients (except tortillas). Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 20 minutes.

Heat 3-4 tortillas at a time in paper towel. Spoon 1/4 c. beef mixture down the side of each tortilla.

Roll up burrito style. Wrap each burrito in a paper towel, then wrap in foil.
Refrigerate or freeze. I like to pack them in the bag the tortilla’s come in, like Amy does.

If they are not frozen, just remove the foil and microwave for one minute. If frozen, remove the foil and heat until hot in the middle. I like to start with one minute on 50% power and then two minutes on 100%. The paper towel might stick to the burrito, but I’ve found that if you take it off before it’s completely hot it won’t. I also like to slice it open to check if the middle is hot and then pour ranch or salsa on top and eat it with a fork.

I’ve also skipped the paper towel before and heated them in the toaster oven or oven wrapped in foil. Most of the time I will grab one from my freezer on the way to work, and it’s almost thawed by lunch time. The best part about heating them in the toaster oven is that the tortilla gets a little crispy.

• I prefer beef over chicken, and ground chicken over shredded chicken in this recipe.

• I've used green enchilada sauce and I loved it!
• I like a little more Tex-Mex flavor, so I usually add cilantro and tomatoes of some kind.
  
• Black re-fried beans are great in this recipe
• Sometimes I use small tortillas and make mini-burritos
• I like to add the cheese right before I roll the burritos up, you taste it more that way

Some other things I've added at different times:
-brown or white rice (loved this!)
-black olives
-fresh chopped onion
-chopped green onion
-canned chopped or minced tomatoes
-Rotel
-chopped green chilies
-taco sauce
-canned black beans
-green pepper

Pictures from The Finer Things in Life

Anthropologie Cardigan Love

I have loved cardigans for as long as I can remember (maybe because I'm always cold). I probably have 5 or 6 black cardigans- all different cuts and styles. I also have brown, navy, two grays, as well as pink, green, white and cream. It's all about having the right sweater for every outfit. I may not have hundreds of shoes, but I do love my cardi's! Every girls got to have a clothing vice, right?

There are some cute cardigans at Anthropologie right now.

Scribbled Bouquet Cardigan, $98.00

Outdoor Cafe Cardigan, $98.00

Rise-And-Fall Cardigan, $128.00

Mermaid Lore Cardigan, $98.00

Too bad Anthropologie doesn't have the same prices as Target... Oh well, it's fun to dream, and get ideas! While we're talking about Anthro, look at these cute tops I found.

Minas Tank, $88.00

On the Dot Blouse, $78.00

Billowed Bow Tank, $58.00

Interrupted Ruffles Tank, $58.00

I don't bake that much, but...

I'm dreaming of owning one of these:

Norpro 6-Count Nonstick Donut Pan

I've heard it actually makes good cake donuts (those are my favorite anyways!). I can smell the cinnamon sugar donuts... yum! In the fall I always crave apple cider and the cake donuts they always have at northern apple orchards. Maybe this year I'll make my own!

Beautiful Etsy: Alice b gardens

I've been on the hunt for a vintage metal fan for a long time, but maybe I should just buy Alice b gardens' art print? How cute is this?



Alice b gardens' vintage inspired photography is quirky and fun. I would love to have one of her prints hanging in my apartment.
(click on the photos to see them on Etsy)

Wordless Wednesday #7

Better After

Check this blog out! If you like before and afters, you will like this. Lindsey collects pictures of before and after projects and posts them on one amazing blog.

Like this one:

this one:



and this one:

I think it's so fun to see the transformations. It's like seeing the before and after images on makeover shows. :)

Things I would make if I had a sewing machine...

Ruffle Skirt from Sew Mama Sew

Spring Ruffle Top from Made by Rae via Sew Mama Sew


Gathered Jersey Skirt from Altered Cloth


Jersey Skirt from Ruffles and Stuff

Saving Money on Food

I'm on a tight budget. Yes I am! One area where I tend to overspend is food. I really like trying new recipes and buying all natural and organic foods, and it can add up! I go through phases where all I eat are salads, or chicken, or sandwiches, or whatever sounds good that week. I get tired of things pretty quickly and I'm not very good at eating leftovers for very long. One way I've tried to save money is to cook a meal big enough for dinner, leftovers for work, and for several frozen portions. It's so convenient to grab a frozen container of lasagna or beans and rice when I'm heading out the door in the morning. Plus, I don't like the taste of frozen meals that you buy at the store, and what I make is much healthier.

Some of the things that I've made that froze well:

• Penne with sauce and Italian sausage (any kind of pasta mixed with sauce works well)
  
• Crock-pot barbecue chicken
• Black beans and rice
• Lentil Soup with smoked sausage
• Red beans, ground turkey and rice
• Mini Spinach Frittatas
  
• Cupcake quiches
• Mini meat loafs
  
• Taco meat
  
• chopped onions (to add to recipes)
• chopped ham (to add to omelets and other recipes)
• Brown Bag burritos
• Re-fried beans (I never use a whole can for a meal)
• tuna and noodles

What kinds of things do you do to save money on food?

Beautiful Etsy: Apple Jackets

Have you ever seen these before??


How great! Apple Jackets from HandaMade on Etsy.

Blog Design: What do you think?

Recently Blogger updated their design tool and something they changed made my layout change too. When I tried to fix it, I realized there were too many problems with my code. So I decided to start fresh. I like change, and it's been fun playing with the new design tool. I'm not sure what I'm going to settle on, but here are some of the options I like so far:

1: Bright Aqua Butterfly

2: Aqua and Coral

3: Aqua Grey and Gold


4: Grey and Pink

5: Gold Grey and Lavender



6: Grey and Lavender



7: Light Grey and Lavender



8: Lavender Grey and Aqua Polka dots



9: Lavender Grey and Aqua Scallops

Wordless Wednesday #6

Vintage Charm

 

I'm looking for a vintage poster or two to add to my walls. I really like vintage travel ads, and posters advertising the World's Fair. I was also looking at these "greetings from..." travel posters. What do you think? A collection of three or four "greetings..." posters framed in white? Or a travel poster to hang with some of the canvases I already have?

Posters from Allposters.com and Mood Board created on Polyvore.com