Cheesy buffalo goodness

Spring fever update: I just love my new oh-so-spring-y mason jar bouquets thanks to my trip to Hy-Vee. Gotta love a little flower power to keep things fresh in your bedroom/kitchen/living room – wherever you need it!

Springtime florals

On the to-do list for some night this week – to make this fabulous looking recipe from Iowa Girl Eats. I mean how could quinoa, cheese, chicken and buffalo sauce not be good together?! And then add chevre on top of it all – I’m already salivating.

Iowa Girl Eats - Buffalo Chicken Quinoa Mac and Cheese

Buffalo Chicken Quinoa Mac and Cheese from Iowa Girl Eats

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Spring fever

May the odds be ever in your favor update: I can’t believe I made it until Sunday to see The Hunger Games – and I loved every second of it. Did anyone else about jump out of their seat when the cat/wolf/dog-like mutations came bounding out of nowhere? I literally screamed out loud! Now all I can think about is when the next two will be coming out because there has to be more. I must have more!

Other than my trip to the theater, my weekend consisted of workouts, playing with the Bean, a small shopping trip, a KU victory, patios and Mad Men.

Weekend in pictures

This weather we’re having is giving me spring fever, and I believe the only cure for that is for some ripe berries and colorful blooms. (I almost wanted to put ‘more cowbell’, but didn’t.) So tomorrow, I am going to head out and pick up some fresh produce and a colorful bouquet or two. I think the perfect way to showcase my new arrangements will be cut short and placed in mason jars. So perfect.

MasonJar

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May the odds be ever in your favor

Bag lady update: You know how in magazines they always have a page where stars empty out their purses for us eager onlookers to see what it is that they carry around every day? Well, I thought I would do the same thing for you guys. Pretty exciting stuff here for a Friday!

What's in my bag?

{Longchamp Le Pilage, Chanel sunnies, Missoni for Target mini journal (my calendar), Marc by Marc Jacobs neoprene case (for my iPhone), Coach wallet (similar),  Patagonia Reusable bag, Michael Kors rollerball, Smith’s Rosebud salve, Starbucks gift cards (can never have too many of these!), Coach wristlet (similar) with vintage bee pin (similar), No-Crack hand cream, Coach keychains (similar)}

After waiting for about a month, Marcus finally received his official photo with the President and First Lady from his trip to D.C. (mentioned here). Such a great memento from a very memorable evening for him.

White House lovin'

White House lovin'

After months of waiting the time has finally come – The Hunger Games premiere of course! I devoured the books first and then urged both my mom and Morgan to read them too. I’m glad I did, because now I have two joiners for Sunday’s matinée. Popcorn for lunch anyone?

the_hunger_games_trilogy

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Bag lady

Snooze button update: Does it ever take you a few days after a trip to get back up to speed? I’m finally starting to feel normal after my whirlwind trip to Chicago this weekend. While I was gone I missed seeing Sid in her green St. Pat’s get-up, so I thought I’d share a few pics with you.

Sid Shamrock

Sid Shamrock

Yesterday, while trolling around Twitter, I came across this recipe that screamed my name – Peanut Butter Banana Oatmeal Squares. Hello, favorite ingredients ever! Another great thing, these bad boys are pretty healthy too. No oil, butter or pounds of sugar. I luckily had all ingredients on hand last night, so I decided to give them a whirl.

PB Banana Oatmeal Squares

PB Banana Oatmeal Squares on my newly acquired golden wheat china.

My dear husband is happy as a lark because I finally busted out my Christmas gift from him to use this spring as my arm candy – a large Longchamp Le Pilage Tote.

Le Pilage in Loden

Le Pilage in Loden

I had been eyeing it for some time and am now it’s proud owner. Only problem is, it’s a rather large and spacious tote and some of it’s contents are small and have a tendency to get lost within it. The only solution for this is a smaller pouch (I’m on a hunt for one!) within the bag, like these:

pretty pouch

1. Marc by Marc Jacobs, Pretty cosmetic pouch, $72
2. American Apparel, Small leather carry-all, $28
3. Kate Spade, La Pavillion small henrietta, $60
4. Longchamp, Le Pilage pouchette, $52
5. Tobi, Pouch in pouch clutch, $52

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Snooze button

Seeing green update: There’s nothing like a trip out-of-town to remind you of all the things you love so much about home. Don’t get me wrong, Chicago is a wonderful city. I loved the time of my life that I called it home, but I couldn’t be happier about my choice to move back home to Des Moines. This city truly is where I was meant to be. Having said that, here is a glimpse into my 39 hours in Chicago.

St. Pats in Chicago

I am already under the covers and as soon as I press ‘publish’ I can guarantee my eyelids will shut. This whirlwind weekend has taken it out of me.

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Seeing green

Sunshine ahead update: I still can’t believe how unbelievable the weather has been this week. Mid-March and it topped out in the 80s yesterday and today – insane, but I LOVE IT! Well, I love it minus the early spring allergies it has brought along with it. Puffy eyes definitely need to be hidden behind my new RayBan-inspired specs. You dig?

Sunnies from Target

New shades from Target

Tomorrow I am off to the place I called home for seven years, the windy city of Chicago. A few of us ladies are heading there to join in our dear friend, Ms. Molly Spellman’s, bachelorette party. Being the Irish lass that she is, it is fitting for us to celebrate her upcoming nuptials on St. Patrick’s Day. I see some green in my very near future!

Green River

Will you be sporting some green this Saturday? I know I will be! Still looking? Why not throw these on!

seeing green

1. Tory Burch, Patent leather Eddie flat, $178
2. Lori’s Shoes, Colorful clover posts, $24
3. Bauble Bar, Lime elliptic bib necklace, $24
4. Kate Spade, Portola Valley Quinn, $197
5. J.Crew Factory, Tissue v-neck tee, $16.50

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Sunshine ahead

March Madness update: My picks have been made and set in stone. It should come as no surprise that I picked my Jayhawks to go all the way. I always like to give them the nod, even though I usually get burned by it.

NCAA picks

Winner, winner chicken dinner.

Today was so nice that Marcus and I took our furry friend, Karl for a walk after work. Look who we ran into…

Spring day

Best buds.

With temps reaching almost 80 degrees this week (CRAZY, I know!) it’s time to dust off my sunnies for the upcoming season. I like to have an arsenal of sun blockers on hand to fit every mood. I have my eyes on these beauties this year.

sunnies

1. Tory Burch, Vintage square sunglasses, $165
2. Forever 21, Round sunglasses, $3.50
3. ASOS, Pieces nivi sunglasses, $28.65
4. Urban Outfitters, Printed arm aviators, $16

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March Madness

Quinoa comin’ up update: Springing forward this weekend was definitely a double-edged sword for me. I was really getting used to having the sun up in the morning the past couple of weeks because it definitely helped me shed the covers quicker. But I will say, I am looking forward to it being lighter later. It makes you feel like to you can still get things accomplished after the work day is through.

So without further adieu, my weekend recap in photos and here’s to getting things accomplished in the week ahead.

Weekend in review via pics

Fresh flowers from Trader Joes, sushi with the Bean, Sunday morning breakfast, a sweet spread, Karl begging, March Madness and Mediterranean Quinoa Salad.

This week starts one of my favorite times of the year – March Madness. Do you fill out a bracket? I definitely do and I’ll share mine with you tomorrow.

Men's bracket

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Quinoa comin’ up

Mini DVF update: Lookie at what I found flipping through my April issue of Lucky magazine. Loving the bold and bright prints for the wee ones. I probably shouldn’t buy a DVF outfit for my unborn and un-conceived child, right?

DVF for Gap ad

After Iowa State’s devastating loss last night, my sister and bro-in-law decided to come home from the Big 12 Tourney early (after watching KU play horribly tonight) which meant we didn’t get to stay overnight with the Bean, but we did get to hang out with her and put her down to sleep. I am biased because she is my sister’s child, but man, is she cute!

Me and my baby Bean.

Me and my baby Bean.

Not a whole lot going on this weekend (which never happens) so I think I may try out a new recipe that I found on Pinterest (where else?) the other day for Mediterranean Quinoa Bowls. How delish does this look?!

Mediterranean Quinoa Bowl

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Mini DVF

G.N.O. (Girls Night Out) update: Well, the G.N.O. shopping excursion at WORN turned out to be fruitful.

shoes and jacket

Black snakeskin kitten heels and a brown leather motorcycle jacket. Both for just $55!!!! Love WORN!

After a little retail therapy a group of us headed next door for dinner at another one of my favorite places in Des Moines, La Mie. It never disappoints and tonight was no different.

Pizza a la La Mie.

Pizza a la La Mie.

I have a very big job on my to-do list for tomorrow and that is to watch the Bean overnight. I might even get Marcus to come along for the ride too. A little trial run for when we have kids of our own. I know Sid will be an angel, so we’ll have nothing to worry about, right? Right.

In other cute kid news, have you seen the Diane Von Furstenburg for Gap Kids collaboration line yet? So. Stinkin’. Cute. It is out in stores a week from today (March 15) and I have a feeling a certain little lady in our life might be owning a piece or two.

mini DVF

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