::style:hits::

Here are some of my personal favorites - my idea of some style hits - that were spotted on some celebs recently. What do you guys thinks of the duds these gorgeous superstars are wearing?

 

 

 

 

-S.*

{Source: People StyleWatch}

::r:i:p::

Rest in Peace Jack Layton

-S.*

::photo:of:the:day::

Hello hello!

Another glorious weekend has come and gone...had a few thunderboomers on Saturday and only a little bit of rain on Sunday but other then that it was nice and relaxing. :) 

There were lots of errands that had to be run and I was going to save a kitten as well that was hiding out with other kittens and it's Mommy {this kitten appeared to be quite ill} behind my boyfriends work but by the time I got to it...well, unfortunately the little dear went to kitty heaven. So that put quite a damper on my weekend, that's for sure. 

Another cat there is pregnant, so I am planning on saving those ones soon enough.
It's always very very sad when a little one like that passes away. I am unsure though if it passed because of health issues or a night predator - such as a racoon - got to it. 

Either way, I am thinking of the little kittons...I named her Isolde - at least I think it was a girl...either way. She will always have a little spot in my heart. 

Other then that, we watched movies and Drop Dead Diva {woohoo!} and TV shows, ate pizza and popcorn and just had a good time. 

This next weekend is going to be our weekend before our vacation so we definitely have to start packing and getting ready for our trip to Cali which we are super stoked about! We are going to be landing there at noon so we will have the afternoon and evening to ourselves there. :) I am quite excited! The first day I am sure we are going to just laze about at home or go for a walk. It's going to be grande! :D

Anyways...two more work weeks to go anyways. 

I am quite tired today and tomorrow the new season of Gossip Girl is coming out! I don't watch it on TV - I wait and wait until it comes out on DVD and then have a huge marathon! My boyfriend initially hates it in the beginning but then gets quite into it. :D Lol.

Anyways - enough rambling on my part. Will do the usual and post as much as I can for you lovelies. :) 

This is our photo of the day. :) Very moody, ominous and just plain gorgeous. 

Daphne Groeneveld & Pascal Greggory by Peter Lindbergh for Numéro September 2011.

-S.*

::duff::

The Duffster is preggo according to her Twitter account and she shared some lovely wedding photo's as well! Here they are below. She looks stunning!

-S.*

::comfort:noms::

Another delicious recipe that makes my tummy rumble. :) I have never cooked with creamy canned soups before so I hope this one turns out and that it turns out well!

Bon Appetit!

Shrimp and Broccoli 

From Campbell's Kitchen

Stir-fried broccoli and garlic are perfect partners for shrimp in this savory sauce for rice or spaghetti. 

Serves: 4

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes


Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive oil, or vegetable oil

2 cups broccoli florets

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder, or 2 small cloves of garlic, minced

1 can {10 3/4-oz.} Campbell's Condensed Cream of Broccoli Soup

1/2 cup water

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper

1 pound fresh or frozen medium shrimp, shelled and deveined

4 cups hot cooked rice, or thin spaghetti

Directions

Heat the oil in a 10-inch skillet over medium heat. Add the broccoli and garlic and cook until the broccoli is tender-crisp. 

Stir the soup, water, lemon juice and black pepper in the skillet and heat to a boil. Add the shrimp. 

Reduce the heat to low. Cook for 5 minutes or until the shrimp is cooked through. Serve the shrimp mixture over the rice or spaghetti. 

-S.*

::purchases::

Hello everyone!

I've noticed that I don't share too many personal things about myself - what I buy, what I do, pictures and all that jazz, so I decided do a little blog post on recent purchases that I have made. :) It's not terribly personal, but it's personal enough at the moment. Lol. 

And I will definitely give you my opinions on some of the things that I have gotten. 

I love to buy stuff - what girl doesn't?! Seriously. Spending money can be quite fun at times. :) 

A lot of the times too after I make some major purchases I just keep it in the box/bag for a few days before taking it out - crazy I know. 

Some people need to take things out and use 'em right away! I like to let it stew for a bit. Lol. 

Anyways...let's just get on with it, shall we?

1. Dyson!

That is right! Not too long ago my boyfriend and I purchased a Dyson. We really needed a new vacuum and we couldn't have asked for a better one. This thing is amaaazing! It picks up SO much it's pretty incredible.
We got the "animal" model since we have a big fluffy white cat that really likes to shed a lot. ;)
We spent a hefty amount on this bad boy, but it was seriously worth every penny. 

2. Books!

I absolutely love to read and love books.
I can be found perusing Amazon's website 24/7 and they have the best discounts on all of their products, it's quite unbelievable how much of a deal you can get - especially on books.
I recently purchased a bunch of books and some that were given to me by my Mom and Sister - they highly recommend the books "The Hunger Games" so I am going to begin read that soon. I recently finished a book by Dean Koontz - one of my favorite authors. Other great authors are Stephen King and Harlan Coben. Those guys are also my fave.
I get so many books I still have a bunch to read! So I need to put the ordering on hold for a while until I catch up. ;) 

3. Tracy Anderson Metamorphosis!

I am always willing to try something new with regards to fitness and eating habits, as I seriously need to step my game up and start leading a healthier lifestyle then I have been.
I have been Tracy Anderon's previous DVDs and for some reason wasn't all that interested, but lately something just caught my eye and I also appreciated that she has 4 different sets of DVDs for a specific body type {I am omnicentric - I gain weight all over and not just in one specific spot}.
I watched some of the workouts and they actually look like fun! I am not sure how I am going to keep up with the dance cardio but I sure as heck am going to try. Good music too! :)
Hey - Shakira, Gisele, Gwyneth and all those celebs are doing it and they have crazy bodies so I am definitely going to give this a shot as well. :) 

4. Dip Station!

This is a pic of my favorite bodyrocker - the one who started it all {along with Freddy} Zuzana Light. This is her on her dip station and after seeing some of her workouts {which can be found on www.bodyrock.tv} I knew I had to get a dipstation. Here she is doing a reverse push-up. You can do many workouts with a dipstation and it strengthens certain areas of the bod - such as shoulders and arms with this workout move. You can find this dipstation at Ultimate Body Press's website. It goes for about $80. Which isn't too bad I gotta say. Make sure to check the Bodyrock website as well, it's pretty kick-ass. 

5. Rims!

My boyfriend owns a BMW - he has owned many cars while we have been dating and this one is definitely his baby. He loves it...A LOT. Lol. So we recently made the purchase - or rather, he did - of new tires and rims. Which is good as well because he works at a tire and rim shop so he know's what's new and instyle with regards to fancying up your vehicle.
These rims look pretty nice on our {or as he say's - his} white BMW.
If you want to spruce up a car that you have, then rims are definitely a way to go. :)

6. Blazer!

You can ask anyone - I am an avid blazer lover and collector...although I have lost a blazer or two {unfortunately} I usually get my basic black or navy ones. But this one...ahh, I saw it and HAD to have it! It's actually called the "Girlfriend Jacket" and it comes in a gorgeously rich red colour from Dynamite for $42.90 CAN.
I instantly fell in love with it and knew I had to have it.
Gorgeous blazer. 

7. Polish Chocolates! {& more goodies!!}

My family recently came back from a month-long trip in Poland - I unfortunately couldn't go because of work and wish that I could have...they brought back a tun of goodies. Gorgeous gypsy-esque scarves, little dolls, jewelry, cooking utensils, soups, you name it!
And of course, you cannot leave Europe without some chocolates.
So my Grandfather packed up a rather large bag of Polish chocolates. They are seriously amazing. Some of the best chocolates I have ever had and I am not a huge chocolate fan. :)
You guys should definitely give Polish chocolates a try if you ever end up near a Polish store or bakery. 

8. Spa Day!

Recently my boyfriend got me quite the hefty gift certificate for a spa day. He is the bestest boyfriend e.v.e.r!
So I am quite excited to go for my spa day...not only that, but he didn't just get one, he got TWO - one for me and a friend so that I would have to go at it alone. :) Ultimately it would have been great if he went with me, but he's a typical guys guy and definitely won't go. Lol.
I will be getting the full on spa treatment, hair, mani, pedi, everything! :)
Once I go I will make sure to tell you all about it. Not sure if I will go before my California trip or after but I will be sure to keep you all posted. :)

And there you have it guys! Some of my latest purchases! This was actually kinda fun! :)

-S.*

{Images: Taken From Google Images or Amazon}

::nom:nom:foooood::

Another splendiferous recipe for you guys! 

This time it's chock-full of protein and just sounds so freakin yummylicious that I am going to probably try this over the weekend when I have some time to cook, it seems like a lot of work for a weekday dinner - I could be wrong. We shall see how long it takes on the weekend. :) Maybe a lovely Saturday night dins. 

Now I definitely can't wait for the weekend. :) 

Bon Appetit!

Pre-Game Paella 

Chicken, kielbasa, and shrimp are served in seasoned rice to make a colorful dish that's sure to please. Best of all, you can have it on the table in less than one hour. 

Serves: 8

Prep Time: 15 min

Cook Time: 25 min

Total Time: 40 min

Ingredients

1 tablespoon vegetable oil

2 cups uncooked regular long-grain white rice

4 cups Swanson Chicken Stock, heated

1 cup Pace Chunky Salsa

1 teaspoon turmeric

1 package {16 ounces} turkey kielbasa, sliced

12 small frozen peeled, deveined, cooked shrimp, thawed

1 package {about 10 ounces} refrigerated fully cooked chicken breast strips

Directions

Heat the oil in a 12-inch skillet over medium heat. Add the rice and cook for 30 seconds, stirring constantly. Stir the stock, salsa, and turmeric in the skillet and heat to a boil. Reduce the heat to low. Cover and cook for 15 minutes.

Stir the kielbasa, shrimp, and chicken in the skillet. Cover and cook for 5 minutes or until the rice is tender.

Before selecting which Pace Salsa to use in this recipe {hot, medium, or mild} consider the other foods being served and your guests' preference for spicy foods. 

Another yummy recipe! :)

-S.*

{Source: Delish.Com}

::drop:dead:diva::

Hello!

As I mentioned in a previos post today I have become obsessed with the show "Drop Dead Diva"...and I absolutely a.d.o.r.e Brook Elliott...the star of the show. Here is a little interview I found online from the Philadelphia Daily Herald that will give you a bit of a background about how Brook got the part and what the show is all about. You guys should definitely check it out. It's funny, cute, full of fashion-y tips and tricks, and just an all around girly-girl show. :)

"Stage Actress Brooke Elliott Found A TV Hit That She Never Imagined..."

PHILADELPHIA — It’s one of TV’s unlikelier success stories.

Brooke Elliott was a stage trouper, performing in the national tours of musicals such as “Wicked” and “Beauty and the Beast.”

Then her agent told her about a prospective Lifetime series, “Drop Dead Diva,” that might suit her.

“I had a Broadway show audition that day, too,” Elliott says. “I thought, ‘Oh well, maybe I’ll get the play. I don’t have a shot at the TV show.’ ”

To her astonishment, she got the part — a role that requires some explanation.

Elliott plays Jane Bingum, a smart and zaftig lawyer, who is possessed by the spirit of Deb Dobkins, a shallow and skinny model.

“Deb’s soul is in Jane’s body,” says the actress. The polar opposites have to find a way to coexist. The premise provides a steady stream of humor and pathos.

Even after she was cast, Elliott tried to keep her enthusiasm curbed.

“I had very few expectations, probably because I didn’t know the TV world that well,” she says. “Plus I had people say, ‘Well, pilots rarely go to series.’ I figured I’d go do the pilot and be back in New York in a month.”

Not only did “Drop Dead Diva” get picked up, it was an instant hit for Lifetime. The recent debut of the third season notched 2.9 million viewers against some very stiff competition on cable, including the season finales of “Game of Thrones” and “The Killing.”

“When I started this role, I really wanted to make sure that Deb/Jane had a great sense of humor,” says Elliott. “I wanted her to be able to laugh at herself. And I wanted her to have a really big heart.”

Maybe it’s “DDD’s” themes of identity and personal transformation. Maybe it’s the show’s broad comedic streak. Or maybe it’s the random song-and-dance numbers, but “Diva’s” been able to pull an illustrious and eclectic parade of guest stars, including Liza Minnelli, Tim Gunn, Rosie O’Donnell, Clay Aiken, Wendy Williams, LeAnn Rimes and Jennifer Tilly.

The series appeals to both genders, although men were reluctant to admit their allegiance.

“In the beginning, I would hear, ‘Cool show. My wife makes me watch it’ or ‘My girlfriend has it on in the background,’ ” says Elliott.

“By season two there was no more justification. Guys would say, ‘I love the show.’ ”

The actress struggled at first with the long hours and hermetic work environment.

“I had to get used to the fact that there was no audience there anymore,” she says. “Here I am doing comedy and no one’s laughing. You have to trust your instincts — know if you hit it or not and move on.”

No one is going to confuse “DDD’s” courtroom scenes with Perry Mason-style solemnity.

“This is different from most law shows because I’m really playing a person within the lawyer,” she says. “If she doesn’t know something, it’s accepted. She often resorts to theatrics.”

The protagonist’s dueling personalities make even romance tricky.

Before she died, Deb’s boyfriend was Grayson (Jackson Hurst), an attorney at Jane’s firm.

She’s still in love with him, but now she has to try to gain his affection without the flowing blond locks and the Barbie-doll body.

After two seasons of romantic tension and impediments, the couple seem headed for a happy ending. Maybe.

“We do sleep together,” teases Elliott. “But there’s a twist to that.”

We’d expect no less in the inside-out world of “Drop Dead Diva.”

 

 

  

 

-S.*