homemade: ultimate comfort food - italian wedding soup

even though it has been gorgeous and sunny here in nyc (well gorgeous as in around 40) i still haven't felt like venturing out much into the slushy sludgy streets. so i've been spending my afternoons working (since it's work from home week), exercising, and cooking.

one of my very favorite dishes is italian wedding soup. the name of this soup is actually a bit of a misinterpretation of the italian language, minestra maritata, or "married soup" symbolizing how the combination of the vegetables and meet marry well together. didn't know you could get a history/language lesson on court & hudson, did you?

but regardless, this soup is sure to satisfy most anyone's craving. yummy bits of pasta, savory meatballs, and bits of cheese intermingle with a variety of vegetables in a light hearty broth. my favorite recipe is from ina garten which can be found here, which if any of you like to cook, i highly recommend her cookbook back to basics, it's my absolute favorite. it has everything, and it's all amazing, delicious and simple.

i like this recipe particularly because it utilizes chicken instead of beef, which makes it a bit healthier and i prefer the flavor. and if i can make two recommendations, don't leave out the dill or the spinach. i am not a fan of wilted spinach in anything other than this soup, and you won't even notice it's there. and the dill does something to combine all of the flavors together in one of those mysterious ways i haven't quite yet figured out. try it, i know you'll love it!

hey, it snowed.. now what about NYE

(necklace | jacket | sweater | skirt | boots | hat)

i'm back! and i could have been back sooner, but as the whole world knows, nyc has been swallowed by snow. oh the drama! cue the music. so let me tell you a story. (apologies to those who already follow me on twitter and witnessed first hand!)

jon and i were scheduled to fly back to nyc on sunday, and realizing the impending storm i proactively called up the airline and re-booked for monday. it snows. alot. but our flight was scheduled in a 6pm monday evening, and i was certain they would have things cleared up by then. well i was wrong. and after a 3-hour drive up to indianapolis from my in-laws, they finally cancelled our flight. after being told the earliest we could re-book for was january 1st (yes, really!) and searching every airport in the remote area, we arrived at our only option: ROAD TRIP! Yup, 12 more hours in the car. But here we are, and to be honest, was probably one of the most enjoyable road trips I've ever been on, and that is quite a few!

so now that we have that story behind us, we can focus on today's post. with the overhyped New Year's Eve looming, i figured it was high time i figured out what to wear. a quite dinner party at a friends is where we will be ringing in 2011, and i couldn't be more content. so while head to toe sequins isn't appropriate for this particular shindig, a mix of comfy, cozy and festive are. that's why i love this combo that i'll likely be donning in some form with a pair of polka dot tights, i'll be set to welcome the new year in (my) style.

what are your plans for NYE?

merry christmas

to those of you who celebrate, merry christmas! i hope santa was good to you and you remember to return the favor to those less fortunate this holiday season. i will be spending the majority of the day right there in front of this fireplace, leaving only to enjoy an elegant meal with my family. happy holidays everyone!

snow!

(sweater: thrifted | top: from my sister | skirt: h&m | boots: h&m)

we made it safe and sound to indiana yesterday. and the past 24 hours have been busy catching up with friends, enjoying homemade food, and sipping hot cocoa by a warm fire. and when it began snowing this afternoon we raced outside to enjoy it. as i write this, the corn field behind my in-laws house is now a blanket of peaceful fluffy snow. just in time for a white christmas!

in a few hours the house will be filled with family enjoying a good meal and each other's company. so while my outfit may not be traditionally festive, i wore the top for good reason. the pattern on it is clusters of flowers, but if you look at it quickly it looks like a bunch of little santas. so today seemed appropriate for such occasion.

i wish all of you a wonderful holiday - healthy, happy and warm, blessed with family and friends!

does this match

(cardigan: gap | shirt: h&m | tank: american apparel | cargos: old navy (gifted) | boots: asos | necklace: forever 21)

sometimes i spend too much of my morning obsessing over whether or not something is dark navy or black. for example, i have this pair of reversible tights, one side black, one side blue. i can spend a good 10 minutes fretting over whether or not i match. i suppose in that case the worst that happens is i go outside and realize that the tights are on the wrong side and easily switch them out.

but this cardigan had me going. first a black tank, then a blue. the light in my apartment has been known to deceive me in the past, and even after getting out into daylight i wasn't 100% convinced the spots were indeed dark blue. you may be thinking this girl is crazy, they are obviously blue. yes, these photos are the evidence i needed to verify such, as they are clearly navy.

this is more colors than i typically wear in an outfit, so i still went through my day wondering, does this outfit even match? what's the general rule of thumb, no more than 3 colors in a look? with exceptions of course.

a grown up tutu

(skirt: uo | tank: gap | jacket: h&m | belt: forever 21 | shoes: vince camuto | necklace: target)

sometimes a girl just needs to infuse a bit of fun into her wardrobe. and what better an opportunity to wear a grown up sized tutu than a holiday party? this past friday i had the pleasure of joining the lovely ladies i work with for a secret santa luncheon at chinatown brasserie.

this glittery beauty and a bright red belt transformed the day into something quite festive, even if it involved actually having to get a bit of work done. and while i might not find another occasion to bust this number out any time soon, it's one of those pieces that when you open your closet doors, it just makes you smile.

for a hot second i considered packing it into my suitcase for our holidays in indiana, but i am currently picturing the stares and whispers i would receive from my husband's small town as i step out of the car sporting this skirt. does this ever happen to anyone else?

i'd also like to add that i'm not the only one that enjoys a festive turn. take my co-worker, who is also often mistaken for my sister, ms. caseyculture. she's the entire holiday package - a bow, a winter white taffeta skirt, and a little bling!

homemade: sweet and salty

when i was younger one of my favorite memories was decorating the tree and baking cookies with my mom. i miss those days but as i'm now a grown-up (or so they tell me) and i have a home of my own, 400 miles from my parents, its time to start a few traditions of my own.

and i have a feeling these fleur de sel caramels will be one of them. this idea originated from the fact that i had originally wanted a completely handmade christmas. good try chris, maybe next year. but in an effort to not be completely store-bought, these fleur de sel caramels will be falling into the hands of some grateful co-workers and friends. 

i started with this recipe and altered slightly. first, i combined all of the ingredients at the start. i used 4 tbsp of butter, 2 c sugar, only a pinch of salt and 1 1/2 cups heavy cream. once the mixture was boiling and a nice caramel color i added 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract. i find that by combining all ingredients and bring them to a boil it cooks more evenly and you don't get hard caramels.

what the mixture looks like at the start of the process 

boiling, takes about 15-20 minutes to turn caramel color

i did not have a candy thermometer, so i used my best judgement based on color, consistency and amount of time the mixture had been boiling. probably not something i would recommend for a novice, but certainly not essential if you'll never use it again. 

parchment paper wrappers and fleur de sel for "garnish"

hot caramel just poured into the pan and sprinkled with fleur de sel

let the caramel cool in the fridge until it is pretty firm. this will take a few hours. if the caramel is too cold, use a hot knife to cut into sticks or squares. if it is too warm, run the knife under cold water to get a nice, even cut. 

the finished product, yum! 

i wrapped each individual caramel in a piece of parchment paper and boxed up in some cute tins. i was surprised at how each the whole process was, even jon was impressed by how good they came out. so if you're in a pinch for a thoughtful holiday gift, nothing is quite as meaningful as something that you actually put time into. these caramels are sure to be a big hit! 

seeing spots

(sweater: gap (mens) | jacket: sweetface | skirt: handmade | necklaces: thrifted, vintage, lia sophia | pooch: lady)

remember when i mentioned i was spending one of my mornings crafting myself a maxi skirt? well her she is in all of her glory. i was expecting greatness, instead the end product was something that i had miscalculated and made the bottom opening too small. that's what i get for working sans pattern after many months away from the machine.

alas, i walked around the city like a geisha. small quick steps, wondering if anyone was noticing how ridiculous i felt walking like that. to offset the slim bottom i made my way into my husband's closet in search of my favorite oversized (to me!) black v-neck. i always find that when i'm in a pinch, my husband's wardrobe can open up a whole new selection of possibilities.

after the week i just ventured through i am looking forward to spend a cold, possibly snowy weekend at home immersing myself in some holiday spirit! that quite possibly involves a good dose of holiday tunes, wrapping presents, making hot apple cider and fleur de sel caramels, and preparing for our trip to indiana for christmas. what are your plans?

show some skin

(coat: asos | snood: asos | sweater: uo | pants: h&m | necklace: lia sophia | wedges: asos)

for those who exist outside my nyc bubble, let me share some shocking news with you... it has been absolutely freezing here the past few days. shocking right? because the rest of the country hasn't been suffering along with us, now have they?

regardless, it makes taking an outfit photo something that deserves a medal (for insanity) upon completion. so we ventured out into the tundra to snap a few shots of one of my favorite new pieces. as a dear friend of the color black, i find myself reaching for it whenever i'm feeling the need to blend in to the sea of bleakness, otherwise known as nyc. you won't find too many individuals on the streets with an overcoat in a bright shade of purple or deep turquoise, so on days when i'm not feeling up to dodging stares at my actual use of a color, black and white are the perfect combination in feeling put together.

this sweater is comfy and warm, but the unexpected low back keeps it fun and dresses up the outfit a bit. paired with my trusty satin trousers and heavy chain necklace, it easily took me from work to my evening dinner plans.

i even braved the cold and shrugged the coat off a bit - heads turned, stares were imminent. see what i mean about that medal?

court street

(coat: hollister (believe it or not!) | sweater: UO | pants: gap | boots: steve madden | scarf: random piece of fabric | necklace: thrifted) 

people often ask what the title of my blog means. is it my middle name, where i live, etc. it's actually a combination of my two favorite streets in my neighborhood. and today, i give you court street. it's this tiny cobblestone street that looks more like an alley in between two larger thoroughfares.

i love exploring this little part as there are charming residential facades that are still preserved from decades past mixed in with modern exteriors of updated store fronts. its a street full of discovery, as i'm still finding stores i never knew existed! 

so saturday we headed out on what turned out to be a gorgeous afternoon, temperatures rising out of the 20s into the low 40s making it much easier to capture this casual weekend outfit as compared to the past few days.

winter instantly draws me to seek out boring colors. and i've found myself in a rut of black and dark brown. so the resurgence of this particular pair of red pants was a welcome discovery. to tone down the vibrant red i paired it with my favorite pair of worn in boots that should probably have found their way to the garbage by now, but i just cannot bear to part with them just yet. a cozy puffer coat and punchy floral scarf brought this whole comfy casual ensemble together. i love weekends.

Gift Guide 2010: Rad Dad

and we've reached our final gift guide. i'm a little sad, but i'm sure everyone will be glad to get back to our regularly scheduled programming tomorrow. apologizes for the delay, this was supposed to be posted friday but i've been having impossible issues with blogger and photos. so without further ado, gifts for your i-have-humor-dry-humor-golf-as-a-full-time-job-tech-obsessed-spirit-loving rad dad.

dad may be retired but that doesn't mean he can't appreciate the finer things in life. this pure badger brush and  this striking blended tobacco aftershave will make him feel indulged, but in the manly, i-don't-do-spas sort of way.

dad likes his cocktails and enjoys throwing back a beer with the boys, but you won't find him drinking that mainstream corn-filled beer. encourage a new hobby and assist him as he discovers the world of microbrew making with this northern style chestnut brown ale kit.a gift for all!

never one to feel left out, dad is always up to snuff when it comes to the latest gadgets. gift him with a few he might not have. a credit card sized portable usb speaker slips into any pocket for sound on the go. speaking of sound, dad not a lover of alarm clocks? well this one is voice activated and features top quality speakers, in hopes to wake the sleeping bear more pleasantly than past. and since we're on the topic of portability, ever need a scanner but never near one? want to copy a page from your 500 page World Trivia text but can't get it in the scanner? well dad is in luck with this portable document and photo scanner.

support dad's hobbies and gift him with something he can enjoy. if he's already got clubs but a golf bag from 1970 that's bright orange and worse for wear, then he'll surely enjoy this sherlock plaid number from ogio. dad more of a book lover? well keep it light-hearted with shit my dad says so he can compare notes from one old man to another!

and finally, just because his other priorities currently reside higher on his list, doesn't mean he still can't make an entrance in style. this fitted gap herringbone blazer and timeless smith + butler belt will have him winning most stylish at all of his friends' retirement parties. 

for your perfectly-poised-heart-of-the-household-rock-when-you-are-weak-deserving-of-the-sun-moon-stars modern mama

your mother deserves the the most perfect present, one that money cannot buy. but since that is an intangible gift that would be difficult to explain here, let's just focus on some thoughtful gifts you can physically give her, all for under $100. 

keep mom organized with the faux croc personal pocket planner ($29) and fill it with all of those important dates - your birthday, your half birthday, gift giving holidays. mom more of a foodie? win her over with chocolate, personalized specifically to her taste with chocomize custom chocolate bars (varies). 

looking for something a little more luxe to indulge mom with? try the diptyque holiday coffret ($88) or a modern and stylish set of michele varian candlesticks ($64).

for the mom with effortless style, gift her with a wendy mink black onyx bracelet ($50) or a classic paisley scarf ($17). of course she made need a spot to put the great rings and baubles you present her with, so perhaps this bone trinket box ($65) will tickle her fancy.

but if her fancy is really more towards beauty, skincare and all things that make her look glam, the ultimate indulgence is a dior miniaudiere clutch ($80).

for your:
i-dont-know-what-to-buy-there-is-nothing-good-under-25-dollars
SECRET SANTA

i'm sure you've all been there, the moment your boss/group of girlfriends/family announces that it would be SO MUCH FUN to do secret santa. yes! you think and then come to your senses when you realize finding a great personal gift under $25 can be tough depending on the recipient.  hopefully there are a few ideas in here that can help you out or inspire you on finding the perfect present!

in my humble opinion ($17) is probably something we should all own, but would make the perfect gift for someone who needs a place to store all of those pet peeves, mini rants and annoyances about the oblivious world we all think we live in.  and while moustaches ($14) may be "so last year" i still think these pencils are rather funny and certainly you and your co-workers reach that point towards the end of the day where everything goes a bit loopy and these might come in handy!

for the gourmet who never leaves home without something to rest their meal on, this kitchy knife for and spoon placemat (sale, $25) should do the trick. or if you prefer gourmet of the edible kind, fleur de sel carmels ($14) are a  thoughtful choice, gorgeously wrapped and perfectly indulgent. if you're really ambitious, you can make them yourself! for the foodie of the group, consider adding a touch of child's play to their kitchen with these adorable russian doll measuring cups ($12).

for the girly, slightly eclectic one of your bunch of girlfriends a sweet pocket mirror ($16) or fun blown glass parfum bottle ($24) will have her itching to keep you as her secret santa for next year!

for the practical sort try a great pair of knit texting gloves ($22), just because it's winter doesn't mean people will actually pick their head up from typing away on their phones. or know someone who actually takes their fitness seriously? introduce them to the worldest first interactive water bottle, the hydracoach ($20) and change their life.

but perhaps you're looking for something that serves a purpose while still maintaining a level of humor. then how does a robot vacuum sound? funny AND functional to clean up all of your desktop crumbs!

for your:

history-loving-iphone-obsessed-fashionably-curious

GUY'S GUY

for some of us, the man in our life is the easiest person to buy for. he likes gadgets, sports and microbrews. he rarely spends money on clothes for himself but likes to look fashionable, thanks to you. he's into politicals/history/beer making/music/current affairs/sports/real estate/finance/zombies/videos games/.... the list goes on. while he dabbles in everything, he looks to you to keep him on the straight and narrow. 

so your guy watches sports, play sports, live sports. so arm him with a must have cold weather game accessory, a classic stanley flask. you'll be the coolest girlfriend/wife/friend with benefits there was! perhaps something a bit classier? try whiskey rocks, they keep spirits at the perfect consuming temperature, and saves you from a watered down disaster. 

looking to update his wardrobe which is currently on weekly rotation? sick of seeing the same sweater worn every friday? a classic striped crew neck sweater and leather laced lacoste sneakers or a great odm watch will have him appropriately dressed for date night. and why stop at his wardrobe, spice up his gadgets with an acme e-reader case. 

if your guy tends to air on the side of forgetful, help him out a bit with the adorable morris memo note holder. remind him to pick up some milk or tell him you love him! 

but if mr. man is looking to decorate his man cave or worldly study, consider this vintage map. You can choose to frame each piece individually or paste together for one wall size map creating a true decor statement piece that you can both enjoy! or opt for a bit of nostalgia while feeding his music craving with this awesome rolling stone box set. i kind of want it for myself! 

for your:

trend-influencing-indie-rock-loving-creative-outfit-styling 

BEST FRIEND

we all have one -  one of those friends that always seem to have their finger on the pulse of what's hot, who knows how to take a simple t-shirt and transform it into a mini skirt and who is constantly writing down things in her notebook for her next sewing/art/photography/craft project. 

so why not get her the knitted turban you want to rock, but know there is no chance in hell you could pull it off. or add a couple of fun and trendy pieces to her wardrobe - perhaps an amazing splurge for this printed ruffle skirt or if you're keeping it cheap, this hipster can always use a metallic hard shell clutch to spice up an oversize tee and skinnies. jewlery more her style? this zara terez wood ring is a true statement piece with its combination of crushed pyrite and carved wood. and if you feel like it, you can pick one up for me, as i'm in love as well! 

this busy bee is always on the go, looking for bits of creativity around every turn. so arm her with a few field notes notebooks for documenting inspiring ideas and a comfy yet stylish pair od dolce vita tilden wedges to get around town in style. and a true trend setter never leaves home without a pair of sunnies, karen walker number one are a fun variation to popular cat eye styles. 

but when this girl has a rare moment to herself, a yummy candle like a.ok bergamot candle, some inspiring tunes from belle and sebastian and cuddling up with a great DIY book like  p.s. i made this is the perfect way to unwind.

i don't know about you, but I love me a good gift guide. the december issues are alway my favorite because gift guides are something you can always look to for ideas throughout the year. so this week i thought we'd take a look at gifts for the whole kit n caboodle.

for your: 

hopeless-romantic-comedy-watching-headband-wearing-eyelash-batting

LITTLE SISTER  

this color study locket is the perfect piece for her to keep her current beau close to her heart. is she constantly making googly eyes with her latest flame? this kissing bird ring is the perfect piece to add to her collection.

any girly girl needs a moment of indulgence. gift her a small dose with a luxe tokyo milk french kiss shea butter body lotion. and while your at it, manicured digits are a maintance must and a dose of sparkle from butter london's rosie lee nail lacquer will keep her in a festive mood.

what's a girl's wardrobe without bits of beads, lace and sparkle? topshop's antique lace and bead jacket
adds a stylish touch and bit of flair to her dainty collection of vintage garb. throw in a ornate jacquard hard case clutch and rifle calling cards so she's prepared for when gents come calling.

for night's when she finds herself looking to curl up in front of the fire with a good book, give her one of the greatest love affairs, pride and prejudice or wuthering heights from penguin clothbound classics.