Bon Voyage! Barcelona Here I Come!

This is simply a Do Not Press the Panic Button or hit me with a flurry and slurry of "have you stopped blogging?" questions. I'm on VACAY! TO ESPANA! I'll be back the second week in September and you can most certainly expect to be hearing from me then. Until next time...

BON VOYAGE! 

Aw Naw They Didn'... Maybelline shows YSL What's Up

In my younger, less wiser years, I was a department store makeup buyer. If it wasn't from a department store, then I didn't want anything to do with it. These lips were made for Chanel. These eyes? Dior. This face? Armani. But in my older, wiser, and far more budget-friendly days, I have become a resourceful animal-- like a wild chetah, carefully hunting her next purchase, hungry and on the prowl for a good product that works just as well as my overpriced, fair-weathered friends at the department store counters.

I was on a late-night hunt, scouring the sahara of Walgreens and all of sudden I realized I was staring at Maybelline's Dream LumiTouch, a $7.99 knock off of one of my favorite department store splurges, YSL's Touche Eclat (notice that Maybelline used "Touch" in the name? They are throwing down) that runs $41 a pop. Add. to. cart.

This baby did not disappoint. Maybelline markets DLT as a concealer but it's really a highlighter/brightener. And just like YSL, it's in a pen for precise application. I use it in a number of ways. For everyday makeup, I don't wear lots of foundation. Usually just a tinted moisturizer. So the LumiTouch is great because I'll add a quick swipe under my eyes, on the tops of my brow bones and cheek bones for a sheer highlighter. Buy it one to two shades lighter than your skin tone for extra light-reflecting. I'll always love my YSL Touche Eclat, but I'm glad to have Dream LumiTouch in my arsenal for only $8 bucks.  Here's a good before/after that CORALLISTA did.

Maybelline Dream LumiTouch, $8; maybelline.com

YSL Touche Eclat, $41; sephora.com

The Spiritual Version of Going from Payless to Louboutins... Upgradin' Baby!

It's been one of those seasons... actually, it's been 2014. The Year of Letting Go. Which, in some ways is true. But instead, I like to think of it as The Year of Upgrades. I think if it was only called The Year of Letting Go, I would have tapped out, gone 4 pints deep in Ben Jerry's binging on Real Housewives of New Jersey and taking "showers" that consisted of dry shampoo and deodorant.

I'm a gift giver. That's my love language through and through. I love stuff. I love to get presents. I love to give presents. Presents speak to my heart. Presents and I, we get each other. And Jesus knows that. Coming from someone who is a gift giver, having the Year of Letting Go is my version of Red Alert. Panic Button. Mach 5 Freak Out. It's asking a gift giver to give away their favorite presents. Aw, hell naw. That was my initial reaction.

Then, my second reaction was negotiating with God. Actually, it was probably closer to arguing but negotiating sounds holier. So that's what we're going with. I was trying to explain to God that really, I was quite happy with what I had but he was asking me to upgrade (who doesn't want an upgrade-- at the Verizon store, with your used Chevy, can I get an amen?). But upgrading can be sad. The best way I can describe it is with shoes. The "shoes" I was walking in were really cute and getting me where I needed to go. And I loved them. During one of our negotiating conversations, God showed me a picture of myself wearing Payless shoes and he asked me if I would give them to him so he could give me Louboutins. And that was all I needed.

I gave away my pair of Payless. But now I'm in the hard part. I'm still waiting for my Loubies. I'm looking at my life without a cloud in the sky, believing that rain is coming. And I know my Loubies coming. But I haven't seen them yet. I'm here to encourage you and say, DON'T GIVE UP. Don't let your sunny sky tell you that it's never going to change.

If you live a life comfortable in Payless, you will have a Payless future. But if you live your life with Louboutin-level dreams, then you will have a Louboutin future. Don't be afraid if you can't see on the other side of what God is asking you to let go of. He's not asking to let go. He's trying to give you an upgrade. So stop wearing Payless. They never looked on you anyway.

Just as a little visual reference. Here are some Payless and Louboutins to help illustrate my point a little better. And I actually tried to find the best Payless had to offer for an honest comparison. Sister sent me this visual the other day that fit with this too.


Would you rather....

This... Or this...

           This...        Or this...

           This...        Or this...   

Heaven in a Glass: The Best Iced Coffee You'll Ever Drink. Ever.

I have found the nectar of the gods... Duncan Donuts Original Blend Cold Brewed Iced Coffee with Cream, Agave, and Cinnamon. Any mouthful of a drink name needs to back it up with ridiculous flavor. And this does.

It was a life-halting moment. And like any good life-halting moment, it started where most life-halting moments do: Wells Fargo online banking. It was one of those seasons when I couldn't figure out where all of my money was going. I swore up and down to my dad that I wasn't shopping-- not even a Target raid-- but I was constantly low on funds. Constantly. So, I hired a budget coach and realized that approximately $400 of my unaccounted dollars were being ground, brewed, and drained at America's silent dollar killer, Starbucks, every month. EVERY MONTH. Four hundo. Dalla bills. At Satanbucks. It's cruel. Absolutely cruel.

Needless to say, I quickly realized my Venti lifestyle need an immediate and drastic overhaul. Many... actually, a few moons ago, Birmingham used to have this great little market in Homewood called Tria Market. And Tria Market had a hidden liquid gem, their Iced Toddy coffee. The barista explained to me that they cold brewed their iced coffee for 12 hours. I had never tasted something so smooth, so rich, and so delicious in my life. Most iced coffees can be very bitter and acidic, however, this version is anything but.

I'm not a warm drink drinker. I'll do the occasional hot chocolate in the winter, but that's about it. There's something about a warm drink in the south that just doesn't jive with me. And it's way too cozy. Having a warm cup of coffee feels like a slap in the face to the fact that I have to wake up. All that warmth makes me want to crawl into bed. I prefer its cool caffeinated counterpart. It's Carpe Diem in a cup.

BRADLEY'S BEST COLD BREWED ICED COFFEE

STEP ONE

1. Start with a bag of your favorite coffee. Even if you're typically a dark or French roast drinker, go for a light or medium blend. Most breakfast blends are a good option. The darker roasts are typically too strong and can.... hmm... go out of you just as fast as they came in you (catch my drift?). Yeah, betcha won't be trying French Roast with this any time soon. 

My favorite is easily Dunkin Donuts Original Blend. I used to turn my nose up at it in the coffee aisle (they have a jelly donut flavor, for crying out loud) but don't hate till you partake. 

 STEP TWO

2. Pour 1 standard-size bag of ground coffee into a gallon jar or large stock pot (I find that stock pots are easier). Pour 1 gallon of water over the grounds. Stir until combined.

 STEP THREE

3. Let the iced coffee mixture sit overnight-- at least 12 hours. 

 STEP FOUR

4. Line a large colander with two paper towels-- it's essentially a jumbo coffee filter. I like to separate a sheet of two-ply paper towel so it filters faster. This photo is just an example. I like to use a bigger colander. Place the colander over another stock pot. Slowly pour the coffee mixture over the the colander.

STEP FIVE

5. Once your coffee has filtered through your colander contraption, pour into a pitcher and refrigerate. It's good for two weeks! 

FlutterBy Tips: I like to add a squeeze of agave and a little half and half over the iced coffee. Then I pour it back and forth between two cups to combine. Top it off with a little cinnamon! 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon a day can help lower your bad cholesterol (LDL). 

PHOTOS FROM SALLY PASLEY VARGAS AND NOSHONIT

Feel Good Friday

It's Friday. And nothing captures the joyful emotions of freedom coursing through my body quite like this mashup from the 1988 Crystal Light Aerobics Championships. Give me some spirit fingers and spandex! It's Friday, Friday, Friday!

Bon Weekend!

Wicker: The Comeback Kid

In my childhood, I wept bitter tears over the headboard that my mom made me have in bedroom. It was her's as a child (which was in the phase when hand-me-downs of any kind, vintage or not, were so uncool). It probably didn't help her cause that I was also forced during that same time period to join the band using her vintage clarinet (probably circa the same era as her headboard) because "every kid needs to know how to play a musical instrument." Needless to say, the cork on the clarinet had decomposed due to years of rotting away in the crushed red velvet case and I sat there with my vintage instrument when all the other kids got to play. Essentially, I was the nerd in the band. Which is pretty hard to do. It's another level of outcast.

I digress. Back to the headboards. Ok, so my mom had this-- at the time, I believed-- truly heinous headboard that she made my room the regretfully chosen landing spot for. Note: it was beautifully accented by my mauve walls. Some moms are cut from the retail therapy cloth: where buying something fixes everything, whether for themselves or their kids. That's not my mom. She's of the cheap resourceful breed. Which typically means, one way or another, she will hoard find a reason to never get rid of something because one day it will come back in style. There was great gnashing of teeth in the Nesbitt home when I threw away her J.Crew pleated front khakis and black leather, rubber-soled Mary Jane's. She still claims they're classics that will one day be in. Nine times out of ten, she's wrong. But occasionally, she nails it. In this case, she nailed it. And I would give anything to have that once-despised headboard in my house. Unfortunately, I think it met its demise at a forced hoarding intervention yard sale. So I'm going on the record to say, Sorry, mom. You were right. See how amazing wicker is looking these days (it's not your grandmother's patio furniture).

Most all of the rooms I've run across that use wicker have a heavy boho vibe. Which normally I don't mind. It's not my personal aesthetic but just like an occasional trip to Anthropologie, I can normally find something I like. But in the case of wicker, I'm talking heavy boho vibe. Like 50 shades of Urban Outfitters with stale patchouli lingering in the air. I couldn't find an image that worked, but I'd love to see someone use wicker in a non-gypsy princess way. Here are my favorite wicker finds! Shopping secret: the best place to look for wicker is Craigslist, Etsy, and Ebay. There are still plenty of people who aren't big fans of peacock wicker furniture and are selling it cheeeeeap. 

The Family Love Tree is the ulti-source for all things wicker. I like to spread the love with sourcing around and try not to just show a ton from one place, but sometimes, one place just does it better than the rest. And when it comes to reproduction wicker furny, The Family Love Tree is better than rest.

PEACOCK CHAIR, $795

LARGE RATTAN PENDANT, $169

SMALL DAISY WEAVE RUG, $200

WICKER MIRROR, $69.96 

(on sale and only one left)

No longer available. 

WICKER ELEPHANT STOOL, $85 (!!)

on Ebay, so hurry! 

The Summer Meal I Can't Stop Eating

Nothing beats a Saturday stroll through your local farmer's market, gathering a fresh bounty of just-picked goodness. It can be super challenging in the South to eat healthfully when-- let's be honest-- the fried chicken is usually way better than bacon bit, shredded cheddar, and iceberg lettuce (all from a bag) smothered in ranch salad on the menu. And while it feels healthier on your conscious, it's probably not much better in terms of nutrition or calories. So, when summer rolls around, I get so excited because it's the one time when the South shines in all of its homegrown glory for a small season, garden trumps grease.

I'm always on the hunt for recipes that showcase summer harvest, and this Summer Succotash from Frank Stitt is arguably my favorite (I'll share some others that I love later). For all of you non-Southerners who might not know, Frank Stitt is the king of Southern cuisine and he rules Alabama with his culinary kingdom-- the biggest jewel in his crown is his flagship restaurant, Highlands Bar and Grill (though others will argue with you about that). And, it's no surprise that he hails from the most glorious place in Alabama where the cream of the crop are born and bred: Cullman. He is my hometown hero. You can find the recipe in his cookbook, THE SOUTHERN TABLE. It's a must-read. And if you ever have fresh crab meat, you will never eat a better crab cake than the one in his book. For the succotash, sherry vinegar and good olive oil make this-- so make sure to bite the bullet and buy the good stuff.

Bonus: this meal is even better the next day for leftovers. Because most of meals that I eat at home are for a party of one, it's tough to find healthy veggie-rich meals that hold up for a few days. I make the succotash but add the herbs and cook the fish individually each night. The herbs, especially the basil, tend to wilt after 24 hrs.

FRANK STITT'S SUMMER SUCCOTASH AND PAN-SEARED SALMON

For the succotash

1/2 small red onion, cut into 1-inch-thick slices
1 cup cooked lady peas (or substitute pink-eyes, crowders, or cranberry beans)
1/4 cup pot liquor from the peas reserved
2 tomatoes, seeded and cut into 1/4-inch dice (I prefer heirloom cherry tomatoes. They're so sweet and delish!)
2 ears corn, husked, boiled for 4 minutes, and kernels cut off the cob (I like Silver Queen-- the sweeter ones are best against the smokiness of the charred onion)
1 small shallot, finely minced
4 basil leaves, torn into small pieces
4 sprigs dill leaves, coarsely chopped
A few chives, finely chopped
1 tablespoon sherry vinegar
Kosher salt and freshly ground white pepper to taste
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, plus extra for drizzling if desired

1 tablespoon vegetable oil, such as canola
1 lemon, cut into wedges

For the flounder 

Four 6- to 8-ounce flounder fillets, skin on (Frank calls for flounder, but I've had a hard time finding it so I normally go with salmon. I've also done snapper and grouper-- any light, white fish is great. And in Culllman, fresh seafood is a challenge so you could do steak or chicken)
salt and pepper

1.Make the succotash. Prepare a hot grill or preheat the broiler. Grill or broil the onion slices, turning once, until lightly charred on both sides, 3 to 4 minutes per side. Let cool, then cut into 1/4-inch-dice.

2. Combine vegetables. In a large bowl, combine the charred onion, peas, tomatoes, corn, shallot, basil, dill, and chives. Stir in the sherry vinegar and season with salt and pepper. Stir in the olive oil, taste, and adjust the seasoning. Set aside.

3. Prepare the flounder. Heat a heavy skillet (cast iron works great) just large enough to hold the fillets over medium-high heat. Season the fish with salt and pepper. Add the oil to the hot skillet and heat until shimmering. Reduce the heat to medium, place the fillets skin side up in the skillet, and cook until nicely golden on the first side, 3 to 4 minutes. Carefully turn the fish and cook until just done, another 3 to 4 minutes. (Peek inside one fillet to check for doneness -- the thickest part should have turned to a pearly white.) While the fish finishes cooking, add the succotash and pea pot liquor to a saute pan and cook over medium heat until heated through. 4. Serve. Transfer the fish to serving plates and serve with the succotash and the lemon wedges. Drizzle each fillet with a splash of olive oil if desired.

Just Do It: The Power of Yes

Nike knows what's up. They are my new motto. Just. Do. It. Three, tiny words that seem so easy in theory but so difficult to actually live by. I consider myself a risk-taker and relatively brave and spontaneous on the scale of life. But when I stop and think about reality, it's so easy to let opportunities slip by. Regret is one of the most evil words I know (only second to shame, boring and practical). I used to think of the word "regret" only when I regretted things from my past. But rarely do I have regret about the things I've done-- even if I made some big mistakes in the process. What I truly regreat are the things I never did.

In college, I didn't study abroad because I thought my life would be over if I missed certain parties. How wrong was I. If only I'd known as a freshman that I really wouldn't miss a sea of red solo cups and warm watermelon Boone's Farm four years later. And now, that decision is easily my biggest regret of college.

Fast forward five years later. Last week a friend of mine invited me on a spontaneous trip to Barcelona. Immediately the practical and responsible side of me kicked in, "You need to budget." "You just moved." "Save money." "Wait until you have more clients." "That's going to be expensive." Etc, etc, etc. As I was seconds away from silently talking myself out of it, I thought about a promise that I made to myself when I moved to Nashville: I'm not going to wait for certain things to happen to me before I start living the life of my dreams. I'm not going to wait for a certain salary. I'm not going to wait for a relationship.

What if the life that you've been dreaming of really hasn't passed you by. What if the life that you've been dreaming of has everything that you want in it. Right now. With no additions needed. I'm not saying that you can't want more and have desires for other things in your life. But I'm tired of watching my "now" pass me by while I wait for my "next." Barcelona, here I come.

Now I leave you with my Barcelona daydreams, via The Sartorialist...

Top Ten: Affordable Cocktail Tables (actually, it's just nine but ten sounds better)

I love a good cocktail table. It's one of the rare "furniture" purchases that can still be made on a whim-- more of a commitment than your average coffee table accessory, but way less of an investment than actual furniture. To me, these little guys fall into the category of "room jewelry" and I put them in the same box as lamps, mirrors, and wall art. You can never have too many, and can almost always find a place for them, regardless of moving to a new home or redecorating. Here are my favorite cocktail and occasional tables that won't break the bank-- everything is under $200-- so don't be afraid to fall in love!

From top left: 

ASSEMBLY HOME TRIPOD TABLES, from $59; WHITE PAPIER-MACHE TABLE, $199; 

MULTI-PINK TWIST STOOL, $164; ACRYLIC NESTING TABLES, $75; APPLE GREEN STOOL, $99; LOVBACKEN SIDE TABLE, $59; CHINESE GARDEN STOOL, $99; NATURAL WOVEN SIDE TABLE, $195; ANTIQUE BRASS MARTINI TABLE, $149

The Best Wedding Nail Polishes from Essie and OPI

We all know about the OPI and Essie tried-and-true classic sheer: Bubble Bath and Ballet Slippers/Mademoiselle/Sugar Daddy (depending on which Essie fan you ask). And obviously you can find them at any nail salon in America, but I want to share some of the lesser-known OPI and Essie colors that you will LOVE! They're perfect when you want to look polished, feminine, and timeless. Weddings, job interviews, or just because you're a sheer pink polish kinda gal.

First row, from left:
 Essie Marshmallow, OPI Don't Burst My Bubble, Essie Waltz, OPI Don't Touch my Tutu

Second row, from left:
OPI Mimosas for Mr. and Mrs., Essie Blushing Bride, OPI You Callin' Me a Lyre, Essie Better Together

Third row, from left:
Essie Spaghetti Strap, OPI Privacy Please, Essie Not Just a Pretty Face, OPI Barre My Soul

I divided each row into a color story. The first row is white/ivory, second row is sheer with more of a peach/warm undertone, the third row is more of a pink/cool undertone. Below are swatches of all of the colors. To shop the colors, the easiest thing to do is Google the names. 

Essie Marshmallow
This is definitely the most opaque white I would recommend for a "classic" nail look. The others, like Blanc, look too much like whiteout. And unless you're wearing the right outfit, can honestly lean a little Panama City Spring Break. No thanks. 

OPI Don't Burst My Bubble

Technically, the next color, Waltz by Essie is more "white" than this one. But this is a great creamy sheer pink. And if you're die-hard a Bubble Bath fan, try this one out and see what you think. 

Essie Waltz

This is one of my absolute favorites. Don't take this one on face value. Looking at the bottle, it comes across as a lot more "white" than it is because it's super sheer, so the pink of your nail warms it up a lot.

OPI Don't Touch My Tutu

This color is gorgeous. It's got a hint more pink than the other whites, but I like to think of it like ballet tights. Basically white... but not.

OPI Mimosas for Mr. and Mrs.

Another great sheer-- this color is actually from OPI's Wedding Collection. It has more of a peach/nude undertone than the classic "sheers" that you think of. But I actually like that because if you have yellow tones in your skin, this is more of "subtle" shade for your skin vs. a pink shade like Bubble Bath or Mademoiselle. 

Essie Blushing Bride

This is the next step up from clear. It has color, but you will definitely see the whites of your nails with this one. For nights when I know I want super over-the-top hair or makeup, I like to pair down my nails. This is a great way to still wear color, but not. (ignore the white tips, this was just the best example I could find for this color)

OPI You Callin Me A Lyre

Again, another favorite here. For all of you olive or yellow-tone gals, this group is more of your "natural" range. All of these colors are super sheer and glossy, so they give a similar look to a high-shine gel manicure. 

Essie Better Together

This color says "Bride" to me. So many of the classic sheers are almost a little too pale, in my opinion, and this one has just enough pink to be feminine and just enough yellow to still feel warm.

Essie Spaghetti Strap

In my opinion, this is the perfect pink. And it's almost a "jelly" color. I don't know if that makes sense, but it's suuuuper glossy. 

OPI Privacy Please

This one is just a tad, a tad, creamier than Spaghetti Strap. Basically, it's a two-coater, when Spaghetti Strap is more of a three-coater to get a saturated hue. 

Essie Not Just A Pretty Face

Actually, if I had more space, I would have added this color to the second row roundup. To me, this is the perfect alternative to clear polish. It's nail equivalent to clear lip gloss. Shiny, juicy goodness.

OPI Barre My Soul

This would also fall into a similar category as Not Just a Pretty Face. The only thing I would add about it is that this is my summer alternative to Bubble Bath. It's slightly warmer and looks fabulous if you have a little hint of a tan.