bits & buds

you know it's spring when your wardrobe itself starts blooming.  loving all these floral-inspired pieces and their buddin' inspiration.  three cheers for spring!

perfectly purple skirt

emerson made's big bloom

easy-going ella moss

rebecca taylor is always in full bloom

j.crew's poppin' poplin

spring is in liberty of london's air too

mini florals all over this j.crew jacket

(photo credits - bhg.com, ehow.com, marthastewart.com)

do you want to laugh today?

or any other day for that matter?

look at this picture repeatedly because it produces incessant giggles.  mini-USes.  ha!  sar, you'll be subbed in when one of us finds a suitable sperm donor.

do you see what i see

i never really shopped at ann taylor or at loft in the past.  but a little birdie i know who works over at j.crew told me one of their former women's designers left j.c about a year ago and her newest designs are rolling into stores now.  the resemblance is undeniable and the prices are uncanny.  you on board too? 

a.o.k. at

you did good, loft

sis, add these stops to our shopping spree this weekend - please.

a little slice of heaven

finally kicked off a bit of spring cleaning this past weekend and thumbed through stacks of old magazines.  best tearout of the batch below.  my heaven will look like this someday.

(pulled from a martha stewart living)

birthday wishes do come true

it's your day, lady.  do it up with BBB and the one and only true wee one in tow.  while i know the day has already started, i'm hoping your 28th day will include a few wishes that i'm picking out for you.

a few extra minutes of shut eye this morning...
an everything bagel with cream cheese...
some bright sunshine greeting you out your window...
a happy, coo-ey, wide-eyed, baby boy all day long...
a birthday treat for yourself...babies are welcome in anthropologie so get over there...
an easy-going walk through the charming charm city...
a cup cake ot two or three...
and most of all, lots of reminders of how much you are loved.  i know i can count on ans for this.

happy birthday, sweet sar.

stick o' sausage: turkey & pepper skewers and roasted asparagus with dijon-lemon sauce

the last meal in this week's series was by far the best and my personal favorite. nothing screams spring more than grilled veggies and meat on a stick. and really - who doesn't love anything on a stick?  i jazzed up these traditional kabobs with a non-traditional pesto sauce to give them that extra oomph.

ingredients:

adapted from food network
2 bell peppers, cut into chunks
1 16 oz package turkey kielbasa sausage, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 large red onion, cut into chunks
1 cup heirloom tomatoes
3 tablespoons evoo
1/2 cup fresh parsley
1/4 cup chives
1 large garlic clove
1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
s&p

directions:

soak 10 skewers in water for at least 15 minutes - this will prevent them from burning. preheat grill pan to medium high (you can do this outside on a real grill too if you want).

toss the bell peppers, sausage, onion and tomatoes in a bowl with 1 tablespoon evoo and s&p. thread onto the skewers, alternating the sausage and vegetables. grill, turning the skewers every so often for about 6 to 7 minutes. meanwhile, puree the parsley, chives, garlic in a blender with the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil, vinegar, 2 tablespoons water and s&p. brush the skewers with some of the pesto and continue to cook, turning, until the tomatoes are tender and the sausage is charred, about 6 to 7 more minutes. before serving, brush skewers with remaining pesto. 

i roasted up these asparagus to round out the meal. i loved the flavor combination between the tangy lemon zest and juice paired with bitterness of the dijon mustard. get the recipe here.

gourmet grub: artichoke, proscuitto & arugula pizza and spring salad with pistachio-crusted goat cheese

do you ever get tired of eating the same kind of pizza? this week i was in the mood for something different and stumbled across this gourmet recipe. all of the ingredients complimented each other exceptionally well. between the salty prosciutto, lemony peppery arugula, pungent pesto and buttery marinated artichokes you could seriously eat this whole thing up.

ingredients:
(adapted from cooking light)

1 ball whole wheat pizza dough
2-3 tablespoons store bought pesto
1 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese (a little more if you're love cheese)
4 oz marinated artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
3 oz thinly sliced prosciutto
2 tablespoons shredded parmesan cheese
1/2 cup arugula leaves
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice

directions:
position oven rack to lowest setting. preheat oven to 500 degrees. roll out dough on counter (into a circle or rectangle/square) and place on non-stick baking sheet. spread the pesto evenly over dough, leaving a 1/2-inch border. sprinkle mozzarella cheese over pesto. place baking sheet on the bottom oven rack and bake for 5 minutes. remove pizza from oven.

arrange artichokes on pizza and top with sliced prosciutto. sprinkle with parmesan. return pizza to the bottom oven rack; bake an additional 6 minutes or until crust is browned.  the cooking time will depend on the brand of dough you buy.  for best results, follow the directions on the package. in a small bowl, mix lemon juice with arugula. when pizza is finished cooking, garnish with garnish.

i served a simple salad alongside with pistachio-crusted goat cheese balls.  it couldn't have been easier and look how beautiful and elegant they look! in a mini food processor, coarsely chop shelled pistachio nuts. form mini goat cheese balls in hands and roll in evoo and then nuts until well coasted.

california dreaming: avocado blt sandwiches and 3 bean pesto salad

for some reason this meal reminds me of a typical west coast menu even though i've never even been there. but just go with me on this one. there isn't a real recipe for the avocado blts. we all know how to make these classic sandwiches.  you can switch out any ingredients and experiment to your liking.  i chose turkey bacon, added grilled chicken, used argula for that peppery bite and spiced up some light mayo with hot sauce.  

now for the 3 bean salad - i got the inspiration for this recipe from whole foods.  every time i go there, they have this amazing salad with edamame, string beans and chick peas. i've been wanting to try my own stab at it and i think it turned out pretty good {if not better}.

ingredients:

2 tablespoons pesto

1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar

1 (15 oz) can chick peas, drained

2 cups edamame beans

1 (15 oz) can cannellini beans, drained

1/4 cup chopped parsley

2-3 tablespoons evoo

1/4 cup asiago cheese

s&p

directions:

mix pesto, evoo, balsamic vinegar and s&p in food processor.  pulse until it has turned to the consistency of salad dressing.  if it too thick, add more evoo.  in a large bowl, mix together the beans, parsley, cheese, dressing and s&p.  chill for 20 minutes in fridge before serving for best results.

this week in the kitchen

with spring around the corner, this week's menu is focused on vegetables, healthy eating, and big flavors.  are you excited, foodies?  stay tuned!

avocado blt sandwiches and 3 bean pesto salad

sausage & pepper skewers and roasted asparagus with dijon-lemon sauce

artichoke, proscuitto & arugula pizza and spring salad with pistachio-crusted goat cheese

(photo credit - vi.sualize.us)

lady liberty

one of my weekend highlights was visiting target. it's not everyday i get to go to target anymore since nyc lacks one.  so after much pleading, BE agreed and off to target we went. we cruised through every, and i mean every aisle, smiling all the way.  ahhh, happiness.

i couldn't help but notice the liberty of london line that the blogosphere has been cheering for the past few days.  the products are absolutely playful and i can see why its fans are so pleased the line has landed stateside.  enjoy a few of my favorites...

a lady's beach cruiser

cheerful canisters

loving the paisley tie

ruffles and a girly pattern = a happy sis

preppy prep bowls

check out the whole line at target...good stuff.

(photo credits - target.com)

it's official

how did the weekend go from this...

...to this?

but it's ok...because it means these are on the way.

cheers to spring!

(photo credits - vi.sualize.us)

the finer aspects of dc

this post is dedicated to all of those people who haven't made dc their home sweet home. slowly, i have been collecting photos from around the area, proving what a fun place the nation's capitol can be to live.

so we don't have the option of seeing celebrities on the streets, but we do have celebrity impersonators willing to sell you something off their truck.

we have regular street (or should i say boat?) performers. this guy highly entertained me with his shirt tag hanging from the armpit.

we have cougars. and lots of them. the dating pool is strong.

the nation's capitol is run by some of the smartest individuals. just look at their fine work. notice anything?

in today's economy, we have some of the best sales around.

my fellow dc-ers,  i encourage you to go out this weekend and see what fun things you can find and report back. maybe, just maybe, we can convince everyone to move here. {ahem. sis...please come back}

happy weekend, friends.

fan mail: recipe success

this was me the other day when i was pleasantly surprised to get a sweet email from our reader, amy.

i'm making your chicken cacciatore tonight. your instructions seem perfect for a non-cooking sis like myself. can't wait to report how it goes.

we love to hear feedback on anything we share on our little project here. no joke - it makes us want to quit our day jobs and make blogging our full-time careers. (we're currently accepting financial backing. peg? BE? are you there?)

amy reported back the next day with this photo and message:

i did it! i did it! with your blog as my sous chef, i made delicious chicken cacciatore!! sis -  you and your recipes are the bomb diggity!

so glad it was a hit, amy.  keep the success stories coming.

and of course, we always welcome more feedback/suggestions/comments/gripes (we suppose) at becausesissaidso@gmail.com.

(photo credit - marketingdeviant.com)

mediterranean marvel: couscous stuffed chicken

i was just telling sis about this post and she goes, "more couscous? you are the only person i know who eats couscous". on that note, i promise to try experimenting with new sides dishes...but for today, we're sticking with the plan and couscous it is.

this recipe comes from guy fieri over at food network. i ended up doubling the sauce recipe because it just didn't seem like enough. i also forgot to add the butter, but ended up liking it without the extra calories. the sundried tomatoes and olives really jazz up the couscous - perfect balance of a salty and sweet bite.

don't have couscous on hand? any grain will do. quinoa would be a great substitute. i also secured the chicken with toothpicks to keep the stuffing from falling out.

the recipe is too long for this post, but you can head on over to food network to check it out.  eat up!

trailBLAZER

not to long ago, i was having a little convo with one of my mIDOLS (translate: mom idols) - yes, janet, that would be you.  she was asking for a little guidance while shopping so that putting together an outfit becomes almost effortless. my simple answer - it's all about great basics.

it definitely took me awhile to figure out what great basics truly are.  let's remember - it was not too long ago when i would drop a quarter of my paycheck at forever 21.  yeah, be glad those days are gone for the sake of my wallet and your eyesight.

so here's my first suggestion for a great staple to add to your wardrobe - the casual, yet sophisticated blazer. i thought this trend was going to fade out after fall but then i spotted it in winter lines. and now i believe it's here to stay for spring too.

my recommendations...

BE picked up the anthropologie's troisieme blazer for me...nice work, boytoy.

it's actually more of a charcoal gray than it appears online...the lil puff at the shoulders adds just the right touch of femininity that i adore.

i was really nervous to purchase j.crew's zoey blazer given that it was listed in the dreaded final sale section.  but i couldn't be more pleased upon the jacket's arrival today.  it's very lightweight, runs true to size, and the price is hard to deny.

so get to blazin', ladies...i think you'll agree.

mean green

i've never really been too fond of the color green.  oprah loves it but i just am not a huge fan.  i think it goes back to middle or high school when some kid told me the color meant a certain something...anyone remember what i'm talking about? 

i don't really have a whole lot of green going in my life. the fridge is slacking in the greens department.  my closet maybe contains 3 true green pieces. although, i do try to practice a green lifestyle.  and i do appreciate certain greens when decorating. 

so yeah, anyway, in honor of the irish, we have to get a little green on the blog today. i give you my favorite touches of just the right amount of green.

see you at the bar.  happy st. patrick's days, friends.

(photo credits - decorology.blogspot.com, hgtv.com, isuwannee.com, myfavoriteandmybest.blogspot.com and some other great images in my design files that i never tagged...so sorry!)

sassy pants

**disclaimer to our 5 male readers - do not read this post.  we'd like to keep this a secret amongst us ladies **

earlier this week, i visited my hairdresser.  we covered all the basics while she bleached out my goldilocks -  work, friends, weekend plans, relationships - then, she asks me:

s: "have you ever heard of the book why men love bitche$?" 
k: "no, but i have heard of the theory that men love crazy bitche$."
s: "you have to read it. i've given it to two of my girlfriends and they're both married now. let me go get it for you."

so as she is stripping the color out of my hair, i start skimming through the book.  i think, "alright, i can do this - i can be a not-nice girl. peg would be proud."  the author, sherry argov, shares that you don't want to go out of your way to be deliberately be mean, but rather, be strong and independent. she lists 100 attraction principles that all basically add up to one strong idea - stop being so nice. do what you want, the men will follow. never chase a man.

here are just a few of sherry's pointers:

• don't hold him to a checklist or he will resent it.  let him be who he is and see if that matches you
• choose to be with your man, don't need be with him
• please yourself first, not him
• don't nag because he will tune you out.  speak with your actions instead
• don't accept accept mistreatment and you will keep his respect
• the most attractive quality = dignity
• anytime a woman competes with another woman, she loses
• anything a person chases in life runs away
• truly strong people don’t explain why they want respect - they simply don’t bother with someone who doesn't offer it in return 
• stand tall and hold your own financially
• a little distance and self-control works wonders 

i left the hair salon that night wondering, "is there an app for this?" how great would it be the next time a gal is on a date, she can whip out these tips and give herself a little pep talk. i've looked into this and there is no app - but amazon is offering a pretty good deal on the hard copy.

(photo credit - fanpop.com)

head gear

with the warm weather fast approaching, it's almost about time to retire my favorite accessory with my second favorite accessory - headbands.  i love how this iconic staple from my childhood can still easily transform a bad hair day into that "check me out, i'm all cleaned up and fresh and too cute" look.  for us blondies out there, it also hids our not-so-subtle peeping roots. the headband possibilities are endless - from tortoise shell to glittery sparkles to classic pearls to metallic studs and so on.  how's a girl to choose?

here's just a few of my favorites that should be in my shopping cart shortly.

nothing says sweet and sophisticated like diamond bows and silk flowers - available at anthropologie

these handmade beauties are all available on etsy

one of my favorite dc bloggers is selling her craftiness at taza shop

sometimes simple is best - pick up yours at ulta

you can never go wrong with classic a burberry

go for 20s vintage at nordstrom

and jcrew does it right with pink and grey this spring

let's shop!