Tuesday, March 31, 2015

Dear Readers






Good morning readers, I have been writing Sit and Stay Awhile for nearly five years (I seriously cannot believe I have to stuck to this blog for that long) and since I have grown a good size audience, I am more than curious to know what you have to say. What do you think of the content I produce? What would you like to see more or less of? More travel and culture, do it yourself projects, literature reviews, fashion, home projects or personal posts? With school over in the fall and a pretty degree to hang up (YAY!!!), I have some future plans in the works for the blog. But before we get there, I want to know what your experience has been like when you come and read Sit and Stay Awhile. Share your thoughts through email, comments or on social media. Thank you for reading and continuing to follow me.     

(1,2,3,4,5)

Monday, March 30, 2015

Weekend Wrap Up...

 dessert on the house.
 research and reading list.
 on the go...
really early saturday mornings and a little decorating. 

(images via instagram)

Saturday, March 28, 2015

Saturday Happy



Racing corgis to help decide on names for the new royal baby due next a month? A little bit over the top or just plain adorable? I am loving the photos from the first ever corgi race. All the more reason to get a little puppy!!! What is making you happy this week?

(1,2,3) 

Friday, March 27, 2015

Friday Mornings

Good morning readers, I promise that I am in a way better mood than I was last week. Since it's technically spring break this week in school, I'm taking a day off to get outside, smell the flowers and take a walk or two. I am also hoping to hit the pool and get some laps in this weekend. Since my grades have been pretty excellent, I deserve to have a little fun, right? I've been doing some serious spring cleaning, rearranging furniture around the house, hanging new art, decorating and feeling extremely proud of my kiddos in the library book discussion groups. Bringing me chocolate other goodies, I am so happy the book club has been such a great experience; most of all I am so inspired by their amazing creativity and confidence. Oh, I also can't shut up about the show, Revenge! Without giving any spoilers away for those who are interested but are not currently watching, you need to get on this show asap! Emily Vancamp and Gabriel Mann are gold! The Hamptons, the homes, the cast and the wardrobe is all perfection!

And lastly, if you are in Palm Springs for the weekend and not sure what to do, come visit me!  My library is celebrating early literacy, so we'll be setting up a booth and giving away free kids books (and other prizes) this Saturday at the park.  Stop by to the feed the ducks, win some free books and have a spring inspired party by the pool. Have a great weekend and see you all on Monday :)

(image via domaine)

Thursday, March 26, 2015

Creamy Pesto and Shrimp

There is nothing I love more than a good pesto dish. 
Here is one of my favorite pesto recipes. 

       Ingredients:
    For the Pesto
    1/2 cup baby arugula
    3/4 cup fresh basil
    4 cloves of garlic
    1/2 cup parmesan cheese, grated
    1/2 cup pine nuts
    salt and black pepper
    1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil (more if needed for thinning)
    For the Garlic Butter Shrimp
    1 pound medium to large shrimp, peeled and cleaned completely
    1/4 cup unsalted butter, divided
    salt and black pepper
    1/2 teaspoon creole seasoning
    6 cloves of garlic, finely minced
    1/4 cup chicken broth
    For the Pasta
    1 pound dry linguine pasta
    salt
    1/2 cup half and half
    1/2 cup parmesan cheese, grated (for topping)
    2 tablespoons fresh parsley, shopped (for topping)
        Directions
    Pesto
    In the pitcher of your blender or bowl of your food processor, add the arugula, basil, garlic, parmesan cheese, pine nuts and a dash of salt and pepper. Blend, while slowly drizzling in the olive oil until the pesto comes together and is smooth. Scrape down the sides of the bowl if you need to. If you need more olive oil, drizzle more until the pesto is smooth. Set aside until you are ready to use, or store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.
    Garlic Butter Shrimp
    Melt 1 tablespoon of butter in a large sauté pan over medium heat. Add the shrimp and season with salt, pepper and creole seasoning. Cook until the shrimp are pink and cooked through, about 2-3 minutes. Remove the shrimp from heat with a slotted spoon, leaving the stove on. Add the garlic to the pan, and cook for 1-2 minutes or until fragrant. Add the chicken broth and cook over medium-high heat until most of the chicken broth has cooked out, about 5-6 minutes. Add the remaining butter and melt. Add the shrimp back to the pan, toss to coat and turn off the heat. Set aside.
    Pasta
    Meanwhile, prepare your pasta by bringing a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add the linguine and cook until al dente, about 8-10 minutes. Drain and set aside.
    While your pasta is cooking, add your pesto to a large saucepan. Heat over medium heat and add the half and half. Stir to combine and cook for 5-6 minutes or until completely warmed through. Add the al dente linguine straight to the pan with the pesto and toss to combine.
    Serve the pasta by topping with garlic butter shrimp, parmesan cheese and fresh parsley.
    Enjoy!

(image and recipe via cooking and beer)

Tuesday, March 24, 2015

The Holiday Wardrobe



While I love the fashion that Nancy Meyers chooses for her two leading ladies in one of my favorite romantic comedies, The Holiday, Cameron Diaz looks amazing in this movie. These days my fashion inspiration comes from those hot power suits Kerry Washington wears in Scandal and the cozy and soft colors Cameron Diaz wears in The Holiday. What are your favorite fashion moments in tv or film?  


Monday, March 23, 2015

Weekend Wrap Up...

 saturday mornings start with fresh fruit and 
favorite magazines...
 quick makeup routine includes bobbi brown,
 stila and bare mineral shadows. 
needing another weekend retreat with friends.
enjoying my lunch break in the park. 
 adult and children book club reads. 
a little bedroom rearranging.

(images via instagram) 

Friday, March 20, 2015

Friday Morning

I apologize for not being in the greatest mood this Friday morning but it has been a particularly long and trying week. For the past two and half months I've been hitting the sheets past two am, my meals have consistently been a hard broiled egg and cheese and just in case I have time between getting home from work and a class meeting, I'll toss that egg and sprinkle my cheese on a salad (I just don't have the time or energy to cook or go out, but I could lose some weight so I am not going to complain). I also desperately wish I had a weekend off from school. Welcome to the grad-school life, where research, proposals and presentations dominate your life and your professors think they're class should be your top priority-which of course drives you mad because all your professors feel this way.

Therefore, a good Friday night includes laundry, perhaps two or three glasses of wine and falling asleep in a heap of overpriced college text books and waking up to pen marks on your face the next morning (this has already happened twice to me in the last month). And all your significant other wants is for you to get out of the same sweatpants you've been wearing for the last two weeks and to take you out for a nice dinner. So for now as much as I want to toss all my books out the window and vent to my mom and dad how I tired I am, I'm going to quickly catch up with the Two Bossy Dames, have a quick cry and buckle down on homework and all the annoying group work I have. So wherever you are please celebrate the fact that you are no longer in college and can enjoy your weekends!!!


Thursday, March 19, 2015

Dreaming of Spring

 
 
 In the last week I've put up a display of gardening books complete with a Hello Kitty watering can and a shabby chic-esque wheelbarrow I found in the Children's Room Storage closet. I have read several Beatrix Potter books to the kiddos in story time and last night we planted seeds in cotton balls at the library. Spring is on the mind, instead of the already eighty degree weather, I am praying for spring showers here in the desert. But for now I am dreaming of these European cottages covered in flowers and greenery. What are you looking forward to this spring season?
 
(1,2,3)

Tuesday, March 17, 2015

East Hampton





When my sister and I were living in the city a few years ago, my mom made it her mission to visit the Hamptons when she got into town. As soon as the plane landed that meant hitting up the nicest salons and treating ourselves with manicures, massages and spending a few hours in my mom's favorite drugstore, Zitomers  (we also spent time trying on red sole shoes on the Upper East Side). That first weekend she was in the city, we boarded the Jitney and headed straight for East Hampton. It was the perfect day to just walk and talk and enjoy the salty sea air. We spent most of the day walking around town and enjoying our mother daughter chat as we made our way through the neighborhoods, wishing we had our own little cozy beach house.  

(images taken for sit and stay awhile)

Monday, March 16, 2015

Weekend Wrap Up...

 my phone case says it all. 
 just finished a perfect and lovely romantic graphic 
novel, what next? 
 dinner lately includes this easy/quick egg salad.
on the go and networking like crazy. 

(images via instagram)

Sunday, March 15, 2015

It's Me, Eloise

One of my absolute favorite heroines and literary characters during my childhood includes one Miss Eloise, a resident of the Plaza Hotel. Excluding Madeline, Eloise is among the original badass little girls in children's literature. She's naughty, a menace and it's all about her. If you were as big a fan of Eloise as I was  then you will fully appreciate the documentary that is about the air on HBO later this month. Here is your reminder,  It's Me, Hilary: The Man Who Drew Eloise premieres Monday, March 23 at 9PM, only on HBO. Your welcome :)

Saturday, March 14, 2015

this week's favorites...





The other day a fourth grade girl came in asking about Full House books and it kind of made my day. I asked her if she was looking for an updated series (the books I read are at least fifteen years old) since I read these books when I was in fourth grade; in fact I never thought tween aged girls these days would find any interest in a show like Full House. I was all about reading the Stephanie Series, P.S. Friends Forever was hands down my favorite. I'm so checking if this show is on Netflix this weekend!! Happy Friday :)
 
(image via amazon)    

Friday, March 13, 2015

Friday Morning

Happy Friday readers, I don't know about you but I am worn out from this week. So instead of my usual lengthy Friday morning posts, here are a few links that made me happy this week. We'll catch up next week :)
 
1. Lauren Singer's Trash is for Tossers
 
2. The New Yorker's When Did the Human Epoch Begin
 
3. And as always, my favorite Poet gives an awesome performance, The Type by Sarah Kay
 
4. Amy Stone's Apartment.  
 
5. Ira Glass gives some words of wisdom in under a minute.
 
(image via debi )
 
 
 

Thursday, March 12, 2015

Four Things For A Happier Home

A few things to make living with someone else, whether your spouse, family members or a roommate, create a happy and comfortable space for everyone. Brighten the dining room table up with a bouquet of fresh flowers. A little bit of greenery can go a long way. A gallery of art is great for taking up wall space, creating conversation and making a home fill cozy. A combination of family photos, your travels and your favorite art pieces is good start. Do small favors, take out the trash before your roommate does, make the bed if your spouse is running late for work or sweep the back patio even if someone already said they would do it. Spend time in the living room, together (without your phones!) Designate one night to game night, movie night, a book club or enjoying dinner on the back patio and inviting your friends over... 


Wednesday, March 11, 2015

Ace and Jig



I have written about Ace and Jig before on the blog so I had to bring them back when the 2015 Spring Collection went up on the web. I love everything about this brand and their new line, I hope you check it out and find something to treat yourself too this spring :)
(images via ace and jig)

Tuesday, March 10, 2015

The Librarian Suggests

Happy March and almost Spring Season. I seriously cannot believe it is already March, I'm mid school and only have one semester left, Summer Reading Program is fast approaching and my horrible sleeping pattern is slightly improving from the last two months. And despite the five groups I'm in for school, I manage to squeeze in a little extra time when I wake up to read and catch up with some of my favorite reads. I recently just finished this wonderful graphic love story, Soppy by the talented Philippa Rice. Love is not about the grand gestures, love is found in the little moments liking moving furniture with each other, roaming bookstores together and making your partner a cup of tea. In one of the book clubs I follow its all about expanding your genres and getting out of your reading comfort zone, I have say I am becoming a huge fan of graphic novels. I've recently mentioned the fantastic Two Bossy Dames Newsletter, but since it only comes out once a week and if you want more of the awesome dame duo, I am obsessively checking their twitter feed. Lastly, if you're a serious foodie and wanting to try out new recipes, get yourself a copy of Deliciously Ella!! I have been following her blog for the past year and half and have tried a few of her recipes, pure excellence.

(image via my world apart 

Monday, March 9, 2015

Weekend Wrap Up...

 preparing a research proposal is always a 
scattered mess. 
 my work desk filled with books to read for 
upcoming projects.
 my favorite bulletin board display yet. 
 arting in the park behind the library. 
 nightly routine include this awesome facial toner.
on my nightstand...

(images via instagram)

Leading Ladies

Five Things to Know About Bernadette Marie: 1. Trained and completed two degrees, an AAS in Communication Design and BFA in Textile S...