Way down yonder in New Orleans

My bags are packed! I’m ready to go! It’s hard to believe that I’m heading to New Orleans to celebrate my bachelorette, see sweet friends that I haven’t seen in a long time and get excited about my wedding in exactly THREE MONTHS from tomorrow!

The weekend has already started nicely, my dress was delivered today! I haven’t opened the box yet but I’m so excited.

I hope you have a lovely holiday weekend! I’ll leave you with a little picture of the future Bridewells.
Photos via Pinterest, Bottom photo by Mallory Berry

Fabulously Feminine New Orleans Home

In honor of my trip to New Orleans this weekend (leaving tonight!) I thought I’d share this decadent, beautiful home of “a Southern-born media executive in New York who wears clothes with great silhouettes and really fun modern jewelry from Africa or France. She collects contemporary photographs and art. Her husband is a food and wine writer, and at the drop of a hat they’ll give a party for 60 to 70.” from House Beautiful. I’m drooling. That’s who I want to be.

The homeowner shares, “I think I dreamed the house. When you bump into something that’s in your mind’s eye, you recognize it. What’s the French term? Coup de foudre— love at first sight. The house is like a character in our lives. In New York, our home is a condo. It’s mostly where we retreat to plug in our batteries. But this is a real house, big enough to gather all our friends into, with a dining room table sturdy enough to hold a suckling pig. This is so Southern — in my walled courtyard, I have my late grandmother’s gardenias planted. We brought them over from Alabama, stem by stem, with the roots in little jars of water. To sit near them reading the newspaper in my pajamas while listening to the New Orleans soundtrack of crickets, steamboat whistles, children playing, cathedral bells, and the pie lady selling pies — it’s divine.” Divinity indeed.

Yummy Spring Pasta

Spring Pasta

I saw this recipe on 101 Cookbooks and immediately decided to make it last night. I changed a few things and it turned out so yummy/easy!

Spring Pasta Recipe

I used angel hair but thin, egg noodles, spaghetti, or fettuccine would all work as well.

8 ounces / 225 g cooked, leftover pasta
3 eggs
fine grain sea salt
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 tablespoons unsalted butter

3 big handfuls of sliced asparagus, and/or pea shoots, or tiny broccoli trees, or shredded greens, or green beans, or spinach – anything quick cooking and fresh

chopped avocado
chopped herbs

Optional: 1 tablespoon cream, Parmesan cheese, Breadcrumbs

Use your fingers to fluff up the leftover pasta a bit, so its not clumpy or stuck together. Set aside.

In a small bowl crack the eggs and beat them really well with a pinch of salt.

In a big skillet melt the oil and butter over medium high heat. If you’re using a vegetable that might take longer to cook than others, add those to the pan – for example, asparagus or broccoli. Add a couple pinches of salt, stir, cover, and cook for a couple minutes. Until the vegetables are bright, and just cooked. Now stir in anything that just needs a quick flash of cooking – in this case pea greens, but chopped greens would go in at this point if you’re using those. Stir, and cook just until tender – a minute or so. Pull about 1/3 of the vegetables out of the pan and set them aside.

Now, add the pasta to the skillet, and toss well. Once the pasta is hot, turn down the heat, wait a moment, then quickly stir in the eggs (optional – stir in cream, pasta water). Stir well, then cover the pan, remove from heat, and let everything sit for a minute. Uncover, give everything another toss, the egg should be cooked through. Taste, and adjust the seasoning before dividing between two plates. Top with the reserved vegetables, and some chopped avocado (optional – top with breadcrumbs and parmesan cheese).

Serves 3.

Prep time: 5 min – Cook time: 5 min

Here’s how mine turned out:

Outfit: Flower Child

skirt – vintage from Daisy Exchange, white tee – hanes, belt – vintage, platforms – BCBG, right hand ring – mom

I found this delightful vintage skirt at the Daisy Exchange in Fayetteville. This is a perfect example of why I like shopping there. It was $4. No offense, but the people that run the place have no idea how to price quality vintage items. The same skirt at cheap thrills would have been at least $20, which still would have been reasonable. It wraps around and clips in the back, it’s extra long and it also has pockets!

Magazine Street.

I love this! It’s from the May/June 2011 issue of Lonny and there is a whole New Orleans section (pointed out to me by the dear Tina from Sweet on Design). This makes me super excited because I’m heading down there on Friday for my bachelorette party! I cannot wait. Check out the newest issue of Lonny and Magazine Street, next time you’re in the Big Easy…

Magazine StMay/June 11 Lonny