Bake for the Cure

One of my favorite foodie bloggers, Jessica at Kitchen Belleicious, is participating in Bake for the Cure to help raise awareness of breast cancer. The participating blogger with the most comments on her Bake for the Cure posts wins a gift card to a kitchen store, which is a great reward for a hard working blogger! Please support her efforts by stopping by Kitchen Belleicious and commenting on her six Bake for the Cure posts!

Jessica's Pink Ribbon Cookies

Photo courtesy of Kitchen Belleicious

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 



What’s in it for you? In addition to supporting a wonderful cause, each comment you leave on a Bake for the Cure post enters you in a giveaway contest. One lucky commenter will win a Bake for the Cure prize pack, which includes some wonderful baking ingredients and pink kitchen goodies! Please stop by and support Jessica today!

http://www.kitchenbelleicious.com/

A Splish Splashing Good Time

I promised that today’s post would feature more details about our trip to the Texas coast.

One day when were looking for a diversion for the kids, we ventured off the island and across the bridge from Port Aransas to Corpus Christi, which is home to The Texas State Aquarium (as well as a lot more shopping and restaurants than you will find in Port Aransas). The aquarium, which features rescued and rehabilitated birds in addition to the sea life, provided hours of fun for our family.



Corpus Christi





The View from the Dolphin Pool



There’s definitely a little something for everyone. Our toddler was in awe of the adorable dolphin show. My favorite was the underground concave tank that allows you to feel as though the fish (and sharks!) are swimming around you. And my husband was thrilled to touch a stingray. (There is a stingray petting area where the animals’ rays have been clipped.)

A Dolphin in Action

The Bird Rehabilitation Area

 

We were definitely glad we made the visit.

A Trip to the Texas Shore

It’s time I admit the truth. In the year and a half that we’ve lived in Texas, we really haven’t explored much beyond our own backyard. As you know, we found out we were expecting the twins shortly after we arrived here. Between bedrest, the babies’ stay in the NICU, and getting adjusted to parenting three children instead of just one, we haven’t had it in us to do a lot of travelling. Last week we decided to change that and, on the recommendation of a few friends, we headed for the Texas coast. Port Aransas to be exact.

In our previous East Coast existence, we vacationed in places like Cape May, New Jersey; Sea Island, Georgia; and Bermuda. Port Aransas, Texas, felt a little quieter and more secluded than any of those vacation spots. It’s quite a small town, and provided a nice respite from our daily lives.

The Port Aransas Beach

Relaxing on Our Balcony

One of our priorities on this trip was to locate some wonderful restaurants.  (Isn't great food always a priority?) Towards the end of the trip, we discovered two that definitely rate a mention.

My favorite dining experience in Port Aransas was Roosevelt’s at the Tarpon Inn.

The inn is a historic site that previously served as a civil war barracks prior to being converted into The Tarpon Inn in 1886. Its 24 rooms are decorated with antiques and are known for their lack of telephones and TV. I’m told that it’s truly a place to relax and leave your cares behind.

Roosevelt’s is The Tarpon Inn’s small fine dining establishment.




The Chefs in Action at Roosevelt's























Anticipating A Great Meal



Pan Seared Snapper with Shrimp and Ricotta Ravioli

After much debate, I settled on the Pan Seared Snapper with Shrimp and Ricotta Ravioli, and I could not have been happier. The flavor combinations were absolutely divine. My husband and I also thoroughly enjoyed our appetizer of crabcakes, which were reminiscent of some of the best crabcakes we ever had in Maryland. In addition to being the best meal I enjoyed on this trip, this was easily the best meal I’ve had in Texas.

The next night we dined next door to the Tarpon Inn at Lisa Bella’s Bistro, which I would also recommend.

Stay tuned tomorrow for more details of our trip!

The Lure of The Classic Trench

By now you know that “classic” is one of my favorite buzzwords when it comes to fashion. I adore pieces that are timeless and well-made, that will serve me for years, and that move easily from one activity to the next without missing a beat. One of my favorite classic wardrobe items is the trench coat.

A beautiful trench makes me feel instantly pulled together, even if I’m only wearing a t-shirt and jeans underneath. It’s perfect not only for a rainy day, but also when there’s a slight chill in the air or a gust of wind. And it’s a travel essential, adapting my wardrobe to varying climates and warming me in the often frigid airplane environment.

Years ago, I bought a gorgeous, perfectly fitted, mid-length burgundy trench coat from Banana Republic. I got lucky and happened upon it at a steep discount. It was the steal of the decade and I happily wore it for nearly that long, until one day it developed an unsightly hole in the arm. (I suspect I snagged it on something while traveling.) Although I own other raincoats, including a lovely black, a-line number from Anne Klein 2 and a hot pink Lilly Pulitzer trench purchased from Hopsy for springtime wear, I have continued to mourn the loss of my beloved burgundy trench.

You can imagine how excited I was last week when I encountered this beautiful, dark red version from Michael by Michael Kors, which is now hanging in my closet. With its button-out lining and removable hood, it does my old faithful one better.

Michael by Michael Kors Trench

Of course, there are many fabulous trenches available this season in varying price ranges. Other favorites include:

Banana Republic Classic Trench

Kate Spade Bisous Bow Trench



Burberry London Mid-Length Trench

 





















What about you?  Are you a fan of the trench coat?

Paperspring: A Review

I was recently contacted by the lovely folks at Paperspring. They wanted to know if I would be interested in receiving a free sample of their product and writing a review for you. What is a paper-loving girl to do? Of course I agreed!

They emailed me a gift card code and then I was off to their website to select a product and place my order. Paperspring offers a complete range of personalized stationery, from birth announcements to holiday cards, party invitations, thank you notes, notecards and notepads. The ordering process was incredibly simple, and I was able to see my personalization on screen. The hardest part was deciding which of the gorgeous designs to choose. And the bonus? They offer free shipping. Yes, you read that right! Anyone who knows me knows how much I HATE the high cost of shipping, so I was thrilled to discover that Paperspring ships for free.

Less than a week after I placed my order, I had my fabulous personalized notecards in hand. I think they turned out beautifully, don’t you?

Lovingly Packaged

Final Product: Personalized Chrysanthemum Thank You Notes from Paperspring

I am absolutely thrilled. Thank you, Paperspring!

Party Time

Last night I attended a friend’s Silpada party. Great food and wine, friends, and an opportunity to order some fun jewelry…. What more could a girl ask for? I decided to debut my Lilly Pulitzer Adalie dress. I kept the rest of my outfit simple so it wouldn’t interfere with any baubles I wanted to try.

Silpada Party by Julepsandjj featuring a lilly pulitzer dress

In the end, I bought this bronze coin pearl necklace. I think it will be a fun accent to my fall and winter wardrobe.

What about you? What’s been on your agenda this weekend?