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An Italian afternoon in

I threw the easiest little get together for my friends last weekend — small slices of pizza, snacks (some healthy…some not) and plenty of wine. The prompting for this afternoon in?

The easiest way to shred chicken

We usually have some sort of meat with dinner, and my favorite is chicken. It’s one of the healthier meat options, and I love how versatile it is.

Many of my favorite recipes, including my enchiladas, call for shredded chicken. Ugh. Typically I’d shred with two forks, but aside from taking so much time, I absolutely abhor the sound of utensils scraping on each other *shivers*.

Enter my new way to shred:

Broad Street browsing {Memphis}

Traveling — even short, close work trips — will always been one of my favorite things. This past week, I found myself in Memphis for a fun work retreat — and you bet I tried my best to seek out some cute thangs. And the cutest I found? Broad Street, on the recommendation of a colleague.

Spicy, all-season enchiladas

I love having home-cooked meals throughout the week (and the leftovers that follow!), but I’m always looking for ways to spend less time making them.

This enchilada dish is one of my standbys: my husband loves it and will happily eat leftovers all week, and it’s adaptable for any time of year.

Sipping sangria and making pom poms

It was nice to take a break last weekend from chores and errands to have some girl friends over for an afternoon of crafts and drinks. We caught up over glasses of apple cider sangria (a specialty from my friend, Emily — recipe below) and made a slew of pom poms:

Pardon me: 37 Things to Say Instead of ‘I’m Sorry’

It’s a part of every woman I know. We learn it from a young age and it follows us until the end.

I’m sorry.

How many times do you say it everyday? Have you ever stopped to count? I tried once and quit when I got to a dozen before 10 a.m. A co-worker recently shared that her sweet 18-month-old (whose vocabulary is obviously limited) has started saying it — not because she’s done something wrong, but because she’s picked it up as a way to fill silence.

We all know there’s a better way, but habits are hard to break. So here’s a start: 37 things to say instead, broken up into different scenarios (with a section for littles, too!). Why 37? Because 38 seemed like too many. I’m not sorry.

Nearly free and stupid simple rustic coat hook

After a short holiday break, Angelica and I are back with more smart style and home ideas to get you and your space looking great without breaking the bank.

The Vital Tasks: How I got myself to clean everyday

I’m messy by nature. While I love and thrive in clean, organized spaces, the creative part of me can’t help but leave piles in my wake. But my “Type A” part can only take so much, which is why I knew I needed a system that could work for all of me.

Then I happened upon this quote: “It’s the little things that are vital. Little things make big things happen.”

I realized that if I could make myself adopt a few small cleaning tasks each day, that could make a big difference over time. I’m calling these little bits here and there:

On a Shoestring: Parisian Dress to Party Skirt

Angelica and I are back for another round of On a Shoestring, a series of posts where we reimagine fashion, food, decor and more all on a shoestring budget. We’re out to prove that it doesn’t take mountains (or even molehills) of money to look fashionable and put together.

Sushi Diner {San Diego}

The gentleman and I hopped over to San Diego recently for a wedding and short vacation. Just what we needed to give ourselves a post-Cubs celebration and some pre-election relaxation.

When we travel, our sights (read: stomachs) are usually set on planning our trip around delicious food. Enter: thee best sushi I have ever seen/tasted/been in the presence of.