C'est si bon

hats off to girls wearing hats.

i love the look of a fabulous. chic. hat.

it is just so edgy. so fashion forward. so impossibly cool.

but it has to be just right. or it can be a major fail.

i am totally inspired by these hat styles . . .

& wish i were brave enough to don one this winter.

if i ever decide that i am confident enough to strut in a hat . . .

it would be just like one of these.

this entire outfit is off. the. charts. cool.

especially that hat. i love the wide angled brim.

and those pants. love them.

i just bought a similar cropped version from vince.

can't wait to style them in an all black ensemble.

oh. the floppy hat.

i have always adored the floppy hat.

it just screams elegant & ladylike.

i am really loving the combo here . . .

distressed. meets polished. says hello to sexy.

simple. clean. perfect hat accessorizing.

again. i just love the wider brim on this hat.

its a bit larger than a typical fedora . . .

{i am not a big fedora fan. so this is a great twist}

i also adore how she has the hat propped back on the crown of her head.

that just exudes european chic. less trendy. more fashionable.

love the simplicity of this hat. as well.

again. the wider brim. the bow detail. perfect.

this has a downtown feel to it. & i like that.

tell me.

are you brave enough to don a hat?

if so . . . what is your fave style to wear?

{all images courtesy of pinterest}

a simple party.

my lovie's birthday is just a few days after christmas.

so it always feels like his birthday gets overlooked.

we are all tired from the bustle of the holiday

& really just ready to kick back and relax.

even while he insists that he does not want a celebration . . .

i think it is important to have a little party in his honor

to let him know how much we love him & how truly wonderful he is.

so we did just that.

we had a little birthday party for the big birthday boy.

it was simple. it was casual. it was perfect.

i am here to show you just how easily a simple party can be pulled together.

in very few minutes. with minimal planning. after a very busy holiday.

i started off by brainstorming.

this party was for a boy. a 35+ year old boy at that.

he is pretty laid back. not big on the frills.

so i wanted to keep that in mind.

i wanted it to be organic & not too feminine.

so i decided on a table of greens. whites. & natural woods.

hearty artichokes. potted herbs. distressed wood. & simple white flowers

would make for a perfect birthday table for my lovie.

i always have a set of mason jars handy for casual get togethers.

they are perfect for holding utensils & serving as glasses.

color coordinating napkins are a little detail that go a long way.

start a little stash of paper napkins so you always have an assortment.

when you see some you like on sale. grab them right then.

you will use them someday in the future.

baby's breath are the perfect flower for a casual party.

they are simple. clean. & not too frilly.

potted herbs & ivy are some of my fave things to decorate with.

they are just so earthy. such great color saturation. & smell divine.

an ice cold tub of ol' fashioned root beer is always a crowd pleaser.

these faux paper plates are one of my greatest investments.

they are so stinkin cute. so durable. & dishwasher safe.

the perfect plates for a casual celebration.

i literally just tossed a few artichokes here & there.

they provide rich color. add dimension. & fill empty spaces.

our menu was made just for my lovie.

being from a north carolinian family . . .

they love barbeque.

i added special touches that my lovie would appreciate.

a few of his favorite things to make it really special.

lovie's birthday party was a huge hit

& he was a happy. happy. happy. man with a full tummy.

hope this gave you a few ideas on how to throw together a simple party.

it really is quite a cinch to do. and fun too!

bakers box of recipes: big & chewy chocolate chippers.

while i have never met a cookie that i did not like . . .

i am quite picky when it comes to chocolate chip cookies.

i hold my go-to. amazingly delicious. chippy cookie recipe near & dear to my heart.

and in my mind . . . very few cookies come close to comparing to those.

i like my cookies to be big & buttery.

chewy on the outside. crispy on the edges.

a touch of saltiness. lots of chocolate chips.

{and slightly under baked}

i was absolutely blown away when i tried little miss keri's

big & chewy chocolate chippers.

they. are. amazing.

tied for first place with my chippy cookies.

keri has been a dear family friend for too many years to count.

& we consider ourselves the lucky ones for that.

she happens to be the identical twin sister of our sweet friend kim.

{the one who shared her divine chocolate cake recipe with us a few weeks ago}

kim & keri may or may not be the cutest twinsies around.

they are besties to the max. full of energy. & sassy to boot.

the type of girls that just make you smile nonstop.

they really are the best & quite the dynamic duo when it comes to baking.

that being said.

i am thrilled. and honored. and so excited to share

keri's recipe for her big & chewy chocolate chip cookies.

you will need:

3 3/4 cups all purpose flour

3/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 sticks butter

{melted & cooled}

1 1/4 cup light brown sugar

1/2 cup white sugar

2 large eggs

plus 2 large egg yolks

1 tablespoon vanilla

1 1/2 bag chocolate chips

preheat your oven to 325 & line your cookie sheets with parchment paper.

whisk flour. baking soda. & salt together. set aside.

beat melted butter & sugars together for two minutes on high.

beat in eggs & egg yolks. then add the vanilla.

reduce the speed of the mixer & gradually add in the flour mixture.

add chocolate chips in last.

use a 1/4 cup measuring cup to measure out each cookie ball.

place at least 2.5 inches apart on the cookie sheet.

this is very important as these cookies spread a lot.

if they are too close . . . you will have a big ol' mess of a cookie.

bake these babies for 17-18 minutes.

allow them to cool for ten minutes before transferring to a cooling rack.

. . . then enjoy!

love you keri.

thank you for sharing your sweet treat recipe with us.

it certainly has a place in my all-time fave recipe box.

oh. oh. oh. i almost forgot.

we have a giveaway winner to announce.

big congrats to miss ashley nall.

you are the lucky winner of the pure barre giveaway.

get ready to lift. tone. & burn girlfriend.

xoxo

first smooch.

i have a secret. promise not to tell?

i just didn't want to brag. or make anyone jealous.

but i just simply can't hold it in any longer . . .

i had my first kiss.

a big juicy smoocher.

slobbery. drooly. kissy. kiss.

& i loved it.

i'll make this short & sweet.

a few weeks ago. we spent a lovely afternoon together.

but he just kept giving me this look . . .

you know the look i am talking about.

he was exceptionally smiley that afternoon.

& he kept leaning in to get really close.

he even put his hand on my cheek!

the little flirt got all too thrilled.

he was practically giddy with excitement.

oh. he was ready alright.

getting those little baby lips are ready.

& when he just couldn't take it any longer . . .

he went right on in for that great big kiss on the lips.

and i have to admit . . .

it has been my very favorite first kiss to date.

not quite sure what has gotten into this little mister.

but he is a kissing fool.

an open mouth kisser to the max.

& i'll take a slobbery wet one any day from this little babe!

outrageous hot cocoa.

hot chocolate lovers watch out.

your world is about to be rocked . . .

this hot cocoa recipe is simply outrageous.

the last few days around here have been grey & drizzly.

the kind of days that make you want to stay inside & cozy up on the couch.

& obviously. sip on something that warms both your hands & heart.

piping hot cocoa is the perfect treat for just that.

forget box mix cocoa.

go for the real deal. the decadent. the indulgent.

it is worth the little bit of extra work required.

simply choose the fine chocolate that you fancy.

& give it a good chop or two or three. until you have small slivers.

{we especially love ghiradelli chocolate bars}

remember. the smaller the slivers. the quicker they melt.

the quicker they melt. the quicker you get to drink up.

so. get to it. chip chop.

in a small saucepan.

heat two cups of {organic 2 percent} milk.

just until bubbles start to show around the rim.

when you see bubbles.

pour in 1/2 cup of chocolate pieces.

feel free to add more or less depending on how rich you like it.

wisk the chocolate & milk together till the chocolate is completely melted.

using a ladle. fill your mugs with the hot chocolate.

add a handful of mini-marshmallows to the top.

place the mug into the oven with the broiler on low.

you will want to watch this carefully . . .

these marshmallows toast up rather quickly.

& nobody likes burnt marshmallows.

leave the mugs in the oven just long enough for the marshmallows

to get extra gooey & lightly brown on the tops.

after you take your mugs out of the oven

drizzle a bit of chocolate sauce on top.

& then enjoy.

there is nothing quite like an outrageous cup of hot cocoa.

the perfect night cap treat for these wintery nights.

meet me at the barre.

well. it is new years eve.

tomorrow will be a new year.

while i am certain nothing can top 2013 . . .

{have you seen my baby?!}

i am looking forward to a great 2014.

every year around this time people start chatting about

their grand new years resolutions.

i resolve to stick to my diet.

i resolve to start running every day.

i resolve to do this & do that.

these are all novel goals. but the problem is that in actuality

very few people actually stick to their resolutions.

my lovie. mister disciplined. is one of the very few people i know who actually

accomplishes his new years resolution.

goodness. i love that man.

that being said.

i decided to start my new years resolution a few weeks early.

without declaration. without announcement.

because hey. a girl has to protect herself.

i can only say

i am giving up diet coke.

or. i am going to take up crossfit.

so many times without following through.

but. i have big news.

i have totally followed through on this one.

i resolved to attend pure barre three times a week.

& i have succeeded!

for two whole weeks!

ta-da!

i deserve a cookie!

no. really. i really want a cookie.

anyways.

i can honestly say. i am really enjoying pure barre.

as we all know. i am not a work out kinda gal.

a fast mom walk is my ideal form of exercise.

but this. i am digging this.

i may or may not flex my arm muscles for my lovie every night.

and he promises me that he can see a difference.

i am choosing to believe him.

ok. in all seriousness.

i can start to see a teeny-tiny-itty-bitty difference after just 6 classes.

it is really quite encouraging.

so . . .

to really kick off the new year in an exciting way . . .

i have a fantastic pure barre giveaway for one lucky reader.

a three class giftcard to pure barre is up for grabs!

that is a 60 dollar value.

if you have not heard about pure barre yet.

check it out here.

it is a great total body workout.

to enter in the giveaway. complete the following.

1. share this post on your facebook page.

2. share this post on two other friends facebook pages.

3. leave a comment on this post stating why you deserve this.

{if you are not already my friend on facebook. friend me. kristen brett mills}

winner will be announced on sunday. january 5.

good luck. get ready to lift. tone. & burn.

bookworm baby.

there are so many things i adore about my lovie.

but one of his most adorable qualities is his undying love for the written word.

i am proud to say that i am married to a quintessential bibliophile.

he is a complete & utter non-fiction nut. book worm. nose in a book. of a lovie.

with a penchant for diction & a love for his collection of books . . .

my lovie is the cutest little scholar there ever was.

i am hoping & wishing. with all my fingers crossed.

that baby patrick will inherit this love for reading from his daddy.

and to be quite honest. i think there is a strong possibility that will just be.

my little babe already loves looking at books. turning the pages.

& chewing on the stories.

{literally. he chews on them}

you can only imagine how thrilled i was to stumble upon

this most darling. most magical. little baby book company.

meet babylit.

a fashionable & delightful way to introduce your baby to classic literature.

inspired by the likes of bronte. carroll. austen. & shakespeare.

these whimsical chipboard books are just perfect for a bookworm baby in the making.

the colors are saturated. the illustrations are captivating. & the history is fantastic.

not to mention the fact that each book is also a primer for a specific area of development.

within the collection you will find primers for colors. numbers. sounds. & the like.

but you will also find more fun primers like fashion & camping.

how brilliant is that?!

check out a sample of the pride & prejudice counting primer.

so impossibly darling. right?!

these are a few of our all-time faves . . .

definitely check out the babylit shop to peruse the entire collection.

. . . plus lots of other adorable things. too

oh. how i love my bookworm baby.

ruffle collars.

i am coveting this tibi top.

there are hardly words to express how stunning it is.

the silk & organza. the ruffle neckline. the silhouette.

this is elegance to the tenth power.

chic top perfection. without a doubt.

i especially love the black version.

being a girl who frequently dons monochromatic black outfits . . .

this ensemble would be a staple in my daily wears.

now. in my book. being overdressed is always a fantastic problem to run into.

i truly believe that you can rarely be too overdressed.

i would wear this little get-up for the simple everydays.

out to lunch. shopping. coffee with girlfriends.

{except i would trade those heels for some black ballet flats}

simple. classic. elegant. chic.

i also love the white version.

this combo feels more cocktail party-esque.

a fab new years eve outfit.

do tell.

would you don a high standing ruffle collar?!