wishlist wednesday: travel essentials.

Life has dealt us a crap hand and we don't have a private jet. It's just plain nonsensical and we don't want to talk about it.

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In order to deal with this unfair advantage, our commercial flights have to be as comfortable as possible. We have each put together a list of must-haves (that we already have) that you should probably be adding to your own wish list, because if you're anything like us, you need the good stuff to get through the nightmare. Things to consider: arctic temperatures, recycled/dry/germ-ridden air, blinding sunlight, screaming babies, extreme boredom, and debilitating anxiety. In the case of flying, it's all about the destination, and absolutely not the journey.

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Imagine, if you will, the airplane scene from Bridesmaids - I'm just a less drunk version of Kristen Wiig. No one expects much of me on days of travel, but the following items make me semi-functional. Things of note include Elderberry for a more hopped up immune system, a scarf-wrap-blanket hybrid, the PS1 that holds everything I need and nothing I don't, my iPad to pass the time, a hard-sided wheelie bag for when I'm carrying on (because the things that I pack tend to expand any other bag to be too large for the overheard bin), an unsweetened green tea latte for a cool four bucks, life-saving Xanax, and a pair of Apfel-esque sunnies that make me look ridiculous enough that people know not to talk to me while I'm half asleep in my secluded Economy Plus window seat. (Holy run-on sentence!)

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The centerpiece of my travel reality is a Longchamp weekender that allows me to haphazardly throw in all of my essentials (and if you had a fab friend like B then yours too would be monogrammed). An eye mask and pillow are must-haves, since I develop narcolepsy on any flight longer than two hours, and often sleep face-planted on my tray table for as long as they will allow. And, while I hate to admit it, the more "economy" the seats, the larger my collection of mini bottles by the end of the flight. To counter the effects of dehydration and puffy eyes caused by the aforementioned in-flight cocktail(s), I use these genius eye gels that I first discovered via The Zoe Report. Capped off with a cup of tea (I bring my own Tazo) and a swipe of lip balm before we land, and I'm as good as new!

mr. alexis.

Meet Alexis. No, not on the left.. on the right. Don't you know who that is on the left? What's wrong with you?! Sorry, that was rude.. Okay, Iris Apfel (who should probably get her own dedicated post somewhere down the line) is on the left and Alexis Bittar is on the right.

He is a connossieur of the pretty and the lighthearted, and I am completely unable to figure out how we aren't yet best friends forever.

If you were curious, the way to my gaudy, child-of-the-1980s heart is a) bright colors, b) sparkles, and c) metallics. Together.
The inspirations for his new collection are the sad and the fabulous, whereas the stuff he creates is just plain fabulous.

Little Edie and Big Edie of Grey Gardens, the original "GG."

Miss Havisham, another glam recluse. 

Georgia O'Keefe, painter of the Southwest.. among other things.

Speaking of fabulous, this is what we have to look forward to for Summer 2012!

AB does AbFab

I recommend beginning the penny-pinching at this very second so you can start to acquire as many of these mood-elevating and eye-catching beauties as humanly possible. And my birthday is in October, so you have some time to save for that as well.

all other images via pinterest

and here's that obligatory oscar post.

We might be too proud for some things, but not this. Here we have showcased our hyper-judgemental tendencies in a

red carpet round-up!

Fairly self-explanatory. Milla Jovovich (Elie Saab) and good ol' Gwyneth Paltrow (Tom Ford), both perfectly on point.

Sparkles for the first and a cape/cap-sleeve combo for the second. Time to unearth those Tracy Anderson DVDs.. again.

Jennifer Lopez (Zuhair Murad) must think that she's still 28 and at the Grammys with Diddy/Daddy,

while Tina Fey (Carolina Herrera) bores us to tears with her replicated choice year after year. Try again.

In closing, we'd like to officially thank this dude for taking full advantage of being let back into the awards ceremony by spilling an urn full of "ashes" on none other than Ryan Seacrest, who promptly got a replacement jacket, but forgot to grab a sense of humor as well.
Ten thousand cool points for Sacha, er, General Alladeen.

all photos via People

for the kitchen impaired, part one of many.

Welcome to the first installment of something I am maybe a little too familiar with.

photo via moi / spice jars via anthro

I know for a fact that I actually can cook, I just don't.

Do you have a food processor, a working finger to hit a button a few times, and an oven that will stay at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes of time? Please say yes, because if you don't then you're far worse off than I am, and that's saying a lot. While you'll hear all about fancy slow-cooking and sautéing stuff and boiling water from Kaya, I am at the other end of that spectrum. I am excellent at having food delivered. However, there are times when what I want isn't something that can be ordered in, and when having it actually homemade instead of store-bought is also preferred. Typically this means baked goods of some kind, and today it means cookies. My mom is a master chef, but even she has her shortcuts. The following recipe is courtesy of her, and while our family has loads of secrets, this recipe isn't one of them. It's ideal for a quick solution to gift-giving, potluck parties, or, you know, a casual Sunday evening. The best part is that it's not at all evident what a cinch it is.


THE EASY PEASIEST
CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

       INGREDIENTS

• 1 EGG
• 1/2 CUP SUGAR
• 1/2 CUP BROWN SUGAR
• 1 STICK (SALTED) BUTTER, SOFTENED AND CUT INTO 8 PIECES
• 1 TBSP VANILLA
• 1 1/3 CUPS FLOUR
• 1/2 TSP SALT
• 1/2 TSP BAKING SODA
• 1/2 TSP ESPRESSO POWDER
• 1/2 CUP WALNUTS/PECANS/WHATEVER
• 1/2 CUP OATMEAL (REGULAR, NOT INSTANT)
• 1 CUP SEMISWEET CHOCOLATE CHIPS

Preheat oven to 350°F. Buzz the first 5 ingredients in food processor for 30 seconds. Scrape down and buzz for 5-7 seconds more.

Distribute flour, salt, baking soda, and espresso powder over mixture in processor. Scatter nuts, oats, and chocolate chips on top of that. Buzz on/off 10 times. Do NOT over mix. Just use a spatula to swipe any flour that looks unmixed.

Drop by teaspoonful 2 inches apart on cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake 10-12 minutes. Let stand for 1 minute on sheet, then transfer to wire racks to cool.

And scene.

b&k's very own urban dictionary.

These are words/phrases that came about either via typo or brain miracle and have now made their way into our everyday lingo.

Most people have no idea what we're saying, but they're always nice enough to smile and nod.

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wishlist wednesday: man up.

Whether you're the guy already in our life (happy birthday to K's J!), the guy who desperately wants to be in our life (Aaron Rodgers for B, if we're attempting to be a smidge realistic), or any old dude who needs a bit of direction in the fashion department, look no further.
We are here to help.

The philosophy is simple: cultivate your own style, buy timeless pieces, and mix in seasonal trends. Don't let your girlfriend/boyfriend, wife or mother dictate what you wear. A nice pair of jeans, a tailored suit, and a beautiful watch are going to be well worth it, and unique accessories will keep you from looking oh so catalog. If you let us dress you, our picks would be:

jacket / watch / shirt / headphones / [similar] jeans / briefcase / tiebar / tie / cufflinks / sunglasses / hoodie 

Happiest birthday my sweet J! This is largely inspired by his sense of style, a combination of Johnny Cash, Kurt Cobain, Josh Homme, with a bit of Gordan Gekko for the office. And, while I swear to him that a grunge comeback is imminent and soon enough everyone will be sporting his most coveted look: a long sleeve thermal layered with a band tee - in the meantime, I'm grateful that he allows me to influence his small corner of our shared walk-in closet. xx

weekender / tie / sunglasses / [similar] flannel / jacket / [similar] messenger bag / cologne / cufflinks / little black book / shoes / watch / [similar] jeans

Think fancy mountain man. New York meets Colorado. When in doubt, just J.Crew (the verb).
I happen to know for a fact that this leather jacket weighs approximately 95 lbs, so it's like inadvertent exercise - win win situation. Also, what's up with guys not having little black books anymore? It would make it so much easier for us ladies to find out who else they're courting without having to run through numerous password combinations on their phone. Wait.. what?

the girl with the non-dragon tattoos.

If you are of the tattooed persuasion nowadays, chances are you don't qualify as any of the following: gang member, circus performer, drug dealer, lady of the night, hardened criminal, and/or societal outcast. Maybe you're a little less buttoned-up than the average bear, but having a tattoo won't define you. They've been mainstreamed, and all the cool kids are doing it ;) I got my first in 2003, my most recent in 2011, and (sorry, family) always have the next in the back of my mind. You'll get to see pictures of my collection one day, but for now I am going to offer up some words of wisdom. If you're considering it, my advice would be to start small and simple, maybe a bit hidden, and definitely not where the bone is close to the skin. Holy ouch. In other words, do the opposite of this. But most importantly, have a sense of humor about it. Sure, perhaps I could do without one of mine, but who cares? If a tattoo is my biggest regret in life then I'd say I've done pretty well for myself (unless I'm the chick with the face full of stars.. that was a major foul if I've ever seen one), and if nothing else, it will be a reminder that mistakes can be made and life will go on. I like my silver lining to be a bit more philosophical, so there you go. And take it from me, the world's biggest wuss, when I say that it will not hurt as badly as you think it will. Now go forth and prosper, and.. happy permanent body altering!

I'm guessing it's a tramp stamp.

Everlasting
little
lovelies,
not just
for the
trailer park
set
anymore.

So what are your thoughts? Do you have a tattoo, want one, wish you didn't have the one that you have, or did I just lose you all together?

inky images via pinterest

trial&error: naveen's cuisine.

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This weekend we finally celebrated my Papa's 60th birthday, we were delinquent from his actual birthday on Christmas Day. My dad is an avid chef with an eternal affinity for the kitchen, having been trained early on by my grandmother and later by network television. When my brother and I began brainstorming ideas for his 60th birthday, a private cooking class for our family just seemed like a natural fit (only second-guessing the decision when we proudly handed over a gift certificate for the class on his birthday, and Papa said "What, they ran out of normal gifts at the store?" Ummmm.).

The 6 of us arrived on Saturday afternoon for a class in Indian 101. My mom is a true vegetarian, I only say "true" because my dad is "moody" vegetarian.. his diligence depends on his mood (see "The Eating" below, as he and J laugh as he digs into the chicken!), but Naveen was very accommodating of all of our high-maintenance requirements (healthy, dairy-free, and semi-vegetarian). He was cheery, comical and really took us through a hands-on process step-by-step. As my mom and I chopped tomatoes, she said "it's like I'm doing this for the first time ever", and I have to admit, I felt the same way. Naveen taught us to properly hold a knife, slice, chop and mince - and then to boil, broil, mix, stir, season and cook!

You can check out Naveen and his classes here. 

We left feeling like pros. We had patted ourselves on the back, eaten our culinary successes, 

and Papa got this knife of course:

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A "normal" gift? Never.

a weekend warrior of sorts.

Aside from everything else that exists on my never-ending to do list, I intend to treat myself by finding out which one of these pretty little things I should buy. The visual component has been nailed across the board, but what about the olfactory one? So now I get to look like a jerk at the department store, alternating between sticking perfume and coffee beans up my nose, and deducing which can come home with me and make me smell just as lovely as the bottle looks (or close to it). This life is clearly quite difficult, so wish me luck.

all available @ Nordstrom

In the meantime, enjoy an oversized glass of wine, a bit of relaxation, a good brunch, maybe even some errands, and whatever else your little heart desires. Here's a weekend mood board. Go for it, because the last five days seriously felt like a month.

Maybe Bed Bath & Beyond. I don't know. I don't know if we'll have time.

fido friday: penny bites the hand that sometimes feeds her.

Back when my brother was enjoying a pre-grad school summer of leisure and I was slaving away under fluorescent lights, he would spend a lot of time with my dog. While he affectionately coined the nickname 'Chicken,' he says that he is merely entertained by her and not as madly in love with her as is apparent. I'd be sitting at my desk and he'd send me jealousy-inducing pictures and videos of my snuggly little Pen. Ladies and gentleman, I present to you Exhibit A. Eighteen seconds of your life well spent, or thirty-six seconds if you need an encore performance due to the high level of cuteness. Don't even bother turning down the volume if you're at work - the music will simply draw your co-workers to your computer and you can all 'awww' in unison, which will be pretty adorable in itself. I only wish that her growling could've been captured as well. Next time, guys.. next time. And if this doesn't set you up for the best weekend ever then I don't know what will.

In other fido news, I thought you all might be horrified to know that these hideous things have been ordered and will be on my feet in no time. I'm sure that Leandra would approve, but I can't speak for anyone else. Either I'm mentally incapable of choosing my outfits from this point forward orrr I'm onto something here! Ok, judge away..

woof.

chilaquiles.

We came home exhausted and starving after an evening workout, and the last thing I wanted to do was brainstorm something inventive, healthy and delicious to cook for dinner.  Since I’m only a weekend gourmet, J’s talents are limited to the grill, and our take-out rotation has gotten stale, it was up to my wifely powers to get us through the crisis.

Luckily, Chilaquiles, a long favorite brunch item, also makes for a quick and easy dinner solution. What could be better than a simple yet flavorful Mexican dish that can basically be made with anything you have in your fridge?  Go investigate what's in your kitchen, and if you find a half-empty, crumpled bag of tortilla chips, you're golden:

Cover the bottom of a casserole dish with broken tortilla chips 
Layer on any/all of the following:
Shredded chicken, beef, or pork (leftovers are perfect)
Black beans (I’ve used refried beans, and even black bean soup!)
Fresh spinach, tomatoes, peppers, onions, corn
Top with a few more chips, salsa and finish with a layer of cheese

Bake for 15-20 minutes on 350 degrees

 

I like to serve it with a fried egg on top, but that’s up to you!

Works perfectly without the meat if you are a vegetarian, or skip the cheese and go dairy-free.

My recipe above is a free-for-all, but there are thousands of respectable ones online.

If you're looking for the real deal, try this one.

Enjoy!

wishlist wednesday: to spend or to spend a little more.

Dearest Refinery29, I have the timestamp to prove it, so please pack up your stylish self and get out of my brain. Love you lots. 

$190/$1295/$328/$????/$150/$695

Getting down to business, it's worth pointing out that not all of these items are on my wish list (particularly the studded boots.. I really would like to be able to pull off that look, but contrary to what all of those silly people that stop me on the street may think, I am not Erin Wasson! Sheesh.) But just like everyone and their mother, I definitely wouldn't say no to a Celine bag, preferably in a tri-tone. Anyhoo, should you have had your eye on one of the bank-breaking items on the right, I hope that I have done my good deed for the day by directing you to the semi-equivalent item on the left. And if not, just let me know and I'll find a new way to earn your trust, respect, and undying love. I don't utilize my oven except for storing unused cookware, but I would be thrilled to buy you a cupcake.

seeing red.

Heart shaped cookies iced and decorated, and one bite taken out of each of the chocolates in the box you just received (or bought yourself!) – no matter what, you’re rocking a medium to heavy sugar buzz all day today. And, whether it’s your blood boiling with rage hating the entire holiday, the warm and fuzzy feeling you get from all the love in the air, or the agent provocateur purchase you made last week – Valentine’s Day has us all seeing red. 

Personally, I love holidays of any sort. Decorating, entertaining, and dressing for the occasion always bring out the inspired, fun side of me that’s generally hiding in an office building under florescent lighting. For Valentine’s Day this year, I found myself ready with little favors for my co-workers, a clever gift and evening plans with J. But, I was lusting after something fun and glitzy to add into the mix. Enter Joanna. My younger brother’s adorable longtime girlfriend, the ultimate perfectionist and queen of all things pretty. She set up her arsenal in my living room this weekend, and shared her favorite Valentine’s Day designs.

hi, my name is tom, and i am adorable.

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Show me a great pair of flats and I will show you the money! Such was the case when my southwestern bff brought the Toms ballet flats to my attention. Despite the fact that I deeply appreciate the beauty in a casual pair of $1200 sparkly and spiked Louboutin heels, a) putting those on my feet would make me well over six feet tall, b) I feel like I'm a little young to go into debt, and c) my daily life makes it necessary to walk further than ten steps a day. The beauty of these bad boys is that I get to remain my flat-footed height, each pair will run you no more than $84, I can walk the entire length of my place of employment and back again (trust me, it's a hike), and then there is the added bonus of the Toms "One for One" mission. Vera and Tory will always have their dedicated spaces carved out in my closet, but my shopping addiction is often fueled by moral justification, so I'm officially hooked. And you should be, too.
A word to the wise, I am a 9.5 in your regular everyday shoe, a 9 in the original Toms, and an 8.5 in these. You have been warned.