Grapefruit Salad with Homemade Dressing

Last week I went on a date with this super cute guy at Ragazza, a small Italian/pizza restaurant across the street from my apartment. While there, I had the blood orange (Blood Orange & Avocado Salad w/ goat cheese, fennel, black olives & chili oil $9). I basically lived for it and died for it at the same time. Truly, the wine and pizza were pretty amazing, too. SO - when I cooked for him last week I decided to make one that was similar:

Salad:
Mixed greens
Two grapefruit
Goat cheese
One avocado
Red Onions

Dressing:
Equal parts olive oil and lemon juice
Chopped fresh rosemary
Oregano
Salt
Pepper

Olive

Jeri's Corner! (It's been a while)

Every year, Jeri (my mom for those who are unaware) makes these olives and gives them out as little gifts to a few of her friends to enjoy with cheeses...or in a martini. It's fairly quick and easy to make and who doesn't appreciate homemade gifts (other than some spoiled little brat probably named Chloe or Connor #nooffense).They're so effing good, I cannot even begin to explain. They're great for any occasion, though - not just holidays. For example, try making them for an office party or birthday gathering. DISCLAIMER: they leave your breath less than desirable.    

So here's what you do:

1. Drain one jar of olives (keep the juice)
2. In a separate (cuter) container, layer the following:
 - 1 10-ounce jar large green pimiento-stuffed Spanish olives
 - 4 fresh oregano sprigs
 - 3 large garlic cloves, crushed
 - Juice 2 whole lemons (slice third and add to container)
 - 10 whole black peppercorns
 - 4 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
 - add as much of the original olive juice that you can fit in the jar
3. Let this marinate over night and ENJOY the next day!

I'm Sorry - Who the What?

This face says it all.

Over Thanksgiving, I was going to write a little post about how my dad went out and bought the-world's-best donuts from a local donut shoppery in my hometown of Covington, LA. I was excited because I had this excellent photo of all the fresh, warm, glazed donuts sitting there waiting to be devoured by me my family. Why that was exciting I'm not exactly sure. After writing (what I thought to be) a funny little post about how I'm a fat ass and I need to run blah blah, I went to upload the picture, but Blogger wouldn't let me. It displayed a message - something about how my Piscada album was full. Well, without giving it a second thought, I logged in and deleted the whole album.

I went about my business not thinking anything of it until I went to look up a recipe I had previously posted about. When I logged in, I found it a little odd that things like..say...the banner, buttons, and every single effing picture I had ever uploaded was a black box with a white "Mind the Gap" looking symbol (I don't know how else to describe it). Being the idiot...(no "idiot" is appropriate) that I am, I figured it had something to do with the fact that I was looking on my iPhone. When I got home and inspected the damage, there is no exaggeration that the picture above is a PERFECT representation of how I looked and felt at that moment. Similar to the feeling of getting punched in the ovaries right after taking a Jager-bomb while riding a roller coaster doing flips in a G6...and then crapping your pants. Or so I can imagine.

Not only was I furious at myself, but I was devastated to see the pictures from hundreds of posts simply vanish. Yes, I have the pictures stored on my computer, but having them on TMN (matched with the writing portion) basically told my life story. Vacations, DIY projects, Duke and Cooper, endless events, friends and family, recipes...and of course the filler posts. This obviously is a huge disappointment for me, but I'm trying to stay positive (or my medication is working) and I'm letting it roll off my sleeve. I can add the pictures back individually, so one long afternoon it'll be me, my computer, a decent WiFi connection, a vyvanse, 4 cups of coffee, and no human interaction for at least 8 hours. How exciting.

Memories

Well - this is it. My last day in Louisiana...at least for a very long time. Tomorrow morning at 6:10, I'll be catching my flight to NYC which means tomorrow at 6:10, I'll be questioning possibly the biggest decision I've made yet. It's very scary to uproot an entire life and move to one of the biggest cities in the world, but as for now, I have no hesitation that this is absolutely the right decision. I have so many wonderful memories from Covington full of family fun, craziness, and love. I will miss them terribly (probably to a level that I can't yet comprehend), but it'll be okay. It'll all be okay.

Jeri's Corner! (Birthday Lunch)

Sunday, after the Red Dress Run, I invited a few of my closest friends to my parent's for some apps, drinks, and lunch. Despite the fact that we were all a little hung over, we all had a good time hanging out and laughing (especially with MawMaw) as we recounted the weekend's festivities.

After we ate grilled chicken and sausage, salad, and black bean salsa, we all stuck around for some cupcakes that we butchered cut into fourths for easier sharing (and champagne). A quick GREAt Jeri's corner idea: hand-written cards for sauces, dressings, and ingredients. It adds a personal touch to something that's ordinarily pretty generic. All in all, I'd say it was a pretty great afternoon. Now, as I write this back in Baton Rouge, I'm nursing one of the worst hangovers of my life (dramatic enough for you?)

PS - The picture of the 6 of us is somewhat a joke - picking at the fact that our lives are so "wonderful and perfect". Orchid, anyone? #besties 

Walks with Jeri

Every time I go to Covington for the weekend or even afternoon, I know to always bring a pair of walking shoes. For as long as I can remember, my mom has always enjoyed exercising by walking literally all around Covington, and recently, I've been enjoying going with her. It's a chance for us to get out of the house, enjoy each other's company, and chit chat about a bunch of nothing. Embarrassingly, I can barely keep up with her because she walks at the pace of a slow jog. However, regardless of the pace, I always look forward to spending quality time with Jeri.

Friday Finds - Archipelago (Stonehenge)

Friday is here! OMG it couldn't have come soon enough. This has been quite a week, but one thing that has kept me sane is this candle. Relaxing in my temporary apartment with a glass of wine, chill music, and this candle burning have done wonders. I LOVE the Archipelago line probably more than any other candle. Their scents fill up a room with ease, and they burn beautifully - not as smokey as Tyler candles for example. My favorite scent has always been Havana, but Jeri recently introduced this one (Stonehenge) to me. This may sound weird, but it kind of has a guy's apartment smell. No, not dirty laundry...just like...a manly scent? IDK. Either way - if you haven't checked out this line, I highly suggest it. They're amazing!

Jeri's Corner - Orchid

Hello!! OMG I cannot tell you how amazing it feels to be back in BR (...and I never thought I'd be saying that!) I missed Beau, Duke, and Cooper SO MUCH!

Let's get right back into the swing of things with a Jeri's Corner post! Before I left for San Fran, I spent Easter in Covington with my parents and brothers. While I was there, I snapped a few pics for future JC posts - which is hilarious because she always complains that I can't just enjoy a visit; I always have to "work"!

Orchids are slowly becoming my mom's "thing". (Better than cats, right? Her house has a TON of natural light, so orchids so really well there. Consequently, they're in almost every room. In particular, I wanted to share the first two pictures with the white orchid.

I thought this was such a good idea; she used an antique bowl (for lack of a better and probably more appropriate term) as a holder for the orchid. Even though it's already a classy flower, it dresses it up so much and looks so much better than using a clay pot or what it comes in from the store. This was gifted to her by one of her good friends, Elinor, and I thought it was such a better use for it rather than simple displaying it. Then add the fact that it's monogrammed...LOVE IT!

Side note - there's a specific candle holder that works just as well. Tall you about it later :)

Mended Furniture - Jeri's Dresser

I love these before and after photos - there's such a huge difference between the two! This is actually one of Jeri's pieces that was sitting in the TV room at my parents house. The dresser was pretty before, she wanted to kick some new life into it and move it to the living room.

Since she already has a lot of whites and other light colors in that room, I wanted to keep this piece consistent and not do something too over the top that would draw too much attention to it. As usual, I wanted it to be subtle yet special.

For the body of the dresser (except for the side panels) I went with one of my favorite colors: Annie Sloan's Country Grey. It's so soft and elegant and responds SO WELL to the waxes. For the side panels and the drawers, I used a color that I've never used before (and happens to be my favorite from the Annie Sloan collection IF I had to choose)...Versailles (ver - sigh)! It's a beautiful green that responds especially well to the Country Grey. They're similar, but offer just enough contrast to where it's not too obvious.

Remember, if you have a piece of furniture that you'd like to get a quote on for us to refinish, send us an email! TheMendedNest@gmail.com.

Jeri's Birthday!

Saturday night, my family drove over to Baton Rouge to our house to celebrate Jeri's birthday (Feb. 3rd)! I completely regret this decision in hindsight, but I told her that for her birthday, I wouldn't make everyone pause at random times (often while eating) so that I could snap a picture for something blog related. Per her request, I spent the evening just enjoying everyone's company and not stressing about TMN.

We had such a great time. We started with wine and a few appetizers - assorted cheeses, crackers, and olives (blue cheese stuff? talk dirty!) Afterwards, I grilled burgers which we ate with blue mac 'n cheese that I made from scratch. Since I didn't take pictures, I'm going to "have" to make it again. I'll share the recipe then. Just know that my mouth is watering as I'm thinking about it.

Point of the pictures: Jeri brought me this beautiful orchid as "just a little something" for hosting her birthday dinner at my house. I thought it was so beautiful - how could I not share?

Mended Art - Present for Jeri

Hi, Mended Nesters! All Jeri asked for this past Christmas was for us to create a piece of art to go over her buffet in the dining room. As usual, we waited until the last minute, so we started working on it just a few days before Dec. 25th. Beau and I went back and forth discussing different ideas and options, but we finally decided on what's displayed above. Just like Jeri, I'm SO pleased with the outcome. To be honest, I was a tap bit skeptical because this was really Beau's vision. I was there to just help bring his idea to fruition. Final product: fun and abstract, yet simple and chic. So here's what we did...

1. Cover a canvas in a collage made with different magazine clippings, tin foil, etc. (try to gear these around certain colors because they will show up through the paint). Cover with Mod Podge to keep it on the canvas.

2. To add texture, apply plaster to the canvas over the magazine clipping sporadically leaving gaps where the clippings show completely. There's no rhyme or reason to this part - do it however you want. Go a little crazy!

3. Once plaster is semi-dry, paint over everything with acrylic paint (Hobby Lobby, Walmart, etc.) Make sure it's a lighter color to keep your art light and fun - not dark, dreary, and heavy. I recommend applying a color around the edges then go over the whole thing in a white or off-white (which, when you apply will blend the color you used on the outside).

4. While still wet, make vertical lines using the other end of your paint brush. Make sure to apply enough pressure so that the original magazine collage shows through.

If you're interested in a custom piece of art similar to the one above, please email us for a quote at TheMendedNest@gmail.com. Talk to you soon!

OBSESSED: Garlic and Lemon Olives

Jeri's Corner! Okay - so I know Christmas is over, but I took these pictures over the holiday break, and I didn't have a chance to write about it until now. Every year, Jeri makes these olives and gives them out as little gifts to a few of her friends to enjoy with yummy cheeses...or in a martini. They're so effing good, I cannot even begin to explain. I cannot recommend these enough!!

They're great for any occasion, though - not just holidays. For example, try making them for an office party, birthday gathering, or your next girls/guys night out. The other night, I brought them as a little thank-you for the host of the New Year's eve party I attended.

So here's what you do:

1. Drain one jar of olives (keep the juice)
2. In a separate (cuter) container, layer the following:
 - 1 10-ounce jar large green pimiento-stuffed Spanish olives
 - 4 fresh oregano sprigs
 - 3 large garlic cloves, crushed
 - Juice 2 whole lemons (slice third and add to container)
 - 10 whole black peppercorns
 - 4 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
 - add as much of the original olive juice that you can fit in the jar
3. Let this marinate over night and ENJOY the next day!

Christmas at the Caragliano's (Jeri's Corner)

Hello! How was your Christmas? I hope everyone had a great time! As Beau and I were driving home from Lake Charlesl last night, crawling through 3 hours of traffic, we both agreed that this was one of our best Christmases ever. In years past, Beau and I always separated for Holidays - Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, etc., but this year, we decided it was time to stick together and split them up between families. Since my parents got Thanksgiving, we visited Beau's families for Christmas. However, because Beau's very pregnant sister, Laurel, is in New Orleans (which is where his mom and stepdad spent Christmas), I was able to sneak in one night on the Northshore at Jeri and Frank's before heading to the Jenkin's (Beau's sister's family).

We got into Covington Thursday night and left Friday afternoon, so it was a very brief visit, but a great one none the less. We all sat around in the living room (MawMaw included) chatting, laughing, sipping on wine, and enjoying a delicious creamy salsa soup with fresh avocado and cilantro on top. (Recipe coming soon!) Afterwards, we exchanged presents and then sat down for a lasagna supper. Jeri and Frank did a good job this year! Beau and I loaded up on some much needed goodies, but the two gifts in the pictures above I thought were so cute that I couldn't help but share: a little mended nest complete with a tiny "duck egg blue" egg that Jeri picked up from a shop on Lee Lane - Best. Street. In. Covington. She also gave us another cute nest with a little bird candle. Instant obsessions with both, and they're already in our new office!

Jeri's corner time: all around the house were these small arrangements filled with tree trimmings, red berries, and leaves from various plants and trees around the yard creating these mini homemade Christmas bouquets. Where she finds the time, I'll never know, but I'm glad she does because I secretly look forward to these little guys all year. I've never seen her do this, but this year she stepped it up: she took a large vase, filled it with water and trimmings from their tree, wrapped it with burlap, and created a DIY dining room table centerpiece! Jeri's funny: she'll decorate for Fall, but not Halloween, Easter, but no bunny, and Christmas, but no Santa. I love that. This is NOT a blanket statement, but a lot of the Santa decorations tend to be cheesy and not cute. Jeri will decorate with tree trimmings, angels, mangers, and other various DIY decorations and keeps the tacky out of Christmas. I want to be JUST like her!