Friday Faux Pas!

Today I had a meeting early this morning, so I wore my new favorite pants, a pair of black Gap slim crops.  The meeting went well and I walked home, taking my time as it was so gorgeous out.  

After I got home, I changed into comfortable clothes for a day of cleaning and found that my pants had split up the back!!!!

Hope no one else had a Friday faux pas like I did!

Chicken Piccata

Last night I went to a friend's house for dinner and had chicken piccata that was wonderful--very light and flavorful.

The recipe below is from Giada and serves four.

Ingredients

• 2 skinless and boneless chicken breasts, butterflied and then cut in half
• Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
• All-purpose flour, for dredging
• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 5 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1/3 cup fresh lemon juice
• 1/2 cup chicken stock
• 1/4 cup brined capers, rinsed
• 1/3 cup fresh parsley, chopped

Directions

Season chicken with salt and pepper. Dredge chicken in flour and shake off excess.

In a large skillet over medium high heat, melt 2 tablespoons of butter with 3 tablespoons olive oil. When butter and oil start to sizzle, add 2 pieces of chicken and cook for 3 minutes. When chicken is browned, flip and cook other side for 3 minutes. Remove and transfer to plate. Melt 2 more tablespoons butter and add another 2 tablespoons olive oil. When butter and oil start to sizzle, add the other 2 pieces of chicken and brown both sides in same manner. Remove pan from heat and add chicken to the plate.

Into the pan add the lemon juice, stock and capers. Return to stove and bring to boil, scraping up brown bits from the pan for extra flavor. Check for seasoning. Return all the chicken to the pan and simmer for 5 minutes. Remove chicken to platter. Add remaining 2 tablespoons butter to sauce and whisk vigorously. Pour sauce over chicken and garnish with parsley.

Hope everyone is having a lovely day!  The weather is phenomenal here and the Lilly jeep is at my local store today.

Beep beep!  Happy Friday!

Thursday Relaxation

It feel as if I blinked and it is suddenly October!  As I've been very busy at work and school lately, I am taking the afternoon off today to relax and check a few things off my to-do list. 

First, I hope to work out:

And then do some errands including a stop at Lilly.

I'm loving both of these tops:

Followed by a dinner at a friend's house complete with cupcakes!

Hope everyone is having a happy Thursday.

Candles galore!

Last week I went to drop off my new chandelier to be rewired at a little hardware shop near a mall I had never gone to.  Sadly, the mall did not have much, but I did stop into Bath and Body Works for the first time since eighth grade.  They had some wonderful smelling candles, and I bought a few for home.  Here are a few of my favorite candles:

I loved the scent of the Leaves candle at Bath & Body Works.

An autumnal candle from Nest in Pumpkin Chai:

This Godiva white chocolate magnolia one may make you hungry!

This Nest Floral Bouquet boudoir candle would be perfect for a bedroom or dressing room.

 
Holiday scents are my absolute favorite.

Love this Nest Holiday candle.

Ralph Lauren Holiday Candle (These are my all-time favorites)

Crabtree & Evelyn have two holiday candle scents, Noel and Windsor Forest.

And you can't have a list without a Diptyque candle.

Are you a candle fan?  What are your favorite scents?

Autumnal Collegiate

Autumnal Collegiate by glitterista on Polyvore.com

I wore the above outfit yesterday to work/class.  Is it weird that wearing a hat made me feel a little like one of my favorite J. Crew images?

Fun Monday: Tag!

Emily Kathleen, one of my favorite bloggers at If I Can't Wear Heels. . . I Don't Want to Go tagged me in a fun getting-to-know you tag.

1.  What is your favorite item (clothing, shoes, accessory) in your closet?

I feel as if I am choosing between my favorite children, so I'll name a few of my faves.

I loved the White Zin print so much from Jubilee I had to buy both the beaded dress and sleeveless tunic!

I also have a few button-down oxfords from my Pop Pop that I wear belted as a tunic and an old Dior black skirt that my Nana gave me a few years ago--it's decades old and still looks current.

2.  Are you superstitious?

Not really, but I used to have a lucky green necklace I wore everyday in middle school.

3.  Do you recycle?

Absolutely. In fact, I did a whole Earth Day post about my love of being green! ;)

4.  What website do you visit daily?

Google Reader, Lilly's fb fanpage, Blackboard for school.  I also spend waaaaaaay too much time on eBay.

5.  Are you right-handed or left-handed?

Right.  Sorry, that seems like a boring answer, but I don't think about it much. 

6.  What is a goal you would like to (or have) achieved this year?

I am very excited to submit my thesis proposal within the next few weeks!  I can't believe (and am a little nervous about) graduating in May.  I hope I can get it all done.  (And you can ask about it, I just thought this was a funny button.)

7.  Do you have any nicknames?

My family calls me every variation of Danielle possible.  Daniella Vanilla, Dani Kate, Dani, and lots of first initial with last name and my email address--dk last name.

8.  What is your favorite season?

I always say winter--but really I love Thanksgiving through New Year's Eve and Valentine's Day.  Those are the times that I enjoy wearing sweater dresses, tights, boots, winter coats and the gorgeous white snow.  I also always dreamed of having a black and white winter wonderland wedding on NYE.  We'll see if that ever comes to fruition.  I have a weakness for every season though and am really enjoying the beginnings of autumn. ;)

I hate leaving anyone out, so I'd love to tag anyone who has not done this yet.  Hope everyone is staying warm and dry on this rainy Monday!

Friday Bike Ride

Happy October!

Today I am going on a bike ride for work.  For our work fun day, we are renting bikes and going on a beautiful trail before heading to a colleague's for a potluck.

 

(I just found iheartit.com and am in love.)

Hope everyone has a lovely start to the new month and a fabulous Friday!