Ladies Who Lunch

Instead of meeting the girls out for lunch have them over and enjoy this chicken salad, or just make it for yourself.  It is very easy and doesn't feel too heavy!  It has a little zing that I am just mad about.  Must of the ingredients you already have on hand and store bought rotisserie chicken can really save time and add flavor.

Light and Refreshing Chicken Salad

12 oz of cooked chicken, I just buy the rotisserie chicken if I am in a rush.

2 tablespoons of low fat greek yogurt

1 tablespoon of dijon mustard

3/4 cup of diced granny smith apple

2 tablespoons craisins

2 tablespoons unsalted roasted walnuts *tip keep your nuts in the freezer if you have leftovers

1 teaspoon tarragon

1. dice your apple.

2. shred the chicken breast

3. mix everything together in a bowl.

That was simple, Enjoy!

Gimme Five

I have a love hate relationship with manicures.  I love reclining in a massaging, leather chair while someone cleans up my nails and serves me diet coke, but my hate list is keeping me home more and more these days.  It could be the increase of price, the car ride ruined nail or the two day later chipping of polish that are keeping me at home.  Because of my frustrations, I had to find a solution.  I am pleased to say that I have, and I am just mad about this insta-dri polish.  I may have went a little over board buying five, but I have a plan.  The dark colors are for the weekend and the neutral pinks are for work.

Here is the scoop on the polish.  Just one coat!  It glides on very smooth and the brush expands to get all of your nail.  Then in about 3 minutes (the bottle says 1 minute) all dry!  I am ready to go.  It is so simple.  Just keep super short nails (dark and long ... not a good idea) and change out colors frequently.  The polish doesn't last many days, but it is not a problem because it is so simple to touch up.

My current favorite is pronto purple.

The Hunt

Each season I am on a hunt.  A hunt for the perfect black pump.  I have had pointy toe, round toe, open toe, leather, patent leather, suede, cheap, designer you name it.  My hunt first begins online.  I search stores just as Neiman Marcus for inspiration.  I get ideas of trends and I view runway collections online.  From there I head to the magazines.  I look at features and layouts in Vogue and InStyle and then I check out the feet of the celebs in InTouch, USWeekly, etc.  Televsion comes next.  I am just mad about Rachel Zoe, and she offers inspiration, but that is another post entirely.

So this season, after my hours of research I have decided, round toe, platform, exotic skin.  If it is going to be a black pump I want something made out of real leather with padding and support.  Nothing is worse than a fake black leather pump. Fashion staples should always be the real thing.

Thanks to InStyle and their feature on Ann Taylor, I decided to check out Ann Taylor's "Perfect Pump."  The name lived up.  I am just mad about these perfect pumps.  They have the style, the comfort and the cool factor I was looking for.

Now I  just need to save up for the booties I saw....      

Night Cap

I know if you are anything like me, you crave something sweet at night.  I am just mad about these chocolate fudge cookies.  They are easy to make and you can keep them on hand all week or serve them to guests.  I received this recipe from a student's mother in Dallas.  These cookies are simple, rich and delicious. With a cool glass of milk these fudge cookies can provide the perfect ending to a hectic day.

Simple Fudge Cookies

1 Box Devils Food Cake Mix (Splenda Version)
2 eggs
1/2 c. oil
6 oz. mini chocolate chips
3 teaspoons water


1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Put parchment paper on the cookie sheet.
3. Pour cake mix into mixing bowl.  Add eggs and oil and mix together.
4. Stir in chocolate chips.
5. Add in three teaspoons of water slowly and mix batter.
6. Use a cookie scoop and place full tightly packed scoops on the parchment paper cookie sheet.
7. Bake 8-10 minutes and allow to cool.