cluck-n-my-cup

since i had the day off and boy was working from home, i've had time to make breakfast, clean out the pantry, toss leftovers from the fridge, fold laundry, wash my car, pull together looks for when the weather gets one step chillier, get to the grocery, fold more laundry...the list continues to be checked off...i love the progress!

in my quiet time, while boy was on a con call, i thought, why not make chicken and dumplings, or is it chicken 'n dumplings? for dinner. after much ado and googling for the best recipe, it was mama bear who told me about fannie farmer. have you guys heard of her before? whoever she is, she's brilliant.. i couldn't find a website specifically for her (i didn't try that hard) but i did find enough websites that highlighted her chicken with dumplings as the best.

to me chicken and dumplings is the ultimate comfort food, sitting right next to good old macaroni and cheese, this is the next best thing to sitting by the fire with family...eh except our fire is going to be the 2nd season of lost or dexter..

Chicken with Dumplings
source: The Fannie Farmer Cookbook

4 or 5 lb. chicken
2 carrots, sliced thin
2 ribs celery with leaves, sliced fine
1 large onion, chopped
1 1/2 tsp. thyme, crumbled
1/2 tsp. rosemary, crumbled
2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. freshly ground pepper

Dumplings:
2 cups flour
3 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
2 tsp. minced parsley
4 tbsp. shortening
3/4 to 1 cup milk


Rinse chicken and place in a large pot with water to cover. Add vegetables and spices. Bring to a boil, then reduce and allow to simmer until chicken is cooked. Remove chicken, separate meat from bones, and place meat back in simmering broth. Discard skin.

Dumplings:
Combine dry ingredients and parsley. Cut in shortening until it looks like coarse meal. Stir in 3/4 c milk with a fork - add remaining milk if the dough will not hold together.

Drop dumplings by spoonful into pot. Cover and simmer for 20 minutes without lifting lid.


mmmm!!
xo marysue

mr. sun?

oh mister sun, sun, mister golden sun...

dreary [ˈdrɪərɪ]

adj drearier, dreariest

1. sad or dull; dismal

2. wearying; boring

when dreary days are present, i can't help but dress for the weather...dark, gloomy, kinda mopey..you know the mood i'm talking about - if it was raining in your kitty city, you're probably shaking your head.

with friday around the corner and the weekend at bay, i slipped into my coziest cords, oversized flannel, and topped it off with booties, a scarf and a leather jacket. ever have those days where all you find yourself doing is daydreaming in front of your computer thinking how nice some of mom's chicken soup would be?

ps you'll have to use your imagination for the outfit, apparently, i need some practice on our big mac...remember that revelation yesterday about how "easy" it was?! yeah...not so much. in the meantime, this is one of my favorite photos from the pioneer woman

xo marysue 

new beginnings

tonight, i logged onto our new big mac computer and started to type in "kitty..." when goestocharlotte.blogspot.com didn't come up, i felt sad. i haven't played with you kitties in so long it feels like, and i'm sorry.  while i haven't blogged in quite some time, i plan to find some kind of routine in the future...like tomorrow.

since we last met, i have taken a new job, made new (ok some) friends, and served myself a heaping teaspoon of new shoes (please see picture)
























whoa, speaking of logging onto the new big mac, how easy is it to write now?! just click the picture and drag...wowza, where have i been with my lame old PC from college?? coming on board as the new buyer, i have re-aquainted my heart with a whole slew of exciting things. every day something is happening...whether it's looking at my finger where my dream wedding bands will sit one day (shhh boy may or may not know yet), trying on favorite new items that come into the store, or getting used to the day to day antics, i have been more enthusiastic about waking up, dressing myself, and heading into work every day.

imagine givenchy spread out across the back floor, alaia skirts thrown on the rack, tucker dresses waiting to be steamed, and yves saint laurent shoes being unwrapped...chloe silk and chiffon wisping about in the air, custom gowns coming in droves in boxes bigger than what my closet from nyc came in (and that's pretty big) and that's not even half of it...sometimes i feel sick to my stomach to see things come and go so fast, i feel like i don't even have a moment to appreciate how pretty it is. this is where i work, this is my new home..and i like it! how cool is that couch? and yes that's a living wall in the mirror (one that was just scouted by a well known magazine for an article (more on that later) and while it seems minimalistic yet chic with the white washed faux rug and modular sofa, this place is one of the most luxurious spaces i have stepped foot in.

if you are in charlotte, come see us at poole shop!

xo marysue

hehe

xo marysue

peonies and polaroids

kittehs,

look at this new blog i stumbled on today...this girl is so cute i think i may want to come back as her in my next life with boy so we can live overseas and photo weddings all the time...

peonies and polaroids = magical

ps what's with my obsession with weddings? i can never get enough of them and i think it may be weird...god help me (and boy) whenever the wedding day strikes


xo marysue

131 main

so the other night boy and i ordered in from 131 main. this place has been around for some time just off of east boulevard but somehow i had managed to never go. well, technically i haven't been yet but i have finally eaten from there, and let me tell you...Y U M !

131 MAIN

boy had the french dip with shoe string french fries- always a boyle staple, and i had the veggie burger fully loaded (lettuce, tomato, pickle, mayo, mustard)which was made with black beans, some quinoa, beets, and other veggies. it was mmm mmm good! the char roasted artichokes we had weren't so bad either. next time, i want to go in, sit at the bar or a cozy booth and have a big glass of wine...and maybe repeat the same meal or branch out and try the crabby cake salad!!

if you are in kitty city anytime soon, this is a definite try, enjoy!

xo marysue

gagalicious

dear kittehs,

it appears i have entirely forgotten about one of the biggest upcoming events happening this weekend in kitty queen city.

LADY GAGA is coming!! couldn't someone have reminded me?!?!

i have no clue what to wear and furthermore, i have been channeling my energy towards everything but excitement for the show. pretty girl and i have plans to eat, drink, and go goo goo for gaga. above are some inspirations for possible outfits, there will no doubt (fingers crossed) be some outrageous outfits and i plan to be fitting right in with the rest of the little monsters...

i am really liking the onesie with the big sunnies, but feel it may be more appropriate to wear something over the onesie, let's face it, i love gaga but i am NOT gaga.. since the weather is changing daily here, i will have to go raiding the closet and perhaps a little american apparel since they always seem to have great go-to items.

will have to keep you posted, meow, on to outfit hunting!

xo marysue

obsession du jour

after mass amounts of laundry, dishes, leftovers, and recounting this past weekend's events, i am finally getting somewhat settled into the week. on my to-do list are many things:

• pack for nyc next week (where we will be launching summer, is it just me or did we JUST launch spring?!)
• make acupuncture appointment
• call mom
• buy a leather skirt (see obsession below)
• clean my desk to prepare for my new job (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
• kiss boy

since it is going to be cooling off in nyc, i figure there is no better time to break out the transitional pieces than now. this morning, with a high of 92 in kitty city, i commented to boy on how my fall wardrobe is shaping up. "it's different here, since there aren't many transitional days, it's either always hot, or always cold, i feel like in ny there was a happy medium for a bit.." (he proceeded to tell me i was crazy but he loved me) but enough about the weather...let's talk leatha!!

today, as my inbox was flooding with top runway shows, 'best of' looks, and where everyone spent the first few nights of fashion week, i focused on refinery29's email of the day...the look was denim and leather..mixed..to perfection...i drooled..

then the hunt began and quickly ended with this beyond leather skirt 
i couldn't see straight, i popped it in my basket, then thought twice...do i NEED it? or do i just WANT it? will it round out my new fall wardrobe or will it just accentuate it? i mean, it's leather, how could i go wrong?

alice & olivia leather box pleat skirt

going to sleep on it, then decide...

oh and ps, remember these? well, i ordered them...hehehe they would be PERFECT with this skirt, no?!


xo marysue

KOL

this amazingness is happening right here in kitty city friday night...we have the team coming in for a weekend that is certain to go down in history...i am so excited!!!!



there is so much going on between now and the weekend i can't even keep my cap on straight, there are grocery runs, cake baking, cooking, cleaning, job switching (that's right, more news on that soon!) manicures and pedicures...did i mention we will also be legally welcoming a new citizen to the USA?!?!

so much to do..so little time!

xo marysue

bubbly fizz

photo: style me pretty

ever let yourself drift into space and think of the perfect tea (or in the above case: champagne) party? in the midst of trying to get back into the workday routine after the long weekend, i found this pretty little picture aka my dream afternoon. how fun to not only dress up in what could be your great grandmother's garb, play with barbies, and have bubbly...but also cake?! who thought??

saturday afternoon here i come...hope the weekend was exciting for you kitties! while in ny for the wedding, the air felt different, crisper, and definitely cooler...HELLLOOO FALL!

xo marysue

wedding bells

over the labor day weekend, boy and i are heading up to ny for our first fall-ish wedding. even though it is still hot outside, i'm feeling fall and can't help but think about transitioning to cooler weather clothes. for the weekend wedding, i must admit i struggled with the outfit. now, sometimes weddings are and easy pack for me, i have my go to dresses, shoes, and standard jewelry, but since this wedding is over labor day weekend i wonder, "should i pack white pants to wear sunday? do i dare bring that white linen dress with the beaded bib? or what about the fabulous silk maxi dress with the coral print in tangerine and aqua?" the answer to the above...sure! why not? i decided to bring the maxi since i haven't worn it all season.

for the wedding though, i decided on something that will be easy to pack and hang in the bathroom to steam, still summer-ish with the one shoulder and mini length (or lack there of) and easy shoes for dancing and walking around, between you and me i will probably bring another 2 or 3 pairs just in case i feel the wooden heel is a little too casual...the simple bracelets will be a finishing touch along with a possible dramatic eye.

if you have ever been to a wedding over labor day, what did you wear? are my choices on par?

everyone enjoy the long weekend...i know i will! meowmeow

xo marysue

it's baaaackkk!

the other night, boy and i attended a re-launch bash hosted by swoon worthy Capitol for Veranda magazine. Proposed as a toast to the editor-in-chief, the tuesday night soiree was a mix of young and seasoned, nothing but stylish, bejeweled Charlotteans. boy, dressed (very dapper if i do say so myself) in a suit, and me in a white jewel neck tibi mini with pink suede fringe wedges, mixed and mingled, sipped on the signature cocktail of vodka, lime, and basil (something i must re-create) and gasped over the newest deliveries from isabel marant, the row, and band of outsiders...

to be honest, i was the one gasping, boy was the one indulging me by asking questions about the new celine bags, what exactly made balenciaga motorcycle bags popular, and why in heaven's name was that woman wearing an ostrich on the front of her dress?! all questions i was more than prepared to answer after thoughtfully studying the latest on style.com

speaking of...fashion week is less than 2 short weeks away and with my fingers gliding over the keyboard constantly, i will make sure to keep up to date on the latest through the following sites:

daily candy - they provide up to the minute details on the latest and greatest
style.com - always an influx of information on what tommy is snapping, which parties are happening, and who's wearing what
the sartorialist - come on...who isn't going to be following him?
garance - the lovely leading lady in scott's aka mr. sartorialist who always provides whimsy commentary on everything
whowhatweardaily - the best email blast ever

and of course the misc but probably the most important - women's wear daily...the new publication that will no doubt have the ultimate reviews of each and every show, trend, and celebrity throughout the weeks to come

I CANNOT WAIT!!!!!!

missed you all dearly while i was away, from here on out i will be back to posting as usual...it's funny how easily some things can be neglected...i'm sawry kittehs!! now...speaking of neglected, we need to work on getting into an exercise routine...hmmm


xo marysue