A Look Back at 2014

Can you believe that in a couple of hours it will be the year 2015? How is that even possible. Time goes by fast when you are having fun, and I have to say that 2014 was quite the year. 2014 will always go down as the year of huge life moments. Now I want to take the time to look back at these moments with you guys. 

Let's start at the beginning shall we?  

I started off the year still living with my amazing aunt and uncle. I can never thank them enough for letting me stay with them until I got on my feet. I had some amazing times with them, and I would never trade that for anything. 

A couple days into the new year, my dad passed away. I hadn't seen him in years, and it was a very surreal experience. You never expect something like that to happen, but I had the people who mattered most by my side and that is all I could ask for. 

Then in March I started having tooth pain and I found out I needed to get my wisdom teeth out - the day after my 23rd birthday! It was my first time "going under" and the experience really was horrible and painful, but I got through it with the help of my family and boyfriend. 

In May, James and I found our dream apartment and moved into our first place! It was so exciting and scary at the same time, but it was one of the best decisions I ever made. Throughout the year I have been sharing sneak peeks at our home in my "apartment to home" series. The place still has a little ways to go, but expect a lot more on that in the new year!

May was also the month that I took a step forward with this blog. I took the abeautifulmess blogging course and really started to focus on where I wanted it to go. I wanted to create content that really spoke to the person that I am. I still have a long way to go, but I want to thank you all for coming on this journey with me so far! 

In July, the second love of my life joined our family. We adopted our little guy George from a shelter in Massachusetts after finding him on the petfinder website. What was a spur of the moment decision turned into the greatest thing we have ever done. I could not picture my life without this little guy. He brings so much joy to our home, and we love him like he is our child. (And we spoil him like he is too!)

The summer in general was a pretty amazing one. It was made up of a lot of little experiences that added up to create some unforgettable moments. 

In October I received the amazing news that I was awarded the "Rhode Island Hospitality Employee of the Year Award". I attended the Stars of the Industry event and couldn't be more excited and proud of my accomplishments. 

About two weeks after I found out about my award, I received another piece of amazing news. After over a year of hard work I was being promoted to Event Manager. I honestly could not believe it! This was a huge step in my career, and at only 23 years old I have accomplished more than I could ever dream of. 

I got to finish up the year spending the holidays with my boyfriend and our families. We had a great couple of days just relaxing and spending time with the people who matter most. 

2014 has been the year of HUGE life changes, accomplishments, and milestones. I want to thank you- my readers, my family, my friends, for coming along on this journey with me. If 2015 is anything like 2014, we are in for another incredible ride. 

DIY Pot Rack

Today I have for you the easiest kitchen DIY project. 

For the past two weekends James and I have been frequenting Home Depot quite a lot. We have slowly begun some projects to transform our apartment into a home. My boyfriend has always dreamed of an industrial style kitchen, while I go for a more traditional look. With this DIY project we were able to combine our two styles to create one cohesive piece. We are both ecstatic with how it turned out. 

All you need is a piece of plywood, sandpaper, wood stain, two anchors, two long nails, and some hooks. We bought all of this at the hardware store for $20 dollars. We had the store cut our piece of plywood to our desired length for free. 

First off we had to sand the piece of plywood until smooth. Then with a light grey stain (to match the shelf we put in last weekend) we stained the wood. We put on about three coats of the stain to add some color without covering the beautiful natural grain of the wood. Next we used a drill to place the holes for the hooks in the wood about a couple inches apart. We then secured the gold hooks in their place.

 After that was done, we placed the anchors into the wall, and drilled the nails through the board into the anchor. The anchors help to secure the rack to the wall as well as hold the weight of the pots. 

This was a fast DIY project that has really transformed the room. It is both decorative and functional, just like every great kitchen DIY should be. 

A full kitchen tour is coming your way soon!

xo. Casey

Bourbon Apple Pie

Today I have for you a little twist on a classic apple pie. If you are going to do any baking this season at all, I assume that it will be some sort of apple pie. Well I have a recipe that will up your apple pie cred and really wow your friends, and it is all with a little help from our friend Jim. 

I used two pillsbury pie crusts to make my pie, cheating I know, but you can make a simple pie crust if you want to get really fancy. Oh how I wish I had a kitchen aid. 

Anyway, let's get into the real star of the dish, the filling. You are going to need about three to four good sized apples, 3/4 cup brown sugar, 2 tablespoons of flour, 1 teaspoon of cinnamon (or a little more if you are like me and absolutely love cinnamon), 1/4 teaspoon of salt, and lastly two tablespoons of bourbon. 

Place one layer of the pie crust in the tin and top with the apple mixture. Place the second layer of dough on top and crimp the edges. Be sure to cut slits on the top of the pie to let out the steam during cooking. You can also add an egg wash to the top of the pie as well to make it really shine. 

Put the pie in a 420 degree oven for about 30 minutes. Then take your pie out and cover the edges with aluminum foil. This will prevent your pie from burning around the edges. Then place back in the oven and bake for an additional 30 minutes. 

Take your pie out of the oven and let it cool before cutting into it, something I failed to do and the filling spilled everywhere. Patience people, it's a virtue. 

If you are going to make any pie this season it should be this one. The bourbon brings a great caramelized flavor to the pie making it extra delicious. 

xo. Casey

Favorite Spaces, My Desk

The first thing I was excited about when we moved into our apartment (besides the balcony of course) was the office. I knew that it was going to be utilized as James music studio, but I was excited to make a little corner of the room all mine. 

After some time my little space is finally done, and I am excited to share it with you today!

I wanted my space to represent who I am, and be a place where I can feel creative. I love all of the bright colors of the washi tape frames -  I did a post on that last week if you want to see how I did that! The wooden desk was a gift from my mother that she got at Target. It has beautiful iron legs that are not bulky and do not take up a lot of space. The sweater candle holder contains my favorite bath and body works candle, the leaves candle. The owls, which I love, are also gifts from my mother- thanks mom! 

A full tour of the studio will be coming your way soon- we have a couple more pieces to pick up first! Hope you enjoyed this little peak into my blogging space, and I hope it inspired you to create your own work space. 

xo. Casey

Birchbox

Everyone knows that I am in love with box services. There is something about getting a little surprise every month that makes it feel like Christmas all the time! My particular favorite - and longest running box subscription is Birchbox. I have received eleven Birchboxes, and so I thought it was time I share my experience with you. 

First of all a little information about what Birchbox is: 

When I see the bright pink box in my mailbox I get very excited! You can get a heads up on the Birchbox app once it ships and see what you are going to get, but I like to at least try and keep it a surprise. You can customize your preferences to your liking - whether you like makeup, skin care, hair products, or lifestyle products. It is also customized based on skin tone and skin needs if you choose makeup and skin care as sine if your preferences. 

Inside the pink box is actually one of my favorite parts - the adorable cardboard box that always has a colorful pattern on the inside. I have used these boxes for everything including organization in my bathroom cabinets, to hold my spices in on the kitchen counter, on my desk, and as gift boxes. When you can even utilize the packaging that is when you know you have something good. 

This past month was a really good month for me. I have used everything in the box, and there is not a single thing I did not love. Here is a little look into what I got for September: 

I loved the nude nail polish and the polish removing wipes, two things I used right away. 

These things are awesome, but what are my all time favorite items that I have received? You know- the ones I would buy the full size of. 

Here are the best of the best: 

1. Anastasia Brow Gel

2. Amika Peek Up Dry Shampoo

3. Whish Shave Cream 

4. Nail Rock - Velvet manicure (which I am wearing right now) 

5. Tua Forte Minteas (chai tea mints which are supposed to be "weight loss boosters". IDK if that is true but they were super tasty!) 

I highly suggest you go check out the products I listed above if you have never used them before. I use almost all of them every single day, and I would have never known about them if it was not for Birchbox. 

Remember: Birchbox provides samples of a mix between high end and low end products. The miniature sizes are perfect to just throw in your purse when you are on the go. And for every box you receive you rack up points that you can use towards the full sized item.

Birchbox is just $10 per month with free shipping. 

If you love trying new products then this is definitely the subscription box for you!

I personally can not wait for my October box!

xo. Casey

Apple Cinnamon Water

I can not call this a recipe post, but it is one of my favorite and most refreshing drinks that I have had. In the fall I am all about cinnamon. I love to put it in everything from deserts to drinks. This is probably the most simple way to incorporate cinnamon into everyday. 

This is just club soda, although you can use still water as well, sliced apples, and cinnamon. And that's it. It is refreshingly light, and gives the water amazing natural flavor. 

Cinnamon is used in a lot of detox waters very similar to this. Cinnamon works with your body to combat high fat meals which is why it is used to cleanse the body. It is why this drink makes you feel so good - especially after possibly eating corn dogs, lot's of beef jerky, and beer while at a fair. 

This is another drink that I happily call "fall in a glass" - it just never gets old. 

Sometimes the simplest things are the greatest things. 

xo. Casey

Ricotta Toast

Sunday mornings are my favorite. Monday feels so far away - no responsibilities, just peaceful relaxation. Usually we like to go to a coffee shop or popular breakfast spot for breakfast on Sunday's, and one of the most popular items on every cafe menu right now is toast. Whether it is topped with mashed avocado, chickpea, ricotta, or jam - they are super super popular. And most of the time they can run up to six dollars for a piece of toast. Oof. 

It is one of the simplest breakfasts, usually low in fat and high in flavor which is why it is so popular. Being so simple there is no reason why I can not make this breakfast in my home with ingredients I already have on hand. 

All you need is some good bread and whatever topping you prefer. I topped my toast with some non fat ricotta cheese and honey. Simple and delicious! Paired with a cup of coffee and a breezy morning, it just doesn't get any better than this. 

I hope you have a relaxing Sunday as well!

xo. Casey

Blu On The Water

As summer is winding down I wanted to share with you my choice for the official spot of the summer - Blu on the Water located in East Greenwich. Blu has great food, delicious drinks, and awesome music all summer long. Everyone is so relaxed there, enjoying the summer without a care in the world either on the deck or docked on their boats listening to the music. 

They have complimentary valet service and indoor/outdoor seating with three different bars outside on the deck. If a popular band like World Premier is playing you better get a table early or else you are looking at an hour and a half wait to get a spot outside. 

The food is pretty great too. The menu isn't too big, and I have tried almost half the things on the menu. I have never had a bad experience at Blu when it comes to the food. The mahi mahi fish tacos are awesome - huge pieces of mahi mahi with a mango salsa and guacamole. The Caribbean jerk chicken sandwich with blue cheese crumbles has become my new favorite item on their menu. Their clamcakes, lobster crab cakes, and muscles frites are awesome appetizers, and they have some of the best calamari I have ever had. You have two options, either the buffalo calamari which is fried and coated in buffalo sauce, or the Rhode Island style calamari with hot peppers and olives. My boyfriends favorite is the BBQ bacon burger. And do not forget to upgrade your fries to the truffle Parmesan fries- so good!

The drinks are pretty awesome as well. Although a little pricey, they are a large sized drink and are extremely delicious. If it is your first time at Blu I highly recommend the watermelon sangria- it is out of this world. 

Blu on the Water completely embodies summer time for me. As the summer winds down I will definitely be taking advantage of the couple weeks left I have to spend at blu before they close for the winter. 

What's your favorite summer spot? 

xo. Casey

Saturday Caturday

George and I are spending this lazy Saturday cooking up some comfort food and catching up on our faborite shows. 

Cheesy orzo pasta, pretty little liars, and the most perfect grilled cheese sandwiches? Perfect day.

How are you spending your Saturday?

xo. Casey

Frost Bar Boston

One of my favorite parts of our Boston vacation was when we stumbled upon Frost Bar in Quincy Market. I had heard about these bars made of ice before but I was always skeptical. But when my boyfriend said "let's do it!" I became super excited. 

The cost to get in was $13 with my student id but prices vary during peak hours. They give you these fur hooded ponchos that kind of feel like a sleeping bag, and some gloves. We stepped inside of this cool room that gets you used to the temperature change. "It's not that cold" we thought- but then the doors to the bar opened. Immediately we felt the frigid 20 degree blast of cool air. Everything was made out of ice- the benches, the fixtures, and the glasses. We decided to go with beers and received a free beer coozie which was awesome. 

We stayed for about 20 minutes, until we were shivering, and decided to go. It is an awesome experience that I would suggest anyone to check out (especially on a super hot day). 

After that we decided to get some drinks outside by the harbor to defrost before going into the aquarium. This was the first time I have ever been to the Boston aquarium and they literally had the biggest penguin exhibit I have ever seen. And I love me some penguins. 

I had one of the best days with this goof. 

Boston is only about a 45 minute ride from Providence, so it is awesome to be able to have awesome days like this not too far from home. 

xo. Casey

Teatro Boston

This past weekend the boyfriend and I had an awesome vacation where we relaxed, took day trips, and spent some much needed quality time together. It was awesome. On one of the days we decided to take a spontaneous train ride into Boston. 

At the end of an awesome day full of cool new experiences (more on that in a post later this week!) we were ravenous. After walking for a while looking for little Italy we found our way to the paramount area and we did what any 21st century young adults would do and asked Siri where to go. She said that right down the street there was a restaurant called Teatro. After looking at the menu we decided to go for it - and I am so glad we did. 

As we were entering the restaurant it looked dark, and empty. Once we walked in however we realized we were very wrong. The inside of the restaurant was beautiful, a total hidden gem, and it was packed. 

We chose two seats at the bar and looked over the delicious menu. I ordered a white sangria and it was delicious - definitely in the top two best sangria's I have ever had. It had the perfect amount of sweetness and crispness. As we enjoyed our drinks we were also served warm crusty bread with a side of chickpea puree and oil with red pepper flakes for dipping. 

Right away the Antipasto platter caught our eye. This was my favorite part of the meal and I would return to Teatro just to order this appetizer again. 

The platter included fried squash blossoms, truffled deviled egg, mozzarella and figs, prosciutto and Parmesan, white bean puree, bresaola, stuffed cherry peppers, artichoke, eggplant and marinated mushrooms, roasted red peppers, and the creamiest blue cheese I have ever tasted. This was all accompanied by perfectly grilled bread. 

I could not have asked for a more perfect assortment of absolute deliciousness. 

For my entree I chose the half portion of the Conchiglie, which was shell pasta with lobster in a butter sauce. The pasta was cooked perfectly and it had large chunks of lobster meat. I think it was a wonderful idea to offer half portions and I am so glad that I opted to go with the half portion after that amazing antipasto. It was just the right amount of food and we left completely satisfied. 

I am so thankful that we stumbled upon Teatro. It was a wonderful experience with a great atmosphere and delicious food. We will definitely be returning to Boston soon to dine at Teatro again. 

xo. Casey

"Bobby Flays" Miami Burger

Today I have the first recipe in my "Cook Through the Book Challenge!"

The Miami Burger

Ingredients: 

          1. ground beef

                                 2. bun - I used an onion roll

             3. smoked ham

              4. swiss cheese

          5. dill pickles 

     6. mustard
7. mayo

             8. roasted garlic

            9. salt & pepper

Method of Prep:

1. Form your ground beef into a patty, and make a small indentation in the center of the patty. Cook in a skillet to your preference. I like my burgers to be cooked to medium temperature. 

2. Mix the mayo in a bowl with the roasted garlic, salt and pepper. *to roast garlic simply wrap the whole head in tinfoil and bake until soft. 

3. Coat both sides of the bread with the mayo mixture and the mustard. 

4. Start assembling your burger- Place a slice of cheese on the bottom bun. Add the burger, ham, pickles, and second piece of cheese. Place the bun on top. 

5. Place your burger on a pannini press. If you do not have a panini press handy like me, you can put the burger back in the skillet and place a cast iron pan on top, grill one side, and then flip it over and do the other. 

I tried the tinfoil method that Bobby suggested - wrapping the burger in tinfoil and then placing it in the pan with the skillet or pot on top to press the sandwich - and I found that it made the burger soggy. The tinfoil created steam and resulted in a messy (not crunchy) burger. 

None the less it was absolutely delicious! It had all the great flavors of a Cuban sandwich in a burger. And it was approved by my new buddy George! (He thought we were sharing)

My first burger in my "Cook Through the Book" Challenge was delicious! 

I can not wait to try the next one this weekend

xo. Casey

Roasted Vegetable Panzanella Salad

There is nothing better than a fresh salad in the summer time, but if you are like me you get bored with the average lettuce varieties. Don't get me wrong, I love a good cob salad or strawberry salad as much as the next guy, but sometimes I want to change it up. 

Enter: the panzanella salad. 

A panzanella salad is a Tuscan salad made of bread and tomatoes usually dressed in olive oil and vinegar. The stale bread soaks up the juices of the tomatoes and is simply perfect. 

You can add whatever ingredients you want to this salad and they will shine.

Historically it is made with tomatoes and onions but feel free to add things and make it your own. 

I used tomatoes, asparagus, creamy mozzarella, and prosciutto in my salad. 

Here's what I did:

1. Slice your tomatoes and put them on a sheet tray with the asparagus. Cover them in oil, salt. and pepper. Put your oven on broil and cook the asparagus and tomatoes for about seven minutes. Depending on how thick your asparagus is you may need to cook them a little longer.

2. Remove the vegetables from the oven, place in a bowl, and allow them to cool.

3. Cut your french bread into cubes. Cover them in olive oil, salt, pepper, and garlic. Let them bake at 400 degrees until golden brown. 

4. Cut your mozzarella and prosciutto into chunks. Add the bread, prosciutto, and mozzarella into the bowl with the vegetables. 

5. For the dressing I mixed red wine vinegar, olive oil, salt, pepper, and dijon mustard in a bowl. Lightly mix the salad and incorporate the dressing. 

The bread soaks up the flavors from the tomatoes and the dressing, and compliments the creaminess of the mozzarella perfectly. This is a simple meal that you can make with leftover bread and whatever you have in your fridge. I am excited to make this again with some new ingredients. Possibly some burrata and avocado? Yum! 

Try making this quick and easy salad this summer. You will be sure to impress your family and friends while making something super simple. 

Enjoy!

xo. Casey