Clockwise from top left:

ASOS Margot loafer $55.66, DV by Dolce Vita Damala loafer $79, ASOS LEON slipper shoes $27.83, Sperry Top-Sider Brooks flat $75.99

Clockwise from top left:

Juicy Couture Topper flat $170.99, Wanted Explode loafers $59, Nine West Panto flat $59, MIA Baron flat $55.99, Tommy Hilfiger Polly flats $52.99, Born Dorota loafer $$75.99

Clockwise from top left:

F-Troupe Cat Leopard Print  shoes $173.95, Steven by Steve Madden Madee Slip-On $118.95, ASOS MADDOX Swallow Print Lace Up flat $20.87, Not Rated Brit flats $34.99

Do you have a pair of loafers? Are you planning to wear them this summer?

When I first laid eyes on the whimsical soaps made by KcSoapsNmore on Etsy, I couldn’t believe it. Soaps…in the shape of macarons!!! Although I have to admit I’ve never tasted a macaron, I can certainly get on board with the cuteness of these novelties (even if they aren’t edible).

Seriously – don’t they look good enough to eat? Well, I wouldn’t suggest taking a bite out of them, but I WOULD suggest using them as soap!

These little beauties are goat’s milk soap, and each color of macaron has a different scent. Pink is black raspberry and vanilla, purple is blackberry jam scented, and the green soap is almond scented. They all smell great, but if I had to select my favorite, the almond takes the cake! Or, should I say: cookie?

These macaron soaps would make a fantastic gift: I could see these as a great hostess present or a bridesmaid’s gift. They would be oh so cute in a guest bathroom, don’t you think?

Make sure you head on over to KcSoapsNmore’s Etsy shop and peruse all of the amazing options (I am also a fan of the margarita shot glass soaps and the popsicles – so cute).

And, lucky for you, I have a set of adorable macaron shaped soaps to give away today! You will seriously love this set, I promise you! Here are the details:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

***Giveaway is open from 5/16/2012 through 5/24/2012 at 12:01am EST. A winner will be selected at random and notified. I reserve the right to select a new winner at random if I receive no response within 48 hours. Giveaway is open to entrants with US or Canada mailing addresses only. I was provided with one set of soaps to review and one to give away.***

I found this linen romper when I was perusing my local Old Navy, and I thought it was just too cute to pass up! I love the slouchy fit and the lightweight material: it’s really comfortable! And at a price of only $25, it wasn’t tough on my wallet.

I know that many of you are hesitant about wearing a romper because you’re unsure of the logistics when you go to the bathroom (TMI?)…but if you find a piece like this one, a camisole is required underneath, so the fear of exposure can be a thing of the past. Just saying…

Linen romper: Old Navy (similar here), Glasses: Warby Parker Colton in whiskey tortoise, Bag: Urban Expressions Ditzy Hobo, Sandals: Xhilaration, purchased at Target (similar here)

By the way: I am loving my Ditzy hobo from Urban Expressions – the woven texture on the outside is so fun, the bag is roomy, and it is animal friendly! If you aren’t familiar, Urban Expressions makes vegan bags: they have the look of leather…and the fact that they aren’t made with leather really does make the price more affordable, while still having a similar look! Win-win.

So – have you joined in on the romper trend, or are they still too polarizing for you?

Friday was officially my last day at my office job: I decided to treat myself to a mani/pedi in celebration after I left the office that afternoon. I tried out OPI’s Senorita Rose-alita: it is a rose toned deep pink shimmer polish – so pretty!

That evening, we made our first visit to a restaurant in Dunedin: The Living Room on Main. I’d heard good reviews about the food from a number of people, so I was excited to try out the menu. The restaurant serves small plates tapas-style, so we ordered things one at a time until we were satisfied. First up was the garlic dusted calamari fritti, served with marinated olives and pickled peppers. The calamari were breaded very lightly and fried just to a light golden brown. The squid itself was tender and not chewy: it was a winner in our table’s book.

The next small plate we tried was the Black and Blue nachos. Blue corn tortilla chips were topped with blackened chicken, bacon, roasted corn, tomato, jalapeno, mozzarella, provolone, and gorgonzola fondue. The topping combination was very tasty, but boy oh boy was there a LOT of cheese involved. We had to request an extra bowl of blue corn tortilla chips to even out the chip/topping ratio, but that wasn’t a terrible thing in the end. The use of non-traditional nacho cheeses was a nice touch, and the crumbles of bacon were a tasty addition.

We couldn’t resist trying out one of the flatbreads on the menu: the Pane Bianco. It featured herbed goat cheese, provolone, mozzarella, pancetta, and wilted arugula. The flatbread was served pre-cut into 4 square servings, which was perfect for sharing around our table (seeing as there were 4 of us). Also, I’m a sucker for anything with goat cheese…it’s the best.

Finally, our stomachs were starting to get a bit full, so we decided to order one final plate to share. It was the item that we’d been hearing great things about, so the expectations were high. We knew we couldn’t leave the restaurant without trying the Hoisin-Glazed Pork Shanks. And oh, were they delicious. The pork shanks are slow braised and topped with a hoisin barbeque sauce, and served with a side of carrot and cucumber kimchi. To say the pork was tender would be an understatement: the meat literally fell right off of the bone, leaving them completely clean. Dang. The hoisin barbeque sauce was sweet and savory in the right combination, and the kimchi was sweet and spicy (beware to those of you who can’t handle some heat). I could have eaten all three of the shanks that were served, but we all managed to share nicely. Yum!

I can definitely see a return visit to The Living Room in the future: it was a fun atmosphere, and I enjoyed the tapas-style menu. Being able to try a variety of items across the table is always a fun way to dine!

So, as for the rest of the weekend? On Saturday, Justin and I finally got to the movie theater to see The Avengers. Oh my gosh! Loved it. You’ve got to love a movie that appeals to the guys and the ladies (hello Thor and Captain America…and hey – Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man isn’t bad either…am I right?). Sunday was not only Mother’s Day, but it was also Justin’s birthday! It was a packed day: I cooked lunch at the in-laws’ house, and then we headed over to spend the evening with my parents. Busy busy busy!

So – what were you up to this weekend? D

Here are some links I loved this week:

Well, this is the most unfortunate text placement I’ve ever seen…

Say Yes to Hoboken has a recipe for Cool Whip marshmallows – I’ve got to try this out!

I’ve been looking for a black and white or navy and white striped maxi dress, and I think I’ve found my favorite one yet through Piperlime. Love it – isn’t it wonderful?

A tutorial for a mermaid tail braid is up on A Cup of Jo – so cool!

Bellini pops. These sound easy…and perfect for summer!

We’re going to be in need of a new dining room table in the future…I want to put this capiz pendant from west elm above it. Beautiful, right?

This Napa Valley mojito recipe sounds like a great twist on a regular mojito (with champagne or sparkling wine in place of the club soda).

Also- it’s time to announce the winner of my SOHO makeup brush giveaway: Nicole H! Thank you to everyone who entered. And stay tuned for next week – I have a lovely new giveaway set up…that is, if Lucia ever decides to get out of my way so I can get some pictures taken!

Hope you have a great weekend!

I’ll set it up for you a bit: I had been trying to teach Lucia to “smile” for a few weeks, but I’d given up because she just wasn’t responding to the training. Usually, Lucia picks up new tricks with only a few attempts, so I had been a little downtrodden that I’d failed.

When I arrived home from work one day last week, I quickly realized that Lucia had stuck her nose into the laundry bin again. Darn it! As you might recall, Lucia seems to feel quite guilty when she does something wrong…and she immediately began to diffuse the situation by miraculously remembering how to do her “smile” trick. That punk…

Is it just me, or do I have the most manipulative dog ever?

]]> http://rufflesandtruffles.com/2012/05/lucia-smiles/feed/ 8 http://rufflesandtruffles.com/2012/05/pretty-printed-shorts/ http://rufflesandtruffles.com/2012/05/pretty-printed-shorts/#comments Wed, 09 May 2012 15:04:04 +0000 Katie http://rufflesandtruffles.com/?p=9078 When I introduced you to my rediscovered floral shorts last week, it got me thinking: why don’t I have more shorts in my wardrobe? The floral shorts are literally my only pair, aside from the ones I wear to the gym. And there are SO many fun options out there right now. So – I thought I’d do a little round up of some of my favorites!

If you want to keep things neutral while still wearing a print, these darker hued shorts might fit the bill. Wear them with a black or white tee to keep it simple, or take it up a notch with a brightly hued shirt. Hot pink, kelly green…so many color options could work!

Top row (L to R): Aztec printed shorts, Topshop $60, Embellished Zebra Print Shorts, LOFT $49.50, Ikat canvas shorts, GAP $49.95

Bottom row (L to R): Insight Dream Lover short, Need Supply Co. $60, BB Dakota Reeza shorts, Piperlime $59

On the other side of things, you can also find oh so many options in bright colors as well! You know, if you want to kick it up another notch…

Top row (L to R): Lilly Pulitzer Callahan shorts, Zappos $64, Lucky Brand print shorts, Nordstrom $49.90, Madison shorts, Anthropologie $88, MM Couture print shorts, Piperlime $52

Bottom row: (L to R): Tulle striped button shorts, Piperlime $64, Paisley canvas shorts, GAP $49.95, Trouve print shorts, Nordstrom $68

Do you have a favorite pair of printed shorts?

A few years have gone by, and I forgot about the dress. Until last week. I strolled into my local Target to peruse what was new, and my eyes immediately locked on a couple of maxi dresses hanging on a rack. Oh. My. Gosh! The dress! It was pretty much the same maxi dress (with a small change in the bust area) but in new colors and patterns. You better believe I immediately snatched it up.

I have to say, I love the tribal print on this dress even more than the original dress I bought a few years ago: score!

Maxi dress: Xhilaration, purchased at Target $27.99, Bracelets (L to R): Cara accessories, Kristin Hassan, Cara accessories, Clutch: ASOS (similar here), Earrings: kate spade new york, purchased at T.J. Maxx (similar here), Wedges: Coconuts, purchased at Marshalls (similar here)

If you’re looking for the perfect maxi dress to just throw on to run around town: this is it. Plus, you can dress it up or down. I am actually thinking about picking up the dress in the other pattern offered as well (if it’s still in stock this week – I might have a repeat of 3 years ago on my hands). The price is right too: you can’t go wrong!

And if this dress isn’t the right one for you, here are a few others I’ve picked out:

Clockwise (L to R): Desert Coasts Dress, Anthropologie $148, Hive & Honey printed maxi, Piperlime $69, Sabine scarf print maxi, Piperlime $79, Mossimo V-Neck maxi, Target $24.99, Sabine one shoulder maxi, Piperlime $39.99

As soon as we arrived, the first beverage was served to us: a cup of rum punch (with Captain Morgan Black, of course)! It was fruity and wonderful – and packed a kick (although you couldn’t even tell there was rum in it, if you asked me)! It would be a perfect drink to prepare for a party in the summertime.

After the punch was served and all of the attendees were seated and ready, the food and drinks continued! To start, Toby served everyone a glass of Captain Morgan Black on the rocks to obtain a “base line,” if you will. Being able to taste the rum by itself was a nice touch, and I actually have to admit that I even enjoyed it that way! I have to note: Ciro’s has more than one type of ice in the bar – what is served in each drink depends on what it contains! The Captain Morgan Black on the rocks was served with extra large cubes of ice: they melt slower, so your drink gets diluted less quickly. Nice!

As we sipped the rum, a few treats happened to arrive on our table. At first glance, you might just see this and think it is regular, run of the mill popcorn. It wasn’t. The popcorn at Ciro’s is popped fresh and then tossed in truffle oil. As soon as I put the first bite in my mouth, I immediately had a reaction (a good one): the flavor was unlike anything I’d had on popcorn before (hey, I’m used to plain and buttered. I’m a simple soul).

Rumor has it that if you are on your way to a movie after drinking/dining at Ciro’s Speakeasy, they will pop you a batch and bag it up for you to take to the theater! I’d totally be up for that…

We were also treated to a few other appetizers: some steak tartare (which Justin reported was tasty)…

…and some asparagus spears wrapped in prosciutto and drizzled with aioli. Fresh, classic, and delicious:

Meanwhile, we were served the next drink of the evening: the Old Fashioned. Apparently I don’t have any documentation of this drink, but it was certainly something I’d never tried before! By the way, have you ever heard about the history of the Old Fashioned? Apparently the Old Fashioned is really the “original” cocktail…over the years we have embellished it and changed it with our fancy ingredients. A cocktail used to have only 5 ingredients (the same ones): liquor (usually bourbon, scotch, or whiskey), sugar, water, bitters, and ice…with a fruit garnish. Sometimes simple is wonderful, right?

Anyway, the next cocktail to be served to us was the Black and Honey…and it was my favorite drink of the evening! Locally sourced clover honey was used in this drink, and it was amazing – sweet and easy to drink (danger, Will Robinson…).

Around this time, the most amazing item was delivered to our table: chicken and waffle sliders. Be still, my heart. The combination is to die for, and Ciro’s does them just right. The chicken is all natural, organic, cage-free chicken breast that is lightly battered and fried, served between two fluffy waffles and drizzled with a slightly spicy sauce. I honestly was mourning the fact that I only got to eat one of the sliders: I could have taken down an entire plate of them on my own.

Thankfully, some mini crab cakes were on the way to our table (I loved the presentation: the river rock bed for the spoons was pretty!) and they were the perfect little bite:

Our final cocktail served up by Toby that evening was another classic: the Manhattan…but with a Captain Morgan Black twist to it. Manhattans are usually created using whiskey, sweet vermouth, and bitters. However, in place of whiskey, Toby used the Captain Morgan Black rum. Yum!

Of course, we couldn’t leave without dessert: the staff at Ciro’s presented us with mini bowls filled with pound cake, honey, and fresh berries: can you really go wrong with that?

At that point, it was time to head home after a wonderful evening! I hope you are all going to keep your eyes peeled for Captain Morgan Black to hit your store shelves so you can create your own cocktails! Thanks again to the folks promoting Captain Morgan Black and the staff at Ciro’s Speakeasy – the night was absolutely fantastic!

Have you ever been to a notably different bar or restaurant? What was it?

This is EXACTLY how I feel when someone sends me an auto-DM on Twitter…actually, the entire What Should We Call Social Media has been cracking me up lately!

And one more, because I can’t resist (and was laughing at it for a few solid minutes): When I think my post is about to get a ton of comments, and it doesn’t…

Light candles with a dry spaghetti noodle – what a clever idea!

Blackberry champagne margaritas. What a classy and fun twist on the classic cocktail…

DIY fruit balloons! How fun for a party!

I MUST try this ombre stain manicure ASAP! It looks so beautiful, doesn’t it?!?!

Tie a bag of vinegar around your shower head to clean it. I didn’t know this trick!

Finally, have you  had the pleasure of seeing Deb ‘Spoons’ Perry playing the spoons to The Black Keys’ song, Lonely Boy? It will make you happy.