Epic Weekend Ahead: Les Miz, Grape Escape & Life

Hi everyone. All four of you.

This post is both a confirmation that I am, in fact, not dead, as well as an apology for being MIA for a couple weeks. I tend to do that, I'm sorry. 

I could list excuses or lie and say I was on an exotic vacation to a far-flung region of an Internet-less paradise. How about I spare you and do neither. I've just been in one of the time warps where the days fly past in a blur of wine-colored wind and I never can quite find my voice or inspiration for writing. That's not to say that I haven't had a blast and haven't amassed a mile-long list of post gems because, believe me, I have. I've just been a little disconnected and and am working my way back.

This weekend is shaping up to be an epic one, so I plan to savor every moment and use those delicious morsels to bounce back to the blog even more invigorated than when I left it.

On the agenda? Glad you asked, you might want to pay attention:

1) Les Miz (5 years of French and I still refuse to use the full name) has come back to Sacramento thanks to Broadway Sacramento and my happy ass will be front and center tomorrow. If you haven't seen this show you are truly missing one of the great ones. Sure, it's "mainstream" but sometimes the hipsters need to realize the rest of the world does get it right sometimes. Get tickets NOW.

2) The Grape Escape is one my favorite wine events of the year and it's conveniently located in Downtown Sacramento, a few blocks away from the theatre. How's that for luck? This event is contained within the confines of Caesar Chavez park (read: no driver needed!) and is as much as about food as it is about wine. The best part? Being able to walk to one of Sacramento's amazing restaurants afterwards until the sober driver actually gets sober. Perfection.

The rest of the weekend will be filled with family, friends and celebrations and I can't freaking wait. Hope everyone's weekend is as amazing as mine. See you on the other side.

Ciao!

Second Helpings of Third Thursday @ Thir13en

First: A Rant

Sacramento, what is wrong with you?

Last night was another fun, unique and indulgent event at one of the city's best restaurants and guess who wasn't there....you! And don't pretend like you had something better to do. You are the reason places like BJ's are packed to the gills while actual culinary gems are half full. I'm not writing this blog for my health, people. How about you start listening and taking me up on my offers to get you out of the deep fried prison of chain restaurants and into the light that is Sacramento's rather exciting dining scene.

Ok, I'm sorry, that was mean. But true. Don't hate me.

Where does this disdain come from, you ask? From the lackluster attendance of last night's Third Thursday at Thir13en. While the number of patrons was diminished at this month's dinner, the fun and overall vibrancy was not. Frankly, though, I'm surprised. Maybe it's because it's a weekday and people just want to get home after a long workday. I get that, I really do, but trust me that this dinner is a MUCH more effective (and fun!) way to wind down than a glass of Two Buck Chuck and reruns of The Big Bang Theory.

Do me - and yourself - a favor and plan on coming out to next month's event. You won't be disappointed. June 20th, if my math is correct.

Now: The Fun Stuff

Chef Adam Pechal pulled off yet another delicious and entertaining gastronomic adventure, this one taking us through the most delectable regions of Mexico. His choice of courses showed off his wide-ranging talents by touching on a large variety of ingredients.

Highlights

• Fresh Handmade Tortilla Chips: Still warm and lightly showered with salt, these things were crazy good. Paired with a smoky, slightly spicy salsa, we had to make ourselves stop devouring them before we ruined our appetites.

• Tlacoyos Chilangos: The bean-filled Tlacoyos (good luck pronouncing that!) were so flavorful and substantial that a pleasantly surprised carnivorous diner exclaimed that he "didn't even miss the meat!". The dish was fancied up with micro cilantro that kicked up the fresh flavor perfectly.

• Pescado Entero: Had I translated this term before I arrived I would not have been so shocked to come face to face - literally - with an ginormous, intact fish. Right there, in the middle of the table, frozen perfectly in time as if he (he looked like a he to me) was posing for a snapshot, swimming atop a pond of picked onions and garnish. Deep fried with a perfectly crunchy crust and moist, flaky meat, this was both the oddest and best dish of the evening. You can only imagine the hijinks that ensued after this dish was mixed with a few cocktails. Eyeball, anyone?

• Fortaleza Tequila Cocktails: The inspiration for the night's menu was based on this high-end, authentic tequila. We were given pamphlets that provided the history and details about the brand and the different types of tequila that were being showcased. I'm generally not a tequila person, but I have to say that I might be changing my mind after enjoying a loooong string of amazing concoctions that were made by the talented bartender of the night. I wish I had taken a pic of the drink menu, but I'm lame. I do remember there were 4 or 5 different cocktails, each using a unique blend of the various types of tequilas and other ingredients, including mezcal, thyme, and sweet limes. That night could have ended badly with all that tequila amazingness but I behaved myself, I promise.

As always, the service was first class and Chef Adam was on hand throughout the night to mingle and show everyone his obvious passion for what he does. We were lucky to be able to chat with him on our way out and he entertained us with stories of PBRs, Anthony Bourdain and his true opinion of food critics. We left trying to convince him that an Italian Third Thursday would be pretty awesome, to which he claimed he would "rock it!". Of course he will.....

Special Edition: The Perfect Shoe

As if I haven't hyped Sole Society enough (and they're not even paying me!), I feel compelled to lead you to them once more after receiving a gift from the shoe gods in my inbox this morning.

My post yesterday (if you haven't read it, you should, as this post will make more sense) was the debut of my new favorite shoes on the planet. At the time I was convinced that nothing would come between me and those little leather loves of my life. That was until this morning when good ol' Sole Society stole my heart once again with it's 4" promise of an even more glamorous future.

Behold, an even better version (sorry, Asos) of the gorgeous cap toe pump.

Blakeley Colorblock Pump - $64.95 (Free shipping!)

Clean lines...bold, shiny, pointed toe...colorblocking! Perfection.

I know that I shouldn't buy them, but there's a very high probability that they will magically appear in my closet one day soon. For those of you who don't already own a fraternal twin pair, you need to buy these. You can thank me later.

So Simple & More Wine.Dine.Fun

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I know that as a blogger I'm supposed to come up with amazing and fresh new outfits and convince you that I just "styled" them out of thin air. Yah, that's not going happen much. But what I do love doing is stealing someone else's style and in some cases being very literal about it. I even stole this girl's pose, for cryin' out loud. Shameless, I tell you....

But seriously, how cute is this outfit? Everyone has these pieces in thier closet. So easy. And more importantly, how cute are these shoes? These might top my Favorite-Shoes-I've-Ever-Owned List. Numero Uno. Granted they are the highest heels I've ever attempted to walk in and am destined for a rolled ankle or two but, man, do these make me happy. To me they are classic yet trendy, fierce yet demure. I'm obsessed.

Sweater: Old Navy

Shirt: Banana Republic FS (Similar)

Jeans: GAP

Shoes: Asos

Watch: Michael Kors

Bracelets: Forever 21

Sunglasses: Ray-Ban

Linking up on Three-fer Thursday today!

Other Fun Stuff

1) I finally tried the wine tasting at Total Wine & More. For 10 cents (a nominal fee, it's the law) you stand in the little corral that's apparently supposed to keep you confined (in case you come armed with an entire roll of dimes) and taste the featured wines they are pouring for that day. We had 5 wines from Muirwood Winery - really nice pours, by the way - from the central coast(ish). The chardonnay blew me away and that bottle did not last long after I brought it home. Super buttery, a bit oaky with bright citrus notes. It's about $12 and it's a good one.

2) I just read about "Orange Wine". I'm pretty excited to find out there is yet another color of wine to explore!

3) Tomorrow is the second Third Thursday at Restaurant Thir13en in downtown Sacramento. Might still be spots available, give them a call. One word: Tequila.

4) The Kings are staying in Sac, yay!!!

5) It's Chocholate Chip Cookie Day. Just sayin'....

Mondays Suck: Believe in Love

As usual, this Monday is slow and exhausting and somehow foggy despite the high temps and relentless sun.

My weekend was filled with everything that makes life great - family, friends, wine, throw pillows - but like clockwork it has come to a crashing end on this unholiest of weekdays. Always the optimist (ha!), I refuse to let it get me down! So in Monday's honor I give you this bright, cozy, sappy gem of a post.

Honestly, though, this outfit makes me smile just thinking about it. I get my fair share of eye rolls and smirks, but dammit, it's true...and comfortable. :)

Top: Old Navy

Pants: Banana Republic FS

Shoes: Nine West

(After I took these pics I changed into red wedges and it was even cuter!)

Hat: Banana Republic RS

Watch: Michael Kors

Sunglasses: Ray-Ban

Here's to hoping this outfit brightens up your Monday, if only a little. I'll even take an eye roll or a smirk as long as you like it!

Linked up with Lauren @ Style Elixir today!

Do you have outfits that make you happy just thinking about them??

An Actual Wine.Dine. Post!

I've been having a blast focusing on fashion-related posts but I think it's about time I did some actual wine-ing and dine-ing.

 

 In classic Sara-style, I stole a recipe from Pinterest, posted by Lauren Conrad, stolen from another blogger and am going to try to convince you that it was my genius idea. True, I always manage to tweak recipes just enough to make myself feel like I actually "cooked" something as opposed to following instructions like a trained monkey. Sometimes I'm not far off. 

 

It recently hit me that I have to get my butt into Vegas shape in a few short weeks for a friend's bachelorette party, so all of a sudden I'm Jillian-freaking-Michaels, strapping on my running shoes and scoffing at people in line for McDonald's. Ok, that's not really true, I literally drool at the sight of the Golden Arches, but for now I'm going low carb and trotting out a workout when I can. 

 

This recipe for low carb lasagna caught my eye and I figured I'd give it a shot. Turns out LC knows what she's talking about. It's easy to make and tastes exactly like normal lasagna. I halved the recipe (except for the garlic, of course) and it made 4 good sized portions. 

 

Prep 

 - 1/2 pound ground beef or turkey 

 - 3 cloves garlic, minced

 - 1/4 onion, chopped

 - 1 15-oz can of tomato sauce 

 - 2 tablespoons basil

 - 3 medium zucchini, sliced ⅛” thick

 - 7-oz ricotta cheese

 - 8-oz mozzarella, shredded

 - ¼ cup Parmesan

 - 1 egg 

 - Seasoning: Salt & pepper, onion powder, garlic powder 

  -*Secret Ingredient: Palmful of crushed red pepper flakes to add some heat  

 

 

Cook 

 

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Brown ground meat in a large skillet over medium heat with onion, garlic, basil, seasonings and secret. Add sauce and simmer for about 10-15 minutes. Meanwhile, combine ricotta, Parmesan, mozzarella, and egg in a bowl and mix. Feel free to add any cheese you'd like to this mix. I threw in some asiago because I had it on hand. 

 

 2. Arrange zucchini slices into the base of a loaf pan. Layer with half of meat sauce and cheese mixture. Repeat layering and top with final layer of zucchini slices. 

 

3. Sprinkle with remaining mozzarella. Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 45 minutes. Remove foil and bake an additional 15 minutes. 

 

 

What is your favorite low carb dish? 

 

 

Drink

 

I enjoyed one of my Naked Wines with this dish, a Fletcher Shiraz from Western Australia. This was by no means a calculated choice, it's just what I had open, but it worked well, especially since the dish was lighter than a normal pasta lasagna so it went well with this medium-bodied, tart, easy-drinking wine.  

 

Angel Price: $14.99

 

 

Third Thursday 

 

Last but certainly not least, I was tickled pink to see that Cowtown Eats - a website focused on Sacramento's Happy Hour and dining establishment scene (AKA my dream website)  - mentioned my blog post about Restaurant Thir13en's Third Thursday on their website today! I have no idea why, but I think that's pretty cool, especially for this little unknown blog of mine. Someone is reading! 

 

Thank goodness they did, because I had almost forgotten about the next Third Thursday which is coming up on May 16th! This one is going to feature the cuisine of Mexico (gourmet Mexico, no doubt!). Of course I hurried to make reservations and now I can think of nothing but what the menu is going to look like. 

 

I encourage everyone in Sac to check it out. Head to their website for more info. 

Hope to see you there!

A Farewell to Winter

It dawned on me that this little spurt of weather we are having here in Sacramento is most likely coming to an end, which means that it was my last chance to wear my favorite cold-weather pieces before the valley summer officially has us in its sizzley (new word alert) grasp.

This is it, folks. A collection of the things that make the cold half of the year bearable, all rolled into one ensemble. Goodbye Winter, Spring and Fall. I will truly miss your camel-suede-blazered-scarfed-layered-cozy-booted cocoon of comfort. Sigh...

This outfit also highlights my love of mixing stripes and leopard, which I'm sure I stole from another blog or celebrity but that I find myself drawn to nevertheless. The good news is that this is a trend that I can carry into the summer inferno using lighter fabrics and shorter hems.

Let me break it down for you...

Blazer: Banana Republic FS (Similar)

Top: Forever  21 (Shop)

Jeans: Gap (Shop)

Boots: Sole Society (Sold out)

Scarf: Tar-gey (Similar)



Linking up with Adrienne at Black White Color today!

What are your favorite cold-weather pieces that you will miss this summer??

 

Anchors Away, Ol' Ball and Chain

If there's one thing I love more than blue and white stripes it's a wedding. So imagine my excitement when I found the perfect event (a wedding!) to wear my perfect dress (stripes!). The 95 degree heat made for a less-than-optimal hair and makeup day, but the day wasn't about that. It was about love and friends and fun so I said screw it and enjoyed the hell out of it.

 

Matching Aviators. Totally not lame.

I am being SUPER short and sweet today, but that's all I could muster on this Seis de Mayo (which should be a national holiday along with Superbowl Monday and July 5th, am I right?). Enjoy the stripes and the hangover and I'll promise to rally tomorrow.

Dress: J. Crew FS (Shop)

Shoes: Sole Society (below, sold out) (Similar)

Didn't get a picture of this bracelet, but it truly made the outfit. Love it! Tons of them on Etsy.

Adios!

Palm Springs: My Kind of Place

Palm Springs Trip in a Nutshell

A couple weeks ago I was lucky enough to be able to tag along on my sister's work trip to Palm Springs and I have officially fallen in love. What a fun place! It's hot and sunny and full of good food, patios and fabulously gay men. Think Vegas with a more relaxed vibe and less puking. 

The event we attended was the Palm Springs 75th Anniversary party which was a big shindig to celebrate the history of the city through the decades. My job for the weekend - besides working on my tan - was to shoot a few pics for my sister's client, one of the event sponsors.

{Sidebar: As an wanna-be photog, I was shocked at how hard it was to shoot in a real-world scenario where there are a million people in the way and constantly changing lighting. To date, my experience has been mainly limited to inanimate objects and small backyard BBQs. My respect and amazement for actual professional photographers has increased immensely. Bravo!}

When you go, make sure to grab a meal or a drink at Lulu California Bistro, a vibrant, airy restaurant right on the main drag in downtown.

Once you get past the feeling of being in a time warp back to a 1987 Miami (white leather high-backed booths!), you begin to appreciate the details of the place that make it memorable. Service was perfect - not rude, not overly nice, just cool - menu was varied and interesting, yet familiar (very "California Cuisine"), and their pre-meal bread was to die for, not to mention it came with olive oil and vinegar instead of butter which, in my opinion, is the correct way of doing it.

Our Picks:

Tower of Avocado & Ahi Tuna Tartar

Maui Onion, Gorgonzola and Pear White Pizza

The most impressive thing about the place - besides the decor - is their bar menu. Everything under the sun including a couple gluten-free beers which I thought was pretty cool. Come early because the patio fills up quickly, however the bar feeds right into it and they even manage to make the very back tables feel like you're damn near outside.

I can't wait to go back!In fact, I've been thinking about doing a series of travel posts focused on fun places to go for a quick weekend getaway. Once I get back to Palm Springs it will be featured. As always, stay tuned!

Have you ever been to Palm Springs and if so do you have any recommendations??

I Heart Pencil Skirts

After day of successful tripod-ing, I thought it'd be fun to see how things would go with my wonderful, patient (ha!) husband at the helm. Needless to say, the boy is NOT a photographer. Focally challenged would be putting it nicely.

Nevertheless, I had to post this outfit because I think it's pretty darn cute.

 

Pencil skirts are up there on my list of reasons why I love being a girl. I've never met one I didn't like. This navy number works with so many different colors, but there's nothing quite as classic as navy and a crisp white shirt. I also love the way the mustard color (think gold) looks against the navy. I'm bummed you can't really see my cute pearl necklace but it makes me think that a more colorful piece would look better here.

 

Cardigan: Target (Similar)

Shirt: Banana Republic FS (Similar)

Skirt: Banana Republic FS (Adorable)

Shoes: Nine West (Similar)

Necklace: Old (Similar)

 

Tripod Success!!

Well, guys, I finally did it.

It only took seven months (it's not really May is it?) but I somehow managed to figure out what most school children can do and used my tripod to take an honest-to-goodness picture!

Granted, they are terrible, but please cut me some slack as this is my first attempt at this. Other bloggers seem to channel Ansel-freaking-Adams when they take selfies, and here I am barely meeting the standards of the shots your kid takes with is Fisher Price xmas present.

But you asked (well, one person asked) so you shall receive. Honestly, though, I'm pretty excited about this next step in becoming a real blogger. What I'm not real excited about is the fact that seeing myself like this makes me want to cringe. Seriously, though, my sleeves were rolled way nicer in the morning. And I am going to get my ass to the gym, I swear. Ugh.

Actually, shame on me. That's not what this blog is about at all! I'm not pretending to be perfect or trying to convince you that my life is an endless series of glamorous events and designer clothes. What I want to this to be about is making the MOST out of life and getting more out of it every day. For me that means constantly evolving my style, finding new wines, reliving favorites, racking up experiences and learning new things.

Enough of the sappy stuff. Time for a real outfit post!



 Look, a famous blogger pose!

 

This is one of my go-to outfits because to me it feels classic but not stuffy. My favorite pieces are the necklace and the shoes which give it a cool, geometric look.

Shirt: Banana Republic (Similar)

Pants: J. Crew (Shop - 25% off with code SPRINGBEST)

Shoes: Bandolino via DSW (Similar, Love these) 

Necklace: Banana Republic (Similar)

Thanks for checking out my first grownup outfit post. More to come...