Welcome to part 2 of my cooking post! Just some more detail shots showing the cooking process! See more photos in yesterday's post. Once again, a deluge of photos is about to arrive, but with far less copy.

And a couple bonus photos of my doggy, Layla.
* Disclosure: I have received free products or value from Marshalls or The TJX Companies, Inc. in connection with my affiliation with Marshalls Project FAB.

Fun fact about me: I LOVE watching the Food Network and Cooking Channel but I am super picky so I wouldn't eat half of the things I see on the shows.  I hardly ever cook for myself these days because I don't get home from work until 7:30 and just want something super quick: hello frozen pizza, and pre-made - albeit delicious - rosemary and thyme chicken.
When my Marshalls Project Fab resolutions challenge came I knew what I wanted to do.  My first goal was never paying full price for fabulous clothes (post 1 | post 2).  But I also want to try to cook at home more often, it's going to be hard but I know it will improve my overall health and happiness. I really enjoy cooking, it's just finding the time.  I may end up cooking meals on the weekends and then eat them during the week.
Where does Marshalls come in here, you ask? Well, I got 75% of my cooking supplies there! I needed a new pan, some other kitchen essentials that I was missing and a couple things I just wanted for fun (a mandolin!) Everything I bought was a great price (and most of it was found on clearance too!) Let's not forget that good portion of the cookware I already own is from Marshalls or Home Goods. Can you tell it's my favorite store yet?
I decided to have Lydia and Christine over and made a tasty (I hope) meal: Strawberry Balsamic Chicken and Potatoes with rosemary & garlic! For dessert I made my "famous" (to me) Chocohotopots and taught the girls how to make french macarons.  I'm splitting the post into two days because as usual there are too many photos I like! I went from over 400 to 175 and then chose my favorites from that to share.

P.S. Did any of you ever watch The Galloping Gourmet?! I used to watch it every day when I was younger. Yes, I watched cooking shows instead of kid shows (although I watched those too.)

* Disclosure: I have received free products or value from Marshalls or The TJX Companies, Inc. in connection with my affiliation with Marshalls Project FAB.

Happy Valentine's Day! I hope you guys have fun plans. I do have a date, but not that kind. I'm going to see Alton Brown Live with one of my friends, yay! It was a last minute decision because her other friend cancelled on her, but hey, works out for me. We're doing a private meet & greet before hand which should be fun.  Good Eats is one of my favorite cooking shows so I'm pretty excited! 

I'm starting my new schedule at work, where I go in Monday, Tuesday and Thursday and work from home Wednesday and Friday. Woo, one extra day at home!  But this week we had the snowstorm so things were a little wacky, the same will be true of next week because we get Monday off.

Monday: Sweater: Anthropologie (on sale!), Jeans: rag & bone (Shopbop), Heels: Lanvin (Roundabout Resale), Watch: Skagen (Rue La La), Rings: vintage, Brilliant Imports snake ring & Mom's

Tuesday: Tee: Everlane, Sweater: rag & bone NM x Target (boys), Skirt: 3.1 Phillip Lim (Net-a-Porter sale), Heels: Dolce & Gabanna (Uptown Consignments),  Watch: Skagen (Rue La La), Rings: vintage, Brilliant Imports snake ring & Mom's

Today is the last day of vacation photos! And this bunch includes my favorite shot of the trip, I'm sure you can guess which one. Luckily it got a little bit warmer for these two days, although it was still chilly. But better than back home!

Saturday: This was our busiest day. The morning and afternoon were spent at various panels with the cast and crew members. Then there was a private evening event after hours in the Harry Potter park. We got free food and got to ride all the rides with hardly any lines. Pretty fun!

Day Outfit: Tee: Limited Edition Swarovski Crystal Hogwarts Crest Shirt (from 2006!), Jacket: Theyskens' Theory (Nordstrom Rack), Skirt: T by Alexander Wang, Flats: Chanel, Sunglasses: Marc by Marc Jacobs (Shopbop), Watch: Skagen (Rue La La), Rings: vintage, Brilliant Imports snake ring & Mom's

Night outfit: Dress: Marc by Marc Jacobs, Jacket: Theyskens' Theory (Nordstrom Rack), Flats: Chanel, Watch: Skagen (Rue La La), Rings: vintage, Brilliant Imports snake ring & Mom's


Obviously the photo above is my favorite of the weekend. Many of you know that I run Matt Lewis' fan site, so we talk every so often but rarely get to see each other since he lives in Leeds. At the last minute he decided to go to the event (he wasn't originally scheduled to go) and we got to see each other for a few minutes.

Sunday: Our last day. This consisted of more cast and crew panels and then hanging out at the hotel for the night.  We were super tired but the weekend was great.  Below is the only real picture of my outfit that day, oops.  But as you can see we got to sit nice and early before the crowds and in our reserved section. Woo!

Tee: Madewell, Jacket: Theyskens' Theory (Nordstrom Rack), Jeans: Free People, Sandals: Seychelles (DSW), Watch: Skagen (Rue La La), Rings: vintage, Brilliant Imports snake ring & Mom's 

Are you tired of vacation posts yet? Today is a fun one! Photos of the cast at the various events.  Evanna Lynch (Luna Lovegood), Devon Murray (Seamus Finnigan), James Phelps (Fred Weasley), Oliver Phelps (George Weasley) and Matthew Lewis (Neville Longbottom.) Since we were with the media we didn't have to wait in the huge lines with the rest of the fans and were able to sit down (in our reserved seats) earlier than everyone else.  Those little perks are always nice.  It's fun seeing the cast members back together and chatting, you can really tell that they're friends outside the films.  I mean look at the shot of Matt and Devon laughing, how adorable?!



You can also watch a bunch of footage from the event below:

Welcome to Day 2 of my vacation recap! Today I'm sharing part 1 of my outfits.

Thursday: We arrived Thursday afternoon and walked around for a few hours before going to bed early. We ate dinner at Margaritaville, which was tasty but I wasn't a fan of the people walking through the crowd talking to you...scary stuff! (I don't like audience participation.)

Sweater: Ralph Lauren (Good Will), Jacket: Theyskens' Theory (Nordstrom Rack), Jeans: Free People, Sandals: Seychelles (DSW), Sunglasses: Marc by Marc Jacobs (Shopbop), Watch: Skagen (Rue La La), Rings: vintage, Brilliant Imports snake ring & Mom's 


Friday: This day was super cold! I had a sweater, leather jacket and jeans and I was still cold. There was an outdoor event at night, thank goodness we were in the press section and had portable heaters. Would have died otherwise.  We also attended a press conference with cast members earlier in the afternoon.

Jacket: Theyskens' Theory (Nordstrom Rack), Sweater: t.babaton c/o Aritzia, Jeans: Current/Elliott (sample sale), Sandals: Seychelles (DSW), Sunglasses: Marc by Marc Jacobs (Shopbop), Watch: Skagen (Rue La La), Rings: vintage, Brilliant Imports snake ring & Mom's