Midsummer Tidbits

Well, here we are, somehow halfway through the month of July! My last "real" summer has been a change of pace. I've learned to lay low but enjoy the little details, from daily morning walks to a homemade pasta dinner. I have been crafting recipes up a storm, yet there are so many little tidbits I want to share with you in the meantime. So, I thought this Sunday midsummer morning would mark the perfect opportunity. -- T-minus ONE WEEK until I'm in a brand new apartment! I can't wait to share pictures once everything is in place. My newest favorite piece is below. I've also started a wish list of apartment (and closet) accessories in the right side bar, entitled "Currently Coveting". . . scroll through yourself!

-- Speaking of accessories, Anthropologie is partnering with a gorgeous, curated line of handmade home goods from Lost + Found. My favorite piece is the wooden chef's serving bowl for entertaining. The entire line (see photo below) is absolutely gorgeous, and you can buy in-stores starting tomorrow, too, if you find yourself in Austin! Otherwise, you can order by searching by brand for "lost + found" on the Anthro home page.

-- It's worth a shot: If you're from Memphis, I'd love your vote for BEST LOCAL BLOG and BEST LOCAL WEBSITE on the Best of Memphis ballot! Thanks in advance!

-- Since pre-ordering my Yellow Table cookbook (only two days left to get yours!), I've become infatuated with Chef Anna Watson Carl's cross-country cookbook road trip. She collaborated with some of my fave bloggers out there, including Jeanine of Love & Lemons and Joy the Baker. Serious jealousy over here, Anna. Get your copy before it's too late!

-- My beloved Memphis has recently been rocking the national food scene! The best slices of the city were shared on NYTimes and Hog & Hominy chef/owners were interviewed on GQ. Andy & Michael's ten unforgettable restaurant experiences sound too good to be true. . .

At the Table - Nautical Beach Picnic

You may recall Caramelized's latest styling series with my fave San Diego blogger, Conni Jespersen of Art in the Find. Our Tartine Affair collaboration was featured on West Elm's Front + Main blog, and we are so excited to share our latest summertime (outdoor) table scene! Conni and I jumped at the idea to celebrate the new month with an emphasis on a breezy, beachy feel and light menu. If you ever find yourself beachside (or simply in your backyard) this summer, take notes on these dreamy tips for a modern nautical beach picnic.

Conni masters the perfect palette of blue hues and whites, which beautifully reflect the sandy shores and crystal waters on the horizon. I'm a huge fan of her dreamy linen dress. . . this stylist clearly knows how to dress the part!

Don't you wish you could bask on a simple plissé throw by the water with a darling champagne bucket this weekend? I surely do. You can see more of Conni's expert styling details on Art in the Find. . .go, go, go check it out. She has listed every thing you'll need to pack in your basket, from pillows to petals!

And, since this is a picnic after all, I've brainstormed (with Conni's similar sweet tooth assistance) and crafted a seasonal dessert and trendy, on-the-go entree to bring along in your picnic basket. Mason jar layered salads allow combinations of seasonal ingredients with no mess, no soggy lettuce, and reliable transportation! Not to mention. . .this set-up looks absolutely adorable. After munching on those veggies, a light fruit tart can be staged right on your picnic blanket for a sweet ending. Keep scrolling for the recipe for my raspberry tart and list of ingredients for mason jar salads. But, of course, you can layer your mason jar with whatever salad ingredients you desire.

WATERMELON + FETA SALAD (shown above) :: Watermelon, feta, spinach, mint CAPRESE SALAD :: Cherry tomatoes, mozzarella, basil, balsamic reduction, arugula FRUIT SALAD :: Peaches, blueberries, raspberries, strawberries

**Note: I do not recommend adding dressing to the salads, unless you pour dressing on the bottom layer and keep lettuce at the very top. We don't need any soggy salads at this beach picnic party!

Raspberry Tart

1 frozen puff pastry sheet, thawed 1 cup raspberries 1 1/2 cups light cream cheese icing

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Unroll pastry onto a baking sheet and bake until puffed and golden, about 12 minutes. Remove and cool for 15 minutes.

2. Evenly spread icing over pastry, leaving a 1-inch border. Sprinkle raspberries generously over tart, and serve immediately.

Thank you to Kevin Falk of XOXO Wedding Studio photographing the scene, to Claudia of La Belle Bloom for the lovely blooms, of course, Sheli from the Incidental Spoon for providing the fun jars/ribbon from her birthday bash here, DeAnna of Simple Peace for the awesome beach tote bags which you can find here, and check out Milled for their amazing hand milled cheese boards.  Finally, West Elm for their usual goodness!

Let's Go to the Beach

Today, I'm heading to Watercolor, Florida, and I cannot wait for the relaxation and sunshine in store. I may have eaten McDonald's already. . . but I promise I'll cook some beautiful recipes for you while I am here. Despite my inclination to pack my entire wardrobe -- I like options, people -- I chose a few colorful picks to last me throughout the vacation. Here's my chance to share them with you! I also brought a few cookbooks to experiment with while hangin' in the beach house. Have a lovely weekend!

1. NAUTICAL ESPADRILLES from J. Crew

2. SUN BREEZE SEA HAT from Anthropologie

3. JUNE SHADES from Anthropologie

4. SURF HAIR SET from Bumble and Bumble

5. EYELET CHINO PANTS from Anthropologie

6. WHITE FRINGE BANDEAU from Target

Six Cookbooks You Need This Summer

Happy weekend! Having just completed my list of birthday wishes for the upcoming year, number four stands of utmost importance: "Open the cookbooks on my shelf and actually cook recipes from them." It's time to use my shelf beyond decorative purposes, my friends. So, I have decided that if Pinterest did not exist (imagine that...), these six cookbooks would fill your plates plenty for months to come. From healthy Italian pestos and vegetarian dishes to fresh baked breads and cheese boards, you'll love the assortment among this group of mine.

I hope you choose to add these to your cookbook collection, but please, please share your favorite books in the comments! I'm always looking to add to the bookshelf.

1. CHEESE OBSESSION :: If cheese is your best friend (my hand is up), this book will be your other. This author thinks out of the box, conjuring up tips for the perfect cheese plate and 100 original recipes using the beloved ingredient.

2. EVERYDAY ITALIAN :: Giada's classic has been a staple of mine for almost a decade. You'll enjoy the lightness of her pestos and pastas without feeling too stuffed. The appetizers are perfect for parties. Every time I open this, I smile thinking of the time I met Giada in person!!

3. AUSTIN TRAILER FOOD DIARIES :: I received this book as a gift and absolutely love its funky spirit from page to page. Plus, there's a recipe for delicacies from some of my most coveted Austin food trucks, including Torchy's and Mighty Cone.

4. PLENTY :: This gorgeous, gorgeous read has some of the most beautiful photography I have ever seen. All recipes are vegetarian with a creative disposition along every line. I've tried the cover recipe, eggplant with buttermilk sauce, but I cannot wait to dive into more over the course of the summer.

5. THE MODEL BAKERY COOKBOOK :: I traveled to Model Bakery during my incredible Napa trip last fall, and I couldn't bear to leave without the cookbook under my arm. I've shared the infamous chocolate chunk cookies, a crowd pleaser in itself.

6. TReatS ::  My closest friends gifted me this adorable book at last month's Cocktails for Caramelized. You'll instantly drool over not only the recipes, but the packaging for delicious gifts! Aren't the donuts on the cover just precious? A sweet tooth is required as soon as you open the first page.

P.S. The darling, antique-ish spoon stand, a well-used gift, can serve as a plate stand or a cookbook stand! I highly recommend one. There are too many times where I have tainted the pages of my favorite books with smeared sticky fingerprints in an attempt to rediscover the recipe at hand.

Twenty Two Birthday Wishes

I turned twenty-two one week ago (woohoo!), and I find myself constantly contemplating on what I want to achieve this upcoming year. Since I am a writer, I've found it easiest to lay out my thoughts in a list. With a new post-college chapter ahead of me (although I'm still in denial), this post comprises of wishes and resolutions, if you will, that I want and need for personal fulfillment. They are in no particular order, and I would love to hear any advice you might have for my (or your) year ahead...

1. Make my bed, every single morning. My commencement speech at UT-Austin graduation taught me to do so. Take twenty minutes and watch it yourself. 2. Wear more color. 3. Read the newspaper. 4. Open the cookbooks on my shelf and actually cook recipes from them -- I need a break from Pinterest. 5. Visit Chicago. And Houston. And Dallas. And New Orleans. And wherever my college friends will guide me. 6. Call my grandparents more often. They're too important. 7. Host a dinner party in my new apartment that involves a lot of wine and a lot of cheese. 8. Splurge on (or dream about) a new bag. 9. Diversify my wine palette beyond a favorite glass of Chardonnay.

10. Start running again -- that time I ran a half marathon seems way too distant ago... 11. Purchase new lingerie -- enough of the oversized sorority t-shirts in my drawer. 12. Learn Photoshop proficiently. 13. Get a facial every three months. And wear sunscreen more often. 14. Use my KitchenAid rather than just as a display piece. 15. Collaborate more with bloggers, professionals, industry influencers, etc. 16. Buy a bar cart and style it with swanky cocktail accessories. Then serve to friends for a happy hour. 17. Surprise my boyfriend when he leasts expects it -- because he's been way too good at surprises lately! 18. Try a pilates class. Even if my aunt is an instructor, I've never done it.

19. Take a spontaneous road trip to the beach. 20. Eat an apple a day -- pink ladies are my new best friends. 21. Plant an herb garden. 22. Make a picnic at least once a season.

images via man-boss | love my dress | the trotter girl | featured image via pink patisserie

A Caramelized Graduation

Well, that just happened. I am officially a graduate of The University of Texas. My whirlwind of emotions seems to shift (without warning) from excitement and gratitude for this milestone to severe melancholy, as my strongest support system of friends branches off across the country, like darts on a board, from this moment forward.

But, all emotions aside, at least we ate well. Our curated graduation food tour of Austin spread across the city and cuisines, leaving our stomachs very happy. South Congress Cafe's lunch portion of the seabass deliciously kicked off the weekend's festivities, and a Thursday night dinner at Perla's (our family favorite) was none less than stellar. I ordered a lighter version of the lobster bucatini, substituting a garlic cream sauce for a lighter white wine sauce. Over one pound of sweet lobster sat atop the housemade pasta. Unbelievable.

In between graduation ceremonies on Friday, we dined at Foodheads (my go-to lunch spot) where my boyfriend Alex surprised me in the courtyard. Dinner was a sentimental reunion of the four graduating Memphis families at Eddie V's. Our private room was filled with laughter, tears and stories -- my mother even gathered photographs of the four of us as little ones.

It would not have been a complete weekend without the Primetime burger (add a fried egg) at Hopdoddy for lunch on Saturday. And once the University-wide commencement ended Saturday evening, we celebrated on the roof of Benji's Cantina with margaritas, guacamole and (one too many) tequila shots.

The finale to this chapter was a bittersweet one, and I am so grateful to have been surrounded by my family and closest friends this past weekend. Now...onto the next chapter!

WHAT I WORE :: Frye Boots | Navy Bb Dakota Elga Sweater Dress | White French Connection Grace Knit Dress