Boise's Newest Festival

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Did you know Boise will now have it's own annual street circus?  Welcome Curb Cup to Boise's festival line-up.  I have to admit, my interest was peaked a few weeks ago reading through the Boise Weekly and discovering the idea for the event. 
Basically its an all-out free creativity festival on steroids.  Imagine 2 hours to walk and witness over 130 street performers/groups within a few blocks of the Grove Plaza and 8th Street.  Musicians, dancers, martial artists, and entertainers from every level of talent competed in one cacophonous cluster vying for votes from the masses for the coveted curb cup trophy.
And masses there were.  People from normal to bizarro were out with friends and family taking advantage of a beautiful Boise day.  It was so crowded that I often found if difficult to navigate my young crew to spots where they could witness the individual events.  My husband and I both commented on the bad luck of the musician directly across from the bag piping group in full Scottish dress.  I wonder if there was a prize for loudest participant?
I would have liked to have seen more physical skill performers and weirdo entries.  The vast majority of the participants were musicians, many of whom could not even hear themselves think, let alone play packed together in such a limited area. 
All in all however, the event was amusing and fun, mostly because I got a kick watching my kiddos get an eyeful of the more "colorful" side of Boise.  The Boise Centre on the Grove is always a great spot to be on a beautiful day, and we satisfyingly ended up at the fountains for a cooling splash session while the organizers tallied the votes.  I have much hope that the kinks will be ironed out for next year and more talent will make themselves spectacles for an afternoon.  I look forward to next year's Curb Cup with avidity!

Casual Glam

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When I look at the various subjects and categories that I have listed as my interests, I must admit they make me sound a tad bit materialistic and shallow.  I must caveat that as much as I love getting myself dolled up for the day, I usually leave the house dressed pretty casually- jeans (because hockey gives me the ugliest bruises on my legs), tank, jewelry, heels.  I'm real.

I do read a few fashion blogs, thumb through my magazines, and if its a good day I may have the opportunity to pop into a favorite shop or two, but realistically these events make up a very small portion of my 24 hour allotment.  I am just a mom trying to survive my schedule like anyone else...only I try to do it in a cute shoe if possible.  (*professional picture)
So, recently I have added an indulgence to my "beauty" regimen.  False eyelashes*.  I have never had a problem with my own God-given lashes, but seeing the expanse of inexpensive eyelash options available in stores from Albertsons to Sephora has peaked my interest and given me a new fashion avenue to explore.  The trick is to find the natural lashes, not the drag queen-esque variety. (Albeit super-fab in the right place/right time mind you!)
It has taken me a few days of practice, but my application skills are improving.  Searching online, I have found that this youtube video is the most helpful tutorial for eyelash application instruction.  The gal has a dramatic pair of lashes she is working with, but the techniques are universal.  For me, I love the added "pop" they give my face.  Just enough oomph to make people notice.  I personally have had responses from family and friends while wearing my falsies, positive feedback mind you!  So far I have only used lashes that require glue, but I am going out hunting tomorrow for a brand that is self-sticking...I'll let you know how they work out.  (*below photos of myself with my handywork.  Obviously not professional photography!)
For what it's worth, anything that makes my eyes seem more awake is worth 2 extra minutes of effort.  Try it!  You'll see.  Casual glam is easy.

Asian Chicken Salad Send Off

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Tonight I have two fun engagements to attend. The second is a much anticipated Boise Women's Hockey Association board meeting that will be kicking off the new playing season. Yeah!  And the first is a bittersweet get-together with some of my absolute closest friends in the world.  I don't get to see these ladies often, but when I do it is ALWAYS a fun time!  Sadly, the purpose of the diversion is to say farewell to one of our favorites as she heads back to Virginia.  Heidi is a fabulous mother of 9!  And she looks like a buxom Barbie, sexy as hell! I will miss her, again. (Pictured in white)
So, a gathering of friends is the perfect occasion for feasting and we are all getting ready to lounge poolside at Kelly's new house. (She is the newly married friend who is a lover of hats and all things theatrical, pictured above in blue.) 

I am always trying to create super-flavorful dishes that I can pack around with me, whether it be on our boat, or to someone's soiree.  My "Pimped Out Asian Chicken Salad w/ Wicked Peanut Dressing" is the perfect carry-out.  It's a little bit of a preptastic-production in the beginning, but with a little planning, this dish will be worth the effort.
Jessie's Pimped Out Asian Chicken Salad w/ Wicked Peanut Dressing

Reserved shredded chicken from 1 rotisserie or previously cooked whole chicken (Jessie TIP- the easiest way to cook a whole chicken is to stick it in the crock-pot with a generous sprinkling of kosher salt and pepper.  No water needed, cook on low for about 5 hours.  Cool and de-bone, freezing the meat in portions or using it right away in your recipe.)

Along with the shredded chicken, combine the following...

Handful of diagonally sliced sugar snap peas ( approx. 1 cup)
1 red pepper, julienned (cut in strips-yo!)
2 large carrots, jullienned
5-6 scallions (white and green parts) diagonally sliced
1 pound of asparagus (ends removed, cut into thirds and blanched for 3-5 min.)
Bag of broccoli slaw (found in the salad section)
1 bunch of cilantro, chopped
2 T. sesame seeds, toasted
1 box of spaghetti noodles (broken in half, cooked al dente and rinsed with cold water)

For the Wicked Peanut Dressing...

In a food processor or blender combine the following-(*add the oil while running the first 11 items)
1/4 cup rice wine vinegar
1/4 cup low sodium soy sauce
3 T. dark sesame oil
1 T. honey
1 T. minced/grated ginger
2  garlic cloves, minced
2 tsp. chili paste, or mashed chipotle
2 tsp. kosher salt
2 tsp pepper
1/2 cup smooth peanut butter
1T. toasted sesame seeds
*3/4 cup canola or vegetable oil

Pour the dressing over the vegetables, chicken and noodles and toss to combine.  Serve cold or at room temperature.  This makes enough for a crowd so enjoy!

Fall/Winter Color Forecasts

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I have always been fascinated by color, and following upcoming color trends is a bizarre interest of mine.  As a younger person, my hair color changed with the seasons.  I have been just about every common shade you'd expect, as well as many shades in between.  Once settled after college in the real world, I transferred my love of color to the walls of my home.  It was not uncommon for my husband to go to work in the morning with one shade on the wall and come home to a completely new hue and everything completely intact! I was good.

Now, life has become a busier production leaving me less time for painting and thus requiring me to once again carry over my love for pigments into another arena; fashion for self and home. So, what color trends can we expect to see this fall/winter?  Think dark backgrounds with bright embellishments. Think black and grey tonals.  (Do I detect a fashion mood parallel to that of the world's disposition?)
The yin to the yang comes through with carry-over colors from last spring and summer including the fabulous mustardy hue that you have probably seen everywhere.  2009's color of the year in fact according to pantone.com.
  Also of highly notable mention, the jewel tones of plum, raspberry, lilacy purples, teals, fuschias, and pinks. 
Fabrics using modern earth tonal color pallets will also be seen in darkened shades of orange, peacock, and brown.  These colors were all over the runways last February as designers showcased their fall/winter 09-10 collections.  Take this little ensemble from fashion goddess Diane von Furstenberg's line:
 
(Notice the hats in these photos, one of the big trends for fall!)  And ladies, I can't forget about the metallics!  Coppers, silvers, golds....lusty metals to add shine to your winter wear.  
 All in all, some great color possibilities for fall/winter.  Definitely gets me in the mood for some shopping, how about you?

Happy Birthday Mom!

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Yesterday, by order of the calendar, my beautiful mother turned another year older. Somehow, it seems like I am the one aging while she remains the same year after year. I hope at some point, this phenomena of genetics will actualize in my own body and my daughters will be making that same observation. Also pictured is my younger sister Lisa. She is lovely and amazing as well, for reasons I will go into in another blog. Together, the three of us, along with three of my mother's closest friends, engaged in one of our favorite birthday rituals....the Tiger beer and sushi surfeit.

We ventured to a sushi establishment that is a local favorite, not my particular choice mind you, but alas it was not my birthday. Needless to say, the sushi last night was excellent! After our ritual power ordering session and gorging, I'm sure the waitress was looking to pop the top of her own Tiger beer for recovery.



I come as much for the outrageous conversation as I do for the food. My mother's friends (all of whom are just as close to my sister and I) are a lively bunch of gals, with personalities that vary as much as the rolls we order. Each brings their own flavor to the mix and we always end up having a marvelous time, so much in fact that we end up forgetting who is having the actual birthday; it always seems like the party was for all of us! Happy birthday mom!

OMG!!! Like, What a Great Party!!!

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I love the opportunity to host a get-together, all my friends can vouch for that fact. BUT, sometimes, I get the chance to plan something other than adult parties (that sounds racier than I meant, but it's late so I will leave the statement where it is). Case in point, tonight I got to host a little gathering for my daughters' competitive dance team, a "get to know you" kind of party to kick off the new dance year.

I just LOVED turning back my mindset to the age of 9-10ish and I will probably try to do it more often for my own friends, because dang, we had FUN! How could we not? 10 super-cute girls+ sugar soda+ finger foods+ candy+ ice cream bars+ teeny bopper magazines+ Mod Podge+ kickin' pop tunes= GOOD TIMES!

Kids love junk food, so that made my culinary load quite simple. In fact, I almost did pizza but thought skewers were in order so we made kabobs, both fruit and teriyaki chicken which the girls enjoyed. How easy is that? My husband even grilled them, which is a feat in itself because it is not often I let him near my turf! (We have a weird relationship, did I mention I want a Traeger for my 10 year anniversary? That's a smoker grille deluxe, for those of you out of the BBQ loop.) A few veggies and a ranch dip, chips of different varieties and we were in business.

Next comes the decor, I always believe in making a statement at the beginning. One of these days I will blog about my best party to date, my Moulin Rouge affair for my dear friend Kelly. That door was quintessential Jessie--and that night was one for the memory books...check back for those pics and the whole story someday soon. It was the inspiration for our teen "idol" doorway (pictured above).

I must say, deciding on the main activity was a little bit of a quandary for me these last few days. I kept going over ideas but they were either too messy, too involved, or too expensive...you get the drift. But as I was doing my grocery shopping, the lightning bolt struck and I grabbed 10 $1 composition books in the school supply aisle. Mix in some random-fun scrapbook paper, teen pictures and sayings cut out of the latest issue of Teeny Bopper Today, Mod Podge, and ta-da! Super-fabulous composition books worthy of any pre-teens desk at school. Who knows?! They might even make homework more fun! I love when crafts end up being something my kids will actually use! And I must say, they turned out darling! I even made one for myself....
Too fun! I may not be 10 anymore, but I am still a giggly girl at heart just looking to have a good time!




One of My Go-To Summer Pasta Dishes...

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Back in the day I was the proud member of a cooking co-op. Loved it! There was one other member out of four who also enjoyed cooking as much as I did. Therefore, for two nights a week, my husband would cringe at what was set before him. I don't blame him. It is my own fault for spoiling the man. Can I help it that I have slowly in our ten years of marriage, refined his pallet?

This recipe was found and shared by the other member with a love of all things culinary. Originally a Cooking Light recipe, I have tweaked it to my liking....Enjoy!
Chicken Pasta Salad with Green Beans
2 cups uncooked pasta (tube-shaped or fusilli works best) pasta
2 cups (1-inch) cut green beans (about 1/2 pound)
2 cups shredded cooked chicken breast (Use a rotisserie, or leftovers)
1/2 cup vertically sliced red onion
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
1 1/2 teaspoons chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
1 (7-ounce) bottle roasted red bell pepper, drained and cut into thin strips
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar (or red wine vinegar for a lighter color and flavor)
1 tablespoon cold water
1/2 teaspoon salt
2-3 cloves of garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon salt-free seasoning, like Mrs. Dash

Cook pasta in boiling water 7 minutes. Add green beans; cook 4 minutes. Drain and rinse with cold water; drain. Combine pasta mixture, chicken, onion, basil, parsley, and bell pepper in a large bowl, tossing gently to combine.

Combine oil and remaining ingredients in a small bowl, stirring with a whisk. Drizzle over pasta mixture; toss gently to coat.

Yield: 4 servings (serving size: 2 cups)CALORIES 384 (23% from fat); FAT 9.7g (sat 1.8g,mono 5.7g,poly 1.5g); IRON 3.2mg; CHOLESTEROL 49mg; CALCIUM 59mg; CARBOHYDRATE 47.8g; SODIUM 866mg; PROTEIN 26.9g; FIBER 2.6g

Do you feel it?

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Do you feel it? Just that slight change humming in the air reminds us that fall is closing in on our summer. We all know what that means…..time to rearrange our wardrobes!

Even though fall fashion week took place last February, you may be starting to look past the tanks and shorts in the stores to peruse what the fashion world was looking at months ago. If you are curious about what trends you will be seeing in and around Boise in the coming months, stay tuned! I am working on my Fall Fashion 2009 piece that will fill in those style blanks AND tell you where around town you can get them for yourself and on a budget (well, we’ll try our best anyway!).

In honor of my MARRIED friend Kelly, I am offering up a preview of one of my absolute favorite trends for fall. En vogue again…I can’t stand it…girls, get out those HATS! They are back and will be the ultimate finishing touch to your fall/winter ensemble! Check out these beauties:


And these!!!!


Did you notice the embellishments??? Feathers! The combination alone is making me purr with delight! So…dust off those hats or pick up a new one. Hat-fanatics know that the look is timeless, but the fashion gods takes our precious toppers in and out of mode so fast the trend is over before we take the hat boxes down from the top shelf!


I intend to take pleasure in this style movement before it’s too late and hope you will too!

I Heart Boise

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I admit it. I wake up thinking about meal plans, how I can turn my old stuff into something worthy of being on today’s fashion radar, the next party I am going to throw, where I can take my kiddos to expand their brains and wear out their batteries and when I can get my mom and sister out for sushi. Usually these thoughts are racing through my mind concurrently. I have my mundane daily tasks like everyone else, but I am always plotting my next new endeavor! Much to the chagrin of my husband, I have used my mild ADD to my advantage and continue to social multi-task like a champ.


I have always told my friends if I were to be an animal, I would most definitely be an octopus. Eight fabulous arms reaching simultaneously in eight different directions! My life is never mundane! Using this blog as my forum, I can’t wait to share my favorite ways to make life fantastic and hope it adds a little moxie to your lifestyle!


Growing up in Boise, I spent my teenage years thinking about one thing…leaving. Then after finishing college in Northern Idaho, I returned with a new appreciation for the city of my youth. Now that I am raising a family, I cannot think of a better place to be! What Boise lacks in quantity, it makes up with quality. We may not have dozens of malls, oodles of nightclubs, and endless entertainment options every night of the week, but Boiseans never lack for options and it gets better every day.


I look forward to sharing my discoveries with readers looking to seek out these Boise treasures. I get tired of the same old shops and eateries too! The more we know together, the better our community will be. We all know buying local keeps our money here, in the Boise area! It makes our dollar just a little bit stronger, stretching further into the pockets of our neighbors and friends and ultimately creating a more robust local economy. How fabulous is that?