Polka Dots and Bright Green

Skirt: F21
Tank Top: Old Navy
Shoes: Nine West
Belt: Banana Republic Outlet
Earrings: Anthropologie
Ring: Gift from Mom!

This skirt is one of the best items in my closet. I love its high waist, retro print, and how flowy it is; the way it can be worn with almost anything helps, too! The night of this photo I paired it with a lightweight cotton top, tucked in, and accented with a little white belt that's just thin enough to fit in the loopholes around the waist. The shoes are really fun, with gold and silver paisley print, and little black rhinestones around the outside. Supercute, and a very slight kitten heel to add some glamour. Love them!
We went out to dinner at Casa Oaxaca, a wonderful Mexican restaurant specializing in mole. Not only is the food tasty, tasty, but their margaritas come in several great flavors, like blood orange, pomegranate, and blackberry. It's quickly becoming one of my favorite places to eat in the city!

BlueberryCrumble Bars

Oh. My. Goodness.
I'm going to level with you here. I ran my first 5k on Friday evening (27:47!), and it felt absolutely amazing. It's really incredible what our bodies are capable of, isn't it?
Because of that burst of physical activity, it seemed okay to go completely overboard with a dessert for Fourth of July. I've been waiting for an excuse to bake these blueberry crumb bars from The Complete Magnolia Bakery Cookbook, because there is no other way to justify using the amount of butter in this recipe. The recipe itself is incredibly easy, and there aren't many ingredients called for, just a large amount of each one. The finished product is finger-lickin' good, though, with just enough sweetness from the topping and preserves to balance out the butter of the crust. Feel free to substitute your favorite preserves; this is a customizable recipe!


Blueberry Crunch Squares (adapted from The Complete Magnolia Bakery Cookbook, 2009)
The original recipe is slated for a 12x18 baking pan. I decreased the amounts for my 9x13 baking pan, but you can cut out butter and flour as desired if you'd like a thinner crust or less topping. Just be sure to keep the ratios equal!

Crust:
3 sticks unsalted butter, melted
2 c. all-purpose flour
1 c. whole wheat flour

Filling:
1 1/4 c. blueberry preserves, beaten smooth with whisk

Topping:
1 1/2 c. all purpose flour
1 c. whole wheat flour
1 1/2 c. light brown sugar
2 sticks softened butter, cut into small pieces

1. Preheat oven to 35o degrees.
2. Make crust: in a large bowl, combine the butter with flours until it forms a doughlike consistency. Spread evenly into an ungreased 9x13 baking pan. Firmly and evenly press down crust and bake for 15 minutes. Remove from oven and cool completely, 20-30 minutes.
3. Prepare topping: Mix flours and brown sugar. Using pastry blender, or fork, or food processor, cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
4. After crust is cooled, spread preserves evenly on top, leaving a 1/4-inch border. Crumble topping on top of preserves (it will seem like more than you think you need, but it's sooo necessary!).
5. Bake 20 minutes, until top is golden brown. Let cool completely before cutting into desired size and serve to yourself. Maybe let some other people have one or two.

Eagle!

Shirt and earrings: H&M
Skirt: Gap
Shoes: Steve Madden
Purse: from my mom, thrifted
Big blue ring: Dominican Republic

I'm so in love with this new shirt! Obviously, it's a bit massive, but the way it drapes is somehow flattering (hopefully not just to me), and I love the huge proportion of it. I've worn it with this short skirt, a pair of short-shorts, and skinny jeans, all of which looked great! It's wonderful to find a top so versatile, while still sticking to a budget. I feel compelled to add that my mom liked this top so much she snagged one (in the same size even) on her trip here. Hey, it bridges generations!
While John Paul was taking these pictures, they looked a little darker than they're coming up on the computer. I just got a new camera, and will fiddle around with the settings so the next batch of photos aren't quite so overexposed. There's always a learning curve!
Happy Independence Day to everyone! I'm going to a penthouse of my condo building to see fireworks over the Nat'l Mall; what do you guys have planned?

Skillet Cornbread

Do y'all like southern food? Delicious carbs? Authentic recipes? This is the cornbread for you!
I like my cornbread kind of moist, with kernels of corn within and mildly sweet.
Enter Katie Lee. It's as if she was reading my mind when she came up with this recipe with buttermilk (to keep the bread from drying out), a bit of sugar, and some flour to keep it from being gritty (as cornmeal is easily able to do). It's even baked in a cast iron skillet, completing the ranchy, down home feel. It's perfect with some chili, or even just heated up with some butter for a snack. Because I love corn deeply, I threw in some frozen kernels, which Katie does not include, but really probably should have.
Trust me, y'all can't go wrong with this.

Tasty, tasty Cornbread (adapted from Katie Lee's Comfort Table, 2008)
2 Tbsp. canola oil
2 c. yellow cornmeal
1 c. whole wheat flour
1 Tbsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
1/4 c. sugar
2 c. buttermilk
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
4 Tbsp. unsalted butter, melted and cooled
3/4 c. frozen corn kernels, thawed

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Pour oil into 10-inch cast iron skillet and place in oven while preheating.
2. In a medium bowl, combine cornmeal, flour, baking powder, salt and sugar.
3. In a separate bowl, whisk together buttermilk, eggs, butter and corn kernels. Add to dry ingredients and stir until just combined.
4. Carefully remove hot skillet from oven (Use potholders; it's REALLY hot!). Pour batter into skillet, and bake for 25-30 minutes, until golden brown.
5. Cut into slices and eat up!

Bel Canto

Bel Canto is easily one of the most beautifully written novels I have ever read. Ann Patchett has imbued her characters with such heart and humanity, all while keeping the book well-paced and intriguing.
A lavish birthday party for a powerful Japanese businessman is being thrown at the vice president's house of a South American country, at which a world-renowned opera singer is also singing. At the tale end of the soprano's performance, a group of terrorists break into the house and take everyone hostage, inciting panic and anxiety inside and outside of the house. The hostage situation goes on for months, and the captives slowly develop their own rituals and relationships for the time spent together. The men left inside the vice president's mansion reflect on their marriages, great loves are discovered, and the beautiful sound of opera becomes a part of daily life. Their idyllic situation, however, is a dangerous and fragile one, and I should warn you that this book does not have a happy ending.
Although the book cover did not sell me on this, several recommendations from people whose opinion I respect convinced me to pick it up. Thank goodness I finally listened to reason; Ann Patchett is a phenomenal writer who can interweave the stories of several characters from a variety of backgrounds and cultures with great skill. The romances are gracefully portrayed, and the tenuous line between sympathy for the terrorists and desire for the hostages to be freed is constantly being crossed. You may find yourself longing to hear opera play as you read, or finish the book and feel grateful to go outside whenever you'd like. Bel Canto is spell-binding, and I promise that if you enjoy wonderful fiction, you will read it time and time again.

American Library Association Convention Photos!

Since I was but a wee little Abbi, I knew library work was for me. My mom told people this week that I knew how to fix the toilet in the Indiantown Public Library before I was ten, just to show how much time we spent there. The first thing I do in a new city is get a library card, and feel passionately about everyone having equal access to information at public libraries. Events like the ALA Annual Convention and the National Book Festival in September (put on by the Library of Congress) reinforce the important work libraries do in our country, and I feel so lucky to have been able to attend this year!
Toni Morrison was the keynote speaker, and she was incredible. I've only read one book by her, but got teary when she got up on stage because she is such a literary giant. Did you know she started out working as a page in her hometown library? No flash photography allowed, so apologies for the blurry view, but we were as close as we possibly could have been in the third row.
Listen, libraries are important and all, but so is the World Cup. There were groups like this all over the convention center during soccer games; this one was US vs. Ghana. We put up a good effort; better luck next time, USA!
Tony Diterlizzi went to high school in Martin County, and Mommi knows him from several book talks. He's so nice, and has a great new juvenile fiction book coming out in September, so keep an eye out if you're a fantasy fan!
An exhibitor gave away free glasses of champagne. Say no more, we were there!
Salman Rushdie was the first speaker we saw on Saturday, and I was impressed with how much he seemed to enjoy himself! Throughout the lecture, he chuckled and gave little asides about his life that made him seem so personable and friendly. We got there early and had front row seats!
There is a very cute children's book coming out by the end of the year about a bear who finds a little boy in the woods and adopts him, although he makes a terrible pet (impossible to house train). Publishers have their upcoming books on display in the exhibits section of the conference, and it's so much fun to see what's coming up in the book world!

Visit to the city

As much as I love my city, DC is completely devoid of Summers and Shelton family members (at least for the time being; Summer, I'm talking to you!), meaning I spend time missing my wonderful relatives. It makes visits like the one this week from my mom so special; we get to catch up on everything and I love showing off the many sides of our capitol. Rather than having my usual outfit, book and recipe posts, this week I'm going to share some pictures of what Mommi and I did during her trip. Don't fear, the regular posts will return soon!

Mia got to really bond with her Grandma Heinie. (She really is like our baby girl!) Mom brought up some treats and a new toy for her, so she was a happy dog!

We drank tasty, tasty drinks at our almost-nightly cocktail hours. This one was a Salty Dog, grapefruit juice and vodka, with a salt-lined rim. Sooo delicious, and such wonderful company! On another tangent, everyone I introduced Mommi to remarked how alike we look, and this picture really does nothing to disprove that theory.
We only cooked vegetarian food, mostly because it's so easy and we didn't have a ton of time to be putting big meals together. Here John Paul and I are making a melon salad and minted pea soup; they are sooo easy, and perfect for summer so I'll post those recipes soon!Mommi and I trekked out in the unbelievable heat to see Michelle Obama's gorgeous gown for the inaugural balls. Those are her Jimmy Choos on the lower right corner, size 10ish! She really does have impeccable style. The First Ladies exhibit at the Smithsonian Museum of American History is a don't-miss.
There are some new pieces in the modern art wing of the National Gallery of Art, so I did a little posing. It doesn't hurt that it was in the high 90s outside, and the NGA is air conditioned!

Tomorrow I'll put some pictures up of the ALA convention. Not to brag, but we saw Toni Morrison, Salman Rushdie, Will Shortz (editor of the NYT crossword puzzle), and Tony Diterlizzi (Spiderwick Chronicles illustrator). I love being a librarian!

White Hot

Outfit:
Top: F21
Jeans and clutch: Gap
Belt: Banana Republic
Sandals: Steve Madden
Earrings: H&M
Ring: Art Mart (hostess gift from my wonderful Mommi!)
My mom is here from Illinois for the week! Luckily, she's already seen a lot of the touristy stuff, so we get to spend our time walking around cute shops and drinking tasty cocktails. This weekend we're going to the American Library Association convention here in the district, so I'll have some great pictures and stories on Monday when we meet back here.
Wednesday was a blazing hot day here in DC. I mean, blazing hot. Of course, that was the day Mommi and I picked to walk around Georgetown to do some shopping and general girly chit chat. I decided to go for the downtown, sloppy chic look; not only does it mean I could be a little unkempt, but it also allows for me to debut this cute new ring Mommi brought down from Illinois. It's so summery and fun!
Did I still sweat? Yes. Did I look good doing so? Hope so.

Mexican Wedding Cookies

Apparently these cookies have roots in several cultures, with only the nuts and shapes changing in each country. Italian wedding cookies are made with hazelnuts and shaped like crescents, in Russia a 1/4 c. of flour is substituted for more ground nut, and in Mexico, cinnamon is added to the mix. The gist remains the same, though: a very slightly sweet, crumbly cookie dusted with powdered sugar. Because no eggs are included in the dough, these will keep in an airtight container for up to two weeks. Seriously, though, good luck trying to keep your hands off these treats for fourteen days!
As people left the pinxtos party on Saturday night, I sent bags of these home as parting gifts. They're great with coffee to start your day. Hey, a little sugar rush in the morning never hurt anyone.

Mexican Wedding Cookies (from Katie Lee Joel's The Comfort Table: Recipes for Everyday Occasions, 2009)
2 sticks unsalted butter, room temperature
1 1/2 c. powdered sugar
1 tsp. vanilla extract
2 1/2 c. whole wheat flour
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1 cup pecans, ground

1. With an electric mixer, beat butter and 1/2 c. powdered sugar. Beat in vanilla. Stir in flour, salt, cinnamon and pecans. Form into a ball, cover with plastic wrap, and chill for 1 hour.
2. Preheat oven to 375.
3. Roll dough into 1 inch balls (I made mine more like golf ball sized). Place on baking sheets and bake for 15 minutes. Cool on a wire rack.
4. Roll each cookie in remaining powdered sugar. Store in airtight container!
Makes 20-30 cookies, depending on size.

I Capture the Castle

The book was a gift from my Grandma in North Carolina more than a decade ago, and my copy is remarkably well loved. I've always been an avid journaler (not journalist!), and love 17-year old Cassandra Mortmain's writings of her eccentric family.
The story takes place in England, where Cassandra lives with her beautiful older sister Rose, quirky artistic stepmother Topaz, former literary great father James, younger brother Thomas, and a dog in a decrepit castle. There's also Stephen, a very handy neighbor who soon reveals his deep love for Cassandra. She manages to see the romantic, bohemian side of their situation, although the family frequently eats crackers for dinner, has sold most of their furniture, hasn't paid their rent in years, and has to use an old wooden door as a table when company comes to visit.
Things begin to pick up for the Mortmains when the American Cotton brothers, owners of the castle, move to town and befriend the family. Soon Rose and Cassandra are both dealing with suitors and the delicate social structure of 1930s England.
Many reviews of this book have compared it to Jane Austen's novels; there is indeed something Austenish in Cassandra's honest portrayals of a lower class family trying to keep up appearances with their wealthier neighbors, as well as the rather old-fashioned descriptions of courting. The writing never feels dated, though, and Cassandra's musings are thoroughly captivating. I Capture the Castle is a great read any time of the year, although the setting of dreary, rainy English countryside may help cool you down in the summer heat.