weekend: al fresco

summer is in full swing and i don't want to miss a minute of being outdoors.  

friday night we took advantage of the low humidity and grilled pizzas out on the back patio.  i was a little nervous that it was going to be one giant failure because we didn't have a pizza stone, but putting the dough straight on the grill made for awesome smoky flavor and a crispy crust.

saturday we ventured out to great falls and hiked along the river with lindsay & dave. hope everyone is enjoying summer as much as i am!

summer soup

i don't know about you...but lunch is the HARDEST meal of the day for me.  keeping in mind the time it takes to prepare and it being nutritious/filling it's just a lot to think about.  not to mention, my office is FREEZING, like need a space heater cold, so i always crave something warm.  i've never been one for a sandwich at lunch, which also really narrows down the options.

so when i stumbled upon this recipe for a spicy stew, i knew i may have something good on my hands.  especially with the fresh corn available at the farmers market right now...so easy to make, and put into individual tupperware servings for the rest of the week.

borrowed from the girls over at Big Girls Small Kitchen , this tastes just like enchiladas without hardly any of the guilt and temptation of queso (no offense queso, i love you, but you are the enemy) if you had say, dined out at a mexican joint.

Green Chile Chicken
via Big Girls Small Kitchen

"add it to the list"

i have a running list of frivolous things, places, restaurants, music, etc. and i feel like i have heard myself say the words "add it to the list" a lot lately...

today's addition to "the list" comes in the form of something pink (shocker) and pint-sized.  yes, film may be out of date, and yes, i am still lusting over the big guy (Nikon D3000, which luckily i can borrow from our agency for the time being) but i would love to have a little fun with this guy by my side:

Diana Mini En Rose by Lomography

do you have a "list" that you are always adding to?

summer playlist

summer is sunshine, grilling out, the beach, and most importantly concert season!  if you've been reading the rix-mix for awhile, you know that concerts have a special place in my heart.  listening to live music and discovering emerging bands is so enjoyable for me.  in an effort to spread the word about bands i'm loving right now, i figured i'd give you...

rix-mix summer albums/playlist. vol 1.

givers - "in light"- seriously, every song on the album will make you dance

smith westerns "dye it blonde"- if you haven't bought this yet, you will not regret. it is best listened to anytime, anywhere

foster the people "torches" - upbeat for hangin' out

cults "cults" - just good

holy ghost! 

fitz & the tantrums - "breakin' the chains of love"

the lonely forest - "arrows"

dale earnhardt jr jr "it's a corporate world"

fleet foxes "helplessness blues" - relaxin'

the elected "baby face"

hello - martin solveig & dragonette - i heard this on the dreaded radio, but it's catchy.

sleepyhead (le chev remix)

also, not only does Vogue know fashion, but apparently they've got some good taste in music too (but of course!)  the vogue summer playlist is awesome. highly recommend!

this is what i'm going to look like all summer. casual cute, hanging out outside and listening to good music.
a la Alexa Chung & Harley Viera-Newton @ the Mulberry Party during Coachella
photo via Vogue, by Gia Coppola

tibi pre-fall

tibi pre-fall previewed today on the book.  i'm loving the simplicity, color palette and cute retro shapes.

love it. shop it. 

photo via Tibi

the inspired apartment

i've officially been in my bachelorette pad for a month (aka studio apartment, aka having every right for pink to be the main decor color) and it is almost complete!

there a few more works in progress -- happening this weekend, fingers crossed. but i thought i'd share with you all a space that inspired me.

starting with my first big purchase - a painting by Nicole Cohen of Sketch42. from there i wandered onto Nicole's blog and bam, there it was, my dream apartment her lovely home in NYC.  seeing her mixing of textures (see fluffy rug/acrylic combo) and black & white's with her colorful prints hanging tugged at my heartstrings!

i can't wait to share pictures with you all, but as i said, still a work in progress (having a full-time job is such an inconvenience, no?)  in the meantime, i give you, the Sketch42 apt (featured in Rue) to lust over.

check out Sketch42 and see it all here

summer hair

the HOT temps have been making blow drying my hair a complete lose lose situation.  it does not stay straight because of the humidity and it makes getting ready in the mornings that much more miserable.  

so i have adopted a summer routine of no blow dry (unless the walk to the metro counts) + redken radiant sea spray  

this is the idea. the only thing my hair really has in common with this is the "stringy" factor.

this smells so delish

since my hair is not exactly wavy, nor full, nor anything really desirable, i generally end up with a bun piled atop my head.  i have fully convinced myself that a bun is chic and puts across the "she is really together" rather than "she didn't do her hair this morning" message. 

what do you think? are buns lazy or a chic way to stay cool?

kate bosworth with a sleek updo

Lauren Conrad with a messier, un-done bun

doutzen kroes rocking a classic at the Costume Institute Gala
image via Vogue.com