Blue and White Everything

I am excited because many of my new favorite things are blue and white. 

To follow along with my favorite things daily make sure to follow along on Instagram at @theduchess1317. 

I am three stethescopes deep into my career (yes, I have broken three in 2 years). 

That is a lot of stethe-debt, but I am excited to try the renowned quality of this rainbow and navy Litmann. 

Overstock had a huge liquidation sale and I scored this gorgeous and huge area rug for my office. It is 10x14' and covers the room so nicely. 

Obsessed does not even begin to describe how I feel about this blue and white lamp that I also picked up at the Overstock sale. Let it be noted that they send out coupons all the time if you sign up for emails, including an initial 10% coupon for signing up initially. Don't forget to use eBates too for extra cash back! 

I want allllll the blue and white details this season!

XOXO, 

My Week in Photos

Finally, back to the blogging world. I have been fighting bronchitis and a sinus infection for three weeks. I made the mistake of waiting for 2 weeks to go to the doctor, thinking it was a flu, cold, or something I could fight off. It was the most miserable decision that I could have made. I am finally 3 days away from finishing a round of antibiotics and am feeling better. 

I was so excited to have a series of days off of work to catch up on everything from grocery shopping to seeing people I love to just being a person. Today we went to the auto show, tomorrow is a scheduled girl's night with one of my coworkers, and the following evening is a celebration of my grandfather's birthday. This past weekend Will and I also threw in a movie night where I made steak on my new cast iron pan, a visit to the West Side Market for fresh bread, produce and macaroons. I am so excited to have my life back on track, including regular trips to the gym where I can lift the heavy weight that makes me feel like I went there to work out with a purpose. 

I had yet another clearance find at TJ Maxx. Seriously I need to stay out of that place. I just can't help myself when they have items for so cheap that I would have otherwise paid a fortune for. I am one of those people who thrives off of aesthetically pleasing spaces, and my apartment is no exception. I am also a sucker for chochkies. I admit that I love a fresh and modern space with a clean interior. However, I can't help but surround myself with things that make me happy, which is what I believe Lorelai Gilmore said in Gilmore Girls. There is a huge difference between clutter and most loved chochkies, and I like to keep a fine balance. 

On one of the days I started to finally turn the corner on my plague, we took a quick pit stop to the park to take a look at the lake. It was freezing, but we feel SO blessed to live by a large body of water. We take it for granted, but there is nothing like a walk on the lake during the summer to watch the sunset. (We also were walking off the guilt of the macaroons we had just eaten at the West Side Market.)

Ironically enough we ended up stopping for cake donuts at my favorite donut place in the world, Spudnuts. We took 2 home for later. 

Did anyone else hear about the death of Bill Paxton? I was deeply saddened. He was such a fantastic actor and every movie he was in was better because of his presence. We had actually just finished watching Titanic a few hours before I found out. 

Lastly, I have been crushing on the Michele Deco Diamond watch. 

Maybe a purchase far into the future. I never used to like watches just because I didn't like to wear anything tight on my wrist. Lately I have begun to appreciate the beauty in a well made watch. Timepieces are things that can be handed down to your children and grandchildren for years to come. There are certain family heirlooms and timepieces that the women in my family have that I have always admired and I can't wait to pass down coveted pieces of jewelry to my loved ones. This is one of the reasons I think it is important to invest when you are able in things that last for years and years rather than throw money away on trends. 

I topped off the end of my stretch of days off with a wine and mermaid tail night with one of my dear coworkers! 

I hope you enjoy the rest of your week. 

XOXO, 

Hasselback Stuffed Caprese Chicken Recipe

I have yet another amazing recipe that I stumbled upon while browsing Pinterest. This was a favorite for me because not only was it fast (prep time less than 15 minutes), but it was easy to make a large amount of which means lots of leftovers. This is a key component when it comes to making dinners for one. The last thing I want to do is prep a meal for myself every day of the week, so I love when I get a meal that warms up well. This Hasselback stuffed chicken warms wonderfully in the microwave because all of the juices keep the dish moist. 

One thing that I did add to this dish was a quick and simple touch. I marinated the chicken in Italian dressing for a few hours prior to making the dish. It gave the chicken extra flavor and added to the moistness of the dish. Also, for added moisture place a baking dish half full of water on the bottom rack of the oven while you bake. 

I unfortunately forgot to take a photo of the "after" dish, but you get the picture...it is delicious. 

This recipe was borrowed from Walking on Sunshine Recipes, which is a fantastic blog for foodies. 

2 chicken breasts

Sliced mozzarella cheese

Grape tomatoes; sliced in half

Basil leaves

2 teaspoons Italian seasoning

salt, pepper

2 teaspoons olive oil

1. Place the chicken breasts on a cutting board. Using a sharp knife, cut slits across the chicken breast about 3/4 of the way through the chicken breast being careful not to cut all the way through.
2. Depending on the size of your chicken breast, you're going to want around 6 to 8 slits per chicken breast.
3. Stuff each slit with a slice of mozzarella cheese, half a grape tomato and a basil leaf.
4. Place chicken breasts in a baking dish that has been coated with non-stick baking spray.
5. Brush each chicken breast with olive oil.
6. Sprinkle each chicken breast with salt, pepper and Italian seasoning.
7. Bake in a preheated 400 degree oven for 30 minutes or until the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 160 degrees.

Enjoy! 

XOXO, 

What I'm Crushing On

Some of the things I am crushing on lately include...

This unbelievably sweet Sylvie Mini Chain Handbag  which will never be mine due to price constraints. However, the colors, crispness of the bow, and buttery leather are to die for. I will be stalking ebay and The Real Real in the future for this on consignment. 

My mom found me this adorable mini shopping card at a closeout store, and I am using it for my shopping list. I love all things that tiny that are not usually intended to be tiny. So cute, it makes the thought of going to the grocery store a little less dreadful and is so appropriate in the kitchen. 

I love this covered ottoman which I found at (you guessed it) TJ Maxx. My storage closet was overflowing. Every single time I closed the door I ripped a hole in my scrapbook bag, boxes for my ebay listing fell off the stack, and the avalanche began. I had so many things stacked on my storage containers that they were bowing and it created a war every single time I needed to find something. Having this extra storage space is a dream, and it looks so tidy. I wish I could take a nap on it, but it isn't long enough. I love that I have the option of using this at the end of a bed in the future if I wish. 

XOXO, 

My Secrets to a Happy Coffee Table

I LOVE coffee tables. Actually, let me use this opportunity to announce how much I love tables in general. They are such a simple aesthetic yet they express so much about our decorating scale, our own personal happiness and our likes. They are the perfect place to lay out things that make us smile, make our hearts dance. Things we love to look at. The perfectly decorated table makes a perfectly decorated room...which is why I am only allowed into TJ Maxx every once in a while because I end up walking out with another table. I wanted to share a few of the secrets that I think make the perfect table top, be it your coffee table, night stand, end table or entry way decor. 

1. Faux flowers can be very tasteful in small amounts. Of course fresh flowers are preferred, but I find that shallow jars of flowers are my favorite. 

2. Coffee table books in stacks are a must. I always keep on hand a book of prints from my favorite artist (Monet!), a book I am reading, and a neat stack of magazines. Although difficult to see, I have multiple stacks of books underneath the glass. 

3.  A mirrored catchall is also a must. Try to get one at a closeout store like TJ Maxx , Marshall's or Homegoods. They bring the table together and the mirror opens up the area even more. The reflections of a candle off of the glass also is gorgeous for ambiance when the rest of the lights are dimmed. 

4. I am a huge fan of candles stacked on top of books. It makes the pile look complete. If not candles, use gemstones, large trinkets or cute bookends. 

5. A stack of coasters is a must in every room. Try to avoid wood or paper coasters. They look cheap. 

6. All kitchen and formal tables should have a table runner (I had my grandmother sew this one for me with fabric of my choice), formal napkins, a centerpiece and adjacent decor to balance. For instance, I always use a round bowl with some type of filler and then use something on each side of it, whether it is a set of taper candles, these cute bunnies, or tumber jars. 

And though not a tabletop, I am just as big of a fan of feng shui in the bathroom. Always have a luxurious pair of lotions out for guests. Use a solid soap dispenser rather than a plastic jar or a bar of soap which can get melted and look messy. Use a neutral photo in a frame and a funky jewelry catchall for extra spunk. 

What are your secrets to the perfect table? 

XOXO, 

5 on Friday

Happy Friday, everyone! Unfortunately, I am working the entire weekend which I am not excited about because I just got over a 7 day sickness. However, I am excited to be linking up with Smidge of This and Carolina Charm for 5 on Friday. Head over and link up yourself and post about 5 things on your mind. 

1.  I had such a fun Valentine's Day with Will. I must admit, the best in a long time. He surprised me with a stunning bouquet, a dinner at a gorgeous restaurant on Monday, and Rose treats from L'Occitane, my favorite. 

I am enjoying them as they brighten up my family room. I am so ready for Spring so that these bright colors can infiltrate my wardrobe again. 

Loving this sheepskin run that I found at TJ Maxx, my guilty pleasure store. 

Although hard to see, the moon over the city from our view at dinner was divine. It looked like a harvest moon though this is so difficult to capture in a photo. I was sick and trying to stifle my coughing fits in between my bites of scallops and shrimp in a cajun cream sauce...how romantic. 

2.  That day I walked into Dillard's and walked out with an entire outfit for under $100 within 2 hours. I cannot remember the last time I did that. Everything was on deep discount, and I love my knack for finding everything in clearance! I wanted something beautiful and unique that I hadn't worn before for dinner. 

3.  I shipped out my first order of prints for a very happy mermaid loving customer this week. You can shop this print and many other pretty options either on Instagram by following @paintingsbyrachael or by shopping at my tab above, also linked here. 

4. Breaking in for a little review of LUSH bath bombs here...I must admit, I was not the biggest fan. 

Avo-Bath

I never used to be a fan of bath bombs, but I had a coworker recently recommend LUSH bath bombs to me and I happened to run into a boutique unexpectedly in Pennsylvania. I just picked up one bath bomb to see if I liked it, and I was very impressed. I chose the Avo-Bath for the hints of citrus. It was soothing to my skin, and supposedly the products are vegan and handmade which I love the concept of. My only worry is over time they will start to irritate my skin because later in the evening I started to itch everywhere, and I mean everywhere.

 I would definitely recommend it once in a while for a relaxing bath as long as you shower after to remove it all from your skin and replenish your skin with an oatmeal or shea based lotion afterwards at the very least to replace the moisture lost in a hot tub. I am a firm believer that aromas can calm and soothe, and I think that would be the main selling point to make me go back for more. 

5.  I am the biggest fan of these SIREN candles. I am not a fan of the fact that they are poured in Vietnam (um hello, do I need to be worried about lead in my candle?!) but I love to place them around the home. The smell is delicious. All of them are based on "sea scents" and they truly give me nostalgia for the ocean in the summer. I think the Moonlit Orchid is my favorite, followed by Sea Glass. If you only like candles made in the USA like Yankee, which is my personal favorite, these candles are rich enough to scent a room without burning. The gold rim just looks so classy! 

Hope you all have a good weekend!

XOXO, 

New Listings on Paintings By Rachael

If you are following my print shop Paintings By Rachael either on my blog or on Instagram at @paintingsbyrachael, then you may or may not know that from time to time I post new listings more frequently than I do here on my blog. However, I keep the most current prices here on A Duchess & A Blog. I was so excited the other night to find some great deals on my absolute favorite Liquitex BASICS acrylic paints on Amazon and purchased a new set as well as new brushes. I have been loving the same set since high school, and I admit I am emotionally attached to my old art supplies.

So much time, energy, sweat, tears and thought have been dumped into my precious paintings over time. I have evoked the conspiracies and passions from within my soul and  pressed them onto paper and canvases with brushstrokes and easy breathing, and I look around my apartment and walls at all of the pieces I have created and I am hesitant to throw out the products of my favorite supplies that have been broken in over years and years. However, it was finally time. These two new listings will be the last installments in my portfolio using my trusty old brushes.

Acrylic on Canvas, Peonies in a Ginger Jar ($50)

Acrylic on Canvas, Chandelier Through Champagne Glasses ($50) 

Travel over to my tab to inquire about purchasing any prints. I think these have to be some of my favorite pieces yet. I will post photos of where I place them once I figure it out. I absolutely love that my entire apartment is decorated with my own artwork. Not only is it more cost friendly than buying all original artwork (except when I have to frame everything), but it makes my home such a personal place. Each painting brings back memories not only of completing if but of the time in my life during which it was completed, the album I was listening to while painting or drawing, emotions I felt at the time and the mood of the room that added to the mood and spirit of the canvas.

XOXO,