Seared Halibut

Seared Halibut, originally uploaded by LoStephenson.

Last night was date night and this recipe was a hit! I love cooking but usually I'm a bit slow at it and create quite the disaster in the kitchen afterwards of spills and twenty dirty dishes. So I browsed through Epicurious.com for a fresh, quick, and easy fish dish that would be great for two, lo and behold: Seared Halibut with Haricots Verts, Scallions, and White Wine Sauce.

It took about twenty minutes to make overall and you only need two saucepans! Plus the best part is that the recipe calls for a 1/4 cup of a dry white wine for the sauce so you have plenty left over to drink with your meal as well. I used a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc which worked great for the sauce and as a pairing to the halibut dish. One last tip, add basmati rice on the dish and then lay the green beans and halibut on top to add more substance to the dish! Enjoy!!

Adorable Love Story Short aka Google Ad

Thanks to the blog Single-ish I found this adorable video. Check out this video, it's less than a minute. If you have some time too you must read this blog, it's honest and funny whether you are single or not!
Single-ish: SELF.com

19 Things a Man Should Never Say (or a woman for that matter...)

Don't say it!, originally uploaded by LoStephenson.

19 Things a Man Should Never Say


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I couldn't agree with this article more, I just had to post it! I don't know what it is with men lately but more and more of them are throwing in stupid slang words that make me less and less attracted to them. Esquire did men a favor by publishing this great article to make them aware of the fact that saying these things do not make them "hip."

Fall has finally arrived in Arizona!

Jenny's fall foliage (thanks I stole this photo from Jenny's facebook), originally uploaded by LoStephenson.

Oh I love you Fall! You allow me to not get crazy looks from the Starbucks barista when I order my vanilla latte extra hot, you let me finally wear all those lovely sweaters and scarves that have accumulated dust on them, and you force me to now wear close-toed shoes so it's okay if my pedicure is chipped. Oh fall you make life so much easier for us all, thank you!!

The temperatures in Phoenix have finally dipped a bit into the 60s and 50s even if its only for a couple days, it is still a welcome change.

Greer AZ, originally uploaded by LoStephenson.

Hot Hot Starbucks, originally uploaded by LoStephenson.

Wash for Clunkers- Fekkai Shampoo Swap

FredericFekkai, originally uploaded by LoStephenson.

This is an amazing shampoo deal!! Thank you Allison for passing this along to me. If you live near a Saks Fifth Avenue you must run in this Thursday morning with any brand of empty shampoo bottle to be traded in for free for your choice of any new Fekkai Advanced Shampoo! Frederik Fekkai has some of the best and most nourishing hair products. My personal favorite Fekkai styling product is the Brilliant Glossing Cream.

Please click here to find the nearest Saks to you!

Garance Doré

Garance Doré, originally uploaded by LoStephenson.

One of my favorite fashion blogs is by French fashion illustrator Garance Doré . She is a highly fashionable woman living the life in Paris and also jet-setting across the world to fashion shows and shoots for Vogue. Her blog is filled with her one of a kind illustrations and also the amazing photographs of trendsetting people on the streets of Paris, Milan, NYC, and London. Take a break from your day to admire the beauty of her photographs. Enjoy!!

Garance Doré, originally uploaded by LoStephenson.

Garance Doré, originally uploaded by LoStephenson.

Pasta from the Pioneer Woman

Pioneer Woman , originally uploaded by LoStephenson.

So back in college my absolute FAVORITE pasta dish was the Penne Princessa from Cafe Boa on Mill Ave in Tempe. Sadly this dish is no longer on their menu... Then comes Pioneer Woman to the rescue!

Allison was shopping at a Williams & Sonoma one evening shopping for cookware when the lovely sales associate started chatting about a blog by Ree Drummond called The Pioneer Woman.

Long story short...
Ree lives on a large ranch in Oklahoma, raises 4 children, and has created a wonderful blog full of hearty crave worthy recipes. One of these recipes is the closest Allison and I have found to be the replacement to the beloved Penne Princessa, lo and behold - Pasta a la Betsy!

Allison has already made it and can attest to it's deliciousness, this weekend it's my turn to try it out! I highly recommend you do as well! Enjoy!

Out With the Clutter in With the Love

Out With the Clutter in With the Love, originally uploaded by LoStephenson.

I am constantly trying to improve my day to day life. Umm...more like I "think" about improving it but I usually need a kick in the butt to actually make improvements. My biggest day to day vice is creating clutter. I am pretty talented at making messes, make-up strewn all over the counter, more clothes on the floor than on hangers, and shoes all over the place!

The other day I came across this article on MSN.com and it was a little mini-inspiration for me to get my closet in order. Last year I had my roommate Allison who spent an entire day organizing, spacing, and color cooridinating my closet but now I'm on my own! Read this article, it really makes sense. There is no reason for me to have a framed photo of my boyfriend from 3 years ago on my bookshelf. Also, I think the ratty old notebooks and ripped jean skirts from college need to be tossed as well. Since I just moved into a new apartment I figure this is the best time to get my place in order and invite the girls over for cocktails!

Read it! Why Clutter Might Keep Love at Bay.

The Sweet Spot

The Sweet Spot, originally uploaded by LoStephenson.

Not very often do I flip through GQ magazine. However, last night while I was at work, one of the guys had left it at the bar so I found myself flipping through this past month's issue. I came across this very honest article by Adam Sachs about when men in their late 30s reach the "sweet spot." This is a time in their lives they can easily find themselves dating younger and older women, mothers and daughters! Would it ever be acceptable for that article to be written about women dating men who could be fathers and sons?

The September Issue

SeptemberIssue, originally uploaded by LoStephenson.

I wouldn't consider myself much of a fashionista but I do find myself fascinated by it all. I admire the designers, the creativity, and the gorgeousness that they create. Is gorgeousness even a word?? hmm....

Well considering The Devil Wears Prada is the movie I always watch when I want to see pretty people, beautiful clothes, and curl up on my couch, I am looking forward to this documentary.