5 under $5

Check out my Spinning Wheels blog for 5 stylish things under $5.

Under $50: Tops

I asked my sister what she wanted to see as far as shopping went. Her reply, “Things I can afford.”

So, in honor of my sister and her anorexic bank account, I’m featuring cute things under $50 this week.

Today…tops!

Tab-Sleeve Hooded Shirtdress, $35
Ecote Seam Detail Dolman, $48
Design History Flutter Top, $42
San Francisco Top, $29.99
Design History Ruffle Tank, $42
Printed Petal Layer Blouse, $42
LaMixx Symmetrical Top, $34
Pocket Stripe Knit Top, $17.80
Parfait Blouse in Vanilla, $37

Shopping Etsy: Thinking about food

1.) Breakfast Platter Pendant, $18
2.) Sushi Charm, $4
3.) Spiced Fig Jam, $4.50
4.) PBJ Friendship Necklaces, $22.99
5.) Rise and Shine Sticker Pack, $6
6.) Hazelnut and Cocoa Caramels, $9
7.) Citrus Bracelet, $65
8.) Cookie Box (peanut butter and chocolate chip), $14
9.) Cupcake Beanie, $25
10.) Inside-out California Roll barrette, $8.50
11.) Pizza Pendant, $25
12.) Caramel Espresso Truffle, $12

The fruits of my bounty

Today, I had my first official garden harvest: 1 zucchini and 5 zucchini blossoms…

which I promptly mixed with egg, mushrooms, onions and goat cheese to make something like a scramble.

Doesn’t look terrible appetizing in the photo, but it was, in actuality,  delicious. Even better knowing that I raised that zucchini from just a seed. Oh they grow up so fast!

Now I’m wondering what cucmber look like on the vine. Mine has jumped the borders of the garden and heading for the hills.

I’m wondering if I overplanted. Perhaps.

Down and dirty

What’s Cracking Good — Un-fussy meals

I’m a little tired of the big white plate.

You know what I’m talking about? When gourmet-ish restaurants artfully arrange food on an enormous white plate, as if you’re paying by square-inch of bare porcelain.

I generally prefer my meals saucy…even a little messy.

Despite my culinary inclinations,  I’d heard a bunch of good things about Noca, so I made reservations for a special-occasion dinner.

As soon as my husband and I arrived, the staff was tripping over themselves to accommodate us: Did we want water, some wine, an appetizer? A bit of service is nice…even special.

We got our food: a Wagyu pastrami and sauerkraut over pumpernickel with dijon cream sauce, a pasta made from house-made sausage, and cobia with squash blossoms and fingerling potatoes.

It was good. The sauerkraut was delicious, the pasta had a welcome bit of bite, and I’d never had a squash blossom.

But is it “over $20 for a ramekin-sized bowl of pasta” good?

I’m not so sure.

A whole host of people (including Republic food critic Howard Seftel) think Noca is one of the best new spots around, but I can’t get over the feeling that a little of the fuss has to do with the big white plate.

Phoenix things to do: Memorial Day Weekend!!!

It’s Memorial Day weekend! Hopefully you’re hurdling out of town…but if not, here are a few (very few) ideas for the weekend.

THROUGHOUT THE WEEKEND
$49 Memorial Day spa deals
Get discounts on spa treatments throughout the Valley. Find a sugar scrub in Scottsdale, get pretty toes in Gilbert, or moisturize your skin in Mesa. The choice is yours!

FRIDAY
Book a room at Sheraton Wildhorse Pass for $89/night
How about a staycation? Make reservations now for stays through September 7th and get rooms starting at $89 a night.

SATURDAY
Star Swim Pool Party @ The Wyndam Hotel
Dear and the Headlights are playing at Star Swim’s first pool party of the season. Take the lightrail, the party promises to end before the last train heads out of the downtown station.

Star Swim Pool Party featuring Dear and the Headlights
The Wyndam Hotel by the 6th floor pool
50 E. Adams
Phoenix, AZ 85004
$6 per person

SUNDAY
Go shopping!
Anthropologie and Urban Outfitters are having sales. Nordstrom is having a sale. West Elm is having a sale. Get the idea?

MONDAY!!!!
Wake up, be grateful you don’t have to go to work, and sleep for 2 more hours

THEN:
Lost Leaf anniversary party @ Lost Leaf
Lost Leaf, a cute little wine and beer house in downtown Phoenix, is celebrating their first anniversary with a whole host of bands, each playing no more than 3 songs. Have a drink and celebrate the existence of a very pleasant downtown bar.

Lost Leaf
Monday, May 25th @ 7 p.m.
914 N. 5th Street
Phoenix, AZ 85004
Free