Fab Housewife | How to DIY Blog on Food, Recipes, Home Decor, Beauty, and Style

{Friday Favs}

By fabhousewife On May 18, 2012

{This summer, the hubs and I have a standing dinner date with the beach on Sunday nights. So simple and so romantic.}

With spring in full swing, and our first summer day not far away (hey,I’m a poet!), the hubs and I have been busy and active, living to the fullest! The great outdoors has been our playground, even on the cloudy days. All the fresh air has been blissfully invigorating, and inspires renewed appreciation for the simple little life we live. Here’s what we’ve been up to…

Friday Favs Small Victories lighting a charcoal grill

{Not that grilling should be the “man’s job,” but since the hubs enjoys it, he’s always got it covered. But, when he was gone for the evening, a girlfriend and I decided the intimidating task of lighting a charcoal grill wouldn’t get the best of us. I got off to a rocky start, but eventually I figured it out. As a result, we were rewarded generously. There’s something so fulfilling about conquering a test of independence…even a very small one.}

{Vintage details add character and ambience to my friend’s charming little garden. I especially love the crack in the mirror. A reminder that beauty is often found in the imperfections.}

Friday Favs Sasha Sweater Poncho Club Monaco

{During a Santa Monica window shopping excursion, my Mother-in-Law and I both fell for this fab Sasha Sweater Poncho from Club Monaco. She got to take it home, and I’m still lusting.}

Friday Favs new business venture Vintage Frame

{Last but not least, here’s a sneak peek at a new business venture I’m working on. I’m always amazed at how diving into a new creative project can make me feel so centered. Stay tuned for details…}

Today, I’m heading off to Temecula for a girl’s weekend bachelorette party where the days will be filled with friendship, bonding, relaxation and wine. It’s the perfect way to recharge my batteries! Wishing you all an equally lovely weekend. Until next week…

{Haute Housewife} Comfy Chic

By fabhousewife On May 17, 2012

Now that I’m working from home, getting dressed isn’t really necessary. I could ~~and sometimes do~~ spend the entire day in my PJs. But that mindset doesn’t usually inspire productivity, which can be a problem when you’re running your own business. And I’m sure all you stay-at-home mommies can relate. You need to be comfortable while chasing after the kiddos, but you also want to feel stylish, confident, ready to seize whatever opportunities or challenges the day throws your way.

Lately I’ve been hunting for wardrobe staples that are as comfy as my favorite sweats, but still reflect the fabulous style ~~I want to have~~ love to flaunt. I’ve been recording my wishlist on Lyst, an online tool that allows you to follow your favorite peeps (designers, style icons, bloggers, etc), post your the pieces you want to your own personal lysts (kind of similar to Pinterest), search for the best price at different retailers, and even get notifications if and when your items go on sale! Here are some of the Comfy-Chic items I’ve got my eye on:

1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8

For more of my favorite finds…

+ Follow me on Lyst

Braised Beef Chuck Roast

By fabhousewife On May 16, 2012

Braised Beef Chuck Roast Steak Recipe Image

Not to sound like a total girl, but when it comes to beef, I usually prefer a dainty filet, with it’s tender, juicy meat and far less marbling (that’s nice restaurant speak for fat, in case you didn’t already know) than other cuts. But the budget doesn’t always allow for premium cuts of beef, so when the hubs comes home from the grocery store with some huge, intimidating bargain-buy, I will often braise the meat to get that tender, fall-off-the bone quality that’s also packed with taste and flavor.

Braising simply means to simmer the meat for several hours over low heat. A slow-cooker can be an efficient way to braise, but I like this oven-braised recipe, which was adapted from Alton Brown’s and found here, because it doesn’t create as much liquid as a slow-cooker, leaving the sauce thick, and rich. The Fresh garlic, brown sugar, tomato and spices meld together while cooking, creating a hunger-inciting aroma that will fill your whole house. The sauce is addicting. No joke. So be sure to have bread or potatoes to sop it up with.

Braised Beef Chuck Roast

Ingredients

Sauce

(based on a 2-1/2 to 3 lb bone-in chuck roast)

1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 6-oz can tomato paste
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground allspice
1 small onion, diced (about 1 cup)
6 cloves garlic, pressed

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 325.
In a medium bowl whisk together all the sauce ingredients until well-blended.

Tear a large sheet of heavy-duty foil (my foil was only 12-inches wide, so I had to use two sheets) and put the roast in the center. Wrap the top and bottom edges up around the sides of the meat and fold down several times until you've created a sealed envelope. Carefully unfold the top so as to create an opening to pour in your braise. Refold the envelope and put the packet in a baking dish to catch any leaks (there will definitely be leaks).

Bake the roast for 4 hours. Let it rest for 10 minutes before you open the packet.
Use tongs to take the meat out of the packet, transferring it to a cutting board or plate, and cover it with foil.
Strain the cooking liquid through a fine sieve (you might have to press it through) to make the sauce.
Slightly pull the meat apart with a fork and serve it with the sauce drizzled on top.

Serves 4-6 people.

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{DIY} 10-Minute Napkin Pillows

By fabhousewife On May 15, 2012

What to do with ugly pillows? It’s likely you’ve asked yourself this very question the last time you purchased a couch or bedding set that came with some sort of “coordinating” accent pillow. If my experience is any indication, it’s fair to say these pillows are required to be hideously ugly. I’ve never come across one that isn’t.

So back to that question. What do you do with them? In the past, I’ve tossed them straight into the Goodwill bin, but recently a friend of mine shared with me her little secret. Napkins. Since you don’t want to invest too much time and money making these otherwise useful cushions into something aesthetically pleasing, just use napkins. The fabric is already cut, the hems sewn, and they’re usually super cheap!

Over the weekend I found some neutral-colored ticking stripe dinner napkins at Anna’s Linnens for $1.99 a piece. In just 10 minutes, I was able to sew the sides together, stuff the ugly pillow that came with my sofa into the pocket, then sew the pillow shut. BAM! A whole new living room look in 10 minutes, and under 10 bucks.