Melanie Auld Designs Blog: April 2012

style me pretty.

I just love summer events. Weddings, baby showers, bridal showers, any occasion to get dressed up. And there is no better time to put the "pretty" into your style choices! My pick for the day.

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{Melanie Auld Designs}

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Chicken and artichoke pesto quesadillas

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:Ingredients:

4 flour tortillas
½ cup pesto
2 cups shredded cheese of your choice
½ cup canned artichoke hearts, quartered, and ripped into smaller pieces
1 large boneless skinless chicken breast

:Directions:

Preheat oven to broil. Place chicken on a broiler pan about 6 inches
 from the burners and broil for about 15-20 minutes, or until a meat 
thermometer reads 160ºF (it’ll reach 165ºF while it cooks in the 
quesadilla).
Cut the cooked chicken into ½ inch pieces.
Lay out two tortillas. Spread a thin layer of pesto on each tortilla, evenly distributing the ½ cup between both.
Sprinkle half of the cheese over the pesto, reserving a cup of cheese.
Spread the chicken and artichoke hearts evenly over both tortillas.
Sprinkle the remaining cheese over the chicken and artichokes.
Place another tortilla on top of each quesadilla.
Heat a cast-iron skillet over medium low heat. One at a time, heat 
each quesadilla until the cheese begins to melt and the bottom becomes 
crispy and golden brown. Flip quesadilla over and cook until the other 
side becomes golden brown and crispy. Remove from heat, cut, and serve.

Enjoy!

Pinch me, am I dreaming? Could you imagine waking up in a home this crisp and refreshing? Le sigh....

I am completely obsessed with white home decor lately. So simple, so clean, so excited I will soon have a new home to make this happen!

Now if only kids and dogs appreciated it as much as we all do...

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. high .

bobbsy .

To bob or not to bob, that is the question.

I've had these blonde locks decently long for many years. Seeing pictures of some great shorter hair cuts has left me questioning if it's time. The bigger question is, will I have the guts to do it? These gals just make a cut like this look so fresh, so easy, and oh so stylish.

One of my favorite bloggers + models 

out of Norway, Ulrikke Lund 

Reese perfects the wavy bob.

Jen... well, are words really needed?

Great sculpt.

thesmallthingsblog.com

. Naven .

Ashley Tisdale was too cute for words at the premiere of "The Lucky One" this week. Decked out in a adorable NAVEN dress that is perfectly spring-ready and nude Christian Louboutin t-strap mary janes- I just loved this look on her. It's fun, it's flirty, it needs to be in my closet asap.

Which got me thinking about a couple of my other favorite NAVEN pieces I've seen floating around...

leopard throw-overs

must-have maxis

rancic in a naven chartreuse blazer

brilliant color

Pretty in Pastels.

Pastels got a bit sweeter this spring with a flock of pastel denim that has hit the scene. Not only are we loving these lighter looks on the bottom, but we are having a serious love affair with everything pastel from clothing to nails to home decor and beyond! Lighten up for spring!

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{Melanie Auld Designs} 

Gossip & Grace.

I knew there was something special about Blake Lively in last nights episode of Gossip Girl.

Oh, that's right... she was wearing the M.A.D. "Grace" necklace.

Spotted: one jewelry designers dream.

Blake Lively wearing M.A.D jewels is kind of a big deal. Like a squeal-worthy kind of a big deal. Blake Lively asking to keep the necklace for herself after puts us in fantasy land.

Blake is definitely at the top of our Celeb Style list. She is just everything in any outfit she pulls together. And the girl doesn't even use a stylist. Major love coming from this end of town folks.

Check out the short clip below to see how Serena van der Woodesen {Blake Lively} wears MAD Grace in blueberry.

. dress up .

Rock-style accents.

Whether it's a cuff, a jacket, a skirt, or the sleeves- leather accents make us weak in the knees.

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MAD eats.

I
 knew this was going to be dangerous as soon as I saw it. Boy was I 
right. And it would be wrong of me to not share something this delish. Get ready to drool folks. Enjoy!  

      

Avocado Fries

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Ingredients

 Canola oil for frying
1/4 cup flour
1 tsp kosher salt
2 large eggs, beaten to blend
 1 1/4 cups panko (Japanese bread crumbs)
 2 firm-ripe medium avocados, pitted, peeled, and sliced into 1/2-in. wedges

Grated parmesan for serving (optional)

      

Prep

 1. Preheat oven to 200°. In a medium saucepan, heat 1 1/2 in. oil until it registers 375° on a deep-fry thermometer.

2. Meanwhile, mix flour with 1/2 tsp. salt in a shallow plate. Put eggs and panko in separate shallow plates.

3. Sprinkle the avocado slices with the remaining ½ tsp salt.  
Dip each slice in flour, shaking off excess. Dip in egg, then panko to 
coat. Set on 2 plates in a single layer.

3. Fry a quarter of avocado slices at a time until deep golden, 
30 to 60 seconds. Transfer slices to a plate lined with paper towels. 
Keep warm in oven while cooking remaining avocados. Sprinkle with salt 
and a little grated parmesan.

Cap it.

A look I'm loving this spring? Cap toes flats! A different spin on the go-to ballerina flat. A bit bolder. A bit refined. A bit fun!

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:: pinning ::

By now I am sure most of all of you have spent countless hours pinning on Pinterest. And if not, we highly recommend checking it out.

{Fair warning: we will not be held accountable for the chores left undone, the wasted hours spent "pinning", and the accusations of you neglecting your family! It gets that addictive!}