Showing posts with label blogger. Show all posts
Showing posts with label blogger. Show all posts

Nov 23, 2015

Avenues Adventure!

Last week I spent an evening touring the beautiful new homes at Avenues at The Station by Oakwood Homes. It was a small group of us invited for the night, and included two of my favorite girls!


Kat Romrell (left) Jaci Twiss (right)



Can you believe we all matched like this, completely unplanned?


Here's the funny thing about this event. My husband and I are already in love with Station Park. We go up quite a bit and since the weather has been particularly nice for this time of year, we've spent the last three Saturdays sitting outside on the cozy couches by the fountain, sipping a Fiiz drink and relaxing for a couple of hours before we shop and have lunch up there.

One of my favorite restaurants at Station Park is Twigs Bistro, I went for the first time last March for my birthday dinner. So I was excited to hear that our dinner at the event was going to come from Twigs. We met in the first of the five model homes we would tour, and started off with appetizers and placed our dinner order. Penne chicken pasta for me.

I've been to a couple of Oakwood events and this just may have been the best yet. The timing for this one was perfect. We are talking about a house fairly soon in our (hopefully not too distant) future what with the baby on the way, and it was fun to see what's developing in a favorite area of ours.

I'm always impressed with what is included in an Oakwood home as far as the various layouts, and the options. So many of the details are customizable. The options really are endless. Each of the five model homes we toured were stunning and impeccably decorated. Each varied in square footage, but the way they were laid out, they always seemed spacious. The high ceilings, windows, and decks also add to the feel of lots of light and room.


It's mine & my husbands dream to have a video game room! I died when I saw this!


And of course the first picture I even took was of a nursery! Look how cozy.


These definitely have more of an urban, city vibe. But you truly can design it to customize your needs. Young couples, couples with kids, empty nesters, mother-in-law-apartments, you name it.




It's so much fun to go get ideas of how you'd love your own dream home laid out, not to mention color scheme and decor ideas!





Our delicious dinner happened in the beautiful dining area of the fourth home, and by the time we got to the fifth home for desert, the feeling was mutual, we were all in love with the beautiful homes. We were not ready to leave!



The Oakwood team truly is incredible. They are so nice, they take time to chat and get to know you, and are nothing but genuine as they show off each gorgeous space. We had a blast with them. It was not only a comfortable way to see the homes, but a luxurious one as well.



The other thing that is still blowing my mind is the price! For such a great area (within walking distance to shops and dining at Station Park, close to public transit and freeways) and brand new homes, you'd think the pricing would be nuts. But guess what? Almost all are under 300K. WHAT?! Unheard of. Trust me, we've been looking!

I came away from the night feeling like the possibilities are endless for how we'll create our future home, and new ideas to define what the space of a home will mean for us and our future babe.

If it were up to me, we'd be up there in a heartbeat. Seriously. Now to work on the husband…

Than you, Oakwood for another amazing event!





Deena Marie


Nov 22, 2015

Hello Honey Bunny

When I was little I was given a stuffed bunny that I named Melissa. She went everywhere with me. There are many childhood photos of her zipped up in my coat right along with me. I did chores and earned money to save up for a second bunny. Soon I had also had Gina. As an only chid, these two were now my sisters. I told friends I actually did have two sisters. I'm sure they wondered why they never met them!

Naturally, I've always loved anything to do with bunnies, and just look how cute this makeup bag from Sugarhouse shop Got Beauty is! A perfect little pouch for my NYX gloss obsession (that's another post). Or whatever your makeup obsession may be. $20, and a great gift idea for a girlie girl in your life. There are other designs and sizes as well. Pop in the shop, or hop online, quick! Like a bunny. 








~DM

Feb 8, 2015

Feed your sweetheart!


Last week, I was invited to a fun event at Oakwood Homes in Murray.  See these super tall fellas? They are Jake and Aaron, chefs at Whole Foods in Park City.  They gave a bunch of us bloggers a cooking lesson and fed us! They sent us home with recipes and I thought I'd give them to you, just in time for Valentines Day so you can whip up a yummy for your Valentine.  Or tell your sweetheart to get in the kitchen and make it for you! There's a little something for everyone below, as well as pictures of each dish.  You're welcome!

Sweetheart Steak
1.5 - 2 lb boneless rib-eye steak
Salt & Pepper
Olive oil
Butterfly your rib-eye steak folding open to look like a heart
Brush olive oil on both sides
Season w/salt & pepper
Place on hot grill or in hot pan
Mark or sear both sides
Cook until desired temp

Garlic Herb Fingerling Potatoes
2lbs fingerling potatoes
Olive Oil
Rosemary
Basil
Garlic
Salt & Pepper
Wash potatoes & cut up larger ones
Place in bowl & toss in olive oil, salt, pepper, garlic, & fresh herbs
Place on cooking sheet pan & place in 350 oven for 25-35 min or until tender


Pork Chop w/Apple Chutney
Two 6-8 oz bone in pork chops
Olive oil
salt & pepper
2 apples
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 apple cider vinegar
Brush pork with olive oil and season with salt & pepper
Place on hot grill or in hot pan & mark or sear both sides
Cook until desired temp
Dice apples & put into sauté pan with olive oil
Once apples start to cook add sugar & cook until sugar is dissolved & forms a sauce
When apples start to caramelize deglaze pan with vinegar
Cook until apples are desired softness

Truffle Mashed Potatoes
4-5 lbs peeled potatoes
Butter
Heavy Cream
Salt
White pepper
Truffle oil
Place potatoes in water & bring to boil in salted water
Cook until fork tender
Melt butter and add butter and heavy cream to potatoes
Using potato masher or mixer whip potatoes until desired texture
Season with salt & pepper to taste
Fold in truffle oil to desired taste


Crab Cakes
1 lb crab meat
Yellow pepper
Red pepper
Red onion
Garlic
Olive oil
Apple wine vinegar
Salt & pepper
Tarter sauce / mayo
Lemon juice
2 eggs
1 cup bread crumbs
Small dice your peppers and onion mince garlic
Heat up sauté pan with olive oil
Add peppers, onion, garlic
Sauté until onion is translucent & the garlic is fragrant
Deglaze pan with vinegar
Cook out vinegar and cool down mixture
Put crab into bowl and add eggs, bread crumbs, tartar sauce, lemon juice, cooled mixture
Hand mix everything until well blended
Let sit while mixtures sets up
Heat olive oil in pan and make mixture into cakes
Place cake in pan and cook until golden brown
Flip & cook other side until golden brown
Take out, put on plate, serve with cocktail sauce


Parmesan Tuiles with Heirloom Tomato Salad
Parmesan Cheese
Heirloom tomatoes
Red onion
Roasted bell peppers
Basil
Garlic




Thanks for reading! 
~Deena Marie~

Jan 7, 2014

New Year Surprise!

You guys.
This is still a work in progress, but I'm impatient.
So here you go!

THIS!  

Thanks for reading,

Deena Marie