To-Die-For Peanut Butter Pie

I’ve had an obsession with peanut butter desserts since I was a kid and my Dad would bring home free samples of the most delicious peanut butter cake concoction. I still have dreams of this dessert (seriously!). A few weeks ago, as I was dreaming about this delicious sweet, I decided that I would try and make my own version of this heaven. My sweet tooth was craving a peanut butter pie and that is exactly what I gave it.

The pie definitely satisfied my craving and I’m already preparing to make it again. Peanut butter and chocolate are simply meant to be together (hello, Reese’s are one of my favorite indulgences).

What are some of your favorite sweet treats? Tell me in the comments below!

To-Die-For Peanut Butter Pie:

ingredients:

• 1 stick of butter
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• about 9 ounces chocolate cookies (I used some cats cookies from Trader Joe’s)
• 8 ounces cream cheese
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 cup creamy peanut butter
• 1 and 1/4 cup whipped cream
• Chocolate chips (optional)
• mini Reese’s cups (optional)

Instructions for the crust:

Crush the cookies using a food processor or by hand and place into medium size bowl. Melt butter in a small pot over medium heat. Add brown sugar to melted butter. Whisk until sugar is dissolved. Add butter mixture to crumbled cookies and stir until combined. Pour into bottom of greased pie pan and press down with the bottom of a glass, making sure that the crust goes up along edges. Allow to set in fridge for 15 minutes. Bake at 350 for 10-15 minutes.

Instructions for the filling

In a large bowl, combine cream cheese, powdered sugar, peanut butter, and vanilla. Using an electric mixer, beat until fluffy. Gently fold in the whipped cream. Pour the mixture into the pie pan. If you would like to add toppings, you can line the outside with Reese’s and chocolate chips. Place in the freezer for 3 hours. Remove from freezer and store in the refrigerator until ready to serve. Enjoy!

 

 

#NYFW Spring 2016 Obsessions

I have yet to make it to a New York Fashion Week. I’ll continue to dream of attending until one day I make that dream come true. For now, I’ll keep up with fashion week through social media and the internet. Even though I didn’t attend any shows, I definitely have some lines that I am already obsessing over and cannot wait to see hit the stores in Spring. See my obsessions below.

{Runway images from WWD}

Everything about this is just brilliant. I adore the lace details, the colonial cuts, and the sexy sheer paneling. Not to mention the colors and the floral print. Zimmerman has me absolutely drooling and dreaming of getting my hands on one of these beautiful dresses.

 

{Runway images from Vogue.com}

The colors Tory Burch used for this season are beautiful, bright, and bold. I love how the colors give off a bit of a retro feel. Once again, I’m dying over the use of lace. I have a feeling we will see a lot of beautiful lace in spring 2016. I loved every single piece from this show, which it made it really hard to select which ones to highlight.

{Runway Images from Vogue.com}

The Ulla Johnson collection consisted of a mostly soft-neutral color pallette which I loved. This show, along with many others, proved that fringe is here to stay for at least a little while longer. This is perfectly okay with me because I’ve always loved fringe. I’m obsessed with the unstructured, bohemian feel of these beautiful dresses and slouchy pants.

{Runway Images from vogue.com}

Feminine and beautiful. Those are the two words that come to mind when trying to describe the Carolina Herrera show. This show made a strong argument for pink being the color of the season. Once again, the sheer paneling adds a little sex appeal, but each look still gives off a classy and girly vibe. Totally drool-worthy.

 

Of course, there were other shows that really caught my eye (namely Lauren Conrad’s first show, Rachel Zoe, and Jason Wu), but these 4 really stuck out to me. What were some of your favorites from NYFW?

 

Bold But Mini

Just because something is “mini” doesn’t mean it can’t have a big impact. This mini skirt is one of my favorite recent additions to my wardrobe. I’ve already loved pairing it with several different tops for varying looks (think denim sleeveless button down for casual daytime and slouchy tee for running errands). I can’t wait to throw on some black tights and a heavier top when the weather starts cooling down.

Speaking of weather, it’s been so hard to dress lately. One day it feels like fall has finally arrived and the next it feels like the hottest day of summer. That’s another reason I really loved this outfit. It let me bring out some of my fall wardrobe while also allowing me to breathe in this humidity. Open toe booties are the perfect transitional shoe and my fringe bag carries over from season to season.

{Outfit details: Top- Karina Grimaldi; Skirt- Amanda Uprichard available here; Shoes- Jessica Simpson (on sale now!) similar here; Bag- Deux Lux; Earrings- Hyla Dewitt; Ring- Alexis Bittar}

PS-My dear friend Epiphany took these pictures. She also has a fantastic blog that you should really check out when you get a chance.

September Sangria

Sometimes you just need a really good drink. By sometimes I mean probably several times a week. I love to try out new specialty drinks at bars, but I also love trying out my own hand at tending bar from home. I’m a big fan of Sangria. Most of the time I really prefer a white sangria, but I was really craving something red, so I whipped up this little concoction.

I like to pretend that sangria is healthier than other drinks because of all the fruit. That’s definitely true, right? This version is even healthier because it’s made with 100% pomegranate juice which is a good source of potassium. So, drink to your health and enjoy a glass (or two or three) of this delicious red sangria.

 

September Sangria:

ingredients:

1 bottle red wine of your choice

1/4 cup sugar

1/4 cup water

1/2 cup brandy

1/2 cup tonic water

1 cup pomegranate juice (I used pom wonderful)

2 lemons

2 oranges

10-12 strawberries (plus more for decoration)

 

instructions:

Combine sugar and water in a small saucepan to create a simple syrup. Bring the mixture to a boil and continue cooking until sugar is dissolved. Allow to cool. Combine simple syrup, wine, pomegranate juice, tonic water, and brandy in a pitcher. Take 1/2 of a lemon and 1/2 of an orange and squeeze juice into pitcher. Slice the remaining orange and place in pitcher with sliced strawberries and 1 sliced lemon. Leave 1/2 remaining lemon to slice and use as decoration. Place in refrigerator and allow flavors of the fruit to infuse for at least 4 hours.

Enjoy!

 

Room Inspiration 006

 

 

{image via}

I’ve always been a bit of a book worm. Once I get started reading a good book, I find it hard to put down. There have been many nights when I’m curled on the couch, totally enthralled by a book when I look up and realize I should have been asleep hours ago. One day I dream of having a personal library with floor to ceiling book shelves, a gigantic fireplace, and over-sized cozy chairs for reading. (A girl can dream, right?)

There is something about this modern living room that just screams to be lived in. I can already feel that fluffy rug under my toes (wouldn’t mind walking around on this or this either) and I would love to lounge on one of these sofas with a glass of red wine and a good book. This simple, stream-lined, and sophisticated room is not just perfect for getting lost in the pages of a book, but it also has plenty of seating and room for entertaining guests.

 

Make this room your own by shopping some of the items below.

{Pottery Barn lamp, West Elm Ottoman, West Elm Side Table}

 

P.S.

My favorite books that I’ve been reading lately are here and here.  Tell me some of your favorite books, I’d love to read them!

The Maxi Mainstay

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Let’s just say I’m pretty much addicted to fashion. My daytime job is in the fashion industry and I am the type who really gets joy in figuring out new outfits and how to make the current trends fit my lifestyle. One of my favorite fashion mainstays is the maxi dress– it’s so comfortable, easy, feminine, and fun.

I recently grabbed brunch with my parents downtown and I threw together this little outfit for the occasion. We sat outside at this great local restaurant on their GORGEOUS patio and enjoyed various forms of eggs benedict and a breakfast burrito as it sprinkled all around us. There was something kind of relaxing about eating al fresco even though it was raining all around us.  After, we strolled around downtown and explored a few shops. A maxi dress and a vest are the perfect daytime look for a random Sunday morning adventure.

{Outfit details: dress- free people also love this; vest- chelsea & violet; shoes- old similar here; bag- rebecca minkoff; necklace- house of harlow; earrings- karine sultan}

What are some of your closet mainstays? Tell me in the comments below.

Let Your Doormat Do The Talking

I hate to say it, but first impressions really matter. That is one reason why I really love fashion, because your clothes can speak for you. Without saying a word you can let people know a little bit about you simply by dressing to express yourself. But first impressions don’t just come from your outfit; your house can also give a first impression (more specifically, your doormat). It’s one of the first things people see when they come to your house, yet it’s often overlooked when people begin to decorate their home. Don’t forget that little doormat, because this small change can make all the difference in the world. Get inspired by some of my favorite doormats below.

{shop the mats here: 1; 2; 3; 4; 5; 6}

 

Which one is your favorite doormat? Tell me in the comments below!

 

Tomato Pie- A Southern Summer Tradition

I know, I know we are at the end of summer, but as much as I love the fall I always get sad when my favorite season is coming to an end. Summer means outdoor activities, trips to the beach, days by the pool, and fun festivals. Not to mention some of my favorite fruits and vegetables are in prime condition during the summer months. Yes, I’m talking about berries and corn but also TOMATOES. I love a fresh, ripe tomato in many different ways– tomato sandwich, tomato and mozzarella salad, bruschetta, tomato sauce.. I could go on.

As summer is coming to an end, I decided to make the most of this tomato season. Typically, these fruits/veggies (still a little up for debate as to which category they actually belong in) are best through September so we still have some time to enjoy them in their prime; thank goodness. Chances are if you’re from the south you’ve indulged in some tomato pie over the summer. If not, you should absolutely try out this recipe from Stirring Performances for your next meatless Monday or any night of the week, really.

Fresh Tomato Pie: 

ingredients:

• 1 pie shell, baked & cooled
• 2-3 large tomatoes, peeled and sliced
• 2-3 green onions, chopped
• salt & pepper to taste
• 1 tablespoon fresh basil
• 1 tablespoon fresh chives, chopped
• 1 cup mayonnaise
• 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese

instructions:

Preheat oven to 350. Sprinkle tomatoes lightly with salt and drain on a cooling rack for 15-20 minutes. Layer tomatoes, onions, salt, pepper, basil, and chives in pie shell. Blend mayonnaise and cheese together in a mixing bowl. Spread over top of pie. Bake for 30 minutes or until top is lightly browned.

 

Enjoy!

Guess Who’s Back?

Hi Friends!

It’s been quite a while since I’ve blogged. There have been a lot of changes in my life (including new job, living in a new place, and lots of new adventures). I’ve really missed blogging and I’ve decided to give it another whirl. I’m going to be sharing with you all a little bit of my day-to-day life. Dress Dine Dwell will continue to be a lifestyle blog focusing on fashion, food, and interior design along with other things that inspire me. Thank you all for following along and if there is anything you would like me to share with you, let me know in the comments!

I recently found myself fretting over what to wear to a casual event with one of my good friends. We were going to be outdoors and I wanted to be comfortable in this southern humidity but also look stylish and put together. As I was going through my closet I realized that the answer was right in front of me (in about 5 different forms). I don’t know about you guys but I really, really love this whole romper trend and I would be happy for it to stay around. Rompers are so easy, comfortable, and cool.

{Outfit details: romper- BCBG ; shoes- Jack Rogers; bracelet- house of harlow; earrings- sylvia benson; sunglasses- old, found @ this boutique}

 

This particular romper is one of my favorites. Who could complain about this breezy fabric, loose cut, and feminine print? BCBG just knows how to do it right, and they hit right on target again with this romper. I wanted to get in at least one last wear of this easy-breezy piece before the weather turned cooler and the rompers turned to jumpers.

What do you guys think, is the romper here to stay? Tell me in the comments below!

 

Trending: Copper in the home

 

I’ve always been a big fan of any type of metallic home decor. Silver and gold seem so glamorous and chic. Lately another color has been catching my eye; Copper. Whether it’s in the kitchen, bathroom, office, or outdoors I believe the right copper piece can really increase the appeal of any space. Copper has been trending recently and can be found in the most well designed homes.

 

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Try the trend on your own with something as simple as copper pots or candle sticks or go a little bolder with lighting or seating.

What copper pieces could you see in your home? Let me know in the comments below!