My favorite place to grab lunch while shopping is the Mermaid Bar at Neiman Marcus NorthPark. They offer the beloved salad trio, which includes their famous tuna salad. I tested multiple tuna salad recipes and quickly discovered that the water chestnuts make their tuna salad stand out. I love the crunch the water chestnuts add and it pairs so well with the tuna flavor. This recipe can be altered based on personal preference, I like to cut down the amount of mayonnaise and add more pecans. Enjoy! xoxo

Images via Alex Phillips.

Print Tuna Salad Recipe.

9 oz. chunk white albacore tuna in spring water, drained

1/2 cup finely diced celery

1/2 cup sliced water chestnuts, drained

1/2 cup mayonnaise

3/4 cup coarsely chopped pecan pieces

1 Tablespoon lemon juice

In a large bowl, lightly break up the tuna with a fork. Add the celery, water chestnuts, pecans, mayo, and lemon juice. Mix well to combine, and season to taste with salt and pepper. Store in the refrigerator for up to two days, but because the nuts can get soggy, it is best served immediately.

Mirrors // Sink Faucets // Shower Head // Handles // Vanity Mirror // Vanity Tray // Vanity Stool // Soap Dispenser // Waste Basket // Towel Hooks // Towel Ring // Toilet Paper Holder

It was always part of the plan to remodel our master bathroom and the pandemic seemed like the perfect time. Really, two years was two years too long for me to live with the tiny shower, green walls and giant jacuzzi tub. In late September I started talking to contractors and quickly decided that since I knew exactly what I wanted I could be my own contractor. I called our paint guy, who knew a tile guy, who knew a cabinet guy, who knew a glass guy and before I knew it I had a remodeling team. They were all fantastic to work with and they helped create exactly what I wanted. In less than a month they gutted the entire bathroom, moved pipes and plugs, retextured the walls, painted, tiled, installed cabinets and hung our mirrors. The downfall of remodeling in a pandemic was that our cabinet handles, towel ring, towel hooks and toilet paper holder were all on back order. The first week of March we finally received all the hardware we had ordered in October and can share our master bathroom before & after. I cannot share our beautiful new bathroom without thanking my father in law for helping me source the perfect tile. I also owe my dad and his friend Kevin for convincing me that I needed a full vanity and their great eye for design. Everything used in our bathroom is linked below and I am happy to pass long recommendations for who we used! xoxo

When I was in elementary school I received a cookbook for Christmas and the first recipe I learned was classic tomato sauce and pasta. I grew up making my own tomato sauce for years until Alex pointed out the unbelievable cheap and clean ingredient tomato sauce at Trader Joe’s. Eataly recently opened here in Dallas and I came home with pasta imported from Italy, which seemed deserving of homemade tomato sauce. Using my tweaked childhood recipe, I opened the can of Cento tomatoes and was blown away by the end result. I tested my same recipe multiple times with different tomatoes and tomato paste, coming to the conclusion that all tomatoes are not created equal. In the past I bought store-brand canned tomatoes, usually looking for the best price. While these tomatoes are a little more expensive, I cannot argue that Cento, Mutti, Pomi, San Merican, and San Marzano brands had the best flavor. I also found that the Mutti triple concentrate tomato paste made a huge difference in my classic tomato sauce recipe. Enjoy! xoxo

Photos via Alex Phillips.

Print Classic Tomato Sauce Recipe.

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 onion diced

3 cloves of garlic pressed

1 teaspoon red pepper

2 teaspoons Italian Seasoning (oregano, basil, thyme, rosemary, onion, parsley, and sage)

3 tablespoons triple concentrate tomato paste

15oz crushed tomatoes

In a medium saucepan bring olive oil to a simmer over medium heat. Add onion and garlic, stirring occasionally, until tender. Add red pepper, Italian seasoning blend, and triple concentrate tomato paste, and stir until tomato paste is well distributed over onions and garlic. Add crushed tomatoes, cover, and simmer for 25-30 minutes. Serve warm over pasta and top with fresh parmesan cheese.

Tomato Sauce and Paste brands to try: Cento, Mutti, Pomi, San Merican and San Marzano

Italian Seasoning: Morton & Bassett has a nice blend of oregano, basil, thyme, rosemary, onion, parsley, and sage

A hot pink dress that I can’t seem to part with is really the only color in all of my closet. I am frequently asked why I don’t wear more color or why I hate color. I don’t really hate color and I occasionally wear it, but I have found so many perks of a neutral wardrobe. Some of these perks have actually transitioned over to home decor and that is probably fueling the theory that I hate color. So what are the perks of a neutral wardrobe? A neutral wardrobe is timeless. There is no arguing that little black dress or classic white button down will never be out of style. I have found that neutral pieces can be repeated more often and tend to last well beyond trends. I have also found that there is more attention to detail in neutral pieces giving them an elevated high end look. I hate to admit that I still wear pieces in my closet that I bought 5 or 6 years ago. A neutral wardrobe is versatile and practical. It is so easy to dress up, dress down and mix and match neutral pieces. This makes packing so much simpler, especially when flying and space is at a premium. The neutral color scheme makes it easy to travel with just a few pairs of shoes and bulk items like coats can can be paired with all outfits. A neutral wardrobe allows me to be more intentional. I used to have a much more colorful closet but started noticing that the trendy and colorful pieces often ended up in a giveaway pile. Instead of buying multiple colorful tops I now buy a few neutral tops that will go with most everything in my closet. Since I am buying less I can spend a little more on each piece and fill my wardrobe with quality over quantity. Shop some of my favorite neutral pieces below and discover the perks of a neutral wardrobe yourself! xoxo

Valentine’s Day is coming up and since we will most likely be eating dinner at home (again), I am testing desserts that will complement our meal. I am a little biased because dark chocolate and raspberries are my favorite combination, but this tart might be the winner. This chocolate raspberry tart is the perfect balance of bitter chocolate and sweet raspberries, with a crisp graham cracker crust. I have not planned the rest of our meal, but this tart will pair well with any beef or fish meal. Enjoy! xoxo

Images via Alex Phillips.

Print Chocolate Raspberry Tart Recipe.

10 ounces graham crackers

6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

4 ounces 70% bittersweet chocolate, coarsely chopped 

1/2 cup heavy cream

1 pound raspberries 

1/2 cup sugar

2 tablespoons cornstarch

Sweater: J.Crew // Jeans: Paige // Coat: Zara (similar) // Booties: Jeffery Campbell // Bag: Tory Burch (similar) 

A black cashmere sweater, comfortable skinny jeans, black booties and a camel coat. These are just a few of my highly repeated winter wardrobe staples. Considering the rise in Covid cases in Dallas, we have been staying home for the most part. Every now and then we change out of our sweats to pick up dinner or coffee and when we do, I am pretty much always wearing this outfit. The camel coat I am wearing is now sold out, but I have linked multiple similar styles below. This coat was a great Zara find, so I would keep my eye on their coats for similar styles in the future. I paired my coat over a black cashmere mock neck, my favorite skinny jeans and black Jeffery Campbell booties. This black cashmere mock neck is easily my favorite sweater, it is one of the warmest and most versatile pieces in my closet. Shop this entire look and a variety of similar camel coats below! xoxo

Images via Alex Phillips.