LBC

So we all know about the infamous LBD (little black dress) that every woman needs to have in her closet. But what about the LBC...little black cardigan? I think that it is another essential piece that all women should have. I adore cardigans! Not only are they versatile in that they can help with temperature changes, but they are a great layering piece and can totally change the look of an outfit. I was walking through Marshalls and found this precious little cardigan. The subtle sparkle of the gold sequins gives it a dressier feel and a bit of sophistication. It is lightweight and had gold and black buttons. I already feel like this will be a great addition to my fall wardrobe. Now if only it would just start to get cooler...

Grains on the Go

Being in the workplace has put me on somewhat of a different meal schedule. I eat breakfast an hour or two earlier than I used to, which naturally means that I am eating lunch earlier. This would be fine except that I find myself needing a snack in the afternoon because it's no where near dinner time. I wanted something healthy and filling, however, I didn't have anything like that. I took a short walk in the scorching heat to see what Marshalls had. I was surprised when I found some granola amid their gourmet food section. It was just what I was looking for! I chose a 'Not Sweet Vanilla Granola', and was surprised that it was very aptly named. There was no artificial sweetness to it, but there was a hint of vanilla flavor that mimicked a sweet flavor. The interesting thing about this granola was that it's made with fruits and not assorted fats and oils. It was a bit weird at first that it wasn't sweet, but it was definitely filling and I didn't feel about guilt about eating it! This is something that I have tucked away in my desk for occasions like today. Try it if you get a chance and know that you will make your tummy very happy!

Essential Kitchen Tools

The kitchen is a place where magic happens and you can create some of the most wonderful things for your tummy. However, without the right tools it can be very time consuming. Creating the perfect toolbox for the kitchen doesn't have to expensive or overwhelming. What I have found is that it is an evolving process. I love finding new things that make being in the kitchen fun. One year for Christmas, I had found a garlic zoom at Williams Sonoma. All it was was a little circular box with wheels and a blade. You put the garlic cloves in and rolled it on the counter to chop the garlic. Let's just say garlic got put in everything.

I think that some of the essentials are a spatula, whisk, tongs, kitchen scissors, turner, and a spoon. From there, you begin to see what you might need based on the things you like to make. Kitchen tools are there to make your life easier, so for me I make pasta a lot and a pasta or slotted spoon comes in handy all the time. Once you have the essentials, then you get to add fun ones that you don't absolutely need to have but are just fun. I bake quite a bit, so a cake tester is very useful. Luckily for me, I got a really cute one, but toothpicks are usually something that are on hand and do the job just as well.

One of the newest ones, I have gotten is a lemon and lime juicer. I don't do a ton of juicing, but when I have to it's a pain. Somehow my hand is not as effective and I feel like I am wasting a lot of juice, especially with limes. I have seen the individual colored ones, like orange, yellow, and green for oranges, lemons, and limes, but not one like this. It can be used for lemons and limes. The larger bottom section holds the lemons and the middle section is for limes. All you do is put the half of whatever you are juicing in the appropriate section and squeeze. I think that it will be much better than me squeezing them by hand.

Though you can buy garlic chopped or minced, somehow using freshly peeled garlic makes everything ten times better. Since I use a lot of garlic, I decided it was time to invest in a garlic press. This one has a removable tray for easy cleaning. However, I was slightly upset when I found out this one did not have an awesome cleaning tool that pushes the garlic remains out of the holes. Oh, well. If you have never used one before, all you do is put the peeled clove in and squeeze directly into the pan.

I know that you are probably thinking that this is a pretty expensive toolbox, but it doesn't have to be. I am not a seasoned chef, so I am okay with not having professional grade tools, which can be very pricey. The higher end kitchen stores, like Willams Sonoma and Sur La Table, have these tools, but are more expensive. I have found that Marshalls has a lot of these for about half the price and they have well known brands like KitchenAid. I hope that you have a better idea of how to put together your own kitchen toolbox. Feel free to leave any questions you have. Let me know what your favorite kitchen tool is and if you know of any places to get great deals on tools.