Thought for the Week: Beautiful

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  It's far too easy to get caught up in others' definitions of beauty.  Magazines, TV shows, even certain relationships make even the most confident and self-possessed doubt their own beauty.  Beauty really is about so much more than some definition or image, however.  It's about happiness, relationships, confidence, insecurities, friendships, health, love, and the sum of our experiences.  It's unique to each of us and can't be prescribed or dictated.  Embrace the things that make you beautiful - the sum of each gives you your own unique brand that can never be duplicated.

Happy Monday.

xo,

Favorite Things: Reunion Weekend

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Let's hear it for Friday!

I'm so excited to spend the weekend celebrating the wedding of L+G.  This weekend will feature time with college friends AND law school friends, and I'm sure it will be one for the memory books. Some of these reunions are more than 4 years overdue, and the excitement of catching up with old friends is my one and only #favoritething this week. 

I'll be sure to take lots of pictures to share with you on Monday.  

In the meantime, you can follow along on instagram here.  

Happy Weekend, friends.  

xo,

Mother's Day Gift Picks

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Mommas are some of God's greatest gifts to us.  Mine is smart, beautiful, crazy, and one of the most compassionate people I know.  Throw in a love of orchids, angels, and bangles and there you have her.   

Don't forget to show your momma some love this weekend.  

Scoop up one of these gift picks, give her a hug, or just call to tell her that you love her. 

xo, 

Mid Week Muse: Budget Brights

dress ( gap - sold out)  Similar for less than $100 here and here.  Similar for  less than $30 here and here.)
  shoes // earrings // clutch

Happy Mid Week Muse!  I'm excited to that today's "muse" is for the budget minded shopper with each piece coming in at less than $50.  I think this is the perfect look for a dinner out with friends, a day time wedding or shower, or just a day of looking pulled together and fun.  I think the key to wearing brights without looking over the top or tacky is to wear them in accessories.  Keep the other pieces neutral like these shoes and this solid dress.

Speaking of the dress...I put this collage together yesterday, and when I went to check the links this morning the dress sold out over night!  I apologize for that, but I'm thinking if you check your Gap stores you might find some still in stock.  I've also included two alternative options that are a little more expensive (but still a great deal at under $100) and two alternatives that are even more of a steal than the original at under $30.  

One more speaking of...half of "Team Muse" is celebrating a birthday this week.  It would be extra sweet if you'd link-up and share your "muse" for her birthday.  

How it works:

Grab the button below and link back to both of our blogs:

Ann Elliott and Pampers & Pearls

Link up starts on Wednesday at 6am EST

*It would also be super nice of you to visit the blog that entered the link up before you and leave a comment.  We're into creating a community here!*

Promotion:

Please help us promote our new link-up!

Use #MidWeekMuse and be sure to tag us on IG:

 @anniebryan and @pamperspearls

Share your post on Facebook and give us a shout out:

@annelliottblog and @pampersandpearls

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Ann Elliott and Pampers & Pearls

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Today I'm also linking up with:

Also linking up with:

Because Shanna Said So

Get Your Pretty On

The Pleated Poppy

Recipe: Chicken + Black Bean + Tortilla Casserole

I first made this recipe about 1 month before Josh and I got married (ages ago), and until last weekend,  I hadn't made it since.  I was flipping through my cookbooks looking for inspiration the other day, and I saw the corner of this recipe folded down.  I opened to the spot and saw some avocado smeared on the page + the little pencil markings I had made checking off ingredients, and I was immediately overwhelmed by nostalgia.  This recipe was my first attempt at cooking dinner for Josh, and I remember working so hard on chopping, measuring, and trying to make everything perfect.  (Don't worry- it's not a hard recipe - I just didn't have much experience in the kitchen!)  I don't remember much else about the meal except that it made TONS, and it must have been edible as we got married and life moved on.  Isn't it funny how certain recipes (or songs or smells or places) can instantly transport you to a memory?  This recipe certainly transported me, and I'm so thankful to have "rediscovered" it nearly 7 years later.  And, for the record- it's not just edible- it's delicious.  

Chicken, Black Bean, and Tortilla Casserole

Recipe adapted from What's for Dinner by Maryana Vollstedt

Ingredients:

• 1 Tbs. olive oil
• 1/2 green bell pepper, seeded and chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes, including juices
• 1/2 C. prepared salsa
• 1 tsp. ground cumin
• 3/4 tsp. salt
• Pepper, to taste
• 1/2 tsp. oregano
• 2 cans (15 oz each) black beans, rinsed and drained
• 2-3 C. cooked chicken breast, shredded
• 8 soft corn tortillas (I used 10 small tortillas.)
• 4 C. grated Monterey Jack cheese (I ran out and used cheddar for the last cup.)

Optional toppings:

• Avocado
• Sour cream
• Fresh salsa
• Sliced green onions

Directions:

1. In a large skillet, warm oil over medium heat.  Add green pepper and garlic and saute until soft, about 5 minutes.  Add tomatoes, salsa, cumin, salt, pepper, and oregano and mix well. Stir in beans and chicken.
2. Preheat oven to 350.  In a lightly sprayed 4 Qt. casserole dish, spread 1/3 of bean and chicken mixture over the bottom.  Top with 4 corn tortillas. (I cut them in half and used 5 to cover more of the mixture.)  Sprinkle 1 cup of cheese on top of tortillas.  Add another 1/3 of bean and chicken mixture and top with 1 cup of cheese.  Top with 4 (or 5) more tortillas and 1 cup of cheese.  Add remaining bean and chicken mixture.  Cover and bake until bubbly, about 40 minutes.  (I cooked uncovered for a crispier top.)
3. Uncover and sprinkle with remaining cheese and cook 10 minutes longer.  Let stand 5 minutes before serving.  

Enjoy!

PS - Don't forget to join us for #MidWeekMuse tomorrow.  See what's inspiring Ann Elliott, Pampers & Pearls, and other bloggers and readers out there.  We hope you'll link-up and share your "muse" for the week.  

xo,

April Recap

Happy Cinco de Mayo!  Instead of the margaritas and guacamole post that you might be expecting today, I'm finally posting my April recap.  I love all of the memories that came out of a quick and exhausting month.  From Adam and Angie's wedding weekend in Charlotte, to a mini-family vacation in Charleston, to West Palm Beach for Easter, April was packed.  Our one weekend in town was spent showering two momma's to be, visiting historic homes on the Riverside/Avondale home tour, and catching up with a friend who's moving soon.  Throw in the birth of a sweet baby girl (Love you, AGT), and ramping up HeroMe, and we haven't had much down time around here.   

I'm feeling thankful for plenty of celebrations and fun, but I'm also very grateful for a few weekends at home to recover.

Maybe I'll even bust out the margaritas and guacamole...

xo,

Favorite Things: Summer Budget Picks

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FRIDAY!  I am super excited for the weekend - it's supposed to be gorgeous around here.  All of this warm weather has me fast forwarding from spring straight into summer, and my favorite things this week reflect that shift.  For me, summer is the time to wear the colors that I avoid all fall and winter, and it's a great time to find cute items for less.  (Who really wants to sweat in an expensive outfit?!) Luckily for me, I stopped into H&M a few weeks ago while we were in Charleston and spied TONS of cute summer items at great prices.  

For full disclosure, I've avoided H&M my whole life, and this was only my second or third time in a store.  It's always felt a little overwhelming to me, and I've struggled with the sizing, fabrics, etc.  In Charleston, however, I had the entire day ahead of me, sister-in-laws to give opinions, and I was up for a challenge.  The verdict?  Loved it.  

So, in honor of my new found love for H&M, I bring you this week's Favorite Things.  Everything here is from the H&M website, and none of it will break the bank.  In fact, it might be worth it to stock up on multiples of some of these guys - hello, sunglasses - summer's coming and you don't want to be unprepared!

Tell me, are there any stores you've tried to avoid and then later turned out to love?

xo,