chic chef: creamy shrimp & tomato chowder

It's been a while since I've shown off my culinary skills, so I figured it was time for my third installment of chic chef :)

I love soup and this was the first time I've ever prepared my own from scratch and it was delish! I'll definitely be making this again, perhaps with chicken or sausage next time.

WHAT YOU NEED:

• *2 stalks celery, chopped (1 cup)
• *1 medium onion, chopped (1/2 cup)
• *1 Tbsp. olive oil
• *2 14.5 oz. cans diced tomatoes with basil, garlic, and oregano, undrained
• *8 oz. medium peeled cooked shrimp
• *1/2 cup whipping cream
• *1/2 cup water
• *ground black pepper

WHAT YOU DO:

*cook finely chopped celery and onion in hot oil just until tender

*stir in tomatoes; heat through

*add shrimp, whipping cream, and water

*cook over medium heat just until hot

*season to taste with black pepper

*ENJOY!

This can be eaten with or without rice. I'm greedy, and therefore prefer it with the rice :)

as the sun sets

I quickly snapped these pictures on my way out the door Friday evening.

After going back to look at them, I wish I would have used my DSLR to really capture that beautiful sunset behind me.

Anyway, I wore this out to ERA ART BAR & LOUNGE for drinks, and live salsa music. Good times!

With all this warm weather, I really didn't need the tights or the leather jacket, but there's something weird to me about bare legs and short sleeves in February.

wearing: zara leather jacket and shorts, urban blouse, aldo booties

worn to: ERA ART BAR & LOUNGE

1 week left for the GIVEAWAY!!!!!!!

can't take my eyes off of you

Apparently, I was so obsessed with the lining of this blazer, that I could not take the time to look up at the camera :) :)

Hope everyone is having as good of a week as I am. I would write more about it, but I have a mile long list of things to do, and updating the blog obviously was most important. Enjoy the weekend!

There's still time to enter the GIVEAWAY

wearing: old navy tee, rachel roy blazer, urban pants, thrifted belt, aldo boots

worn to: class

leopard.zebra.cheetah

My niece stopped by for a quick visit Friday evening, and when she left, she was short one item...

This multi animal print scarf :) :)

It's only on loan so I am going to wear it out until she comes back for it, and when she does, I am going to start wearing my leopard and zebra print scarf together!

I wore this out for lunch today with my dad and brother...beef & broccoli with oyster sauce and fried rice...o, and one chicken wing. YUM!

Don't forget to enter my giveaway HERE. I'm finding out that a lot of people don't have Facebook, so the details have been tweaked a bit...

wearing: old navy trench, banana republic sweater/jacket, gap tee, niece's scarf, f21 skirt, aldo booties, louis vuitton bag
worn to: lunch at LITTLE SHIN SHIN

i want to give-a-way

As I stated in my last post, I'm doing a giveaway!!! I've been thinking about doing one for awhile now and lately there were so many signs saying there's no time like the present. For starters, I always knew what I was going to giveaway and the company who makes the item, contacted me recently with a special offer for my readers that I will get to later. I'm almost at 200 followers which is something to celebrate, and last but certainly not least, I just won something via a giveaway over at BUDGET CHIC (will show it off when it gets here), so I am true testament that giveaways are totally worth it. On to the goodies...

These brass bangles from eShakti are so well made and so versatile.

Wear them with your favorite watch

Or bracelet

And they are beautiful enough to stand alone.

They can be yours by simply:

1) Following Simply Chic via Google Friend Connect

*If you'd like up to 3 additional entries follow me on TWITTER and BLOGLOVIN and like me on FACEBOOK*

2) Leave me a comment letting me know how you are following and leave your e-mail address so I can contact you if you win.

That's it! So simple to get something so fabulous. I'll keep the giveaway open until February 14th, everyone's favorite holiday ;)

Please checkout eShakti. In addition to accessories, they make beautiful clothing that they will customize to fit your body. From now until the end of February, if you enter the code SIMPLYCHIC2011 they will take 20% off your order. Run. Don't walk...

eta...several people have told me they don't have a FB page (I thought I was the only one) so I've tweaked the details a bit :)

65 & sunny

I feel awful bragging about the weather in California when the East Coast is being slammed by snow and sleet and single digit temps, but my goodness, it's beautiful here! The weather is actual better than when I first moved back to the Bay Area in August of last year. It's hard to be unhappy when the sun is shining :)

Next post, I am giving away one of the items in this post, so stay tuned, and please don't forget to LIKE me on FACEBOOK.

wearing: j crew cardigan, h&m button down, urban pants, steve madden luxe heels, eShakti bracelts, michael kors watch

worn to: brown couch cafe for a latte and a meeting

vintage coach

This is one of my favorite dresses because it's sooooo easy to wear.

It's traveled across several states with me and I've never had to iron it.

And every time I wear it I pair it with a different belt.

But this post is really not about the dress. It's about the BAG!!!

My mom's super old school Coach bag to be exact :)

It's so soft and so perfect and so goes with everything. My mom better get a lock on her closet...

wearing: urban outfitters dress, thrifted belt, dolce vita boots, coach bag

worn to: dinner and drinks at Mua

P.S I'm typing and sippin'...please excuse any typos and/or incoherence ;)

Also I finally got a Facebook page for the blog. Please LIKE ME HERE!

i wear my owl on my shirt

The weather this weekend in California was nothing short of amazing.It makes me so ready for spring, and so ready for my trip to Atlanta in a couple of months.

I miss the days of sitting on a patio, eating an omelette and sipping on mimosas for hours at a time.

On to the clothes...this top kind of speaks for itself. It's a bejeweled owl, and I would wear it everyday if I could.

In fact, I've had it less than a month and have worn it twice already, and thinking about wearing it tomorrow ;)

Here's a shot of when I wore it in NYC, where it was far less sunny.

wearing: express blazer, f21 top and jeggings, aldo booties

worn to: the movies in cali & madame tussaud's wax musem in NY

my must have items

Two things I can't live without in the fall/winter are colorful coats and scarves.

When it's cold outside it's not uncommon for people to never see what's underneath your coat, so it needs to be FAB, and switching your scarf is like switching your top...it creates a whole new look.

One of my favorite things about this coat other than its vibrant color is that it's lined with my favorite print....yes, you guessed it leopard!

Anyway, these photos were taken in the subway station in Brooklyn, and let me tell you, if I can help it, that will be the last time I use the subway in NY! Ok, maybe I am being a little dramatic, but have you guys seen the video of the rat that ran up a man's body and on his face in the train???? Traumatizing!

wearing: express coat, gifted scarf, marc by marc jacobs bag, american apparel velvet stirrups, aldo shoes
worn to: apartment hunt with & FOR the b/f in brooklyn, and hanging out in columbus circle

dirty jerz?

Not sure how or why New Jersey, got the nickname Dirty Jerz, but look at all this snowy gorgeousness!

It was so fun to "play" in the CLEAN snow and do a photoshoot with this beautiful backdrop.

Especially now that I have THIS DSLR camera!

I love, love, LOVE it and can't wait to develop my photography skills.

I also love this chunky Old Navy sweater that I bought almost 2 years ago to the date to wear to President Obama's inauguration :) What an experience!

wearing: american eagle button down, old navy fairisle sweater, dolce vita boots
worn to: run the streets of dirty jerz

same dress, different city

My NYE in NYC consisted of great wine, sparkling Shiraz to be exact
Yummy food...skirt steak with a potato parmesan croquette

And lots of festive goodies to ring in 2011!

In an effort to be cheap practical I wore my NYE dress from last year.

But this year I added a belt and a blazer...

And jazzed up my makeup with my definition of a smoky eye ;)

I could have done without the remnants on the streets from the nasty blizzard, but other than that, the evening was absolutely perfect! How did you spend NYE?

wearing: h&m dress, express blazer, thrifted belt, christian louboutin heels
worn to: GOOD restaurant in the West Village

ready

wearing: banana republic blouse, thrifted belt, express silk skirt, steve madden luxe heels, opi polish in big apple red

worn to: midnight mass

~Daily Word December 31, 2010~

As I reflect on the events of the past year, I recognize successes and failures, gains and losses. Each event has taught me something and made me wiser. Knowing this, I acknowledge and release the past year in gratitude.

In contemplation of the coming year, whether I am excited or apprehensive, I know the spirit of God will empower me to meet every situation with confidence and strength. With this in mind, I release any concerns I may have about the future.

Today I am ready to stand tall in this present moment. I appreciate the now, perfectly balanced between the blessings of the past and the promise of the future. This is the moment of power and action. I am ready!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!