This A.M.

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Bamboozle

My good friend Conchi works Downtown and whenever I can, on a day off, I meet Conchi for her lunch break. There are several great lunch spots in Downtown Tampa, but we can't seem to go anywhere besides Bamboozle Cafe.

Bamboozle Cafe serves modern Vietnamese food, specializing in fresh spring rolls. You pick your meat, they add noodles and shredded greens then you pick four veggies to finish it off. They hand roll your lunch right in front of you. They also serve noodle salads, Pho, sandwiches with a Vietnamese twist and other fresh, delicious and healthy fare. And for 75¢ you can have a yummy homemade mini carrot cupcake with cream cheese frosting for desert. Those carrot cupcakes are extremely hard for me to pass up.

Probably my favorite thing at Bamboozle Cafe is their homemade peanut sauce, which I was told is Vegan. I am not by any means a healthy eater, but I could eat Bamboozles spring rolls every day and the peanut sauce by the bucket full!

After lunch I got Conchi to partake in a little 'This A.M. style' fashion shoot. She looked so cute and professional in her grey suit, red pumps, Micheal Kors bag and Tory Burch shades!

Monday, May 13, 2013

Shrimp and Grits

This A.M. I wasn't sure what to name this post. 'Shrimp Poached in Bacon Grease Gravy Over Grits with a Pound of Extra Sharp Cheddar Cheese' didn't really have a ring to it. Neither did 'A Heart Attack Waiting to Happen/Shrimp and Grits'. I did almost go with 'Southern Fat-Ass Shrimp and Grits' but at the last minute decided on keeping the post title simple, calling it simply 'Shrimp and Grits'.

Cheesy, a Southern favorite and turned gourmet at many eateries, Shrimp and Grits is good ole fashion comfort food. The keys to a perfect Shrimp and Grits is good applewood smoked bacon, fresh large sized shrimp and extra sharp cheddar. My personal gourmet twist is a hint of rosemary!

Shrimp and Grits

Grits
4 cups chicken broth
2 tablespoons butter
teaspoon salt
2 cups grits
3/4 cup heavy cream
1 1/2 cups grated extra sharp cheddar

Sauce
5 slices of applewood smoked bacon
2 tablespoons buter
1/4 cup flour
2 cups chicken broth
3 minced garlic cloves
juice from a lemon
1 tablespoon hot sauce
1 teaspoon worstshire sauce
2 teaspoons paprika
pinch of sea sat, fresh cracked pepper
4 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
4 tablespoons fresh rosemary, chopped

Shrimp
2 lbs extra large shrimp
Cajun seasoning, garlic salt, pepper

Bring chicken broth to a boil. Add butter, salt and grits. Stirring reduce heat to simmer. Cover and cook for about 6-7 minutes. Stir in heavy cream and cheese. Cover and set aside. Fry bacon until crispy. Remove form pan. Add butter and flour to bacon grease. Stirring, cook for 2 minutes. Add remaining sauce ingredients. Stirring frequently, bring to a boil and then reduce heat to low. Season shrimp with cajun seasoning, garlic salt and pepper. Poach shrimp for 5 minutes in the sauce. Chop up bacon, add to sauce. To serve, dish out grits and top with shrimp and bacon sauce mixture. Add extra parsley as a garnish and have hot sauce on hand for those that wish to add some heat.

Serves 4 with extra for seconds.

Sunday, May 5, 2013

DIY Denim Shorts

This A.M. summer arrived. It went from being -2 to the 20's. In Canada we had a hard stop on our winter this year and after 7 months of fighting the cold we are now only enjoying double digit weather. We don't hesitate to get out our summer clothes and outfits here. If you were taking a stroll along Queen St. today I am sure to you would't have enough fingers to count the denim short shorts girls are happily clad in. These less than half a full pair of jeans are retailed anywhere from $49 to $200. But why pay that money when you have jeans in your closet that you aren't wearing. You can take those jeans you have been hanging on to but can't seem to wear and transform them into a new hot little number.

Old Jeans can like these can transform your summer wardrobe with one of a kind re-made designs and put pennies in your pockets

Jeans

Denim shorts are so easy to make.

STEPS

Step One: Try on your jeans and mark the length.

Step Two: Cut 1 inch below your desired length to accommodate for the fringe or fray

Step Three: Use scissors or a sharp object to create holes, use your hands to remove any fabric particles and create that natural worn look. You can also use sandpaper, wire brushes etc.

Tips:

Use a bleach pen to create a pattern like hearts or stars.
Cut shorts a bit longer if you want to roll them up.
Add patches or appliques to make em funky
If your pockets are showing it's even trendier!
Relax and have fun!

Amy is wearing a 'Drop' tee in white burnout and gold with Club Monaco (DIY cut off jeans) in grey, Tory Burch Medallion flip flops in orange and navy.

Friday, April 19, 2013

Fashion Nails

This A.M. I am sharing my latest fashion nail and accessory obsessions. Fashionable nails are becoming more and more of a statement. Fashionistas are not only accessorizing their outfits, they are starting to flash more interesting nail designs. The hands and nails continue to be a new way to accessorize.

Rings; Forever 21, Nail Polish; Joe Fresh in Cloud and Khaki, Shoes; Aldo(2years loved), Sunglasses; Tory Burch

Melissa Manickam a Visual Merchandiser with a passion for fashion, food, dogs, music, entertaining and all sort of random things, shows off her accessory and nail outfits of the day.