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Summertime...and the Livin's Busy!

Even though summer doesn't technically start until June 21st, the warm weather sure has us feeling otherwise! As do the MULTIPLE summer events we have going on, beginning next week and not stopping until September!

Make sure you have your calendars ready, because here is a full list of all the projects and events we have coming up...we'll have tons more photos, info and quotes from our staff as the events approach, so keep checking back!

June 5th - Discovery in the Garden Tour, Fairfield, CT

June 11th - Greenwich Garden Tour, presented by the Garden Education Center of Greenwich, CT

June/July - look for our Mia Chandelier in the June/July issue of Traditional Home!

July 1st - 31st - QVC Presents Super Saturday LIVE! - QVC.com is selling our brand new White Tea luxury kits for the entire month, at 50% OFF of retail!!

July 25th - September 6th - Hampton Designer Showhouse Gala, Water Mill, NY

August 1st - Super Saturday 12 in the Hamptons, Water Mill, NY

August 15th - 20th - New York International Gift Fair, Jacob Javits Center in NYC

Leaving Our Mark...

• Kat Burki Home
• QVC Presents Super Saturday Live
• Race to Erase MS Live Auction Donors
• Elle Decor "Happenings Page"
• 50% off KB Sale
• Would-Smell-As-Sweet
• Chic Today
• Haute Living
• Super Saturday
• LDB Interior Textiles
• WireImage
• Graceful Elegance
• Phat Guru
• Westchester Cottages & Gardens
• StyleHive
• Bloggiamo
• Home Accents Today
• Elle Decor "Truth in Decorating"
• Interiors Magazine
• Kiss and Type
• ThisNext
• Carousel of Hope Ball
• Appearances
• Exclusively Yours
• Elle Decor "What's Hot! Shops"
• Panache
• Real Simple
• Denver Post
• The Southport Globe

Studio Style KB

Studio Style KB is the chic blog of Kat Burki Home, a luxury lifestyle line, specializing in home furnishings, body and bath products, and anything to incorporate a little more luxe into your life. This chic yet informative site acts as a newsletter to all our followers, providing info on any news, events, editorial coverage, or other exciting things going on in the world of Kat Burki. You'll also find design tips, ideas, product suggestions, horoscopes, sales and specials, and much more! Kat Burki Home has so much going on, and we want all of our readers to be as excited as we are! Please feel free to visit katburkihome.com to view our beautiful products, and if you have a question, would like to request a catalogue, or have any general comments, just shoot an email to studiostylekb@gmail.com. Enjoy!

XT's Sushi

   Due to my husband's insatiable appetite for sushi, I've had to resort to making it on my own.

To get started, I had to get a few things.  A bag of sushi rice, a bottle of Rice Vinegar, a container of sushi ginger, a package of roasted seaweed wrapping sheets, a container of roasted sesame seeds, soy sauce, an avocado, cucumber & if spicy sauce is to your liking, a bottle of hot chili sauce & a container of mayonnaise (low fat is good as well!).  I was lucky enough to find all of the ingredients at my local Super Stop & Shop, on the isle that sells all of the Asian ingredients.  Lastly, I had to find sushi grade fish.  Luckily I have an excellent fish market close by & the owner's are always honest enough to tell me if they have sushi grade fish available or not.  I usually buy (3/4 lb each, for 2 people) tuna & salmon & ask them to remove the salmon skin.  If my husband & I are feeling especially indulgent, we order scallops & sea urchin a couple of days in advance. 

Once I've gathered all of the ingredients, it's time to prep.  First, cook the rice (adding 1-2  tbsp of rice vinegar w/water before hand) of rice, following the directions on the bag.  Let the rice cool completely (1-2 hrs or stick in freezer if in a time pinch).  Cut up the avocado, cucumber & fish into strips.  Get a bowl & add 3 parts mayonnaise, to 1 part chili sauce.  Mix & taste.  Add more chili sauce if you'd like it hotter.  Get a bowl of cold water.  Lastly, get a cutting board.

Lay the seaweed sheet on top of cutting board.  Dip (clean) hands in the cold water, then grab a hand full of rice & place at center of sheet.  Work the rice (alternating dipping hands into water, to minimize rice sticking to them), spreading outward in all directions, until it's spread out evenly onto sheet, leaving a 1" border on each end, uncovered.  Lay 2 pieces of avocado 1st (closest to you), parallel to 1" border, then tuna, parallel to avocado & spicy sauce on top.  Sprinkle on sesame seeds.  Dampen border closest to yourself (by dipping fingers into water & tap onto sheet), fold onto food evenly & start rolling, keeping it tight.  Keep rolling.  Once you've rolled to the border, stop.  Dampen border at end, roll again.  Let sit, w/dampened border on bottom.  Wait a minute to dry.  Use a good sharp large steak knife, run under cold water & cut quickly into 1.5"/2" pieces gently on slant.  Repeat w/cucumber & salmon.  If you're feeling really ambitious, finely chop fish, add spicy sauce, mix & place where sliced fish was placed instead.  Plate & add a tiny dollop of spicy sauce on top of each piece & sprinkle on sesame seeds.  Pour a bit of soy sauce into tiny bowl.  Dip piece of sushi in and enjoy!

The 1 Minute Mojito

Now that it's finally feeling like Spring (OK, most of the time), I've been craving a Mojito.  The traditional Mojito is made of five ingredients: White Rum, Sugar, Carbonated Water, Lime & Mint.  

I used to make them the old fashioned way, by boiling water, adding sugar, letting it cool, mashing the mint & fresh lime & then mixing all ingredients in a glass on ice.  But after hosting a Cinco de Mayo party & slaving over this concoction I knew that there just had to be a better way.

I decided to give the short cut version a shot & it came out delicious!  One part White Rum, 2 parts homemade Lemonade, one part Sprite, the juice of half a lime & 6 mint leaves finely chopped.  Pour in a glass w/a twig of mint, 2 ice cubes & top with a wedge of lime.

Whoever thinks that's cheating, feel free to knock yourself out.  I prefer mingling to mixing!  ;)

Designs by Rali

Thursday night I had the pleasure of attending a jewelry party at my girlfriends home. I must have fallen in love a half dozen times! I don't know what was more exciting about the pieces; the fact that they're hand crafted locally or that they're made with real semi precious stones, gold vermeil beads & sterling silver. There were so many AMAZING earrings, bracelets and necklaces to choose from.

All of these items have been designed & hand crafted by my friends Rachel Leslie and Ali Hurwitz, thus creating the name of the company 'Designs by Rali'. They aren't just extremely talented, they also happen to be very good people & hysterically funny. So whether you're looking for some fabulous jewelry at a reasonable price or want to host a jewelry party, look no further than Designs by Rali!

To peruse & purchase the items pictured here (and more!), go to http://designsbyrali.com/. Tell them Christina sent you! ;)

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My SHOE Heaven!

I am so excited about the assortment of flat sandals this season! There are SO many to choose from. What I'm loving best is they're fashionable AND comfortable! The one's pictured are MY faves.

The blue faux snakeskin is DEVINELY girly with an edge, with the zipper trimmed ruffles. Ruffled shoes were shown at the Philip Lim 3.1 Spring 09' show, by Christian Louboutin & ironically, zipper trimmed ruffled dresses, blouses & skirts were designed by Philip Lim & shown in the same show....hmmm I wonder where this shoe designer got that idea?! Pour la Victoire, $225.

The second pair are Black leather embossed snakeskin with a tassled anke tie, $89.95. Simple & casually chic.

The 3rd pair are by Boutique 9. I love suede in the summer! The copper strap on the beige suede cuff is unexpected, yet quite sophisticated. $129.95.

The cognac sandle with antiqued ornaments & buckle add a Morracan flair to a simple dress, skirt, pair of skinny pants, or shorts. $138.95.

Lastly, the narrow leather straps woven together form a Roman inspired gladiator sandal. Back zip, easy to slide on! $149.95.

All of the above can be purchased at Nordstrom.com. I can't wait until summer arrives! ;)

Affordable Fashion!

Affordable Fashion!

Anyone that knows me could tell you that I'm constantly driven by getting high fashion at a price; a VERY good price! During these tough times, it's become a mission.

Enter 'Fox's' (...'designer off price'), 1123 High Ridge Rd., Stamford, CT. ALL of the items pictured are under, yes UNDER $100!!! The grey dress is $39, the orange bag is $98, the black sleeveless blouse is $29, the black bow purse is $79, the indigo blue & white tie dye dress is $39 & the fabulous aqua purse is only $59!!!

So, if you're as obsessed with fashion as I am, but on a tight budget, stop into Fox's! They get shipments EVERY day & if you find an item you LOVE, but your size isn't in that location, they'll call all of the other locations & get it for you, if it's available. I got a Cynthia Steffe dress last summer for $79 that was previously $300!!!

There are other locations in Eastchester, Brooklyn, Huntington, Forest Hills, Mineola, etc. Go to foxs.com for other locations. TRUST ME, it's worth the trip!