March 31, 2014
Inspirational Monday: Layered Necklaces
1. A Touch of Mess 2. Swandive
3. Dylanlex (instagram) 4. Penny Pincher Fashion
When it comes to my everyday outfits, I'm pretty basic. I'm a t-shirt and jeans type of girl at heart, even though my job (sometimes) calls for me to get a little more dressed up then that. Layered necklaces are my favorite trick to dress up a pretty basic look. Adds a statement and a bit of personality.
What do you think of the layered necklace look?
Sweater: Forever21 | T-Shirt: Target | Jeans: Zara | Necklaces: Forever21 and c/o Ann Taylor |
Sunglasses: NYC Street Vendor
pictures taken by Brian Cavanaugh
March 28, 2014
Foodie Friday: Nutella Croissants
When you have extra Nutella laying around your apartment what are you to do with it? Make Nutella Croissants of course! We never have Nutella in the house, but since I had about half a jar left from after making the Nutella Fudge Brownies I figured it was time to think of something else to make with it. That's when I thought of this quick and easy treat. All you need is Pillsbury Crescent Rolls and Nutella...Sunday brunch at it's finest!
Ingredients:
- Nutella- Pillsbury Crescent Original Rolls
Step 1. Preheat oven at 350 degrees
Step 2. Open crescent roll package and unroll the dough onto a baking sheet. Make sure tear along perforated lines.
Step 3. Take about a tablespoon* of Nutella and spread evenly out on your dough. Do this to each of your rolls.
Step 4. Roll croissants. Don't worry to much on looks either way they'll taste delicious!
Step 5. Bake in the oven for 10 minutes or until lightly golden brown.
Step 6. Let the croissants cool down on the baking sheet.
Step 7. Once cool, plate and enjoy!!
*you can use whatever amount of Nutella you like. My fiance and I can't help ourselves when it comes to Nutella (I mean who can?!).
So I'm not the best croissant roller ever but whateves they came out delicious! And this was the perfect little welcome home for my fiance who was out of town for business. This is a easy and fun baked treat to make with your kids on a weekend morning. Add cinnamon or even powdered sugar for a decadent treat.
What do you think of these yummy morning treats?
March 26, 2014
Mixing Prints: Leopard Print and Stripes
Jacket: Calvin Klein | Shirt: LOFT | Jeans: H&M | Shoes: H&M | Clutch: Zara | Scarf and Sunglasses: c/o Hugssy
photos taken by Brian Cavanaugh
This leopard print coats is one of my favorite pieces that I have in my wardrobe. I was happy when it was warm enough last week to break it out without having to wear another jacket on top of it. I've been waiting to play around with this jacket. Stripes and leopard print doesn't necessarily go together but the trick is to do wide stripes so that the look isn't busy. Play with neutral pieces like white jeans and a neutral bag. Add in a pop of color like a pair of pink pumps to make the look stand out a bit.
What do you think of this mixture?
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March 24, 2014
Inspirational Monday: Loose Leg Pants
2. Disel Black Gold (style.com) 3. Free People
Are you ready to ditch your skinny jeans this spring for loose cut pants? Okay, maybe not totally ditch the skinny jeans but get ready to at least mix in some loose fit and flared pants. Yes, this trend can be scary, especially since we all have come to love our skinnies. Some key things to remember is to keep your tops a bit fitted, this will help from keeping you look wide. Do add a top that has a bit of a relaxed fit to have a loungey feel. Loose leg pants can also shorten you, so add heels to create a lengthening effect.
I'm already prepared to swap in some looser and flared pants since I already have a a couple of pairs of wide leg trousers. I brought out my favorite pair of J.Brand jeans last week to welcome the Spring air. I love these J.Brands because they are super long. Why would I love something super long? So I can hide my 4 inch or 5 inch heels underneath the flare. This helps create the illusion of long legs!
Jacket: H&M (old) | Shirt: Loft | Jeans: J.Brand (old) | Shoes: Zara (old) |
photos taken by Brian Cavanaugh
I'm still on the hunt for boyfriend style jeans that look good on me. Even though I have a couple of leads thanks to Kimberlee of I Have a Degree in This. My first stop will be The Gap to check out their Sexy Boyfriend style jeans. Wish me luck guys!
Will you be ditching your skinnies this spring?
March 21, 2014
Foodie Friday: Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins
Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins are my absolute favorite muffins. There's this local coffee shop, Smith Canteen, that makes the best lemon poppy seed muffins. They have the right amount of lemon, stickiness, and glaze. I have been craving these muffins for sometime now and I decided to do some investigation and look up some recipes. I came across Two Peas and Their Pods on Pinterest (duh!) and thought her muffins looked good...and it was a recipe I could follow along to pretty easily. So I gave these a try one Sunday morning.
Recipe from Two peas & their pod
ingredients:
For the Muffins:
2/3 cup sugar
Grated zest and juice of 1 lemon
2 cups Gold Medal all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup sour cream or plain Greek yogurt
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 stick unsalted butter, melted and cooled
2 tablespoons poppy seeds
2/3 cup sugar
Grated zest and juice of 1 lemon
2 cups Gold Medal all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup sour cream or plain Greek yogurt
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 stick unsalted butter, melted and cooled
2 tablespoons poppy seeds
For the Icing:
1 cup confectioners’ sugar, sifted
2-3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 cup confectioners’ sugar, sifted
2-3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
directions:
1. To Make the Muffins: Center a rack in the oven and preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Butter or spray the 12 molds in a regular-size muffin pan or fit the molds with paper muffin cups.
2. In a large bowl, rub the sugar and the lemon zest together with your fingertips until the sugar is moist and the fragrance of the lemon is strong. Whisk in the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. In a small bowl, whisk the sour cream or Greek yogurt, eggs, vanilla, lemon juice and melted butter together until well blended.
3. Pour the liquid ingredients over the dry ingredients and gently stir to blend. Don't overmix. Stir in the poppy seeds. Divide the batter evenly among the muffin cups.
4. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes, or until the tops are golden and a thin knife inserted into the center of the muffins comes out clean. Transfer the pan to a rack and cool for 5 minutes before carefully removing each muffin from its mold. Cool the muffins completely on the rack before icing them.
5. To Make the Icing: Put the confectioners’ sugar in a small bowl and add about 1 1/2 tablespoons of the lemon juice. Stir with a spoon to moisten the sugar, then add enough additional lemon juice, a dribble at a time, to get an icing that is thin enough to drizzle from the tip of the spoon. Drizzle glaze over the muffins. Serve.
**I also find it easier to dip the muffins into the glaze then it is to drizzle over top since the glaze is pretty thick.
These lemon poppy seed muffins were good, but I think they were a little dense and not as moist as I was expecting them to be. I would def. try making these again maybe switching out the sour cream for Greek yogurt.
What do you think of lemon poppy seed muffins? would you try making these?
March 19, 2014
Style Guide: Wear Polka Dots Like a Grown Up
I've always been a fan of polka dots, but as I get older I want to move away from the total cutesy look and more sophisticated stylish looks. Even on my more casual days. Polka dots can def. go totally cutesy and young, but there are some tricks in picking out polka dots and styling them to make them a little more sophisticated.
Button down chambray tops have been my new go-to's. Polka dot chambray tops are just the perfect pairing of my two favorite things. I love that with these tops you can dress it up with a pencil skirt or a pair of trousers. Or take them to a weekend look with a pair of dark denim jeans and boots, flats, and sneakers. I also like that these tops are a little more grown-up. That they can be work from desk to weekend.
I wore this look to run our usual weekend errands. I love that this look is dressed down but still chic. And more importantly still comfortable.
How do you wear polka dots?
Button down chambray tops have been my new go-to's. Polka dot chambray tops are just the perfect pairing of my two favorite things. I love that with these tops you can dress it up with a pencil skirt or a pair of trousers. Or take them to a weekend look with a pair of dark denim jeans and boots, flats, and sneakers. I also like that these tops are a little more grown-up. That they can be work from desk to weekend.
Sweater: Forever21 | Shirt: LOFT | Jeans: Zara | Shoes: Shoemint | Bag: Alexander Wang (sample sale) |
Sunglasses: NYC Street Vendor
Sunglasses: NYC Street Vendor
I wore this look to run our usual weekend errands. I love that this look is dressed down but still chic. And more importantly still comfortable.
How do you wear polka dots?
March 17, 2014
Inspirational Monday: The Ride
photos from Free People March Catalog
Erin Wasson and Free People are a match made in heaven. She is like the rocker gypsy cool girl Godess which is everything Free People is about. Maybe it's because I have my own wedding buzz going on, but I love the whole idea behind Free People's March Catalog. The road trip to Vegas to get hitched. All the laid back casual looks. Undone hair. Oversized sunnies. It just feels like my vibe. Jeans, t-shirts, boots, and motorjackets.
Kimono: Forever21 | Shirt: H&M | Jeans: American Eagle | Shoes: H&M (old) | Scarf: Aeropastle |
Sunglasses: c/o Hugssy.com | Bag: c/o Rebecca Minkoff | Bracelets: NYC Street Vendor
photos taken by Brian Cavanaugh
Have you checked out the Free People Catalog yet?
March 14, 2014
Foodie Friday: Parmesan Truffle Fries
There's this restaurant in our neighborhood called Hunter's that makes the best truffle fries. I mean...they are like little pieces of heaven. Ever since we first ate there I have been craving them! Since we are trying to cut back on spending, we've been doing a lot of eating in and home cooking. And by we I mean mostly my fiance (he's a way better cook then I am)...BUT I am one hell of side maker. I found this Parmesan Truffle Fries recipe on pinterest and decided that it would be a great side to make with my fiance's stuffed burgers!
Recipe from A Family Feast
Ingredients
- 3 large russet potatoes (about 2 ½ pounds)
- 4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 2-4 tablespoons truffle oil (see note above)
- ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley
- ¼ cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
- Leave the skin on the potatoes. Cut each potato in half the long way, then each half in half the long way. Now take each quarter and cut into three wedges so when you are done, you will have 12 wedges per potato. Don’t worry if you get less, as long as they are uniform in size.
- In a bowl toss the cut potatoes with two tablespoons of truffle oil, all of the olive oil, salt and pepper. Lay out flat on a sheet pan and roast for 15 minutes. Turn each wedge over and roast for about another 15 minutes or until browned and tender.
- Remove hot fries from sheet pan and place in a large bowl and toss with truffle oil, chopped parsley and grated Parmesan.
**NOTE: I love the taste of truffle so I went a little heavy on the truffle oil. So depending on the truffle oil you have and your taste buds do accordingly to taste.**
I'm so in love with anything truffle. Pure deliciousness! If anyone is interested maybe I can have my lovely fiance do a guest blog of his stuffed burger (hint hint: it's stuffed with bacon, onions and more cheese!).
What do you think of truffle fries?
What do you think of truffle fries?
March 12, 2014
How to Wear a Crop Top on a Date
My fiance and I celebrated our 6 year anniversary over the weekend by going out and playing a little shuffleboard. Of course I wanted to to look cute but still be completely appropriate for the venue...also it was the first warm enough day to break out the crop top. So I knew I had to mix it it in for our day date.
Kimono: Forever21 | Crop Top: Emma & Sam from LF Store | Jeans: Carmar from LF Store | Shoes: Dolce Vita (old) | Bag: Zara (sale) | Sunglasses: Aldo | Scarf: Aeropastle
pictures taken by Brian Cavanaugh
1. Loose Layers. Open knit cardigans or kimonos are not only perfect for the spring time since they are light weight but they are the perfect for spring time layering. Adding a open cardi will allow you to cover the crop top but not all of it. Just enough to have a peek of skin.
2. Spring Scarves...aka More Layers. You can never go wrong with a layer that you can easily take on and off. Spring scarves can add a pop of color or print to a look but also help keep your look cozy and put together.
3. Pointy Toe Flats. Sure your legs and butt look great in heels but heels and a crop top might be um too much. Especially depending on your date, if you are doing something casual or something a little more activity that requires you being on your feet...stay away from feels. Pointy toe flats dress up a look and give it that heel look without having the height. Plus they are totally more comfortable.
4. High Waist Jeans. Keeping the idea in mind of not showing too much do do high waist pants or jeans. This will keep your mid-section covered but will allow for a peek of skin. this is especially goes for my gals who are 20 plus. Lets be honest low waist jeans and crop tops just doesn't look cute on us. Lets keep it classy ladies.
5. Favorite Day Bag. Go simple. Go basic. Go with neutral tones colors. You don't want your look to clash to much so use your favorite day bag whether it's a clutch or your favorite shoulder bag.
Dates of course vary and all depends what your doing. For a dresser occasion you might want to pair your crop top with a high waist midi skirt and heels. Or if it's somewhere outdoors during the summer high waist shorts. This look in particular is a look that you can wear during the day and into the night.
Would you wear a crop top on a date?
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