Howdy Ombre

The ombre trend has hit every bit of our lives this year; from the ombre pillow to the ombre nail, it's a staple. Let's look at some great ombre trends under $100.

Asos, French Connection Dip Dyed Cotton Dress, $74

I really like the casualness of this dress, it's almost got a chambray feel to it.

Lord and Taylor, Rich and Skinny Dip Dye Cut Off Shorts, $49

Ok my brave ones, my girls who have been working it at the gym all summer, wear these loud and proud.

Nordstrom, Rio Carnival Kite Scarf, $38

The tassels on this scarf really make it. Just gorgeous and fun.

TopShop, Pink Ombre Skater Skirt, $36

There is nothing skater about this skirt, if anything it's ballerina.

What type of ombre have you tried? I love the ombre nail look but man does it look complicated! I think I'll stick to fashion.

Be fabulous today!

Not a Curtain

Hey lovebugs,
I'm back from my very well rested vacation in New Hampshire. I hope you enjoyed the fabulous bloggers who were nice enough to fill in for me while I was away. Today we're getting right back into it and looking a great style of dress that flatters any shape or size, the drape.

Nordstrom, Max & Cleo Lylia, $75

What a stunner this dress is. I'm thinking about getting it for a September wedding.

Macy's, DKNYC One Shoulder Dress, $29

A great priced dress for a Saturday night out with the girls. I'd add some silver earrings and go!

Elie Tahari, Christie Draped Jersey Dress, $62

I'm sorry an Elie Tahari for $62? Just say yes.

Banana Republic, Cowlneck matte jersey dress, $98

I would feel like one hot Barbie in this number.

A dress with some draping can be really beautiful when it lays correctly. For taller, thinner women try the draping tighter to the waistline, for those of us trying to conceal something a loser drape that cascades is the best bet.

Be fabulous today!

Guest Post: A Lacey Perspective

And our last fabulous blogger for a week of guest posts; please enjoy a peek inside Lacey's beach bag!

 

I never go to the pool/beach without my favorite panama hat, bright cover-up, sunnies, sunscreen or a good read. 

 

 If anyone is curious about the book above, I would call it entertaining but not well written.

xoxo

Lacey :)

Guest Post: So Much to Smile About

Hi Capital readers! Liz here from So Much to Smile About. I’m so happy to be helping Kelsey out with a guest post today, and am super excited that she was wondering what is in my beach bag! I love summer and heading to the beach whenever possible (and you’ll find me at the pool when it’s not), so this was the perfect post for me. 

In addition to a cool drink and some good reading material, the most important things I pack are the swimsuit, towel and sunglasses (of course). My favorite swimsuit these days is this one from Old Navy – I wear it all the time. Also, I recently found this beach towel from Bloomingdales and need to make it mine. It’s a reprint from a Conde Nast magazine (and it’s on sale)! And my go-to sunglasses will always be Ray-Bans, either these aviators or the classic wayfarers. Finally, you can’t forget some sunblock (this Clinique City Block is perfect for my face), a fun hat, these sandals and some Bumble and Bumble surf spray to keep my hair looking beach-y perfect. When I’m all situated, I just put in my headphones and listen to some tunes (you can find my summer playlist here). Now, get me to the beach!

Guest Post: Capital Style

First, a big thanks to Kelsey for having me today! I LOVE the beach, so when she asked me to write about the must haves in my beach bag...well she didn't have to ask twice. So without further adieu, here are the 5 things you will find in my beach bag.

J. Crew {$165}

1. Sunscreen: I have darker skin and don't really sunburn (except that time I sat out from noon till 6pm on a cruise ship somewhere in the Caribbean - not smart), but I am concerned about sun damage and super concerned about wrinkles as my twenties disappear in the rear-view mirror. I usually use an SPF 15 or 20 - like Coppertone - on the bod and a SPF 30 for my face - like Kiehl's sunscreen.

2. Hair care: I wear my hair natural which, for those of you who do not know me, is super curly. If I put it up in a ponytail, by the end of day, it snarls and starts turn into dreadlocks and that's on a normal day. Add surf, sun and sand and well, you got a big ol' mess so I need stuff to fight the frizz. I am a huge fan of the "Not Your Mother's" line of products. It's affordable and available at most drugstores. My go to these days is the "Kinky Moves" curl defining cream {$5.99}. It does exactly what it says and gets rid of the frizz. That is after I brush out the tangles. I use a big flat brush cause it doesn't rip out my hair. I also love the ribbon hair ties - they actually hold thick hair and don't rip it out!

3. Tunes: I love music just about as much as I love fashion, so I'm certainly not hitting the beach without a soundtrack. One of our summer interns recently told me about Songza and I'm obsessed! It is "music conceirge" that offers you music for the situation. Just pick a playlist and voila - chilling by the water, beach party, BBQ - music for any occasion!

4. A good book: I saw they're doing a film version of Anna Karenina with Kiera Knightly. I'm pro reading the book before seeing the movie so that's my summer reading. For something a little lighter, I'd recommend "Let's Pretend this Never Happened" by Jenny Lawson.

5. Sunglasses: Remember how I said I was worried about wrinkles, yeah, wan't joking. I don't really leave the house without sunglasses, so they are definitely a staple for the beach. This summer I'm into the cat-eye shades.

So here's to sand-filled wishes and rum punch dreams! Hope you all stop by Capital Style sometime to say hi!

Guest Post: Cupcakes for Breakfast

Hey beach babes! This is Nikki from Cupcakes for Breakfast here to share a look inside by summer beach bag. Some of my essentials include a bright bikini, a great book, cold juicy fruit, and both bug and sun protection. I'm all ready. So, when are we leaving??

sequin straw tote | beach towel | pink polka dot bikini | Avon bug guard | sunscreen | Time Traveler's Wife | Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society | wayfarers | OXO water bottle | Merimekko picnic bag | nectarines  

Kelsey, I hope you have a great vacation! Thanks for having me!

Guest Post: Mrs. In Training

Hi!  I'm Kelly from Mrs In Training.

I'm so excited to guest post for The Capital Barbie today, and want to tell you all about what I pack in my beach bag!  I just got back from a glorious week at the Outer Banks, and so I was able to snap a few shots to give you a peek ;)  Dressing for the beach is always the same for me - bikini, flat sandals (I hate the way flip flops "flip" up sand on my legs), a hat and sunglasses.  I also love this breezy Zara tunic as a cover up.  

In my bag, I always take a small lunch cooler to keep drinks and snacks cool.  Water is a must in 100 degree heat, and this week I was munching on fresh blueberries and Luna bars for some extra energy.  

How do I keep it all cold?  These awesome Cordina daiq-GO-ris!  You freeze them, and when you're ready to drink, just squeeze and unscrew the cap!  My aunt and I called them our adult Capri Suns, and with 6% alcohol they definitely made our afternoons more enjoyable!

Everything else I put in a large zipper bag to keep as much sand off as possible.  I love this clear one from DvF...it makes it so easy to see what is inside!

And it contains necessities like suntan lotion, a wide toothed comb for any snarls after dips in the ocean, and my personal addiction, Carmex chapstick.

I never leave home without my cell phone, but I also love this tiny speaker from iHome - it is really loud, and perfect to entertain a group over the sounds of the surf.  That, the Pandora app, and Amazon music Cloud Player really start a party.  

I saw a pin on Pinterest earlier this year about how baby powder helps get off sand at the beach, so I thought I'd give it a try since I HATE getting sandy.  And wow, does it work!  After I cooled off in the water and dried off with my towel, I rubbed a bit of baby powder on my face, hands, or wherever else I had a bit of sticky sand, and it came right off!!  I will never go to the beach again without it.  And I packed the wipes to take off any bits of baby powder before nomm-ing on some blueberries, but I really didn't need them - the baby powder wasn't messy at all.  My Kindle was another "must" - I love how perfectly it works in bright sun.

And of course, a towel, but I forgot to take a picture, and we all know what those look like ;)

Kelsey, hope you're having a great time at the beach!  Thanks for having me!  

Twitter @mrs_in_training  |  Instagram @mrsintraining  |  www.mrsintraining.com

Friday Foodday

Lovebugs,
Next week I'm headed on vacation with my family to New Hampshire for a whole week! But not to worry, I'm leaving you in the very capable hands of some of my favorite bloggers. Enjoy their posts! 


Now, my favorite recipes!

Avocado Roasted Chicken Grill cheese with spicy tomato sauce

c/o Kitchen Bellicious

Ingredients

8 slices each of swiss cheese and pepperjack cheese

2 large ripe avocados, sliced

1 cup of spicy tomato sauce

8 slices of good hearty bread

1/2 pound of chicken tenders

1 tsp salt and pepper each

1/2 tsp cajun seasoning

1/2 tsp garlic powder

dash of olive oil

dash of paprika

Directions

Mix seasonings together along with the olive oil and toss with the chicken tenders. Roast in oven for 15-20 minutes (depending on size of tenders) at 375. Set aside to cool. Once cool cut into nice size chunks.

Generously butter one side of a slice of bread. Place bread butter-side-down onto skillet bottom and add slice of pepperjack and slice of swiss cheese, next add the chicken and avocado slices. Butter a second slice of bread on one side and place butter-side-up on top of sandwich. Grill until lightly browned and flip over; continue grilling until cheese is melted. Repeat with remaining slices of bread. Top with the spicy tomato sauce and call it a night!

Baked Ziti with Summer Vegetables

c/o A Taste of Home Cooking

Ingredients

4 ounces uncooked ziti
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 medium yellow squash, chopped
1 medium zucchini, chopped
1 medium onion, chopped
4 large mushrooms, chopped
1 can diced tomatoes, drained
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 cup (4 ounces) shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese, divided
2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
2 teaspoons chopped fresh oregano
3/4 teaspoon salt, divided
1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper
1/4 cup (2 ounces) part-skim ricotta cheese
1 large egg, lightly beaten
Cooking spray
1/2 chopped grated Pecorino cheese 

Directions

Cook pasta according to package directions; drain. Preheat oven to 400°.

Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add oil to pan. Add squash, zucchini, onion and mushrooms; sauté 5 minutes. Add tomato and garlic; sauté 3 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in pasta, 1/2 cup mozzarella, herbs, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and pepper.

Combine ricotta, remaining salt, and egg. Stir into pasta mixture. Spoon into an 8-inch square glass or ceramic baking dish coated with cooking spray; sprinkle with remaining mozzarella and pecorino.

Bake at 400° for 15 minutes or until bubbly and browned.

Oreo Fudge Bars

c/o Stephanie Cooks Blog

Ingredients

1 16 oz package Oreos
1 stick butter, melted
1/4 tsp salt
1 (14 oz) can sweetened condensed milk
1 1/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (or a mix of milk and semi-sweet- we like it both ways)

Directions

1- Preheat the oven to 325.
2- Line a 9x13 dish with foil, sprayed with cooking spray.
3- Set 6-8 cookies aside, chop into pieces (this will be the topping of the bars).
4- Place remaining cookies in a food process and process into a fine crumb. (If you don't have a food processor roll them in a ziplock bag with a rolling pin until in a fine crumb).
5- Combine the butter, Oreos, and salt. Press down into the bottom of the pan.
6- Melt the chocolate, combine with the condensed milk, stirring well.
7- Pour the topping over the Oreo layer. Top with the chopped Oreos.
8- Bake for 20 minutes.
9- Allow to cool for one hour, then place in the fridge to cool completely before slicing. Keep cool until serving.

Collar Me Fancy

Happy almost Friday guys! We're so close!

Today I wanted to look at a great trend that isn't out of reach for us 9-5ers. The collar necklace. Now, there are a few definitions for this piece. Some define it as a tighter necklace, but I'm talking about a literal collar. Add it to a tee, a crew neck, anything for a little bit extra.

Topshop, Textured Point Collar, $30

A little edgy but the metal work around the edges adds a feminine flair to this piece,

Hive and Honey, Hinged Collar Necklace, $30

Simple, chic, add it to an LBD and instant drama.

Asos, Pieces Florida Bead Collar, $15

You can never go wrong with some preppy pearls.

Kohl's Apt 9 Silver Tone Snakeskin Collar, $28

This is quite the statement, if it wasn't for the slight scallop edge it would be biker-chic.

Forever 21, Sequined Collar Necklace, $10

For ten bucks, this shiny number is worth a shot!

Have you tried the collar necklace trend? It's a girly twist on any shirt or dress!

Be fabulous today!

A Teeny Bit 'o Print

Hey lovebugs,
Mini skirts are so much fun for summertime (please note NOT for work). What I'm really loving is a little bit of pattern. And I'm not just talking a stripe here or a polka dot there, I'm talking graphic prints.

Forever 21, Retro Print Skirt, $12

While I despise these shoes, I love this mini. The print is so fluid and the buttons add some definition.

Modcloth, Garden Plot Twist Skirt, $42

The colors in the skirt just leap out at you. I would pair this with a white tie blouse.

Macy's, Tommy Hilfiger Millennium Promise Skirt, $62

Besides the great chevron going on here...100% of proceeds from this collection are committed to the development of sustainable communities.

Nordstrom Rack, Mimi Chica Hem Skirt, $28

A little high low action on this adorable skirt. I might add a skinny neon belt to this one.

A printed mini is a great way to add some interest to your outfit. And don't pair it with a white top! Try to find a color in the skirt or a contrasting neon to pair.

Be fabulous today!

Unlikely Pair

Brights and neons have been a huge trend this year and I love them. They are such a great pop of color but what I really love is when people mix them. I'm talking about adding an orange blazer to a pink dress or wearing a neon blue shirt with a highlighter green necklace. It's that type of unexpected color mixing that is really exciting. Today we're looking at pink and yellow.

Bauble Bar, Lemon Triad Necklace, $28

Pair this burst of yellow with the dress below...

Dorothy Perkins, Pink pleat waist dress, $79

Suddenly this blush pink dress gets some edge with a bright yellow statement necklace.

Nordstrom, Gibson Linen Blazer, $88

Take this linen blazer, perfect for warmer weather, add a white silk blouse and throw on these cropped pants...

Calvin Klein, Body Fit High Density Skinny Pants, $49

Like the perfect tube of lip gloss, these cropped pants are perfect for summer.

Forever 21, Bold Eyelet Shorts, $16

Pair these pink shorts with...

J Crew, Painter Boatneck Tee, $38

This comfy slub cotton tee is perfect for summer evenings.

While pink and yellow might not alway be the first go to color pairing when you look in your closet, it's certainly a fun and easy one to try this summer!

Be fabulous today!

Strapped In

Happy Monday lovebugs,
I don't know about you, but this weekend went way too quickly for me. I saw friends and even some of my favorite bloggers. But overall, I'm just not quite ready to let go so I thought today we would check out some going out heels. I saw this pair in Lucky magazine this weekend and I got inspired.

Mango, Almond Toe Leather Sandal, $29

You know when you look at a shoe and just say, 'damn'. That's the reaction I had with these sleek and simple beauties.

Nine West, Free Spirit, $49

These shoes I would pair with a neon painted toe. The perfect pop of color for a night out.

Zara, Combined Vamp Sandal, $49

I feel as though my fabulous friend Mike would have one word for these heels: 'werk!'

Vince Camuto, Bello Pump, $35

The perfect LBD shoe. It's got some chunk, some strap and some sass.

So are we loving the ankle strap sandal? I think its a great option for summer weekend nights.

Be fabulous today!