Tuesday, May 31, 2016

One Suit Wonder

Happy short week, lovebugs!

It's hot in DC and if you're not quite ready for sundress weather, it is prime jumpsuit weather. The fiancé had some trouble with this trend at first, because it can look like a one piece pajama, but styled correctly, it is comfy and chic. Just don't drink a lot of water...

I love the details and fit of this piece. A great waistline and long legs pair perfectly with scrappy heels.

Old Navy, Printed V Back Romper, $39
Looking for something a bit more casual? Old Navy is your spot. I'd add a long necklace and walk out the door.

Light chambray and you can pull the neckline down for the off the shoulder look.

On a scale of 1-10 if your office is eight or higher you can totally add a blazer and rock this to work.

Wearing a jumpsuit is a fantastic excuse to be be super comfortable and still make a statement with a one piece. You can find them for under $20 over break the bank. Just have fun with it.

Be fabulous today!

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Friday, May 27, 2016

Friday Foodday

Happy Friday! And a long weekend at that! Here are my favorite recipes this week!

White Sangria with Peaches & Plums
c/o The Kitchn
Ingredients
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup water
1 cup sliced peaches, skins left on
1 cup sliced plums, skins left on
1 cup cherries, stemmed and pitted
1/2 cup peach brandy
1 750-ml bottle dry Riesling, chilled


Directions
In a small saucepan, combine the sugar and water, and heat just until the sugar is dissolved to make a simple sugar syrup. Place the peaches, plums, and cherries in a large pitcher and pour the sugar syrup over top.
Add the peach brandy and stir. Add the cold Riesling and chill until ready to serve, ideally overnight. When ready to serve, fill the rest of the pitcher with ice.
Serve over ice, being sure to serve some of the stone fruit in each glass.

Cuban Mojo Grilled Pork Chops
Ingredients
  • 10 cloves garlic
  • 1 large onion, sliced
  • 1 1/2 cups sour orange juice (1 cup orange juice + 1/2 cup lime juice)
  • 1 teaspoon oregano
  • 1 teaspoon cumin, toasted and ground
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 1 teaspoon black peppercorns
  • 1 pound pork chops
  • 1 teaspoon oil
  • 1 large onion, sliced

Directions
  1. Puree the garlic, onion, sour orange juice, oregano, cumin, salt and pepper in a food processor or blender, place 1/2 of the mixture into a large sealable bag with the pork chops and marinate in the fridge overnight.
  2. Heat the grill or a grill pan to medium-high heat, add the pork chops and cook until lightly golden brown on one side, about 3-5 minutes, flip them and cook until the pork chops are done, about 3 minutes.
  3. Meanwhile, heat the oil in a pan over medium heat, add the onions and cook until just tender, about 5 minutes, add the remaining mojo sauce, bring to a simmer and remove from heat.
  4. Serve the grilled pork chops covered in the mojo and onion sauce and enjoy!

Chocolate Cobbler
Ingredients
For the cobbler:
  • 6 tablespoons butter
  • 1 cup flour
  • 3/4 cup white sugar
  • 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
  • 1 teaspoon espresso powder
  • 1 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
For the topping:
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup white sugar
  • 1/4 cup cocoa powder
  • 1 1/2 cups hot water
  • vanilla ice cream or whipped cream, for serving
Directions
  1. To make the cobbler, pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Place the butter in an 8x8 baking dish and put inoven while it preheats until butter has melted.
  3. Mix together dry ingredients.
  4. Whisk milk and vanilla into dry ingredients until well combined.
  5. When butter has melted, carefully spoon the chocolate mixture over the melted butter evenly.
  6. To make the topping, mix together the dry ingredients with a whisk. Sprinkle over the top of the chocolate cobbler.
  7. Slowly and carefully pour the hot water over the top, being sure to cover the topping with water.
  8. Bake for 30-35 minutes until the top has firmed up, but the cobbler is still quite jiggly in the middle.
  9. Serve warm with either vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.

Thursday, May 26, 2016

Stop and Smell the Statement

May flowers. Love them. Let's wear them. Floral statement necklaces are bold, season specific, and colorful for all summer long!

Talbots, Bouquet Necklace, $79
I love how non-blingy this necklace is. It's colorful and almost vintage looking. Great heavy chain as well.

Spring perfection in a necklace. These flowers have a cotton candy feel to them.

Shoptiques, Classy Floral Necklace, $29
Unclear what a 'not classy' floral necklace looks like, but this one is gorgeous. I love the pearlescent colors.

A delicate double strand really balances the punchy flowers.

A great warm weather accessory that is fun and easy to add to a button down shirt, tee, or dress! Floral statement necklaces come in all sorts of colors, styles, and most importantly, prices.

Be fabulous today!

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Wednesday, May 25, 2016

Work It Out

Sometimes I work out. Like not a lot, but enough that I have small drawer of clothes that I'm ok sweating in. I love work out clothes that make me smile. They're cheeky, sarcastic, honest, basically what I'm feeling when I'm working out.

Right? Let's just savasana under the covers.

Old Navy, Go Dry Cool Graphic Tank, $14 
I love Old Navy activewear. Its affordable and durable.

Kohl's, Tek Gear Yoga Tee, $8
For the girly girls. Fabulous.

Ban.do, Exercise Mat, $32
Just, you're welcome.

So if you have to work out, have some fun with it. Say what you are cursing on the inside and wear it with pride. Then get pizza.

Be fabulous today!

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Tuesday, May 24, 2016

Excellent Espadrille

Summer is for espadrilles. But let's mix things up with an espadrille sneaker. Yep. Blending sporty and summer to create the comfiest and chicest shoe!

See what I mean? So cute and comfy!

Nordstrom, Keds Trip Deck Espadrille, $79 $59
White shorts, chambray dress, pick whatever you want and add these.

Dillard's, Toms Palmera Shoes, $44
Love your chambray shift? This is that in a shoe. 

A great gold sneaker acts as a neutral. It's going to go with any print or pattern.

When fashionable meets comfy, everyone wins.

Be fabulous today!

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Monday, May 23, 2016

Simply Special

Hey there lovebugs,
Happy Monday. I hope you had a wonderful weekend. It was gloomy and rainy here...shocking. Let's dress things up and brighten things up with some fancy frocks. It's getting closer to wedding season and what says fun and fancy quite like satin? Not stuffy, gramma satin. I'm talking sateen. That extra sheen on a fitted dress will make you feel stunning on the dance floor.

I mean, hello. Conservative, shimmery, fitted, perfect.

Nordstrom Rack, Anne Klein Polka Dot Sateen Dress, $119 $55
Think outdoor garden wedding. Pair with a straw or raffia clutch.

Shabby Apple, Nutcracker Dress, $64
I love this dress because its like a blank canvas. Wear it as is and look adorable or dress it up with a skinny belt, statement necklace, or espadrilles.

Modcloth, Wishing Pond Pretty Dress, $129 $77
What more do you need? It says pretty in title!

There is a quiet element of 'special occasion' with sateen. It is simple, eye-catching, and stunning!

Be fabulous today!

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Friday, May 20, 2016

Friday Foodday

Happy Friday! Here are my favorite recipes this week.

Sparkling Limencello Drop 
c/o Bit By A Fox
Ingredients
3/4 oz Vodka
3/4 oz Limoncello
3/4 oz Fresh Lemon Juice
1/2 oz Grand Marnier
1/2-1 oz Sparkling Wine


Directions
Garnish:
lemon peel
superfine sugar and lemon wedge to rim glass
To sugar the rim of your cocktail glass, take a freshly cut lemon wedge and slice the middle. Slip the wedge over the rim of the glass where you’ve cut the lemon, and sweep around the entire top of the glass until it is well coated. Gently dip the glass upside down into a saucer filled with sugar until just the tip of the glass is coated.
Directions:
Shake all ingredients except sparkling wine over ice until the outside tin is frosted over. Strain into a well chilled, sugar-rimmed cocktail glass, leaving room for the sparkling. Top with sparkling wine. Add a lemon twist.
Southwest Ranch Tortellini Salad
c/o Premeditated Leftovers
Ingredients
  • 2 - 9 ounce packages of cheese tortellini, cooked according to package directions and drained
  • 1¾ cups of cooked black beans (or a 15 ounce can, drained and rinsed)
  • 1 cup frozen corn, thawed
  • 1 cup cherry or grape tomatoes, cut into half
  • ½ cup shredded Monterrey Jack cheese
  • ½ cup shredded mild cheddar cheese

Dressing Ingredients:
  • ¾ cup ranch dressing
  • ½ cup salsa
  • 1½ teaspoon cumin


Directions
  1. Cook the cheese tortellini according to package directions. Remove from the stove top, drain and rinse with cool water. Set aside.
  2. Combine the cooked tortellini, black beans, corn, tomatoes and shredded cheese.
  3. Gently stir the mixture to combine the ingredients.
  4. In a small bowl, combine the ranch dressing, salsa, and cumin.
  5. Add the southwest ranch dressing to taste, about ½ cup at a time. Stir to combine. Cover the extra dressing and store in the fridge.
  6. Place the salad in the fridge if not eating right away.


Chocolate Peanut Butter Brownies with Pretzel Crust
Ingredients
5 cups tiny pretzel twists, crushed fine
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup Butter, melted and cooled
1 pkg (18.4 oz each) chocolate fudge brownie mix, prepared with Vegetable Oil, 1 Egg and Water (according to package directions)
2 tablespoons confectioners' sugar

Directions
  • In a small food processor, add in pretzels, and pulse until very fine crumbs form. Set aside.

  • Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray 13x9-inch baking pan with cooking spray; set aside. Combine crushed pretzels and granulated sugar in medium bowl. Add butter, and mix until blended. Firmly press mixture into baking pan. Bake 8 minutes. Set aside to cool.

  • Meanwhile, stir together brownie mix according to package directions, using vegetable oil, egg and water. Carefully spread brownie batter over hot pretzel crust.

  • Combine Peter Pan Simply Ground peanut butter and confectioners' sugar in small microwave-safe bowl; microwave on HIGH 30 seconds or until melted. Top brownie batter with spoonfuls of peanut butter mixture. Using a knife, swirl peanut butter mixture through brownie batter until it is marbled in appearance.

  • Bake 23 to 28 minutes or until wooden pick inserted near center comes out clean. Cool completely. Cut into 16 large squares.



Thursday, May 19, 2016

Cat's Got Style

Ok sun, so glad you've joined us. DC has tolerated weeks of rain and I recently had to find my sunglasses. Find! That's how long it's been! So it's time to spruce things up. Let's play with some cateye shades that are eye catching and classic.

I love this color contrast. It's simple and goes with everything but still stand out.

Not into colors? Try these clear shades on for size.

Urban Outfitters, Terrace Cateye Sunglasses, $18
An angular pair that would work for rounder face shapes.

Oh heck yes, ombre lenses? Sign me up.

So bring on the sunshine. I've got my sassy shades ready.

Be fabulous today!

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Wednesday, May 18, 2016

Ride On

As you know, from time to time The Fiancé likes to share blog ideas. Today's topic is one of his favorite pastimes. Biking. This is a timely post because this weekend is the DC Bike Ride, where 8,000 cyclists will ride 17 miles around the city. So, let's ride.

Simple, adorable, perfect with shorts, jeans, or a sundress.

Shoptiques, Effie's Heart Bicycle Dress, $99
Navy bow dress, with pockets, and bicycles. You're welcome.

I love Dogeared for gifts but this adorable necklace is a treat yourself moment.

A great button tab sleeve is great for spring. The allover print is stunning.

So there you go cyclists. Ride on in style. Have fun and be safe this weekend!

Be fabulous today!

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Tuesday, May 17, 2016

Choke Hold

On the trend of things I don't particularly love. Choker necklaces. They're back. I know, it's weird. But let's make the trend work for us. I'm looking at a particular type of choker that is a little less Melissa Joan Hart. Open collar chokers.

Last Call Neiman Marcus, Jules Smith Crystal Spike Choke Necklace, $125 $39
See? You can wear this! Think of it with a sleek white button down for work and then dress it down however you'd like for the weekend.

Simple like a dangle earring. Somehow this choker necklace is delicate.

Can't beat this price you guys. It's got a Grecian feel to it.

BaubleBar, Gilly Collar, $38
Choker meets pearls. I can get behind that. 

Choker necklace challenge accepted. I'm loving this open collar option and embellishments that help your own style come to life.

Be fabulous today!

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Monday, May 16, 2016

Greater Lengths

Happy Monday lovebugs,
It was a relaxing weekend here in DC and even though we are still dealing with off and on rain, the sun made a few appearances. Today I thought we would look at a trend that isn't necessarily my favorite style but figuring out how to make it work for me. The bohemian trend. Breezy, cool, and twirly (yes that's the technical term). I'm more of a fitted or structured kind of girl, but I can take the maxi skirt boho trend and make it work for a more streamlined look.

This skirt is going to be a workhorse in your summer wardrobe. Crisp white with a faux wrap silhouette.

Nasty Gal, Bialik Floral Maxi Skirt, $88 $44
Major sale alert! How gorgeous is this red skirt? Zoom in and you can see the feminine lace overlay.

Urban Outfitters, Kimchi Blue Pleated Maxi Skirt, $89 $69
A beautiful blue and pleats that will make your legs look model-like long.

TJMaxx, Polka Dot Maxi Skirt, $19
I'd pair this print with a contrasting one on top like a pink pinstripe of floral.

While the boho trend isn't in my comfort zone, I can play with a piece of this style that work for me. Don't shy away from trends, make them work for you!

Be fabulous today!

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