Wednesday, July 18, 2012

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.

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!

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

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...

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!

Monday, July 16, 2012

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.

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.

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!

Friday, July 13, 2012

Friday Foodday

Happy Friday everyone!


Have a fabulous weekend! Here are my favorite recipes for the week.


Summer Pasta with Baby Greens
c/o Skinny Taste
Ingredients

  • 5 oz baby arugula and baby spinach mix
  • 10 oz high fiber or whole wheat pasta
  • 1/4 cup capers, drained
  • 3 tbsp balsamic vinegar
  • 4 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • salt and fresh pepper to taste
  • 2 tbsp freshly shaved Parmigiano Reggiano


Directions
Cook pasta in salted water according to package directions. When done, drain andrinse under cold water.

In a large bowl, combine pasta, arugula, spinach, capers, oil, vinegar, salt and pepper. Toss well. Top with shaved Parmigiano Reggiano.



Zucchini Boats
c/o Table for Two
Ingredients

3 large zucchini, halved lengthwise and flesh cleaned out halfway
3 turkey sausage links (I used spicy Italian turkey sausage)
1/2 yellow onion, diced
4 oz. button mushrooms, sliced
1 cup tomato puree
Salt and pepper, to taste
Shredded cheese, any kind, to sprinkle on top

Directions
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a large baking sheet, set aside.
  2. In a large skillet over medium high heat, brown the turkey sausage until all cooked through, about 5-7 minutes. Then throw in the onions and mushrooms and cook until soft. Pour the tomato puree in and let simmer for 5 minutes. Salt and pepper, to taste.
  3. In the meantime, while filling is simmering, take your zucchini and cut the ends off and cut in half, lengthwise. Take a spoon and scrape out the insides, but keep some flesh in there so the boats don’t collapse. It’s up to you whether or not you want to throw in the scraped out flesh into the filling, I didn’t.
  4. When filling is done, gently spoon the filling into the boats you just made. Place in prepared baking sheet side by side.
  5. Sprinkle a heaping amount of cheese on top and bake for 30 minutes.
  6. Serve immediately.
No Bake Brownie Batter Cheesecakes
c/o Lauren's Latest
Ingredients

for the crusts-
1 cup graham cracker crumbs
3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1/4 cup butter, melted
for the filling-
1 cup heavy whipping cream, divided
2 tablespoons powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1-8 oz. package Philadelphia Cream Cheese, softened
1 1/2 cups box brownie mix {the powder}
2 tablespoons milk
mini chocolate chips for garnish {optional}
Directions

In a small bowl, mix all ingredients for crusts together until moist. Divide evenly between 4 serving dishes and press into the bottoms and up the sides about half an inch. Set aside.
In a large bowl, whip cream with powdered sugar and vanilla until stiff peaks form. Spoon out of mixing bowl and set aside. Place cream cheese, brownie mix and milk into same mixing bowl the cream was just in and whip until smooth. Gently fold in half the whipped cream. Spoon or pipe over top the crusts. Top with remaining whipped cream and garnish with mini chocolate chips if desired. Refrigerate until ready to serve.