I Got You Flowers

Happy Monday lovebugs,
I hope you had a great weekend. The weather in DC was perfection and I for one am looking forward to fall. But, just because fall is here doesn't mean we need to put away certain things. Sure, you can stash the seersucker, but florals? Hang onto those. A few weeks ago we looked at some great floral blazers, today let's look at floral pants.

Loft, Valley Floral Trousers, $69

Two words for these pants: heck yes. Structured with pockets and a solid waistband and the colors, oh the colors.

Intermix, Charlotte Floral Print Pant, $79

Originally $300. You've gotta get these beautiful pants. Dress them up with a crisp button down and a belt or dress them down with a denim jacket.

Kohl's, LC Lauren Conrad Floral Crop Wide Leg Pant, $39

Simple, effortless, but such an impact.

Mango, Floral Palazzo Trousers, $37

A lovely blend of fall colors. I also like the high waisted silhouette.

So what it's fall, there's no need to put your florals away. In fact, I dare you pair them with stripes and have some fun with it.

Be fabulous today!

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Friday Foodday

Happy Friday lovebugs,
Here are my favorite recipes this week.

Sparkling Cojito
c/o The Kitchn

Ingredients
1 bunch fresh mint, keep a few sprigs to the side for garnish
1/2 cup sugar
3 tablespoons water
4 limes juiced
3 cups coconut rum, like Blue Chair Bay
1 liter seltzer water
Ice
Lime wedges for garnish

Directions

In a large pitcher, combine the mint, sugar, and water, and muddle. Add the lime juice and rum, and stir to combine. Fill the pitcher with ice and add the seltzer.

Pour into ice-filled glasses and garnish with a sprig of mint and a lime wedge.

Roasted Corn Queso Fundido

c/o Closet Cooking

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon butter
• 2 cups corn (fresh or frozen)
• 1 small onion, diced
• 1 jalapeno, seeded and diced
• 1/2 red pepper, finely diced
• 1/2 pound Monterey Jack cheese, shredded
• 1 tablespoon mayonnaise
• 1 tablespoon lime juice
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1 tablespoon cilantro, chopped

Directions

1. Melt the butter in a heavy skillet over medium-high heat, add the corn, onion, jalapeno and red pepper toss and let it sit until slightly charred, mix it up and let it char again, about 6-10 minutes.
2. Mix the cheese, mayo, lime juice, salt and pepper, place back into the pan and cook over medium-low heat until the cheese has melted before enjoying while warm topped with cilantro!

Chocolate Filled Peanut Butter Cookie Bars

c/o Lemon Treet Dwelling

Ingredients

• 2 (16 oz.) packages refrigerated cookie dough, at room temperature
• 1 (13 oz.) jar Nutella or chocolate hazelnut spread of your choosing
• Note: I used Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Cookie Dough

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Line an 8x8 inch or 9x9 inch baking pan with foil, extending the sides of the foil over the edges of the pan. Spray with cooking spray.
3. Open one package of cookie dough and press it into a single layer on the bottom of the pan.
4. Spoon the Nutella over the cookie dough layer.
5. Top the Nutella layer with the second package of cookie dough, pressing into an even layer.
6. Bake 35-40 minutes or until the top is golden brown and the center is set.

Going in Circles

There is something quite simple and dramatic about a hoop earring. The hoop earring is as classic as the pearl. It goes with everything and you can dress it up, down, and everything in between. There are a zillion hoop earring options out there, today I thought we would look at some classic but unique gold and silver earrings.

Amazon, Jules Smith Girls Night Out Hoop, $28

See? Unexpected but not distracting.

Shoptiques, Officina Bernardi Silver Hoop Earrings, $70

I absolutely love beaded metal. I think it is super feminine and a bit warmer than a standard flat metal.

NY & Company, Oval Shaped Hoop Drop Earring, $9

How night out at the museum are these earrings? So very chic!

Etsy, Hoop Sterling Silver Icicle Earring, $68

These earrings are magical. They are light and mysterious and best of all, handmade in Seattle.

Hoop earrings are not just from Mean Girls era, they are the accessory that will be with us a century from now because they don't age and they don't go out of style.

Be fabulous today!

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Stay in Your Lane

Let's play with stripes. Particularly black and white stripes because they stand out. They make a statement that no other color or pattern can. People tend to fear horizontal stripes because it exaggerates width, but I'm here to tell you that in monochrome in the right cut and fit, it accentuates every awesome part about you*.

Shoptiques, BB Dakota Portia Stripe Skirt, $73

Well this is quite the number. Wear this skirt when asking for a raise and work it.

Shabby Apple, Steamboat Skirt, $62

These stripes have a beautiful fall to them. It creates a very subtle chevron side.

Simply Be, Closet Striped Skirt, $87

Check out this waistband. It's going to nip in in just the right place to make you look incredible.

Nordstrom, Halogen Stripe Tie Waist Tiered Front Skirt, $69

Like I said earlier, let it hug your curves and if you don't have curves, this skirt loves you too. The way the stripes contrast in direction will create the perfect illusion.

Embrace the stripes. Thick, thin, horizontal, chevon, just have fun with it!

Be fabulous today!

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*that's all of the parts, you are 100% awesome.