A Word of Advice

It's Wednesday, we're getting there. It's been a long week already, and sometimes I need a little reminder to be nice. Luckily, there are some lovely mantra-foused fashion that helps us be kind.

Mindy Mae Market, Just Be Nice Tee, $45

Soft, simple, easy.

Kohl's, Pop Up x Kind Graphic Tank, $14

What a fun workout top. The font is even Nike-ish.

Macy's, Sub Urban Riot Cotton Work Hard Be Nice Graphic Tee, $34

A personal motto of mine. Just do it.

Selfridges & Co, Littlesmith Gold-plated Bar Necklace, $25

I had to throw in a necklace. A great nameplate option, lovely for layering.

On those tough days, those long days, those is it Friday yet days, remember to be nice and be kind. 

Be fabulous today!

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Fierce and Fringe

I'm not much for festival style, but there are pieces of this trend that get me excited. For instance: fringe. It's casual and cool in an effortless sort of way. I'm not going to try to pull it off in a vest or even a top, but a bag? I can rock a fringe bag.

Shoptiques, Large Fringed Clutch Arizona, $69 $49

Different and great for a night out.

Charming Charlie, On the Fringe Crossbody Bag, $25 $14

How great is this bag for summer? Picture it with shorts and a tee.

Express, Genuine Suede Fringe Clutch, $59 $40

Maybe the wild card of the bunch, but how cool is this bag?

SimplyBe, Charlotte Fringing Clutch Bag, $45

Hello drama. I also read this as 'friggin' clutch bag. 

Have you tried fringe for spring? So dramatic but in a cool girl kind of way.

Be fabulous today!

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Lucky to Be in Lavender

Hello and happy Monday. Today's blog is in honor of my apartment guest this weekend. A dear friend who is getting married next month and her new last name will be Lavender. I know, score. She was here all weekend and then her Sunday night flight got cancelled. So today, we honor her and her patience with all things lavender.

Anthropologie, Adaenia Twist Front Top, $38

Who doesn't need a crazy soft top for summer? I love the front seam and twist.

Nordstrom Rack, Free People Allure Pullover, $42

I love a slouchy sweater. And this one has personality. 

Ann Taylor, Knot Front Top, $64

Perhaps the best comfortable work top of all time.

Urban Outfitters, Truly Madly Deeply Annabella Peplum Tank, $34

Let's start and end with a comfy summer tee. Sweet, playful, and comes in a variety of colors.

Let's hope soon to be Mrs. Lavender is in the air shortly and back to South Carolina. In the meantime,  we'll amuse ourselves with these fantastic tops!

Be fabulous today!

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Friday Foodday

Happy Friday! 
Here are my favorite recipes this week.

Gramps' Rum Old Fashioned
c/o The Kitchn

Ingredients
Ice
2 ounces añejo rum
1/4 ounce black pepper syrup, such as Blank Slate Kitchen's
3 dashes orange bitters
1 dash Angostura bitters
Orange twist or peel, for garnish

Directions

Fill a mixing glass with ice. Add the rum, black pepper syrup, orange bitters, and Angostura bitters. Stir until well-chilled, about 15 seconds. Strain into a rocks or old fashioned glass filled with ice. Garnish with an orange peel or twist.

Lentil Soup

c/o Buns in My Oven

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 sweet onion, diced
• 6 carrots, cut into rounds
• 4 stalks celery, diced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 8 ounces fresh green beans, cut in half
• 14 ounce can fire-roasted tomatoes
• 1 package (15.5 ounces) Hurst's Beans Garlic and Herb Lentils
• 8 cups chicken broth
• salt and pepper, to taste

Directions

1. Melt the butter in a large stock pot or dutch oven over medium heat. Add the onion, carrots, and celery to the pot and cook for 5 minutes.
2. Stir in the garlic and green beans and cook for 1 more minute.
3. Add the fire roasted tomatoes to the pan with the chicken broth.
4. Rinse and sort through the lentils. Add to the pan along with the seasoning packet and bring to a boil.
5. Reduce to a simmer and cover the pot. Cook for 1 hour 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
6. Taste and add salt and pepper as desired.

Samoas Moose Munch

c/o Country Cleaver

Ingredients

• 2 bags Popcorn, popped – use buttered or plain
• 1/2 cup Butter
• 1 cup Brown Sugar
• 1/4 cup Corn Syrup
• 1/2 tsp Salt
• 2 tsp Vanilla
• 1/4 tsp Baking Soda
• 1 1/2 cup Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips, melted
• 2 tsp Coconut Oil
• 1 box Samoas Girl Scout Cookies, roughtly chopped
• 1/2 cup Shredded Coconut, toasted

Directions

Heat oven to 250 degrees. Prepare microwave popcorn according to directions.

In a sauce pan, melt butter. Whisk in sugar, corn syrup, and salt and bring to a boil. Let the mixture caramelize, boiling for about five minutes or until it turns golden brown. Remove from the heat. Whisk in the vanilla and the baking soda.

Pour popcorn into a VERY large bowl, and pour the caramel over the top. Using a spoon – the carmel is molten hot – combine the carmel and mix the popcorn. Spread the popcorn over two large lined cookie sheets. Line with parchment or silicone mats. Place in the oven for 30-45 minutes, toss and rotate the popcorn every 15 minutes.

Remove from the oven and let the popcorn cool for at least 1 hour.

While cooling, melt the chocolate and the coconut oil together to get a smooth, “drizzly” consistency, and drizzle over the top of the cooled caramel popcorn.

Sprinkle the toasted coconut and chopped Samoas over the warm chocolate so it sticks. Let the chocolate rest until cooled. Break popcorn into bite sized chunks and devour.