Friday, January 29, 2016

Hippie

 
Without a doubt, my favorite trend over the last year has been the 70's revival. Flares, fringe, boho prints - I want it all! I spotted these wide-leg printed pants at T.J. Maxx and loved the hippie vibe. To balance the proportion, I paired them with a cropped sweater and platform heels. Also, totally obsessing over my new Warby Parker sunglasses I got for my birthday! The lighter tortoise and oversized Jackie-O shape are pure perfection!
 
{outfit details}
Cropped Black Sweater - BCBG (similar) || Printed Wide-Leg Pants - T.J. Maxx (cute options here & here) || Fringe Bucket Bag - Zara (last worn) || Tortoise Sunglasses - Warby Parker || Lipstick - NARS "schiap" (last seen)







 
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Thursday, January 28, 2016

26


Yesterday I celebrated my 26th birthday! It had been years since I'd been with my family for my birthday, and it was so special having my niece & nephew sing me "Happy Birthday!" We went out for a delicious dinner and my mom made me a homemade purple velvet cake - my fave color! (We used this recipe and substituted purple food coloring instead of red!) It was perfect! I'm looking forward to a long weekend with Greg and a sushi dinner with my girlfriends on Friday! 25 was a very eventful year and I have a feeling 26 is going to come with a lot of fun changes as well. I'm fully embracing the start of my late 20's and can't wait to see what the future holds!

Tuesday, January 26, 2016

Birthday Cake Batter Cookies


Birthday Cake Batter Cookies in honor of my birthday on Wednesday! Soft & chewy cookies with white chocolate chips and rainbow sprinkles - what's not to love! Check out the recipe below!

Ingredients
2 1/4 cup flour
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 instant vanilla pudding package
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup butter (2 sticks), softened
2 large eggs
2 cups Ghiradelli white chocolate chips
1/2 cup of rainbow sprinkles

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In a large bowl, mix flour, baking soda, salt. Set aside.
In a stand mixer, beat together butter and sugars until creamy.
Add vanilla. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
Slowly add flour mixture. Add package of vanilla pudding mix. 
Add sprinkles & white chocolate chips until thoroughly combined.
Evenly space 1-inch balls of cookie dough on a non-stick baking sheet.
Bake in the oven for 8-10 minutes. Let stand on baking sheet for 1 minute after cooking.
Carefully remove cookies from baking sheet and cool on a wire rack. Enjoy!






Friday, January 22, 2016

A Little Leopard

 
 A little leopard goes a long way. This American Apparel t-shirt dress is quite possibly the most comfortable thing I own - soft cotton & an oversized fit are a winning combo. Since this dress is super simple, adding the right accessories are key to keep it from looking too boring. These leopard booties & my favorite hat take this dress from frumpy to fab! 
 
{outfit details}
Black T-Shirt Dress - American Apparel || Denim Jacket - Current/Elliott || Brown Wool Hat - Target (similar here / last worn here) || Leopard Ankle Booties - Sam Edelman || Black Leather Belt - Target (similar) || Cognac Leather Satchel - Dooney & Bourke (new version / last seen) || Lipstick - Revlon "siren" || Nail Polish - Essie "a list"











 
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Wednesday, January 20, 2016

Perfect Brow Pencil


I've talked about my love for bold brows on MC2 before, but I have since found the most perfect eye brow pencil. The Benefit Instant Brow Pencil is a dual-ended magic wand, with a waxy pencil on one side that deposits natural looking color, and a comb on the other side which smooths every hair into its place. This is my second pencil - I've had the first one I purchased for about 6 months! I don't leave the house without using this brow pencil, it completes my makeup routine and makes me look polished and put together even if I'm doing a 5-minute-face.

Monday, January 18, 2016

Neutrals

 
 Nothing feels more fresh than a monochromatic neutral outfit. I think a pair of white jeans is underrated in most wardrobes but to me they are an essential, no matter what time of year. This cream sweater is one of my favorite Zara sale finds from last year. The lightweight knit is ideal for transitional weather and the slits on the sleeve add an interesting detail to an otherwise simple piece.

*P.S. these were shot pre-chop - see my new hair here!
 
{outfit details}
Cream Sweater - Zara (similar) || White Skinnies - Zara (similar here & here) || Brown Strappy Sandals - Zara (last worn here & here) || Cognac Leather Satchel - Dooney & Bourke (new version / last seen) || Lipstick - MAC "ravishing"









 
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Thursday, January 14, 2016

Currently Obsessed

{new hair thanks to my bestie}
 
Having a best friend who is a hairstylist has it's fair share of perks! Emilee, who I've known since birth, is the Queen of Balayage! With my birthday approaching later this month, I wanted a refresher - a few inches shorter & a touch blonder. I'm in love with the results, as usual! Check out Emilee's lust-worthy instagram (@hairb0rn) for better-than-pinterest hair inspiration, and if you're in Florida book an appointment asap!

Tuesday, January 12, 2016

Plaid + Leather


 
Plaid is one of my favorite patterns of the winter season, especially when it's in the form of a cozy flannel. I got this classic red buffalo checked flannel from J. Crew a few years ago and I love how versatile it is. I've worn it with everything from cut offs to these leather leggings. Although it lends a casual vibe, when unbuttoned down-to-there with a little lace peeking out, it's effortlessly sexy.
 
{outfit details}
 Red Buffalo Check Plaid Shirt - J. Crew (similar) || Black Leather Leggings - Zara (almost exact version) || Lace Bralette - Nasty Gal (seen here too) || Black Lace-Up Sandals - Zara (similar) || Black Suede Fringe Bucket Bag - Zara  || Aviator Sunglasses - Ray-Ban || Lipstick - NARS "cruella" (last worn here)
 







 
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Tuesday, January 5, 2016

Crock Pot Lasagna

 
It's been such a warm "winter" in Florida this year. Temperatures finally dropped to the 60's last weekend so I was craving some hearty comfort food. I had been wanting to make a crock pot lasagna for a while so I took advantage of the chilly weather and researched a few recipes. I ended up making my own version with layers of sausage & ground beef and spinach. It turned out so delicious! My 8 year old nephew ate three servings, which was the ultimate compliment since he's a very picky eater! This recipe is definitely a keeper!
 
 
Ingredients
1 pound ground beef
1 pound hot sausage
1 onion, chopped
4 cloves of garlic, minced
2 cups mozzarella cheese, grated
16 ounces ricotta cheese
3 tablespoons parmesan cheese, grated
1 egg
2 tablespoons basil, chopped
2 tablespoons parsley, chopped
1 1/2 jars of spaghetti sauce (about 36 oz)
2 cups spinach
1 box lasagne noodles
 
Recipe
In a large skillet, brown beef & sausage. Add onion and garlic, stir frequently for about 5 minutes. 
In a large pot, mix sauce and the meat mixture together and simmer for 10 minutes.
In a large bowl, combine mozzarella, ricotta, parmesan, egg, basil and parsley.
In the crock pot, add one layer of the meat sauce to cover the bottom of the pan completely.
Top with lasagne noodles - break pieces to fit if necessary.
Next, add a layer of the cheese mixture. Then top with a layer of spinach.
Continue each layer as above (meat sauce, lasagne, cheese, spinach)
You should end with a layer of the meat sauce.
Sprinkle the top with mozzarella cheese and a little basil and parsely.
Cook in crock pot on low for 4 hours. Enjoy with garlic bread & a glass of red wine!