Monday, March 28, 2016

Crock Pot Mozzarella Stuffed Meatballs


What could make meatballs better than stuffing them with a chunk of mozzarella? This crock pot recipe is so easy and results in hearty & flavorful meatballs oozing with melty, cheesy goodness. You could make these as just an appetizer with marinara for dipping or serve on top of spaghetti with tomato sauce.

Ingredients
1 pound ground beef
1 cup panko bread crumbs (I used the Italian flavor)
1 egg + 1 egg yolk
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
1 tablespoon basil
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
3-4 mozzarella string cheese sticks

 Directions
{1}
Chop each cheese stick into half inch pieces (about 6-8 for each stick). Place on a plate and chill in the freezer until ready to use.
{2}
In a large bowl, add ground beef, bread crumbs, egg and egg yolk, garlic, onion powder, Italian seasoning, and salt & pepper. Mush the ingredients together with your hands until thoroughly combined.
{3}
Remove cheese from freezer. Scoop out about 4 tablespoons of the meat mixture and roll into a ball. Gently push a piece of the chilled mozzarella into the middle of the meatball. Roll the ball in your hands to completely cover the hole completely. Place inside a greased crock pot and repeat with remaining meat and cheese.
{4}
When all meatballs are made and in the crock pot, cover and cook for 1-2 hours on high or 3-4 hours on low until the meat is cooked through. Enjoy as an appetizer with toothpicks & marinara or piled on top of a plate of spaghetti and tomato sauce.







Friday, March 25, 2016

Sunflowers

 
Sunflowers are one of my favorite flowers - they instantly make me happy! In the spring & summer, rompers are my go-to, so when I saw this sunflower printed romper it was a match made in heaven. The pom pom details are so fun & playful and paired with a denim jacket, this look makes for a great transitional outfit. Hope you all have a great holiday weekend!
 
{outfit details}
Sunflower Printed Romper - Rosegal (cute rompers here) || Denim Jacket - Current/Elliott (similar here / last worn) || Cream Leather Bucket Bag - Joie (great bucket bags here / last seen) || Blue Mirrored Aviator Sunglasses - Ray-Ban (similar sunnies here) || Cognac Strappy Sandals - Forever 21 (similar sandals here)








 
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Wednesday, March 23, 2016

Makeup Organizer

{gold makeup organizer via Target}

I seriously can never go into Target and not leave with something that I just stumbled upon but couldn't live without. Most recent case in point: this makeup organizer. If you follow me on instagram (@meghanconard) then you saw that I revamped my makeup stash last Saturday, which turned out to be a rainy, but incredibly productive day. I used to keep my daily makeup in a bag, but would inevitably find my most-used products jumbled up at the bottom. This makeup organizer perfectly corrals like-items together (left to right: skin care, brushes, concealers, eye makeup, primer/foundation, powder/bronzer/blush). Not only does it look so much prettier on my bathroom counter, but it is so much easier to get ready in the morning when I can easily see & grab what I need. My OCD heart is so happy!

Monday, March 21, 2016

{DIY} Choker Necklace


To be honest, I can't get behind all of the 90's trends that are coming back - grunge just isn't my style. However, I am totally loving the comeback of the choker necklace! I rocked the stretchy elastic choker back in the day (à la my 3rd grade yearbook photo *monkey covering eyes emoji*) Luckily the modern versions are much more chic featuring fabrics such as leather, suede & velvet. Rather than buying an overpriced trendy accessory, I decided to make my own black suede choker necklace. Please note that even calling this a DIY is a bit of a stretch since the only skill required is using scissors and tying a bow, but here you go!

Supplies
1. fabric cord
(you can chose the thickness & fabric you want - this is the one I got)
2. scissors

Instructions
Start by wrapping the cord at the front of your neck. Cross the ends in the back and return to the front. Tie into a bow and trim the loose ends to your desired length. Ta da! As simple as that!

Friday, March 18, 2016

Spring Runway Trends

I love spring fashion - the light airy maxi dresses, colorful prints, and feminine details make my style-obsessed heart skip a beat. There were stunning shows for Spring/Summer 2016 and with the first day of spring on Sunday, I thought there was no better time to round up my favorite trends from the runways. Which one is your fave?



{amazing off-the-shoulder & cold-shoulder options}

Last year, my favorite trend was off-the-shoulder (evidence here & here). I must say the addiction hasn’t slowed down as I’m still scooping up anything off-the-shoulder I can find! This season’s update is the cold-shoulder – with intricate details such as embellished collars and strappy necklines.


{see great suede stuff here}

You all know I’ve been loving the 70’s revival (styled here, here & here). Suede is my go-to when it comes to the 70’s-inspired trends. Everything from suede shorts, a fringe bucket bag, or a mini-skirt give off that bohemian vibe. 


{shop floral dressestopsskirts & pants}

Florals & spring go hand in hand. While it’s not a ground-breaking trend, it still evokes the change in season so perfectly, and there are an endless amount of floral options in the market, whether you like a subtle daisy print or a large scale graphic design. The freshest take on floral was seen at Michael Kors and Burberry with both designers showing dresses with beautiful 3D floral appliqué.


{beautiful pleated pieces here}

Pleats make a resurgence every so often. This season however is all about the smaller knife pleat. I love the effortless look of a pleated maxi skirt and crop top – ideal for anything from brunch to a bridal shower.


{shop ruffled tops & dresses}

Nothing is more flirty than a ruffled top or dress. This trend is perfect for anywhere – work, date-night, a wedding. Just be sure to keep in mind the proportion and keep the rest of the look slim and simple as to not become a walking cupcake.


{shop white shirts here}

A crisp white button down is one of those staples in every wardrobe, but I'm loving the way designers are deconstructing this classic piece for spring. Think asymmetrical hems, unbuttoned & tied, and cold shoulder details to update this basic.


all images via vogue.com

Wednesday, March 16, 2016

Nautical

 
 Nautical stripes are seriously my kryptonite! When I find a piece of clothing I love that comes in multiple colors, if there is a nautical stripe version, it's an automatic decision! Maybe it's the Florida girl in me, but there's just something about the classic navy & white combo that I can never seem to get enough of. For this outfit, I turned my basics into a colorful boho look with a printed headscarf, mirrored blue sunnies & bright orange bucket bag.
 
{outfit details}
White Off-The-Shoulder Tee - boutique in Huntington Beach (similar styles here) || Nautical Stripe Maxi Skirt with Side Slit - Zara (great maxis here) || Printed Headscarf - Etsy (similar / last seen) || Blue Mirrored Aviator Sunglasses - Ray-Ban (more mirrored sunnies) || Orange Bucket Bag - Choies c/o (last worn here & here) || Cognac Gladiator Sandals - Forever 21 (similar sandals here) || Lipstick - Revlon "siren"









 
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Monday, March 14, 2016

Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies


I'm always looking for new ways to mix up my chocolate chip cookie recipe and when I found this mint chip idea, I knew they would make the perfect festive treat for St. Patrick's Day! The simple swap of peppermint extract instead of vanilla and a few drops of green food dye completely changed the taste and look of my favorite dessert. I have yet to bring homemade goodies in to work so I'll be sharing a couple dozen of these cookies with my coworkers on Thursday. I'm hoping they are as big of a hit at work as they were at home - my family loved these! 

Ingredients
1 cup (2 sticks) of butter, softened
3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
3/4 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons peppermint extract
green food coloring
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 package vanilla pudding mix
2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a stand mixer, combine butter and sugars on low speed. Add peppermint extract. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking powder, and salt. Slowly add flour mixture, stopping halfway to scrape the sides of the mixing bowl to be sure all ingredients are thoroughly combined. Add vanilla pudding mix and beat well. Add green food coloring until you’ve reached the desired shade. Reduce the mixer to low speed and add the chocolate chips, just until mixed throughout.

On non-stick ungreased baking sheets, place one-inch balls of cookie dough one inch apart. I use a cookie scooper to ensure all the cookies are the same size. Bake cookies at 350 degrees for 9-11 minutes. Let stand on the baking sheet for 1 minute, then remove and transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before storing. I like them best right out of the oven when the cookies are warm & the chocolate is melty! They keep well for a few days in an air-tight container, but since this recipe makes about 6 dozen, I usually keep about half of them in the freezer - they last a lot longer and taste freshly baked even a week later!

Friday, March 11, 2016

Indiana Jane

 
 Totally feeling like Indiana Jane in this look, thanks to the jungle-like background, but can we talk about these booties?! I shared a snap of them on the blog earlier this week here, but I am so obsessed - I couldn't wait to style them for an outfit post! Olive: check! Studs: check! Contrast straps: check! Cut out sides: check! And the fact that I scored them on crazy clearance for $100 off just sealed the deal! There's nothing I love more than a simple outfit with statement accessories, especially shoes! Wishing you all a great weekend!
 
{outfit details}
Black Knit Halter - Brandy Melville (similar tops here) || Distressed Jeans - Zara (similar styles here) || Brown Suede Hat - Target (similar / also worn here & here) || Olive Leather Studded Booties - Gianni Bini (similar) || Cognac Leather Crossbody - Vintage Coach || Lipstick - MAC "speak louder" || Nail Polish - Essie "truth or flare"






 
 


 
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Wednesday, March 9, 2016

MC-gram

{ombré tulips for spring}

{Sundays are for magazines & manicures // Essie "petal pushers"}

 {olive booties I scored on major sale for $27 vs. the original $130 price tag!}

{welcome party at my new job - the sweetest cupcake cake}


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