Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Casual Friday... a Few Days Early

Professors may as well call Exam days, "You will be so exhausted putting clothes on in the morning will be a struggle" days. Due to this eloquent translation I decided that today's outfit needed to be comfortable, but not so comfy that I would fall asleep during the exam.  

Scarf- Target
Sweater- Bobeau (It's fleece lined!!)
I purposefully wore an outfit that would work with an up-do... scarves are practically like wearing your hair down, right?


Leggings- Zella
Shirt- Jcrew (Basic V-neck)

 Boots with leggings pull the whole outfit together and make it look less like your wearing "comfy" clothes and more like you actually thought about your outfit before you put it on!


Boots- Frye

Booties would look adorable with this as well! What do your comfy days look like?

Bisoux- Meg

Saturday, September 14, 2013

50 Shades of Blue

Wednesday's are my long days and sometimes the only way that I can make myself face the day is by wearing something that I feel good in.  One of the big trends this fall is monotone pairings.  I don't know if I can bring myself to wear the same shade top to bottom but I am certainly willing to wear all one color in different shades...

Bangle- Nordstrom Rack

Shoes- Me Too

*Style tip: When working with a monotone palate, make a choice to stick with one color scheme and obvious shade differences or wear top to bottom in only one identical shade.  If you are wearing pieces that are only a couple of shades apart it will look like you tried matching them but it didn't quite work out... as my friend Kate would say: "Are you colorblind?!!"

Blouse- Banana Republic
Shorts- Gap 

Monday, September 9, 2013

Nice and Simple: Neutrals

As strange as this sounds, today's outfit was inspired by a moth I saw on my bathroom cabinet this morning.  It had a beautiful pattern of neutrals... browns, black, tan, white all just mixed together on it's   perfectly camouflaged wings.  In solidarity with this little visitor I chose an outfit full of neutrals!  Notice how my sweater is even a little wing-like? :) 

Cropped Jeans- Joe's
Tank Top- Halogen/ JCrew
Sweater- Bobeau
Shoes- Toms
Now usually, I would be tempted to add a splash of color somewhere... it was very difficult to restrain this urge! If you really can't restrain yourself add a bright lipstick (pinks are still neutral!) or a colorful piece of jewelry.

Playing down an outfit with neutrals can be an opportunity to highlight your natural beauty! 


Saturday, September 7, 2013

Floral Fun

Deciding on an appropriate yet cute outfit that can go from church to dinner is difficult! (Especially when the weather can't make up its mind).  Of course I went for simplicity, but played into this seasons floral patterns with a sheer, toned down top.  This top works tucked in as shown here or flowy with jeans! The skirt of course is long enough to prevent any Grandma in church from raising her eyebrows :)

Blouse- Halogen
Maxi Skirt- Bobeau
Sandals- Nordstrom

This outfit was comfortable, easy, and did not require much thought! I think this might be a new go-to for work...



Monday, September 2, 2013

Paleo Cheesy Crackers

One frustrating thing about paleo eating is that I often have "non-paleo" food cravings.  Tonights craving was crackers.  All I wanted were simple, cheese crackers.  I decided to try something simple first and then maybe next time I'll make them using a coconut flour.  

These crackers were delicious!!! They could be paired with bruschetta, eaten with meat, or plain! I will definitely be making more of these soon!!! 


Ingredients

5 Small red potatoes (boiled and mashed)
2 Cups parmesan cheese
1 Cup asagio cheese
1 Tbs Oregano

Instructions

Preheat oven to 375.  Mix mashed potatoes, cheeses and oregano in a small mixing bowl.  Spread mixture thinly over a large non-stick baking sheet.  Bake for 15 mins and then broil to crisp for about 2 mins.  Let cool for about 10 minutes. Cut and enjoy!

Flirty and Professional

Today's outfit was inspired by Banana Republic's fall look book... I replaced their leather A-line skirt with a flared pencil skirt, their gray long-sleeved crew neck with a basic gray v-neck, and their expensive jewels with a knock-off! 



Skirt- Halogen
Tee-shirt- Jcrew
Necklace- Macys
Sandals- Nordstrom Rack

This is a great transition outfit for fall and can even carry into winter by adding a sweater, tights and boots!

Friday, August 30, 2013

Sunny Day Style

One of my many first-week-back outfits... The colored bottoms look is very chic for the fall as are long chains...

Shorts- Banana Republic
Shirt- Banana Republic
Belt- Fossil
Necklace- Purple Moon Boutique
Sandals- Nordstrom Rack
I needed a little spark of color for my longest day of classes, so I chose my comfy pink shorts with a basic blouse.  The necklace ties it all together! 


Do you like the colored bottoms trend?







Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Color Blocking: an Easy Go-To

I was not feeling especially creative this morning at 6am so I decided to wear my bright and cheery color-block sweater to make up for my lack of sleep (my eyes were super puffy this morning hence the headless photo).
Sweater- Banana Republic
Jeans- Hudson
Bracelet- Nordstrom
This outfit was so easy and speaks for itself.  There is really no need to add much more than a bangle and maybe a necklace, however I chose to keep it simple and let the beautiful blue and yellow take center stage!

How do you wear color-blocks? 



Monday, August 26, 2013

Dressing Classy for Class

I cannot begin to describe how happy I am to have my first class on Monday start at 10 am and my last class of the day end by 130.  Talk about good planning on my part, (toot toot!) not that I'm tooting my own horn or anything :) 

For todays outfit, I wanted to wear something comfortable for class and all the first day back errands I would have to run on campus, but also somewhat professional to make a good impression with my new profs.  There's nothing worse than being asked if you're a freshman your senior year...

Tee- Jcrew
Blazer- Halogen
Jeans- Banana Republic
Booties- Born
Bracelets- Nordstroms
Scarf- Banana Republic

The jeans are super comfy for sitting in class, and between the scarf and jacket I stayed nice and warm in the AC.  The scarf added the both the teal (this seasons "in" color) and the floral pattern to an otherwise neutral outfit. How easy! 

Now for the booties.  These are by far the most comfortable boots I have ever worn, not to mention adorable... If I were a more talented writer I might write an ode to these booties!



Friday, August 23, 2013

Paleo Goulash

Paleo Goulash



This is one of my all time favorite recipes! Unfortunately, my family has always made it with pasta.  Instead of pasta, this time I made it with cabbage... strange I know, but it was actually delicious and the whole family enjoyed it!

Ingredients

1 bag of pre-chopped cabbage
1 package of all natural Italian sausage
1 red/ yellow pepper
1 large tomato
1 tbs lemon juice
Olive oil
Oregano and Basil to taste

Instructions

Cook Italian sausage in a skillet with olive oil until cooked through.  Remove sausage from the skillet and add cabbage, chopped vegetables, lemon juice, oregano and basil.  While veggies are cooking, chop the sausage into bite sized pieces and add to the skillet after the vegetables have softened and continue cooking until sausage is completely browned.  Serve hot and sprinkled with parmesan cheese. Enjoy!

My New Favorite Breakfast Smoothie

Berry Banana Smoothie


I went to the farmers market yesterday and couldn't help but buy all the beautiful fruit and berries I could possibly find!  The only problem was what to make with all of that fresh and tasty fruit... so, I decided to throw it all into a blender and make a delicious and nutritious shake!


Ingredients

A few handfuls of berries (I used raspberries, blackberries, blueberries and strawberries :)
3 bananas
1 cup almond milk
1 cup chopped almonds
1/2 cup ice

Instructions

Chop almonds in a food processor.  Blend chopped almonds and the rest of the ingredients in a blender until smooth. Enjoy!

Back to School Already??!

Is it just me, or did summer fly by??! I woke up this morning to cloudy skies and a cool breeze... don't tell me fall is here already!!! Although, with fall weather, comes fall clothing, so I couldn't stay too upset with the clouds :)

Tee shirt- Banana Republic
Blazer- Caslon
Skirt- Tommy Hilfiger
Heels- Sofft
Clutch- Halogen

Both the Blazer and the Skirt have a business-like feel, so to make the outfit a little more playful I added a fun tee and heels.  

I absolutely love this tee... both stripes and kisses! How could you go wrong??
What are you sporting for back to school??

Wednesday, August 21, 2013

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Workout Wednesday

This workout is one of my favorites because I can do it just about anywhere. It gives me my cardio fix with low impact strength training and DOES NOT require anything but your body!

Cardio

To begin I usually do 20-30 mins of cardio, but it is not necessary! This workout does a great job of making you sweat and keeping your heart rate up.

The Workout

100 Jumping Jacks

10 Pushups
20 Squats
10 Pushups
30 Lunges
10 Pushups
40 Calf Raises
10 Pushups
50 Second Wall Sit

*1 min break (make sure to stay hydrated!)

100 Jumping Jacks

20 Crunches
50 Second Wall Sit
20 Cross Crunches
40 Sumo Squats
20 Oblique Twists
30 Leg Raises (15 each side)
20 Leg Lifts
20 Squats

1 Minute Plank

Done!!!!! 


Tuesday, August 20, 2013

Recipe of the Week

BLT Salad

I made too much bacon this morning for breakfast (something that NEVER happens) so I decided for lunch I would make a BLT... Paleo style.  Instead of using bread I made my BLT into a chopped salad adding avocado and a little bit of Greek Yogurt for dressing.  


Ingredients:

3-4 Slices of Cooked Bacon
1 Chopped Tomato
1 Head Chopped Butter Lettuce
1 Avocado
1 Tbsp Greek Yogurt (or Mayo) to Taste

Instructions:

Mix ingredients together and enjoy! 

Monday Night Happy Hour

For this weeks Monday night happy hour, I decided on an outfit that easily transitions from warm afternoon weather to a cooler evening... or more importantly: from summer into fall.  Lucky for me, emerald goes well with a tan and fall colors!

Dress- H&M
Scarf- From my Mom's closet :)
Necklace- Macy's
Booties- Lucky Brand
Belt- Banana Republic
I added the floral scarf for some color (and to keep my hair out of my face), the belt to accentuate my waste, and the necklace to dress up the ensemble.  

Denim Jacket- Eddie Bauer
The denim jacket was a simple addition for the cooler evening weather (not to mention super soft and comfy!)

Any suggestions for next Monday night's happy hour attire? 

Saturday, August 17, 2013

Recipe of the Week


The other day I had a terrible (and yet wonderful) pizza craving but I wasn't quite hungry for a meal... thus pizza bites! These were so delicious and yet extremely filling... I only needed about 2 or 3 to satisfy my snackiness and craving! These bites are packed with protein, gluten free (and mostly paleo minus the sauce and quinoa), and super healthy alternatives to pizza! 


Quinoa Pizza Bites

Ingredients:

1 cup dried quinoa
2 large eggs
1 cup chopped onion (more or less to taste)
2 cups chopped veggies and/or meat (I used tomatoes and peppers... Italian sausage and mushrooms would be delicious too!)
1 cup parmesan or mozzarella cheese
2 tsp minced garlic
Oregano and Basil to taste
Pizza or Pasta Sauce for dipping

Cooking Instructions:

Boil Quinoa in 2 cups of water until fully cooked. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  Mix cooked quinoa, eggs, veggies, meat, cheese, garlic, oregano and basil in a large mixing bowl.  Scoop mixture into greased cupcake pan filling each cup about 3/4 full (for easier cleanup use foil cupcake liners).  Sprinkle extra cheese on top and bake for 15 to 20 minutes.

Serve warm or cold with dipping sauce! (Makes about 18-24 bites)

Original Recipe Here


Recipe of the Week


Paleo Sweet Summer Salsa



Ingredients:

2 plums
1 peach
1 avocado
2 anaheim (or ancho poblano) fresh chili pepper (though in a pinch, a small can of roasted mild peppers works)
1 sweet onion
cilantro
lemon juice (prefer fresh)
lime juice (optional...fresh, too!)

On a grill, roast the chili peppers until skin is brown and bubbling.  Take off the grill and place in a brown paper bag for about 5 minutes.  When the peppers have cooled, the skin will peel off on its own!  After peeling, seed the peppers and chop them into small pieces.  Quarter onions and grill until soft and lightly browned (either in a grill basket or in tin foil) Allow the onions to cool and then chop.

Chop the plums, peach, avocado and mix with the onion and peppers.  Add chopped cilatro and juice from the lemon and lime to taste.  Enjoy with a spoon (teehee), on white fish, corn chips, or on fajitas!

***

Friday Fashion

Remember that animal print scarf from my wish list...?  I wore this outfit out on Friday and got so many compliments on the scarf... what they didn't know was it was only five dollars!! Lucky for me I remembered to remove the tag before I left :)


Scarf- H&M 
When the days are hot and the nights are cool, maxi skirts transition very nicely.... that extra layer in the evenings can make all the difference. 

Maxi Skirt- Bobeau
Tank- Threads for Thought
Chambray- Nordstrom
And, if you are really worried about being cold, add a light chambray!



Tuesday, August 13, 2013

Workout Wednesday... A Day Early!

***Check with a physician before beginning any workout posted below.

Splash and Burn... Calories! A fun and challenging pool workout for even the least confident swimmer.

This workout was created by Fitness Magazine and looked like fun... so I tried it. Some of the moves were a flop and others actually really made me work!  


(Also, sorry about the date on the pictures... apparently it's no longer 2008. I guess I need to learn how to reset the date on my camera!)

I tried both ball sizes for some of the moves... the large one was somewhat comical :) I would recommend using a smaller ball, but one that will still add resistance when pressing it down into the water.

The Workout: 


1. The Otter Roll. Start by laying on your back with the your tummy pressed up towards the ball.  In one motion scissor kick your legs to propel your body in a "log roll" motion and end in the start position.  This one was fun for a few rolls until I began to feel dizzy.  I would nix this one from the workout for that reason alone, but it did certainly engage my abs and thighs! If you can do it, more power too you!  

Otter Roll Start Position


Otter Roll Half-way Position... only slightly awkward.

Otter Roll. After returning to start.

2. Ball Lever (Modified).  Begin lying on your stomach engaging abs and glutes for stability and press ball below you until elbows are just about straight.  In one motion bring the ball back towards your thighs and then return to start.  Challenge: In one motion bring the ball towards the surface above your head while still maintaining the plank like body position and then return to start. Do twenty reps.  Great core and upper body move!  

Ball Lever Starting Position

Ball Lever.  Bringing ball back towards thighs.

***Ball Lever Challenge Position

3.  K-Tread.  Can be done in the shallow end standing or in the deep end for more challenging cardio.  Begin with legs straight and pointing towards the bottom of the pool (or standing) with toes pointed.  Begin skulling motion with arms and hands to maintain your balance and kick the first leg forward.  Hold leg in this position for 5 seconds and then switch.  Do twenty reps each side.

K-Tread.  Kicking first leg forward.

K-Tread. And switch legs!

K-tread standing in the shallow end.

4.  Pike Skull. Begin in the shallow end by sitting back into the pike position, arms extended and begin skulling in place.  Once you feel like you have a stable pike position propel yourself across the pool by skulling.  This one was great for the core as you had to maintain the pike position while moving... engaged all sorts of abdominal, back and leg muscles (not to mention arm muscles from all that skulling!)   Skull end to end 5-6 times and rest.  Repeat in between each move!

Pike Skull Starting Position

Pike Skull. Starting to move forward...

5. Dolphin Kick. Disclaimer: For those of you that do not know I have swam competitively nearly my entire life, coached a swim team for two years and now captain my University's Water Polo Team. This is an EXTREMELY challenging kick and takes years to master... but don't let that dissuade you from trying it!  Make sure you are using your ENTIRE body when doing this kick, not just your legs.  The kick comes mostly from your core and your legs should follow, like a dolphin! Try the kick on your back with the ball pressed against your chest so you can watch the movement as you try it.  Make sure your knees do not bend excessively and stay mostly under the surface of the water.
  
Dolphin Kick with Ball.


Dolphin Kick without Ball.

 6.  Challenge move: Egg beater treading with ball raised above head.  Just as it sounds... tread for as long as possible!


I Couldn't Wait!

In a bout of impatience I decided to put together an outfit with some of the items from my fall wish list shopping adventures to wear now! 



Chunky Sweater (Banana)
Patterned Sleeveless Top (Bobeau)
Skinny Jeans (Hudson)
Bangles
Pearls


Looking towards fall... substitute riding boots for sandals and add a scarf or vest for extra warmth!

Your Thoughts?



Monday, August 12, 2013

Fall Wish List (Part 2)

6. The Favorite Tee.  Any color. Any Style. How could you go wrong? 
JCrew (See more color options here!)
Similar Here!



Pleione Lace Back Tee (For work or play!)

7.  Fitted Zip-up.  Pair with leggings for a cozy afternoon or with a scarf and jeans for going out! Wear open or fully zipped for different looks.


Caslon (Similar here)

8.  Plaid Button Down.  Worn under a chunky sweater, vest or on its own! Great transition piece... or in my case, one to wear year round! 


Love, Love, LOVE this entire outfit!!! Similar Plaid Top Here

9.  Puffy Vest.  Warm, Cozy and actually quite fashionable! Wear with jeans and a sweater (or your new plaid!) or over a dress with a skinny belt for work, going out, etc...


Patagonia 
Northface... My go-to vest!

10.  Everyday Tote.  Leather, casual, dressy, business ready... you choose! Just remember versatility...


Fossil
Similar Here

Now to shop...