Friday Favorites:: First Week of December!

First week of December, whooo! Are you in much of the holiday spirit as I am? I could just sing along to Christmas music all day long! Still so shocked how fast this year has gone by! Here's a few favorites of mine this first week of December!

 Favorite Winter Decor:: Threaded cotton balls or pompoms for a snowy window

 Favorite Winter Desk Craft:: Add mini toys and effects into a mason jar to help turn your desk into a holiday theme!

Favorite Winter Mantle:: How cute are these reindeers? Simple yet full of spirit!

 Favorite Winter DIY Fashion:: Sweaters are a must this season, so why not spruce it up? Add some ribbon or lace onto those oversized sweaters to style it up easy!

Favorite Smile:: Yes, Buddy the Elf, you have discovered it! Such a classic movie :)

Still testing out some new designs for the website, bear with me!
In the meanwhile, check out some of my earlier posts!
ps, don't forget to =)

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What's to Eat?? Homemade Mac 'n Cheese

Good 'ol Southern Comfort Food

Being raised in the South, you learn a lot about comfort food.  Comfort food is essentially greasy, fatty, buttery, creamy, yummy goodness all loved by your taste-buds, knowing it isn't the healthiest, but oh-so comforting. Who doesn't love mac 'n cheese?! Now, I'm not talking about the Kraft or Easy Mac versions where you pop it in the microwave with some water and powdered cheese and call it a meal; I'm talking about the real Mac n' Cheese, the one where you shred the cheese yourself, actually boil the pasta, and top it off with some breadcrumbs, aka, THE GOOD STUFF.  Today, you will learn how to make this cheesy, delicious recipe; you can even bring it with you to a Potluck or Thanksgiving feast! 

What you will need:: (to make 1 casserole dish worth)

• 2 8-oz blocks of cheese:: I used one sharp cheddar and one extra sharp cheddar
• Elbows or pasta of your choice
• 4 oz cream cheese
• 3 cups milk(the heavier/fatter, the better)
• 4 tablespoons of butter
• 2 1/2 tablespoons of flour
• Breadcrumbs to sprinkle (I used a blend between Panco and regular breadcrumbs)
• Garlic Salt/Pepper to taste

Start by turning your oven on to 375 degrees.  

Shred both blocks of your cheese, cover, and then keep refrigerated until you need it. 

Add about half a box of your desired pasta and cook the pasta to a la dente.  Once boiled, keep to side.  Get another pot and add in your butter until melted.  Then add the flour and mix well.  You can add the garlic salt and pepper to taste now. 

Then add the cream cheese and milk and mix well.

You can now get your cheese from the fridge and add all of it in the pot.  Stir in well.

And now add your boiled pasta into the mixture.

Spray your casserole dish with Pam or a non-stick spray and then pour your creamy, cheesy, gooey Mac 'n Cheese into the dish.  

Sprinkle it off with breadcrumbs and gently put it in the oven for about 20-25 minutes. The trick is that you want your macaroni to be a nice golden color and bubbly.  Keep checking the pasta every 10 minutes for this.  Take it out and serve! You can easily warm up the leftovers another day for a stuffing snack or lunch later!

This recipe is BEYOND easy for anyone! Very little effort creates great results! Try it out for yourself!

Check back later this week!

Comment below your thoughts and success and also to subscribe to this blog for future posts!

ps, don't forget to =)

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Mani Monday:: Thanksgiving Nails

Native American/Pocahontas Take of Thanksgiving

Want to be a bit more festive in time for Thanksgiving?? Wonder what Pocahontas would do if she painted her nails this holiday? This Thanksgiving, I decided to stray away from the usual cute turkey into another look of Thanksgiving, the Native Americans.  I love the boho-inspired look we've inspired from them, so this year I decided to follow a not so common trend and I am very glad I did! Today's Mani Monday's segment is traditional, yet modern, and I always love being a leader, a trend-setter, not a follower.  Don't get me wrong, painting a cute little Turkey is just as festive, but this Mani is just another way to celebrate!

Have a great week!
Check back tomorrow to learn how to make the best southern comfort food, Mac 'n Cheese! Perfect to bring along to your Thanksgiving meals!
ps, don't forget to =)

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OOTD and BIG ANNOUNCEMENT! THANK YOU FANS!

Thank you, thank you! :)

I have been amazed, humbled, and filled with excitement knowing that my blog started shy of a little over a year ago, and has already pasted its milestone in reaching OVER 10,000 views this past week! I remember when my friends and family first started telling me to start a fashion/foodie blog with all of my tricks and tips and recipes and ideas so that they could follow it and learn themselves.  Today, it is a success! Countless people have called me, texted me, and even showed me how they style their outfits, how they recreated, and even became better with their nail arts themselves, in turn, saving buttloads of money going to the nail salon every so often, and even trying all the flavorful, delicious recipes they thought were too hard for them to do by themselves.  It makes me so happy to see others reach out of their comfort zone and try new things, and succeed! 

I wanted to give back now.  I told myself when I only had around 3-4000 views(which was crazy to me even back then) that once I reach 10,000 views, I was going to turn my hobby into something a bit more professional, design and content wise.  So stay tuned; in the next two weeks or so I'm going to be revamping my website and changing things around.  Feel free to email me(Poojated522@gmail.com) or comment below for any suggestions/ideas! I think yall as my readers know what I like by now and all, and I want you to know your opinions do matter.

Thank you so so so much to all my supporters and motivators who constantly check back,   give feedback and encouragement, and just with everything; you guys know who you are! I love yall!

 Best way to organize is with cute notepads and some Lilly planners!

Check back tomorrow for the infamous Mani Monday Holiday edition, and later this week how to make some yummy treats for your Thanksgiving dinner!
ps, don't forget to =) you all always make me!

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Friday Favorites!

Are you as busy as I have been this week and upcoming days? Holidays are right around the corner and I feel as if everyone is trying to cram everything in all at once! Whew! Thank goodness it's Friday and time for a little break! Why not indulge in trying out these few things this weekend for a relaxation break?

Favorite DIY:: Learn how to make your own bulletin board here! I made perfect-sized inspiration board earlier this year!

Favorite Steal:: I just LOVE booties, and this year, detail and buckles have been the latest trend! One of my most favorite ones have been this Chloe bootie! Since most of us can't splurge on a Chloe bootie, why not get this great steal from Forever 21??

Forever21

Chloe

Favorite Fresh Spread:: In love with the dipping oils and spreads you get at Italian restaurants? Learn how to make it with my recipe here! It's the perfect appetizer or side dish served with some warm baguette!

Favorite Smile:: In honor of Thanksgiving coming up soon and my love for the show How I Met Your Mother, I found this little gem from Skreened and couldn't resist. Happy Slapsgiving!

Favorite Quote:: You know that thought that's been in your mind for a while now? Get the courage and just do it! :)

Check back this weekend for an exciting announcement!
Happy Friday!
ps, don't forget to =)

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Mani Monday:: Sparklin' Cheetah

Glitter and Cheetah-licious

Happy Monday yall! This weekend was full of rest and relaxation.  People have asked me, "Pooj, what did you do this weekend?" And it feels soooo good to respond with absolutely nothing.  Caught up a few shows(have you seen Revenge's new episode?! Lydia is alive?!!!), laundry, enjoyed a light hike taking in the fresh air, and just bummed it relaxing on the couch. Sometimes all you need is just that type of a weekend. 

This week's Mani Monday is a sassy but classy mani, cheetah-licious! It is extremely easy to do, as you can see my the simple 3 steps below, so try it out for yourself!  

Did you try the Fail-Proof Chipotle Style Black Beans or the Lentil Falafels this weekend? How about invite some friends over this week and you all enjoy?!
ps, don't forget to =)

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OOTD:: Winter Layers and Floral

Pinks, Florals, and Layers on Layers; Bring on the Cold Days!

This week has been in the mid-thrirties/low forties all week! I sure do miss the warm Georgia weather right about now! As I walk down the streets, and into coffeeshops and grocery stores, I've noticed that everyone here in Maryland loves to layer up, and for a good reason! The most common is shirts, hoodies, sweaters, puffy vests, and gloves, but I want something different, something to stand out.  Today's post is all about looking chic while still bundling up!

My go-to trend for the winter is tights.  Don't let how thin they feel trick you! It actually keeps you pretty warm! Researchers say that your head, hands, and feet are the firsts ones to get cold and get your body cold.  As long as those are nice and warm, the rest of your body easily adapts to the chilly winds.  

I chose to pair a dress with a blazer and oversized infinity scarf, pairing it with brown tights and some booties, topping it off with a nice creme peacoat to keep me all cozy and warm.

What I love about layers is that you can take a layer or two off when you get warm, and bundle up when your cold.  It's the best of both worlds! 

Who says your can't be chic and still bundle up for the cold days?

Which layering styles are you going to choose?

Check back next week for a sweet recipe and tomorrow's Mani Monday!

ps, don't forget to =)

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