Friday Favorites:: New York Fashion Week!

TGIF! Is it just me or did this week go by so fast and seem like one thing after another kept happening? Hope everyone had a great and safe Labor Day!  This past Mani Monday will be posted on the upcoming Monday as well as this weeks so make sure to look out for that.

Also, with the NFL opener, which took FOREVER to get started, did anyone happen to catch the Yankees/Sox game going on at the same time? Talk about a real nail biter! With Sox in the lead 7-2 and then Yanks making a lead 8-7, I'm not tooo upset we lost.  It just proves to show the Sox never can back down because we can and will make a comeback!

Onto this weekend, NEW YORK FASHION WEEK!!! Here's just a couple of looks so far, enjoy!

Favorite Fashion Week Quote:: Of course by the one and only Carrie Bradshaw.

 Favorite Fashion Week Trends So Far::

BCBG Light Pastels and Florals

Marc Jacob and Stripes

BCBG Max Azria and Leather

Favorite Fashion Week Finale Dress:: I love this dress as much as I love this shot of it! Picture was taken by mollytorianphoto and the dress is Noon By Noor for their Spring 2014 collection!

Favorite Fashion Week Tweets:: Compliments of Mindy Kaling and her "Fake Fashion Week" , haha

Favorite Fashion Week Gift:: Celebrate NYFW with a custom Marc Jacobs airbrush tee! Stop by the MArc by Marc Jacobs store in NY, LV, LA, or SF to make your own. Avaliable every weekend in sept and all of Fashion week in NY!

Favorite Fashion Week Spotlight:: HAPPPYY 20TH ANNIVERSEY KATE SPADE!!!  

ps, don't forget to =)

Read More

Friday Favorites! FOOOTBALL!

Hike, Hike……...FOOTBALL SEASON HAS STARTED!!!!! 

Well to be honest I'm not that into the sport.  But give me a fun atmosphere, good friends, and a reason to dress up and have fun? I'm down! Last year my friends and I were watching the oh so heated Bama/Georgia Game and like I already mentioned, I don't have a whole team memorized or a favorite player or anything, I just like having fun. So when it came time to dress up, I had the cutest houndstooth skirt and wanted to wear it. So that's pretty much the only reason I rooted for Bama; as the last 5 minutes come near, my friends dissed and hated tremendously because I was rooting (and winning, whoo!) for a team they knew I only picked for fashion.  Haha, good times. Needless to say, Football season has arrived and heres some of my football favorites!
Favorite Football Memes::

  

too soon? 

Favorite Fantasy Football Team Names:: Found these hilarious top 10 over at The Phinsider
10. What would Jones-Drew?
9. Show me your TDs
8. The Real Chip Shady
7. I Pitta the Fool
6. Gronkdonkadonks
5. Clear Bag and Present Danger
4. Boston Tebow Party
3. Weeden Start the Fire
2. RG3PO
1. The Butt Fumblers

Favorite Football Decorations:: All SO clever, STUPID genius, and best part...low budgeted!

Decorate your solo cups with duct tape! 

Utensil Holders made out of construction paper and tin cans!

Get a green table cloth and use white tape to make for a spirited football field table!

Have a safe and fun weekend!!

Happy Labor Day weekend!

Hopefully every loved these!

Ps, don't forget to =)

Read More

What's to Eat??? Harissa Paste!

This is an actual flavorful picture, no filter added! Watch out! :)

Move over Ketchup, Tabasco, and Sriratcha! and For those of y'all who don't know what harissa is made up of dried chillies, mint leaves, garlic,  extra-virgin olive oil and lemon juice to make for this deliciously spicy chilli paste added to pastas, breads, soups, and whatever else you would like to add hot spreads to really.  I'll be honest, if you don't like spicy things, then skip this post.  BUT if you do like to spice things up, this is your go to. Warning, it becomes RIDICULOUSLY addicting and you will drop a lot of your other hot sauces you have.  With this fresh paste made by yourself, every meal will taste a bit better and your friends will be amazed!

What you will need:: (this will make about 3 cups worth)

• 2 bags of dried chilli peppers ( I use Guajillo and mix with it with regular dried chillies-- a 2/3 to 1/3 dried guajillo ratio, but any dried chillies you have can work!)
• Mint Leaves:: about two bunches
• Olive Oil:: 2-3 tablespoons 
• Salt:: 4 teaspoons or to taste
• Lemon Juice:: 3-4 tablespoon or to taste
• Cumin Powder::  3-4 teaspoons
• Garlic:: 7 cloves

First you will want to take the ends of the chillies out.

  Now you are going to soften the chillies.  

Place all of the dried chillies in a bowl and soak it in boiling water.  Let it stand for about 30 mins or until you can see the water boiling.

While waiting for the chillies to soften, you can take your mint bunches and de-stem them.  You only want the mint leaves.  This part is tedious but well worth it.  The mint helps make the paste not tooo spicy. Saying that, experiment each time you make it to find your level. The more mint, the less spicy.  JUST REMEMBER, adding alot of mint leaves doesn't mean it won't be spicy, because it still will! It will just help managing the flavor. 

  

By now the chillies are probably soft and you can drain the excess water and seeds out.  It will be pretty hot so watch out! You might even want to let it cool for 15-20 minutes. 

Now whip your food processor out and add the garlic to be minced and then slowly add the chillies.  Then add the salt, lemon juice, and cumin powder and let them mix together.  You may need to scrape the sides down after a while to make sure it all mixes evenly. After it looks like an even paste, you can add your olive oil. Taste it and add lemon juice and salt to taste. 

Now add the mint leaves and blend until it reaches your desired smooth, thick paste.  

***The flavor will deepen and become less spicy as the next two days come so don't freak out if its a tad spicier than you will like.** Here, you will notice the paste is a deep red color, add little bits of olive oil and blend and keep repeating this a few times until you can see the color change into a medium red. It is now ready!

Transfer the harissa into a jar or container and add a teaspoon thin layer of olive oil to it.   Refrigerate it and use whenever you will like! It can last up to 2 months, but usually we finish it up by then.  ENJOY!!

Read More

Mani Monday:: Robin's Egg

Sky and Glitter!

Good Afternoon! Talking about nails, don't you just hate when one nail or even two breaks short while all your other nails are long? Then it just looks weird so you have to cut them all short! :( I absolutely hate when that happens, grrr. Well anyways, today's Mani Monday is a light sky blue paired with some loose gold glitter which reminds me of a pretty robin's egg!

You can always use my Mani Monday's as an inspiration and create your own look! My sister decided she liked my look but wanted to add more to it by adding a darker blue and more gold into it!  Get inspired and crafty!!

Which look do you like better?
PS, this weekend was a tad hectic so on Wednesday or Thursday, the Harissa spread recipe will be posted! So check back!
Have a great week!!
ps, don't forget to =)

Read More

Friday Favorites!

In the famous words of Rebecca Black, it's…….. Friday, Friday, FRIIIIIIIIIDAAAAAYYYY :)
Favorite Invitation Idea:: Blow it up and the balloon tells you the details of the party! How creative!

Favorite Everything Spread:: I literally use this spicy spread on everything! Look out for my personal recipe for it this weekend! (yup, no filter even added)

Favorite Way to De-clutter:: Get a plain clear letter organizer and use it for your clutches! Smart, effective, and chic!

Favorite Way to Use 9 minutes:: Burn 100 calories in just 9 minutes with these SUPER SIMPLE tasks! Add some reps and get more for your workout!

Favorite Laugh:: Ha, Ha, Hahah. Clever Drake, Clever. (Too soon?)

Make good choices this weekend and have a great one!!!!
Check back this weekend for the recipe for Harissa!
ps, don't forget to =)

Read More

OOTD:: Street Style

Dresses, Jean Jackets, Chunky Necklaces, and Combat Boots

This outfit of the day was a very fun one to plan and wear!  It is very different than what I am used to but sometimes it's nice getting to play dress up.  I felt a sense of power and like I could take on anything! Well, anything on the streets, haha. I researched a bit about street-wear because I honestly didn't know too much about it and found out that street wear is simply taking two different styles and compiling them together.  It is more of an edgier look, more bold.  

I feel as if sometimes we all get scared to go out of the norm and what is trendy or acceptable.  But what you wear does make a statement.  It almost is as if your body is a canvas and your clothes are the paintings.  Don't be afraid to mix prints, mix styles, and change up your normal look for something a little outside of your comfort box.  I did and this outfit really grew on my and made me even feel a tad different on the inside!  Always have fun with what you wear while making a statement!

Hope your week is starting off great! Remember last week's Thoughtful Thursday in case you get stressed or upset!  Just take a few breaths, "oooohhh-saaaa."
Check back later this week for the famous spicy harissa spread!
ps, don't forget to =)

Read More

Mani Monday:: Striped

Black and White Striped

Who doesn't like a pair of stripes? They're always fun and always in style, so why not try it on your hands?  This look takes just two simple steps, paint your nails one color, and then draw some lines, voila! That simple.  I like to use small tip nail polish for lines but you can draw them as big or small as you like! 

My nails go great with my striped pants! 

Check back tomorrow for the street style outfit of the day and later this week for the spicy spread, harissa!
ps, don't forget to =)

Read More