Thursday, October 31, 2013

Look for Less: Leather Dress, Plus a Little Halloween Fun

I cant get enough of leather, I've been gravitating to leather pieces every time I enter a store, whether it be skirts, jackets or tops. If you remember back in September when I was in Vermont for girls weekend, I saw this amazing black leather Theory dress for a mere $800. Obviously that is way way way out of my price range but I didn't stop looking for the perfect leather dress. This week I stumbled upon this beautiful tan leather dress from Anthropologie and it fits much better into my price range, only $148! Plus it has short sleeves so it covers me up a little more than a sleeveless dress would.

Would you wear a leather dress?
What looks for less have you discovered lately?
Theory Fraylan Danish Leather Dress

I also wanted to wish all my blog followers a Happy Halloween! 
I am so excited to hand out candy to trick or treaters today since this will be the first time in forever that I didn't have night class on Halloween.
Thought I would share one of the funniest/creepiest Buzzfeed articles I have seen in awhile titled:
 The 13 Creepiest Things A Child Has Ever Said To A Parent 
This article literally made me LOL and pray that my future children never say things like that...ever.

xoxo

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Little Miss Matched


        I need to admit something to you guys that you may think is really weird.... I don't own a single pair of plain white socks. It sounds weird but I have always collected weird funky socks! I probably own a pair of socks for every holiday (I think I have, no joke, 20 pairs of Christmas socks alone). For 99% of the time you can't see my socks when I have shoes on, so why not have something fun on that only you know about instead of boring old white socks?! 
       Last time I was in NYC I stumbled across this store called Little Miss Matched originally looking for funky children's socks for my little cousins stocking stuffers but I realized that still store specializes in adult socks too. I ended up leaving the store with 5 sets for myself (including a very similar version of the middle pair in the above photo) because I was so obsessed with their products.
        Here's the deal with Little Miss Matched: Each set of socks you buy from them comes with 3 socks which solves the age old problem of disappearing socks, or my problem of the hole in the sock. For some reason I always get holes in one sock and then I'm forced to throw the pair out. With Little Miss Match, you get 3 socks to mix and match. The other fun thing about LMM is each sock is different, which is super fun...plus I'm guilty of mismatching socks when I can't find a match all the time. According to LMM they make socks for ages 4-110 so as long as you're not 111 years old you're guaranteed to find an awesome pair of socks! 

Do you like crazy socks like me?
xoxo

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

New Recipe: Crock Pot Chicken Alfredo

The finished product
Happy Tasty Tuesday guys!
         I've been trying a bunch of new recipes lately since I've been getting bored with my normal routine. This week has been getting colder so I've officially brought out the crock pot full time. Crock pots are one of the best investments you can make, especially if you don't really like to cook because there are so many recipes that only require you to dump a bunch of ingredients into the crock pot and then magically you have a meal 5 hours later.... and this Chicken Alfredo recipe is one of them.

Ingredients:
  • 1.5 lbs chicken breast (I buy the chicken strips because I hate touching raw chicken)
  • 1/2 onion (chopped)
  • 2 garlic cloves minced
  • 1 cup roasted red peppers (I bought a jar and cut them into strips)
  • 15 oz alfredo sauce
  • 4 cups broccoli florets (I bought a small bag of frozen broccoli)
  • 1/4 cup parmesan cheese (buy a small block and shred it for better flavor)
  • 1 tbs pepper
  • olive oil
Combine all the ingredients into the crock pot!
Directions: (Can you believe there's only 4 steps?!)
  • Saute onions and red peppers in a skillet in a little oil for 5 mins
  • Set crock pot to low
  • Place all ingredients in the crock pot and mix together
  • Cook for 4 hours on low (or until chicken is cooked).
  • Enjoy!
**You can serve it with pasta or potatoes depending on whatever you prefer, I used pasta**

Don't forget I post all my recipes on Pinterest for easy access!
If you ever make one of my recipes, let me know how it turned out!
xoxo

Monday, October 28, 2013

Outfit Obsession


     Lately I've been obsessing over comfortable day time outfits for running errands that are cute enough that I don't look like a slob when I go out, but still casual. This makes me want to invest in a longer plaid shirt in a red or hunter green that I can wear with a pair of leggings. I'm loving this checkered pattern from J Crew. Also, I'm not going to lie, I'm still envying the College Prepster's scalloped bag from ASOS and I'm patiently waiting for it to go on sale. I made the mistake the first time when a couple weeks ago it was on sale on the website for $90 (plus additional 10% student discount for me) and I didn't strike, but I won't make that mistake again. 
       This outfit is perfect for those beautiful fall days that we were having at the beginning of October, but I think I would add a long cardigan or vest with it to warm it up since its been a little chilly in the 518 this week!
What's your go-to casual outfit?


Sunday, October 27, 2013

Weekend Recap and Thought of the Day

Amen!

         I hope all of you had a wonderful weekend! On Friday I decided to get in the holiday spirit so I went on a Haunted Hayride with a friend. This hayride has been around for as long as I can remember and it's a little Halloween tradition for me. Although I've gotten older and the hayride isn't as scary as it used to be there was still 3 haunted houses that I had to go through that were terrifying. I don't know about you guys but when there is extreme fog involved I get nervous because I can't see the things jumping out at me. We even had to go through a haunted bus filled with zombies, I now realize how useless I would be during the zombie apocalypse, haha!

       On Saturday I was a little lazy, lounging around catching up on my DVR'ed shows, but on Saturday night I grabbed a drink with two girlfriends at the Confectionary in Troy. It was the first time I've been there but I've heard great things about it. It was nice to grab a glass of wine and catch up. It's a beautiful place if you ever get the chance to visit it. 



      I hope today I'll be able to carve some pumpkins to put on my porch for Halloween night!
How was your weekend?
Do you go to haunted houses during Halloween?
xoxo

Saturday, October 26, 2013

Playing Dress Up: Halloween Costumes

Halloween is right around the corner and I'm sure many of you will be dressing up to go to Halloween parties this weekend. Although I won't be dressing up this year, I am looking forward to handing out candy to the trick or treaters (a sign of maturity maybe?!). Here are a couple of my favorite costumes I wore over the years.
Ugh that lipstick was not a good look....
101 Dalmatians
There we're over 30 of us dressed up as Dalmatians all together.
It was definitely my favorite/most comfortable costume ever.
Snow White and the 7 Dwarves. 
The Holidays. I was Thanksgiving if you couldn't guess.
The rainbow togas seemed like a good idea at the time, until
 they started to unravel as the night went on.
Are you dressing up this Halloween? 
What was your favorite costume growing up?
xoxo

Friday, October 25, 2013

Pottery Barn Weekender Bags

TGIF!
Today is day 25 of my no-shopping diet and I am getting a little antsy. I was trying to build up my funds since purchasing the Beau bag because on November 1st I am going to the Woodbury Commons outlets for a overnight visit. My mom and I go on an overnight outlet trip twice a year (once in the spring and once in the fall) and while normally we go to to the Wrentham Premium Outlets, this year we are switching it up and spending the night in Woodbury. I've actually never been to Woodbury before so this will be a fun new experience. 
One thing I've learned from our twice a year trips is that I don't have a great weekender bag. I have a Vera Bradley Grand Tote that I actually won in a drawing at our local VB store that I normally use for weekend trips but I hate how open it is, I really need to invest in a bag that zips up so I don't have to worry about losing items. 
I found this amazing weekender bag on the Pottery Barn website (who would have thought Pottery Barn would make great bags). The Union Canvas Weekender Bag has leather detail and comes in 5 different colors including my favorite, the navy. Plus for an extra $7 you can get it monogrammed! Looks like I found my next big investment!


** Pottery Barn also makes these cute tote bags that can also be monogrammed. I love the matching navy canvas tote!**
Where is your weekender bag from?

Thursday, October 24, 2013

Warm Me Up: Scarves

    I was wandering around J Crew last week (only looking not buying...one more week of my no shopping diet) and I found this awesome city scarf. The best way I could describe it was feminine. It was a very delicate and pretty scarf with beautiful detail. When you open it up it has names of all different cities around the world. It would be the perfect scarf for someone who likes to travel. I didn't buy it, I think I will wait for it to go on sale first but it definitely got me thinking about my own scarf collection. I went home later that day and went through the pile of scarves I owned and made them more visible in my closet because I often forget about them. 

     While researching different scarves I picked out 6 other favorites of mine. Similar to the J Crew Nouveau City Scarf, Kate Spade had several scarves that told a story. I especially love the yellow and black scarf pictured above that, when opened up, features a full map of New York City and the Neon Sign Scarf that, when opened up, features fun catchphrases like "Spike the Punch and Eat Cake for Breakfast." 
     Although I loved so many of the Kate Spade scarves, I also tried to look for scarves that were more affordable. Personally, I don't see myself spending hundreds of dollars on a light scarf, instead I would say that my scarf budget fall into the under $40 category. J Crew Factory had an awesome selection of fun patterns and materials, plus they're always having a sale so it would be easy to scoop up a couple scarves for a discount price. My two favorites from J Crew Factory were the navy snakeskin and the turquoise floral. 
     Finally, I found so many cute scarves at H&M for under $20. Out of all the scarves I looked through, the H&M scarves looked the coziest. I loved the light grey mohair scarf because it was neutral and would work with a variety of clothing options. I also think that every girl should invest in a great leopard printed scarf. The one I featured above shows you can own one without breaking the bank.

Tell me about your favorite scarf!
Do you display your scarves in your closet or are you more like me...guilty of forgetting about them?

Leopard Knit Scarf

** Also follow my blog on Google Friend Connect- located on the left side of my blog**
xoxo

Wednesday, October 23, 2013

What's Your Sign?

Today is the first day of the Scorpio sign on the zodiac horoscope which is my sign! 
Scorpio's are known to be independent, loyal and controlling (I admit I am a bit of a control freak...). 
I loved this little blurb Lilly Pulitzer posted to celebrate all the scorpios this month so I figured I would share it. Does this mean I can officially start making my birthday list?!


Do you read your horoscope?
Are there any other stubborn Scorpios out there?
xoxo

Green with Envy

     Green has always been a color I have gravitated to, whether it be neon, emerald, army, etc I have a variety of different greens in my wardrobe. I've really been enjoying all the different shades on the shelves for fall. Ever since I picked up that black and emerald green cardigan at the Polo store in September, I want more green! I especially love that mesh sleeved sweater from gap and those amazing fox head loafers!
What color are you loving lately?


Tuesday, October 22, 2013

New Recipe: Buffalo Chicken Enchiladas

Finished Product

        Happy Tasty Tuesday Everyone, I have a fun and delicious recipe to share with you today! Last week I was really craving Mexican food so I thought I would try my hand at enchiladas, but this isnt any old enchilada recipe, this is enchiladas with a twist! Using buffalo wing sauce added an extra bite to the recipe which was fabulous. For the side dish I suggest making spanish rice (you can buy a box in the supermarket) and some veggies. 

Ingredients:

  • 1 package of tortillas 
  • 1 large rotisserie chicken shredded 
  • 1 cup red enchilada sauce
  • 1/2 cup buffalo wing sauce
  • 1 package of Mexican Blend cheese, shredded
  • 3 oz gorgonzola cheese, crumbled
  • 2 green onions chopped
  • 1/2 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
Pre-oven picture

Directions:

  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees and spray 9x13 baking dish with non-stick spray (I use PAM)
  • In a bowl combine enchilada sauce and buffalo sauce
  • Pour about 1/3 of the sauce mixture at bottom of the baking dish, coating it.
  • Take another 1/3 of the sauce mixture and combine with shredded chicken (I put them in a plastic baggie and shake it so the sauce coats the chicken).
  • Take each tortilla and fill it with a few tablespoons of chicken mixture, add a sprinkle of cheese then roll each tortilla up and set it in the baking dish, seam side down.
  • Repeat until entire baking dish is filled with chicken/cheese rolled tortillas.
  • Pour the last 1/3 cup of sauce on top of the rolled tortillas and top with cheese.
  • Bake for 25 minutes
  • Immediately after taking enchiladas out of the oven, add crumbled gorgonzola on top. Garnish with green onions and cilantro.
  • ENJOY!
** This was the first time I've ever made this and I really enjoyed it but I think in the future I would add some onions and possibly some peppers into the chicken wrap, for the future**

** Don't forget to follow me on Pinterest for easy access to all the recipes I post**

xoxo

Monday, October 21, 2013

Fall Jackets

     So I love fashion. I love clothes and accessories and each new season I get excited to read about all the new trends but the thought of the weather getting colder makes me a little depressed. One of the reasons I love summer so much is that I can leave the house without a jacket and I can slip on a pair of sandals instead of having to put socks on and lace up a pair of boots. Summer is just easier. But, alas I am not Mother Nature and there's no stopping the fall wind from blowing by so I am slowly giving in and checking out the new fall jackets. Today I will highlight some of my favorite fall jacket trends.
  1. The Military Jacket- Olive green is a great fall color to incorporate into your wardrobe. Plus it would look great with a pair of brown boots. The Military Jacket is a little masculine so I picked out a cute olive green jacket with a cute leopard fur trim.
  2. The Leather Jacket- I am fortunate enough to own two leather jackets, one black motorcycle jacket that I got at Nordstrom years ago and a simple brown one. A good leather jacket is definitely on my list of Fall must-haves especially because there are so many styles and options.
  3. The Quilted Jacket- It's definitely not cold enough to need a big puffy warm jacket, but sometimes you want something to throw over your shoulders. The quilted jacket is the perfect preppy accessory.
  4. The Jean Jacket- I wear my jean jacket all summer long when I am out at night. During the fall I love to pair it with a pair of leggings.
  5. Faux Fur Jacket- A fur jacket has similarities to a big warm sweater. It's definitely a cute feminine piece to add to your closet. I love the idea of a faux fur jacket in either leopard or winter white.  
                                                                What is your fall jacket staple?

xoxo

Sunday, October 20, 2013

Sunday Thought and a Weekend Recap

My motto lately.

Happy Sunday Everyone! 
I actually had a pretty busy weekend with friends and family. Friday night I grabbed dinner and drinks with friends at a local restaurant. Some of them I hadn't seen in awhile so it was good to catch up on each others lives and share a couple laughs.
Dinner Wardrobe: Oxford shirt, leather leggings, and J Crew flats.
Saturday I had a lot of fall cleaning to do, we were donating a bunch of clothing and bedding items to charity and cleaning out the house at the same time. In addition I had to do some raking (ugh) outside because the leaves were all over the place and I attended my youngest cousins 
soccer game since I hadn't been to one all season. Saturday night I went to my cousins house for dinner and games. Since my one cousin is in medical school, it's rare that he ever has a day to hang out. So since this was a rare moment we spent it doing our go-to routine--video games, board games and lots of unhealthy food. It was a very fun laid back night. 


Clue is my favorite board game of all time and a cousin tradition whenever we're together
Marvel Superheroes Game- Another cousin tradition...this game was made in 1992
which means we've been playing it for 21 years, ugh we're old!
Today my friend Meg is coming over to watch last weeks Glee episode where they remember Cory Montieth, who died last summer. She hasn't seen it yet so I saved it on the DVR for her. I'll have plenty of tissues handy.

Keeping myself busy during the weekends has been a goal of mine this fall. I am working towards making sure I plan things and visit friends/family instead of being tempted to sit on the couch all day. That's why I thought my Sunday Thought for this week was especially fitting.

How was your weekend guys?!
Did you do anything fun?!
xoxo

Saturday, October 19, 2013

Shine Bright Like a Diamond


Happy Saturday Everybody!
Sorry I'm late getting my post up, my day started out super busy with a little spring cleaning! It's such a beautiful day in the 518 and I'm hoping to get to spend some more time outside and soak up that fall sun! 

A beautiful day like this needs some extra sparkle, which is why I absolutely love these Glitter Ked sneakers from the Kate Spade Friends and Family Sale that are only $46! 

Would you rock glittered sneakers?!
xoxo

Friday, October 18, 2013

Friday Favorites


Happy Friday everyone!
I don't know about you but I am excited that it is the weekend. Today I'll show you some of my Friday Favorites, I picked out some things that I have been loving this week. 

Leopard Flats
Okay guys I need your help. I really want a new pair of leopard flats but I want them to be calf hair so they have some texture to them. I'm really struggling finding the perfect pair... you know that feeling when you walk into a store and the shoes are basically calling your name? Don't get me wrong, I've seen plenty of pairs I love but I'm looking for a pair that is in a decent price range and are comfortable. I own these beautiful pair of calf hair leopard flats from Coach but they are so uncomfortable I never want to wear them. So send your suggestions my way!

American Horror Story: Coven
I've been obsessed with American Horror Story forever but the new season has just started and I'm even more obsessed. The cool thing about AHS is that each season is a completely different story with different characters so you can jump into season 3 without ever watching season 1 or 2. This new season is about witches and it has an amazing cast filled with great actresses including Jessica Lange (who I want to grow up to be), Kathy Bates and Angela Bassett. Check it out, but don't blame me if you get nightmares...it's pretty spooky!

Fall Skirts
J Crew Factory is killing it with their fall skirt collection, plus it seems like they're always having a great sale. Before it gets too cold out, I'm trying to pair more skirts with a cute pair of tights and a pair of boots. These skirts incorporate two of my favorite fall trends, leather & plaid. 

Monogrammed Car Mats
I found these really cute monogrammed car mats on Etsy. You can design your own by choosing the pattern, color, frame and font of the mats. These will be perfect for the upcoming winter months where bad weather can lead to muddy and wet feet. This is a great way to protect your car and jazz it up at the same time!

Kate Spade Friends & Family
Yesterday I told you about the outlet sale but today they announced the F&F for the regular Kate Spade Store! So many great deals!

Do you have anything fun planned for the weekend?
What are some of your Friday Favorites?

Thursday, October 17, 2013

FYI Kate Spade Outlet Sale


For those of you who are in traveling distance to a Kate Spade Outlet I wanted to let you know that they are currently having a Friends and Family Sale with 30% off your entire purchase. The Kate Spade Outlet around me often gets jewelry and accessories that are currently online on the non-outlet Kate Spade so you may be able to scoop up some items you've had your eyes on. 
**Dont forget to use your student ID for an additional 15% discount**

Happy Shopping!
xoxo

Four Eyes



          I'm so excited because my Warby Parker glasses have finally arrived in the mail. It was quite a process to get them because I was having trouble getting my Ophthalmologist to hand over my prescription to Warby Parker, but the company was super patient with me and answered all my questions via e-mail which makes me like them even more. Isn't it so nice to have a real person email you back and forth to answer your questions and check in rather than having to deal with a robot talking to you on the phone?!
        Anyways, I decided to go with the Ainsworth, thank you for all your input a couple weeks ago. I had a really hard time deciding which is why I think I may ask for a second pair for Christmas! Now that they have my prescription on file, I can see myself ordering so many different pairs.... Another thing I loved is that the glasses are tax free along with free shipping, so when they say on their website that the glasses are $95, thats all you will pay for them. 
     So overall, I definitely would recommend Warby Parker to any of my four eyed friends out there, just be careful because it's addicting and you won't want just one pair!


**For those of you who have been keeping track, I bought the glasses back in September so this did not interfere with my no shopping till November diet, haha.**
Warby Parker

**Also if you haven't already, make sure you check out my guest post on Jess' blog Quaintrelle. I rounded out my last 6 fall essentials, plus she has some awesome fashion and beauty posts as well!**
xoxo

Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Shoulda Put A Ring On It


       For the longest time I wasn't a big ring-wearer because having things around my fingers used to drive me crazy, especially when I was in school and I would be taking notes in class. However, I've changed my tune and lately I've been obsessed with different statement rings. Jewelry is a great way to express your personality, and there is so may fun options out there that wont break the bank. I own a Kate Spade black bow ring that I purchased at the outlets forever ago, but I'm looking to expand my ring collection.
      All of the rings I chose are under $100 with the majority of them being under $50. I tend to prefer a gold enamel to silver, I always thinks it looks more expensive and it tends not to tarnish as easily. I already placed that Kate Spade Goreski Glasses ring on my Christmas list (yes, I already started making my Christmas list... don't judge me) and I'm thinking about adding the Baublebar A Initial ring as well, it's so simple and pretty and would go with anything. FYI, the Initial Ring allows you to choose the metal and the initial. 



**Side Note: How fun are these Ring Tree's from Bauble Bar? I originally saw them on Mason Like the Jar and fell in love with this fun way to display rings. They have a variety of different animals including poodles, cats, foxes, and elephants but my two favorites are the giraffe and the rabbit. I think they would make awesome Christmas gifts, plus...they're only $12!**

Which ring is your favorite?
Do you own a statement ring that you love?

Rabbit Ring Tree

*** Be sure to check out my guest post on Jess' blog Quaintrelle today too!***
xoxo

Tuesday, October 15, 2013

New Recipe: Chili

     Happy Tasty Tuesday! This past week has officially been more fall-like and the weather in the 518 has reflected that. It's been much cooler so I've been looking for ways to keep warm without having to turn the heat on! I made chili over the weekend and it was the perfect was to warm the body. I think my favorite part about chili is the leftovers since I normally make a big pot of it. This recipe is super easy to follow and it allows you to let it simmer over that day so all the flavors really come through.

Ingredients:
  • 1lb ground beef
  • 1/2 cup chopped onion
  • 3/4 cup water
  • 1/2 cup chopped green pepper
  • 3 tsp chili powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp pepper
  • 1/2 tsp hot sauce
  • 2 garlic cloves-minced
  • 28oz can of tomatoes (undrained)
  • 10 3/4 oz can condensed tomato soup (I just buy a can of Campbells)
  • 6 oz can tomato paste
  • 4oz can chopped green chilies (undrained)
  • 15 oz can kidney beans (undrained)

Directions:
  • In a medium skillet, brown ground beed with onion until no longer pink
  • In large sauce pan, combine ground beef mixture and remaining ingredients *except kidney beans*
  • Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low; cover and simmer for 2 hours---stir occasionally
  • Stir in kidney beans 30 minutes prior to serving; simmer until thoroughly heated
  • Serve and enjoy
So basically you take a pan and combine a bunch of ingredients and let it sit for a couple hours... seems easy enough, even for you cooking-challenged! 

xoxo

Monday, October 14, 2013

Fall Dresses

                                                          
         I have to admit, once the weather starts getting cooler I tend to choose pants over dresses. I hate getting out of a nice warm bed in the morning and freeze while I put on a dress. My legs always rebel and ask that I kindly cover them up and keep them warm. However, I recently saw two dresses that could convince my legs that wearing dresses in the cooler months would be accetable. Originally I saw this J Crew Paneled grey and black dress in the catalog and I loved loved loved it. But I worried that it would be made out of that stretchy sweater material that is not very flattering on my frame. 
          This weekend I popped into J Crew and tried it on and I fell in love all over again. The dress is very structured and very flattering. The black side panels is very body slimming and the dress doesn't completely grab your body so it looks really great. Since my birthday is a month away its officially on my list. I especially love that it can be a work dress but also dressed up with a pair of heeled booties for night time.

        While in J Crew I also skimmed the clearance rack since they were having a big sale and I saw this navy and white crepe dress. I'm not going to lie, when I first saw it on the rack I thought it looked a little matronly. But then I saw it on the mannequin paired with a navy calf hair belt and a pair of Etta pumps and I thought to myself, "What a great outfit, that's not matronly at all."  So it gave me another lesson of not judging a book by it's cover. 

** Side note: I am on a very strict no shopping until November diet, which means I can look but not buy since my funds are running a little low. Make sure you hold me to it and yell at me if I tell you I buy anything!** 

Have you ever pre-judged a style and then changed your mind?
Once winter comes, do you still wear dresses?

All 3 items I featured are on sale!
xoxo

Sunday, October 13, 2013

Saturday, October 12, 2013

Saturday Pin-spiration

        Happy Saturday! I'm realizing that my dream wardrobe/home/bedroom set/baking abilities are hiding on my Pinterest boards... am I the only person with this problem? The majority of the time that I spend on Pinterest I am daydreaming, but also thinking about different combinations for outfits. Today I will share some of my favorite pins with you!


Love this shirt, I found one similar at Macy's that I think I'm going to scoop up.

Lace up suede booties?! YES PLEASE! I love the idea of pairing them with tights.

Elephants are supposed to bring good luck! Plus this scarf would go perfect with....

this navy scalloped skirt! It's perfect in every way!

I'm not a fan of coffee (I know...the horror!) but one of my favorite alcoholic drinks is an expresso martini! Now that it's officially fall this would be a great drink to sip by the fire.

What have you been pinning lately?
If you want to see more of my dream wardrobe, be sure to follow me on Pinterest!
xoxo