Ann Taylor Holiday 2012

Inspired by the movie, Charade, starring Audrey Hepburn and Cary Grant, the Ann Taylor Holiday 2012 collection was absolutely colorful and chic. My favorite pieces were definitely the jewelry!

 

 

 

"Small things can make big days."

 

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Celebrate

Today's song is "Celebrate" by Jordin Sparks & Whitney Houston.
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Giveaway: Total Beauty Collection

The Total Beauty Collection is a box sampling program brought to you by TotalBeauty.com. Their program is different because the products and brands in the box are curated by our experts who have a proven history of delivering the best product advice and recommendations on TotalBeauty.com. Plus, they don't require a subscription! Just visit TotalBeauty.com/Collection to enter your email address. Once you sign up, they will send you an email alert each time a box goes on sale -- and it's up to you whether or not you want to purchase at that time. Each box costs $15 and contains 4-6 deluxe samples from top-rated brands. Plus, they occasionally throw in bonus gifts!

Their current box began June 18th. The box contains 5 great samples from Murad, Zents and Skindinavia. Plus, we included two bonus gifts from Zents and Sole Society. Readers can purchase and/or sign up for on sale notifications at www.TotalBeauty.com/Collection.

Here is what they sent me to test out:

I got a great mix of their last box collection as well as a few items from their current one. I am LOVING this service! You get a lot of bang for you buck with Totoal Beauty. And at $15 per box, the price is a steal!!

I am hooked for sure and have also signed myself up! I have tried 4 of the products so far as well as used my sole society gift card (SCORE!) and couldn't be happier. Plus I love how it's a good mix of face, hair, and body products.

One lucky winner will win a box of thier own!

To enter:

Simply set up an account with Total beauty and leave a comment below with the email you used to do so.

For bonus entries:

Follow Total Beauty on Twitter

Like Total Beauty on Fb

Like the Total beauty's Events page for chances to win more prizes!

(leave 1 comment below for each you do!)

Godd luck! The winner will be announced 7-7-12 at 7:00am.
*Giveaway open to US residents only

Recipe: Ropa Vieja with Black Beans & Rice

I found this recipe in Elisabeth Hasselbeck's Deliciously G-free cookbook. As per my usual I altered it to fit my family's needs/tastes, but it turned out AMAZING! It has 3 different parts to it, so this recipe is a bit time consuming, but it is totally worth it!

Serves 8:

Steak:

1 large flank steak (2 pounds)

2 med. onions, chopped

2 carrots, chopped

3 celery stalks, chopped

2 bay leaves (left this out)

1 teaspoon whole black peppercorns (left this out)

Sauce:

1 tablespoon olive oil (I used coconut)

1 med. red onion, chopped (I used yellow onion)

1 small green bell pepper, chopped (organic)

4 garlic cloves, minced (I used minced jarred)

1/2 teaspoon salt (I used sea salt)

1 tablespoon gluten-free tomato paste

1/2 teaspoon gluten-free ground cumin

1 teaspoon dried oregano (i used fresh)

1 28 oz can chopped tomatoes w/ juices

Rice and Beans:

1 tablespoons salted butter

1 shallots or 1 small red onion, chopped

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 cup white basmati rice

2 cups gluten-free chicken broth

1 15 oz. can black beans, drained and well rinsed

grated zest and juices of 2 limes

2 bay leaves

1/4 teaspoon salt

For the steak preparation I used a crock pot and skipped to # 3 in the instructions

1. prepare the steak: in a large stockpot, combine the flank steak, onions, carrots, celery, bay leaves, and black peppercorns. Add enough water to just cover the ingredients. Bring to a simmer and cook, partially covered, for about 1 1/2 hours, or until the beef shreds easily when pressed with a fork.

2. when the meat is tender, remove the post from he head and let the ingredients cool in the liquid for 20 minutes. then remove the meat and strain the broth into a small bowl, discarding the vegetables and seasonings. Set the meat and the broth aside.

3. Make the sauce: Heat the oil in a large saucepan over med. heat, and add the chopped onion, pepper, and garlic. Sprinkle in the salt. Cook for 8-10 mins, until the vegetables begin to soften. Then add the tomato paste, cumin, and oregano, and cook for 1 min more, until the tomato paste becomes fragrant.

4. Stir in the reserved broth and simmer for 2-3 minutes until broth reduces slightly. Add the tomatoes and the shredded meat. Cook, uncovered for 2-25 mins, until the liquid has reduced by half.

5. while the meat is cooking in the sauce, prepare the rice and beans. Heat a small saucepan over med-high heat, and add the butter, shallots and garlic. Cook for 2-3 mins, until the shallots start to soften. Add the rice and cook, stirring often, for 1 minute, until the rice is completely coated int eh butter.

6. Add the chicken broth, black beans, lime zest and juice, bay leaves, and salt. Stir to combine and bring to a boil. then cover the pan, reduce the heat to low, and cook until the liquid has been absorbed and rice is tender, 15-20 mins. Remove and discard the bay leaves.

7. serve the Ropa Vieja over the rice and beans.

(I skipped the last few steps as well and just made minute rice adding the beans, broth, lime juice to it as directed above. Just as yummy, less time ;)

Lisette L

Lisette L offers pants with the Flaterie fit -- it streamlines your waistline and compliment your shape at the same time. Their pants have no zippers or buttons so it's a simple, great fitting piece that you can just slip on. As you can see, they offer various styles - and I was asked to review one.

I chose the skirt because I'm not much of a pants person although their boot leg pant in white was a close second choice.  I'm petite so I wore the skirt a bit higher on my body, but it did make me look taller. With the no zippers or buttons, at first I was a bit hesitant on how it would fit my body - usually it's either too tight & makes an unnecessary bulge or it's too loose & it keeps falling down. This skirt definitely had a great fit. It hugged my body gently.

    blouse - Ann Taylor | skirt - Lisette L | shoes - Luciana | nailpolish - Essie Bikini So Teeny

P.S. Congrats to Kat for winning my Baggu giveaway! Be sure to enter my Shabby Apple giveaway (click the banner on top!)

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Summer Paradise

Today's song is "Summer Paradise" by Simple Plan.
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Rad & Refined Summer Launch Party

I had the most wonderful time at the Chicago Blogger Network Rad and Refined summer launch party event over the weekend. This is what I wore:

Dress: Swap w/ Kaitlyn (Discovery), Shoes: C/O Sole Society, Bag: C/O Just Fabulous , Watch and Silver bracelet: C/O Kristin Hassan, Skull Bracelet and Necklace: Baublebar, Colored stackable ring set: gift, Stackable silver ring set: Shop Jules, Heart Ring: Self Made (I SPY DIY project)

As a fan of not only Rad and Refined but also both blogs Natalie off Duty and Color Me Nana, I was in blogger heaven this night. Truly!

Natalie, myself, and Dylana

There was shopping to be done, drinks to be had, food to be eaten, and photos to be taken! I had my eye on a maxi dress all night and could not stop coming back to it! I'm so predicable. lol

Myself and Jacqueline of Rad and Refined, me totally dorking out with Natalie (or making her think I'm a total dork, however you want to say it ;) and finally me passing out Because I shop too much cards to the girls! Hopefully they will set their closets up soon! ;)

Jessica and Jill of Style Juncture and myself

Delish cake pops from Coco Mori

And the night would not be complete without a little photo booth action compliments of Shutterbooth!

I was so happy my hubby came with me (he got a glimpse of my world), I hope I didn't make too big of a fool of myself as I am a super fan of both Natalie and Dylana, and I am beyond pumped at the new maxi dress I bought! Obviously you will be seeing it soon on the blog! And obviously I needed another maxi dress. No, seriously I did! ;)
*To book an appointment to shop Rad and Refined Chicago email info@radandrefined.com

Tasty Thursdays: Chicken and Summer Vegetable Tostadas

My cousin sent me this recipe which she found on MyRecipes and it just sounds & looks absolutely delish! The following recipes makes 4 servings.

Ingredients:

• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/4 teaspoon salt 
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper 
• 2 teaspoons canola oil 
• 12 ounces chicken breast tenders 
• 1 cup chopped red onion (about 1) 
• 1 cup fresh corn kernels (about 2 ears) 
• 1 cup chopped zucchini (about 4 ounces) 
• 1/2 cup green salsa
• 3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro, divided 
• 4 (8-inch) fat-free flour tortillas 
• Cooking spray 
• 1 cup (4 ounces) shredded Monterey Jack cheese

Directions:

1. Preheat broiler.
2. Combine first 3 ingredients, stirring well. Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Sprinkle the spice mixture evenly over chicken. Add chicken to pan; sauté for 3 minutes. Add onion, corn, and zucchini to pan; sauté for 2 minutes or until chicken is done. Stir in salsa and 2 tablespoons cilantro. Cook 2 minutes or until liquid almost evaporates, stirring frequently.
3. Working with 2 tortillas at a time, arrange tortillas in a single layer on a baking sheet; lightly coat tortillas with cooking spray. Broil 3 minutes or until lightly browned. Spoon about 3/4 cup chicken mixture in the center of each tortilla; sprinkle each serving with 1/4 cup cheese. Broil an additional 2 minutes or until cheese melts. Repeat procedure with remaining tortillas, chicken mixture, and cheese. Sprinkle each serving with about 3/4 teaspoon of remaining cilantro.

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The Fighter

Today's song is "The Fighter" by Gym Class Heroes featuring Ryan Tedder.
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Giveaway: Bare Fruit Cinnamon Apple Chips

I was contacted by a member of the Bare Fruit team and asked to try out a bag of their cinnamon apple chips for review. I figured why not, but had NO IDEA how amazing these were going to be! There are 2 ingredients in each bag. Organic apples and organic cinnamon. That's it!

They are gluten free (which is key in my house), have no sugar added (again a must for my little man), and the best part, they taste OUTSTANDING! The only problem is you eat them like chips. Meaning you can't stop eating them once the bag is open! They should come with a warning as each bag contains 30 apples. I had to stop both kids, the hubbs, and myself from scarfing them down in one sitting. After a few minutes you realize how full you really are.

You can order right from their Facebook page and also access coupons there too! They come in cinnamon apple, granny smith apple, Fuji apple, dried apricots, pears, mangos, and cherries (all organic). I will be buying these on a regular basis. It is an amazing way to "slip" your kids some fruit with them thinking they are eating chips. ;)

They taste so darn good, I dare you not to get hooked and become a regular eater of Bare Fruit. My family now is!

Now onto the AMAZING part, one lucky winner will receive a FREE CASE (12 bags!) of Bare Fruit Cinnamon Apple Chips!

To enter:

Like Bare Fruit on FB and leave a comment below telling me you have done so. That's it!

For extra entries:

Follow Bare Fruit on Twitter

Leave Bare Fruit a comment on FB telling them I sent you and which product you'd most like to try.

(leave 1 comment below for each you do)

Good luck! The winner will be announced July 4th at 7:00am.

Tatcha Beauty

I was recently sent the Tatcha beauty kit for review. It's a simple, easy ritual to use every morning and/or night. It includes the pure Camellia Cleansing Oil, polished rice enzyme powders, radiant deep brightening serum, and the supple moisture rich silk cream.

The cleansing oil is used first to remove makeup or have if you have very dry skin. Then using the enzyme powders with the combination of water - rubbed together, creates a cream to apply to your face. After, is the application of the serum and the silk cream.

What's good about these products is that you just need a tiny bit to use for each application, which can definitely last you for a longer time. The products are strong enough to use a little at a time - gives you more for your buck!

I've used this for the past week or so and my skin has felt smoother and more radiant. The products aren't heavy so my face feels light and fresh.

*I've been sent the Tatcha kit for the purpose of this review. All opinions are solely mine.

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Little Romance

Today's song is "Little Romance" by Ingrid Michaelson.
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