Spring Fashion Updates

"Fashion is not something that exists in dresses only. Fashion is in the sky, in the street, fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live, what is happening."- Coco Chanel

Now that it is finally starting to show signs of it actually being Spring, I've started to retire some of my winter staples in favor of some spring-y alternatives. Disclaimer: I love clothes, but I wouldn't consider myself super fashionable or pulled together. Although I really love experimenting and finding new pieces.

There are three major trends I am focusing on this spring. 

Three Trends:

• High Low Hemline
• Lace Detailing
• Cut Outs/Low Back

I also love being able to wear clothes I already own. Last summer I jumped right on the high-low hemline trend. Maybe it is because I'm tall so skirts and dresses rarely are long enough and the low hem was perfect for me, or maybe it is because I liked to twirl around in them--regardless, this trend is still going strong. Which makes me very happy.

I get to continue to wear two of my favorite dresses this spring!

High-Low Dress

High-Low Dress

Featured Fashion (a lot of the original pieces are no longer in stock, but here are some great substitutes): Fedora, Brown Braided Belt, Strappy Sandals, My Denim Jacket, Black Flats, Floral High-Low Dress, My Red Dress

Another trend that I am completely on board with is lace. I own lace skirts, dresses, shirts, and shorts and I am still buying more and more lace pieces. I love how it can be so feminine, but if you dress it with leather, it immediately takes on a much  more rock and roll vibe.

My favorite lace skirt

Featured Fashion: Chambray Shirt, Lace Skirt, Lace Shorts

The third trend I am obsessed with is cut outs. I love the subtle peek of unexpected skin. It's a great way to show off a tan without freezing. I have recently bought a ton of clothes with some unique detailing.

Basically I've bought the majority of Urban Outfitters dresses with cut outs. Check them out here: Dresses.

Get ready for the warmth!

Cheers X

Chicken & Avocado Spaghetti with Garlic Bread

"Everything you see, I owe to spaghetti"- Sophia Loren 

Growing up in California, I was exposed to some of the freshest produce around, especially avocados. My mom and most of my closest friends were all avocado addicts, but something about them freaked me out... I think they were too green with an odd creamy texture that just threw me. However, during my freshman year of college a friend of mine forced me to eat an avocado. Since then I have become the biggest advocate of avocados. I'm always looking for new ways to incorporate avocados into my diet (smoothies, grilled cheese, etc.) because they are so ridiculously good for you. 

 A couple months ago, I came across a recipe for an avocado pasta that I had to try. With a few minor tweaks and additions avocado pasta is now one of my favorite recipes. You all need to try this, you won't be disappointed. 

And honestly, what Italian inspired meal is complete without garlic bread? 

Avocado Spaghetti:

What You Need: 

• 1/2 pound spaghetti 
• 1.5 ripe avocados 
• 1 spoonful of lemon juice 
• 1 spoonful of lime juice
• 4 cloves garlic
• 1/4 cup of extra virgin olive oil 
• 2 tablespoon of pesto
• 1/4 cup Italian cheese blend
• red pepper flakes for seasoning
• chicken breast 

How to Make:

• Cook your spaghetti until done
• Cook your chicken on medium heat seasoned with garlic and lemon 
• Blend the peeled avocado with the olive oil, garlic, lemon/lime juice, and pesto until smooth

 

• Coat the spaghetti with the avocado mixture and season to taste with cheese and red pepper flakes

Garlic Bread

What You Need:

• French or Italian loaf of bread cut horizontally 
• 1/4 cup of butter
• 4 cloves of diced garlic
• 2 tbsp of parsley
• 1/4 cup of italian cheese blend (I use fontina, parmesan, and mozzarella) 

How to Make:

• soften your butter and mix in the garlic and parsley
• cover your bread in the butter mixture

• preheat your oven to 350 degrees
• cook the bread in the oven for 10 minutes
• sprinkle the cheese over the bread and cook for another 5 minutes (wait for the cheese to start to bubble and the edges of the bread to darken)

• Let it cool, cut it up, and serve 

Enjoy!

Cheers X

Blueberry Muffins

"There is no sincerer love than the love of food."- George Bernard Shaw

As I mentioned in my last post, I've been feeling sick. Since cooking makes me feel better, I decided to make some comfort food.  I ended up baking a dozen blueberry muffins. 

Finished Product

What You Need:

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 tbsp honey 
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/3 cup vegetable oil
• 1/4 egg white
• 1/3 cup milk
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 cup fresh blueberries
• 1 tsp cinnamon 

How to Make

• Heat oven to 400 degrees F. 
• Line muffin cups with paper liners.
• Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, and the salt in a large bowl with a whisk. 

• Add vegetable oil, egg, vanilla, milk, and honey to a measuring jug that holds at least 1 cup,  whisk until combined.

• Add milk mixture to the bowl with flour and sugar then use a fork to combine. 

• Add blueberries and fold the blueberries into the muffin batter.

• Bake 15 minutes

Enjoy!

Cheers X

Spring Beauty Updates

"I believe in manicures. I believe in overdressing. I believe in primping at your leisure and wearing lipstick. I believe in pink. I believe happy girls are the prettiest girls. I believe tomorrow is another day, and I believe in miracles."- Audrey Hepburn 

All the snow has officially melted and the weather report is starting to look somewhat promising! Which means I am officially saying goodbye to Winter and welcoming Spring with open arms. Now that winter is over I am updating my wardrobe and beauty routines to fit with the changing seasons. 

Skincare: The winter has been absolutely brutal on my skin. Now that it is finally warming up and the sun is starting to show through I need to protect my skin and get that pre-summer glow going on.

• Body: I spent a week in Cancun, Mexico, and despite my vigilant attempts at lathering up the sunscreen, I managed to get a bit of color. 

Featured Fashion: Bikini Top, Bikini Bottoms, Sunglasses

• After being in the sun, I try to use a lotion infused with Aloe. Currently, I'm using Jergens Aloe Lotion. 
•  I also am a major proponent of body oil. The other night, I was out with my friends and I noticed they were all staring at my legs. When I asked what they were all looking at I was informed they were trying to tell if I was wearing sheer stockings... Nope, just well moisturized legs due to the miracles of oil. Body oil locks in lotion better than anything else. I use Neutrogena Oil.  
• While natural color looks the best, tanning in any form is horrible for you. I usually manage to get a tan even while using sunscreen, but I also supplement the color with self tanning lotion. Every three days I use Self tanner. 
• Face:
• I have yet to find a facial lotion that I really like, but I am vigilant about moisturizing my face every morning and night. 
• My current favorite product line is Mario Badescu's. It was recommended to me last summer and everything I've used has been great. The two products that are currently in rotation are the Healing Mask and the Drying Lotion. 
• Now that the seasons are changing, exfoliation is huge. I just found this Green Tea Scrub which I now love.

Nails: 

Top: Manicure Colors
Botton: Pedicure Colors

• Manicures:
• Typically, I prefer a dark nail. Deep reds, purples, grays, and blues are my go to colors, but in Spring that just seems wrong. 
• Spring Color Palette: Nudes and light pinks accented with gold glitter 

My current manicure

Featured Products: Trade Winds, Chunky Gold Overlay

• Pedicures:
• I am a lot more liberal when it comes to my toes. I have been wearing bright corals and neon colors to set off my tan as well as make me feel like it is almost sunshine season. 

Toes in the sand

Featured Product: Essie's Peach Daiquiri Nail Color

Hair: 

• I put my hair through the ringer. I made the mistake of highlighting it three years ago and now my hair is unintentionally ombre. This means that the ends of my hair are super dead and stripped. However, now that it's spring and it's not so dreary outside I'm actually putting a little bit of an effort into styling my hair. 
• Products: 
• I really like this Miracle Leave in.
• Now that I am styling my hair I use a heat protecting lotion. Redken makes a great Heat Styling Lotion
• Shampoo and Conditioner both come from the Matrix Repair line: Repair Line
• Styling:
• I have naturally wavy hair

What my hair looks like without styling or product

• I prefer to wear my hair with some body in it (it hides the dead ends better than wearing it straight). When I do take a heated product to my hair, it usually looks something like this: 

From the back

From the front 

• I get this type of curl by using a straightener. My go to flat iron is the Chi Flat Iron
• In the Spring, I am a huge fan of braids. I do a lot of french braiding; everything from a single braid to smaller more boho influenced looks.

Simple side braid with an accent headband

Featured Fashion: Crystal headband, Similar top

Make-Up:

• Eye shadow: My eyes are my favorite facial feature of mine so I am always trying to play them up. Winter was great for dramatic eye's, but Spring is a much lighter season. I really like make-up palettes and the one I am getting the most use out of is Benefit's Bright Eyes Kit. I use the kit and a little brown eye liner and mascara and I am ready to go! It's really easy to use and the colors are beautiful. 
• Blush/Bronzers: I am a huge Nars cosmetics fan, especially when it comes to their blush and bronzers. I am now using the Blush Bronzer Duo  in Orgasm and Laguna. The colors are understated and universally flattering.
• Lips: This Winter I was really into a deep burgundy color, but now that it's spring I'm tending toward a nude lip. I am pretty much just wearing chapstick. 

Left: Before Make-up
Right: After Make-up Spring Style

Fragrance: 

• Spring is such a light and floral season that it makes sense for my perfume to reflect that change. I am currently wearing Marc Jacobs Daisy So Fresh. This perfume is an update on the original Daisy scent and is described as "a field of sunshine that bursts with the flirty scent of flowers and the cheerful sweetness of fruits. Its light, woody base infuses a subtle but sharp glimmer of musk for an unexpected twist of radiance." Regardless, I love it and it makes me feel very spring-y.  
• Daisy So Fresh 

Cheers X