Cheers to a Great Weekend

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Can you believe the first of October is tomorrow? This realization really creeped up on me earlier this week. I supposed there’s no point in brooding over it, just have to look forward to whatever happens next. My plans for this weekend include catching up with a friend while checking out a new restaurant, and going for a bike ride along the beach with my husband. Relaxing and quiet weekends are what I live for. In case you need something to do while sipping your coffee or tea Saturday morning, here are some fun links from around the web I’ll be checking out. I hope you have a good one!

This short clip reminded me of my time Europe – not understanding what people were saying was the norm!

Nothing like a little Halloween costume inspiration…

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Some tips on decorating for fall I’m going to try and implement…

weekend

I plan on trying to make this tartlet over the weekend…

weekend

Looking at these photo of New York City during autumn make me want to visit again…

weekend
Getting some ideas for a pumpkin carving party I’m throwing with a group of girl friends in a few weeks…

weekend

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The South Bay’s Best Spicy Shrimp Tacos

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shrimp

Living near the ocean you can find your fair share of shrimp tacos, but my favorite are the ones my husband and I make at home. Fresh ingredients and good seasoning are key to making good tacos. Whenever we have guests staying over we make a point to cook them up for dinner one of the nights. It’s a good meal to have with guests because you’re eating with your hands and it’s a no-fuss meal. Pair these tacos with your favorite beer or cocktail and you’re tummy will thank you.

The South Bay’s Best Spicy Shrimp Tacos

Serves 2

1/2lb. raw shrimp deveined and tails removed

 

1 lime zest

1/2 lime juice

olive oil

garlic powder

1 garlic clove, crushed

paprika

ground cumin

ground coriander

cayenne

red pepper flakes

Guacamole

Salsa

First, combine the shrimp with half of the marinade, and let it sit for at least an hour. Turn the grill on high heat and throw on the shrimp until fully cooked. Before preparing the tacos, place the cooked shrimp in a clean bowl and toss with the rest of the marinade. Prepare tacos as desired.

Note: The seasoning doesn’t have exact measurements because it all depends on personal preferences and taste. Adjust to how you see fit.1

shrimp

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How I Achieve a Blowout with the amika Thermal Brush

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blowout

Most days my hair is in a few various styles: ponytail, ballerina bun, topknot, down and loose, half-up, or in some sort of braid. My hair is super straight so when it’s down I like to either curl it or give it a blowout. That being said, I have neither the coordination nor the patience to use a round brush and blowdryer for a successful blowout.

I bought this amika thermal brush about a year ago and have been loving it ever since. It’s easy to use and doesn’t take me very long to get that blowout look. Here’s a video on how I achieve the look…

 

As always, whenever using a hot tool on your hair use a heat protectant! Beauty Protector and Bumble and bumble are my favorites.

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A Corduroy Skirt Worn Two Ways

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The last time I wore corduroy was in grade school. I used to have corduroy bellbottoms and they were just awful. I decided to give it another chance when I bought this lovely autumnal-colored skirt from J. Crew a few weeks ago. I didn’t own a skirt in that color and was happy to see that it paired well with other pieces in my closet. Even though LA doesn’t have a drastic change in seasons, it’s been a great fall transition piece.

Here are two ways I’ve been wearing this skirt.

While going for walks along the pier…

corduroy

While running business errands in something other than slacks…

corduroy

Casual look: Zara scarf, Gap chambray, Sole Society bag, Onitsuka runners

Dressy look: Ann Taylor blouse, Steve Madden block heels

 

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Maintaining a Healthy Lifestyle

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Fall is nearly upon us, but that doesn’t mean that our exercise regime is of no longer importance. With the holidays just around the corner it’s easy to dive into the sweets and forget about things like portion control. I know for myself I love baking up a storm this time of year. I want to not only encourage you, but also hold myself accountable and continue living a healthy lifestyle. During the summer I find it easier to convince myself to go running because who doesn’t want to look and feel great in their swimsuit? I want to go running not only then, but throughout the year too because being strong, healthy, and happy is important to me. It takes time, effort, and discipline to work out and eat right. For the times I don’t feel like putting in the effort, I remind myself that in the long run leading a healthy lifestyle is the smarter choice for not only myself, but for my husband and future family.

If you’re just starting out or haven’t yet done so, I encourage you to put your health first. That starts by making good choices in what you eat, do with your time, and how you treat yourself. Our bodies are precious gifts and we should treat them as such. Every day is a new chance to make healthy choices that will lead to a stronger, healthier life. So in the words of Nike, “just do it!”

 

Image via.

 

 

 

 

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Polenta with Truffle and Mushrooms

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polenta

When my husband and I were in Europe we ate some amazing truffle-incorporated dishes. When we got home, I took it upon my self to learn a few dishes that utilized the mighty truffle. I decided to make polenta with truffle and mushrooms one night and was so pleased with the results. The polenta was creamy, the mushrooms were chewy, but the best part was the truffle oil that really enhanced this otherwise simple side dish. If you’re looking for an alternative comfort food, I recommend you give this dish a try. I paired it with some simple oven-roasted chicken to keep the main focus of the meal on the polenta. Give it a try and let me know what you think! You can find a similar recipe here.

polenta

polenta
polenta

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My Favorite Looks From NYFW Spring 2017

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I have always wanted to go to NYFW. Maybe someday I’ll have the opportunity to go, but in the meantime I’m enjoying watching it online here. I appreciate the work the designers put into creating their pieces, and love seeing how each designer creates something different. My mom used to own a sewing business in Downtown, so I know how difficult and stressful the fashion industry can be. I remember sitting in our laundry room watching my mom buzz away on her sewing machine curiously waiting to se what she made. Since then I’ve learned to appreciate quality pieces of clothing that were made to last.

That being said, here are some of my favorite looks from NYFW Spring 2017. There are still more designers to showcase this week, and my list doesn’t include some of my other favorite designers like Kate Spade, Club Monaco, and FRAME – all of which had beautiful pieces as well.

Do have any favorite looks? I think I’m going to have to try and recreate some come spring.

NYFW

 

Michael Costello 1, 2, 3

Tommy Hilfiger 1, 2

Tadashi Shoji 1, 2

Rebecca Minkoff 1

Marissa Webb 1, 2

 

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Photo Wall Collage of our Europe Trip

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photo

After my husband and I went on what was most likely the biggest trip of our lives, I wanted a way for us to be visually reminded of our month long adventure through Europe. I decided to create a photo wall collage utilizing the photos from some of the high points of our trip. The vast majority of our photos were taken using our phones, so I was worried the quality would be diminished. I decided to use mpix to print my photos and was completely surprised by not only the quality of the prints, but how quickly they arrived in the mail. The frames I used were from Aaron Brothers and were super easy to hang. I love how uniform and simple the frames are, they really let the photos speak for themselves.

I finished the photo wall collage before my husband arrived home from work and loved seeing his heart warming smile as he lost himself in the memories captured by the photos form our trip. Now, whenever we’re brushing our teeth or have a moment to stop and stare at the collage, it reminds us of the lovely adventure we had and the amazing people we met along the way. That is something I never want to forget.

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The Importance of Having Hobbies

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The older I get the more I realize how important it is to have hobbies. As necessary as working is, I also enjoy time away from work to have fun. For me, I enjoy spending time blogging, coming up with different ideas to share, and having fun “photoshoots”. I also revel in cooking and baking because it brings people together. Whenever I bake bread or try a new Thai dish it’s a good excuse to invite friends over to catch up.

Something else I think is of paramount importance is having hobbies to enjoy with my spouse. Sure, my husband and I enjoy trying new cuisine and watching the latest on Netflix, but I also want us to enjoy an outdoor activity together. We each have our own sports we like to do for fun, but none that we really do together. During our trip through Europe we spent a lot of time exploring the cities via bike. We had so much fun with it we decided to try it at home. Now that we each have our own bike we’ve been going for rides together along the beach, around the neighborhood, and to the local donut shop. It’s been a relaxing way to enjoy each other’s company while getting in a little extra exercise. Even if we ride for just 15 minutes, it’s just another way to spend time together.

What are your hobbies? Do you have any that you like to share with your friends or significant other?

hobbies

This is the best bike I have ever owned!

hobbies

My husband’s vintage bike. I haven’t seen anything else like it on the road. 

hobbies

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Mixing Patterns – A Skirt With Options

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skirt

Monday through Friday my typical uniform is usually shorts and a t-shirt. It’s not until the weekend where I like to be more adventurous in my outfits. Since the weather is still quite warm here, I decided to wear this colorful skirt last weekend. I’ve had this skirt for ages, and I love how comfortable it is. The spandex material makes it easy to move in and keeps it shape after wear. Even though it mixes patterns, it’s done in a way that’s wearable for me. Here, I wore the skirt with a simple white blouse, but can easily see myself wearing it with a black top as well. When the temperature drops, I could possibly even wear it with tights and booties.

Something else you might notice is that other than a little lip stain I’m sans makeup. I haven’t been wearing makeup since we got back from Europe (almost a month now!), and I really like how fresh-faced it feels. I still enjoy playing with makeup products, but at the moment I’m really enjoying the carefree feeling of not worrying about smudging my mascara.

skirt

skirt

H&M Top, Anthropologie Skirt (similar), Sole Society Sandals, Fossil Bag

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