January 30, 2015

Foodie Friday: Homemade Tortilla Chips

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Hosting a Superbowl Party? Impress your guest with some fresh homemade Tortilla chips! These are quick and easy. And all you need are 3 ingredients...plus, your favorite salsas, guac, and of course beers. Because what kind of Superbowl Party would it be without beer?

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Ingredients:
- Package of Corn Tortillas
- Vegetable Oil
- Salt

Steps:

1. Heat the up a low frying pan, fill pan with vegetable oil so that the pan is completely coated.
2. Once your oil is heated, slowly and carely place on corn tortilla into the frying pan.
3. Leave it in the pan until edges brown, once brown use thongs to flip over and salt.
4. Once the other side is fried, place onto a plate covered in paper towel and salt again. Repeat steps for each tortilla. Depending on how many you are doing you might have to re-fill the pan with oil.
5. Enjoy with your favorite salsa or guac!


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I made these chips for myself at home so I didn't cut them up before hand. I broke them apart after frying them up which gave them this rustic homemade feel. If you want a more precise tortilla chip just cut into fours before frying. The steps would remain the same.

These are also perfect to make into nachos. Place them on a cooking sheet and load them up with you favorites from beans to jalapeƱos to cheese and place into the oven until cheese is melted.

What are your favorite Superbowl snacks?

January 28, 2015

Outfit Post: The Oversized Peplum

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Jacket: DKNY | Shirt: Old Navy | Peplum Top: H&M | Jeans: American Eagle | Shoes: Kate Spade c/o DSW | Sunglasses: Tobi.com | Bag: Coach | Bracelet: c/o Capwell + Co | Watch: c/o Rakani

pictures taken by Brian Cavanaugh

I had bought this top for New Years Eve but I already knew how I wanted  to style it through out the New Year, this being one of the looks I had in mind. I love the fullness of the top and the girly pastel pink. Since it's such a feminine top I wanted to play with contrasting edgier details like ripped jeans or boyfriend jeans paired with a pair of pumps. Turtle necks are the perfect layer piece during the winter, you can style them under a v-neck sweater or a tank top style shirt (such as this one) or even a sleeveless dress. I will def. be styling this top during fashion week, almost the same way but with different accessories. That will be to coming up on the blog!

What do you think of the oversized peplum top?

January 26, 2015

Valentines Day Gift Idea + a Sweet Little Giveaway from Sugarwish

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Valentines Day isn't just for the love birds. I love celebrating Vday with my friends as well with my husband. In college we use to have a little Valentines party and ever since then I still do little things for my friends. My husband and I don't go all out like some couples do for Valentines Day, we celebrate it in a very simple way with a little dinner and some sweets. I mean who doesn't love receiving sweets? Sugarwish is making it easier then ever for you to send your lover and friends something sweet for VDay. Sugarwish is a candy selling website that lets you (the buyer) buy a box of candy for your special someone BUT they get to pick out what candy they want. The buyer simply selects the candy box size (there are three sizes to choose from: Petite, Classic, and Ultimate) then gets to customize it with an e-card that will get sent to the receiver, select a delivery date for the e-card, and pay for the TOTAL cost (including taxes, shipping and handling). Your someone special will receive the e-card along with a promo code, once they arrive on the site they can pick out the candy of their choice and have it delivered to them. This Valentines Day I'm sharing it with my readers! ONE lucky reader will win their very own Petite Sugarwish Box (4 bags of 1/4 lb bag of candy)! 


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Coat: William Rast c/o Lord and Taylor | Dress: Amanda Uprichard | Shoes: Kate Spade c/o DSW | Hat: Aldo |
 Necklace: c/o Capwell + Co | Fur Shawl: Forever21 | Bracelets: Laile Rowe, Juicy Couture and c/o Capwell + Co | Candy: c/o Sugarwish

photos taken by Brian Cavanaugh

Will you be my Valentines? Enter to win your own box Petite Sugarwish Box (4 bags of 1/4 lb bag of candy OF YOUR CHOICE!) for Valentines Day. One reader will be chosen. Contest ends Sunday Feb. 8th at Midnight.

January 23, 2015

NYC Eats: Tacos Tacos Tacos!

Mexican food is one of my favorite foods of all time. There just something about the flavors and the spices...and the guac! O how I crave guacamole. I've been to some really great taco places here in NYC hard to keep track of them all. I love places that are unique in style and also have their own little twist on Mexican food. Here are some of my favorite Mexican places:

Bar Bruno
520 Henry Street, Brooklyn, NY
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Pictures: Bar Bruno | Me 

Bar Bruno is one of my husband and I's favorite local places. It's conveniently located up the block from our apartment! During the summer months my husband and I like to sit outside enjoying some fresh air as well as tacos and margaritas. My favorite dish to get here is the Fish Tacos (beer battered with  avocado tomatillo salsa and pico de gallo). The fish being beer battered gives it that nice flaky textured, but it's not overly deep fried and greasy. Pair it up with the plantains on the side to give the meal the extra little added sweetness. If you come here you have to try their drinks. If you like spicy then you have to try my favorite drink, Cubana (chili mix, lime, chili rim). It's a delicious kick in the mouth.

Tacombi
267 Elizabeth Street, New York, NY
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pictures taken by me

If you are ever in SOHO/NOLITA looking for a place to eat...head off the beating bath and try Tacombi. My husband introduced me to this place and it was love at first site. Think a taco truck but indoors! Strung lights, folding chairs and tables, and a old VW wagon converted into a taco truck pumping out food It's truly a little hidden gem. The place is rather big but nothing super fancy. They have homemade juices, soda, and their own cocktail list. They recommend 3 tacos to fill you up but 2 tacos and a side of rice & beans will also do the trick. Defiantly try their sauces that are on table, the jalapeno one was my favorite (obv. no surprise). I mixed it into my rice and beans for an extra kick.

Lobo 
218 Court Street Brooklyn, NY
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Pictures: Lobo | Me


Lobo actually has two locations in Brooklyn, Carroll Gardens and Park Slope. I've only been to their location in Carroll Gardens as it is walking distance from my apartment. As you can see we stay pretty local. Lobo is a Tex-Mex style restaurant with the decor to match, cowhide cover seats and bull horns. Their menu is pretty extensive with picks from Mexican favorites (tacos, fajitas, burritos...) and favorite American-Southern food (burgers, fried chicken, chicken fried steak...). We love taking our guest here as it has a good mix of food, their drinks are amazing, and the outdoor space is pretty spacious (considering you're in Brooklyn). It's one of the first places we stopped in when we moved here and it has been constantly good ever since. It's one of my father's favorite places to get a burger from when they come in to Brooklyn for dinner. I'm a fan of the fajitas myself.

January 21, 2015

Mixing Prints: Plaid and Gingham

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Sweater: Forever21 | Shirt: Aeropastle | Skirt: Forever21 (super old) | Shoes: Zara | Tights: Zara
Bag: Marc by Marc Jacobs

photos taken by Brian Cavanaugh

I find mixing prints always fun, no matter the season. I know gingham is more of a spring/summer print but pairing it up with a plaid top and heavy knit cardigan, it introduced it to the winter. When it comes to mixing prints I always try to keep everything else neutral: black shoes, tights, etc. This will help prevent the look from clashing. I also find it easier to pick colors that match in each other prints.

Do you like to mix prints?

January 19, 2015

Get the Look for Less: Taylor Swift's Mod Style

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Plaid Jacket: Target $59.99 | Bowler Hat: Forever21 $12.80

Taylor Swift is a gal with style that is relatable to everyday woman. She looks great down the red carpet as well as on the street. Taylor, like me, loves her hats and red lips (hence why I get told I look like Taylor more often then not). I'm loving this more mod look from her. I've always been a fan of mod-style pieces: bowler hats, fit and flare dresses, etc.. The trick for me when pulling a mod look together is to mix in more modern/up-to-date pieces like ripped jeans or jean jackets (as seen here). You can get Taylor's look for less especially now as coats and jackets are on sale. The best time to stock up on winter gear is January into February as stores start to put there winter clothing on sale to start making room for their spring and summer wear.

How I Wore the Look:
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Coat: William Rast c/o Lord & Taylor | Shirt: Loft | Jeans: Forever21 | Hat: H&M | Shoes: Zara | 
Bag: Marc by Marc Jacobs

pictures taken by Brian Cavanaugh

Are you into mod pieces?

January 14, 2015

Style Guide: How to Wear White in the Winter

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Coat: c/o Lulu's (old but like this one on sale now) | Sweater: Splendid c/o Piperlime | Turtleneck: H&M | Pants: H&M | Boots: Zara (on sale now!) | Bag: Marc by Marc Jacobs | Hat: Urban Outfitters

There was a time when white was only to be worn between Memorial Day and Labor Day...and if you wore it after that it was consider taboo. Well some rules were meant to be broken, right? Winter whites are buzzing through the blogsphere this season. Which is no wonder why because. winter whites are beautiful when the backdrop is covered in white puffy snow...just beware of white pants in such a mess. When doing whites in the winter be mindful of the conditions outside. White pants are particularly best worn on dry days with no snow or slush on the grown. If you want to keep a light palette trade in your white pants for light grays and do a white sweater. White jackets for me are the pretty much play by same rules that white pants do, best worn on cold dry days.

How I Wore the Look:
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I love mixing in light shades of greys into white looks. It makes the outfits pop more then having a full white washed look. If you want to keep an all white look I would mix in creams and off whites. As for shoes...lets be honest white boots in the winter + NYC streets = disaster. Keeping to the basic black boot is best, as black and white is always chic. If you're going from car to curb then why not do a white boot!

Are you a winter white fan?

January 12, 2015

Get the Look for Less: Jennifer Lopez's Sweater Dress

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The Look: Brochu Walker exclusively at Intermix $398 

Jennifer Lopez is known for her sexy style so it's nice to see her in something a little more conservative...and something that everyday woman can pull off. Lopez's Brochu Walker blouse sweater dress will run you $398, exclusively at Intermix. Don't have that kind of cash laying around? Well have no fears, a simple pairing of a sweater dress and oversize button down (or a white collared t-shirt dress) can get you the look but for less.

How I Wore the Look:


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Coat: DKNY | Sweater Dress: H&M | Oversized Button Shirt: H&M | Shoes: Aldo | Tights: Zara | Bag: c/o R&eM (old) | Sunglasses: c/o Hugssy

I love Brochu Walker blouse sweater dress, it's classic and does the pairing for you. But why buy an expensive sweater dress when you have the pieces in your closet to make the look yourself? I simply paired up my grey sweater dress and oversized button up from H&M. The sweater dress tended to be a little longer then the button down so I used the belt to hike up the sweater so you can see the bottom of the white shirt. Another use of a belt can be to hike the whole look up like Lopez did, but beware when you double layer hiking the look up can add bulk. I paired my look up with a pair of over the knee boots but you can do ankle booties as well. This look works perfectly for a winter date night. 

Would you copy this Jennifer Lopez look?
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