Friday Favorites

February 27, 2015

Spring has definitely arrived early in Southern California, and while I'm excited for what that means (flirty little dresses, picnics, ice cream), I'm also slightly disappointed that I didn't get to do too many wintry things. I had plans to make all these homemade soups to warm up with, and dress my babies in cute little sweaters and knit hats with bunny ears. This weekend the temperature is supposed to dip back down into the 60s, so I'm thinking I'll take advantage of the "chill" and whip up something warm and hearty for my family. Enjoy your weekend, and God bless!

Bacon jalapeno deviled eggs--a recipe I shall be happy to make in about six weeks when I'm left with baskets full of Easter eggs.


The dressing room of my dreams. 


A eucalyptus shower. Brilliant!


This Alice + Olivia dress. (It's 700 bucks and way out of my budget, but a girl can dream.)



Through a Hole In the Mountain, an installation from Pip & Pop made with washi tape.

Current Beauty Favorites: Skincare

February 26, 2015

I've never been one to skimp on my skincare routine. Ever since I discovered Clinique in middle school I've been a bonafide product junkie, and as I get older I become more and more obsessed with taking good care of my skin. Besides drinking at least three liters of water every day, taking a multi-vitamin, and adding flaxseed and fish oil to my diet, I look for skincare products that promise to keep my complexion clear, bright, and supple. Here are a few of the products I've been using and loving as of late.


Murad Anti-Aging Moisturizer
This multi-tasking moisturizer addresses the trifecta of skin concerns--anti-aging, sun protection, and oil/blemish control. I've been using it for a few months now and I will probably never use another moisturizer again. It goes on weightlessly and sinks in quickly. Plus, the tube lasts a long time.


Boscia Clear Complexion Cleanser
I'm a fan of Boscia products and have used the Makeup-Breakup Cool Cleansing Oil, as well as several of the facial masks for quite some time. I just recently started using this cleanser and already I'm thrilled with it. It leaves my skin feeling clean and refreshed, never stripped or dry, and there are no yucky ingredients to irritate my skin. 


GLAMGLOW Supermud Clearing Treatment
Believe the hype! I've been reading about GLAMGLOW products and listening to other beauty editors rave, and this stuff is the real deal. It addresses every skin problem you can think of and feels cool and refreshing when applied. After just one use my skin looked brighter and healthier.  


Burt's Bees Pink Grapefruit Facial Cleansing Towelettes
I'm really good about sticking to my nightly routine of cleansing, toning, eye creaming, etc., but some nights, after putting my little ones to bed and realizing I still have a ton of work to do, that beauty regimen goes out the window. These towelettes don't need water, so I can wrap up work, wash my face, and crawl into bed.

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DIY Relaxing Rose Bath Soak and Body Scrub

February 23, 2015


The gorgeous Valentine's Day bouquet has wilted but don't toss it just yet; the dried, shriveled up rose petals can still be used to making relaxing bath products. It's ridiculously easy and relatively inexpensive (you probably have most of the ingredients in your pantry).

Rose Bath Soak
1 cup Epsom salt
½ cup baking soda
rose petals from 2-3 flowers, torn into pieces
rose essential oil

In a glass bowl combine Epsom salt, baking soda, and torn flower petals. Add essential oil to desired strength (I used about 30 drops) and mix well.  Store in a sealed glass container.


Rose Body Scrub
2 cups sugar
1 cup oil of your choice (e.g. grapeseed, sweet almond, canola, sunflower)
rose petals from 1 flower, torn into pieces
rose essential oil

In a glass bowl, mix sugar, oil, and rose petals. Add essential oil to desired strength and mix well. Store in a sealed glass container.

Monday

February 23, 2015



image via Instagram

Friday Favorites

February 20, 2015

So, how crazy is it that there's only one more week left in February? It blows my mind how quickly this month flew by. And this Southern California weather seems to be accelerating time; it feels like summer here.  This weekend we'll be enjoying friends and family at my niece's fourth birthday party (talk about time flying, it seems like she was just born), then we're having dinner with friends we don't get to see too often. I bid you a lovely weekend; make the most of your time because it really is flying by. God bless! 


A Sno-Ball cake that I'm dying to make. 


Twin baby polar bears


The cutest DIY drink stirrers.


Tips for throwing an epic garden party


This Play-Doh creation from my 5-year old. She asked me to put this on my blog and of course I had to oblige. (Sweet girl, if you ever read this, mommy loves you more than life!)

Popcorn Recipes for an Epic Oscar Party

February 19, 2015

Movies and popcorn go hand in hand, so a popcorn bar with a wide variety of flavors is the perfect way to celebrate the biggest night in cinema. I've rounded up several recipes, from sticky and sweet to slightly spicy, to add to your Oscar party menu this Sunday. My suggestion--set out big bowls of each flavor and let guests mix them up in their own individual bag or bowl.

Chocolate plus peanut butter plus popcorn might just equal the best snack ever!


Crunchy, munchable popcorn reinvented with a classic flavor combination.


Because bacon.


A sticky, gooey, sweet treat that mixes well with savory popcorn flavors.


You can't have a celebration without cake, plus the colorful sprinkles will add a dash of whimsy to your popcorn bar.


A Southwestern flavor profile that combines a little heat with a citrusy zing.


No popcorn bar would be complete without a cheese flavor. This one omits the typical cheddar and kicks it up with spicy pepperjack.

Essentials for a Cozy Day in Bed

February 18, 2015

1. Charbonnel Et Walker Drinking Chocolate 70 Percent Dark   2. Ashley Brooke Designs 'Best Day Ever' Mug  3. Parachute Home 'Fireside' Scented Candle  4. Parachute Home 'The Venice' Bedding Set  5. How to Be Parisian Wherever You Are: Love, Style, and Bad Habits  6. Kate Spade New York Get Spotted Knee Hi Socks  7. Topshop Breakfast Sleep Tee

There are certain luxuries every mother looks forward to--grocery shopping (or any shopping) without the children, finally getting around to having a proper manicure, napping. A cozy day spent at home in bed also tops the list, and since a certain famous groundhog saw his shadow recently, six more weeks of winter means there will be plenty of opportunities to get cozy and spend a deliciously lazy day indoors. Here is everything I need to enjoy a cushy day in bed. 

Comfy bedding
The cornerstone of a truly cozy day in bed is wonderfully soft and cushy bedding to laze around in. The Venice Set from Parachute Home is not only gorgeous, it's amazingly comfortable and feels so luxurious.

Hot chocolate
I have an amazing homemade recipe (featured here), but if I'm feeling especially lazy a good mix does the trick nicely (plus my husband can make it for me and bring it to me in bed). And of course it has to be served in the perfect mug.

Cute jammies and socks
For the perfect cozy day in, I ditch the ratty old sweatpants in favor of something cuter--usually a a comfy sleep tee and slouchy socks.

A good book
This could also be a stack of magazines, a newspaper, --any reading material will do, as long as it's not in any way related to work. 

Scented candles
A candle adds so much to a relaxing day, from the soft, golden light it gives to the calming fragrance that lulls you in and out of sleep. The Fireside candle from Parachute Home is warm and inviting, like a crackling fire on a chilly day.

5 Classic New Orleans Cocktails for Fat Tuesday

February 17, 2015

Even if you can't be in New Orleans today for Fat Tuesday, you can still partake in the Mardi Gras festivities by imbibing one of these classic N'awlins cocktails. Order one at your local watering hole, or follow these recipes to bring Bourbon Street to your place. Laissez les bon temps roulez!

This sweet, rum-based cocktail was concocted in the '40s and is still one of the most popular drinks ordered in the French Quarter. 


A 2008 Louisiana bill named this cognac drink the official cocktail of New Orleans.


Also called a New Orleans Fizz, this cocktail is a hometown specialty of The Crescent City.


This cocktail, named after the city's French Quarter, was created in the 1930s at the Carousel Bar in New Orleans' Hotel Monteleone.


This was once the house cocktail of New Orleans' famed restaurant, Arnaud's, located in the heart of the French Quarter.

Turning 2!

February 14, 2015

The Savvy Girl's Guide to Life is two-years old today! I've had such a blast over the past couple of years, and I'm so excited for what's to come. 

Friday Favorites

February 13, 2015

I've always loved Valentine's Day, even when I was single, because I never viewed it as a couple's holiday but rather a day to celebrate love. This year I'm particularly excited because Valentine's Day falls on a Saturday for the first time since having my girls, and since my husband doesn't work on weekends, we'll have the whole day together as a family. I'm planning to surprise my loves with a big breakfast, something I know my five-year old will appreciate (she's been asking for a feast with sausages and "every kind of muffin God ever made" ever since I introduced her to the film A Little Princess). Whatever your plans for V-day, I hope your weekend is filled with love. God bless!

Colorful homemade pasta


Heart-shaped cork coasters


A sweet setting for an outdoor dinner party.


This. All of this.


Blue cheese and steak crostini--a must for my next dinner party. 

6 Reasons to Wear (and Love!) Moto Jackets

February 11, 2015


1. Vince Camuto Quilted Leather Moto Jacket  2. Blank NYC Pink Moto Jacket  3. Tulle Leader of the Pack Moto Jacket  4. Michael Stars Zip Moto Jacket with Leather  5. Max Studio Soft Leather Moto Goddess Jacket   6. H&M Biker Jacket  7. Sam Edelman Crackle Moto Jacket  8. Piperlime Collection Floral Moto Jacket  9. Calvin Klein Knit Moto Jacket  10. NIC+ZOE Sundown Moto Jacket  

There's a reason motorcycle jackets are considered one of the must-have pieces every woman should have in her closet: they're undeniably cool. Here are six reasons why you should be a fan of this jacket style. 


1. They can easily replace a basic cardigan or blazer. 
If you've been rocking the same cardigan for weeks or only wear blazers to work, you can swap them for a moto jacket and totally refresh your whole look. 

2. They add a bit of edginess to a look. 
Nothing keeps a feminine '50s-inspired frock from looking too precious or a sheath dress from looking too prim than a moto jacket. 

3. You can wear one with anything, for any occasion. 
Motorcycle jackets are surprisingly versatile. I've seen them worn with everything from wedding gowns to pencil skirts to skinny jeans, and they looked fabulous every time. 

4. You're instantly cooler when you wear one. 

Somehow a moto jacket can take any outfit and inject it with unabashed coolness.  You throw one on over a simple tank top and suddenly your Sandra Dee at the end of Grease--you're the girl everybody wants to know.

5. It looks way better than your man's flannel or ratty old college sweatshirt.

Just because all you're doing is running a few errands doesn't mean you can't look put together. A moto jacket keeps your look casual, but it's far more attractive than an oversized hoodie or grunge-era flannel from your guy's closet. 

6. They keep you warm without the bulk.
This is especially important for date night or GNO; you don't have to worry about being cold, of course, but you also don't have to worry about having your 'fit ruined by some big, puffy, and completely unflattering coat. 

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