Wordsmith Wednesday: Phonetic

November 30, 2016

Here's where I share my favorite words with you. Because savvy girls have impressive vocabularies.


Friday Favorites

November 25, 2016

It's the end of a whirlwind week, and to be honest I wouldn't mind doing the whole thing over again just so I can have a repeat of Thanksgiving; we had a fabulous time, per usual, with great food and tons of laughs with my family. How was your holiday? This weekend, while many people are getting a head start on holiday shopping, we'll be picking out our first Christmas tree for our first Christmas in our new house. I'm beyond excited, especially since my baby girl is three now and is really starting to grasp the concept of the holiday. Have an amazing weekend, and God bless. 


A stunning marble kitchen island.


DIY painted gold leaf ornaments.


This LOL moment.


Squad goals at the Marc Jacobs #Marcthenight party. 


This little love bug

Happy Thanksgiving

November 24, 2016

Wishing you a Happy Thanksgiving! Today, take a few minutes to forget about the current political climate, your marital, financial, or employment status, and any other issues in your life, and give thanks for the blessings in your life. 


7 Thanksgiving Leftovers Sandwiches to Try This Weekend

November 23, 2016

Perhaps one of the greatest joys of Thanksgiving (besides gathering together with family and friends, of course), is not having to cook afterwards because of all the leftovers. This year, instead of simply reheating our leftovers, I want to transform them into something tasty and unexpected. The best way to reinvent a Thanksgiving feast?--throw the whole kit and caboodle (turkey, cranberries, gravy, and all) between two slices of bread!



Thanksgiving Leftover Melt with turkey, smashed avocado, cranberry, brie, and mashed potato waffles










Wordsmith Wednesday: Panacea

November 23, 2016

Here's where I share my favorite words with you. Because savvy girls have impressive vocabularies.


Friday Favorites

November 18, 2016

We're less than a week out from Thanksgiving and I couldn't be more excited. I'm not hosting (perhaps one day...), but my whole family gets together at my aunt's house, and it's noisy and chaotic with children running around and wine glasses clinking and football games on TV. Everyone seems to be talking and laughing at the same time, and it's truly one of my favorite days of the year. Have a beautiful pre-Thanksgiving weekend, and God bless!


Unicorn toast, which I shall be making for my littles post haste.


Remembering to do this


NYC--one of my favorite cities.


This jacket from Milan Fashion Week.  


Classic chocolate caramel slice that might be making an appearance on my holiday table. 

Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal

November 17, 2016

I'm a big fan of oatmeal, and would eat it even if it wasn't a super healthy breakfast (but thank goodness it is!). This pumpkin pie oatmeal is ridiculously tasty, with vitamin A-rich pumpkin puree and the cozy fall flavors of pumpkin pie spice. It's like a hug in a bowl--warm and comforting and exactly what you need on a brisk autumn morning. Plus, it's pie for breakfast!

Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal
1¾ cup milk (I used almond milk, but you could use regular or even water), plus additional for serving
1 cup quick-cooking rolled oats
¼ cup pumpin puree
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice*
½ teaspoon vanilla
1 tablespoon light brown sugar
topping suggestions: chopped walnuts or pecans, cranberries, chocolate chips, crushed amaretto cookies, whipped cream

*Mix up your own pumpkin pie spice by combining 2 teaspoons of cinnamon with ¼ teaspoon each of ground ginger, cloves, allspice, and nutmeg. This yields about a tablespoon.


In a small saucepan, heat milk over medium heat until just bubbling. Add oatmeal and reduce heat; continue to simmer over low heat, stirring occasionally until oatmeal is cooked to desired consistency (3 to 5 minutes should do). Stir in pumpkin puree, pumpkin pie spice, vanilla, and brown sugar and allow to heat through. Remove from heat and add additional milk or toppings, if desired. Serve immediately. 

Wordsmith Wednesday: Introspection

November 16, 2016

Here's where I share my favorite words with you. Because savvy girls have impressive vocabularies.



Friday Favorites

November 11, 2016

It has been an exhausting and emotional week, to say the least. Rather than focus on the election and all the backlash, I'm trying to get to a place of peace. This weekend my big girl's very first friend from kindergarten is having a movie date birthday party, so we're headed out to the desert to celebrate with her. It'll be the perfect way to escape the madness. Have a blessed weekend, be safe, and God bless!
DIY pearl studded boots



The prettiest mudroom ever. 



This coat. Check out that lining!



Boozy coffee and bourbon milkshakes! With chocolate chip cookies!


A reminder for these unknown times. 

Wordsmith Wednesday: Bedevil

November 9, 2016

Here's where I share my favorite words with you. Because savvy girls have impressive vocabularies.


8 Meatless Taco Recipes for Taco Tuesday

November 8, 2016

Recently, my husband and I made the decision to incorporate more meatless meals into our diet. Tacos are one of our absolute favorite foods, and while my potato and cheese tacos are always a hit with my family, I want to introduce some new recipes into the rotation. I'm discovering lots of tasty taco ideas on Pinterest that involve ingredients like lentils (apparently a good substitute for ground beef or turkey), black beans (which I love), mushrooms, and even cauliflower. I'm not sure which ones will stick, but here are several recipes I'd like to try soon. 























It's Election Day!

November 8, 2016

Get out and vote today! Not sure if you can leave work to vote? Here's a chart that highlights employee rights and voting laws in each state.



image via Instagram (@mindykaling); art by @davidjonacosta

Happy National Donut Day

November 4, 2016


All diets go out the window today because it's National Donut Day! What kind of donut do you crave? I'm a classic glazed girl.  And did you know there are actually two National Donut Days (the other is the first Friday in June)? Because donuts are worth celebrating twice, no?



image via

Friday Favorites

November 4, 2016

There always seems to be a hint of excitement and anticipation in the air the week after Halloween; the feeling you get when you know a package is coming in the mail but it hasn't arrived yet. Or perhaps it's just me because I love the holiday season so much. This week, despite the craziness and exhaustion, knowing that Thanksgiving is only a few weeks away was enough to sustain me. We're kind of relaxing this weekend, which I couldn't be more grateful for after months of planning my big girl's birthday party (which, by the way, was a huge success!). Have a fabulous weekend, and God bless!

Festive cranberry apple sangria that I can't wait to try.


DIY mini pumpkin floralsperfect for a Friendsgiving celebration.


Beautifully presented mini apple pies for a fall gathering. 


Disneyland Paris at Christmas--the most magical place in the most magical city during the most magical time of the year. 


The love of fall

3 Steps to Keep Pumpkins From Rotting

November 3, 2016

Halloween may be over, but you can still incorporate pretty pumpkins that haven't been carved or cut into your fall and Thanksgiving decor--you just need to know how to keep them from rotting before the month is over.  After you've chosen a pumpkin that's free of blemishes and rotted spots, and still has a stem attached, follow these steps to preserve it.

1. Wash pumpkin with a solution of 1 gallon of water and 1 tablespoon of bleach.
2. Spray a gloss sealant all over the pumpkin, including the stem, to help it maintain its shape and keep it from rotting. NOTE: If you plan to paint your pumpkin or add deco foil or anything like that, do it before you spray with the sealant.
3. Keep it out of the direct sunlight, because, as you know, the sun naturally speeds the ripening/rotting process.



image via

Get Gorgeous With Sesame Oil

November 2, 2016

Sesame oil has never really been on my radar as a beauty oil (I've only used it to make stir fry) but it turns out this stuff is an incredible beauty elixir. It's full of zinc--essential for producing collagen, as well as repairing damaged skin from acne--vitamins E, B complex, and D, as well as calcium, phosphorus, and protein for strong, healthy hair. To really reap all the benefits of sesame oil, make sure it's organic cold pressed.

1. Make a detoxifying oil cleanser by mixing 1/4 cup each sesame oil and apple cider vinegar with 2 tablespoons water; apply to damp skin, then wash off with warm water and your usual skin cleanser.
2. Apply sesame oil to skin right after you shower to help lock in moisture.
3. Use as a hot oil treatment for hair; it'll stimulate blood circulation to promote growth, and the fatty essential oils will nourish your strands.
4. Heal dry, cracked heels (essential now that the weather has cooled off); rub it into heels at night and cover with cotton socks that you don't mind getting stained.
5. To help prevent hair loss, make a pre-shampoo treatment by mixing 2 tablespoons of sesame oil with 2 egg yolks and the juice of a lemon, apply to damp hair and massage into scalp and down to the ends, wrap hair in a towel or shower cap, and rinse after 30 minutes.
6. Mix 1/4 cup brown sugar with 4 teaspoons of sesame oil and about 30 drops of eucalyptus essential oil to make a refreshing body scrub.
7. Add 2 or 3 tablespoons of sesame oil to your bath to draw out oil soluble toxins from your skin. 
8. Rub a small drop between your palms and apply to dry hair to combat frizz. 
9. Sesame oil is a natural sunscreen; apply to face and body to protect skin against harmful UV rays. 
10. Wet face and massage oil into skin, then apply about a teaspoon of rice powder (find this at Asian markets) and gently exfoliate. Rinse with warm water. 



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