big, bold gold

My sister found an amazing, intricate gold ring at Pitchfork music festival in Chicago. The ornate band was very 1920's, while the multiple twisted rings on top gave it a more modern vibe. Her ring would get my "i die" status, but she won't let me post it. :) But she got me on the hunt for a vintage (or even vintage-looking) gold ring. I love unique jewelry and a vintage gold ring is a perfect way to make a statement... Plus, you don't have to worry about all your friends having the same one.

This COCO collage ring is made from vintage orphan earrings, available on Etsy.com. Etsy is a great place to search for vintage pieces, all 3 rings pictured below were found there and are all less than $50! 



Etsy.com seller talulabelles

Gold vintage cocktail ring from Etsy seller Button's Maniac

Maybe ginormous rings aren't your style... tone it down with a more simple vintage gold ring like this 1940's beauty.

Etsy.com seller Madison Street Vintage

[Tags: vintage gold cocktail rings, big rings, big cocktail rings, etsy rings, collage rings, statement rings, handmade rings]

burrito with sweet potato & "sausage"

I was home sick yesterday, and I always crave something with a little bit of a kick to clear me up. But I didn't feel like making an elaborate dish or anything that would take more than 5 minutes to prepare. So I heated up my frozen bag of Alexia Sauté Sweets that has a mix of sweet potatoes, black beans, corn, red peppers and onions along with a magic bag of chipotle infused olive oil inside. Then just toss in some vegetarian sausage, cheddar cheese, and a dollop of sour cream and you have a delicious combination of sweet and spicy! And, if you omit the sour cream, this is a pretty healthy burrito!

Here's everything you need:

Burritos, Morning Star Italian Sausage links, Alexia Sauté Sweets, sharp cheddar cheese, sour cream.

If you can't find this bag of Alexia frozen Sauté Sweets in the frozen veggie aisle, you can use a can of black beans (drained & rinsed) and a bag of Steamfresh corn and a microwaveable, plastic-wrapped sweet potato to speed up the prep.

You can cook the Sauté Sweets stovetop, but I microwaved it to save time, dishes and heating up the house.

Microwave frozen veggies 2-3 minutes. Then separetly in a small dish, heat up chipotle sauce 10-20 seconds and mix into veggies. Microwave veggie sausage 1 minute. Chop & crumble sausage once cooked.

 Microwave burrito for 15 seconds and scoop the veggie/sausage mix down the center. Sprinkle with cheese and a spoonful of sour cream. Fold in both sides of the burrito then roll.

Enjoy!

[Tags: vegetarian burrito, burrito with sweet potato and sausage, Morningstar sausage, easy vegetarian meals, Meatless Monday recipes, Alexia Saute Sweets, easy healthy meals, healthy vegetarian recipes, vegetarian sausage, healthy burrito, Morning Star Italian sausage links]

save at saks!

Click here for sale!

Don’t miss this great sale at Saks Fifth Avenue! 

Let’s be honest, there are some things at Saks that I just can’t afford (or allow myself to spend that much on), but with this sale- “investing” in a wonderful piece is a lot more do-able! Check out the sale online or in select stores. Below are a few of my favorites.

Diane von Furstenberg - Handy Dress

Was $375

Now $149

Corson - Voile Jersey Knit Dress

Was $150

Now $59

J Brand Wax Zipper Leggings
Was $260
Now $103

Theory- Anderson Stretch Dress

Was $275

Now $164

The Addison Story- Printed Silk Tee

Was $112

Now $77

 Alice and Olivia - Bianca Sheath Dress

Was $440

Now $175

Alice and Olivia - Frida Silk Blouson Drape Dress

Was $368

Now $256

7 for All Mankind -  Bootcut Skinny Jeans

Was $178

Now $70

 

Clu - Combination Dress

Was $363

Now $144

[Tags: sale at saks, saks sale, designer on a budgeet, cheap designer clothes, alice and olivia dresses, diane von furstenberg dresses, dresses on sale, dresses for wedding guests, 7 for all mankind discount, j brand jeans sale, 7 for all mankind jeans sale, designer jeans on sale]

palle di torta (cake balls)

Okay, so they’re usually called “cake balls,” but that’s not pretty! So I gave these delicious cake balls their Italian name, palle di torta - just to make them sound prettier, I suggest you pass it on. I tried (10 or 11 of) these at a party and was in love. The filling is the most moist heavenly thing, ever. I had to get the recipe immediately. It was so easy, I couldn’t wait to try! This is another dessert you can’t really mess up, so it's perfect for a cook like me. You basically bake a cake, crumble it, mix it with frosting and dunk in chocolate.

You can use any combination of cake and frosting, but here are my favorites:

Yellow Cake + Vanilla Frosting + Milk Chocolate shells

Red Velvet Cake + Cream Cheese Frosting + White or Dark Chocolate shells

White Cake + Lemon Frosting + White Chocolate shells

You can also add candies or nuts inside!

 Each cake produces about 70-80 balls. I'm making them for a retirement party for 60 people so I'm making 2 cakes- the yellow cake and the red velvet. For the red velvet chocolate shells, I'm doing half dark and half white.

You’ll need:

Store-bought yellow cake (I used Pillsbury Moist Deluxe)

Store-bought  Red Velvet- (I used Duncan Hines)

Vanilla Frosting – 1 container

Cream Cheese Frosting- 1 container

2 Bags Milk Chocolate melting chips- 1 lb. each 

1 Bag Dark Chocolate melting chips- 1 lb.

1 Bag White Chocolate melting chips- 1 lb.

Prepare cake like regular, according to box directions and bake fully. Be careful not to overcook though, you don't want brown/crispy edges.

While the cake is still hot, take a fork and crumble it in the pan. (This part is sad, yes.) 

Do this to both cakes and then let cool- about 20 minutes. Go watch a Chelsea Lately and come back. Boom- it’s cooled! Now you’re going to spoon in the icing in the same pan (save dishes!). Mix in the frosting until it is all evenly blended.

Next roll the cake/frosting mix into balls. I like them about 1”-2” big. Place the rolled balls on wax paper or parchment, because you’re going to put them in the freezer, and you don’t want them to stick. Once all your balls are rolled, freeze those suckers. I do this whole part a day or two ahead of time. But if not, freeze at lease 1 hour.

Melt your chocolate in the microwave, stirring it every 30 seconds (*this is very important- the bottom center will burn if you don't!). Do one kind of chocolate at a time because it hardens quickly. 


Using a skewer stick, dunk the bottom of the cake ball into the melted chocolate. Then spoon melted chocolate over the top and sides of the ball until completely covered. 

Place back on wax paper again to dry. You can add sprinkles while they’re still wet (which you have to do as you go or they'll dry), or wait until you finish all of them and drizzle a contrasting color chocolate over top for a beautiful effect. 

Once they're all set, place into individual tissue cups. Serve chilled right out of the refrigerator.

I make handwritten labels so people know what the heck these things are and what they can expect inside. Plus it looks cute. 

[cake balls, easy dessert for party, how to make cake balls, palle di torta, red velvet cake and white chocolate]

maxi dresses

A maxi dress is a great outfit for hot weather. They're loose and non-restrictive, but still totally cute and perfect for almost any occasion, whether you're out shopping or going to a cookout. They’re also a great comfortable outfit for wedding and baby showers. You can even wear certain maxi dresses to a wedding ceremony if you dress them up with heels and jewelry. And they look great on all ages & body types!

I've heard people say that you have to be tall to wear a maxi dress, but I want to put that to rest. I think a maxi dress elongates your body, making you appear taller. If you are on the shorter side- just make sure to pick a maxi with some shape or one that has some kind of waist, or you can add a belt. If you're petite and wear one that isn't fitted enough, you risk looking like a little girl walking around in a queen size comforter. I also recommend wearing heels or wedges with maxi dresses if you’re shorter, (this will help to keep the dress from dragging on the ground too).

Keep accessories simple with pattern maxis, but one big bangle or a group is a nice touch. You can also pair a maxi dress with a jean jacket or cardigan for a casual look or when it cools off at night....

Here are some of my favorites:

Lulus.com- Aryn K In the Monet Maxi

Lulus.com - Rust maxi

Tracy Reese-Evergreen Leaves- Maxi Dress

Anthropologie- Parallel Flights Dress

Forever 21 floral maxi

Lulus.com Back in a Jiffy black maxi

Forever 21 Indian Print Maxi

Kate Hudson maxi, Vanessa Hudgens maxi dress, Carrie Underwood maxi, Kim Kardashian maxi, Keira Knightley 

[Tags: maxi dress, long sun dress, long summer dress, casual dresses, forever 21 maxi, celebrities in maxi dresses, maxi dresses on runway, lulus dresses, long black maxi dress]

grilled vegetables

BBQ's aren’t just for burgers and hot dogs you know. One of my food beliefs is that everything tastes better when it’s grilled -  fruits, vegetables, old shoes, anything. It's a fact. Along with being healthy, the wonderful thing about grilling is that anyone can do it. It's as easy as brushing on some olive oil & tossing it on the flames. But many times people don't think outside of meat when grilling and forget about the glory of a grilled veggie.  You can eat them as a side, or toss into your regular dish for more flavor. So before you fire up the charcoal, swing by the produce section and grab some veggies!

How to grill vegetables-

Slice vegetables into long strips and brush both sides with olive oil. (Obviously you can just put veggies like asparagus, broccoli and mushrooms on grill whole.) Cook over medium heat, 3-4 minutes on each side, or until grill marks form. Sprinkle some salt, pepper & garlic salt on them when they’re finished.

What can you grill? These are some my favorites...

Zucchini-

I make these grilled zucchini whenever  I want to impress someone who is reluctant about my vegetarian grilling... and it always works.

  

Mushrooms-

I recommend brushing mushrooms with a mix of olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Skip the burger & put a Portabello Mushroom Burger on a bun! Toss a portabello mushroom cap on the grill and top with grilled red pepper, onion, avocado and a fun cheese like provolone, gouda, blue cheese or swiss and place on a grilled ciabatta. Add pesto or garlic mayo if you want to be fancy. Ah, the possibilities are endless with this one.

image from EzraPoundCake.com

Eggplant-

Put on a sandwich, make eggplant parmesan or roll ups or again, add to pasta. Try Giada's Grilled Eggplant with Goat Cheese, Basil & Pine Nuts here! (Image on right.)

Asparagus-
Top with parmesan cheese. Eat alone or toss in a pasta.

Broccoli-

I had never thought of grilling broccoli until I had it that amazing burrito. I've been addicted ever since. You can eat it alone or topped with parmesan. Or throw some grilled broccoli in omelettes, pasta and on pizza.



Onion-

Grilled onion adds a wonderful flavor to anything....



Image from CooksIllustrated.com



Tips: 
Try grill spray if veggies stick. 

For small vegetables like mushrooms and broccoli- try a grill basket, like this one, so they don’t fall in-between the grates.  

[vegetarian grill recipes, vegetarian BBQ,  grilled vegetables, how to grill vegetables, grilled zucchini, healthy grilling]

red skin potato salad

I love red skin potatoes. I liketo keep the skins on them, because they're yummy and they're full of antioxidants. The green onions, honey mustard & garlic add a nice change of pace to the standard potato salad. Try this crowd favorite at your next party.

You'll Need
Red skin potatoes- 2 lbs., cubed
Green onions- 1/4 cup, chopped
Sour Cream- 1 cup
Mayo-3/4 cup (not Miracle Whip)
Dijon or Honey Mustard- 1-2 tablespoons (Jack Daniels brand is amazing)
Eggs- 6, hardboiled & chopped
Peas or chopped celery- 1 cup
Garlic Salt/Powder- to taste
Salt & Pepper- to taste

Boil potatoes 20 minutes. Taste to make sure they are tender and not over-cooked. Drain.

Put potatoes, onions & peas in bowl.

In a smaller bowl: mix together mayo, sour cream, dijon mustard, garlic, salt & pepper. Add to potatoes and mix. Taste and season accordingly.

Fold in eggs. Chill at least 1 hour.

belly is back

Besides hanging out at the pool, your belly button probably hasn't seen the light of day since the 90's glory of Kelly Kapowski. But cropped tops are back, and you don't need to have a 6-pack to sport them either. My favorite way to wear them is longer cropped top that only shows your flatter lower stomach & hips and a only peek of your belly button when you raise up your arms. 

Where them like this:

Show a little peak...

Flowy boho cropped tops like these disguise any little imperfections, because depending on how you move- one minute you see it, the next you don't- never a full on belly view.... 

Urban Outfitters- Sparkle and Fade

Dare to bare a little more...

   Alexa Chung Breton striped top- ASOS                          American Eagle- Cropped t-shirt

Or not...hide any lower belly bulge and showcase your upper stomach with a pair of high-waisted shorts....

Image from mavenpost.com

 Opening Ceremony top, Levi's shorts

  

[crop tops, belly shirts]