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| Baby Alba |
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| Holiday fluffer-nugget |
The last couple of weeks have been a bit challenging for me to say the least. There are things happening on all fronts on my life that are stressful and mostly out of my control, which I admit is hard for me to deal with as I very much like to be in control. To make this week extra crappy my car was towed and ticketed for some sticker I needed to update which set me back roughly 800 bucks (which totally bums be out right before Christmas shopping), and I forgot my metro card this morning so I had to go put money in the machine and was late to work because I missed the train I was trying to catch. Grr. Grr. Grr. Oh and GRRR!
Since this funk that I have been in is making me withdrawn and grumpy which is not very characteristic of me I decided I should make a list of things that make me happy/I am thankful for. I know I'm late on this since everyone else did this at Thanksgiving but hey, better late than never, right? I also made an AWESOME Christmas season bucket list that will come at a later date (instant mood booster).
- Family (especially siblings). Although you are far away (and sometimes drive me crazy) I love you.
- My health (although I really need to take this more seriously starting after the holidays and get my butt to the gym).
- My DC family, aka having so many truly wonderful lifelong friends, a blessing which I have recently realized not everyone has.
- Mike, who loves me.
- My little (or not so little) kitty cat, Ella, who makes me smile every day.
- Alba for making Mike smile every day.
- Having a job, this I feel thankful for more and more each week.
- My little blog for being my outlet for creativity that keeps me sane and balanced.
- Chocolate, cheese, & avocados.
- Hair straighteners (Amen).
Happy humpday,
Erin
..Spinach-Zucchini Lasagna
November 28, 2011 • chives dinner Eats and Sweets lasagna recipe recipe post spinach zucchini
Ever have one of those days where you see tons of yummy foods on Pinterest.com when you are hungry (BAD idea - like grocery shopping while hungry) and feel your stomach start growling with starving agony as you re-pin your heart out? Well I decided I was going to put my foot down and actually MAKE something I found on there. This simply DELECTABLE spinach-zucchini lasagna was my choice. You can find the recipe here. I did vary it slightly by skipping the pre-packaged onion-chive cream cheese and just making my own (1 package cream cheese, chopped fresh chives, and finely chopped sauteed onion seen below), and I switched out one zucchini for a yellow squash. The end result was a perfect Sunday night entree.
Recently I discovered Polyvore.com. Its a interactive website where you can mix and match different items and create looks online. Originally it was a wee bit discouraging for me because they have all kinds of gorgeous designer digs that I can't afford, which makes me oh so sad. Then I realized you can pull things form the internet that you see similar to Pinterest.com and that got me very excited. You can basically create an online closet. As I purchase things online, I send them over to Polyvore too. I fill in the gaps by doing searches for items I already own and put things together that I can actually wear! So fun! I basically online-packed before I packed for my trip home to NJ for Thanksgiving. An organized person's dream!
Check out my giveaway winnings! This lovely handcrafted stationary was made by Chanel of By Way of Ney. She is a California native that has a really aesthetically beautiful and inspirational lifestyle blog. You definitely need to check her out. Obviously, she is also very talented (see below). I can't wait to send my grams a love note on one of these! SO much better than the expected white envelope. They inspire me to collect pretty prints I find and try this on my own.
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| This one is the favorite :) |
Cake balls are little bits of deliciousness that don't require any skill. They are all the rage right now, even Starbucks sells a variety of cake-pops (which are the same thing - just add a stick). You can make them from any boxed cake & icing flavor combination. I chose Funfetti and cream cheese icing for the recipe below with both white and milk chocolate. They are super easy and always a hit because who wouldn't like condensed cupcakes dipped in chocolate?
Directions
1. Bake cake as per the directions on the box.
2. Take the cake and move it to a mixing bowl, breaking it up.
3. Add 1 can icing to the cake and mix until it its a thick cookie-batter consistency.
4. Scoop the mixture into balls (I used a tablespoon to make them even) and pop in the freezer for an hour.
5. Melt chocolate in microwave (on defrost setting) in 45 second intervals.
6. Dip cake balls into melted chocolate and let them harden on wax paper. You can add sprinkles to make them pretty :)
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| Ivanka Trump - "Pinkette" |
I actually have two favorites this week, both being huge victories for me. The first one was getting these babies in the mail on Monday. I was on the hunt for perfect leopard shoes that were cute enough to wear at night but also able to rock to the office since September and I finally found them! Aren't they so perfect?
The second one was getting Ella to sleep in her new kitty bed I picked up at Target last weekend (along with their adorable pet costumes for Christmas which you will see at a later date). She loves to sleep on our clothes which makes them all furry so we decided she needed a real bed. El problemo is that cats just don't do what you want them to, because you want them to (divas). So after MUCH hoaxing (literally I kept putting her in there and she'd just hop out, smell it, decide it wasn't for her, and go back to the neatly folded pile of clothes) victory was mine! She is a wee bit too husky for it (which makes me love it so much more) but she finally has accepted her new digs.
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| Is this not the cutest thing? |
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| Happy little fluffer-nugget. |
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| Sephora by OPI - Only Gold for Me - $9.50 Milani - Jewel FX in Gold - $4.25 |
Although the lighting makes each of these polishes look like different shades the comparative picture above they are actually quite similar (but one is half the price)! I have been on the hunt for some gold sparkly nail polish that was made up of big pieces rather than the small shimmery ones similar to Deborah Lippmann's "Boom Boom Pow" and this one gets my stamp of approval. I found it at my local CVS on sale for three dollars and change. I'm wearing it here under OPI's "Two Tickets to Paradise" (white bottle) and then just a few coats to make it really intense and sparkly. I know it's probably a little tacky but I'm thinking this is perfect for New Year's Eve!
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| Hat: Seams to Be - $24 |
Today's post is a guest post by my friend Michael Columbus (@MichaelColumbus) who is a fundraiser for the Movember campaign!
MOVEMBER
For those who haven’t heard, Movember, formerly November, is
a month long celebration of men’s health.
During Movember gentleman across the world sprout sexy mustaches to raise
funds to support research and awareness of prostate cancer and other cancers
that affect men. Movember began in Australia in 1999 with just a few participants
and since has spread across the world to accumulate around 1.1 million participants
raising approximately $174 million in donations through 2010.
Here are some observations from a first time mustache grower:
Day 1: Typical Tuesday
morning, but today starts the beginning of a magical journey in men’s facial
hair.
Day 6: I am beginning to look like a prepubescent boy
sprouting as I’d like to call the crustache.
Coworkers and friends alike begin to question my trustworthiness.
Day 9: At this point
I am starting to notice staring from strangers just below my nose, but just
above my lip. I now know how it feels
for girls to get their cleavage stared at.
It’s like they are undressing my mustache with their eyes. I feel dirty, ashamed.
Day 11: At the
grocery store parents give me cautious stares in the checkout line and shelter
their children close. Apparently,
mustaches are synonymous with being a creeper; I wish I could disagree.
Day 13: I’ve been
invited to three Cinco de Mayo parties in last few days. I’ve accepted invites to two of them.
Day 15: Just like Frodo heading deep into the mountains of
Mordor with the One Ring of the Dark Lord Sauron I am not sure how much longer
I can carry this burden. My upper lip is
frail and wavering against the girth of my mustache.
With only half of Movember passed, what will become of my
mustache; what will become of me?
All funds raised go directly to the Prostate Cancer Foundation, Livestrong, or other awareness and education plans directed towards promoting men’s health.
To learn more about Movember, or
make a donation to me and my team please visit:
Any amount is greatly appreciated!
Oh, and for us ladies (it's Erin again) who aren't able to rock sweet staches' on our faces, don't feel left out, there are a few other options for us I have highlighted below :)
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Sesame Mustache Tee - $25 - delias.com
I Love Mustache Panties - $5.99 - tillys.com
TOMS Shoes Movember Classic Grey Black (Women) - $58 -
toms.com
Demitasse Aaron Demistache with White Sapphire Necklace.
Demitasse - $184 - maxandchloe.com
Demitasse Urban Shine Demistache Necklace. Demitasse- $40 -
maxandchloe.com
Facial Flair Earrings - $9.99 - modcloth.com
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| Oversize Spot Tee - Topshop - $75 | Maison Martin Margiela Leather Mini-Skirt - $500 | Kelsi Dagger Odessa Black | Suede Bootie - $150 | Enamel Green Bangle - Missselfridge.com - $14 | Juicy Couture Princess Stud Earrings - $48 |
I just discovered that there are tons of older items in my closet that can be paired with new ones to breathe new life into them. I bought this leather skirt over two years ago from South Moon Under (it's amazing that I found a link to it!) and this top from Piperlime a few weeks ago. I hadn't worn the skirt in so long I forgot I even owned it. I just need to throw on some some pretty emerald accessories and black booties and I have an outfit that feels totally new even though it's partly old. I love when this happens (and so does my budget)! Do you guys have any old friends you've brought back into the rotation recently?
How lucky am I? I came home from work to a freshly cooked meal by my honey buns not once, but TWICE this week. It is a new thing were trying to make grocery shopping and meal planning better. Isn't he so cute? If this isn't sparkle I don't know what is. It was the best part of my week. What about you ?
Ingredients
1 Box red velvet cake mix
1/3 Cup vegetable oil
2 Eggs
Cream cheese frosting (you can just buy a can or make this one)
Directions
These cookies are delicious and about a 2 on the scale of 1-10 for difficulty (1 being bake and break, pre-made dough). You can make cookies out of ANY cake batter you want if you just add 1/3 cup of veggie oil and two eggs (or a variation of that, some people add a teaspoon of vanilla or reduce the oil and add a little milk). Just mix all ingredients together and scoop little balls of it onto a cookie tray like you would with any other batter. I would suggest making very small portions. A little goes a VERY long way with this batter. I use a tablespoon to scoop perfect portions. Bake at for 8-10 minutes (I take them out right at 8 for chewier cookies). They will be a little cakey-puffy at first but will settle after a minute or two.
After they cool, spread icing on the back of one and top it with another
cookie to make the pie. Hope you enjoy this one, my coworkers seemed
to love them :)
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| And you have red velvet cookies! |
Sometimes the day needs to end with a big mug of hot cocoa. Especially ones where you may or may not have fallen backward into a window (not out the window don't worry) during a company wide meeting that also happened to be on webcam to connect to our other office because you thought the window cover was a wall you could lean on because there were no more seats left in the conference room. You know if that were to happen to you this might help is all I'm sayin'. I am a big believer in making it on the stove-top as well. The microwave just doesn't feel as authentic. Giant marshmallows are also required to complete your hot cocoa therapy session.
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