Lighting Bolt

Loved receiving this tank from LIFE Clothing Co. I love LIFE clothing. It is always so creative and fun. They always have the best designs. Here are a couple more tees from them that I've had the pleasure of featuring...Tiger Tank and Grateful Dead Tank. With the tank today, I immediately thought to pair it with these leopard shorts from Polyvore (Similar HERE). Then finished the look off with my southwestern vintage yellow necklace and white fan necklace from Arrowharte. Loved my yellow necklace with the lighting bolt on the tee! That was a happy coincidence :). 

Hoping everyone has a fantastic week! Thanks for reading! Shop the complete look below. Click on the photos or on the links below to view.

LIFE Grateful Dead Muscle Tee  //  Leopard Shorts  //  White Fan Necklace  //  Anthropologie Hat 

xo

Messy Side Braid How-To

Hi! Well today is your lucky day because I finally got around to making my side messy braid tutorial! I know. Finally. So let me know if you have any questions. Comment. Concerns. :) haha okay. Have a great day! xoxo...Video is below!

xoxo

Espresso Chocolate Chip Pecan Cookies

Hi whoever's reading! I have a new recipe for you all today. It's a wee bit different than your average chocolate chip cookie. It has some extra added delight :). Some instant espresso and chopped pecans. So yummy! Ooey gooey with a nice crunch from the pecans. A new favorite for my coffee peeps. Hope you like it! xo

Ingredients: 

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened
1 cup packed brown sugar
3 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 large egg
1 Tbl vanilla extract
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons instant espresso coffee powder
1 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

3/4 chopped pecans

Instructions: 

Preheat oven to 300 degrees F.

1. Cream the softened butter with the sugars using an electric mixer on medium speed until light and  fluffy. About 30 seconds. Then add the egg and vanilla and beat for another 30 seconds. 

2. In another bowl, sift together the dry ingredients then add slowly to the butter mixture at low speed for about 15 seconds. Then take a wooden spoon and mix in the espresso, chocolate chips, and pecans. 

3. Have some of the dough. I mean come on. That's the best part. 

4. Take the remaining dough and scoop onto a parchment paper lined cookie sheet. I used a tablespoonish size for my cookies. Bake for about 15-20 minutes or until nicely browned around the edges. Bake a little longer for a crispier cookie... I kept my cookies nice and soft. Not a crispy cookie girl. 

4. Find someone you love and bring them these cookies with a cold glass of milk :).

xo

Falling into Fall

Happy monday lovelies. Hope everyone has a wonderful day. Nothing is better than pulling out this dress for some nice fall weather. You should get it. It's my fav. Free People. Duh. Links below or click on the pics! xx

First Kiss Dress  //  Asher Heel  //  Like my necklace?? Go here

xo

Apricot Crumble Bars

It's baking season. Well... that's what I think. Isn't fall baking season? I think so. I love to bake. I love to cook. I love to serve other people. Okay I have a total confession. I bake all of these treats and yummy things and I can never eat them. Well I never make them gluten free. Is it weird that I just have a pure happy feeling when I cook/bake and then not eat them? I don't know. Probably. 

Turns out I eat super healthy...despite all the baked goods and deliciousness I bake. I am highly gluten intolerant, so it isn't worth making myself sick to eat something with gluten. If any other readers are gluten free, I'll try sharing my gluten free recipes on the blog more! Most everything I make can be made into a gluten free option. My tummy is not happy with me a lot of times, so I have to eat pretty boring...but I do make some kick butt gluten free pancakes. Carbless Chocolate Pancakes here and Banana Pancakes are here. 

But....for now....these Apricot Crumble Bars are for my gluten-friendly readers :). Okay. So I made these bars and my dad ate 6 in one night. He says they are his absolute favorite. So if you have a boy you need to impress or just need a sweet treat, make these. They are very buttery, crispy, nutty, with a nice tart tang of the apricot. Lots of textures going on and lots of intense flavors. 

Ingredients:

1/2 pound (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
3/4 cup sugar
1 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2-1/3 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
10 to 12 ounces good apricot jam
2/3 cup good granola without dried fruit
1/4 cup sliced almonds
Confectioners' sugar, for sprinkling

Instructions: 

Place the butter and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and mix on medium speed just until combined. With the mixer on low, add the vanilla.

Sift the flour and salt together and, with the mixer on low, slowly add to the butter mixture, mixing until it almost comes together in a ball. Turn the dough out on a board.

 Lightly pat two-thirds of the dough evenly on the bottom of a 9-inch square baking pan and about 1/4-inch up the sides. Spread with the jam, leaving a 1/4-inch border. Mix the granola into the remaining dough with your hands. Break the dough into small bits and distribute it on top of the jam, covering most of the surface. Sprinkle the almonds on top. Bake the bars for 45 minutes, until lightly browned.

Cool completely and cut into 9 or 12 bars. Sprinkle lightly with confectioners' sugar.

Recipe from Ina Garten :) 

xo 

Falling Sun

Tis 'almost' the season to bring out the boots, scarves, layers, and socks. Today I have a little pre-fall inspiration for you all. Some inspiration on how to take some of your summer pieces and transition them into fall. 

Take the famous, Trapeze Slip from Free People for example. This thing is a multi-season-go-to-champion. You can pair it with a slip and wear it as a dress, pair it with a fun kimono for fall, wear it with tights and boots, or pair it with jeans...in my case, these super fun patched jeans (that I've had for forever and a half). To add a bit more to the fall look, I decided to pair it with a cropped top. I loved all the textures, color, and patterns in this particular pairing. When dressing, don't get too wrapped up in the whole "but it doesn't match thing." Mixing colors, prints, and textures makes for a fun and unique look. 

To finish my look I accessorized it with the perfect simple flower crown from the Flower Crown Society. Flower crowns were a huge hit this summer, but there is no reason why you can't continue wearing them for fall. Allison, from the Flower Crown Society is a flower crown making champion. You can't get anything from her that isn't fabulous. If you want the crown I'm wearing, it's called the DAWN wildflower crown :). 

DAWN wildflower crown  //  Free People Trazeze  //  Crop Top (Similar)  //  Patched Jeans (Similar-Expensive) (Similar-Less Expensive) 

If you're a visual person, shop the look below :)

Disfunkshion Mag

Hi sweet readers, I just wanted to share some really exciting news with you! I was featured in this issue of Disfunkshion Magazine, in their section, Blogger's To Know. I was so happy to be a part of it. I just love their magazine, it is so inspirational. A lot of the photo shoots that they feature are by one of my favorite photographers ever, Aaron Fever.  So read up, and be inspired :). You can order their magazine by going to their website. 

xo

Plaid for Fall 2013!

Whether it may be found in peplum, a skirt, trousers, shorts, a dress, or a maxi skirt, plaid is HUGE this season. I've compiled a few of my favorite looks from the runway this year for you all. What I see is that whatever style you personally have, plaid can fit into it somewhere. Designers are showing such variations on plaid looks. What helps me style plaid, is to think of it as a neutral. You can pair it with about anything...don't be afraid to mix it up and put it with another print. You can even go graphic and pair a cute "school girl" plaid skirt with a graphic baggy tee. Then you can of course, pair it with leather, which is also huge this season! A fun plaid button up shirt with a leather mini. Oh! So cute. Be inspired. Hope you are just as I was! Here's a plaid & leather look I did last year :)

Be sure to scroll through some of my [non-desinger] picks for plaid. Still amazing and your wallet will be happy happy happy! 

 

xo