Shellac

I finally decided to try out the shellac nail polish that has so many women raving. I'm not sure what took me so long to jump on board this train since I a. love nail polish, b. constantly chip my nail polish (usually within a few hours of painting them), and c. am usually game to try out new beauty trends. Well so far so good.  The process was easy, and only took slightly longer than a regular manicure.  I am interested to see how it wears, no chips for 2 weeks is the promise.

I spent a long time trying to pick a color, I mean if you are stuck with if for two weeks, you better love it! I ended up with a nude glitter color and I'm actually loving the results.

Hopefully this nail polish will last, but I'll let you know! Happy Friday!

Healthy Happy Snacking

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Kale Chips 

I love to snack.  I would probably rather eat snacks all day than eat actual meals. Unfortunately, snacking all day is not great for the waistline. So, I am always on the look out for healthy options.  Richard made kale chips for me a couple of months ago and today, I decided to try some of my own.  Let me preface this by saying, I do not like raw, steamed, or other types of kale. However, kale chips are another story.  They are crispy, salty, and so easy to make- not to mention completely satisfying.

Ingredients
1 bunch of kale
olive oil
kosher salt

Directions
Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Wash and dry the kale. Cover a baking sheet with a silicone bad or parchment paper. Using kitchen shears, remove the center rib.  Cut or tear leaves into chip size pieces. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle salt over kale and toss to coat.  Bake for 10-15 minutes, until crispy but still green.

Enjoy!

Fall Shoes

Too early? I know, but the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale is going on, so I'm trying to think about what kind of wardrobe updates I will need for the fall.  I have already purchased a fabulous pair of combat boots by Steven Madden (stay tuned for a post).  As a teacher, I need to try and be practical with my shoe choices. I spend most of the day standing, so stilettos aren't usually the best choice for me (although they definitely have a place in my closet for weekend wear). These Sam Edelman shoes are amazing. I saw them and immediately fell in love.

DV by Dolce Vita "Wyatt" Bootie - Nordstrom Anniversary sale, $79.90 (until August 1st)
Sam Edelman "Adena" Flat - Nordstrom, $149.95
Sperry Top-Sider "Butteryfly Fish" Boat Shoe- Nordstrom Anniversary sale, $52.90 (until August 1st) 
Capped and Cuffed Bootie - Anthropologie, $158

Tasty Tuesday Tidbit

Prosciutto Melon Salad 

During the summer I always crave light and flavorful salads.  I was at a restaurant and saw a summer melon salad on the menu that looked quite delicious. So this weekend, I decided to try out my own version, and I have to say, it was awesome. This salad is so easy to make, beautiful to look at, and most importantly, tastes divine.

Ingredients 
1 cantaloupe
1 dalia (or honeydew)
1 can hearts of palm (drained)
1/2 bunch of water cress (stems removed)
10 slices of prosciutto de parma

For the Dressing
zest of half an orange
juice of 1 orange
1 tbl honey
1/4 cup champagne vinegar
1/4 cup olive oil

Directions
Cut the cantaloupe and dalia melons in half and scoop out the seeds.  Slice the melon in half again and cut long, crescent shaped pieces.  Remove all of the rind. Slice the prosciutto de parma into 1 inch strips, scattering them over the melon. Drain the hearts of palm and pull apart the rounds. Remove the stems of the water cress and roughly chop the leaves. Sprinkle on top of the salad.

To make the dressing combine the orange zest, orange juice, honey, and champagne vinegar in a bowl.  Whisk in the olive oil.  Pour dressing over the salad.

crescent shaped slices of melon

time to eat!

Enjoy!

Monday's Trio

Happy Monday Everyone! I had a great weekend up in Napa tasting beers (I know, not what you expected, huh?) and hanging out with friends. More on the weekend to come, but for now, I want to share with you three things that make me happy!

A Great Meal

Quiche from BARNDIVA in Healdsburg 

A New Find

My new sparkly sweatshirt from Banana Republic

An Old Favorite

Natural FX Water Based Foundation (SPF 15)- This foundation is so light and smooth, but gives great coverage. It's expensive ($40), but I have yet to find anything better. 

Techno Girl

Today, I went into Sephora looking for something fun to dress up my nails.  I have been looking at all the nail art that has become popular and wanted to give it a try.  After trying some seriously crazy leopard print rhinestone nail stickers, I opted for something a little more understated (I use the word understated loosely).  I walked out of the store with a bright pink OPI nail polish called Techno Girl and pink nail glitter. I thought about glittering all of my nails, but decided it was too much for right now. I opted for a touch of glitter on the fourth nail. It came out pretty great!

OPI Nail Polish in Techno Girl 

Farmers Market

This past Sunday, after a delicious brunch at Greens, I walked around the farmer's market at Fort Mason.  I had no idea that this even existed, but was so happy that I stumbled upon this gem.  It was small, but full of fantastic fruits, vegetables and flowers (oh, and pasta, I found the best ravioli).  There is something about browsing a farmer's market; it just makes me feel happy.

Love heirloom tomatoes! They are so delicious with some mozzarella and basil, with a drizzle of balsamic. It makes a truly perfect summer appetizer. 

I had never seen these peppers before. I will have to do some research, see what their flavor is like, then next time I might buy some. 

Beautiful squash! I will probably toss these in olive oil and grill them. 

                                  

(Ignore the awful picture of me and focus on the beautiful flowers! )

Hope you had a fantastic Tuesday! 

Bubbles, Baubles, and Beauty

Once a week (hopefully Mondays) I plan to post three things that either make me happy, or that I am lusting after.  Today is the first installment of what I shall call the"three Bs." Hope you enjoy! 

Ina Garten's Watermelon Mojitos (click here for recipe)

As a teacher, I have the luxury of having a pretty relaxing summer schedule. So, this means that I get to spend a lot of time window shopping (online shopping too) and planning what I want to cook. In the summer I find myself drawn to fruity cocktails (hmmm, lets be honest, I love fruity cocktails all year long).  Ina Garten is one of my go to chefs. I recently made these watermelon mojitos, which were delicious.  They are so light and refreshing, perfect for a hot summer day. ( I did not take this picture. Unfortunately, I was so excited to drink the mojitos, that I forgot to snap a picture.) 

Anthropologie Clean Break Cuff (here)

I found this cuff while doing some online shopping at one of my all time favorite stores.  I love how eclectic Anthropologie is; there truly is something for everyone.  Their pieces are unique and can add a touch of personal style to every outfit. This cuff would look just as great with a cocktail dress, as it would with jeans and a t-shirt.

I love this light coral color lipstick. It is perfect for the day and adds that little pop of color to a neutral make-up. I used to NEVER wear lipstick; I was devoted to gloss, but with the new smooth formulas, I am converting to a lipstick lover.   This cream lipstick by Lorac, is called Long Kiss Long Baiser.

Happy Monday! 

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cupcakes

YUM! I made these cupcakes (recipe from here) to celebrate Richard's birthday. They are so decadent that I truly could eat only one. They are time consuming, but totally worth it. The cupcakes are filled with an egg-less cookie dough (safe to eat raw) and are topped with a rich, brown sugar buttercream and a chocolate chip cookie. Delicious!

Friday Night Surprise

What I wore: BCBG pants, BCBG belt, Collective Concepts top

This weekend was Richard's 30th birthday and I have been planning for two months now! I managed to surprise him (something that is very hard to do!) by arranging to have his family come up for the weekend. When we got to the restaurant, his sisters were sitting at our table, ready to surprise him! It was perfect and he was speechless!

Because this was a fun event, I wanted to dress up and have a good time with my outfit. I have been looking for an occasion to wear this belt, and I think that Friday night presented the perfect opportunity!