Oh hey, Chambray!

I have been seeing chambray shirts paired with everything from khaki shorts to full evening skirts and even contrasting denim and I am absolutely loving the look! Honestly, a blue chambray shirt is the epitome of the timeless all-American look, is it not? Ralph Lauren would know what I’m talking about. He’s had the look mastered since he was 12. Want to master the look? Try some of these oh so cool chambray looks. 

pinterest

Photo: Pinterest

Photo: Pinterest

Photo: Pinterest

Photo: Pinterst

So, are you going to shop this look this fall?  Available here, here, and here. 

Cheers!

Cristi

{We’re Obsessed} The Messy Bun

I absolutely love having long hair. I love the natural color, texture and subtle wave it has. What I don’t love? Styling it. Sure I can let it hang loose on the weekends or maybe add a little texture spritz and go for the beachy look, but that doesn’t really fly in the office. So I’ve learned that rather than waking up an extra HOUR earlier to style my hair for work, I can throw it into a sophisticated and fashionable messy bun that takes a fraction of the time, looks great and helps me be camera ready in case of any unannounced local news interviews. So next time you snooze your alarm one too many times, try throwing your hair into a messy bun like some of these pictured below. (PS - if you’re meeting girlfriends for Happy Hour after work, add some extra volume and red lips to the bun and viola—your look goes from day to night in just 5 seconds.) 

Photo: Pinterest

Photo: Pinterest

Photo: Pinterest

Cheers!

Cristi

Getting Organized: Jewelry Boards

Thanks to birthdays, holidays and sometimes just because—I am accumulating more and more jewelry by the day. I tend to just keep everything in its original box, but this is hard to access in critical times and I sometimes even forget about all the beautiful pieces I own. So I was googling good jewelry organization the other day and I came across the jewelry board idea. I am OBSESSED with these. Whether you make your own or buy one online, it is an efficient and most importantly, a chic way to organize your jewelry. I love them! Definitely adding this to my art/crafts project list! 

Photo: Pinterest

Photo: Pinterest

Photo: Pinterest

Photo: Pinterest

Photo: Pinterest

PS - How pretty are some of those dressers decorated?  Swooning!

Cheers!

Cristi

{Thrifty Thursday} Patent Flats

I'm raving today about my latest Target find, the Mossimo ballet flat in black patent leather.  I am actually debating going back to buy the taupe color.  Anyway, I'm loving the look.  I did buy a whole size up from my normal size, not because of the reviews but because that's all the store had!  

It took three wears to break them in, including a round wearing them with socks.  The elastic in the back is pretty tight  and uncomfortable, but trust me- I hate flats because they never feel right because the balls of my foot are unusually wide.  So here I am to verify that with a few wears, I've found the perfect fall flat.  Price tag: $15.  At the moment, Target is currently running a buy one, get one 50% off promotion.  Happy shopping!

Mossimo flat, $15, Target

Cheers!

Ana

Pumpkin Puffs Recipe

Happy October, Pumpkin!  This pumpkin recipe doesn't actually contain any pumpkin, but it is still delicious. Give it a try, it's super easy! 

Cheers!

Cristi

Photo: MarthaStewart.com

Ingredients:

• All-purpose flour, for parchment
• 1 standard package (17.3 ounces) frozen puff pastry, thawed
• 1 1/2 teaspoons paprika
• 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
• 2 1/2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
• 1 1/2 cups finely grated Gruyere cheese
• 1 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese
• Freshly ground pepper 

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Generously flour two pieces of parchment paper; on each, roll out an unfolded pastry sheet to form a 15-by-13-inch rectangle, about 1/16 inch thick. Refrigerate until firm, about 15 minutes. Meanwhile, stir the paprika into the melted butter.
2. Remove pastry from the refrigerator, and brush off excess flour. Spread a rectangle of pastry with mustard; sprinkle with both cheeses. Season with pepper. Lay a second pastry rectangle on top.
3. Place a sheet of parchment on top of the stacked pastry; using a rolling pin, roll until smooth and pastry layers are sealed together. Remove parchment, and brush top of pastry with butter mixture. Chill until firm, about 30 minutes.
4. With a pumpkin-shaped cookie cutter, cut into 18 to 24 shapes. Immediately place the shapes on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Using a sharp paring knife, score each shape four or five times to make pumpkin ridges. Bake until golden, 15 to 20 minutes. Transfer puffs to a wire rack; let cool slightly before serving.

Strike A Pose!

When posing for pictures I usually have one of my sisters telling me to stand up straight, put my arm on my hip and tilt my chin up. With photos now instantly being posted all over the web, its more important than ever to master the art of photo taking, so here are some tips I took from Harper’s Bazaar on how to instantly look thinner and better in photos. Most importantly, don’t forget to smile!

"When posing in pictures, keep your head up and your shoulders back," says Jennifer Miller, Cosmopolitan's Photo Director who handles the magazine's cover shoots. "Keep your posture tall to slim yourself instantly. Turn your body three quarters to make yourself look thinner and more natural. Shift your weight to the back leg to give shape and sass to your look. To combat arm flab, put your hand on the hip facing the camera, which will immediately make your arm look trim."

Read more: How to Look Thinner - Ways to Look Thin - Real Beauty

Photo: Harper's Bazaar realbeauty.com

Cheers!

Cristi

{We're Obsessed!} French Script

I have been noticing French script taking over the decor aisles lately.  It's seriously everywhere!  I think I love it.  Tell me, what do you think about this trend?

Canister, $39, Restoration Hardware

French Laundry Pillows, $95-$160, Neiman Marcus

5x8 French Script Rug, $279, Ballard Designs

Black Linen Chair with Script Pillow, $211, Overstock.com

Cheers!

Ana