Cilantro-Lime Dressing

trying to lose 20 lbs just like everyone else is this time of year.  this year i would like to focus less on calorie-counting and focus more on eating healthy, whole foods.  starting out by always having fresh fruit and vegetables on hand and making my dressings from scratch.  also taking the time to make my lunch for work everyday.  it helps that the food available to me at lunch time is so processed and unsatisfying.  good motivation to take that extra time to make my own lunch!  here is the salad i am having this week.  starts with a fresh bed of organic romaine and spring mix and tossed with grape tomatoes, red onions, radishes, cucumbers, and red bell peppers.  i've added ripe avocado and a piece of grilled salmon on top.  Whole Foods has a great deal on frozen salmon fillets.  a perfectly pre-portioned pack of 6 fillets for $20.  each is pre-packaged so you can thaw each fillet one at a time for daily meals.  i have been wanting to try a good cilantro-lime vinaigrette and used this recipe i found on pinterest.

Light Creamy Cilantro-Lime Dressing

1 cup loosely packed cilantro, stems removed and roughly chopped

1/2 cup plain Greek Yogurt or 1/2 avocado

2 Tbsp fresh lime juice (1/2 lime)

2 garlic cloves

1/4 cup olive oil

1-1/2 tsp white wine vinegar

1/8 tsp salt

add cumin, honey, agave as desired

Puree all ingredients in a food processor until smooth.

Delicious, creamy consistency and only about 60 calories a serving with a bang of healthy fats and protein!

Hello 2014, nice to meet you.

 

I've gained a few pounds so for New Year's this year I went with the always flattering shift dress.  It was white with gold sequins and a big bow in the front (Asos) along with sheer polka dot tights and nude pointy pumps (not as horrendously ugly as they sound).  And as always loaded up on sparkly baubles and my cropped fur.  It was a mild yet fun evening.  Matt and I broke up right after the ball drop, it was probably about 1 a.m.  How convenient for a start to the new year.  It's okay, I will be okay.  I am looking forward to happiness, positivity, and productivity for the New Year.  I would like to remain single and focus on myself and my goals for once.  For me, writing things down helps me focus on getting things done.  Here are some that I have set for myself for the upcoming year, what are your goals for the upcoming year?

 

A healthier lifestyle.  I have always had issues with my weight constantly fluctuating back and forth.  I was looking through my Istagram pictures this year getting annoyed at how I allow my weight to get so extreme because of my lifestyle.  I want to focus this year on HEALTH rather than calorie-counting.  I want to cook most of my meals, try new recipes, and keep it fun.  I have to work exercising into my routine and my new single status should make it a little easier.  My new juicer should help me keep on track with consuming more raw vegetables.  Most of my weight gain this year has been from eating out an exorbitant amount.  One way I am curbing this (and saving money!) is by packing all of my lunches.  I also made a list of nearby restaurants with a list of light and healthy options for those times I just can't make myself cook.  Meal-planning always works well for me since I enjoy cooking.  I've compiled some new recipes from Pinterest and will try to keep my rotation of meals fresh and exciting.  I have a tendency to cook the same things over and over so using recipes will keep things fresh.



Enjoy my hobbies again.  I am a jack of many trades, master of none, as the saying goes.  I've always been interested in learning and trying all kinds of things, but wouldn't consider myself great at anything in particular.  I tend to lose focus and jump back and forth between projects.  This year, since I have more time to myself, I want to jump back into some of my hobbies and spend more time honing and improving my skills.  Cooking, painting, sewing, etc.  I will try to participate in an art show or host crafting parties as motivation.

 



Push myself out of my comfort zone.  As a Taurus, I tend to be stubbornly close-minded about trying new things sometimes.  This year I really want to push myself out of my comfort zone and do some things that might make me a little squeamish....like taking a yoga class, running a 5K, going on a blind date???  I'm getting squeamish already!!!

Quality over Quantity.  That is true with most things in life: food, friends, clothes.  This year I want to work on being a better friend to the great ones I already have.  Making sure that I take time out of my schedule to catch up with friends I don't get to see often by grabbing dinner or writing more letters to my long-distant friends.  Especially the past few years, I cherish the good ones and need to keep them around and feeling loved.

Work it out honey!  Now that I am hired full-time I want to make sure I keep building my styling portfolio.  I have so many ideas and it is a good way to be creative while progressing your career.  I also decided to refocus all my extra-time on building my Etsy shop and expanding my line and having a stronger local presence.  More on that to come!

Appreciate my alone time.  This is the first time I've ever lived alone in my life.  Year one down!  It was awesome once I got used to it.  It is amazing how much you start craving alone time once you're used to getting it.  Seeing a lot of my friends and their crazy busy lives with their kids makes me appreciate my time more (while I have it!) and makes me want to be as productive as possible.  This year I want to be better at scheduling out my weeks and getting things done!  I am giddy for the New Year to see what I can get done!

merry christmas 2013

{Bear is growing up quick!  Look at Matt photobombing the background}

 

 

 

 



 

 

mom brined a turkey overnight with lemon, brown sugar, rosemary and seasonings.  it made the turkey moist and flavorful and gave it a zesty almost wine-like taste.  i took it easy this year and only made a broccoli casserole.  everything was so good and i was happy to spend some time with my loved ones.  when you get out of retail, it makes you so much more grateful for the time you get to relax and spend with your friends and family that the retail life normally takes away from you during this season.

 

 

 

 

Matt got me this great breakfast tray from West Elm I've been pining over.  it is just as great as I thought it would be....except that it just encourages my laziness!  here i am already enjoying it Christmas night, eating leftovers in bed like a slob.  it supports my laptop perfectly too for when i just want to literally lay around all day.....gotta squeeze out two more days at work and then it will be the weekend again!  *phew*

 

 





hello, my name is Bear

a collage of images of my mom's new teacup Pomeranian, Bear.  what a dang cutie!  he's a fluffy ball of cuteness and was actually really well-behaved too.  I loved doggie-sitting him for a couple of weeks while they were in Vietnam.  Missing him already!

{making himself comfortable on my new quilt}

 

 

 

{his favorite place to nap: squished between two flannel pillows}

 

 

 

{hiding under the Christmas tree}

 

 

 

{hello there!}

 

 

home sweet home

Finally got the apartment clean after watching my mom's new teacup Pomeranian for a couple weeks.  I loved that lil dude, but it was nice to get the apartment nice and clean again the way I like to keep it. 

 

 





I finally splurged and bought the Rivulets quilt I've been lusting over because I needed a cozy quilt now that the weather was beginning to get cold.  I'm in love with this fall-ish berry color, it goes well with the darker look I'm going for in my bedroom.  It is pretty with my navy blue ikat curtains.  I love the heart string lights I picked up at Ikea, it leaves a warm glow at night while I sleep.



a cozy holiday

 

 

My first holiday living on my own in my own cozy apartment has been so sweet and nice.  It is strange how you begin to crave alone time once you are spoiled with it.  I made this lil collage with my #abeautifulmess app of my favorite wintertime cozy things:  knitting with a thick yarn, a huge mug of pumpkin spice coffee, a well-lit brick fireplace, colorful tights with oxfords.

buy handmade

since I am a crafty girl myself with my own Etsy shop, I try to buy handmade whenever I can.  most of my  most cherished items are handmade pieces of jewelry, art, or pottery from fellow crafters.  here are some of my personal picks from my Etsy wish list this year.  buy local and handmade when you can, it is more personal and you're supporting small business!  happy shopping y'all!

 

 

 

 

black Italian leather tote $205

 

 

best of beauty 2013

this year was definitely a big year for beauty products for me this year!  last year, i decided it was time to amp up my beauty routine and start taking better care of my aging skin.  i'd always been pretty lazy about my daily routine so it was beginning to catch up with me.  here are some of my favorite products I've discovered this year and added to my ever-expanding collection and what I think of them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Josie Maran Argan Cleansing Oil $32

Josie Maran Argan Oil $48



 

i'd been anxious to try Josie Maran's Argan Oil products since I'd been seeing it pop up in magazines everywhere.  and as always, natural is always better!  if you are unsure, purchase the mini set show here that includes a small size of the Argan Cleansing Oil and the matching Argan Oil which comes with a dropper for $18.  this product is great for aging skin that could use a boost of moisture.  the reviews online are great for this product and I loved it as well.  i am nervous that my current breakouts could be from over-use of the product, since I am bad about slathering products on without thought.  use the Argan oil on spots that need that extra-moisture boost: under and around eyes, dry cheeks, elbows, etc.

 

 

 

getting there

warm beet salad with honeyed goat cheese

 

my new favorite salad!  I racked up at the farmer's market yesterday morning.  it will definitely be my new Saturday morning routine to load up on seasonal veggies.  I spent $20 and got a ridiculously huge box of vegetables including a huge amount of beets with the stems and beet greens attached!  what is awesome about owning a juicer is that you really don't waste anything.  I juice the stems and the skins of most of my veggies.  my new favorite salad I will definitely be making regularly, feel free to add some walnuts, chicken, or avocado for added protein and healthy fats.

 

the green life

this Black Friday morning, I was dying to burn some cash even though i'm kinda strapped at the moment.  it was painfully hard to make the (smarter) decision and go for the juicer I've been wanting over the gorgeous, burgundy pebbled-leather tote bag I was drooling over, but i'm proud to say that I did!  here is a picture of the first glorious juice I made as soon as I got home with my new Breville juicer.  I used a whole bag of baby spinach, carrots, cucumber, kale, and apples. 

 

thankful for thanksgiving

having fun playing with my new A Beautiful Mess app on my new Iphone!

Hosted Thanksgiving for my sister, brother and mother and the ham was overcooked,

gravy a little salty, the turkey a little bland, but still thankful to have a home-cooked

meal with  my family regardless.  today matt and I will be decorating the Christmas

tree and I will be doing what I do every year, throwing together all the leftovers

into a crazy Thanksgiving Leftovers Casserole.  not the healthiest, but just mix

leftover stuffing along with shredded turkey and ham, a couple cans of cream of

mushroom soup and cheese and you're done!

 

 

 

I went ahead and made TWO of my famous corn soufflés, Matt's favorite!  so he

could overindulge all he wants and still have leftovers.  I also made a turkey,

a ham, pan gravy, and cranberry-walnut stuffing.

 

 

 

my mom, the baker, made a beautiful 2 layered coconut cake.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

keep calm and eat healthy

{repeat to self}

 

 

 

 

 

my weight has always fluctuated back and forth back and forth.  this time of year, I definitely lean towards the heavier side by overindulging in Pumpkin Spiced Lattes and snacking in front of the tv.  my britches are getting a little too snug for comfort and i'd love to be able to get into some of my cute menwear-style pants this winter.  I've always been a big eater, so in order to diet successfully I need to find nutrient-rich but satisfying meals that are low in calories that I can eat bucket loads of while still cutting down on my calorie intake.  a low-carb diet always works pretty well for me with lots of vegetables and fruits and nuts to snack on.  these are my favorite low-calorie, nutritious meals to make when my pants are feeling tight! 

 

 

 

Vintage Charlotte Holiday Market

this year's Vintage Charlotte Holiday Market was a huge success!  Vintage Charlotte is a pop-up market at the Fillmore with more than 50 handpicked vendors specializing in handmade and vintage goods.  there were more than 2000 visitors this year and my Kitsch and Fancy booth was basically slammed from the time we opened at 10!  thank god for my little assistant Irene or I woulda been in the weeds!  she definitely took charge and helped me manage the craziness.  we didn't even get to eat our breakfast biscuits!  this year's market was soooooooo fun, I can't wait to participate in the next one.  I will definitely be better prepared next time for the insanity, but was happy for the success we had anyway.

 

 

{HELLO!  cheesing at my booth}

 

 

 

{stacks on stacks on stacks}

 

 

 

 

{made plenty of signage listing each scent}

 

 

 

 

{fresh linen, my most popular scent at my Kitsch and Fancy Etsy shop}

 

 

 

 

{brought plenty of festive holiday scents like the Pumpkin Spice soap bar}

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

trending: the tutu

the next trendy thing i would love to splurge on this season (to go with all the pointy-toed Valentino studded pumps of my dreams) would be the ballerina-inspired tutu skirt or a frilly feather skirt.  the fluffy, textured skirts are the epitome of girly and you can dress them up for a holiday party or down with boots and an oversized sweater.

{Balmain}

make it less princessy by pairing with a boot

 

 

 

{Oscar de la Renta}

love the idea of pairing it with a pretty cropped top and bootie for a super femme look

 

 

 

sophisticated in a nude/neutral palette by Wendy's Lookbook

 

 

 

 

{try it in black and mixing it up with animal print for an edgier look}

 

 

 

 

{free people layers their version with an oversized sweater and boots}

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

cozy cozy!

it is finally cold and Thanksgiving is less than two weeks away.  i went ahead and started putting up my Christmas decorations.  i'm basically ready for Christmas as soon as Halloween is over.  it's my favorite holiday---duh!  i hung a small, colorful wreath and strung some pretty lights around my fireplace.  here are some of my favorite cozy things to get ready for winter.

{a warm fireplace}

{the prettiest party dress for all the holiday parties}

{thick socks for pitter pattering around the house in}

{hot chocolate and pumpkin spiced lattes all season long}

{textured tapestries and stockings for all}

{lots of layers and the chunkiest hand knit scarf}

{three perfect mini gourds i picked for a decorative bowl}

{lazy nights in bed watching tv and finishing up this oatmeal colored scarf}