Sparkle, Shine, Pop

 

I have been totally obsessed with the 2011 nail rage! Sparkles, patterns, gel and more. I have started buying fun colors to paint my own nails and using Martha Stewart loose glitter to accent the ring fingernail.

I am interested in venturing out to even more customization, I am just not sure I fully trust my left hand. Last night at the Creative Connection OC event, I met Sara B. of Glitter and Grace. I am so inspired by her awesome work! Look what she has done over the past year!

I am ready to try and conquer the art of nails this year! Who's with me?

{What I Wore} Creative Connection USA: February Event

Tonight was another wonderful Creative Connection USA: Orange County event held at the Il Fornaio in Irvine. It was yet another fabulous event made possible by wonderful women and amazing hospitality! I was SO happy with the turn out! Not only did we have a lot of new faces to our chapter, but everyone was so inspiring and open to meet new people. It is always wonderful to have creative women come together and bond, sharing ideas an experiences.

Tonight I was inspired by a woman name Nicole who started her dream company called the Wardrobe Code. She is a stylist or "wardrobe coach" who comes to your home, gets your closet organized, and finally teaches you how to shop within a budget. She has a huge passion for second hand shops, as she quotes "completely built my own fabulous wardrobe from a local community thrift store for under $1,000." In her honor I have decided to share my affordable CCOC event wardrobe with all of you!

My Wardrobe Pieces

1. Blouse {Old Navy}
2. Earrings {Forever 21}
3. Rockstar Jeggings {Old Navy}
4. Kapri Wedge Boots {Target Online}
5. Bag {Jessica Simpson}

The Novice Chef: Fan Giveaway

You don't want to miss this! The lovely Jessica over at the Novice Chef is giving away a free Keurig and Green Mountain Coffee! Contest runs until September 24.

To enter: What was your first experience with Coffee? 

Rules:

No duplicate comments.

You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry
methods:

a) Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on her post

b) Tweet about this promotion and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment
on her post

c) Blog about this promotion and leave the URL to that post in a comment on
her post

d) For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about
an alternate form of entry.

This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older
Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail.

You have 72 hours to get back to Jessica, otherwise a new winner will be
selected.

The Official Rules are available here.

A Piece of Summer

Summer is a great time to take advantage of incorporating fresh fruit into your recipes. My family has always been a fan of fruit pies during the summer. This season I made a fresh peach pie and a strawberry tart. Both where a huge hit among all! Today I will share with you the strawberry tart, so simple you could make it in your sleep (I don't recommend this...pie may burn). 

Brown Butter Strawberry Tart

Adapted from Bon Appetit Magazine

Crust: 

I bought  Trader Joe's Frozen Pie Crust (2 per box). Follow the instructions on the box. Great flavor, convenient, and budget friendly

Hard Boiled Eggs...Not as "Hard" as you think!

You may think this post is super elementary, but I think it may be a process not many people actually think or know about. Growing up in my family the only time we actually cook up hard boiled eggs is for Easter decorating. This spring time craft doesn't necessarily call for the perfect yolk. Since I am striving to stick to a healthy meal plan, I figured I might as well investigate to get to the bottom of this incredible, edible hard boiled egg. I love eating them, but I HATE when the yolk inside turns a yucky color...you know what I mean?

Fast Forward One Year...Almost to the Day!

What have I been doing this past year that I could not take time out of my day, week, or month to write even one blog post. I have been busy...but that is no excuse. Everyone is busy but finding the time to do what you love is definitely key! Is it funny that in order to figure out what I did over the past year I immediately consult my Facebook photos?

SO what have you missed?

I got a puppy! I'm head over heels for my baby Marlow! I got her a 2 months & she is now 1!

Brown Sugared Grapefruit

I recently have  become a fan of grapefruit, but this was my first time working with a "yellow"one (some people call it white, but not me) as I usually enjoy "red". This was an easy and new way for me to prepare a grapefruit. It's actually more popular than you think, even thought is sounds funny but I broiled a grapefruit the other morning. I have seen it all over food blogs and recipe books and when I told my mom & dad what I was making they mentioned my Grandma Kay and Grandma Anne both use to make grapefruit the same way.  

I really enjoyed this breakfast, although it was more tart than i expected, I think next time I will use a red grapefruit which is generally sweeter.