saturday: outfit of the day

shoes: rampage (i couldnt find the exact ones but these are awesome!)

leggings: marshalls (they are fleece lined..yes, please!)

shirt: mine is the brand (similar here and here)

tuesday: outfit of the day

top: ann taylor

jeans: american eagle

belt: ebay

shoes: dolce vita

watch: michael kors

pinterest: food edition

yes, i know. it's been forever since i've last written. i don't have an excuse except lots of working mixed with a little bit of laziness. i apologize :-( it won't happen again. blogging is my escape [besides cooking, i love cooking]. so today, i'm writing about pinterest. a woman's equivalent to call of duty or working on a car or whatever it is that guys are into. it's the best way to waste LITERALLY an entire day. it is awesome. so i pin everything from home decorating to recipes to cute puppies. it depends on my mood, of course. feel free to follow me here. 

there are a few pins that i have actually made and it's turned out amazing and then some, not so much..here are some of the good ones!

BAKED SWEET AND SOUR CHICKEN

Source: life-as-a-lofthouse.blogspot.com via Alexandra on Pinterest

they are AMAZING. so seriously addicting and you will never feel like you made enough. i've made them twice so far and my hubby is addicted. i swap out the refined sugar for stevia but you can probably use any sugar or substitute and be super happy.


WHITE CHICKEN ENCHILADAS

                                                                      Source: joyful-mommas-kitchen.blogspot.com via Alexandra on Pinterest

these enchiladas were one of the first recipes i tried out on pinterest. excellent.very, very easy and makes a ton! i reduced the calories and fat but using reduced fat 3 cheese mexican blend [instead of monterrey], margarine [no butter], reduced sodium chicken broth, and dairy free sour cream [can't tell a difference, promise!]


CAJUN CHICKEN FETTUCCINE ALFREDO

                                                                              Source: comfortablydomestic.com via Alexandra on Pinterest

Wow. I have a love affair with alfredo [homemade only, store bought = yuck]. i, of course, do this in moderation and the next day, pretty much eat salad and drink water all day. but let me tell you, it is completely worth it. i just bought thin sliced chicken so i didn't have to beat the poor meat. told you i'm lazy! i just used McCormick's Cajun seasoning. gotta say, pretty much made this as written [hence the salad/water combo the next day] but there are a ton of ways you can reduce the calorie and fat content [sub half and half for plain greek yogurt, omit butter when cooking chicken and just use veggie spray, etc]


 HOMEMADE RANCH DRESSING

                                                                                   Source: fluffimama.blogspot.com via Alexandra on Pinterest

i'm not usually one for the use of packets of seasoning [taco, chili, ranch, etc] but i had an extra ranch one hanging around so i thought i would just try it. wow, it's pretty legit. it taste's exactly like regular ranch dressing, though it makes a TON of it. i had to toss it because since it has milk, it definitely has a quick expiration date versus regular ranch in a bottle [that's a good thing! no preservatives or yuck stuff...well except whats in the packet of course]

PENNE ROSA WITH SHRIMP

                                                                                  Source: backtoherroots.com via Alexandra on Pinterest

on trend with my other posts here, this subs out half and half for plain greek yogurt. i do this ALL the time. in one of my most requested recipes [next one below], i cut the calories drastically by subbing with the yogurt and you can't even tell a difference. any time something calls for half and half, mayo, ranch - i sub with the greek yogurt. it's awesome! for this one, i pretty much make as is but i have omitted the spinach has my hubby is NOT a fan [but i bet it's great!]


BUFFALO CHICKEN DIP

                                                                          Source: the-girl-who-ate-everything.com via Alexandra on Pinterest

this is my most requested recipe. i have made this dozens of times for football games, parties, dinner, whatever! it's AWESOME! now i've made this the full fat version and my own version and there is practically NO DIFFERENCE. my hubby [who usually is not a fan of the healthy stuff i serve] PREFERS the low fat version just because it tastes the exact same, so why not? if that's not a stamp of approval, i don't know what is! sub out for low fat cream cheese [whipped doesn't work!], the ranch dressing from above [cuts down a TON of calories/fat, if you don't have it opt for reduced fat ranch], reduced fat cheddar. i'm telling you, it's ADDICTING!


SLOW COOKER CHICKEN CAESAR SANDWICHES

    Source: chef-in-training.com via Alexandra on Pinterest

couldn't be easier plus i LOVE anything ceasar so i 100% recommend this! let's get real, i heart the slow cooker. if you're feeling frisky - try making your own ceasar! it's pretty easy and you save on all those blah extra ingredients!

Here are some others that I can't get enough of:
3 ingredient meatballs 
avocado and egg salad 
green goddess grilled cheese sandwich
mac and cheese with roasted chicken, rosemary and goat cheese 
bacon, egg and toast cups 
avocado chicken salad 
ah-mazing chocolate chip cookies 
creamy tomato pasta 
strawberry cream cheese cobbler  
buffalo chicken bites
superfood salad with lemon vinaigrette
"world's best chicken"


have you tried any of these? any that you want to recommend for me to try? leave a comment :)
-xoxo-
a

update...

i am super sorry that i have been absent for so long! we took a vaca to the dominican - so at first i was planning, then i was packing, then i was there, then i had to come back to reality and NOW - i'm here! blah anyway, some photo's of the place that took my mind away from blogging...

we're so cute, right? ;) anyway, we had a BLAST! the beach/resort/entire vacation was awesome. some other random updates in my life:

1. i'm getting back into working out. i took a 5 week hiatus [it was glorious] but i'm getting my but back in the gym. it really does make me feel good AFTER i'm done, during though...not so much :-)

2. read me some 50 shades of grey while i was on vaca. oh.my.goodness. i'm blushing thinking about it. if you haven't read it, you should - if you like the xrated type. definitely not for the timid! didn't think to bring the 2nd book with me [duh] but i just ordered it, should be here wednesday!

3. i have been working everyday so today is my day to shop aka feel like myself again. i'll update you on how that goes.

4. i'm officially a fruit bearing gardener [insert sigh of relief]. i've never had a green thumb, but my tomato plant and cucumber plants are legit growing real, edible fruit. it's actually a lot more exciting then it sounds!

5. we are going to a braves game in august! my hubby LOVES him some atlanta braves and i LOVE me some atlanta so we are going to spend a weekend there. CAN'T WAIT!

that's it. sadly, not a super exciting life. stuff i'm on the lookout for today: a gold watch [really want a michael kors one, maybe i'll just hold off until my birthday] and red shorts & super cute blue top for the baseball game. 

-xoxo-

a

 

splurge v. steal

in other blogs, splurge v. steals are always my absolute fav. while i consider myself a pretty fashionable gal, i can't help the bargain huntress in me. marshalls, tjmaxx, ross - some days you find nothing, but some days you find everything. it's awesome. anyway, a few days i posted about getting sunglasses. i love everything nicole richie. home girl is a style icon! her winter kate and house of harlow line are amazing. anyway, i'm diggin' her new chelsea shades

i mean, HELLO - they are awesome. and they are totally me. so while $140 isn't bad for a pair of shades, i lose break scratch destroy my glasses so it's hard for me to justify that. however, thanks to the people over at In Their Closet, we find these little goodies..

and get this...they are $10 from amazon with free shipping. YES PLEASE. i ordered them immediately and i'm happy to report, they are awesome! here's a little shot of them on [i just woke up and am going to the pool..no judge zone]

i don't know about you, but i love the over-sized frame and the cat eye is so on trend! what do you think?

-xoxo-

a

small break...

i'm sorry that it's been awhile since i wrote. i had some family things to deal with that included a last minute trip to chicago and blogging wasn't on the top priority list. but i am back! a few things on the agenda today..

1. i finally got my j-crew "ish" necklace in! BAM! it's fricking awesome. i absolutely love, love, love it. great quality and um, 1/1000 of the cost of the real thang. it comes in a few different colors, but with free shipping - you should order them all! just search "bubble necklace" on ebay...there are a lot of international sellers that have the exact same necklace. i'd post a picture of myself with it but it's early and i haven't worn makeup in a week, not feeling like starting today!

2. striped curtains + me = obsession. i am going through a phase right now where i am loving everyyyyything striped. my newest DIY project is these bad boys. i'm going to do grey and way wider stripes, more like these. so super easy and what a statement! i cannot wait to make them for my kitchen windows :) on the mission now to find some cheap curtains to test this theory on. why can't south carolina have an IKEA?! what to do with my two story windows still eludes me.

3. it is booked, FINALLY. we are going on vacationnnnnnn. and you know what that means? i am in serious need of some resort wear. maxis, embellished sandals, scarves, the whole she-bang. what is better than laying out by the beach while servers bring you limitless champs? okay, nothing. but what is close? shopping!! i'll keep you posted on all the haul goodness. i'll let you in on my first purchase: sunnies.

[did you like the real housewives champs reference? i love heather]

-xoxo-

a

bubble necklace

oh my. this is spreading like wild fire in the blogger community, so i might as well jump on the band wagon. i've been crushing on this j. crew bubble necklace in legit every color but with a price tag of $150, i think DH might kill me. literally. so while browsing my other daily blog reads, i come about several having to do with this necklace..much to my surprise they went on e-bay and bought a realish one for.... $14.50! I kid you not. Mosey on over there and pick one [or 4..like me!] up! Just search "j. crew bubble necklace"..comes right up! I loves me a good bargain!

-xoxo-

A

recipe share

let me tell you something, i love love love to cook. so when pinterest came around - ya i pinned some fashion stuff and some design stuff but i was a sucker for the food. i've gotten to try so many great recipes that i wouldn't have gotten to try otherwise. this one i wanted to share with you because it is LEGIT awesome. super easy to make plus she encourages drinking during making, so i was completely on board. 

i love this lady's website - she knows what she's doing and she is really humorous in her writing style - which makes reading an otherwise mundane recipe kinda fun. anyway - i want to share her lemon basil ricotta stuffed shells in a champagne cream sauce. if the name alone doesn't pique your interest, i dunno what will. it may sound difficult but it's SUPER easy, AND you get to finish the bottle of champagne [ok it doesn't say that exactly but that's what i did :)] and it made cooking a heck of a lot more fun. just as an fyi, i did NOT make the ricotta myself [mostly because i guess i had forgotten how awesome ricotta tastes and didn't want to make a whole batch of it]. though the homemade stuff looks pretty easy, i just bought ricotta from the grocery store and added some lemon juice and fresh basil leaves [from my new herb garden!]..and let me tell you - this was a HIT. it was so awesome, words cannot explain. 

i know the recipe may sound a bit heavy, but they do sell low fat ricotta! plus, if you keep drinking..i promise you wont care. this also makes a ton and heats up really well for leftovers. i browsed her other recipes and have bookmarked a few...this  sounds pretty awesome. i also made this and it was SO good [and super cheap too]!

if you make this, let me know how it goes! thanks!

-xoxo-

a

shopping is not for the faint of heart

i'm here to talk about my favorite shopping websites. after moving to charleston from florida, i found that the shopping here left something to be desired wasn't that great was okay. i mean it's hard to compete with millenia and florida mall..hell, even volusia mall was better then what we got over here. so i'd never had to online shop before...now, i'm pretty sure our UPS guy knows me. we've chatted..he's got 3 kids and his name is ted. 

anyway, these websites below are not the ONLY places i shop - i still prefer trying stuff at a store but i can only walk into express so many times before im over it. have you ever shopped online? give it a try! most offer free returns so try it on at your house [at least this way if the jeans don't fit, you don't have to hand them back to the sales girl with a melancholy look and mumble something about them not working while you go drown your sorrows in an auntie anne's pretzel afterwords. not saying this has happened or anything....]

do you know any websites that i should check out? i'm always looking for help!

GILT

*awesome website. if you haven't heard of this or the one below, i am so sorry. you have to be a member [click the link above and sign up!] which is completely FREE and they send you an email everyday with their sales. you can get jewelry, jeans, dresses, shoes, baby stuff, trips, anything..for a discounted rate. now i'm one to do my research..so when i saw Black Orchid [love] was having a sale on GILT, i looked at a ton of other websites hoping to find something of a better deal...i couldnt..so i ordered two pairs and they are AWESOME. same goes with some jessica simpson and LAMB shoes i ordered from there. jewelry for christmas gifts. it's basically a legit, awesome website.*

HauteLook and Rue La La 

*both are the exact same concept as above. and to describe my morning routine...wake up, roll over, grab phone, check facebook, gilt, hautelook, rue la la. in that order. not lying. sign up! they are all free and you might find something that you love!*

Tobi 

*one of the best online shopping websites everrrr. SUCH cute stuff and great prices. they also run a special, 30% off new arrivals EVERY DAY. so you will ALWAYS get your fix. a lot of these clothes are all up over Pinterest. get addicted...please*

6 PM and Piperlime 

*shoes.shoes.shoes.shoes. need i say more? such great websites..please rachel zoe has her picks on piperlime...yes please*

LuLu's 

*this site has super cute dresses and shoes with a variety of price points..i obviously tend to go to the cheap stuff and there are plenty of options! like these? or these? or these? sorry. got distracted*

Nasty Girl

*a friend of mine actually told me about this website. i'd never heard of it before..but im in love! such cute vintage stuff and great prices on their new stuff. definitely boho but that's right up my alley!*

Shop Sosie

*a little bit "higher end" then the other sites. a little bit. definitely affordable. such cute stuff though but i try and limit myself on this website since it's super easy to spend a lot of money.*

Mango 

*SUCH cute stuff, really affordable. lots of trendy stuff. i seriously love this website*

those are the ones that i visit most often. besides your basic forever 21 and what not - which i don't go to that often [not because i dont want to, but because ours is far away]..all of these websites offer something for someone! if you have any sites you think that i should check out - please comment and let me know! i'm always looking for some new shopping places :) thanks guys.

-xoxo-

A

backyard dreamin'

Buying a new house is a PROJECT. We bought a 5 bed, 3 bath home in a great neighborhood about a year ago. There are always things that need to be "done" but the good news it's habitable. On top of that, we could house a few guests for awhile [with beds and everything!]. I have SO much to do on my "to do" list that it seems daunting. I literally forgot we even had a backyard until my lovely FIL bought us a beautiful patio furniture set with a fire pit to boot. There have been long talks about extending our little 10x10 concrete slab but nothing has been done as of yet.

 

What I would love to walk out to [a girl can dream...]

 

What I could walk out to [nothing crazy - definitely attainable]

 

 What I walk out to [ya....]

So needless to say, we have our work cut out for us. I love that we back up to a protected forest so they can never build there. DH is working on getting the grass "greener" aka I'm pretty sure he's using it as an excuse not to mow - but who knows. Our dog has torn that backyard up with his crazy running around so DH has filled in the bare spots and we are waiting [and waiting..and waiting..literally to watch grass grow]. I have a bunch of DIY projects in the works.

How cool is this? I want to do that along the back part of the fence. I need to amp up my wine drinking. Done and done.

We definitely want to extend the patio but until money magically appears then, we are going to take that bare area next to the house that used to have some pine straw stuff our builder used [which gunner ate within a day]...and we are going to put mulch to match the front. What do you guys think? Any ideas? I would love to hire someone to actually design a backyard space for us - it would be such a selling feature down the road [at least that's what I tell DH].

-xoxo-

A