Monday, December 30, 2013

My 13 Favorite Moments of 2013

What a year 2013 has been!  I started a blog, became a Mrs., added another fur-baby to our pack, traveled to some amazing spots, and had the time of my life along the way! 

This has been such a special year to me, and today I'm counting down my 13 favorite moments from 2013.  So here we go......







This particular Heat game was such a fun game to attend.  It was game 6 of the NBA Finals, and it will forever go down as one of the best games in history.  The energy inside the arena was unreal - almost electric! 





I was absolutely honored to attend my brothers 2013 Military Times Marine of the Year awards ceremony in Washington D.C. with my Mom.  To say that we're proud of him is an understatement! 



Ice skating in Rockefeller Center with my husband a few weeks ago was such a blast!  We had the most ridiculous grins on our faces the whole time :)  The simplest of things are usually the best.



Floating in this oversized tide pool in Kauai was almost surreal!  I'm always taken aback by how beautiful nature really is....and I kinda felt like a mermaid!!






When Adam & I were doing our engagement photo shoot in this small village in Tuscany, I remember standing in front of this door and saying, "Holy shit!  I feel like I'm straight out of a photo on Pinterest!".  Italy is my most favorite place on earth.





Back in January, I treated my Mom to her very first trip to NYC.  We had the best time during our 'girls weekend' and in this particular photo we were taking a bike tour around Central Park.  I don't get to see my mother nearly as often as I would like, so moments such as this are so special to me.





Standing at one of the natural wonders of the world, Victoria Falls in Zambia.  The sheer size + beauty of the Falls is breathtaking.  





People are always shocked when they see this photo.  Quite often I hear, "You really took your dog to Italy?".  Our pups are members of our family, and to have taken this photo with Ace in front of the Colosseum is something I'll remember forever! 





Thanksgiving embodies two of my favorite things in life; cooking + family.  Since I live so far away from my family, I truly treasure the time that I get to spend with them.





This photo was taken the day after our wedding in one of my favorite small Tuscan towns, Pienza.  I love the fact that we're wearing matching linen shirts {kinda funny right!?}, that I'm eating gelato, and that we have big ol' genuine smiles on our faces!





Our honeymoon in Africa was an absolute dream.  Being on safari, and witnessing the fascinating array of wildlife both big and small was deeply impactful on my life. 



This was the moment where we were introducing Lulu to Ace.  She has added such a fun dynamic to our house & I can not imagine life without these two little muffins as they truly bring such joy to our lives.





Pure love + so much happiness in this photo!  I'm so, so blessed.




As 2013 draws to a close I want to say thank you to everyone who reads my blog.  Whether you're new to Typical Domestic Babe, or if you have been here since the beginning, if you silently read my blog in stealth, or if you have commented, I am truly so very grateful for your support.  I wish you all a very happy new year!  xx


**Also, congrats to Samantha M. for winning the My Favorite Things Giveaway!!**

Friday, December 27, 2013

NYC Getaway

**Cough cough.  Sniffle sniffle.  Hackkk hackkkk**  You guys I am SO sick :(  I am normally not one to lie around all day when I have a slight cold, but this one has knocked me on my butt.  Not sure if I picked up another virus when we went to NYC last week, or if this is just an extension of what I had a couple weeks back, but no matter the case - it's flat out NASTY.

I know I had promised last week that I had a recipe that I would be sharing with you, but in all honesty I could barely get out of bed to brush my teeth, let alone cook & photograph what I had in mind.  So it will have to wait until next week.  Sorry lovers :(

In the meantime, I thought I would share a few snapshots of our couple days we spent in snowy NYC last week.  



I had purchased this print off  Etsy which I intend on framing, but I thought it made a cute prop for a photo :)


We always stay at The Crosby Street Hotel in Soho.  I just adore their eclectic decor.


Adam snapped this photo of me {still in my pj's!} watching the snow fall.


Sharing room service breakfast with Adam is one of my favorite aspects of traveling.
We had so much fun ice skating in Rockefeller Center.




I scooped up my beanie from Shopbop a few weeks back.  I love the slouchy style, and it kept me toasty warm! 
Headed to the ballet wearing - Torn by Ronny Kobo sweater dress, Max Mara tights, Givenchy boots, YSL clutch.


Ever since I was a little girl it has been my dream to see the Nutcracker in NYC.  It was amazing :)
Balthazar restaurant + bakery is one block from our hotel so we always stop in for their yummy fresh baked goods and on this occasion some delicious hot cocoa to warm my frozen fingers.


Indulging in the famous Reuben sandwich from Katz's Deli.  Believe it or not, this was a half sandwich!  It was absolutely delicious, but very messy.  Katz's deli is worth the visit {they filmed a scene from When Harry Met Sally there} and to see all of the memorabilia.




If you're interested in what I'm wearing in these photos, I've posted the links below:







Hope you all have a great weekend!  I'll announce the winner of my giveaway on Monday. xx

Monday, December 23, 2013

Easy Home Decor Accent: Mini Indoor Terrarium

Don't you just love Pinterest?  Seriously you guys, how did we ever live without it?!  Pinterest is such a huge source of inspiration for me from recipes, to fashion, home decor, and just about everything in between.  I saw an image a while back of glass cloches being used as indoor terrariums and fell in love with how unique it looked.  

I set out to recreate the image that I saw on Pinterest, but I wanted to use a different type of plant.  The image I saw showed a mini cactus and since I try to practice fen shui in our house, I knew that using a cactus was a no no {any "spikey" plants are bad fen shui}.  Positive vibes only please!  I opted instead for Echeveria which is a variety of succulent.  

Here's how mine turned out:




Using glass cloches instantly adds an intriguing factor to any regular old houseplant.  I've gotten so many compliments from everyone who comes over to our house and its beyond easy to put together!  I found everything that I needed to create my mini indoor terrarium for under $35!! 


Here's what you will need:

Glass cloche - I picked mine up at Pottery Barn for $19 {view here} but I've seen them on occasion at Home Goods for super cheap.

Small Pot - I scored this faux antiqued pot at Target for $8.  Make sure that it has a drainage hole + a tray.

Choose your plant -  Like I mentioned above, I chose a variety of succulents {purchased from Home Depot} but a small indoor violet would also be cute as would trying out edible herbs like thyme or chives.  Bonus if you cook with them also!


A few important notes:

Make sure not to place your terrarium in a location that receives long periods of direct sunlight.  Doing so can cause the temperature to drastically rise inside the cloche and can burn your plant.

Since the cloche will retain moisture {you will be shocked at the amount of moisture that collects inside!} it will only be necessary to water your plant once every couple of weeks.

Make sure that whatever you place your cloche on top of is water resistant.  I move mine back and forth from a couple different areas so that the moisture doesn't ruin the surface on which it is resting.




Happy Planting! xx
 

Friday, December 20, 2013

OOTD - Camel Boots

Happy Friday lovas!!  So we're back from NYC {a few pics to come soon!} but had a little hiccup on the way home.  Our flight was delayed by a couple hours so my hubs, who was starving at the airport, ate a breakfast omelet and got food poisoning!!  It hit him about 12 hours later after we were home and he woke up SO sick in the middle of the night on Thursday.  Poor guy!!  Lets face it girls, we all know how our men are when they're sick, so needless to say, I was playing nurse all day yesterday.  Thank goodness he is feeling much better this morning!

I didn't have much time yesterday to work on the post that I had intended to put up today so instead I'm sharing with you an outfit that I wore last week when I met up with one of my girlfriends for a lunch + shopping date.

I'm a huge fan of Joie blouses and have always loved the laid back boho vibe from the brand.  I scored this Joie blouse from Shopbop last spring on clearance and love the way it hangs on my body.  The jeans I purchased recently at Intermix, but found the exact pair for you on sale {link is below}.   I own many pairs of J.Brand denim already, but this is my first pair of the "Photo Ready" in their line.  They really do suck you in and make you appear smaller :)  Lastly, my wedge boots {See by Chloe} were a major score at the Net-a-porter sale recently.  I love love love the camel color and how they paired perfectly with this look!






Shop This Look:

Joie Blouse {extremely similar here}
J.Brand denim {on major clearance here}



If you haven't entered my giveaway yet you can do so by clicking here {you should definitely enter!}.  I have some great posts lined up for next week, including a new scrumptious recipe!  I hope that all you gorgeous gals have an amazing weekend! xx

Thursday, December 19, 2013

Holiday Gift Guide Volume VI: Stocking Stuffers For Him

I had fully intended on putting this up yesterday, but with traveling back to Miami it completely slipped my mind. Whoops!  

Since we're coming into the last shopping weekend before xmas {crunch time!}, I thought I'd share my picks for stocking stuffers for him.  You won't find any lavish over the top gifts on this list, just small presents that most guys could get some use out of with prices ranging across the board.

Happy shopping! xx



Shop These Items:

One. Plaid scarf {here} //  Two. Fingerless gloves [under $30 + 20% additional off with code SAVEIT] {available here} //  Three. Tom Ford mens soap [uber luxurious + smells so yummy!] {here} //  Four. Classic Ray-Ban's {here} //  Five. Extra cozy socks {on sale here with code GIFTNOW} //  Six. Clinique Maximum Hydrator {available here} //  Seven. Gold dipped playing cards {here} //  Eight. Antler bottle opener {here} //  Nine. Ceramic shaving soap set {available here}

Monday, December 16, 2013

Tis The Season For A Giveaway!

Happy Happy Monday babes!  Adam & I are headed to NYC this afternoon and I'm so excited to possibly see a little snow!  The last time that I saw snow was exactly one year ago {last December} in Prague, and needless to say, I'm a little too thrilled at the idea of bundling up and frolicking around in a snowy wonderland :)  

I'm hoping to get some great photos since NYC is pretty magical this time of year, so be sure to follow me along on Instagram {andy_adler} for a glimpse of my big city getaway.

Now onto that GIVEAWAY!!!  You guys, I have been so excited about this that I could hardly contain myself!  I've been releasing little teasers on instagram because I'm the absolute worst at surprises.  When I am giving a gift I want that person to have it right now.....the anticipation kills me!

Since this is the season of giving, I've decided to gift a few of my favorite things.  These are all items that I personally love and wanted to share with you!

So without further ado, Typical Domestic Babe presents......




My Favorite Little Things:

Cashmere - 100% pure cashmere scarf + gloves.

Travel - A couple travel accessories to take your airport style up a couple notches!  Leather passport case + luggage tag from J.Crew.

Candles - Diptyque candles are some of the best in the world and Ambre is my favorite scent.

Hair Products - Pamper your hair with Pureology Nano Works shampoo & conditioner which is always on rotation in my shower.

Makeup - Urban Decay Naked 3 palette {just released!}.  I own the previous two, and #3 is by far the prettiest :)

Bubble Bath - Laura Mercier Almond Coconut Milk Bubble Bath smells heavenly!

Nail Polish - Tom Ford makes the absolute best nail lacquers.  Smoke Red is perfect for this time of year.

Lip Balm - Minted Rose lip balm from Rosebud Perfume Co is a serious addiction of mine.  I have them stashed everywhere around my house & car.

Eye Cream - I've posted before about the Bobbi Brown Hydrating Eye Cream.....life changing!


Rules:

This giveaway has an approximate combined value of $495 and is open to US residents only {sorry my foreign friends!}.  To enter you must follow me on either Instagram or Pinterest and leave your email address in the comment section of this post.  One lucky winner will be chosen at random on Monday, December 30th and notified via email. 

My info: Instagram {andy_adler} //  Pinterest {andyadler}


Since starting this blog in January, I have made amazing friends & connected with people from many different countries.  Thank you so so sooooo much for following along on this fun little journey of mine.  It means the world to me!
  I my readers! xx


Friday, December 13, 2013

How To Fake A Miami Tan All Winter Long

Even though I live in sunny Miami, rarely will you ever find me lounging on the beach working on my tan.  People are often shocked when they learn that we only go down to the beach maybe once every couple of months considering that we live directly on the beach and the ocean is our backyard!  Ummmmm hello skin cancer + wrinkly old skin?!  No thank you.

On the other hand, I absolutely hate being pale + pasty white.  I have naturally olive colored skin, and when I have no form of a tan I tend to look a little sickly.  I've always been a little bit jelly of girls who have gorgeous porcelain white skin because when I'm pale it's just not a flattering look for me!  So with that being said, I've created a "bronzing routine" that I maintain year round to create the illusion of a Miami tan minus the sun factor.

Read on for more details.



Shop These Items:




Out of all the self tanners that I use, I like the So Bronze tanning mist the best.  This is about the closest thing to getting a professional spray tan in my opinion.  It is very easy to use, and I like the fine mist that it delivers and how quickly it dries.  I have yet to have an issue with streaking and the color is always very natural looking + evenly distributed.  It also doesn't have that awful scent that is so prevalent with most other self tanners on the market.  I use this product about once a week, always directly after a shower where I exfoliate my skin.  One can will usually last me a couple of months.

The St. Tropez Self Tan Bronzing Mousse is another great product for achieving a believable bronzed glow.  I've used this product off and on for over 6 years, so I guess that says something :)  I think that it's essential to buy the mitt that they also sell, as it makes applying the product so much easier.  I used to only use St. Tropez, but since I discovered So Bronze, I don't use it as much anymore.  Personally, I think that So Bronze is easier to apply {I'm lazy!} and dries faster. 

I'm sure everyone is familiar with Jergens Natural Glow so I don't need to go too in depth about it.  My favorite is the Jergens with the firming properties since my booty can always use a little extra help!  I use So Bronze tanning mist once per week and Jergens generally every other day in between to maintain my faux color.  The combo of the two really seems to prolong the tan. 

I also use the So Bronze Tinted Self-Tanning Lotion For Face.  I love how after I apply this to my face it gives me an even natural looking glow {like I just came back from the beach!}.  The product is slightly noticeable after you immediately apply it, and the color deepens after several hours.  It is not heavy or greasy, and does not break my sensitive skin out.  Since I wash my face daily+ exfoliate often, the "tan" doesn't last very long, so I need to reapply every couple of days to maintain.  

Lastly, I think that a good bronzing powder is essential to faking a good tan!  My all time favorite is 'Casino' from Nars.  It blends really nicely and doesn't go on heavy.  A little bit of this goes a long way, and this powder lasts me forever!  

So that's my little routine.  It may not be for everyone, but it works for me :)  What products do you ladies use to achieve a faux tan?

P.S. Check in on Monday because I have an AMAZING giveaway that I'll be hosting!  xx

Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Holiday Gift Guide Volume V: Work Related Gifts

For the fifth installment of Typical Domestic Babes Holiday Gift Guide, I'm focusing on unique small gifts that you can gift to an office co-worker or a work bff.  

Most of these items are a little bit quirky {perfect for a mandatory gift exchange or secret santa!} and make a big impact....ummmm hello 'Porn For Women' book!!  Another favorite of mine is the handmade scarf which is made by women in an African village. Sales from the scarf pay for the women's supplies + salary.  

All items are under $50, with most being around $25-$35 range. 

So put down that generic Starbucks gift card and spread some cheer!  Happy shopping! xx




Shop These Items:

One. Recycled glass bottle moss terrarium {found here} //  Two. Pottery Barn beaded pouches {no longer available online, but is still in stores} //  Three. Handmade scarf [proceeds of sale go to a charity that employs women from an African village who make the scarves - LOVE this!!] {info found here} //  Four. Gold elephant tea light holder {on serious clearance here} //  Five. Leather luggage tag {on sale here with code GIFTNOW} //  Six. Gold monogrammed mug {here} //  Seven. Scented Be Dazzling candle {found here} //  Eight. Adorable wishbone jewelry/trinket holder {here} //  Nine. Absolutely hilarious 'Porn For Women' book contains no nudity [pictures of men engaged in various acts of housework!!!] {info here} //  Ten. Charming sparrow bottle opener {here}

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

OOTD - Sparkley Linen Tee

This outfit of the day combines two of my favorite things: linen + sparkles :)

I found this cute tee online at Madewell.  I normally don't shop there {not for any particular reason, just because I tend to forget about them} but I was xmas shopping for a friend and fell in love with this tee.  I seriously love linen anything {we even have linen bedding in our home} and the quality of this shirt is great.  I may have to start frequenting Madewell more often!

I paired my tee with some old white Paige skinnies {still going strong for over 3+ years}, and my new Acne booties.  If you follow me on Instagram, you've probably seen a few pics of these fabulous new boots.  I scored them from the Net-a-Porter sale and they are on serious repeat right now.  I've never owned any Acne boots before, but I can honestly say that these are the softest leather boots that I've ever even felt.  I made Adam feel how soft they are at least a dozen times and lets not even get started on the color {the most perfect shade of blush pink} or the zippers......I'm obsessed in love.




Shop This Look:

Linen Sparklestripe Tee {here}
Paige Skinny Jeans {here}
Acne Marlie Ankle Boot {still on sale here}
Essie 'Toggle To The Top' Polish {here}

Monday, December 9, 2013

Holiday Dresses For Every Budget

Hope you chicas had a great weekend!  I was sick most of the weekend with a bad cold that I've had for over a week now.  I stayed home all weekend, hoping that if I just took it easy and really rested up that I'd get the upper edge on it, but I still have no voice and am hacking every 45 seconds.  *Sigh* 

Today we're talking party frocks on Typical Domestic Babe; more specifically holiday dresses.  I tend to favor classic silhouettes with girly accents such as a gorgeous lace dress, or subtle bead work.  I'm also in love with the flirty hemlines of fit and flare dresses right now which I believe are universally flattering on every figure.

Getting dressed up is always so much more fun when you have a special event to go to and like most things in life, you definitely don't need to spend a million bucks to look like one!  I've selected 11 dresses in various price ranges that are perfect for this holiday party season.



Shop These Looks:

One. Beaded burgundy dress {here} //  Two. Sequin mini dress {available here} //  Three. Metallic patterned sweater dress [which I'll be wearing in NYC next week!] {found here} //  Four. Pleated skater dress with lace top {here} //  Five. Stunning v-neck beaded dress {here} //  Six. Flirty emerald dress {on sale here} //  Seven. Cutout waist dress {available here} //  Eight. Lace inset fit and flare dress [under $100] {here} //  Nine. Glitter skater dress [around $50!] {found here} //  Ten. Red lace sheath dress {here} //  Eleven. Lace fit and flare dress {here}



Which dress is your favorite?

Friday, December 6, 2013

Traditional Ribollita Recipe

There are many different names for this soup.  "Tuscan bread + bean soup", "peasant soup", and "leftover bread soup" to name a few.  I like to call it "Heaven in a bowl soup".  

What this soup is actually called is Ribollita.  Ribollita is a famous hearty soup, native to the region of Tuscany that is made with loads of veggies, cannellini beans, and bread.  The soup is cooked for hours on the stove until it boils down to more of a stew like consistency.  It actually does have "peasant" origins, as ribollita translates to re-boiled in Italian and relates to the fact that this soup would be reboiled on a wood stove and fed to a family for days at a time.  It really embraces what I imagine Italian peasant cooking to be all about; cheap + damn good food to warm you up and refuel your body.

I first fell in love with this soup on my very first trip to Italy.  Adam took me to Italy for my 30th birthday.  My birthday is in January, so naturally it was freezing outside.  We popped into a little hole in the wall restaurant to mainly get out of the cold weather and I ordered the soup to warm my frozen bones.  The rest is history... it was love at first bite :)  Every time we go back to Tuscany I seek out the soup.  We even served this to our guests at our wedding in Val d'Orcia!  

The flavors are so delicious, and every component of this stew compliments each other perfectly.  It is actually pretty healthy {minus the bread factor} since the ingredients are simply tons of veggies, chicken broth, and cannellini beans {which are an excellent source of fiber + protein}. 

This dish is extremely time consuming, so plan to be your kitchen for hours.  I promise it will be so worth it!!  Pour yourself a glass of vino, do some laundry, relax, but please I beg you, do not rush this recipe.  It really does need to simmer down for the flavor to intensify.

Buon Appetito!  xx




Ingredients

1 1/4 cup dried cannellini beans
12 large sage leaves
8 garlic cloves; 5 sliced & 3 chopped
1 large onion, chopped
2 large celery stalks, diced
1 large carrot, chopped
1 large unpeeled yukon gold, cut into 1/2 inch cubes
1 small fennel bulb, trimmed, quartered through core and sliced crosswise
1 large pinch dried thyme
1 small bunch swiss chard, center stem removed and cut into 1" ribbons {about 6 cups worth}
4 cups thinly sliced napa cabbage 
1 small bunch of kale {any variety}, cut crosswise into 1" ribbons {about 6 cups worth}
5 large plum tomatoes, chopped
1 2" square parmesan cheese rind
Pinch of dried crushed red pepper
2 cups {plus extra for thinning out} good quality chicken broth
6 half inch slices crusty white bread {such as focaccia or country white} torn coarsely with crust intact.
water
salt & pepper
Extra virgin olive oil


Directions

Combine 8 cups water, beans, sage, and sliced garlic in large saucepan. Bring to boil; reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer until beans are tender, stirring occasionally and adding more water by 1/4 cupfuls to keep beans submerged, 2 to 2 1/2 hours, depending on age of beans. 

When beans are tender, add 1 teaspoon sea salt; simmer 10 more minutes. Uncover and cool beans in their liquid. Do not discard liquid as you will be adding this to the soup later on.

Heat 3 tablespoons olive oil in large pot over medium heat. Add onion; sprinkle with 1 tsp sea salt. Cook until onion is translucent, stirring often, about 5 minutes. Add chopped garlic; stir 2 minutes. 

Add celery, carrot, potato, fennel, and thyme; cook until vegetables are tender and begin to turn brown in spots, stirring often, 15 to 18 minutes. Add kale, chard, cabbage, tomatoes, Parmesan rind, 5 cups water, and 1 teaspoon sea salt. 

Bring to boil; reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until vegetables are very tender, about 1 1/2 hours. 

Add beans with cooking liquid and crushed red pepper. Add 2 cups chicken broth. Season with salt and generous amount of pepper.

Add bread to soup and bring soup to a simmer, stirring often to break up bread into smaller pieces and adding more broth by 1/2 cupfuls to thin, if desired. Season with sea salt and pepper.

Divide ribollita among bowls, drizzle with oil, and serve.

**This soup will feed your family for days & the flavor is even better on day 2!  You can also freeze any leftovers in tupperware and it will hold for months in your freezer** 


 Original recipe modified via Bon Appetit
 

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