Friday, May 31, 2013

This Week In Pics

I can not believe its Friday already, this week literally flew by!  If you read other blogs, you've probably seen the blogging community going nuts over Net-A-Porters sale that started on Tuesday morning.  Their sale is the absolute greatest gift to online shopping as you can find the BEST deals!   Dolce & Gabbana dresses for 50% off, Jimmy Choos for a few hundred dollars, and Chloe for the same cost of an Equipment blouse.....it doesn't get much better than this!

I'm not sure if I should be ashamed to admit this but I was actually ready and waiting for this sale based off of my experiences from last year.  At 8:00 am, I was at my computer, Amex in hand, and  fully prepared to do some serious damage.  Since the sale only happens twice per year, word of their sale catches on like wildfire, and like the year before the site crashed within the course of 1 hour!  This was extremely frustrating as I already had many items in my shopping bag and lost them all....some of which were sold out by the time the site started functioning again. 

If there is one thing that I've learned from the last few times that I've shopped this magical sale, its that if you like something you need to buy it NOW!  For this reason, I ended up placing 4 orders on Tuesday morning.  Even if you are not sure about the sizing, or how an item will fit you, BUY IT!!  I bought several items in 2 different sizes because I wasn't sure how they would fit me.  Their free return shipping policy makes it super simple to return items that don't fit properly.  

Shop Net-A-Porter's sale by clicking here!

Here's what I scored:




Aren't those Chloe wedges to die for?  They were 50% off!  Same goes for the GORG Alberta Ferretti silk shorts.  I had my eye on the Rag & Bone linen shorts and almost bought them last month, so glad that I didn't!  Most of my goods should arrive sometime today, and hopefully I can show you some outfit of the day pics next week!  

How about you girls?  Did any of you shop the sale?  I would love to hear about what you scored!

OK, enough sale talk.  Here is the rest of my week in pics.....


Ace wearing his patriotic bandanna on MDW

I'm not sure if I will ever get over that this is where I live now

It was a skewer kind of night; mozzarella caprese pops, veggie skewers and organic wine we brought back from So. Africa

My go to outfit for the summer! Rag & Bone vest, Splendid maxi, YSL ring.
 
Dinner at one of my faves, Casa Tua.  I love sitting in the garden surrounded by candlelight...


Chelsea Flower off the shoulder blouse, La Marque for Intermix perforated leather shorts, Christian Louboutin heels.

I was craving a breakfast like we have in Italy! Mozzarella, tomatoes, avocado slices, hard boiled eggs and whole wheat toast drizzled with olive oil. SCRUMP!

Our friends made us custom sweatshirts for a wedding present! Thanks Dima & Uliya!!

Short shorts!!  Rag & Bone sweater, AE shorts, Jeffrey Campbell boots.

Tomato, basil & spinach risotto - one of my Pinterest recipes that I tried out.  Recipe can be found on my Pinterest board Food!

Rainy day walks require matching hoodies :)  Both are from American Apparel (they have the BEST dog hoodies!)



Thank you so much for taking the time to read my blog!  I hope you have a beautiful weekend :) xo



Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Quick & Easy Lemon Bars, Gluten & Dairy Free

Buenos días friends!  I hope everyone had a great 3 day weekend!  Did you guys do anything fun?  I stayed home, sat around and had the laziest of weekends.  Sometimes I forget how nice it is to just chillax at home!  I zoned out on the internet for hours at a time, watched 'Cloud Atlas', napped, advanced to level 100 on Candy Crush (my guilty pleasure!), did a little online shopping, tried a youtube makeup tutorial, and the baked lemon bars that I'm about to share with you.

I absolutely LOVE lemon bars.  Unfortunately, lemon bars are filled with sugar, butter, and more sugar.....YUCK!  I found this recipe on Pinterest and had been dying to try it.  I'm so glad that I did because this is a definite winner!  Its a much healthier version of traditional lemon bars that's not too sweet, and the lemon flavor is robust yet not overpowering.  The traditional shortbread crust is replaced with a gluten free almond meal crust which pairs perfectly with the sweet & tangy flavors in the custard.  Its light, refreshing, and healthy!!  

Whats unique about these lemon bars is that you use an entire lemon (including the peel) to make the filling.  Yep, that's correct, you include the peel.  For this reason, its important to use an organic lemon for this recipe.

Original recipe can be found on the Tasty Yummies blog.







Ingredients

Crust  
  • 1 1/2 cups almond meal
  • 2 tbsp honey
  • 1/4 c. coconut oil, melted
  • 1/2 tsp. baking soda
  • 1/8 tsp. salt

Topping
  • 1 whole organic lemon, washed
  • 4 tbsp. honey
  • 1/3 c. fresh squeezed lemon juice (around 2 lemons)
  • 2 tbsp. sugar substitute (I use Z Sweet)
  • 4 large eggs, at room temperature 
  • 4 tsp. arrowroot starch (you can also use tapioca or corn starch)
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 3 tablespoons coconut oil, melted and slightly cooled
  • Powdered sugar for topping, or shredded coconut (optional)

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350º F. Line an 8-inch square pan with two pieces of parchment paper, one going in each direction. In a medium bowl, mix all of the crust ingredients together.  Press into the bottom of the pan, making sure that it is even and is pressed into all corners.  Place in oven and bake for 15-20 minutes or until lightly golden brown. Remove from oven.

While the crust is baking, cut the whole lemon in half, remove the seeds, and cut the lemon into chunks. Make sure that there is not additional seeds hiding (those guys are sneaky!)  Put the lemon chunks in a food processor or blender along w/ the honey and additional lemon juice, and blend until the lemon is completely broken up. Add the eggs, arrowroot powder, salt, sugar, and melted coconut oil and blend until almost smooth. 

Once the crust comes out of the oven, lower the temperature of the oven to 300ºF. Pour the lemon topping over the hot crust and bake for 25 minutes or just until the filling is no longer jiggling and is barely set.

Remove the bars from the oven and let them cool completely. Once cooled, carefully lift out the bars out by grasping the parchment paper.  Cut into squares.  Finish with powdered sugar or shredded coconut before serving.

Store in the refrigerator, or these can be frozen as well for about a month.


Please let me know if you end up baking this!  I would love to hear how it turned out for you!! xo
 

Saturday, May 25, 2013

Sale Items!

This, my friends, is the best part of Memorial Day Weekend!  I love all of the great sales going on in most of my favorite stores and most notably is the the Half Yearly Sale at Nordstroms.  This particular sale is enough to get my endorphins firing!  You can find such great deals on shoes, denim, and handbags!  Lets not waste anytime, here are a few pieces that I have my eye on and also a few items that I currently own and am kicking myself for not waiting for this sale......

Sam Edelman 'Mason Sandal.  View it here.









  • Comes in 3 colors including a GORG coral color which would look great w/ sunkissed feet and vibrant polish.

  • Would look amazing with white skinny jeans, or the right pair of high waisted shorts! 












Vigoss Print Skinny Jeans, view here. 









  • Printed denim is so on trend!

  • Such a steal at $35











Alice + Olivia Print Silk Maxi Dress.  See it here.











  • Such a gorgeous dress!  Those colors are amazing.  My stylist that I used for a recent shoot had brought me this dress but it was too big, definitely size down.


  • Would be perfect for a summer wedding.


  • The cut and fit is very "Greek Goddess" feeling.



DV by Dolce Vita "Ayden" Sandal, see it here.














  • These sandals come in EVERY color under the sun!

  • Love the 2 tone straps.


BlankNYC 'The Little Queenie' shorts, get them here.




















  • Perfect print and embroidered details.

  • White denim is such a summer staple.

  • Great sale price, around $50!


Two by Vince Camuto denim. See here.















  • Mint + polka dots!  So fun!

  • Slim cut is universally flattering.

  • I recently bought an identical version from J.Crew for almost 3x the price.....
 















Steve Madden 'Nanncy' Sandal.  Info found here.










  • Perfect neutral color combo.

  • Very versatile shoe, could work w/ shorts, pants, or with the perfect little sundress.


  • Under $50!!






Jolt High Waist Eyelet shorts, view here.









  • Adorable eyelet detail, perfect for summer!

  • Also comes in white.

  • Front vents add comfort.

  • No joke, these babies are $25!


Alice + Olivia drop waist dress, view it here.
 



















  • Drop waist is extremely figure flattering.

  • Love the vibrant blue color!

  • Great back details including mesh paneling and exposed zipper.

  • So disappointed that I purchased this last month at full price :(












Keep me posted if any of you girls end up purchasing these great sale items, and fill me in on any other great finds!!

Happy Shopping!

Friday, May 24, 2013

This Week in Pics

This weekend is the official kick off to summer, and while I LOVE the summer season, I HATE Memorial Day weekend.  It may seem a little unpatriotic for me to make this statement, but before you judge, allow me fill you in.

Every year, when MDW rolls around, the Urban Beach Week (which happens to be the largest hip hop festival in the world) invades Miami Beach.  I don't need to get into the nitty gritty details, lets just say that its an unpleasant experience for those who live here.  Most Miami residents head out of town.  We did last year, but this year due to unfortunate timing, we weren't able to.

So while the rest of America celebrates this three day holiday weekend, I'll be hunkered down in my condo as if we're prepping for a hurricane.  At least I'll have a chance to catch up on work that I need to do, as well as catch up on some online shopping :) (sorry Adam!).

I hope that you all have a safe and beautiful holiday!! xo


I couldn't resist picking up these beautiful peonies from the market

I heart getting packages in the mail :)

Paige denim, Monrow v-neck tee, J.Crew cotton blazer, necklace from Nordstrom

We received our engagement photo session pictures! Photo by Jose Villa
Healthy breakfast! Greek yogurt, organic berries, ground flaxseed, drizzled w/ honey.
iPic movie theaters are the best!
BCBG sweater, Zara studded shorts, Boutique9 wedges


 

Monday, May 20, 2013

Organic Homemade Dog Food Recipe




I promised a while back (pre-wedding craziness) that I would post the recipe that I make for Aces organic dog food.  Since life is much less hectic, and we're back from honeymoon I wanted to share that recipe with you.   

I don't think twice about making Aces food from scratch.  Sure, I get the typical eye rolling when I tell people that I prepare his food at home, but for me it just makes sense.  I pay such close attention to the foods that feed and nourish my body as well as my husbands, it would be silly not to do the same for Ace.  It is a little labor intensive to prepare,  but he is a member of our family and I want for him to live a long healthy life :)

Dog nutrition is a topic that has fascinated me for years.  I don't think that a lot of people realize that many of the same foods that you & I enjoy can also be extremely healthy and beneficial for our pups as well.  In this recipe there are very few ingredients that I use, but they all serve a purpose.  Ground chicken is the base, along with white rice.  White rice is actually better for dogs than brown rice as white rice is easier for them to digest.  I also use 2 whole eggs blended until liquefied, shells included.  The reason for that is because the egg shells are an excellent source of calcium and is easily absorbed into their system.  The shells are also completely tasteless.  Ground flax seed isn't only good for humans, our four legged friends benefit from the nutritional powerhouse as well!  Just be careful to start your dog with small amounts and gradually build him up as the fiber content in flaxseed can have a laxative affect if fido isn't used to it!  This recipe is extremely versatile and you can adjust the ingredients to suit your dogs tastes, replacing the canned squash for sweet potato or pumpkin, carrots for squash, etc.

It is important to note that this recipe is lacking a few essential nutrients that are vital for dogs.  I would need to add an additional 20-25 ingredients to this simple recipe to gain those nutrients.  I add a daily supplement to his food to make up for the nutrient deficiency.  That supplement is Dinovite.  Adding this ensures that Ace isn't lacking any vitamins or minerals that he needs to stay healthy.  

This recipe feeds Ace (he weighs 13lbs) for approximately 5 days.  


Ingredients

2lbs lean ground chicken
2 cups cooked white rice
3-4 peeled & steamed carrots, diced
2 whole eggs
1tbsp ground flax seed (please see my notes about flax seed above)
1/4 c. canned butternut squash
1/3 c. reduced sodium chicken broth


Directions


  1. Cook ground chicken in saute pan.  Do not add any additional oils.  Once cooked, drain fat and set aside.
  2. Crack eggs open and place in blender (shells included!); blend until liquefied.
  3. Incorporate eggs with chicken and cook over medium heat until eggs are thoroughly cooked.
  4. Time to make a "paste" to bind all the ingredients together: Using that same blender container, combine 2/3 c chicken/egg mixture, 1/3 c. rice, 2 tbsp carrots, and 1/3 c. chicken broth.  Puree until creamy.
  5. In a large bowl, combine chicken/egg mixture with the remaining rice, and carrots.
  6. Add in pureed mixture, flax seed, and butternut squash and incorporate until all ingredients are combined.
  7. Using a baking sheet lined in parchment paper, measure out your dogs servings and make rounds for individual servings.  I use a measuring cup packed to about 3/4 cup and just plop it down onto the baking sheet.  The portion should come out easily.
  8. I usually store 2 days worth of food in an airtight container in the refrigerator and any remaining goes into the freezer.



"Paste"
This is what your eggs should look like; frothy & liquid.


Perfectly portioned.

Happy boy!


Feel free to email me if you have any questions: 

andreadewey4206@gmail.com

I always love hearing from you so please provide feedback and comments :)

Also, don't forget to follow me on bloglovin as Google Reader will be vanishing soon!  Click on the link below.




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Friday, May 17, 2013

Product Review + This Week In Pics

Happy Friday lovers!  I wanted to tell you about this amazing new face mask that I found at Sephora.  Its called When Essence Mask - TravelMate.  I first found it last month when I was picking up last minute items for Italy.  Sephora had it strategically placed in that aisle; the one before you get to the register to pay with all those cute mini sampler items (that call out your name) and you somehow need....you know what I'm talking about!  The packaging was pink and pretty and said "travel" on it.  I was sold.  My skin tends to get really dry on long distance flights so I always like to use a face mask of some sort either pre-flight or after for extra hydration.  

I gave it a go when we arrived in Italy.  Its super easy to use; simply open up the pouch, peel apart the different paper layers, and place onto your cleansed skin.  My initial thoughts were:

  • "Wow, I look totally creepy!".....the mask is designed with cut outs for your eyes, nose, and mouth so you kind of look like that psycho guy wearing the skin mask in The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.  I actually terrified my friend Jenn while I was creeping around our villa in Italy while wearing the mask....long story.
  • The mask feels like heaven!  Its cooling, hydrating, and feels simply delicious on your skin!  
  • It is extremely similar to the pricey SK-II brand (for fractions of the price).

You're supposed to leave the mask on for 20-30 minutes, but I left mine on for close to an hour.  Once you remove it, you just massage any remaining product into your skin.  I also massaged it into my neck & chest area, and also onto the backs of my hands.  Afterwards my skin felt refreshed, uber hydrated, and was literally glowing.  No weird reactions of any sort.



For more detailed product info click here.

The mask is made from coconut juice


I went back to Sephora, and purchased the full package which contains 4 face masks for $28.  Adam & I both used the mask after our flights to Africa last week.  It was a skin saver after that 18+  hour flight!  Same results; glowing, hydrated skin.  I couldn't be happier with the product, and I had to share this with you girls!



Now onto my piccys.  I don't have a whole lot to show you as we just arrived back on Monday night.  I've been playing catch up all week and I'll have some great recipes that I'll be posting soon!


He was so happy to have us home!


Monrow tank, Robert Rodriguez silk shorts, Dolce Vita sandals.

I heart getting wedding presents that come in this bag :)

3.1 Phillip Lim sweatshirt, AE shorts, JCrew belt.

Cruisin in Dads Porsche on the way to the groomers.

Blouse from Nasty Gal, Citizens of Humanity capri's, Alice + Olivia wedges.

Gorgeous sunset with views of downtown Miami.


Thank you so much for taking the time to read my blog :)  It really means a lot to me!  Feel free to respond with comments & feedback, I love your comments!

Have a beautiful weekend!
 

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