Thursday, November 28, 2013

Happy Thanksgiving

A very special 'Thanks' to all of our service men and women who are serving our Country overseas and are away from their family on this Holiday.  I am truly grateful for the dedication, sacrifice and service you have made to protect my freedoms. 







To all of my beautiful readers, Happy Thanksgiving!  I have so much to be grateful for and you all are one of them!  xx

Wednesday, November 27, 2013

Holiday Gift Guide Volume III: Gifts For The Gals

Happy Thanksgiving Eve ladies!  Thanksgiving for me is like the Superbowl of cooking, so needless to say, today is an entirely full day of prepping for tomorrows festivities.  My brother flies in tonight from Virginia, and my mom has been here since Monday.  It's so good to have family around during this time of year ♡

Today's Holiday Gift Guide is all about the chicas in our lives!  Whether it's your mom, sister, or bestie, today's gifts will most certainly impress.  Think cozy & luxurious knits, glam accessories, and girly beauty products.  You can also feel free to email this to your hubbies/boyfies {own up girls, we all do it!}.  Sometimes our guys need a little bit of inspiration in these departments :)

Don't forget to check out my other Holiday Gift Guides with perfect Hostess Picks + Gifts For Guys.

Happy Shopping! xx




Shop These Items:

Burberry cashmere scarf {found here} //  Cozy knit vest {here} //  Engraved pendant necklace {here} //  Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille [smells soooo yummy!] {found here} //  Fur pom beanie {available here} //  Stila lip glaze set [$124 value for under $30!] {here} //  Rebecca Minkoff monogram pouch {found here} //  Ray-Ban sunnies {on sale here with code 'HOLIDAY'} //  Stila 5 piece brush set {available here} //  Adorable Kate Spade bow earrings {here} //  Chloe satchel bag {here} //  Pretty Bobbi Brown shimmer palette {here} //  Animal print PJ's {found here} //  Mint passport cover {on sale here} //  Laura Mercier bath & body set {available here} //  Glam touch screen gloves {on sale here}

Monday, November 25, 2013

Product Review: Carols Daughter Monoi Repairing Hair Mask

What a whirlwind weekend!  I felt like I had so much to do, but accomplished absolutely nothing.  We are gearing up for family to come stay with us this week {yayyy my mom flies in tonight} and I had a to do list that was a mile long.  :)  

Today I wanted to chat about a new conditioning mask that I am completely hooked on: Carols Daughter Monoi Repairing Hair Mask. 



I purchased this about a month ago from Ulta and I can see a major difference in my hair.  Since I only get my hair trimmed every 4-5 months, my ends were a little frazzled and in need of some serious help.  I have a couple other deep conditioners that are in rotation in the shower but for some reason, they just weren't doing the job. 

I love that this conditioner is formulated without any parabens, petroleum, mineral oil, and no artificial colors.  What it does contain is:

  • Monoi Oil - a repairing Tahitian blend of the Tiare gardenia flower and Coprah coconut oil.
  • Bamboo Water - rebuilds & strengthens.
  • Hydrolyzed Silk - protects and also rebuilds.

Carols Daughter claims that "Strengthening your hair is the only way to lengthen it so that you can do whatever you want with it.  To really fortify fine, fragile, or chemically-treated hair required major nourishment found in the Monoi Repairing Hair Mask.  Added to the rejuvenating Monoi Oil - a repairing Tahitian blend of the Tiare gardenia flower and Coprah coconut oil- is a rebuilding bamboo water and protective hydrolyzed silk.  After 1 use 96% less breakage + 13 times longer hair life".

Clearly you can see why I was sold :)

The first time I tested this out, I shampooed my hair {with Pureology Nano Works} and then combed the conditioner through my hair.  I put my damp hair up in a bun and left it on for about 30 minutes.

Here are my thoughts after 1 use:


  • This stuff smells amaaaaaazing!  The gardenia/coconut smell is divine.
  • After rinsing, I didn't need to apply any leave in conditioner.  My wide tooth comb easily glided through my wet hair with absolutely no tangles.
  • It left my hair unbelieveably soft + my ends were no longer frizz city.
  • My hair was also so shiny {and it lasted for days}.

I am currently using this once per week and my hair has never felt stronger.  I'm so happy that I discovered this amazing mask - it's definitely a keeper!

You can purchase this at Ulta {by clicking here} which is also offering free shipping with the code 'Jingle 13'.  It can also be found at Sephora, and many other department stores.



[  As a small little side note, after doing a bit of research to write this post, I discovered that Kim Kardashian is also a big fan of this conditioning mask :)  ]


What deep conditioners are you girls currently using?  I always love to try new products that come highly recommended.

Friday, November 22, 2013

OOTD - Casual Jeans + Tee

While I love getting dressed up and wearing fancy schmancy clothes, I truly am a jeans + tee shirt gal at heart {chalk it up to growing up in the Pacific Northwest!}.

Here's a super casual look that I wore the other day while running errands.... 



J.Crew 'merci' tee {here}
Rag & Bone denim {here}
Chanel Ballet Flats {similar style on sale here & extremely affordable version on sale here}
Chloe Marcie Medium Satchel {here + affordable version here and here}
Nars lipgloss "Coeur Sucre" {available here}


Lately, I am loving printed tees - especially this linen 'Merci' tee that I purchased from J.Crew last week.  It certainly adds a little bit of je ne sais quoi to this casual outfit :)  I paired my new tee with my favorite distressed rag & bone skinnies {that I practically LIVE in}, my Chanel ballet flats, a messy ponytail + a girly pink lipgloss.


Whats your go-to style?  Are you a casual jeans + tee kinda girl, or more polished & girly?  I'd like to get a better feel for what type of outfit of the day pics my readers are wanting me to share :)  Please leave feedback/comments below and let me know.


Happy weekend lovers! xx

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Holiday Gift Guide Volume II: Hostess Gifts

With the Holidays in full swing, that undoubtedly means that Holiday parties will be cropping up on everyones schedule.  For the second installment of Typical Domestic Babes Holiday Gift Guide, I've chosen perfect picks that just about any hostess would love to receive {all under $50}.  That way you can thank the hostess with a nice little gesture without breaking the bank  :)  

Don't forget to check out last weeks gift guide for guys post with picks for all the dudes in your life {view here}.

Happy shopping!


Shop These Items:

Kate Spade silver plated frame {view here} //  Gold zebra stacking dish {here} //  Pretty mercury jar candle {here} //  Refreshing Elderflower Presse {info here} is a nice alternative to bringing a traditional bottle of wine //  Gold monogrammed wine stopper {here} is a great personalized gift //  Classic wine decanter {view here} //  Metallic zip pouch is perfect for just about anything & can be monogrammed {view here} //  Festive Shanna Murray platter is no longer available online but is still in most West Elm stores {here} //  Any hostess who loves to cook will appreciate white truffle salt {here} //  Cute tea for one set {available here} //  Polka dot cake stand [so cute!] {here} //  Gold & glass cocktail shaker {view here}

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Your New Favie Leggings For Travel

Hello friends!  Did you have a good weekend?  Adam + I flew to Dallas, TX over the weekend for a wedding.  It was just a quick overnight trip but it was kind of nice to have a little alone time {no pups} even if it was just for one night!

It's definitely not a secret that we travel a lot.  In fact, when I really sit down and think about it I have been somewhere {meaning out of state} every single month in 2013 and that includes 2 trips to Europe + one trip to Africa!  

Earlier this year I wrote a more in depth post on a few of my traveling tips {view here} and briefly spoke about the leggings that I always wear when we travel.  Last month, after 2 years of wearing them, I finally had to retire my favorite BCBG travel leggings.  They were sad, worn out, and had definitely seen better days.  Before our flight to Dallas this weekend, I popped into BCBG and scooped up a new pair......honestly you guys, I had forgotten how amazing these leggings are!  Since I've fallen in love all over again, I had to do a little post on why these leggings really are the best out there.

Here's a few reasons why I love them so much for traveling:
  • They don't wrinkle.  I've wore them for a straight 18 hours on a nonstop flight to Africa and cross my heart they look the exact same as when you first put them on! 
  •  They suck you in!  The quality of the material is amazing {very thick and stretchy} and they literally hide all of those unwanted bulges that us girls are constantly looking to conceal.  
  • They're pretty lint resistant.  I HATE getting lint on my pants, and these babies are the most lint resistant pants I've ever seen.    
  •  They're comfy.  Like I said above, 18 hour flight and I had no complaints. 


For purchasing info view here ,here &
here




I'm not exaggerating one percent when I say that I wear them on every single flight I take!  I've even gotten my mother on the bandwagon, and she's hooked as well! :)  

Yes, they are a little expensive {a little bit cheaper than the price of a nice pair of denim}.  However, when you think about it, I wore these for 2 years before they finally wore out.  How many pairs of crappy leggings have you bought over the course of 2 years?  If you're like me {or most other girls that I know} the answer to that question is too many to count!  It's well worth the small investment!  If you're a babe on a budget, put them on your wishlist to Santa this year ;)


What do you wear for traveling?  Any tips/travel secrets that you'd like to share?

Friday, November 15, 2013

Set The Table: Rustic + Metallics

Happy Happy Friday everyone!  Hope you all had a great week!  I'm really looking forward to this weekend as our house hunt continues & we have a couple homes lined up to tour.  Fingers crossed that we walk into our dream home :)

If you follow me on Instagram {andy_adler}, than you may have seen the picture that I posted a couple days ago featuring my Thanksgiving table setting.  I snapped a few higher quality photos that I wanted to share with you.



The theme that I am going for this year is a 'rustic luxe' look.  I wanted to incorporate rustic earthy textures & tones with metallic accents to add a bit of a luxurious look.

I wanted lots + lots of candles!  I LOVE candlelight :)  I decided to use my mercury glass pillar stands with these Birch candles from Pottery Barn.  I shared them a while back and am still in love with them :)

I was thinking about buying some burlap from JoAnn's Fabrics and making a table runner this year but decided to just use a runner that I already had.  


I found these adorable salad plates at West Elm {currently on sale here}.  They come in 4 different phrases and are perfect for Thanksgiving.  I had my eye on them for a while and am really glad that I scooped them up on sale!

I picked up the gold chargers at Home Goods a while back.  Metallic chargers are so versatile and can be dressed up or played down.  They're definitely a staple if you entertain often.  You can find extremely affordable gold chargers just about anywhere.  Some good choices are at Target {here}, Bed Bath & Beyond {here}, and also at Macy's {here}.

Instead of napkin rings, I opted to simply tie twine around my napkins for a little rustic touch.



My assistant {featured in the background} is saying hello! 

The gold flatware that I'm using this year is from West Elm {view here} as is my gold rimmed glasses and gold rimmed dinner plates {here & here}.  I kind of went West Elm crazy this past month :)  But seriously, everything they have right now is so cute & affordable!


For my place cards settings, I took some old wine corks that I had been saving for a while and spray painted them gold.  I used a box cutter to make 1/2 inch slice down the middle of the cork and stuck some brown cardstock paper {purchased from Michaels} in the center, but just cutting up a brown paper bag would look cute also!

The one thing that I think my table is lacking is a little greenery.  I'm thinking about hunting down some olive branches or something similar......thoughts??

Anyways, that's all that I have for now!  Tell me what you have planned for Thanksgiving......

I hope you all have a fabulous & beautiful weekend! xx

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

Holiday Gift Guide: Gifts For Him

You guys can you even believe that we're talking 'Holiday' today?  In our house we celebrate Hanukkah, which actually starts unusually early this year with the first night beginning on Thanksgiving!  It really snuck up on me this year and I've spent the better part of the past week frantically searching online for those "perfect gifts".  

This inspired me to put together a gift guide for every person you might have on your list this year.  Every Wednesday for the next several weeks, I'll be posting my top picks for all things Holiday related! 

Need a small trinket with WOW factor for a hostess gift?  I've got you covered.  You drew the name of that awkward co-worker in your office Holiday gift exchange? Yep, we're going there too.  Got a hubby/boyfie/guy in your life who is impossible to shop for?  Then today's post is for you!  This morning, I'm kicking off Typical Domestic Babes Holiday Gift Guide with a post dedicated to the all the dudes in our life.




Shop These Items:
 
NFL vintage subway art [all teams] {on sale here & also available here} //  Cozy knit sweater {here} //  Burberry scarf {view here} //  Tom Ford sunglasses {here} //  Tom Ford cologne {available here} //  Alexander Wang leather business card holder {here} //  4 piece shave set {view here} //  Cars coffee table book {here} // Ugg wool slippers {here} //  Golf ball embosser {available here} //  Wireless bamboo keyboard [will work w/most handheld devices too!] {view here} //  Baseball bat bottle opener made from bats used during MLB games [all teams available] {view here} //  Working man hygiene kit {here} //  Eyeglass case [monogram option available] {available here} //  Cashmere socks {get them here} //  Watch box [monogram available] {here} //  North Face gloves [features electronic fingertip for smart phones] {here} //  Whiskey stones {available here & also here} //  Monogrammed cigar cutter {here} //  Wool cable knit hat {here} //  Hand stitched leather passport cover [monogram available] {available here}



A few quick notes:

  • When buying gifts for guys, anything that can be monogrammed or engraved is a winner!  Everyone loves a personal gift :)  The golf ball embosser, eyeglass case, watch box, passport holder, and cigar cutter all offer the option of monogramming for a minimal charge.
  • If your man is a sports fan, the vintage NFL subway sign is a great option - perfect for his office / man cave!  Its available at a discounted price on One Kings Lane through the end of the week, but I also linked the original website as well.  Another great item is the baseball bat bottle opener.  They took real baseball bats used during MLB games and made nifty little bottle openers out of them {all teams are available}.  So essentially your man can pop a brewski with a bat from his hometown team!  So cool!

  • Lastly, the whiskey stones aren't just for chilling whiskey.  They can also be used for wine {ahem, ladies...} and are microwaveable as well for use in coffee, hot tea, etc to keep your beverages from cooling too quickly.  Ingenius!  I've seen these popping up all over & they are definitely going to be a hot item this year {perfect stocking stuffer!}.

A few of these fun items I have already purchased for my hubby and all of the gifts that I'll be recommending in the coming weeks are all things that I would want for myself, or gifts that I would 100% buy for others. 

I hope that you enjoyed this gift guide for guys :)  I would love to hear your comments & suggestions!


Happy Shopping!
xx


Monday, November 11, 2013

Pumpkin Banana Bread With A Warm Nutella Center

I know what you're thinking.....pumpkin+banana plus Nutella??  Before you dismiss this recipe here me out first.  

So last week I experimented with making pumpkin banana bread.  In our household it is absolutely mandatory that chocolate chips be added to all loafs of banana bread {if you're going to indulge it might as well be worth while!}.  So as to not break the rules, I threw in a smidge of chocolate chunks.  omg....so scrump!  Adam, being the beast that he is, was smearing every slice of my experimental bread with Nutella {yes, he likes to take it to that level} and it was SO delicious...like unreal delicious. 

That got me thinking about baking another loaf with a warm Nutella center.  The result is everything you could hope for in a pumpkin based dessert.  Nutella + pumpkin = pure bliss!  :)

I really hope that you enjoy this recipe as much as we did!! xx



Ingredients

1 1/4 cup white rice flour {you can substitute with regular ol' flour if you'd like}
3 ripe bananas, mashed
1/2 cup organic canned pumpkin puree {not to be mistaken for pumpkin pie filling}
1/2 cup brown sugar substitute 
2 tbsp softened butter
1 large egg
1 egg white
3/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 cup Nutella
cooking spray {I use a coconut oil version}
powdered sugar {optional for garnish}

Directions 

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.  Grease a 9x5 loaf pan with cooking spray.  

In a medium bowl combine flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg.  Set aside.

In a large bowl, cream butter + brown sugar using a stand or electric mixer at a low speed.  Add in egg, egg white, and vanilla while increasing speed to medium.  Incorporate pumpkin, and bananas; mix until well combined.

Decrease speed to low and slowly add in flour mixture adding a little bit at a time.  Make sure not to over mix.

Pour half of the batter into the loaf pan & spread out evenly.  Drop spoonfuls of the Nutella {evenly distributed} onto batter.  

Using a butter knife, slowly swirl down and mix the Nutella into the batter.  You want this to appear as a swirl so do not over mix!

Top with remaining batter and transfer to oven.  Bake for around 1 hour or until the top is lightly browned and a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.

Transfer to a wire rack and cool in loaf pan for 20 minutes.  

Using a butter knife, gently loosen loaf from the sides of the pan and cool completely on wire rack for around 30 more minutes before slicing.

Lightly dust with powdered sugar prior to serving. {optional}







Are you craving pumpkin everything as much as I am this year??

Wednesday, November 6, 2013

How To Hang Your Sweaters Like A Boss!

We all know that you're not supposed to hang your sweaters on a hanger the way you would hang a blouse, or a jacket.  Doing so causes the fabric to stretch and creates those weird little stretched out bumps in the shoulder area - no bueno!!  

Believe it or not, there is an ingenious way that I learned to hang your cozy knits minus the lumpies.  There is absolutely no reason that your sweaters need to be banished to live in sweater boxes, or stuffed in drawers anymore!

Read on to find out how.....


Voilà! So easy peasy right?  Here's a few extra tips:


  • This works for sweaters made from any fabric, even delicates such as cashmere.  Just double check to make sure there's no hidden wrinkles when folding your garment in half.

  • The non slip hangers {with the velvety texture} are usually the best for this but regular ol' plastic ones will do the job just fine!  My fave is the 'Huggable Hangers' from The Container Store {view here}, but I have also found other varieties at Marshalls that are identical for half the price! 

  • If you have an oversized or boxy sweater, the waist part of the sweater may not fit properly when threading it back through the other side.  That's totally ok!  Just let the waist drape over the hanger, and still tuck the sleeve through to prevent the garment from falling off.


Thanks so much for reading!  I appreciate all of your comments / feedback! xx  Miami fashion blogger

Monday, November 4, 2013

Fall Fashion For Warmer Climates

It's not exactly a secret that Autumn is basically non existent here in South Florida.  Still that doesn't deter me from enjoying some of my favorite sweater weather pieces. 

While I would love to wear this outfit with leggings + riding boots, I would be sweltering!  I quickly ditched the idea of black leggings, and paired my oversized cardigan with my favorite black denim shorts instead.   I wanted to keep this look more "Fall" so I opted against wedges, and went with ankle boots instead.  The cute black wool hat pulls double duty as it finishes off my look plus hides my haven't-washed-my-hair-in-three-days roots :)

All it takes is a few clever compromises, and I have a total Fall-worthy outfit that's appropriate for our warmer weather!


Cardigan - J.Crew {here}
Black denim shorts - Siwy {here}
Tank - BP {Under $20! here}
Ankle Boots - Givenchy {here, similar & affordable version here
Wool hat - Nordstrom {here}
Lipstick - Revlon 'Ravish Me Red'{here}


Are you chicas experiencing cooler weather yet?  

Friday, November 1, 2013

Fall In Paris

Bonjour ladies!  Earlier this week I found myself day dreaming about a trip to Paris {apparently I was looking through too many photos of Paris Fashion Week}.  Although I've never been to Paris in the Fall, I imagined myself bundled up sipping on café au lait at a charming outdoor cafe, shopping in le triangle d'or, sealing my lock with Adam on Pont de l'Archevêché {Lovers Bridge}, and lounging around in my favorite hotel in Paris 'Hôtel Plaza Athénée'.

Here's a few cute little pieces that make me want to jet off to the City of Lights this weekend.....




Boho wool floppy brimmed hat {here} //  Cashmere Burberry scarf in a beautiful rich hue {here} //  My all time favie Jo Malone scent {view here} //  Adorable 'Bonjour' beanie {Under $25! Here} //  Essential crossbody bag for touring around the city {info found here & affordable version here} //  Cute texting gloves adorned with glam accents {here} //  Perfect cluster earrings that will take you from day to night {found here} //  Classic & feminine oversized sunnies {here} //  Cute + affordable foldable flats can be stashed in your bag and used when your feet get tired {view here} //  Seriously adorable C'est la Vie iphone case {here} //  Versatile Sam Edelman boots w/ an edge {here} //  Darling cozy fox socks {Under $10! Here} //  This timeless Acne angora blend sweater is an investment but you'll wear it for years to come {view here & affordable version found here}
Miami fashion blogger

What do you girls think?  Any particular pieces that grab your attention?  Some of the small items would make for great stocking stuffers :)
Miami fashion blogger
 

design + development by kelly christine studio