Wednesday, April 29, 2015

Typical Domestic Pinspiration

Happy hump day ladies!  Halfway there!!  Today I wanted to share a few links + images that I've been pinning away over on Pinterest.  Lotsa summer recipes + warmer weather fashion has been catching my eye recently :)

Let's get started....




These Yogurt, Fruit & Granola Popsicles look so tasty - the perfect sweet treat for hot days!  Recipe via





Simple summer whites, stripes, and slide on sandals = the uniform of summer.  Image via






I do a lot of baking with honey rather than sugar, and this handy conversion chart is a great reference to have on hand....






Big.  Messy.  Curls.






Doesn't this Zucchini Noodles with Pesto recipe sound amaaaazing?  You better believe that I'll be making this soon :)  Recipe via





Love, love, love this!





Dying over these fringe sandals!  I'm not sure what brand is pictured here, but I did find this version {which is currently 25% off!} that is practically identical and I plan on scooping them up stat!






Cutoff's + airy whites on repeat.







Dreaming of these fresh cherry hand pies!  Recipe via






Absolutely!






In love with this whole look - although if I were to duplicate this now I'd look like a tent lol!  There's always next summer!







To see more of what I'm pinning, follow me on Pinterest.  Username: andyadler  


Thanks for stopping by! xx







Friday, April 24, 2015

April Beauty Buys

Yayyy for Friday!  This week has been a busy one over here.  My mom & brother flew in earlier this week for sort of an early Mothers Day celebration {this was the only weekend we could all get together} so I've been entertaining all week, which if you read here regularly you know that I LOVE entertaining guests!  We have a little getaway down to the FL Keys planned for the weekend, and I can't wait to show them how different the Keys are compared to Miami.  Everything is just much more relaxed, and on chill island time down there.  Should be a great weekend for us :)  Hoping you have something fun planned for the next couple of days as well!

Today I wanted to chat about some new beauty buys that I've scooped up over the last month.  I've recently been putting a little more effort into my makeup routine than I normally do {trying to feel pretty in my ever growing body} and I bought a little more than the average month.  Some of the products I'm really digging, and others.....ehhhhhh not so much.  I'll share all the deets below so let's get started!







What I Bought:


  •    Nail Strengthener:  I swear I have the weakest nails in existence.  Everyone keeps telling me that my hair & nails will get so long & strong during this pregnancy and I'm still waiting for that day to happen.  Until then, I thought I'd give this natural strengthener a go and so far I really like it.  It's doing a really good job at keeping my nails from splitting {which is my biggest problem}, and seems to last for a long time.

  •    Waterproof Mascara:  I've praised Bobbi Brown's waterproof mascara on here so many times in the past that I don't even know if it's really worth talking about again, but I will say that this is by far the best waterproof, no smudge, stay put all day mascara I've ever come across.  It's perfect for our hot + humid Miami summers, perfect for swimming in pools or the ocean, and great for exercising.  If you're not using this you definitely should be.  The end.


  •    Concealer:  So no joke I started getting the dreaded "mask of pregnancy".  And where does it crop up?  Right above my upper lip with a small blotch on the side of my nose basically making it look like I have a big ol' mustache.  Insert crying emoji here.  Adam's been teasing me calling me Tom {for Tom Selleck lol!}.  Luckily, I have a really good sense of humor about my new upper lip shadowing but that didn't change the fact that I still needed a really good concealer to lessen the 'stache look that I've recently been rocking.  Enter this concealer from MAC.  It does exactly what it needs to; covers any imperfections & dark spots, blends really nicely while moisturizing, and doesn't look heavy whatsoever.  I've even been using it under my eyes, and it really brightens up that area.  Lalalove this product and I'll definitely be repurchasing.


  •    Shea Butter:   I really don't like the smells of any of my stretch mark creams so I bought this shea butter that is infused with coconut & papaya.  It smells heavenly, and makes my skin extra soft + hydrated! 


  •    Blush:  Possibly the prettiest blush from Bobbi Brown {color Antigua}.  It's actually labeled as an "Illuminating Bronzing Powder", but it's 100% a blush in my eyes.  It's a lovely light pink shade with a small amount of shimmer.  Perfect for the barely there no makeup look.


  •    Lip Gloss:  I bought 2 new colors of lip gloss this month, one from MAC and the other from Bobbi Brown.  The MAC Cremesheen Glass in On The Scene is a really pretty everyday peachy nude with a slight shimmer and semi-opaque coverage {perfect for summer}, while the Bobbi Brown Almost Nude Lip Gloss is a pale almost milky pink and looks great on its own or layered over any lipstick.  I'm really happy with both of these so far!

  •   Tinted Moisturizer:  While I was purchasing the concealer for my above mentioned problem, the sales girl convinced me into buying the new MAC Lightful Tinted Cream {I'm using color medium plus}, promising me that it completely illuminates your face giving you a nice healthy glow.  Save your money girls, this just seemed like a basic tinted moisturizer to me and I like the other ones I have on rotation so much better.  The only plus side to this tinted cream is that it does contain SPF 30, but that doesn't make up for how basic this is.  Will not repurchase.

  •    Nail Polish:  A beautiful, clean, limited edition nude polish from Bobbi Brown {first time that I've tried this brand for nail polish} that looks subtle, polished, and great with a tan.  I have a feeling this is going to be on repeat all summer!

  •    Deodorant:  My slow transition to more all natural products continues with this Long Lasting Deodorant from Tom's brand.  I picked this up from Whole Foods last week on a whim after I ran out of my usual brand and really like it!  I've been a 'Secret' deodorant gal for years, but this switch has been great.  This contains no artificial fragrance, preservatives, or aluminium.  I'll definitely continue to purchase this.












To shop any of these products, click on the image below or click on the descriptive links above... 












What new products have you tried out recently?  Any recommendations for me?  Leave a comment below and fill me in.


I hope that you all have a great weekend!  Thanks for stopping by! xx

Wednesday, April 22, 2015

It's A Girl!! + A Few Baby Purchases

If you're not on Instagram and missed our little announcement over the weekend: IT'S A GIRL!!  Adam & I are were overwhelmed with happiness when we learned at our ultrasound last week that we'll be expecting a sweet baby girl this September.  I really feel like I have more of a connection to my pregnancy now that I know who's growing inside of there.  We also learned that she's measuring really, really big!  Like almost 2 weeks ahead of where she should be, and she already weighs 12 ounces.  Must be all those chocolate, peanut butter & banana protein shakes that I'm craving ;)





Of course, I immediately started shopping for her the next day!  I hit up the mall + a few local baby boutiques which immediately made things seem SO REAL.  Holy crap!  I'm really having a baby!

I feel really clueless regarding what to buy, and have been hounding my friends like crazy asking for recommendations on what worked for them.  My friend Brooke over at Somewhere, Lately put up a great post last week on her First Month Favorites and I immediately bought this rocker that she labeled the holy grail....anything that even hints at a few extra hours of sleep for us is worth a shot!  If any of you ladies have reco's for me, I would love to hear what worked/didn't work for your babes so please share any advice in the comment section down below!

Also, thanks so much to those of you who commented on this Instagram picture and suggested that I hit up Baby Gap.  I had no idea they had such cute clothing for littles!  I bought so much stuff in that store including this little jean jacket, these white denim jeans, these leggings in just about every color, and this adorable onesie.  Obviously the more normal clothing is for when she's a bit older as I know she'll basically be living in onesies for the first couple of months but I just couldn't pass them up...baby clothes are entirely too cute to resist!

Below are a few other things that I purchased recently and wanted to share with you guys {because I'm just too excited to not share!}.





Clockwise From Top Left:

Her super soft little coming home from the hospital outfit {available here} //  The cutest pair of special occasion flats {here} //  Everyone has said KicKee Pants are the best and now I understand why {dying over the strawberry print} //  Burp cloths in a fun safari pattern {here} //  Basic + cheap long sleeved onesies came highly recommended by my friend Brooke {here} //  I let my hubby pick out the color of this Mamaroo and he chose {this one} //  The famous Wubbanub {here} //  Adorable bear print on {this onesie} //  Baby girls first mocs {available here} //  Highly rated swaddling cloths {here}



Thanks so much to everyone who left such kind messages on our announcement over the weekend!  You guys are just the sweetest & I really appreciate each and every one of you taking the time out of your day to stop over here and read my blog, or comment on my instagram pictures. xx


Monday, April 20, 2015

Blackberry and Peach Crostata

Welcome back from the weekend, friends!  I have a great recipe to share with you guys today.  This was a HUGE craving of mine a couple weeks back, but we were smack dab in the middle of Passover.  During the 8 days of Passover, we don't eat any wheat products {technically, nothing that can "rise", so only unleavened products for that time frame}, and I was absolutely dying for this crostata.  I'm talking dreaming of it, salivating at the mouth cravings!  The day after the holiday ended, I was up and at 'em bright and early, on my way to the grocery store to buy all the necessary ingredients to make this yummy dessert.  1 week is a long time to wait for a pregnancy craving lol!

If you've never had a crostata before, it's basically the Italians version of a pie.  I love crostata, and always seek out a good slice whenever we vacation in Italy.  Crostata is a little more rustic, peasant food style, and usually is constructed with whatever fresh fruit is in season.  The top isn't enclosed with crust like a regular pie is, instead the dough just folds over the fruit, and leaves the middle partially exposed making for a beautiful presentation.  I love that the fruit really is the shining star in this recipe.  Minimal sugar is added allowing the natural sweetness from the peaches & blackberries to really stand out.

As I've said in the past, a great majority of the recipes that I post on here are my own, however whenever I come across an amazing recipe that belongs to someone else I have to share it with you guys!  I originally saw this recipe on The Chew.  Do you ever watch that show?  It's sort of like The View but for foodies {during the day, food/cooking channels are always on in the background of my house}, so this recipe actually comes courtesy of Mario Batali.  It's SO GOOD you guys!  I really hope that you try it out! 

* As a small side note, for this recipe you will need an 11" tart pan with a removable bottom.  I purchased mine from Williams-Sonoma years ago, and it's held up great!  You can get it here. *





Ingredients


2 1/2 cup cake flour, plus more for dusting
3 tablespoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
Grated zest of 1 Lemon
1 cup {2 sticks} cold unsalted Butter, cut into small chunks
1/4 cup ice water plus more if needed
6 large ripe peaches, pitted & sliced
2 pints fresh blackberries
Juice of 1 lemon
3 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon all-purpose Flour
2 tablespoons honey
large egg, at room temperature
1 cup mascarpone or freshly whipped cream if desired




Directions


Combine the flour, sugar, salt, and lemon zest in a food processor.  Add the butter and zap quickly until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.  Next, add the ice water, 1 tablespoon at a time, and pulse until the dough just forms a ball without being too wet or sticky.

Remove the dough from the processor and pat it into a flat disk, about 2 inches thick.  Wrap it into plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, combine the peaches, blackberries, lemon juice, sugar, and flour in a large mixing bowl.  Toss the mixture gently to coat the fruit.

Next, preheat your oven to 365 degrees F. 

Remove the dough from the refrigerator and allow it to barely soften enough to roll out.  This next part is a little tricky, you want the dough to be workable, but if it's too soft it will fall apart when you transfer it to your tart pan, so you need to work quickly.

Sprinkle your work surface and a rolling pin lightly with cake flour.  Roll the dough out into a 16-inch round, about 1/4 inch thick.  If the dough tears, press the edges back together.  Transfer the dough to a 12 1/2-inch fluted quiche or tart pan with a removable bottom, allowing the excess to hang over the edges.  Spoon the fruit mixture into the dough.  Fold in the overhanging edges of the dough, leaving a 6-inch area of fruit exposed in the center.  Press the crust into the rim of the fluted pan to form an edge. 

Next, place a heatproof bowl over a saucepan of simmering water, and heat the honey in the bowl until it is thin.  Add the egg and whisk them together.  Brush this mixture liberally over the fruit and crust.  

Place the tart pan on a baking sheet, and bake for 1 hour and 10 minutes or until the crust is golden brown and fruit is bubbly. Remove it from the oven and let it cool slightly.

Serve the crostata warm or at room temperature, with a dollop of mascarpone or whipped cream in each serving.










Have a great week! xx

Thursday, April 16, 2015

Summer Style Deals + Steals

Thank you shopping gods for finally starting to stock all the stores with cute summer essentials - it's about dang time!  I don't know about you girls, but I basically wait around all year long for the return of easy, breezy warm weather style pieces because, let's face it, it's always summer here in Miami!

Here's a few budget friendly items that really struck my fancy while I was doing a bit of online shopping yesterday.  Everything featured is under $70, with the major majority of my picks falling below the $40 mark!

Bust out your credit cards babes, it's time to do some online damage ;)





Shop These Items:

Chambray tunic dress {I just ordered this - it's non-maternity but is perfect for prego, and works great for the rest of you skinny minnies! here} //  Tortoise shell shades {only $10!} //  Super cute neon bracelets with tassels {get them here} //  Wide brim straw fedora {here} //  Strappy flat sandals with fringe details {fringe is everythingggg this summer! under $25 here} //  Straw clutch with metallic details {found here} //  Fun green aviators are perfect for summer {only $8! here} //  Distressed boyfriend shorts that look so similar to Rag & Bone {here} //  The epitome of summer wedges {$30!! available here} //  Absolutely adorable boho dress {love the off the shoulder detailing! here}






How's the weather where you guys live?  Any of you breaking out the summer threads yet, or am I still the only one? 

Wednesday, April 15, 2015

2 Year Anniversary Date Night

Yesterday, Adam & I celebrated our 2 year wedding anniversary!  It was such a nice, relaxing day full of spa treatments at Aqualina Spa, a delicious light lunch, a much needed siesta after that prenatal massage put me to sleep, and then dinner at our favorite romantic Miami Beach restaurant, Casa Tua.  

I've officially entered into the territory where most of my regular dresses don't fit anymore {I was joking to Adam that I would need to be surgically removed if I tried to squeeze into one of my Hervé Leger dresses ha!}, and the t-shirt & maxi dresses that do fit me didn't feel dressy enough for our dinner date.  So, I popped into Destination Maternity on Monday afternoon, and quickly scooped up this LBD.  The design of the dress is really classy, but it features a v-neck to show off a little pregnancy enhanced cleavage.  The material is really thick so it conceals any lumps + bumps, and I love that it's not too dressy, but also not too casual.  It's the perfect in between dress that can be dressed up for a special occasion, but also dressed down with cute sandals + a jean jacket.  I highly, highly recommend this dress to any of my pregnant mama's out there!

I was feeling all fancy schmancy after I got ready, and we had some time to kill before our reservation so I begged had Adam take a few photos of me in our backyard....

*As a small side note, I'm kind of bummed that every.single.picture I have my hand on my stomach.  My husband is definitely lacking in the photo skills department {he's great at so many other things but photography is not his strong suit!}, and it just so happened that the "good photos" turned out this way!*










Outfit Details:

Dress: Isabella Oliver //  Heels: Aquazzura {the most comfortable heels you'll ever own!} //  Sunglasses: Ray-Bans //  Purse: Louis Vuitton {color Framboise} //  Lip gloss: Nars Larger Than Life Lip gloss {color Coeur Sucré}





Have a great day! xx

Monday, April 13, 2015

How To: Potted Orchids Displayed In A Dough Bowl

I've been in the mood to give my living room a fresh update for the spring/summer season {see this instagram picture}.  One of the great advantages to living in Miami is that we have access to gorgeous tropical foliage at an amazing price.  I saw a local farmers stand on the side of the road last week with a sign advertising orchids for sale for $10 each.  Sold!

I love my vintage wooden dough bowl, and often use that as a vessel for displaying seasonal decor around my house.  Armed with my orchids in hand, I decided to try my dough bowl out as a planter, and am SO happy with how it turned out!

Read on to see how it all came together....






Materials that you'll need:


  • Wooden dough bowl, or another vessel to pot your orchids in {even an old wooden salad bowl would work for this project!}.
  •  2-3 medium sized orchids, depending on the size of your bowl.  I looked for orchids that had plenty of buds that had not yet bloomed, thus ensuring that I would get about a months worth of enjoyment out of this display.
  • 2-3 bags of decorative moss {can be purchased at most crafts supplies stores like Michaels}.
  • 1 bag of gravel or small rocks.
  • 1 medium sized garbage bag.
  • Scissors.



Step 1.

Cut the bottom of your garbage bag, about 6 inches from the bottom.  Place the bottom piece inside your bowl, and spread a thin layer of gravel/rocks on the bottom.  This will aid in drainage for the orchids.


Step 2.

Nestle your orchids on top of the layer of gravel, maneuvering them until they will sit upright.  This part is a little tricky since they love to just flop right over so feel free to add more rocks or whatever will help them stay up.  I originally bought 3 orchids for this project, but felt that it looked a little crowded so keep that in mind.


Step 3.

Add moss, and really try to pack it down so that your orchids stay put and move around minimally.  Additionally, arrange the moss so that the plastic container that your orchids are sitting in is well concealed.


Step 4.

Move bowl to a sunny location and enjoy!  For tips on how to care for your orchids, check out this link.















I displayed my orchids on our recycled wood console table behind the couch.  It's flanked by two black lanterns on either side that I filled with sand, shells, and a pillar candle.  The black lanterns really compliment the black stitching detail in my new pillows on the couch.  I'm really happy with how this looks, and it's the perfect refresh that my living room needed!


For more home decor projects that I've worked on in the past, check out these posts:



Hoping this gives you a little inspiration to make small changes around your house to welcome in the new warmer weather seasons! Thanks for reading! xx

Friday, April 10, 2015

Recently Over On Insta....

Hello, Friday!  I am SO happy to see your arrival!  Since Adam works such long hours during the week, it's pretty much just me + the pups over here, but weekends I get him all to myself {and that makes me a very happy girl!}.  We have a couple of fun weekend errands that I'm pretty excited about; a visit to Pottery Barn kids for a little nursery planning, lunch at one of my all time favie restaurants in Miami + a trip to a very special store to order this mama to be a push present!  It's going to be a good one, friends!

Today I wanted to share a few images that I've snapped & shared over on my instagram account lately {andy_adler}.  I've also included a few links to what I'm wearing in the images & info on where you can purchase in case you see something that ya like ;)




Shopping for baby clothes earlier this week @ Zara.  They have the CUTEST baby clothing!




Best view in the house!  Wearing the most comfortable maternity dress which is made to be worn before, during & after pregnancy...basically a forever dress {found here} //  fun gold gladiator sandals {available here & here}




Simple white tulips in a simple white pitcher made for a gorgeous display on my coffee table.  {pitcher available here}


Casual & comfy.  Wearing an over sized button down {found here} //  basic long gray tank {here} //  Paige Denim jeans worn with a belly band {found here} //  seriously affordable sandals {here}




Pink lippies + stripes.  Striped tee {only $10! currently sold out but click here to be added to the waitlist} //  necklace is old from Zara //  lips are a combo of {this lipstick, color 'Spanish Pink'} topped with {this gloss, color 'Candy Shimmer'}


New wedges for summer!  The nude colored ones have been on serious repeat - hoping that my feet don't get too swollen and I can continue to rock them well into my third trimester :)  {here & here}




Kindaaaa obsessed with stripes lately, although Adam said I look like "Where's Waldo" in this sweater haha!  Sweater from A Pea In The Pod, but I couldn't find it online {I bought one size up to wear off the shoulder}.




Staying hydrated with lots of lemon, cucumber & mint in my water.  In love with these adorable sandals {around $20! here} and I've received so many compliments on them :)




New throw pillows gave my living room an instant refresh!  Pillows found here & here.




Sporting a fresh pedicure {OPI 'Sorry I'm Fizzy Today' looks amaaazing with a tan!} and wearing: over sized button down {here} //  distressed denim shorts worn with the hair tie trick {found here} //  Valentino sandals {here}




Yesterdays mixed denim + stripes look.  Wearing a distressed denim button down {available here} //  striped long tank {here} //  Paige Denim maternity jeans {on sale here, non maternity version here} //  Isabel Marant sandals {here}





I hope you all have a beautiful weekend!  Thanks for stopping by. xx

 

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