The sad day is nearing when my Naked Basics palette simply cannot cover another lid. Yes, I could run out and purchase a replacement but I’m up for trying something new. Especially since I am seeing all sorts of fabulous palettes being posted via instagram and twitter. Naked is my go to – and that smokey set has me drooling (#4). But that’s not to say the others are not tempting (especially #1, #2 and #6). Which palette would you love to try?:
Forever 21 is famously known for their low prices and cheap clothes. Even the most skilled quality checker can end up with a un-washable top or broken after one wear accessory. But in this sea of super short bodycon dresses and see through crop tops you will be shocked at how many gems there are to be had. The kind of items that not only fit great but will have a life beyond one wear, one season, one year. These are the reasons I come back to Forever. (Well, that and the fact that I am a uber frugal.)
If you want to find a diamond in the ruff then you will need to have patience and be willing to put in the effort. By this I mean perusing new offerings on the website until you find something that catches your eye. Order fast (typically the quality “steals” go in a flash) and send back faster if you do not love it. Not good at returns? Grab your keys and visit your local store.
For me, online shopping is much easier and these would all be in my cart right now if I wasn’t on a spending fast. But by all means you guys should shop away – someone needs to enjoy these possible steals:
1Textured Fit&Flare Dress -$24.90- well placed seams, texture and rich detail – this fit & flare has it all. The only downfall would be the length for us taller gals, but we won’t know unless we try!/2Mesh Overlay A-Line Skirt -$24.90-it is taking all my will power not to throw this in my virtual cart and press purchase. A modest length with a fun overlay effect is hard to come by, especially at Forever, but this number has both. Oh the fun I would have with this…must look away from skirt, must look away from skirt./3Zippered Faux Leather Moto Jacket -$34.90- I own not 1 but TWO Forever faux leather jackets. They have been in my constant rotation for almost 3 years now. It does take some digging – not all Forever jackets fit the same. But when you find a match you will be happy, and this light moto looks like a good place to start./4High-Waisted Flare Jeans -$27.90-Forever is a great place to dip your toe into a denim trend without breaking the bank on designer jeans. High-waisted jeans are not going anywhere, these flares would be perfect for your transitional season wardrobe./5Vented-Back Crepe Tank -$15.90-because if you’re going high-waisted on the bottom then you need something to show it off on the top, right?! Vented, high-slit tunic tops are one way to top trendy flares. For under $16 you can rock the trend without having anything left for the cool hat that finishes off the look.
We are overdue for a cocktail…waaaaay overdue. There is no time like the present and today in particular needs a cocktail. We are having sultry “hit you in the face with humid, nasty heat” weather. If you prefer this sort of misery you are cray-cray. One step outside and I can feel my body plump with bloat. Which makes me grumpy…and thirsty.
What doesn’t make me grumpy are easy to whip up cocktails and this is about as easy as they come. Some crushed ice, a couple pours of liquid and a spoonful of jam – that’s all it takes. Any jam will do but I personally need Messmakerbaker jam. This isn’t a pb&j for a hungry 4 year old after all…this is cocktail people. And it calls for top shelf.
The only jam I had on hand had booze in the recipe already. (Vicki knows us all too well.) I wasn’t sure how the bourbon in the jam would go with the vodka and grand mariner but it ended up pairing beautifully. The vodka lightened up the bourbon just enough to make it perfect for hot weather sipping. And of course you can never go wrong with peaches and orange liquor….it was nearly impossible not to suck this thing down in less than 5 seconds.
This post is also my “cheers” to Messmakerbaker’s Vicki. She was recently awarded in the “Ohio Signature Food Contest” (you can read more about it here). This girl makes jam like no other, and I am not simply saying that because she is my friend. It truly is an outstanding product that you absolutely must try. As if having the best jam ever wasn’t enough, she also happens to run her business with heart, faith and strong values. Grateful to have such an amazing businesswoman to talk shop with and better yet, to call a friend. Congrats Vicki! Looking forward to what the future holds for your business!
Raise a glass to a good friend this weekend! They are certainly hard to come by, and worth holding onto. Happy weekend everyone!
Fill glass with crushed ice. Add orange liquor and vodka. Top with club soda. Nestle jam on top with small spoon and gently stir. Sip. Stir. Sip. Stir. Sip. Stir... but mostly enjoy!
Tonight I had a peanut butter sandwich – the kind where you slap pb on a slice of wheat bread, fold it over and shove in your mouth – and red wine, solo. Last night I ate this pizza with Sticky and the kids. Last night’s dinner totally kicks tonight’s booty…well, maybe not totally. The wine is really good.
You guys know I love pizza. And for the most part I like to keep it incredibly unassuming and simple. This version though, it is a little more time consuming than I traditionally go for. But all those roasted veggies on top of dough and a bed of cheese make it worth the extra effort. Trust me.
The original recipe called for pizza sauce. I decided to leave it out because quite honestly I was not in the mood to make marinara. (Good decision for future Brandy because if I would have made that marinara then no wine for me tonight. That’s just sad.) We almost never put sauce on our pizza anyways so I figured it wasn’t going to make or break the recipe. And it didn’t because every bite was amazing.
You can mix and match veggies as you wish but I’m telling you…this combo is a winner. Give it a try on your next pizza night!
Pizza dough (enough for a 12" pie - I used ½ of our Easy Pizza Dough recipe)
1cup shredded mozzarella cheese
3tbsp grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
Preheat oven 375degreesF and line a backing sheet with parchment paper. Place eggplant, red pepper and artichoke hearts on sheet and drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Roast to desired brownness - about 20 minutes.
Meanwhile drizzle tbsp of olive in a large skillet and heat over medium low. Add onions and mushrooms and allow to caramelize, stirring often, for 15 minutes or until desired caramelization is reached.
Place pizza dough on pizza pan or stone. Bump oven up to 475degreesF. Top crust with mozzarella and then all roasted veggies. Bake in oven for 15 minutes - until crust is golden and cheese is bubbly. Remove from oven and top with Parmesan cheese.
I can hardly believe we are more than halfway through summer and I have yet to make a loaf of berry bread. More so bread filled with my favorite combo – lemons and blueberries. Yum. Lemons compliment just about every fruit, but there is something extra special about when they hook up with blueberries…it’s magical.
This bread is about as moist as they come. When you add full fat yogurt and 3 large eggs to a batter that sort of wet retaining capability forms. If the fat scares you just close your eyes when you add it. Besides…hasn’t it been decided that carbs are the enemy, not fat? Yeah, I can totally get beside that decision. (Wait, are there crabs in this bread? Oh well…)
The original recipe calls for a simple syrup that is soaked into the bread after baking. I am sure this makes the bread above and beyond divine but it was not in the cards for me. …I may have ran out of lemons… I did not skip out on the glaze though and I highly suggest you do not either. The bread needs that little bit of extra tart sweetness to take if from good bread to oh my goodness bread.
You, iced coffee and a slice of this…yeah, it’s a fantastic idea. Go heat up your oven.
Soft, not too dense, moist bread bursting with blueberries and filled with fresh, zingy lemon. I can’t think of a better way to bake up summer.
1½cups blueberries, fresh or frozen, thawed and rinsed
For the Glaze
1cup powdered sugar
2 to 3tbsp fresh lemon juice
Instructions
Preheat oven 350degreesF. Grease and flour a 9" loaf pan.
Sift flour, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl. Set aside.
Take remaining tbsp of flour and toss with berries. Set aside.
In a large bowl whisk yogurt, sugar, eggs, lemon zest, vanilla and oil together until well combined. Slowly whisk dry ingredients into wet ingredients. Add blueberries and fold until just incorporated. DO NOT over mix.
Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake for 55 to 65 minutes or until tester comes out mostly clean. Let cool in pan for 10 minutes before removing.
While bread is cooling, make glaze by mixing powdered sugar and lemon juice. Adjust lemon juice based on desired thickness of glaze.
Pour glaze over completely cooled bread and let set 5 minutes before enjoying.
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