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| She really is glowing... I love how pretty pregnant women look. :) |
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| This is my FAVORITE shot of the day. I LOVE it! |
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Xoxo,
Jen
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Here Comes Baby... (Not Mine!)
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Bargain Blast: Nordstrom Rack
I asked on FB for some topics that people would be interested in reading, and I got some great responses. The one that fits my blog most aptly would have to be one submitted by my friend and co-worker, Melanie.
"How about (blogging about) places people can get good bargains when trying to stay fashionable in this economy?"
So I decided to do a kind of series on some of the places where I like to shop. I'm going to try and post at least one place per week, with some of the reasons why I love that particular place so much. I am a huge bargain hunter, and I HATE (I mean really DESPISE) paying full price for anything, especially knowing that there are so many places that offer bargains on great pieces. The first Bargain Blast store is....
If you like designer labels, this is the place to go. They always have a great selection, and if you search properly, you can find some major gems. I've come out of there with a Michael Kors purse for less than $100, and I have seen Kate Spade bags for under $150 several times. There are items you wouldn't want to skimp on, and at those times, this is a great place to go. I've tried on Diane VonFurstenberg dresses (didn't purchase because they didn't have my size :/ ), and have actually purchased more than one Calvin Klein dress for under $50 (talk about something you can wear forever). Not to mention they carry a lot of tops for under $20 - at a much better quality than what you might find elsewhere. I've spotted Burberry coats in several sizes, and they almost ALWAYS carry Seven Jeans or True Religion Jeans.
For men, they carry TailorByrd shirts, which my husband loves. They retail for about $110 in Nordstrom stores, but at the Rack, they are about $50 - $60. Can't go wrong for a nice, modern dress shirt. The colors are always nice and bright, and I love seeing my hubby in these very well-made shirts.
Great accessories from Betsey Johnson, watches from several different designers, hair accessories for under $5, and all other kinds of jewelry for really really great prices occupy one corner of the store. And near the register are a couple of stands of beauty supplies, carrying Stila, Smashbox, and Neutrogena products, as well as a few others.
But by far, what has me more than smitten with Nordstrom Rack is their designer shoe department. I have at least 5 pairs of shoes that I have purchased in their regular shoe department (prices range from $40 - $80, which is VERY good). Back to designer section - But back in May, I found a gorgeous pair of gold Jimmy Choo slingback, peep-toe heels. They were $300. So I practiced self-control and left them there. A week later, I was still dreaming of the shoes, and when my hubby went back to buy some jeans, he picked them up for me, and this time, they were 50% off!!!! So they only cost $150. Steep for shoes, but not for Jimmy Choos. After doing some research, I realized that those shoes retailed for $800. Definitely a steal.
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| The Jimmy Choos I got for $150! |
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| Wearing my Jimmys in Philly... The gold clutch was $10 at Bijoux Terner. |
So there you have it - the first Bargain Blast. Nordstrom Rack, a great place for almost anything!
Coming up next time... DSW.
Until next time!
Xoxo,
Jen
Jack of all trades, Master of none?
So it seems as if every week I find something else I enjoy and at which I could become much greater. There are just so many things I enjoy. I have huge dreams. Some I might achieve, some might be a flailing attempt... But I have promised myself that even if it is flailing, I WILL make the attempt.
Teaching is my first love, and what puts the money in the bank account regularly (even if it isn't much). But on my list of things are to be a published author and to expand my photography portfolio. Writing has been a love of mine for a long time. I remember scribbling notes and poems on any scrap of paper I could ever find, and writing short stories on my parents' old desktop. That's where blogging came about. A place to express myself, to make my thoughts heard, and to hone my skills. My hopes are that I can one day write a book and get it published (I've actually already written a children's alphabet book and illustrated it, but no publishing yet).
As for photography, I've always thought of it as "just a hobby." I've taken maternity photos for friends, or friends' children, photographed parties, and as always, at school. But it was never something I made money off of. So imagine my surprise when a friend recommended me for a paying job this past weekend! It was an engagement party, and I absolutely LOVED it. The couple was great, as were their families! I was even booked for other jobs through this party! So I'm excited to have another creative outlet for myself, as well as to help document the fun and important times in people's lives!
I'm not trying to market myself here - I'm seriously just EXTREMELY excited about this new venture! The blog is also great at letting me hone some of my photography skills, so I have definitely been getting plenty of practice.
The whole point of this post is that I want to know how to do a lot of things... not just one. I want to look back at the end of my life and say, "I tried it all. I might not have been the absolute best, but at least I can say I tried." I think that's the way we should all live... try everything you want to try, at least once! You never know what can come from it.
Anyway, here are a couple of shots to enjoy!
Xoxo,
Jen
Teaching is my first love, and what puts the money in the bank account regularly (even if it isn't much). But on my list of things are to be a published author and to expand my photography portfolio. Writing has been a love of mine for a long time. I remember scribbling notes and poems on any scrap of paper I could ever find, and writing short stories on my parents' old desktop. That's where blogging came about. A place to express myself, to make my thoughts heard, and to hone my skills. My hopes are that I can one day write a book and get it published (I've actually already written a children's alphabet book and illustrated it, but no publishing yet).
As for photography, I've always thought of it as "just a hobby." I've taken maternity photos for friends, or friends' children, photographed parties, and as always, at school. But it was never something I made money off of. So imagine my surprise when a friend recommended me for a paying job this past weekend! It was an engagement party, and I absolutely LOVED it. The couple was great, as were their families! I was even booked for other jobs through this party! So I'm excited to have another creative outlet for myself, as well as to help document the fun and important times in people's lives!
I'm not trying to market myself here - I'm seriously just EXTREMELY excited about this new venture! The blog is also great at letting me hone some of my photography skills, so I have definitely been getting plenty of practice.
The whole point of this post is that I want to know how to do a lot of things... not just one. I want to look back at the end of my life and say, "I tried it all. I might not have been the absolute best, but at least I can say I tried." I think that's the way we should all live... try everything you want to try, at least once! You never know what can come from it.
Anyway, here are a couple of shots to enjoy!
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| Lover's Locks on the Ponte Vecchio, Florence, Italy |
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| Water flowing |
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| Two of my favorite girls. :) |
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| Spanish Food. Need I say more? |
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| Gaudi-inspired bull in Barcelona, Spain |
Xoxo,
Jen
Saturday, August 13, 2011
Couscous Salad with Roasted Chicken
Just because I've decided not to focus TOTALLY on food doesn't mean I won't talk about food at all! I have several recipes stored with their corresponding photos and I really do want to share them with you!
Lately I've been on quite a couscous kick. It's so easy to make, you can add more or less whatever you want to it, and it doesn't make you feel like you ate a loaf of Cuban bread when you're done. When I was looking for a simple weeknight meal, I found this recipe. So I hit up my grocery store and picked up a whole rotisserie chicken, chopped it up, and made this delicious meal for dinner. It doesn't require a whole lot of explaining, and it's VERY simple if you pick up the cooked chicken on your way home. Of course, if you want to be a show-off, you can season and roast your own chicken, too. ;) I was not feeling that ambitious on this particular day.
I didn't think Eddie would like it too much, since it is a simple, one-dish meal - no sides or anything. But he loved it! And I hope you will too!
Couscous Salad with Roasted Chicken
Makes 4 servings
Ingredients
1/3 cup uncooked couscous (I used whole wheat)
1 1/2 cups chopped roasted chicken breast
1 cup halved grape tomatoes
1 cup chopped fresh parsley
1/4 cup chopped fresh mint
4 green onions, chopped
1 garlic clove, minced
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/4 teaspoon salt
Directions
1. Prepare couscous according to package directions, omitting salt and fat. Fluff couscous with a fork.
2. Combine couscous, chicken, tomatoes, parsley, mint, onions, and garlic in a large bowl. Set aside.
3. Combine lemon juice, olive oil, and salt in a small bowl; stir well with a whisk. Pour dressing over couscous mixture; toss gently.
Recipe adapted from: Cooking Light: Fresh Food Fast Weeknight Meals
Enjoy!
Xoxo,
Jen
Lately I've been on quite a couscous kick. It's so easy to make, you can add more or less whatever you want to it, and it doesn't make you feel like you ate a loaf of Cuban bread when you're done. When I was looking for a simple weeknight meal, I found this recipe. So I hit up my grocery store and picked up a whole rotisserie chicken, chopped it up, and made this delicious meal for dinner. It doesn't require a whole lot of explaining, and it's VERY simple if you pick up the cooked chicken on your way home. Of course, if you want to be a show-off, you can season and roast your own chicken, too. ;) I was not feeling that ambitious on this particular day.
I didn't think Eddie would like it too much, since it is a simple, one-dish meal - no sides or anything. But he loved it! And I hope you will too!
Couscous Salad with Roasted Chicken
Makes 4 servings
Ingredients
1/3 cup uncooked couscous (I used whole wheat)
1 1/2 cups chopped roasted chicken breast
1 cup halved grape tomatoes
1 cup chopped fresh parsley
1/4 cup chopped fresh mint
4 green onions, chopped
1 garlic clove, minced
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/4 teaspoon salt
Directions
1. Prepare couscous according to package directions, omitting salt and fat. Fluff couscous with a fork.
2. Combine couscous, chicken, tomatoes, parsley, mint, onions, and garlic in a large bowl. Set aside.
3. Combine lemon juice, olive oil, and salt in a small bowl; stir well with a whisk. Pour dressing over couscous mixture; toss gently.
Recipe adapted from: Cooking Light: Fresh Food Fast Weeknight Meals
Enjoy!
Xoxo,
Jen
Friday, August 12, 2011
Pantsed!
Last weekend I went shopping for back-to-school (Yes, teachers get to do this, too), and I automatically went to my favorite store, New York & Company. I love clothes, but going to clothing stores is sometimes overwhelming for me. I want to look stylish and nice, but I do NOT want to spend $100 on a shirt. This place gives me the clothes I want, at a great price and great quality. And when you find somewhere that the clothes fits, wear it!
I remember being younger and getting mad at my mom for making me buy a sweater in the store when it was Lerner NY. I told her, "That's an old lady store, and I will NOT buy clothes from there. That's dorky." Give me a break, I was in my early teens. How annoying.
Years later, when I started working and actually had to pay for my own clothes, I refused to pay $80 for a pair of cropped pants at Express. I mean, who were they kidding? I also wasn't happy with the fit. So after some mental kicking and screaming, I decided to try New York & Company. Lo and behold, the pants actually fit the way I wanted them too. And ten years later, the clothes didn't seem quite so "old-lady-ish". Their selection was also way more stylish than I remembered.
While I'd love to be that "uber-trendy" girl, my job calls for something a little more low-key, a little more classic. Plus, as I've gotten older, I've realized that not every silhouette looks good on me. So I go with what works - a classic cut and shapes, and I accessorize to make it modern. I wouldn't say I'm the best-dressed person in town, but I also don't think I dress poorly. But I guess I'm not the one to judge that, am I? ;)
Anyway, I went shopping for back to school with a coupon for $70 off my purchase of $150 or more in hand (yes, crazy right?). They also have a huge pant sale going on right now. Buy one pair of pants full price (their pants average $40 - $60), get the other for $10! That means you can buy two pairs of dress pants for under $75. They also have some gorgeous tops now for fall, in pretty colors and patterns. My personal favorite? A teal tie bow blouse - reminiscent of the ones seen in Banana Republic's "Mad Men" Collection. Get the New York & Company version here. I know it will also transition into fall/Miami winter nicely with a blazer over it and a pair of boots.
Another great thing, teachers get 15% off in stores, year round... If you're a teacher, sign up here.
Happy Shopping!
Xoxo,
Jen
I remember being younger and getting mad at my mom for making me buy a sweater in the store when it was Lerner NY. I told her, "That's an old lady store, and I will NOT buy clothes from there. That's dorky." Give me a break, I was in my early teens. How annoying.
Years later, when I started working and actually had to pay for my own clothes, I refused to pay $80 for a pair of cropped pants at Express. I mean, who were they kidding? I also wasn't happy with the fit. So after some mental kicking and screaming, I decided to try New York & Company. Lo and behold, the pants actually fit the way I wanted them too. And ten years later, the clothes didn't seem quite so "old-lady-ish". Their selection was also way more stylish than I remembered.
While I'd love to be that "uber-trendy" girl, my job calls for something a little more low-key, a little more classic. Plus, as I've gotten older, I've realized that not every silhouette looks good on me. So I go with what works - a classic cut and shapes, and I accessorize to make it modern. I wouldn't say I'm the best-dressed person in town, but I also don't think I dress poorly. But I guess I'm not the one to judge that, am I? ;)
Anyway, I went shopping for back to school with a coupon for $70 off my purchase of $150 or more in hand (yes, crazy right?). They also have a huge pant sale going on right now. Buy one pair of pants full price (their pants average $40 - $60), get the other for $10! That means you can buy two pairs of dress pants for under $75. They also have some gorgeous tops now for fall, in pretty colors and patterns. My personal favorite? A teal tie bow blouse - reminiscent of the ones seen in Banana Republic's "Mad Men" Collection. Get the New York & Company version here. I know it will also transition into fall/Miami winter nicely with a blazer over it and a pair of boots.
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| One of the pairs of cropped pants I acquired. |
Another great thing, teachers get 15% off in stores, year round... If you're a teacher, sign up here.
Happy Shopping!
Xoxo,
Jen
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Fall Nail Trend - Going Green
So yes, another post about nails... I couldn't resist blogging about this one.
I was watching the Today Show a few weeks ago, and they were discussing the colors that would be hot for fall. They highlighted a new Chanel nail polish, a limited-edition goldish-green color called Peridot. You can find it here. The following day I picked it up at the mall. While I would not usually spend more than $8 - $10 on a nail polish, I absolutely loved this greenish gold color. I figured that since I don't spend money on a weekly manicure, the $25 wouldn't be a complete travesty (plus, it was my birthday, and I was indulging).
Since then, I have seen it in every single fashion magazine and advertised in several other places. So yesterday I painted my nails with the new color, even though we are still suffering the blazing heat of summer and I have been attracted to all my pretty brights for the last few months. I love the color - I think it so different, so unique, and looks very fresh - a nice change from the usually dark, vampy fall colors (even though I still love those). I did two coats and the color looks gorgeous. For my topcoat, I used this CND Air Dry, which is a Fast Set top coat. My nails were dry in five minutes flat. I picked the nail polish up at Ulta.
One warning - I was looking at several other pictures online (Google images - Search "Chanel Peridot nail color) of women's nails with this color. The ones with short nails - it looked great. On long nails, not so much. It turns a little "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles-ish. So file 'em down, unless you want to go for a creepy, witchy look. Just saying.
Till next time...
Xoxo,
Jen
I was watching the Today Show a few weeks ago, and they were discussing the colors that would be hot for fall. They highlighted a new Chanel nail polish, a limited-edition goldish-green color called Peridot. You can find it here. The following day I picked it up at the mall. While I would not usually spend more than $8 - $10 on a nail polish, I absolutely loved this greenish gold color. I figured that since I don't spend money on a weekly manicure, the $25 wouldn't be a complete travesty (plus, it was my birthday, and I was indulging).
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| Chanel Le Vernis Nail Colour - Peridot |
Since then, I have seen it in every single fashion magazine and advertised in several other places. So yesterday I painted my nails with the new color, even though we are still suffering the blazing heat of summer and I have been attracted to all my pretty brights for the last few months. I love the color - I think it so different, so unique, and looks very fresh - a nice change from the usually dark, vampy fall colors (even though I still love those). I did two coats and the color looks gorgeous. For my topcoat, I used this CND Air Dry, which is a Fast Set top coat. My nails were dry in five minutes flat. I picked the nail polish up at Ulta.
One warning - I was looking at several other pictures online (Google images - Search "Chanel Peridot nail color) of women's nails with this color. The ones with short nails - it looked great. On long nails, not so much. It turns a little "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles-ish. So file 'em down, unless you want to go for a creepy, witchy look. Just saying.
Till next time...
Xoxo,
Jen
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Shellac... Right on Track or Whack?
First off, I know I have been terrible about blogging lately, and I apologize. I really have no excuse for you except for pure laziness. lol However, I do want to say that I will be steering away from food for a while as I haven't been doing too much baking lately. I've also been making very simple meals without recipes for the last several weeks. I do promise that if I make anything fantastic I will definitely share!
So as you might remember, hubby and I went to Europe for 10 days (I will share some pics soon, promise!). Before leaving on the trip, one of my worries was, "What on earth am I going to do to keep my nails looking nice?" If you know me, you know I am obsessive about nail polish, nail colors, and taking care of my nails. You also know that I almost NEVER go get manicures or pedicures, and have taught myself to do my own nails. BUT I was not ready to have to deal with chips, cracks, broken nails, and gross looking cuticles while on vacation in Europe.
So two days before leaving on vacation, I tried Shellac, which claims that it will last 2 weeks. I did some research and found a place that was close to my house, was not charging $50 for a manicure, and that had good reviews on Yelp. The salon I chose carried the CND line of Shellac nail polishes (OPI has their own line, which has a larger color selection). I originally wanted a light shade and had thought about going with a light pink or marshmallow-like color, but they didn't have a large variety of colors. So I went with Tropix, a bright coral color.
So as you might remember, hubby and I went to Europe for 10 days (I will share some pics soon, promise!). Before leaving on the trip, one of my worries was, "What on earth am I going to do to keep my nails looking nice?" If you know me, you know I am obsessive about nail polish, nail colors, and taking care of my nails. You also know that I almost NEVER go get manicures or pedicures, and have taught myself to do my own nails. BUT I was not ready to have to deal with chips, cracks, broken nails, and gross looking cuticles while on vacation in Europe.
So two days before leaving on vacation, I tried Shellac, which claims that it will last 2 weeks. I did some research and found a place that was close to my house, was not charging $50 for a manicure, and that had good reviews on Yelp. The salon I chose carried the CND line of Shellac nail polishes (OPI has their own line, which has a larger color selection). I originally wanted a light shade and had thought about going with a light pink or marshmallow-like color, but they didn't have a large variety of colors. So I went with Tropix, a bright coral color.
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| Moments after getting them done. |
The way it works is they put a base coat on, then stick your nails under a UV lamp. Then they apply a color coat, UV lamp; second color coat, UV lamp; finally a top coat and again under the UV lamp. What amazed me the most is that the SECOND you take your nails out of the UV lamp, they are completely, totally, 100% dry. No smudging while you try to pay, look for your keys, etc. I have to say, I was impressed.
Fast forward one week... my nails were in perfect condition. No chips, no cracks, no smudges. My cuticles were starting to get a little dry, so I just applied a really thick moisturizing cream (I used Mary Kay Extra Emollient Night Cream). The nails polish itself was still super shiny, as if it had been applied that same day.
By day 10, we were heading home. I had become impatient with my growing cuticles and had begun to push them back. You could see a huge amount of regrowth, which didn't bother me as much as the fact that my cuticles were crazily overgrown. On the flights back, I definitely started picking at my right hand, but my left was still intact. Picking the nail polish off didn't hurt (I thought it might), but it definitely tugged at my nails. It also left my nails a little ragged. What I couldn't pick off I soaked with some nail polish remover and battled to get it off (it is recommended by the company to return to a salon for removal).
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| Day 12... after I started picking at them. |
So would I do it again?
Yes, but not regularly. I think it is a wonderful solution for someone going on a trip, or for a bride, or if you have several events going on and need your nails to be perfect because you don't have time to get them done. But I don't think I'd Shellac regularly because it does dry out your nails and cuticles, and the growth towards the end can be a little unsightly. All in all, it was worth it for the trip, but I'll keep my free, weekly, at-home manicures that don't ruin my nails.
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