Creamy Tuscan Chicken with Penne

Creamy Tuscan Chicken with Penne

Wednesday, June 22, 2016

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #PickedAtPeak #CollectiveBias

This Creamy Tuscan Chicken with Penne Pasta is jam-packed full of fresh flavor! And it is impossible to stop eating. Truly. I stood over the pan with a fork and just kept digging in. Don't tell my family. Pasta has always been my kryptonite. There is something irresistible about al-dente pasta combined with flavor rich sauces and a bite of protein. It is filling and comforting. Am I the only one who thinks Italian dishes are comfort food? I put this dish together in 30 minutes [ thank goodness for time saving recipes, am i right!? ]. It is a classic dish with artisan flavor; enrobing warm buttery penne in savory sauce with hearty chunks of chicken and veggies. Using local produce from the farmer's market builds flavor in this dish that you just can't get otherwise. 

Elevated S'mores Inspired Ice Cream Sundaes

Elevated S'mores Inspired Ice Cream Sundaes

Tuesday, June 14, 2016

This shop had been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #SoHoppinGood #TopYourSummer #CollectiveBias

I had a lightbulb moment the other day while buying stacks on stacks on stacks of Blue Bunny® ice cream - Sweet and creamy S'mores Inspired Ice Cream Sundaes! Graham cracker crumbles, mini chocolate chips, pecans [ I took creative liberties ;) ], marshmallowy Blue Bunny® Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream, crunchy fudge ribbons!! It's all in there. Now all we need is a campfire and some toasted mallows!

White Chocolate Cookies 'n' Cream Ice Cream

White Chocolate Cookies 'n' Cream Ice Cream

Tuesday, June 7, 2016

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #BiteSizedBitsOfJoy #CollectiveBias

Your sweet tooth is going to be extremely happy today. I made this no-churn White Chocolate Ice Cream and it was delicious.. I folded in some classic Keebler Fudge Stripes cookie pieces, that I got at Kroger, and it changed my tastebud's life! If you haven't joined the no-churn ice cream craze this recipe is where you need to start! Creamy, sweet white chocolate ice cream is getting cozy with fudge drizzled dark chocolate cookies. It's almost sinful.

Tropical Inspired Party Tutorial

Tropical Inspired Party Tutorial

Monday, June 6, 2016

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc, and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #CentrumFunFlavors #CollectiveBias

There is nothing more relaxing than a tropical beach getaway am i right?! The salty air blowing gently, the waves crashing steadily in the background, the sun and the sand. When I think of a tropical beach day I think of friends, and taking care of myself, inside and out. Finding quiet for peace of mind, enjoying the sunshine for a dose of Vitamin D, and snacking on fresh fruit to fuel my body, instead of refined sugar.

It can be easy to feel overwhelmed as a young career woman pursuing creative business opportunities! With so many things pulling at us it seems sometimes that we never have enough time for ourselves. Setting aside time to take a break and relax with friends is essential in maintaing a healthy mind, body, and attitude. Taking care ourselves should be a priority!

Tropical Inspired Party Tutorial

Budget: $40  |  Serves: 8 guests

The decor:

White table cloth

Palm Fronds ( real or fake ) 

Gold pineapple plates ( here )
Watermelon napkins ( here )
White cups
Clear Pitcher
Tiered plate stand

The food:

Fresh fruit skewers ( fruit of your choice )

Carbonated Water + frozen raspberries/kiwi slices (use non-carbonated water if preferred)

Blacker Pepper and Olive Triscuits

Deli style prosciutto 

Cantaloupe slices

Fresh mozzarella cheese

Coconut peanut butter cookies ( Udi's brand is THE best! )

Cocoa Roasted Almonds

The Goodie Bags:

Brown paper kraft bags 

Chocolate covered toasted coconut

Acai Lip Balm

Centrum Raspberry Vitamints + Original Vitamints ( get them here )

Refreshing aroma therapy

_________________ Party Setup _________________

DECOR.

Tablescape |  The base of this tablescape is a canvas of white. This crisp background makes all of the accents pop! Set the scene with a bright white tablecloth and then add in the color elements.

Accents | Accent the crisp what table with plates, napkins, and watercolor cups that bring in touches of green and gold! Pineapple shaped plates add a fun twist while the gold element makes them sophisticated. Watermelon napkins with gold accents and watercolor palm leaf cups solidify the theme!

Palm Fronds | The large palm fronds backdrop is what pull this tropical inspired party together! I grabbed some real palm fronds from my backyard for the large accent, but you can purchase fake fronds or a banana leaf removable wallpaper background like this.

+ The palm leaf cups are an easy DIY. Grab blank white paper cups, a fine watercolor brush and a starter watercolor palette. Paint your version of a palm leaf on the cups and let dry! This adds a personal touch to the decor.

SAVORIES + SWEETS.

Crostinis |  For the savory element of this party food-scape I went with a crostini inspired bite. Triscuit crackers can be topped with sweet or savory ingredients, making them the perfect choice for an easy party appetizer! To make this appetizer simply top cracked black pepper and olive oil Triscuits with cantaloupe slices, deli style prosciutto ( italian ham ), and a slice of fresh mozzarella! They are delicious.

Fruit Skewers |  Skewers make a beautiful presentation for fruit! Since this is a tropical party I went with brightly colored fruits like watermelon, cantaloupe, and honeydew melon! You can use any fruit that you like! Pineapple is a great addition!

Coconut Peanut Butter Cookies |  Keeping in line with our tropical decor theme, the sweet treat for the foodscape is Coconut Peanut Butter Cookies. Oh my yum! Udi's brand is the best, and they are gluten free! You can find them at your local grocery store.

Cocoa Roasted Almonds | Keep guests snacking happy with cocoa roasted almonds. They are a little sweet and a little salty! They make a perfect tasty handful.

Infused Sparkling Water |  Sparkling water adds a fun and sophisticated flair to the beverage for this party! Fill a pitcher with flavored or unflavored carbonated water, and add in some frozen raspberries and kiwi slices for a fresh flavor. It is that simple! You can infuse the water with any fruit that you prefer.

GOODIE BAGS.

Kraft Bags | Brown kraft bags make these favors feel natural and casual! Just like a tropical getaway. Fill them with health supporting goodies and sweet treats! Secure goodie bags with gold paperclips for a touch of sophistication.

Aroma Therapy | Treat your guests with a refreshing aroma therapy like lemon grass or peppermint!

Chocolate Covered Coconut | Keeping with the tropical theme, include chocolate covered toasted coconut clusters as a sweet treat for guests to enjoy even after they have left the party! Solid dark chocolate, or even sweet white chocolate squares, are another delicious option for these favors.

Acia Lip Care | Caring for ourselves inside and out is the theme! Include a revitalizing lip balm for guest to use and enjoy the nourishing benefits!

Centrum Vitamints | Encourage guests to enjoy taking care of themselves and stay healthy with simple solutions like Centrum Vitamins and Gummies! I stopped by Walmart and grabbed two great Centrum Vitamints flavors: Raspberry and Cool Mint. A health supporting vitamin like Centrum is a thoughtful addition to these goodie bags! You can get any/all of the flavors here, or stop by your local Walmart and pick some up!

The tablescape for this party is bright and happy with crisp white backgrounds, pops of gold, tropical accents, Seriously, how fun are gold pineapple plates?! Etsy shops for the win! Delicious fresh fruit skewers, raspberry-kiwi infused water, and savory prosciutto melon appetizers will satisfy guests hunger, and your own! The theme of this party if taking care of ourselves! Treating guests with thoughtful goodie bags that support the theme of taking care of our bodies, inside and out, is the perfect way to send them off and leave them encouraged! Fill your goodie bags with revitalizing aroma therapy, natural lip balm, health supporting vitamins like Centrum Vitamints or Gummies, and toasted coconut covered in chocolate! Everything you need to take a break, care for yourself, and relax!

 |  *These statements have not been evaluated by the food and drug administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.  |

This tropical beach inspired party tutorial brings together everything calming and fun about a day with friends at the beach, but, right in your home! What better way to celebrate taking care of yourself than relaxing at home with your closest friends for a small, easy, breezy party!

Come together, relax, and welcome taking care of yourself, inside and out!

How do you enjoy staying healthy with Centrum Gummies and Vitamints!? Will you give this tropical party a go? Tell me all about it in the comments! Have a beautiful day!

              LET'S CONNECT: 

Two Step Half-Up Cascading Hairstyle

Two Step Half-Up Cascading Hairstyle

Wednesday, June 1, 2016

My obsession with this cascading faux hawk hairstyle is at an all time high right now. I cannot tell you how much I love it! It is crazy easy to throw together ( just 4 steps ) and looks flirty, effortless, and chic! The faux hawk part of this hairstyle is what I consider a soft faux hawk. It is feminine with a little edge, and is not super high. The cascading curls that make up the tail of the faux hawk are beautiful AND they hide the bobby pins. That is winning.. and then winning some more. There is something special about knowing that the back of you hair looks pretty ;)

I love big voluminous curls that cascade in magical waves. This look is to die for with curls, but, are you ready for this? It looks just as incredible with straight hair. Does it get any better than that? Oh, and yes, short or straight curls look like a thing of dreams with this style. I see you girls with short hair!

PS. This hairstyle is your new go-to for 2-3 day old hair. Hide those sad roots like a boss!

 HALF-UP CASCADING FAUX HAWK

4-6 Bobby Pins  |  Leave in Conditioner  |  Hairspray

Before beginning any half-up, all up, or just tousled hairstyle, I lightly spray my hair with a leave in conditioner or salt pray to give my hair a little texture. You can skip this step if you find that those products make your hair feel/look dirty. If not, get to spraying!

I do recommend Garnier's 5-in-one lightweight spray from their Whole Blends collection. I swear by this spray! It gives hair a little shine without leaving it looking greasy which is so important for those days when your tousled curls are three days old! Dirty hair just holds better, you know?

Step 1. Beginning with curly or straight hair, spray ends with salt spray or leave in conditioner. Spitz hands with leave in conditioner and tousle hair at the roots. This will give your hair the volume and texture that it needs to look fuller!

Step 2. Sweep your hair back, with your pointer fingers, from the top of your ears to the crown of your head, pushing the outmost pieces underneath the center curls.

Step 3. Holding the soft faux hawk in place, begin pushing bobby pins underneath the center cascading curls ( or straight flowing hair! ), securing the outer pieces with 2-3 bobby pins on each side. Stagger the bobby pins for greater hold. *You should have a cluster of criss-crossed bobbies underneath the tail of this faux hawk.

Step 4. Secure hairstyle with a touch of hairspray! Lift the cascading tail of the faux hawk and spray curls as you release them for more volume! Spray ends of hair to hold curl shape.

And there you go! The easiest half-up hairstyle you will ever fall in love with. I like to wear my faux hawk on the demure side, but, you can amp up the volume if you're feeling brave ;) 

This look is great for date night, stepping up your work hair game, or just looking pretty while running errands! 

Have you tried any of the faux hawk hairstyles yet? Will you give this look a try for summer? Let me know in the comments! Have a beautiful day! 

LET'S CONNECT: