New Years Eve 2014

It is hard to believe another year has come and gone. However, a new year brings hope, dreams and goals. I am thankful 2013 was a year full of traveling, meeting new people, and creating more memories with family, friends and my boyfriend. The new year is a clear slate for goal settings, new adventures and a hopeful and prosperous career. Time seems to go by so fast each year and it encourages me to start thinking more into my future. I begin to think, what are my plans and what do I want out of life? 2014, is my year to prosper and gain positivity. Life is to short for the would have, could have, should have. Stop making excuses and just do things! Start the year right with new resolutions and goals to achieve. Leave 2013 in the past and don't look back. Be hopeful for what your future has in store for you. When the clock strikes 12 what will you be hopeful for?

Xx,
Christine 
 

Anna Sheffield

Head over heels for these gorgeous rings from Anna Sheffield. 

Christmas Festivities

 

Made White Choclate and peppermint Oreo Truffles along with Milk Chocolate Oreo Truffles. They are so easy to make and the best part, no baking! Quick and simple and perfect for the little ones to help you make! 

Christmas attire with my best friend, and the most creative and talented person I know, my mother.

Silk and Leather? Don't Mind If I Do!

{Jessica Simpson Blouse, Amsterdam Clothing Pleated Skirt, Dolce Vita Wedge Shoes, Michael Kors Jewelry, MAC Reed Lipstick} 

Stuffed Mushroom Bites

Stuffed Mushrooms Recipe:

Total time: 30 minutes

Prep time: 10 minutes

Cook time: 20-25

 

Ingredients:

1 cup  Mayonnaise

1 cup  Sour Crème

1/2 cup  Crème Cheese

1/3  cup Ranch Dressing

1 tbsp  Italian Seasoning (dry or fresh)

1 tbsp  Oregano

1 tbsp  Parsley

1/3 cup  Breadcrumbs

¼ cup  Parmesean Cheese

1 tbsp Minced Garlic

1 pack of bacon

28 Mushrooms

 

Directions:

 

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees

 

1.   In a food processor mix the mayonnaise, sour crème and crème cheese until blended.

2.   Next, Add the ranch dressing and seasonings. Then pulse the machine

3.   Lastly, add the breadcrumbs and parmesan cheese

4.   Take a spoonful of the mixture and scoop into the mushrooms

5.   Take about a half a slice or whole slice (your preference) of bacon and wrap it around the mushroom. Stick with a toothpick to hold it all together.

6.   After doing step 5, line the mushrooms on a greased cooking sheet.

7.  Place in the oven for about 20-25 minutes at 375 degrees until bacon is cooked.

8.  Let cool and enjoy!

 

 

When it came down to what to cook for Thanksgiving, I had to think of something my family (picky eaters) would enjoy.  I remember last year I made stuffed mushrooms and they turned out very dry.  I decided to give it another whirl. Besides, practice makes perfect.  And I must say these little mushroom bites are quite delicious.

 

I was pondering my ingredients when I chose to just pull out condiments from the refrigerator. There was some logic behind my random pulling. I needed ingredients that would keep the mushrooms moist and blend together well.

 

Once I had the ingredients blended in the food processor I tried a small sample. They tasted perfect!  When the mushrooms were finally all filled , the next step was to wrap them all in bacon.  In my household we always keep bacon in the fridge.  It is almost a necessity and what doesn’t taste good wrapped in bacon?

 

Now, the oven is nice and hot and ready for the mushrooms.  I left them in the oven for about 20 minutes until the bacon is cooked.

 

These little stuffed mushroom bites were a crowd pleaser this year! Even the pickiest of eaters enjoyed my stuffed mushrooms. The best part is they are so simple to make!

SuperDry Clothing

Last year for my birthday, my boyfriend and I went to New York City for a getaway trip. While strolling the streets of Manhattan, a shop caught our eyes, SuperDry. I love the style and atmosphere you get when entering the store.  The Japanese graphics on the tees are unique and create a fun urban vibe. I like that SuperDry is geared for both men and women. It is nice that my boyfriend and I can go into the store and find ourselves shirts, jackets, accessories, headphones and more. We are quite a picky couple when it comes to apparel and to find a store we both really like is amazing!  We just had to make a couple trips to the store before we left the NYC! Now, I get my fix by shopping online, until I can make it back to the city. 

Over the weekend I went to visit my grandmother, Mama. She is a spunky and fashionable 92 years old! My grandmother is beautiful inside and out. She is very poised and graceful. My Mama instilled in me at a young age to always look your best and to never leave the house without lipstick! Ever since I was a little girl I loved jewelry. My grandma would let me spend hours in her room playing with her fur coats and pearls. I believe my love of fashion started here.

Vintage pendants, necklaces, furs, lamps and mirrors surround you when you enter the room. Every piece is perfectly in its place and very organized. I had to take a photo of the beauty in this room. A photograph of my grandmother and her sister rests on her dresser. Vintage pendants lie perfectly in their jewelry box. A pendant from my great grandmother is a piece of jewelry I treasue that my grandma has passed down to me. It is beautiful and dainty, perfect for myself. I gained a lot of traits from my grandmother like our creativity and love of fashion and art. We share a passion for art and beauty. I am lucky to have a grandma that helped shape me into the woman I am today. My grandmother is my role model. 

I hope to one day have a vintage collection like my grandma's. There just is something special about having jewelry passed down throughout time. Each piece signifies a story and is unique. 

What to wear for a casual yet stylish look for the office.

With the Fall weather here, that means boot season!! My favorite time of year is when I get to break out my boots (and buy new)! My recent shoe splurge is on these new buckle booties from UrbanOG. I am in love with them and they are very comfortable. Everywhere I go people compliment me on how beautiful they are. Definitely a one of a kind pair of boots! With ankle booties you can wear them with skinny jeans, tights, or a skirt. I love pairing my boots with tights and sweater dresses. 

urbanog

{UrbanOG Booties, Express Jeans, Guess Handbag, Jessica Simpson Blouse}

Vintage Finds

I absolutely love vintage finds from New York City! Was strolling through Chelsea when this ring caught my eye. I thought to myself that this ring would pair perfectly with my vintage pendant necklace. My favorite piece of jewelry is my great-grandmother's pendant. Pairing my vintage with my newer jewelry like my Michael Kors, all flow perfectly. 

Leopard and Lace

One of my favorite maxi skirts I own is my leopard print! I was feeling in a bohemian mood and rummaged through my closets to see what I could gather.  I decided to pair my leopard skirt with a little lace top. To give a summer vibe, I wore a swim suit top underneath the lace. It was orange and colorful to make it stand out just enough with the rest of the outfit. The swim suit was a perfect choice because it matched great with my MAC Cosmetics Morange lipstick. Of course, no outfit is complete without accessories. I never leave the house without AT LEAST a few accessories on myself. My sandals have beads galore on them! The small leopard print on the sandals worked out well with the skirt and did not clash. Let the wind blow, through my great wind-chime earrings. A must have in your closet in the summer is big earrings. 

Coral Crazy

While the summer is winding down, don’t forget to get some use out of your pleated skirts! Coral is always a fun and trendy color for the summer. My favorite colors together are coral and turquoise, a fun duo that was trending last summer but is still a trend this summer! If your afraid to add pops of bright colors together, add a turquoise bangle or necklace. A military jacket is a great way to add a bit of an edge but still is feminine and fun! I always pick my most comfortable, yet stylish flats when headed to a long day of work. Throw up your hair into a top knot/ sock bun. It’s quick and easy to do.  

This outfit is perfect for a day at the office or a night out on the town. Take it from day to night by adding a pair of nude pumps and a bold satchel. To top it off add a bright colored lipstick (MAC Snob) and your ready for a night out! 

[H&M Tank and Skirt. Nine West Belt. Vince Camuto Flats. Michael Kors Handbag, Eco-Friendly bangle. Chicos bracelets. Vintage Necklace. Michael Kors Rose Gold Watch. H&M hair accessories. Ray-Bans Sunglasses.]

Designer Splash for Summer

Pittsburgh Summer’s are not always the warmest. Therefore, you must improvise when mornings are a little chilly. I decided to go with a comfortable outfit for work. I chose the Maxi dress. Any girl who owns one knows that a cotton Maxi dress is your best friend. They are very comfortable and can be dressed up or down for any occasion. I paired my navy blue dress with a quarter length jean jacket. Of course, when feeling comfy you want to wear comfy shoes! I decided on my Vince Camuto flats. A little sparkle stands out with the solid blue.

For accessories, I always like to add pops of color. The Tribal print earrings go perfectly with the ring and the turquoise bracelets. I never forget my arm candy! Stacking various color bracelets is fun and trendy. To top off the outfit I wore my Michael Kors rose gold watch and hand bag. The colors all went together smoothly. 

Don’t forget your sunnies! Grab a pair of your favorite sunglasses for bright summer days. 

[Bebe Maxi Dress. Vince Camuto flats. Michael Kors watch and Hand bag. Miss Me Jean Jacket. Forever 21 jewelry with vintage jewelry. Zales platinum ring. Ray-Bans]

All Black Office Attire

Wearing all black to the office doesn’t have to be so boring. Spice up your wardrobe with accessories! Add a chunky and trendy necklace with mix and match jewelry. Add a big style trend, the wedge heels to an outfit. These Dolce Vita wedge heels are comfortable and stylish. When being on time is a top priorty don’t forget a timeless piece, a rose gold Michael Kors watch! Have a little fun when it comes to accessorizing and don’t be afraid to take a fashion risk! 

{Top: H&M blouse, Denim: Rag &Bone, Shoes: Dolce Vita, Accessories: Michael Kors, Zales, Charming Charlie, Thrifted, etc.}