Food: Lemon Squares

In honor of the summer solstice and my eleven and a half year anniversary, I decided I would celebrate with lemon squares. They're one of my favorite treats for summer! They're light and fresh and a perfect balance between tart and sweet. Oh, and did I mention that they're perfect hostess gifts for summer BBQs, picnics or for a casual dinner with friends. As a matter of fact, I'm planning on bringing my lemon squares to a family get together this weekend...I think they're going to be a big hit!

Lemon Tarts

Ingredients:

(Makes 24)

• 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• 2 cups plus 6 tbsp. flour
• pinch of salt
• 2 sticks of butter, sliced into 8 pieces
• 4 eggs
• 2 cups sugar
• 6 tbsp. lemon juice-approximately the juice of two lemons (I love Meyer lemons!)
• Grated zest of one lemon

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and lighly grease a 13 x 9 inch baking pan.
2. In a food processor, blend powdered sugar, 2 cups flour and salt. Add butter and pulse until mixture is crumbly. Press into pan and bake for 20 minutes.
3. Meanwhile, in a stand mixer, blend eggs, 2 cups sugar, 6 tbsp. flour and lemon juice until well combined. Stir in lemon zest.
4. Pour on top of hot crust and bake for an additional 25 minutes.
5. Let cool for 30 minutes, then sprinkle with powdered sugar. 
6. Let cool completely, then cut into squares.
7. Enjoy!

Lemon Squares

Fashion: Pleat and Repeat

I love this look! The pleated maxi skirt is so feminine but it's balanced out with the gray rocker tee. I just love the blush color of the skirt, it's perfect for spring! The chanel crossbody bag and the cuff bracelets aren't bad either. This look is the definition of "casually-chic" where you look put together but comfortable and just all out fabulous as you're walking around the city. I re-created the look with the pieces below:

BCBG "Estel" Pleated Skirt

Gap "Paris" Graphic Tee

Alexis Bittar Liquid Gold Orbiting Cuff

Tory Burch Crossbody Messenger Bag

I'm going to shop in my closet and re-use my silver envelope bag and gold orbit cuff that I picked up during my last trip to Paris, but the pleated blush maxi skirt and paris graphic tee are definitely my next purchases. What's your version of this look?  

Fashion: Alexis Bittar Jewelry

Okay, so I admit it, Alexis Bittar jewelry is not exactly a new find, his beautiful handmade jewelry are everywhere and everyone knows about it. But his beautiful pieces are definitely still blog worthy.

Alexis Bittar started designing jewelry in 1988 and used to sell his pieces on the streets in Soho, New York City. If any of you actually have one his pieces from 1988-1992, hold onto it like the fashion treasure that it is. His designs were then discovered by Saks Fifth Avenue, and currently his designs can be found in most large boutiques and department stores, such as Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus. His Lucite collection is his original collection which has become an Alexis Bittar design staple and the collection most seen in the retail stores. Although his jewelry is sold all over the country and featured in multiple magazines, each piece is still handmade by artisans in Brooklyn, New York. Which explains both the beauty and the individuality of the pieces, but also the high price tag.

For his most current designs, such as his current Miss Havisham collection and Elements Collection, try heading over to an Alexis Bittar boutique instead. Trust me it's worth a trip!

I have many of his pieces, and these are the pieces that I always receive the most compliments on. During my last shopping excursion in New York City, I stopped by the Alexis Bittar boutique in Soho and I fell head over heels in love with these crystal encrusted gold bezeled chalcopyrite drop earrings:

Alexis Bittar from Miss Havisham Collection

After I tried these earrings on, my credit card was ready to jump out of my wallet to make sure they were mine. While I was at the boutique I also fell in love with the gunmetal pearl backed drop earrings from the Elements Collection. Although I wasn't able to pick these up during my last trip, trust me, they will be mine.

Alexis Bittar from Elements Collection

Just in case you can't make it to one of the boutiques, you can always go online too, but the experience just isn't the same. Besides New York, he also has boutiques in LA, San Francisco and Chicago.

And if you're looking for a one of a kind piece, then check out his Archives Collection. These pieces were never mass produced and were only available to magazine editors for photo shoots, samples that were never produced, or Alexis' favorite pieces that are signed. Once a piece is sold, it's gone forever. However, expect to pay much higher prices for this one of a kind original. 





Fashion: Black and White Contrast Blouse

"Fashion Fades, only Style Remains the Same"

-Coco Chanel                                     

Coco Chanel

It's true, with time fashion does fade, but black and white contrasting color combinations is a style statement that has remained the same for decades. Look at Coco Chanel herself, she single handedly created the "little black dress" and accessorized it with bright white pearls all the way back in the early 1900s.

So it's no surprise that even with all the bright and neon colors shown on the spring runways, there was still a place for black and white contrast blouses. 

Temperley London Valentina Shirt ($710)

This spring season the black and white contrast blouses are being done with silk white blouses with contrasting black details, as in black cuffs, black zippers, or black bows and ties.

For most of us, the price tag for the Temperley London Valentina Shirt above is way out of our budgets, it's actually more like a rent payment. So I went searching for more budget conscious options where I can be stylish but still afford to make rent.

T. Babatan "Sabrina" Blouse from Aritzia ($115)

I actually picked up this beautiful Aritzia blouse during my last trip to New York City. I can already tell that it's going to be a timeless piece.

For an even more budget friendly option try:

Tinley Row Contrast Blouse from Piperlime.com ($49)

This timeless trend is definitely worth a try! Try pairing the contrast blouses with skinny colored jeans. Even though you'll be doing two trends at once, one of the trends is a timeless style staple.







                               

Food: Organic Almond Butter Cookies (Using a Stand Mixer)

I'm absolutely in love with my KitchenAid Artisan Stand Mixer. I've heard rave reviews about this mixer for many years, and now that I finally have one, I understand why. It's so easy and fast to make homemade cookies now. I used my stand mixer to create almond butter cookies. They are similar to peanut butter cookies, but since I hate peanut butter (and yes, I know that I'm probably the only person in the world who hates peanut butter), I decided to create almond butter cookies instead. For me they're tastier and a healthier option to peanut butter cookies. Also, this recipe uses less sugar than traditional peanut butter cookies and so it's a good alternative for people who are sugar sensitive. Plus, I used organic ingredients, so when I eat them I can fool myself into thinking that they're healthy for me. After all almonds are good for you, right? 

KitchenAid Artisan Stand Mixer

Organic Almond Butter Cookies

(Makes 2 dozen cookies)

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup organic peanut butter
• 1 stick of organic butter
• 1/2 cup organic granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup organic brown sugar
• 1 cage free egg
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 1/4 cups organic all-purpose white flour

Directions:

1. Place peanut butter and butter in mixing bowl and beat at speed 6 with the flat beater attachment until mixture is smooth.
2. Add sugars, egg and vanilla and mix at speed 4.
3. Add remaining ingredients at Stir speed.
4. Roll dough into small balls and place equally spaced apart on ungreased cookie sheets.
5. Press flat with a fork in a criss-cross pattern.
6. Bake at 375 F for about 10-12 minutes.
7. Remove from cookie sheets and cool on wire racks. 
8. Enjoy!

Organic Almond Butter Cookies

Fashion: Oscar Fashion Predicts Spring/Summer Fashion Trends

The 84th Academy Awards had quite a few surprises...Angelina Jolie's leg and Sacha Baron Cohen's "Dictator" look to name a few. But, Oscar fashion and hairstyles were quite predictable this year. The Spring Paris, Milan and New York runway fashions have always influenced Oscar fashion and Oscar fashion has always influenced Spring and Summer’s fashion trends. So what are you going to see in the stores this year for the spring/summer season? Sequins and White! Sequin dresses ruled the red carpet this year at the Academy Awards. Sequin dresses were seen on Rose Burn and Ellie Kemper (both of Bridesmaids) to name only a few. White gowns were seen on Rooney Mara, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jennifer Lopez and others. These celebrities proved that wearing white only between Memorial Day and Labor Day is outdated. This Spring/ Summer season let’s all wear white and some shine!

What’s going to be the trend for hairstyles? Bangs, of course! Heavy bangs were everywhere such as on Rose Burn, Ellie Kemper and Rooney Mara. Bangs of any length and shape are going to be really big for spring and summer. Plus, bangs are a great way to change your style without too much risk...if you don't like them, then just let them grow out in a couple of months.

Hot for Spring: Sequins, Heavy Bangs and White



Food: Roasted Halloween Pumpkin Seeds

I hate wasting food. I'm the kind of person who always leaves a restaurant with a bag full of left-overs and makes diligent grocery lists to make sure no food goes wasted. This has nothing to do with saving money, but that I just don't want to waste food. As a matter of fact, I've even asked restaurants to charge me the full price but just give me a smaller portion.

However, each year I throw out perfectly edible pumpkin seeds after I've carved my annual Jack-O-Lantern simply because I don't know what to do with them.

This year rather than throwing the pumpkin seeds out I used them to create Roasted Halloween Pumpkin Seeds and they're healthy and delicious.

Now, I can enjoy both the carved pumpkin and its seeds!

Roasted Halloween Pumpkin Seeds

Ingredients:

• 2 cups of pumpkin seeds
• 1 1/2 Tbsp. margarine, melted
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1/8 tsp. garlic powder
• 2 tsp. worcestershire sauce

Directions:
Mix all the ingredients together and bake the seeds on a cookie sheet for 1 hour at 275 degrees.

Enjoy!

Roasted Halloween Pumpkin Seeds

     

Carved Pumpkin (Frankenstein & his Bride)