Let the Festivities Begin...
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Headed to a Halloween party this past weekend.
So what plans do you all have for All Hallows Eve?
So what plans do you all have for All Hallows Eve?
New Favorite Thing...
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So I want to do a quick post on my latest "favorite thing". It is probably nothing new to most of you, but I can't help that I'm almost never the first to arrive at the party. haha Anyway, I am crazy excited about Ulta's Red Carpet Manicure Kit! As I've mentioned in other posts, I use to wear acrylic nails. I stopped wearing them ages ago because I just never felt like had the time to go get them done and then keep up a regular schedule to get them filled in. I guess that's just what mommy-hood does to you. When I do have free time, the last thing I want to do is sit in a nail shop. *hands back my girly-girl card* Now pedicures are another story. I can get my toes "did" and maintain them myself for a while, but nails--(fake) nails are a commitment. So I broke up with them.
I started exploring other ways to keep my nails looking nice. Of course, I could just polish them, though I don't know about you, but regular nail polish only lasts like 2 days (if that) on my natural nails. I tried the nail polish "stickers" by Sally Hansen and KISS. The SH brand would actually chip by day 2 or 3. The KISS were heavier and I got them to last a week, but the colors/prints were a bit "out there".
So I'd been hearing about the (fairly) new rage, gel manicures from people I know getting them done at salons. It peaked my interest, but again, I'm not a regular-go-to-any-salon kind of girl. After some research, I found out about Ulta's Red Carpet Manicure kits. Well I finally got around to buying it, and all I can say is....WOW. I'm sold! I love it!!
I've done 2 "manicures" myself, and all I can say is that I would not care if this polish only lasted 3 days. The no drying time alone is totally worth it to me. Before you get alarmed, the polish lasts longer than 3 days. I've gotten over a week worth of wear. Keep in mind, there are little tricks and tips to doing these gel manicures just right to maximize the "wear time" on them. Just do a search on YouTube, there is plenty of information and tutorials there. It only takes me like 30 minutes to do, if that, and let me repeat: NO DRYING TIME.
The kit comes with all of the supplies you need as well as an LED nail light. Oh, and it costs 80 bucks. I'd happened to have a 20% off coupon code when I bought it, so I got it for a bit less. I used that savings to buy another polish color to come along with it. They have lots of colors! The kit comes with a red color (shown in the pics) called "Red Carpet Ready".
The photo above is from Saturday night, day 3 of the nails!
Overall, I definitely think this kit was worth the money. I am one happy girl! You can get the kit HERE.
I started exploring other ways to keep my nails looking nice. Of course, I could just polish them, though I don't know about you, but regular nail polish only lasts like 2 days (if that) on my natural nails. I tried the nail polish "stickers" by Sally Hansen and KISS. The SH brand would actually chip by day 2 or 3. The KISS were heavier and I got them to last a week, but the colors/prints were a bit "out there".
So I'd been hearing about the (fairly) new rage, gel manicures from people I know getting them done at salons. It peaked my interest, but again, I'm not a regular-go-to-any-salon kind of girl. After some research, I found out about Ulta's Red Carpet Manicure kits. Well I finally got around to buying it, and all I can say is....WOW. I'm sold! I love it!!
I've done 2 "manicures" myself, and all I can say is that I would not care if this polish only lasted 3 days. The no drying time alone is totally worth it to me. Before you get alarmed, the polish lasts longer than 3 days. I've gotten over a week worth of wear. Keep in mind, there are little tricks and tips to doing these gel manicures just right to maximize the "wear time" on them. Just do a search on YouTube, there is plenty of information and tutorials there. It only takes me like 30 minutes to do, if that, and let me repeat: NO DRYING TIME.
The kit comes with all of the supplies you need as well as an LED nail light. Oh, and it costs 80 bucks. I'd happened to have a 20% off coupon code when I bought it, so I got it for a bit less. I used that savings to buy another polish color to come along with it. They have lots of colors! The kit comes with a red color (shown in the pics) called "Red Carpet Ready".
The photo above is from Saturday night, day 3 of the nails!
Overall, I definitely think this kit was worth the money. I am one happy girl! You can get the kit HERE.
Link Up
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This past Saturday, I got the chance to connect with an old (new) friend. I say "old (new)" because she is someone I stumbled upon during the Myspace years. I use to devour pictures of her and her friends' eclectic, earthy and fabulous Brooklyn style. This was before I transitioned to natural hair, and all of them had natural hair which was additional inspiration for me to take the plunge. Anyway, over the years, we've been social media friends and finally met up this weekend. She happened to be here in Atlanta and wanted to film me for a video project she is working on for a website she will be launching soon! I will be sure to let you guys know when that happens. It is always great to meet another kindred spirit!
Introducing Michi! If you want to be inspired by cool fashion and a warm spirit, follow this girl!
We met up at one of my favorite coffee shops that I frequent weekly. So the night began with coffee and ended with cocktails and laughter. I took her to one of my favorite rooftop lounges found at the restaurant, Cafe Circa.
Can you believe the picture below of our drinks were actually shots? Yes, the bartender decided to make us shots the size of real drinks. We had to call it a night after that. haha
Looking forward to sharing with you all the finished product!
Crotch Fruit Fridays
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My two crazy kids.
They like to lounge on my bed, especially when it is not made and is extra messy, or has laundered clothes all over it. I guess rolling around in clothes while watching cartoons are their own little slice of heaven.
In other news, we found a new babysitter for our date nights. Our usual sitter (hub's cousin) moved back to the Bahamas, so the future was not looking bright for us. Just in time, a friend recommended a sitter she knew who just recently moved to our area. She's a full time nanny, who picks up extra babysitting cash on the weekends. We have a date night scheduled for tomorrow. It is much needed!
Hope you all have a super-duper weekend! I have some product reviews to be posted soon too. So, be on the lookout!
They like to lounge on my bed, especially when it is not made and is extra messy, or has laundered clothes all over it. I guess rolling around in clothes while watching cartoons are their own little slice of heaven.
In other news, we found a new babysitter for our date nights. Our usual sitter (hub's cousin) moved back to the Bahamas, so the future was not looking bright for us. Just in time, a friend recommended a sitter she knew who just recently moved to our area. She's a full time nanny, who picks up extra babysitting cash on the weekends. We have a date night scheduled for tomorrow. It is much needed!
Hope you all have a super-duper weekend! I have some product reviews to be posted soon too. So, be on the lookout!
Let's be Teal
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Me and the hubs had a quick spur of the moment "date night" last week. When he informed me of the plans, I decided to throw this little get up on.
I ended up throwing my trusty denim jacket on before leaving the house...
And just in case you were curious about the hair...
I can't wait to switch this hair back to curly. Straight is easier, but the curls are more fun! Me and the fam actually have a shoot for a print ad this weekend, so I have to wait until after that before switching. And no, I see nothing wrong with pimping my boys' good looks for a little pocket change. I'll be sure to do a post on this at some point.
Also, please ignore the baby gates and toys that may be seen on our deck. That's just how we roll over here. :)
Happy Hump Day!
Happy Hump Day!
Ruffle top - Target
Bandage dress worn as skirt - Arden B.
Boots - Sam Edelman
Belt - F21
Belt - F21
Weekend Mentions
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This past Saturday, me and the fam decided to head out to the Dekalb International Food & Music Festival. The weather was perfect! It really was a diverse affair, all types of food from Jamaican to Ethiopian to Puerto Rican to Chinese...and of course, Bahamian. We got our Bahamian food itch satisfied, and all was well with the world.
So what kind of fun did all of you get into this past weekend?
This post is part of :
So what kind of fun did all of you get into this past weekend?
A different kind of animal print
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So, you guys have already gotten a glimpse of this outfit from my last post. It's what I wore to the pumpkin patch with the fam. I try to not make my style posts too contrived, i.e. all dressed up and no where to go. I prefer posting looks that I am actually wearing somewhere, and if not, I will more than likely state it, though that will be far and few between. I figure if you want to see pictures of someone playing dress-up, you can check out Vogue, Elle, or the more fantasy-esque kind of blogs, etc. I'm representing real-mom-wife-of-two-kids-life here. lol
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| Denim jacket: Old Navy | Dress: Marshalls (great alternative HERE) | Tights: Target | Boots: DSW(old) |
Anyway, I fell in love with the horse print. It kinda reminds me of the throwback circa' 2001 Chloe collection that featured a horse print. Even Carrie in Sex and The City wore one of the dresses on the show--just in case you needed confirmation of its coolness. I still check eBay from time-to-time to see if anyone has any of the horse print Chloe pieces for sale...but to no avail. I guess people are still loving those wears. Ah well.
So what do you all think of the "new" animal prints? I've seen birds, kittens, foxes, etc. I have to say, I'm loving it.
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Pumpkin Patch 2012
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So this past weekend, we made our yearly jaunt to the pumpkin patch (last years post here). Max had been begging us for weeks now. There are several pumpkin patches on the outskirts of Atlanta, but we usually go to Yule Forest. They offer most of the usuals, i.e. hayride, petting zoo, pumpkins (of course). They also have bounce houses and things of that nature for the smaller kids. I can't wait until our boys get a bit bigger so that we can go to another pumpkin patch in the area that has a huge 4 acre corn maze! In due time...
So what did you guys do over the weekend?
So what did you guys do over the weekend?
Hopped on the bandwagon...
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...and got a pair of these:
No, these are not the brand that you may think. I would never drop that kind of cash on something so trendy. So instead, I picked up the $40 eBay special. I really do like them! They almost make me want the real thing....................nahhhh. I do like that these shoes give a little "lift"with the built-in wedge heel. These are like sneakers for grown-ups!
Several versions of these shoes are available: Here, here and here! I feel like I will live in these during the fall/winter. If they fall apart, I'll just go ahead and get one of the more expensive alternatives. I'll keep you guys posted.
And to be honest, I just threw this outfit together just to take pictures of the shoes--I have nowhere to be today. Life of a stay-at-home-mom...
No, these are not the brand that you may think. I would never drop that kind of cash on something so trendy. So instead, I picked up the $40 eBay special. I really do like them! They almost make me want the real thing....................nahhhh. I do like that these shoes give a little "lift"with the built-in wedge heel. These are like sneakers for grown-ups!
Several versions of these shoes are available: Here, here and here! I feel like I will live in these during the fall/winter. If they fall apart, I'll just go ahead and get one of the more expensive alternatives. I'll keep you guys posted.
And to be honest, I just threw this outfit together just to take pictures of the shoes--I have nowhere to be today. Life of a stay-at-home-mom...
Gold Kurti
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It's a very rainy day in the A(tl) today, so inside pics it had to be! Today I threw on this Indian kurti (tunic) that I'd thrifted a while back. I always find great stuff! Anyway, the 3/4 length sleeves and light cotton fabric make it perfect for this time of year. It won't make me too hot or too cold.
By the way, I've made a Facebook Page for my blog. Please "Like" it for more updates and other random stuff!
Happy Monday!!!
This is part of the Mom's Monday Mingle and this one too!
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Tunic - thrifted
Jeans - UO
Shoes - vintage
Bracelets - Fred Flare
Happy Monday!!!
Crotch Fruit Fridays!
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Hanging out in downtown Decatur.
Taking a dip...
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...into some of my fall/winter clothes. Lately, it's been feeling like Fall...in the mornings and evenings here in ATL, but at the height of day, it's still pretty darn summer-y. The key during this time of year is layers. I can always be found wearing a cardigan or long sleeve shirt with a tee or tank underneath.
And since I'm usually running after two little ones daily, comfort is always key, which is one of the reason I'm so in love with these thrifted Levis "boyfriend" jeans.
Top - TJ Maxx
Tank - random
Jeans - Levis (thrifted)
Shoes - Unlisted
Belt & Bracelets - F21
Watch - Movado
Sunglasses - RayBan
And since I'm usually running after two little ones daily, comfort is always key, which is one of the reason I'm so in love with these thrifted Levis "boyfriend" jeans.
Feliz Miércoles!
Mexican Chicken & Rice Casserole
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New recipe! Okay, okay, it's been a while since my last recipe post. Thought I would share this because it's really easy, and supposedly you can make this with FROZEN chicken breasts--no thawing required. I say "supposedly" because I hadn't the heart to really cook the chicken from frozen. I just couldn't take the chance that it wouldn't work out. lol But according to the site that I'd gotten this from (via Pinterest), it is perfectly fine. People have also left comments on said site saying that they had great results cooking from frozen.
Anyway, this is a Mexican Chicken & Rice Casserole. It really is delicious. The hubs loved it. I loved it.
Mexican Chicken & Rice Casserole
Ingredients:
1 can fat free cream of mushroom soup
1 can fat free cream of chicken soup
1 can water
1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 can Rotel diced tomatoes with chilies
1 1/2 c rice
1 pkg taco seasoning
cilantro and green onions chopped (optional)
frozen boneless,skinless chicken breasts
shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions:
13x9 in glass casserole dish with cooking spray
wisk soups, water and taco seasoning in bowl then pour into bottom of dish
sprinkle rice over soups
place chicken breasts FROZEN over soup and rice
pour beans and tomatoes over chicken, cilantro and green onions sprinkled on top.
Cover with foil, bake 350 degrees 1 hour,40 min.
remove foil, sprinkle shredded cheese over to melt.
Tips & Mods
- I didn't cook my chicken from frozen.
- I also added a can of corn
- I used parboiled rice, some said they'd used instant.
- I only cooked my casserole for an hour and 15 minutes (since I hadn't started with frozen chicken)
- Also, I ended up have to cut up the chicken so that they could be served taco-style. I think this recipe would do VERY well in the crockpot (cook on low for 7-8 hrs, high 4-5), and the breasts will basically shred on their own. That's how I will cook it next time.
Enjoy!
Recipe found HERE.Anyway, this is a Mexican Chicken & Rice Casserole. It really is delicious. The hubs loved it. I loved it.
Just before putting in the oven
Just out of the oven
Served over flour tortillas. I wanted to put avocado on this, but mine hadn't ripened yet. Salso and/or sour cream I put on the leftovers. Don't know why I hadn't thought of that initially. Tasted even better!
Mexican Chicken & Rice Casserole
Ingredients:
1 can fat free cream of mushroom soup
1 can fat free cream of chicken soup
1 can water
1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 can Rotel diced tomatoes with chilies
1 1/2 c rice
1 pkg taco seasoning
cilantro and green onions chopped (optional)
frozen boneless,skinless chicken breasts
shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions:
13x9 in glass casserole dish with cooking spray
wisk soups, water and taco seasoning in bowl then pour into bottom of dish
sprinkle rice over soups
place chicken breasts FROZEN over soup and rice
pour beans and tomatoes over chicken, cilantro and green onions sprinkled on top.
Cover with foil, bake 350 degrees 1 hour,40 min.
remove foil, sprinkle shredded cheese over to melt.
Tips & Mods
- I didn't cook my chicken from frozen.
- I also added a can of corn
- I used parboiled rice, some said they'd used instant.
- I only cooked my casserole for an hour and 15 minutes (since I hadn't started with frozen chicken)
- Also, I ended up have to cut up the chicken so that they could be served taco-style. I think this recipe would do VERY well in the crockpot (cook on low for 7-8 hrs, high 4-5), and the breasts will basically shred on their own. That's how I will cook it next time.
Enjoy!
Crotch Fruit Fridays!
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...with a daddy cameo.
Have a great weekend! I may have a new recipe post up soon!
Killer hair
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Well, not really the hair, that's killer. Currently in love with these studded hair combs I picked up at Forever 21. They were only $2.80 a piece. I'm sure this could be a pretty simple DIY as well. Go get your "bad ass" on!
Crotch Fruit Fridays (yes, a new theme)
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Say hello to Cruz enjoying his very first PB&J sandwich. He seemed to enjoy it immensely. Probably more so because it wasn't his. He is like the "honeybadger"--he just takes what he wants. We are all constantly reminded that he is mobile and can pull things off of tables and counter tops. Lesson learned.....again.
Have a great weekend, guys...
Blue Peplum
/Momma's on a roll with the outfit posts lately, huh?! Hope it's something you all enjoy. Really, this is the highlight of this past weekend. Not the outfit, but the fact that it was an awesome "date night" with my magnificent husband. We don't have these nights as often as we should, so we try to make the most of it!
We did a bit of bar/lounge/restaurant hopping. First stop was Frank Ski's Restaurant & Lounge, checked out a couple other places, but ended the night at the swank W Hotel Midtown. It was a great night.
What I find really funny, is that while owning a fancy schmancy camera--that above Instagram shot was my second favorite of the night. The first being the photo of me and him, of course. :) Also, how about that bun??! Was the best one I'd done yet!
Anyway, hope your week has started off well!
We did a bit of bar/lounge/restaurant hopping. First stop was Frank Ski's Restaurant & Lounge, checked out a couple other places, but ended the night at the swank W Hotel Midtown. It was a great night.
Top - F21
Jeans - Urban Outfitters
Necklace & bracelets - eBay
Shoes - Lulu's
Anyway, hope your week has started off well!
How cool is this...
/I was alerted by some friends that I was mentioned on Style Pantry's Facebook page. And surprise, surprise--there I was!
I've been a follower of Style Pantry for quite some time now, and am a huge fan (she has a huge followng, btw)! She has awesome style--very eclectic, but sophisticated with an ethnic twist, which I think we both share--as well as big hair. I think she is a bit more daring with colors and accessories, but I admire that! Anyway, I take this repost as a huge compliment! This made my Friday!
I've been a follower of Style Pantry for quite some time now, and am a huge fan (she has a huge followng, btw)! She has awesome style--very eclectic, but sophisticated with an ethnic twist, which I think we both share--as well as big hair. I think she is a bit more daring with colors and accessories, but I admire that! Anyway, I take this repost as a huge compliment! This made my Friday!
Food porn.
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I'd happened to be looking through the SD card I use in my camera and came across a couple of pictures that I'd taken about a week ago while having lunch with a friend (remember THIS post?). I couldn't let these go to waste! They immediately caused me to reminisce on this meal and just how tasty it was. Pardon me while I wipe the drool.....
Okay, if you can't tell. This is "fish & chips"--what you see are two pieces of fish on top of potato wedges on top of a sort of green pea "mash". Delectable (the pea mash, not so much). I'm not sure if I mentioned it in that previous post, but I'm telling you now, this yummy meal can be had at P'Cheen, for all you Atlanta folk. Go and get you some!
