Video Music Accessories



Do: Selena Gomez                                            Don't: Nicki Minaj

accessoriesplural of ac·ces·so·ry (Noun)

1. A thing that can be added to something else in order to make it more useful, versatile, or attractive.

2. A small article or item of clothing carried or worn to complement a garment or outfit.

 

The key words to focus on here are useful, attractive and complement... Selena has a useful clutch, attractive bracelet, and gold pumps that complement and complete her outfit. Nicki on the other hand may want to consult Merriam-Webster before she leaves the house EVER again... sometimes less is more

Friday's Five!

1. Lake Trip!

There’s nothing we love more than a weekend at the lake! Laying out soaking up the sun, reading a cosmo mag, while drinking a pina colada… someone cue the heavenly angels! Or if tanning’s not your thing, then fishing off the boardwalk or taking the boat out for a spin with family and friends, let the water skiing commence!

2. Sunscreen

 

The lake can be fun and relaxing, but don’t forget the sunscreen or you’ll be a crispy critter! Two of our favorites are Hawaiian Tropic and Aveeno

3. Swimsuit Sale!

Sadly, school has started back and fall is right around the corner…BUT that means it’s now time to buy that swimsuit you’ve been eyeing all summer! Odds are it is on SALE! Oh, sale, that has to be one of our favorite words! Target, has some of the cutest swimsuits to mix and match and best of all they are all on clearance!

4. Hurricane Irene

 

We are praying for those who will be affected by Irene this weekend. Hurricane Irene has weakened slightly after leaving the Bahamas Friday and is now a category 2 storm with maximum sustained winds near 105 mph.  Irene poses a threat to the east and northeast coast and is projected to hit North Carolina first.  The outer rain bands from Irene will span from FL, GA, and SC coasts today and thru the night. Remember to be prepared and be ready to evacuate if necessary!

5. Kick Up Your Heels

TGIF! And what better way to celebrate than by hitting up your favorite country western dance hall! To look the part we suggest Cavenders where you can purchase these lovely Dan Post Mad Cat Sniptoes! YEE-HAW!

Glitter Nails!

So, it seems that a new nail trend is sweeping the blogosphere, and the instant I saw this on someone's Pinterest, I just knew I was going home that night to try it!  I decided to ease myself into it at first... I don't usually wear colors on my fingernails.  Toes, always!  Fingers, not so much.  So, I started with clear polish and iridescent glitter tips. 

It was so fun!  Like a party on my nails!  I couldn't stop staring at them the first day.  But, I love sparkle, so that was to be expected.  I was shocked at how long it stayed, too. Usually my nails chip after a day, but these were still going strong after five! 

Since that worked out so well, I decided to move into color.  As seen on last Friday's post, I've been slightly obsessed with coral recently, so I went for it.  I bought some matching glitter and went to town.  However, since the color makes such a statement, I switched things up and toned down the glitter, applying only to my ring fingers.  Way cute!  Just takes a normal manicure to the next level.  One of my friends even asked where I got my nails done, because they were so cute.  She was shocked when I said I did them myself!

The best thing about this fun new nail treatment is how easy it is!  All you'll need to glitterize your nails will be a nail color of choice, clear coat, fine glitter, and a separate paint brush. 

Nail Polish: Sally Hansen Insta-Dri in "Peachy Breeze" (clearance bin at Target, $2.50)

Glitter: Tulip Fashion Glitter in "Pastel Pink" (got it at Michael's, $3.50)

Start with a clear coat, followed by as many of the coats of the nail color you need to achieve your desired color.  Once dry, paint the tip of the nail with clear coat.  Dip the paint brush into a drop of clear coat and then into the glitter.  Apply to the tip of the nail to get desired effect and let dry.  Once dry, apply one more layer of clear coat to seal the whole treatment.  Voila!  Nail perfection!  The color possibilities are seriously endless here.  Experiment and have fun!

Tasty Tuesday: My Fit Foods

 Do you hate going to the grocery store? Do you feel like you have to spend a lot of time and money to make a healthy meal? Are you looking to become more healthy or maybe lose weight? If you said yes to any of these questions, then you will LOVE My Fit Foods. My Fit Foods are precooked, prepackaged, healthy meals to go! Just like a TV dinner, but they taste great! They make breakfast meals, lunch/dinner meals, and snacks. All perfect sized portions that will leave you feeling energized and "fit"! Some of my favorites:

Breakfast: Good Morning Sunshine: A taste of the southwest, with lean ground turkey, parboiled rice and 5:1 egg whites topped with fresh pico de gallo

Lunch:  Lean Lemon Turkey w/ Rice: Lean ground turkey breast seasoned, served on a bed of converted rice and topped with fresh asparagus spears.

My Fit foods currently has locations in Texas and will be coming out with one in Phoenix. My guess is they will soon have locations all over the U.S.A because they are that good!

Blue Collar Chic

I've spent the last few weeks looking for a chambray shirt that wouldn't break the bank. There are many out there, but with brand names like J.Crew, Ann Taylor, and Ralph Lauren (seen below respectively) you were sure to shell out some cash. I went to target this weekend and just happened to stumble into a great find. A chic cut, 100% cotton, rolled sleeve, chambray shirt for $22.99 (as pictured above)! But, it gets even better... it is now on sale for $17 here!

J.Crew Selvedge Chambray $98, Ann Taylor Refined Chambray $78, RL Cristo Chambray $59.50

Friday's Five!

1. Georgia on my Mind
We've both been pretty obsessed with Raven-Symoné as an actress since college.  We spent many an hour on the couch watching "That's So Raven."  Yes, there, we admit it, we watched the Disney Channel in college.  And we weren't ashamed to say so.  In fact, we even made a couple of our guy friends watch some episodes.  They didn't say so, but we're pretty sure they enjoyed them.  Or well, they watched without complaining.  For them, that's pretty much the same thing.  Anyway, we were both soooo excited when, earlier this summer, Raven debuted a new sitcom on ABC Family.  State of Georgia.  Georgia and Jo are two friends that are living together in Georgia's Aunt Honey's apartment.  Raven's quips and facial expressions totally make the show.  As does Aunt Honey.  Just do yourself a favor and watch an episode or two.  Maybe some of the later ones from this season.  They've been getting better as the season progressed... Just a short clip for you: 

2. No Tax!

It's tax free shopping time!  Check to see when your state is doing this.  During this time, retailers do not collect sales tax on many back-to-school items. How much you save is, of course, dictated by your state's sales tax.  Usually school supplies will be tax free, but just in case you aren’t in school anymore (or have any school age kiddos), there are plenty of other tax free items that may pique your interest.  Practically all clothing is tax free, including everything from belts, shirts, jeans & pants, dresses, sleepwear, shoes, and swimsuits.  And in case the sweltering heat wave of 2011 breaks eventually, sweaters, sweatshirts, and coats are not taxed either.  If you don't feel like braving the crowds sure to be out taking advantage of this, try online!  Check your state's rules for online shopping.

3. Laughing!
Who doesn't love to laugh?!  We've been laughing a lot lately over this Youtube video.  Watch and enjoy!

4. Steve Madden Shoes

I don't think I've ever owned Steve Madden shoes before this summer, but as of right now, I have five... And I found them all on clearance, which is even better!  There's a 30% off sale going on right now on select fall styles.  And use code SMFREESHIP for free shipping (does not apply to clearance).

5. The Color Coral
This color inevitably becomes one of my summer staples every year.  It's just so perfect for that extra pop of color in an outfit, or even when decorating a room.  And I especially love it for nails, which you will see later this week...

1. Decorative Pillow Cover

2. Coral Cuff Bracelet

3. Sally Hansen Nail Polish

4. Bold Statement Necklace

5. Sea Coral Prints (Set of 4)

6. Blouse, found here

A Whopper of a Cake!

For a long time now, I've had a bit of a love affair with malt.  No, not of the alcoholic variety, though that can be good too.  It all started at a young age with a visit to Jackson Hole, WY and Grand Teton National Park.  Ahhh, the fond memories I have of that trip of that trip... Feeding the pet calf, Emily, from a baby bottle, going on a trail ride and staring at the majestic mountain scenery and looking for moose and elk off in the distance, and sitting around the campfire roasting marshmallows and listening to stories.  But one of the things that really sticks out in my memory is the dessert my brother and I had at the restaurant in the park.  The Dusty Glacier.  Looking back now, it was really just a simple hot fudge sundae, but it was sprinkled with magic.  Better known as malt powder.  This was my first encounter with this flavor, and I savored every minute of it!  Ever since then, it's held quite a special place in my heart.  So, when I saw a Whopper Cake recipe, I just knew I had to make it!  Thankfully, a coworker's birthday was rapidly approaching, and I managed to convince him to let me make this cake for him. 

Now, yes, it is quite a long and involved recipe, but let me tell you, it's sooo worth it!  None of it is actually complicated.  It just takes some prior planning, as it's kind of a multi-day affair.  But, when a cake receives exclamations of "This is the BEST chocolate cake I have had in my life!" coupled with that look of pure pleasure, you know it's worth it!  Find an excuse to make this cake soon!  You will be soooo glad you did!  As you can see, I decorated mine with chocolate malt balls, but feel free to do as you wish.

Chocolate Malt Cake

Adapted from the following:

http://confessionsofacookbookqueen.com/2011/04/hot-fudge-whopper-cake/

http://bellalately.blogspot.com/2007/12/chocolate-malt-cake.html

http://www.bonappetit.com/recipes/2010/09/chocolate_malt_cake

 

Cake:

2 1/4 c. all purpose flour
1 1/4 c. sugar
3/4 c. unsweetened cocoa
1 1/2 tspn baking soda
1 tspn baking powder
1/2 tspn salt
1 c. milk
1 c. malted milk powder
1 c. vegetable oil
3 large eggs
1 c. sour cream
1 tspn vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350.  Butter & flour two 9-inch cake pans.

1. In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder and salt.
2. In a small bowl, combine milk and malted milk powder, stirring to dissolve. Add milk mixture, oil and eggs to flour mixture, beating at medium speed with an electric mixer until smooth. Add sour cream and vanilla, beating just until combined.
3. Pour batter evenly into prepared pans and bake for 20 minutes. Let cool in pans for 10 minutes. Remove cakes from pans and let cool completely on racks.

Chocolate-Malt Crumbs

3/4 cup nonfat dry milk powder

1/2 cup all purpose flour

3 tablespoons sugar

2 tablespoons cornstarch

3/4 teaspoon coarse kosher salt

6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) unsalted butter, melted

6 tablespoons Ovaltine Chocolate Malt Mix

2 oz white chocolate, chopped

1. Preheat oven to 275°F.
2. Line large rimmed baking sheet with parchment.
3. Combine milk powder, flour, sugar, cornstarch, and coarse salt in medium bowl; toss to mix evenly.
4. Add butter; stir with fork until clusters form.
5. Spread mixture evenly on prepared sheet and bake until crumbs are dry and crumbly but still pale, about 10 minutes. Cool Milk Crumbs completely on sheet. DO AHEAD Can be made 1 week ahead. Store in airtight container at room temperature.
6. Mix Milk Crumbs and Ovaltine in small bowl. Place white chocolate in small microwave-safe bowl. Heat in microwave in 15-second intervals just until melted, stirring occasionally. Drizzle chocolate over Milk Crumb mixture; toss to coat.

Malt Fudge Sauce

1 1/3 cups Ovaltine Chocolate Malt Mix

4 ounces bittersweet chocolate (70% to 72% cacao), chopped

1 teaspoon mild-flavored (light) molasses

Pinch of coarse kosher salt

1/2 cup heavy whipping cream

1/2 cup light corn syrup

1/4 cup sugar

1. Place first 4 ingredients in medium bowl; set aside.
2. Combine cream, corn syrup, and sugar in heavy medium saucepan. Bring to boil, stirring until sugar dissolves.
3. Pour cream mixture over chocolate mixture in bowl. Let stand 1 minute, then stir until smooth.
4. Whisk until sauce is glossy, about 1 minute. DO AHEAD Can be made 1 week ahead. Cool completely. Cover and chill. Rewarm just until pourable before using.

Cake Assembly

1. Slice cake layers in half for a total of four layers.
2. Pour 1/3 of the fudge sauce over the first layer and sprinkle with 1/3 of the Chocolate Malt crumbs.
3. Top with next layer and repeat two more times.
4. Cover cake with saran wrap and refrigerate overnight, or until fudge sauce is set.

Chocolate Malt Frosting

1 c. butter, softened

1/2 c. unsweetened cocoa powder

3/4 c. heavy whipping cream

1/2 c. malted milk powder

5 c. powdered sugar

1. In a large bowl, beat butter and cocoa powder at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy.
2. In a small bowl, combine cream and malted milk powder, stirring to dissolve. Add cream mixture to butter mixture, beating at low speed to combine. Gradually beat in powdered sugar until smooth.
3. Frost cake.
4. Chill cake until frosting is set.

Chocolate Ganache

4 oz semi sweet chocolate, chopped into small pieces

1/2 cup heavy whipping cream

1/4 cup light corn syrup

2 teaspoons vanilla

1.    Heat cream in a saucepan over medium low heat until simmering. Pour hot cream over chopped chocolate and stir until chocolate is melted. Stir in the corn syrup and allow to cool and thicken.

2.    Before pouring a ganache on your cake, make sure your frosting is chilled and set. This will keep it from making a big melty mess of your cake. Spoon or pour ganache on the center of the cake and spread right to the edges. It will drip down by itself.

Blazing Deals!

There's nothing I love more than a great sale find! I found this Ann Taylor tropical wool blazer, in store, on final sale, for $24.94! If you don't have an Ann Taylor near by, you can find it online here for $64.94. This is still an amazing deal since this jacket was originally $198! This is a classic style you can pair with just about anything. Kate Moss is seen here wearing a similar gray blazer in two very different ways.

Scottish Threads

Bought this gorgeous houndstooth viking blue and black, belted dress at Penney's this weekend. At 5'4, I'm shorter than the model pictured, making the dress hit me right below the knees. Made for a fun, fitted, 40s styled look. This classic cut dress will never go out of style and you can buy it here! Entering promotional code RMNAFF10 will get you an additional 10% off at checkout!

Gap Promo Code!

Hey ladies, what's better than shopping?!  Shopping with discounts, and in your pjs at that!  Gap has a great promo going on right now.  Use the code GAPGEM to get 35% off today (8/14), 30% off tomorrow and Tuesday (8/15 & 8/16), and 25% off on Wednesday (8/16).  Sadly, it doesn't apply to jeans, but you could get a great pair of essential khakis like these (my fave pair of pants!) for about $33.  So, what are you waiting for?  Go fall into the Gap!

Oh, and if you happen to live near a Gap Outlet store, you should check it out.  I totally scored a very cute pair of denim capris there last weekend for 8 bucks! 

Friday's Five

1. Wedges!

Still loving the wedge this summer! And found these lovely Circa by Joan and David wedges on the clearance rack at Macy’s. I think the bow just gives them a little something extra, don’t ya think? J You can find them online here

2. Something Old, Something New

I love how old items can take on a new life with a little tlc, just like these antique birdcages transformed into whimsical light fixtures. When I saw these hanging in a Houston boutique I had to take a picture and share!

3. Zad's the Word!

While doing my daily blog reading I kept seeing this necklace. First on J, in J's Everyday Fashion, then on Jessica, in What I Wore. One in a beautiful, bright coral, the other in a gorgeous, bold turquiouse. I just knew I had to own it! After much web surfing I found the necklace was made by a company called Zad and the best price was on ebay here and best of all, the shipping is FREE!

4. Touchdown!

With football season right around the corner we'd like to give a shout out to our Fightin' Texas Aggie Football team!  We wish them nothing but the best in the upcoming season! WHOOP!

5. Real American Heroes

Last, but surely not least, we'd like to take a moment to honor the lives of the 30 U.S troops killed in Afghanistan last week when their helicoptor was shot down. 22 of those killed belonging to elite Navy SEALs team 6.

"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." John 15:13

Tasty Tuesday!

How pretty is this salad?!  Now, I'm really not usually one to say food is pretty.  I watch cooking shows and the chefs are always exclaiming about how "beautiful" the food is, and I sit there thinking, "umm, not really."  And really, you're about to eat it, so why does it matter.  But, this is one of those times I'd have to agree with them.  The purple onion, the roasted red pepper, the yellow corn, the green cilantro... What a pretty color combination!  But, even better than that is the incredible flavor combination of this salad!  It's seriously like a party, no, a fiesta in my mouth!  I've always loved the flavor combination of lime and cilantro, and this salad has plenty of it.  Plus the crunchy, semi-sweet texture of the purple onion is a refreshing surprise.  This recipe is perfect for those end of summer barbecues and picnics, or just a simple, light, no-cook dinner option.  Feel free to play around with it, too.  Last time, I added mango and it was delicious!  Tomato and avocado would be great additions, too.  This would also make a fantastic party dip!  Have fun and enjoy!

Fiesta Black Bean Salad
Adapted from "Weight Watchers New Complete Cookbook"

1 (16 oz) can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 cup roasted red peppers, diced
1/2 cup cooked corn kernels
1 red onion, finely chopped
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
juice of 2-3 medium limes
3 tablespoons olive oil
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 teaspoon salt
freshly ground pepper, to taste

Combine all ingredients in a large mixing bowl and toss to combine.  Cover and let stand at least an hour, until the flavors are blended.

Bar III

Loving the Bar III private-label line at Macy's.  This collection is young, contemporary, whimsical, and edgy.  One of my favorite pieces from the collection is the elephant print tank.  Which is currently on sale for $29.99!  Paired with skinny jeans, white blazer, and wedges you’d be ready for dinner and a movie with that special someone!


Bar III Sleeveless Elephant Print Top