November 30, 2012

Santa, Baby...


Been an awful good girl...

yeah...yeah...yeah...
 no matter how good you are, this is just a wishlist

(that's probably not going to happen)

1. Tory Burch Riding Boots in Almond
2. Marc Jacobs watch
3. J.Crew Etta Cap Toe Pump
4. Target Lallaby Glider Rocker (blue stripe)
5. GAP Flannel Pajamas
6.  J.Crew Collection Cashmere Sweater
7. Kate Spade NY  Cobble Hill Finley Bag
8. Kate Spade NY  Brightspot Avenue Lacey Wallet
9. Kate Spade NY Jumbo Jewels Necklace
10. J.Crew MacAlister Wedge Boots

I absolutely love Christmas season. And with it being December 1st tomorrow, I think, it's time to start working on your wishlists. This on is just that - a wishlist, that only leaves to hope for the best. 
Next week I will have couple of posts with all kinds of gifts - from cheap to absolutely to-die-for. So if you have time, and like to drool over some of the most incredible designer pieces (well maybe except Gap pajamas, that's just so my hubby's life is a little easier) take a look at some of my picks. 

I want - the oversized golden watch by Marc Jacobs. It's an accessory that can be worn practically with everything.
I need - the rocker/glider for our baby's nursery. I want to nurse therefore need something comfortable that's going to support me for hours on end. 

So hurry down the chimney tonight

November 29, 2012

Feeling Blue

sweater: Gap, blazer: thrifted, jeans: Liz Lange Maternity, shoes: TJMaxx,  necklace: NY&Co
 Sometimes feeling blue is perfectly OK. Staying at home in your PJs and drinking hot cocoa. Or simply hanging out in bed and watching all your favorite movies. 
On the other hand, when feeling blue and staying home isn't an option, why not wear your feelings on your sleeve? Literally.
I love the color of this jacket and how it goes with practically everything. Add to that a 100% wool material and you got yourself a favorite.
So is feeling blue in blue helps?  
You decide.


November 27, 2012

What Color Is That?


sweater: J.Crew, blazer: Gap, skirt: thrifted, shoes: Aldo, necklace: uknown

Between my mom and my sister, and couple of other people in church, the color of my tights have been misinterpreted. It's a mustard color people, which I, for one, think goes perfectly well with teal, but apparently I had Jaundice legs. 
I must say that it takes huge amount of energy to find something that fits now-a-days. Therefore, scarves, jewelry and different color tights are the things that un-blah my clothes. Honestly, I feel more comfortable in a skirt then jeans (weird, I know). So my work uniform is skirt, heels (still) and sweater.
But the college is over in two weeks (yay) and I can just live in my soft pink PJs, which my hubby says make me look very homey (whatever that means)
I guess that's better then Jaundice legs. 



November 25, 2012

The Best Cheesecake {recipe}

{the dessert table = 4 pies, a cake, cheesecake and zucchini  bread}

{the best cheesecake yet}
I consider cheesecake to be one of the hardest recipe out there because there is so many things that can go wrong. First, it should be moist but not overly so; then it should rise and not fall shortly after you take it out of the oven. Also, it should have this rich and creamy consistency from the first bite until the last. Well, all that is hard to achieve but not impossible. Introducing, the best recipe out there and probably the best cheesecake I've ever made. 

Recipe courtesy of Paula Deen (with a a few of my changes)


Ingredients

Crust:

Filling:

  • 4 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
  • 1 1/2 cups sugar
  • 2 tablespoons cornstarch 
  • 1 (16-ounce) container sour cream 
  • 1/2 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract 
  • 6 eggs 

Topping:

  • 6 tablespoons butter (1 stick)
  • 1 1/2 pounds (about 3 large) Golden Delicious apples, peeled, cored, and cut into 1/2-inch cubes
  • 1/2 cup chopped pecans
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Wrap the bottom and sides of a 10-inch springform pan tightly with foil to prevent moisture from the water bath from seeping into the cheesecake
Crust:
In a food processor (or with a fork), mix the graham cracker crumbs, butter, and sugar. Press the mixture into the bottom and halfway up the sides of the prepared pan. Bake the crust for 10 minutes, then remove it from the oven to cool completely.
Filling:
In a food processor or with an electric mixer, mix the cream cheese, sugar, and cornstarch until smooth. Add the sour cream, orange juice, and vanilla and blend until smooth. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, blending until just combined. *Cook's Note: It's important to blend well with no clumps as this will make the filling a smoother consistency when baked.
Pour the filling into the crust. Put a roasting pan on a rack in the center of the oven and transfer the cheesecake to the pan. Fill the roasting pan with hot water to come halfway up the sides of the cake pan and cover it loosely with foil. Bake until the center moves only slightly when the cake pan is shaken, about 1 hour and 45 minutes. Check the water level about 1 hour into the baking, adding more water, if needed. Leave the cake in the oven for another 15 minutes after turning the oven off. Carefully remove the pan from the oven and transfer the cake pan to a wire rack to cool. Refrigerate overnight.
Topping:
Melt the butter in a large skillet over high heat. Add the apples and pecans and cook, stirring, until they are coated with butter, about 2 minutes. Add the sugar and stir until the sugar dissolves and the liquid comes to a boil, about 3 minutes.
Using a slotted spoon, transfer the apples and pecans to a bowl. Reduce the heat to medium-high and cook the remaining liquid, stirring often, until it turns a deep amber, about 6 minutes. Remove the skillet from the heat to stop the cooking and add the cream. Be careful, as the cream may splatter. Return the skillet to the heat and bring it to a boil, whisking constantly. Remove the sauce from the heat and stir in the apples and pecans. Allow to cool until lukewarm.
Spread the caramel-apple mixture evenly over the top of the cheesecake. Refrigerate until ready to serve. Use a knife dipped in hot water to cut through the cheesecake.

November 21, 2012

Thankful For... The Little Things


sweater, boots: TJMaxx, skirt: thrifted, scarf: H&M, glasses: Loft
We are so blessed to have many material things, all the things we need. More over, we have pretty much everything we want. 
I'm so thankful for...

having my own vehicle

my computer, phone and other technology gadgets that help to make my life easier

the heat and hot water I have in my house every day 

my favorite Kate Spade NY bag

the daily abundance of food on our table 

being able to afford entertainment and fun things to do 

definitely Pinterest (I cannot live without it anymore)

the smile I see on my hubby's face when he looks at my belly - he's such a proud daddy

my little niece and her adorable chubby cheeks - love her to pieces

maternity jeans - the best purchase so far

our cozy new house

being able to have ultrasound - I don't know how people wait nine months to find out gender

feeling my little one move constantly

pancake breakfast with the hubs

sunny fall day... perfect for running errands

Thank you for reading this blog and being a part of my life!
Have a great and joyousThanksgiving!







November 20, 2012

Thankful For... Family and Friends


turtle neck: French Connection, jacket: H&M, jeans: Liz Lange Maternity, bag: TJMaxx, shoes: Aldo
Life isn't complete without people you love. I'm blessed to have a great family and awesome friends. 
I'm thankful for..

mom and dad who raised me right, taught me about God and showed loved every day

my sister - it's amazing growing up with a sister. We did everything together, from getting in trouble to playing
our silly games

my husband's parents and their love

all the extended family of my in-laws... there's a lot of them

getting two more sisters when I married my hubby - it's a girl central over here

church family 

friends that we can just enjoy life with - from Friday night joined dinners to double dates

being able to share the best and worst moments of life with friends 

building a family of our own with the man I love

girls game nights in

the thoughtfulness and love I am being showered with during this very special time of my first pregnancy



November 19, 2012

Thankful For... Us


shirt: Evan Picone, sweater: Loft, skirt: NY&Co, shoes: BCBGirls, bag: Kate Spade NY 

I just want to take time to count all the blessings and give thanks to God for everything that I have. From the material to spiritual blessing and everything in between, I am truly blessed.
Some things that I am thankful for...

the best husband in the world - he truly is my rock, my best friend and love of my life. 
this precious gift of life that's growing inside of me... becoming a mother is truly life-changing... 
being able to satisfy my pregnancy cravings without being bound by financial constraints (most people in other countries can't splurge on scallops or sushi every week)
having fun and just enjoying life from simple things like staying in bed on Saturday morning to getting pampered at a local spa with a massage
being able to have fun together, enjoying each other's company
stealing a kiss in the middle of a crazy busy day
planning our future together and talking about our boy
getting a place we can call our own, our home
enjoying similar interests - from movies to political discussions
being able to talk about everything and anything
having the security and love in our relationship grow stronger with every day
simply being able to live with each other day in and day out, seeing those ugly sides and still falling in love with each other every single day
place in hearts that we call family - just the two of us (soon to be three of us)

November 16, 2012

Colorful Fall



dress, scarf, hat, boots; TJMaxx, blazer: Land's End, bag: Kate Spade NY
I love sunny fall days. They are so fun to dress for. The main idea is - layers, layers and more layers. Right now we have a mix of cold, brisk days with sunny afternoons - it's perfect fall. I love that you can still wear dresses and boots without hiding them under a puffy coat.
Today I'm at 28 weeks and honestly starting to worry a little bit (it all depends on your definition of little). I told the doctor that I'm scared of the unknown and he told me it's a piece of cake - giving birth. Dude, how would you know? Stepping on the scale the display is right in your face, I mean, who wants to see that number? Just hide it and tell me everything is going great and I'm perfectly healthy. But fitting into my pre-pregnancy dress made my day that much more colorful and bright. 

November 13, 2012

Happy Harvest



blouse: Merona/Traget, cardigan: Loft, skirt: J.Crew, necklace: J.Crew (via Ebay),
shoes: Aldo, bag: Kate Spade NY
We were celebrating Harvest Sunday at the church and the weather could not have been any more perfect. I'm so thankful that we live in the land of plenty and being able to have what we want, not only what we need. 
Honestly, too many times, we as Americans, complain about thing that aren't even necessities. Most of the world population struggles to make ends meet and I have family oversees that go through that on daily basis. They have tiny little apartments (think tiny and scale it down by like 10), get around on public transportation and eat fruit only during summer months when it's cheap. 
We need to appreciate things that we have, the plentiful, great harvest and the prosperity in this land. 

November 12, 2012

Royal Apple Cobbler {recipe}


There is nothing better then a warm apple cobbler on a cold fall night (with or without ice cream). I eat mine with hot tea. I love apple pies, but there is something to sophisticated and delicious about a cobbler. I've made different cobblers - from peach to mixed berry yet Pioneer Woman's recipe for blackberry cobbler is the best. I used her recipe but changed couple of things.


- First, I used apples with blackberries. Apples alone seem a little boring and a blackberry cobbler is way too expensive (this time of year). So I've used one pint of blackberries to add color and taste to the apples. Perfection!

- Next, I do not like shortening. Honestly, something about it makes me feel like my butt is expanding while I'm adding it to the recipe. I substituted it with canola oil which is the best for cooking.

- Lastly, I sprinkled the top with almonds. I love how the creamy inside mixed with the crunchy nuts makes for the best taste and texture.



Ingredients

  • 1 pint of Blackberries
  • 4 medium Tart Cooking Apples 
  • 1/2 cup Plus 4 Tablespoons Sugar
  • 1 Tablespoon Lemon Juice
  • 1/2 whole Zest Of Lemon
  • 2 cups Flour
  • 1/4 teaspoon Salt
  • 1 Tablespoon Baking Powder
  • 4-5 Tablesppoons Canola Oil
  • 4 Tablespoons Butter
  • 3-4 Tablespoons Almonds
  • 1 whole Egg
  • 1/2 cup Milk

Preparation Instructions

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Combine blackberries, ½ cup sugar, lemon juice, and lemon zest in a mixing bowl. Stir and spread out in a buttered Pyrex dish.
In a separate bowl pour flour, salt, baking powder, and 1 tablespoon sugar. Add oil and butter and work mixture together with a pastry blender (or your fingers) until the mixture is coarse. Measure ½ cup milk, add an egg, and mix together. Pour into flour mixture, stirring as you go. Mixture should be smooth and not dry, but not over sticky.
Take clumps of dough and place them on top of the blackberries. Lightly flatten dough with your fingertips. Sprinkle with 3 to 4 tablespoons of almond and bake until golden for 30 minutes. Berry juice will be slightly thin, but don’t be afraid. It will gradually soak into the biscuit-like topping and make your life complete.
Serve with vanilla ice cream and hot tea.

November 9, 2012

Size of Rutabaga




Here we are starting our third trimester. The pregnancy  is going well and honestly it's the most incredible feeling in the world. Baby is constantly kicking and letting me know he's there, like he can't wait to get out. I'm enjoying the feeling of impending motherhood which sometimes scares me, but gives the most wonderful butterflies. 

How far along? 27 weeks

Total weight gain: 11 pounds

Maternity clothes? jeans and two dresses

Size of the baby: 17 oz (size of Rutabaga)

Morning sickness? Nope, none.

Sleep? It's a hit and miss. If I'm really tired, I sleep like a baby. Then there are nights when I can't seem to fall asleep at all. I keep waking up and wide awake, with growling stomach. So I get up and go get some food/snack.  

Best moment this week? Seeing my stomach move when the baby kicked. He's so strong and I can't wait to kiss those little toes of his. 

Miss Anything? Being able to fit into my non-maternity clothes. Everything seems to bunch up and never sit right anymore. 

Movement? He kicks very hard

Food cravings? Scallops 

Anything making you queasy? Not really

Symptoms? Hormones are going crazy. There are just too many emotions going through 

Wedding rings on or off? always on

Happy or Moody most of the time?
It's up and down all the time. I feel good about myself and then out of nowhere, there is this cranky mood comes out of nowhere.



Looking forward to? Getting the nursery all set up and preparing for his arrival. I can't wait to meet our little boy

November 8, 2012

Is It Over Yet?


jeans: Liz Lange for Target Maternity, shirt: thrifted, t-shirt: Loft,
 blazer: Banana Republic, bag: Old Navy, shoes: BCBG
So let's talk comfy again. I can't get outta these jeans and that's all I'm going to say for myself. 
Today is technically the end of my week because I don't work on Fridays. But it's also the beginning of much packing as we move into our new home. Being pregnant, having a job and moving into a new house is a lot
Add to that holiday season and getting ready for a baby means I'm going to be buried in everything from boxes to Christmas tree ornaments. 
One box a day. One day a time.
Starting tomorrow that is. Why start something today, if can be put off until tomorrow? 
I say, no reason.
Enjoy your weekend!


November 7, 2012

Casual Wednesday


jeans: Liz Lange Maternity for Target, blouse: Gap, blazer: H&M, shoes: Guess,  bag: Kate Spade NY
Is there such thing as casual Wednesday? Well, there should be. Honestly, I am ready for this week to be over and it's only half way through. I am breaking out the maternity jeans and probably not going to take them off until February 7th (a.k.a. my due date).
The only thing that's wrong with them is that I'm not quiet big enough ready for them yet (I did get the smallest size). Every time I sit down, bend over or walk, they slide a little and I'm constantly pulling them up. It's truly a wonderful picture - pulling on my maternity jeans. When they slide, they create a small kangaroo-like pouch that probably can fit a tiny kangaroo baby. Then it just looks weird.
Add to that, me trying to keep them on and you get one big weirdo over here.
I know, complaining about maternity jeans, seriously? Well, now-a-days that's my life goal - try to fit into something. So thank you for listening (that is if you ever got to the end of this sad, what's-wrong-with-these-jeans post). Please enjoy your regular, non-maternity, without-a-kangaroo-pouch jeans and while you at it, say' Hi' to them for me. Tell them, I missed them, but I'm coming back. One day.

November 6, 2012

Pregnant Style



dress: Talbots, shoes: Payless, belt: J.Crew, bracelet, necklace: Macy's 
By no means am I an expert on this. This is my first pregnancy and trust me, I get a lot of skeptical looks and comments. "Ohhh it's your first? Just you wait, that baby will show you who runs the show" or " enjoy it now, because you won't have any life later" Of course, no matter how 'encouraging' that sounds, I am enjoying my pregnancy and take every comment and remark with a grain of salt.
One of the most important things for me right now is staying comfy. Between teaching for two hours a week and church services, I am always in front of people. Putting on make up, doing my hair and having nice outfit on makes me feel more like myself but comfort is a priority. 


Here are a couple of tips to staying comfortable without sacrificing style while pregnant. 

- Invest in a good pair of maternity jeans - you will wear them a lot. Especially the last trimester.
- Buy different colored cardigans and mix and match with all your shirts, t-shirts and tanks. You can also wear them on top of dress for a whole new look
- Accessories are your best friends - they can make any simple outfit look put-together in a heartbeat
- Wedges are comfortable but look stylish with anything from jeans to a dress
- Knits will serve you well, especially in skirts. They stretch when the belly grows and still look formal enough for work.
- During winter months it's important to stay warm. A few good cashmere/wool sweaters will keep you warm and look great, instead of ten thin ones for the same amount of money.
- Having make-up and hair done is half the outfit.
- Getting enough rest, drinking plenty of water  and eating well will make the face look better, which in return will make you feel better about yourself. No amount of money can buy you that.


Midnight Snack {recipe}



Ingredients:

Cream Cheese 
Pear
Apple
Wasa Crispbread
Substitute any fancy cheese for a more exquisite taste, or try apple instead of pear.
9g of Carbohydrates and 3g of Protein - midnight snack of champions.


It turns out a lot of things they tell you about pregnancy are actually true. Like having to go tinkle a gazillion times a day, or being hungry more times then not, and liking foods that you previously couldn't stand
Most of the time I do good with having smaller portions 3-4 hours apart but when dinner is at seven, by the time bed time rolls around - I'm starving. 
I've tried having fruit, cereal, yogurt and oatmeal because I don't want to have anything too heavy. Yet it's not filling enough. 
I've tried going without and then I can't sleep at all
In an effort to sleep well, be somewhat full, I went on a quest for a healthy and protein rich snack. Here is my recipe for a satisfied tummy and a good night's sleep. 
(Of course, there is always PBJ, if all else fail)



BLOG DESIGN BY BELLA LULU INK