I have a major weakness for spring colors, and Estée Lauder’s new pastel collection is pretty close to perfect. When the polishes arrived for the shoot, I couldn’t choose just one, which was the impetus for this simple nail art that combines two colors, side by side. The cotton candy pink and robin’s egg blue are such a fun combination and I love that there are infinite possibilities for this design. I hope you enjoy, and as always, I love seeing your interpretations on Facebook and Twitter!
I’ve been wearing a lot of neutral-colored outfits lately, and while I’m always in the mood for blacks and grays, nothing lifts my spirits like a pretty pink dress. This one felt perfectly appropriate for Valentine’s Day – it’s like the clothing version of a doily, plus there’s a cute little cut-out in the back (which was too cold to showcase). I hope you all have an indulgent day filled with sweet treats and spent with those you love. x
When I was younger, a trip to the grocery store with my mom was always a welcomed challenge. Each aisle was a new opportunity to convince her of things I needed: sugary “fruit” drinks, granola bars packed with chocolate chips – I had a creative spin for every kind of junk food. Cheez-Its were a perennial snack that I’d try to sneak into the cart, even though they’re packed with a long list of ingredients that are nearly impossible to pronounce. Last week I decided to make them from scratch (recipe here) – and loved that I already had everything I needed to whip up a batch. The difference in flavor was profound – they tasted like actual cheese, had a buttery finish, and a crisp exterior that made them seriously addictive. They lacked the artificial flavor I adored as a kid, but they’ve instantly become a go-to snack anytime we host game nights.
Do you have certain foods that you dislike, but wish you actually enjoyed? That was the case with me (eggs, sunny side up, mushrooms any way, eggplant, etc) and I decided that I was simply going to get over my aversions – and it worked, mostly, except for cold sour cherry soup, (don’t ask). The most recent example is raw oysters. I used to find them revolting – the texture freaked me out, the smell, the whole idea of them. But something changed in the last couple of years and when I’d see people enjoying them, usually at fancy restaurants by the beach, I was intrigued. I finally gave them a fair shot and it’s safe to say I’m a complete convert. I’m a big fan of any kind of food that involves fantastically fresh ingredients and condiments; and they’ve since become my go-to order anytime I’m looking to celebrate. For Valentine’s Day this year, I thought it would be fun to have them at home, so here’s a quick video on how to make them at home.
