Friday Favorites

It's time for my Friday Favorites...  Hope you all have a great weekend.

Favorite Shirt:  Target V-Neck Shirts (they just came out with their fall collection of colors and they are usually on sale for $5)

Favorite Jeans:  I am not a fan of the skinny jean but just purchased these by Guess and LOVE them.  You can purchase them on Macy's.

Favorite Quote:

Favorite Clutch: This is out of my budget but hey a girl can dream, purchase Chloe Clutch.

Favorite Look: Shop look at H&M

Favorite Decor Idea: 

LA Find: Loews, Santa Monica

Over this past weekend I got together with my girlfriends and we decided to have drinks and dinner at Loews Hotel in Santa Monica.  This hotel is right off the beach and over looks the ocean and the Santa Monica Pier. 

They have a happy hour on Saturday called  6 on the Beach (click on the link to see their happy hour menu).  Those of you LA locals know that it is rare to have a happy hour on the weekends by the beach or anywhere for that matter..  The happy hour is till 7 and worth the early dinner and cocktails.  They have a $6 menu till 7 pm, it was fun because we were able to order a bunch of different food and cocktails to share for more than half of the price.  We had Duck Taquitos, Pepper Seared Beef, Firecracker Shrimp, Spicy Tuna Sushi Roll, and there were a few others to choose from. 

They also have a deck outside that over looks the ocean with glass fire pits where you can eat dinner and enjoy your cocktails.  Definitely a fun change to our typical girls night out and worth the drive if it is not a local spot for you.  Valet is $6 for the first 3 hours with validation with your pruchase of food or drink.

Here are some fun pictures of the evening and the view.

Pepper Steak Salad and Jalapeno Vinaigrette

So I have been craving a delicious steak salad and found this receipe on foodnetwork.com.  We decided on was a Pepper Steak Salad with Mango, Avocado, and Jalapeno Vinaigrette.  What a delicious salad this was but we did have a couple of changes we would like to make for next time.  We were not a huge fan of the mango, we would like to add cucumbers instead.  Our vinaigrette dressing should have been a little spicier, we only used 2 large jalapenos and we should have used all three of them that we purchased. 

Ingredients:

• 2 to 3 jalapeno peppers
• 1 to 2 teaspoons ground black pepper
• 2 boneless beef top loin (strip) steaks, cut 3/4-inch thick (about 8 ounces each)

Jalapeno Vinaigrette

• 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
• 1 tablespoon coarsely chopped fresh cilantro leaves
• 1 tablespoon water
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 8 cups mixed salad greens
• 1 mango, cut into 1/4-inch slices
• 1/2 small avocado, cut lengthwise into 8 slices
• Salt
• 1 shallot, very thinly sliced and separated into rings
• 2 tablespoons shaved firm Cotija cheese or Parmesan

Hope you enjoy this salad as much as we did.  We plan to make this again with our recommended changes.  If you try it please tell me what you think or any other fun suggestions you think would be great to add.

Summer Make-Up Tricks

For most of us, summer is our favorite time of the year… half-day Fridays, pool parties and late sunsets… but unfortunately it doesn’t bring with it carefree make-up.  So this is the season to simplify your routine by going sheer and waterproof.  Here are some helpful tips:

• After applying sunscreen, skip foundation or switch to an oil-free version.  Spot conceal any blemishes with concealer and immediately spot powder them make sure that it sets.
• Skip powder on the rest of your face as it can leave it looking caked on and discolored.  One of the best tricks to use for summer is blotting papers instead.
• Switch to a waterproof eyeshadow so you can limit make up running into your eyes.
• Finish your eyes with a waterproof mascara.  Skip the bottom lashes if they tend to smear on hotter days.
• If you’re already sporting a tan, all you’ll need is to swirl a cheek stain on the apples of your cheeks.  If you’ve been protecting your skin with a hat and sunscreen, fake it with bronzing powder by applying it with a wide-head bronzing brush everywhere the sun would hit your face: top of your forehead, your nose, cheekbones and chin, then don’t forget your neck and chest.
• Avoid a sticky gloss and opt for a sheer lipstick or if your lips are dried out, use a tinted lip balm. 

Reason's to Smile

So often in life we focus on the negative things that happen to us in our regular day-to-day life.  I know I am guilty of this, so I decided to make a list of my current reasons to smile. So that when I’m having a down day or something negative happens, I can look back on this list and I am sure it will bring a smile to my face.  Writing a list and physically identifying the things that make you smile, really helps to put things in perspective and allows you to see things that we offen take for granted.

1.      Chocolate Chip Cookies fresh from the oven

2.      Red Velvet Cupcakes

3.      Sunshine

4.      Smell of fresh summer rain

5.      Sunrises

6.      Bouquet of beautiful flowers

7.      Fresh, clean sheets right out of the dryer

8.      A glass of ice cold lemonade

9.      Looking at the ocean

10.   Seeing an elderly couple hold hands.

11.   Homemade dinners.

12.   Having a cup of coffee in the morning with vanilla creamer

13.   Family BBQ’s

14.   Finding a clothing item I really wanted, on Sale

15.   Enjoying a glass of wine with my girlfriends

16.   The smell of my favorite perfume, it never gets old

17.   Cuddling with my dog

18.   Childhood pictures

19.   Getting to see my best friends who are also my family

20.   Soft Pillows

21.   My Canon camera

22.   Picnics

23.   OC Fair

24.   Afternoon naps

25.   Cucumbers in everything!

What are the curent things thats make you smile?

The Fun of Buns

In a world where running late is some times fashionable and other times not so much, I know I am always looking for a quick fix to do with my hair. Lately I have been seeing more girls sport the look of the bun.  This is a fun alternative to the ballerina bun. 

Beach Basics

Since I just spent 14 days at the beach I figured I would share some of my beach favorites.  A girl can never have too many fun things to dress up or dress down her look while at the beach.

Classic Cut Offs
Every girl should own a pair of cut off jean shorts.  For me, denim cut offs are the way to go and will always be a summer staple.  I buy at least one new pair each summer.  I am obsessed with GUESS Jean Shorts but these are my favorites of the season Rae Shorts, they are fun, funky, and they go with everything.

Beach Sandals
I cannot express how important it is to have a great pair of neutral sandals.  Your closet is exponentially multiplied when you have a shoe that goes with everything.  If you are headed into the sand my all times favorites are Havaianas Slim Flip Flop (I like the black and sand grey color) or you can never go wrong with Rainbow Sandals (I am on my third pair and I have never found a more perfect sandal).

White Tops
There is nothing more perfect then a lightweight tops to go with those denim cut offs, I actually love them for a variety of occasions.  Try this top from Urban Outfitters.

A Killer Cover Up
When you are feeling a little girlie fun flirty cover ups are a must.  They add the ideal dose of chic to any summer day.  I am a fan of the stripped cover ups (which can be paid with a cute skinny belt for some added fun and also helps to flatter your figure).  I also like sheer floral prints and rompers are still a favorite since they can be so versatile and literally an all-in-one ensemble.

LBB
Just like every girl should have a little black dress, every girls should also have a LBB (Little Black Bikini).  It can easily match any outfit or cover up. VIX makes really cute LBB.  Like a LBD, every girl needs a LBB.

Oversized Tote
A classic straw tote with leather handles will last you years.  You can find a lot of these on swell.com.