Summer Makeup Must-Haves

1. kate spade new york 'twirl' eau de parfum, $80  

2. Dior 'Diorshow' Mascara, $25 

3. Bobbi Brown Lip Gloss, $22 
4. Bumble and bumble South Surf Spray 4 oz. | Folica.com, $23

5. Essie Pinks & Corals, $17 

6. Hoola, $28

"Oh I got this feeling you can't fight, like this city is on fire tonight"

Mine, August 2008. Elephant Seal Love

Mine, August 2008. The Roosevelt.

Mine, August 2008

Photo Credit: lifeswonders.tumblr.com

Photo Credit: Apartment #34 

Afternoon Snack

When the clock strikes 3pm I am always tempted to reach for a bag of chips, or try to satisfy my hunger with a piece of fruit but I always end up either hungry or guilty from my indulgence. The perfect solution: a granola bar. While I am usually quite satisfied with simply a Kashi bar, I was feeling particularly ambitious and tried this recipe for homemade ones. You can use any kind of dried fruit that you crave, but I found that coarsely chopped dried cherries, apricots and whole raisins were the perfect combination. 

The end result was perfectly crunchy, not too sweet and satisfied my afternoon hunger pangs. 

Summer Salads

During hot summer days just the thought of slaving over a hot stove is enough to give me a heat stroke. Enter: summer pasta salad. This recipe has always been a favorite of my family, mostly because the different flavors meld together to create a delicious dish. The recipe is easy to follow, and the only heat required is a boiling pot of water to cook the pasta in. Can be refrigerated, but I think it tastes best when cooled to room temperature.

Key ingredients:

photo credit: greenista.com

Photo credit: ntscblog.com

Photo credit: pollsb.com 

Dots and Stripes

The sunshine and warm weather has really drawn me to bright colors and playful prints. A pair of polka-dot pink flats or a striped go-to sundress are perfect for the summer season.

1. J Crew silk dress, $150 

2. TopShop full skirt, $60 

3. Diane von Furstenberg short cocktail dress, 268 GBP  

4. Miu Miu platform high heels, 295 GBP 

5. Marc Jacobs halter tank, $525 

6. Juicy Couture straw hat, $78   

7. Marc Jacobs ballerina flat, $355 

8. Marc by Marc Jacobs striped scarf, $266

Finals Frenzy

Towards the end of the year, there is always this antsy feeling that follows me around: that someone should consistently be playing 'the final countdown' around me. Although I am stressed and sleep deprived I try to constantly keep the end in sight to keep from exploding. Here are a few finals week must-haves:

{popcorn or other snacks}

{fashionable sweats}

 

 

 

 

 

{iced coffee}

Sunday Baking

The mix of family time and a rainy Sunday was the perfect opportunity to bake cookies. I usually follow my favorite recipe, which is always foolproof but I felt like trying something new. I followed this recipe from Cook's Illustrated online and it come out perfectly. I even followed the step-by-step instructions on how to create perfect crinkled tops (show below). Perfect alone or with a cold glass of milk.

1) Break small ball of dough in half

2) Join the two halves together so that the jagged side is facing up

3) I always use a Silpat instead of baking spray or butter/parchment

Voila! Perfect cookies :)