Rachel McCarthy, Author at A Blonde's Moment

The Coziest Fall Sweaters Under $100

September 28, 2016 by Rachel McCarthy

Happy Wednesday! The last two mornings have been CHILLY! Like when a jacket is a necessity, not an option kind of weather. Although, I’m not complaining. This cooler air is a welcomed relief after the hot {and long} summer we had. But, these cooler temperatures do have me thinking of one thing: cozy sweaters! I’ve rounded up a few of my favorite styles for this fall, and they are all under $100!

1. Off the Shoulder Burgundy Sweater: a mix of two of fall’s hottest trends {burgundy and off the shoulder}, this ribbed sweater would be perfect dressed down with jeans or dressed up for date night. Also available in a dark grey.

2. Hot Pink Mock Turtleneck Sweater: Talk about hot pink! This mock turtleneck sweater is oversized and can be styled with skinny jeans or leggings. Although it’s super dramatic, I think it’s such a fun fall pieces that would also be super cozy. And you can’t beat that pink color 😉

3. Ribbed Mock Neck Pullover: I’m only on sweater number three and I’ve already talked about two ribbed sweaters — which is funny because when I was younger, I absolutely despised any article of clothing that had ribs! But this sweater is a great staple piece for your closet: available in 5 colors, under $40 and cute side slits. A great casual sweater that could be paired with jeans for a comfy weekend look.

4. Leopard Pullover Sweater: You can’t have a list of fall sweaters and not include something with leopard! I have this crew neck sweater in a few solid colors and I love layering it in the fall with shirts, jackets and blanket scarves. Style this leopard sweater with jeans or a colorful pair of pants or dress it up with a skirt for the office!

5. Cowl Neck Split Back Sleeveless Tunic: Another layering piece for fall, this sleeveless tunic could also be worn sans-layers for the warmer transitional temperatures. Wear this tunic with a turtleneck underneath all fall and winter — it would be so cute with leggings and riding boots!

6. Cable Crewneck Sweater with Bell Sleeves: This sweater has one of the fall trends I talked about in my mini-series written all over it! {see ruffle post HERE, bell sleeve post HERE} Whether the sleeves are ruffled or bell sleeves they are the perfect feminine take on the classic cable knit sweater. Available in 5 colors, this sweater could be worn alone, under a blazer or with a shirt underneath.

7. V-Neck Sweater: A cozy v-neck sweater is definitely a fall closet staple. It’s easy, casual and can be styled with a scarf, statement necklace or statement earrings. I also love THIS olive green v-neck sweater {priced at $59!} and THIS striped high-low shirttail hem sweater.

8. Sweater with Ruffle: Another ruffle sweater! I love that this sweater is a pretty basic style but adds the fun element with the ruffle. And how gorgeous is this green color?! It would look fabulous paired with black — pants or a skirt — and for a more casual look, distressed denim and booties!

9. Geo Print Knit Cardigan: I’m always a sucker for a long cardigan. Aren’t they just the definition of cozy on chilly days?! With the black and white geo print, it’s screaming for leggings and riding boots for a relaxed weekend look.

What are your favorite sweater styles for fall? I would love to hear in the comments section below. Thanks so much for stopping by and see you tomorrow for an all new outfit post!

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Easy Baked Apples

September 27, 2016 by Rachel McCarthy

It’s easy to associate food with seasons. For me, one of the foods that I think of each year when fall approaches are apples. And pumpkin. But more on the pumpkin next week. I don’t know about you, but I think fall finally arrived in Northern Virginia yesterday because it was chilly! It’s time to break out the blanket scarves, cider, comfort recipes and warm desserts…

Baked apples are a fall favorite and with only a few ingredients, make for quick and delicious fall dessert. Not to mention a fun presentation! Growing up, I always loved getting apple dumplings at the county fair in the town I grew up in, and although these don’t have the dough around the apples {which isn’t the healthiest but absolutely amazing!} this has been the closest thing I’ve had to the famous county fair apple dumplings. An easy fall dessert with only a few ingredients, these baked apples are sure to impress!

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Baked Apples

by Rachel McCarthy September-27-2016

An easy fall dessert

Ingredients

4 baking apples
3/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 stick butter, softened
1/4 cup pecans, chopped
vanilla ice cream, if desired

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Wash the apples and dry completely. Core the apples, leaving just enough at the base of the apple to hold the filling. In a medium-sized bowl, mix the cinnamon, brown sugar, butter and pecans. Roll the mixture into a cylinder and place in the core of the apple. Place the apples upright in a baking dish and pour enough water around the apples to just cover the bottom of the dish. Bake for 60 minutes, or until the apples are soft. Top with vanilla ice cream and sauce from the baking dish, if desired. Serve warm and enjoy!

Details

Prep time: 10 mins Cook time: 1 hour Total time: 1 hour 10 mins Yield: 4 baked apples

Thanks so much for dropping by and happy fall baking!

This post is linked up with: Tasty Tuesdays | Tickle My Tastebuds Tuesday | Two Cup Tuesday | Weekend Potluck

IT Cosmetics at Sephora!

September 26, 2016 by Rachel McCarthy

Happy Monday, friends! I hope you all had a great weekend! I’ve been looking forward to sharing this post with you for over a month now and I’m so excited the day is finally here! Since the beginning of August, I have been trying a new beauty line, IT Cosmetics. As you may remember from earlier beauty posts, I have pretty sensitive and dry skin and I am usually hesitant to start using new products. But, I really liked everything I had read about IT Cosmetics {you can learn more HERE} and decided to give it a whirl…

For those of you who are not familiar with IT Cosmetics, here is a little background. First and foremost, I want to say that although I was sent a few products {that’s how I found out about IT!} from IT Cosmetics to try, this is by no means a sponsored post. I have been using the products since the beginning of August and have already used up a few of the products and bought more for myself. Here on ABM, I only share my honest opinions with you and just want you to know that I really love this beauty line!

Ok, back to IT Cosmetics. “IT” stands for “innovative technology” and was developed by plastic surgeons and dermatologists. IT Cosmetics believes that great makeup can give you great skin, which I love! Each product is developed with good-for-you ingredients that make your skin beautiful so you will be getting compliments on your skin, and not your makeup!

Now for the exciting news! As of yesterday, IT Cosmetics is now sold at Sephora! Having secured the coveted space on Sephora’s shelves, you will be able to shop these products online and at your local store! Below, I am reviewing the items from the IT line that are exclusive to Sephora. I will also mention that one of my favorite products, which is sold elsewhere and Sephora, is the CC+ Cream with SPF 50+. I have gone through an entire bottle and absolutely love it. And the best part, it is one of the only foundations I have tried that hasn’t caused a bad reaction on my skin! If you have sensitive and dry skin, although it does work for all skin types, I would definitely recommend this CC+ Cream!

Now on to the Sephora exclusive collection!

Bye Bye Under Eye Eye Cream: I’m not a huge fan of eye cream — honestly, I really haven’t had one that has blown me away. A few years ago, I tried an avocado eye cream and it completely dried out the skin under my eyes and my skin became red and irritated. Since then, I have kept my distance from eye creams! But, I’m looking forward to everything THIS under eye eye cream promises: brightening and reducing the appearance of dark circles and puffiness and perfect for all skin types. This can be applied both morning and evening.

IT-Cosmetics-Hydrating-Color-Awakening-Lip-Treatment

Je Ne Sais Quoi Hydrating Color Awakening Lip Treatment: I’m always on the lookout for a hydrating lip treatment. And so far, I’ve really been loving THIS formula. The color-infused balm provides hydration and a naturally flush lip color. The promise? The formula reacts with the warmth of your lips to create a beautiful color that lasts all day. I will say that for me, this has been pretty true. I’ve put it on in the morning and it has lasted until at least lunchtime {while drinking coffee and water}. But what I loved most was the moisturized feeling throughout the entire time it was on. This will definitely be a staple as we head into the colder months — and I love that it gives you just the right amount of color!

Bye Bye Lines Serum: I haven’t tried a ton of serums for lines or other anti-aging products, but it’s something I am beginning to work into my beauty routine. THIS serum promises to fill in fine lines within 10 days. It can be applied morning and evening on clean skin and can be worn underneath or in place of a moisturizer. The formula can be applied to your face, neck and décolleté. I haven’t used this serum consistently for 10 days, so for me, it’s hard to tell. I do love that, like so many of IT’s products, this serum can replace the moisturizer. I just hate having a ton of products on my face!

Anti-Aging Armour: As I mentioned above, I haven’t tried a ton of anti-aging products, but I am loving THIS product so far. This anti-aging armour helps with dark spots and uneven skin tone. To use, apply 1 or more drops of the formula to clean skin or over top your moisturizer. The product can be used as your moisturizer, anti-aging serum, primer and sunscreen! I just love that IT products are multi-purpose! Like the Lines Serum, this anti-aging armour can be applied to your face, neck and décolleté.

Bye Bye Makeup Melting Balm: Ok, now this stuff is incredible. When IT came up with the name “melting balm” they were spot on. And it’s a 3-in-1: cleanser, makeup remover and anti-aging serum. The first time I saw a demonstration of the “melting” I was absolutely amazed! You apply the formula to dry skin and wipe it off with a face cloth — and that’s it! You can use warm water and pat dry if you would like, but a face cloth is all you really need! It literally melts the makeup off your face, leaving your face feeling soft and clean. I love the concept of including a makeup remover with a cleanser — it would have especially come in handy for me a few weeks ago when I ran out of makeup remover wipes!

Bye Bye Pores Primer: Oh, primer. I have had a love/hate relationship with so many primers over the years. With such dry and sensitive skin, I’ve tried my fair share of products. You may remember me talking about a coconut water based primer from THIS post that I discovered a few months ago. I used it for most of the winter and spring, but stopped when the summer heat started. THIS primer from IT is oil free and a super light formula, two of the key things I look for when purchasing primer. Unlike the coconut water based formula I was using, Bye Bye Pores Primer is more of a matte finish, which I think is ideal for creating a perfectly smooth canvas for applying your foundation. This primer can be applied either over your moisturizer or on clean skin, underneath your makeup.

IT-Cosmetics-Bye-Bye-Under-Eye-Illumination

Bye Bye Under Eye Illumination: Now, to my second favorite IT product! As I mentioned above, I have been using THIS CC+ cream and can’t get enough of it! But THIS Under Eye Illumination is a close second. This full-coverage, anti-aging and waterproof concealer is amazing. My go-to concealer has been a MAC formula and most recently a NARS formula, but honestly, this IT Cosmetics formula takes the cake! I can’t get over how much brighter by under eyes look after using this product — which also can be used as a concealer for other blemishes — and how long it lasts! To apply this concealer, tap with your fingertips onto the under eye and blend.

CC+ Skin Perfecting Brush: Last, but not least, a brush that will help to apply your makeup for a flawless finish. I will say, I have a few of IT brushes {I love THIS concealer/foundation brush} and I have been super impressed with the quality. THIS skin perfecting brush is infused with anti-aging collagen that will improve the look of your skin and give you that promised flawless finish. To apply, buff the makeup onto your skin using circular motions for a smooth finish.

Here are a few snaps of my results with these products. There is a before picture with no makeup {and no editing!} and an after pictures with makeup {and no editing!} I’ve link the products I used to achieve this look below:

Primer HERE

Foundation HERE – applied with THIS brush

Bye Bye Under Eye HERE – applied with THIS brush {smaller end}

Powder HERE — applied with THIS brush {larger end}

Lipstick HERE {#31}, Lipgloss HERE {#205}

Floral Blouse HERE

Whew! Sorry for the long post, but I wanted to share as much information as I could about each of these products. I have truly been loving my experience with IT Cosmetics thus far and I would be happy to answer any questions you may have about the products. To see IT’s exclusive line of products for Sephora, click HERE.

Thanks so much for stopping by and have a great start to the week!

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The Blanket Scarf

September 22, 2016 by Rachel McCarthy

Each fall, one of the things I get most excited for is to break out my scarves. I have a pretty extensive collection that I have collected/accumulated over the years and each year, my excitement never seems to fade. Scarves are one of my favorite fall accessories because they can instantly change a look, add a fun statement piece to the outfit and even dress up a plain shirt or dress. And although I have plenty of scarves, there was one scarf that I had my eye on since last fall that needed to be added to my collection…

Chambray Dress: J.Crew, sold out {similar style HERE & HERE} | Blanket Scarf: Asos | Riding Boots: Tory Burch, this season HERE | Tote: Tory Burch | Bracelets: David Yurman cuff, link | Sunglasses: Karen Walker | Lips: #28

I spotted THIS scarf last year online and fell completely in love with the bold and dynamic fall colors. But, by the time I went to order it, it was sold out. I kept checking back each week to see if more came into stock, but to no avail. A few weeks ago, while dreaming of fall temperatures, I remembered this scarf and thought I might as well check to see if they brought it back for this year — after all, it was apparently popular! Much to my surprise, it was in stock! Needless to say, I learned my lesson from last year and ordered it immediately. To make a long story short, after some delays with shipping, the scarf finally arrived on my door step and I was ecstatic! Since the scarf has so many colors {which are even more gorgeous in person!} I have a feeling I will be wearing it all fall long. Now, if only the fall temperatures would arrive…

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend! My mom and I are playing in a doubles tennis tournament on Saturday, so we are both looking forward to that! And the temperatures are suppose to be cooling off here in Northern Virginia by Sunday, so maybe I won’t have to wait too much longer to break out all the blanket scarves! See you back here on Monday!

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Fall Trends Under $100, Part IV

September 21, 2016 by Rachel McCarthy

faux leather jacket {under $50!} | statement earrings | sunglasses | lipgloss {#401} | midi skirt | ruffle blouse | block heel sandals | tote {on sale for $14.99!} | nail polish {great balls of fire}

Happy Wednesday, friends! I’m back with the last part of my Fall Trends Under $100 mini-series and today it’s all about ruffles. Over the past few weeks, we have migrated from ponchos/capes and the color of the season, bordeaux, to off the shoulder tops and dresses to fall florals and bell sleeves last week. I thought that since this is the last week of this series, we would go out with a bang {a bright and colorful bang} to talk about a trend that I am surprisingly excited for: ruffles.

I am by no means a ruffle girl. Don’t get me wrong, I love ruffles on other people and think it’s such a cute and feminine look. Most of the time, I even love ruffles on the hanger! But, when I try it on, it just isn’t me. Especially dresses. I feel like I look like I’m wearing a tennis dress when I wear a ruffle dress — and that’s just not the look I’m going for! A few weeks ago, I purchased my first ruffle top and I’m actually obsessed with it. I would say it’s more of subtle ruffle, which is totally doable for me. A few more “subtle ruffled” pieces have caught my eye recently, like THIS blouse — not only is the color gorgeous but it would be a great layering piece for the office {more on fall workwear HERE}.

As much as I love this ruffle top, the thing I love most about this look is the mix of styles — a little girly and a little edgy. Enter THIS faux leather jacket. I must confess, I do have a thing for jackets, especially leather jackets, and I love all the zipper details on this one. Leather jackets were made for the fall and with the under $50 price tag, you won’t want to miss scooping this up!

What was your favorite of the fall trends? For me, I will always have a soft spot for ponchos/capes and that gorgeous bordeaux color, but I’m most excited for my new-found love of ruffles. Subtle ruffles 😉

Have a wonderful Wednesday and thanks for stopping by!

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From Scratch Mexican at Uncle Julio’s

September 20, 2016 by Rachel McCarthy

It’s no secret that Mexican food is one of our favorite dinners to have at home — there is always one weeknight dedicated to a Mexican dish {Actually, we had two Mexican dishes last week…oops!} And although we do not eat out that much, when we do, it’s usually Mexican.

A little over four years ago, we moved into our house further out from DC. While exploring our new town, we discovered a town center with shops and restaurants, and there on the corner was Uncle Julio’s. The bright colored building and cute patio seating were obviously a draw, but most of all, we were excited to have found a new Mexican restaurant close to our new house. And let me tell you, it was delicious.

Fast forward to a month ago when Uncle Julio’s reached out to see if I was interested in trying their from scratch favorites and a few new menu items, including the chocolate piñata {more on that later!}, I was thrilled. Not only have I loved this restaurant for the past few years, I was so excited to try the new menu items and share this restaurant with you!

One of my favorite things about going to a Mexican restaurant are the chips and salsa. And I can honestly say, Uncle Julio’s chips are the best I’ve ever had. They arrive to the table warm and are so light and thin, you can lose track of how many you’ve had and, like always, end up eating way too many! When it comes to what to dip those addictive chips in, my husband and I have different ideas of what’s best. I am a 100% guacamole fan while my husband loves the queso. I think Uncle Julio’s must have had us in mind when they created the Guacamole and Queso Combo: it’s the perfect portion of each and we both got what we wanted!

**Full disclosure: I might have had a bit of the queso and it was delicious. I’m not even a fan of queso!!**

The other thing I love about Mexican restaurants are the margaritas, and Uncle Julio’s has quite the selection! I’m pretty traditional when it comes to margaritas, I like the regular frozen {without salt!} — I just can’t pass up that classic flavor. My husband is more adventurous and went with the Margarita of the Day, which was a kiwi margarita on the rocks. Next time we go, I will definitely be giving the skinny margarita a try — I splurged and went with full-flavor, full-calorie!

Now this is always the most stressful part of the Mexican dining experience. What do you order when you want every. single. thing. on the menu? As much as I love the sauce-covered enchiladas, I decided to go with the healthier option, {I did have that full calorie margarita!} the grilled vegetable fajitas. Although I am not a vegetarian, I am always attracted to vegetarian dishes and it was great to see vegetable fajitas on the menu. Many Mexican restaurants don’t include vegetarian options when it comes to fajitas, so this was a huge plus for me! As for the veggies, the steaming skillet arrived with perfectly cooked portabella mushrooms, yellow squash, zucchini and onions.

While we were eating, I noticed the promotional material on the table for Uncle Julio’s new dessert: the chocolate piñata. Not only did the name peak my interest, but after the waiter mentioned to save room for it, I was definitely intrigued. And, like most times when we eat out, I was way too full to even think about dessert, but of course, that didn’t stop me.

uncle-julio's-mexican-restaurant-desserts

When I say the presentation of this dessert was probably one of the most impressive things I’ve ever seen, that is no joke! The chef brought out an egg-shaped chocolate piñata that was suspended over a large tray, complete with whipped cream and chocolate and caramel dipping sauces for the contents of the piñata. I had the responsibility of cracking the piñata open, and after a few instructions from the chef, I began tapping the hard chocolate outer shell. Apparently I wasn’t “tapping” it hard enough since the chef instructed me to hit it harder. Well, I gave it a nice tennis forehand and boom….it exploded! Filled with blackberries, strawberries, pineapple and bite-sized churros, it was one fun and delicious dessert. Since it was just the two of us, there was no way we could finish it all, but it would be a great dessert for a large crowd or even a birthday celebration. It was such a fun and unique experience and something you don’t see at every restaurant when dining out.

dc-mexican-restaurant-review-uncle-julio's

After another great experience at Uncle Julio’s, we will most certainly be going back. We love having delicious Mexican food close to home — meaning we don’t have to travel in to DC for dinner! You can click here to find an Uncle Julio’s near you.

Thanks so much for dropping by! Have a wonderful Tuesday!

Brought to you by Uncle Julio’s. All opinions are my own.

Fall Workwear

September 19, 2016 by Rachel McCarthy

Happy Monday, friends! I hope you all had a great weekend. We were non-stop with cleaning, organizing and other house chores. Although it doesn’t feel like we had much of a weekend, there is nothing like the feeling of having accomplished so much, and having a clean house 🙂

Blazer: J.Crew | Tunic: Nordstrom {on sale!} | Pants: similar HERE | Tote: Tory Burch | Leopard Pumps: Sam Edelman, shorter heel HERE | Earrings: J.Crew, similar HERE | Sunglasses: Ray-Ban | Lips: #09

As much as I love the fact that fall is just around the corner, the temperatures obviously haven’t received the memo! Finding things to wear this time of the year can be difficult, especially when it comes to workwear. If your office is anything like mine, it’s absolutely freezing. Dressing in layers is a necessity because the trip in to work is warm and all day you sit at your desk with the chills! Does this sound familiar to anyone else?!

When it comes to finding workwear layers, I have always loved this tunic — not only is it available in several colors, it’s comfortable and perfect for layering. Jackets and cardigans are a girl’s best friend in these crazy fall temperatures, and this camel blazer is one of my favorites. Also available in a few colors, it’s a fall staple — especially this camel color. I paired this classic blazer with black pants and my favorite leopard pumps for a classic, functional and a little fun workday look!

Thanks so much for dropping by and have a great start to the week! See you back here tomorrow!

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Bordeaux & Leopard

September 15, 2016 by Rachel McCarthy

Happy Friday Eve! We have officially reach mid-September and cooler temperatures are right around the corner! With the cooler air on it’s way, I can’t help but think of layers, scarves and a classic fall combination: bordeaux and leopard. Today, I am excited to be teaming up with The Mint Julep Boutique to share with you this comfy, soft and slouchy tunic for fall!

Slouchy Tunic: The Mint Julep Boutique c/o | Leopard Scarf: old, similar style | Distressed Jeans: last season, this season HERE | Tote: Tory Burch | Perforated Ankle Boots: Lucky Brand {wearing “sesame nubuck leather”}, similar style | Bracelets: David Yurman link, cuff | Watch: Kate Spade | Sunglasses: Karen Walker | Lips: #47 & Turkish Delight

My standard, go-to casual/weekend look for fall is something pretty close to this look: jeans, a comfy tee and a cute scarf. I feel like you can never have too many casual tees in your closet — they make for the perfect layering piece with sweaters or styled with a scarf. To get your closet prepped and ready for all those fall layers, The Mint Julep Boutique is running a special promo with their slouchy tunic. This closet staple is priced at $48 and are only released on Sundays, but as a reader of A Blonde’s Moment, you will have exclusive access to the tunic any day of the week for $24! And keep checking back because each week new colors will be released. Your closet will be ready for layers and blanket scarves before you know it!

**A note on sizing: I didn’t want the tunic to be huge, so I sized down {you can see it’s still pretty slouchy}.

As for accessories, I couldn’t pass up the chance to wear one of my favorite scarves. I have had this scarf for YEARS {my obsession with leopard has been a long one!} and I honestly wear it constantly. Since it’s such a staple in my fall and winter wardrobe, I linked a similar scarf above to check out. Also, I picked up these perforated ankle booties during the Nordstrom Sale and this is my first time wearing them. Sizing is limited in this bootie {I guess it was super popular!} but I did link a similar perforated Lucky Brand bootie above.

I hope you all have a great weekend! Do you have any fun plans? I’m hoping to get a lot done around the house because we will be traveling for the next few weekends so I need to get all caught up. Thanks for stopping by and see you back here on Monday!

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Fall Trends Under $100, Part III

September 14, 2016 by Rachel McCarthy

floral blouse | sunglasses {only $24!} | statement earrings {25% off with code SHOPNOW} | lipstick {spanish pink} | bracelet {25% off!} | watch {only $75!} | iPhone case | envelope clutch | olive culottes {misty forest} | block heel sandals {on sale!}

Happy Wednesday, friends! I’m back today with another Fall Trends Under $100 post — you can see the rest of the series here: part 1, part 2. Although this is a pretty trendy outfit {olive green, block heels, culottes}, today’s two trends are both featured in this blouse: fall floral and bell sleeves.

Of all the posts I have done about fall trends, this might just be my favorite look yet. For someone who has a 9-5 job, finding pieces that can double for the office and weekends is always important. I’ve been in the market for a new pair of work pants, since fall is {supposedly} right around the corner, and as soon as I laid my eyes on THESE, I just knew I needed them. I have been wanting to try the culotte/wide-leg pants trend for awhile now and I think I found the perfect pants to fit this trend. And if olive green isn’t the color you are looking for, there are plenty of others to choose from — including more traditional colors like black and navy and some fun colors, like this coral! But enough about these cute pants. Let’s get back to today’s two trends…

I am a sucker for floral any time of the year, and I love the deeper colors in THIS blouse that make it fall friendly. Also, check out those bell sleeves! This is one trend that I have fully jumped on board with: I just ordered the cutest dress with bell sleeves yesterday! Just a warning about this blouse: it looks pretty sheer online, so it would definitely have to be worn with a cami.

As for accessories, I stuck with emerald greens and blush pinks {which is totally ok to wear this fall!}. The stones on THESE earrings and THIS bracelet are so gorgeous and make for a fabulous way to instantly dress up a look. And they are currently 25% off with the code SHOPNOW so scoop them up soon!

Have you given the fall floral or bell sleeve trend a try yet? I’ve linked a few more bell sleeve tops and dresses below — all under $100 — for you to browse! Thanks for stopping by and see you back here tomorrow!

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Game Day Pepperoni Pinwheels

September 13, 2016 by Rachel McCarthy

Pepperoni rolls were always a go-to recipe growing up. Whether it was for an afternoon snack or the most popular appetizer at a Christmas Eve party, pepperoni rolls were always a hit. Now that football is back in full-swing, it’s time to think about tailgate and game day recipes. This spin on my favorite pepperoni rolls is the perfect, finger food snack and it’s game day approved!

My mom has been making pepperoni rolls for as long as I can remember, and it’s always been one of my favorites {especially with the addition of the banana peppers!}. I wanted to change up the recipe a little, just so they were different, so I added the pizza sauce. It gave the pinwheels and amazing flavor, but it’s definitely optional when making the pinwheels and rolls.

I would recommend doubling {at least} this recipe if you are making it for a crowd. One pizza dough gives you about 10 pinwheels and after we ate through these pretty quickly, I really wished we had more! Check out this easy, game day recipe below!

print recipe

Pepperoni Pinwheels

by Rachel McCarthy September-13-2016

The perfect game day snack

Ingredients

1 lb. pizza dough
1/4 lb. (about 14 slices) pepperoni
3/4 cup banana peppers, drained
1/2 cup pizza sauce
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1 egg
Parmesan cheese, to sprinkle

Instructions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Roll out the pizza dough on a floured surface, keeping it’s rectangle shape. Spread a layer of pizza sauce onto the dough, followed by the pepperoni, shredded mozzarella and banana peppers. In a small bowl, beat the egg to use as a wash and brush the edges of the dough with the wash. Roll the dough around the filling and pinch the sides closed. Slice the roll into 10 pinwheels and transfer to a baking sheet. Brush each pinwheels with the egg wash and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Bake 25 minutes or until golden brown. Serve and enjoy!

Yield: 10

This post is linked up with: Tasty Tuesdays | Tickle My Tastebuds Tuesday | Two Cup Tuesday | Weekend Potluck