Happy Monday, everyone! Just sharing a quick look today and it all revolves around my new favorite color combination! I wore this look over the weekend and I just can’t get enough of these bright and happy colors!
P.S. We are out in California this week to celebrate our wedding anniversary! Be sure to follow along on Instagram for a behind the scenes look at A Blonde’s Moment travels 🙂
Shirt: Uniqlo c/o | Crops: Lululemon | Jacket: Adidas {love this one too!} | Earrings: Nordstrom | Shoes: Nike, old {new version here} | Lipstick: NARS {Madere} Lipgloss: NARS {Turkish Delight}
Happy Thursday! As the temperatures start to heat up, I’m always looking for cool and comfortable workout clothes. I don’t do too much running outside in the warmer months because the DC heat and humidity is just too much for me to handle! Although, indoor workouts still tend to leave me completely soaked, but at least they are done in the air conditioning, right?! 🙂
Uniqlo’s AIRism might be the answer to my “no outdoor workouts until September” rule. This tee has a super soft and smooth texture with a fabric that absorbs excess moisture quickly, not only leaving your skin dry but making it the perfect workout tee! With several different styles ranging from camis to long-sleeve tees, there is sure be something for everyone! I have tried so many different “moisture wicking” and “dri-fit” options in my day and I have to say, I am pretty happy with the AIRism fabric. And, another bonus is that this shirt is actually cute to wear! Even the best moisture-absorbing shirts are sometimes boxy and overall, pretty unflattering. I love that this tee could actually be worn outside of the gym with it’s fitted silhouette. My advice: size up on this tee. Unless you want it super tight, I would definitely go up a size. That way you can move around comfortably and achieve the fitted look as well!
P.S. I had so much fun braiding my hair for this post! While playing tennis in college, I always had some kind of braid in my hair. I haven’t worn one in a few years and I forgot how fun they were! I’m a little out of practice, but I think I need to start incorporating them back into my hair routine, especially with summer just around the corner 😉
Thanks so much for stopping by and have a great weekend!
This is a sponsored post; however, all opinions are my own.
**Apparently, the pink straw clutch in Day 2’s outfit was super popular…it sold out after I made this college, before I could even post! Here is another clutch that incorporates the pink into the look!
Happy Wednesday, everyone! For this week’s Wednesday Wishes, I’m sharing how to create the perfect look for a trip to the winery. I am in the process of packing for our trip to Napa and with the nice weather months ahead of us, it’s a popular time to visit wineries, so I thought I would share what I have learned about dressing for a day at the vineyard. This will be our third time in Napa, but I was totally clueless on what to wear when packing for our first trip. Here are a few things I learned:
1. Comfort is key! My husband typically has us going all day, so it’s important to be dressed in something comfortable!
2. Bring a jacket! Even though it is California, there can be some cool mornings and evenings, so throw a jacket or sweater on over your outfit. And, if nothing else, you spend a lot of time inside the wineries and it can be chilly!
3. Shielding the California Sun! On some of the tours, you will be outside, walking the vineyards. It’s a good idea to bring a hat and/or sunglasses to keep the sun off your face and out of your eyes 🙂
4. Easy to handle handbag! Be sure to bring a bag that is easy to use and convenient, like a crossbody or clutch. You will need to keep your hands as free as possible to balance the wine glass!
5. Wine Thirty! Don’t forget to bring a cute watch so you can keep an eye on the time to make it to your next winery visit or tasting appointment!
We are so excited to be heading back to Wine Country — not only for the wine but for the food! But first, I have to finish this packing! Any advice on what I should include in my bag?! Do you have a favorite place in Napa that we have to try? Let me know! Have a great Wednesday!
I have to confess, I am completely obsessed with buffalo sauce. It all started in college when I would get a buffalo chicken sandwich at one of our campus eateries and since then, I’m addicted. I don’t even like chicken but if it’s covered in buffalo sauce, I’ll eat it. Although I could probably eat anything soaked in buffalo sauce everyday of the week. I know it’s not the most healthy addiction!
When cooking, I love to come up with ways to make a traditionally unhealthy meal a little more healthy, even it it is just a little 🙂 One of my go-to ingredients are chickpeas or garbanzo beans. I use them a ton in my cooking because they are high in protein and fiber. And, I’ve found that the organic canned beans are much lower in sodium, so I always opt for them. Chickpeas are great on salads to add a little crunch, or even to replace meat — they are the perfect vegetarian option!
Up until this past weekend when I made these nachos, my favorite chickpea and buffalo chickpea recipe was the Buffalo Chickpea Pizza. I made this pizza two Fridays ago and since then, I’ve been craving that buffalo crunch of the chickpea! For me, these buffalo chickpea nachos take the cake. Paired with avocado {another favorite food!} and ranch dressing, you have a healthy take on a delicious appetizer that is sure to be crowd-pleaser! Bonus: it’s super easy to put together!
Hope you all have a wonderful Tuesday and thanks for stopping by!
Buffalo Chickpea Nachos
2 cans chickpeas/garbanzo beans, drained & rinsed {I used organic}
3-4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
3-4 tablespoons cayenne pepper sauce {I used Frank’s RedHot}
2 cups Mexican shredded cheese
1 avocado, sliced into bite-sized pieces
Green onions, thinly sliced or diced {I used about 7 small onions}
1/2 cup ranch dressing {I used low-fat}
Tortilla chips
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Toss chickpeas with olive oil on rimmed baking sheet; roast for 30 minutes. Transfer roasted chickpeas to medium-sized bowl and pour cayenne pepper sauce over chickpeas to completely coat. On a clean baking sheet, spread the tortilla chips out as desired. Sprinkle Mexican cheese over all the chips, followed by the buffalo-coated chickpeas. Place back in the oven for 5 minutes, just until the cheese has started to melt. Garnish with green onions, avocado pieces and ranch dressing. Serve and enjoy!
Happy Monday! One of favorite things to wear in the summertime are dresses. More specifically, maxi dresses. They are so cool and so comfortable; they are the perfect way to beat the summer heat. It was so hot here in DC yesterday, this Uniqlo dress was the perfect way to stay cool.
I have to tell you, I was skeptical when I first received this maxi dress. On the hanger, it looked tight and narrow, something that is not ideal when looking for a summer maxi. But, much to my surprise, I could not believe how comfortable and light this dress was! Not only was the fabric soft and breathable, the length was perfect to wear with either flats or wedges. I just despise when I have to get a maxi dress hemmed to be able to wear it with flats! And as if this dress wasn’t already perfectly cool for the summer weather, it also has a built in bra that allows for all-day comfort!
I am super excited that Uniqlo is headed to our mall next year! This dress will be a staple in my summer wardrobe; it truly has all the qualities of the perfect maxi dress!
Thanks so much for stopping by and have a great start to the week!
This is a sponsored post; however, all opinions are my own.
Happy Thursday! The warm weather has set in here in DC and it is HOT. I feel like we totally bypassed spring and headed straight for summer this year…I’m not ready for the DC heat and humidity yet!! And, from the forecast, it looks like it’s going to be in the 90’s this weekend so I’m hoping all the grass we planted last weekend is going to make it through the next few days!
In honor of this weather change, it seems only right to start breaking out the bright and cheerful summer clothes! For me, there is nothing that says “bright and cheerful” more than Lilly Pulitzer. I have been a Lilly fan for years and, like always, the colors this year always seem to put you in a good mood! I am so obsessed with this new top, it’s one of the softest, most comfortable shirts currently in my closet! Although I love this top with the classic white jeans, I am very much looking forward to pairing them with shorts as we get closer to summer — once I get some sun, of course 😉
Thanks so much for dropping by. Have a wonderful day!
Happy Wednesday! I really have been loving the Mediterranean trend for this spring and summer. It all started with this clutch and now I am seeing more and more pieces that I have added to my wish list! I think using a Mediterranean pattern as a statement pattern is the perfect way to spice up a look! And one of my favorite aspects of this trend is all the tassels! I just love them on these fun sandals and the lime green tassel earrings are so fun and perfect for transitioning to summer! And speaking of summer, how perfect is this black and white dress for graduation parties, date nights and other summer soirees?! I’ve included a few more of my favorite vibrant and colorful Mediterranean inspired items below, so take a peek! What do you think of this trend?
Do you ever crave a particular dish from your favorite restaurant? For me, there are definitely certain meals that I love so much, I try to recreate them in my own kitchen. This is the case for my favorite restaurant in Pittsburgh, Lidia’s. Living in the Steel City for four years while in college allowed me to enjoy some amazing food, most of which came from this Italian restaurant in the city’s Strip District. {To see my entire post about Pittsburgh and Lidia’s, click here}
Whenever we travel back to Pittsburgh, Lidia’s is always a must. Our favorite menu item is the “Pasta Trio” where you are able to sample the day’s three special pastas. Typically, our favorite pasta is of the vodka sauce variety {how can you not love that pink, creamy sauce?!} I’ve made vodka sauce before and shared it here on A Blonde’s Moment, but today’s version has a few special ingredients. A few months ago, my husband discovered Boyd & Blair Potato Vodka, which is made right in Pittsburgh. We thought using a Pittsburgh vodka to make our favorite Pittsburgh dish was perfect way to recreate our favorite pasta.
I made this for dinner on Saturday and after a long day of yard work, it definitely hit the spot! Although the recommended cocktail for this dish probably isn’t a Mint Julep, in honor of the Kentucky Derby, my husband made up one of his favorite drinks. He is sharing his Mint Julep recipe below, so be sure to check it out! The Kentucky Derby might be over, but there are still horse races to enjoy and Mint Juleps to be had!
Thanks so much for stopping by and have a great Tuesday!
Pittsburgh-made Boyd & Blair Potato Vodka
Fettuccine with Mushrooms, Pea, Prosciutto & Vodka Sauce
2 shallots, diced 2 cloves garlic 1 tablespoon red pepper flakes 3 ounces prosciutto, chopped into bite-sized pieces 3/4 bag frozen peas, room temperature 1 28 ounce can whole, peeled tomatoes, crushed with hands ½ cup good vodka {I used Pittsburgh’s own Boyd & Blair} 2/3 cup heavy cream Grated Parmesan cheese and/or basil to garnish Salt to taste
Start by cooking the pasta according to package directions. {I used fresh pasta so it only took about 3 minutes to cook.} Reserve about ½ cup of the pasta water. Heat extra virgin olive oil over medium heat. Add the chopped prosciutto. Cook until crispy, about 3 minutes. Remove prosciutto from skillet and place on paper towel to drain. Add another tablespoon of olive oil to the same skillet and saute the mushrooms until the mushrooms begin to brown and all the liquid has evaporated, about 10 minutes. Transfer the mushrooms to a clean plate and add another tablespoon of olive oil to the same skillet. Add the shallot and cook for about 2 minutes. Add the garlic and red pepper flakes and cook for another minute. Remove the skillet from the heat and add the crushed tomatoes, vodka and salt, to taste. Stir to combine and place back on the heat. Cook for about 8-9 minutes to allow the vodka to burn off. Add the heavy cream and stir to fully combine. Cook for another 3-4 minutes until the sauce becomes thick. Turn the heat down to low and add the peas. Cook for about 2 minutes and turn off the heat. Add the crispy prosciutto and mushrooms and stir in pasta. If the sauce is too thick, you can add some of the reserve pasta water to thin it out. Serve with grated Parmesan cheese and basil, if desired.
Muddle leaves with simple syrup in cocktail glass {use a mint julep silver glass if you have one!} to release the oils in the mint; be sure to not bruise. Add enough ice to fill the glass. Add bourbon. Add bitters. Swirl bitters with sugar stick. Makes one drink.
Happy Monday! Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend! We spent Saturday working in the yard — there was a lot of mulching, grass planting and sprucing up that needed to happen before the DC summer heat arrived! And I think we made it just in time — it was in the 80s yesterday! I won’t start complaining about the summer heat yet, but it feels like it could be a hot and humid summer here!
Even though it felt like a mid-summer day yesterday, I was surprisingly cool in this J.Crew summerweight sweater. This is the answer to wearing a sweater with shorts in the summer! And I am obsessed with this deep blue color. As you know, I’m not a huge fan of blue, but it pairs just too perfectly with my favorite color for spring: citron! It’s the perfect striking contrast for a bright spring look.
Thanks so much for dropping by and have a great start to the week!
Happy Thursday, everyone! These New Balance shoes have been a part of my weekend uniform for the last two weeks now — I literally cannot get enough of them! There is no question I have a shoe fetish — pumps, sandals, boots, and especially tennis shoes. **As a side note, do you call them tennis shoes? Athletic shoes? Another name? I think it depends on your region, so I was curious!**
Anyways, I have SO many old running shoes and shoes for tennis, but I don’t think I have ever purchased a casual athletic shoe. I saw these at J.Crew and knew that I had to have them — I just loved the gold accents on the shoes and thought they would be perfect to throw on to run to the grocery store and for weekends. It’s safe to say I am getting my money out of them — I have been wearing them so much because they are so comfortable!
Although I have been wearing them mostly with jeans, I really love pairing them with a t-shirt dress and denim jacket. It’s such a cute, simple and comfortable look that’s so perfect for the weekend. Also, this t-shirt dress from CAbi is super soft and comfortable, it feels more like lounge-wear piece than a cute dress!
Thanks so much for stopping by and have a wonderful weekend!
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