Rachel McCarthy, Author at A Blonde's Moment

mother’s day gift inspiration

April 29, 2015 by Rachel McCarthy

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Today’s Wednesday Wishes is dedicated to Mother’s Day! Can you believe it’s nearly a week away?! Each year, I am always in search of the perfect gift for my mom. She does so much for me everyday of the year, I love finding her a special gift that fits a certain need or something she wouldn’t buy for herself. Although it’s never about the gift, I like to think of it as something to begin to thank her for everything she does for me and truly being the best mother I could ask for!

You can never go wrong a sweet smelling perfume or candle or even a special bracelet, but I love the idea of this Tory Burch Fitbit — so perfect for the fitness moms! I’ve also listed a few more ideas below to help with your Mother’s Day shopping. How soft and cozy does that blush robe look?!

P.S. It’s not too late to order online! Nordstrom is offering free shipping on all orders and if you order by 11pm tomorrow {April 30th}, you will have it in time for Mother’s Day!

even more gift inspiration…

greek flatbread pizza

April 28, 2015 by Rachel McCarthy

One of my very favorite things about Fridays is that it’s pizza night in our house. I have experimented with, what seems like, hundreds of different toppings to make some pretty delicious combinations. Last Friday I decided to try something completely different: instead of using the traditional pizza crust for the base, I used the packaged Naan that can be found at your grocery store!

Sometimes, I get really into my pizza making on Fridays. I come up with the most complicated, and time consuming, ideas that have me cooking in the kitchen all night! I thought by using the Naan as the “crust” that would cut down on a significant amount of time. The best part about this pizza is definitely the time aspect, but it was so tasty too! Greek salad is one of my favorite salads to make, and since we are finally at the point in the spring when the produce is looking perfect, I thought tomatoes and cucumbers would be an amazing pizza topping for this quick Friday night dinner!

And, as for the pesto, I always seem to have a container of it in my fridge. I think it’s a great staple that can be added to/on top of so many different things, it’s a great thing to keep on hand 🙂

Greek Flatbread Pizza

Makes two personal-sized pizzas

1 package original Naan {2 flatbreads in package}

1/4 cup homemade or store-bought pesto

1 cucumber, peeled & diced

1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved

2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

1 small red onion, chopped

1/4 cup feta cheese, crumbled

2-3 tablespoons tzatziki sauce {I used store-bought}

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar

Salt and pepper, to taste

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Place flatbreads on a baking sheet. In a small bowl, combine the tomatoes, cucumber and red onion; season with salt and pepper, if desired. Mix with the olive oil and balsamic vinegar; stir to combine and allow to sit for at least 5 minutes. Spread pesto onto the flatbread, followed by the shredded mozzarella cheese. Bake for 5-10 minutes, just until the cheese begins to melt. Remove the flatbreads from the oven and top with the tomato mixture followed by the feta cheese. Drizzle tzatziki sauce over the pizza, if desired. Serve and enjoy!

Thanks for stopping by!

summer shift & shawl

April 27, 2015 by Rachel McCarthy

Dress: Arzella c/o | Shawl, old {similar here} | Earrings: BaubleBar {similar here} | Bracelets: here, here | Watch: Kate Spade | Ring: Pink Peonies Collection | Sandals, old {similar here} | Sunglasses: Prada | Lipstick: YSL {#205} | Nail polish: Essie, also here {forget me nots from the Lilly for Target Collection}

Happy Monday! I don’t know about you, but the beautiful, spring weather we have been experiencing the last few weeks has been amazing! So, when the temperatures suddenly dropped to the 40s over the weekend, it was a little depressing to say the least! In the spirit of hoping the warm temperatures return soon, I thought I would share with you a colorful and fun spring and summer dress that will at least bring your spring spirits back!

The colors in this Arzella dress are so bright and are truly even more stunning in person! And not only is this dress the perfect colorful look for spring and summer, it’s a cool and comfortable shift dress that can be dressed up with a shawl or even dressed down for daytime look with a denim jacket. And how fabulous is the cutout detail at the neckline?! This dress and the entire line of Arzella will be launching this Wednesday, April 29th! Check out Arzella on Instagram for all the details!

Hope you all have a wonderful week and thanks for stopping by!

sweet strawberry cupcakes

April 23, 2015 by Rachel McCarthy

Happy Thursday! I’ve been on a real cupcake kick as of late. I use to make cupcakes all the time, but it can be time consuming to make a homemade cupcake with homemade frosting. I love the idea of “enhancing” a cake mix from a box. My favorite brand of cake mix is Duncan Hines; I find their mixes to be most like a homemade cake. By adding just a few ingredients, you can make a cake box mix taste like you’ve spent hours in the kitchen!

I was experimenting with the frosting on this one. I had a huge container of strawberries that I wanted to use up, so I pureed the strawberries and added them to the store-bought vanilla frosting. You could definitely just keep a plain vanilla frosting and garnish with a fresh strawberry, but if you are looking for more of that sweet strawberry flavor, I would add the pureed strawberries to the frosting. I got a little too carried away with the strawberry puree, so the frosting was pretty thin {hence why there isn’t a pretty swirl on these cupcakes!}. If you want a stiffer frosting that will make the perfect swirl, I would decrease the number of strawberries you puree or add more frosting to the amount I used 🙂

Sweet Strawberry Cupcakes

*slightly adapted from My Baking Addiction

For the Cupcakes:

1 box vanilla cake mix {I used this}

1/2 of 3.4 ounce package of instant vanilla pudding mix

1 {individual size} Greek strawberry yogurt {I used this}

3/4 cup vegetable oil

1/2 cup water

4 eggs, lightly beaten

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

10 fresh strawberries, diced

For the Frosting:

1 container store-store bought vanilla frosting {I used this}

6-8 fresh strawberries, quartered

24 fresh, whole strawberries for garnish, if desired

24 cupcake wrappers {I used these}

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line the muffin tin with cupcake liners. In a large bowl, mix the cake mix, instant pudding, Greek yogurt, vegetable oil, water, eggs and vanilla extract with a hand mixer for about 2 minutes, or until the batter is smooth. Fold in the fresh, diced strawberries. Fill the cupcake tins about 3/4 full. Bake for 18-20 minutes or until the tops of the cupcakes spring back when lightly touched {mine we perfect at about 19 minutes}. Allow the cupcakes to cool for 3-5 minutes in the muffin tin before transferring to a cooling rack. Cool completely before frosting. In a medium size bowl, place the store-bought vanilla frosting. Blend 6-8 quartered strawberries in a food processor until a puree forms; add strawberry puree to the frosting. Mix together to combine. Frost each cupcake and top with whole strawberry.

Thanks so much for stopping by and have a wonderful weekend!

favorite spring necessities

April 22, 2015 by Rachel McCarthy

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Happy Wednesday! Now that spring is in full swing, I wanted to share with you a few of my springtime necessities when it comes to my wardrobe. What I love most about the majority of these items is that they can also be carried into summer; I always love finding multiple season items 🙂

Of all these fabulous items, my favorite spring necessity has to be my denim jacket. I literally want to wear it everyday {exhibit A, exhibit B, exhibit C}. There are so many ways to wear a denim jacket and it’s the perfect layer for the cool mornings and nights of spring. As for nail polish, my nails have been painted this blush pink since late January — I guess you can say I’ve been ready for warmer weather for some time now! I love this Essie polish because it’s super basic but it gives you a little color. And it looks great on your toes too 🙂

I love any kind of lace dress, but there is something about a white lace dress that is so crispy and clean — it’s the perfect way to welcome summer! And nothing says summer like a straw handbag! It’s the perfect accessory and can go with literally anything! I am definitely looking forward to breaking out these spring to summer items in the coming weeks!

What are some of your springtime essentials? Thanks so much for dropping by and have a wonderful Wednesday!

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denim & lace

April 20, 2015 by Rachel McCarthy

Dress: C.Wonder {similar splurge here, similar save here} | Jacket: J.Crew | Pumps: BCBGeneration | Clutch: Mark & Graham | Earrings: Sabika {similar here} | Bracelet: Elizabeth Cole via Charm & Chain | Ring: David Yurman | Sunglasses: Ray-Ban | Lipstick: YSL {#7}

Happy Monday! Today I am wearing one of my favorite combinations lately: pink, black and leopard! I just can’t get enough of these pink pumps — I’m finding so many possibilities when it comes to styling these fabulous pumps! I actually had a pair of pink pumps when I was in high school and I loved them SO much. I’m kicking myself for not keeping those around since they are so perfect with so many of my clothes today. It’s amazing how trends come and go and then come back again. Lesson learned with the pink pumps — I’ll be holding onto these for a long time 🙂

Have a great week and thanks for stopping by!

some more pink pumps I am loving…

lace & palms

April 16, 2015 by Rachel McCarthy

Blouse: CAbi, last season {similar splurge here, save here} | Jeans: CAbi | Jacket: J.Crew | Sunglasses: Ray-Ban | Bag: Sole Society | Pumps: L.K. Bennett | Earrings: Nordstrom | Bracelets: here, here, here, here; Gold X Cuff: Gorjana via Rocksbox c/o | Watch: Kate Spade | Lipliner: MAC {cherry}, Lipstick: YSL {#13}

Happy Thursday! We are getting closer and closer to the weekend! Do you remember in yesterday’s post when I said on rare occasions, I break out the blue?! Well, today just happens to be one of those days! With the soft shades of blue and green paired with the white, this is an ideal spring look! And I love that this look can be extended into the summer months by taking off the denim jacket.

This lace top is one of my favorites from last spring and summer and I’m so glad that I am finding new ways to style it this year! The possibilities are truly endless — this is actually the first time I’ve worn it with a white cami. I usually like to wear a bright color for the added pop of color, but sometimes it’s good to stay with the classic white. And then there are these jeans! Not only are they super soft and comfortable {a must when it comes to picking out a pair of jeans for me!} but the print is so perfect! I love it paired with white, but I cannot wait to wear it with brighter colors…you know I’ve had a thing for neon colors lately 😉

Thanks for dropping by and have a wonderful weekend!

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opposites attract

April 15, 2015 by Rachel McCarthy

Splurge: 1. | 2. | 3. | 4. | 5. | 6. | 7. | 8. | 9.

Save: 1. | 2. | 3. | 4. | 5. | 6. | 7. | 8. | 9.

Happy Wednesday! Alright, so most of you know that I have an obsession with pink, but lately I’ve been attracted to shades of blue as well. I’m not a fan of the color blue, but I sometimes make exceptions. Does that make sense?! I guess everyone knows what colors look good on you and what colors don’t — I cannot wear lemon yellow, it’s just awful! But I feel like I can pull off blues with my light hair and eyes, so in rare instances, I’ll break out the blue!

Anyways, when I do wear blue, I typically pair it with similar shades of blue and green, nothing too crazy. But in an effort to be a little wild {I know, right?! ha!} I paired it with it’s exact opposite: hot pink. I really love the contrast between the baby blue and the bright pink, I think it creates the perfect casual, everyday outfit but gives the look a little more pizzazz!

So, the question is: save or splurge? Although these are some pretty good “save” alternatives, I just love the splurge pumps and clutch — of course, who wouldn’t?! What are your favorite splurge and/or save items?

…more pink and blue accessories to love…

Have a fabulous Wednesday and thanks for stopping by!

P.S. Don’t forget to check out the new gold Macbook giveaway! Ends Friday, April 17th at midnight. Click here to enter 🙂

cauliflower pizza crust

April 14, 2015 by Rachel McCarthy

Today’s post takes it to a whole new level of crazy. I made this cauliflower pizza crust last Friday for our weekly “Pizza Friday” and I think my husband was confused {correct me if I’m wrong, Richard! 😉 } I kept talking about the cauliflower pizza crust all week and how I was so excited to make it, but I think he thought we were have the cauliflower as a topping and not a crust. And I sensed that he was skeptical when he found out the cauliflower was actually part of the crust. And frankly, I was too. I couldn’t image the texture of cauliflower as a pizza crust, even if it was ground in a food processor!

I have seen several recipes for healthier ways to make pizza — especially gluten free options that seem to be great alternatives to the traditional pizza dough. As you may know, I love to incorporate healthy and “hip” foods into our weekly meals, so I’ve been thinking about this cauliflower crust for sometime!

The result? It was DELICIOUS! Even my skeptical husband said it was in the top 5 pizzas I’ve made 🙂 I decided to keep it relatively simple with the toppings, since the crust was the star. And, I didn’t want anything too heavy because I wasn’t sure how much the crust could hold {this is definitely an eat with a fork kind of pizza — although that’s all pizza for me, but I think it’s probably a necessity with this crust!}. I used my regular caprese pizza recipe for the toppings of the pizza and it was the perfect compliment to this flatbread-like crust!

Cauliflower Pizza Crust

slightly adapted from Food Network’s Katie Lee

1 medium-sized head of cauliflower, stalk removed

1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1/2 teaspoon oregano

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon ground pepper

2 eggs, lightly beaten

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Cut the cauliflower into florets and blend in a food processor until fine, almost the consistency of couscous. Place the cauliflower in a clean kitchen towel to allow all the water to drain from the cauliflower; transfer to large bowl. Add the mozzarella, Parmesan, oregano, garlic powder, salt and pepper and lightly beaten eggs to the cauliflower; stir to combine. Spread evenly onto a baking sheet. Bake for 20 minutes. Add the toppings {see below} to the crust and make for another 10-15 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly.

Caprese Pizza

1 pint cherry or grape tomatoes, halved

2 garlic cloves, diced

1 tablespoon olive oil

3-4 tablespoons store-bought pesto

1 1/2 – 2 cups shredded mozzarella

Fresh basil for garnish, if desired

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Place halved cherry or grape tomatoes in a small bowl with the garlic. Add the olive oil and stir to coat the tomatoes; set aside for about 10 minutes. On a baking sheet, spread the tomato and garlic mixture into a single layer, roast for about 5 minutes {keep your eye on them, they go quickly!}. To assemble pizza: spread a thin layer of the pesto on the cooked pizza crust, followed by the shredded mozzarella. Top with the roast tomato and garlic mixture and garnish with a few basil leaves, if desired. Cook the pizza for another 10-15 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly.

Let me know if you end up trying this cauliflower crust and what you think! Thanks so much for stopping by!

my favorite colors

April 13, 2015 by Rachel McCarthy

Sweater: J.Crew, last year {similar here & here} | Jeans: Old Navy | Pumps: BCBGeneration, also here | Necklace: Kate Spade, sold out {similar Kate Spade here} | Sunglasses: Prada | Clutch: Mark & Graham | Earrings: Nordstrom {under $40 here & here} | Bracelets: here, here, here | Watch: Kate Spade | Lipstick: YSL {#007}

Happy Monday! For as long as I can remember, my favorite colors have been pink and green. Pink will always be my favorite color, but when you add lime green, you truly have the perfect combination! And this is obviously a go-to color combination when picking out clothes!

I may be behind the times, put I recently purchased my first pair of boyfriend jeans. I have admired them from afar for quite sometime, but I just never knew how they would fit or if I could even pull them off. And I have a confession: I’m super particular about my jeans, so this was also a concern — where do I even start in my search?! I didn’t want to buy a super expensive pair because I truly didn’t know if I would like them or even end up wearing them. Recently, I have heard a lot of great things about Old Navy jeans. There was a sale going on and I saw a pair of light-wash boyfriend jeans, so I took a chance {I even ordered them online without trying them on!}. I was super skeptical, planning time in my schedule to make a trip back to Old Navy to return them because I was sure they would not work. Much to my surprise, these boyfriend jeans are absolutely FABULOUS! They are so soft and the most comfortable jeans I have ever worn. Actually, they don’t even feel like jeans, more like sweatpants 🙂 Since they are designed to be baggy, I ordered my normal size in these jeans and they fit perfectly! I’m so glad I gave Old Navy jeans a try — I am scoping out which ones I want next!

Now that I am totally in love with boyfriend jeans, I’ve included some more of my favorite styles below! Thanks so much for stopping by and have a wonderful week!

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P.S. Did you hear about the amazing gold Macbook giveaway from yesterday’s post? Click here to enter! Good luck!