Gingham


After starting the week off with stripes, {you can see Monday’s post here if you missed it!} I’ve migrated slightly to a similar pattern I’ve been loving this spring: gingham. I have always loved gingham and I’m so excited to be seeing more of it this spring. Not that it’s too surprising, but J.Crew is leading the way with the gingham print this year — I feel like when you Google gingham, J.Crew’s website should come up!

Gingham is definitely a fun print for spring and summer and I’m so glad to see it featured in more styles than the usual shirts and dresses. First, how cute is this gingham bucket bag?! It combines the three spring trends of bucket bags, tassels and gingham into one piece and I absolutely love it! And these retro, high-waisted shorts would be so cute paired with a tee for a spring to summer look. 

Last, but certainly not least is this darling gingham sundress. Words cannot describe my love for this warm weather-friendly number. Not only are the colors so bright and cheerful, the midi length and pockets make this summer sundress cute and functional.

What are your feelings about the gingham trend? I would love to hear in the comments section below. 

P.S. Don’t forget that the Shopbop Friends & Family Sale is going on through tomorrow night! Receive 25% off full-price and sale items with the code INTHEFAM. I’ve linked some of my favorites from the sale in the tool below. Happy Shopping!

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Mediterranean Cauliflower Rice

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Happy Tuesday! Alright, who has difficulties coming up with packable lunches for work? For me, the struggle is real. And it’s a weekly struggle. I really hate to buy lunch at work — I find it to be overpriced and usually, not as healthy as I would like. But, I find myself getting into a real rut when it comes to thinking of new lunch ideas and once I do have a plan, I get bored with the same thing each day. Can anyone else relate??

For those of you like me out there, I have a new, quick and healthy recipe to add to your lunch rotation. The best part of this recipe is that it can be made over the weekend and divided into containers for the entire work week. There is no excuse to buy your lunch when it’s packed and ready to go as of Sunday night! Although I made this recipe with lunch in mind, it would also be amazing as a side dish with grilled meat, especially as we head into the warmer months!
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Have you tried cauliflower rice yet {see picture above}? I have been reading so much about it that I decided I needed to come up with a recipe that could feature it. I’m a huge fan of cauliflower {see this cauliflower pizza recipe I made last year here}, so this recipe is right up my alley. But I can honestly say, cauliflower rice doesn’t really even taste like cauliflower — it is diced so fine that it has the texture of a couscous and really takes on the flavors of whatever dressing you use. So, if you aren’t a huge fan of cauliflower, you should definitely give it a try!

I had this packed in my lunch yesterday and I have to admit, it was absolutely amazing. I was actually kicking myself for not packing more {I made up for it in today’s lunch haha!} I am hoping to share more recipes like this with you as we head into summer because I know this is something I struggle with on a daily basis and I am constantly looking for lunch inspiration… and I feel like I’m not alone! Also stay tuned for quick and healthy weeknight dinners coming to ABM soon — this is also a struggle of mine! 

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Mediterranean Cauliflower Rice


{what you’ll need}

1 medium-sized head of cauliflower, cut into florets
1 pint cherry or grape tomatoes, halved
1 cucumber, diced
1/4-1/2 of small red onion, diced 
{more or less depending on your preference}
5 ounces crumbled feta cheese
1/2 cup parsley, roughly chopped
Juice of 1 lemon
1/4 cup olive oil, plus 2-4 tablespoons

{directions}
Place the cauliflower florets in a food processor in a single layer, working in batches {you don’t want to over-stuff the food processor with cauliflower because some of the cauliflower could become watery}. Pulse in quick intervals to achieve a fine, couscous- or rice-like texture; transfer to a separate bowl. Once you have finished the cauliflower florets, heat 1-2 tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the cauliflower rice to the skillet and cook for about 4 minutes, until there is no oil remaining and the rice is slightly soft {I worked in two batches for this as well, just so the skillet wasn’t overcrowded}. Transfer the cooked rice to a large, clean bowl and allow to cool to room temperature. Add the tomatoes, cucumber, red onion and feta cheese to the rice and stir gently to combine. Toss with the 1/4 cup of olive and juice of 1 lemon. Add the parsley and carefully mix until all the ingredients are fully combined. Season with salt and pepper and serve. **If making ahead for packed lunches, divide into containers and refrigerate until ready to eat. 


Print Recipe HERE

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Thanks for dropping by and have a great day!

stripes & trenches

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J.Crew trench coat | striped tee via local Shop Refine boutique {similar style} | black jeans | tan mules, last season {current season here & under $100!} | Tory Burch tote | black aviator sunglasses | YSL red lipgloss {#09}

Happy Monday, friends! Hope you all had a great weekend! Not too much to report from here — I worked on some upcoming food posts to share with you that cover everything from quick breakfast ideas to quick and simple dinners…so stay tuned! I’ve also been fighting some serious allergy issues the past few days. Let’s just say I’m ready for everything to bloom!

Today’s look is what I wore Saturday night for a casual dinner. If you haven’t noticed yet, I clearly have an obsession with stripes this spring! I picked up this high-low tee at Shop Refine, a local D.C. boutique, but I linked a similar one above. Also, I have been looking for a beige trench coat for years. I know, it sounds so crazy that I didn’t have one until now! I found this one at J.Crew when they were running their last sale and I couldn’t pass up the deal. A trench coat is always a great layering piece for spring, especially this past weekend when it was quite chilly!

Hope you all have a great start to the week and thanks for dropping by! See you tomorrow!

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Cherry Blossoms

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J.Crew chambray dress {25% off with code SHOPNOW} | Mark and Graham bucket bag c/o | blush lace-up flats | Karen Walker sunglasses | pearl studs | David Yurman cuff, one-station, buckle bracelets | lipstick {creme cup}, lipgloss {turkish delight}

Happy Friday Eve, friends! These weeks are just flying by…I cannot believe tomorrow is April 1st! Well, my favorite, multi-season dress is back. You may remember it from last summer {here} and the fall {here & here} and now I’m wearing it for spring! This is probably one of my favorite dresses of all time because it can be worn almost year round and it’s SO soft and comfortable! Normally, it’s under $100, but today it’s 25% off with code SHOPNOW!!

If you follow me on Snapchat {rach.mccarthy7} you may remember last Friday when I was driving around searching for cherry blossoms. I was determined to incorporate these gorgeous trees into a post at some point this spring, but didn’t really want to drive to DC and fight the tourists. I read an article in the Washington Post that listed a few locations outside of downtown where you could find the cherry blossoms minus the crowd. Much to my surprise, I found these not even 5 minutes from our house! They are just gorgeous!

Blush and cherry blossoms just go together, right?! I couldn’t resist pairing these blush lace-up flats and blush bucket bag with this blossom-filled background. We are suppose to have some rain on Friday, but if the blooms can hold on until Saturday, I might have to do another outfit in front of them 🙂

Lastly, you may notice I wear this lipgloss a lot. Like all the time haha! But I have to tell you how much I love it! It’s a great soft pink that can be worn over more neutral lipsticks along with the pink shades too. It’s pretty much my everyday lipgloss — I actually keep one in my purse and one in my makeup collection at home! 

I hope you all have a fabulous weekend! See you back here on Monday!

This post is linked with: Mix and Match Fashion | Living in Color
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Currently Craving: Off-The-Shoulder

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denim off-the-shoulder top {love this too} | pink tassel earrings | cat eye sunglasses {only $45!} | tassel bracelet | pink lipstick {chatterbox} | clutch | pink nail polish {jolie rosalie} | watch | ice pop iPhone case | white denim | fringe flat sandals {black & taupe colors here}


Happy Wednesday! Thank you so much for all the sweet comments and birthday wishes for Ella yesterday. She is one lucky girl! Today’s Wednesday Wishes combines three of my favorite trends for spring: off-the-shoulder, tassels and fringe! And as much as I love all these trends, I haven’t purchased anything off-the-shoulder or tassel related yet. I know, can you believe it?! I think it’s because there are SO many cute things to choose from, I would really like to have them all! Also on my wish list for spring: this pretty pink lipstick from MAC. Have any of you tried this color? Would love to know what you think! It’s such a fresh, girly pink that would be a great addition to the spring/summer lip color collection. 


One last thing of note: did you check out this watch? I spotted it last week and at first glance, I thought it was a MICHELE! This less expensive version {it’s under $300!} comes in the gold {as shown above}, silver and a silver/rose gold. I really love it’s square shape and classic look. This is definitely getting add to my wish list!


Thanks for dropping by and have a wonderful Wednesday!


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Ella’s Fourth Birthday

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Our Miss Ella turned four on Sunday and it was quite the celebration! With a flower crown, ball pit, and a birthday cake, this little lady had a dog birthday for the books. She even got to spend the weekend with her {birth} mother. More on that below 🙂

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^^Chloe sporting Ella’s flower crown and a sign that says she is the MOM! ^^

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Flower Crown Tutorial:
1 grapevine wreath
Flowers of your choice
Greenery of your choice {I used boxwood}
Ribbon
Hot glue gun

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Begin by wrapping the ribbon around the wreath to give the flowers a base. Leave a little excess ribbon after wrapping it around to tie a bow once the flowers are added.

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Using a hot glue gun, add the greenery around the wreath.

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^^ A flower crown for the birthday girl!^^

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Add the flowers around the greenery to fill in the wreath. Tie the remaining ribbon into a bow. Allow the wreath to dry completely before using.

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^^ Fun in the ball pit. I think she was a little confused!!^^

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^^Birthday cake is always a good idea 🙂 Ella approves!^^

For those of you who are new around here, I would like to introduce our {now} four year old Maltese/Yorkie mix, Ella Mae! This 15 pound ball of fluff has been a part of our lives since she was a little over 2 months old and it’s been the best {almost} four years of our lives. A fun, little background story about Ella: we originally found out about Ella because my cousin and his wife have Ella’s older sister, Maui, from a previous litter. My husband and I {well, pretty much just me!} were thinking about getting a dog and when we met Maui, we loved her spunky personality and knew if there was another litter of puppies, we were definitely interested. When we found out Chloe, Ella and Maui’s mother, was having another litter, we were so excited to meet Maui’s “little” sister. We met Ella for the first time when she was just a few weeks old, and I think it was at this moment Ella had us both wrapped around her paw. As it turns out, a few years ago, my aunt and uncle adopted Chloe and she was reunited with her daughters — at least for family get-togethers 🙂 And although Chloe and Ella look a lot alike, they have completely different personalities! We often wonder if they realize they are mother and daughter…Ella does surprisingly allow Chloe to eat her food, which is extremely rare given Ella’s very possessive and territorial demeanor around food! Maybe she does know it’s her mom! Needless to say, it’s quite the family affair 🙂

There is no denying Ella is one spoiled pup. Since we don’t have kids yet, Ella is our baby, and let me tell you, she knows it too! I’m sure people think we are crazy and Ella most definitely doesn’t think she is a dog, but we are ok with it. Not only is Ella probably one of the more spoiled dogs in the world, she is the most lovable, smartest, mischievous and cutest pup around. Most people say that their dog is their best friend, but, speaking for both my husband and I, she really is. Ella goes everywhere with us and if she’s not on my lap while my husband is driving, she loves riding shotgun in her leopard safety seat. In a few weekends, we are taking her on a long weekend trip to one of her favorite places: the beach. The way in which her eyes light up when she sees sand makes all three of us so happy that we have made this an annual birthday trip. I know, so spoiled, right?!

Ella is one special and spoiled pup and we wouldn’t change it for the world. We love celebrating her birthday each year and it was so fun for her mother to be there for it this year. Who would have ever thought they would be reunited and celebrating Ella’s birthday four years later!


Happy Birthday to this sweet pup, we are so lucky that you are ours! 

Easter Sunday Best

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blue tulip dress {under $60!} | vibrant flame cardigan {available in 15 colors!} | Urban Expressions ‘Devon’ crossbody {worn as clutch} c/o | suede navy pumps | pearl earrings | pearl bracelet | sunglasses | Lancome lipstick {#210}, lipgloss {turkish delight}

Happy Monday, friends! I hope you all had a wonderful weekend! Just a quick post to share what I wore yesterday for Easter Sunday. Yesterday was also Ella’s fourth birthday, so it was double the celebration — more on that tomorrow 🙂

I just found this dress the other day and I couldn’t pass it up! It will be the perfect spring and summer dress that will be easy to dress up or even wear to work…and it’s under $60! Since it is sleeveless and it was overcast and chilly yesterday, I paired the dress with my favorite cardigan of all time. Priced at under $30, you can stock up in every color… it’s an essential piece in my 9-5 wardrobe! 

Thanks for dropping by and see you tomorrow for a post all about Miss Ella! Have a great start to the week!

This post is linked up with: Fizz & Frosting | Lipgloss and Crayons | Healthy Diva Life

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cobalt & magenta

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Oh how I love pink. For as long as I can remember, it has been my color of choice, and regardless of what shade, it’s always my favorite. But, there is something about this time of year, as we have officially started spring and looking towards summer {I know, I’m getting ahead of myself!} that makes me so excited to break out the bright magenta and fuchsia pinks!

Last spring, I found these amazing pink pumps and wore them all spring and summer long. With a slightly pointed toe and not too high of a heel, they are a super comfortable heel! And I’m so excited that they are back in stock so you can still shop them! They are definitely a must for any pink lover 🙂 Speaking of a necessity for a pink lover, how cute is this hot pink clutch with the fun tassel detail {so on trend!}?! I love the geometric laser cut details on this foldover clutch, and best yet, it also comes with a chain shoulder strap — such a versatile bag!

Lastly, the showstopping Lilly Pulitzer Virginia scarf. I have always loved Lilly: the bright colors and fun prints instantly brighten your mood. I like to save my countless Lilly pieces for vacation {since most pieces don’t work for the 9-5 workday!} but this scarf is the exception. It can be worn so many different ways {ie. shawl, beach cover up, scarf} and can go with so many things in my closet. If you look closely, you will see city names and sketches of the state’s scenery. My mom gave me this scarf when I moved to Virginia after graduating college almost 6 years ago {OMG!} and I still love wearing it. It is such a special reminder that although I was born and raised in Ohio, I have a new state to call home and I couldn’t be more happy to be a Virginian!   

P.S. Lilly also makes a few other cities and states that you can shop here. I have to say, Maryland’s print is just gorgeous! 

I hope you all have a wonderful Easter weekend and see you back here on Monday!

This post is linked up with: Mix & Match Fashion | Pumps and Pushups | Stylin in St. Louis

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Striped

It seems like we are always talking about the latest trends at the change of seasons: tassels, pom poms, off-the-shoulder, boho chic…you get the picture. And as much as I love these hot, new trends, there is one “permanent trend” that will always have my heart: stripes. Between Monday’s post with this striped cardigan, and today’s Wednesday Wishes, you can see that I definitely have had stripes on my mind this week. I must say, as much as I love the standard black/navy and white, classic nautical stripes {which seem to be a trend each spring} I can’t get enough of the bright colored striped pieces for this season! It’s like taking my stripe obsession to an all new level with the fun and bright colors! 


First, this jacquard striped pencil skirt is to die for! It’s hard to see in this picture, but the bottom of the skirt has a frayed hem — such a cute detail! And speaking of the hem, it falls below your knees so it would be great for work. Have to love those practical pieces! 


Can we take a minute and talk about both of these shoes?! The wedge style is one of my favorites and I love the lace-up ankle on these colorful striped ones. Unfortunately, there is limited sizing in this color, but they are available in black and white, which is probably more practical anyways 😉 Moving onto the oh so comfortable, slip-on espadrilles…don’t they look like the same stripe pattern as the pencil skirt?! Priced at $54, these shoes will be perfect all spring and summer long. {P.S. You may remember this style from last week’s post!}


I just couldn’t resist sharing a few home and cooking items with you, including the kitchen towel and apron, which has some handy measurements/conversions on the back so you can reference them while cooking! That’s the most genius idea ever! Ok, and did you see the striped lasagna?? I cannot even comprehend how amazing these would be in a dish — talk about presentation! I could definitely see using a pesto sauce with these to show off the cuteness. And in case you don’t like lasagna, this striped pasta is also available in bowties! Too much for this pasta-loving girl to handle!


How do you feel about stripes this spring? I hope you all have a wonderful Wednesday!


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Peanut Butter Easter Eggs

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Happy Tuesday! Can you believe Easter is this weekend already?! I always loved celebrating Easter growing up and I’m so excited that this year, Easter falls on Ella’s 4th birthday! Needless to say, there will be a lot of celebrating this weekend 🙂

I’ve never really been a huge candy fan, even as a child. But, there was always one candy that caused serious excitement when looking through my Easter basket on Easter morning: peanut butter eggs. It’s no secret that I love peanut butter. I have peanut butter pretty much everyday with breakfast and it’s basically something I couldn’t live without. Do you know when people ask you what you would take with you on a deserted island if you only had X amount of things? I think I definitely would have to figure out a way to incorporate peanut butter into my short list of things! 

Anyways, there is just something so delicious about that creamy peanut butter with the chocolate shell. And, it maybe strange, but I love the peanut butter eggs that are available only at Easter SO much more than a regular Reese’s peanut butter cup. Does anyone else agree??

My version of the peanut butter eggs is super easy and would be so fun to decorate with your kids — especially if you are looking for something to do this week on spring break! I picked up these {edible} candy decorations at a craft store, but you could always check a local bakery, too. I stuck with the spring and Easter theme and went with the different colored flowers and the cute little birds, but it’s up to you on decorations!

I wanted you to see the inside of one of the eggs {see below} so I did cut one in half — which was the perfect excuse to give it a try. Let’s just say these need to be put in the freezer or hidden far, far away because chances are, I will eat them all if they are anywhere near me!
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Homemade Peanut Butter Easter Eggs


{what you will need}

2 cups peanut butter 
1/4 cup butter, at room temperature
16 ounces powdered sugar
12 ounce bag semisweet chocolate morsels
1 1/2 tablespoon shortening 
Decorative candies, if desired

{directions}
In a mixer, combine the peanut butter, butter and powdered sugar until you reach a smooth consistency. Line a baking sheet with wax paper. Form peanut butter mixture into an egg shape {I used about 2 tablespoons of mixture to form the eggs} and place them on the baking sheet. Transfer baking sheet to the freezer for 1 hour to allow the eggs to set. Using the double boiler, melt the chocolate and shortening together until smooth. Remove the peanut butter eggs from the freezer. Carefully cover the egg in chocolate {I used this candy dipping tool and ladled the chocolate over the egg to cover the top completely} and transfer chocolate covered egg to clean wax paper. Add any decorations that you desire at this point while the chocolate is still wet. Allow the chocolate to harden in the freezer before serving. Makes about 20 peanut butter eggs. 



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Thanks for stopping by and happy cooking!