A Blonde's Moment

Valentine’s Day Outfit Inspiration

January 27, 2016 by Rachel McCarthy

cashmere long sleeve t-shirt {neon orchid, comes in 32 colors!} | catching light tennis bracelet {on sale!} | “Aurora” drop earrings | diptyque ‘eau rose’ roll-on perfume | gel lab pro nail color {the pleasure principle} | bracelet watch | scallop clutch {only $21!} | pointy toe pump | creme lip color {fresh raspberry} | midi skirt {on sale!}

Today’s Wednesday Wishes is dedicated to creating a fabulous look for Valentine’s Day look! Valentine’s Day is the perfect excuse to break out the reds, pinks and purples…personally I like to think of it as a great time to start incorporating spring colors into your wardrobe! Obviously, I don’t have a hard time coming up with a reason to wear pink but I guess wearing extensive amounts is more acceptable around this holiday 😉

First of all, how cute is this skirt?! I love the mixture of the hot pink and soft purple. It compliments this cashmere shirt so perfectly too! I have one of these cashmere shirts and I just love it. It is super soft and comes in 32 colors {!!!} — some of the colors are even currently on sale! And with all the color going on with the skirt and top, I love the idea of pairing this outfit with the nude or blush shoes and clutch. This really allows this statement skirt to make a statement!

Hope you all have a wonderful Wednesday and see you back here tomorrow for an all new {super snowy!} outfit post!

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Best Fashion Finds of 2015

January 26, 2016 by Rachel McCarthy

Happy Tuesday! As I mentioned yesterday, we have been snowed in since Friday so I wasn’t able to get to the store to buy any food for a food post…so I am recapping a few of my favorite fashion finds from 2015. Last week, I talked about my favorite beauty finds from 2015 {you can read that post here in case you missed it!} and as with last week’s post, I have purchased all these items and just can’t get enough of them! I would definitely consider these to be staple pieces in my closet.

Zella ‘Live In’ Leggings: They aren’t kidding with the name of these! You may notice that I wear these a lot, but they are so comfortable and perfect for not only dressing up but also working out! I have a “dress up pair” and a “workout pair” {love them for barre class!} and they come in a variety of colors and prints. I’m definitely looking to buy another pair, I just can’t decide what color/print! And be on the lookout because Nordstrom sometimes has select colors on sale: this colorful and fun print is currently 33% off and this bright blue is 25% off — not a huge fan of blue, but this color is gorgeous! FYI, they are true to size! {Last seen HERE, HERE}

Chinese Laundry “Endless” lace-up flats: I had been searching for lace-up flats during the summer and into fall last year, but never really found a pair I loved {until these!}. Most were a little too expensive, not the right color or a combination of both. Priced at $60 these lace-up flats are not only comfortable but super cute! I have them in the black, but they also come in a camel and a pretty rose color, perfect for spring and summer! I found that they are true to size and I wear them all the time. Well, that is before all this snow hit! {Last seen HERE, HERE}

Karen Walker Super Duper Strength Sunglasses & Prada Cat Eye Sunglasses: Ok, so I couldn’t pick one! I love both of these sunglasses equally, but for different reasons. The Karen Walker sunnies are fun and very ’70s with the big tortoise frames. They are definitely my go-to when it comes to accessorizing with brown/tortoise sunglasses. But, when it comes to creating a classic look, I can never pass up my Prada Cat Eye sunnies. They are the definition of classic and pair well with anything from a fancy dress to a t-shirt and jeans. Although they are both priced on the higher side, I actually picked up my Karen Walker sunglasses during Shopbop’s sale back in October, and I saw that the Prada sunglasses were included in the last Nordstrom’s Anniversary Sale. So keep your eyes peeled, they do go on sale!! {Karen Walker sunnies seen HERE; Prada sunnies seen HERE}

Nordstrom Round Stud Earrings: Priced below $100, these are my favorite everyday earrings! These sparkly studs are cubic zirconia but shine just like the real thing! Considered to be about 3.5 ct., they are a great size for everyday wearing, and pretty much what I wear to work each day! I can’t tell you how many times people have stopped me to compliment my earrings, thinking they were real diamonds because they glitter so much! I have the “sterling platinum” but they are also available in “gold vermeil.” {Last seen HERE}

Hunter Original High Gloss Boot: I had been wanting Hunter boots for the longest time, but couldn’t decide on a color or glossiness. I always thought I wanted the more matte boot, thinking the high gloss was too glossy for me. But, after seeing the red high gloss in person, I realized it wasn’t nearly as glossy as it appeared online and decided to go with this one! There are so many colors to pick from, it really makes for a hard decision. I still have my eye on the hot pink pair though! How pretty is this color?! As for size, I’m pretty much always a 9.5 but went with a 9 in my Hunter boots. {Last seen HERE}

J.Crew Striped Tissue Turtleneck: I swear by these J.Crew tissue turtlenecks! My most recent tissue turtleneck purchase was this striped version — I love wearing it under ponchos and sweaters, it makes for the best layering piece! I also have it in a few solid colors too — it is currently available in 10 colors!! It’s super light making it ideal for fall and winter layering. And if you don’t want to wear it under a sweater, you can have it monogrammed for the perfect personalized touch! {Last seen HERE}

J.Crew Chambray Shirt: Another J.Crew favorite! I love this chambray shirt because it can be worn practically every season! In the winter, you can wear it under a sweater or vest for a cozy look and in the summer pair it with shorts or a skirt! It’s such a versatile piece and something everyone should have in their closet! You can pretty much find a chambray shirt at most stores, but I love this particular one from J.Crew because it’s a great shade and so soft! {Last seen HERE}

Tory Burch Robinson Multi Tote, updated style here: My husband gave me this bag for my birthday back in November and I have basically been carrying it everyday since! I had been looking for a camel/neutral color bag for the longest time and have always loved this Tory Burch one. With the two zip compartments and the optional shoulder strap, it makes for the perfect daily bag for me to take to work. This was definitely one of my favorite pieces from 2015! {Last seen HERE}

Tory Burch Junction Riding Boot {currently on sale!}: These brown riding boots have had my eye for quite some time now! And, I was so excited to open them from my husband on Christmas morning! These boots are the epitome of the classic equestrian style and I love the cut-out Tory Burch logo at the top of the boot. You may remember seeing them in this post, but I unfortunately haven’t been able to wear them much with the snow. Looking forward to this snow melting and breaking out my boots again! {Last seen HERE}

Sorry for the super long post! There was so much to say about all these fabulous finds from 2015! Hope you have a wonderful Tuesday and see you back here tomorrow for an all new Valentine’s Day inspired Wednesday Wishes!

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#snowzilla

January 25, 2016 by Rachel McCarthy

J.Crew pink turtleneck, only a few sizes left {similar style} | Old Navy green utility jacket | Current/Elliot jeans | J.Crew beanie, pink longer available {camel & ivory version, on sale!} | Sperry snow boots | Lancome lipstick {#200}, NARS lipgloss {turkish delight}

Happy Monday and welcome to the winter wonderland of DC! As you can see, we did get a little snow…30 inches to be exact!! Jonas/Snowzilla/Blizzard of 2016 did not disappoint. These pictures were taken Saturday morning so we have a lot more on the ground now. In fact, we are still snowed in, and it’s probably going to be like this for awhile. And due to our current “stuck in the house until further notice” status, I unfortunately don’t have a food post for you tomorrow because I haven’t been able to get to the store! I promise to have a brand new food post for you next week {assuming we can ever get out!}, but don’t worry, I do have another favorites of 2015 post prepared for you, so be sure to come back tomorrow!

Since being snowed in, there are a few things I have learned in the past few days:

(1) I LOVE this beanie and I’m so glad I bought it right after Thanksgiving. I never really thought I was going to need it!

(2) We had a lot of food in our pantry, refrigerator and freezer on Friday…but now we are almost out! Hopefully we can get out later today!

(3) When the meteorologist says that the snow will be “light and powdery” it doesn’t really matter when you have 30 inches. With that much snow, regardless of it’s texture, it’s going to be super heavy!!

(4) You always have time for a workout. Except yesterday. My workout was shoveling snow instead of running on the treadmill. Snow shoveling might have been the better workout!

Although we have been stuck in the house since Friday, it was fun to see Ella in the snow. She absolutely loves it! We are pretty sure she must be 1/3 husky and not a maltese/yorkie mix because this 15 pound ball of fur can’t get enough of the powdery stuff!

Thanks for dropping by and see you tomorrow!

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Kelly Green & Fuchsia

January 21, 2016 by Rachel McCarthy

Dainty Jewell’s green lace dress c/o | leopard pumps, now on sale! | Mark & Graham fuchsia clutch, on sale! | cluster pearl necklace | Mikimoto pearl bracelet | pearl earrings {similar here} | Karen Walker sunglasses | YSL lipstick {#31}

If you are in the Washington, D.C. area, I’m sure you have heard about this weekend’s forecast: snow, and lots of it. And since we live outside the city in Virginia, the latest forecast I saw was somewhere in the range of 18-24+ inches. What is that “+” suppose to mean?! So for those of us who are fighting the snowy, winter blues, here is one bright and colorful look in hopes that spring will be here sooner rather than later!

{As a side note, if you look closely, you can see snowflakes in some of these pictures! When we shot these pictures on Sunday, it had just started snowing and it was SO cold! So if you are wondering what the tiny white specks are in the pictures, it’s snow!}

When it comes to my favorite colors, I can’t think of anything better than pink and green — and throw some leopard in and I’m set! For me, there is something so perfect about this color combination, especially when the green happens to be this gorgeous Kelly green color! When I first saw this dress from Dainty Jewell’s I knew I had to have it. The details of this dress perfectly compliment my style: the lace overlay, modest midi length and of course the bright color. I am more and more drawn to the midi and maxi dress and skirt lengths and Dainty Jewell’s has a fabulous selection! I also love this velvet and lace dress, how cute are the bow details on the back?! And with spring and summer wedding season just around the corner, these dresses would be perfect for your bridesmaids!

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend and it’s not too snowy! See you back here Monday for an all new post!

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Best Beauty Finds of 2015

January 20, 2016 by Rachel McCarthy

Happy Wednesday! I have been meaning to post this for at least two weeks now and keep forgetting! As we start a new year, I definitely want to incorporate more beauty posts into the rotation. So, to kick this new category off, I wanted to share some of my favorite beauty discoveries of 2015. I have purchased {and in many cases, re-purchased!} all of these items and have loved each of them!

Clarisonic Brush with Cashmere Cleanse Brush & Gentle Hydro Cleanser: One of my favorite beauty finds of 2015 has to be the Clarisonic brush. I had debated purchasing one for awhile and much to my surprise, my mom bought me one last February! Needless to say, I was pretty excited. I have super dry and sensitive skin and have found this brush and cleanser to be the best thing that has ever happened to my skin!

Bond No. 9 – Washington Square Park: This is by far my favorite scent of all time! It is definitely more of a fall/winter scent so I am always anxiously awaiting the cool weather to be able to wear this! With scents of purple rose, amber, leather and geranium {just to name a few!} it has the warmest scent that will truly last all day. It is priced on the higher side, but my current bottle {which I just ran out of!!} has lasted me over 2 years {**although I do only wear it during the colder months**}. It’s definitely worth the investment!!

diptyque “Baies” Scented Candle: I never was much of a candle enthusiast until I met my husband. I always saw candles to be HUGE fire hazard and I was way to cautious to ever actually burn one haha! But then I was introduced to this candle and since then, I am most assurdedly a candle enthusiast. Or maybe just a diptyque enthusiast 😉 The mixture of roses and black currant combine for the freshest scent. I am on my third candle in the past year {oops!} and I am still not sick of it. It’s the perfect candle for your bedroom or bathroom!

CND Weekly Nail Polish: I have mentioned my love for this polish in a few posts {see here} and I still can’t stop talking about it! This weekly polish lasts just about a week and only takes about 10 minutes to dry {win-win}! One of the things I hate most about polishing my nails is the dry time. I cannot stand just sitting around doing nothing while my nails dry! This polish was definitely invented to compliment the hectic lifestyle! Currently my favorite colors from CND are this soft pink {#135} and this red {#158}. Still trying to get my hands on this dark purple {159}!

Essie Gel Setter: When I can’t find a CND weekly color that I’m in the mood for, I usually use this gel setter. In my experience, I find that the polish doesn’t dry quite as quickly and it doesn’t last as long as the weekly polish, but the plus side is that you can use any regular polish you have in your collection. My current favorites include this basic, everyday nude color {ballet slippers} and this bright pink {pansy}!

Pink Lipstick: Lancôme Lip Crayon {#200}, NARS lipgloss {turkish delight} and YSL {#31}. Well, I couldn’t just pick one pink lipstick because I have too many favorites! And, as far as I am concerned, you can never have enough pink lipsticks! Typically I like to use this lip crayon as a base and put this lipgloss over top for a glossy appearance. So that only counts as one, right? 🙂 And although I have a few favorites when it comes to bright pink lipsticks, this YSL color definitely takes the cake. Not only is it the perfect color but it’s also much creamier than other YSL lipsticks, making it so much easier to apply.

Beautycounter Foundation & Face Oil: You may remember several months ago I did a review of Beautycounter products {see post here}. And since sharing my amazing experience with you back in June, I haven’t stopped using these fabulous Beautycounter products! I think it’s safe to say I am addicted! Both the foundation and face oil are a perfect match for my dry and sensitive skin and above all, the products are safe. I also use the daily body lotion and it smells absolutely amazing!

L’occitane Dry Skin Hand Cream: My skin is always so dry, but in the winter, it’s just awful! I recently discovered this dry skin hand cream and I’m obsessed with it! There is a pretty high percentage of shea butter in this hand cream so it makes your hands super soft. Just recently, I have been mixing this cream with a little of the Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Miracle Oil. Use this oil on your face, body or hair and it leaves your skin moisturized for up to 12 hours! It truly has been a miracle for my hands!

Moroccanoil Luminous Hairspray Medium: This is my favorite hairspray of all time! Not only does it smell SO good, but it’s light and flexible and doesn’t leave a sticky residue like so many hairsprays do. This is definitely my go-to when it comes to hairspray!

Thanks so much for stopping by and see you tomorrow for an all new outfit post!

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homemade granola

January 19, 2016 by Rachel McCarthy

Happy Tuesday! I’m continuing the healthy recipes to kick off the new year with this homemade granola today! I don’t know about you, but I love granola anyway I can get it — on top of yogurt, by itself or with a little almond milk to make it like a cereal {I’ve been doing this for the past week and it’s delicious!}

Often, I find myself looking at all the brands of granola at the grocery store and being so tempted by all of them! But, I have found, that the store-bought granola is not always the healthiest. That’s why I love this recipe: you know everything that’s going into it and you can really customize it with your favorite ingredients. And trust me, I have thought plenty of times about making homemade granola but end up deciding I just don’t have the time. How silly! This was such a quick and simple recipe, that should never be an excuse! And it made so much that you will have a few weeks worth in just one recipe!

My mom had granola at a family bridal shower a few months ago and has been raving about it sense! When we made this granola the other weekend, we decided to add the dried fruit for a little spin and it was so delicious! We went with dried cherries because we had them on hand, but you could easily use any other dried fruit you like — dried cranberries would be fabulous too!

Homemade Granola

{what you will need}

4 cups oats {regular or quick}

2 cups shredded coconut

2 cups sliced almonds

3/4 cup vegetable oil

1/2 cup honey

1 cup whole dried cherries, chopped

{directions}
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Mix the honey and oil together in a small bowl. In a separate, larger bowl, mix together all the dry ingredients and pour the honey and oil mixture over it. Mix until completely incorporated. Spread the mixture out onto an oiled, rimmed cookie sheet and bake for 35 minutes. Stir every 15 minutes. Allow to cool before adding the dried cherries, or other favorite dried fruit.

Thanks so much for dropping by and see you tomorrow!

Winter Faux Fur

January 18, 2016 by Rachel McCarthy

Chelsea28 turtleneck sweater {available in 9 colors!} | CAbi faux fur vest, old {similar style} | Zella leggings {I wear them all the time!} | Chanel bag {love the new Tory Burch quilted bag} | ankle booties, old {similar style} | Zinnia West earrings c/o | David Yurman black onyx ring | Karen Walker sunglasses c/o DITTO {1st month of Endless Eyewear free with code ABLONDESMOMENT} | Lancôme lip crayon {#200}, NARS lipgloss {turkish delight}

Happy Monday, friends! Hope you all had a great weekend! The colder temperatures started coming in later in the day on Saturday {as you can see my hair is really blowing in the one shot!} and by Sunday it was cold and snowing! Although the snow didn’t stick, it was still fun to see the first snowflakes of the year!

You may remember this turtleneck sweater from a few weeks ago {you can see the post here}. I know I told you about how much I loved it then, but I think I love it even more now! I have worn it way too many times in the last few weeks not only because it’s SO comfy but it can go with so much! I am still trying to decide what my second color should be because I really think I need this in more colors! I also love that this faux fur vest can also be styled so many ways! I last wore this vest with a chambray shirt {post here} and it looks just as fabulous with this all-black look. Although it’s from a few seasons ago, I did link a similar vest that would look fabulous with black too!

It was a pretty busy weekend for us, but I did have time to stop by a new boutique in DC called Refine. If you follow me on Instagram or Snapchat {rach.mccarthy7}, you may have seen some snaps from my time there. I love the concept of this boutique because it’s all about convenience: you can either make an appointment to go into the store to shop your favorite pieces or if you live close enough to the city, make an appointment to have someone from the boutique come out to your house with everything you would like to try on — there is nothing like shopping from the comfort of your own home! I picked up the cutest stripe low-high shirt that I will share on the blog in an upcoming post 🙂 If you are in the DC area, I would definitely recommend checking out this cute boutique!

Hope you all have a great start to the week and see you back here tomorrow for a new healthy recipe!

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Valentine’s Day Dress & A Giveaway

January 14, 2016 by Rachel McCarthy

Shabby Apple dress c/o | L.K. Bennett pumps {similar under $100} | gold woven clutch {similar style} | Sparkle & Whim crystal statement earrings c/o, sold out {but love these!} | ring, sold out {super similar style} | Karen Walker sunglasses | pink lipstick {#31} | nail polish {cake pop – new favorite!}

Just yesterday I was talking about my current color crush {you can see the post here in case you missed it}. Color crushes come and go, but there is only one color that I will always love: pink! It is such a bright and cheerful color — how can it not make you happy?! For as long as I can remember, I have always had to have pink everything…even my bedroom walls were painted something pretty close to the color of this dress growing up! So when I came across this Shabby Apple dress, I immediately fell in love with not only the style, but of course the color.

This dress truly has my name written all over it: the cute bows on the sleeve, full a-line skirt and of course the fabulous color! And with all the cute elements of this dress, it can easily be styled as a dress for a guest of a wedding {or a bridesmaid dress for any brides-to-be out there!} or for a date night out on the town aka Valentine’s Day! As for accessories, I went with more neutral tones so the dress and these gorgeous statement earrings from Sparkle & Whim could be the stars! These exact earrings are unfortunately sold out, but they have so many other gorgeous pieces that compliment both dressed up and dressed down looks.

And speaking of Valentine’s Day, can you believe it’s only a month away?! Now is the time to start planning your outfit and I know just the giveaway to help! Shabby Apple is giving away a $50 gift card to one lucky reader!! This is your chance to pick out your perfect dress, whether it be for Valentine’s Day or just because! Head over to my Instagram {@rach.mccarthy} to check out all the entry details and to enter! Good luck!

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend and see you back here on Monday!

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winter neutrals

January 13, 2016 by Rachel McCarthy

cozy grey sweater {currently 50% off!} | crystal statement earrings | round sunglasses {under $15!} | bracelet watch | grey nail polish {desert moon} | grey tassel handbag {on sale!} | leopard print scarf | OTK boots {similar, less expensive here} | NARS lipgloss {turkish delight} | Lancome lip crayon {bite the bullet} | white skinny jeans

Current color crush: grey. Do you find yourself gravitating to certain colors and becoming completely obsessed with them, or is that just me?! Call me crazy, but I just can’t get enough of this color right now! Not only can grey be used as a neutral, but it’s also more fun than the standard black and white. I think my obsession probably started when I saw this trench from this post. Since then, I have seen so many sweaters and accessories that I have fallen in love with — all of which happen to be grey!

Grey might be my current color of the moment, but I’m all about these two pinks when it comes to lips! I have these matte Lancome lip crayons in a few colors {see this post} and I just love them! They are easy to apply and super smooth. For a glossier appearance, I finished the look with my favorite pink lipgloss — I wear this all the time! This is the ideal neutral lip and is what I wear to work most days. Simple with just a hint of color, it’s perfect!

What is your current color crush? Hope you all have a wonderful Wednesday and see you tomorrow!

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Super Bowl Appetizer: Wonton Taco Bites

January 12, 2016 by Rachel McCarthy

With the NFL wild card round games in the books, it’s just about time to start preparing for a Super Bowl party! As some of you may know, we are lifelong and die-hard Steelers fans. The last time the Steelers were in the Super Bowl {2011 against Green Bay} I missed at least half of the game and was not too happy about it! At the time, I was in a small apartment, with an even smaller kitchen, trying to get appetizers out of the oven and onto the table and lost complete track of time. Whether the small workspace or the complicated recipes I chose were to blame, I’ve definitely learned my lesson: quick, simple, and/or make-ahead recipes are always best, especially when you want to actually watch the game! Regardless of whether the Steelers make it to the Super Bowl this year, I will be sure to not miss the game with this quick and tasty recipe!

As with so many of my dishes, I love using flexible ingredients that allow you to customize with what you like best. There are so many possibilities when it comes to toppings for these taco bites — basically whatever you like in your burrito or on your taco will work!

Wonton Taco Bites

{what you will need}

24 wonton wrappers

1 pound lean ground beef, cooked & drained

1 package taco seasoning {I used low sodium}

3/4 cup water

1/2 cup shredded Mexican cheese

1/2 cup pico de gallo

1/3 cup shredded lettuce

1/2 cup guacamole

{directions}

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. In a large skillet over medium heat, brown the ground beef until no longer pink; drain. Add the taco seasoning and water to the ground beef and stir until fully cooked; set aside. Meanwhile, place the wonton wrappers in a mini cupcake tin and cook for 5 minutes. Remove from the oven and add about 1 tablespoon of the ground beef to each wonton wrapper and top with 1-2 teaspoons of cheese {depending on how much cheese you like!}. Place the taco bites back in the oven and cook for an additional 10 minutes, or just until the wrappers begin to become golden brown. Remove from the oven and allow them to cool for 5 minutes. Top the taco bites with pico de gallo, shredded lettuce, guacamole and any other toppings you desire. Serve and enjoy!

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What are your plans for the big game? After watching the Steelers in a public place on Saturday, I realized it’s probably better for us to watch the rest of their games from our house. I get way too crazy to be seen in public haha!

Thanks for stopping by and have a fabulous Tuesday!