Sizzlin' Summer Sandals Under $100

My favorite time of year is when I can ditch my closed toe shoes for my sandals!  Break out the pedicure ladies because its that time of year!

This season I've seen so many cute open toed shoes. Style and comfort are key for me as well as  something I can wear from a day at the office to a night out.  Here are a few of my favorite shoes this season.

Pop of Color

These Jessica Simpson Jezelle Sandals are beautiful and under $100!  They add a great pop of color and a little sass to any outfit! 

Tie Me Up

Lace up shoes are so in style this season.  I highlighted these Indigo Rd. Haylei Wedges in a previous blog post with a dress I wore for Mother's Day.  These shoes are so flattering on and soooo comfortable!  I definitely recommend a pair of lace up wedges, heels, or flats this summer!

The Nude Review

These Chinese Laundry pumps are great for the office to a night out on the town.  They are dainty and the nude color can be paired with just about anything.  Nude sandals are a staple in your shoe closet!

Comfort is Key

 

I talked about these sandals on my last post about Casual Weekend Wear.  They are extremely comfortable and easy to wear with jeans, shorts, or a casual dress. There are similar sandals out there that are much more expensive. I highly recommend these!

Hey Stud!

These VenEli Belita Patent Flat Sandals are on style point with the studded detail and under $50!  They are comfy and have a slight heel for those who don't like completely flat shoes.  They look great with basically anything!

There are so many fun styles in fashion this season!  I encourage you to have fun with it from cage, to mules, to pom poms (all the rage) and more!  Nothing makes a girl feel sexy more than a great shoe!

Here are some of my other favs under $100 this season:

Weekend Wear - Layered White T Shirt

Don't you wish it was the weekend again?!  I know I do!  Most of our weekends consist of running errands, taking the kids to fun places, and finding some time to unwind.  Basically, just spending time as a family!  Personally, I like to be in comfortable clothes on the weekends unless I have a special event to attend.  

My weekend go to outfits usually consist of T-shirt and jeans.  This weekend we did a lot of outdoor and playground time.  It was a little chilly in NY so I layered to keep warm.  This white T fits great and it's under $10!

This fringe sweater is soooo comfy and warm and it's currently on sale!!  I can pretty much throw it over anything and even wear it with leggings and sneakers.

I love these shoes since they are stylish, comfy, and more of a platform then a wedge.  Similar sandals are here and here.  The jeans I'm wearing are from American Eagle and are very reasonably priced and fit great.  I have a similar pair from AE, here, that are distressed and I tend to wear more often (if I'm not going to church :).

By far my favorite item is my military jacket from Abound.  I purchased it last year from Nordstrom Rack and I can tell you it's the one layering piece I wear most often.  It goes with everything.  Similar jackets can be found here, here, and here.

Can't go anywhere without my sunglasses!  Aviators are classic and the rose gold color makes them a little more trendy.  Similar versions are here and here.

My overall goal on the weekends is to be comfortable enough to run around and play with my boys!  Little T even has his own military jacket to match mommy!  He is just too cute for words!  xx

Upcycled Antique Singer Sewing Machine - Kitchen Table

What's your personal decorating style?  I've been trying to figure mine out for ages.  Generally, I like a combination of antique, contemporary, traditional, with a little rustic thrown in.  I guess you can consider that pretty eclectic!

My goal in designing my space is to harmonize old and new or upcycled with purchased.  I also gravitate towards unique and pick up items in my travels.  For me, it's important for my home to reflect our family's personality and not necessarily one style.

Today I'm going to highlight our kitchen eating area which has been in the works for a while!  About a year ago we went through a kitchen refurbish where we had the cabinets painted white, renovated the back splash, and replaced the linoleum floor with tile.  The results, a totally different space with different decorating needs.

We have an eat in kitchen which is a good size but an odd space due to the sliding glass door.  I really wanted a banquette but I didn't know how to make it work without blocking the light from the sliding glass door.  So, I decided on a table with a fabric bench instead.

I have always been in love with antiques and am constantly trying to figure out how to fit them into my design scheme without looking dated.  The idea of industrial antique legs on my table was fascinating and as I searched online I saw some really great DIY tables with antique Singer sewing machine legs.  Ultimately, we decided to have the table custom made with reclaimed wood through M Fine Lumbar's shop Brooklyn Reclaimed.  They also did the solder work on the iron legs adding cross bars to make it more stable. I worked with Warren Hemenway who listened to our needs, especially considering our boys, and really included me in the process.  He was amazing to work with and the results were exactly what I wanted!  You can see some of his work in South Street at Northern Grade.

The Tori Double X Bench from Ballard Designs is covered in Trilby Basketweave Charcol fabric and brass nail heads.  I sprayed scotch guard on the bench as a stain repellent.  My boys are bound to drop something on there since they can't keep away!  I love the way the X looks with Singer sewing machine legs.  The Tori Double X Bench legs are just decorative enough that it doesn't take away from the beautiful iron Singer sewing machine legs and it brings some contemporary to the antique.

The shelf,  wood and metal plate wall decor, and the burlap bulletin board are all from Target.  The mercury glass vase is from Pottery Barn and was a gift.  It is no longer available however, similar vases can be found here, here, and here.

The pallet wine rack bookshelves are custom made from the Etsy Shop PrettyRough.  The bistro steel chairs are from Overstock and the blue antique toddler chair is another upcycle I did using chalk paint and gold leaf paint a little while ago.  I plan on doing a similar post on using chalk paint for furniture in a future post.

We are loving our new "eclectic" styled kitchen space.  There's always a way to make your spaces work for you and your personal style!  Don't be afraid to take chances and express yourself!  Happy Decorating!

Weekend Dress Up

What a fun family filled Mother's Day weekend we had!  I hope you all enjoyed yours as well!  I love Holidays like this.  Not because it's all about Mommy but also because I have an occasion to dress up!

I bought this dress a while ago hoping I would have a reason to dress it up.  It drapes so beautifully and it's neutral but not black which I wear way too often!

The weather started out rainy like it had been doing for the past week or so here on the East Coast...booooo!  But then, the sun started coming out like someone was shining down on all the mommy's out there.  Perfect dress and light jacket weather!  Confession...I would have worn this in the rain anyway!

The jacket I have on is an older one that I've had literally forever.  It's kind of like a cross between a blazer and a jacket.  Very versatile which is what I look for in my wardrobe choices.  I've seen similar ones such as here or here.  Or you could even wear a denim jacket like here.

A green bomber jacket like this one here, would also give the outfit a little more edge and look fabulous!

Ohhhh, these shoes.....LOVE them!  They are beautiful, sexy, and comfortable!  What more can you ask for.  I've worn them with jeans and dresses so totally versatile as well.  I think they are my spring/summer favorites!

Here are some Spring dresses I am loving!

Yummy Ricotta Pancakes!

I love a good recipe!  Better yet, I love a recipe that uses ingredients I wouldn't have necessarily thought but have around the house.  I promise, these ricotta pancakes are soooooo yummy you'll always want to make them this way!  They are light, fluffy, full of great ingredients, oh, and did I mention taste AMAZING!

I'm posting this recipe in time for Mother's Day as I mentioned in my previous Mother's Day Gift post last week.  However, you really don't need a special occasion to make them!

What you'll need:

• 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
• 1/2 cup all purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 1/2 tablespoons of sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup ricotta
• 3/4 cup milk
• 2 large eggs (whites and yolks separated)
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Butter, for cooking
• Maple syrup, for serving

Optional - mashed bananas, whole blueberries, lemon zest or chocolate chips

Steps

ONE - MIX

Mix your dry ingredients in a medium bowl: flour, baking powder, sugar, salt

Whisk your wet ingredients in a large bowl:  ricotta, milk, egg yolks, vanilla extract.  Make sure you keep your egg whites aside for the next step.  If you feel like your ricotta is a little watery, drain it and let it dry a bit before you add.  I've never had to do this and the recipe still turns out terrific!

Let's talk a little bit about vanilla.  I've found my baking to be much better with really good vanilla extract.  So, I try not to use commercial vanilla extract products unless in a pinch.  We discovered the difference in vanilla when we traveled to Mexico and decided to purchase a bottle of Mexican vanilla extract as a souvenir.  Now, every time a friend or family member takes a trip to Mexico we have them bring us back some Mexican vanilla!  Anyway, it's not that commercial vanilla is bad.  In my opinion Mexican vanilla is just better!  OK, back to the ricotta pancakes!

TWO - COMBINE

Gradually combine your dry ingredients into your wet ingredients until smooth.

With a hand mixer, whip your egg whites until they are stiff.  If you are short on time you don't necessarily have to whip the egg whites however, in my experience this part makes them light and fluffy.  It's really up to you.

Fold the egg whites into the batter using a spatula until the batter is smooth and no egg whites are showing.

If you decide to use optional ingredients such as fruit this is where you should fold them into your batter.  I prefer mashed bananas because it naturally sweetens the batter.  My kids of course prefer chocolate chips!

THREE - GRIDDLE

Heat up your griddle or pan to medium heat.  Melt butter on the pan.  Using a table spoon for mini pancakes or 1/3 cup for larger pancakes pour your batter into circles on your griddle.

Flip your pancakes when you see a little bubbling and the edges starting to look cooked.  If you flip too soon you can always flip them over again. I try to check before turning by lifting them up a bit and peeking under.  How lightly or brown they are cooked is up to preference.
  

FOUR - ENJOY!

Plate your pancakes, add syrup, whipped cream, and berries if you prefer. Sit and Enjoy your delicious breakfast!  

I would love to hear if you've made any substitutes or adaptations!  

*This recipe was adapted from The Kitchn

DIY: Photo Transfer to Wood

Hi Everyone!  I'm so excited to post this DIY project I worked on!  It turned out so amazing!  I mentioned this project in my Mother's Day Gift post last week and hope you are excited to read about it.

A while ago as I was doing a quick refresh on my bathroom and realized I wanted to hang something different in our small half bath for some interest and warmth.  The bathroom is a basic white which made it look very stark so I thought adding some wood would make it warmer.  We had some great professional photos, by Release Photography, that I knew would be perfect for the bathroom and having them printed on wood would add the interest I was looking for.  I looked online for a place that would print my pictures and kept thinking "I can do this myself for a lot less."  So, challenge accepted.

Supplies needed:

• Photo of choice laser printed onto regular paper
• Wood to make 12" x 18" surface (three- 6" x 12" pieces of wood) 
• 2 Metal plates to fasten the wood together (similar here - will need 4)
• 8 3/4" Flat head screws to fasten the metal plates
• Gel Medium (glossy)
• Stain (color of your choice)
• Mod Podge (matte)
• Paint brush or Foam Brush
• Edging tool or smaller brayer to smooth out the picture
• D-ring picture hanger

Step 1:  The Prep

If you are going for a rustic clapboard look then you'll need to attach your pieces with the metal plates.  You can easily find inexpensive wood at your local big box hardware store and they can cut it for you.  I generally get mine at Home Depot.  You can also use one solid piece of wood and therefore would skip this step.  There are some great options for wood at a craft store or even a lumbar yard if you are looking for reclaimed pieces.    

I placed  three 6" x 12" wood pieces together in order to make a 12" x 18" transfer surface.  I then used 4 flat head screws to attach the metal plate over 2 pieces of wood.  I used my drill with the screw driver attachment without pre-drilling to holes.  This was pretty easy but you can also use a hand screw driver if the wood isn't too hard.

After the wood was attached together I lightly sanded the front and sides with a 150 grit sand paper and my electric palm sander to remove any splinters and smooth out the surface.  If you don't have a palm sander you can also easily hand sand this project.  But I do love my palm sander so if you like to work with wood I highly recommend!

This next step is optional however, I like to darken the wood to give it some warmth so I stain the wood using gel stain.  I'm pretty cautious with stain because if you make it too dark by leaving it on too long then the picture may not show up as well.  Generally, the longer you leave your stain on the wood the darker it will get.  I tend to wipe it on with a rag, leave it for about 30 seconds or so and wipe it off.  If I want it darker I just repeat the process.  However, if you do happen to stain it darker then you wanted you can always sand it down and start over.

Step 2: Photo transfer

Using my foam brush I lathered gel medium over the front of the picture.  Remember:  Your picture needs to be printed using a laser printer onto regular paper (the thinner the paper the easier it comes off later).  Photo paper will not transfer the image to the wood surface.  Also, when you transfer your picture it will be a mirror image, therefore, if it has words or you prefer it to look exactly as it did in the photo then you will need to use the mirror image option when printing your picture.

Using the same brush I lathered a good amount of gel medium on the wood surface.  It's important to get a moderate layer of gel medium but to not over do it.  Too much gel medium could make it hard to get the paper off later and too little will result in the picture not transferring.  

Now this step is really important.  You want to avoid wrinkles in the paper as you place it face down onto the wood surface.  For this step I carefully place the picture face down starting at one end and gradually laying it onto the wood surface a little at a time while lightly smoothing it with my hand. Once the picture was completely down onto the wood I took an edging tool and brushed down to smooth out the wrinkles and bubbles.  The picture needs to lay flat in order to transfer.

DRYING TIME:  I recommend letting this dry overnight.  I usually do the picture transfer in the evening and let it dry overnight.  However, if you decide not to let it stand overnight then give it at lease 8 hours to dry.

Step 3:  The Reveal!  

This is the fun & also most tedious part!

In order to remove the paper it needs to be wet so I used a wet cloth/rag and placed it on top of the paper and let it sit for at least 15 minutes.  I honestly just used my husbands old t-shirt!

Then I placed 2 fingers on the paper and move them in a circular motion while pressing down.  The paper started to come off in small clumps and the picture gradually showed through.  I let it dry and and noted a white film still over the photo.  This means I was not done yet and I needed to repeat this process MANY times...like 10-15 times. Yes, tedious!  Your fingers will get tired so don't despair.  In order to rest my fingers I also used a rough rag or sponge and just pressed down a little lighter.

I lost small pieces of  my picture while rubbing the paper off mostly at the edges.  I was OK with this since I wanted a more vintage rustic look.

Continue to repeat these steps until the photo is as clear as possible or to your liking.  You will only know if it still looks cloudy by letting it dry.  Make sure you completely dry your project before advancing to the next step.

Step 4:  Finishing Touches

These are the easiest and final steps!

I preferred a vintage look to my DIY photo transfer to wood so I sanded down the edges of the picture.  Then to match it up with the rest of the wood I re-stained the edges and the sides.  You can also put some stain on the picture transfer itself to darken the color if you like.

Once dry, coat your completed project with Mod Podge using your foam brush.  This will seal your project and protect it.  I tend to use matte Mod Podge but you can use glossy as well.  My preference is matte Mod Podge on top of glossy Gel Medium.

Step 5:  Time to Decorate!

My last step was screwing in my D-ring picture hanger on the backside of the wood then hanging it in my bathroom!  Voila!  All Done!!!

I'm saving the spot next the picture for my next project of my other Little One!

Feel free to send me questions or comments!  I would also LOVE to hear about & see your DIY photo transfers!  Remember, you can do this transfer with just about any laser printed picture...even newspaper if you want to get creative!

I hope you enjoyed my first DIY reveal!