:: allure's fall beauty box...get ready! ::

At the risk of cheating myself out of one of these gems, I'm passing along this info in the spirit of beauty product karma. Allure's fall must have beauty box goes on sale today at noon EST for $39.99. It sells out like THAT, so get on it, ladies.

I've only ever bought their summer box, but this one looks like a steal. Billed as a $350 value, it includes 23 products from some of my favorite brands, including: Carol's Daughter, Redken, Simple, Neutrogena, Goldwell and Cetaphil.

Click here at 12:01!

:: mouthwatering mondays: avocado salsa/filling/salad ::

Avocado Salsa/Filling/Salad

Source: Chef in Training


I like a good steak every now and then, so I'm definitely not a vegetarian. But I can honestly say that never in my life have I craved a burger. So for all those BBQ-ing and picnicking veggies out there, this one's for you.

Ingredients:

3 avocados, diced chunky

1/4 cup chopped red onion

3 Roma tomatoes, diced

1/8 cup fresh cilantro, finely chopped
1 tbsp. lime juice
1/4 tsp. garlic salt
1/8 tsp. pepper

Directions: 

After you've diced and chopped the avocados, red onion, tomatoes and cilantro, combine in a medium bowl. Add lime juice, pepper and garlic salt. Toss and lightly stir to combine flavors.

So far, I've eaten this as a burrito filling, as well as straight out of the bowl. It can't be ruined!

 
   

:: DKNY cozy sweater, how have i lived this long without you? ::

I first learned about this fashion miracle while watching Bravo's short-lived/mildly entertaining Kell on Earth, and have since fallen in love with the DKNY cozy sweater. And then last night a dear friend mailed me hers! In hot pink, no less! If it wasn't 150 degrees outside right now, I'd be wearing it non-stop.

But this hot weather gives me time to practice all these ways to wear it in the comfort of my air conditioned bedroom. So when fall finally arrives, I'll be ready to tear up the town in this baby. Has anyone else tried the cozy?

Oh, and please visit my guest post today over at Happily Rambling!

:: polish for the pale ::

I always feel just a little undone without a good manicure. I love the way a French manicure looks, but because even the smallest of chips destroys disappoints me, I hardly ever go that route.

And as I've mentioned before, my skin is very fair. In the fall and winter, I'm STILL a fan of all the OPI Black Onyx/Lincoln Park polishes that complement my tone without looking too goth. But in the summer, it's more of a challenge. I can't wear all the corals and oranges and taupes, and often the opaques make me look like I have no fingernails at all. Instead, I've compiled a few shades here that work really well for those of us who are pigment-challenged and still scream SUMMER.

source

**Zoya polish isn't pictured here, but it's my new favorite. Maybe a full post on this line soon!

 

:: watch "orange is the new black". you're welcome ::

Totally addicted. I'm all caught up on Dexter. And Breaking Bad. And Walking Dead. Summer can be such a vast television wasteland, I tell you. Enter Orange is the New Black. The entire season just went streaming on Netflix over the weekend. And I'm knee deep in this girl's prison sentence. You should join me.

Regina Spektor's theme song is crazy good too. I can't embed it, but you can hear it and see the opening credits here.

:: kaftans. yes, kaftans ::

Pinch me, it can NOT be the middle of July. One thing is for certain, it's hotter than Hades here in Boston. I wore jeans over the weekend because I was on a boat (more on that in an upcoming post) and am deathly afraid of sunburning my northern European skin. Melanoma aside, it was a huge mistake.

On that note, all I want to wear are what's below. Work appropriate? Er, no. Breezy and beautiful? Yesssss. I want to make a Mrs. Roper or Dorothy Zbornak joke here, but fear that no one will get it. And that's just gonna make me feel old. So without any more build up, let me present: 

 

:: mouthwatering mondays: cheesecake delights ::

Cheesecake Delights 
adapted from a recipe from Worth Tasting,
a cookbook from the Junior League of the Palm Beaches

Ingredients:

1 package graham cracker pie crust mix

16 oz (two packages) cream cheese (softened)

2 eggs

1/2 cup sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

12 oz can of cherry pie filling

Directions: 

Prepare the pie crust mix according to the package directions.
Press one teaspoon or more of the crust mixture over the bottom of each muffin cup (about 2 dozen).
Process the cream cheese, sugar, eggs and vanilla in a blender for 30 seconds.
Fill the prepared muffin cups two-thirds full with the cream cheese mixture
Bate at 350 degrees for 20 minutes
Top with the pie filling and chill until served.