Thrifty Thursday: Heavenly Couture

Check out Heavenly Couture! Everything is $16 or less. Basics are $3.99. Sunglasses and accessories are $6.99. It's a great place to get a few items and NOT feel guilty. I recently picked up this grandpa sweater!

I didn't realize they had online shopping available - I just perused the site. If I were to order online, it would probably be a handbag. But, I would prefer to check out their dresses, sweaters and other garments in the store. There is a store located in Pacific Beach on Garnet! Here are the other store locations. Happy thrifty shopping!

What's New Wednesday: Kaiserhof

Lasst uns essen. Let's eat!

Kaiserhoff Restaurant & Biergarten is a staple in Ocean Beach, serving the best German cuisine in San Diego for over 22-years! I finally had the opportunity to check this place out with my girlfriends.

We enjoyed a HUGE pretzel, meat loaf, wiener schnitzel, bratwurst and spaetzle. It was reminiscent for me in particular as my family enjoyed a number of the above meals - my mother grew up in Germany and loved to share her traditions.

 

Check out the Kaiserhoff! Happy hour is Tuesday-Friday, 4pm-7pm. Good beer, fun environment and even better food.

Tasty Tuesday: Frito Pie

Courtesy of my teammate and friend, Amanda I made Frito Pie! Man, it was delicious. To be honest, I didn't follow a recipe but Amanda provided me with the main ingredients; so, I made a mental note and improvised. Check it out!

Ingredients:
Ground turkey
Green, yellow and red bell peppers
1 can of diced tomatoes
1 can of black beans
1 jalapeno pepper
Crushed red pepper flakes
1 white onion
Diced carrots
Diced green onions
1 bag of Frito Lays
Taco seasoning
Shredded cheese

Directions:
Cook the ground turkey in a sauté pan. Dice the green, yellow and red bell peppers. Add bell peppers to pan. Add diced carrots and green onions to pan. Cut up white onion and add to pan. Allow the turkey, bell peppers, carrots, green onion and white onion to cook and simmer.

Add a can of black beans and a can of dice tomatoes to the pan. Allow the ingredients to mix, cook and simmer.

Then finely cut up one jalapeno and add to the pan. If you like more spice, add crushed red pepper flakes. And for more flavor, add taco seasoning. Mix well and simmer on medium heat.

Assemble Frito Lays (I purchased large, scoop-able lays from Trader Joes) on the bottom of a bowl, add your above mixture, then shredded cheese on top. You can also add a spoon of sour cream.

Motivation Monday: Streamline

If you are like me, you wake up late and scurry around to make a lunch; feed the cat; clean out the litter box; make the bed; wake up the husband (typically two or three attempts required); get ready; and leave the house (late) with wet hair. Every night I promise myself I will wake up at 6:15am, go for a run, have a cup of coffee and not rush. And every morning, I do the same song and dance of running late.

So, when I read in my People Style Watch about ways to streamline your mornings, I thought I would share!

1. Answer Emails At The Office: Guilty of this every morning. I like to answer my emails before I leave for work; it actually is a stress reliever for me. But, I will try this to see if my mornings are expedited.
2. Try Dry Shampoo: I have heard this from a few people now. I realized I'm one of the weird ones that washes my hair daily (sometimes twice a day!). Most women wash their hair every other day - some go longer. My hair stylist says it is good for your hair, and it will prevent your hair from becoming oily. I know I need to try this method but maybe I will start with a dry shampoo first.
3. Have a Few Go-To Outfit Options Ready: Done. While I shower, I think of what to wear; so, this process is pretty seamless (hehe, like the pun?!). Unless I'm having a "everything looks horrible on me" kind of day. Well, then I'm screwed.
4. Keep Your Alarm Clock At A Distance: Okay - I will try this. I might still find sneaky ways to snooze, however. I'll report back!
5. Prep Your Bender: I do not normally have smoothies in the morning but we did purchase an awesome blender. So, maybe this should become a part of my morning routine!
6. Go For All-In-One Beauty Products: I only put on lotion, blemish cream and mascara in the morning; so, I'm not sure how else to simplify this routine. But, here is a link to the product featured in my magazine.
7. Do As Much As Possible The Night Before: Pack your gym bag, make your lunch, lay out your outfit, check your work emails and write your blog. This might solve ALL the issues...except the snooze button. Hmm...

Enjoy your work week!

Fieldtrip Friday: Off-roads

So, after much convincing manipulating, I went off-roading with my hubby, b.i.l. and good friend in Corral Canyon (off the 1-8, past Alpine). I hate to admit it but I had fun! It was, however, a bit intense at times with my b.i.l.'s vehicle teetering on one or two wheels, scaling down the rugged trails. With that said, I'm not much of an adrenaline junky but a little heart-pounding probably did my 30+ year old body some good. Here are some photos of our adventures!

Check out the official Corral Canyon website for more information. There is a FREE campground in the vicinity, which we plan to go back, camp, eat and ride some more.

Thrifty Thursday: Jeans

So, I need to shop for a new pair of jeans but I refuse to get a new pair. I like to shop at thrift stores, like Buffalo Exchange or my new favorite Thrift Traders. Check them out!

At Thrift Traders, everything is $5.99 unless you buy four items at $20. I have purchased jeans, skirts and my favorite tweed blazer.

Here are some other thrift stores in San Diego. Check them out!

• Kelly's Treasure - University Ave (Hillcrest)
• Revivals - University Ave (Hillcrest)
• Humble Heart - 16th Street (East Village)
• City Digz - Market Street (East Village)
• Auntie Helen's - 30th Street (North Park)

Of course, you can check out your local Good Will Industries and United Cerebral Palsy thrift stores for good finds and ways to give back to your community! Happy thrifty shopping!

What's New Wednesday: Barre Class

I finally tried the barre fad. This is a 60-minute, full body workout combining ballet, Pilates, yoga and strength moves. The first class is $10. After that, I recommend purchasing a 5 or 10 class package. Check it out: Barre Body in Pacific Beach.

 

You do not sweat but you definitely shake. Your legs feel like jello after the workout, toning muscles you didn't know you have. I will definitely go back to tone my legs and glutes for the upcoming spring and summer months.

Tasty Tuesday: Easy Breezy

Lately I have been too busy, too exhausted and too unmotivated to make a Pinterest meal. So, a quick and easy recipe is right up my alley. Below are some simple dinners that take less than 30-minutes to assemble and bake. Check it out!

Chicken Fajita Tostada

Ingredients

8 tostada shells
2 cups cooked shredded chicken breast
1 cup refried beans
1 medium green pepper - thinly sliced
1 medium onion - thinly sliced
1 packet (1.25 ounces) taco seasoning mix
1/2 cup lime juice
1/2 cup water
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Shredded lettuce, diced tomato, salsa, sour cream and guacamole for garnish -- optional

 

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine taco seasoning, water and lime juice and stir well.

Pour half of the taco seasoning mixture over the shredded chicken and the other half over the pepper and onion.

Cook chicken in a large skillet over medium-high heat until the sauce starts to thicken slightly -- 2-3 minutes. Remove chicken and keep warm. Add peppers and onions and cook until the sauce starts to thicken and veggies start to wilt -- about 3-4 minutes. Remove and keep warm.

Lay tostada shells on an ungreased baking sheet. Top each shell with 2 tablespoons refried beans, 1/4 cup shredded chicken, peppers and onions and cheddar cheese to taste. Bake until the cheese just starts to melt -- about 5 minutes. Remove from oven and serve with optional garnishes.

Pasta with Pesto and Green Beans

Ingredients

1 1/2 cup fresh basil leaves, firmly packed

1/2 cup pine nuts, toasted lightly in a pan over medium heat until golden brown

2 cloves garlic, chopped

1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil, good quality

3 tablespoons parmesan cheese, grated

3 tablespoons asiago cheese, grated

12 ounces green beans, ends trimmed

2 packages fresh fettuccini, 8 ounce packages

 

Directions

Combine basil, pine nuts, and garlic in the bowl of a food processor fitted with a steel-blade attachment (or a blender). Pulse until well chopped. While the machine is still running, slowly add the olive oil, stopping to scrape down the sides of the bowl one or two times. Puree until almost smooth. Transfer the mixture to a large bowl and stir in the grated cheeses. Season with salt to taste. Set aside.

Bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Add the green beans and cook for 5-7 minutes or until barely crisp tender. Add the fresh pasta and boil for 2-3 minutes more, or until pasta is cooked through.

Drain beans and pasta, reserving 1 cup of cooking liquid.

Add a couple of tablespoons of cooking water to the pesto to thin a bit. Add the pasta and green beans to the pesto and toss to coat. If necessary, add some of the reserved cooking liquid so that the sauce easily coats the pasta. Top with additional grated cheese and serve immediately.

Motivation Monday: Unstuck

Are you stuck in a rut? Tired of your social activities? Work? Relationships? Here are some signs that indicate you might want to make some changes in your life.

1. Everything is harder than it should be. Nothing is easy.
   You are out of sync with everyone and everything. You seem to encounter constant delays, unexpected problems and issues; everything takes an exerted amount of effort. Nothing you do seems to move you forward no matter how hard you try. 
2. You feel like you’re constantly ending up in the same situation
   You try so hard to change things yet the more you try, the more things stay the same. 
3. You lack joy, you’re tired, you lack enthusiasm
   Deep down you know something isn’t right. Your heart tells you that you’re not in the right place and you’re not going in the right direction.
4. You worry about everything
   You don’t have confidence in your decisions and you’ve lost touch with your inner self.
5. Life just feels like it is a constant struggle 
   Physically, emotionally, spiritually, and mentally you are drained. 

Okay. Now what? Well, employ some changes!

Plan a trip! Summer 2011, welcomed my 30s in Italy!

1. Get moving!
   Many times, when you are in a rut emotionally, it's directly related to your physical well-being. So, get physical. Go for a walk, bike ride, run, swim or gym sesh. Sometimes you just need to rid your negative energy by gaining a little sweat. Check out some quick and easy ways to get moving.
2. Clean your surroundings
   You are a product of your environment; so, if your house, work station, vehicle or (heaven forbid) your closet is a mess you feel like...guess what? A mess. So, get yourself organized. Purge, clean and clear the decks!
3. Stop a bad habit
   More often than not, if you are in a rut you probably engage in a bad habit (or two, or three...). Maybe it's drinking, smoking, sleeping late, eating unhealthy, gossiping or negative thinking. Bad habits tend to ignite ruts and vice versa. So, kick that bad habit to the curb! Give yourself an achievable goal, be realistic and make positive changes. Habits take about 28 days to form; so, why not start today.
4. Recruit a coach
   Find a friend or family member that can serve as your personal coach; someone you are held accountable. Knowing you are not alone in your journey for self-improvement inspires you to REALLY make those changes. And, who knows? You might motivate your coach in the process!
5. Plan a trip
   Whether it's a weekend getaway, stay-cation or a big European trip, planning time outside of your everyday life gives you something to look forward to. Start researching Expedia, Priceline or Trip Advisor for some inspiration!
6. Give back
   Helping others or your community provides you a sense of purpose. See my previous post to learn about ways to volunteer your time. 
7. Care about your appearance
   Looking good makes you feel good. So take care of your appearance. Workout, pluck, style your hair, wear make-up, paint your nails and...well, try! Little enhances will make such a difference.
8. Take one step at a time
   Rome wasn't built in a day. Take baby steps. Make sure your goals are tangible and realistic; and don't be too hard on yourself. A step is a step in the right direction.

Fieldtrip Friday: Luce

For Valentine's Day, the hubs and I went to a new restaurant in BayHo: Luce Bar & Kitchen. What a cool vibe. It's a bar/restaurant, but do not let that fool you. The food is excellent! Nick had the Luce Burger; highly recommended. I had the Butternut Squash Ravioli; equally as yummy.

Word to the wise, they do not take reservations and the place is hopping; so, get there for the early bird special. No wait! They have limited seats as the venue is small; in fact, Nick and I sat at a community table. Definitely a fun place to check out!

Thrifty Thursday: A Little Lace

Actually own the lace cardigan from, you guessed it: forever21!

Happy Valentine's Day! Today might be fun to wear a little lace. Lace has been a trend for a couple of seasons now, but I think it's here to stay...at least for the spring. I love to incorporate lace into my wardrobe: a cardigan, dress or some lace inlays within my sweatshirt.

Here are some ways to add lace to your closet! I own both the dress and sweatshirt - they are both versatile items at which I can wear to work, casual girls' night or even a date night. Heck, maybe I will wear one tonight for Valentine's Day. =)

Target ($24.99)

Tilly's ($24.99)

Forever21 ($19.99)

What's New Wednesday: Red Lips

Lately I have been wanting to wear lipstick, specifically red. I have no idea what brought this on, especially since I barely like to use make-up or style my hair! But alas, I'm embracing this new method of expressing myself. After selecting a few colors I realized there is a science to matching your lipstick/gloss to your skin tone. So, I did a little research. Luckily, Lauren Conrad offered some great advice!

 

Disclaimer: the skin tone guide and verbiage is borrowed from LaurenConrad.com.

Fair Skin Tones
If you have a peaches and cream complexion, here’s what you need to know:

• For pink undertones, opt for coral reds since they are not so overpowering. Matte reds with a hint of orange look great too.
• For yellow undertones, go with a coral or brick red that is a bit warmer.

Medium + Bronze Skin Tones
For those of you with more olive or golden skin, here’s what works best for you:

• Lucky you! Most shades will work with your coloring… Go crazy!
• True reds, cranberry shades, and pink-based reds look especially lovely with your coloring.

Dark Skin Tones
If you have a deeper complexion, with cool undertones, here’s what you need to know:

• Blue-based reds and cool shades will look best with your rich coloring—think fig, dark cherry, and dark jam.  
• Stay away from anything too bright, otherwise it will look harsh.

If you have any extra pointers, please sound off below! Also, if you have a favorite brand and color that works well with your skin tone, be sure to share that too.

Tasty Tuesday: Love Potions

With Valentine's Day just around the corner, I thought it would be fun to try a love potion. Here are a few Nick and me might test out on Thursday.

Sparkling Pomegranate Champagne
1 oz chilled pomegranate juice
4 oz chilled champagne
Pour the pomegranate juice into a champagne flute and top with champagne

St. Valentine's Cocktail
2 1/2 parts Vodka
3 strawberries (cored)
1 celery leaf (size of a thumb)
Splash lime juice
Muddle, strain, serve up in a martini glass. Garnish with rose petals.

Herradura Agave Kiss
2 oz Herradura Silver Tequila
1 oz light Creme de Cacao
1 oz double cream
1/2 oz Chambord Raspberry Liqueur
In a cocktail shaker with ice, add Herradura tequila, white crème de cacao, double cream and Chambord. Shake for 15 seconds. Pour into a chilled cocktail glass, add a spear of fresh raspberries and serve.

Drink up!

Motivation Monday: Nail Love

Give your nails a little TLC - paint 'em!

There are so many nail art trends these days. Most recent? A neutral color: creamy shades of gray, white, pale pink, and soft beige. And while I'm a sucker for fads (hence my blog name) and yes may have painted my nails a beige (ahem, actually the color is "fashion safari" by NYC: In a New York Color Minute), I tend to be more prone to the eclectic trends such as neon, accent nail, glitter and art! Check out some fun - yet doable - nail art.

Chrome, tips, sparkle and jewels...

Ombre...

Neon...

Valentine's Day...

And probably best to leave to the professionals...

Tips? Sally Hansen carries an art pen in an array of colors. Check it out! And using some everyday office supplies, such as reinforcement labels to create shapes work like a charm!

Fieldtrip Friday: Safari Park

Located in Escondido, the Safari Park (formally Wild Animal Park) is a serene, vast and beautiful place to visit. The hubs and I took one of our favorite people, Leroy to the park to try out their 2/3 mile zip-lining course 460 feet over the rhinos, deer, Giselle and giraffes. While this was an expensive endeavor, the experience was priceless! Check it out! Below are photos of my husband and Leroy landing.

After zip-lining, we wondered the zoo to check out the Asian and African elephants (including an adorable 4-month old baby!), the gorillas (another baby sighting!), and then at lunch we ran into a rowdy school of ducks...

Post grub, we took the African Tram (free with zoo membership). I highly recommend this tour as it is a great way to check out the animals on the safari. Did you know that the Safari Zoo is world-renowned for its animal breeding program?! And even more so for its plant revitalization?!

After the tour, we were able to catch a very quick sighting of the Cheetah run (showing everyday at 3:30pm).

Then, it was time to head home. But Leroy and I had a couple more adventures: merry-go-round and of course a cheeky picture:

Thrifty Thursday: Valentine's Day

Oh Valentine's Day. What to wear, what to wear (scratching head)...
Here are a few ideas from Pinterest!

Going to a movie? Be casual cute. Wear a billowy top with a hint of pink flowers and a very fun, comfy yet sleek cardigan. You will look effortless.

 Going to the park? Wear a t-shirt dress with your canvas shoes. Bring along a leather jacket.

Dinner? Here are a few options. Hint. Wear something comfortable and neutral. Stylize with your accessories, like the orange clutch below.

Date with the girls? Here are a couple of ways to look cute (just in case). =)

Living in NYC and going to the Opera? Or, just a fancier dinner with your man? I personally love long dresses with sleeves. I think you look sexy without revealing too much.

Still unsure? Check out Cosmo!

What's New Wednesday: An Apartment Spruce

Nick and I have been on a mad search for a new place for almost six-months, but we cannot seem to find what we want: cheap stand-alone house; near beach/bay; with two bedrooms and two bathrooms; and two-car garage. I mean, come on! We are not asking for too much, right?! Well, maybe. But we are not giving up. 

But while we continue this search, I wanted to spruce up our current space by adding little touches. Here are my tricks!

Add plants!! Nick and I have over 30 plants in our home. Overkill? Yes. But we love the life it brings our small space.

Add fun, purposeful trinkets. We found this sponge holder at World Market. I love how cute it looks displayed in our kitchen.

Create a bar. Nick found a metal shelving unit in the alleyway, reshaped it, sanded it down and painted a fun orange to add more color to our home. Note the decantars and re-purposed plant holders.  

Invest in flowers each week. Trader Joes has inexpensive flowers. I'm into sunflowers these days and pick up a bundle ($3.99) each time I get my groceries. 

Add new, decorative pillows. I purchased these pillows on sale at World Market.

Display your art! We have framed a number of Nick's art on our wall. I'm not a fan of posting photographs of family, friends or us (fascist!!) on the walls but this is a great way to personalize your home. 

Shop garage sales, farmer's market or swap meets. Nick and I like to go to the Kobey's Swap meet on the weekends. We picked up these pieces there! It's creates a beach, bungalow feel.

And here are other ways to spruce up your home. Check it out!