Today is National Pizza Day, and you don’t have to tell us twice to eat pizza! One of our favorite date nights is making homemade pizza and watching a movie at home. So, we might cheat a little on the “homemade” part because Trader Joe’s provides everything including the dough, but we do build and bake it ourselves! We really like the Trader Joe’s Garlic & Herb Pizza Dough, but Trader Joe’s also has a great cauliflower pizza crust in the frozen section (when Alex will let me buy it). We top our pizza with Trader Joe’s Marina Sauce and Light Mozzarella Cheese. We change up the other toppings depending on what we want, but this time we added pepperoni, sliced onion, spinach, parmesan cheese, and red pepper flakes! Enjoy celebrating with your own pizza! xoxo
Valentine’s Day is next week, and as usual, I am having a difficult time deciding what to wear. Instead of gifts this year, we decided to go to dinner (like everyone else on Valentine’s Day). I keep a running list of new places I want to try, and Alex is surprising me with one of the places on my list! I am debating between a few outfits but really love this black stripe trim dress for a nice dinner.
This black stripe trim dress fits true to size (wearing a 0) and hits just below the knees on me. The slight flare at the waist is very flattering, especially when you plan to eat a large meal. The shoulders have a slight structural detail to them and the red and white stripe coordinate well with red or white shoes (after Labor Day of course). I paired this dress with an old pair of Charles Jourdan heels and my favorite black Rebecca Minkoff clutch. Shop this look and some of my favorite Valentine’s Day dresses below! xoxo
Valentine’s Day is next Thursday, and I am so grateful Alex said no gifts this year (well we might have gotten each other curtains). I always have the hardest time finding gifts, so I put together a small Valentine’s Day gift guide (for guys and girls)!
I know guys will quickly argue this statement, but guys are very difficult to shop for. They don’t need as many “things” and it is not easy to come up with creative gifts every year. Experience gifts like concert tickets, sporting events or cooking classes always make great gifts but can be expensive. I really like gifts that incorporate special memories, and Framebridge has great solutions for framing your favorite photo, scrap of paper or trinket. Coffee table books about something that interests them, quality bluetooth headphones, a personalized bag for golf shoes or Bespoke boxes all make great gifts as well. Some less expensive ideas are personalized golf balls, funny socks or boxers, or cook their favorite meal for a date night in.
Now girls are so easy to shop for… I’m just kidding, but there are some simple things that most girls will appreciate. You can never go wrong with flowers and UrbanStems offers free delivery. If you live in Dallas always use Dr. Delphinium for floral delivery, they are the most reliable. A nice dinner out, or taking the time to cook is always appreciated as is a day at the spa (The Joule, The Adolphus and The Four Seasons have great spas). Experience gifts and gifts based on special memories (mentioned above) are also great for girls. Some less expensive ideas are her favorite candle (if you know one she likes), perfume (the one she already wears), her favorite lipstick or skincare brand, or some simple jewelry (not diamonds). Hope everyone has a very happy Valentine’s Day! xoxo
This weekend we are hosting some friends to watch the Super Bowl and I have been planning our menu. Yes, I know, the Cowboys are not in the Super Bowl and are kind of terrible, but a girl can dream! The easiest thing for me to whip up when hosting is a simple cheese board. I usually have a few types of cheese in the fridge, and I pretty much always have prosciutto on hand. I like to offer something creamy (usually brie), sharp cheddar, and either gouda or something strong (like blue cheese). Trader Joe’s has a great cheese selection for a reasonable price as well as a large box of assorted crackers to please all guests. I also like to add nuts, dried fruit, and honey or jam to give either a savory or sweet flavor. Trader Joe’s sells honey with the honeycomb in the jar, and I like to add the honeycomb to the board for presentation (yes, you can eat the honeycomb). A few other things on our Super Bowl menu will be spicy chicken salad, spinach artichoke dip, sausage balls, and of course chips, queso, and guacamole. Shop my cheese board and knives as well as a few other favorites below! xoxo
I mentioned a few weeks ago that one of my goals for 2019 is to be healthier overall. An easy way for me to make sure I am getting all the nutrients I need is to be more intentional about lunch. Occasionally I will enjoy Chipotle for lunch, but most of the time I try to stick to a salad or soup (since it’s so cold out). I get bored pretty easily with salads, especially when I am eating them every day, so I like to mix up the toppings. This simple winter salad has Trader Joe’s Cruciferous Crunch Collection for the base and the toppings are easy to change up as needed. My favorite toppings are dried cranberries, pomegranate seeds, goat cheese, and pecans. Sometimes, I like to add in grilled chicken, berries, pumpkin seeds, or walnuts, but I always top it off with Trader Joe’s Green Goddess Salad Dressing. This dressing is a much healthier alternative to my favorite ranch or even balsamic because it is made of avocado, onion, lemon juice, chives, basil, and garlic. I am usually just making this salad for myself, but it is also great for hosting and can easily be adapted for nut or cheese allergies. Enjoy this simple winter salad! xoxo
The past few days I have been under the weather with some wild allergies. When thinking about self care and personal health, skincare is a top priority for me. To help you combat these cold and dry months, I am sharing some my favorite winter skincare products! xoxo
Summer Fridays Jet Lag Mask – I originally bought this face mask to keep my skin from dying out on airplanes, but it works all the same in cold weather. This ultra-hydrating mask is unique because you can either wipe it off with a warm washcloth or leave the product on all day. I tend to use the Jet Lag Mask like a moisturizer in the winter and immediately apply it after washing my face in the morning.
Summer Fridays Overtime Mask – This is easily my favorite exfoliator because it leaves my skin refreshed without using harsh chemicals or abrasives. Made of pumpkin, apricot seed and oat kernels, this mask/scrub easily removes dry and dull skin. I use this mask about once a week and always follow with the Jet Lag Mask to moisturize.
Biossance Squalane + Vitamin C Rose Oil – I was a little hesitant to use facial oils since it seems counterproductive, but after trying this oil for a week I was sold. My skin feels so refreshed and hydrated after using oil. I typically use one dropper of oil at night and occasionally in the morning if I use the jade roller.
Skin Gym Jade Roller – This time of year my allergies can get really bad. I heavily rely on my Jade Roller to help with lymphatic drainage and swelling from sinuses. I always use the Biossance face oil with the jade roller, so I do not stretch or tear my skin.
Aesop Resolute Hydrating Body Balm – I always have a large tube of hand cream in my purse, but during the winter I carry this body balm. It is perfect for my hands, elbows and my feet (especially the heels). I love that this lotion is light weight and not greasy.
