Christmas Festivities!

Well, I have been a terrible blogger of late on this one...

But I plan to remedy that, hopefully!

Even though I've been slacking, I want to tell you about this great promotion that I found through Shutterfly. They are giving you 50 free Holiday Cards if you blog about how great their products are. Done and done. I love shutterfly, we have used their Photo books at work, which everyone is always impressed by. Besides that, I always check them out for their Christmas cards, and their photo cards, which happen to be my favorites. You can create such great templates, as well as use the ones they have pre-made! And picking photos to send to everyone is usually the best part!

This year, we will be using shutterfly to send everyone our Roomate Christmas Cards! So, if we don't have your address, then send it along!! And the photo, of course, will be coming from one of many holiday parties we will be attending as Roommates! Maybe we should do a theme? 1920's? Puffy Coats? Snow...too bad there isn't any yet in NYC!

But, if I haven't sold you by now, check out Shutterfly online, and see all the fantastic products they offer, that make gift giving so much easier!

And I think this one might be my favorite holiday card template:


XO

Allie

Another Recipe?!

Apparently I only update this when I bake something...hmmmm

Well, today is Memorial Day! Yay! To ring this holiday in, we had fleet week in NYC prior to this Monday Holiday - so many sailors, such fun! Plus, to cap off that great experience, we saw a sailor in the middle of times square propose to his girl, and then kiss her like this:

So ADORABLE!!!

Well, since it is a holiday, my friends and I will be celebrating in style at Riverside Park on the Hudson River, having a picnic, and playing games, and just hanging out!

Since it's a picnic, I decided to make Snickerdoodle cookies. So delish! But seeing as how we never have the ingredients I need, I've taken to substituting a lot of items over time...in fact, I've become quite adept at it! So, here is the snickerdoodle recipe with a few changes - Bon Appetit!!

SnickerDoodles

1 cup Butter, softened
1 1/2 cups White Sugar
2 Eggs
2 teaspoons Maple Syrup
2 3/4 cups AP Flour
2 teaspoons Lemon Juice
1 teaspoon Baking Soda
1/4 teaspoon Salt

2 tablespoons White Sugar
2 tablespoons Ground Cinnamon

*Normally, this recipe calls for Vanilla, but of course, we don't have that, so I substituted Maple Syrup, and you CAN NOT tell the difference! Yum!


*Also, it usually calls for Cream of Tartar, but again, who has that on hand? Instead I used Lemon Juice, since it is needed for the acidity!

Combine butter, sugar, eggs, maple syrup until a creamy texture is achieved. Add all other ingredients (flour, lemon juice baking soda, salt). Mix until fully blended.

Mix on a plate the 2 tablespoons of sugar and cinnamon. Take the cookie mixture and form little balls, roll those in the cinnamon sugar mixture, fully coat them. Place them on a cookie sheet. Cook at 400 Degrees for 8-10 minutes and VOILA!

Super Super easy, and so delicious!!!

Have a wonderful Memorial Day!
Allie

Nothing Better Than Home

Well, I'm in Texas for a 10 day stint, and I couldn't be happier!

I love being home, seeing friends, relaxing by the pool, and shopping with my mom! It's great to drive around, eat mexican food, drink margaritas, and overall just relax.


Here is a preview of what my life will be like for the next few days:

Hopefully I'll be posting more - it's slacking, I know. That's what I get for trying to do more than 1 thing at a time! Ay!

If you're ever wondering where I'm at/What I'm doing, check here: Living Simply

XO
Allie

SHOES!!

Haven't posted in a while...whoops!

Well, yesterday was possibly one of the longest workdays of my life. 7 am to 6 pm. The whole day spent dealing with crazy women who wanted cheap shoes.

Where was I? Oh, the Manolo Blahnik Sample Sale of course!

It was madness! Shoes from size 5-11, piled onto tables by size, with 50+ women at a time rifling through them! But with prices well below 50% off - why wouldn't they be?!

Oddly enough, I found the whole exciting! It was great to see it and feel like you have power and have people ask you questions like you know what's up - ha! All in all a good but exhausting day!

But to top it off, I left with three new pairs of shoes. Two for free and on pair at 50% off the sale price! Jackpot!

Here they are, in all their glory:



Black suede flats, lime green suede heels, magenta linen lace up flats!! :)


XO
Allie

Vegan-ish Cookies

Tonight me and the roommates decided we needed to make some cookies. Unfortunately, no one here had eggs....

So, dilemma. I searched for a recipe that wouldn't need eggs, but at the same time, wouldn't call for a crazy egg substitute, or anything else that we didn't have in our cupboards!

Luckily, I found just the one! It was soooo easy, and they taste DELICIOUS! Not to mention they look great - really cookie shaped, and crispy but still soft, ah yummy!

Here's a sneak peak at them:

And here is a breakdown of the recipe:

3/4 C Flour
1/2 C Butter, Softened
1/2 C Oil (vegetable...)
3 TBS Water
2 tsp Vanilla
2 1/4 C Flour
1 tsp Baking Soda
1 tsp Salt
1-1 1/2 C Chocolate Chips


Heat Oven to 375 degrees

Combine first 5 items

Then add in the rest of the items

Spoon onto greased cookie sheet, and bake for 8-10 minutes (or until golden)

**these cookies don't ever turn DARK brown, they stay a light color, but look for browning on the edges and tips to know when they're done**

Enjoy!

Here's what I did...

...this weekend.

I took a long train ride upstate to visit my cousin and her husband. We then took a long car ride up to Canada to explore and visit Niagara Falls! So much fun - but since it was a lot of travel down-time, I used that opportunity to make a necklace!

Here is how it turned out:

What do you think?

I'm loving it...

xo
Allie

Project Runway

I went to MOOD in NYC the other day after work to buy some fabric and trims, and while there, I discovered that Project Runway season 8 was casting!! I wrote down the info and went home and looked into it.

I knew that I had to apply. Last year I discovered the appliaction yhe day before it was due, and had no time to do it all!

This year though, I filled out the application, photoshopped my images, and made an audition video. And mailed it off as of Thursday!

I'm so excited to even have this on the horizon. It would be such a dream to be on that show - so here's hoping...







Application Materials!

XO
Allie

Success!

I decided yesterday at work, that I wanted to make a new dress for my friends' birthday party at a club in downtown NYC...to wear that night.

Nothing like waiting until the last minute, eh?

Well, luckily, I had all day to contemplate how to make it, and when I came home, it was a piece of cake! It only took about 1 hour 15 minutes total to make it, which is great!

And here she is:

Zebra Print Dress

I'm a fan for sure! Can't wait to wear it again!

xo
Allie

I found one!

Well, yesterday I was on a mission to find the perfect notebook for my 365 days of spending! And with great luck - I found one!!

I only had to go to Barnes & Noble, and I found the perfect one. Rustic, leather, bound pages, and hopefully enough space for 365 days!

Here she is:




And here is yesterdays spending...I honestly hadn't planned on spending any money. However, it was one of those days where an Iced Latte is necessary. And I had to buy the notebook to begin this project (excuses, yes), and then of course, you can't go to a BBQ on the rooftop without taking some beer, right?! Ha. So this should definitely be an interesting way to see what I spend...





XO
Allie

Maybe I'll do this...

So, I stumbled upon this book, and I really like the idea of it...http://katebingamanburt.com/

In it, the author did a drawing of (at least) one thing she purchased each day. Or didn't purchase I guess...

I really really like this idea. It would be an interesting way of documenting 1. How much you spend per day, and 2. Where all your money actually goes, frivolous or not.

Now, just to find a 365 page journal....

Subway Sundries

So, I've had that title in my head since I started this blog...I wanted to use it when I write about something I've thought about while commuting on the subway.

In essense, my sundry thoughts while being on the subway: Subway Sundries. (I'm a huge fan of alliterations...)

Today's thought: it always surprises me when I see people reading their Bibles on the subway. I've been a Christian, Bible Reading, Church Goer for years, but at the same time, I always kept my faith to myself around those who weren't "like me". Not that I didn't reach out, and talk about God, but I wouldn't pray outloud around others, and I certainly didn't take my Bible to coffee shops, or on the train, and just read.

I've lately grown out of this, at least a little. I am often jealous of these folks that have the boldness to proclaim their faith while on the Subway. They aren't extremists, they aren't fundamentalists, they aren't even loud...they are sitting there, quietly reading. Oh how I want this to be my life.

I decided to give myself a test of faith - start waking up 30 minutes earlier, reading the Bible...taking it with me, and when I want to read something - choose that! Too often I read words about God's Word, rather than His words themselves! This is going to change.

I'll let you know how it goes! Stay posted!

Happy Tuesday : )

“I would rather be ashes than dust! I would rather that my spark should burn out in a brilliant blaze than it should be stifled by dry-rot. I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet. The function of man is to live, not to exist. I shall not waste my days trying to prolong them. I shall use my time.”

- Jack London (author of Call of the Wild) 

oh how i want this to be my life...

Deliciousnesssssss

This is what I did this evening...

I helped my friend Richelle make this recipe a week ago, and I couldn't get it out of my head! She generously bestowed upon me, 8 overly ripened bananas, which I promptly put into the freezer.

Today, I took them out, made sure I had flour, sugar, peanut butter, and the like...and then made this delicious version of banana bread.

The original recipe comes from OhBabyO.blogspot.com, but I'm going to write it out here for you too!

Here goes:
Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Banana Bread

For Bread: 

• 1/2  C Peanut Butter (I used creamy, but crunchy works well too)
• 2 Large Eggs
• 1 C Sugar
• 2 C AP Flour
• 1 tsp Baking Soda
• 1/2 tsp Salt
• 2-3 Large, Ripened Bananas, mashed...
• 1 C Chocolate Chips 

For Topping:

• 2 tbs Light Brown Sugar
• 2 tbs AP Flour
• 2 tbs Peanut Butter
• 1/4 tsp Cinnamon
• 1/4 C Chocolate Chips

Now, onto the mixing and baking!

Preheat oven to 325 Degrees (F), Grease a loaf or bread pan (I used a rectangular baking dish, which worked just fine!)

Mix peanut butter and sugar in a large bowl. Add eggs and mix.

Add flour, baking soda, and salt to peanut butter mixture.

Add mashed bananas and chocolate chips to mixture.

Pour into greased baking pan - set aside momentarily.

Combine all topping ingredients except chocolate chips. Mix until crumbly, add chocolate chips to mixture.

Sprinkle topping mixture on top of bread mixture in the pan. Bake at 325 (F) for about 1 hr, 20 min - until a fork/toothpick comes out clean.

Cool, and Enjoy!!!

Hope you enjoy this delicious little treat as much as I do! Have a happy Easter!
 

Easter Dresses

Often when I reflect on my childhood, I attach memories of outfits to certain years.

I can recall various seasons and stages of life where one look dominated my wardrobe. In first through third grade it was white denim shorts, cuffed, with a navy and white striped top. I actually wore this for the first day of school 3 years in a row. I was devastated when I grew out of them and couldn't find those same items. I remember wearing jean shorts and plain white tees as my uniform for playing at home. Cute, frilly, girly swimsuits, in patterns and bright colors. I even recall this one swimsuit that was striped in all sorts of neon's from when I was 10 or 11 that the store left the ink tag on, and try as we might, no one could get it off (I guess it wasn't worth going back to store to have them remove it...selective memory here). I was so upset!

A large range of memories from childhood stem not only from these outfits, but mainly from Easter Dresses. When I was much much younger, my mother would make my Easter dress without fail. One's with eggs, bunnies, purples, blues, lace, and the like! Adorable, yes. But also over the top!

I remember getting older and having a strong opinion about my clothing choices, choosing to pick out a store-bought outfit instead of a home-made one, or wearing one I had. When I was 13, or so, I remember picking this outfit for Easter - white pants with blue embroideries on the side seams, and a light blue top to match. In retrospect, this outfit was a horrible idea. Horrible. Also the first time I wore a thong...hope that isn't oversharing...

So, with all these memories of Easter Dresses, I long for the day when I can dress my little one in Easter Clothes. I love how clothing and outfits can mark special occasions in life, and I can't wait to be a part of that in my future family...

But, until then, maybe I will just go back to picking out "Easter Outfits" for me...

Easter Dresses at Baby CZ...

Runway to Real Life

This is a necklace I made for my Senior Fashion Show in College. It was my last ensemble, the show stopper!

Here is how it looked coming down the runway:

And here is how I translated it and wore it in real life:

This is actually the first time I've ever worn it, and that really surprised me! I love it so much, but I think I kept imagining it for some grand outfit...one day...not today or even tomorrow. But I put it on and it worked - quite well I think!

Love it? Here is more of where this idea stems from - Pearadime on etsy

xo
Allie

The Whole Wide World

Here is what I did yesterday while Babysitting the cutest little guy ever!

(s)He's got the whole world in (her)/his hands...ha

I had to make an errand run to Michael's to make something for a friend of mine, and while there, I spotted this spinning World pendant. Had to have it. Immediately.

So I purchased it, added a turquoise (earth colored) stone, and attached it to a long length of silver chain. And Voila! A new necklace in about 3 minutes...gotta love making jewelry!

I really like the length of the necklace too, hits mid chest - perfect for pairing with a shorter necklace for a great layered look.

What do you think? I'm also a fan of the picture...

xo

Allie

A Day Off

Today, I took a mental health day.

My mom used to insist on my taking these back in High School, because I would work myself to the bone, often getting super stressed out, and then I would inevitably break down. So, mental health days were my saving grace. Oddly enough, I never WANTED to take them, I always thought of those things left on the continual to do list, the things I had to get done...

I've realized that those things can wait. That list will still be there, but I don't have to check them all off in one day. Therefore, today I took a mental health day, and am not going to worry about my to-do list.

Instead, this is what I am focusing on:

 Sewing. Coffee. Computer. Bliss....

Here is to mental health days! I hope you and I always have the opportunity to take them!

XO

Perfect Pairings

Here are a few of my favorite pairings...

Peanut Butter + Jelly

Black + White

Cookies + Ice Cream

Jeans + Cardigans

Sunglasses + Swim Suits

Strawberries + Bananas

Each one of these makes me think of bliss.

What about you?

*image from Life.com