Pretty Summer Pasta

I stumbled upon this pretty pasta the other day at HomeGoods and it was just too cute to pass up! I thought it would be perfect to "spice" up a pasta dish and give it a summery feel. I instantly knew what I wanted to make, a Shrimp Portifino inspired dish. So, I picked up a good bottle of EVOO (Extra Virgin Olive Oil), as Rachel Ray would say, and went home with a mission!

What I used:

* Torino's All Natural Mother In Law's Tongue (pictured above)

* EVOO

* 12 Fresh Florida Gulf Shrimp (Peeled, we did 12 for two of us)

* 2 Large Fresh Minced Garlic Gloves

* 1.5 c. Sliced Mushrooms

* Pine Nuts

* 1.5 c. Baby Spinach

* Salt & Pepper

* Bring water to a non-rolling boil (as per the package instructions)

* Place whole pasta in water. Work into water as it boils until completely submerged.

* Boil for 12 minutes or until al dente

While the pasta is boiling,

* Heat about enough olive oil to cover the bottom of your pan. 

* Add as many pine nuts as you would like and roast them until they have slight brown marks. Be careful not to burn them. Add a pinch of salt if you would like. (I added quite a bit of pine nuts as both my husband and I love them)

* Add both cloves of Garlic and your Shrimp. Cook until shrimp are pink. Add a few sprinkles of salt & pepper.

* Add in Mushrooms and cook slightly. Be careful not to over cook or they will shrink down. You just want to knock the crisp out of them a little (if that makes sense?) 

* Top with about 1.5 to 2 cups of baby spinach (it cooks down quite a bit) and cover until spinach has wilted.

taken before spinach,

Drain pasta, place back in pot and gently stir in shrimp mixture. Top with about 2 tablespoons of EVOO & Voila, you have a light & pretty summer pasta dish!

You could also use chicken instead of Shrimp and if you're like me and you really love garlic, you could probably add another clove or two. 

My husband and I both loved it! He said he felt like he was dining at a nice restaurant (I am sure he was just being nice), but it was good & fun! I do wish the pasta would have kept it's color a little more, but it did the trick! We didn't finish it all, but that just means I get to have it for lunch today, yipee!

"We can't become what we need to be by remaining what we are" ~ Oprah

xx,

Jaime

Pink Hair!

I am beyond excited to share that I now have pink hair!

Don't freak out ... Mom :), it's only the tips, sort of like a pink ombre look and I absolutely love love LOVE the way it turned out!

I wouldn't have pegged myself as someone to put a funky color in my hair, but when it started becoming a trend earlier this year, the more I saw it, the more and more I fell in love with the idea. So, I did some research on temp colors, went to my stylist, who I trust & adore, and she kinda shot down the idea...bummer. She said it probably wasn't the best idea with blonde hair because it can bleed up quite a bit. I was bummed, but I didn't want to end up with a whole head of pink hair, so I listened.

Then, a few weeks ago on Pinterest, I saw The Beauty Department's post on a conditioner that you can use on blonde hair for temporary pink tips. Wahoo! I had to get it.

I used Davines Alchemic Red Conditioner. It looks hot pink the container, pretty cool.

First, I washed and conditioned my hair like normal.

Then, I got out of the shower and applied the Red Conditioner where I wanted the pink to be.

*Tip: You don't have to use gloves, just be sure to wash your hands well as soon as you're done. I just kept a towel on and did my best not to let it touch the towel or my skin & leaned over the sink while I waited (and looked on pinterest -ha!)

I left it on for about 10 minutes. You can leave it on for less time if you want a lighter color.  

Then, I hopped in the shower & it pretty much rinsed clear, not much color, which means it all stuck!

I blow dried and styled as normal. It's supposed to last about 3 washes, which is great if you want to just do it for a weekend or a special event.

please excuse the chipped nail polish:)

*Side note on my awesome, new iPhone case. I feel in love with this bird's nest look (yep, saw it on Gossip Girl), but didn't want the white, red or grey they sell in the apple store. Last week, I discovered you can buy tons of colors on Amazon for super cheap! I had to get hot pink, of course, but they have lots of other cool colors too. Check them out here!

What I am Wearing:

*Striped tank from Mossimo/Target

*Pink shorts by Lilly Pulitzer

*Essie (chipped) Nail Polish in Cute As A Button

"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you've imagined." ~ Henry James Thoreau

xx,

Jaime

Site Rave: Zappos

Pixlromatic Effects: Helena, Vignette & Clean

I have never been too keen on ordering online for a few reasons; One, I love love love to shop, so I am pretty sure that I would quickly & dangerously get addicted, and Two, I like going to stores/boutiques, finding items and trying them on the good ole fashion way. Interestingly enough, that is exactly how I found the item that I ended up purchasing on Zappos.

I found these jeans on a girls shopping trip with my mother & sister in-laws and we decided someone had to try them on. Ended up, that someone was me! It worked out though, because they fit me perfectly and were adorable. Only thing was, I didn't really want to spend $150 on a pair of jeans in the beginning of Summer (trying to be realistic here.. haha...), and if I did, I really wanted one size down since the ones I tried on were on the cusp of being too big. So, I left them (sigh...) and decided I would see if I could find the size I wanted online for a better price. In comes Zappos!

To say I am impressed with Zappos is probably an understatement. I found the jeans immediately, during lunch, after we left the store and saw that Zappos had them on sale (meant to be...meant to be! hah) . So, I decided I needed to wait and decide if I really needed these jeans. Of course, you know what I decided. But, the impressive part was that I decided on Tuesday, actually ordered them at like 6pm, and they qualified for free, FREE 1-business day (overnight) shipping. First of all, who does that? No-one! So, I figured they would come Thursday (today) since I ordered them late, but nope! Literally, they arrived at my doorstep 24 hours later, impressive! And, if they don't fit or you don't like the item, Zappos pays for the return shipping! Now, if I would have known this sooner, I would have started using Zappos ages ago! I may be behind, but just wanted to share! Give it a try!

"Your journey has molded you for your greater good and it was exactly what it needed to be. Don't think that you've lost time. It took each and every situation you have encountered to bring you to the now. And now is right on time. ~Asha Tyson

xx,

Jaime

Makeup Review: bareMinerals Wanderlust Beach Collection

Since I love all things beach inspired, I recently picked up bareMineral Wanderlust Beach collection. They also have Wanderlust Tropics, Rainforest & Desert, but since it's summer I thought the beach collection made the most sense. Tropics might be fun too, which you can find at Sephora. Beach is exclusively for Ulta. I am absolutely loving the whole kit.

It comes in this super cute box and includes postcards reminiscent of 60's beach days.

The kit includes everything pictured on the box:

* Tidal Wave Eye Color: Gilded Celadon shade. This color is the most gorgeous light green with flecks of gold with a hint of aqua. It gives you a wonderful fun, beachy mermaid look and will enhance almost any eye color. Since I have hazel eyes, it really brings out the green. I love this unique color and it will most likely be a summer staple in my makeup collection.

* Cabana Eye Color: Sultry, Sun-kissed toffee shade. This color is a gorgeous light brown color that accents the outer-v perfectly. It is also very pretty and gives a natural look when worn on it's own.

* Chic Radiance All-Over Face Color: Complexion booster instantly enhances your skin with a radiant sheen, bringing out a natural-looking, sun-kissed glow. I love this bronzer. It has a little shimmer, but not too much and does just what is promises, gives a natural-looking, sun-kissed glow.

* Round The Clock Waterproof Eyeliner in 9pm: Creamy, long-lasting liner in a deep, chocolate suede shade. This color goes on smooth, is a nice deep brown and stays put all day. If I had one complaint, it would be that because it's so creamy, it takes the pencil down a lot when you touch your eyelashes. So, I feel like it may run out faster than my usual eye liner. Other than that, I love it!

* Iced Champagne Natural Lipgloss: Shimmering nude shade with natural oils and capuacu butter. This is a gorgeous nude gloss with gold shimmer that will work on anyone. It doesn't get too sticky and smells like a sugar cookie!

All the products come in a cute, beachy green & cream striped travel bag.

Here is what the products look like on me. Sorry, no sun out today, but I did take the pictures in natural light. I have all the products on over my Summer Glow look I posted last month.

Here are the swatches of each product on my hand taken without & with a flash:

I hope this helps you if you are thinking of purchasing this kit or are looking for some fun summer looks. I definitely recommend these products!

"If you can Dream It, You can Do It" ~ Walt Disney

xx,

Jaime

DIY: Glittery Keys

When I came across this idea a few weeks ago, I knew I had to do it! Bling out my boring house & mail keys? Yes, Please!

What you will need:
* Tape - I used regular scotch tape so it wouldn't leave much residue
* Craft Glue - I used Martha Stewart Crafts decoupage glue & sealer which I picked up a Michael's. I liked it because it has a brush on the end and I can also put a coat on after everything dries to seal the glitter.
* Glitter! - I used Martha Stewart Crafts Iridescent Glitter in Jelly Bean
* Keys
* Toothpicks - to clear out any glue/glitter that may get in the key ring hole
* It only takes about 5-10 minutes!

First, tape of the bottom part of your keys so that you don't ruin them.

Second, coat both sides & edge with a thin layer of glue making sure it's smooth and you don't have any clumps. Clear out any glue that may be in the key ring hole with the toothpick.

Sprinkle all over with glitter (I did this over a paper plate)

Last, let them dry. If you have some styrafoam, you could stick the keys in that & let them dry. Since I didn't have any, I used rice & it worked really well.

And there you go, Pretty Glittery Keys! 

What I am wearing:

* Essie nail polish in Cute as a Button

Some girls are just born with glitter in their veins ~ 

xx,

Jaime

Beach Bod: Healthy Seeds

If you are like me, you want to look & feel your best in your suit this summer. Whether you are in the privacy of your own backyard, the beach, pool or vacation it's important to feel good about yourself.

Last week, I learned about 3 little seeds that go a long way in helping you boost your energy, curb cravings, provide essential Omegas & keep your hair & skin glowing. If you are a subscriber to Healthy Bitch Daily (pardon the language - that's what it's called!), you may already be privy to these little seeds. 

They are: Chia, Hemp & Flax (pictured below)

Chia seeds are wonderful for curbing your appetite. They hold up to 10 times their size in water, so they keep you full longer and give you that boost of energy to help pump up your workout. They taste pretty good too. They aren't too flavorful, so you can add them to almost anything or just snack on them so you don't end up eating something you'll regret.

All three seeds are full of antioxidants which help your skin from aging prematurely & reduce inflammation in your body. Add all 3 to your daily diet to help your get in your best shape for summer & beyond. You can add them to things like cereal, oatmeal, pancakes, smoothies, soups & baked goods. And, like I said earlier,  I personally think they all are pretty tasty on their own. I think Hemp seeds taste similar to Sunflower seeds & Flax has a nutty flavor. Give them a try, you won't regret it! I found all 3 at M & M Vitamins near me, but I believe you can also find them at The Vitamin Shoppe which are located in most malls.

Here's to a healthy summer & life!

The best way to prepare for life is to begin to live ~ Elbert Hubbard

xx,

Jaime

Mermaid Nails

I have been loving limes & aquas almost as much as pink & coral this year, so I decided to pick up my first blue polish & my second green (the first was my mermaid's tears which mysteriously shattered). 

Since I love all things beach inspired and have a slight obsession with mermaids, I decided to try a mermaid inspired look with my new colors. I used Essie's Mojito Madness (green) and Turquoise & Caicos which I topped with Shine of the Times to give an underwater shimmering effect.

What I am wearing:

* Aqua bead bracelet - Sophie & Trey

* Lime Cross bracelet - Sophie & Trey

* Lime Hair tie - Remington Anywear Hair tie shown here

* ONE Campaign white beaded bracelet

* Rhinestone bracelet - 4th & Ocean

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. 

So, throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails.

Explore. Dream. Discover." ~ Mark Twain

xx,

Jaime