Inspiration book - a collage project

Hi friends! A quick hello on a busy Friday. As you know, I've been on a mission to organize my life and home lately. A project that has been looming (or sitting in a basket in the corner of my bedroom, collecting dust) is a pile of magazine tears that needed some serious attending to.

Fan of Pinterest? Ya, me too. But sometimes it's good to see your vision boards in person. And with my current home lacking space to actually "hang" a board, I'm now collecting and collaging in a book, that I actually started many years ago. It's fun to see the things that inspired me way back then (some of which still do!) and just paste over the ones that no longer cut it, with my current obsessions and loves. 
It's becoming a cool little book and keepsake of my life in art and fashion... almost a time capsule of sorts. I'm adding in random notes from love, old fan letters, sketches from my daughter and personal musings and random thoughts.
A bottle of Modge Podge, a paint brush and a little imagination is all it takes! 

Vote for Bella Bene Productions ~ Win my fave BECCA lipstick!

Suppose you started out your adolescent life as a highly sought-after, high profile, model and actress, then turned your keen sense of fashion, producing and all things fabulous into your own company. Suppose that company worked with the industry's top models, celebrities, and photographers producing outrageously gorgeous stills for the likes of Vogue, Cosmopolitan & Elle (just to name a few)...
Imagining? Good. This is what it's like to be my dear friend (and personal muse) Annabel Schofield. She took her dreams, her talent, and her gusto, and created something all her own. And that something is Belle Bene Productions. And it's pretty damn inspiring, if you ask me. 

So in support of a woman taking charge of her own dreams and making them a reality, I ask that you please vote for her company Belle Bene Productions via Facebook! And as a thank you, I want you to win something glamorous and fabulous all your own...

...one of my favorite BECCA lipstick colors 

Alina

To be eligible: 

1) Simply go to "Mission Small Business"
Log in through Facebook
Click support, vote for Belle Bene Productions
then comment back here that you did so. 

{Your comment will count as one vote}

2) For an extra entry, share it on your own page!
3) Voting and contest ends July 1st, so hurry!

And thanks for supporting! xx

Summer & Fall Steals at Victoria's Secret!

Grab your credit card, ladies. Victoria's Secret is doing an additional 20% off all clearance items until this Wednesday, 6/27/12. Use code 20stockup ~ Amazing deals for now and later! Here are some of my top picks... 

For now

Maxi Padded Bra Dress 

Pretty, pretty colors, and the padding is a bonus!

$49.99 $35.00

Beach Linen Pant 

Love this easy print.

$19.99 $14.00

Crochet Cardigan Sweater 

I'm in love with this delicate beauty.

$14.99 $10.50

Flower Linen Pant 

Perfect, easy, done.  

$19.99 $14.00

Crochet Caftan 

A perfect little bikini cover-up.

$9.99 $7.00

For anytime

Military Jacket 

Do you have one yet? You need it.

$29.99 $21.00

Siren Legging in Python 

Jeggings in a super hot print! 

$19.99 $14.00

The Ex Boyfriend Jean 

Did you find the perfect pair yet?

$49.99 $35.00

Lace Mini Skirt in Ivory 

How cute is this? A nice trade for the trendy lace shorts we've been seeing everywhere. 

$29.99 $21.00

For later

Faux Python Moto Jacket 

I seriously want this. I mean, seriously. 

$49.99 $35.00

Sequin Mini Skirt 

This skirt is gorgeous. I can't wait to wear it this fall with a casual tee or cashmere sweater.

$39.99 $28.00

Sequin Blouson Dress 

It may be hard to imagine now, but you'll love this baby come holiday time. 

$69.99 $49.00

I could go on and on... hope you find something for you! xx

Red + Checks + A really big belly!

Sometimes I just laugh at myself that I'm still trying to keep up with my original sense of fashion when I just keep getting bigger and BIGGER. When should a girl slow down? That is the question...


My original sense, which includes my obsessive love for anything interesting & unique via thrift or vintage shopping, mixed with high and low end designer fabulousness.


This checkered dress (worn as a top) is a perfect example. I found it for $5 bucks at a random thrift store last summer and just loved looking at it in my closet, but had yet to find a way to make it work. Marry it with one of my all-time favorite vintage scores, this red pleated skirt (first worn here) and glittery flats and I still felt very much me. 


Even though me currently looks like she swallowed a beach ball. 


*30 weeks pregnant (and counting!)

Maternity look/30 weeks ~ Tshirt Dress & a pop of pink!

Yesterday I showed you some of my thrifty finds, one of which was this simple, black T-shirt dress. So easy and so unassuming, it was just begging for the right accessories to make it work. It was really comfy and effortless, so I didn't  mind dealing with this heel for a couple of hours. (I changed into my trusty gold sandals very soon after, however... I'm not that crazy.)

Thrifty Finds

I popped over to one of my favorite resale shops, Buffalo Exchange the other day, and although I didn't sell anything, I found three beauties to take home!

This baby is just perfect for my boho summer wardrobe!

It had me out only $12 bucks.

I'm so excited about this one. 

I'll wear it as a top now, and a super short mini dress post pregnancy. $7!

This may look like nothing now, but just wait (til tomorrow to be precise!)

It's a silk T-shirt dress that reminds me so much of HATCH Collection 

And with their version coming in at $208 retail, I'd say I did OK with my $18 price tag

{On a side note, the pretty painting was done by artist, Amy Lynn, who my husband commissioned to do a piece of us for a wedding gift. I think she captured us perfectly. I'm absolutely in love with her work. It's romantic and special, and reminiscent of the vintage era's I cannot get enough of. Check out more of her originals here.}

Maternity trick ~ Maxi over the bump!

I've been trying to find creative ways to make my non-pregnant wardrobe work within the confines of an expanding middle. I have this really cute mini dress with an embellished braided top that is now being worn as a top. (See how I wore it skinny girl style here!)


I decided to tuck it into one of my favorite American Apparel maxi skirts and pulled that sucker over the bump!

A light sweater, a necklace wrapped as a bracelet, my new favorite tortoise shell ring, and I was good to go!

If you're pregs, try this trick. It totally works! I did it with this shorter vintage silk skirt (seen here) but there's something about a maxi that just feels current right now and still in the game!

Have a happy day!

Skirt - American Apparel, Dress (worn as shirt) - Calypso St. Barth (similar)

*28 weeks pregnant

Father's Day BBQ & Chicken Enchilada Casserole Recipe

Yesterday we joined our neighbors and friends for a potluck BBQ in celebration of our favorite dads. I wanted to make something easy and yummy, that was not only in honor of my own father (who I lost in 2002, and who absolutely LOVED this dish), but to my baby daddy - who also happens to be a fan. (Warning: it is not a *skinny trick. I repeat, fat city. But boy is it good.)

(Me sans makeup, with wet hair wrapped up in a bun! 

This fattening dish covered up my giant preggers belly!
Scroll down for recipe...)

My homegirl, Priscilla (aka P-Dog) contributed some greens to even out the health quota, by whipping up her famous salad nicoise.

I couldn't get enough of this salad, I seriously had three helpings. Topped with classic Italian dressing, it was better than most salads I order in restaurants.

Easy, simple ingredients of egg, cucumber, greens, red potato and onion, fresh green beans, olives, cherry tomatoes and canned tuna. (You can get fancy and make fresh tuna, but we were more interested in hanging out than slaving in the kitchen. Plus, we have three toddlers between us, so you do the chaos math.)

We had a blast though, and even the neighborhood kids found it hard to resist the hammock and treats. I also made these homemade banana cupcakes for dessert.

All in celebration of these handsome daddies... 

Love you guys! And now... 

Juanita's Chicken Enchilada Casserole

3-4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

1 can condensed cream of mushroom soup

1 can condensed cream of chicken soup

1 4 oz can diced green chiles

1 tsp chile powder

1/4 tsp pepper

4 tsp diced onions (Possible omit - I have a picky husband, so I do.)

1/8 tsp garlic powder (You can use onion powder if omitting the above.)

1/4 tsp tabasco sauce

1 cup chicken broth (Reserved from boiled chicken.)

4 cups Fritos (Yes, the chips. Told you it wasn't a skinny trick!)

1 cup grated cheddar cheese

Boil chicken breasts in water until done, checking often. You do not want to over cook! Reserve 1 cup broth. When chicken is cooled, dice into bite size pieces. Preheat oven to 350.

Combine soups, chiles, spices, tabasco and chicken broth in a bowl. Blend well. 

Cover bottom of glass casserole dish with 1/2 of the crushed Fritos chips. Top with half of the diced chicken, then half of the sauce mixture, ending with grated cheese. Repeat process, ending with grated cheese on top. For extra crunchy goodness, sprinkle some more chips on top. 

Bake for 25-30 min and enjoy! xx