Bag: Madewell // Sunnies: Ray-Ban // Sweater: VPL // Trench: Burberry // Skirt: Miu Miu // Rain Boots: Hunter
Today I’m linking up with Friday’s Fancies and this week’s post has us all prepped for April showers! I love me a good comfy sweater, a skirt and some boots in the rain. I’m assuming it’s because the weather doesn’t get too chilly in Southern CA when the rain comes rolling in. I’d love to hear about what your go to rain outfits are?
In honor of Club Monaco’s new e-commerce site, I decided to share my favorite looks from their March and April Looks. As much as I’d love to shop here all the time, their pieces are still a bit pricy for me, so I’ll continue to admire their fabulous pieces online much like I do when I’m in their store.
Images via ClubMonaco.com
Lucius’ First Snow Adventure
Pretty Perfect Snowflakes
Lucius & Rocky BFFs for Life
Jon & I
Wet Dog
We’re back from good ole’ Mammoth! Here are a few snapshots from our Springtime snow mini-vaca, and as you can tell by the number of Lucius pics, we were so excited to take lil’ man on his first vaca with his BFF Rocky the malti-poo.
My very first Birchbox arrived last week and I felt just like I expected it to, it was like a mini-Christmas. I think it’s totally worth it to pay $10 a month to receive a little box of surprises every month, and I seriously can’t wait for next months box to come! A funny side-note about my Birchbox is I somehow managed to check off that I had curly hair instead of the slick straight hair check box, so I got some curl related products in my box, but I’ve since updated my profile so next month my hair samples will ship accordingly. Even thought the curl cream is meant for curly hair, I used it and it actually worked well when I took the diffuser to my hair.
I’ve listed out all of the samples I received in my box below and have included a brief description of each product from the Birchbox site. It’s been almost a week since I started using these lovely samples, so I included a mini review for each product as well.
WEI™ Pomegranate Buffing Beads - Filled with antioxidants, the finely milled pomegranate peels in this powdery scrub brighten skin tone and encourage cell renewal. Plus, its natural antiseptic qualities help clear blocked pores. There are also gentle buffing beads to slough off dead skin: you’ll see why it’s so important to schedule in a weekly exfoliation session.
What I thought… I felt an immediate difference in my skin after using these buffing beads, it left my skin feeling very smooth. I would definitely purchase the full size version of this, but since I just spent a bunch of dinero on a Clarisonic a few weeks ago, I’ll have to wait on dropping some bucks on a exfoliant.
I Coloniali Tibetan Shower Cream with Rhubarb - I Coloniali’s luxe shower cream is the next best thing to a Far Eastern getaway. The decadent formula will leave you feeling like you just returned from a private spa session every time you step out of the shower.
What I thought… This shower cream smells amazing! Not sure if I would purchase the full size as it’s a bit pricy at $29, but if I decide to splurge on an item it would be this!
Miss Jessie’s® Original Super Slip Sudsy Shampoo - The undisputed ruler of the curl universe, Miss Jessie’s developed this silky shampoo for girls with stubborn ringlets, natural kinks, or parched hair. While it’s especially coveted by the curly crew, our experience confirms that it’s great for hair of all types and textures. It instantly detangles even the most intricate knots, leaving your strands sleek and uber-manageable.
What I thought…Loved this Shampoo, it helped me remove all the knots I’d put in my hair from my teasing rampage, but didn’t harm it at all! I will totally buy this full size version as soon as I’m ready for another bottle to add to my 5 bottle Shampoo collection lol.
Miss Jessie’s® Original Crème de la Crème Conditioner - We surveyed all our curly haired friends and the results were unanimous: Miss Jessie’s detangling formula is the best of the best. Whether your hair is frizz-prone and curly, chemically processed, or just plain parched, it will soften your strands without weighing them down. Plus, it doubles as a leave-in treatment for those days you need an extra layer of hydration.
What I thought… I used this after a three day run of waved and teased hair and boy oh boy was my hair silky smooth after my shower. I would totally buy this again, I feel like it’s not just for curly hair, it works for those who may damage their hair during styling as well.
Miss Jessie’s® Original Curly Meringue - Crazy curls, meet your match. This wondrous styling cream is designed to tamp down stubbon kinks and tame frizzy ringlets. The custard-like formula is especially good for ethnic or chemically treated hair, and is the perfect prep for fingerstyling, coiling, twists, and braids. Plus, the fresh pineapple scent makes us want to use it everyday.
What I thought… I used this styling cream and then took a diffuser to my head and it really helped create some waves. It was a great base for my normal waved out day look. I would buy this after my B&B styling creme runs out.
Color Club Neon Nail Polish Age of Aquarius - Maybe we’ve watched too many re-runs of The Brady Bunch, but we’ve always had a soft spot for the 1960s. So it’s no surprise that these ‘60s-inspired polishes are right up our alley. They come in seven neon shades that channel the decade’s exuberant vibe: think mod girls, painted buses, and the advent of color TV.
What I thought… I used this polish with my Butter Slapper polish to create a under the sea mermaid look and it worked like a charm. The aqua green color of the polish is beautiful and the application was flawless, I’d love to pick up some additional colors from this collection.
Annick Goutal Eau d’Hadrien - French fragrance designer Annick Goutal took inspiration from Italy for this iconic citrus scent, which launched in 1981. Bright and effervescent, the universal and timeless blend conjures up the image of sun-ripened fruit in a Tuscan orchard.
What I thought… This is the only sample that didn’t wow me, and that’s probably because I’m the type that loves perfumes that practically smell like a men’s cologne. I’m not a big fan of fruity or citrusy scents, so this one just wasn’t for me.
My absolute FAVORITE sample was the Color Club Neon Polish in Age of Aquarius
My LEAST favorite sample was the Aanick Goutal Eau d’Hadrien
If you don’t have a Birchbox membership click here to sign-up, I highly recommend it!
Shirt: Madewell // Leggings: TopShop // Scarf: Forever 21 // Head Turban: Lanvin // FauxFur Vest: Quicksilver // Purse: LongChamp // Boots: Sorel
Spring has sprung, and the BF and I are in good ole’ Mammoth with my BFF and her man! To make sure I’m rocking the Spring time snow bunny look, I packed up some bright button-ups and lively scarves to contrast my heavy Sorel’s and furry vest. It’s a little late in the season, but I’m so happy we made it back to the mountains!
My First Birchbox (If you’re curious about what was inside check back tomorrow)
MY DIY Mani Supplies
My Under the Sea Inspired Mani
Classic Outfit of the Day
Chipotle Chicken Bowl 2 Days in a Row NBD
Pinkberry + Hunger Games + Popcorn + Icee = Fab Date Night
Leave me your Instagram username in the comments, I love following along with what’s going on with everyone through Instagram! In case you need it I’m @bettinakina
Linking up with A Little Dash of Ash this week.
TGIF it’s time for some Pinterest Productivity! This week I chose the Homemade Wontons with Spicy Sauce pin from my “Yummy” board. I would definitely make this recipe again; the prep was easy, they didn’t take long to cook and they were delicious. I’m a little sensitive to MSG so I left the MSG out of the sauce and didn’t feel like I was missing out on anything. I know a lot of you have this recipe pinned as I’ve seen it pop up on my Pinterest feed, so don’t hesitate any longer and make these wontons this weekend!
Homemade Wontons with Spicy Sauce Recipe via Return to Sunday Supper
Yield: 4 – 6 servings
Prep Time: 20 minutesCook Time: 5 minutesTotal Time: 25 minutes
INGREDIENTS:
For the Wontons
Large pot of boiling water.
1/3 pound raw shrimp, washed, deveined, tails removed and finely minced.
12 wonton wrappers, defrosted
1/2 teaspoon sesame oil
Dash salt and white pepper
1 egg (for egg wash)
For the Sauce
1/4 cup thin (light) soy sauce
1/4 cup rice vinegar
1 teaspoon garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon Accent
(Accent is a flavor enhancer used in Asian cooking, it’s also known as MSG – I didn’t use any Accent and it was still good)
1 or 2 tablespoons (depending of how much heat you like) hot chili oil
Garnish
2 scallions (green onions), sliced
DIRECTIONS:
Wontons:
Fill a large pot with water and bring it to a boil.
Wash the shrimp, remove the tails, devein and finely mince.
To the shrimp, add 1/2 teaspoon sesame oil, dash of salt and white pepper.
Whisk the egg, and brush the wontons lightly on one side. (This is what is going to seal the wontons).
Evenly divide the shrimp mixture onto the middle of the wontons. Fold them to make a triangle. Press the edges together. Let dry for 10 minutes.
Sauce:
In a small bowl, combine the soy sauce, rice vinegar, garlic, Accent, and chili pepper with oil.
Place wontons into boiling water and cook until done (about 4 minutes, when the wontons start to float). Remove with slotted spoon.
Serve immediately with the sauce and scallions (green onions) as a garnish.
Here are some photos of the prep and finished product, hope you all try this recipe out!
How to wear a floral print blouse is the last installment in the floral print series. You can check out how we styled the H&M floral print pant and skirt here and here. Just like the rest of the looks, we opted to mix in some neutral and bold pieces to play up the fun print of the blouse. We paired a pair of khaki trousers, neutral accessories and bold cobalt blue pumps with the floral blouse. I’ve found the floral blouse to be very versatile, you can pair it with a leather skirt for date night, or a pair of denim cut-offs and bikini for a beach day. Hope you all enjoyed the floral series!
Blouse, Khaki’s & Shoes: H&M // Bracelets: INPink // Clutch: Marc by Marc Jacobs
Day 2 of our how to style floral print series brings us face to face with the coveted $14.95 H&M trousers. These pants scream Spring has arrived, and if you’re not ready to mix in a bold print or bright color, this how to is perfect for you. A lot of times my friends will say, “oh Bettina, only you can pull that off,” but I always disagree with them. I’m a big believer that we can all rock any trend, we just have to style the look within our own comfort zone. Today’s how to includes mixing in a white button up, neutral heels and some bold accessories. Keep scrolling to see how it’s done!
The Look… Pants: H&M // White Button-up: Madewell (old) // Shoes: Sam Edelman // Jewelry: Jessica Simpson, J.Crew, F21 & Michael Kors // Purse: The Cambridge Satchel Company
*I apologize for the sub-par photos today, lighting, time and angles all played a role.
Florals are in full fledge bloom this Spring season, and H&M and Zara’s fabulous price points have made this trend accesible to any and every fashionista. It’s always difficult to invest in seasonal trends, so I was super stoked to scoop up this H&M floral skirt for less than $50!
When I first got home I was a little intimidated by the bold print and wasn’t too sure about how I should style my new find, so I opted to mix in some neutrals and ease my way into the floral print craze. Since I know many of us may be on the fence when it comes to bright colors, prints and patterns, I thought I would share how I mix the bold florals of Spring with neutral basics we all already have in our closets. This week I’ll be sharing a three-day series on how to mix H&M’s floral prints with basic neutral pieces. Today we’ll style the skirt (keep scrolling for the how to), tomorrow we’ll focus on floral print pants and Thursday we’ll rock the versatile billowy floral blouse.
How many of you have taken advantage of H&M and Zara’s floral print price points? I’d love to hear how you would style a floral print skirt!
The Look… Skirt: H&M // Chambray Top: Madewell // Purse: The Limited (old) // Bracelets: J.Crew & Ann Taylor // Shoes: INC Macy’s (old)