June 2012 ~ Living, Learning, Eating

Jun 29, 2012

Fashion Inspiration: Cinderella

Posted by Living, Learning, Eating at 6:00 AM

I love, love, love Disney. All things Disney, in fact.

Disney music.

Disney movies.

Disney channel.

Disney parks.

Disney hotels.

Disney characters.

Disney service.

Disney food.

And, duh, Disney fashion! Seriously, some of the Disney princesses are the original fashionistas! Take Cinderella, for example.

The scene of the transformation, and this particular still of the dress dripping magic, always took my breath away. It's just so hopeful, so magical, so anything-can-happen.

I don't really know how to explain it, but it's that really full feeling in your chest where you want to cry and laugh and smile and sing and sob all at the same time. Disney does that - emotional heartstring player, much?

Anyway, melodrama aside, today's fashion ~~procrastination~~ inspiration is Cinderella! As always, this look is inspired by Cinderella's style - it's not meant to look like anything that she actually wears.

Flounced Open Back Dress, $22.80 Forever 21

Pearlescent & Rhinestone Studs, $3.80 Forever 21

Women's Chelsea Flat, $16.99 Payless Shoe Source

After the whole glass slipper debacle, I'd say Cinderella has probably learned her lesson about sensible footwear.

All in all, Cinderella's look comes to a total cost of $43.59. You don't need to spend like a princess to look like one!

But just to be absurd, and in case your budget resembles Cinderella's post-Prince Charming, check out this Cinderella-inspired chainsawed gown by Viktor and Rolf:

I'm not going to include a price, but let's just say that if you have any sort of budget at all (and it doesn't have the word 'unlimited' in front of it) this gown is better for just gushing over from your laptop.

What do you think of the Viktor and Rolf Gown?

Which Disney princess's style do YOU like the most?

Jun 27, 2012

WIAW #44: New Snack Obsessions

Posted by Living, Learning, Eating at 6:00 AM

Since this is the last WIAW of June and I have yet to directly address this month's theme, I've decided that it's high time!

So here are my new snack obsessions!

I am such a snacker.

A super chocolatey mega-muffin (sorry for the crappy lighting, this was a midnight movie-watching snack baked on a whim when the 12:30am munchies set in. AKA: no natural lighting whatsoever to be had). I ate this with greek yogurt and a scoop of vanilla ice cream, topped with peanuts - yum yum!

As with the rest of my food, I prefer sweet snacks to savory and tend to eat way more sweet snacks.

Cereal, peanut flour in olive oil, yogurt with Amazing Grass Vanilla Chai Amazing Meal powder

I'm also a complete chocoholic - can you believe that I went through a phase where I just didn't love it?

So weird.

I also never liked fruit and chocolate, but I've been super hooked on the following combo and really like how the sweetness of the cherry jam (or strawberry, I like to mix it up!) plays off of the sweetness of the chocolate chips. I guess your tastes really do change every few years - I have noticed some things that I used to love that I don't anymore, and vice versa!

A bagel with jam and loooooots of chocolate chips. As in, after the chocolate chips exploded on my bagel halves, you couldn't see any of the bread or the jam anymore. SOOOOO good. Such a dessert snack!

But even though I love sweet stuff, I do love veggies and I love how they make me feel. And Dr. Praeger's California veggie burgers?

Definitely good enough to tempt me to go savory now and then!

A Dr. Praeger's California veggie burger on mixed lettuces with sliced baby tomatoes, nNooch, and honey mustard dressing.

But chocolate and carrrrbbbbbbsssssss tempt me right back. :P

A P28 bagel, two frozen brownie squares, yogurt with peanut flour.

And my ice cream addiction is no secret, but I've just discovered the beauty of homemade sorbet - other than that it's not so pretty.

I end up with one massive scoop, instead of several regular scoops, since I (a) don't have a scooper and (b) would have issues scooping this anyway, since it's a bit softer.

Homemade chocolate strawberry sorbet, topped with chia seed 'sprinkles'.

Life without greek yogurt?

So sad.

Roasted kabocha squash (under which hides a base of peanut butter and granola, for crunch), greek yogurt, goji berries, and golden berries - I loooove golden berries!

Greek yogurt is definitely still the primary reason why I'm not vegan.

Greek yogurt with oats and avocado and honey (so yummy that I forgot to take a picture until I was already almost all done with the yogurt!)

These little beautifies have found their way back into my life!

Why are avocados not a more regular part of my life?

On a non-food note, my other new obsession is StyleOwner. I made my own StyleOwner 'boutique' and it's just so much fun. For me, it's like virtual window shopping - and, like the real thing, soooo addicting.

Have you tried StyleOwner?

If you've seen my 'boutique,' do we have similar taste in fashion? No worries if we don't, I'd just be interested in hearing if other people like the same things that I do!

Have your tastes changed recently?

Do you eat a lot of avocado?

Jun 24, 2012

Probiotic Chocolate Almonds???

Posted by Living, Learning, Eating at 6:00 AM

We've all heard of probiotics - those good-for-you bacteria in yogurt that help with digestion and help prevent bloating and all that ickiness. But did you know you can get probiotic almonds?!

Sunbiotic Chocolate Almonds are a raw, heart-healthy snack that's loaded up with probiotics!

I don't think I've ever had raw almonds before - which is an odd concept, in general, for me. I just never think of nuts as being a cooked food!

Anyway, this is a 100% raw snack and the almonds are sprouted, instead of roasted. Then they add cacao powder, coconut sugar, and a probiotic blend as a tasty coating. There are slight variations with the other flavors (original, cheesy, and truffle).

I was curious as to how sprouting the almonds would change their flavor - surprisingly, it really did! It even changed their texture - they're softer (more buttery, if that makes sense) and the flavor is a lot milder. I liked that, because somehow making the flavor milder (there isn't any of that bitterness that you have with almonds sometimes), paired with the buttery texture, made them taste and feel all the more decadent!

The chocolate flavor isn't very prevalent though - it's more of a hint of chocolate than anything. The chocolate flavor is there, but very subtle and subdued. They're definitely primarily almonds and only secondarily (and a far-removed secondarily) chocolate.

Still, nom nom nom.

I really enjoyed (and recommend) these! My only gripe is that, as is often the case, they come with deceptive packaging. While you'd think a pouch is one serving, it's actually one and a half. I ate the whole pouch at once, of course, but I just think it's odd to make something that looks like a single serving packet and then put more than a serving in it.

Meh. Gripe.

Still, it's a fabulous snack! Especially on greek yogurt with Incan berries, as I had them!

Have you ever had raw nuts?

How do you like your nuts best - roasted, raw, candied, in nut butter...?

Jun 22, 2012

The Look for Less: Steal Sara Paxton's Class

Posted by Living, Learning, Eating at 6:00 AM

You may or may not know Sara Paxton (Aquamarine, anyone?) but she's an absolutely stunning actress who had a few big things and seems to be laying low at the moment.

Maybe she's working on a new project? Maybe she's not acting anymore? Maybe she's gone the indie route?

Who knows.

Anyway, just because she isn't in any recent blockbusters doesn't mean that we can't all want her effortlessly classy look.

It's The Look For Less time again, yay!

Here's how to put together this look on a normal girl's budget.

Top - $15.80, Forever21

Pants - $41.94 ( on sale for $69.99 ), Express

Belt - $19.94, Old Navy

Since the pants are so long, you can budget cut a corner with the shoes and just throw on a pair of heels that you already have.

Or flats. Shhhh, I won't tell - your secret is safe with me.

After all, je n'aime pas twisted ankles.

The outfit total comes to $77.68. Not too shabby for a red carpet outfit!

Who's your favorite actress/actor who's fallen off the radar?

Do you watch Indie flicks? No judgment whatsoever, because personally? I like big budget movies with their feel-good story lines, aesthetically pleasing filmography, and amazeballs wardrobe.

Jun 18, 2012

P28 Bagel Review

Posted by Living, Learning, Eating at 6:00 AM

I reviewed P28 High Protein Bread a while ago, but they also have bagels!

My big sister is (or was) bagel crazy, but I was never that into them. I was always more of a cereal and Broetchen kind of girl. Over time, however, they're beginning to grow on me.

After all, what carbaholic can resist thick, doughy awesomeness?

The P28 bagel didn't disappoint! It's huge (think Bruegger's Bagels big!) and doesn't have that weird conservative aftertaste that some packaged bagels do.

It's a nice hearty, whole wheat bagel with lovely oats on top.

Since the NYC apartment I'm subletting doesn't have a toaster (but it does have a Vitamix, so I'm not complaining), I split the bagel open and toasted it over the lowest heat setting on the stove.

More nooks and crannies than an English muffin! Absolutely perfect for smothering in peanut butter and jam.

You know what would be even more amazing with this?

Soy butter and honey. Together. Lots of it. Dripping into the pores of the bagel.

YUUUUUUUM. I obviously need to do a grocery run ASAP for some soy butter!

Overall, I really like these bagels. They're absolutely delicious (do you see the seeds in there too) and keep a girl going through several hours of workday craziness!

Do you like bagels?

What's your favorite kind of bagel?

Jun 17, 2012

Fashion Inspiration: Tinkerbell

Posted by Living, Learning, Eating at 6:00 AM

My sister loves Tinkerbell.

Like loooooooves her. Whenever we go to Disney World (I LOVE DISNEY WORLD!) she has to get anything and everything Tinkerbell themed.

Oh, you guys thought I was talking about my seven-year-old sister? No, I'm talking about my big sister - the one who's about to turn twenty-one.

She's quite the character.

And that actually kind of looks like her, other than that I've never seen her wear that shade of lipstick (no comment on the rest).

Anyway, point of story - if you're kind of obsessed with Tinkerbell (* cough, cough *) but you're past the age when it's acceptable to just wear Tinkerbell everything (because that time does come, guys), you can still be inspired by her look.

Note: This is Tinkerbell-inspired, with emphasis on the inspired - no, none of these pieces are meant to match those from any of her actual (or virtual? whatever) outfits.

Women's Headband from HappyHolmzCreations, Etsy $10.00

Chiffon Racerback Cami, Forever 21 $17.80

Make sure to tuck the top into the skirt - that's the difference between flattering, light and summery vs. bulky and unflattering!

Essential Hi-Lo Skirt, Forever 21 $13.80

Haertel Sandals, Aldo $27.99 (on sale from $80.00)

The whole outfit, including shoes and accessories, comes to a total price of $69.59.

What's your FAVORITE piece of the above?

Where's one random source of fashion inspiration for you?

Jun 15, 2012

Candy Bars! A ChocoLite Review

Posted by Living, Learning, Eating at 6:00 AM

I haven't reviewed a new protein bar in a while, so I was thrilled when this arrived in the mail:

All the different flavors!

A box full of Chocolite Protein Bars and healthier chocolate confections!

Since I'm a self-professed bar addict, I started on the bars first. Taste-wise, I could have just as well started with the chocolates!

The bars are chocolatey, decadent, and rich - they're pretty small for a protein bar and not that filling (but I have a huge appetite) but if you think of them as candy bars, they're the perfect size.

And, frankly, they are candy bars. Minus the sluggishness and sugar crash (score)

My sweet tooth was very happy, especially with the Cookies N Cream bar which is my uncontested favorite.

My favorite flavor :)

It's enrobed by the same velvety smooth chocolate as the other bars...

Looks like a chocolate bar, no? Tastes like one, too!

...but inside there's all kinds of unexpected awesome going on! Like crunchy oreo-type cookies, more sugar, and a mystery layer of caramel!

See all the layers? Texture and flavor party in my mouth!

I wouldn't have thought to add caramel to a cookies 'n cream bar, but it works. And boy does it work! There's a nice layer of what can't be anything but ooey, gooey caramel and is absolutely scrumdiddlyumptious.

Here's what's in it:

Some of my other near favorites included:

Triple chocolate fudge, which was a chocoholic's dream.

Just chocolate through and through y'all... also, none of these had any of that protein bar taste - they all tasted like straight-up chocolate bars.

Smores...

Which was a surprise, since I'm usually not a huge smores fan...

But the emphasis in the bar was on the sweet, creamy chocolate and the crunchy graham cracker, so I wasn't overwhelmed by sickly sweet marshmallow flavor.