Mani - I Love NY

My husband and I have recently been talking about moving back to NYC.  We lived there for 6 years and recently moved right across the water (5 minute Ferry ride).  As much as I have been enjoying the calmness and less hustle and bustle of our new place I do sometimes miss the convenience of city life.  Everything you need is right at your fingertips OR maybe it's just a short subway/cab ride away. The city sometimes got to be too overwhelming for me and I felt like I needed a break.  Now our view of the city is Spectacular! The entire cityscape can be seen with a blue picturesque sky during the day and at night a rainbow of lights that almost takes your breath away.   Can I give up my view from across the water and calmer lifestyle? I dunno.  I do know that even when I hate NY deep down I will Always Love NY.  There is no question.  Guess we'll have to decide soon.

All this time spent thinking about the city inspired me to create a mani that was a compilation of all the little things that remind me of NYC. I admit it was not the easiest project I have done on my nails but it was fun experimenting.  It would not have been possible for me at least using  just regular polish and my unsteady hand without Nail Art pens.  I used Sally Hansen nail art pens in black, white and Red. I also used Sally Hansen complete salon manicure polish in white out.  For the yellow taxi check nail I used NYC color in Lexington Yellow.  Have a great day

x

Jen

Simple Seersucker

This weekend it was off to the burbs again for me!  I traveled home on Saturday to celebrate my youngest sister's Birthday.  It was a blast and so great to see my whole family.  Whenever I travel home to see the fam I almost always stay with my middle sister Kim (also seen here).  She lives the perfect suburban life complete with fiancé, cute house, 2 cats and a garden.  Sometimes a city girl like me gets jealous of her trees, flowers and overall wealth of space. One of the things I really enjoyed was her showing me her newly bloomed flowers and planted trees around the property.  She was proud of how her gardening skills had paid off.  While we were rushing out the door she remembered that she hadn't watered some of the plants and I was able to capture some of those moments on camera to share with you all.  I thought it was pretty hilarious that she was watering the garden in heels and yes they were constantly sinking into the dirt and causing some imbalance - all in good fun! Let it be known that it was totally just a coincidence that the green watering can happened to match the green highlights of her outfit.  She says her outfit was seriously comfortable except the shoes.  I thought it was totally Adorbs!  probably because I'm a sucker for Seersucker.  Also that statement necklace is to die for in my opinion. 

By the end of the weekend something usually ticks inside of me and I can't wait to get back to my city life in a small spaced apartment with no garden or trees but oh so many things to do.  It's how I know maybe I am not ready to move back to the burbs just yet,  but all in good time.

x

Jen

Shirt - Anthropologie - find similar

Seersucker Capris - JCrew

Necklace - JCrew

Heels - Enzo Angiolini -find similar here & here

Sunnies - Salt Optics

Nail Polish - Essie(sand tropez)

Jen & Kelly's Picks

1. Blouse - DVF

2. Bag - TopShop

3. Studd Earrings - Pim + Larkin 

4. Sailor Shorts - JCrew

5. Cobalt Ring - Madewell

6. Clogs - Swedish Hasbeens

7. Nail Polish - Essie (Clam Bake)

This week our picks are a little bit on the Crazy side, well maybe not crazy but a little out of the ordinary safe zone.  We wanted to show examples of mixing patterns and prints while also showing off vibrant colors for summer. While it can feel a little risque to mix two different patterns together, there are always ways to make it work.  In the first look I tried to bring my picks together with different shades of blue.  I wanted to accentuate the bright Orange in the DVF blouse by wearing a similar color polish either on toes, nails or both :) I always say that mixing a stripe with a pattern is easier than mixing 2 totally different patterns together.  The sailor stripe shorts seemed like the perfect match for this busy blouse.  I kept the bag simple in a nude color and earrings as small studs.  I am in Love with these Swedish Hasbeens clogs!
Kelly chose a bright Orange skirt and used mainly blue accessories to bring out the blue in the skirt.  The leather vest brings out the small amount of black in the skirt but pulls the outfit together.  The top is cream and kept simple.  If you are daring enough you may consider slipping your footies into those Wild shoes.  Finally a simple MK watch is all that's needed to accessorize with those colorful chandelier earrings.

1. Faux Leather Vest - Mural
2. Earrings - Seychelles
3. Bag  - TopShop
4. Blouse - TopShop
5. Watch - Michael Kors
6. Giraffe Skater Skirt - TopShop

7. Heels - Phrynia

No Bake - Ice Cream Cake

We all have many roles to juggle, and I am no exception to that list. I wear many hats, however a baker's hat is not one of them. My sister always says to me, " A cooker you are, a baker you are NOT!", and it's very true I am lacking the baking gene. I have no idea why but whenever I bake I am disappointed by the results. There's just no passion between me and baking a dessert, eating the dessert on the other hand is a perfect match!  I have daughters and I need to be able to do something for their birthdays!! So I have mastered the art of the ice cream cake! Obvi it is oven free, so easy to make, and it tastes ahhhhhmazing!!!  The girls love when I set up a buffet of toppings for the cake and just let them go nuts. The toppings can be festive for any occasion depending on what you use. Its perfect for kiddie parties but also for any group of dessert loving adults.

Happy Eating!

xo 
Kelly

Prep
Remove paper wrap from all 17 ice cream sandwiches and put sandwiches in freezer up to 10 minutes before starting recipe.

Ingredients

• 17 Ice Cream Sandwiches (I used 3 boxes of 6 and had 1 leftover)
• 1 jar (11.75 ounces) hot fudge ice cream topping
• 2 Tablespoons of your favorite peanut butter
• 1/2 carton (4 ounces) frozen whipped topping (Thawed) - Cool Whip can always do the trick here
• Suggested toppings - crumbled oreos, crumled pretzels, mini reese's cups, sprinkles, maraschino cherries

Directions:

1. Heat the Fudge in a small saucepan. (If fudge is tough to remove from the jar , microwave jar for 15 seconds) Once it starts to warm stir constantly and stir in peanut butter. Leave stove-top on low.
2. In an 11x7.5 in pan place 6 sandwiches horizontally down the left long side of the pan, then place 2 sandwiches vertically down the right long side of the pan (see pictures). Then cut 1/4 of a sandwich to fill in the small space.  (Do NOT throw away the rest of the cut sandwich)
3. Take half of the fudge & peanut butter mixture and spread evenly over the entire surface of the ice cream sandwiches.
4. Repeat step 2 except this time line up the horizontal sandwiches down the right side and the vertical sandwiches down the left side. (this is to prevent the small 1/4 pieces from ending up on top of one another)
5. Spread the rest of the fudge & peanut butter mixture evenly over the entire surface of the ice cream sandwiches.
6. Spread thawed whipped topping across the entire top of cake.  You should only need half of the 8 ounce carton to cover but you can use more to make a thicker layer if desired. 

* Now you can decorate the cake before freezing or save the decorating for when the cake is served if  you prefer  guests  
     to use toppings of choice.

        7.  Cover and freeze cake for at least 2 hours before serving.  Can freeze for up to 2 months.  Remove  from freezer  10-15 minutes before serving.