Look for Less

So by now we all are familiar with the Oscar de la Renta Beaded Tassel earring right? They are truly stunning and a show stopper of an earring. I've been lusting after a pair for a loooong time, but can never pull the trigger on them because of their hefty price tag.

Long Beaded Tassel Earrings, Blue via Neiman Marcus

Enter ETSY seller, Odette Negulescu. I can't even remember how I came across her shop, but she sells amazing look alike pairs of these amaze tassel earrings. I've ordered two pairs through Odette and am very happy with them.

Beaded Tassel ClipOn Earrings Navy via ETSY

One piece of info you need to know though is that Odette is out of of Russia SO shipping will take a bit longer, but it's worth the wait! These would make a perfect Christmas present for your bestie, just order ASAP!

There I Go Again...

I know I promised LAST week that I was going to be a better blogger, but clearly I lied. Here's hoping that week goes a little better.

Here's what I'm hoping to cook and bake this week. I'm helping host a baby shower for my precious friend Lauren this Saturday, so I'm especially excited to share all those menu items and recipes later in the week.

In the meantime I'm making these yummies to add to my random assortment that is my lunch this week. Other items include hard-boiled eggs, baby carrots and these new popcorn chips that I'm obsessed with.

How to Roast Chickpeas via How Sweet It Is

I'm making this stand by chicken dish for dinner one night this week. I also bought my first acorn squash yesterday. I'm thinking I'll be just roasting it, but if you have other ideas let me know!

I bought blueberries last week, but whoops they are still in the fruit drawer SO they will be turned into these muffins.

Low-Sugar Whole Wheat Blueberry and Oatmeal Muffins via Kalyn's Kitchen

And last but not least, I'm making these delicious peppermint brownies for my hubby's company Christmas party. These are amazing people, if you need a holiday baked good to bring to a shindig BAKE these.

Peppermint Brownie Bars via Baked Bree

What are you all cooking this week?? Would love to hear from you!

New Breakfast

Sooo I've always been a cereal/milk/fruit kind of breakfast gal. I LOVE granola, but usually don't buy or make it due to my wanting to consume the entire batch or box in one sitting, it's so addictive. I saw this recipe though and thought hmmm a "skinny" version, maybe I can grow up and practice portion control. I've been eating this with some Greek yogurt, another new thing for me and while it's an acquired taste I do like it.

This granola recipe couldn't of been easier to make and would also serve as an excellent homemade goodie to give to friends and family during the holidays. Thanks Gina for the recipe!

Skinny Pumpkin Granola via Skinnytaste

Easy Pumpkin Spice Granola from Skinnytaste.com

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup uncooked quinoa, rinsed well and pat dry with paper towel
• 1 1/2 cups rolled oats
• 1/4 cup ground flaxseeds
• 1/4 cup pepitas 
• 1/4 cup chopped pecans
• 1/2 cup dried cranberries
• 1/4 cup real maple syrup 
• 1/4 cup pumpkin puree
• 1 tsp canola oil 
• 1 tsp pumpkin spice 
• 1/4 tsp cinnamon
• pinch kosher salt
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Directions:

Preheat oven to 325° F. 

Spread oats and quinoa out on a parchment lined baking pan. Toast in the oven 10 minutes, stirring once.

Remove the oats from the oven, pour the toasted oats into a medium bowl and addthe ground flaxseeds, pepitas, pecans and dried fruit.

Reduce oven to 300° F.

In a second medium bowl, combine maple syrup, pumpkin puree, oil, pumpkin spice, cinnamon, salt and vanilla. Pour over oats and stir together with a spatula. Spreadback onto a baking sheet and bake an additional 20 minutes, or until golden.

Makes 3 2/3 cups.

A Stick to Your Bones Soup

Happy CYBER Monday people! Are all of you clicking through all the many promotional emails that our inboxes are filling with? If you find yourself utterly exhausted from all that clicking this evening and need a healthy soup for dinner than this is your lucky day. I had pinned Blair's Lasagna Soup a looooong time ago and finally made it last night. I served this soup with toasted baguette slices and my green bean fries.

Y'all be sure to check out Blair's blog, Cookin' Skinny, she has many amazing recipes that are all healthy and easy! Her maple pecan pie is especially delicious.

Skinny Lasagna Soup via Cookin' Skinny

Skinny Lasagna Soup slightly adapted from Cookin' Skinny

Serves: 6 • Prep Time: 10 minutes • Cook Time: 45 minutes

Ingredients

• 2 tsp olive oil
• 1 cup white onion, diced
• 8oz. mushrooms, sliced (I used cremini)
• 2 tsp dried oregano (I forgot this and used herbes de provence, but would use the oregano next time)
• 1/2 tsp dried parsley
• 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
• 3/4 tsp fennel seeds
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 3/4 lb. ground lean turkey
• 3 Tbsp tomato paste
• 1 – 14oz. can fire-roasted tomatoes with juices
• 1 bay leaf
• 5-6 cups low sodium chicken broth (I used 5)
• 2 Tbsp freshly grated parmesan
• 2 cups dry whole wheat fusilli noodles (I scaled this back, see #4 below)
• 1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped
• S&P to taste

Topping

• Sprinkling of fresh grated parmesan

Method

1. In a large pot, heat oil over medium heat. When hot add onions and mushrooms and saute, stirring occasionally for 7 minutes.
2. Add oregano, parsley, red pepper flakes, fennel seeds, garlic and ground turkey. Stir to break up big chunks of meat and brown meat until there is no pink left.
3. Add tomato paste, fire-roasted tomatoes, bay leaf and broth and bring to a boil. Lower heat, stir in parmesan simmer for 20 minutes.
4. If you plan on eating all the soup that night, add the noodles into the soup and bring heat up. Cook until noodles are al dente. If you want to freeze some of the soup, continue to simmer the soup for another 10 minutes without the noodles in it. Cook noodles in a separate pot and add them to each bowl before ladling the soup over the top. The noodles get soggy if left in the broth!
5. Remove bay leaf before serving and adjust seasoning if necessary.
6. Top each bowl of soup with a sprinkling of cheese and fresh basil, if desired.

Hit up C. Wonder

I've blogged about my love of C. Wonder before, so it's no surprise that when I saw that they are offering 30% off of all orders over $100 that I just had to do a quick wrap up of my current favorites.

First up, this scarf, not only does it remind me of my FAVORITE wallpaper, but it also will be husband approved since he loves zebras. The fact that the zebra he loves is the soon to be rug on our living room floor is neither here nor their right?

Zebra Print Wool Gauze Scarf

Next up is this adorable heart sweater, I love that the hearts are more subtle on this particular style. I would love to throw this on over a shambrag denim shirt with skinnies and riding boots, classic with a fun twist me thinks!

Shetland Wool Heart's Desire Crewneck

I'm also loving this calf hair minaudiere, seeing as you really should treat leopard as a neutral, this would be a classic piece that you would use time and time again.

Leopard Print Calf Hair Minaudiere

I'm still in the market for a throw for our couch and while this one is still my favorite, this herringbone one is a close second.

Wool Herringbone Throw

Last, this leopard and pink scarf is adorable. I can think of so many of my girlfriends who would just love this, starting with YOU Morgs!

Leopard Print Wool Gauze Scarf

Happy shopping friends, would love to know any of your favorites from C. Wonder!

Let the Good Sales Roll!

I hope by now all of you are laughing at my title playoff of the song "Let the Good Times Roll", anyone? Someone?

WELL Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Did everyone have a great day/weekend? We had an amazing time in Austin, mostly because the HORNED FROGS won. The only negative of being in Austin for the game is that it didn't really feel like Thanksgiving.

So by now you all are all full and have hopefully shopped your hearts out with the Black Friday sales, but I hope you can withstand some more shopping, because over the new few days I'm going to highlight some items that I'm lusting over. K?

If anyone on your list (or YOU) needs some notecards or thank you notes, Inslee By Design is the place to shop AND they are offering 20% off all orders through Saturday with code SALE. I first heard about Inslee through my friend Emmy who attended college with Inslee. Her designs are absolutely precious and gorgeous, it makes writing and receiving thank you notes that more special.

For the cook in your life the In the Kitchen foldover note card is perfect...

In the Kitchen Folded Notecard

For your arm candy lover...

Heavy Metal Notecard

And for the runner in your life...

Power of Pink Notecard

Enjoy friends! I know I plan to take advantage!

Favorite from AMA's

Hiii everyone! I'm beyond sorry for the silence over here, things have been BUSY. My sister got married this past Saturday so last week was cray cray. The good news is that the wedding went perfectly, full recap coming soon.

Did you all watch the AMA's last Sunday? I didn't, but loved recapping the fashion hits and misses over on Red Carpet Fashion Awards. I'm in love with Ginnifer Goodwin's look. I love that it's not your usual music award show look even more. It's beyond classy, but her pixie haircut gives it just the right amount of edge.

Ginnifer Goodwin in Oscar de la Renta via Red Carpert Fashion Awards

Who was your best dressed?

PS - Happy Thanksgiving! So THANKFUL for all my readers!