Birthday Surprises With Style: written with much appreciation xoxoxo

During the first week of June, I entered a giveaway on Instagram hosted by the lovely Katy of @wearwhatwhere and @elenafominajewelry. I was already following Katy and have been inspired by her unique style for years. I eagerly entered the giveaway by choosing my favorite color necklace and tagging a few friends. 

I was delighted to find out I won and received the necklace a few days before my birthday. I decided I loved it so much I wanted to wear it on my birthday and found this dress at http://www.nordstromrack.com to wear it with.

 

This is my dad , some of you may know him as Ron Cece/photographer , Ronnie, or Mr.Cece. To me he is ‘Daddy’ , ‘Papa’ or ‘DADDY!!!’ 

We had some fun at the playground in Warren, Rhode Island ( after I shopped). This quaint little town is one of my favorite places in the state.

I love my necklace from http://www.elenafominadesign.com so much ! I’m glad I choose the color I did because it’s been so easy to style and seems to add just the right amount of eclectic flair and elegance to so many looks.

These are some of the other designs available and what I had to chose from. They are all so gorgeous and made of genuine stones and Swarovski elements . 

Here are some of the ways I styled the necklace: 

I couldn’t even stop admiring my new necklace as I was trying on clothes at http://www.express.com the other day.

 Thanks , mom , for the birthday money. 😉 I did end up buying the red dress and those pants and a couple of other pairs of pants. They were all ridiculously marked down, by the way, so you might want to check out the deals yourself. 
The adorable http://www.candycourtboutique.com tassel bracelets on my right arm were a sweet surprise from my dear friend, Alison. I really love them but not as much as I love her. Thank you, Alison, for always being there. Words can not thank you enough for your constant support. 

I included my Elena Fomina necklace and the tassel bracelets when styling the black pants. I love the fit of this pair called the “Mid Rise Flare” and they are only $22.00 today. 

Speaking of birthday surprises, I was really excited to receive this amazing http://www.zara.com dress from my even more amazing and always thoughtful best friend. I put it on right away and kept it casual with these http://www.target.com wedges and this hat from http://www.burlingtoncoatfactory.com. 

However , I’m looking forward to wearing it in a more dressed up way , with my Elena Fomina necklace, of course. 

Thank you so much , everyone , for allowing me to share a little bit of my birthday , and a whole lot of my style and musings this past year. 

It’s been exactly one year since I began this blog and I’ve learned so much from all of you. 

I appreciate your support and inspiration a great deal. 

Yours truly,

Jennifer 

Xoxoxo

Ps. My future cake… For another  year , another post …

Be A Rainbow: Fashion, Food and Friendship

I was thrilled to find this ultra-bright tassel necklace at http://www.walmart.com just the other day. I thought it would be perfect to brighten up my http://www.skiesareblue dress I recently found at http://www.thredup.com. I added colorful  accessories found in the necklace to make the whole look more cheerful. 

The hat is from http://www.target.com and bracelets, sunglasses, sandals, and phone case are from http://www.burlingtoncoatfactory.com. 

I found the bag at http://www.very.co.uk. It was a steal at only $31.00.

Here are some other fun summer bags I’ve been loving this season: 

Banana bag – http://www.boutique1.com 

Daisy bag- http://www.zaful.com

Center bag  with tassels and bag in lower right hand corner – http://www.inthepinkonline.com 

I wore this jacket from http://www.savers.com and tee from http://www.target.com in the morning when it was still kind of chilly. 

Later at school I was back to just the dress again. 

My class this year loved everything to do with rainbows , from our circle time poem “7 Rainbow Colors” to the concept of ‘being a rainbow’ when someone in the classroom was sad ( a rainbow in someone’s cloud). 

Children at this age naturally want to please people and are very eager to share a toy, pay a compliment or give each other hugs. Sometimes it’s more difficult, as an adult,to reach out to someone you care about when you know they may be hurting. 

Have you ever tried to lift the spirits of an unhappy friend with no success, or mistakenly made them feel worse ? Not only is your friend still blue, but you’re feeling like a failure for not being a better friend. First of all, you’re not a failure for trying to help a friend , and second of all, we’ve all been there and perhaps it’s because we think about what would help us to feel better, when that may be quite different than what your friend needs. 

Here are a few ideas for “Being A Rainbow” , or cheering up a friend. 

1. Let your friend vent.

Sometimes all people need to feel better is to get their problems off their chest. Allow your friend to talk about what is bothering them without interruption, judgement or offering advice. Unless your friend asks for advice, don’t give it. Also, don’t tell them you know how they feel. People experience things through their own filters. What would be a minor irritation to you could be a major catastrophe for your friend. Just listen and allow whatever histrionics they throw your way. 

2. Make them laugh.

Send a funny picture, video, or silly voicemail message. Laughter is the best medicine as they say.

3. Take them out. 

Sometimes a change in scenery makes all the difference in the world. 

4. Give them new pajamas.

Remember how much fun it was to get new pj’s when you were little? We forget the enjoyment new pajamas can bring as we grow older. Get your friend new pj’s that are fun, soft, or sexy, whichever they will appreciate most. 

5. Tell them you love them.

We sometimes take our friends for granted and don’t tell them how we feel often enough. 

6. Ask what they need.

It’s ok to ask your friend what they need. Not being a psychic doesn’t make you a bad friend. 

7. Give them a plant.

Instead of flowers that may die in a few days, give your friend a nice houseplant so they can enjoy it much longer.

8. Send a note of encouragement.

An actual card that is sent by old fashioned snail mail is preferable, but even an e-card can bring a smile to someone’s face. Taking the time to let them know you care is the important thing. 

9. Watch movies.

Have a movie marathon or watch your friend’s favorite television series. 

10. Feed them. 

When people are down they either eat more or don’t eat enough. Either way providing your friend’s favorite meal or comfort food when they are down will be helpful. If you can’t be there in person, have the food delivered to them from a nearby restaurant. 

Speaking of food… 

My mom has been making these Rainbow Cookies for years. They take a little bit of time and effort but are worth it. 

You will need:

7 ounces almond paste

3/4 cup sugar 

1/2 teaspoon almond extract 

3/4 cup butter

3 eggs

1 cup flour 

1/4 teaspoon salt 

15 drops green food coloring 

15 drops red food coloring 

2/3 cup apricot preserves

3 ounces semisweet chocolate 

1 teaspoon vegetable shortening 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Grease 3 8×8 metal baking pans and line with wax paper. 

Beat almond paste, sugar, almond extract and sugar at medium high speed until blended. Reduce speed to medium and add the eggs.Reduce speed to low and then add the flour and salt slowly to the mixture until combined. 

Take 2 small bowls and add 1 rounded cup of batter into each bowl. There should be one cup left in the bowl.  Add red color to one and green to the other. 

Spoon the un-colored batter into one pan, and the red and green into the other 2 pans. Bake 10-12 minutes. 

Lay a piece of wax paper on a flat surface that will fit into the refrigerator. Later the 3 colors on the wax paper, spreading the apricot preserves between each layer. 

In a 1 quart saucepan, heat chocolate and shortening over low heat. 

Spread chocolate mixture over the red layer evenly . Do not put mixture on sides. Refrigerate for 1 hour. 

To serve, trim about 1/4 inch from the edges. Cut the stacked layers into 6 strips. Cut each strip crosswise into 6 pieces. You will get 36 square cookies.

These End-of-the-Rainbow Cookie Parfaits , adapted from the Pillsbury version, are very easy and over the top delicious! 

You will need: 

1 roll of Pillsbury refrigerated sugar cookies

2 eggs 

Gel food colors 

1 pint whipping cream 

3 tablespoons sugar 

1 teaspoon vanilla 

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Spray 10 muffin cups with cooking spray. Let cookie dough stand at room temperature 10 minutes to soften. 

In a large bowl, break up the cookie dough and add eggs. Beat with electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Divide dough into small bowls and add food coloring. 

Scoop dough into muffin pan, making 2 of each color. Bake 15-17 minutes and allow to cool completely. 

In medium bowl, beat whipping cream, sugar and vanilla on medium high until stiff peaks form. 

Crumble each of the cupcakes, keeping the colors separate. Sprinkle the red into each of 12 glass parfait cups, glasses, or small jars. Pipe whipped cream on top of each. Repeat process with each color of the rainbow. Serve immediately, or refrigerate until ready to serve. 

Refrigerated cookie dough makes it so easy and fun to bring a smile to someone’s face. Try shaping chocolate chip cookie dough into a rainbow shape, add m&m’s and bake ! 

This Sunshine Punch recipe is also very easy and can be refreshing for anyone, whether it’s someone that needs cheering up or not! 

Sunshine Punch 

You need:

2 packages unsweetened Kool-Aid 

3 oz can frozen orange juice concentrate 

46 oz can pineapple juice 

1 quart lemon-lime soda, chilled 

Garnish: strawberries, pineapple chunks,banana slices 

Prepare Kool-Aid and orange juice concentrate according to package directions. Combine in a large punch bowl. Add pineapple juice, stir together and chill. Before serving, add lemon- lime soda and mix. Slide fruit onto bottom half of plastic straws and place into individual glasses, add chilled punch. 

Thank you so much for visiting my blog today.

I really appreciate your time and attention. I hope you found it worthwhile and hope it made you smile. 

Yours truly, 

Jennifer 

Xoxoxo 

Savouring the Last Days of School:Effortless Fashion and Food

I’ve always loved the unique selection and impeccable quality of the Boden brand and was thrilled to find this Boden dress (new with tags)for 70% off at http://www.thredup.com. 

The hat is from http://www.llbean.com , earrings are on sale now at http://www.kohls.com , and bag is available at http://www.yoins.com. The phone case has recently been reduced in price at http://www.neimanmarcus.com. 

My necklace and bracelets were all recent purchases at http://www.burlingtoncoatfactory.com. 

The jacket is Lauren Ralph Lauren from http://www.macys.com.

The shoes I’m wearing here, out on the playground, are Madden Girl, purchased years ago at http://www.cohoes.com. 

These similar styles are available at http://www.zappos.com, http://www.oasis-stores.com, and shoemall.com . 

It’s been an amazing year in my classroom with a group of very spirited, inquisitive little friends. I love how my students are easily engaged and eager to participate in all our learning activities. 

These last week few weeks have been extra busy for my students. They are  preparing for  kindergarten graduation and getting ready to become full -fledged first graders. 

After a busy morning working on proper sentence formation, we did take a little bit of extra time to play outside and appreciate the beautiful weather. 

We also took a few minutes to visit the gymnasium to check out the new equipment our principal , Mrs.LeMar, just purchased. 

Isn’t this the coolest thing you’ve ever seen? I might get one for my own backyard. Kidding. 

Meanwhile, back in the classroom… 

We all got back to work ( I promise, Mrs.LeMar 😉and Mr.Piccirelli 😉 ). 

By the end of the day – 

True Story. 

Perfect time for a very simple, but very flavorful dinner: 

Peppered Beef in Parsley Crust

Ingredients: 

2 T. peppercorns

4 T.butter, softened 

1 cup parsley, chopped 

2 lb. tenderloin roast 

To do: 

Grind peppercorns until coarse in texture and spread evenly on a large platter. In a small mixing bowl, blend butter and parsley well. Spread butter mixture over roast, covering all sides evenly. Place roast on platter and roll in cracked peppercorns until roast is coated. Bake at 425 degrees for 1 hour. Serve thinly sliced with creamy horseradish on the side. 

Melon Salad with Honey Dressing 

Ingredients:

1 cantaloupe melon

1 honeydew melon

3 T. lime juice 

2 T. balsamic vinegar 

3 T. honey 

2 cups lettuce 

2 cups arugula 

To do:

Slice melons in half, peel and cut into chunks. In a small bowl, mix lime juice, vinegar, and honey together, blending well. Pour over melon and toss. Place torn lettuce on salad plates. Using a slotted spoon, remove melon from bowl and place on lettuce, drizzle dressing over top. 

Need a special drink to complete your meal? 

Watermelon Martini 

You will need:

1/4 cup sugar

 1/4 cup salt

6 oz. fresh watermelon juice 

2 and 1/2 oz. vodka 

2 and 1/2 oz. limoncello 

1 oz. fresh lime juice 

Ice 

Watermelon slices for garnish 

Chill 2-3 glasses in freezer 10 minutes before making. Mix sugar and salt and spread on flat bread plate. Dampen rim of glass with water or lime juice and dip into salt mixture. Combine watermelon juice, vodka, liqueur, and lime juice in a shaker. Fill with ice and shake 6-8 times. Strain and pour the mixture into prepared glasses and garnish with watermelon wedges. 

Thank you !

Hope you enjoyed this little glimpse into my day.

I always appreciate your time and attention. It means so much to me that you take the time to check out these posts. 

I truly hope you found this worthwhile, and all feedback is appreciated. 

Yours truly,

Jennifer 

Xoxoxo 

A Berry Stylish Brunch: Colorful Fashion And Food

I’ve always appreciated the way color blocking adds interest to a simple fashionable design. It’s such a fun way to play with hues. You can pair brightly colored separates together or choose an item that already comes color blocked such as this adorable Minuet dress I recently received as a gift from my friend, Jen. 

It’s fun to accessorize a color blocked look with a big belt, chunky jewelry , and eye catching shoes. All the accessories here are from http://www.burlingtoncoatfactory.com. 

Here are some other dresses that you may like- 

They are available at (left to right, top to bottom) http://www.lattori.com , http://www.shein.com, http://www.houseoffraser.com, http://www.theoutnet.com, http://www.firstdibs.com, http://www.lattori.com. 

A color blocked look is so perfect for any occasion, especially a fun, casual brunch. It’s an easy and elegant look to put together whether you are going out for brunch : 

Or entertaining at home :

If you are preparing brunch , why not take advantage of the berries in season right now ? 

These recipes are perfect for this time of year. They are all quick, easy, healthy , and as appealing to the eye as they are to the appetite. 

Stuffed French Toast

Filling: 

4 oz. cream cheese

4 T. strawberry yogurt 

1 T. powdered sugar 

2 T. milk

1 cup strawberries 

Toast:

4 large eggs

1 cup milk

2 T. sugar

1/2 t. ground nutmeg

2 to 4 T. butter

8 slices bread 

Fresh strawberries for garnish 

Prepare filling by combining cream cheese, yogurt and powdered sugar until smooth. Add milk until mixture is spreadable. Fold in strawberries and set aside. Using a large mixing bowl, whisk eggs, milk, sugar and nutmeg until blended. Over medium heat, melt butter in a non-stick pan. Remove bread slices from egg mixture and place in skillet, cooking both sides until golden. Spread filling mixture on 4 slices of toast, cover with remaining 4 slices.Dust with powdered sugar and garnish with fresh strawberry slices. 

The next two choices are adaptions of recipes from Pillsbury Magazine, which I’ve subscribed to for the past 14 years and simply adore ! 

Ham-Asparagus Rolls With Spinach Raspberry Salad 

Ingredients:

16 fresh asparagus spears 

1/3 cup spreadable cheese with garlic and herbs 

8 slices Virginia or Smithfield ham

4 cups fresh raspberries 

1/4 cup purchased raspberry salad dressing 

To do:

Heat grill for indirect cooking as recommended by manufacturer. Break bottom off asparagus spears. Place 2 inches of water in large skillet; bring to a boil. Add asparagus; cook 1 to 2 minutes or until bright green. With pancake turner, remove asparagus from skillet; place in shallow pan of ice water. Remove from water; drain on paper towels. 

Spread cream cheese over each ham slice. Place 2 asparagus spears on each slice; roll ham around asparagus. Place two 10-12-inch metal skewers through 4 rolls.

Reduce heat to medium,and place ham rolls on unheated side of grill. Cook 3-4 minutes or until ham is lightly browned, turning once. 

On each serving plate, arrange spinach, raspberries, and 2 ham rolls. Drizzle each salad with salad dressing. 

Grilled Chicken Salad with Raspberries

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons raspberry jam 

1 1/2 tablespoons raspberry vinegar 

1 tablespoon honey 

1 1/2 teaspoons olive oil 

2 boneless skinless chicken breasts 

1/4 teaspoon black pepper 

1/2 bag mixed salad greens

1/2 cup fresh raspberries 

2 frozen soft white or crusty wheat dinner rolls 

To do:

Heat grill. In medium bowl, stir together jam, vinegar, honey and oil. Reserve one-third of the mixture for dressing. Add chicken to remaining mixture, tossing to coat. Let stand at room temperature 10 minutes. 

Remove chicken from marinade; discard marinade. Place chicken on gas grill over medium heat or on charcoal grill. Cook 10-12 minutes. Sprinkle with pepper. To heat dinner rolls, place rolls in foil on grill during last 6 to 7 minutes of cooking time. 

In large bowl, toss salad greens and reserved dressing. Divide between 2 plates. Slice each chicken breast crosswise into slices; do not separate slices. Fan chicken slices; arrange 1 1 breast on salad greens on each plate. Garnish with raspberries. Serve with dinner rolls. 

Another idea for breakfast or brunch is to simply make pancakes, cut into shapes with a knife or cookie cutter and garnish with berries. 

Hope you enjoyed this post! 

Hope it inspires you to try a new look, recipe, or simply enjoy the fruits of the season.

I always appreciate your time and attention.  

Yours truly, 

Jennifer 

Xoxoxo

ps. since we are talking breakfast ( I know, brunch) I’m leaving you with these three quotes from one of my favorite movies (Breakfast At Tiffany’s) –

pps. I just hate to end this post without 1 more quote : 

Pom-Poms And Legos: Proud Mommy Life

My son was with me when I found this dress at Burlington Coat Factory a few weeks ago. He described it as a big puffy cloud in the sky and thought I should buy it. He also asked me if I had any idea what time it was because it seemed like it was close to his bedtime. It was 4:30pm. 

I’ve worn this necklace over and over since I got it last fall and it’s part of the Lulu Avenue Collection available at http://www.stylebyalana.com . 

Today was William’s Kindergarten graduation ceremony. He is growing up but I’m feeling like a kid in these Pom Pom sandals. They are Sam Edelman from http://www.shoeme.ca. 

There are lots of great Pom -Pom sandals available right now. The assortment above can be found at http://www.matchesfashion.com.

The top 2 pairs are from http://www.forwardbyelysewalker.com. The 2 in the middle row are from http://www.luisaviaroma.com and the bottom 2 are from http://www.withchic.com. 

My little boy is growing up, for sure. It seems like it was only yesterday, not nine months ago, that he was beginning kindergarten. 

Last week my dad went to William’s school and took pictures of the children in his class as they were practicing for the ceremony. 

William’s wonderful teacher, Ms.Rosace, gave them as presents to each family. Each child painted the frame in the school’s colors, maroon and gray. 

Here is Ms.Roscace, trying to shake William’s hand as he quickly runs off the stage. That’s the back of my dad , trying to capture the moment. 

We are lucky to have a really wonderful principal, Mrs.Moschella, at St.Rocco’s. 

Both Angelina and William have had happy experiences at the school. 

Today , all William wanted to do after he graduated was go to Target. There was a Lego set he’s had his eye on and I told him to keep on doing a great job in kindergarten and he could get it. 

Mission accomplished. 

He was excited to come home and open a present from my parents. 

He declared “Graduation is just like Christmas!” 

So, he needed a special treat as well. Most of you know by now that my son is quite obsessed with Legos. He has to always know exactly what’s going on every day so he can plan when he will do his “work.” 

We have seen all the Lego movies a gazillion times. This song : 

and this quote: 

 -will forever be in my heart and mind . 

So, of course , the perfect treat  for a six year old , Lego – Obsessed  kid with a major sweet tooth is : 

Lego brownies !!! 

They are the simplest way to please a sweet boy and also can be a fun activity to do together. You can make your own favorite brownie and frosting recipe or just use a mix and canned frosting. The important thing is to have fun ! 

Use food coloring or flavored icing to make any color Lego and match the m&ms or skittles. 

It’s a fun way to keep a group of kids busy over the summer when getting together with other families for play dates. You could even stick with red, white, and blue for the 4th of July and challenge children to use the brownies to make their own edible creation! 

As I’ve been writing this , William’s been working hard and wanted to show what he’s accomplished from his new kit- 

Thank you all so much, for allowing me to share this special time with you !

I always appreciate your time and attention, especially when you allow me to go on about things so near and dear to my heart. 

Yours truly,

Jennifer 

Xoxoxo

Daisies On My Mind

Daisies certainly are the friendliest of flowers. 

I love how the turquoise color in this daisy necklace cheerfully complements the pattern of my Calvin Klein dress. I was happy to find both items at http://www.burlingtoncoatfactory.com last summer. 

Since then , I’ve accumulated other accessories with a daisy motif such as this fabulous hat from http://www.chicnova.com. It’s available now for only $12.00! 

This beautiful bag is from http://www.nicoleleeusa.com.

I really love how Marc Jacob’s Daisy Dream perfume has a fruity floral scent that is etheral, spirited, and luminous. It’s perfect for this time of year.

Planning this outfit kept reminding me of so many different things.

The line Meg Ryan delivers from one of my favorite movies:

The song I learned in kindergarten about a bicycle built for two:



One of my favorite quotes from “The Great Gatsby” :

Princess Daisy :

And this super easy cupcake recipe which I adapted from my mom’s 1966 Betty Crocker Cake Mix Cookbook: 

The book – 

 Just looking at this book brings me back to my early childhood. There is a recipe called ‘Lazy Daisy Cake’ which I turned into ‘Lazy Daisy Cupcakes.’

They are as easy as they look. Simply follow the directions of any cake mix, filling 2 cupcake trays. Use ready made frosting , any flavor,and cut marshmallows in the shape of flower petals. It’s easy to make different colors with colored sugar crystals or you can leave the petals white. Use any small candy for the center. They are great to bring to a child’s birthday party or even a baby or bridal shower. I think they would look very pretty arranged on a tiered platter, almost like a bouquet of real daisies! 

So, yes, I’ve had daisies on my mind.

And I hope that you enjoyed this post. 

I certainly appreciate your time and attention.

 I’ve loved your feedback on my previous posts and I’m so glad to connect with all of you. 

Yours truly,

Jennifer

Xoxoxo

Fashionably Sweet: Popsicles and Lace

I fell in love with this dress because of the lace overlay on top as well as underneath, making it have a swirly, twirly party kind of feeling. It’s by the White House Black Market brand but I found it on http://www.thredUP.com for 70% off the retail price. 

I love to pair black and white with a ‘pop’ of color and this time I decided to add a purple necklace from http://www.jcrew.com. I have to admit it is my daughter’s and from the children’s store. The color reminded me of a grape Popsicle, which led to the addition of this Betsy Johnson keychain. 

The keychain, hat , and handbag were all from http://www.macys.com. Shoes are Isaac Mizrahi New York , but found on thredUP.

My lipstick is actually a gloss with Martha Stewart glitter from http://www.michaelscrafts.com on top. It’s such a great quality glitter to blend easily with makeup and also washes off easily. 

“Self confidence is the best outfit, rock it and own it.” 

I came across this quote the other day and it got me to thinking about self confidence. We tell our children and those we love to believe in themselves, we support their successes, and we encourage them to keep trying when they struggle. 

Is all that enough to make someone feel confident enough so they can truly be themself in a world that seems to want people to just fit into some sort of mold? 

I know that my own mom and dad encouraged both me and my sister to choose careers and make life decisions that we truly desired and taught us to not let others affect our decisions. 

I think that both at home and in the classroom it is important to allow children to do as many things that they can on their own. As much as I want to jump in and help a child with a task , I know it is in their best interest to let them try , even if they struggle a little bit. 

True self confidence , I feel, comes from a collection of experiences in which a person is successful at reaching a goal or expressing themselves in a way that makes sense for them, and only determined by them. 

Cooking with kids is a great way to encourage self-confidence. I try to emphasize the fact that we want our food to be good for us but it can also be fun and delicious at the same time. 

I love Guy Fieri’s theory –

Teaching them to take control of their own health and also the skills to prepare something on their own is something I believe in. 

This is one of the first recipes I made with Angelina. She always loved berries and yogurt and was fascinated by the blender so it was a natural choice to share this cooking experience with her. 

Berry Yogurt Popsicles

Make 3 separate smoothies:

Purple: 1 cup blueberries 

               1/2 cup blackberries 

               6 oz blueberry yogurt 

                1 cup crushed ice 

White: 14 oz vanilla yogurt 

               2 tablespoons sugar

                1 cup crushed ice 

Pink:     3/4 cup raspberries 

                3/4 cup strawberries 

                6 ounces strawberry yogurt 

                1 cup crushed ice 

Blend each color smoothie separately in a blender and set aside. Pour 1st color into mold 1/3 of the way down and freeze for 30 minutes. Remove from freezer and insert sticks. Freeze for 1 hour. Add white smoothie , freeze another hour. Add purple smoothie and fill to top of the mold. Freeze until ready to eat. 

Hope you enjoyed this post. It includes  one of my favorite dresses and one of my most adored summertime treats, so thanks for allowing me to share these things with you!

Your time and attention is great appreciated , as always. 

Yours truly, 

Jennifer 

Xoxoxo 

 

Loving That Lemon: Fashion and Cuisine

Today the sun is shining bright where I live, which is the little town of Johnston, Rhode Island. I think it’s the perfect day for a bright little dress and fun accessories. 

As soon as I put it on, my son said “Let’s make lemonade!” and that’s what inspired this post. 

I found this Dolce Vita dress at http://www.thredUP.com last summer. I wanted it for September , for the first week of school. As a kindergarten teacher, I try to wear bright , fun clothes to liven up the days and keep my five year olds cheerful. 

Today I decided to pair it with a scarf from http://www.claires.com and Italian Shoemaker sandals , which I found at http://www.marshalls.com. 

I’ve been loving this Kate Spade bag and keychain all season.

And as a lot of you already know , I do love hats and always have one handy, especially this time of year . This one is from Steve Madden, found at http://www.burlingtoncoatfactory.com. The sunglasses are from http://www.lanecrawford.com. 

 I love the scented body sprays from http://www.victoriassecret.com and especially this one, with its refreshing clean scent. Too-faced is my absolute favorite brand for face products and this is a great lip balm from dermstore.com. 

Ok , we all know – 

and you CAN , if you want to. 

How about trying this ?

Sparkling Ginger Lemonade

You need:

2 cups water 

1 cup honey

2 tablespoons minced fresh gingerroot 

2 cups club soda, chilled 

1 cup lemon juice

In a small saucepan , bring the water, honey, and ginger to a boil. Remove from heat; cover and steep for 10 minutes. Strain, discarding ginger. Cool. 

Transfer to a pitcher; stir in soda and lemon juice. Serve immediately over ice. 

Yield: 5 servings.

You don’t have to make lemonade just because you have lemons. Here are a few other easy ideas. 

Chicken Fingers with Lemon Sauce

You will need:

1 jar lemon curd 

1/4 cup chicken broth 

1/2 teaspoon soy sauce 

1/4 teaspoon ground ginger

1 cup buttermilk 

1 tablespoon grated lemon peel 

1 cup flour 

1/2 cup cornstarch 

1-1/4 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts , cut into strips 

In a small saucepan, combine the lemon curd, broth, soy sauce and ginger. Cook and stir until combined and heat through; keep warm. In a shallow bowl, combine buttermilk mixture, then coat with flour mixture. 

In an electric skillet, heat oil to 375 degrees. Fry chicken, a few strips at a time, for 2-3 minutes on each side or until golden brown. Drain on paper towels. Serve with lemon sauce. 

Yield: 4 servings.

Tossed Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette 

In a large bowl, combine 1 bunch of romaine, 1 medium head iceberg, 10 bacon strips , 2 cups cherry tomatoes, 1 cup almonds, 1 cup Parmesan cheese, and 1 cup salad croutons. In a small bowl, combine 3 tablespoons lemon juice, 3 tablespoons of Parmesan cheese, 2 garlic cloves , 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon of pepper, and gradually whisk in 2/3 cup of olive oil. Drizzle over salad and toss to coat. Serve immediately. 

Yield: 21 servings 

Lemonade Meringue Pie

You will need:

3 eggs , separated 

1 package (4-6 ounces) cook and serve vanilla pudding mix

1 1/4 cup milk

1 cup sour cream 

1/3 cup lemon concentrate 

1 teaspoon lemon juice 

1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar 

6 tablespoons sugar

1 pastry shell 

Place egg whites in a small mixing bowl; let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. Meanwhile , in a large saucepan, combine the pudding mix, milk and sour cream until smooth. Cook and stir over medium heat until thickened and bubbly. Reduce heat,cook and stir 2 minutes longer. 

Remove from heat. Gradually whisk 1 cup hot filling into egg yolks; return all to the pan. Bring to a gentle boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes. Remove from the heat. Gently stir in lemonade concentrate; keep warm. 

Add lemon juice and cream of tartar to egg whites; beat on medium speed until soft peaks form. Gradually beat in sugar , 1 tablespoon at a time, on high until stiff glossy peaks form and sugar is dissolved. 

Pour warm filling into pastry shell. Spread meringue over filling, sealing edges to pastry. 

Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes. Cool on wire rack for 1 hour. Refrigerate for at least 3 hours before serving. 

Yield 6-8 servings.

Other options:

And remember :

However , I hope your day is more sweet than sour and hope you know how much I appreciate your time and attention while you are visiting my blog! 

Thanks so much !

Yours truly,

Jennifer 

Xoxoxo 

Simply Styled

It’s hard to believe this was a four day week and equally hard to believe we are already into the month of June! 

May seemed to come and go so quickly, but I have to say , it was probably my favorite month so far , fashionably speaking. I was able to plan out each day , and for the most part, the weather cooperated and I didn’t have to all of a sudden take out my snow boots ( like in April). 

This has been a busy time for me , both as a kindergarten teacher and a mom.

I’ve been busy making sure my students have the foundation they need for first grade and also rehearsing like crazy for our kindergarten graduation performance.

My own children have kept me busy as well. All of a sudden my daughter, Angelina seems to have turned into a little lady …

While my son is having anxiety about graduating kindergarten…

He literally has kept me up , trying to explain to me that he doesn’t know how he is going to find his way home once he learns to drive. I had to make him a map one night just to get him to go to sleep. 

This week I didn’t plan out my outfits like I usually do. I knew I was going to wear the ‘Darcie’ dress on Tuesday, and blogged about it ( my last post- Sunshine and Sorbet) but that’s it. 

On Wednesday we had our field trip to the zoo and I last minute decided to wear a casual dress and denim vest.

On Thursday I tucked a Jessica Simpson dress I found at thredUP.com into a Target skirt. The accessories are from Kohl’s. 

Today was National Donut (doughnut?) Day and sadly , I was dressed and had already posted before I knew.

 Why is that sad ? Because I actually have a dress with little donuts on it. It’s ok, I’m over that and I’ve moved on. And I ended up with an actual donut. 

So, as you can see, it all worked out. 

I usually jump right in the shower after work and put on pj’s. I know, you can’t stand the excitement. 

However , today I decided to actually put on regular clothes since I kind of rushed home. I was so tired I didn’t do my usual ‘after work on Friday’ errands.

I was thinking “Luckily, there are only 12 more days of school” ! 

Anyway , it was pretty early , so I decided to put on an actual outfit instead of pajamas but kept it quite simple – 

This outfit was almost completely thrifted, only the shoes were a splurge for  a friend’s wedding. 

Sometimes simple is best. 

Have a beautiful weekend !

Thanks for taking time to check out this post. Your time and attention is always appreciated! 

Yours truly,

Jennifer 

Xoxoxo