Name a girl without a pair of cute wedges! The versatility of this summer staple makes life so much easier. I mean who doesn’t love a shoe that is great with a frolicky dress, and you can still pair them with your skinny jeans?! Definitely the summer go to when you want some height but don’t want to pull out your pumps:)

Soooo when it comes to dieting, or trying to eat well, no one is perfect. For those of you that are newbies (and even the veterans out there) to a health conscious lifestyle, it’s very easy to succumb to cravings! Many people think that because I’m so mindful about eating, I’ll never treat myself to a “not so healthy” meal or dessert. The truth is, if I sat and obsessed over depriving myself every second of my life, I would become frustrated with the idea of healthy eating. When I’m not specifically dieting to lose weight, I like to practice the 80/20 rule. I keep my food journal and record everything I eat during the week and stick to my healthy meals Monday through Friday. On Saturdays, I let myself get something delicious without going completely off track. I love food, and no matter how much we may try to make healthy versions of the foods we love, sometimes it’s just great to appreciate a delicious meal without trimming the essentials that make a dish amazing. While I let myself have a “not so healthy” meal on Saturdays, I don’t look at it as a time to go on a binge. Giving yourself a chill day on dieting doesn’t mean go crazy and eat everything in sight! Eating anything and everything will catch up with you! Remember, moderation is key. Another big component of practicing the 80/20 rule is discipline! Whether you choose one or two days a week to let yourself eat what you want, it’s important get back on track on Monday! You have to promise yourself not to let loose habits linger into the week, or you will easily slide into a week of poor eating. Trust me, I’ve been there! If you don’t have the discipline, this whole method of dieting can’t work!

I found this on the Starbucks website and thought it would be helpful when trying to pick a calorie friendly drink!

Source: Starbucks

The weather is getting pretty warm is most parts of the country (um, LA, hurry up already!), and the last thing you want to deal with is gross, melting make up in the hot sun. Tinted moisturizers provide the perfect amount of sheer coverage without that “caked on” look. It’s just enough pigment to even out your skin tone with the added bonus of SPF. So perfect for pool and beach days, barbeques, or any other outdoor activity!

Is it wrong that cute gym clothes motivate me to work out?! Working out in old, holey sweat pants doesn’t really get me going, and sad to say, could be a major setback when its time to get moving. Most major stores now have an active wear line, which is great because of the range of price points. Places like Forever 21, H&M, and Old Navy offer great deals if you aren’t into forking out lots of cash for work out gear.

I posted this a while back on my Facebook fan page. Love this quote!

I love egg rolls, but I don’t love the fact that they’re deep fried! Baking them cuts the calories tremendously, and spraying them with non-stick spray before baking gives the egg rolls the “fried effect”. This was my first time making them, and I’m still perfecting the recipe! I love that you can pretty much add anything you like to the filling. This time I kept mine pretty traditional, but I look forward to trying a healthier Southwestern version with avocado! The possibilities are endless. Let me know if you like them!

P.S. – These are great served with a little store bought sweet & sour sauce on the side!
xx

Baked Chicken Egg Rolls

1/2 pound baked chicken breasts, chopped
1/2 cup portabella mushrooms, finely chopped
1 small red onion, finely chopped
1/2 bag of cole slaw mix
1 pack of egg roll wrappers
1/4 cup soy sauce
2 tsps minced garlic
2 tsp olive oil
Non stick spray

1.Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2.Heat olive oil in a large pan over medium heat.
3. Add onion, mushrooms, and garlic and let sauté for about 2 minutes.
4. Add chicken, then stir in coleslaw.
5. Cook until cabbage is cooked wilted and cooked through.
6. To assemble egg rolls, lay egg roll out and spoon filling onto wrapper. Fold top
and bottom sides over, then roll the other sides tightly together. Repeat until you use all the filling.
6. Spray a large cookie sheet with non-stick spray and assemble egg rolls on sheet. Evenly spray non-stick spray over egg rolls.
7. Bake egg rolls  for 15-20 minutes, or until brown and crispy.

Makes 11-12 egg rolls. Enjoy!

Cocktail rings are a great way to add pizazz to a simple outfit…or a fancier ensemble! For simple looks I love skinny jeans, and loose v-neck tee, and a pretty cocktail ring for a pop of color.

1. Stella & Dot 2. Rachel Rachel Roy 3. Juicy Couture 4. Low Luv by Erin Wasson 5. Asos 6. Vince Camuto 7. Kenneth Jay Lane 8. Stella & Dot

It’s no secret that I’m pretty obsessed with a massive amount of arm candy on my wrist. I feel naked without it! When I was contacted by the owner of Atlanta based jewelry line Dream Jewelry, I fell in love with the unique designs and the thought of getting custom designed bracelets :) The purple beaded bracelet shown above is called Princess Valentine, and it’s one of the many adorable  bracelets on the website. Make sure you check Dream Jewelry out at www.dreamjewelryheart.com, and like their Facebook page!

Coachella 2012 is quickly approaching and it’s the perfect time to sport an easy, effortless look. Check out the Alessandra Ambrosio, Beyonce’, and Nicole Richie with their “hippie-inspired” looks from Coachella 2011. The looks I chose below are from ShopNastyGal. Which one is your fave??