in the Nude

No, not naked- but forgoing clothes with a pair of these may make for an interesting evening..!

The barely there look is only flattering for some when it comes to full out clothing, however the “nude” shoe is a universal pleaser! There’s many shades and styles and I’ve had my eye on a few splurge worthy kicks this past week. Think my closet needs a new pair!

Tory B.- Aaden pump
same shoe, less height!
Tory B. Aaden flat
Tory B. –  Pacey Ballet flat
ToryB. Madison pump
Jcrew
Jcrew
 
I tend to favor the flat shoe, but a new years goal is to venture into heel wearing more often. The heel styles have some substantial height while still having a nice thick walkable heel. I’m just loving the Jcrew styles- but the aaden pump from my all time fav ToryB may win out due to an inch less height.
 
Either way you slice it, i don’t think you can go wrong with any of these nudes..

Drama Queen.

So in case you don’t know this- I’m really into theater. In my high school days my niche was “drama kid” and I was in “Glee” before it was even a thing. Singing in particular is a passion of mine. I’ve “starred” (local in south florida that is) in 9 full productions between high school and college; 7 of these being Musicals (my favorite lead roles being Meg in Damn Yankees and Cinderella in Into the Woods). I’ve trained classically with private intstructors (yep, I can sing Opera), been honored to sing during 3 wedding ceremonies (my sister’s and 2 dear friends), and have spent countless hours singing in the shower or evenings out at karaoke bars.
I’m not gonna lie…I sort of think I’m a big deal in the vocal department. I was truly blessed with a talent and lately I’ve been frustrated with myself that I don’t use this talent more often. I do at times think, “Oh if only i tried out for American idol, or moved to New York to pursue it..”; However I am far to practical and pragmatic to have tried such a thing. Eh… C’est la vie.
Well you can imagine my excitement a few years back when the film industry decided to undertake transforming the beauty of musical theater to the big screen! I.have.seen.them.all. no matter how good (Evita, Chicago, Dreamgirls, Rent) or bad (Sweeny Todd)- I go.
Over the holidays I was able to go see Les Miserables. Simply put, I was blown away. Mostly I was overjoyed by the way it was done. This is the first time the raw passion and acting of musical theater while also singing LIVE was caught on camera (let me tell you, it is hard to cry and belt out notes at the same time!). no no no, no dubbed singing here. I was SO impressed with every aspect and talent of the actors within the film and the quality overall. Now keep in mind, Les Mis is an operetta or “through-sung” musical, meaning there’s about 3 spoken lines of dialogue in the whole 2 hour 45 minutes film…no joke.  
I wept throughout and have a whole new respect for Anne Hathaway (however I still think Amanda Seyfried should stick to just acting … or take a hike altogether please).
I bought the soundtrack, and have been humming along (slash belting out notes in my apartment at random). I will own this film as soon as it’s available as well, and really hope it gets the props it deserves come awards season. If you haven’t seen it, you should. A beautiful story about sacrifice, forgiveness, and love…

Welcome, 2013!

2012 was a fantastic year for us, and frankly will be tough to top.
I became a “Mrs” after 6 years of dating my best friend
We went on our free honeymoon (won for us through the votes of dearest friends and family on a “proposal story contest” on the knot.com- yes people win these things!)
J made the decision to leave the law, took a 3 week solo road trip
across America, and then started a new job.
We welcomed the first grandbaby into the Bruno family, my dear sweet nephew Pierson.
As far as New Year’s resolutions, I’m not a big fan. I think we have a tendency for setting big goals for ourselves and then chucking them completely out the window the second we start to slip. The gym has been packed this week- but give it a month and I’m sure it’ll die down.

So instead of just focusing on all the changes that need to be made (i.e. eating better, drinking less, working out more), I’ve decided to highlight some of the beautiful moments life has to offer this year (those sparkling ones)! Here’s a few I hope to enjoy:

Wear high heels more. Host a brunch with girlfriends for no occasion.  Spend more time outside with Zuko. Be nicer to myself and stop comparing myself to others. Host a few game nights. Have a monthly stay-in date with J where we cook something fun/new. Enjoy posting on this blog more and letting myself have fun with it. Hear more live music. Make ice cream. Take day trips to Huber’s for the vineyard or to pick fresh produce. Visit the farmer’s market. Buy our first home.
So on that note, I am making a choice to enjoy each moment and invest in myself more. I think I’ll also start making more check lists. Welcome, 2013. It’s gonna be a good one…I can feel it.

Tis the season…

For sunless tanner!  Now, my complexion is closer to porcelain than a Baywatch babe even in the height of summer. I tanned relentlessly to prep for my wedding in June and was left “slightly bronzed.” Now that’s it’s winter here, I am pasty to say the least, and my heavy handed bronzer was beginning to look too put on.
These little beauties have solved my problem!
So easy to use, not a streak in sight and they don’t have that nasty sunless tanner smell that even the brands that boast they don’t have-yet still do.
I say toast the pasty- get em.use em. glow.

Let it bleed

Oxblood, Merlot, burgundy…
Whatever you want to call it- this dark maroon-red hue is all over magazines, runways, and red-carpets this season. Whether it be lips, nails, handbags, clothing, hats, shoes. It’s everywhere.
Lucky for the consumer, you can nab some great pieces minus a hefty price tag.

here’s some pieces I’m eyeing:

<a href="http://www.jcrew.com/browse/single_product_detail.jsp?PRODUCTprd_id=845524441825550&FOLDERfolder_id=2534374302046145&srcCode=AFFI00001&siteId=3S2TmRlrgJg-%2FZEEWxKuAeIV7hSH56Zjdg&#8221; target=”_blank”>J.Crew – Double cloth trench. on sale 30% off plus free shipping right now!
SoleSociety – Kelly heels.

Kate Spade – ruby studs

As far as this shade on your lips- don’t be scared. There’s a shade out there for you. Two of my fav’s are by Nars and YSL.

YSL– rouge in #8
It’s creamy and moisturizing, truly an “oxblood” hue

Nars– pur matte in volga
It’s matte and can be dabbed on and topped with gloss for a lighter look, or layered on dark for an almost purple/black look, with lots of steps in between. With a lighter hand, it’s a great shade- and being matte it stays put for a while.
*For the drug-store maven check out Revlon colorstay ultimate suede lipstick in backstage and for nails, revlon top-speed polish in forbidden.
When wearing bold lips, remember to check your teeth!, but also- be confident. You may worry people are staring at your lips; they might be. Keep in mind that they’re probably wishing: “gosh, i wish i could wear lipstick like that” and they probably could- you’ve just gotta sparkle and wear it proud.

About to Pop – Over

My beautiful sister is pregnant with her first child and due in a week!! I am so pumped to be an aunt and can’t wait to meet my nephew. For my bachelorette party in Miami, my dear sister planned a dinner for all the girls at the fabulous BLT Steak in The Betsy Hotel. They served the most decadent and tasty bread items pre steak-fest, Gruyere Pop Overs. Lucky for us, they also included the recipe card for these beauties on our napkins.

In tribute to my sister, who’s ready to pop! I ventured to make these beauties with much success. Though their sheer size and taste made me think this was going to be quite the task- it was surprisingly easy. The bake-time being the only deterrent from making them a week-night must.
after the first turn. I was a bit concerned I had done something wrong.

Starting to feel better about it at the next turn. they sure popped-over quickly!!
The result.
I served them alongside steaks. They’re great as is or topped with some butter and salt. Enjoy!
BLT Steak Gruyere Pop-Overs.
4 cups milk 
4 cups all-purpose flour 
1.5 Tbs. kosher salt 
8 eggs 
2.5 cups Gruyère cheese, grated 
(makes 12- halving this works for one batch of 6)
Place a 6-cup popover pan in the bottom third of an oven. Place a baking sheet on the rack underneath to catch any drips. Preheat the oven to 350ºF.

In a small saucepan gently warm the milk over low heat and set aside. Whisk the eggs until frothy, then slowly whisk in the hot milk, adding it slowly and whisking constantly so the eggs don’t cook.  then gradually whisk in the sifted flour+salt mixture in until almost smooth.

Remove the popover pan from the oven and spray the cups with nonstick vegetable spray. Fill the prepared cups about three-fourths full with batter and sprinkle each with approx 2 tbsp. cheese.

Bake for 50 minutes, turning pan 180 degrees every 15 minutes. Serve immediately!


In.vest.ed

I’ve recently fallen in love with J.Crew. I’ve always admired this classic yet, fresh brand. One of my favorite purchases is this great puffer vest. I saw it when I walked in the store and just had to have it. Despite my husband making “Mr. T” jokes (esp. when the vest is paired with gold chains), I love throwing it on to keep warm and run errands around town.
I’ve paired it here with a simple black turtleneck (the tissue turtle- jcrew), jeans and slouchy black leather boots:
Here, I added an extra layer, a simple chambray shirt with black skinny pants and the same slouchy
boots. It’s a versatile piece and I can’t wait to pair it with other looks this fall and into winter.
I’m wondering if i could put it over a skirt or dress. We shall see! I also love the solids, and may need to invest in at least one more.
J.Crew Vest

Lady Lush

I need to share my latest and greatest obsession…all things LUSH.  Recently a dear friend of mine turned me on to this line of skin and haircare products. Mind you, I had seen this store before and been somewhat overwhelmed by the mass quantity of brightly colored concoctions everywhere.
I needed some guidance. They have a variety of soaps, bath bombs, and bubbles. They smell awesome and are a great place to start (weighing in at $7 a pop on average they’re lovely little hostess gifts for the holiday season!), but if you’re wanting some extra decadent skin and hair love- continue on.
This stuff blows my mind. I’ve invested a bit in many of their products and have yet to use something I didn’t like. My hair is healthier than it’s ever been, my skin quenched and supple. I want to share my favorites here:
 Ro’s Argan body conditioner – contains cocoa butter, cupuacu butter, almond oil and Argan oils. This stuff is beyond awesome, esp if you like cutting corners. After your suds sesh, rub this all over while in the shower, rinse off, pat dry and bam- you’re moisturized and ready to go- not to mention to smell like a dozen roses. A true luxury in my shower routine.
Turkish Delight – Another rosy favorite. This beauty is the perfect body wash to pair with my above favorite. It’s got  jasmine and Turkish rose, almond oil, cocoa butter and neroli oil. Another decadent shower must.
Ocean Salt – get the big size, trust me. Its got the lime and the coconut + vodka and avocado. Moisturizing for the face and ideal for blocked pores, blackheads or blemishes. Also fantastic for the body to exfoliate and brighten. Plus, it’s pretty.
Godiva – This is, wait for it… a solid shampoo bar… and it is beyond awesome. It’s super moisturizing and smells so amazingly of jasmine that it’ll perfume your bathroom for the month that it lasts in your shower. *A little note- the hair products do take some adjusting to due to them not being packed with silicons like regular shampoos. Think of it as a healing process – after a week, your hair will look better then it ever has. The Retread conditioner is great, but won’t ever leave your hair completely “silky” in the shower- it absorbs into hair rather than “coating” it with fake-ness, but it does take some getting used to.
Besides the uh-mazing benefits these products have for your overall appearance, Lush doesn’t test on animals and everything is natural and organic (meaning safe for your body and soul… and for little munchkins too!- like the lavender scented Dream Cream. Rub it on your mini-me before sleepy time for restful moisture). I’m running out of my other face-stuff and can’t wait to venture into this line of wonderful once it’s out.

With flowers in her hair.

Because I’m considering this an “everything blog”, figuring out how or where to start has been somewhat of a challenge. So I decided to just jump in with what’s going on right now!

If there’s something to know about me and J (my husband) it’s that we love to travel.  When J decided to leave the law and take three weeks off in between leaving one job and starting the other, he decided with my permission encouragement to rent a car and drive to San Francisco, California from Louisville. Though I’ll highlight his adventure at some point, the perk for me here – a trip for me to the Goldengate City!

I flew out to meet him at the end of his journey. It was a fantastic weekend spent with our lovely hosts, some friends of J’s from Law school. We ate our way through San Fran, saw many of the touristy-sights, and just spent time enjoying this lovely city. Here’s my top 5 from the weekend.

The Ferry Building Marketplace
I could’ve spent a day in here trying all the food and browsing the shops. We bought truffle honey and truffle salt and can’t wait to share some recipes using them.


Foreign Cinema restaurant
In the super-hipster part of town; The atmosphere was great and the food beyond fantastic.

A day in Napa.
We went to the Castello di Amarosa (castle of Love) winery (if you know my husband, you know this was the obvious and only choice), and did a tour and reserve tasting. I practiced some self control and only bought a case of 6 bottles.

Bi-rite Creamery.
I’ll definitely be testing and sharing my way through their cookbook with their original and decadent flavors like lavender honey, salted caramel, and brown sugar with caramel ginger swirl.

Sunset walk on the beach.


It was a beautiful weekend with beautiful friends. Definitely, memories on the vine.