KSSBelle – Page 16

The Perfect Summer/Fall Dresses

Posted on June 11, 2015 by KSSBelle

The one thing I love most about a great Summer dress is the fact that all you have to do is figure out what shoes you’re going to wear, and add some pretty jewelry and you’re done. What makes a great Summer dress even better? Being able to wear it through the Fall, too. Now that I am at home with my little one, it’s easier for me to wear a cotton dress, add a pair of sandals, and we’re off to play in the sun. Add a vest and rain boots in the Fall, and you’ve got one versatile dress.

I’ve rounded up a few casual Summer dresses for you that you can also wear in the Fall when the temperatures start to get cooler. I love a dress that can work a lot of overtime.

Factory Textured Cotton Dress

This is great to wear now while the temps are hot, and later with a crisp button up underneath and some boots in the Fall.

Factory Printed Tee Dress

Another great dress to wear now with some cute, neutral sandals, and then later with a blazer, tights and boots.

Women’s Stripe Ponte Knit Dress

This dress is a classic now, and later with a cardigan and boots or booties in the Fall.

Lilly Pulitzer Christie Print T-Shirt Dress

The perfect T-Shirt dress. I love the 3/4 sleeves. It would be great now, and then later with a puffer vest and some cute rain boots. The Elephants…too cute for words.

Minor Obsession – Throw Pillows

Posted on June 10, 2015June 10, 2015 by KSSBelle

If I had to say the one thing I change out at our house décor-wise quite frequently would be throw pillows. I will admit I have a teensy weensy obsession with throw pillows. I simply chalk it up to the fact that you can literally make an inexpensive update instantly to a room with a new set of throw pillows. If that cures my boredom with a room, then I’ll keep the obsession going. All in all, if you find a great pair of throw pillows it will probably run you close to $50.00, but that’s a lot cheaper than updating an entire couch or other furniture in a room, am I right? If you have a neutral base (like couches and chairs) then you can add pattern and poppy throw pillows into the mix easily. I love accessorizing with color in both fashion and décor. In my opinion, it’s all in the details. I have a few other obsessions like lamps, handbags, coats and shoes (we can chat about those in another post later), but for the most part décor-wise, my weakness is a cute set of throw pillows.

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Some of my favorite places to find these beauties is at Target (of course), Homegoods, and I have even found a few at Etsy that I like, too.

Here’s a round up of some fun throw pillows I have my eyes on right now.

Monogrammed Pink Gingham

I fell in love with this throw pillow a few months ago. These may just have to be a birthday present to myself. Pink and white gingham and pom poms? I’m in L.O.V.E.

Greek Key Pillows

These are classic. They come in several colors too.

Jute Braid Pillow

This is a timeless, neutral pillow that you can mix colorful throw pillows with to create a layered throw pillow collection on a couch, etc.

What are some of your décor obsession change outs? Do you love a good throw pillow as much as I do?

Design Darling & Top Picks

Posted on June 8, 2015June 8, 2015 by KSSBelle

Have you heard of the boutique Design Darling? I discovered it a little over 3 years ago. It’s a really cute and chic online boutique. This boutique features everything from candles to tassel earrings and even home decor. All of her stuff is happy and bright (two of my favorite things to be), definitely a perfect place for the typically “girly girl,” which I just so happen to be. Mackenzie has exceptional style and that’s exactly what she passes onto you in her online boutique. She also has a great blog, too. Another great one to add to your daily reading list. Her dog is precious too.

Here are my top picks from the Design Darling boutique! Some of these things may or may not be on my birthday list.

Happy Shopping!

Scalloped Desk Organizer – Pink Waves

How cute is this for your desk? It would be a great addition to my desk upstairs!

Ginger Jar Guest Towel

This guest towel would be perfect in our half bathroom downstairs!

Le Pen – Periwinkle Set of 12

These would be a colorful addition to my desk for writing notes in my planner, thank you notes, etc…

Camera Print

I took photography in high school, and to this day I still love it. This print would be a nice addition to my office gallery wall I am building.

Pearl Tassel Earrings

These would definitely be a “splurge” item for me, but I know I would love these for many years to come. Classic tassel earrings in my opinion.

Jonathan Adler Zebra Dish – Navy Blue

This would be a welcomed addition to my nightstand. I constantly have loose odds and ends like earrings and my watch on my nightstand. This would at least keep them organized.

Note Taking Queen Notebook

My love for elephants continues…I am constantly writing “to-do” lists, adding things to my “dream list” and so this notebook would be a happy one to open anytime I need to jot a thought down on paper.

The Best “Apple Crisp” Recipe

Posted on June 5, 2015 by KSSBelle

This is hands down the best apple crisp I’ve ever had in my life. Before I share this recipe with you, I first need to give full credit to my best friend of 27 years. This recipe has been passed down in her family for years. I asked her for her recipe shortly after I got married, and she gave it to me (thankfully). Since then, I have made this for several house warming gifts, dinner parties and just because…it’s that good.

It’s so easy to make with such simple ingredients – that’s my kind of recipe.

6 Large granny smith apples
2 Cups sugar
2 Cups all purpose flour
2 Sticks unsalted butter, melted
2 Tablespoons ground cinnamon
4 Tablespoons water

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.

Start by grabbing your 9 x13 baking dish. Wash and slice the apples into very thin half moon slices. Slice the half moon slices in half. Layer the apple slices in the bottom of the baking dish. Sprinkle your 4 tablespoons of water over the apples evenly in the dish. Sprinkle the ground cinnamon over the apples.

Next, get a large mixing bowl ready for the “good stuff” otherwise known as the “crisp” part. Add your 2 cups of flour, 2 cups of sugar, then your 2 sticks of melted butter. Stir these 3 ingredients together well with a spoon.

Pour the crisp ingredients onto the apples in your baking dish evenly. Place your apple crisp in the oven and bake for 45 minutes, or until golden brown.

Serve warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Enjoy – and don’t worry, you can thank me later!

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

Loving Lately

Posted on June 4, 2015 by KSSBelle

It’s always fun to discover things that other people are loving right now, so I thought I would share with you some things that I’m loving lately. These are random, so bare with me. What are some things that you’re loving lately?

Smoothies

I feel like they start my day off on the right foot. I will make them for my husband and I most mornings now, but we’ve found that our little one likes them just as much as we do. I typically mix up one granny smith apple, 2 or 3 tablespoons of Greek yogurt, one banana, 4-5 strawberries, 1/2 cup of milk, a handful of ice and sometimes I add flax. It’s a great way to get your fruit in for the day.

Roku

This has been an awesome investment for us. Between my husband working late in the evenings and the little one’s bedtime, we just can’t seem to catch our shows during the actual time they’re on air. So, we use our Roku. It’s awesome. You decide when you want to watch it. We also have Netflix streaming on our Roku as well (thanks to my brother adding us to his share plan! Thanks big bro!) It’s really convenient for us, and we love it.

Patio Dinners

When the weather is nice, my husband and I will take our dinner and a glass of wine outside. We plug the baby monitor in, and talk about our days. (We also do this on the weekend mornings too, just with our coffee). It makes for a great date night for us at home, just outdoors! We definitely are lighting our citronella candle these days, but it is so worth it to see the sun go down in the evenings together. We do go on date nights occasionally, but we’re such homebodies, so the ones at home are perfect, too!

Gardening

This year I’ve finally had time to do a little bit of gardening. My Mom is the only reason why I know what I’m doing though. She is my go-to when it comes to plants, where they should go in the yard, and how to take care of them. I even enjoy watering all of the flowers/shrubs in the evenings, too. I hope I can be half as good as my Mom is one day in the garden. I remember as a kid, dreading going to the nurseries with her because I would have rather been playing with my friends at home, and I thought to myself “I’m not going to do this to my kids.” Well, I have to say, I’ve now taken my little one to the nursery several times, and I am so turning into my Mom in so many ways! I laugh about it a lot, but turning into my Mom is the best thing in the world. I now understand her love of gardening. The pretty blooms make me so happy.

Blogging

I knew in my heart that I always wanted to start a fashion blog, and after I quit my job as a Senior Copywriter in the fashion world to be at home with my little one, I decided it was time. It was well overdue in fact. I love that I get to continue writing, and combine my creative side in photography/fashion. It’s the perfect outlet for me, and hopefully I am inspiring others along the way. I am excited that I’ll be adding more “Outfit Posts” soon, too! I love styling outfits. So stay tuned my friends.

All images in this post via

J.Crew Factory – The June Edit

Posted on June 3, 2015 by KSSBelle

As I mentioned in this post, I want to bring you my “top picks” from what I consider my more budget-friendly shops, especially when they’re having great sales.

As I have said many times before, when I shop, I like to buy things that will last for more than one season (more like for many years my friends), and that I’ll truly love for a long time.

Since J.Crew Factory is offering an Extra 30% off Everything online only (Use Code: SPLASHYSALE), plus free shipping today only, I thought I would give you my “June Edit” for J.Crew Factory.

Happy Shopping!

Factory Laser Cut Swing Tee

The laser cut sleeves is what really drew me to this top. It’s unexpected, but welcomed to what would be just an ordinary top. This top would look great with any pair of jeans and shorts right now.

Factory Long Sleeve Eyelet Shirt

I really love the eyelet detail on this shirt. I also love the long sleeves. I am not opposed to wearing a long sleeve top in the Summer months since it does have such a lightweight look about it. It would look perfect with a great pair of white jeans (I am a big fan of an all white outfit in the Summer) or shorts.

Factory Flared Skirt

These flared skirts caught my eye at J.Crew during the Fall when I was expecting. I fell in love with the look, but needed to wait until post baby to wear it. Now that I can wear this skirt, my color choice is ivory. It will look great in the Summer with a classic button up and sandals, and even better in the Fall/Winter with black tights, boots and a sweater. V.E.R.S.A.T.I.LE.

Factory Boyfriend Boatneck Sweater

There’s nothing better than throwing on a Summer weight sweater to keep you cozy on those cooler evenings. It’s the perfect baby blue hue, too.

Factory Maxi Dress with Pom Pom Trim

This maxi is gorgeous. I was sold with the pom poms, but the embroidery detail is pretty too.

Factory Printed Pleated Short

This print is both bright and abstract, which just screams Summer to me. Put on a crisp, white button up and cute sandals and “hello Summer chic!”

Factory Rattan Clutch

Kate Spade had a similar design, but this one is a fraction of the price, which makes it even better. I would love to have this clutch for a date night or girls night out.

Be Squared – Gingham

Posted on June 2, 2015June 2, 2015 by KSSBelle

Gingham is quite possibly the most popular pattern in fashion, well, that and stripes. It’s timeless which is probably one of the reasons why I love it so much. You can wear it year round, you can decorate your home with this pattern, and you can even eat off of adorable gingham plates, monogrammed if you so desire. I simply love gingham. I love the fact that it’s also so simple, too. It’s an incredibly wearable pattern for women and men of all ages. You can literally wear it from the time you’re a baby to the time your 92. You’ll find this pattern in so many rich colors, which is what makes it fun. Besides the gingham clothing my family and I wear, we recovered some bamboo chairs in a cranberry, yellow, green and gold gingham pattern 4 years ago. These chairs are just happy, preppy chairs in our living room. To this day, I never tire of them. So, whether or not you want to wear gingham, decorate with it or even tote the pattern around town, know it will never go out of style.

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Here are just a few things in gingham that I’m loving right now. Do you love this pattern? What are your favorite gingham pieces these days?

Giselle Gingham Top

This top is amazing. It’s a little bit dressier than a classic button up, which is a nice change. I love the 3/4 sleeve length. This top would look great with white jeans in the summer or a cute pair of shorts, too.

The St. Anne Tote

Barrington Gift totes are my favorite. This gingham print is new for Summer. I have the St. Anne Axis diaper bag tote, and it holds everything we need very well. This new navy, gingham tote just might have to be added to my collection.

Melamine Monogram Salad Plates

Have you seen the “Preppy Paper Girl” shop on Etsy? Everything in her shop is incredibly chic. If you need a gift for someone preppy, this is the only place you need to shop. These salad plates come in so many beautiful colors, and would look great for everyday or if you’re hosting a party. These plates would make a great hostess gift too.

Staffordshire Folded Notecards

Another great pick from the Preppy Paper Girl shop. Call me old fashioned, but I am a big fan of snail mail. I was raised to write handwritten thank you notes. I will be instilling this same tradition in my children, too. These gingham notecards make writing your thank you notes so much more fun in my opinion.

Happy Weekend!

Posted on May 29, 2015May 29, 2015 by KSSBelle

Happy Friday, Everyone!

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What are your plans for this weekend? I hope whatever you’re doing, it’s relaxing and spent with the ones you love. We’re planning on taking our twinkle toes to our favorite breakfast spot Saturday morning for some pancakes (first time!). We also have a birthday party to attend for some dear friends of ours which we are looking forward to on Saturday afternoon. And, I may or may not have a small “honey to-do list” for the Mr. in my life! There will be plenty of relaxing involved as well, as I am not that mean. Wink. Wink.

Old Navy – Favorites Lately

Posted on May 28, 2015May 28, 2015 by KSSBelle

Old Navy has really outdone themselves this season. Lately, I have been shopping there for my entire family. If you sign up to receive their emails, you save an additional 20% off your first purchase, too.

On a side note: In the Wall Street Journal yesterday they were talking about how J.Crew has really started losing their loyal customer base. I will have to say I am one of them. I love J.Crew (especially the Tall pants and their coats), but I am loving J.Crew Factory more and more lately. J.Crew Factory and Old Navy are my two “go-to” stores now. Old Navy has really taken a turn towards the preppy styles, and that makes me one, happy girl. Plus, you cannot beat their prices when they’re having these great sales!

Below are my favorites from Old Navy right now.

Boxy Scalloped Edge Top

This top is adorable. Combining a scalloped edge and eyelet is perfection in my book. You can wear this with shorts and jeans! It’s a really pretty top. I love the length on the sleeves, too. It also comes in white.

Embroidered Gauze Camis

I wear camis all of the time in the Summer. Throw on a cardigan or wear alone. I love the embroidery detail. The cobalt blue is gorgeous.

Striped Boatneck Tops

This top is an everyday staple. Perfect with a pair of solid or patterned shorts or white jeans. It comes in some really great colors, too. A great shirt for Moms, yet still stylish!

Scalloped Edge Sleeveless Top

LOVE this top. Again, the scalloped edge and eyelet. It was love at first sight. It also comes in several colors. Wear it with shorts, jeans or a great pair of skinny pants.

Printed Pixie Chino Shorts

Stripes. You can never have too many. Perfect everyday shorts for the Summer. Pair them with a classic button up or a causal tee and sandals and you’re set.

Jersey Tank Maxi Dress

If you want to be comfortable, but still in style a maxi dress is the way to go. The neckline is different, and this dress comes in tall!

Pleated Crepe Skirt

This skirt is cute. I love the simple stripes at the bottom. A very nautical color combination.

Suede Wedge Sandals

Pink wedges! I am in love. You can wear these pretty shoes with anything this Summer. Pair these with shorts, pants, skirts…whatever your heart desires!

What are you loving at Old Navy lately? What did you think about the WSJ article about J.Crew? I still love J.Crew, too. I haven’t given up on them.

Tuna Salad

Posted on May 27, 2015 by KSSBelle

Tuna. You either love it or could leave it. I love it. I have literally made this recipe almost every week since I discovered it on Natalie’s blog about a month or two ago. It’s hands down one of my favorite lunches now. I grew up on both cold and hot tuna salad recipes. My husband even ate it, and he was really skeptical since he didn’t grow up eating tuna like I did. I adapted Natalie’s recipe and added dill pickles to mine. My Mom always had dill pickles in her tuna salad, and I think it added the perfect flavor to it.

This picture below doesn’t do this salad justice. If you like tuna you will love this salad. It’s healthy for you and so good.

Tuna Salad
Two or three 6 oz. tins of albacore tuna packed in water
3/4 cup of light mayonnaise
1/2 cup chopped onions
1/2 cup chopped cucumber
1 TBS chopped fresh dill (I used mine out of my spice rack)
1/4 cup drained capers
2 TBS Dijon mustard
4 chopped dill pickles
3 TBS chopped fresh tarragon (I used mine out of my spice rack)
2 TBS chopped leaf parsley (I used mine out of my spice rack)
Fresh cracked pepper to taste
*Optional: add some toasted almonds or 1 chopped apple

I typically pair mine with crackers and a few slices of cheese on the side for lunches. My Mom made it the other day, and she served hers with a fruit salad (watermelon, cantaloupe and blueberries) and rolls, which sounds good, too. I have also made my husband a toasted tuna salad sandwich with cheese, and he loves this recipe that way as well.