Fashion Friday - Fedoras

Fedoras, specifically straw fedoras are HUGE right now!  They are so effortless, and make outfits look pulled together.  The best part is that they are a chic, fashionable way to hide a bad hair day.  I always wear baseball caps when I'm having a bad hair day, but the goal is to find a fedora that will fit my big head!
                                               
                           Her hair looks great with the fedora

I love the braid!

Loving this whole look!  

My take on a fedora, MJ style!

Kara's Kooking - Baked Parmesan Tomatoes

This recipe is a tomato lover's dream!  Growing up I hated tomatoes, which I think was based on my Dad's still present hatred of tomatoes, but now I absolutely love them and don't know how I lived without them.  This is a really simple recipe, and you could serve these as a side like I did, or you could have them as a snack.  

Ingredients:

4 tomatoes halved
1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1 teaspoon chopped fresh oregano or basil
1/4 teaspoon salt
Freshly ground pepper, to taste
4 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil

1. Preheat over to 425
2. Place tomatoes cut-side up on a baking sheet.  Top with Parmesan, oregano (I used basil), salt and peppter.  Drizzle with oil and bake until the cheese is golden, about 15 minutes.

Original recipe

Think Before You Speak

I recently saw a PSA with the NBA's Grant Hill and Jared Dudley raising awareness about the phrase "That's so gay." The PSA is part of Think B4 You Speak, a campaign that tries to get across the message that words have consequences.  Other celebrities lending their support are Hilary Duff and Wanda Sykes.  

About 3 years ago, I was with my friend and I used the phrase "That's so gay" to describe something that was dumb, when he looked at me and said "Excuse me?" This particular friend is gay, and I have never felt so terrible or embarrassed for being so insensitive. I obviously meant nothing by it, but it had become a habit. I can honestly say, since that moment, I have never used that phrase again. For gay, lesbian, transgender, and bisexual people, those 3 words are insulting and degrading.

I think Think B4 You Speak is a fantastic campaign because it raises awareness about the effects our words have on people. Like the website states:

"A lot of anti-LGBT language is said carelessly, and isn’t intended as negative or hurtful. Understand what you’re saying, and think about the potential consequences of the words you choose."

Kara's Kooking-Penne with Roasted Asparagus and Balsamic Butter

I absolutely love balsamic vinegar so when I came across this recipe I was thrilled. Although there are a few steps involved at one time, it was very easy, and very quick to make. I made it with whole wheat penne pasta, but next time I will try regular penne because the whole wheat flavor took away from the flavor of the balsamic. I would also like to try adding chicken to add some protein to the dish.

Follow this link for the recipe! Penne with Roasted Asparagus and Balsamic Butter

Coming later this week: I'll be posting a recipe for Baked Parmesan Tomatoes (as long as they're good)!

But first, coffee

I am by no means a morning person. I'll even warn you, don't try talking to me before I've had my coffee. However, once summer comes around, there are days that it is just way too hot to drink a hot cup of coffee. I came across this recipe for iced coffee and couldn't be happier. It's a bit time consuming, but totally worth it. Summer coffee conundrum solved!

Check out this recipe for the "Perfect Iced Coffee"

Fashion Friday-Stripes

Not long ago, stripes were a fashion faux-pas because people in the "fashion world" told us that they weren't flattering and they made people look wider than they actually were. Well, stripes are huge right now and I love them. And honestly, I'm one for throwing out fashion rules as long as you feel comfortable in it. I have one striped tank top that I lived in for months, and didn't care if it "made me look fat" because I loved it. If you're someone that does follow fashion rules, but wants to wear stripes, I would recommend thinner stripes because they have a more slimming effect than thicker stripes. Stripes are great for summer because they look so nautical.


This is the shirt I absolutely love! There are so many ways to wear it, but my favorite is with a blazer and jeans.

Some people might say this dress is unflattering and makes her look pregnant, but I would totally rock it.

I love this outfit on so many levels. The color combination is great, and the thin stripes are very slimming.

I love blazers! If you're worried about stripes making you look bigger, then a blazer would be a good alternative. (Don't even get my started on those shoes. To die!)

Kara's Kooking-Sauteed Spinach

I was recently inspired by a fellow blogger to start eating healthier. I was in a rut of mac n' cheese, spaghetti, frozen dinners, take-out etc. The take-out was hurting my wallet, but these habits were also hurting my waist line and my general well being. With my jobs, some weeks it's virtually impossible for me to eat at home, but I'm trying very hard. For instance, last night my friends and I went to happy hour and usually we would eat as well. I had just gone to the grocery store so I said to myself "Wait until you get home to eat." And I did! Anyway, the goal is to try one new item/recipe per week in order to get out of my food rut!

I buy spinach for this pasta dish I make a lot (recipe to come next week), but I always end up throwing most of it out. I'm not a huge fan of spinach salad unless in the mood, so I thought, what else can I do with all this spinach? I decided to try sauteed spinach. I had never tried it, but knew it had to be pretty good since my dad is a fan. I did a little research to get a the general idea of how to make it, and it was simple.

I threw maybe half a tablespoon of olive oil into a pan along with one clove of minced garlic. I let the pan heat up on medium-low and then threw in a couple handfuls of spinach. I just stirred it around a bit until it was wilted. Finally, I sprinkled with a bit of parmesan cheese. Delicious! (For those wondering, I had it with chicken and parmesan risotto.)

The best part about spinach is since it wilts down so much, you get a huge serving of vegetables, even though it seems relatively small.

Glutton for BBQ

A few months ago, I experimented with being a vegetarian, although I guess technically I was a pescatarian since I still ate fish. During this experiment, my friend invited me to her house for what she called "a carnivore fest," but wouldn't be offended if I didn't come. I knew it would be tempting since she had flown in "Jack Stack," all the way from Kansas, but I thought I could resist temptation. After about 45 minutes of taking in the sights, smells, and even sounds coming from my friends, I gave in and had meat. In that moment, I realized that I didn't have a "real" reason for being vegetarian, rather it was just something I wanted to do. Well let's just say since that night, I am no longer a pescatarian. Which brings me to "Frisco BBQ Challenge," the largest of its kind in Colorado.

Frisco BBQ challenge kicked off last Thursday night, and then ended Saturday night. I knew I would be partaking in the festivities for 2 reasons. One, I live literally a block from where it is held every year, and two, my company is the beer sponsor.

Thursday night kicked off with a concert by "Hot Buttered Rum," but I didn't really listen. I was more interested in passing about my $1 beer coupons, and getting people to my event at Jonny G's. One of the aspects of my job is hosting promotions/parties, even if they don't start until 10:00 p.m. Thanks to my amazing friends, the event was a success, even if I felt awful the next day.

Friday was when all the vendors and competitors started selling their food. Unfortunately, the weather was miserable and my coworkers and I got caught in 2 rain storms, soaking us to the bone. However, insane amounts of food were eaten by all. I tried some bbq, some corn on the cob, funnel cake, and chocolate covered bacon (which wasn't as bad as it sounds). That night, against my better judgment, I went out with 2 coworkers, which was fun and a good "bonding" experience.

Our luck changed, and on Saturday, the weather was much improved. It was fairly windy at times, but the sun was shining and beer was had by the masses! My dear friend Katie joined me at the bbq, where I indulged in more bbq, and the item I had had my eyes on ALL weekend-a "Berry Kabob," which was strawberries and bananas drizzled in chocolate. To die for!

At the end of the festivities, I was a little worse for wear, but had a great time nonetheless. Definitely something everyone should check out if you're ever in Colorado during mid-June!

3 Wishes...

...HAVE BEEN GRANTED!!!

Within the next few months, these 3 gifts to mankind will open their doors in COLORADO!!

Boycotting Walmart

My parents and I have recently decided to boycott Walmart. It took my dad a bit of convincing since he really likes their generic mouth wash, but has decided Listerine will do. Although Walmart does have lower prices, it comes at a cost. Unfortunately, as consumers, we're not entirely aware of what that cost is. In business class, I learned that Walmart essentially bullies their suppliers in order to get the lowest prices possible. For some suppliers, this leads to a very low return, but what other choice do they have? If suppliers don't agree to Walmart's demands, Walmart will say adios-you don't have to sell your product at our stores.

Here are a couple more alarming insights about Walmart:

1. Community Impact: When Walmart enters a new community, smaller companies are often forced to lower wages and standards in order to compete. This usually doesn't work for long, and companies are forced to close their doors.

2. Employee Benefits and Wages: Walmart is worth BILLIONS of dollars, yet many of their employess aren't able to afford their benefit packages. On top of that, Walmart recently did away with their profit sharing program. Additionally, most Walmart Associates fall below the poverty line. Being a retail industry leader, Walmart has the opportunity to set industry standards for wages and benefits, but unfortunately, all they care about is the bottom line. Here's in interesting article that talks about wages, and how it would be easy for Walmart to raise wages http://walmartwatch.org/blog/archives/12-an-hour-would-be-easy-lift-for-walmart/

For some people, Walmart is their only option because it's all they can afford. However, I'm lucky enough to be able to choose where I shop, and I will never choose Walmart again!

Check out some more information about Walmart here www.walmartwatch.org

And if you need more convincing, check out http://www.peopleofwalmart.com/