{recipe | peppermint pie}

We had a pie contest at work during our Thanksgiving Potluck two weeks ago… I decided to try and make something that I had never tasted or made before. After hours of searching on Pinterest I found a recipe (I altered it slightly) that ended up putting me tied for first place :)

PEPPERMINT SNOWBALL PIE:

1 chocolate pie crust

1 envelope unflavored gelatin

2 tablespoons boiling water

1 can (12 fl. oz.) Nestle Carnation evaporated milk

1 cup Nestle Toll House premier white morsels

1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract

1 container (8 oz.) frozen whipped topping

1/2 cup coarsely chopped hard peppermint candies

(^ I used shaved chocolate on the top instead)

Not pictured is the frozen whipped topping! Oops!

RECIPE:

1. Place gelatin in a small bowl; stir in boiling water. Let soften for 1 minute.

2. Heat evaporated milk and softened gelatin in small saucepan over medium heat, stirring constantly with whisk until mixture is dissolved and hot.

At this point take the frozen whipped topping out of the freezer to thaw.

That little bowl is what the unflavored gelatin mixed with boiling water!

3. Remove from heat; stir in morsels and peppermint extract until completely melted and smooth.

4. Pour into a medium bowl. Refrigerate uncovered for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until cool to touch. A film will form on the top of the bowl while in the fridge… this is normal.

5. Gently whisk in 2 cups of whipped topping (thawed).

It would be fun to add a drop of red food coloring to make the filling look pink like a peppermint!

Very festive :)

6. Sprinkle 1/4 cup candies over bottom of the crust (I forgot to do this part). Pour filling over pie crust. Refrigerate for 2 hours or until set.

7. Spread remaining whipped topping over center of filling.

8. Sprinkle with remaining 1/4 cup candies (or the chocolate shavings like I did)!

Serve straight out of the fridge. ENJOY!

Here were the rest of the pies at work… stiff competition! I tied with a pear, rosemary and red wine pie.  It was absolutely incredible. Maybe I'll try making that next!!

Is there a recipe that you want me to make? I love doing these kind of posts because they're so simple… Just a girl in her kitchen with an iPhone baking or cooking up something tasty! HAHA!

Happy Friday, loves!! Don't forget to enter the $100 giveaway :)

I maaaay have another INSANE giveaway lined up for this coming Sunday-Tuesday. Make sure to stay tuned on Instagram!

Love Always,

{holiday sparkle}

A simple outfit amped up with lots of holiday sparkle and a rich red lip… perfection.

Photography by Emily Smalling

BaubleBar Necklaces: Gum Drop Strand in Opal, Crystal Flurry Collar  ℅ // Old Navy TShirt // F21 Blazer (identical) // J.Crew Factory Pants // Leopard Heels (similar) // Revlon Lipstick in "Raisin Rage"

If there's one thing I default to when dressing for holiday parties it's red lips and big moment necklaces. There are so many different holiday events going on right now that it can be hard to pull something together. I love holiday dresses but that just isn't in my budget to grab a new one every time I get an invite. So I remix my wardrobe (yes, I know y'all are probably tired of these pants), turn to a not so classic blazer, add in my favorite lip color and pile on the sparkle. It's a quick and easy way to give life to a chic, all-black ensemble. Bonus points because it's the most comfortable thing ever… I'd wear this to dinner and drinks with the girls to celebrate the most important thing of the season: the people in your life!

PS. Guess who introduced me to this lip color? My Mimi! Grandma knows best ;)

Love Always,

{holiday gift guide: for you}

Gigi New York "Jenn Bucket Bag" // NARS lipstick in "Heat Wave" // Crate & Barrel "Camille" Wine Glasses // F21 Light Pink Turtleneck // Sam Edelman Pompei Heels // Mark & Graham Cashmere Scarf // Gigi New York Uber Clutch // Ralph Lauren Blue Perfume // Maya Brenner Initial Necklace // Kendra Scott Drusy Double Ring // iPad Air 2 // Topshop Sweatshirt // Red Hunter Boots // Hunter Shearling Inserts // Rebecca Minkoff Purse // Tory Burch Reva Flats // Anastasia Beverly Hills Contour Kit // Ray-Ban Mirrored Aviators // F21 Leopard Coat // Caitlin Wilson Pillows // Divergent // The Fault in Our Stars // Jo Malone Candle // Blog Planner Notepad // Shop Bando iPhone Portable Charger

I keep getting asked what I want for Christmas… I'm normally not very good with figuring out what I want this early (I'm slightly last minute with pinning down what I want/need) so I thought it would be fun to put together a list for what YOU could ask for! These could be gifts from your sister, mom, dad, boyfriend, significant other, BFF, you name it! I normally try to help my family out with what to get me because apparently "I'm soooo hard to shop for". Really? Just buy me something sparkly, leopard, or a pair of shoes and I'm happy ;) So I make a wish list! If something is pushing the budget (aka I'm getting only one present) I always make sure it's something I know I would get a lot of wear out of (ex: Hunter boots or the Gigi New York "Jenn Bucket Bag"). I always include some fun items like a DVD, lipstick, or a new pink sweater (those are all on the actual list I'm giving my family including the wine glasses, perfume, contour kit, notepad, and boot liners in case you're curious)!

The fun part about "Wish Lists" are they can be a little outlandish and over the top… I've been in love with that Maya Brenner initial necklace for awhile but it's pricey (by my standards at least!) A girl can dream right? HELLO iPad?! haaaa

Remember… everyone has different budgets and I think "look alikes" are incredible. That's why these are such a wide variety of prices for gift ideas… you don't need expensive gifts to be happy I'm just a dreamer and then I know what to start saving for!

But Mom, seriously… I need that portable charger, please!

What's on your Christmas list this year?!

Have you been Nice? If so then you deserve to win $100 PayPal cash ;) don't forget to enter here!

Love Always,

{pockets + buttons}

Pockets in the front and buttons down the back!

photography by Emily Smalling

LightInTheBox Sweater ℅ // Old Navy Jeans // BaubleBar Necklace ℅ // BaubleBar Earrings ℅ // Sam Edelman Boots // Kate Spade Clutch, old // NARS Lipstick in "Dolce Vita"

I recently learned about LightInTheBox and am obsessed! Such amazing prices and a great selection of sweaters, scarves, dresses, accessories, etc! You can't beat the prices though… They constantly have "countdowns" which means get it while it's super super low! (As always, don't forget to double check the size guides and check out how real people styled it in the "style guide" at the bottom). Be aware that the shipping is coming from overseas so it could take awhile to get to you! I've experienced this with other online retail stores too though. They have a craaaazy selection of blanket scarves if you need to get one for a friend (aka the last person to own a blanket scarf probably!) Did you see my little insta video on how to tie one? I smiled like a goof at the end haha :)

I love this top because it's easy-breezy and has detail in the front and the back. Pockets for some interest and buttons for a punch down the back! It was a little chilly when Emily and I took these photos so I was glad to have a sweater on! Of course, BaubleBar sparkle makes everything better. Have you checked out their Holiday Collection? I love how the opal makes it subtle for every day wear but high shine when you're ready to go out on the town!

Did you guys have a good Cyber Monday? My roomies and I all sat on the couch together and crossed off our christmas lists for our family! Feels good to be [half-way] finished!

Hey sis… you're getting spoiled this year, as usual, you better love me forever.

PS. While I was gifted this sweater all thoughts and opinions are my own. I have ordered things from LightInTheBox before and been happy with my purchases.

Love Always,

{cyber monday + giveaway}

Ooooh Cyber Monday!! I've been saving up my cash for this day… time to get some Christmas shopping knocked out! I am the ultimate list maker for individual presents but sometimes browsing through these sales helps me find the best present :) I just always manage to find something with sales. It's like I get an adrenaline rush and I just have to buy something for someone!

#shopaholicsanonymous

Also, be sure to check out the awesome giveaway for $100 cash via PayPal below! Can you say "hello, holiday shopping money?!"

 CYBER MONDAY SALES:

ASOS - 30% off with code ILOVEMONDAYS

BAUBLEBAR - 20% off with code CYBER20 (play to win more!)

FOREVER21 - 20% off with $60 or more using code CYBER20

FREE PEOPLE: An additional 25% off all sale items

GIGI NEW YORK - up to 30% off everything + free shipping

JCREW FACTORY - 50% off everything and additional 10% off with code YOUVEGOTSALE

KATE SPADE - 30% off everything with code CYBER30

LOREN HOPE - 20% off with code THANKFULLY

LULU*S - Extra 40% off sale times with code MONDAY40

NORDSTROM - new items added daily at up to 40% off

OLD NAVY - 40% off with code CYBER

PIPERLIME - 30% off site wide + 40% markdowns with code: CYBERSALE

REVOLVE - 20% off final sale with code CYBERMONDAY20

SOLE SOCIETY - 30% off all shoes and bags

URBAN OUTFITTERS - $50 off $150, $25 off $100, and $15 off $75

Now that you have all the best sales, its time to enter the giveaway! Thanks to these lovely ladies below, you have the chance to win $100 PayPal cash! The winner will be announced next week! (Ummm… can I win please? What an awesome thing to win before the Holidays!)

The Style Record // Southern Anchors // Lows to Luxe // Fashions on the Fly // Aroonmelane

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I hope everyone had an amazing Thanksgiving - full of food, friends, family, and laughter! I can't believe today's Monday and I'm already back at work. Where did the time go? My sister, brother, sis-in-law, nephew, and I all went to Baltimore to my parents house. It was so nice to have everyone together again! My nephew is 7 and is the most perfect child… no seriously… he told his mom he would get ready to go after one more football highlight reel and he actually did! Even with more rivalry week games being shown. (I can think of grown men who couldn't be pulled away from the television haha). We all went and cut down our Christmas tree together (yes, chopped it down) and then I decorated it with my parents yesterday! Decorations part 1: complete!

Now, I'm counting down the days to be back in Baltimore with my family again and my Mimi being in town from California! Is there anything better than relaxing with your family? I hope I never take it for granted :)

Wow - long little chat there about me!! How was YOUR break? Any good stories?

Best of luck winning the giveaway!!

P.S. If I forgot any amazing sales please let me know so I can be sure to add it to the list above :)

Love Always,