Let the Decorating Begin!

December is here tomorrow and I'm determined to enjoy the holidays even with my crazy busy schedule.  I've managed to chip away at my goal of Christmas decorating, and have begun to tackle a few DIY projects!  This year, I'll be spending Christmas Eve and Christmas day here in Chicago with the bf, so naturally I've been tasked with adding some Christmas cheer to his place too - including the tree! {cannot wait to post}.  Until then, here are some snapshots that have been brightening my days thus far.  Happy Friday!

Holiday coffee table makeover c/o Marshall's with a runner from Target

Simmering cranberry relish at Thanksgiving - one of my contributions to dinner!

My first ever attempt at a wreath. Very pleased with the result.

Mini Christmas trees at Whole Foods

Saturday morning stroll through my hood, coffee in hand.

Getting in the Holiday spirit!

We witnessed the first (ever so slight) snowfall the other night in Chicago, and that's all it took to get me into the holiday spirit.  I'm making a point to carve out some spare time this season to revamp my holiday decor and tackle some DIY projects... with so many cute ideas, how does one choose just a few?

Source: blog.1800flowers.com via Krystal on Pinterest

Source: media-cache6.pinterest.com via Krystal on Pinterest

Source: notsorandomstuff.blogspot.com via Krystal on Pinterest

Source: homeyhomedesign.blogspot.com via Krystal on Pinterest

Source: etsy.com via Krystal on Pinterest

Pumpkin Soup

As much as I love all things fall, I've never been a huge soup person.  However, I once had a pumpkin soup that was so creamy and decadent it tasted like molten pumpkin pie, and this weekend I had the ambition to attempt my own version.  I loosely followed this recipe, but modified and added in a few ingredients.  It turned out SO good - creamy, slightly sweet, and savory - it was once of my favorite dishes I've made as of late.

:: Creamy Pumpkin Soup ::

1/4 butter

1/3 cup chopped sweet onion

1 clove finely chopped garlic

1 tablespoon brown sugar

1 can low sodium chicken broth

1/2 cup water

1/2 tsp salt

1/8 tsp pepper

1 (15 oz) can Libby's Pure Pumpkin 

1 (12 oz) can evaporated milk

1/8 tsp cinnamon

1/8 tsp nutmeg

1/4 cup heavy cream

Melt the butter in a 3 quart size saucepan, add in onion, garlic, and brown sugar and saute for 2 minutes.  Add in chicken broth, water, salt, and pepper, bring to a boil then reduce heat and simmer on low for 10 minutes.  Add in pumpkin, evaporated milk, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cream, and cook on medium for 5 minutes.  Transfer soup (you'll probably have to do it in batches) to a food processor and pulse a few times to combine evenly.  Transfer all the soup back to your saucepan, and cook for 5 more minutes.  Finish with a dollop of creme fresh, some chopped fresh sage, and a few chopped hazelnuts.

Perfect Sunday night of fall cooking

Stick it to me

Source: coutureandcupcakes.wordpress.com via Krystal on Pinterest

I was gifted a very cool set of flower wall "stickers" for my birthday.  I'll admit, I've always been skeptical of these.  Some can look too trendy, and seemed very intimidating to apply. But I'm very pleased on how it turned out, and made my entryway wall a real statement piece in my apartment.  I had to play around a bit with the layout to make it fit, and it was a happy accident that it came together the way it did. 

 

 

Here are a few of my favs I've found...

 



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Maximizing Your Decor - The Basics

Lately I have found myself on a flurry of decorating projects.  I've been so inspired, and cannot wait to develop this little hobby further.  In the meantime, I'm vowing to start blogging a bit more about tips and tricks for decorating your space.  Specifically 1). On a budget, and 2). Easy and accessible projects.  After all, it's all about finding my niche!  To start, I wanted to share some basics that I like to stick to when attacking a space from scratch to make it feel "styled".  Simple and easy ways to add some pizazz that won't break the bank.

Art

It's no secret that some art on the walls is the easiest way to decorate.  Don't want to go out and buy framed art or frames?  No problemo.  I love finding greeting cards with cute sayings or photos and creating groupings of 3 or 4 and hanging them with office binder clips and a nail.  I also love the fun clothes hanger idea.

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Source: beyondbeyond.co.uk via Krystal on Pinterest

Curtains

Seeing people's apartments / condos, I am surprised how many people don't put these beauties up.  It softens the space and helps give it that "homey" feel.  I turn to Overstock.com for a great selection at a equally great price (these guys can be pricey - and they don't have to be!).  Look for big grommet pockets on top for a more expensive look.

Grommet top Curtains at Overstock - only $19.49 / panel and lots of neutral colors

Room Essentials curtain rod at Target - the perfect basic rod at $9.99 for a standard window

Throw Pillows

A couple of accent pillows on your couch or love seat can really punch up a room.  I love mixing prints too - no need to be matchy matchy. If you fancy yourself a Suzy Sewer, you can even just hop on over to the fabric store and re-cover some old ones or get some pillow forms.  For those who don't know know the first thing about sewing, try Target or Homegoods for a huge selection.  I bought mine at this Etsy shop, and there are so many more pillow covers on Etsy that are just as fun!

My living room pillows:  Coral chevron pillows from Etsy, Blue Moroccan print and grey stripe were homemade, right from Target

No go out there and add some swagger to your space!  

Hello Fall!

October is here and it's my favorite month (and also my Birthday month!).  The changing of seasons and smell of falling leaves make me one happy gal.  I could peruse through images like this all day long... here are some of my fall favorites:

And finally, just because...

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Designing for a Boy

I was handed (aka begged for) the task of proposing some ideas for my bf's new apartment.  Let's just say I couldn't wait to get my hands on giving his new space some serious much needed style. The only requirements - work with his college style reclining sofa and loveseat and {gulp} rising top coffee table.  I managed to talk him into a sleek new version of said lift top table, and presented my ideas for a more masculine yet chic space.  Let's just say this is the first time I tried designing for a boy, and the ideas are still up for debate, but I'm pretty excited about the beige, gold, and blue scheme.  The best part - everything but the furniture can be found at Target.  Design on a dime? How could he not agree to it?

P.s.  I even included his college mascot in the form of bulldog bookends.  Come on!

Masculine living room by newgirloldtown on Polyvore

Turner Lift Top Coffee Table Espresso / Oversized Gold Sunburst Mirror 24" / Orbit Smoke Glass Melissa Glass Table Lamp 26" / BLK LATTICE MIRROR / Home Multi Home Tribal Ikat Blue / Home Weave/ Flat Woven Toss Pillow Navy Blue / Turner End Table Espresso / Patch Woodgrain Pillow / Bulldog bookend set of 2 / BRONZE Painted Bronze Finish Floor Lamp

Easy Apps for Dinner

The end of summer has been a whirlwind!  Lots of weekend trips, busy work loads, and dance auditions have left little time to blog, but I'm getting back into the swing of it.  Fall is almost here (ee! my favorite season!), and I couldn't be more excited.  The Labor Day weekend just came to a close and got me inspired to finally test out some comforting appetizers for dinner by way of none other than my good ol' pal Pinterest.  Namely, I've had my eye on these brie and apple roll-ups and this guacamole bruschetta.  I must say, they did not disappoint!  Super easy to throw together and the perfect comfort dinner to usher in the post Labor Day week.  

Guacamole Bruschetta

Baked brie and green apple slices wrapped in crescent rolls - SO GOOD!

Indoor Gardening

For some reason, I have an obsession with attempting to grow anything edible.  I pass the garden section at Home Depot and always almost buy that strawberry or cherry tomato plant {nerd alert}. With a summer of lots of grilling and fresh recipes, I finally invested in some herb plants, and I highly recommend trying it.  The herbs taste so much fresher, add a ton of flavor, are more cost effective, and add some cute decor to my kitchen.  I was inspired by this DIY project, and simply wrote on the pots themselves with chalk.  Now to keep them alive...

Sin City here we come!

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This Friday couldn't be more happy.  I'm heading to Las Vegas with 9 of my girlfriends for the ultimate girls weekend.  No bachelorette party, no birthday, no special occasion other than to spend the weekend together and celebrate everything and nothing at all {with lots of champagne}.  Cheers!

Gallery Wall

Gallery walls are all the rage, and with my massive 12 foot ceilings and a huge blank canvas to work with, this was my obvious decor of choice for my living room wall.  I love that practically anyone can do this, and there is no real recipe for making it look chic.

It always helps to have inspiration, so I turned to Pinterest and found this lovely image:

via Pinterest

I began by laying out my mis-matched frames on the floor beforehand.  Even with the asymmetrical layout, you still want to have an overall balance in your gathering.  But the good thing is, there is no need to be super precise.

I didn't have much by way of actual artwork, so I created my own to play up the accent colors of my living room - coral, navy, and gold.

The gold spade was the easiest and a fun DIY piece of artwork on a budget.  I bought a small blank canvas from the craft store and some gold glitter scrapbook paper - it was around $6 total.  I freehand drew a spade, but you could easily create a template and make a stencil too.  A little spray glue later, and wallah!  Wouldn't that be adorable using chess piece silhouettes in a grouping of four?  The possibilities are endless...Until my next wall!

Foodie Friday

Happy Friday and Happy Opening Ceremony day!  Perhaps it's because I'm mad dieting at the moment, but lately I've been all consumed with scouring the web for delicious looking recipes {and pinning them, natch}.  My new favorite foodie blog that I can't get enough of is How Sweet It Is. Jessica, the author, is equal parts inventive and hilarious, and her photographs make even broccoli look irresistible.  Do your taste buds a favor and check it out.  Here's a few of my fav finds.  Have a great weekend!

Peach, bacon + gouda sliders on Pretzel bread

Baked mac + cheese cupcakes

Hot Blueberry Cheddar dip

Grilled coconut lime tilapia tacos with kiwi salsa

And finally, to further torment those of us dieters out there...

Trio of cookie dough dips:  Chocolate Chip, Double Chocolate Fudge, and Snickerdoodle.  

Waterproofing

Hi there!  It's been quite a bit of time since my last post, as I've been busy on vacay and enjoying lots of summer sun.  I've told you about my love of Birchbox, and this is exactly why: my favorite new product, Blinc mascara.  I've never been a waterproof mascara fan, mainly because removing it is a pain and feels like my lashes are going to break off.  This month's Birchbox delivered me a tube of Blinc, and it was my saving grace on vacation by the pool and lake.  This stuff will literally stay on your lashes for DAYS, makes them uber-long, and taking it off is a piece of cake.  It comes off by rubbing your lashes with some water.  Sounds ironic, but if you are in the market for a trusted friend to get you through poolside fun, give this gem a try.

Re-Inventing Pizza

"Skinny" pizza using a multi-grain tortilla 

Ever since I saw LC's post for skinny pizza here using a whole wheat tortilla as the crust, I've been on a healthy pizza kick.  Mushrooms are my favorite topping of choice, so I decided to take the portabellas I had been using and turn them into the "crust".  The result was simple and satisfying, and would make a perfect appetizer alternative to stuffed mushrooms.  Enjoy!

:: Portabella "Pizzas" ::

Large Portabella Mushrooms caps

Marinara sauce

Shredded cheese

Fresh Basil

Drizzle of olive oil

Sprinkle of Parmesan cheese

Bake at 425 degrees for about 8 minutes 

Arm Candy

I first discovered Poshlocket when Liz blogged about it here, and it you haven't checked out this FAB site, it is a must.  Super fun and unique jewelry, great quality, and the perfect place to find something special without breaking the bank.  Ever since, I've had my eye on this little gem:

Harlow Arrow Bangle

At $22, this is a steal!  I ordered it in May, and to my demise it was snatched from my doorstep and nowhere to be found (I will catch you neighborhood thieves!).  However, I loved it so much, I waited for it to go back in stock, ordered it again, and it arrived safe and sound.  I recently paired it with an adorable $16.99 dress from TJ Maxx (I'm a Maxxinista for life), and heels found on Piperlime last summer.  

I also secretly think this is something the Nicole Richie's daughter Harlow would wear someday and then I'm cool by association...or I've been reading too many US Weekly's.  Pop on over to Poshlocket and find your favorite!  Happy Friday!

Your Best & Worst Friend: Online Shopping Roundup

It's no secret I'm a huge fan of online shopping.  Sure, I live in the city of Chicago where any store I could desire is a quick car ride/train/bike/walk away.  However, add in traffic, crowds, and picked over shelves, and it's enough to drive a girl bonkers - especially when I just feel like doing a little browsing in hopes of finding my next great deal.  Enter my very favorite, tried and true handful of online shopping sites for clothing.  So friends, I share with you a goldmine of deals that will have you itching to click away, pile up your cart, and waste hours of free time.  Warning: I warned you.

ASOS
A go-to for dresses - casual or going out - this site is FULL of steals.  Plus it has free shipping both ways, and a feature where you can view the model walking down the runway in it so you can see what it would really look like.  TIP:  Visit the Sale section for dresses - you'll get hundreds of results.  I've found sizing is pretty accurate, and good quality for the price.

Skater Dress with Lace Criss Cross Back - on sale for $23.20

Lulu's
Super similar to ASOS, Lulu's is another amazing source for dresses and tops.  Free shipping over $50.  I just ordered from here and got THREE things - for just over the $50 bucks during a 4th of July sale.  Major score!

Babytalk Belted Mint Green Dress - $36.00 & Patio Party Pink and Blue Dress - $37.50

Arden B.

Online is SO much easier when it comes to sale time.  More often than not, you can take an extra 50% off clearance with free shipping.  TIP:  Arden B is affiliated with Wet Seal, so the sales will run in tandem.  Yes, the same Wet Seal you went to at the mall when you were 13 and bought that glittery butterfly top.  But seriously, it is great for trendy boots and tops.  Just bring your tasteful eye with you on this one.

Belted Tank Dress (own this one) & Cinched Waist Blousant Dress - both on clearance for $19.99

I could go and on and on, so I'll save more for a future post.  So if you feel like escaping from the hot summer sun, pull up your laptop and happy shopping! 

4th of July Fancies

The 4th of July is upon us and I'm super excited to escape into the hot summer sun and enjoy some cocktails poolside with friends.  There's something about this holiday that makes me particularly nostalgic for dancing around with a sparkler in hand and eating American flag fruit pizza.  And in the famous words of Kanye West, I'm sure I'll get to enjoy the views of fireworks over Lake Michigan. Cheers!

4th of July Fancies by newgirloldtown featuring coral jewelry

ASOS summer sun dress / Kate Spade handbag / Coral jewelry / DG6075K / Patriotic Sophia Stud Pack Limited Edition / Fruit Flag Pizza / Raspberry Beer Cocktail

Skinny Sangria Spritzer

Often in the summer I crave a refreshing cool cocktail that isn't too heavy and slightly sweet.  I love white sangria, but the rum or vodka that gets added is sometimes a bit too much.  Taking a simple white wine and adding a few ingredients makes it a little more fancy and the perfect light beverage to put a little spring in your step :)

:: Skinny Sangria Spritzer ::

2 bottles of white wine (I used Sav Blanc)

White Cranberry Juice (use the less sugar version)

Cran-Raspberry LaCroix

Dice a variety of fruit - I used nectarines, green apple, pear, and blueberries.  Let the fruit sit overnight in the wine in a large pitcher.  I prefer to add the other ingredients individually to the glass - pour 1/2 a glass of wine, and finish off with equal parts white cranberry juice and cran-raspberry sparkling La Croix.  Enjoy!