The Sarcastic Blonde

fashion, Lifestyle

:: wishlist wednesday ::

August 17, 2016

…….. lusts for the week ……..

you know I’ve never met a stripe I didn’t like.

especially one with a split back!

// STRIPED SPLIT BACK TOP // LAYERED TEE // SPLIT BACK SWEATER //

// TRENCH COAT //

the adorable tassel clutch that was everywhere this summer is new fall colors.
I love the navy so much!

// TASSEL CLUTCH //

I love sweater coats for Fall – they are the easiest piece to wear when the weather is still switching back and forth from warm to cool to cold. I have a navy one I got years ago that I wear often, but I love the length and drape on this one.

// WHITE KNIT WRAP COAT //

and one at an even better price point….

// GREY WRAP COAT //

// PLAID DRESS // // PLAID BUTTON DOWN //

// CHAMBRAY DRESS // CHAMBRAY TOP //

the top is on sale for only $19!

last Fall I got this top from Old Navy in all three colors that they had. It is so inexpensive, so soft, and hits right at the most flattering spot. It’s a perfect Fall Staple, and they also make it in black!

// OLD NAVY SPLIT TUNIC TOP //

this is a great fall staple, but for under $50!

// FIELD JACKET //

I’m still clinging to summer and especially summer clothes.

and with the weather still being hot hot hot, I feel okay with that.

I love the detail on this dress so much.

// EMBROIDERED DRESS //

also love this under $75 similar dress

and it wouldn’t be a wishlist without throwing in a silly graphic top that I love far too much.
we’re going to kip’s family cottage for Labor Day and I can see myself wearing this for a good portion of that!

// BRUNCH SQUAD //

health, Lifestyle, recipe

:: crack of the week :: quinoa bowl ::

August 16, 2016

:: Crack of the Week : Veggie Quinoa Bowls ::

I have a healthy recipe to share with you this week!

This is one of my absolute favorite dinners to make during the week,

and it also makes a great lunch too that you can prep in advance and take to work.

This is the easiest meal ever, it’s so filling with all the veggies + the protein from the quinoa,

and you can change the veggies and dressing often so that you don’t get bored with it.

I love eating the same things over and over so this is what I always do,

and I usually top it with plain balsamic vinegar to keep it as clean as possible.

The thing that makes this so simple is a rice cooker.

// MINI RICE COOKER //

My mother in law gave me one as a gift and prior to that I had never made quinoa, or really even rice, before.

Now, it is the one item used in our kitchen more than anything!

I promise it’ll be the best $15-$20 you’ll ever spend.

I like the mini rice cooker – it makes 3 cups cooked which is plenty – and takes up less cabinet space!

:: Ingredients ::

change it up with as many veggies as you like!

Hearts of Palm

Cucumber

Red Onion

Diced Peppers

Tomato

Chickpeas

Avocado

Feta

1/4-1/2 cup of Quinoa per Bowl

Balsamic Vinegar or Vinaigrette of Choice

:: directions ::

no directions needed…. but still….

while quinoa cooks in rice cooker, chop all veggies.

or cook quinoa in advance and store in fridge for the week.

throw everything in a bowl, top with your favorite vinaigrette, and EAT!

I like mine topped with balsamic vinegar.

of course if you want meat, ground turkey is great in this and so is some diced grilled chicken.

I add those when it’s on hand from the night before, but I usually enjoy it as a meat-free meal.

It’s super simple but I truly LOVE it and I have gotten a bunch of my friends hooked on it too.

Even Kip loved it for a year or more,

but I overdid it a bit for him and he needed more meat with his meals.

Lifestyle, weekend recap

:: monday things ::

August 15, 2016

Happy Monday!!!

image

We had a very low key weekend which was just what I was hoping for!

But unfortunately that means nothing exciting to report 🙂

except that I got to have a full Sunday Funday with my nephew yesterday, taking him to The Varsity before a puppet show, and then a family BBQ to end the night.

It couldn’t have had a better day.

The boys made baby back ribs on the big green egg and I made asparagus bundles and Ina’s Coleslaw.

My friend made asparagus in Chicago where she coated it with a little cream cheese and then wrapped it in prosciutto and it was so delicious. Since I only had thin asparagus, we did bundles (and Kip may or may not have had a heavy hand with the cream cheese) and they were so yummy.

Bake at 425 for about 15 minutes or until asparagus is cooked through.

For Ina’s Coleslaw, I use the pre-shredded packages of Coleslaw Mix from Public and then follow her recipe for the dressing. Super quick and easy to make – only about 10 minutes and then throw it in the fridge for later that night.

my outfit this weekend has been on heavy rotation for running errands

CHAMBRAY TOP // WHITE JEANS // TORY BURCH REVERSIBLE BELT // FLORAL SANDALS

Some links below with some more exciting events 🙂

{ one } Jill Zarin is still talking Bravo and Housewives and trying to stay relevant.

{ two } There’s a bunch of drama over Beiber and him dating Nicole Richie’s sister and his fans being mean…. I mean, it’s Beiber, who cares, but just to keep you well informed #RIPBeliebers is trending.

{ three }

The real reason everyone is drinking LaCroix

spoiler alert : instagram

{ four } Poor Jules (NY Housewife). Things with her divorce seem to be getting even worse. #TeamJules

{ five }

Leslie Jones coverage of the Olympics in Rio is amazing.

Also, TV is back this week! Thank goodness! The struggle + withdrawal symptoms without Bravo are real.

I know there is still another whole week of Olympic coverage but pretty much everything I like to see is done.

Bachelor in Paradise + RHoOC are back tonight, along with all the other trash we know and love!

Preach!

ps Big Brother lovers : I hope you can’t stand Paulie as much as we can’t in this household. He is horrible and so mean, especially what he did to Natalie. I was so mad he didn’t get sent packing in double eviction! How Corey won HOH is beyond me! For someone I really liked all season, the last two weeks he has gotten worse and worse and MAN he is not a sweetheart like his brother. Fingers crossed he doesn’t win POV and goes. Him crying last night may have made me laugh…. but that would be mean…. but its true I laughed he deserves it. I always forget to discuss BB in coffee talk so I thought I might as well include my deep, intellectual thoughts regarding it now.

fashion, Lifestyle

:: weekend shopping ::

August 13, 2016

:: weekend steals + deals ::

CLUB MONACO is having an extra 40% off ALL sale with code AUGUST + free shipping OVER $150 with code FREESHIP

So many great things are on sale and with the extra 40% off it makes tons of things under $100! which never happens!

// RUFFLE SLEEVE TOP // // PEPLUM TOP // // GINGHAM COLD SHOULDER //

// EYELET DRESS // // EYELET TOP //

// WHITE RUFFLE ROMPER // // BLUE LACE DRESS // // WHITE RUFFLE ONE SHOULDER //

// APRIL STRIPED PUMPS // // VALENCIA SANDAL //

// WHITE TASSEL POM DRESS // // LACE DRESS // // OPEN BACK ROMPER //

J.CREW also has a sale sitewide for 25% off with code SWEETSALE

// RUFFLE TOP //

// STRIPED RUFFLE TOP //

// FAUX LEATHER MINI //

// DOWNTOWN FIELD JACKET //

// COTTON SHIRT DRESS //

// SHORT SLEEVE CHAMBRAY POPOVER //

// QUILTED DOWN VEST //

friday randoms, Lifestyle

:: friday things ::

August 12, 2016

image
Happy Friday!!!

some random things for the day……

the whole time I walked around Chicago last weekend in my old neighborhood I literally couldn’t get Madonna’s “this used to be my playground” chorus out of my head.

seriously.

are you judging me? because I am. it was even weirding me out that it kept popping into my head.

slash it also was amazing…..

Coda di Volpe opened in the Southport Corridor recently;

I used to walk past it every day hoping it would open before our move, but no luck.

Luckily it’s open now and we went Sunday and it did not disappoint.

It was amazing. We all shared several things and the highlight for me were the pizzas that come with huge pizza scissors so you cut it the size you want it!

image

I highly, highly recommend it! Great addition to the neighborhood!!

cue song : this used to be my playground………

Did you hear that Goop and Gwyn are consciously uncoupling??

apparently this was news over a week ago but I had no idea, so perhaps you didn’t either.

image

I like the pretentious Gwyn + Goop combo,

but not to worry; She clarified that she’s not leaving but wants it to be a stand alone brand, so yay to more gwyneth goopness and the unattainable lifestyle it promotes cause I love it!

I went back to her cookbook after reading this news and I’m picking out new recipes to make since I make her cauliflower every damn week. Time to try out a new one already!

The one thing I’ve been able to catch up on this week was Bachelor in Paradise and oh-em-gee does that show seriously not disappoint.

I cannot believe the repulsive Josh Murray is back on it. He smiles and my stomach turns. He is such a fame whore it’s crazy. He’s on Famously Single simultaneously while this show is airing. I can’t believe Amanda is falling for this BS. and I can’t wait for next week.

OH. and the noises the scumbag makes whilst making out!

WOOF. < —–check out the video if you can keep down your lunch.

and pardon my francais but he always has a $#*t eating grin on his darn face too.

UGH what is UP with these FORMER PRO athlete losers!

OK….. back to what’s important : FOOD.
My friend was telling me all about this place to go when I was in Chicago that serves Poke Bowls called Aloha Poke and then I saw this article about Poke Bowls being the new rage.

I was so sad I didn’t have time to stop by – I can assure you I would be obsessed.
Go eat it so I can live vicariously through you.

speaking of food + the wine ‘cheers’ image above,

I’m happily having a dry weekend this weekend with no vino and some clean eats to get my system back on track after the wedding weekend followed by days in Chicago.

I’m hoping for lots of sleep too!

A lazy weekend is just what Kip + I have both been wanting, and between both of us traveling we haven’t seen each other in over a week now,

so sitting at home sounds just perfect.

Hope you all have a great weekend !

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Lifestyle

when life gives you green pools….

August 11, 2016

when things like bacteria and lack of chemicals are turning the Olympic pools green,

it’s best to distract yourself with some seriously funny Diving commentary.

this guy Ozzy and this video are hilarious.

link to video if not showing up!

when Bravo is airing half of the Olympics and leaving me lack of reality television material,

this will have to suffice.

but really, I told my-boyfriend-Andy-Cohen that I would be away from my beloved DVR for the last week, so I think he made a few calls and put my shows on hold until next week for me. he’s sweet like that.

I’m off to binge watch several hours of Bach in Paradise (pah-reach) and perhaps some Kardashians and whatever else I can find to get me through!

Hopefully I’ll have some Coffee Talk discussions for you tomorrow!!

p.s. can we discuss Lochte’s hair?