Blinging With BettyRay

If you know me, you know I can't resist some good bling. So you can imagine my excitement when I was introduced to BettyRay - an online shop out of Montreal filled with amazing pieces at amazing prices (win/win!!!). I kid you not - everything on the site is super cute and covet-worthy - you must check it out - seriously go. right. now!  I couldn't resist these double gold band rings, perfect for wearing separate or stacked on the same finger and this stunningly unique double stone adjustable ring. And since I seem to have a thing for all things triangles as of late - these large and small gold necklaces quickly found their way into my shopping cart.  

Already coveting a few pieces? I've got you covered! Get 20% off your purchase with code: lbb20.

The Best Harem Pants & How To Wear Them

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Each season, there is always something that I can't seem to live without. This past winter I lived in chunky mock neck sweaters and in the fall my distressed overalls rarely left my body.

This spring (if you want to even call it that), I've got a major hankering for all things harem pant. Structured or slouchy, solid or patterned, extreme drop crotch or subtle pleating - I'm loving them all. Besides being the most comfortable item of clothing in my closet, they just exude this effortlessly cool vibe that doesn't exist with some of my other coveted pieces.

Last week, I purchased the holy grail of harem pant perfection - the Eileen Fisher Jersey Harem Pant. If you are in the market for a pair, I highly recommended the splurge.  They are worth every single penny.

Check out these other awesome pairs that are sure to please!

Wondering what to wear them with?  You can't go wrong with a great cotton tee.  High/low styles work really well allowing you to tuck in the front without too much extra fabric.

Then top it with a great cropped jacket.

Delicious Passover Hazelnut Chocolate Thumbprint Cookies

The ultimate test of a good Passover cookie is whether I'd eat it outside of Passover. These Hazelnut Chocolate Thumbprint Cookies from Smitten Kitchen certainly fit that criteria. They're wonderfully chewy on the inside and the roasted hazelnuts pair perfectly with the chocolate topping (obviously). This girl's giving these two thumbs up.

Full recipe here.

Week in Links #4

Pick of the week: *Aromatherapy Candles from Target  - on my recent trip to Target I couldn't resist roaming the isles in search of - well anything really! I stumbled on these adorable positive thought tin candles. They'd be perfect next to your bed for some morning affirmations.

Must read: *Why I Don't Wear Make-up - I've always adored Leandra Medine (aka The Man Repeller) but lately I adore her more for her intelligent witty writing then her ability to mutil-layer the unexpected and pull off just about anything.  Recently, she penned this essay in response to some very negative comments she's been receiving about her looks - give it read and tell me you don't love her?

You gotta make this: *Slow Cooker Sticky Chicken Drumsticks - I made this last Sunday night on a whim and was floored by how good it was.  The best part? I was able to throw my frozen drumsticks directly into the slow cooker! The acidity of the balsamic vinegar worked really well with the rest of the asian flavours.

Totally share worthy: *Beyonce's XO Remix  - it's Queen B, do you really need a better reason than that to listen? Download and put it on your iPod now.

How to:  *Style a Jumpsuit - love a good jumpsuit but have no idea how to pull it off? The Glitter Guide rounded up 7 killer looks to get you inspired and help you find a style that right for you.

Best Find: Target Maples Fretwork Rug

It's taken a couple of months but the quest to find a new rug for our living room has officially ended! The best part? The search ended with a random find from Target - which means we spent way less than we had planned and I seriously couldn't be happier with the way it looks.  

Love it as much as I do? Get it here.

Precious girl seems to love it too as she was fast asleep on it within minutes of us laying it down. 

Can't believe its from Target? I know right?  Check out these other awesome area rugs I found...

Week In Links #3

Pick of the week: *10 Crosby Derek Lam 2 in 1 Combo Top - pretty sure this is the best top I have laid my eyes on in a long time. And who can resist a good 2fer?

Must read: *5 Powerhouse Women Paying It Forward - get inspired by these amazingly motivating women and hear first hand what being a mentor means to them.

Totally share worthy: *Lana Del Ray's Meet Me In the Pale Moonlight - it's everything you would expect from her yet so much more. Equal parts ethereal lounge queen & pumped up perfection all wrapped into the perfect single.

Make this: *Vegan Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Banana Bread - I've made this a few times now - it's been a real winner with my hubbie. I actually played around with the ingredients and replaced the brown sugar with applesauce as I don't love my banana bread too sweet.  The result was super moist - but I did have to cook it a bit longer than what was called for.

How to: *Get The Perfect Beach Curls - I'm constantly working on achieving the perfect beachy waves. This tutorial has just 5 easy steps and I love the fact that it features a DIY organic beach curl concoction. Give it a try and let me know what you think!

Banana Chocolate Peanut Butter Smoothie + Top 5 Smoothie Recipe Round-Up

Chocolate + banana + peanut butter = my kind of delicious morning.  Whenever I'm rushed to get out the door in the morning, this tried and true smoothie recipe never lets me down.  The key to making it rich and creamy without being too thick to make it through the straw is freezing your banana the night before and omitting the ice.

Banana Chocolate Peanut Butter Smoothie Recipe:
1 cup almond milk
1 frozen banana
1/2 tbsp chia seeds
1 heaping scoop of chocolate Sunwarrior Protein Powder
1 tbsp PB2 (you could also just use 1 tbsp of your favourite peanut butter)

Bored with your current smoothie recipes? I've rounded up my top 5 picks for delicious and nutritious smoothies packed with loads of interesting flavours that are sure to perk up your morning routine.

1. Toasted Coconut Coffee Smoothie from KitchenTreaty.com
2. Apple Pie Shake from MilkingAlmonds.com
3. Chocolate Strawberry Almond Protein Smoothie from TheHealthyFamilyandHome.com
4. Peanut Butter Bomb Smoothie from OhSheGlow.com
5. Blackberry Coconut Smoothie from ScalingBackBlog.com

All You Need Is Love & A Good To-Do List

Things have been so crazy at work lately that I've found myself making to-do lists of my to-do lists. And while my love affair with Evernote (its installed on every device I own) is stronger than ever - I must say that nothing will ever truly beat the feeling of putting pen to paper and actually crossing items off my never ending lists.

Maybe the only thing better than that is finding a super cute notebook that's just begging to be used.  I picked up this Eccolo stunner at Indigo yesterday and quickly put it to good use. The cover just makes me smile - an added bonus on a stressful busy day.

Here are some other great finds I've come across the web: