Easy Zucchini Muffins (Vegan)

One of my new years resolutions is to up my baking game. Let me tell you, these muffins definitely helped me get off to a great start, the reason being that I had never baked anything that was vegan before. For the record, I am not a vegan. However, my roommate has made the change to go vegan so when I got the urge to try a new recipe, I thought I would bake something that the both of us could enjoy! I got this recipe from  Fraîche Nutrition blog. The blog's founder and content creator, Tori, has one of my favorite instagram accounts to follow and her blog is one of my go-to inspiration sources when it comes to trying new recipes, especially now for more vegan friendly options. You can find the full recipe for these muffins (or you can make it as a bread loaf)  here. 

This recipe was so much easier than I thought baking vegan would be. The main difference is that you substitute using regular eggs with ground flax seed and use extra virgin olive oil as a healthier fat alternative to butter. I'm usually more partial to traditional eggs and butter recipes when it comes to baking, but I would never know these muffins were vegan if I wasn't the one who made them. They are so moist and fluffy, not to mention delicious! Plus, as Tori mentions in her post, you get all the benefits of the heart healthy qualities that the flax seed provides, making these a super healthy treat! 

Make sure you check out Fraîche Nutrition for the full recipe along with so many other delicious looking options. I will definitely be trying out some more soon and will report back to you. Let me know if you make these muffins and how you like them! 

Thanks for reading!

New Year, New Bedroom

There's nothing like a fresh coat of paint to start off the new year! Maybe it was that my bedroom was too much of a reminder of myself in high school, or maybe I've been watching too much HGTV, but whichever it was, I'd been itching to repaint and redecorate for a while. The second I stepped foot into my bedroom upon returning home for winter break, I knew it was time to change it up. The color, which was a dark magenta shade, just didn't feel like me anymore and made the room seem so dark and gloomy. Plus, it didn't help that everything else in the room was white and black- including black window valances that kept a lot of light from coming into the room. (What was I thinking when I put those up!?) So, I got to pinning some ideas of the look I wanted for my new room and quickly moved forward with picking out a new paint color and some new decor.
The color I chose is a light, dusty rose shade of pink. (It is called 'Bombay Pink' by Valspar) With a little help from my dad, we purchased the paint and got the entire room painted within two days. We had to apply two coats since the previous color was so dark, but changing the color to the lighter pink instantly brightened up the room! I had decided I wanted all of the decor and accent pieces to stay light and neutral. I ordered a set of white valances from Joss and Main, and found numerous decorative pieces at Homegoods. One of my favorite decorative pieces I found was a set of gray and gold canvases that resemble the pattern of the inside of agate stones. The neutral colors make the canvases subtle, but they act as a great statement that catches your eye when you first walk into the room. I finished the room off with a set of velvet throw pillows, a faux fur throw blanket, a gold geometric candle vase, and a fluffy area rug in front of the dresser. Lastly, I repainted and reupholstered the wooden chair that sits with my mannequin form.
I had originally picked up this cute little chair from a yard sale a couple years ago. It's paint was all chipped and it didn't even have a seat on it. I took it home, sanded it down a little bit and painted it to match my once magenta bedroom. I then made my own seat for it with a piece of wood that I cut to fit the chair, a piece of foam cushioning, some printed pink fabric, and a staple gun. Now, after repainting, the chair no longer matched the rest of the room, but I hated to see the chair go. I simply repainted the chair white to match the other furniture in my room, bought some new fabric, and recovered the seat cushion! Now it perfectly ties in with the rest of the new and improved room.
Not only does my room now feel like a better representation of myself, but I actually love spending time in there now. Before, the room felt cluttered and dark, but after some major cleaning out, and some more sophisticated and simplified decor, it is a calm, welcoming space to relax. This project was such a rejuvenating way to start off the new year!
I made a little video linked below to show the entire transformation from start to finish, including the remodel of my yard sale chair! Be sure to check it out and then keep reading to see a few pictures of the finished room! I hope you like it as much as I do!

Thanks for reading!

Fall Decor Inspiration

One of my favorite seasons to decorate for is fall, and now that the first day of the season as officially passed, it's time to break out the decor! When I think of fall I think of cozy, warm tones and of course, pumpkins! Last year I bought a set of decorative white, black and gold pumpkins from Target (which are available again this year). They are the perfect pieces to add a touch of chicness to any display. I paired the white and gold pumpkin with one of my favorite Bath and Body Works candles, from their White Barn collection, in between some deer antlers to create a sleek, rustic display as the centerpiece of a coffee table. (Shout out to my friend Margaret Anne for letting me use my decor to decorate her apartment for this post!...The furniture in my dorm room is not quite as pretty.)
For a side table, one of my favorite decorative pieces is a candle lantern! This piece is versatile for any season, but looks especially pretty next to the pumpkins. Toss a fuzzy throw blanket and some cable knit pillows on your couch next to it to create a cozy corner!
The decorating doesn't stop in the living room though! For the kitchen, my roommates and I keep a mini chalkboard out on our table all year round and love to write on it for different occasions. Check out the picture below to see the cute little fall greeting I drew on it to display next to a plate of freshly baked pumpkin spice muffins!
There are so many possibilities when it comes to fall decorating! You can see the pieces I used to decorate below and then check out the pieces I've rounded up and linked for you to achieve the look for yourself! Happy Decorating!!

Get the look...

1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / 10

Star Spangled Glamour

Every heart beats true for the red, white and blue... and July 4th is just around the corner! Delicious food, fireworks, and spending the day with friends and family are just some of the things I love about the 4th of July. Every year my family hosts a pool party to bring everyone together to celebrate. Yard games, a clam bake, and our annual game of pool baseball always make for a memorable time. Of course, what's a 4th of July party with out the decorations!? Over the past couple years, we have collected quite the array of stars and stripes! I always love putting out all the decorations, but as you could probably guess, my favorite thing about the 4th is dressing in patriotic colors for all the festivities! Whether it's for the party, fireworks on the lake, or for our game of pool baseball, you can find me sporting red, white, and blue. Check out the pictures below to see the outfit inspiration and party essentials that I've rounded up to get you all ready for a fabulous 4th of July! 
Happy Independence Day!!

 

~ Details ~

Jumpsuit  Talbots

Sandals  Jack Rogers

Top  Talbots

Shorts  Similar Here 

Sneakers  Similar Here

Bathing Suit  Similar Here 

Baseball Hat  Macy's 

Essie // Seventeen Event

On Monday, my friends and I had the opportunity to attend the Essie Fall 2015 Collection Preview Event, hosted by Seventeen Magazine at the Hearst Tower.  The event showed off the six new shades inspired by the rock 'n roll era. The new shades range from saturated fall hues, like a burnt cherry red, With the Band (my personal favorite!), to a metallic cobalt blue, Bell-Bottom Blues, and a sparkly stone gray, Frock 'n Roll.

From left to right: Leggy Legend, With the Band, Color Binge,
In the Lobby, Bell-Bottom Blues, Frock 'n Roll

Everything from the candy bar, to the mocktail bar, to the flower arrangements incorporated the colors of the new fall collection.  It was also a great chance to mingle with some fellow Essie lovers, including the beautiful Carly Heitlinger of The College Prepster! All around, the event was a great way to introduce the new shades and to get excited for the upcoming fall season! Check out the pictures below to get a glimpse of the event and make sure to try out the amazing new collection!

 

 

Battery Park Concert Series

Last Thursday, my family packed up a cooler, a few lawn chairs and a picnic blanket and headed down to Battery Park in Burlington, Vermont with some friends for one of our favorite summer traditions.  Every summer, a local radio station, The Point FM, has hosted a free concert series at the band shell in the center of the park!  The concerts are every Thursday night through the month of July and feature local musicians that are frequently played on The Point. Good music, good food and good company always make for an enjoyable evening; not to mention the gorgeous views of Lake Champlain and the Adirondacks that the park offers. And of course, the night wouldn't be complete without ice cream from the Ben & Jerry's truck! It is a night that friends and family of all ages can enjoy!

For the concerts I always like to wear something comfortable and cool.  Last week, I wore a sundress from LOFT with my new favorite sandals from Talbots.  The dress is so light and breezy; it is perfect for a warm summer night in the park.  I love this dress because it is so versatile! It can easily be worn casually with sandals for a night like this, or can be dressed up with heels and fancier jewelry. I finished off this outfit with a fun necklace, a white bucket bag purse and big sunglasses.  

If you're looking for something new and fun (and free!) to do in Burlington, I highly recommend coming to one of the concerts in Battery Park! There are still two more weeks left in July, which means two more chances to come to a show. Check out the pictures below for outfit details and a glimpse of the concert scene! Hope to see you there this Thursday!

{Concert Schedule}
July 9th ~ Good Old War
July 16th~ Kat Wright & The Indomitable Soul Band
July 23rd ~ Ryan Montbleau Band
July 30th ~  Gin Wigmore

{Details}

Dress ~ LOFT

Shoes ~ Talbots

Necklace ~ Bauble Bar

Sunglasses ~ Urban Outfitters

Bucket Bag Purse ~ Old Navy (no longer available) Similar Here