{panzanella salad}

July 18, 2018 xoxostacyb1 Comment

Since it’s officially tomato season I thought it only made sense to share a delicious recipe using the all the fresh tomatoes you can get your hands on.

Panzanella is a classic Tuscan chopped salad. Traditionally, you’ll find it with dry stale bread that’s been re-hydrated with olive oil + fresh tomato juices.

Then you add some personal touches and make it a slam dunk!

Homemade croutons are the money-maker. I mean, the tomatoes are the star of the show don’t get me wrong. But the croutons, they are a very close runner-up.

Once you make these croutons, you’ll be so damn spoiled, you won’t want store-bought any mo! The trick – melted butter + olive oil! It’s a must for perfectly crunchy, golden brown deliciousness.

Somehow I forget about panzanella till summer rolls around. Then it’s on repeat over + over again. Gotta use up all those tomatoes. Basically a summer staple.

Here’s what you’ll need:

Continue reading “{panzanella salad}” →

fashion · jcrew addict · Nordstrom · ootd · Outfit Details · sale · Summertime

{third piece rule}

July 17, 2018 xoxostacyb6 Comments

Have you ever heard of the third piece rule? It’s totally new to me too. I’ve been reading more and more about it and decided I need to put this rule in effect! It’s basically a way to encourage more stylish outfits.

Your top + pants are your first + second pieces. Shoes not included. Your third piece must be an extra element. For example: blazer + belt + hat + scarf + statement jewelry.

Does that make sense?

Basically the third piece promotes a more stylish outfit. Making your run of the mill look more put together. Polished. Interesting. Like you put a little extra effort into your look!

I’m going to incorporate the third piece rule this summer working with pieces I already have. What do you think? Are you down for the challenge?

Tank // Denim // Heels // Earrings

Continue reading “{third piece rule}” →

Celebrity News · Cool spots · friday · friends · Lake Tahoe · Summertime · travel · weekend · Wine · Wine Tasting

{weekend notes}

July 16, 2018July 20, 2018 xoxostacyb6 Comments

Happy Monday friends! We survived another Celebrity Golf Tourney. As always, such a good time. Friends + sunshine + celebrities + drinks! That’s what this annual weekend trip is all about. Hope you all had a killer couple of days too. Now back into the swing of things. Luckily I made prior plans to meet my homegirl for an early (4:30 am) workout….otherwise I’m pretty sure my snooze button would have gotten a good workout…HA! Bay started Algebra Academy this morning. And I’m hosting a rosé tasting + OC Housewives season premier this evening. Have you watched the trailer? It’s going to be ridiculous…just how I like it!

Intentions for the week:

~~Host a rosé tasting~~ – (gonna tell you all about it)
Find a sunflower field – (hopefully this week)
~~Make caprese salad~~ – (my fave. trying it with avocado this week)
~~Go see Mama Mia with Bay in the theater~~ – (so, so good Bay couldn’t stop dancing)
~~Tell you all about the perfect white denim I found~~ – (come this week)
~~Stay away from Target~~ – (I did it….till Friday, but I had stuff I legit needed)
Donate/sale 10 items from my closet – (pulled the items, but that’s as far as I got)
Try a new foundation…maybe back to Estée Lauder? – (getting color matched this week whoop-whoop)
Play tennis – (too damn hot for that shit)
~~Finish cabin laundry~~ – (done √)
~~Send back returns~~ – (done √)

Last weeks Intentions: {weekend notes}

Highlights from the weekend……..

This was my third + final weekend in Tahoe for the month. I’m tired! Ha!

Always a pit stop at Strawberry Lodge. And the bartenders are getting better + better at making a skinny, skinny marg each time!

Pizza + carafe of red wine at Lake Tahoe Pizza Co. It’s just how we roll.

Quite possibly the highlight of the weekend…..karaoke at the Classic Cue. If you follow any of us on Insta-stories, then you know what I’m talking about. Classic Cue never disappoints on a Friday night. And we even roped some of our favorite Golf Tourney homies to partake in the amazingness!

Best part – one of the singers from Friday night, just so happened to be Andrea’s uber driver Saturday morning. LOL! You can’t even make this shit up.

Celebrity Golf Tournament

The 17th hole at Edgewood is such a show off!

We got the guys to take 1 picture the whole day. Thank god it turned out 🙂

Drink of choice: skinny, skinny margs. AKA tequila on the rocks with a squeeze of lime.

Continue reading “{weekend notes}” →

Adventure · Lake Tahoe · Movies · Nordstrom · sale · Summertime · travel · weekend

{friday 5}

July 13, 2018 xoxostacyb1 Comment

Who else is ready to shake a tail feather? We’re headed back to Tahoe and I couldn’t be more excited. It’s our annual no-kids Tahoe trip for the Celebrity Golf Tournament. Which means we’re gonna have a damn good time. Ha! Hope you all had a great week! And even better weekend 🙂

5 things on my mind…….

ONE – Portland, OR // You guys, Cory surprised me and booked a 4-day Portland Trip. Get this – I’ve never been to Oregon! Swear. I’ve hardly been anywhere outside CA to be perfectly honest. We chatted the other night about making a goal to visit a new State each year and he straight up delivered!! Okay, so I need ALL THE THINGS Portland. Where to eat. Where to stay. What do to. Bar, ALL the bars. We are renting a car to check out Cannon Beach (staying 1 night) #bucketlist and Multnomah Falls. I think could spend the entire day on Pinterest pinning everything.

Check out what I’ve pinned so far: xoxostacyb – Portland

TWO – Nordy’s Sale // In case you haven’t heard, there is a sale going on at Nordstrom…lol! Not going to bore the shit out of you, promise. But, there’s some good stuff that I think we need to go over real quick:

Zella Leggings $35 // Madewell Step Hem Jeans $34 (call and ask for a price match) // BP Cardigan $31 // Halogen Seamless Bandeau $11 // Free People Thermal $44 // Top Shop Cardi $49 // North Face Jacket $68 // Top Shop Dress $39 // Top Shop Leather Jacket $47 // Madewell Black Skinny Jeans $84 // Free People Sweater $51 // Nike Sneakers $55 // Raw Hem Tee’s $11 // Studded Mules $49 // VANS $42 // Black Studded Boots $129 // Fleece Pullover $51 // Camo Military Jacket $149

And that’s just to name a few of my top picks! What’s in your cart? Tell me all about it. I love this shit 🙂

Continue reading “{friday 5}” →

Bay Bakes · Food · foodie · Kid Food · kid style · kids · Kitchen · mom & me · Recipe · Summertime

{no churn circus animal cookie ice cream}

July 12, 2018 xoxostacyb1 Comment

I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream. Especailly with these tripple digit temps we’ve been gatting!

Oh, and did you know this Sunday is National Ice Cream Day? Can I get a hell yeah!

This easy ice cream will be a hit with your kids! And the 30 and over crowd too 🙂 Promice! Peeps wont believe you whipped this up in no time at all + without an ice cream maker.

Just a couple of simple ingredients. Freeze overnight. Scoop + serve! Done!

For starters – If you don’t LOVE Mother’s Circus Animal Cookies, then we can’t be friends!

To be completely honest, you could legit add any cookies pieces to this reicpe and it would work great. If oreos are your jam, add em!

Continue reading “{no churn circus animal cookie ice cream}” →

California · Community · Cooking · Cool spots · Food · foodie · Kitchen · Products · Recipe · Summertime

{lemon spaghetti}

July 11, 2018 xoxostacyb6 Comments

I like carbs and I cannot lie! The way I see it, God invented carbs for a reason! #yolo

This isn’t your typical meat sauce + noodles. It’s light and refreshing.

It’s an unexpected combo that works so so well together! Perfect for a summer side dish. I typically have all the ingredients on hand too!

A couple of thing before we get started. “Good” olive oil is KEY! It’s one of the main ingredients on this dish. I bet you already know what I’m going to say, huh? Seka Hills Olive Oil is the #1 in my book. I don’t even mess with the store-bought stuff anymore.

You guys, Seka Hills invited me out for a farm tour a few weeks ago. I’m still blown away. Over 17,000 acres! Different olive varieties. Grapes #wineo Almond trees. Honey (bay’s fave) Asparagus, which I have a new-found respect for. Not that I didn’t love it before, but did you know asparagus has to be harvested daily? By hand! It’s a labor of love, my friends!

60 acres of asparagus. Crazy, right?

The honey!

Did you know they grow all the produce that is distributed to wine club members? I figured they sourced it out. Nope! This photo below is where they grow the produce we get! Just another plus!

Oh and if you’re interested in joining their wine club, here’s all the info: Seka Hills Wine Clubs

And can we talk about the fact they now have Beef Club, I might need to get in on that one.

But the olive trees, they are beyond impressive. Seka just released a new variety of Olive Oil. It’s called the Tribal Blend. It’s a unique blend of estate Frantoio + Picual + Arbequina. The results are a medium to robust intensity. It’s different. More bold.

This week, I cracked open my second bottle of the Tribal Blend EVOO! And It’s what I used in this Lemon Spaghetti recipe!!

Basically, I’m obsessed with it.

The funny thing, I’ll drink cheap ass wine. Pizza from Little Caesars. But when it comes to olive oil, I straight up do not mess around with the cheap stuff. Ha!

#oliveoilsnob

Lemon Spaghetti //

Here’s what you’ll need:

Continue reading “{lemon spaghetti}” →

California · fashion · jcrew addict · Nordstrom · ootd · Outfit Details · sale · Summertime · Target

{10 summer closet staples}

July 10, 2018July 10, 2018 xoxostacyb3 Comments

I love the simplicity of Summer clothing. Summer attire is so basic + minimal compared to other seasons which involve lots of layers + footwear. With a few basic pieces, you can mix and match your closet with endless options!

So, today I thought I’d share some of my tried + true summer closet staples.

You know, ALL THE THINGS I believe every girls needs! And things that can be worn over and over throughout the Summer!

But, before we get started – Let’s chat about the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale. If you follow fashion bloggers on Instagram, then you’ve already been overloaded with so much info. So, I’ll spare you the overwhelming shit and keep it simple with 3 quick tips to help you navigate the sale, if you’re into it!

Shop early! Meaning, you must become a Nordstrom Card Holder!!! This will grant you “Early Access!” As in 8 days before the public aka non card holders. You get a $40 credit upon approval and lots of perks year round too! Typically, once the Anniversary Sale opens to the public on the 20th, sizes + colors + top items are sold out or wayy picked over. So, if there is something you HAVE TO HAVE, this is the way to insure you get your pretty little hands on it!
Add to Cart! You can preview the sale here: 2018 Anniversary Sale – Preview. This is not everything that will be on sale, this is just a sample. I like to do a closet clean-out and toss/sale everything I know for a fact that I will not be wearing come Fall. Reminder – the Anni sale is mainly Fall New Arrivals. Stick everything you LOVE in your shopping cart! And patiently wait. The worst part!
Shop online! Grab a cup of coffee and sit down with your computer Thursday morning. Don’t even think of messing with the crowds. If you want it – BUY IT! You can always return, but you legit gotta act fast. Nordy’s offers FREE shipping + FREE returns. Their website it super user-friendly. OR you can always buy online and do an in-store pick-up. Technically you don’t even have to get out of your car. They will bring it out to you!

With these tips, you should be ready to shop till you drop! Set your alarms for Thursday morning friends!!

And now for 10 summer closet staples……

Continue reading “{10 summer closet staples}” →

Adventure · California · Cooking · Cool spots · family · friday · Holidays · kids · Lake Tahoe · mom & me · Summertime · travel · weekend

{weekend notes}

July 9, 2018July 13, 2018 xoxostacyb2 Comments

Welcome Monday! With open arms. I can’t even remember the last time those words came out of my mouth….or in this case, typed on my keyboard. It’s amazing what a relaxing weekend PLUS a goodnight sleep does for the soul. Woke up ready to kick this weeks ass! Even got some early morning steps, which hasn’t happened in far too long. Monday’s are for fresh starts and I’m all about it today! Just hope I feel the same way tomorrow 🙂

Intentions for the week:

~~Keep Bay entertained~~ – (pool dates + sleepovers + riding)
~~Celebrate Alex’s birthday with all the homegirls ♥~~ – (good times as always)
~~Get 15,000 steps per day~~ – (did it…got a workout in every weekday…this is a big deal)
~~Homemade ice cream~~ – (did anyone try the Circus Animal Cookie Ice Cream?)
~~Clean the back patio~~ – (it makes me crazy happy)
~~Get blonde again~~ – (Allison straight up KILLED it)
~~Air dry hair 3x this week~~ – (been rockin a fro)
~~Taco Tuesday date with Bay~~ – (tacos + convos were so good)
~~Library for new reads~~ – (Magnolia Table + True Roots + Gray Malin…not really reading material though)
~~Celebrity Golf Tournament~~ – (whoop whoop)
Walk the arboretum on my lunch break – (Too damn hot for that shit)

Last weeks Intentions: {weekend notes}

Highlights from the weekend:

We headed back up the hill Tuesday evening to celebrate the 4th at the Cabin.

Fancy meeting my sis + bro in-law at Strawberry Lodge.

Strawberry got fancy for the 4th. But in sad news, the jukebox is broken. Which is absolutely devastating if you’ve ever had the opportunity to play a song on it.

2nd traditional pit-stop: Lake Tahoe Pizza Co!

Bay also takes a picture in this bug every.single.time too! What can I say, we are creatures of habit.

While we take pics, Cory makes friend with all the dogs 🙂

Surprised the kiddos with a donut board for breakfast.

I picked up every shape + size I could find.

And topped them with cute USA flags on toothpicks. The kids where in heaven!

Read to celebrate the 4th! #cousins

To the beach!

Getting in a beach on the 4th has become a little tricky. We got it all figured out this year though.

Load up all the bikes. Drive down early to get a parking spot. Ride the bikes back to the Cabin.

Then we ride back and forth all day. Luckily our cabin is fairly close and there is a nice bike trail.

A lot of woke, no doubt. But 100% worth it!

From the beach to The Beacon Bar & Grill for Rum Runners! It’s a must!

Bay + Gram swam to the bouy. It was high on Bay’s beach to-do’s!

Back to the beach after dinner for the fireworks!

Is it just me, or does the Summer seem to fly by once the 4th of July is over? As fast as it’s going by, we’ve been loving every minute of it!

Continue reading “{weekend notes}” →

California · Community · Cooking · Cool spots · fashion · foodie · friday · ootd · Outfit Details · Products · Recipe · Summertime

{friday 5}

July 6, 2018July 6, 2018 xoxostacyb4 Comments

Happy Friday friends! Hope you all had a great 4th of July!! And have a fun weekend planned. I’m headed back to Tahoe to finish celebrating. This whole Wednesday Holiday business is for the birds.

First, I’ve got 5 things on my mind…….

ONE – Mom’s Famous Chicken Tortilla Casserole // You guys are gonna want to “pin” print or save this one. It’s one of my Mom’s (many) famous recipes. My sis requests it for her Birthday dinner every year. We have it every family pumpkin carving night. Bay made it just a couple of weeks ago for Father’s Day. And I realized, I’ve never shared this keeper with you guys. It’s easy + delish! Make it this weekend for your troops 🙂

* This recipe is best if you make it the night before or morning of.

Here’s what you’ll need:

4 boneless skinless chicken breasts cooked + shredded (or rotisserie)
12 corn tortillas (taco size), cut into 1 inch pieces
1 cup red onion, chopped
1 can Cream of chicken soup
1 can Cream of mushroom soup
1 can Chili con carne (no beans)
1 small can green salsa
1/2 cup chicken broth
1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
1 can sliced black olives
Green onion, chopped

Here’s what you’ll do:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9×13 baking dish with non-stick spray.

In a large bowl mix together chicken + tortillas + red onion + soups + chili + green salsa + chicken broth.

Pour mixture into prepared baking dish.

Top with shredded cheese + olives.

Bake 1 hour.

Top with green onions + serve 🙂

It’s one of those feel good meals that instantly remind me of my childhood. I think we’ve all got one of those, right?

TWO – Beach Tote // I’ve had my eye on these net tote bags for a while now. Picked one up at Urban Outfitters last week to see what all the jazz was about. And of course, I fell it love with it. I found some even cheaper on Amazon and I’m going to upgrade all my re-usable grocery bags with them. They are super stretchy so they fit wayyy more than you think. Washable…which is key! My old bag has seen better days. The Kate Net Tote comes in 6 other color options too. Thinking I may need to scoop up a pink one next.

Kate Net Tote Bag

THREE – ACV drink // You all know by now that I’m a huge Bragg Apple Cider Vinegar fan. I drink a shot of that shit every.single.morning. I promise with time, it really does get easier. Honestly, I don’t mind it at all. I spotted the new “drink” on the shelves last week. And different varieties too. I grabbed the Ginger Spice. They also have Honey, Apple Cinnamon, Grape, Limeade, Pomegranate and Sweet Stevia. It’s about $3 for a glass about the size of a Gatorade. I saved it for my afternoon snack. Drank 1/2 the bottle each day. Then went and bought more. It’s good! Click below for more info:

Continue reading “{friday 5}” →

fashion · Monthly Review · Nordstrom · ootd · Outfit Details · Random shit · Summertime

{june in review}

July 5, 2018 xoxostacyb4 Comments

It’s Thursday, but man, it sure feels like a Monday. Right? Grateful AF tomorrow is Friday though. Mid-week Holidays can really screw things up. I’m all out of sorts today.

But I wanted to pop in and share a June review. In case you missed it, June was another busy month. Twenty one blog posts. With a mixture of a little of this + a little of that. Recipes. Cute tops. Weekend highlights. Intentions.