Hi all! I have decided to switch up a few things in blog world. With the advice of a fellow blogging friend, I have switched to wordpress and re-named my blog due to too many similar blog names. The new blog name is "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Style". I believe that it covers all that I hope to blog about in a nutshell. Basically about me being a mom and loving fashion.
Please follow me on this "new" adventure at: www.twinkletwinklelittlestyle.com
Thanks everyone! Have a wonderful day :)
Tuesday, October 8, 2013
Monday, October 7, 2013
Business to casual
Hi all. Hope you had a wonderful weekend. I got this dress a few months ago to wear for my friend's wedding festivities. Here I decided to take it from summer to fall/ business to casual. I absolutely love this dress for several reasons: the colors, the fit and the cut. It's a very figure flattering dress.
Above: Wear to work or an event. Below: Wear on the weekend, to a concert or festival.
Dress: Vera Wang for Kohls (here), Cardigan: Target (old--option), Jean jacket: Gap Factory (old--option), Boots: Target (old--option, LOVE THESE), Flats: J Crew Factory (here).
Above: Wear to work or an event. Below: Wear on the weekend, to a concert or festival.
Dress: Vera Wang for Kohls (here), Cardigan: Target (old--option), Jean jacket: Gap Factory (old--option), Boots: Target (old--option, LOVE THESE), Flats: J Crew Factory (here).
Friday, October 4, 2013
Friday Favorites
I decided to switch up my theme this Friday and feature some of my favorite things...
J Crew seriously has the most swoon-worthy statement necklaces of all time. Any outfit can be changed dramatically with the addition of a statement necklace. The only problem with my love affair of these is that if I owned them all, I'd break the bank. Fret not my friends...places like Groopdealz, Jane.com, Etsy and Brinabox have dupes that are a fraction of the cost! Go check them out and spice up those outfits!
Have a GREAT weekend! XOXO
White chunky necklace / J.Crew pear necklace / Steel chain necklace / J.Crew pave chain necklace / J.Crew pave necklace / Jewelry / J Crew necklace
Thursday, October 3, 2013
Quick, easy and delicious
If you are like me, you're busy. Being busy makes it very difficult to prep and make a delicious homemade meal for your family on a regular basis. This is not good because it results in repetitive meals (like peanut butter and jelly sandwiches) or takeout far too often. Thank goodness for Pinterest and the plethora of recipes available.
I came across this recipe and it attracted me for its utter simplicity. This recipe is not just delicious but it takes a matter of minutes to prep and only an hour to bake. Give it a try, you wont regret it.
I came across this recipe and it attracted me for its utter simplicity. This recipe is not just delicious but it takes a matter of minutes to prep and only an hour to bake. Give it a try, you wont regret it.
To make this: Use 4-6 (I used two large ones) chicken breasts, baby red potatoes, green beans (fresh or canned)--or whatever vegetable suits your fancy. Arrange the three in a 9X13 dish. Sprinkle a whole packet of Italian dressing mix and then top with a stick of melted butter (I know, I know...it makes the chicken flavorful and SUPER moist, I promise). Cover with foil and bake at 350 degrees for one hour.
Wednesday, October 2, 2013
Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Supporting the cause for breast cancer is near and dear to my heart as I have lost a close family friend and had another fight (but won) her battle. Not only that, but I work as a hospice nurse and see so many others' loved ones lose their fight with breast cancer. My prayer is that increased awareness will mean less battles and less deaths. Look good while supporting a good cause...why not?! These are my favorites. I especially LOVE the Loft necklace. You could spice up any outfit with it.
Save the tatas.
Blogtober: A time you were very scared
It was 3 o'clock in the morning back in 2005. I was pleasantly dreaming of the shopping adventure I would set out on with my mother later that morning. Suddenly my dreams were disturbed. I kept hearing this weird sound that resembled that of someone laughing. It wasn't a pleasant laugh, it was strange.
I was in college at the time. My sophomore year. It was a Friday night and I stayed in. It didn't surprise me that I was being woken up by a potentially drunken roommate. I was very irritated because my roommates knew that I needed to be up early. I flew the covers off and stormed out into the living room expecting to flip out on someone. It was then that my "dream" turned into a real live nightmare...
My good friend and roommate was sitting on our futon couch clutching her throat, struggling to breath (this explains the laughing noise). She had black mascara running down her face as she was crying. Chunks of blonde hair in her hands. I was half asleep when I went out but wide awake at this time. She was so distraught it took her a long time to get the words out when we asked "what happened?!" She only had a matter of seconds to begin and all she had to say was his name. The door to our upper apartment sanctuary was slammed open and up the stairs he came.
He had this blank look on his face. The kind of look that makes you stop in your tracks because you know its danger. I would have given anything to have been able to run out of that house with my friend in tow but we were trapped.
HE was a sweet talking, college basketball "star". He was surrounded by desperate women all of the time. To sum it all up in one word, he was manipulative. And when he drank hard liquor of any sort he was evil.
He stood at the top of the stairs trying to coax her back downstairs. We would not let her go. He did not like that. His response was to punch several holes in our walls. Thankfully his friend was dating our other roommate and we were able to get him out to talk him down. We sat huddled in the bathroom listening to the screams while he was still aggressive to our friend. Phone in hand, wanting to call 911 but trembling so hard, and so fearful of what would happen if we did, that we couldn't. I so wish I could have (please don't judge because until you are in a situation like this you will never know what you will do or how you will react).
His friend got him downstairs where he preceded to destroy our apartment and all that was in it. Our glass kitchen table smashed. Pictures, plants and glass were everywhere. His friend was finally able to settle him down momentarily. We were all able to get out, with her, unnoticed. She was taken to safety and another friend and I snuck back into our apartment. He was gone. We did not fall back asleep the whole night, locked in my bedroom, trembling and crying for fear he may return. I can say that I was fearful for my own life as well as hers.
My mom came at 8:00 that morning. I met her downstairs before she could even come up and told her I wanted to leave right away. I didn't want her to know, yet alone, see what had happened because it would scare her. I was exhausted, scared, angry.
Our other friends had plans for that day. They contacted her mother to meet at a local Starbucks. They told her of the nights events (and MANY others that occurred--just weren't that bad). She was in denial. Had she seen her daughter she would have had a reality check. This plan was done behind our friends back because we knew she needed help and wouldn't ask for it. What we wanted was for him to get out of our home and to get a restraining order for her.
I'm not going to go into the details of that meet up because I don't want to portray her mother in a bad light. She was under his spell like we all were. Nothing was done. No charges were pressed and no restraining order obtained.
He left our house for a few months but ended up sweet talking his way back in. After the events of that fateful night and the forgiveness and acceptance that occurred at this time, I decided to separate myself from it all. I started to spend time with other friends and hardly stayed at my apartment (especially on the weekends). It put a huge strain on our relationships.
Nights like this occurred often afterwards but we were never told of them until she was done with him. After a few years he was arrested and charged with kidnapping (of her) for holding her hostage one night. That was the end of it and the end of him for all that we were concerned.
What happened to said friend now? She shares an incredible son with this man. He may be this boys father but he is not his daddy. That title is held by her incredibly loving and wonderful husband. They live in Germany on a military base for a few more years and life for the three of them couldn't be better.
October is Domestic Violence Awareness month. If you or someone you know is dealing with domestic violence. PLEASE seek help immediately.
I was in college at the time. My sophomore year. It was a Friday night and I stayed in. It didn't surprise me that I was being woken up by a potentially drunken roommate. I was very irritated because my roommates knew that I needed to be up early. I flew the covers off and stormed out into the living room expecting to flip out on someone. It was then that my "dream" turned into a real live nightmare...
My good friend and roommate was sitting on our futon couch clutching her throat, struggling to breath (this explains the laughing noise). She had black mascara running down her face as she was crying. Chunks of blonde hair in her hands. I was half asleep when I went out but wide awake at this time. She was so distraught it took her a long time to get the words out when we asked "what happened?!" She only had a matter of seconds to begin and all she had to say was his name. The door to our upper apartment sanctuary was slammed open and up the stairs he came.
He had this blank look on his face. The kind of look that makes you stop in your tracks because you know its danger. I would have given anything to have been able to run out of that house with my friend in tow but we were trapped.
HE was a sweet talking, college basketball "star". He was surrounded by desperate women all of the time. To sum it all up in one word, he was manipulative. And when he drank hard liquor of any sort he was evil.
He stood at the top of the stairs trying to coax her back downstairs. We would not let her go. He did not like that. His response was to punch several holes in our walls. Thankfully his friend was dating our other roommate and we were able to get him out to talk him down. We sat huddled in the bathroom listening to the screams while he was still aggressive to our friend. Phone in hand, wanting to call 911 but trembling so hard, and so fearful of what would happen if we did, that we couldn't. I so wish I could have (please don't judge because until you are in a situation like this you will never know what you will do or how you will react).
His friend got him downstairs where he preceded to destroy our apartment and all that was in it. Our glass kitchen table smashed. Pictures, plants and glass were everywhere. His friend was finally able to settle him down momentarily. We were all able to get out, with her, unnoticed. She was taken to safety and another friend and I snuck back into our apartment. He was gone. We did not fall back asleep the whole night, locked in my bedroom, trembling and crying for fear he may return. I can say that I was fearful for my own life as well as hers.
My mom came at 8:00 that morning. I met her downstairs before she could even come up and told her I wanted to leave right away. I didn't want her to know, yet alone, see what had happened because it would scare her. I was exhausted, scared, angry.
Our other friends had plans for that day. They contacted her mother to meet at a local Starbucks. They told her of the nights events (and MANY others that occurred--just weren't that bad). She was in denial. Had she seen her daughter she would have had a reality check. This plan was done behind our friends back because we knew she needed help and wouldn't ask for it. What we wanted was for him to get out of our home and to get a restraining order for her.
I'm not going to go into the details of that meet up because I don't want to portray her mother in a bad light. She was under his spell like we all were. Nothing was done. No charges were pressed and no restraining order obtained.
He left our house for a few months but ended up sweet talking his way back in. After the events of that fateful night and the forgiveness and acceptance that occurred at this time, I decided to separate myself from it all. I started to spend time with other friends and hardly stayed at my apartment (especially on the weekends). It put a huge strain on our relationships.
Nights like this occurred often afterwards but we were never told of them until she was done with him. After a few years he was arrested and charged with kidnapping (of her) for holding her hostage one night. That was the end of it and the end of him for all that we were concerned.
What happened to said friend now? She shares an incredible son with this man. He may be this boys father but he is not his daddy. That title is held by her incredibly loving and wonderful husband. They live in Germany on a military base for a few more years and life for the three of them couldn't be better.
October is Domestic Violence Awareness month. If you or someone you know is dealing with domestic violence. PLEASE seek help immediately.
Tuesday, October 1, 2013
Dear 16 year old me
Day three of "Blogtember" (except now its Blogtober) asks to pass on some useful information or advice you learned and always remembered. I thought I would put a spin on it and write this letter to myself at age 16.
When I was sixteen I thought the world revolved around me. I tried way too hard to fit in and did stupid things to do so. I changed myself for a guy that I was dating and lost touch with some friends (found my way back eventually) and was terrible to my mother. So here is what I would say to the me I was back then (and be grateful as I'm typing that I have come a long way).
Dear Amanda,
At sixteen you have not nearly begun to live life. There is so much more to it than boys, makeup and clothing. God made you to be perfect in his eyes and there is nothing that you need to change. A real man will love you for who you are, what you do and where you come from. You should never have to change those things to make him love you. I know this because you meet that man someday.
Pay attention and do well in school. Stay involved in extra-curricular activities that do not involve smoking, drugs or alcohol. You will appreciate that advice in the near future because 99.9% of the dumb things that you will ever do involve those things.
Of the "many" friends that you have now, only a few will still be there in 12 years. Those are the friends that you should treat the best. They will forever have your back and support all that you do. They will rejoice in your successes and be a shoulder to cry on during your failures. They will never leave your side.
Your mom is THE most important and influential woman in you life and you need to value and respect her. Spend time with her and become her best friend now because it is the greatest friendship in the world and she will truly be your best friend someday. Know that it hurts like hell when your child says they hate you. Trust me...you'll hear it when you have a child of your own.
Always know that at the end of the day, your life turns out exactly how it was meant to be. Don't sweat the small stuff because there are bigger and better things. And try to love and respect yourself more.
Sincerely,
The older and wiser you
The best advice I was ever told was in high school and it was that "none of this (as in materialistic things and mean people) matters". Life is so much more than high school. Thank god that we learn and grow from our mistakes. I always say that I have no regrets because those "regrets" are lessons learned and helped to make me into who I am today.
**Facebook didn't come out until I was in college so I do not have a picture of 16 year old me on the computer. Just know it would have given you a laugh. AWKWARD.
When I was sixteen I thought the world revolved around me. I tried way too hard to fit in and did stupid things to do so. I changed myself for a guy that I was dating and lost touch with some friends (found my way back eventually) and was terrible to my mother. So here is what I would say to the me I was back then (and be grateful as I'm typing that I have come a long way).
Dear Amanda,
At sixteen you have not nearly begun to live life. There is so much more to it than boys, makeup and clothing. God made you to be perfect in his eyes and there is nothing that you need to change. A real man will love you for who you are, what you do and where you come from. You should never have to change those things to make him love you. I know this because you meet that man someday.
Pay attention and do well in school. Stay involved in extra-curricular activities that do not involve smoking, drugs or alcohol. You will appreciate that advice in the near future because 99.9% of the dumb things that you will ever do involve those things.
Of the "many" friends that you have now, only a few will still be there in 12 years. Those are the friends that you should treat the best. They will forever have your back and support all that you do. They will rejoice in your successes and be a shoulder to cry on during your failures. They will never leave your side.
Your mom is THE most important and influential woman in you life and you need to value and respect her. Spend time with her and become her best friend now because it is the greatest friendship in the world and she will truly be your best friend someday. Know that it hurts like hell when your child says they hate you. Trust me...you'll hear it when you have a child of your own.
Always know that at the end of the day, your life turns out exactly how it was meant to be. Don't sweat the small stuff because there are bigger and better things. And try to love and respect yourself more.
Sincerely,
The older and wiser you
The best advice I was ever told was in high school and it was that "none of this (as in materialistic things and mean people) matters". Life is so much more than high school. Thank god that we learn and grow from our mistakes. I always say that I have no regrets because those "regrets" are lessons learned and helped to make me into who I am today.
**Facebook didn't come out until I was in college so I do not have a picture of 16 year old me on the computer. Just know it would have given you a laugh. AWKWARD.
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I have plenty more quick, easy meals to share with you all. I cannot take credit for it though. Head over to Pinterest, make an account (if you don't have one already) and start pinning some fabulous recipes.
Bon appetit!
**Picture is also from the original Pinterest pin. I did not take this on my own**