A Longenecker Story Short

Good News, Bad News

2012-03-19T20:28:00.000-04:00

Skirt from H&M; Shirt from H&M; Shoes from Max Studio via TJMaxx; Purse from Michael Kors

Alright, friends, I've got some good news and bad news...

The good news is that the house I'm standing in front of will quite probably be ours in 45 days!!!! That's right! Home ownership is in my future! I've dreamt of being in a house for quite some time now - entertaining with more space, lounging on a patio, having a dining room (mmm... I eat it all up!) - and it's finally becoming a reality!

... now, the bad news is, that because of this house, the wedding, and MBA aspirations, I've decided to take a hiatus from the blog. It really pains me to tell you guys because I feel like I'm letting down a group of friends, but at the end of the day, there are just some things I can't keep putting off (namely the wedding) that need to start taking more priority in my life. I'm not sure how long the hiatus will be but I appreciate everyone's ability to understand what I'm going though. You all are great followers and people and I couldn't be happier with the support you've given me and continue to give me in life.

Thank you!!!!

Curly Girly

2012-03-15T21:49:00.000-04:00

So I think I have finally conquered being able to curl my hair with a hot iron! And it's only taken me 24+ years to figure out!

Now I just have to figure out how to NOT scar my face while doing it because the burn that currently runs down the side of my chin is definitely NOT helping the look.

Happy (almost) Friday everyone! Enjoy the weekend!

Monday Blues

2012-03-12T19:22:00.000-04:00

Pants from H&M (recent); Shirt from BR (old); Necklace and Bracelet from some street vendor; Watch from Fossil; Shoes from Madden Girl

After having a less-than-enjoyable experience today at the doctor's office, I'm ready to say goodbye to Monday! Hope the rest of you had a better start to your week than I did!

At least we've got St Patty's day to look forward to on Saturday. Anyone have some good Irish recipes to share? I'm looking for a relatively easy version of Corned Beef and Cabbage.

Blood Orange Marmalade

2012-03-08T20:15:00.000-05:00

It's always been a goal of mine to try my hand at jarring. I'm not sure why, but I find there's something so charming about the process. The idea of spending an afternoon slicing up fresh seasonal fruit, lingering over the stove as the mixture simmers, and quietly enjoying it on a slice of peanut butter bread with a mug of coffee seems so inviting. After spotting a recipe for blood orange marmalade recently on this blog, I knew I had found my winner...

Unfortunately, I met a little bump in the road during my marmalade process. To jar things properly, you need to run the jars through a boiling hot water bath which requires a pot of water tall enough to cover the entire jar, which I didn't have. One easy way around this would be to use shorter jars (I used pints) but on a lazy Sunday afternoon, making another trip to Michael's was not in my future. Instead, I just skipped this step and stored my jam in the fridge and finished it within the week. If you go through the proper process of jarring, your jam would last far longer (6 months or so) as long as the jar hadn't been opened.

If you're interested in doing the real thing, try this website tips.

Boyfriend Jacket and Travel

2012-03-06T20:17:00.001-05:00

Blazer - H&M; Jeans - Miss Mee (old); Necklace -Express (old)

I finally scored myself a boyfriend jacket! All you trend-setters out there, please don't make this article of clothing fall out of style yet. I may be behind the curve when it comes to trends, but better late than never!

In unrelated news, Nick and I are planning a trip out to the Pacific Northwest and we need your help. If anyone has suggestions of things to do in Seattle and Vancouver, please let me know! Your suggestions for my trip to Boston last fall were invaluable and I'd love to hear your recommendations for this trip too!

ALSO (and this is a big also) I need your input on some fashion travel decisions. What shoes should I bring?!?! The weather is going to be between the mid 50's to mid 60's so sandals seem too cool and riding boots seem too warm (maybe a bootie would work but they're not terribly versatile and I'm trying to pack light). I hate myself in flats so I feel like that only leaves me with a small wedge pump. Any other ideas???

St Germain and Meyer Lemon

2012-02-29T21:57:00.000-05:00

After getting out of work at a reasonable hour this past Friday, I found myself with enough time before the night's festivities to enjoy a cocktail at home (rarely does this happen). The afternoon was warm so I needed something light and with a few Meyer lemons waiting to be put to good use in my fridge, I decided on a mix of Meyer lemon juice, vodka, and St Germain.

If you haven't ever tasted St Germain, you must give this lovely French liqueur a try. It reminds me a lot of lychee fruit but with some floral undertones. You can pair it with many different liquors (a list of recipes is on their website here) but my favorites mixes include vodka, gin, or champagne. I especially love the bottle and packaging - so pretty and with such character!

Weekend Uniform

2012-02-27T21:02:00.000-05:00

Oxford from Target; Jeans from H&M; Shoes from Max Studio via TJMaxx; Necklace from Stella & Dot; Watch from Fossil

I love it when bloggers share their "weekend uniform" outfits. I find it really interesting to see what they're most comfortable in and, many times, it shows what their personal style really boils down to. For me, it's subtle colors (navy), classic and clean pieces (pearls and oxfords), and versatile shoes (nude wedges) that I can tackle any activity in.

What is your weekend uniform and what does it say about you?

Wedding Inspiration

2012-02-23T21:44:00.001-05:00

Ever since I got engaged all my married friends have commented how jealous they are that I get to plan a wedding in the "Pinterest age." And I must admit, they are completely right. Here are some pins that have got me inspired for my special day. ; )

In other wedding news, we haven't made many plans yet. We both love the idea of a destination wedding (maybe Key West, so it would be in driving distance for most of our guests) but the idea seems daunting. Any advice from readers out there who have been there and done that?

Credits

Lighting: 1, 2, 3, 4

Color Palettes (clockwise from right): 1, 2, 3, 4

Centerpieces (clockwise from right): 1, 2, 3, 4

Dresses (clockwise from right): 1, 2, 3, 4

Neutral Blocking

2012-02-21T22:03:00.000-05:00

Skirt from Urban Outfitters; Shirt from H&M; Scarf from Target; Tight from Target; Shoes from Ellen Tracy

I've only been in the mood for neutral blocking outfits (is that a term?) lately and now I've got another one to add to the list...

Hair Adventures

2012-02-16T21:30:00.000-05:00

If there is one thing I'm lacking in personal style it's definitely my creativity in the hair department. I'm bad at buns, terrible at braids, and can't work with rollers if my life depended on it. So when Misikko recently gifted me with a brand spankin' new hair dryer and flat iron to review, I knew this would be my biggest motivation and best chance at branching out with my hair style. These are my tips and reviews of the process.

The blow dryer was up first.

The main reason why I liked using this hair dryer is because of how powerful the dryer jet stream was (is that the correct term?). This is a hugely critical factor in picking a hair dryer for a few reasons; 1) it cuts down on the time you spend drying your hair, 2) the force of the dryer can literally straighten your hair, and 3) the fact that you spend less time drying your hair means that you’re pumping less hot hair into your bathroom which cuts down on the humidity in your bathroom and subsequently helps to keep your hair straight (that was a mouthful but it completely makes sense!).

Now on to the fun stuff. I decided to try my hand at curling with a straightener. I love the look of relaxed beachy waves but my curls ended up looking more retro and classic.

There are a ton of videos out there explaining the process but here's how I tackled it:

When you begin the curl, position the straightener around a piece of hair like you usually would when straightening it but make sure you’re as close to the root as possible. Next, clamp down and turn the straightener in the direction away from your face and rotate around by about a half circle. Keeping it tightly clamped, pull the straightener down the length of your hair. If you find that you’re having problems with making your hair curl, try either taking smaller pieces of hair, pulling more slowly, or clamping more tightly. It took me a couple tries to get it down.

I could immediately tell that this was a high-quality straightener by the way it made my hair feel so soft. Prior to using this one, I was working with an aging flat iron that would make my hair feel like it could break off at any moment. The other thing I liked about this product is a small light that blinks once it's reached the desired temperature. This little feature seems so simple but I've actually found it to be very helpful when I'm playing around with high and low temperatures.

Hope you found this helpful!

Happy V-Day!

2012-02-14T07:28:00.000-05:00

Happy Valentine's Day! Nick and I went on our Valentine's date this past Saturday - we had brunch at our favorite restaurant and then toured the Jupiter Lighthouse. Tonight we're planning to make chocolate covered bananas and strawberries. I always think Valentine's day is a little cheesy but if it gives you an excuse to plan a date and eat more chocolate, then it's okay in my book!

Whether your single or taken, hope you're doing something today to celebrate - like eating some chocolate!

Stripes and Leopard

2012-02-09T21:43:00.000-05:00

Sometimes a little monochromatic motif just fits the bill. Mix in a little leopard and stripes and you've got yourself a winning combination in my book.

I'm excited for the weekend! We've got a pre-Valentine's day brunch, a tour of the local Lighthouse, and a Garlic Fest to attend! Hope everyone has a good one!

Your Go-To App (not for your phone)

2012-02-08T08:15:00.000-05:00

As we all grow up and mature in this adult world, we inevitably pick up tricks to make life flow more seamlessly. I like to think of these tricks as "tools of the trade" to being a put-together, flawless woman. Some examples that come to mind are the ability to throw together a dinner party at a moment's notice, always having that LBD available to come to your rescue in a fashion crisis, making sure a bottle of wine is always on hand for entertaining or last minute gift giving, and the list goes on and on. I am by no means an expert when comes to knowing these "tools of the trade" but after stealing a recipe from my Mom a few months back, I can now cross one more item off this list - having a standby party appetizer to make.

This skill was important to me because I always hated the process of deciding what appetizer to bring to a party - hot or cold, dip or spread, meat or no meat. Having this recipe doesn't mean I'll be bringing it to every single dinner party here on out, it's just for those times when you may not have the time or energy to think about another option.

The appetizer is crab dip with a Parmesan and almond topping. What I like about this recipe is that it has very few ingredients to remember, is pretty standard with a small twist (the crab, not many people use it as an ingredient), and it can be served hot or at room temperature. Feel free to steal this recipe to add to your own "flawless woman" list or let us know if you already have one in the comments!

Ingredients

Directions

The details:
1 onion
2 standard size blocks of cream cheese
2 standard size cans of crab meat
Grated Parmesan cheese
Sliced Almonds (1 of the smaller bags should do the trick)
Red Pepper - I never measure this myself, but start with 1/2 teaspoon and go from there. You can't ruin the recipe with the red pepper, you just might make it too hot. Feel free to taste it as you go.

Closet Makeover

2012-02-01T21:40:00.000-05:00

Another of my New Years Resolutions was to complete a once-a-month closet evaluation. The purpose of this goal was to better focus my wardrobe needs and cut back on unnecessary purchases. Before I could work on enhancing by future wardrobe, I really needed to gain control of my current wardrobe. For the month of January, I worked on reorganizing and learning from my wardrobe. Here's an idea of what I was working with pre-January 1st:

I'm not too proud of those images and debated a bit about even showing them, but hey, I'm sure many of you have been there too. After working with this mess for a couple hours, here's what I came out on the other side with.

I learned a lot from the cleaning process and here are some reasons why it would help you all too:

Learn from what you throw out.
Whether it's that skimpy dress from college night outings, the lovable but ratty cardigan that you just can't part with, or the jeans you bought on mega sale but could never really fit in, learn from what you throw away.

In the case of the skimpy dress, don't hold on to an item just because you got a lot of use out of it way back in the day. Chances are your style has changed and improved and there's no reason why your closet should hold you back. As you throw out these items, make a mental note of how your style has changed and what kind of items you no longer like.

Now on to the cardigan. Oh, this parting was tougher. There are some items in your wardrobe that you just love too dearly and wear too much to give to Goodwill, but when you start to see snags forming and heels wearing away, you know it's time. I've already got bookmarks made for another light blue oxford and new nude pumps for the day when I say goodbye to these beloved staples. Find patterns in the items that mean the most to you and from that knowledge, hone in on your style and improve your shopping.

Finally, the jeans that never really fit. There are TOO many items in my closet that I thought fit me well in the dressing room only to make the realization that they look awful on me once I get home. Of course you can always take things back to the store, but if you're like me and you lose receipts like it's your job, that gets to be an expensive habit. I now know that I need to keep a mental note of this tendency when shopping.

Here is a small collection of some items I gave to Goodwill:

Organize your closet to suit your needs.
Every woman's life is different and so should the organization of your closet. For me, my life is organized in a work and non-work style. Because of this, I've got all my slacks, pencil skirts, blouses, and oxfords in one corner of the closet, and all my slouchy sweaters, skinny pants, and mini skirts in another. Other ideas for organization are to separate by color, pattern, or clothing item.

Unsure of an item?
This happens to me a lot. You pick up an article of clothing from your closet and while you know you've never worn it more than once or even once, there's just something holding you back from throwing it out. I do two things to help the decision making process; I think of at least two different outfits that I could wear this article of clothing with AND I wear one of them in the next two weeks. If you can't do either of those, then say sayonara! Here's an example:

Take stock.
Before you can decide on what else you need in your closet, knowing what you already have, have too much of, or have not enough of is necessary. For me, I have A LOT of stripes. What I was shocked at not having more of is oxfords, work pants, and casual t-shirts (of course the needs list is longer than the haves list).

All-in-all, it was quite the learning experience and I encourage you all to do something similar. Not only was the knowledge gained valuable but having a neat and well-organized closet has helped me to utilize more of my wardrobe and get dressed more efficiently. Any tips for organization? Please leave in the comments!

The next step in my New Years Resolution is to make a list of the articles of clothing that I need and ACTUALLY SHOP TO THAT LIST. Let's see how well that goes...

Beer Fest

2012-01-29T20:57:00.000-05:00

Shorts from Express; Shirt from H&M; Hat from H&M; Bag from H&M; Shoes from Adrienne Vittadini

When I spotted this hat at H&M on Saturday I knew it would be perfect for my day at the beer fest. I usually don't allow hat purchases since I rarely get any use out of them, but this one was made an exception. Don't you love it? I'm already planning more events to wear this beauty to.

Here are a couple shots from Beer Fest. Please take note of my other fashion accessory from that day - the pretzel necklace. It was my best friend after a couple hours of beer tasting...

Thankful

2012-01-24T21:36:00.000-05:00

One of my New Years Resolutions this year was to "take the TIME to be happy," and after some exhausting work days I've had lately, that's becoming increasingly more important. One way I've tried to incorporate this resolution into my life is to spend my morning commute focusing on some of the things that I'm thankful for. During tomorrow morning's car ride, here are some things I'll be thinking about:

This weekend's beer fest. It's my favorite drinking event of the year - dozens of types of craft beer, beautiful South Florida January weather, and a gathering of all of my local friends who are also down for a good time.
After recently having the "wedding budget" discussion with my parents, I'm thankful for them and the generous help they're giving towards the wedding! Thanks Mom and Dad!
During late nights at work, I'm so happy that I can count on Nick to cook a tasty dinner for us. We make a great team babe!
Kota pup. I'll never get enough of this funny and sweet fur face.

Winter Resort Wear

2012-01-19T22:06:00.000-05:00


Sweater from F21; Scarf from Target; Pants from H&M; Shoes from Calvin Klein; Purse from Michael Kors; Watch from Fossil

Presenting my winter resort wear!

I met my mom and a bunch of her friends (except they're more like my Aunts) for lunch on Sunday at a nearby beach resort. It was such a gorgeous day - cold enough to warrant a scarf but warm enough to get cozy in the bright sun. Those gals made for such a good time too - endless laughs and never-ending Bloody Marys. They know how to do it right.

Sipping and Eating

2012-01-16T21:02:00.000-05:00

While many parts of the Northern hemisphere are forced into hibernation during the winter months, us Floridians are soaking up near-perfect weather. Highs in the mid 60's with crisp, clear skies, it ALMOST makes the horrendous dog-days of summer worth it.

To enjoy the great weather, Nick and I spent the afternoon on the porch sipping on Red Sangria. Later in the evening, we sat outside grilling up chicken breasts for some tasty Greek Pitas. Recipes after the jump...

Red Sangria
1 bottle red wine (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Zinfandel, or Shiraz work best)
1 lemon wedged and juiced
1 orange wedged and juiced
2 Tablespoon sugar
1 shot of brandy (I've also seen triple sec and gin)
2 cups of ginger ale

If you'd like to serve everything right away, chill the wine and once chilled, then mix everything together. If not, mix everything together except the ginger ale. Chill the mixture then stir in the ginger ale once ready to serve.

Greek Chicken Pitas serves 4
3 chicken breasts
1 bottle Greek dressing or marinade
Pita bread
Sliced cucumber from 1 cucumber
Diced tomatoes from 1 tomato
Sliced red onion from 1 red onion
Kalamata Olives
Tzatziki sauce (recipe below)

Marinate chicken breasts in Greek dressing for about an hour. Grill chicken breasts (or sauteing them would work just as well too). Slice chicken breasts and in a Greek pita layer chicken, sliced cucumber, diced tomatoes, sliced red onion, Kalamata olives and LOTS of Tzatziki sauce (this stuff is the best).

Tzatziki Sauce
1 (8 ounce) container plain yogurt
1 cucumbers - peeled, seeded and diced
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/4 lemon, juiced
salt and pepper to taste
1-1/2 teaspoons chopped fresh dill
1-1/2 cloves garlic, peeled

Puree everything in a food processor.

1920's Evening

2012-01-15T21:51:00.000-05:00

A snap shot from our 1920's evening. Themed parties are the best.

Hello Saturday!

2012-01-14T16:16:00.000-05:00

Skirt from H&M; Shirt from H&M; Shoes from Madden Girl; Clutch is thrifted

Happy Saturday! My company is treating us to a long 3-day weekend, so tomorrow I'll be able to say that again!

Tonight we're headed off to a 1920's themed birthday party. Nick will be dapper in his tuxedo and I'll be dressed to the nines with gloves, lace, and a boa! I've been googling 1920's makeup like crazy today (loving this tutorial) and I'll be sure to share pictures of the result!

This outfit was worn recently to a dinner out with Nick. I can't ever get enough of black tights and black pumps - always feels so classic. In fact, I think it's on the agenda for tonight...

Teriyaki Salmon

2012-01-11T22:26:00.000-05:00

I usually post what I like to call "adventurous recipes" on this blog - food that takes a little extra time to prepare or recipes that could almost be considered weekend projects - but in reality, we all probably need a little less of those kinds of recipes and a little more of your easy, weeknight recipes. So here's one for you:

Teriyaki salmon! It couldn't be easier!

Buy a bottle of Terriyak sauce/marinade (we really like the one above - Very Very Teriyaki - but I'm sure any one could do) and marinate your salmon in the Teriyaki for at least 30 minutes. Once the marination is almost done, turn on the broiler. Broil the salmon for 7-10 minutes depending on the thickness.

That's it! We usually roast some sugar snap peas in sesame oil as a side but anything could do. I'm sure this method of marinating and cooking would be great with chicken too. Add a little pineapple and Swiss cheese and you've got yourself another easy, weeknight dish!

Busy, busy

2012-01-08T19:23:00.000-05:00

Pants from ASOS; Shoes from Payless; Shirt from Target; Blazer from H&M; Necklace from LOFT; Watch (gifted) from Fossil

Many apologies for what feels like such radio silence around here these past couple weeks! Between having a blast with family in town for the holidays and an excruciatingly long and busy first week back at work, this blog has been neglected a little more than usual. I'm glad to report though that with all your awesome feedback and comments from the previous post, I've got a lot of blog ideas racing through my thoughts and can't wait to get them on here.

One thing's for sure though, wedding plans will certainly be making an appearance here. That is, if I ever figure them out! :)

Improvement

2012-01-03T22:25:00.000-05:00

I've been thinking a lot about New Years Resolutions. This yearly tradition hasn't always been a favorite of mine, but as I get older, I'm learning to love the way these personal promises have a way of clearing your mind and ordering your priorities in a big picture kind of way.

As I spent the last couple days sorting out my resolutions of ways to feel healthier and happier and improve my own life, my thoughts ultimately turned to how I can improve this blog. So I invite you, my awesome readers, to share your opinions of my little Internet home here. What type of posts (outfits, recipes, life) would you like to see more or less of? Do you like the recipes I post? The outfits I wear? Are there tutorials you'd like me to share? Or more stories about my life you'd like to hear?

Thank you, thank you, thank you for sharing your thoughts and reading this blog! Your support means the world to me!

goodbye and hello

2011-12-31T17:01:00.000-05:00

Shoes from Nine West; Shirt from Express; Blazer from H&M; Skirt from Kimchi Blue; Necklace from Stella & Dot

Hope everyone has taken the time to relish in all your great memories from 2011 and gotten pumped up to welcome new ones in for 2012! This is the outfit I'll be wearing when I greet 2012 - hope you've got something fun on too!

A Very Merry Christmas

2011-12-28T10:39:00.000-05:00

Nick and I had a very special Christmas this year... we're engaged!