FashionEdible

Gluten Free Bacon Egg Arepa Sandwiches

2015-08-17T10:00:00.002-04:00

“I participated in an Ambassador Program on behalf of Influence Central for P.A.N. Cornmeal. I received product samples as well as a promotional item to thank me for my participation.”

Today is the last installment in the P.A.N. cornmeal series. I've shown you guys how to prepare Mexican lasagna (which if you haven't made this recipe, you should seriously consider it), cornmeal muffins (in a brunch setting), and now a great way to substitute arepas for bread in everyday sandwiches. A and I love breakfast sandwiches - you know, the ones that are stuffed with eggs, bacon, maybe cheese and topped with a big fat bagel or a buttery croissant. We're not picky. I'm not sure why it never occurred to me before but using arepas in place of the bagel/croissant is a great way to still enjoy a great sandwich without feeling the effects of gluten.

Arepas are surprisingly quite easy to make. Rewind - what are arepas? Arepas are basically Venezuelan muffins - think English muffins. They are crispy on the outside, slightly chewy on the inside and made solely with cornmeal and water and salt. Literally three ingredients. Some people add a little bit of oil. I didn't. Their versatility is astounding - you can substitute them in any sandwich and they take all of 30 minutes to make, including cooking times. In fact, I'm surprised we haven't see them pop up more often throughout the US considering our love for sandwiches and now gluten-free eating.

This venture into Venezuelan-based cooking has been a ton of fun. I've learned a lot and I hope it's given you some inspiration to go out and grab a bag of cornmeal and see what you can do with it. You can find P.A.N. in Latin American stores so be sure to keep an eye for that bright yellow package. If you're curious what kind of authentic Venezuelan recipes are out there, be sure to check out P.A.N.'s tumblr page and use the #PANfan.

BACON AND EGG AREPA SANDWICHES

INGREDIENTS

4 arepas (see below)

4 eggs (whisked with 1/4 tsp salt and cooked)

4 cooked bacon slices

AREPAS

1 1/4 c water

1 c PAN cornmeal

1/2 tsp salt

butter

DIRECTIONS

Whisk PAN and salt together in a bowl. Slowly add water and knead with fingers. Continue kneading dough together until lumps disappear and dough is smooth. Let the dough rest for about 5 minutes. Form into 4 smooth balls. Flatten with palms. Place arepas on a lightly oiled cast iron skillet and cook on medium for 8 minutes per side. Bake in an oven or toaster oven on 350F for about 6 minutes. Remove from heat and carefully slice open (be careful - arepas will be hot!). Put a dab of butter on each side.

Stuff each arepa with egg and bacon. Serve hot.

*Arepa ingredients taken from the P.A.N. cornmeal package recipe.

Travel Photography: A Glimpse Into Santorini

2015-08-14T09:39:00.000-04:00

I'm so excited it's the weekend - not that we have any grand plans or anything but it's nice to be able to settle in at home with no agenda or places to go. I feel like I need a few days at home to recuperate from our North Carolina trip. Obviously, today is all about Santorini. I hope you guys enjoy these photos - it's a truly beautiful island that must be visited. Honestly, the pictures don't do it justice, though they do help!

Many of you have contacted me expressing how Santorini is a dream of yours and that hopefully someday you'll get there. I truly believe that you can make dreams happen if you work towards them and I hope all of you Santorini lovers will make it there soon! I've mentioned before how Santorini has been my dream since high school - it's easy to let life get in the way of your plans but if this is a place on your bucket list, work towards that goal. It's amazing the rush you get when you're sitting at a restaurant overlooking the caldera with it's majestic views, a cup of coffee in hand, the sun shining all around you and the feeling that you've been blessed with the ability to make your dream happen. #goalaccomplished

TGIF and thanks for reading!

3x3 Food | Frozen Treats

2015-08-13T09:01:00.002-04:00

You knew this day would be coming. We've featured watermelon drinks, cupcakes, and picnic salads. It was only a matter of time before frozen desserts joined in. It shouldn't come as a surprise that when we decided on frozen treats I immediately thought "milkshake." I've always loved ice cream, sometimes going out of my way to have us stop at popular ice cream shops serving local ice cream. Thankfully, A loves ice cream as much as I do and so he puts up with my shenanigans.

If you were to ask me to name my top three ice cream places on the East Coast, I would pick Hopkins Farm Creamery in Lewes DE, Lapps in Ephrata PA, and Uncle Wiggly's in Towson MD. Hands down, best ice creams I've had - actual homemade ice cream unlike the thousands of shops littered all over the coast who boast "local" ice cream while blatantly scooping out ice cream from a Hershey's bucket. I can't even..

When we were in Santorini, I tried fig-ricotta ice cream at a local restaurant and I couldn't believe what I had been missing all these years. Creamy vanilla ice cream with hints of fig and an underlying taste of ricotta. Friends, you have got to try it sometime. Now I want to add ricotta to all my ice cream. So in honor of that memorable trip, I chose a fig-ricotta milkshake made with 4 simple ingredients and a quick run through the blender.

If you have a Trader Joes near you, this recipe will be even easier. If you don't, you can find fig butter in more upscale grocery stores or specialty shops. I even found some recently at TJ Maxx. My fellow 3x3 bloggers have two very different recipes for you. Alyssa is featuring delicious sweet and salty ice cream sandwiches - they make the cutest party favors for summer gatherings. And Luci opted for a healthier sorbet with a delicious dose of lime. I love her addition of mint! Annndddd.... Sunglass Warehouse has featured all three of us here!!

FIG RICOTTA MILKSHAKES

Yield: 2 small milkshakes

INGREDIENTS

4 T fig butter*
8 scoops vanilla ice cream
6 T high quality ricotta*
4 T heavy whipping cream

DIRECTIONS

Blend all ingredients together in a blender or Nutri-Bullet. Pour into glasses and serve!

*Trader Joes offers high quality fig butter and ricotta

Ivory + Olive

2015-08-12T10:39:00.002-04:00

We got in this morning at the ungodly hour of 3 AM. I am moving S-L-O-W-L-Y. We did have a great time with family and friends, however. If you're following me on snapchat, you probably watched as our entire day yesterday (if not, you can still catch a bit of it before it disappears from the world wide web) was a jumble of rain and sunshine. At one point, we were out in the middle of the lake and the rain was pouring over us. I never realized August in North Carolina could be so cold. But regardless, we had a great time exploring Lake Norman.

Today it's back to reality and this layered look. I know we always think of fall when it comes to layering but to be honest, I can't even stomach the thought of fall yet. There is still so much to do this summer and so much warm weather to enjoy that the idea of leaves changing color and snow on the ground is a bit too much to handle. I refuse to think that far into the future so I'm just enjoying each day as it comes. I would highly recommend a structured vest like this for anyone wanting to give their dresses more versatility. The ivory vest was a great way to showcase this olive dress (originally seen here) in a completely different way.

TJ Maxx vest || New Look shirt dress (similar)
Chinese Laundry sandals || Asos rings ||
c/o Happiness Boutique Rings
Greek earrings || Charles Jourdan bag
c/o Sunglass Warehouse Sunnies

Greek Edition | LBD

2015-08-07T10:39:00.003-04:00

TGIF. And we're off to South Carolina and North Carolina this weekend. We have a birthday party to celebrate, family to visit, a boat to rent and friends to see. It's a full weekend so follow along on SNAPCHAT (search for fashionedible). And I really hope you guys aren't sick of seeing Santorini in the background of all my recent fashion posts. It was too beautiful not to take advantage of! Also, if you're wondering about my squinty eyes, let's just say Santorini was basically like being photographed on the sun. I attempted taking photos without my sunnies a few times but the only time it wasn't a total disaster was when we were in ultra shaded non-white alleyways.

Happy weekend!

H&M LBD || Latigo Rose Sandal, (in tan)
Rebecca Minkoff Love Crossbody (in red)

Best Things to Do in Santorini

2015-08-06T09:40:00.001-04:00

1) SEE THE SUNSET IN OIA

Santorini is well known for having one of the best sunset views in the world. Oia, in particular, is the city to go to when you want gorgeous sunsets and equally beautiful ocean views. Arrive at least two hours before sunset, grab a drink and settle in for a natural wonder. You'll notice the best spots are the most crowded. If you make your way down to Amoudi Bay to see the sunset, walk to your right down the road leading past the restaurants. Once you round the corner, the best sunset views await.

2) HIKE THE FIRA-OIA TRAIL

The Fira-Oia trail is a must-do for any avid hiker. Most people hike the trail starting in Fira and end in Oia. For a more difficult, uphill hike, hike it in reverse. Start in Oia and make your way over the mountains, keeping the caldera and ocean views to your right the entire time. The trail takes about 3-4 hours depending on your speed so wear good shoes, bring water and be sure to hike on a cloudy day or in the morning before the scorching sun hits.

Oia in the distance...

Oia growing further away...

And even further...

Skaros Rock and Fira in the distance...

Skaros Rock (rock with "knob")

Fira up close...

3) RENT A QUAD AND DRIVE AROUND THE ISLAND FOR A DAY

The best way to view the island is via a quad. However, rent at your own risk. Driving in Santorini can be stressful and dangerous. Watch for pedestrians, passing cars - be alert!

4) WALK THE 250+ STEPS DOWN TO AMOUDI BAY

For great exercise, walk down (and back up) to Amoudi Bay. It's a must-do for anyone visiting Oia. If you are exhausted by the time you reach the bottom, you can take a donkey back up the 250+ steps. Again, wear good shoes and watch where you step - donkey dung can be spotted in many places towards the bottom.

5) VISIT AKROTIRI AND THE RED BEACH

Akrotiri and the Red Beach go hand-in-hand since they are located so close to each other. Akrotiri is an amazing place to visit - the underground city history is fascinating and transports you back in time for a bit. The Red Beach is beautiful and is truly awe-inspiring.

6) VISIT PERISSA AND THE BLACK BEACH

Perissa is one of the three black sand beaches in Santorini. Located about 20-25 minutes from Oia, Perissa boasts crystal clear blue waters and beautiful black sand. Rental chairs are available and there are quite a few shops lining the street.

7) CLIFF JUMP IN AMOUDI BAY

Once you've climbed the 250+ steps and you've reached Amoudi Bay, take the road to your left past the restaurants. Keep walking until you reach the unmarked road winding around the side of the bay. Climb over the rocks and continue down the path until you reach the opening overlooking the rock. Swim out to the lone rock, climb to the top and jump off the cliff for a truly exhilarating experience. Be sure to exercise caution as there are rocks at the bottom. Go with friends at all times! If you prefer to skip the cliff jump, climb to the top and make your way to the other side of the rock where a cute little chapel awaits. Jump into the water and swim back.

8) WALK THE STREETS OF OIA AT NIGHT

Oia is gorgeous any day, all day. However, the town truly comes alive at night when thousands of lights dot the black sky. Walk the streets after dusk for a true Greek experience.

9) VISIT AT LEAST ONE WINERY

Surprisingly, Santorini is filled with wineries. Argyros Estates is one of the better known wineries, carrying some of the best VinSanto on the island!

10) SHOP IN FIRA

Fira is the place to go for shopping. Hundreds of shops line the small alleyways and each is filled with something fun or unique. Note: Fira becomes extremely crowded after 11am so plan accordingly!

Off Shoulder Embroidery

2015-08-04T12:59:00.004-04:00

The older I get, the more I realize that I'm more than just drawn to boho styles. I love them. Unlike many people I know, my style has drastically evolved and changed over the span of my lifetime, going through various fashion styles: preppy, dressy, totally casual, biker, boho and a mix of all of the above. Did I leave anything out? It's crazy to remember the days when heels never left my feet and compare it to this summer where putting on heels for longer than 5 minutes makes me whimper. #truestory

Of course, I'm not naive enough to claim that boho will be my style for life but currently, I am digging this embroidered dress. I used to hate off-shoulder pieces (I'm pretty sure I hated how tight fitting said pieces were) and now I can't get enough. I love the updated off-shoulder trend - flowy, cotton/linen fabrics giving off a dreamy, beach vibe. Carefree, comfortable and casual.

Tularosa Clover Dress || Latigo Rose Sandal, (in tan)

Monday Blues | Brushstrokes + Wood Watches

2015-08-03T12:35:00.001-04:00

My computer is now running smoothly. The battery was going haywire and so a quick replacement fixed all of the issues. I'm always a bit disturbed at how much I rely on technology, namely my phone and computer. I spent all day Thursday and half of Friday without it and I felt like a lost puppy dog. Lame. Someday I plan on taking a vacation sans laptop - I'm pretty sure life will go on but that's still debatable.

I got a new watch last week made of zebra wood. JORD watches has an extensive collection of watches you can choose from (including mens). Some of their watches are designed to run without a battery (automatic movement) so it's great for those of us who find it annoying to have to run to a shop every few months for a replacement battery. The one I ended up choosing is part of the Cora series and has a gorgeous sapphire face with swarovski crystals. If you browse through their collection, you'll find Koa, Rosewood, Cherry and Bamboo! And since receiving mine, they've added this very cool watch to the Cora series.

Lucky Brand Stripe Top || Asos shorts || Hobo bag ||
TJ Maxx rings || Kensie Heidi Sandal || c/o JORD Cora watch ||
c/o Gorjana Chaplin Cuff || c/o Sunglass Warehouse Sunnies

Friday Finds

2015-07-31T09:21:00.001-04:00

Happy Friday!

I'm so excited it's the weekend already - we have a few fun weekend plans (drive in, anyone?) and I'm ready for a few days of relaxation. My sis and I are headed to Towson for the day to pickup my poor laptop. Unfortunately, I had to drop it off at the Apple store for a new battery so I'm looking forward to having a laptop that can hold a charge for longer than 2 minutes.

I don't know about you all but I've been eying a few fall pieces. Hello fringe. Hello suede. So here are a few of my favorite new arrivals.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Cilantro-Garlic Roasted Tomato Dip

2015-07-29T11:54:00.002-04:00

We won't talk about the deliciously fatty grilled burgers we had last night. Usually, I make it my mission to eat light during summer - salads, fruit, veggies - but last night I made an exception. I've made that same exception on a weekly basis since summer began but I can't help it. If you've ever purchased local beef, you can understand my predicament. Local meats taste xxx better and since we know exactly where the meat came from, it's much easier to enjoy the meat almost guilt-free. ...And healthier, in a fat-dripping-but-who-cares-it's-local kind of way.

So for my non-meat eating friends, I've got a wonderfully fresh tomato paste complete with herbs and if you choose, nuts. We had this dip with pita bread and literally could not stop eating it. I was surprised at how much I loved the garlicky-tomato flavors and how well they blended with cilantro. This dip has endless purposes: it's not only great as a dip for bread but imagine it as a sauce base for pizza. Top it with feta and more cilantro and you've got summer dinner easy as 1-2-3.

Happy Wednesday!

CILANTRO-GARLIC ROASTED TOMATO DIP

INGREDIENTS

2 c mini Marzano tomatoes

1 T olive oil

1 garlic clove

1/2 c cilantro

Pinenuts

DIRECTIONS

Mix tomatoes with olive oil and garlic clove. Place on a baking sheet and roast on 350F for 15 minutes (this can be done in a toaster oven). Remove tomatoes from oven and puree with cilantro. Top with pine nuts and serve with bread.

Thanks to Melissa's for providing the tomatoes and thank you for supporting all of FashionEdible's collaborations!

Travel Guide: Restaurant + Food in Santorini, Greece

2015-07-27T11:13:00.001-04:00

It's taken me a while but I have finally finished my food and restaurant guide to Santorini. I really needed another month on the island to experience most restaurants but this guide is a great start to all that Santorini has to offer, particularly Oia.

What we learned in Santorini:

1) The Greeks love food and as a result are amazing cooks. Santorini does not lack good restaurants.

2) Dining in Greece is an experience. Unlike the USA where meals take about 20 minutes to consume, the Greek experience extends from 2-3 hours including apps, dinner, dessert and coffee.

3) I LOVED how servers didn't rush you during mealtime or look at you funny when you wanted to share a meal. It was such a refreshing experience from here where sometimes the server will drop the bill off as soon as you get your meal. #seriouspetpeeve

4) Greeks know how to make salads. Another pet peeve of mine: ordering a salad that costs $12 and getting about $2 worth of food between the iceberg lettuce, barely visible crumbles of cheese, green tomatoes and canned olives (all 3 of them). A will tell you I had a salad with every meal and that I wouldn't stop gushing about how good they were.

5) Santorini food isn't as expensive as one might perceive. Maybe it's the increased value of the dollar vs the euro but we thought the food in Santorini was very reasonably priced. Most meals were equivalent, if not cheaper than, meals we would purchase in the US. Portions were more generous (have you seen the block of feta that comes in a salad?!), quality was better and everything tasted fresher.

6) Most restaurants on the islands will charge you for bread, even though they bring it out without you asking. I think this is a typical European tradition because it happened to us last year in Austria. Most of the time, you welcome the bread in all of its carb glory but it does come as a surprise when you get the bill (the charge is usually minimal - typically, 1-2 euros a person). However, it is something to be aware of.

And now that I'm experiencing full Greece withdrawal, here's my food guide to Santorini. If you're headed there soon, please don't hesitate to contact me with any questions you may have!

Brewery: Santorini Brewing Company
Location: on the road to Kamari (ask the bus driver driving the bus from Oia to Kamari to drop you off at the brewery on his route to Kamari. You can catch the bus heading back to Oia for your return trip - bus stop is right across the street from the brewery)

Impressions: Quick in and out - tasting is done on your feet. Very different from USA breweries. More of a retail shop, you enter the front door, head straight for the person at the desk, ask to try their beers and after 5 minutes, you go off, purchased beer in hand. The lady at the desk was super friendly and took her time explaining the beers to us. We only liked and subsequently purchased the yellow donkey beer. The other two beers were extremely hoppy, though I'm sure plenty of people appreciate them. Tasting is free.

Recommendations: The brewery was a fun detour - I would not recommend planning a trip based on the brewery. Since we had a completely different itinerary which involved hiking and a mini stop at the brewery and winery, we weren't disappointed, just surprised and amused.

Winery: Argyros Estate
Location: En route to Kamari, located about .25 -.5 mile from Santorini Brewing Company. Ask the bus driver going from Oia to Kamari to drop you of at the brewery then take the road right before the brewery towards Argyros. There are signs and you can ask the brewery for directions. Note that the winery is located in a very small town with few signs and tourists.

Impressions: Again, a completely different winery experience from the USA. I think appointments are recommended. We stopped by spontaneously and so we only had a few minutes with the guide before a tour group came in for their appointment. The guide was friendly, informative and we got to try some pretty fantastic wines. Tasting is free.

Recommendations: Make an appointment if you prefer a lengthier tasting. We were more than happy with our short 15 minute tasting which gave us enough time to sample 5 wines, one of which we purchased. The VinSanto is out of this world and if you have a chance to try it, do. It is a super sweet dessert wine that the Greeks consume after dinner. And a little goes a long way!

Sunset watching: Volkan

This is random but I had to include it. One of the nights we spent watching the sunset in its entirety from various points in Oia. We purchased a Volkan beer from a local shop, found a spot that we [ultimately] wanted to settle in and enjoyed a relaxing evening. I would definitely recommend doing this at least one night as a restaurant gives you a totally different experience and this one is spent solely watching the sunset sans any distractions.

Restaurants: Skala (Oia)

Location: Skala overlooks the caldera in Oia as do many other restaurants. You have to walk down a few steps via a side alley but if you're looking for the sign, it's easy to find. It's in the main hub of town.

Impressions: We ate here our first night in Oia and we loved every minute. We arrived pretty late as most restaurants on the island are open super late so we didn't actually have any views. The service was fine, the restaurant charming.

Recommendations: Everything we tried here was fantastic. Try the clay pot-baked moussaka (12 euros) and pligouri (8 euros), a bulgur salad with feta and olives.

*Unfortunately, this is the only restaurant I do not have photos for. I think we forgot our camera that evening. I blame it on jet lag.

Restaurant: Melenio (Oia)

Location: Melenio is located right in the center of Oia, in one of the busiest areas of the village. If you want to dine in, you will have to walk up the stairs to the top deck which overlooks the caldera. If you want to take out (desserts), you walk down to the "basement."

Impressions: Melenio is amazing. We tried it several times - once as a dine in, for breakfast. And many many times for take out dessert in the evening. Dessert is almost half price if you take out, same with coffee.

Recommendations: If you have great views at your hotel/apartment, try take out dessert. A baklava, galaktoboureko, and cappuccino will run you just under 8 euros for take out. Definitely worth it in my book. Their desserts are all fantastic. Besides the baklava and galaktoboureko, I would recommend the lemon pie, creme puff cake and anything else they have. If you go for breakfast, try the spinach, cheese pie and Greek coffee. Oh and the helpings are incredibly generous so if you're full, you may want to share a dessert!

Restaurant: Melitini (Oia)

Location: Melitini is located more on the outskirts of the center. It's definitely still in the center but not where you would expect it. Keep an eye out for signs and ask locals if you can't find it. It overlooks a small part of the caldera but has a super fun rooftop terrace.

Impressions: A cute tapas restaurant with a great rooftop terrace. The service was great, the food delicious.

Recommendations: I would recommend the ntakos plate (a salad dish) and the ouzo and mastik if you have never tried either. The smoked lamb was good but not my favorite. The chocolate mousse was delicious. Prices were reasonable as were portions.

Restaurant: Ammoudi Fish Tavern (Oia)

Location: Ammoudi Bay - down 250+ steps. Just follow the main road down but be sure you're wearing great shoes!

Impressions: Overrated but great food! Service kind of rushed. This was actually the only restaurant in Oia where we felt rushed during dinner.

Recommendations: If you do end up coming here for food, the shrimp with ouzo and orange was delicious and a unique dish I would recommend to anyone. We are probably alone in this but we felted Ammoudi Bay in general was overrated and over-hyped. I would recommend going to the bay for views and to walk around but personally, I would save your money for Skala or any of the other restaurants in the center of Oia which had better service and better pricing. Note that while the restaurant is located in the bay, the views of the sunset are blocked. You will need to walk around to get to the actual sunset views. Some of the other restaurants in the bay may have had better sunset views, though I am not certain.

*sunset views are best after you follow the path around to the right side of the bay

Restaurant: Pitogyro (Oia)

Location: On the outskirts of the center of town - overlooking the main road leading out of town.

Impressions: Small gyro shop, busy, great prices, delicious gyros. Super friendly owners.

Recommendations: A gyro here is 2.80 euros and is worth every penny. The sandwiches come wrapped with french fries, tomatoes, tzatziki sauce, and your meat. The best way to satisfy a craving, stave off hunger or get a snack throughout the day. We can't recommend this place enough!

Restaurant: Skiza (Oia)

Location: In the main part of Oia - right in the hub of the center of town. Walk up the stairs for the seating overlooking the caldera. Unbeatable views.

Impressions: Skiza is perfect for dinner or for breakfast. The service is great, the views are wonderful and the food was one of the best in Oia. Great prices.

Recommendations: For dinner - try the veggie sandwich and the Greek salad. Both were fantastic. The cappuccino freddo is beyond tasty and is a great alternative to iced coffee. The fig-ricotta ice cream here was one of the best flavors I have ever had in my life. For breakfast - I can't recommend enough the yogurt with honey and nuts and the cheese pie. This cheese pie was the best in Oia and was made of a flaky crust stuffed with a Greek cheese. Again, the coffee was delicious.

Bakery: (Oia)

Location: on the outskirts of the center of town - overlooking the main road used for vehicles. If you're on the main road, facing the direction you would go to leave Oia, the bakery will be on your left. I'm not sure it had a name but hopefully this photo will help.

Impressions: Large bakery full of various baked goods and treats. Owned by locals and visited by locals. We ended up coming here almost every morning for spinach pies and baklava.

Recommendations: The baklava and pretty much any breakfast food you see. Prices were extremely reasonable. We took everything to-go and ate it on our patio.

Gelato: Lolita's (Oia)

Location: Near the main square of town - no caldera views but located in a cute section with outdoor furniture and seating.

Impressions: Fun shop with various flavors and reasonable prices.

Recommendations: ROSEWATER + PINK PEPPER GELATO. That's it - I had it every time because it was so unique and so good. But if you're looking for a different flavor, the lemon was also great.

Restaurants: Metaxy Mas (Pyrgos/Exo Gonia)

Locations: Metaxy Mas is located in Exo Gonia, though Trip Advisor will tell you it's located in Pyrgos. You will have to take some sort of vehicular transport here. We were crazy and walked from the winery to this restaurant. Some of the locals kindly told us that the route isn't one they would take but A and I tend to be adventurous risk-takers and so we decided to go for it. It was a safe route but totally uphill and pretty exhausting. Let's just say we earned that dinner.

Impressions: Definitely a must-do restaurant. It's located at the top of the mountain with gorgeous views everywhere. We didn't feel overwhelmed with tourists and the service was out of this world friendly. The food was incredibly well-priced and beyond delicious.

Recommendations: Everything. The lamb leg with feta was phenomenal as was the homemade bread. At the end of the meal, they brought out a complimentary brownie with two small glasses of VinSantos wine (see the winery above).

Restaurant: To Psaraki (Vlichada)

Location: In the town of Vlichada which is between the Red Beach and the Black Beach. Vlichada is a small fishing town that's worth a stop if you have a vehicle. Follow the road into Vlichada and keep an eye out for signs for Psaraki. We parked at the bottom of the hill and so we had to walk up a crazy amount of stairs to reach the restaurant. However, we noticed cars at the top so I'm sure there's a way to get there by vehicle.

Impressions: Unbeatable views. Fantastic seafood.

Recommendations: The scorpionfish was out of this world as was the Greek salad. Their bread was fresh and was served with a delicious herbed tomato paste.

Restaurant: Rosa's Tavern (Vourvoulos)

Location: In the small village of Vourvoulos, located about 15 minutes from Oia. You will need a vehicle to get here.

Impressions: Adorable restaurant, very homey and frequented by locals. The owners are extremely friendly.

Recommendations: The tomato fritters. This is also a great place to try rabbit if you want to go for something unique and totally different from the norm. We tried the rabbit cooked in white wine but heard from a local that the rabbit stifado is the best. If their house wine is on the menu, it's a must-try!

Restaurant: Lucky's Souvlakis (Fira)

Location: On the main road leading into the main town of Fira.

Impressions: Great food, great prices and full of people!

Recommendations: Try the gyros and souvlaki and take the across the street to the little patio area with seating. No views but it's a fun place to sit and people watch.

Travel Guide: London in 9 Hours

2015-07-23T12:29:00.000-04:00

Let's visit London today. After a month, the travel guides are well on their way to completion. It's taken me a bit longer than usual but I'm finally making some progress with my million photos that I took on the trip. I need to learn my lesson and just be very selective about the photos I take while we're actually on the trip - life would be so much easier if I remembered that at least 1/4 of the photos usually end up in the trash bin.

We had a blast in London - it's such a fun city to tour during a layover and I would say it's 100x easier to "layover tour" than Paris, Milano and Cairo (yes, I've done layover visits in all of those cities). I'm going to be totally unoriginal and recommend this amazing walking tour guide with a few modifications. The guide is great at getting you out of Heathrow and well into the city. It truly was a "wow" moment to come out of the station and spot Big Ben literally steps in front of you. We both stood in awe as it towered in front of us (pun intended). We did walk to the left of the station to snap some photos of the London Eye. And then we walked back towards the station.

One note of confusion per the guide: in order to get to Whitehall via Parliament Street, take a right on the street (Parliament St) at the corner just past the station - station is behind you on your right (Big Ben is behind you to the left) - follow this road down and you'll run into Whitehall.

After walking down Parliament, we arrived at Trafalgar where the real fun began. Trafalgar Square is amazing and is a must do on any long layover in London. It's full of life, things to see and people to watch. We walked around it a few times and even got to witness some TV show (or movie?) filming a very short scene. We stood there for about 10 minutes watching at least 5 different 5 second cuts of the actor walking across "the street." And you thought acting was only glamour and fame...

After we walked through the gardens and got a glimpse of Buckingham Palace, we set out to see side streets and wander around. We ran into this cute business district that was full of shopping and then we set out to see Tower Bridge mainly because I wanted to be a total tourist and get a shot of it. And so we took the tube to London Bridge station, walked out of the station and up a ways towards London Bridge and snapped some photos of the city in the distance. We made our way to the part of the bridge overlooking Tower Bridge and admired the views (first photo at the top).

Note that if you're looking for the classic bridge in the top photo, you should ask for directions to see Tower Bridge and not London Bridge like we did. Apparently, it's a popular mistake among tourist because the name "London Bridge" is the most well known. London Bridge actually overlooks Tower Bridge.

Almond Crusted Mixed Berry Tarts w. Lemon Custard

2015-07-22T08:56:00.001-04:00

The last time I posted a dessert of any type was over a month ago and that's just unacceptable. I actually made these before we left for our trip - we devoured three of them (we gave away one) in 2 days because obviously, you can't leave perishables in your refrigerator when you go on vacation. Never mind the fact that they were delicious and totally hard to resist.

These mini tarts photograph well, almost just as good as they taste. So many flavors here that meld together nicely: almond, lemon, berries but my favorite is the lemon. Maybe I'm just craving lemon meringue pie but this lemon custard is delicious - so good, in fact, I started to eat it plain, straight from a spoon. If you don't own any mini tart pans and you don't feel like spending money on a set, you can use a standard size tart pan. It will taste just as good!

ALMOND CRUSTED MIXED BERRY TARTS WITH LEMON CUSTARD

Yield: 4-5 tarts

INGREDIENTS

Crust

1 c flour

1/2 c + 1 T almond flour

pinch salt

1/3 c sugar

8 T salted butter

2 T water

Custard

1/2 c sugar

5 T cornstarch

3/4 c + 1/2 c water

Juice + zest from 1 lemon

3 T salted butter

2 eggs

3 T milk

mixed berries (strawberries, blueberries, blackberries)

DIRECTIONS

Crust

Mix together flours, salt, and sugar. Cut in butter and add water. Lightly gather dough together and divide out into 5 portions (or 4 depending on how thick you want the crust). Roll out each portion into the mini tart pans and move up the sides of each pan. Freeze for about 10 minutes and preheat oven to 400F. Pierce bottom of each tart pan. Bake for 15 minutes.

Custard

Mix together sugar and cornstarch in a small pot. Add water, lemon juice and zest and bring to a boil. Stir frequently. Remove about 1/2 cup of thickened lemon juice mixture and place in a bowl. Add eggs and mix well. Add back into the pot and stir, making sure both mixtures are well incorporated into each other. Turn heat to low and cook for another 4 minutes, stirring often to avoid burning on the bottom. Remove from heat and add butter and milk. Stir. Divide custard between tarts and smooth overtop each crust. Bake tarts for another 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and cool completely.

Top tarts with berries.

NYC | Structured Vest + Cobalt Shorts

2015-07-20T09:02:00.003-04:00

So I finally took a course on belaying this weekend. For die-hard rock climbers, this is like memorizing your ABCs but since I haven't had much experience with climbing, it was a new experience for me. A and I went to a climbing center in Rockville and we both loved the intro course so much that we have already bought climbing gear and are planning on going to a center at least once a week. Climbing is a challenge, both mentally and physically, and since we're all about fun exercise, we are excited.

My sis took these photos when we were in NYC eons ago (what was that - like 2 weeks ago?) and I've finally gotten around to posting them. I'm already planning out other outfits for this vest - it's so versatile and is a great topper to dresses and tanks alike. These gold rings via Happiness Boutique are currently my favorite rings - seriously, how fun is that nail ring?

TJ Maxx vest || Heather top || Calvin Klein City Shorts ||

Latigo Rose Sandal, (in tan) || Asos necklace ||

c/o Happiness Boutique Rings

4 Ideas for a Well-Rounded Brunch

2015-07-17T10:11:00.000-04:00

I participated in an Ambassador Program on behalf of Influence Central for P.A.N. Cornmeal. I received product samples as well as a promotional item to thank me for my participation.

Literally a mouthful. And a delicious one at that. Putting together this awesome brunch (aka P.A.N cornmeal muffins, egg muffins, cheese bites and cherries) was a lot of fun, though admittedly, it was only the hubs and I that got to enjoy it...for dinner. #thelifeofafoodblogger Brunch prep can be hard or easy, depending on the approach you take. My approach is simple - every brunch requires at least 4 different categories: fruit, egg dish, sweet pastry, beverage. Whatever you choose, if you make at least one dish from each category (obvs, you can go the extra mile and make more dishes), you'll have something that will satisfy the desires of every guest.

For my fruit, I chose cherries - delicious and perfect to snack on while socializing. Also, they were on sale. The egg dish consists of a cornmeal base (remember the Mexican chicken lasagna?), bacon or veggie sides and egg middle. Quick, easy and so delicious. The sweet pastry is another cornmeal-based dish aka corn muffins topped with white chocolate-currant mascarpone. Moist to perfection and the mascarpone spread makes a great topper. Last of all, the beverage. This mint tea is a favorite of mine; typically we drink it solo with sugar but in the brunch version, I added a spike of limoncello because well, it's brunch. And since I had a box of mini fillo shells on hand, I decided to go the extra mile and fill each shell with Armenian string cheese. It literally took 1 minute to throw together.

If you're inspired by the brunch for dinner theme, don't be afraid to use it. We enjoyed every bit and it made for a fun, romantic dinner outside. Happy Week End.

EGG MUFFINS
Yield: 12 muffins

INGREDIENTS

12 T P.A.N. Cornmeal
24 T water
12 slices of turkey bacon*
12 eggs
dash of salt and pepper

*vegetarian option: 24 sautéed asparagus spears

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 425F. Using a greased muffin pan, fill each muffin tin with 1 T cornmeal and 2 T water. Stir with a spoon and shape cornmeal on the bottom and up the sides of each muffin. Then shape one piece of bacon around the inside of each muffin tin (or two asparagus spears). Top with one egg and salt and pepper. Bake on the top rack of oven for 20 minutes. Serve immediately.

CORN MUFFINS W. WHITE CHOCOLATE CURRANT MASCARPONE
Yield: ~ 12 muffins

INGREDIENTS
1 1/2 c flour
1/2 c brown sugar
1/2 c P.A.N. Cornmeal
1 T baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
3/4 c milk
5 T salted butter, melted
2 eggs
7 T ricotta cheese
1 tsp vanilla

DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 350F. In a large bowl, combine flour, brown sugar, cornmeal, baking powder and salt together. Set aside.

In a separate bowl, mix together milk, butter, eggs, cheese and vanilla. Combine the flour mixture with the milk mixture and whisk for about 1 minute.

Fill a 12-count muffin tin with muffin cups. Spoon batter into each muffin cup. Bake for 20 minutes. Turn oven to 425F and bake for another 3 minutes. Toothpick should be clean when inserted into the middle.

**adapted from this recipe

CHEESE MINI SHELLS

INGREDIENTS
mini fillo shells
cheese (I used Armenian string cheese)

DIRECTIONS
Fill each shell with cheese. Bake until cheese melts. Serve immediately.

ICED MINT TEA WITH LIMONCELLO

INGREDIENTS
fresh mint leaves
limoncello
ice
sugar
lemon

DIRECTIONS
Boil water with a handful of fresh mint leaves. Sweeten to taste. Add 2-3 T of limoncello per glass of tea. Top with ice, a garnish of mint and a slice of lemon.

The more I cook with P.A.N, the more I discover its ultimate versatility. To be honest, in the past I've only ever experimented with cornbread so it's been refreshing to see cornmeal at work in other dishes besides the popular ones. For more information on P.A.N, be sure to check out their tumblr page and #PANFan.

7 Tips: How to Pack for a Long Vacation

2015-07-16T12:48:00.000-04:00

I call anything over 7 days a long vacation. And while I love long vacations, packing for them can be a struggle at times, especially when you've got an international flight with baggage restrictions to worry about. That means you can't take 5 handbags but you might need to stick to 2 or 3. Anything with weight will weigh (bad pun) you down and you might end up with no space for souvenirs, a hard lesson I learned during this last trip to Greece.

1. Check Your Airlines Baggage Restrictions Carefully

....weigh and reweigh...measure and re-measure. I can't emphasize this enough - during long haul flights, this isn't as important since weight and size restrictions are pretty generous. However, if you're taking a short flight within the country (i.e. one Greek island to another), the restrictions are tightened and you cannot pack nearly as much as might think. Unfortunately, we watched a French lady in front of us for the flight from Milos to Athens struggle to understand (she didn't speak English) what would happen to her oversized luggage. In order to avoid any such confusions, be sure to check all airline regulations of all your upcoming flights. We only packed one bag apiece on our flight to Greece, even though we knew we were allowed two because we didn't want to pay extra on the small flights.

2. Pack Efficiently

Packing efficiently has always been a struggle for me, especially when it comes to beach vacations that require snorkel gear, sneakers and a million other random things. I've recently started packing all of our shoes into several protective bags (made for handbags). I have so many of these laying around unused. Previously, I would pack all of our shoes into one but that made packing super inefficient since the shoes couldn't spread out and would instead take up a chunk of space. Since I have plenty of cloth bags to go around, I now pack 2-3 pairs in each one. Each bag can then fill up small empty spaces in your baggage.

If you're packing jewelry, I've found that cardboard jewelry boxes are best. They help everything stay together and they double as a holder when you reach your destination. No one wants to lose their favorite necklace.

3. Pack Tightly

There are several ways to increase efficiency in your suitcase. My favorite (and most recent) discovery is packing cubes. Packing cubes not only increase your suitcase capacity (since they condense everything down) but they also help you stay organized. An OCD individual's dream come true, packing cubes are perfect for long vacations with several stops. Obviously, if you are staying in the same hotel or residence for the entire duration of your trip, you may not need these since you'll most likely be hanging everything up. But if you're packing up your suitcase at least once during the middle of your vacation, these come in handy. After about day 4, my suitcase always manages to look like a tornado blew through it and usually I have to go through and reorganize everything. Packing cubes do the job for you. I used one for undergarments, another for shorts, one for dresses, another for sleepwear, and so on and I made sure to return each clothing item to their specific cube. For Greece, I worked with 9 cubes between A and I and I thought that was the perfect amount for the 2 of us. Be sure to roll your clothes to minimize wrinkles.

4. Do Laundry

It's easy to avoid doing laundry on a 7 day vacation. Fitting 7 days worth of clothes and underwear isn't hard but when the number of days starts increasing, packing becomes a nightmare. I purposely under-packed on a few things this vacation and instead, I brought along a travel size version of Tide. It was a pain but I washed a few things by hand and the scorching sun dried them in no time. The beautiful thing about the travel size Tide is that you can keep it and refill it for other vacations. If you are laundry-averse, you can always seek out a laundry service that will do it for you. Even on Santorini, we were given the option of putting all of our laundry in a large bag (15 euros per bag) for full laundry care service.

5. Limit Bags and Shoes

Bags and shoes are the biggest culprits of excess weight (tied with lotions and hair products). I would recommend sitting down and planning each outfit to see which bag and shoe you could potentially leave at home. I mentioned yesterday that I only brought two crossbody bags with me to Greece and while I was nervous I was being careless, it worked out in the long run. I would highly suggest at least one crossbody - they are so much lighter and easier to pack than totes and they're great for hands -free touring. Shoes are the hardest to pack. I tend to always overpack on shoes but I practically approached my packing for once. I knew that a beach vacation, especially one in Greece would not be conducive to wearing high heels. And so with a heavy heart, I returned all my skinny heels and stilettos, ignoring the "what if" scenarios playing in my mind. I packed two heeled sandals, both block heels and I didn't regret it for a second. In the past, I've packed heels for vacations that have never warranted them and it always irritated me to bring them home unworn. Save your stilettos for a city that requires them.

6. Think Small

If you're spending your long vacation stateside, then you can skip this part. Things we use on a daily basis can be found anywhere within the USA since we have Walmarts and Targets pretty much everywhere but for those traveling abroad, you may run into a scenario where you cannot find whatever it is you take for granted in your home. There are a few random items I always pack in case I would ever need them (and that would terribly annoy me if I couldn't find).

nail polish remover - I used to pack actual remover which always made me nervous. First of all, it's a fire hazard and you really shouldn't be packing that stuff into your luggage. Second of all, it could leak all over your clothes and possibly ruin them. I recently happened upon the amazing discovery of nail polish remover pads. These are seriously amazing - each wipe comes in an individually wrapped envelope which should be enough for your one application of your fingernails. No leaks and less weight.
lint rollers - If you're really tight on space, these come in mini travel versions that are great for a quick swipe across a dress that may need some fuzz removed. I hate when I look down and I see lint all over my clothes so this is more of a solution to a minor annoyance than anything else.
chlorox wipes - I always try to pack one packet of these. You never know when you'll need them and they take up nearly zero space and weight.
electronics - It's easy to forget extra SD cards for cameras, batteries, phone chords and most importantly for international flights, electrical adapters. Even though you can find these abroad, they may be hard to come by or will be overpriced.

7. Paperwork!!

Perhaps the most important part of the trip is the paperwork. If you forget to apply for that necessary visa or your passport will be expiring soon, you won't be able to fly no matter what excuse you come up with. If you don't have the necessary paperwork, all my tips above are moot so make sure you do your research and pack all your paperwork. This is what we typically pack: International Drivers Permits (you will need these for driving overseas - not a necessity when renting a vehicle but a necessity if you happen to get into an accident), visas if necessary (remember these take a few months to get), passports, drivers licenses (we used ours to rent a quad bike), cash, credit cards, itineraries, necessary phone numbers. Remember that wifi can be spotty at times so make sure you have all the necessary information before you leave.

My advice for keeping it all together? A manila folder. This is the first time we travelled with a folder and I cannot tell you how much easier it made things. Instead of the typical "oh dang, where did we put that xxx," we always went to the folder first. 9/10 it was in that folder. We used it for all our paperwork, any receipts we got and all of our maps. It was a lifesaver. I should note that we kept our passports in a more secure location.

Casual vs Date Night

2015-07-15T12:14:00.003-04:00

So I thought it would be fun to show you a glimpse into the fashion side of one of my Santorini days. The casual shorts and top look was my daytime go-to - casual and comfortable for wandering the streets - while the dress was the perfect accompaniment to a gorgeous view, delicious dinner and ending to a fantastic day.

I took two bags with me to Greece - both Rebecca Minkoff and both crossbody bags. Even though I could have used a black bag, I didn't feel the slightest irritated that I hadn't packed it, something I was nervous about before we left. I definitely overpacked this trip but since I was heavy in the baggage weight department, I knew an extra bag would weigh me down even further. If you're having a hard time narrowing your bag selection down for a trip, take the extra few minutes and match bags to every outfit you've packed. It may take some time and thought but it's definitely worth it in the long run!

Outfit 1: TJ Maxx top || Calvin Klein City Shorts ||
Rebecca Minkoff Mini Crosby || c/o Gorjana Chaplin Cuff
Kensie Heidi Sandal || c/o Sunglass Warehouse

Outfit 2 Asos dress || Rebecca Minkoff Mini Crosby ||
c/o Gorjana Chaplin Cuff || Kensie Heidi Sandal

Vegan Garlic Tomato Green Beans w. Cilantro

2015-07-14T09:52:00.005-04:00

You may be surprised to learn that there are quite a few Levantine dishes that are either vegetarian and/or vegan. Middle Eastern cooking involves fresh produce, olive oil and bread. Of course, there are plenty of dishes with beef but in general, salads are dairy-free and meat-free. It's a nice change from American cooking where everything has a creamy sauce and is filled with cheese - I'm a cheese fanatic (like I can easily spend an hour in Wegmans cheese section) but there are moments when I appreciate a pure veggie dish.

Today's dish is based on a Syrian classic (fasoulyeh b'zayt which literally translates as "green beans with oil) that my mom used to make while growing up. Sometimes she would put meat in it (for my dad's sake) but other times she would keep it low calorie and vegan. We would eat it with rice (if beef was involved) or just with bread. I definitely did not appreciate it growing up since I only tolerated green beans then but A and I wiped our plates clean when I made this the other day. Mom's version doesn't have cilantro but it makes a great addition. Add more if you love cilantro!

VEGAN GARLIC-TOMATO GREEN BEANS W. CILANTRO SPRIGS

INGREDIENTS

.5 pounds Romano beans

1/2 tsp salt

2 T olive oil

4-5 garlic cloves

3 tomatoes, chopped

Cilantro, garnish

Pita bread

DIRECTIONS

In a skillet, heat olive oil. Add green beans and salt and stir. Sauté green beans on medium for about 5 minutes, stirring often. Add garlic cloves and sauté for another 2 minutes. Top with tomatoes and stir. Turn heat to medium-low and simmer for 5 minutes. Top with cilantro and serve with pita bread.

A big thank you to Melissa's for providing the romano beans. And thank you to you for supporting all of FashionEdible's collaborations!

Embroidered Details

2015-07-13T12:52:00.001-04:00

I'm sad that the weekend has ended. We spent the entire Friday through Sunday in Waldorf with our friends and as always, the weekend rocked. Instead of playing games 24/7, we actually hit the tennis courts and cooled off in the pool on Saturday. Of course, we played games in between all of that. The ladies finally made a comeback and beat the guys after our horrid losing streak. Sunday was spent biking the Mt. Vernon trail in the DC area. This is a definite must if you're ever in the area - we parked at Fort Hunt Park and then biked to Alexandria for some window shopping and gelato. Then we biked the 7+ miles back. The total amount of time was around 3 hours (including gelato time) so if you've got a few hours to spend, I would highly recommend it. And now I can cross biking the Mt. Vernon trail off my bucket list.

I'm pretty much in love with this brand and have added half of their line to my favorites section in hopes that they'll go on some sort of sale. I know I may be waiting a while but it is fun to dream. There's no better place to show off this gorgeous dress (worn today as top) than in Greece where embroidered pieces are sold everywhere. It was the perfect piece to wear as it didn't stifle me and it was surprisingly cool in the sun. I definitely wore it as a dress during the trip (photos to come) and I can honestly say that both ways were equally fun to wear. It didn't strike me until I actually tried the dress on that I could wear it both ways but when I discovered that, I was ecstatic. Less to pack and more ways to wear it.

Plaka, Milos

Plaka, Milos

Plaka, Milos

Plaka, Milos

Plaka, Milos

Firopotamos, Milos

Firopotamos, Milos

Pollonia, Milos

Pollonia, Milos

Pollonia, Milos

Tularosa Clover Dress (worn as a top) || Theory linen shorts (similar)
Rebecca Minkoff Mini Crosby || Latigo Rose Sandal, (in tan)

3x3 Style: Resort Wear

2015-07-09T10:30:00.001-04:00

Resort wear trends are probably my favorite trends to browse through. I get excited when the new season lookbooks arrive (usually in February when I'm more than ready for winter to end) and start envisioning myself on a beach somewhere far away, baking in the sun, with a mojito in one hand. Of course, then reality strikes and I realize I'm freezing, it's snowing and there are piles of dirty snow everywhere. Reality check.

Even though resort wear is a pretty fluid term, most people imagine white, linen and cotton clothing. About half of the clothing I wore in Santorini could be classified as resort wear and Santorini is definitely the place to sport anything resort-related. I wore these culottes for a day of sightseeing and they were perfect: light, white and so comfortable (i.e. I ate way too much that day).

This Heather top is my first piece from the clothing line and I have been wearing it non-stop since I got it. As much as I love black and seem to have plenty of it, I was definitely lacking dressy tops in the color. Heather offers quite a few pieces for the cotton/knitwear lover and I know I'm hooked. I am also loving Luci's dress - off shoulder tops are totally in right now and I am loving the style, color and intricate details. Alyssa is sporting a cute outfit that's perfect for a casual day of sightseeing and touring. Be sure to check out each of their outfits for details!

Asos culottes || Heather top || Elizabeth & James sunnies ||
Leslie Danzis necklace || Rebecca Minkoff Mini Crosby ||
Wanted sandals via DSW

Roasted Red Pepper w. Mascarpone Pasta

2015-07-08T13:17:00.002-04:00

Well, NY was amazing. We had such a great time and it was fun seeing my mom stop every few minutes for a photo op. Her favorite part of NY was sitting down at cafes and restaurants while taking in the views. We're already planning the next trip up.

We love pasta in our house. We eat it a few times a month and I'm always thinking of new ingredients to throw into it. Mascarpone is a great way to create a creamy pasta with little effort. Since it's summer and herbs are in full force, basil was an obvious addition (plus it's growing almost as quickly as the mint). And since roasted red peppers are one of my favorite pizza toppings, I knew it would be just as great in the pasta. The result: fresh pasta that's full of flavor.

ROASTED RED PEPPER W. MASCARPONE PASTA

INGREDIENTS

16 oz pasta

1/2 c roasted red peppers

2 tsp garlic sautéed with 1 tsp oil

8 oz mascarpone

1 tsp salt

1/4 c basil, chopped

DIRECTIONS

Cook pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain. Add in roasted red peppers, sautéed garlic, mascarpone, salt and basil. Carefully mix together.

Touring Fira

2015-07-06T05:46:00.002-04:00

Good Morning Monday! I'm headed to NYC today with my mom and sis for a fun-filled day. Can you believe that it's my mom's first time in NYC? Yep, she's excited. There's so much to squeeze in today that I'm hoping the cloud-but-no-rain forecast falls true.

I've finally finished the second installment of my travel photos from Greece and they have been taking forever. I love taking photos but sifting through them can be a challenge at times. And in Greece's case, downright frustrating. There are so many great photos that it is hard to just pick one so I'm hoping you don't mind and that you fall in love with this beautiful island as much as we did!

Fira is the capital of Santorini and is located around the middle of the island. There are plenty of shops and in fact, I would recommend a visit to the city just for the shopping. I also overheard two 20-something girls commenting on the night life and how fun it was so I'm guessing the young(er) crowd hits up for something other than the breathtaking views...

If you're staying in Oia, visit Fira for a day and then concentrate your efforts on the other parts of Santorini. Also, it should be worth noting that once noon hits, the whole city comes alive and there are people everywhere. We were fortunate to visit during the morning/early afternoon and so we got to experience a quieter part before the main rush.

I can't recommend too many places to eat in Fira as we only stopped at three. We visited Fira twice, once while we waited for our home to be ready after our short flight from Athens and once for a VERY short stop after our 3-hour hike from Oia to Fira (more on that later). One of the three places we stopped at was a small coffee/restaurant overlooking the caldera - most restaurants were closed and unfortunately, we stopped here out of necessity for coffee. Because of this experience (dirty, mediocre), I would highly recommend looking up reviews for places in Fira before you decide to try them out. The second place we tried was Franco's Bar and while the orange juice was out of this world and the views were exceptional, I would hesitate to recommend their food. It was fine but there are definitely better. What I can wholeheartedly recommend is Lucky's Souvlakis, a small gyro joint on the outskirts of town serving up the best souvlaki and gyros around the area - and they only cost 2.90 euros a piece.

A Day of Relaxation

2015-07-02T09:31:00.000-04:00

I remember I was so excited when we took these photos. It was our first time seeing the caldera and all the beauty it had to offer. The views were breathtaking and the whole experience surreal. Our taxi driver (who also happened to be one of the caretakers of the house we rented while in Santorini) picked us up from the Santorini airport and suggested we tour Fira (Santorini's capital) for the day while they prepared the place for us. It was the best bit of advice - we spent the day relaxing, wandering the streets and soaking it all in. Tourists started to come out of every corner when noon hit so we tried to avoid it as best as we could. It's amazing how quiet mornings are on the island but once noon rolls around, things completely change. Vendors start opening their shops and rolling out their carts full of goods, restaurants open their doors for lunch and Santorini comes alive. I'm still working on photos from the trip but I'll have much of it finished in a few days - I didn't realize just how many photos we took!

Free People top || Forever 21 denim jacket
c/o KUT from the Kloth Catherine Boyfriend Jeans
Asos slides || Tissot Watch
c/o Sunglass Warehouse Sunnies || Gorjana Chaplin Cuff
Rebecca Minkoff Mini Crosby

Iced Coffee On-the-Go | Gevalia

2015-07-01T15:25:00.001-04:00

I participated in an Ambassador Activation on behalf of Influence Central for Gevalia Iced Coffee with Almond Milk. I received product samples to facilitate my review as well as a promotional item to thank me for my participation.

I love coffee. I mean, I don't think I can claim to be of Middle Eastern descent if I don't. We drink it almost every day and I have to admit that I would choose an espresso, americano, Greek/Arabic/Turkish coffee over filtered drip coffee most days. However, iced coffee is a different matter entirely. I have always liked iced coffee (not as much as this coffee-loving girl who will drink it in sub-zero temperatures) but I have to confess, I'm lazy and won't actually prepare it for myself at home. Something about too much time to cool the coffee, add sugar, mix with ice - blah blah. Lazy to the nth degree.

But all that's changed; my lazy iced coffee needs have been met in 5 words. Gevalia. Iced. Coffee. Almond. Milk. I only recently discovered the latest bit of goodness from Gevalia. Three flavors are included in this new iced coffee offer: mocha, caramel and vanilla and all three are amazing. They come in these adorable bottle-shaped pouches in ready-to-pour-and-serve format. I mean, it can't get any easier for those of us who are lazy or just lead busy lives. Made with real sugar and 100% Arabica coffee, these iced coffees are great to grab while on-the-go or just because (aka it's too hot and humid out for hot coffee).

At first, I was kind of hesitant to try an almond milk product (mainly because I'm a regular milk fan) but I quickly got over it once I realized how creamy and smooth each flavor was. I'm not sure you can even tell that it contains almond milk and the almond milk actually seems to contribute to the creaminess. I've bought Gevalia coffee in the past and loved it every single time - the coffee beans are perfectly roasted, rich and never bitter - and these iced coffees are no different.

If you're having a hard time deciding which flavor to try first, go for the mocha - I think it may be my favorite!

Thank you for supporting all of FashionEdible's collaborations!

Metallic Monday | Striped Top + Sandals

2015-06-29T13:03:00.003-04:00

I'm dragging my feet today and I have no idea why. Can I still blame it on jet lag? I'm hoping this Starbucks croissant will break me out of my funk. I have to admit, even though we have been getting nothing but rain these past few days (and weeks from what I'm told), it's helped clear the air of humidity and the overall unpleasantness that summer brings. I love weather that's reminiscent of cool spring days because it allows me to wear light sweaters with shorts and sandals. I can't seem to stop wearing these shorts - in fact, I'm wearing them right now - they're comfortable, not too baggy and just the right fit. They also got me through quite a few days in Greece (more on that later).

Have a great day and hope you're handling this Monday better than I am!

Calvin Klein City Shorts || Giuseppe Zanotti sandals ||
Vince Camuto crossbody || TJ Maxx sweater + rings ||