Beaute' J'adore

St. Martin Getaway

2013-05-21T08:50:00.001-04:00

This month marked our 1 year anniversary which went by in the most incredible blink of an eye. For our anniversary we decided to go someplace neither of us had ever been so we ended up in St. Martin. For those who have never been, it's a Caribbean island in the Greater Antilles and unlike other Caribbean Islands I've been before. The beaches are beautiful, the food is plentiful, the people are awesome and to top it off, the weather was nothing short of amazing with minimal humidity. St Martin/St. Maarten is separated into two sides, a Dutch and French side which completely feels like your in some sort of European Caribbean wonderland.

We normally stay at resorts but opted this time to go the condo route at Caravanserai which couldn't have been more amazing. Here are a few snap shots of our week.....

Waking up to this view all week long was a true delight.

Breakfast and brunch with limitless mimosas and fruit filled french toast

Beautiful scenery and interesting architecture EVERYWHERE

Lots of beach frolicking and jet skiing

Airplanes flying freakishly low on the beach right over my head

If you follow me on instagram, these may look familiar

We both love to travel and look forward to many more incredible memory building anniversary's to come.

My loves......

2013-05-17T11:10:00.002-04:00

This dress combines two of my favorite's, Theory and maxi dresses. Warm weather wouldn't be complete without the two.

Dress: Theory
Sandals: K. Jacques
Bracelets: Club Monaco
Shades: Prada

DIY Perfect Little Tee

2013-05-15T09:48:00.001-04:00

When it comes to a tee, oddly enough that happens to be one article of clothing I'm very particular about. Mainly because I look for super soft, comfortable, quality cotton. I need something with a nice stretch but not too stretchy, a good cut and will stand the test of time considering I keep my tee's for years before I retire them. I'm a huge fan of Theory tee's because the brand seems to encompass all those qualities, but trying to amass a stockpile of Theory tee's will definitely cost you a pretty penny.

When I spotted this Calvin Klein Collection burnout fabric on sale at Fabric Counter I had to jump on it. This tee fabric is probably more awesome than my Theory tee's and I had the perfect Vogue V8879 pattern to try it out on. I made this top cropped which is a perfect resort top and I plan to make another in a longer version as soon as I return home. The pattern was super easy and because I tripple stitched the seams, It will last forever.

Tee-DIY
Pants- Michael Kors
Earrings: Pamela Love
Shades: Prada

DIY 1 Hour Maxi Dress

2013-05-13T00:00:00.000-04:00

Dress: DIY
Bag- Cole Haan
Sandals- Alexander McQueen
Shades- Ralph Lauren
Earrings: DIY

When it comes to maxi dresses they are most definitely a summer staple for me, but I encounter an issue that a lot of women over 5'9" have and that's the length. A properly fitting maxi dress should hit pass your ankle and for me I like for it to drag the floor slightly. This maxi dress takes literally 1 hour to drape and sew. Using this jersey fabric from Mood I did the following:

1. Measure your chest and subtract 3 inches, determine the length you would like the top of the dress to be and measure from your chest to that point. Cut one piece of fabric and double the length.
ex: your chest measures 34" and the length from the top of your chest (where the top of the dress would hit) and your waist is 7" cut one piece of fabric 62"x7"

2. Fold the fabric in half length wise on the wrong side, pin close and and sew two of the three sides closed making a tube. Turn the fabric wright side out and sew the tube closed. Top stitch the upper half of the tube.

3. Measure the length you would like your skirt and add two inches, measure your hips and and 15 inches.
ex: your length is 60 inches and your hips are 38 cut the fabric 53"x62"

4. Pin the skirt to the top creating pleats as you go, you can determine how large you want the pleats based on how much fabric you have left to attach the skirt to the top. Create pleats around the entire top.

FYI: I used about 1 1/2 yards

Guilt Free Rutabaga French Fries

2013-05-08T09:55:00.000-04:00

When it comes to anything salty and savory I'm always in, which is a problem for a person that LOVES food. Keeping in step with my low fat movement (THIS MONTH), I baked up a quick alternative that most definitely satisfied my craving. In additon to the rutabaga giving you the elusion your eating a french fry with a touch of sweetness, the nutritional benefits will help push you over the edge.

Rutabaga VS Potato
Calories 35/77
Carbs 8g/18g
Fiber 3g/2g
Inflammation factor -3/-46

DIY Spring Suit

2013-05-06T12:44:00.000-04:00

I love nothing more than suit dressing, it's easy and you don't have to concern yourself with styling your top with your bottom. So when this Italian double faced cotton twill arrived from Mood, I new some sort of set/suit had to be made. I love a greatly designed peplum top so I used the front and back piece to the Vogue 8815 pattern and made the folowing alterations:

Created a faced V neck
Added large breast pleats
Added large box pleats to the peplum
Placed a side zipper
Created a front seam
Eliminated the back seam

I love this top so much I will be creating a pattern to share.

My first preference is a skirt but when it comes to shorts, I like a looser fit with a wider leg which finding a proper fit is a challenge. I love the structure of these shorts made with Vogue 8836, they are supremely comfortable and very easy to wear. I made the following alterations to the pattern:

Cut the pant pattern into shorts
Created 1 box pleat on each side

Top & Shorts- DIY
Heels- Gianvito Rossi
Bracelet- Wear Love
Earrings-DIY
Bag- Gucci

DIY Asymmetric Skirt

2013-05-03T13:24:00.000-04:00

With vacation season looming, I figure it's time to brighten up. I picked up this crepe fabric from Fabric Counter a couple of months ago which I wasn't a huge fan of but felt compelled considering it was on sale for only $1.50 a yard. Who could truly pass that up? Not sure what to do with it, I made this skirt from Vogue V8835 and absolutely hated it in this color. In my attempt to salvage what I viewed as a bad Easter Sunday skirt, I shortened it and made the front asymmetric. I probably shouldn't have shortend it as much as I did but the damage is done now.

Skirt-DIY
Shirt- Burberry
Necklaces-DIY
Bangle-AV Max
Clutch-DIY
Heels- Jimmy Choo

DIY Rolled Leather Clutch

2013-05-01T10:03:00.000-04:00

Earlier this year while browsing style.com, I came across the most amazing unique little clutch by Rochas and simply fell in love. I have looked all over for this clutch but only managed to find a few images and no place to purchase. So the next best thing is DIY!

I picked up this leather a couple of weeks ago from Tandy Leather Factory during a two day sale and received the deal of the century. It's unbelievely soft supple and simply amazing! I was so inspired I also made this one and this one.

Inspiration Image via Brandexclusive

Cauliflower Crust Loaded Pizza

2013-04-30T00:00:00.000-04:00

Lately my food posts have been a bit sparse due to a no sugar low fat 30 day kick I'm on but my craving for pizza has not gone away. This recipe is definitely husband approved, you get your pizza fix without the guilt.

Ingredients:

Pizza Crust

1 Large head of cauliflower
1/2 cup 4 cheese Italian mix
1/2 cup Mozzarella
1/3 cup water
1 large egg well beaten
1 tsp pizza seasoning
1 tsp oregano
1/2 tsp basil
1/2 tsp garlic
1/2 tsp olive oil
Seasoned salt

Pizza Topping

Pizza Sauce ( I used a store bought-Pizza Bolis)
1/2 cup mozzarella
1/2 onion chopped
1 cup chopped spinach
1 cup mushrooms
1 cup turkey pepperoni
1/2 cup finely sliced plum tomatoes

Directions:

Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees

Chop cauliflower into small pieces and process in a food processor until you get the consistency of rice. Place the riced cauliflower in a bowl with 1/3 cup of water. Microwave for six minutes.

Remove cauliflower from the microwave and add both cheeses, egg, olive oil and seasonings. Mix well and spread the cauliflower on a cooking sprayed pizza sheet.

Cook the crust for 20 minutes or until completely cooked and golden brown.

Once the crust has cooked and slightly cooled, spread the pizza sauce and the toppings.
Pop the pizza into the broiler for 2-3 minutes until the toppings are a light brown.

Enjoy!

Duck re-purposed

2013-04-29T08:59:00.000-04:00

I'm famous for re-purposing so needless to say I never throw out clothing which explains why I still have items from high school sitting in my closet. My thought is you can always re-create something out of something.

When I purchased this dress originally I thought how interesting it was but once I put it on I literally looked like a figure skating bird. I loved the detail so much I couldn't bring myself to return it so it sat in my closet for a while until I was rummaging through drawers looking for a tank and decided to put my scissors to use.

Top-Dress turned into a top- French Connection
Skirt- DIY also worn here
Heels- Giuesppe Zanotti for Vionnet
Clutch- Fendi
Shades-Dior

DIY Flirty Little Dress

2013-04-26T11:38:00.000-04:00

When it comes to flirty little dresses, halter dresses are my favorite so when I picked up this Butterick B5886 pattern , I knew not many alterations needed to be made. I used this crepe fabric that moves perfectly with this pattern. I plan to make this dress again in a longer version and knit fabric, lets see how that works out.

Dress- DIY
Earrings-DIY
Clutch-DIY custom made
Heels- Brian Atwood

DIY Sleeveless Vest

2013-04-24T07:58:00.002-04:00

An absolute staple in my closet is a little black dress, so the perfect spring update is sheer over sheer over sheer. I made this dress by draping on my form that's three sizes too big which made this simple little dress take way too long. The fabric is this gorgeous sheer with lace and ribbon that I've had for over ten years stuck in a bin in my basement, who would have known.

Now on to the vest!

Being a huge fan of the Balenciaga vest I decided to break out this Cynthia Rowley pattern 1756 using this Italian Cotton Sateen fabric from Mood and the pattern altering began.

Alterations:
Added 9 inches in length
Opted to square the hem as opposed to curve
Added a square faux flap pocket instead of the external square pockets
Left off the bottons
Extended the lapels
Added a trim to the armhole
Added a 1/2" shoulder pad that I covered with the same fabric

Dress- DIY
Vest-DIY
Clutch-Fendi
Heels-Jean Michael Cazabat
Earrings-DIY
Bracelet-YSL
Shades-Ralph Lauren

Perfect Iced Coffee

2013-04-23T08:54:00.002-04:00

When It comes to coffee I can honestly stand up and say "My name is Nikki and I'm an addict". I drink it in the morning, evening and afternoon. I am completely aware this is not the healthiest addiction but I have no plans to stop anytime soon :). The one draw back to constantly drinking coffee Is the brushing of my teeth after every cup to ensure I won't get coffee drinkers mouth. So when warm temps roll in I'm delighted the opportunity to sip out of a straw and give my teeth a break.

This easy iced coffee is a perfect at home alternative to expensive chain coffee shops but taste much better and makes enough for several days.

Enjoy!

Ingredients:

1lb coffee
10 cups of water
ice cubes
syrup of your choice
creamer of your choice

Directions:

In a large bowl, pour 10 cups of water over 1lb of coffee and stir well. Cover the coffee with saran wrap over night. Strain the coffee using a strainer lined with cheese cloth or paper towels. Strain the coffee at least twice to ensure all coffee grounds are removed.

Place the coffee in a pitcher or carafe with an air tight lid and store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Serving:

In a tall glass, add ice cubes and pour in coffee
Add 1 tbls or more if you prefer a sweeter drink of syrup
Add 1 tbls of creamer I prefer flavored creamer, but any creamer will do.

DIY Spring Leather Black & White

2013-04-18T16:40:00.000-04:00

Feeling so inspired in my new work space, I wanted to squeeze in a spring leather look before the true heat rolls in. Using Vogue pattern 8815 A and Butterick pattern B5566 E as a base and this fabric from Mood which is way more amazing in person.

Pattern Alterations:

Vogue 8815
Used the front and back piece and added about 4 inches to the length
Cut the fabric 4 inches too big on each side
Added elastic
Altered the zipper
Added a mini mock neck

Butterick B5566
Added a pleated tulip to the bottom of the skirt
Created a high waist

Top-DIY
Skirt-DIY
Heels- Camilla Skovgaard
Shades- Prada
Clutch-Saks

DIY Craft Room Makeover for under $500.00

2013-04-16T12:39:00.000-04:00

When it comes to coming way under budget I find the best solution is to DIY. Lately my sewing and craft projects seem to have taken on a life of their own, and because I have a touch of OCD It's difficult for me to function in a cluttered disorganized work environment. My husband was awesome enough to not complain when I decided to take over yet another room in our house (he's the greatest EVER!) so with maybe two days of prep I started the transformation of a guest room into a craft room. Sorry I accidentally deleted the before images, but picture a room 12x10 with a leather and wood queen size bed, a couple of lamps and that about sums it up. I wanted to created a space that was warm inviting and fueled my creativity all for $500.00, did I mention that $500 should also include hardwood floors? and doing the entire project 100% solo with exception of sum heavy lifting.

Floors- Wanted dark wood so the room could flow seamlessly with the rest of the house. If you have ever gone through the selection process, it's a pain trying to find dark wood flooring under $4.00 a square foot. So after visiting several stores and many attempts to sell me $600.00 worth of flooring which would flush my budget completely down the toilet I ended up where no sales person wants a customer to go.......the clearance rack. Because I only needed 165sq ft this was a perfect place to be. I found engineered bamboo marked down from 3.85 sqft to only .66 a sqft. so the floors were a steal for only $108.00. I'ved never installed flooring and needed to do the glue down method, so I watched a few videos online and got busy. After 3 very long days, several blisters and cuts, the floors were completed.

$108.00

Shelving- Opted for cabinets to keep items neat and orderly. I knew cabinets were expensive based on the basement project we recently completed so I knew exactly where I wanted to go....The Loading Dock, which is a non profit building material re-use center in Baltimore filled to the brim with every building material you could imagine. I picked up a set of six cabinets, and two 30" shelving cases in perfect condition all for only $100.00 If your working on a DIY project yourself I would recommend finding a re-use center in your area, most cities have them.

$100.00

Cutting/Craft Table- Needed something functional that didn't take up too much space. Took a trip to Lowes, had a piece of particle board for $17.48 cut 36x42, used a mahogany stain by minwax, and stained the particle board to a deep rich mahogany which gives the particle board a "real" wood finish with a gloss. Attached the table to 4 legs picked up at the re-use center for $12.00, and had them cut to 37.5" tall by Home Depot. The bookcase under the table was purchased at Michael's for $19.99 which coincidentally was having a 60% off sale last week on craft room furniture. The two white baskets were purchased at Michael's for $2.00 and the wicker baskets were purchased from Ikea for $7.99 each. Purchased the stool at the Goodwill for $6.00 which I painted the legs white, sanded and stained the seat with the mahogany stain.
$77.15

Desk- In order in maximize the space, I chose a 12x96"desk connected to the wall which I purchased at Lowes for $12.98
$12.98

Decorating Accessories:

Peg board- Lowes cut two 45x96 pieces- $18.00
Thread holder- Purchased on sale at Joann's for $9.99 and painted white.
Lazy Susan storage desktop- on sale at Michael's $17.99
DIY cork pin cushions- purchase glass canister and carafe corks at Ikea, remove the glass from the lid of the canisters and replace with the carafe corks. Perfect for storage and pin cushion-$10.96
File Cube under desk- on sale at Michael's-$17.99
3 drawer organizer cube under desk- on sale at Michaels- $15.99
Curtains- Ikea- 9.99
Rugs- Ikea 9.99 each
Wall art- Frames from Target on clearance for 1.49 each and painted white, purchased 1 yard of fabric from Ikea for $7.99. Used left over fabric to re-finish lamp shade.
Wall storage cabinet- purchased on clearance at Home Goods for $34.00 and painted white.

$157.36

Perfect Denim

2013-04-15T08:27:00.000-04:00

When it comes to wearing denim perfect for your body, it's a complete hit or miss unless your familiar with the brand. Due to the fact I'm tall, have thin legs and ankles, healthier thighs butt and hips and smaller waist, finding a pair to accomodate every part of my body is a tall order. Generally if the jeans fit in the thighs the waist is too big, if the waist is perfect, the butt is horrible, if they fit in the hips.......you get the point. I wanted to share my top five denim choices that work well with many body types.

Prerequisite:
Nice stretch
No waist gapping
Mid to high rise
Snug without cutting off circulation
Fit true to size
Comfortable
Pass the bend over test

Levis Made & Crafted worn here
Maison Martin Margiela worn here
Blank NYC worn here
Seven for All Mankind worn here and here
Habitual worn here and on this post

Jeans- c/o Habitual Denim
Shirt- borrowed "stolen" from husband
Heels- Alexander Wang
Shades: Prada

Sunshine

2013-04-10T17:56:00.000-04:00

I like most people living in the Eastern part of the nation can finally smile at the idea of not walking outside to temperatures that are typically reserved for January. I'm smiling even harder because despite the amazing weather I have been cooped up inside working on a pretty big DIY. (I will be unveiling in the next few days) Finally I've been able to put on clothes that aren't splattered with stain, paint and glue. If you follow me on Instagram, you may have seen a few sneak peaks.
Now back to having a life..........

Dress- French Connection
Heels- Vionnet
Clutch- Fendi
Shades- Dior

Transition

2013-04-03T00:00:00.000-04:00

Clearly I can't wait until it's consistently beautiful outside so in the meantime i'm transitioning with my unlimited selection of lightweight jackets.

Shirt- Jcrew
Skirt- DIY
Trench- Banana Republic
Heels- Manolo Blahnik
Clutch-Vintage
Shades- Dior
Necklaces-DIY

Facon Magazine Feature......

2013-04-02T00:00:00.000-04:00

A few weeks ago I was interviewed by Facon magazine for their Spring issue. I have to say it's kinda cool.

Thank you Janelle

You can find the complete feature here pages 36-43

Italian Turkey Meatball Pasta

2013-04-01T08:20:00.000-04:00

When it comes to all in one meals including veges carbs and protein I am a huge fan. They are typically quick, easy and bursting with infused flavor. This whole wheat pasta and Italian turkey sausage dish does not disappoint.

Ingredients:

12 oz whole wheat pasta
4 cups spinach
16 oz Italian turkey sausage
2 tbls olive oil
5 cloves garlic, sliced very thin
1/2 tbls corn starch
1/2 cup mozzarella cheese
1tbls pepper flakes
Seasoned salt
Pepper
Garlic powder

Directions:

1. Cook pasta according to box ingredients. with 1 minute left to cook, add the spinach. Reserve 1 1/2 cup of the cooking water, then drain the pasta.

2. In a bowl, add turkey, seasoned salt, pepper, pepper flakes and garlic powder and roll the meat into small meatballs, about 30-35. Add the olive oil to a hot skillet and cook until browned. Drain on a paper towel and reserved the drippings and oil in a small bowl.

3. In a clean skillet, add the drippings,oil and the sliced garlic. Cook over medium heat for 1 minute. Add the pasta and meatballs and whisk the corn starch with the left over cooking water in a small bowl, then add to the skillet and stir until the sauce thickens slightly.

4. Dish pasta and sprinkle with mozzarella cheese.

Seeing Red

2013-03-28T00:00:00.000-04:00

For those days when I'm completely operating on zero energy, I insist on going all out in colors that make me smile and compliment my yellow undertones :).

Coat-Tibi
Jeans- Blank NYC
Top- Splendid
Clutch- JJ Winters
Heels- Brian Atwood
Shades-Ralph Lauren

DIY Silk Faille Full Skirt

2013-03-25T13:10:00.002-04:00

I absolutely love a full skirt so when I purchased this fabric from Mood I knew I wanted a transition skirt. The fabric is light and flowe and simply perfect. It's slightly sheer so I lined it with a polyester blend and made the lining detachable, it's going to be great when vacation time starts.

I used pattern Butterick B5285 View B with the following alterations:
Added inverted pleats around the entire skirt.
Added a 2 1/2 inch panel around the bottom half.
Dropped the back of the skirt 1 1/2 inch to create a more sloped design which gives it more movement.
Added a detachable lining

Skirt-DIY
Jacket-Acne
Sweater-Jcrew
Heels- Burberry
Clutch-Fendi

Lemon Cream Cheese Bars

2013-03-21T13:25:00.001-04:00

Due to vacation beach season coming up (unfortunately I need an incentive) I'm TRYING to stay away from lots of sugar and fa,t but because I'm a junk food junkie and constantly craving everything sweet and tangy it's certainly a challenge. Instead of totally depriving myself, I chose to use low fat cream cheese and cut the ingredients in half to make a much smaller batch. If you want to try this recipe I recommend doubling the ingredients for a full batch, unless your willing to deal with the guilt.

Ingredients:

Crust
1 cup flour
1/4 cup powdered sugar
1/2 cup butter
1tsp grated lemon peel
1/3 tsp cinnamon

Filling
2 eggs
1 1/4 cup sugar
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 cup lemon juice
1/2 tsp grated lemon

Frosting
1/2 cup powdered sugar
2 tbls lemon juice
4 oz cream cheese

Crust- Mix with a hand mixer flour, powdered sugar, butter, lemon peel and cinnamon. Mix will become crumbled. Press the mix into a 10x7 baking pan and bake at 350 until light brown.

Filling- Whisk all ingredients until mixed well. Pour mixture over hot crust and return to the oven for an additional 20 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from the oven and let cool for 45 minutes.

Frosting- Combine all ingredients in a bowl and mix with a hand mixer until smooth. Once the bars have cooled, spread the frosting evenly and cut into squares.

Makes approx.. 10
Store in the refrigerator.

And the winner is...........

2013-03-21T11:06:00.000-04:00

Structure

2013-03-20T17:06:00.001-04:00

I know I'm on borrowed time when it comes to this weather. Being that I happen to love cooler temperatures and wearing boots, maybe it's an east coast thing, so the past few weeks have been all out black. I am so going to miss my jackets, tights and cold weather gear, you have know idea.

Top- Theyskens Theory
Skirt- Iris & Ink
Booties: Schutz
Jacket-Burberry
Necklaces- YSL & vintage
Shades: Ralph Lauren