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Making traditional Italian food is one way I celebrate the holidays and my Italian heritage. I’ve made traditional Italian Christmas cookies before, now I wanted to try Italian Easter cookies.

OK ladies. No more excuses. I know your Uggs and tennies are comfortable, but that is no way to leave the house when there are tons of adorable and stylish flats for spring under $100.

I have a thing for lemons. As if it wasn’t already obvious from the numerous recipes I’ve made featuring lemons (lemon-lime margarita pops, lemon Bundt cakes, and lemon blueberry muffins).

There are so many fashion trends that I’m loving this spring. Some of my favorites are pastels—especially light pink, floral prints, and the graphic black and white trends that are evident in all areas of fashion right now.

Is it just me, or does Pinterest have you trying DIY projects and recipes you never imagined you could do? Pinterest ignites my crafty self that I’ve put on the back burner for many years.

This past weekend, the farmer’s market was brimming with citrus, winter greens, and first of the season strawberries. Of all the striking produce this weekend, the highly stacked, vibrant purple carrots with bright green stalks, were too gorgeous to resist.

Short hair is in for spring. Everything from the asymmetrical pixie cut, to the chin-length bob, or the longer shoulder length lob, short hair is everywhere. Even if you aren’t willing to go short, bangs and shorter layers can give your hair a shorter feel without taking the plunge of chopping it all off.

I’ve had lace espadrilles on my mind lately. Why? Because the month of March rouses college spring break memories of sunbathing on the beach for hours and one too many shots at night. While daydreaming about beach vacations, I started browsing for cute sandal options, and lace espadrilles kept popping up.

I’m not one of those women who loved being pregnant. My body was taken over by someone else, literally. I didn’t like the extra attention from strangers asking me when I was due, or telling me how pregnancy suited me. I counted down the days until I reached forty weeks. Maybe both of my babies and my body sensed how much I wasn’t into this pregnancy thing, since both babies came early.

It was my husband’s birthday this week. I had high hopes of making him a layer cake of his favorite German chocolate cake, but with a new baby in the house, time slipped away from me. Since cookies are my husband’s favorite baked-good, I opted to turn his favorite cake into cookies instead.

When I first saw this look, I was especially drawn to the ultra girly lace blouse and glam necklace paired with more casual cuffed jeans and booties. This spring, both lace and cuffed jeans are very on-trend and you don’t have to retire your booties quite yet since there are lots of ways to incorporate booties into your spring wardrobe.

Most Saturday mornings, you will find my husband and me roaming the abundant produce-packed aisles at the Irvine Farmer’s Market. I mentioned this market last summer, when I featured a peach cobbler recipe.

When it comes to purses, I believe in quality over quantity. If you invest in a high quality leather purse, it can last you for years. For the past several years, I have rotated the same few purses depending on the season or what I’m wearing.

When you think of St. Patrick’s Day, do you think of chocolate covered beer and pretzel caramels? Probably not, but maybe I can change your mind. When I think of St. Patty’s day, the first thing that comes to mind is Guinness, the second thing is the green beer and green long islands they served at the Red Shed, a divey bar I frequented in college.

As I browsed the mall the other day, floral prints overwhelmed nearly every clothing rack and faceless mannequin I passed. The bold colors and often – exaggerated prints screamed, spring is here. I love the floral print trend because bright colors and fun patterns bring life to a wardrobe, especially for those of us who tend to stick to neutrals and solids too often.

Have you ever wanted to give your child the best and couldn’t? What if the best was something that 99% percent of mothers could give but you couldn’t? For me, this happened very early on in motherhood: I couldn’t produce enough milk to feed my first child, my son Rocco. Only 16 months after my son Rocco was born, the breastfeeding anxiety has returned with the birth of my daughter Giada last month.

This spring, pairing black and white is one of the major fashion trends. The best part about the black and white trend is just how easy it is to embrace. Adding interesting shoes, like these black white striped pumps, to your wardrobe is the simplest way to try out a new trend and enliven your wardrobe.

It’s nearly impossible to avoid Oscars talk this time of year. Most media outlets are discussing which movies and actors won awards and what the stars wore.

I’m in desperate need of new jeans, which I learned the other day on my way home from the grocery store. I grabbed Rocco with one arm, the groceries with the other, and slowly trudged toward my apartment. With every step I took, my pants inched further down.

My daughter turns three weeks old this week. With the new addition to my family, I have very little time to concentrate on my normal beauty routine. After a quick shower and slathering on some body lotion and SPF for my face, I might find a minute to dry my hair before I need to attend to my daughter or toddler son.

My husband and I were reminiscing about desserts that reminded us of our childhood. He was shocked that I’d never had his mom’s favorite, a Lemon Jell-O Cake. I had never even heard of cooking Jell-O into a cake.

New York Fashion Week wrapped up last Thursday. A personal goal of mine is to one day attend some of my favorite designers’ shows. However, this month, I watched via social media and website recaps while adjusting to bringing my newborn daughter home late last week.

For my daughter’s first birthday, I made her a funfetti cake from scratch. I made way too much cake though, so I had almost an entire cake and enough frosting left to make funfetti cake pops.

This spring fashion season, I’m loving all the pastels, especially light pink. I previously featured the pink trend, but I had to revisit it when I saw these fresh pink leather biker jackets.

I have a problem, a problem with all baked goods in the bar, blondie and brownie form. Who am I kidding? I could say the same thing about cookies too.

Valentine’s day is right around the corner. Whether you are planning a romantic dinner out, a night in with your man, or you are single and ready to mingle, here are three looks of what to wear for Valentine’s day that are perfect for each occasion.

I thought I had this baby thing figured out. I just had a baby 16 months ago, so the hours of research I did for Rocco should hold water, right? Then, this week, beautiful baby Giada makes her early appearance, and I’m back to scouring the interwebs. This time, I’m in search of information about preemies.

For our first Valentine’s Day giveaway, we are so excited to partner with Dermalogica to offer one lucky reader personalized skincare products based on individualized results of Speed Mapping — up to a $450 total value*!

When you are invited to a party and you need to come up with something to bring on short notice, I always suggest checking your pantry to see what you have on hand. My husband has started a rather robust herb garden on our balcony. Since the rosemary is thriving, I took to google to try to find a quick and easy recipe that would highlight the fragrant herb. I found many rosemary roasted almond recipes, but wanted to increase the flavor intensity, so I added black pepper.

I unexpectedly ended up in the hospital last weekend with early contractions. Luckily, my daughter decided to stay put (at least for now), but her near early arrival prompted me to hurry up and get my hospital bag packed.

In the U.S. the Super Bowl is practically a national holiday, and food takes center stage. Nothing reminds me more of watching the ‘big game’ than some peanuts and beer. I’ve never seasoned my own nuts before, so I thought it was something worth trying. I didn’t realize just how easy it is and I love that there are almost endless combinations of flavors I could create.

The high contrast, black and white trend for this spring is easily my favorite. Vogue featured black and white checks seen on the runways at Balmain, Ralph Lauren and Rodarte. While Harper’s Bazaar showcased the sportier side of black and white on the runways at Narciso Rodriguez and Rag and Bone, among others.

I’ve never done anything with my eyebrows. I didn’t even pluck them until one of my college friends suggested it (and thank goodness she did! I was oblivious to how caterpillar-like my eyebrows were!). With the resurgence and fashion world’s love for a fuller brow, I’ve decided I need to jazz up my makeup routine and…

I bought a gorgeous loaf of sourdough for another recipe, but before I had the chance to use it, my entire family contracted this nasty, week-long cold/flu bug. Rather than letting a stale loaf of bread go to waste, the only sensible option was to find a recipe that called for crusty bread.

When I found out I was pregnant with my first child, I knew I didn’t want to spend a lot of money on maternity clothes because the pregnancy time-frame is so short. For both of my pregnancies, I managed to spend very little money on maternity clothes, by buying some staple pieces and working with…

My husband heard about a slow cooker chicken recipe on NPR that is supposed to rival the flavor of KFC, so we wanted to give it a try. We decided to do slow cooker chicken wings instead of a whole bird, since we had been thinking about Super Bowl recipes.

Floral Print Pumps Spring is probably the last thing on most people’s minds right now, as most of the U.S. is experiencing a very harsh winter. Winter wardrobes usually feature a lot of dark colors and heavy textures, which can start to feel too bundled up and drab. If you are feeling dragged down by…

I’m 33 weeks pregnant and I’m really starting to feel it physically. Chasing around a newly walking 14 month old has preoccupied me to the point where I haven’t had much time to think about welcoming a second child in the next month or two. Somehow though, my husband and I are not that worried.

When I saw this vegetarian lasagna recipe, I thought it would be a hearty winter dish, made even better with the addition of kale. My husband immediately groaned about yet another kale dish, the big baby.

Broken Eyeshadow Is An Expensive Annoyance It is the worst when you buy an expensive eyeshadow, and you either drop it or it cracks while traveling. I recently had two of my eyeshadows end up broken and I wasn’t sure what to do. Given they were expensive, brand-name eyeshadows, I wanted to do what I…

I’m not really much for resolutions, but I do like thinking about the year that has been and the year to come, reminiscing about the highlights from 2013 and looking forward to the adventures that 2014 will bring.

A new take on the French Manicure My nails are usually bare, but if I do get a manicure, I generally choose a very pale pink or just opt for clear nails. With New Years Eve upon us, I thought it would be fun to add a little sparkle to my nails. Essie has a…

Party dresses are all about sparkle, sequins and tastefully showing a little skin. With New Year’s Eve simultaneously being the last and first party of the year, you could probably justify spending twice your normal budget to ring in the new year. However, with the plethora of great options at reasonable price points, you don’t have to break the bank to look fabulous. Below are just a handful of great New Year’s Eve party dresses for under $100.

Did you ever mail a Christmas list for Santa? I sure did. I see no good reason why I should give up hope that he’ll bring me cool stuff now that I’m an adult. So, even though I could be on the naughty list, what do I have to lose? Santa, if you read chick blogs, feel free to place any of these items under my tree. My closet and I thank you.

Sequin midi skirts combine two hot fall trends: sequin and midi skirts (I mentioned the sequin trend earlier this week). A midi skirt, if you aren’t familiar, is much longer than knee length, but not full-length either. Midi skirts tend to hit around mid-calf and they can turn frumpy if not paired with the right…

I love chocolate in almost anything, but not that many Christmas cookies are chocolate-based. I’m always on the hunt for a Christmas cookie recipe I haven’t tried, so I was excited to find these Chocolate Snowcap cookies that combine chocolate and a wintry look.

Everyday Sequins in Your Everyday Wardrobe Sequin is not just for New Years Eve party-wear, as you can now find it in everyday fashions. Sequin pieces bring sparkle into otherwise gloomy and cold winter days. Of course, I definitely approve of wearing a sequin party dress for New Years Eve or carrying a sparkly clutch…

If money were no object, what gift would you want to receive for Christmas? With that question in mind, I compiled 10 outrageously expensive Christmas gifts. Many of the items I found left me puzzled or laughing, but I wouldn’t mind owning a few of these. It’s hard for me to fathom receiving such an opulent gift, but I could definitely imagine these items elegantly wrapped underneath someone’s gold-plated, diamond-encrusted Christmas tree.

I’m sort of in shock about how quickly Christmas snuck up on me this year. Just in case you aren’t already overloaded with all things Christmas, I compiled some last minute Christmas tips, ideas, and website links to help make your holiday extra special.

Ginger is one of those flavors that immediately conjure images of Christmas Trees and sitting by the fireplace. I’m definitely a proponent of homemade cookies, but I have been known to buy a tube of that gingerbread cookie dough at the store, roll them in sugar, and make quick and easy ginger snaps.

I love the idea of DIY Christmas gifts, which I previously mentioned in a DIY Christmas ornaments post. Homemade gifts have the allure of being personal and are more thoughtful than a store-bought gift. There is just something sentimental and intimate about a homemade gift. Below are nine unique and creative DIY Christmas gift ideas. They all seem doable, even for the not-so-crafty girl like me.

The weeks between Thanksgiving and New Years are prime time for holiday parties, and the one time of year when sequins on your clothing is a prerequisite. I generally don’t endorse buying items that aren’t versatile, but I fully support buying one special party dress per year that you can wear to a holiday party (and New Years Eve, if you pick wisely). We all deserve to feel special on these special occasions.

A quintessential Christmas cookie is the peanut butter kiss cookie. This year, I wanted to try something new, so when I found this crinkle recipe, I thought it might make a good base for chocolate peppermint kiss cookies.

Shopping for the men in my life always seems harder, somehow, than shopping for women. With that in mind, I’ve rounded up 12 unique Christmas gift ideas under $25 that should satisfy a broad range of men in your life.

Happy Thanksgiving! I hope you enjoy a long weekend with your family, friends and good food.

DIY Christmas ornaments hold a special place in my heart. The Santa whose mouth opened when you pinched the sides, and the clothes pin reindeer, were always my favorites, and both were homemade.

Deciding how to dress for Thanksgiving can be chore, but it doesn’t have to be. Thanksgiving is synonymous with family, food, football and passing out on the couch after one-too-many slices of turkey, but there is no reason you can’t be stylish and fashionable even if you’re having a more low-key celebration.

I really like kale, but its bitter bite makes it a hard sell to my husband. With this soup, however, I figured the longer cooking-time would mellow the bitterness.

The pale pink trend is a must-wear color this season. Referred to as blush, rose, ballerina or pastel, this pink color can be a fresh addition to any wardrobe if you choose the pieces that work best for you.

Winter accessories for women have more style and panache than ever. A knit hat is no longer just a knit hat, but features rhinestones, gems or interesting prints. Scarves come in all shades and textures and prints. Gloves and mittens have interesting hardware or cutout details. If your winter jacket is the standard gray or…

This delightful project not only adds a sweet touch to your festive decor but also connects you with the rich history of peppermint candies and the reason they are so readily available during the holidays. In this comprehensive guide, I’ll discuss the history of peppermint candies and why they are so universally available during the holidays. Then, I’ll share a really cute DIY Christmas candy dish by melting peppermint candies.

Starting traditions for my own little family is my favorite part of the holiday season. One tradition that unwittingly started a few years ago is baking these tasty glazed pumpkin cookies every fall.

Cyber Monday, the kickoff of the online holiday shopping season, is just around the corner. Online-only and brick and mortar retailers will soon flood their websites and mailers with many online-only discounts.

What was the first interview suit you bought for your first real job interview? For many of us, it was a standard issue black pants suit – practical, versatile and boring. It takes effort to bring an outfit from boring to chic, that’s why many of our black suits don’t often make it out of…

Color blocking is so 2013. I’ve previously talked about color block purses, but new for fall 2013 is the idea using neutral colors to color block. I like the inclusion of neutrals because they are much easier to wear and more subtly fit into a stylish wardrobe. Both of these color block coats introduce neutral…

Finding the best concealer for your face can be arduous, but it doesn’t have to be. With a few simple rules and guidelines, it’s not just easy, but fun. I’ll walk you through these rules and how I applied them to products I tested. 1. Determine if you need foundation or concealer. If you want…

Happy Halloween everyone! I hope you enjoy some time trick-or-treating with your kids, get dressed up yourself, or make room for a few extra pieces of candy today. This is Rocco’s second Halloween, but the first time he’ll be in a costume. I can’t wait to see how he reacts to his giant pumpkin costume. Everyone should be a pumpkin once in their lives.

I decided to make these scrumptious apple blondies bars because October is national apple month, and they are my go-to fruit — especially pink ladies. I’ve tried my hand at baked apples and apple pie, but that has been the extent of my use of apples, other than eating them raw with a little peanut butter.

Fall is here and I am amazed by the vast selection of stylish and affordable coats available this season. At these prices, you may not have to choose just one. Check out some of my favorite finds under $100 and under $200. Fall Coats Under $100 Gap – $98.00 Asos – $71.71 Old Navy –…

Jem, with cheap plastic mask and outfit, was my favorite Halloween costume when I was like 5 or 6. I’ve retired my plastic mask and costume, but I still love the idea of a grownup way to celebrate Halloween.

For Rocco’s first birthday cake, I set out to find a healthier alternative to the ‘smash cake’ tradition. I was overweight as a young adult, so introducing my son to healthy foods and building a solid foundation of good nutrition is very important to me. Since beginning solids six months ago, I’ve all but avoided giving him processed foods or foods high in sugar.

Tomorrow is Rocco’s first birthday. We are keeping it cozy and intimate because we are in the middle of yet another move.

A friend recently asked me to do a post on work wear. I got to thinking about traditional office attire and remembered the first suit I ever purchased for an interview. I was 22; it was black, ill-fitting, and boring. At the time, I didn’t know the power of a good tailor to help even…

During both of my pregnancies, I’ve had this strange obsession with all things lemon. There are nights where I drool just thinking about a tall glass of lemonade. For someone who was never really that into lemons or lemon products, this pregnancy ‘craving’ is quite the newfound obsession.

The J. Crew return policy is awesome! A retailer’s customer service is measured when a purchased item breaks or you have trouble locating an item.

Animal prints never really go out of style. Sure, pink neon leopard might only last one season, but timeless prints tend to hang on. This fall is no exception. I admit I’m not a fan of all-over animal print in clothing, but I like adding subtle touches in shoes and accessories. Snakeskin or python print…

I’ve tried a lot of creams, gels, lotions and cleansers in my day, everything from La Mer to Walmart brands. Although I don’t doubt that some of the fancier and more expensive options can do wonders for our skin, I have found a few reasonably priced drugstore beauty products that keep my skin clear (expect…

Sixty-three years ago today, Charles Schwartz introduced the world to the “Peanuts” comic strip.

One of my favorite trends for fall is leather accents.

Pumpkin is everywhere, so it must be September. Starbucks brings back it’s famed pumpkin spiced latte. Pinterest is bloated with pumpkin recipes, and I’m totally fine with it. I make some pretty darn yummy pumpkin cookies (coming soon), but I wanted to try something new to kick off autumn.

I love it when the weather is cool enough to start wearing boots. Mine are patiently waiting for me in the back of my closet until the Southern California weather is cool enough to break them out. The thing that I love most about a short boot, or bootie, is that I find them more…

One of my dear friends from high school tied the knot in Brooklyn NY last weekend. Sadly, I was unable to attend, but her festivities had me daydreaming about what I would have worn should I have made the trip.I love a fall wedding; there is just something about the changing seasons and the colors…

We left Phoenix for Lawrence, KS while my husband attended law school. Lawrence has tons of small-town charm, but I missed the variety and volume of bigger city dining options. Despite being small, the Lawrence culinary community did do a few things very well. For example, our proximity to Kansas City gave us access to some of the best BBQ in the world. Also, I’d put the French toast at Milton’s Café up against anyone’s in the country.

I love summer, but there is a point where I get sick of my sandals and long to break out my boots and chunky sweaters. A good pair of boots can last for years, which is why I tend to invest in classics like those found at the Frye Company. I have had a few…

In my late 20s, my skin started to show signs of sun damage, like age spots and broken capillaries. Pregnancy gave me melasma, which causes more discoloration on my face. My skin, suffice it to say, is starting to show its age. I thought it was time to try one of the many products on…

Various shades of green seem to be everywhere in fashion right now, and the fall lines are no exception. You are wrong if you think you are one of those people who can’t wear green.

I’ve never made a tart before. Given it was Labor Day weekend, I wanted to create something new and a bit more challenging. Since I almost always choose to bake sweet things, I thought it would be fun to try something on the savory side. I originally wanted to make an heirloom tomato tart, but I was underwhelmed by the selection at the Farmer’s Market. I found this recipe while searching for tomato and onion tarts, so decided to change up the filling a bit, but used this recipe as a base.

Each September, as the leaves start to change and the air gets crisp, I remember what the weeks leading back to school felt like. I always looked forward to back to school shopping. Even picking out notebooks and pencils seemed fun. I mean, what was cooler than the trapper-keeper?

https://poshinprogress.com/2013/08/30/practical-or-posh-7/

The moment a stylist spins the chair around to reveal your newly coiffed hair in the mirror is one of life’s lesser appreciated emotional crossroads. A good haircut gives you confidence; a bad one can bring you to tears. I recently got the worst haircut of my life. I got absolutely butchered. Gone were six…

How did I come up with Oatmeal Molasses Cookies with Apricots? Awhile back, my friend Pam sent me a picture of some tarts she had purchased from a nearby bakery that they looked ridiculously good. They were from the Blackmarket Bakery in the Camp. I finally made my way over there a couple of weeks ago. Most everything inside the bakery looked delicious, but the one item I couldn’t pass up was their ‘Blackstrap Betty’, which is a chewy molasses cookie with chunks of dried apricot.

Upon arrival at the Center for Living Peace, a soft-spoken woman, who exuded an unquestionable Zen vibe, greeted me. She gave me a quick tour around the center, indicated where to park my stroller, and introduced me to group of women waiting for the class to start.

I can’t guarantee I’ll ever have the patience to make these cheese crackers, but I love the idea of making these homemade instead of buying the processed version.

The taxi driver failed to realize that 83rd was one way, so we had him drop us off at the corner and decided to hoof it the half block to Nicole’s Upper East Side apartment.

Studs, recently, are as ubiquitous as vampire love stories. I featured studded pumps a few weeks back and fall fashion remains stud-centric. Now it’s black leather gold studded bags. When I saw Saint Laurent’s new Betty style handbag, I fell for the interesting turned-up corner flaps and the unique shape of the studs.

I’ve been leery of wearing shorts since I was in high school and I became self-conscious about my thighs. Like most girls, I have my areas that I prefer to keep covered. But in recent years, I’ve realized that my insecurities about my thighs were unjustified. No, I shouldn’t be rocking the 2013 version of the 90s daisy dukes I avoided back then, but my legs are plenty worthy of a walking short or a mid-thigh length.