wish wednesday [forty-one]

yesterday was so so so very long that i am really excited today is wednesday and that means the week is half-way through! even though yesterday was long, at least this week life feels like it is back on track. since school started last week it was a new schedule i had to get used to and i was feeling sick too which is not a good combination. isn't it just the worse when you are having a rough week and start to feel sick too? but luckily i am back to normal and that means lusting over items i wish i could have today...

this wish wednesday is a combination of colors and fun pieces that i would definitely like to add to my closet.

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i am loving pleats lately and this flowing, white dress has me wishing it was june again. those two necklaces are both so lovely i couldn't choose between them. one is simple, the other bold. the gorgeous and bright bag is perfect to pair with a nude or white dress, adding a pop of color to any outfit. and no outfit is complete with out some adorable booties, and how cute are these?

anything you are wishing for this wednesday?

turnpike photo-shoot

last monday i had a work conference up in ucf which is very close to disney, and if you don't know this by now i am a bit obsessed with disney. two co-workers decided to drive up early on sunday morning with me to have some fun in disney before working all day monday and then heading home. on our way up we decided to make a stop to take some fun photos on the side of the turnpike. as i walked into the 'forest' i almost ran into a spider web that was home to a HUGE spider! as soon as i saw that spider, i saw more everywhere [they really were huge] and freaked out. i ran out very quickly and these photos are surprisingly amazing because i probably spent only two minutes in there before i freaked out.

one of my fabulous co-workers took these and she really is so very talented! her specialty is graphic design so definitely stop by and check out her stuff. i was so happy i ended up packing those rain boots because i've been wanting to take photos in them for quite sometime. 

have you ever had an impromptu photo moment?

sunday truths [twenty-four]

[via]

make sure to check out life spelled jen featured on 'best of the web'

friday fancies [seventeen]

hi everyone. happy friday! i am so happy to share with all of you that life spelled jen has been featured on 'best of the web'...yay i am so very excited and thrilled. this week has been way too long so i am way too excited that today is friday. tonight i will be going to a wine tasting with some friends. we go to a small, local liquor store that has tastings every couple of months and we always have such a great time. i am looking forward to purchasing some new bottles of wine, since i have been cooking more often we've also been drinking more too : )

saturday the bf has to work so i am thinking of catching up on my harry potter reading. i am half-way through the last one [harry potter and the deathly hollows] which makes me happy and sad at the same time. i'm hoping maybe i can even finish it depending on how long he stays at work. then i am planning a little romantic evening for the two of us. if money was no option i would be wearing the beautiful outfit below.

maria grachvogel - legba top [$450] - i'm a sucker for a beautiful loose top and this one has won me over. i love the sleeves and how about that front peep slit? so elegant and chic.

maria grachvogel - aesop skirt [$2,535] - this skirt makes this outfit. the lace detail and trendy cut shows off your legs making this a sexy addition to any outfit.

diane von furstenberg tonda bag [$465] - i've chosen this style of clutch before and i'm sure its simplicity has won you over too. the gold trim adds the needed pop to this outfit.

giuseppe zanotti - suede platform pumps [$650] - i love a pump with a nice platform and the ankle strap is so very elegant.

alexis bittar - gold textured hoop earrings [$128] - these textured hoops tie in nicely with the gold of the clutch.

what plans do you have for the weekend?

blog birthday

i cannot believe i almost forgot it was my blog's very first birthday TODAY! there are no words to describe how much i love this blog and each and every one of YOU!

i started this blog because i was embarking on a new journey in my life. i had just moved out on my own for the first time ever and started a brand new job and industry. i was very frightened and nervous and at times was unsure whether i had made the right decision. this blog gave me an outlet to be myself. i was able to share my thoughts and inspirations, things i loved and wanted and everything in between.

i have met so many wonderful people out here in blogland and am so very thankful for every exchange i have had with all of you. i still smile every time i receive a comment and can't wait for all the new lovely people i will meet in the future.

THANK YOU for following along on the first year 

and stay tuned : )

parmesan steak fries

i love french fries...i mean who doesn't?! but my hips, well they don't love them so much. thankfully i stumbled across this recipe and am in love. i highly suggest trying this simple and delicious recipe soon. you can pair these steak fries with pretty much anything! if you do try them, make sure to stop by and tell me how it went : )

parmesan steak fries

ingredients:

• Cooking spray
• 2 large russet potatoes (about 1 1/2 pounds total)
• 1 tablespoon canola oil
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan (3/4-ounce)
• Salt

directions:

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Spray a baking sheet withcooking spray.

Cut each of the potatoes in half lengthwise. Rest each half on its flat side and cut each half lengthwise, straight down into 4 even slices. You will have 16 slices altogether. Cut the rounded edge off of the outermost slices so each slice can lay completely flat on either side. Put the potatoes into a medium bowl and toss with the oil.

Place the potatoes on a baking tray and bake for 20 minutes. Sprinkle the potatoes with cheese on their up-facing side and continue to bake for another 15 to 20 minutes, until they are crisp and golden brown. There is no need to turn them. Season with salt and serve immediately.

serving info:

Calories 200; Total Fat 6g; (Sat Fat 1.5 g, Mono Fat 2 g, Poly Fat 1 g) ; Protein 7 g; Carb 31 g; Fiber 2 g; Cholesterol 5 mg; Sodium 135 mg

Excellent source of: Vitamin B6, Potassium

Good source of: Protein, Vitamin C, Calcium, Manganese

m is for michael

i love gold. i wear it on a daily basis. what i don't seem to wear very often are bracelets, bangles or cuffs. i have small wrists and don't like the feeling of having something loose on my arm. that being said when i saw the amazing arm candy michale kors just realized i may have to change my ways.

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aren't these some of the most beautiful pieces you've seen yet? looking at these make me so excited for fall. i just love how well the gold looks when complimented by the dark brown leather and tortoise shell coloring.

which is your favorite?

quick hello

hi all and happy monday. i am still up in tampa for today at my work conference boot camp thing. it will be over at 5pm and then we will driving back down to miami. i am hoping to get home before midnight, but that all depends on how many stops we make on the way down.

[via]

yesterday we spent the day in disney and we had such a blast. i seriously love this place so much. i can't wait to come back with the bf and our friends for his birthday celebration in october. this place is so magical for me and brings back so many memories, it got me wondering about what places hold a special significance for you?

what is that special place that always makes you smile?

sunday truths [twenty-three]

[via]

don't stop searching for it until you have found it.

friday fancies [sixteen]

happy friday. once again it is friday and the weekend begins. this weekend will be a little shorter for me, i have a work conference taking place monday at ucf [in tampa]. seeing as i will be so very close to orlando [read: disney] two of my co-workers have decided to leave a little earlier sunday morning and spend the day before our conference enjoying disney world. i tried to convince the bf to go, but he doesn't want to skip out on work on monday. i am pretty excited to be going up to disney, i haven't been since early july and i seriously long for it so much.

this upcoming week will also be my first week of school. i drive down from tampa monday evening, so i'm sure tuesday i will be a walking zombie. come wednesday classes start up again and then i am on school mode until december [when i graduate]. this week {av} challenged us to come up with a 'back to school' look. since i haven't left school, i didn't really have to try so hard.

tibi - cap sleeve dress [$629] - when i saw this dress it was love at first sight. i would spend my entire life in dresses if i could. the cap sleeves and off centered pleat really melts my heart. and i am a total sucker for anything with a zippered back. to me it is the perfect school girl dress.

elizabeth and james - christie glasses [$215] - a little known fact about me, i wear glasses because i can't see from far which means in class i always have on my adorable black raybans. but i definitely would not mind trading them in for these adorable tortoise shell and gold beauties. 

michael kors - quinn top handle satchel [$1,095] - michael is a genius and as no look can be complete without a purse and a school girl needs a place to put her notebook and a pen, this is the bag i would choose if money were no object.

jules smith - perfect 10 ring set [$85] - these rings are something i would actually consider buying. i have been wanting stackable gold rings for what seems like forever now. and at $85 i think i could actually justify the purchase. maybe this will be a friday fancies dream come true?

jil sander - lace up wedges booties [$695] - throw those penny loafers away and hello gorgeous! these are seriously the perfect shoe for me. stylish enough to wear out and about, while being conservative enough for work. not to mention since they are wedges they will me much more comfortable to transition from work to night school. and i just love a heel i have to lace up.

what is one item that you would just need to 

have with you at school?

[ps: remember to 'like' my outfit]

red + green

as my last [and only second] week of summer is quickly coming to an end tomorrow it means that my very last semester of classes will begin on wednesday. to celebrate i cooked something with bright reds and greens [christmas colors as i will graduate in december] to cheer me up before school holds me hostage two nights a week again.

the bf absolutely loves shrimp so he was so happy when he saw what i had purchased [which made me even more excited to cook this and a bit nervous] but in reality i was really looking forward to cooking with basil for the first time. this recipe was really easy and again very quick. what took the longest to cook was the orzo, the shrimp was done within just a few minutes. 

introducing: garlic-basil shrimp

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 1/4 pounds large shrimp (20 to 25 per pound), peeled and deveined
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/8 teaspoon dried hot red-pepper flakes, or more to taste
• 3/4 cup dry white wine
• 1/4 cup finely chopped fresh basil leaves
• 1 1/2 cups grape tomatoes, halved
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Directions

Heat the oil in a large heavy skillet over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking, then saute shrimp, turning over once, until just cooked through, about 2 minutes. Transfer with a slotted spoon to a large bowl.

Add garlic and red pepper flakes to the oil remaining in skillet and cook until fragrant, 30 seconds. Add wine and cook over high heat, stirring occasionally, for 3 minutes. Stir in basil and tomatoes and season the sauce with salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste. Return the shrimp to pan and cook just until heated through.

[recipe here]

do you have an herb garden at home?

[i am thinking of starting one and would love some tips!]

wish wednesday [forty]

hello all. so sorry this is getting up so late in the day, but hey it's almost lunchtime!! with no internet at home and a heavy workload this week, wish wednesday is getting a late start this week. i never realized how much i depend on internet at home until now when i don't have any. do any of you have similar issues? do you camp out at starbucks or something? i would love any pointers on how to survive. 

well last friday i debuted an adorable white tee shirt pick for my friday fancies outfit and it got me thinking how much i really do love tee shirts. i thought it would be fun to pick a few wild renditions of the basic tee for this week's wish wednesday.

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as far as tee shirts go, i think these are so fun and fresh.

what is your favorite rendition of a basic tee?

stripes on the wall

lately i have been loving stripes. i have always worn stripes, but how lovely would it be to have them painted on your walls at home? yes, please! i can't really decide whether i prefer horizontal or vertical stripes, even though i think subconsciously i keep leaning towards horizontal stripes as you can see from the pictures below.

background one two three four

i would love some neutral stripes, maybe a tan and cream combination or grey and white even. but how fun would some loud, vibrant stripes be in a kitchen, entrance hall or kids room? i would probably place stripes in a dressing room or living room so that they could be on display, instead of my bedroom or bathroom.

do you love stripes? 

where would you place your striped walls?

weekend recap

this weekend was such a whirlwind. with my mom's birthday on friday it has felt like a non-stop, family filled weekend. to celebrate her birthday i invited her, my stepdad and grandmother over to our place for dinner. i cooked some garlic-basil shrimp on friday and we played some games ending the night on a fun note. saturday the bf and i had some down time to just relax and we got to see the help [which was excellent] before the festivities began again. the family came over for dinner again on saturday [my mom requested two home cooked meals as her bday 'gift'] and i cooked my favorite, pork piccata. on sunday we did some chores to get ready for the upcoming week and then celebrated another birthday later that evening.

it was a great weekend but we were thoroughly exhausted and feel like we need another two days of rest after three very festive nights. which, for me, is exactly what this week will be...a break. i have no school this week and am so excited for my last, and only second, week of summer. classes start next monday [i only have class wednesday and thursdays] and then graduation in december will hopefully be here very soon.

how was your weekend lovelies?

ps: thank you for all of the very nice compliments about my mom on her birthday : )

sunday truths [twenty-two]

[via]

don't hold yourself back for too long.

friday fancies [fifteen]

hello all and happy friday. i am so very happy to announce that my friday fancies outfit last week is {av}'s 'likes champ'...yay!!! this week i am seeing red which is pretty coincidental as it is my mom's birthday today and that is her favorite color. i will be spending most of the afternoon with her and then the later her, my stepdad and grandma will be coming over for a home cooked meal.

since i will be cooking my little heart out tonight, my friday fancies outfit is a casual mix of fun and comfortable selections...and of course a white t-shirt [i would wear some rendition of a white t-shirt every day if i could].

daftbird oversized v neck tee  [$84] - white t-shirts are a staple in my closet. you can never have too many of these in a variety of fits and styles.

current/elliott the roller jean [$187] - i love the fit of these jeans. they are skinny without being skin tight and you have the option to roll them up or leave them loose on your ankles. what more could you ask for? a fun color like this ladybug color above!

alexis bittar liquid twined necklace [$172] - this necklace the statement piece which makes the outfit really pop and come together. it adds some fun with its twined loop and its simplicity doesn't attract away from the fun color of the jeans.

lauren merkin riley ostrich embossed clutch  [$225] - i love this clutch. the color, the style and look of it. i love it all.

joie higher and higher wedge sandals [$178.50] - these wedges are adorable. i own a pair very similar and i wear them constantly. i wouldn't mind upgrading them to these joie's.

happy birthday mom!

so lovelies, are you doing anything fun this weekend?

noodle love

hello all and happy thursday. this week has just flown by and i am so excited to tell you all about what i have cooked this week. i was so excited to shop for the wonderful ingredients for this meal, which included things like baby corn, sesame oil, soy sauce, mushrooms, broccoli and a red pepper. i am a little shy to admit this is the first red pepper i have ever purchased, sliced and cooked. i was really so proud of myself for having come this far [i am a huge chicken when it comes to spicy food] and not only buying and cooking the pepper but eating a small amount of it too.

introducing: asian noodle bowl

the wonderful ingredients

my first red pepper [yay]

adding all the veggies [yum]

the finished product

this recipe was the best smelling thing i have cooked yet! the soy sauce and ginger made the kitchen smell so amazing. i called the bf over [i normally make him stay out of the kitchen until i am finished] and he didn't think it smelled good at all...so silly he is i tell you. but i absolutely loved the smell and have had my heart set on cooking with ginger again very soon. 

do you eat veggies often? 

how do you incorporate them?

wish wednesday [thirty-nine]

today will be a very long day and i am totally dreading it. i have lunch with two co-workers, which will actually be very nice, but then i have back to back meetings until about 4pm when i am meeting with some friends to prep for our final. later i have an extra long class [past 10:30pm] in which we will be listening to 20 minute presentations from about 7 different groups, one of which is mine. meaning not only will i be bored out of my mind, but i will have to present and bore others to death as well.

luckily this is my last class until the 24th so yay for that. as it has been raining practically everyday for hours at a time since last week when, the then hurricane, emily was supposed to hit i have been dreaming of keeping dry. and what better way to do that then with some fabulous pants.

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are you a fan of the skinny or more of a wide-leg kind or girl?

and to celebrate my little blog's year anniversay i am going to be doing some giveaways coming up, if you are interested in being featured send me an email [lifespelledjen@gmail.com]

blazer love

if you know me, then you also know that if it was up to me i would wear blazers and cardigans every single day. i have more cardigans and blazers than i do shorts, pants or dresses. every time i go shopping i fall in love with a cardi or blazer that, to me, is completely different than the easily twenty plus i already own. i'm not sure what it is but i just love them!

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these five are currently pulling on my heart strings. i mean how cute is this peach/pink blazer?! especially for the summer [which will not be over in miami till about october]. and as a preppy polo girl at heart number one's adorable crest has my name all over it! and don't overlook the chiffon back on number two...how perfect for the crazy heat that miami is currently experiencing.

do you prefer cardigans or blazer?

short

happy monday and i am going to probably say this every single day but i'm finally on summer break! if you remember i had a week off earlier this summer in may and went to sanibel [which was amazing] but this week will be more of a getting home by six every night kinda week. i start school again next week but hey this week i am off!

now maybe it is the hot summer's heat that is seriously starting to get to me but i can't stop thinking of short hair, and i do mean short. i love my hair, i seriously do, and i miss it long so very much but how beautiful do these ladies look?!

what are your thoughts on this short hair kinda look?

sunday truths [twenty-one]

[via]

'the future is up for grabs. 

it belongs to any and all who will take the risk.'

- robert anton wilson

friday fancies [fourteen]

as today is friday i am once again dreaming far beyond my current budget [which is $0]. i have been very proud of myself as i have not spent any money on clothes in more than a month and i'm pretty sure that is a record! today i will be meeting up with a dear friend for a much needed lunch date, which i am so excited for. then later the bf and i will be going on a double date to an amazing italian restaurant and then to the movies to finally see crazy, stupid love.

if money were no object i would be wearing this pretty number...

strapless twist maxi dress - mara hoffman [$878] this dress caught my eye right away. it is absolutley stunning with these twits creating very sexy and fun cut outs that are perfect for the last few weeks of summer.

snake on a wire clutch - marc by marc jacobs [$158] the color of this clutch is just the perfect blend to allow for gold and silver pairing and of course its marc jacobs, one of my favorite designers.

irina suede pumps - pour la voctoire [$250] these suede pumps are so perfect, they can easily become a staple in my closet in the upcomming fall.

fused ring - iosselliani [$194] i have been looking for the perfect stackable ring and if money was no object the search would be over with these lovelies.

aztec bangle - house of harlow [$80] and to tie the look together i choose this bangle with an indian feel to it. when i think of why i choose this i am at a loss for words, just look at it...so very pretty!

what are your weekend plans lovelies?

[ps: as always if you liked the outfit why not vote?]

orange and maple, oh my!

if you missed it last week, i bought a cook book. yay for me. i am so very excited to be cooking [and even more excited that i am somewhat good at following instructions] twice a week. i went for a more interesting recipe this week [it even included chipotle peppers] and i was so glad i did because it was phenomenal. so very different, with a bold taste and a variety of colors.

introducing: chipotle orange glazed pork chops 

with maple squash puree

have you ever used oj or maple syrup to cook?

[i loved it, if you have please share your recipes so i can try them]

wish wednesday [thirty-eight]

happy wednesday everyone! so excited that it is the middle of the week, which means we are almost there friday. is it only me or is it insane that we are in august already...where has the summer gone?!

this week has had its ups and downs but i am looking forward to a couple of things:

friend lunch dates

mom's birthday next friday and

 the last week of double night classes [until the 2nd when school starts]

well with summer quickly slipping through our fingers i am in the mood for a very bright wish wednesday!

pink yellow violet orange

what are you wishing you could have today?

spin cycle

via

it's going to be one of those days...

movie monday

fact: i have a small obsession with vampires
fact: not a huge fan of kristen stewart
fact: biggest disney fan EVER


those facts aside, i recently heard that not only one, but two separate remakes of snow white are coming out next year. i have been doing some research on both of them but so far the snow white and the huntsman has caught my eye. but i'm still wondering if these adult-audience remakes will actually be any good.

the evil queen

the huntsman

 the prince

and snow white

any thoughts on the upcoming remakes?


ps: won't you help my friday fancies outfit be the next 'like' champ over on {av}'s blog?
[just 'like' number four]