Graduation Cap Candies

How adorable are these little things? If you saw yesterday's post, you know my little sister graduated from high school last weekend. I made these special treats for the celebration the next day. Boy, were they a big hit! Both the kids and the adults loved them. And here's a big shocker, I found the recipe on Pinterest! (Honestly, where else?)

What You'll Need:
50 miniature Reese's peanut butter cups
50 square chocolates (Godiva squares work well but CVS has a more wallet-friendly version made specifically for s'mores)
1 package Airhead Extremes, cut into small strips
1 tube ready-to-use icing (use whatever color matches your "tassels")
3 tablespoons chocolate chips, melted

Directions:
Unwrap individual peanut butter cups and set upside down on parchment-lined baking sheet. Melt chocolate chips in the microwave in 30-second intervals until completely melted. Place dollop of melted chocolate on the now top (technically the bottom) of the peanut butter cup. Press chocolate square on top. Repeat until all caps are assembled. Let candies set in a cool place. 

Once caps are completely set, add a dot of icing in the middle of the cap, lay tassel and then cover with an additional dot of icing. Continue doing this until all tassels are attached to caps. Store in the fridge until ready to serve. 

You can also attach lollipop sticks by dipping the top of each stick into melted chocolate and inserting into the bottom of each peanut butter cup. Truth be told I got lazy and dubbed them candies instead of lollipops. Still cute though, right?

Happy Friday loves!
xoxo,
L

Little Sisters

Little sisters. Sure, they steal your clothes and refuse to listen to your advice. But they're also pretty damn awesome to have around. My little sister and I are just about 10 years apart. I changed her diapers, babysat her and her friends when I could have been out whooping it up with the rest of my high school buddies, and then fought with her once she hit her teens. Now she's a young adult, fresh out of high school, and entering the most exciting part of her life. In a few short months she'll be joining me in Boston. I cannot wait to have my baby sister and best friend only a couple miles away. 

Being that I am so proud of her, I wanted to share some shots of her graduation weekend. 

She did it!

Throwing of the caps

Me, Taylor & Mom

Siblings...shortest to tallest :(

The second star of the show -- CANNOLI CAKE

Some of Dad's side of the family

The weekend at home was a fun and busy one. We had family in from all over the US and it was so great to see everyone. The weather held out for the main events, including a huge beach volleyball game (we're a competitive bunch!) AND I got my chicken riggie fix. If you don't know what riggies are, you can check the recipe out HERE.

Until tomorrow!
xoxo,
L

Stars and Stripes Forever

With the 4th of July just a few days away, I thought it was only fitting to showcase some of my favorite pieces for this festive holiday. Sure, any old red, white & blue outfit will do. But why not have a little fun and express your patriotism with some stars and stripes?

Clockwise from top left:

Equipment Star Blouse, $248 

J.Crew Silk Bow Cami in Stripe, $78 

Zimmerman Dreamer Zebra Bikini, $166 

Topshop Stripe Belted Dress, $45 

Current/Elliott White Star Boyfriend Jean, $216 

J.Crew Nautical Stripe Short, $65 

Tory Burch Adonis Stripe Espadrille, $137 
J.Crew Maritime Anchor Dress, $40

What will you be wearing for the 4th? Would you wear any of these pieces?

xoxo,

L

We Have a Winner!

CONGRATS to Giovanna from Olive and An Arrow! You've won my Lux Bond & Green giveaway! 

I hope you end up finding something gorgeous! (My advice is to wait until September when this beautiful collection launches)


Happy Friday everyone!
xoxo,
L

Colorburst

It's the little details in an outfit that make it truly fun to wear. This ensemble is a mish mash of textures and colors that I threw together for a trip to my favorite BBQ joint. And somehow, it works. Handkerchief hem? Check. Girly eyelet shorts? Check. Color burst raffia clutch? Check. And then to top it all off, I added some snakeskin with my sandals. 

 Tank: Piperlime (last seen HERE); Shorts: Boutique in Salem, MA (similar HERE); Clutch: Mar y Sol (HERE); Sandals: Sam Edelman; Bangles: Pop up shop in Boston; Sunnies: Chloe

Today is your last day to enter my giveaway!

Win $75 worth of jewelry from Lux Bond & Green HERE

xoxo,
L

Blueberry Tart

Summer is in full swing here in New England, and days spent with family by the pool are at the very top of my list of favorite things to do. I made this simple blueberry tart for the party and it pleased everyone, from age two to 62.

Photograph by me, recipe adapted from Real Simple

What You'll Need:
1 8-ounce frozen puff pastry, thawed
1 egg, beaten
1 tablespoon granulated sugar 
4 ounces cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup heavy cream
1/2 teaspoon grated lemon zest
1/2 lemon, juiced
3 tablespoons powdered sugar
2 cups ripe blueberries

Directions:
Heat oven to 375. unfold puff pastry on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Roll pastry into a 10-by-12-inch rectangle. Using the tip of a knife, score a 1-inch border around the pastry, without cutting all the way through. Brush the border with the beaten egg and sprinkle with granulated sugar. Bake 18-22 minutes or until golden brown and puffed.

When pasty is done baking, rescore the border and push down the middle so it is flat. In a medium bowl, beat cream cheese until smooth. Add the heavy cream, lemon zest, lemon juice and 2 tablespoons of the powdered sugar. Spread mixture evenly within the borders of the pastry. 

Arrange blueberries on top and sprinkle with remaining powdered sugar.

*This was my first time working with puff pastry and while I found it pretty easy, The end result was not as neat as I would have liked. Better luck next time!

Have you entered my giveaway yet?

Win $75 to Lux Bond & Green Jewelry Store

xoxo,

L

Gray Day

Since yesterday's post was dedicated to the David Yurman party at Lux Bond & Green, I figured today's post would showcase what I wore to the event. I had originally planned on wearing something completely different, but when my newest purchase was delivered to my office that day, I figured it was fate and went with it. While this outfit was not the most summery option, it matched the somewhat gray weather we were having. (But that didn't stop us from getting some ice cream afterward!)

 Dress: Diane von Furstenberg; Heels: Miu Miu; Bag: c/o Rebecca Minkoff (cute pink version HERE); Watch: Michael Kors; Bangles: Alex & Ani; Nails: Essie Lapis of Luxury

Have you entered for your chance to win $75 worth of jewelry from Lux Bond & Green yet? 

ENTER THE GIVEAWAY HERE!

xoxo,

L

Lux Bond & Green Giveaway!

Last Thursday I was lucky enough to attend a fabulous preview party for the David Yurman Fall 2012 collection at Lux Bond & Green in Wellesley, MA. There were plenty of yummy pickies as well as champagne and wine for all. I got to meet the wonderful Lux Bond & Green team as well as other awesome Boston bloggers.

If you follow me on Twitter and Instagram, you may have seen my live tweets from the event (you could win David Yurman bracelets for tweeting, hence why my face is buried in my phone in the picture below!)  

While the collection isn't available for purchase until September, I did add these pieces to my wish list... And you better believe I will be first in line to snatch them up.

Now here's the best part: I was graciously given a $75 gift card to give away to one of my amazing readers! So you can own your very own piece of this coveted collection when it debuts. Or anything else from one of their stylish stores.

Entry Rules:

• Follow L's Fashion Dish on Twitter & Bloglovin'
• Follow Lux Bond & Green on Twitter and like them on Facebook
• Leave a comment below with your email address
  

 Additional Entry:

• Tweet or Blog about this giveaway and tag @LsFashionDish and @LuxBondGreen

*Contest ends Thursday, June 21 at 11:59pm EST and will be announced Friday, June 22.

Good luck!
xoxo,
L

Father's Day Gift Ideas

Fathers... the most simple souls, yet the hardest to shop for. Or at least that statement pertains to my father. Yes, he'd be perfectly happy with a card and an "I love you", (or a zero balance on my credit card... he's in banking). But now that I'm an adult I like to give him gifts I know he wouldn't buy himself. 

So here's my list of father's day gifts perfect for the Dad who has everything he needs in life... but deserves a little more.

Clockwise from top left:

Leather iPad cover -- $149 

Theory Golf Polo -- $95 

Jeremy Scott for Adidas Loafers -- $160 

 Man Candle -- $28

Marc by Marc Jacobs Watch -- $225

Love you Daddy-O! Happy Father's Day! 

Win a J.Crew Bag!

Want a chance to win this GORGEOUS kelly green J.Crew bag? Join me in the giveaway by clicking HERE. Thank you Pink Peonies & Joyfully Gray for the chance to win!

Have a great weekend!
xoxo,
L

One Piece, Three Ways: The Floral Blazer Part 3

Even though I wish office dressing wasn't something I had to worry about on an almost-daily basis, it is. And considering my current job pays my bills, I'm more than happy to dress the part. But that doesn't mean I don't like to have a little fun with it! So for today's final installment of "How to Wear a Floral Blazer Three Ways", I opted for a job-friendly skirt and some neutral flats. 

 Blazer: Zara (HERE); Skirt: Anthropologie; Tank: AE; Necklace: Old (fun version HERE); Flats: Steve Madden

I also styled this adorable and versatile floral blazer for a wedding or cocktail party, as well as for a casual day of running errands.

Which outfit is your favorite? Have I talked you into buying a floral blazer yet?

Happy Thursday!

xoxo,

L

One Piece, Three Ways: The Floral Blazer Part 2

In part two of "How to Wear a Floral Blazer Three Ways," I decided to show you how to dress it down. In part one on Monday, you saw me dress it up with a simple, colorful dress and some heels. Today I decided to do something completely different.

Blazer: Zara (HERE); Striped Tee: H&M, Shorts: A&F (old); Sandals: Zara (HERE); Watch: La Mer; Sunnies: Chloe

I added the striped shirt underneath a) because I love mixing prints and b) because it's a t-shirt and t-shirts are comfy. Add a pop of color in a pair of flat sandals and you're good to go. The end result is casual but polished, exactly the look I was going for!

Would you wear a floral blazer like this?

Check back tomorrow for my final installment of One Piece, Three Ways!

xoxo,

L

Mozzarella-Stuffed Bruschetta Turkey Burgers

Ready for a kickass recipe that's both filling and healthy? Next time you're craving something that tastes indulgent but won't kill your diet, try these bad boys.

What You'll Need:
1 pound lean ground turkey
1/2 tsp dried basil
1/2 tsp dried oregano
1 tbsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp olive oil
1/4 red onion, grated
salt and pepper to taste
2-3 slices fresh mozzarella

For bruschetta topping: 
2 ripe tomatoes, diced
1/4 cup red or white onion, finely chopped
2-3 tbsp freshly chopped basil
salt and pepper to taste
Balsamic glaze for drizzling  

Directions:
Mix ground turkey, dried spices, garlic powder, oil, onion, and salt and pepper in a bowl. Separate mixture into four sections and create fairly thin patties. (I made this recipe to serve two people but if you're less of a fatass than I am, you can make it to serve four people... but I'm telling you, you'll feel like you're eating a turkey slider instead.)


Put 1-1/2 slices of mozzarella on top of one patty, cover with another and seal edges. Place burgers on foil-lined baking sheet. Bake at 400 degrees for about 10 minutes, then broil on each side for an additional 4 minutes. Use a food thermometer to make sure burgers are fully cooked at 165 degrees.


While burgers are broiling, dice tomatoes and onions. Chiffonade basil (tutorial here) and mix all three together in a small bowl. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and add a drizzle of balsamic glaze. Set aside in fridge.


When the burgers are done, top them with bruschetta and an extra drizzle of balsamic glaze. Then die of utter happiness. 

This recipe has about 420 calories per (large) turkey burger. I have a pretty sizable appetite and I was stuffed... pun intended.


Enjoy!
xoxo,
L

One Piece, Three Ways: The Floral Blazer

When shopping for items for your closet, it's important to pick pieces that you will get plenty of use out of. Especially if you're having a hard time justifying spending "x" amount of dollars on something. 

If you're a frequent reader of this blog, you know I've been on the hunt for the perfect floral blazer for months now. I finally located it at Zara. Even though this is a trend that I probably won't be in love with forever, I justified the purchase because I know I will wear it multiple times within the next few weeks and months.

Over the next week, I will show you how I will be wearing my new blazer. The bright colors in this piece match many items I already own, which makes throwing different outfits together a cinch. 

 Blazer: Zara (HERE); Dress: Urban Outfitters (last summer); Heels: Zara (HERE); Watch: Michael Kors

Since wedding season is upon us, and I'm sure many of you have multiple weddings to attend, I figured I'd first showcase the blazer in an outfit for a party setting. This option is perfect for any summer nuptial because you can easily shed the jacket if it gets too hot. (Or if the dancing gets out of hand.) The floral number adds visual interest to an otherwise plain dress.

Check back later this week for more ways to wear this fun piece!

xoxo,
L

Sangria Flora

It's finally Friday. I don't know about you, but I think we've all earned a drink. Actually I'm pretty sure I earned said drink on Monday when I made it to the gym AND through a full work day. But who's keeping tabs.

I certainly don't refrain from cracking open a bottle of my favorite white mid-week, but my favorite thing about Fridays is that one can imbibe without waking to a screaming alarm early the next day. So tonight, I plan to consume plenty of my favorite summer cocktail: sangria flora. (I swear I'm not a lush.)

What You'll Need:
1 bottle Sauvignon Blanc
1 1/2 cup St. Germain elderflower liqueur 
6 fresh strawberries
2 small peaches, sliced
handful of fresh raspberries
handful of fresh grapes

Directions:
Mix wine and liqueur in a carafe, stir in fresh fruit. Let sit in fridge for an hour before serving. Pour over ice and enjoy!

Have a wonderful weekend!
xoxo,
L

Lazy Girl's Nail Art

Just a few months ago I started spicing up my normally monotonous manicures. I began by adding a little glitter to my ring fingers. Then I started experimenting with the ombre trend. I've never gotten too adventurous though because when it came to cute stripes and zig zags, I just didn't have the patience or the steady hand. Luckily I decided to give Sally Hansen Salon Effects a try. While most of the prints are a bit too outrageous for me, these sweet polka dots caught my eye the other day in Target. 

Sally Hansen Polka Dots & OPI Strawberry Margarita

They were actually really easy to apply and after 2 days, they're still holding strong. The box claims they will last up to 10 days but I have a feeling that's a stretch. I'll probably be sick of them by then anyways. Just bein' honest!

Now if only Sally would make a chevron version. I will have officially died and gone to heaven.

See you tomorrow!
xoxo,
L

The Zara Floral Blazer

I may or may not have fallen prey the allure of this insanely cute floral blazer. I swear I tried to refrain from clicking "purchase"... but when my idle hands want to get themselves on something, there's just no stopping them. #oops.

Currently...

I saw this post over on Styl'n the other day and loved it so much, I had to give it a try...

currently

eating... Multi grain cheerios and strawberries. It's disturbing how many of those little red gems I eat every week. We're talking pounds (don't judge.)

reading... Just finished reading Apron Anxiety the other day. Now I'm onto 50 Shades of Gray. I need to see what all this hype is about!

watching... The morning news. It's so depressing, kind of like Boston's forecast for the next few days.

listening to... The news. And my cat slam the cupboard door open and shut. Because that's what he does now when he's hungry. 

dreaming of... A life in which I could eat whatever I wanted and not gain a pound.

anticipating... The return of the sun. A day of bike riding this weekend and hopefully the beach. A reunion with my best friends in July.

loving... 1960s everything -- shift dresses, mod makeup, cat eye sunglasses.

creating... This post? And maybe a delicious and indulgent nacho recipe this weekend. Will be sure to post it next week.

appreciating... Life. And that fact that a little hard work and perseverance goes a long way.

learning... To slow down. It's so easy to zip through the days and not take a moment to reflect on how lucky each of us really are. Sappy, but true.

celebrating... My baby sister growing into a beautiful woman. I can't wait to see her graduate in a few short weeks (OMG where does the time go!) and then having her join me out here in Boston for college. I'm so excited to see what the future holds for her!


What are you currently loving, etc? I'd love to see your answers!


xoxo,
L

Old Stomping Grounds

Dress: VS (on sale HERE); Faux Leather Jacket: LIT Boutique; Sandals: Dolce Vita; Bag: Gucci; Necklace: Boutique; Bangles: H&M

When I moved to Boston about five and a half years ago, I lived in the charming little neighborhood of Beacon Hill. I met a girlfriend there for brunch on Sunday and even though the weather was far from nice, it didn't stop me from wandering the streets of my old stomping grounds. It's a bit overwhelming to think of all the fun I've had since I first moved here and all the great people I've met. And how many more I've yet to meet. 

Thank you Lex Marciano for the great pictures! J might have some competition from now on :)

xoxo,
L

French Connection Summer 2012 & Apron Anxiety Recap

Last week I was lucky enough to be invited to the launch party for Alyssa Shelasky's memoir "Apron Anxiety" at the Newbury Street French Connection location. In addition to meeting the author and fellow blogger, I got to check out French Connection's amazing new spring/summer 2012 line.

I fell in love with several dresses from the line including this perfectly summery lemon stripe dress... which I can totally see myself wearing to an upcoming wedding. And possibly stealing the show. Innocently, of course.

And this fun lilac snake print party dress (which is SO flattering on!)

For any girl looking for a great beach read, I highly suggest grabbing "Apron Anxiety" from your local book store (or buy it here). Alyssa's story is charming and totally relatable. Without giving too much away, I'll quote part of Entertainment Weekly's review of the book: "a zesty read about dating, family and self-discovery." What 20 or 30-something woman wouldn't love that? 

Alyssa with my friend Mal

Alyssa & me (how amazing are her shoes?) Me -- Top: J.Crew; Skirt: J.Crew Factory; Shoes: Zara

xoxo,
L

Well Dressed at the Gym

If you're fashion obsessed like me, even getting dressed for the gym can be a bit of a challenge. It's sometimes difficult to find workout clothes that are comfortable yet different from what every other woman is wearing. I was already in the process of scoping out some new gear when GigaSavvy contacted me to review activewear for women from Macy's. What great timing!

I was immediately drawn to THIS top by Ideology. I'm a sucker for fun, sexy backs on tank tops.

The top was comfortable and stayed put during my entire workout. The built-in shelf bra offered a decent amount of support without making me feel like I couldn't breathe. I wouldn't necessarily recommend this top for large-chested women, but for me it was perfect.

I paired this top with Ideology's Cropped Active Leggings for a quick yoga session this morning. Nothing like getting the day started on the right (and fashionable!) foot!

xoxo,
L 


Disclosure: I was not compensated for this post. GigaSavvy provided me with the clothing for review.