Current #Obsessions: 7.10.13

Okay, NO to ANY more RAIN or EXTREME HUMIDITY.

Super annoying. And rude!

(on Mother Nature's part.)

Trying to enjoy a nice summer here.

Anyways -
in no particular order,
here are some of my latest infatuations & fixations.

1. I've been raving like a lunatic about coconut water since, like, it was invented. Everyone knows my obsession with Coco Cafe, which combines my passion for coffee with my love for coconut water in one HUGE furious whirlwind of emotion. So naturally, I want to make love to this recipe. O.M.G.  I found it on Pinterest - and no, I don't just like it because its PINK and in a MASON JAR! Don't try and PIN the PINNER. #Owned.

2. In my next life, I am coming back as Emily Maynard. Helll-lo. The Bachelorette, Season #8?! But if you can't BE Emily Maynard right this second, the next best thing is to dress like her and/or take her style advice, which is why I'm all over her new blog. It's actually under my favorites (right hand column on THIS blog!) Her blog is nothing serious or deep, just lots of girly- girl fun. Why do I like her so much? Well she's sweet, down to earth, and BLONDE for one (gotta support!), she's a Christian, she lives in Charlotte, N.C (current residence of the Yarmosh fam), AND I really admire the fact she is a single mom not settling! Anyways, her new jewelry line from Towne & Reese drops today, July 10th - available both on her blog and on the jewelry site itself. I am definitely buying a few pieces, and on my next trip to Charlotte - Towne & Reese is on the MUST VISIT list! Happy Shopping! :)

3.  I am Flip'pin out over Chobani's new line of yogurt called Flips! They are delicious and come in all sorts of flavors, my favorites being Key Lime Crumble (key lime yogurt with graham pieces and white chocolate chips) and Almond Coco Loco (coconut yogurt with sliced almonds and dark chocolate pieces). I've had them all though, you can't go wrong with ANY of them. Ridiculously good! 

4. So I am juicing AGAIN on July 17th! You can read about my 1st experience with the Cooler Cleanse here. This time I went with BluePrint's line of juices, just to mix it up and try something new. My friend Laura talked me into the Level 2 Cleanse - where I believe 50% of juices are GREEN....brave of us, don't you think? If you 'like' their FB page, RECOVERY20 will get you 20% off an order up until July 12th! Happy Juicing! 

5.  I just made these Blood Orange Bloody Mary's over the 4th of July Weekend and people are still raving about them. Really delicious and easy to make! If you like Bloody Mary's - you must try this new twist on a classic recipe! 

6. So I know I rave about Emily Maynard a lot, but her blog just got some slight tweaks in design that I love and had to point out! How adorable are the cartoon inspired editions? Very cute and girly. Try and contain your excitement. I know, not everyone is as obsessed with blog design as I am: blog dork alert!!! Are you sick of hearing about her blog yet? Ok, GOOD! Me NEITHER! :)

7. Speaking of websites, have you guys checked out my favorite boutique Ooh La La's new website? They recently launched their new website and took on a new model. She looks familiar.... Oh heyyy, it's just me! Stay tuned for some of my favorite looks coming up in * July *

8.  I recently ran the Color Run Brooklyn (7/8/13) , which was ridiculously fun (but HOT!). Check out my Color Run Brooklyn FB album to see all the photos of the fun!

9. Are they serious with this article? 30 Signs You're Almost 30 Ha, ha. I have noooooo idea what they are talkinggggg about. *stamps feet* *slams door* August 31 [1983] - just more than a month away... but hey, who's counting?!

10. Lucky Charms are my weakness. I specifically don't buy them because I just pick out the marshmallows like a 5 year old with no self control. But umm, I might have to make an exception for these Lucky Charms Rice Krispy Treats. Are you _ _ _ _ _ _ _ kidding me?!?!?

What are you obsessing over these days?

xo,

Rach

4th of July - Blood Orange Bloody Marys + American Glory

This 4th of July was a relaxing one. 

Every year, I feel like I spend my Independence Day

battling crowds in the Hamptons, or Fire Island or

{insert some other insanely popular Long Island spot here}

and I've come to learn one thing about myself --

I HAVE NO PATIENCE IN GENERAL

let alone for CROWDS.

I don't do well waiting in lines -

at the amusement park, at grocery stores, 

for friends who take longer than me to get ready, etc.

It's something I'm working on.

Throw heat + alcohol + crowds

in the mix and I really REACH MY LIMIT.

Legit, can't deal.

So this year, I decided to switch it up a bit

and stay home, hang with the family, and just relax.

Wise Choice.

And I was happy with it.

I slept in, RARE these days

and had a really lazy morning.

My lazy and your lazy probably vary drastically,

so my lazy was waking up at 9am

not doing my hair or makeup, 

throwing on sunglasses (I highly recommend going incognito)

and shopping.

I was surprised so many places were open,

so I took advantage of just leisurely strolling the aisles.

You know those trips - no grocery list,

just aimlessly wandering the aisles 

looking for nothing in particular...

Fun, but bad for your wallet!

After wandering around Target

(got the new Dream C.D, which is good -

but ummm, I accidentally bought the explicit version

& my ears are bleeding by the end of the C.D)

 playing in HomeGoods for a while looking for 
new bathroom towels

(I know, SUPER lame -

THESE are the stores I CHOOSE to shop?)

I grabbed an iced coffee and set out for my

parents house, where I was to spend the day.

What daughter shows up empty handed to

a 4th of July gathering?

So I decided I was going to whip up a batch

up Bloody Mary's and settled on this recipe.

I'd been meaning to try it for a while...

GREAT SUCCESS!

On loan from: A Beautiful Mess

Blood Orange Bloody Mary Recipe:

What You'll Need:

1. Blood Oranges OR Blood Orange Juice (I took the easy route, hey who wants to do work on the 4th?! NOT ME!)

2. Tomato Juice or V8

3. Hawaiian Sea Salt (or some fun color for the rim)

4. Tabasco 

5. Worcestershire Sauce 

6. Lime

7. Celery

8. Ice (I like my summer cocktails COLD!)

9. Mason Jars/Cute Straws (a MUST for presentation purposes/Instagram Photos!)

10. Vodka

How to Whip it Up:

1. Combine a can of tomato juice or V8 (don't skimp out here, get the good stuff!) with blood orange juice (1 cup), 1 teaspoon of Worcestershire Sauce, 1/2 teaspoon of Tabasco (or to taste, I'm a big baby!).  Stir well and taste (I am a big advocate of tasting the mix and adjusting from there). Add as much or little vodka as you wish - approximately one shot per mason jar (they also taste great virgin!)

2. Use lime juice to rim the mason jars and then add sea salt. Add your liquor to each mason jar, then top with ice (filling ice about half way). 

3. Pour mix over ice, throw in a cute straw, and garnish with a blood orange slice and celery stalk. Adorable and delicious!

They look glorious, right? 

I sipped my Blood Orange Bloody Mary

and read by book in a lawn chair by the water,

a beautiful breeze blowing.

I wanted to work on my tan (or lack thereof)

and opted for a low S.P.F (I think I used either an 8 or a 15)

which was a terrible choice

because given the fact I was in above SAID CHAIR

from 11am to 4pm, I got severely burned.

I guess with the breeze, I didn't feel myself

frying - pretty upset about this.

Haven't gotten this burned in a while.

Blast my Ukrainian fair skin!

OUCH! :(

The day was easy, breezy, and relaxing -
however I did not get to see any fireworks
because I was too burned/uncomfortable to stay out.

The amazing show at the Crescent Country Club
the following night definitely made up for it though! :)

God Bless America!

How was your 4th?
Any good pics or recipes to share?

xo,
Rach