How to: bake kale chips!

If you know me, which I'm sure the majority of you do, you know that I don't know how to cook. However, one of my friends moms used to make us kale chips all the time, and I finally started making them for myself.  If I am consistently making them, you have to know that this is super easy.  So.. here's how you do it! Give it a try; it's not only really easy, but two cups of kale is only 40 calories for the nutritionists out there.

STEP ONE:

Ingredients:

Kale--Jewel

pan

olive oil

salt

STEP TWO:

Wash the kale

STEP THREE:

Pour a little olive oil on the pan prior to putting the kale on.  Then, put the washed kale on the pan and pour a little more olive oil over the kale along with a little salt.

STEP FOUR:

Set the oven to 350 degrees.

STEP FIVE:

Put the kale in the oven, and set the time for 20 minutes.  Depending on how big the kale pieces are, you may want to leave it in for longer than 20 minutes to make sure they get crunchy.  Just keep checking; it's really at your own discretion.

STEP SIX:

Eat!

By the way, this is pretty filling, but make more than you think you would want because when the kale bakes it shrinks! Enjoy :)

CosNo

HI! Finals are done, and I have nothing to do for the week, so I've just been laying out and being a bum.  I was at my friend's apartment this afternoon, and she had a bunch of Cosmos laying out... I came across this article where they (whoever wrote it) was describing different styles and showing how to dress in that way. They had "trendy," "boho," "preppy," and other stuff like that. I started looking at the "boho" one because those are the clothes I like the best. This is what Cosmo had for "boho":

The items Cosmo listed in this category are obviously spot on...maxi skirt, maxi dress, fringe bag, wedges, oversized bulky jewelry.... however, I don't know if you can see, but everything is $$$$$$$$$$$$..

That fringe bag is listed for $60; I have pretty much the exact same one, but from Brandy Melville. This is my bag below

THIS IS 20 DOLLARS NOT 60 :)

For the maxi skirts...that yellow one in the magazine is $175.  No joke Target has the best maxi skirts.  I have a couple from them, and you will pay like $20 not $100+++

Here are some that I found online... but seriously, just go..it's worth it

$24.99

$19.99

$19.99

These are just a few.  The maxi dress the girl is wearing in the magazine is cute, but not worth $179.  I was wandering around Michigan Ave this afternoon, and saw some cute dress in the window at Express. My friend and I went in, and they have THE CUTEST summer dresses for about $40.  They are pretty plain, which is cute so you could dress them up with jewelry and bags, or you can wear converse-type shoes with them and a jean vest.  Here they are:

You also do not need to 100+ on jewelry either.  Thinking about it, Francescas has bulky-type jewelry for pretty cheap.  The bulkiness of the jewelry is not really even necessary; it's more so the quantity of jewelry and layering.  Go to little boutiques, wait for the art festivals in the streets, go to Forever 21, just don't spend $100 on a necklace when you don't need to.  It is kind of funny that everything shown in this magazine article is pretty expensive under the "boho" category considering that style is pretty opposite of what I would think "expensive" to be--it's more just laid back and effortless. 

Shoedazzle has awesome shoes. I know you are probably thinking it's a really cheap website, and the shoes will probably hurt and fall apart in a day, but that's really not the case. I got the gym shoe wedges from there, and I love them.  Try purchasing a pair of wedges from there. If you don't like them, you can always return.  You'll pay $30 versus again, $100++.

These are just some examples. Also, remember, Forever 21 is always there too. I have awesome black wedges from there that were $30.  

Bottom line, the point I'm trying to get at with all this rambling is that you don't need to spend a lot of money to express your style.  Whether you dress more "boho," "preppy," "trendy," or whatever, you can look just as great with cheaper items.  Although, if you reaaaaaalllllllllyyy like something, then go for it.

I know you all missed my postings sooo much when I was studying for finals, but this is what fashion looks like in the library ;) ;)

Last thing-- earth and moon has aligned, and Chicago has FINALLY warmed up :)

Get in my closet

Sorry I don't have a lot of time right now to write a blog post for you... but when I get scatterbrained while I'm studying, I start sifting through clothes via pinterest. Here are some things I have found that I categorize in my head under, "GET IN MY CLOSET NOW AND DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO FIND WHERE I CAN BUY THIS."  ;)

all pictures via pinterest.com

I can't tell you right now where you buy all of these items. However, I can give you some new clothing online stores to check out....and I bet you haven't seen these yet!

1. American Threads

2. Ily Couture

3. Fab

4. Mixology

5. Luna Vintage

6. Live Harmlessly

7. Monica's Closet Essentials

8. Publik

9. Hello Parry

Enjoy! 

orange is totally the new pink

Some of my friends and I went to dinner at Sushi Taiyo on Saturday night.  One of my friends was wearing these bright orange shoes...They were the perfect color to make her entire outfit pop, which was sophisticatedly black and white. 

They are Vince Camuto (who we all know makes the BEST and most COMFORTABLE shoes..and if you didn't know that, go to Nordstroms right now and try some on)!

Buy here

:) 

HAPPY STUDYING TO THOSE WITH FINALS 

Guest Blogger #4 Stephanie Halloran "Five Steps to a Summer Ready Body"

Five Steps to a Summer Ready Body

Hi, I’m Lauren’s friend Stephanie, and I am a personal trainer at the Life Time Fitness in Burr Ridge. I’ve been in the industry for over 5 years and the biggest question I always get around this time of year is how to get that bikini ready body. Obviously, it is already May and most of us will be laying poolside in a few short weeks, but these five easy steps will help you get started.

1.Eat more

It sounds contradictory to what you would think, but you want to eat more. When you limit your caloric intake you will see initial weight-loss but very quickly it will level off and you will be left hungry and frustrated. This is because your body kicks into survival mode and thinks you are starving, causing decrease in muscle tone and increase in fat stores. Increase lean meats, veggies, fruits, nuts and seeds and try to limit grains. Consuming too many processed, refined carbohydrates causes an increase in blood sugar and consequently an increase in body fat. Carbohydrates are also quickly metabolized by the body, which makes you hungry more frequently. By increasing your protein you stay fuller longer, which results in more food but less calories.

2.Drink Water

Many people go by the guidelines of drinking a certain amount of 8oz glasses per day. What you should aim for is half of your body weight in ounces (i.e. if you weigh 150lbs you should drink 75 ounces of water). If you are not properly hydrated your metabolism cannot function properly. Not only that, but it also causes you to store what water you do have in-between your muscle and your skin, making you appear bloated and puffy. If you can’t stand regular water try adding frozen fruit, cucumbers or mint to add flavor.

3.Use Cardio to Burn Fat

Most people think exercise should be militaristic if you are going to see any results. Really, it is the exact opposite. Your cardio should be low intensity in order to tap into your body’s fat burning capabilities. In order to use fat for energy, your body needs oxygen. If you are huffing and puffing through your cardio workouts you will see minimal body fat reduction. Take it outside: go for a bike ride with your family, take a brisk walk in the park with a friend or your significant other or read your favorite book on your health club’s stair master. You should enjoy these workouts, not dread them.

4.Strength Training

If you want Michelle Obama’s arms or Gwen Stefani’s abs you have to work for them. Muscle doesn’t just create itself; so don’t be scared to pick up some dumbbells or a Pilates DVD. If you are a member at a gym that has personal trainers, ask for a free demo or complimentary session. If you tend to go towards yoga or Pilates but prefer an in person experience, Groupon always has offers for discounted packages. If you want to be firm and tight in your teeny bikini, strength training is a must.

5.Sleep

The national recommendation is 8 hours a night. For most of the population the necessary amount can range from 6-12hrs depending on the person. Find out what you work best on and try to arrange your sleep schedule as close to 10pm-6am your can get. Sleep is important because it allows your body to recover and restore from the days stresses, which can hinder muscle growth and alter your metabolism. Shut off the TV or computer at least 2 hours before bed and try to sleep in a dark room. Your mind and body will thank you.

Pick one of these things to focus on every week for the next 5 weeks and you will quickly start noticing a difference between how you feel and how you look Happy tanning!

Guest Blogger #3: Mal "Summaaa Time and the Livin's Easy"

I'm Mallori. When I go out and party with my friends, I love to wear little black dresses. It doesn't matter the time of year, a black dress always looks fantastic and hot! This dress I'm wearing is from Forever 21, and it was under $20. Throw on some black (or colored) pumps and you're ready for a fun night out with your friends!

Here is another outfit that I love! It's great for the summer! 

Hot pink top from Aritzia --> similar here

Necklace from Tiffany's --> here

High low skirt from forever 21 --> similar here and here

Belt from forever 21 --> here

Shoes are steve madden --> here

:)

FOR GUYS: Guest Blogger #2 - Amit Harris "The Everyday Hero"

5 Ways for the Everyday Hero to Make a Statement

                  You go hard. You get out of bed well before you deserve to, spend your day doing things others can’t even dream of, and end it the same way you started: strong. You are a hero and you, Mr. Hero, need clothes to look the part. Why? Because when you look good, you feel good too. So why not look your best? Here are some tips to help you get there, all brainstormed, edited, and laid out for you to read. Do yourself a solid take this advice straight to the mall.

1.     Blink on it

a.     Get in touch with your subconscious. If something catches your eye, go for it. If you’re not 100% sure about something, don’t even take it off the rack. This will help you save time by being more decisive.

2.     Decide how much an item is worth before looking at the price tag

a.     Once something catches your eye, challenge yourself to determine how much you are willing to pay without looking at the tag. This will help you quickly decide yes or no on items, keep you within your budget, and help you feel good about finding the best clothes at the right value.

3.     Go buy new clothes with a buddy

a.     Find someone chill who appreciates the value of investing time and money to look good. This guy isn’t going to pick out clothes for you, (though he might make a friendly veto,) your wingman is there for you to see how likeminded individuals make style decisions.

4.     Research online before going to the store

a.     One of the biggest myths of all time is the idea that you absolutely must know what items you are shopping for. While it can be helpful, it’s not always true. A better approach is deciding what stores you’re willing to check out and visit their websites first. This will give you an idea of what they offer and where the deals are. You can spend more time trying things on and less time picking them out.

5.      Stick with what works

a.     When you hit your stride, run with it. If blue is your color, no need to hit up the entire visible light spectrum. If Guess makes your favorite denim, buy another pair from them. If your size is 31, don’t settle on 32- that’s whack. Add one new style at a time to your repertoire until you have a sizeable catalog.

                  Going hard, ballin out, and saving the world takes some time, a little bit of cash, and your own personal style. Luckily we have an answer for all three. Live by these style guidelines for heroes and you will be like a knight in shining armor. Except don’t buy shining armor, you can get the princess without it.