Bargains for a Preppy Princess

Every girl should have the ability to dress like a preppy princess. Weather you are headed to a derby, US Open, Football Tailgate, vacation to the MV/The Hamptons, tea party, or just a backyard BBQ, every girl should have these looks in their closet. Here is how you can do this on a budget!

LILLY PULITZER EMLY CREW DRESS $98

JACK ROGERS BAHAMAS NAVAJO JELLY IN PINK AND WHITE $68

FOREVER 21 CHIC PEARLESCENT STRETCH BRACELET $4.80

FOREVER 21 LAYERED PEARLESCENT NECKLACE $10.80

FOREVER 21 PEARLESCENT STUDS $1.80

How will you be dressing for your next preppy gathering? Will it break the bank?

-Chrissy Yimei Ching

Beat the weight with FAST food

As someone who works in retail, fast food is not only my friend, but worse enemy. However, tis relationship with convenient food for those on the go can easily become more of a friend than a foe. Here are my fast food tips for the dieter

1.) COUNT CALORIES. Panera Bread is the best place for this because they have their calories on their menu so you can be cautious about what you are eating. I like to either get a half sandwich and soup there for half sandwich and salad (the sandwich will keep you full for longer) and I usually splurge a little on the sandwich and opt for the lightest soup or salad and manage to keep it around or under 500 calories thanks to the calorie counter! ALSO, make sure the sides you are eating are counted into your calorie count. Panera lets you chose an apple, baguette, or chips.. be smart and chose the apple, I always do :)

2.) OPT FOR WATER. Not only will this be a huge money saver (many places will allow you to get a cup of water for free) but it will save you empty calories. Not to mention, it is scientifically proven that those that drink only water versus other choices *diet soda included* lose the most weight

3.) AVOID PLACES YOU CRAVE. I absolutely love Chipotle and conveniently enough, my place of employment is right around the corner from this death on a plate. When I want Chipotle I find it really difficult for myself to deny myself the toppings I know that are going to kill me and convince myself it is okay to get "light cheese, light sour cream" and that somehow makes up for the fact that I'm eating a ton of rice and Barbacoa. WRONG. That death in a bowl is NOT ok and I know myself well enough to know that once I'm in the building I'll convince myself that everything I want is going to be somehow "ok" for my waistline.

4.) WATCH OUT FOR FATTENING SALADS: A pile of lettuce does not denote low fat.. under any circumstances. Creamy dressing, bacon bits, fried protein, and cheese can make a salad absolutely horrible for you. Sometimes it may even be better to opt for something else that has a more pleasant sounding calorie count. However, if you want a sald, make sure your protein is baked and not over seasoned and ask for oil and vinegar instead of ranch. ALSO, having a few of the "bad" toppings is not always bad. Instead of getting the bacon AND cheese, chose one or the other.

5.) EAT LIKE A VEGETARIAN. Whenever I go to subway I get the Veggie Delight (do not get the veggie pattie because it is full of fat) and I get the Italian bread, lettuce, tomato, spinach, provelone (It adds flavor even though it would be better without), olives, green peppers, red onion, lots of bananna peppers, salt, pepper, oregano, yellow mustard (0 calories!), vinegar, and a little bit of mayo. The sandwich is full of flavor but under 400 calories even with the mayo and cheese!

What are your fast food rules?

-Chrissy Yimei Ching

NAKED is IN!

Hey all,

I'm naked. Not really naked but my nails are! Nude/Neutrals are in this season and I could not be happier! Not only are they great and versatile to match, but they prompt some timeless pieces that can be kept long after just "any other trend" Here are my top 5 "naked" items!

PROVOCATIVELY NAKED NAIL POLISH

Like I said, my nails are quite, naked. Thanks to OPI your nails can be naked too! Femme de Cirque is their new line of soft shades! Not only do they have fun names, but they leave your nails feeling so close to naked its amazing! My favorite is a very pale pink called "So Many Clowns.. So little time." Which out of the 4 is your fave?

SEXY NAKED SHOES

A girl can never have too many shoes.... ever. With that being said, ever girl needs a pair of new pumps! These pumps, DV by Dolce Vita "Briar" from the BP section of Nordstrom are AWESOME. The chic bow adds a sense of elegance and at the price of $90 for a TIMELESS classic who can resist??

I'M NAKED.... IN A DRESS

This dress, "Italian Linen Shirt Dress" by JCrew is classy, chic, and everything in between. As a retail sales associate at a top department store, I could tell you a million ways to style it. But the dress is so chic it barely needs any styling at all. Color blocking jewelry would be lovely, but is not necessary and mixing up shoes between wedges, gladiators, and stilettos and belting it vs. leaving it as is can change the wearability of this dress to different events.

NAKEDLY IN LOVE WITH THIS HANDBAG

When this bag an I first met, it was love at first sight. I have always LOVED Kate Spade but this bag made me fall in love with the brand all over again. It's classic quilted look, developed originally by Chanel, creates a timeless look that is the epitome of timeless. Every girl, young, old, and in between needs this Gold Coast Shimmer MaryAnne bag!

A VERY NAKED WATCH FOR A VERY NAKED SUMMER

Michael Kors has some of the greatest watches.. EVER. The Resin Chronograph Watch is no exception! They are not over priced, yet they hit every aspect of fashion and versatility.. and if you are like me at all you like them because the price of these treasures are not so high that you'll be afraid to wear it (I break and lose everything) Trust me when I say this naked watch is all you'll ever need ;)

WHAT WILL YOU BE WEARING FOR YOUR NAKED SUMMER?

My Favorite Summer "Indulgence"

My Favorite Summer "Indulgence" by Barefoot Contessa

Barefoot Contessa's Shrimp ad Orzo Recipe

Ingredients

• Kosher salt
• Good olive oil
• 3/4 pound orzo pasta (rice-shaped pasta)
• 1/2 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (3 lemons)
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 2 pounds (16 to 18 count) shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 1 cup minced scallions, white and green parts
• 1 cup chopped fresh dill
• 1 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
• 1 hothouse cucumber, unpeeled, seeded, and medium-diced
• 1/2 cup small-diced red onion
• 3/4 pound good feta cheese, large diced

Directions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

Fill a large pot with water, add 1 tablespoon of salt and a splash of oil, and bring the water to a boil. Add the orzo and simmer for 9 to 11 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it's cooked al dente. Drainand pour into a large bowl. Whisk together the lemon juice, 1/2 cup olive oil, 2 teaspoons salt and 1 teaspoon of pepper. Pour over the hot pasta and stir well.

Meanwhile, place the shrimp on a sheet pan, drizzle with olive oil, and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Toss to combine and spread out in a single layer. Roast for 5 to 6 minutes, until the shrimp are cooked through. Don't overcook!

Add the shrimp to the orzo and then add the scallions, dill, parsley, cucumber, onion, 2 teaspoons salt, and 1 teaspoon pepper. Toss well. Add the feta and stir carefully. Set aside at room temperature for 1 hour to allow the flavors to blend, or refrigerate overnight. If refrigerated, taste again for seasonings and bring back to room temperature before serving.

This is not only GOOD it is not too bad for you! Sorry I've lacked blog posts recently, my job has taken over my life. Enjoy and happy summer :)