Blog- The New Black

What I Wore: A Country Club Dress Code

Fri, 24 May 2013 09:04:00 -0400

Yesterday I attended a beautiful luncheon at a local country club to hear professional coach and speaker, Connie Dieken give a talk on presenting your true self. I was invited by a lovely friend who always presents her real self, I Heart Cleveland (thank you again Charity!)

So, what do you wear to a country club lunch when you’re a business lady and not exactly a lady who lunches?

A simple white t-shirt and my new J Crew Factory store lilac pencil skirt seemed to fit the bill. I didn’t want to feel too stuffy between the warm weather and the business meetings I was running to and from yesterday.

Of course, no spring look is complete without the perfect pair of heels. Mine are from Nine West, find a similar pair here.

Health and Wellness For The Average Jane

Wed, 22 May 2013 11:14:00 -0400

I keep missing my chance to share that JPC bought me an amazing juicer for my birthday. It was such a generous gift and we use it nearly everyday to make delicious and healthy juices. I’m working up my courage to do my first at-home juice cleanse…and when that moment comes you can bet I’ll be sharing my experiences here.

On twitter yesterday I shared that I’ve been downing wellness shots every morning in an attempt to fight off the seasonal allergies that are really bringing down my game. I thought I’d share the recipe for this concoction and the inspiration behind it since so many people asked about it.

The first time I had a wellness shot was while JPC and I were on vacation in Portland with our close friends who are health food experts. We spent more than one meal at Prasad and they whip up plenty of these shots all day long.

They are super easy to recreate at home and are only 3 ingredients. If you are looking to make one yourself you’ll need:

A juicer (we use the Omega Masticating Juicer)

1 lemon, peeled with the pith on

1- 1.5 inches of ginger

Powered cayenne pepper to sprinkle on the top

After its juiced, give a quick stir, pour it into a shot glass and drink immediately.

These shots give an intense warm feeling throughout your face, chest and stomach. It soothes my sore throat on contact and afterwards I end up blowing all the guck out of my nose (sorry, TMI). I wont take one everyday, but it’s a great pick me up when you’re sick or just feeling a bit run down. I also follow each shot with plenty of water.

If you’re into juicing or natural remedies I’d love for you to leave a comment sharing some of your favorite ways to doctor yourself up!

White Hot American Denim

Tue, 21 May 2013 13:01:05 -0400

White hot denim skinnies are a must for spring and summer. So the only question is, will you land a steal or will you splurge? Either way it’s a win, but if you do splurge, there is no reason to feel buyers remorse - these babies will see plenty of street time!

White Hot Denim by btnb featuring paige denim

Paige Denim / Old Navy skinny fit jeans

Art In The Raw: An Independent Art Show For Artists

Mon, 20 May 2013 11:30:00 -0400

Living with (and loving) an artist has given me wonderful insight into the art world and I am proud to say that home is filled with beautiful art from many different talented artists. I always look forward to discovering new artists and love the absolute joy that is felt when I find a new piece that I just can’t live without. I hope to one day acquire quite the collection.

Whether you are new to the art world or a veteran collector, the RAW: Natural Born Artists is a collaboration of artists from over 50 cities that work together to host their own pop up gallery shows. The Cleveland extension has just joined in the fun and Jacqueline DelBrocco will be hosting their inaugural event on Thursday, May 30th from 8pm - 12am at The Avenue Taphouse, a bar in Lakewood, Ohio.

The venue will be transformed to include a short film screening, 3 fashion shows, live music performances, live performance art, and a pop up art gallery including paintings, drawings, sculpture, photography and digital art.

PBS recently did a documentary on the concept behind RAW and dubbed it as groundbreaking. To learn more about RAW check out this quick YouTube video to get a quick rundown of what they stand for:

Tickets for this Cleveland event are $15 in advance (click here to buy tickets) and $20 at the door. If you’re looking for something exploratory for your Memorial Day weekend, this is it!

Full Disclosure: I was asked to help promote this event. In exchange for my post I was offered tickets for the event. All opinions are my own.

The Perfect Foundation For Day or Night - Part 2

Fri, 17 May 2013 08:32:24 -0400

To follow up from my last post where I explain the perfect way to wear Stila One Step for night time, I wanted to share the way I do it up for my day look. I mentioned that the perfect foundation for day AND night doesn’t exist and that I create it. That’s mostly true with my day wear look, as you may have read in the last post, my night look with this stuff is pretty simple.

Now, onto the day look. I’m a slightly greasy human, another thing I can thank my Italian heritage for… but whatever, hopefully that means I’ll get less wrinkles as a grandma. Anyway…. since I’m slightly greasy a stand alone tinted moisturize can’t really handle all this jelly. SO I improvise.

Since I love the flawless coverage of the one step (it gives a somewhat airbrushed look to your face) I take it and I blend it with equal parts tinted moisturizer. Specifically I’ve been using Neutrogena Healthy Skin Enhancer which is a really light product compared to the thicker Stila product - which you can see in the photo below.

For a day look they balance each other really nicely- I get a little extra coverage but it’s light enough to not look like I’m auditioning for toddlers and tiaras.

Do you use the same base products on your face for day and night? I’d love to know some of your tried and true favorites!

The Perfect Foundation for Night or Day

Wed, 15 May 2013 08:49:27 -0400

Head’s up foundation for day and night doesn’t exactly exist, so I create it!

My perfect everyday foundation and my perfect event foundation both begin with the same product- Stila One Step Foundation.

I’ll begin with why this is a perfect option for events or evening makeup, because shockingly it’s simpler than the routine for my daytime wear - this little tube is a primer, concealer and foundation all in one, hence the name One Step. This stuff is serious business, it covers perfectly and has amazing long wear life on your face. I can slap this stuff on at 6pm for a cocktail party and still take a perfect photo at 2am if applied correctly.

So, what exactly does it mean to apply correctly? After all, makeup shouldn’t be rocket science.

Wash your face

Exfoliate your face

HEAVILY moisturize your face with your daytime moisturizer

Apply your One-Step, gradually at first, then add layers on where needed

Voila!

The only downside to this product is that it can be a little thick and dry if you’re not moisturized properly, so really lay it on ladies. After that I’ll set it with a little powder, and then bronze/contour the rest of my face. Make sure to do that last step even if you don’t usually wear bronzer- the coverage on the one-step is so serious that it can make your face look a little one dimensional if you just leave it as is.

Stay tuned for part 2 where I follow up on how I use the One-Step for everyday wear.

Fresh Pasta Making For Mother's Day Fun

Mon, 13 May 2013 08:52:28 -0400

This Mother’s Day my Mother wanted to start a new tradition. She recently picked up all the add-ons for her Kitchen Aid mixer to make pasta (without the turn crank we were all used to) and thought it would be a fun way to spend her day.

My Sister, Mother and Grandmother spent the day turning out fresh pasta with two separate homemade sauces - my mother’s signature red sauce and a light white clam sauce.

Fresh pasta is one of the simplest recipes and it cooks up in a flash. Whipping up more than one sauce also adds some nice variety and fun. It’s great to hear who prefers what sauce and serve each up tapas style.

Our Pasta Recipe:

- 2 cups of all purpose flour

- 2 cups of semolina flour

- 6 eggs

- pinch of salt

- 2 tablespoons of olive oil

We munched on some homemade bruschetta and enjoyed plenty of wine while we cooked. It was a great low key day of doing something all together and it was a blast. How did you celebrate Mother’s Day?

What I Read - April

Sun, 12 May 2013 20:21:35 -0400

April was a crazy month- I can’t believe how busy it was and how quickly it went by. I’m going to use that excuse to half way explain why I didn’t exactly fulfill my reading goal for the month too. The other half of the excuse? You’ll just have to read the reviews…

Dark Places, Gillian Flynn

Continuing with my trend from last month- I just couldn’t get enough of Flynn’s terrifying mysteries. I have to say, this was my favorite of her three novels. It was also the goriest to read and gave me plenty of nightmares, but isn’t that exactly what should happen while reading a GREAT crime novel? This one takes place in another small rural community dealing with a very poor family. A poor family that is completely annihilated one night except for one sister and the only brother. I won’t say too much, but the brother is pinned for killing his entire family while his baby sister escapes into the cold night. The book flashes back and forth between all family members in typical Flynn style and she does an amazing job giving life to dead characters. If you haven’t read it please do, just leave a nightlight on ;) Buy it here.

I Don’t Know How She Does It, Allison Pearson

I put this book on my list because I remember hearing great things when it came out forever ago. Plus, I wanted to watch the movie version with Sarah Jessica Parker and the book is always better so I thought I better read the book first. Well, I will NEVER be watching the movie, because if the book is better the movie must be total garbage. I gave up on this novel about halfway through. The bizarre British humor (which I usually love) was unbelievably irritating, almost as irritating as the main character. Her life is crazy with a few children, a high paying job that puts her as the breadwinner (gasp!) and a difficult relationship with her in-laws (double gasp!) I thought the whole thing was incredibly boring. Now, I know what you’re thinking- if I’m looking for substance I shouldn’t purchase books with pink covers, but I LOVE Chick-Lit and see no reason why it can’t be smart and entertaining. So there you have it. If you’re so inclined, here’s where you can pick up a copy.

Have you read either of these books? If so I’d love to hear YOUR thoughts. Leave me a comment!

Skincare Routines For The Rest Of Us

Fri, 10 May 2013 08:49:29 -0400

When I was in college, my awesome roommate had an even more awesome summer internship with La Mer. We would slather our 20 year old skin with thousands of dollars of product daily and it was amazing. I remember swearing to myself that I would never use anything but La Mer from then on.

Welcome to the current time- where I have never actually forked over any of my hard earned money for a jar of the luxury face cream because well….student loans, car payments, and real life somehow get in the way every month of me becoming my best self (kidding, sort of).

All that good stuff being said, I’ve been on the hunt for a great night cream ever since. Just this month Aveeno sent me their new Positively Radiant Intensive Night Cream and so far I LOVE it. Hell, if it’s good enough for Jennifer Aniston and her perfect body and her perfect face, it’s good enough for me. Now, I’m not ready to upgrade it to Stuff That Makes Squeal status just yet, but I have to say I’m thoroughly impressed.

The cream has a clean fragrance but it’s subtle and wont irritate your eyes. My skin is very sensitive and some of the most expensive products tend to agitate it, but with this it isn’t breaking out or freaking out. I’ve noticed a difference with the tone of my skin- its much more even and less red. For $16.99 you can’t beat it. I absolutely recommend you pick a jar up, and I’m one picky lady when it comes to my skin. If you’ve used it, I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Full Disclosure: I was gifted this product from Influenster and Aveeno for testing. Opinions are my own.

The Perfect Summer Office Shoe

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 10:19:47 -0400

If you work in a semi-casual or hip office environment (like I do!) these are the perfect summer flats. I think sandals are a bit much for any office, unless it’s casual Friday. These are a fun and simple way to keep it cool all summer long. Kudos to ShoeMint for nailing it. Buy them here.

Who knew scrambled eggs we’re so complicated?! As an egg...

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 14:06:16 -0400

Who knew scrambled eggs we’re so complicated?! As an egg lover, I’ll be trying it out this weekend.

(vializlemon:thebrewerpatriot :rossroads )

How to Scramble Eggs with Gordon Ramsay

Take four minutes and learn why everything you know about scrambling eggs is wrong.

Herve Leger Sale on The Outnet!

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 10:07:55 -0400

Attention like-minded label whores! The Outnet is having a HUGE sale on Herve Leger dresses. Here are my top 4 picks form their bandage dresses. These dresses are sexy, flattering (thanks to the spandex!), and pretty timeless. If you’re looking to invest in one now is the time! The markdowns are ridiculous, you can save over $700 bucks on one of these bad boys. My personal pick? Number 4- you may be seeing it make its debut at a wedding very soon. Happy Shopping!

Herve Leger- All Black Bandage Dresses by btnb featuring a cutout dress

Hervé Léger body con dress / Hervé Léger cutout dress / Hervé Léger cutout dress / Hervé Léger cutout dress

Healthful Living: Packing a Lunch

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 08:47:00 -0400

{this contest is now closed} Congrats to Meredith for winning this eco-friendly giveaway! I hope you enjoy them as much as I do!

While it’s not exactly glamorous, most days I pack a lunch for work. Knowing exactly what I’m putting in my body each day gives me peace of mind from a food chemical perspective and a calorie perspective. It’s much easier to loose or maintain weight when you know there are no hidden fats in your meal. The fact that a brown bag lunch works in favor of my bank account is nice too ;)

I try to pack myself a variety of small bites to nosh on throughout the day- hummus, crackers, a hard boiled egg, and some fresh veggies usually power me through. I hate that 3pm crash that you can get if you eat too heavy of a lunch so I try and limit meat and carbs.

The lovely folks at MIRA were kind enough to send me a set of two small stainless steel containers to review and offer a set to giveaway!

I’m so glad they did; because now that I have these little containers I’m cutting back on the plastic zip-locks I use for my lunches every single day. Having these reusable containers now makes me realize just how much waste I’m adding to the earth by using (and throwing away) two bags a day.

The containers are the perfect size for lunch time grazers like me. The lids stay on tight so you don’t have to worry about spills and the plastic is BPA free, keeping us safe from poisons.

To win your set of Mira BPA Free Snack Containers (retail value $12.99) leave me a comment here sharing what your go-to lunch items are.

Additional ways to enter:

- Like Blog- The New Black on Facebook (and leave a comment telling me you did so)

- Tweet with the following ’ I just entered to win a set of BPA free snack containers from @nadinenocero, enter here:http://bit.ly/11Oy7so #giveaway’ (and leave a comment telling me you did so)

The winner will be chosen via Random.org on Monday, April 29th at 8pm ET.

Good luck and happy snacking!

Stuff That Makes Me Squeal: A Drugstore Beauty Standby

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 08:41:36 -0400

It may seem a bit silly to profess love for something so simple and so regularly overlooked, but run of the mill, drugstore Vaseline has been a staple in my beauty bag and my medicine cabinet for the last 10 years.

So what do I do with the purest of pure petroleum jellies? Year round I use it as my go-to lip moisturizer. It’s wonderfully hydrating and adds a nice glisten to my lips. I don’t see myself as having particularly sensitive skin, but some chap sticks can feel weird or waxy on my lips, and that never happens when I use Vaseline. This stuff is also a great waterproof makeup remover- it isn’t too harsh and hydrates my lashes while it works it’s magic.

During the harsh winter months, if I’m having serious trouble keeping my face smooth and even I’ll slather this stuff all over my face before bed. While a sticky face full of Vaseline isn’t the sexiest bedtime look, it leaves me ready for a nice natural glow in the morning and helps my makeup go on much smoother. Oh, I can’t forget my cuticles- I’ll rub some goo on them and it helps patch them right up when my hands are looking a bit worn.

What can I say? You know that movie about the Greek dad and the Windex? Well that’s basically me with Vaseline. If you haven’t yet seen its wonder, pick a pack up- it’s cheap!

Shopping For Spring

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 09:23:23 -0400

If you live anywhere above the Mason-Dixon line, like I do, you may be wondering if Spring will ever show her lovely face… well, in case she does- below are some basics that will carry you through the season.

Shopping For Spring by btnb featuring essie nail polish

H&M blouse, $20 / Paige Denim / Le Silla strappy heels / Juicy Couture / Essie nail polish

You can never go wrong with white denim- like blue jeans, they are super versatile and can go from casual to dressy in a snap.

Likewise, a nude heel will get it’s wear more than you can bargain for, so make sure you have a pair in your closet. These bad boys will not only lengthen your legs, but will also transition seamlessly to summer.

Neon is said to be the ‘new neutral’, so hit two trends with one bag and grab this clear neon clutch. The long strap makes it a little less of a burden than a clutch.

Mint is the color of the season, but if pastels aren’t really your thing an easy way to stay on trend is by sporting the nail color. This will also transition perfectly into summer, this color will really pop against a tan!

Last but not least- floral and peplum- oh my! Sport the season with this lovely and inexpensive top from H&M. Peplum looks great on most body types and the print is FUN FUN FUN!

What are your must haves for Spring?

Fitness: Happy Hiking

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 09:12:21 -0400

With the weather warming up I’ve been trying to spend more time outside working out. I have a hard time committing to a work out schedule- as badly as I *think* I want the perfect body I just can’t seem to push myself hard enough to achieve it. Call it laziness or what you will, but I can’t seem to give myself that reward as often as I should. I go to yoga to help me relax and unwind from a crazy day at my desk, the added muscle and flatter stomach resulted are just a bonus.

One thing I do love doing is hiking- spending time outside in the trees and the sun unplugged makes all the difference to my mood. I can’t believe how much more fun it is now that we’ve thrown the dogs into the mix.

The four of us spent hours trail hiking along the river two Saturdays ago. I got a great calorie burn, quality time with my little family, and a much needed break from my glowing screens.

What do you do to unwind and unplug?

What I've Read: March

Sun, 14 Apr 2013 14:42:33 -0400

Sharp Objects, Gillian Flynn

Oh Lordy. This is the second book I’ve read from Flynn, after taking nearly every Tumblr recommendation to pick up Gone Girl. Well, I read Gone Girl before I started posting book reviews- but I can say as quickly as I picked it up I sped through it and didn’t stop until the end. If you haven’t yet read it, please do.

So, after loving Gone Girl and the anxiety and tension only a mystery thriller can give you- I put Sharp Objects on my list and it finally came through on my library loan for my March reading. The book was a little hard to get into at first, I found the main character to be a little annoying. It quickly picked up with the same tension and anxiety that kept me going through Gone Girl a mile a minute. I read it cover to cover in just a weekend and loved it. This book takes on nearly an all female character cast and had an interesting family dynamic to boot. So, if you’re looking for something a little gruesome, a lot suspenseful, and a very easy read I suggest you pick it up- pool side reading will be here before we know it. Buy it here.

Heads in Beds: A Reckless Memoir of Hotels, Hustles and So-Called Hospitality, Jacob Tomsky

I’d been wanting to read this book for a few months, but with all the traveling I did over the winter months, I thought it best to avoid reading about the underworld of hotels as I was staying in them. I can report that the book doesn’t expose any gross 20/20 style overview of hotels, but does share what you can gain from the hotel industry by following a few simple rules (one of them being, kindness). Aside from the tips, tricks, and wild stories about celebrity guests, the book offers insight to one man’s climb up the hospitality ladder. No matter what industry you work in, I think we can all relate to the struggle with work-life balance and trying to find what we really want out of life. An easy read that I enjoyed, buy it here .

What I Wore: Casual Spring Work Wear

Fri, 12 Apr 2013 09:02:45 -0400

Since I’ve been sick in bed for the last day and a half I thought I’d share a outfit of the day post from earlier in the week when I wasn’t in pajamas with dirty hair ;)

Spring can be such a hard season to dress for- some days are perfect, while others are hot in the sun and freezing in the shade. A flowy top and simple skinny pants are an easy recipe for this bipolar season.

I also wanted to post this OOTD because it shows me how I look most days for good or bad- no make up, natural hair and my glasses. While I wish I could breeze out of the house 100% put together everyday, it usually isn’t the case. So, I thought I’d step out of the norm and brave a more ‘real’ OOTD post. That being said- I hope to one day be the girl who throws it all together before 8am each morning.

Blouse {gift from JPC and his recent NYC trip} Cargo Green Skinnies {Old from Target} Flats from UO {Similar here} and Grey leather tote from Leah Lerner’s Etsy Shop. Glasses are Chanel.

Nails are Button London’s Yummy Mummy paired with Zoya’s Ziv gold glitter. Rings are Stella & Dot.

“Anything is possible with sunshine and a little pink.” - RIP...

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 21:27:02 -0400

“Anything is possible with sunshine and a little pink.” - RIP Lilly Pulitzer (1931-2013) | via matchbookmag

Via

littlelaur:

Cooked: Semi Homemade Pizzas

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 09:02:35 -0400

These quick and easy pizzas are a staple in our house. I’m convinced making them myself, scaling back on the cheese and always adding some greens mean they aren’t as bad as delivery ;)

What you’ll need:

1 pack of Stonefire Naan bread

Tomato Sauce of choice

Locatelli Cheese (freshly grated)

Fresh Mozzarella

Spinach, Baby Kale or Arugula

Add your preferred amount of sauce, cheeses, and toppings- this recipe is too easy to even deal with measuring!

Then stick them directly on the oven rack at 375 for 10 minutes. Pour yourself a class of red and voila!