Oatmeal-Crusted Haddock

oatmeal-crusted haddock

I’m on a bit of a food kick lately. Can ya tell? Last night, B & I decided to cook haddock. We were craving a (healthy) crunchy topping.

Turns out, we went with oatmeal. We never made oatmeal-crusted anything, but the stars aligned and we were feeling gutsy. I’m so glad we tried it because it was incredible and a much needed change from our usual go-to. I like unconventional things.

Ingredients

1 lb fresh haddock
1/2 to 1 cup wheat flour (all-purpose white is fine, too)
1 tsp garlic salt
1/2 tsp ground black pepper
1 egg, lightly beaten
1/2 cup almond milk (mayo also works, but B despises the stuff)
1 cup uncooked oatmeal
1/4 to 1/2 cup parmesan cheese
1 tbsp dried basil
1 tbsp dried oregano
1 tsp dried parsley
salt & pepper to taste

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Prepare a baking sheet with Pam or other cooking spray. Set aside.

2. Cut the haddock filet into smaller, individual portions if it didn’t already come that way.

3. In a food processor (or blender), grind the oatmeal until it becomes a fine powder.

How to Bread Fish with Oatmeal

4. In three separate bowls, arrange and mix your double-breading ingredients:

  • Bowl 1: wheat flour, garlic salt, and black pepper. Mix together lightly with a fork.
  • Bowl 2: beaten egg, milk, and garlic. Mix thoroughly with a fork.
  • Bowl 3: ground oatmeal, cheese, herbs, and extra salt & pepper to taste.

5. Double-bread each piece of fish: First, dredge fish in the flour mixture, shaking off the excess. Then, dip into the egg mixture. Lastly, coat in the oatmeal-cheese-herb mixture, and set on the baking sheet. Repeat with each piece of fish, arranging them 1-2 inches apart on the baking sheet.

6. Serve on top of a bed of parmesan cous cous and sautéed spinach. And wine, of course. We must not ever forget the wine. (This cab rocks!)

oatmeal-crusted haddock

What’s your favorite way to prepare fish? Always looking for new recipes!

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My Quinoa Challenge

Nutty Cinnamon Breakfast Quinoa

Quinoa. I’m still pretty obsessed. We’ve been on a Greek Quinoa Salad kick for a little while now, but as you know, the same recipes on repeat can get rather boring.

In an attempt to change things up a bit while still keeping my quinoa game strong, I’m trying different recipes this month. I am not allowing myself to make the same recipe twice. I’ll definitely be trying a few from this list Buzzfeed put out. I have my eye on the Nutty Cinnamon Breakfast Quinoa and the Buffalo Chicken Quinoa Bites. Holy yum.

What are some of your favorite quinoa recipes?

Image via 101 Cookbooks

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Homemade Bang Bang Shrimp

Homemade Bang Bang Shrimp

Homemade Bang Bang Shrimp

I don’t know how much of an intro we need for Bang Bang Shrimp. I’m talking about thee Bang Bang Shrimp… from Bonefish Grille. It’s my favorite thing on their menu. I guess everyone else feels similarly because they even dedicated an entire night to it on Wednesdays ($5 Bang Wednesdays; 4 p.m. to close). The sad part is that there aren’t any Bonefish locations in California. WHAT? I know.

My mom has been raving about her homemade version for awhile now, and I finally made it… with her! She’s in town until Tuesday and we’ve been having the best time. We made these for an appetizer on Saturday night. They taste so similar to Bonefish, and I’m going to guess they are way (and I mean wayyyyyy) healthier too.

Ingredients

1 lb. uncooked shrimp, peeled and deveined
1 small onion, diced
1 tsp of minced garlic
1 egg
1/4 cup milk
2 tbsp butter
Olive oil
Flour
Salt and pepper
Sriracha sauce (amount depends on how spicy you like it)
Lemon (to garnish)

Directions

1. In a large frying pan, sauté onion and garlic in butter and olive oil on medium heat.
2. Beat together egg, milk, salt, and pepper.
3. Dip the shrimp in the egg mixture and then dredge (coat) in the flour.
4. Add shrimp to the pan with garlic and onion. Sauté to a golden brown.
5. Once shrimp are cooked, add the desired amount of Sriracha and stir.
6. Garnish with lemon and serve.

Bang bang, at home.

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How to Style Straight-Across Bangs

how to style bangs

The last time I had bangs was at the tender age of seven. I’m 99.9% sure I didn’t style them properly, if at all. When I decided to get them a couple weeks ago, it was on a total whim. Typical me. Cutting bangs seemed like a more simple approach (to me, at least) to update my look without doing anything too drastic (an all around shorter cut, for example).

So. Here I am. Bang life. I love them. I wash my hair every three days, which I attribute to the use of professional products. I’ve noticed a huge difference ever since I started using Bumble & Bumble’s gentle shampoo & super rich conditioner. I bought the travel size versions of both to make sure I actually liked the product. I don’t know about you, but I’ve been burned way too many times by expensive products with less than amazing results. I’m definitely planning on purchasing the regular size versions when this supply runs out (soon!). But to get back on track here, sometimes I re-style my bangs in the morning if I wake up with crazy bed head.

Here’s how I style my bangs. Everyone styles them a little differently, so what works for me may not work for you. This is where I like to apply the guess and check method.

1. Comb It.

Comb out your wet bangs with a wide tooth comb. Easy peasy.

2. Paddle It.

Hold the blow dryer above your head (in your right hand) and focus the nozzle downward. Blow the bangs to the left for 5-10 seconds using a flat paddle brush. Then, switch hands and blow to the right for 5-10 seconds. Your bangs should be slightly damp.

3. Wrap It.

Wrap the center section of your bangs around a medium-sized round brush and hit them with the blow dryer from above. You’re going to be left with some crazy, voluminous bangs. However, by the time you finish your makeup and walk out the door, they will fall into place leaving you with full, sexy bangs. Note: I only use a round brush in the center section; not the sides.

4. Hit It (& Quit It).

But for real – one last quick hit with the blow dryer from up above and you’re done.

Are bangs in your future? If you have them, how do you style them?

Photography by Elise’s Pieces

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Fancy Pants + Vintage Spark

fancy pants + vintage tassel

fancy pants + vintage tassel

vintage tassel necklace worn backwardsjeans Vigoss / vest Nordstrom / tassel Sweet & Spark / earrings Sweet & Spark / bracelets Sweet & Spark

Alright. Tassel necklaces are kind of my thing. (Have you noticed?) My Instagram account will tell you that I wear them with everything. Everything! I love their versatility. Case in point: This tassel can be worn in the front and the back. Everyone loves a little party in the back. Am I right?

I was so excited when Jillian from Sweet & Spark asked me to curate my very own spark collection. Just wow. I must rate high. You can check out all of my favorite vintage pieces here, but as you may have guessed, the tassels are going fast. So get a move on!

P.S. How fun are these aztec pants by Vigoss? I got them from Nordstrom about a month ago during the half-yearly sale, but it appears they are goners now. Sad face. If you still love the tribal print, you can snag them on the Vigoss website or splurge on these bad boys.

Photography by Dustin Soriano for Sweet & Spark

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Army of Lovers

White jeans, army jacket

Army of Lovers tee by Zoe Karssen

Statement Necklace from Junk In Me Trunk

White denim, army jacket, and neon clutchtee Zoe Karssen / jacket Urban Outfitters / jeans J Brand / sunglasses Kate Spade / jewelry & clutch Junk In Me Trunk [launching soon!]

My girlfriend Elise was in town this past weekend, which means two things: food and laughter. We ate our way through the city, grabbing bites at Tacolicious, Umami, Mexican Kitchen, The Brixton, and B Restaurant & Bar. If you can’t tell by my Instagram, I really, really enjoy a good meal. And a whole lot of macaroons.

She snapped these pictures of me in Yerba Buena Gardens on Saturday (she’s a designer cake artist and photographer). The weather is so up and down in San Francisco, so you can never go wrong with a light jacket. The one thing that does always seem to be constant is the wind. I didn’t really take that into account when I decided to get bangs.

In other exciting news, my mom is flying in on Wednesday! We have a full week planned of touristy stuff, decorating, and more delicious food. Oh San Francisco, I love you.

Photography by Elise’s Pieces

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The Update

picnic party

This week was straight awesome. And to top it off, my uber-talented friend, Elise and her boyfriend are here visiting from Tampa. I love having visitors because B and I get to re-explore the city all over again. Nothing about San Francisco gets old to me. Nothing. We’ve been here for over a year and my SF Bucket List is still a mile long (especially the food section!).

Here are this week’s highlights:

… On Tuesday, I took part in a 4th of July-inspired picnic shoot for Stiletto & Spice. I didn’t want it to end. Julia, Jillian, Kate, and I were feeling pretty spoiled with all of Claudine’s healthy treats (captured on Instagram here & here). I can’t wait to see the final photos because Kim Thomas is such a talented photographer!

… I have a new column on Your Coffee Break every Tuesday. You can peep that here.

…. Sometime this week, I found this print on Pinterest and it really struck a cord with me. $ell Everything, Buy Wisdom. B always says that if you’re not careful your “stuff” will end up owning you. Don’t let an apartment, a car, or furniture keep you from being free. When you simplify, you find wisdom. And that “wisdom” may be waiting for you in another city.

… Yesterday, I spent time at the Sweet & Spark HQ because I’m their next featured editor. I curated my own VE spark collection, which is filled with lots of tassel necklaces. They are so versatile, so I wear them with everythanggg.

… This weekend is going to be filled with exploring, eating, shopping, and more shooting (my friend Elise is a photog too!). We are going to my favorite sushi restaurant on Saturday night: UMAMI. B and I haven’t been since Valentine’s Day.

I’m feeling extra appreciative this week about where I am in life and who I get to share it with. Life is so precious. Are you living it to the fullest?

image via Kim Thomas

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Fresh Faced & Two-Tone Lipstick

Two-Tone Lipstick

Fresh faced + two-tone lipstick for spring

Two-Tone Lipstick

I crave a bold lip in a bad way. It just never goes out of style. Lipstick is actually the one thing I grab if I’m ever in a rush and don’t have time to do my normal makeup routine.

This two-tone lipstick is bold in an entirely different way. It’s a head turner, guys. Walking out of the office yesterday, I stole a few glances of people thinking, “Wait, that’s hot.” Just kidding. They were probably like, “Wait, is that two colors?” Absolutely.

This dewy look and two-toned lip was created by Adria (remember this look she did earlier in the week?). She’s so talented, it’s sick. I naturally prefer a more dewy look since I have dry skin, but it’s also perfect for spring. It just feels and looks so fresh.

Here’s how to get the goods:

FACE

Primer: Hydrating Foundation Primer (a lifesaver for my dry skin!)
Foundation: Maracuja Miracle Foundation in Fair
Concealer: Maracuja Creaseless Concealer in Light

EYES

Base: Bare Study Paint Pot
Brow Highlight: Blanc Type
Eyelid: Naked Lunch
Crease: Espresso
Liner: Fluidline Blacktrack
Mascara: Falsies Volum Express in Blackest Black

CHEEKS

Contour: Studio Finish NC40 Concealer
Blush: Brit Wit Cremeblend

LIPS

Lipstick (Bottom): Girl About Town
Lipstick (Top): Morange

But seriously, are you daring enough to rock this lip?

Follow Adria or book her via email.

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You’re Invited: Blog Brunch SF

Blog Brunch SF

Guys. I’m stoked about this month’s blog brunch! Like, really stoked. We’re changing things up a bit and heading to The Social Beauty Co. – a boutique beauty atelier located on Lombard St. Beauty + Blogging. Talk about my favorite worlds colliding here.

The theme? SUNday Beauty Brunch, which means Nicole (that’s the owner) and her team will be throwing a fun, summer-themed party for us. We’ll also have a “Bubble Bar” set up with various juices, fruit, and St. Germain so that we can continue in true blog brunch fashion: chatting and mingling over cocktails.

Please RSVP in the comments section or on Twitter. Cheers!

EDIT: Guys! Just found out that Claudine from Stiletto & Spice will be providing healthy breakfast treats for our brunch. And if that wasn’t enough, The Social Beauty Co. is offering spray tans as well as a sneak peak into summer-inspired makeup colors and looks (perfect for summer beauty!).

*If you are planning on getting a spray tan, please wear dark, loose clothing so the tan doesn’t rub off onto your clothing (dark maxi, yoga pants, etc.).

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Alameda Point Antiques Faire

Alameda Antique Faire

Alameda Antique Faire

European bottles

Wooden horns

Alameda Antique Faire

Alameda Antique Faire

Vintage chair

The Alameda Point Antiques Faire has been on my SF Bay Area bucket list for quite awhile now and I can finally cross it off as of this past weekend. Holy wow. This faire is huuuge. I was there for a couple hours and only made my way through about half of it. It’s essentially a vintage dreamland, where vendors sell antique items 20 years old, or older. We’re talking jewelry, typewriters, books, furniture, knickknacks, shoes, furs, art, etc.

If you have a serious aficionado for vintage treasures, get there early because these items sell like hotcakes! I ended up taking home a dainty, white parasol, but not before I snagged a bag of kettle corn. Once I got a taste of that, I was pretty much out of commission and ready for a nap.

I’m planning another trip next month (note: the faire only happens on the first Sunday of the monthto get props as well as decorations for our place.

If you go to these types of venues, do you go for something specific? I’m curious to find out if people go in with a game plan or just go to browse.

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