Thursday, September 27, 2012

Blondies: A Reilly Family Recipe


I am a total sucker for sweets and blondies are one of my favorite treats to indulge in! My husband's mom came up with this recipe and it is my personal favorite for this classic comfort food. My favorite surprise? The macadamia nuts make the blondies extra yummy!

What you will need:



2 Sticks unsalted butter at room temp
1 cup light brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
2 eggs
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 package white chocolate chips
1 package semisweet chocolate chips/chunks
1 small package chopped macadamia nuts

Directions


Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Grease and flour 8 x 12 x 2 inch baking pan(pyrex)

In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream the butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar on high speed for several(3-4) minutes, until light and fluffy. With the mixer on low, add the vanilla extract and then the eggs, one at a time, and mix well, scraping down the bowl. In another bowl, sift together the baking soda and flour. With the mixer on low, slowly add flour mixture to the butter mixture. Add the macadamia nuts, white chocolate chips, and chocolate chips in with a rubber spatula.


Spread the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top. Bake for 25-30 minutes. Do Not Overbake! Cool completely and cut into bars and ENJOY!!






Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Savvy Suede

Sweater- J Crew, Jeans- Citizens of Humanity, Shoes- Gucci, Purse- Kate Spade,
Necklace- J Crew, Bracelet- Anthropologie

Every week, my husband and I like to sneak out for an evening on the town, and last night was no exception, as we headed to one of our neighborhood favorites, Bistro 33. I was excited as this gave me an opportunity to wear my new studded suede pumps! I love wearing my basics and jazzing them up with a little sparkle and my studded suede pumps. I am absolutely in love with the suede pump look. Add a colorful pair with your jeans and you are set. Make sure to also add some suede protectant (Scotchgard works!)as well, so that your shoes are kept in great condition.





Here are some of my favorite suede pumps:

Shoes L to R: Diane von Furstenberg, Aldo Shoes, Aldo Shoes, Via Spiga, Zara

Will you be trying the suede pump trend this Fall?


Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Red Carpet Review: The Emmy's


As the seasons turn to fall and winter, I become extremely excited for all the award shows…aka the red carpets! I covet the beautiful gowns that the stars wear to these big events and I also have those moments where I cringe at the crime committed on the red carpet!

With that said, the early beginnings of the red carpet season has begun and it was sadly disappointing overall. I felt deflated after watching E! and looking at photos online as I felt that the fashion was quite tepid. 


I did have a several favorites that did stand out from the crowd. I was shocked that I gravitated to darker colors instead of the bright gowns this year, but several of these were so clean and chic! Here is my top five of the night:



I was surprised when I found myself lusting over Jessica Pare’s white gown and black belt. The look was beautiful and I loved the pop of color with her green ring and her red lips!

Julia Louis-Dreyfus looked FAB in her gown and loved that she was incorporating this fall’s color trend while still looking elegant. Even better, Louis-Dreyfus won for best actress in a comedy. If you have not watched Veep yet, I highly recommend!!
Kerry Washington’s Vivienne Westwood dress was by far one of my top favs of the top five!  She looked glamorous, yet effortless, which is a total success in my book!

Zosia Mamet’s  Bihbu Mahopatra gown was exactly what I wanted to see on the red carpet! I loved it’s minimalist feel, yet it had exquisite details and cuts - I could not get enough! Perfect fit for one of the stars on HBO’s Girls!

Of course G, Giuliana Rancic, made my top five. Rancic truly knows how to dress for the red carpet and it showed yet again in her Rafael Cennamo gown. 





Notably missing: Sophia Vergara. Vergara looked fabulous, but I’m dying to see a different silhouette on her. She did not make the best dressed list because I’ve seen this dress before! Also missing, Heidi Klum. I’m very torn on her dress. She looked absolutely stunning (talk about breakup revenge!) but I could have done without one of her slits in the dress. I was a little nervous that she would have a wardrobe malfunction. Otherwise, loved it!

Biggest disappointment: Emily Thorne's dress. Thorne's dress could have made my top five; however I felt that the fit on the top was completely off and did not do her justice. I wish she would have had this tailored to fit better because it ruined a beautiful look.

What did all of you think of the Emmy’s this year? Did you feel that the fashion fell flat or did the show make you even more excited for red carpet season?



Sunday, September 23, 2012

My New Staple


I finally found the perfect black denim. They’ve always been on the “want” list, but something else has always managed to come before them. The irony, is that these black jeans, were the first pair that I ever tried out and I love them. I cannot believe I have gone so long without black denim as they go well with so many outfits. I love how they add a little edginess to my look, while still keeping it clean and chic. These jeans are easy to dress up or down. They can be worn with ballet flats, boots, or heels as anything goes when it comes to my new staple!

Top-Anthropologie, Pants-Gap, Purse-Kate Spade(On Sale!), Shoes-Christian Louboutin, Bracelets-Anthropologie and GoodStock Boutique, Lipstick-MAC





Welcome to Chic and Cheeky! Hope you enjoyed the first post and keep coming back for fun, fabulous, and chic lifestyle! 

Meredith