What Fridays Are Good For

Happy Friday, chicas! Can I get a woo woo? To me, this day of the week is reserved for one thing and one thing only…having fun and eating bad stuff.

And really, what’s more fun than a Salted Caramel Brownie from the Pioneer Woman?
 

via Pioneer Woman


Heavens, y’all.

Let’s just pause for a moment to consider the rare beauty of those three words all together: Salted Caramel Brownie

I’ve never heard of this concoction before, but it sounds like the culmination of every PMS dream I’ve ever had. Go here to get the recipe and make some for yourself. And please invite me over when you do.

On to the next…

What’s also more fun than a post semi-solely dedicated to Halloween costumes? Because I haven’t done one yet and frankly, didn’t have a darn thing else to write about today.

I’m deep like that.

Planet Blue, a super cute online store, came up with their very own Halloween-inspired lookbook. The cool thing about these “costumes” is that they’re not really costumes at all. The pieces individually would be totally wearable long after trick-or-treating season is over. My favorites were the Black Cat, (even though we know how I feel about kitties), and the Captain Hook ensemble.

I must get my hands, er stems, on some of these leggings STAT.

Finally, never one to pass on an opportunity for shameless self-promotion, I thought I’d pass the word along about my latest little endeavor. I was recently asked to do some personal styling for a lovely girl up here in NWA for an engagement photo shoot. She was then kind enough to pass my name on to some of her friends who have just asked me to style their wedding shoot! So if you’re in need of some personal styling, closet reorganization or just general style advice, see my pages here and here or shoot me an email. I’ll be happy to help and I promise I'm cheaper than Rachel Zoe : ) There. That’s all. That was painless, right?

Y’all have a great weekend.

Be blessed, lovelies-

A Little of This, A Little of That

Portions of this blog post are related to cooking, hence the pic of the stockpot above (via Pioneer Woman). Not sure why I felt the need to explain the use of photography on my blog, but now you know. And I feel better.

Good mid-morning, beautiful bloggy friends! I had planned on writing about something fashion-related today, but felt more compelled to just talk randomness. All over the map, this post shall be...

- Let's start with a praise report...the weather in AR has finally cooled off! In fact, last night on my little evening stroll I almost got, dare I say, chilly! According to the weather app on my iPhone, this cripsy, cool awesomeness has no sign of stopping anytime soon and that makes me a happy camper. Yay fall...we're so glad you have arrived. Better late than never, fo' sho'.

-I have a ridiculous craving for soup right now because of the sudden arrival of frigid (but not really) temps...specifically tortilla soup or taco soup (I've heard it called both .) Do any of you have a semi-easy recipe for a good taco/tortilla soup? If so, PLEASE share! You can either post the recipe in the comments or shoot it to me in an email at askblondeambion@gmail.com

-Ok, so maybe we didn't beat 'Bama on Saturday, but I'm so proud of the way our boys played. The Hogs definitely held their own against the Crimson Tide and many people, (myself included), thought we might even beat them for awhile : ) Either way, win or lose, it was such a good game and fun SEC match-up!

-If any of you out there have super thick or coarse hair (like mine), I have found the Best. Conditioner. Ever. No lie, girls, it rocks my world in so many ways. It's called No Frizz Conditioner by Living Proof and you can buy it at The Mothership Sephora. The girl at the Sephora in Rogers told me it was the best stuff she'd ever used on her hair, (she also had super massive hair like me) and she wasn't kidding. True story- I didn't even have to Chi my hair after I washed and dried it this morning! Plus, it smells divine. Buy it now, ladies.

That's all for today. Stay tuned for tomorrow's post in which I'll delight you all in the story of my ongoing saga with a pesky crazed, stray cat that has taken over my life, my neighborhood and my sanity. You might want to pop some popcorn, it's gonna be a good 'un.

Hope your Monday is positively grand ; )

Be blessed, lovelies-

How Do Ya Like Them Apples?

I begin this Monday by posing a question to you Blonde Ambitioners- Is it wrong to eat dessert for breakfast?

Because trust me y'all, if I had a big, honkin' pie at my desk right now, you better believe I'd be chowing down ; )

I've been positively giddy for the past week, due mostly to my exhuberance about the arrival of fall. Ok, so it's still lingering in the 90s here in Arkansas and maybe we're still wearing shorts and swatting mosquitos, but I'm confident that ANY DAY NOW we'll feel a chill in the air and I finally won't have to order my lattes over ice.

Anywho, there are so many, many reasons to love this season, including the abundance of delicious, seasonal fruit that comes with it!

I've had the strongest, nagging craving for a warm apple pie or tart lately, particularly from my Memaw's kitchen. This happens every year around this time because apparently I equate September with eating baked goods....hmmmm, go figure ; )

My Memaw (my dad's momma) makes the BEST apple pie from scratch and right now, I'd gladly blow my daily calorie budget on just one piece....sigh....

But since I won't be going to visit the fam until next month, I'll have to find another pie source to tide me over.

I know you can buy a pre-made apple pie from the market, but I'm a firm believer that the boxed stuff almost never tastes as good as the homemade original. So I'm rolling up my baking sleeves and scouring the internet for pie and tart recipes.

I found several that sounded downright heavenly:

Barefoot Contessa- French Apple Tart 

The Pioneer Woman- Quick, Easy and Yummy Apple Tart

Rue Magazine- Autumn Apple Tart with Spiced Caramel Sauce

Paula Deen- Apple Strudel

Paula Deen- Skillet Fried Apple Pie

I've been feeling pretty brave in the kitchen lately, so perhaps I'll take a crack at my own apple concoction this week....pictures and recipes of whatever is produced will of course be blogged about in a future post.

Should you attempt any of the aforementioned recipes, don't forget the vanilla bean ice cream...

Be blessed, lovelies-

Photo credits: The Pioneer Woman Cooks

I Heart Fridays (and frankly, who doesn't?)

"You were given life; it is your duty (and also your entitlement as a human being) to find something beautiful within life, no matter how slight."

- Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat Pray Love

I'm so proud of us because...we survived another work week! If that doesn't merit some sort of happy dance or celebratory drink with an umbrella, I don't know what does.

For some reason, I feel compelled to congratulate all of us for making it to Friday, because honestly, I was beginning to wonder if this week was ever going to end. Yes, sweet blog friends, it has been one of those weeks. When it rains, it pours, right? Oh well, I'm alive and happy and greatly looking forward to the next couple of days of weekend bliss.

My plans?

I'm so glad you asked.

As soon as the clock strikes five (or the emails stop pouring in, whichever comes first), I'm heading home from work and gearing up for some Eat, Pray, Love action. Two words: Cannot. Wait.

I read this book a about a year ago and wished upon many a non-shooting star that they would make it into a movie. Apparently the folks at Columbia Pictures heard my prayers (and the prayers of 2.1 million other women) and tonight I will finally see the book come to life on the big screen. I've purposefully tried to keep an open mind and steer clear of any internet spoilers, so I just hope it is as good as the book. Or at the very least, that it doesn't make me resent Julia Robers. *Fingers crossed*

Saturday, I'm attending a Vinyasa yoga class at 8:30 a.m., (yes, you read that correctly), at a new place in downtown Bentonville. The name of the place is Yoga-Story, which I'll admit, sounds a little hippy-dippy-trippy. And coincidentally enough, hippy-dippy-trippy is my preferred style of yoga studios : ) I'll give you a full play-by-play of the yogatastic morning on Monday, if I'm still moving and functioning.

What's a girl to do after a morning full of sun salutations? Why hit the stores for end of summer sales, of course!

And I think I'll take my girl Dee along for the retail ride. I tell y'all, there is nothing more precious than time spent with your best girlfriend while sifting through racks of summer markdowns at Maude and laughing til you cry at some random joke or story from the previous week.Warms my heart just thinking about it.

After church Sunday, I'm going to try my hand at a new recipe for Blueberry Crumble Bars. I found the recipe here and think blueberries and crispy, buttery goodness might be just what I need to fix my soul after the insanity of this week.

I guess that about wraps it up. What are you girls (and boys) planning to do this weekend? Anyone else going to see Eat, Pray, Love?

Be blessed, lovelies-

Photo credits: IMDB, Smitten Kitchen

The First Round is On Me...

I’m guest “bartending” over at Jami’s beautiful blog Imagine today, so please stop by for a sip or five. I’ll be gabbing about my favorite summer beverage and trust me ya’ll, it’s delish. A very special thanks goes out to sweet Jami for inviting me to come play today :) She is an absolute doll and her blog is pure bliss.

In other Blonde Ambition news...we have a winner of the June Giveaway! And she is...(drum roll, please)…

Paige of Pearls & Ponies

Congrats girl! I’m emailing you right now to get your shipping info. Oh and in case you’re dying to know, Paige chose the Rhinestone and Rope bracelet from Urban Outfitters as her item.

If you didn’t win this time, relax Max. I’m going to be doing an amazing giveaway for July to mark the one year birthday of A Blonde Ambition. Can you believe it has been a whole year already? Trust me, you won’t want to miss out, because it’s GOOD.

Be blessed, lovelies-







Photo credits: Alexandra Grablewski

Something Sweet

Fair warning: I'm about to get mushy. Like a lunar eclipse or lasting Hollywood marriage; it's rare, but it happens.

But seriously...

I feel like God has blessed me beyond belief lately with some amazing new opportunites at work, with the blog and in so many other aspects.

I seldom take the chance to express my gratitude for all the good things in my life and frankly, this week has been a reminder of just how sweet life truly can be. So I want to extend my many, many thanks to you guys, my family, friends and co-workers for your loyalty and continuous support.

I'd love to give you all something "sweet" in return, so here is a recipe that I found and recently tried for Lemon Poppy Seed Cupcakes. They are positively divine, ya'll.

For the recipe, just click here.

Before I go, be SURE to stop by tomorrow because I'll be announcing a new crazy/awesome giveaway, which you won't want to miss. See you then!

Be blessed, lovelies-