Mixing Prints

I completely went out of my comfort zone with this outfit - mixing a paisley pattern with navy/white stripes. But wearing funky patterns mixed together adds a whole new element of fun - not just to your outfit, but to your day. It was almost exhilarating, and God knows I need some of that right now! It's been horribly muggy and humid here lately, so please excuse the frizz-inspired hair. (My hair turns quite fro-like with even an ounce of humidity in the air.)

Quick little story about these fabulous heels - I drooled, ooooohed, and aaahed, over the Zara ones that nearly every somewhat known blogger has. Typical me, I procrastinated in purchasing them and they were quickly  sold out. I ended up snagging these gorgeous Ivanka Trump's  from work and love them even more - they have cut out detailing on the side, the extra little black on the back, and the front is a tad bit more pointed. I even saved a few bucks! (Thanks to my Nordy's discount.)

|Outfit Details| Blazer: Forever 21 Steal | Top + Skirt: J.Crew | Heels: Ivanka Trump

| Bag: Michael Kors (gift) | Necklace: gifted Sorrelli | Jewelry: J. Crew, Target, MK Watch |

Soo, I'm curious - what are you favorite patterns/prints/colors to mix? Share some ideas!

Foodie Fresh: Bowl o' Turkey Chili

Chili is one of my favorite meals to cook. It's quick and easy, suitable for leftover lunches and tacos, and is always a hit in my kitchen. [It's one of my BF's favorites!] I typically stir up a pot on a rainy, gloomy day - which we've had quite a few the past few days. It's warm and comforting when the weather isn't, and loaded with lots of fresh ingredients!

Ingredients:

1-2 lbs of fresh ground turkey *If you like lots of meat, use 2. Otherwise, use 1!
1 diced yellow onion
1/2 diced large pepper *any color will do!
2 cloves finely chopped garlic
1 chopped jalapeno
1 can black beans
1 can red kidney beans
1 can crushed tomatoes
1 can diced tomatoes
Fresh Cilantro
Chili seasoning *see below
Olive Oil

Your ingredients may vary according to your liking. If I have corn on hand, I'll throw some in, too!

Chili Seasoning:

Rather than purchasing the premade chili packets from the grocery store (which give me a headache every time) I concocted a recipe using my own spices at home! I don't use any particular amounts of one versus the other, but rather go more with taste.

Chili Powder
Cumin
Cayenne Pepper *caution: very hot
Paprika
Garlic + Pepper
Red Pepper Flakes *these are spicy

1. Once you have all your ingredients chopped up, sautee the peppers, onions, and garlic in 2 tbsp. olive oil until slightly cooked through. Add in your beans + crushed tomatoes to make a stew-like mixture. Simmer for about five minutes. (I do this process in my large pot.) Salt lightly to taste; sprinkle chili powder.

2. Meanwhile, in a separate skillet, cook the ground turkey. Keep excess juices.

3. Once turkey is cooked and mixture has simmered, add turkey and its juices and crushed tomatoes to simmering mixture. Stir thoroughly. Immediately add chili seasoning (above).

4. Reduce heat to low + simmer for a few hours, until desired taste - or if you just can't wait to eat!

5. Serve hot, garnished with fresh cilantro and any of your favorite chili toppings (cheese, sour cream, salsa)

Voila! Quick + Easy, but super healthy bowl o' chili.

Nail Snaps

It's no secret that I have a slight obsession with painting my tips or collecting the latest [Essie] polishes. I've tried all sorts of nail polish brands - Dior, Deborah Lippman, OPI, Color Club, Zoya, just to name a few - and none of them quite add up to the perfect combination of polish quality, longevity, and price as Essie. At least, in my book.

I paint my nails just about every two days. I get bored of the same color/color combo; I hate any chipped nails [my official worst nightmare]; and to be honest? Painting my nails relaxs me. It's almost like a little game of "Oh, what can I paint my nails next?"

So, here's just a few of my nail combos lately - snapped via instagram (follow: @StyleCusp).

Essie "Tart Deco" + Essie "Russian Roulette"

Essie "Glamour Purse" + Urban Outfitters "Crowded"

Essie "Tart Deco" + Urban Outfitters "Smush"

Essie Spring 2012 "Navigate Her" Collection

Essie "Tour de Finance" + Essie "Navigate Her"

Which color or color combo do you fancy?

Happy Wednesday, bloggies!


XO :: M

Outfit Snaps

With a work schedule that doesn't line up with my photographers, it's been difficult to capture outfit photos the past few months. I've settled to just snapping iPhone pictures (and now even some on my new sparkling iPad, eeeek!). Take a peak at some of my favorites from the past month or so, and of course don't forget to follow on instagram (@StyleCusp).

1. J.Crew neon orange toothpick jean | H&M Striped Tee | H&M + F21 Necklace | J.Crew starfish necklace | Me Too Wedges | Michael Kors Watch

2. J.Crew neon yellow toothpick jean | J. Crew White V-neck Tee | old AE scarf | DVF flip flops | Kate Spade bag

3. Cozy J.Crew short sleeved cowl-neck jersey

4. H&M Faux leather jacket | H&M lace top | Zara skirt | H&M Necklace

5. Mint Zara dress | Sorrelli jewels | Assorted bangles | MK Watch

Foodie Fresh : A Pizza

It's no secret that I love food. Take one peek at my instagram (stylecusp), and it looks much like foodgawker.com. A few posts back, I shared that I'd be bringing the foodie back into Style Cusp - which was always my original intent! I can honestly say I've missed sharing my recipes and cooking adventures here on the blog and it's much long overdue. I haven't decided on a name for the posts yet, and to be quite honest, I'm not sure if I will. I think I'll just go with whatever tastes good that day :)

For the first post, I'm bringing you a freshly homemade, gluten-free pizza. (Disclaimer: I do not have celiacs disease but have sensitivity's to too much wheat + gluten!)

Ingredients: 

1 Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free Pizza Mix
5 slices fresh prosciutto
2 Freshly sliced plum tomatoes
1 small package goat cheese (I used a Mediterranean seasoned one from Whole Foods)
1/2 Sliced onion (I used a white onion)
1 cup fresh arugula
Freshly made pesto

*Preheat oven to 375.

First mix your pizza crust according to the directions on the back. While it's rising, gather your ingredients, chopping and preparing anything you need to. Next, roll our your pizza crust. If you like a thick crust, use the entire mixed dough. If you prefer a thin crisp crust, cut it in half and save the rest for later in the week. Since this crust is Gfree, it's VERY sticky. You will need to water your fingers to prevent the entire dough from ending up on you!

Allow the crust to cook in oven for 10-15 before layering with any toppings. After removing, lather on your toppings however you'd like. I based it with a bit of olive oil before the pesto, for added moisture. To keep the tomatoes juicy, layer them either first or second. I don't know about you, but I'm not a fan of a crusted tomato! *Note: do not bake the arugula. Layer this on after the pizza is cooked and before serving. Otherwise, it wilts and becomes soggy.

Place layered pizza in over for the second time. The dough will now cook throughout and your toppings will cook/melt nicely together. Leave in oven for 15-20 minutes, or until crust is golden brown and cooked to your liking. This first round, I used the entire crust and kept it in for about 20 minutes.

After removing, layer with fresh arugula and serve! The flavors of the pesto + goat cheese were unbelievably delicious. Just the thought of it is making me hungry. If you decide to try this recipe, let me know how it turns out - and if you put your own personal twists on it!


Bon appetit, foodies!