My FInessed Life Has Been Nominated for an Award!

Whoop whoop!  Hey Finessees! I've been nominated for a Liebster Award!  It's the blogosphere community's  way of saying hey your blog is awesome.  I am honored!!!  I tried to find the origins of the award but cannot get further than link backs to others that have been nominated.  It seems that the main intent of the award is to give public recognition to new blogs with less than 200 followers.

A big salute to Melody aka Scudds Harrison of Dosmesstique.com for nominating me.  There are few rules attached this award:

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11 THINGS ABOUT ME:

1. Hair doesn't grow on my legs.
2. I had braces as a kid and invisalign as an adult.
3. I broke my thumb riding a 10-speed when I was ten years old.
4. My great-grandmother's name was Apples (Gwyneth you're late LOL)
5. I met and dated my husband in 1990.  Met up again in 2000.  The rest is LOVE.
6. I have 13 year old cat named Egypt.
7. I have a six figure student loan debt (OMGeeeee).
8. I always consider the worst case scenario when planning things.
9. I am a make up fanatic.
10. I hate to clean, but I am a clean fanatic
11. Horses are my favorite animals.

11 QUESTIONS FROM MELODY:

1. What is your biggest goal for this year? Improve my overall wellness

2.Where do you want to be in 5 years? Living with reduced debt.

3.What stage of life are you in right now? Pump your brakes and enjoy my family mode

4. What is the last thing you said out loud? Mommy doesn't want to hold your juice.

5.  What song comes closest to how you feel about your life right now? Every day I'm hustling.

6.Does your life tend to get better or worse or does it just stay the same? Cyclic--it's always really difficult before growth.

7.Does time really heal all wounds? Hell to the no!  LOL Just makes the pill easier to swallow.

8.How do you handle a rainy day? TV, blog, online retail therapy.

9. Do you tend to be aware of what is going on around you? A little too much.  I'm into details.

10.What is the truest thing that you know? That a higher being controls our lives.

11.Who have you hugged today? My husband and daughter.

AND NOW MY NOMINEES:

Joi @RxFitnessLady

Patricia @ TheDIYFrenchie

Hope @ DefiningHope

HERE ARE THE 11 QUESTIONS FOR MY NOMINEES:
1.  What's the meaning behind the name of your blog?
2.  If you were a superhero, who would you be?
3.  What's your guilty pleasure?
4.   Favorite color?
5.  What's your most expensive and/or extravagant purchase?
6.  What's your biggest fear?
7.  What did you want to be when you grew up? 
8.  Are you doing #7?
9.  What's your biggest life lesson to date?
10. What are your blogging goals for 2013?
11.   What's a bad habit that you want to break?

Check out Scudds site here

Favorite Things Friday: The Color Turquoise

Happy Friday finessees! I am a girly girl in every way except one...I love pink.  However, I loovve turquoise! Robin's Egg blue makes me palpate.  I have a board on my pinterest dedicated to the color (see here).  Here's a round up turquoise things that make my heart sing.  Enjoy!

Somerset Bay Gustavia Cabinet from Layla Grayce

TRT: Tiffany Reversible Tote

Kitchen Aid Artisan Stand Mixer @ Macys.com

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Pool Faux Bois Magazine Holder from Paper-source.com

Sophie Conran Celadon Pitcher @ Macys.com

Nike FreeRun4 @ store.nike.com

This is where I go for my turquoise fix.... Erin @HouseofTurqoise.com eat sleep, lives Turquoise!

Take an additional 25% off sale boots and booties Enter code BOOTS25. Excludes all regular priced boots and booties. Offer valid 4/22-5/15.

Also did this today:

Deisgner Crush: Sarah Richardson

If you watch HGTV, the name Sarah Richardson is quite familiar.  Sarah Richardson is a Canadian interior designer and television personality who started out her career as a prop stylist in 1994. Since then, Richardson has hosted the design series Room Service, Design Inc., Sarah's House and Sarah's Cottage for HGTV.

I LOVE this woman's design esthetic.  I often use her for inspiration.  Too bad, my creations never translate into something this fabulous.  Here is a look at one of her creations...It's a modern family room that she calls City Chic Lounge.  It is a light filled gathering space that provides plenty of seating for dining and lounging.  Great inspiration for my living/dining area (previously posted here).

 

*All images via

Wellness Wednesday: Light on Calories vs. Not So Much

I love carrot cake.  However, at approximately 575 calories a slice (cue Norman Bates Music), it is no longer an option for me. I went on the hunt for a lighter yet still tasty version.  I found a healthier version (lighter/less calorie version) on allrecipes.com.

HEALTHIER VERSION 




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Ingredients:
4 eggs
3/4 cup vegetable oil
1 1/2 cups white sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups whole wheat pastry flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
3 cups grated carrots
1 cup chopped pecans


Frosting:
1/4 cup butter, softened
1 (8 ounce) package Neufchatel cheese, softened
2 cups confectioners' sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup chopped pecans


Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a 9x13-inch pan.
2. Beat together eggs, oil, white sugar, and 2 teaspoons vanilla extract in a large bowl. Mix in flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon. Stir in carrots. Fold in pecans. Pour into prepared pan.
3. Bake in preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into center of cake comes out clean, 40 to 50 minutes. Let cool in pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack and cool completely.
4. To make frosting: Combine butter, Neufchatel cheese, confectioner's sugar, and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract. Beat until mixture is smooth and creamy. Stir in chopped pecans. Spread frosting over completely cooled cake.

This lighter version is approximately 399 calories pers serving.  It isn't as moist as more decadent recipe, but still yummy!  Careful not to overeat, or else you defeat the purpose of the lighter recipe.


CALORIE DENSE  (But Delicious)



                   Ingredients:

4 eggs

1 1/4 cup vegetable oil

2 cups white sugar

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

3 cups grated carrots

1 cup chopped pecans

Frosting:

1/2 cup butter, softened

8 ounces cream cheese, softened

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup chopped pecans

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a 9x13 inch pan.
2. In a large bowl, beat together eggs, oil, white sugar and 2 teaspoons vanilla. Mix in flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt and cinnamon. Stir in carrots. Fold in pecans. Pour into prepared pan.
3. Bake in the preheated oven for 40 to 50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Let cool in pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack and cool completely.
4. To Make Frosting: In a medium bowl, combine butter, cream cheese, confectioners' sugar and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Beat until the mixture is smooth and creamy. Stir in chopped pecans. Frost the cooled cake.

This recipe is sooo good that it just might convert non carrot cake eaters into partakers.  Very decadent. VERY CALORIE DENSE (almost 600 calories a serving)!!!!

My Latest Obsession: Camoflauge

 Alex in camo pants simliar pants at Nordstrom

Wendy in Zara Similar here at shopbop.com

Brooklyn Blonde in Camo Tee (available @ shopbop.com)

via similar available at gap.com

atlantic-pacific.com jacket jcrew.com similar available at asos.com 

Nordstrom TopMan Chino

Home Decor: Barn Doors Part 2

Hey Finesses!  Last Monday I shared my affinity for barn door decor (here).  Here is a really cool barn door creation I found (here)

This Hardware

This Mirror

This Beautiful Creation

 

Retail Finesse: Welcome Our Newest Affiliate JUICE BEAUTY

Hey Finesses!  My Finessed Life is please to announce it's newest affiliate Juice Beauty!

Clinically Validated Authentically Organic image via

Brand Story

Juice Beauty… high efficacy yet authentically organic beauty solutions masterminded by a California team passionate about healthy lifestyles and whose organic products are backed by powerful science.

It all started when Karen Behnke, serial wellness entrepreneur, who built one of the first corporate wellness companies in the country, developed a keen interest in personal care products upon becoming pregnant with her first child at the age of 40. She was astounded to learn that, although the skin absorbs over 60% of what is placed on it, there were very few available healthy personal care products that worked well.

Karen subsequently bought the name “Juice Beauty” and launched the Company. Juice Beauty’s mission is to bring high efficacy, authentically organic, and pleasurable beauty solutions to people worldwide. Juice Beauty is proud to fulfill this mission with their clinically validated products supported by solid eco-values including the purchasing from certified organic farmers and manufacturing with California’s sun (solar power).

Karen has assembled a team of experienced professionals and scientists who are pioneering organic efficacy within the beauty products industry. Juice Beauty, with its unique antioxidant 
packed organic juice base, is featured in retailers throughout North America and Asia and was awarded its first patent for the unique Green Apple Peel formulation.

Clinically Validated Age Defying and Blemish Clearing Results

Juice Beauty uses powerful ingredients such as alpha lipoic acid, coenzyme Q10, DMAE, peptides, fat soluble Vitamin C and essential fatty acids for optimum results proven by clinical studies that have shown an 85% reduction in free radical skin cell damage (which means less wrinkles and sun spots!).

Authentically Organic Antioxidant Juice Base

Most beauty products that use “organic” in their marketing use only a few organic ingredients in a water base, making the total organic content dilute and often less than 5%. Instead of the typical water base that cannot be certified “organic or pesticide free,” Juice Beauty puts over 100 USDA certified organic powerful ingredients into a 100% certified organic juice base (made from over 30 different juices) thus bringing the total organic content up to 98% in every product.

Commitment to Healthy Ingredients

The Juice Beauty team continually searches the West Coast for the purest, most effective organic ingredients, including organic juices, aloe vera, honey, botanicals, plant oils, and raw cane sugar from farms that specialize in sustainable and organic farming.

These amazing formulations are made without parabens, petroleum, propylene or butylene glycol, sodium lauryl sulfates, pesticides, phthalates, artificial dyes or synthetic fragrances.

Juice Beauty is the Organic Solution

 

Retail Finesse: Welcome Affiliate Nordstrom

My Finessed Life would like to issue a whole hearted welcome to Nordstrom!!!! 

Nordstrom.com features leading apparel, shoe and accessory fashions for men, women, juniors and kids. Customers also enjoy the latest in beauty, personal care, home décor and gifts. Designer Collections make the shopping experience complete with ready-to-wear, shoes and accessories from celebrated American and European designers.

Nordstrom oh how I love thee. Ya'll know the routine...here's a round up of  items that you are more than welcome to send my way LOLBVS.  Stay finessed, and let Nordstrom help you do it ;-)

Vince Camuto 'Eliana' Sandal

Topshop Mixed Media Body-Con Dress

 

Select styles starting at $16. Shop everyday playwear for toddlers

Xscape Embellished Metallic Chiffon Gown

3.1 Phillip Lim Zip Henley Blouse

Chloe 'Marcie - Small' Leather Satchel Hollyberry