Easy Sunday

I love when Sunday's are simple and easy going, and you're able to enjoy the day, not necessarily doing anything out of the ordinary, but actually being with the people that mean the most to you. Today I went for a laid back, slightly bohemian look, with ripped shorts, white blouse and one of my favorite go to pieces for summer, this Zara coverup. I'm obsessed with Tory Burch's ballerinas for my everyday, go anywhere shoe, and having them in leather or a tan color makes the possibilities endless in terms of looks. Pairing this coverup can sometimes be tricky, so I always choose to go with a simple solid color top underneath and let the coverup be the statement piece. On weekends I usually tend to prefer no fuss looks, the ones you feel the most comfortable in, and these usually tend to say more about yourself than any other. Hope you enjoyed your Sunday!

Let me know what you think.

Xo

Flor

Photos by: RaRod

Blouse: Dex, Coverup: Zara, Shorts: Billabong, Shoes: Tory Burch, Bag: 3.1 Phillip Lim, Shades: Tom Ford

Rebecca Minkoff Denim Collection

What could you expect of the very talented Rebecca Minkoff Denim Collection? If sheer perfection is one of those things that pops into your mind... I'm glad to say you're totally correct! There are certain pieces that are crucial in any closet, a great pair of jeans, shorts and the perfect t-shirt, this denim collection gives you all those and more. Personally, I'm obsessed with the paisley shorts, boyfriend jeans and all the t-shirts. The shorts offer you a super versatile cut, you can cuff them up if you like, pair them with ballerina's and one of the t-shirts for a great casual look, or with sandals and statement jewelry, for a beachy type night look. 

These t-shirts will be the perfect go to for your entire summer, ranging from running a quick errand, to lounging in your house, to even matching it with skinny jeans or a great skirt for a more sophisticated look. This entire collection would be any fashionista's dream summer wardrobe, really, I can already see so many looks with all these pieces. And if you even needed another reason to fall head over heels for this entire collection, every piece sold contributes a portion to the No Kid Hungry Campaign. So, if you do purchase a piece know that you will be making a good contribution! Hope you liked this post!

Let me know!

Xo

Flor

Images from Elle.com

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Classic Combination

There's something just so classy about the combination of jeans and a white top, it's one of those things that you know will look great. When it comes to button blouses I love Ralph Lauren's traditional fit, I usually choose them one size larger of what I actually am because I prefer them to be loose and really like how they look. I'm really into ripped cuffed jeans for summer, so it was only natural that I matched these two together. I loved how this casual look came out,it's a traditional look but with a really laid back, young twist to it. I decided to pair the look with strappy sandals, but it would also look amazing with some cool loafers for a more versatile look, I'm really into these Tory Burch loafers. What are you sporting for these summer days?

Let me know!

Xo

Flor

Blouse: Ralph Lauren, Jeans: Volcom, Bag: 3.1 Phillip Lim, Shoes: Idore, Shades: Tom Ford

The Perfect Bag

If there's any summer essential item that every woman should have, it's a bag you can take from anywhere to anywhere. Case in point... this canvas tote, it's casual and polished at the same time and it'll look great with a cute summer dress, jeans or shorts and work as the perfect beach tote carrying all your essentials. This tote is really classy, but extremely versatile, it'll look great with the most traditional dresser to the bohemian/surfer dresser and everything in between. I chose this tote because of its slim shape and detachable strap, I've been victim of the too big and too clumsy bags or the ones with really uncomfortable handles. Since this bag has many uses I pulled two different looks for different occasions with the same bag, hope you like them!

Denim and canvas look amazing together, so it was a no brainer to match them for this look. I went for a very casual afternoon style, probably for a weekend of vintage shopping. I loved these Tory Burch loafers and the contrast they have with the more traditional bag and blouse, the detailing on the shorts also help add some spice to the complete look. Combining different styles is always a good idea, and these pieces all have a relaxed and easy going nature in common.

I'm crazy over this mini-pineapple J.Crew bikini, it's super fun and kind of unexpected! This bag is perfect for the beach, you can fit a sarong, shades, sunblock, magazines or books inside while still looking like a pro beach goer, someone that gets their tan on every day and knows not to overpack. I really didn't want to hide the bikini, so I went for a sarong so you could still see the top and appreciate the pineapple print. You can transition from the sand to a nice beachside restaurant without having to switch from an oversized beach tote to a handbag with this one, and it will look great with a maxi or short dress.

Let me know what you think!

Xo

Flor

Madewell Tote
Mini-Pineapple J.Crew Bikini 
J.Crew Denim Blouse
Zara Shorts
Tory Burch Hat
Vix Pareo

Coffee & Hazelnut Cake

This Coffee and Hazelnut Cake tastes like heaven! Super moist with just the right amount of buttercream to hazelnut ratio. I won't say it's super easy to make just because it's pretty time consuming, but if you have skinned hazelnuts then it's not so time consuming. You can swap the hazelnuts for some delicious macadamia nuts or go for something that you probably already have in your pantry, like some walnuts. This is a nice twist to the more usual chocolate or vanilla cakes, it's always nice to change things up! If you really like a lot of frosting on your cake or you're baking it for someone who does, you'd probably would like to double the frosting recipe, I personally love the look of just frosting the top and the center of the cake, it looks really effortless and homey, Hope you enjoy the recipe!

Let me know what you think!

Xo

Flor

Coffee & Hazelnut Cake

1 cup skinned hazelnuts

1 1/2 cups self-rising flour

1 tsp baking powder

1 cup unsalted butter, softened

2/3 cup packed brown sugar

4 large eggs, lightly beaten

2 tablespoons milk

2 tablespoons very strong brewed coffee, cooled

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly butter two 8x2" round cake pans, then line the bottom with parchment paper.

Spread the hazelnuts on a baking sheet. Bake for 5-1o minutes until lightly roasted, shaking sheet once and watching carefully to make sure they don't burn. Let cool. Finely chop 2/3 cup of the hazelnuts and set aside for the cake. Coarsely chop the remaining hazelnuts and reserve for the garnish.

Sift together flour and baking powder into a bowl and set aside. In an electric mixer, cream together butter and sugar for about 5 minutes, until very light and fluffy.

Add eggs very slowly,with the electric mixer running, adding 1 tablespoon of flour during the process to prevent curdling. Using a large rubber spatula, fold in the remaining flour, finely chopped hazelnuts, milk, and coffee until well blended.

Spread evenly between the pans and bake for 25-30 minutes or until cakes spring back to the touch or wooden toothpick comes out clean. Remove from oven and let cool slightly in the pans. Turn out on wire racks and remove paper and let cool completely. 

Buttercream

7 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened

1 3/4 cups confectioners' sugar

2 tablespoons very strong brewed coffee, cooled

Directions

Cream butter and sugar together for at least 5 minutes or until really light and airy, then add the coffee. Mix well. 

Spread half the buttercream on to the base of one cake, lay the other on top and finish with remaining buttercream. Sprinkle the coarsely chopped hazelnuts and voilá! 

Celebrating Summer

In name of celebrating summer's first official weekend I did what any person living near a beach would do, use it as an excuse for yet another weekend of soaking up the sun. Location: Rincón, Puerto Rico and the look: laid back tropical vibe. If there's one thing that I prefer for the beach after a sarong, it's an oversized button down blouse; you can just through it over your swimsuit for a really effortless look or match it with shorts or a sarong for a more complete look, perfect for catching a quick lunch or drinks before heading back to the beach. This blouse is about my age, and it's one of those things I've taken ownership from my parents closets, I mean common, with this insane print I just had to add it to my own. I wanted it to be all about the blouse, so a solid colored sarong was the ideal match and adding the iconic panama hat was a must in completing this tropical look. Summer is without a doubt the time to take out those "What was I thinking" prints, it's supposed to be fun and relaxed, so forget about not being too confident to wear those prints and just enjoy them! Hope you like this look!

Let me know what you think!

Xo

Flor 

Photos by: RaRod

Blouse: The Limited, Sarong: Unknown, Bikini: Vix, Hat: Panama Hat, Shades: Nine West

Mixing It With Grey

Lately I've been really into experimenting with grey, I used to think that it was a pretty boring color, but  it really has a huge potential. You can match grey with yellow, purple and bright green for a really refreshing and fun look, go more traditional with white or try grey on grey like I did. This look really came out great because of the mixing between the shades of grey and the added visual interest from the print on the blouse. The necklace was the key finishing ingredient, it added a huge tribal flair that tied in perfectly with the blouse. Grey no longer is a boring color in my book and it's ability to be mixed with a variety of colors makes it perfect for every season.  Hope you liked this look!

Let me know!

Xo

Flor

Photos by RaRod

Blouse: Matty M, Skort: BCBG, Bag: Rag & Bone, Shoes: Christian Siriano, Shades: Tom Ford

Summer Solstice

First of all, summer officially began today with the longest day of the year, so happy summer solstice! Today I channeled one of summer's upcoming trends, palm tree leaves with this blouse. Their couldn't be a better combination than a V-neck in front, low scoop on the back and the combination of palm leaves and bright yellow, if that doesn't embody a perfect summer day I don't know what does. I love wearing wide leg pants on hot days, they're super comfortable and they give that laid back, simple beauty summer is really all about. Pairing neutrals with bright color is always genius, so don't be afraid to do so, and if you're not into really bold patterns this blouse is a perfect example, it has the pattern, but it's all in the same color pallet, which makes it really subtle and easy to wear. Hope you like this look and enjoy summer's longest day!

Let me know what you think!

Xo

Flor

 I wanted to share this photo I took today; nature is really beautiful and it's so easy to forget to appreciate things like these and be grateful for the little details!

Blouse: Hurley, Pants: Banana Republic, Shades: Tom Ford, Bag: 3.1 Phillip Lim, Rings: ALC and YSL

Lemon on Lemon Cookies

I've just added a new favorite recipe to the list, these lemon cookies with lemon filling are amazing! The cookie itself is a great recipe, with a really buttery texture and the filling is the finishing touch, you could definitely mix this recipe up and switch the lemon zest & juice and instead use orange. This is the first time I tried to make sandwich cookies and I must say that I felt like a pro baker, I had always stayed away from them thinking that they were too complicated, but these are really easy and fun. Note to self would be to make the cookies thinner and add lemon zest to the filling, but if you're not too crazy  over a very lemony taste the original lemon filling recipe works just fine. These cookies would be the perfect companion for a coffee or tea brake! Hope you like them!

Let me know!

Xo

Flor

Lemon Cookies

2 sticks unsalted butter, room temperature

1 cup confectioners' sugar

1 tablespoon finely grated lemon zest (about 1 lemon)

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for rolling

2 tablespoons granulated sugar, for sprinkling

Steps:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl using an electric mixer on high speed, beat butter, confectioners' sugar, lemon zest, and salt until combined. With mixer on low, add flour, finishing mixing with a wooden spoon.

Turn dough out onto a piece of plastic wrap, pat into a disk about 1/2 inch thick. Wrap, and chill until firm, about 1 hour and up to 3 days.

Place dough on a lightly floured piece of parchment paper. With a lightly floured rolling pin, roll dough about 1/8 inch thick. (If dough cracks, let it warm up slightly).

Cut cookies with a 1 1/2 inch round cutter. Place 1 inch apart; sprinkle with granulated sugar. Bake until bare beginning to brown, about 15 to 20 minutes. Let cool completely.

Lemon Filling

2 cups confectioners' sugar

1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice

Steps:

Combine sugar and lemon zest until smooth but not runny, add more confectioners' sugar to thicken.

Source: Martha Stewart 

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Summer Inspiration

I wouldn't mind cruising through summers' high temperatures in skirts like these. Bright colors, structural and cool prints are the call of the day to fend off from the heat. Skirts are one of my personal go to pieces during summer, they're fun, easy and super feminine. It's a full task looking put together and chic when your trying not to melt away, and simple but statement pieces like these skirts will be you ideal partner. Cuts, colors and prints will make any skirt look amazing and will amp your look up immediately, personally I'm crazy over structural modern inspired skirts! Hope you like this post!

Let me know!

Xo

Flor

Photo Source: Harper's Bazaar 

Beautiful & Delicate

The perfect way to match a beautiful & delicate floral pattern might just be with a flowy and organic looking companion. I bought these Zara shorts last summer, and I think I can confess right now that I will never throw them away, I'll just take them with me wherever I go. I've learned to appreciate beautiful and delicate prints with time, It's probably because of the ever maturing cycle we go through, but I like to think that there's just something about what's truly beautiful that's more impacting than what's trendy or more in your face. I love that this gorgeous print was translated to shorts and that you can also find similar ones on jeans or pants, because it makes it more wearable rather than sunday dresses, which honestly we would look rather out of place wearing them to go somewhere like the supermarket (imagine something like the Stepford Wives). So, here's to sporting beautiful floral patterns for the everyday without channeling a robotish vibe. Hope you like the look!

Let me know!

Xo

Flor

Blouse: Dex, Shorts: Zara, Shoes: Boutique 9, Shades: Ray-Ban, Bag: Small shop in Venice

Doubling The Dress

Would you ever consider wearing a swimsuit coverup to a fancy dinner party or for a more casual summer get together? Well, let me tell you that you can use your coverup for other occasions during the year. If you happen to have one in a solid color you'll have more options, can you imagine wearing a fish theme dress to a fancy dinner? I can't either... so lets stick to solids. I chose to style this swanky black coverup two different ways, sophisticated and a more casual way by just switching shoes, accessories and hair. 

What makes this coverup double as a great dress is the draping effect created by tying it behind the neck. For the first look I went for a modern and really sophisticated touch, I kept all the jewelry gold tone and simple. I kept the hair loose and swept to the side, choose an Alexander McQueen clutch for the graphics and modern shape and sky high pumps to really finish the look. Red lips are always a great accessory, so I kept them on both looks.

I couldn't help but to think of a few ways to style the coverup, but ended choosing this casual look in addition to the one above. Tying the hair in a bun automatically gave the dress a more primordial role in the complete look and a more casual feel. I decided to pair the dress with platforms as to tackle any terrain, while still looking amazing. I changed up the jewelry and preferred big bracelets with wooden details to give the look a more daytime laid back effect, but I did keep the earrings simple with these gold hoops. The round bright yellow bag is really fun and different, completing the casual look, but showing that casual doesn't necessarily mean underdressed. I hope you start seeing coverups in a different way, and can incorporate them to different occasions during the year besides the beach! 

Let me know what you think & hope everyone had a great father's day!

Xo 

Flor

(First Look) Coverup: La Blanca, Jewelry: John Hardy, Shoes: Brian Atwood, Shades: Tom Ford, Bag: Alexander McQueen

(Second Look) Cover up: La Blanca, Shoes: Christian Sirriano, Shades: Tom Ford, Bag: Store from the airport in Venice