A Twist of Flavor with S.Pellegrino Essenza

June 26, 2020

This post is sponsored by S. Pellegrino Essenza but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.

More than ever it’s important to celebrate joy in life - both big and small. This month my husband and I have been together for 14 years!! We are so lucky to have our beautiful outdoor space as part of our Manhattan home. Since many know my passion for cooking, I felt like this month would be the perfect opportunity to make something fun and yummy like my leek and mushroom quiche with gruyere cheese.

But just because we’re home doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy and get ready to celebrate. With the perfect pairing of S.Pellegrino Essenza flavored mineral water, these drinks add a twist of flavor to any dish! I love the subtle tastes of leeks and mushrooms paired with the delicious flavor of Tangerine & Wild Strawberry! For my favorite quiche recipe, follow link here.

S.Pellegrino Essenza Flavored Mineral Water is versatile, and made with natural flavors, with zero calories and zero sweeteners. That's why it's my drink of choice! The Dark Morello Cherry & Pomegranate is great with cherries alone, but I would imagine it would be delish with a charcuterie plate too. The Lemon & Lemon Zest is wonderful all on its own as a refresher but any type of seafood dish would work well with this flavor. Citrus and salmon? Count me in on that!

Which flavor would you try first? Treat yourself the next time you shop online at Walmart and grab a pack of S.Pellegrino Essenza Flavored Mineral Water, it makes every meal a delicious masterpiece!

LOVE & XX’S,

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Festival Season Essentials with Babbleboxx

May 14, 2019

FESTIVAL SEASON ESSENTIALS: SAMSONITE GO CLEAR BACKPACK | SIMPLE MOBILE ELECTRONICS | G SHOCK x CASIO WATCH | ZENNI OPTICAL SUNGLASSES | MANE CLUB HAIR MASKS

THIS POST IS SPONSORED BY BABBLEBOXX BUT ALL OPINIONS ARE MY OWN.

Music festival season is here! With the annual jumpstart at Coachella, there’s so many other festivals one can attend throughout the year such as Governor’s Ball, Austin City Limits, Lollapalooza, Electric Forest (dying to go to this one) and more. I’ve cut back on the festival scene mainly because of age (hard to walk 8-10 miles a day on messed-up figure skating knees lol) plus I don’t even know half of the artists/musicians out there anymore but I still try to go to at least one festival a year, if not at least a concert or two. Which is why I’m thrilled to have partnered with Babbleboxx to introduce to you my music festival checklist, including a few things that I’ll always pack with me! Continue reading to learn more about my must-have festival essentials.

GO CLEAR BACKPACK

Keep your personal belongings in the clear with the durable, BPA-free backpack. Thoughtfully designed, this event friendly backpack from Samsonite offers a large main compartment, and an easy access front zipper pocket for smaller personal items. These types of backpacks are great when it comes to passing through security for certain events and game days, making it easier for everyone. Plus, these types of clear bags of any kind are totally trending right now, so you’ll also look super cool on top of quicker clearance.

GO-TO ELECTRONICS

I’m always in need of a good portable charger. Especially when at a special event and not wanting to run out of battery before the main act! And while being out at nighttime, I also love to use a selfie ring light. Thanks to SIMPLE Mobile, the selfie ring light is so easy to use. Simply attach to your phone and snap the perfect festival selfies to share on social media. SIMPLE Mobile also carry phones and great plans such as their 30-Day Plans offer unlimited talk & text, plus generous amounts of high- speed data on a lightning-fast 4G LTE† network starting at $25, all with no contract and no mystery fees or overage charges. SIMPLE Mobile keeps music fans connected all festival season long with affordable, no-contract plans that offer unlimited talk, text and truly unlimited high-speed data, and amazing deals on the latest, must-have smartphones. Check them out at www.SIMPLEmobile.com

SPORTS WATCH

A new addition to the Metallic Face Collection, this Baby-G S Series timepiece brings function and fun together with metallic details and G-Shock technology. A stylish, matte finish, this watch is designed with a 45.9mm navy resin case with a rose gold-toned dial. Other features of this timepieces include analog and digital dial displays, shock resistance, magnetic resistance, auto LED light with afterglow, world time, 5 daily alarms with 1 snooze, stopwatch, countdown timer and is water resistant to 200 meters. It’s definitely efficient and very fashionable at the same time. G Shock x Casio also comes in a variety of other colors.

COOL PAIR OF SUNNIES

Hide those beautiful eyes behind the scorching sun. These large square sunglasses are made with high-quality acetate that is hand-polished to a glossy finish. This frame is available in brown (shown with polarized gray tint) and green (shown with polarized gray tint). Not only are they very retro, they’re big enough to cover those dark circles from the morning after and to keep up with all that’s going down in the heat, all the while protecting my eyes. Zenni Optical has a bunch of different stylish sunnies to go with so many festival looks. Check out the collection here: https://www.zennioptical.com/festival-sunglasses

HAIR CARE GALORE

When it comes to my hair during the warmer months, and especially being outdoors all day at events like festivals, I’m always looking for anti-frizz and repair/strengthening products to tame the mane. I have naturally wavy hair thanks to my Polish roots, so when I discovered these hair masks from the Indie beauty brand, Mane Club, here in NYC, I had to share their products!

MANE CLUB – Expert Procrastinator 5-in-1 Deep Conditioner Mask Combat frizz today, do everything else tomorrow. Hey babe, we all deserve a lazy day. Just relax and we’ll do the work for you Scent: Sugared Dreams Junk Free Formula

MANE CLUB – Cha Ching 5-in-1 Deep Conditioner Mask Get moisture rich strands and feel like a million bucks. Hey babe, you’ve got expensive taste but don’t worry – this conditioning mask does it all and won’t break the bank. You’re welcome Scent: Berry Rich Junk Free Formula

MANE CLUB – Babe Alert 5-in-1 Conditioner Mask You look good. Wanna glow out? Hey babe, you deserve the best of the best. So, we made this conditioning mask that does it all just for you. Scent: Flirty Florals Junk Free Formula

MANE CLUB – Cry Baby 5-in-1 Deep Conditioner Mask When your deep conditioner says repairing but you’re still broken on the inside. Hey babe, turn that frown upside down. Wash your worries away and treat yourself to this conditioning mask that does it all. Scent: Crushed Fruits Junk Free Formula

MANE CLUB – Bad Attitude 5-in-1 Deep Conditioner Mask Sorry, I can’t hear you over the volume of my hair. Hey babe, we’ll help keep your attitude and your hair in check with this conditioning mask that does it all. Scent: Sweet & Spicy Junk Free Formula

MANE CLUB – Wild Thang 5-in-1 Deep Conditioner Mask Break hearts, not strands. Hey babe, no regrets. Do your thang and keep your hair looking 100 with this conditioning mask that does it all. Scent: Coco-nuts Junk Free Formula

LOVE & XX’S,

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Top 3 Flavorful Teas

January 26, 2019

This post is sponsored by Celestial Seasonings but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.

Apparently I’ve turned British. Ever since first visiting London last February (my third time there will be next month!) I can’t get enough of drinking tea! I’ve always been a coffee person, but nowadays you can find me drinking at least a couple of cups of tea per day. Whether it’s with a big cup of tea as my afternoon pick-me-up, or my way to help fall asleep right before bed time, there’s certain kinds of teas that are used for certain time periods of the day. Which is why I’m thrilled to partner with Celestial Seasonings Tea and sharing with you this weekend, my top three flavorful teas of all time! They’re not all fruity or citrusy, each has its own unique flavor. So why not continue reading to find out which ones are my favorite and why I drink them so often.

There are a few reasons why I love to drink tea. I love to drink tea when I’m sick, when I need help falling asleep, and something to get me through the mid-afternoon hump we all sometimes fall into. Or even, especially on a rainy day, I like to curl up on the couch, reading a good book and sipping on one of my favorite teas. Nothing better to warm up with that a good ole’ cup of hot tea. Let’s start with my most favorite flavor when it comes to tea. It’s really quite peachy :)

1. PEACH

One of my favorite flavors in tea to drink is peach. Because you can savor it both hot and cold, you can be assured I go through a lot of peach tea. And when I tried the Country Peach Passion tea from Celestial Seasonings, it’s been the only peach tea I’ve been drinking since! A blend of floral chamomile, aromatic citrus and sweet peaches give this brew a decadent peaches and cream flavor. Makes for a really great iced tea as well during the warmer season.

2. PEPPERMINT

Peppermint tea can be enjoyed year round, hot or cold, either simply for its great taste or to help soothe the stomach. But it’s the only hot beverage I’ll drink when I’m sick. Whether I’m bed-ridden with the flu or just having a nasty cold, peppermint tea is my remedy. Celestial Seasonings’ Peppermint Herbal Tea is caffeine-free and tastes so fresh that it stands superbly on its own. The peppermint they use is sourced in the Pacific Northwest, from Oregon and Washington farmers with whom we’ve built longstanding relationships.

3. HONEY VANILLA CHAMOMILE

Soothing yourself after a long day can be tough, and there are times when simply trying to overcome stress just creates more anxiety. The good news is that there is one longstanding and deliciously easy option out there to help bring balance to your world: chamomile tea. Tasting slightly of apple, chamomile tea is a favorite among regular tea drinkers for its simple tastiness and range of benefits. I love to drink this when I have trouble sleeping due to stress and anxiety. The calming flavor along with honey & vanilla is so relaxing and never fails to put me to sleep.

Not a fan of these particular 3 flavored teas? Be sure to check out Celestial Seasonings Tea for they have a large assortment of flavors. Other factors that makes Celestial Seasonings Tea great? Their sustainability (stringless tea bags that come packaged in recycled boxes), being super affordable, as well as being zero to low calories. What are your top 3 favorite flavored teas? Whether it's opting for healthier alternatives to sugary drinks or adding in night time steps to ensure a good nights rest, you can count on Celestial Seasonings Tea. Available at Walmart. Wishing you all a relaxing and enjoyable weekend (with tea, of course.) :)

LOVE & XX’S,

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Zavo Restaurant & Lounge New York

December 8, 2018

Okay… today’s the first day where I’m really feeling the cold. I’m a Midwest girl at heart, so the winter season doesn’t bother me much, but in New York, with the humidity AND the cold? It feels much more cold than normal. So what to do on a freezing day like today? I’d say just stay inside, but if you get cabin fever like me and need to get out of the house, you should go and check out ZAVŌ. A luxurious new Mediterranean restaurant that engages all of your senses, it’s the perfect location too after marathoning through a shopping spree. Got your holiday errands all checked off yet? If not, it’s cool. Me neither. Why not sit down and take a break in between with a glass of wine at my new favorite spot in Lenox Hill?

A stylish and seductive multi-level celebration of Mediterranean cuisine and culture, ZAVŌ elevates the dining experience. Amidst tastefully appointed decor and lighting, the menu is just as scrumptious. Savor a cocktail at the sleek marble bar or unwind on the outdoor terrace. We sat in the dining room section with a pleasant ambience and excellent service. The staff was so sweet to give us a complete tour of their almost 1-year old restaurant in Lenox Hill (UES). ZAVŌ’s second floor is accessed via a private entrance on East 60th Street. Ascend the sweeping staircase to the intimate piano lounge, bar and refined private dining rooms, they offer unparalleled, five-star catering services cultivated from their deep expertise with corporate and special events. The Chef’s special selected menu changes daily to reflect their fascinating and unique live entertainment such as 50 Shades and Venetian/Masquerade Nights and others. It’s a great space for holiday parties right now, and even a wedding reception! The second floor can accommodate roughly over 200 people, and the decor alone will have you swooning.

We tried the crab cakes and grilled octopus for our appetizers which were cooked to perfection. Literally soft as butter, with wonderful taste concoctions to go with the seafood such as hummus, yellow pepper, and more. For our main course, we tried the branzino fish with grilled squash and zucchini, and the braised short beef with mashed potatoes and grilled asparagus. The fish was excellent as well as the beef. The beef and asparagus were a tad dry and could have used more sauce, but the flavors were all there. Their sancerre wine was also quite good. But we were so full, we opted out on dessert. Gotta keep that holiday figure, somehow! ;) Overall, a wonderful dining experience. On the super plus side? It’s right across the street from Bloomingdale’s - the perfect spot to hang your hat and grab a bite after your holiday shopping!

LOVE & XX’S,

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Unwinding in between Meetings with Pyramid Solitaire

October 5, 2018

This post is sponsored by MobilityWare but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.

I'm always checking in on my emails in between meetings but can never always answer back immediately. What I do like to do after checking in, however, is playing Pyramid Solitaire on my iPad. One of my favorite activities to help me relax along with killing some time includes this game, precisely for its fast turnaround of each round. It is also the perfect mobile game to exercise your brain and keeping you focused. So in today's post, I'll be sharing how to play on the game as well why I love to play this particular game while on the go, or rather, in some cases, while waiting in between meetings.

Pyramid Solitaire is the fastest growing title in MobilityWare’s suite of classic card games. I really enjoy that each game takes just 1-2 minutes, making Pyramid Solitaire the perfect game to play on-the-go and in-between various tasks. Not only is the game app free, but the game itself is also quick and easy, and a lot of fun! Players must clear the pyramid by matching pairs of cards that equal 13. The quicker you finish the round, the more points you'll acquire. Simple enough, straight to the point and a great way to focus on something if you do a lot of waiting around.

Whether it's waiting at the doctor's office, or a work meeting, or even commuting around the city by bus or train, Pyramid Solitaire is the perfect game for those that are always on-the-go and in between all sorts of activities/meetings/appointments. A free online solitaire card game where the player tries to match pairs of cards with a rank that totals 13. So why not download the game today on the App Store or get it on Google Play. Play the game and decide what you really like about it!