Star Spangled Berry Tarts

It's 4th of July this week, so in honor of this all-American holiday we're bringing you red, white, and blue themed posts all week long! To start us off, I wanted to share this easy and delicious berry tart recipe. It's great for summer potlucks and what better treat to have on the 4th than tons of fresh red and blue berries?!

This recipe reminds me of fruit pizza, but it's a little more on the savory side thanks to the crescent dough crust instead of using sugar cookie dough. It's a refreshing twist on the classic, and you are able to eat more of the tart since it isn't overwhelmingly sweet. It also allows you the option of serving it as a pre-dinner appetizer instead of only as a dessert. 

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Maldives: Sea Planes, Sunsets, and Tropical Drinks

This post is the first glimpse into how amazing the Viceroy company treats their guests (especially the Viceroy Maldives!). As I mentioned in my first Maldives post, I truly believe the amazingness of our trip was heavily reliant on our choice of resort.

Getting off the plane from Abu Dhabi, things were pretty hectic. We went through customs, got our luggage, and then began to navigate our way through the airport. We followed an equally confused crowd of arrivals down an escalator and stopped at the bottom, looking around at people rushing this way and that trying to find where they were supposed to be going. 

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The Ugly Pizza

Homemade pizza is pretty amazing. You can get as creative as you'd like with endless combinations and flavors. My favorite mix will always be tons of veggies. This week I wanted to make something extra fancy and threw some ricotta cheese and basil into the mix. I also used raw dough instead of a pre-made pizza crust for the first time. The difference is unbelievable.

That's not to say that it didn't come with some challenges...but I'll get to that later. Now that we've tasted the amazingness of this pizza, I don't think we'll be able to go back to pre-made crusts ever again! This whole recipe is easy peasy, which means it will be a new go-to meal in our house. Not to mention my husband is an avid pizza lover (who isn't, right?). But seriously, he could probably eat it everyday if he had his way.

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Summer Neon

This saturday is the official First Day of Summer. That means summer dresses, strappy wedges, and bright neon colors! Chris and I decided to go on an impromptu lunch date at The Grove, so I threw together an easy summery look that I wanted to share with you guys. 

To me, dresses are the absolute easiest thing to wear. You don't have to match a top to a bottom, it's already all done for you. And I can't help but love the bright neon colors of this particular dress. It puts you in such a cheery mood, and definitely has that summer look. The drape of the skirt adds a lot of movement as you twirl and move in the dress. So girlie and fun, I love it!

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Long Beach Flea Market

This past weekend Chris and I woke up at the crack of dawn to visit the Long Beach Flea Market. The last time we came to this particular market we found our awesome shabby chic coffee table that we were able to get for a fourth of the original price (!!!!). So naturally, we were pretty excited to go back.

I had a few things in mind that I've been needing/wanting, but I also knew I'd more than likely find things I didn't even know I was looking for (typical). Chris was on the hunt for some interesting vintage books. He has a huge collection from his Bunicu (Grandpa) and is always looking to expand it.

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Happy Father's Day!!

Even though he didn't have any boys, my dad still got to do all the fun stuff with my sister and I as kids. We loved to play catch in the back yard, hit golf balls into the woods, cheer on the Detroit Tigers at baseball games, build snow forts, and eat lots of pizza.

His unending generosity to our whole family, not to mention my friends and pretty much anyone we know, is truly inspiring. It's an amazing character trait that I know he got from my Grandpa George. Together they are the most polite and giving duo in the world! He's always provided above and beyond for the family in so many ways, and I don't think we can ever thank you enough for all your hard work and long hours.

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Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup

This past week I've been feeling under the weather with a sore throat and a growing cough. Apparently the one thing LA doesn't have is a specialty soup shop. Of course there's always Joan's on 3rd and various places that carry some soup options, but I was hoping to find a Zoup (soup restaurant chain) equivalent. Unfortunately, I couldn't find such a place and therefore had to make do on my own.

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Sugarfish, Beverly Hills

Two years ago, my friend Victoria took me on a girls night out date for the "best sushi I would ever have." Chris and I are avid sushi lovers so naturally I was pretty excited.

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DIY Jeweled Sandals

Over the past few months, I've been seeing really pretty jeweled sandals in stores and online. Not willing to pay the hefty retail price tag, I decided to make a pair of my own. I've been a little under the weather this week, so it seemed like the perfect time to put on my comfiest pj's and go for it. 

My original inspiration came from these cute JCrew sandals on the left. Unfortunately, not only were they a little more than I wanted to spend, but they were also sold out. (Which is probably a good thing so I didn't cave and buy them anyway!)

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Watermelon, Strawberry, and Cucumber Cooler

With summer just around the corner, I have been long awaiting watermelon season. A recent trip to Whole Foods and I was juggling as many as I could carry! It's great on it's own, but it's even better mixed with cucumber and strawberries. The perfect way to cool down in the summer heat!

The health benefits of watermelon are just as good as they taste!
Studies have shown that watermelon can actually help alleviate post-workout soreness due to high amounts of lycopene (which is also good for your heart!). This summer fruit is rich in antioxidants and helps improve skin and repair sun damage. It doesn't really get much better than that!

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