Print  // 1. ModCloth dress // 2. Rupert Sanderson shoes // 3. MSGM bag

instagram sunday

Here is my week according to my iPhone! You can find me on instagram @amandakerz

1. My brussel sprouts are getting so big! Although since we have gotten the kitty, they have definitely been put on the back-burner.

2. Shoes and tights.

3. Fish tacos and white refried beans for lunch with Megan.

4. Little snuggle bug kitty.

5. This pretty pattern was painted on the walls in an antique store.

6. Eggs and mushrooms, such a good combination!

7. Ceiling of the Paramount Theatre.

8. Lobby of the Paramount theatre, so pretty!

9. Atticus loves to lay in the sun. 

10. Our secret window. Appears to be an attic, but there is no entrance to an attic anywhere in the house that we can find. Creepy!

11. Rawwr! Sleeeepy kitty.

12. I was craving a blizzard, and sometimes you just have to satisfy cravings :)

Pina Colada Popsicles

I have been dying lately to make some popsicles, but who knew it would be so hard to find popsicle molds? I finally landed my hands on some, and decided to whip up a few inspired by my favorite tropical drink!

You need:
1/2 cup of vanilla yogurt (pineapple flavor would be great too!)
1 cup coconut milk (I used the low fat version)
1 cup pineapple
coconut shavings (optional)
sweetener (optional)

1. Place ingredients in blender and blend until pineapple is almost smooth.
2. Stir in coconut shavings to taste, and add sweetener if desired.
3. Place in popsicle mold for several hours or overnight.
4. When you're ready to eat, run mold under hot water. The popsicles will pop right out!

Fiona Apple at the Paramount Theatre

Hands down, Fiona Apple is my favorite musical artist. I have loved her since about 8th grade, and while other artists have fallen of my radar, she continues to amaze me. The last time she toured to Seattle was seven years ago with Damien Rice. It was such a beautiful show, and me and my friends were lucky enough to score second row tickets. So you can bet when I heard she was touring to Seattle again, I jumped on it!

This time I didn't score second row tickets, but it really didn't matter. The show was incredibly powerful, with plenty of older songs from Tidal and When the Pawn, to satisfy the diehard fans. Opening with "Fast As You Can," Fiona started strong and didn't let up. It's amazing how such a voice can come from such a little woman! I was also happy the show was at the Paramount Theatre, because it's such a beautiful venue.

Originally we had planned on getting up early, and spending the day in Seattle. Unfortunately, these plans didn't work out. We first had to stop at Tommy's parents house, then mine, and by that time we didn't head down to Seattle until late. Got stuck in traffic for about an hour (yuck), so by the time we got downtown we had about an hour before the doors opened. Just enough time for a few appetizers and drinks!

Here's a short video I took, I hate being the person with their phone out the entire concert, so I made it quick!

out to lunch

Top: Urban Outfitters

Skirt: Macy's

Sweater: Urban Outfitters

Tights: Nordstrom

Flats: Consignment store

Well, western Washington is taking a little break from summer. Today was cloudy and drizzly, but that was okay by me because I got to put some tights on!

I wore this comfy outfit to go out to lunch with my friend Megan, who is getting married in just a few short weeks! I'm super happy for her, but also sad because she will be moving about 2 hours away. I will be doing her makeup on her special day, and will be sure to take lots of photos.

Little kitty Atticus is already getting bigger! I was told he was about 7 to 8 weeks, but the vet told me he was probably around 4 or 5 weeks. He has put some weight on, and his eyes are less goopy. He is full of energy and not trying to nurse, so I'm guessing he isn't quite as young as the doctor thought.

Tommy started a new job today at a local store selling Apple products. So happy that he found a full time job that he will enjoy! To celebrate, we enjoyed a bottle of champagne and burritos. Because you know...nothing pairs better with big messy burritos than classy champagne.

instagram sunday

Just what instagram needs, another cat owner who loves taking pictures of their cat! :) You can find me on instagram @amandakerz

Top to bottom (left to right)

1. We got this horse dress at work, and I just had to try it on. It started as a joke, but then I put it on...and kinda liked it! It's just so bizarre!

2. Lovely lilacs from my neighbor's yard.

3. Daisy, my mom's mini American Eskimo. 

4. A coworker and I tried out hot yoga this week, and holy cow. I didn't know I could sweat that much!  Yummy salad I made after the class.

5. A lily, my mom's favorite flower.

6. Went to breakfast with my dad and Amber. Had some eggs benedict, so good.

7. Beautiful antique glass display in an antique mall. Amber and I spent the day hunting for a dining table with no luck.

8. Cupcakes! Looked better than they tasted actually. 

9. Atticus loves to climb up Tommy's leg and perch on his shoulders.

10. Oh hello little kitty! What big eyes you have!

11. Passed out.

12. Champagne and cake with some coworkers. 

Balsamic & Lemon Yogurt Dressing

I love eating a salad for lunch. This is not only because it's healthy and delicious, but I don't feel as guilty splurging on breakfast or dinner. Because let's be honest, breakfast and dinner trump lunch. 

But have you ever reached for a salad at the grocery store, only to glance at the nutrion label and think, "Holy jeeze. This salad isn't as good for me as I thought." Yeah...me too. I blame the dressing. 

Because of this, when I make a salad at home, I always make my own dressing. Doing this ensures the amount of oil/sodium/sugar in the dressing, which ultimately plays a huge role in the healthiness of my salad.

So, to ensure you are enjoying a healthy, delicious salad, here is my favorite dressing to make! It's tangy and creamy, and goes with just about any kind of ingredients you want to through in your salad. Make a batch of it and have plenty to use later! 

You need:

1 & 1/2 cup plain greek yogurt (I used Trader Joe's)

1 tbsp balsamic vinegar

juice from 1/2 of a lemon

1 tsp powdered sugar

2 cloves of minced garlic

salt

pepper

basil

Throw yogurt in a bowl. Don't be temped to lick your fingers. Plain yogurt...it's not good alone.

Add lemon juice, balsamic vinegar.

Add sugar and garlic. Add salt, pepper and basil to taste. I like quite a bit of pepper and basil.

Throw it in a jar to save for future salads!

Enjoy!

sister style // catch a fella

Yesterday, my sister Amber and I went hunting for an antique table. Unfortunately we didn't find a table, but we picked up something even better on our way home (post about this coming tomorrow!).

Amber and I are a lot alike in many ways, but she definitely has a little more spunk when it comes to her style. I usually gravitate towards more conservative, classic pieces, while Amber looks for impact in every item. She has always danced to her own tune, so it's fun to see how her clothing reflects her personality.

Dress: Nordstrom

Sweater: Nautica

Boots: Steve Madden

Belt: Delias

Earrings: Forever21

Smashion Interview

I was really excited when Smashion contacted me about doing an interview for them. It's basically an online consignment store, which is right up my alley! You can read my interview here, and be sure to check out their blog!

instagram sunday

You can find me on instagram @amandakerz

Top to bottom (left to right)

1. One of my favorite parts of sunny days are the clouds during sunset. So pretty.

2. Frozen yogurt, blueberries and bananas. Yuuuum.

3. The rose bush on the side of our house is on its last leg, so before it died I had to take a few pictures.

4. I have been trying to use my espresso machine more in order to save money. It always turns out really good, but there is just something about buying an iced latte. It's probably all in my head.

5. Picnic!

6. Ordered some chinese takeout after a long struggle on what to have for dinner.

7. Tommy was quite happy with the amount of wine in his glass that night.

8. Had some leftover swedish pancakes, so I ate them with yogurt and blueberries. Sooooo good.

9. Went on a hunt for a vintage dining table with no luck. I am being way too picky...but I just know what I want! I have been thinking about going back and getting that mirror though.

10. This mural made me laugh. Yes, I'm sure that's how it all went down.

11. Yayy, gratis finally came! Definitely a perk for working in cosmetics.

12. Clothing rack is finally done!

my clothing rack

    Tommy and I have been together for five years, and recently moved into a place for just the two of us. Previously, we had been living with my friend Kelsey. In our previous house we each had our own bedroom, which some people think is a little strange. But for us, having our own rooms works really well. We each have a lot of stuff, and like to have our own space.

    So when we started looking for a new place, we wanted a two bedroom house. When we found that, we had to decide who would get the slightly larger room. I had the bigger space in our previous house, so this time he took the larger room. Unfortunately for me, this also ment the small closet. Our house was probably built in the 1920's or so, so when I say small closet...I really mean it.

    This closet simply wasn't big enough, even with my dresser. So, Tommy started to build me a clothing rack to accommodate my wardrobe. It's finally done, and I wanted to share the process with you! I love how it turned out!

Here are the materials, minus the paint and primer.

I first primed both the pipes and wood before moving onto painting.

I chose to paint the wood a light blue, and paint the pipes white. I loved the name of the paint, it was called, "Refreshing Pool." My room is full of bold colors, so I wanted the rack to be colorful but light.

I unfortunately didn't get pictures of the assembly, because Tommy did most of it while I was at work. But you guys are smart cookies, so I'm sure you know it took some screws and a drill.

let's eat more: blueberries for breakfast

Blueberries are, without a doubt, my favorite berry. I recently splurged on a 32 oz pack of fresh blueberries, and it has taken a lot of will power to keep from shoveling them into my mouth in one sitting.

 I love baking with them, but pairing blueberries with butter and sugar doesn't do much for their nutritional content (this didn't stop me from making a blueberry pie on the 4th of July). Instead, I have been eating them for breakfast non-stop. They are so versatile when it comes to breakfast, and all those antioxidants are a great way to start your day.

Here are a few of my favorite blueberry breakfasts! 

1. Blueberries with honey nut cheerios and soy milk. Probably my favorite way to eat blueberries in the morning. The blueberries get a little crushed and the milk gets all blueberry flavored. Yum!

2. Blueberry pancakes with lemon zest and sour cream topping. Need I even say more? The photo above is from a previous post, you can find it here.

3. Blueberries on an english muffin with peanut butter. Think peanut butter and jelly, but better. A drizzle of honey on top would be delicious!

4. Swedish pancakes filled with blueberries, bananas and a bit of powdered sugar and butter. Swedish pancakes are the best. To make the pancake, I used this recipe.

5. Overnight refrigerator oatmeal with blueberries and yogurt. I tried making this overnight yogurt recipe and really liked it! The texture of the oatmeal is good, and the blueberries give it a lot of flavor. I didn't use chia seeds like the recipe calls for, but I would love to give it a try!

frozen treats

I got a little sunburned today...and I'm happy about it. Before you decide I'm nuts, hear me out.

Two weeks ago, Washington was still in winter mode. Acquiring a sunburn means the sun came out, and I had time to enjoy it. It also means I will soon be tan, and by tan I mean not ghostly white.

Another reason why my sunburn is making me happy is because it's just the right amount of burn. It's red, but not the lobster red. It's warm, but in a cozy way, not in an uncomfortable way. Aloe vera feels good, but I don't feel the need to reapply every 5 minutes.

So thanks for finally arriving summer. I think this sunburn calls for popsicles.

Source: ruemag.com via Amanda on Pinterest

Champagne pops!

Source: chocolatecoveredkatie.com via Shawna on Pinterest

Mint chocolate chip fudge pops, and made with spinach!

Source: theblackpeppercorn.com via Gilbert on Pinterest

Mango lassi popsicles. Mango smoothies are my favorite, why have I never thought to freeze them?

Source: munchinwithmunchkin.com via Zea on Pinterest

Avocado green tea popsicles, two of my favorite things. Sounds like such a good combo.

Source: endlesssimmer.com via Casie on Pinterest

Blueberry cabernet cheesecake popsicles. Not the healthiest on the list, but let's face it, probably one of the best.

Source: forkandbeans.wordpress.com via Courtney on Pinterest

Peanut butter and jelly popsicles. I would love to make these and swirl the two flavors.

Source: familyfreshcooking.com via Amanda on Pinterest

Raspberry,coconut and chocolate popsicles. Yum!