Meet Dearest Lou!

Hello lovely readers of Ma Nouvelle Mode. My name is Cecilia and I blog over at Dearest Lou. I'm so excited to be guest posting over here today and sharing a little bit about my ol' blog. 

Well I'd like to start off by giving you a little bit of a background about me. I've always had  a passion for dressing differently then other girls and having my own style. In high school, some of the jocks use to make little remarks to what I was wearing or asked why I never wore jeans but it never bothered me. One of my dearest friends introduced me to the blogging world and my life changed forever.

I started my blog as a place to share my personal style, mine and my husbands lives as newlyweds, and all things inspirational. At this time my blog focuses on thrifty fashion and that you don't need to buy name brands in order to be fashionable. I buy a good majority of my wardrobe at thrift stores and most of my favorite pieces come from the thrift store. I focus on how to mix and match up to date items with vintage thrifted items. 

Here are a few pictures of some of my favorite outfit posts:

I also blog about this handsome fella, my husband Daryl. We dated for a solid year and on our one year dating anniversary he proposed to me. We got married on December 20, 2011 and it was the best day of our lives. I'm still waiting for our professional wedding pictures and video but this is my favorite picture my photographer has on her site.

So if you are interested in reading about my thrifty personal style, things that inspire me, or about my husband and I, feel free to follow along. I'd love to get to know you. (;

**We've turned comments off so you can go say hi to Cecilia!! Thanks for stopping by!**

And while you're at it, you can find Cecilia on Twitter here and Lookbook.nu here.  Now go show some love!

 

St Patrick's Day Recipe

I'm thrilled that once again Natalia invited me to share a recipe.  My name is Tracy and I love to cook!  On Tracy Cooks it Right, I share quick, light, and easy recipes, hoping to convince people that it is not hard to eat healthy.

With the ever-popular St. Patrick's Day "holiday" approaching, I created a soup with just the right color.  When I begin to think about a new recipe, I ask myself: will it be delicious?  Will it be simple to make?  Do I have most of the ingredients on hand, and if not, will they be easy to find in a local store?  Will my husband approve?  Well, this soup is a yes, yes, yes, and yes! 

This ol' blog world has many green beverages, green snacks, and green desserts this time of year.  I wanted to give you something out of the norm but still delicious.  Please warm up with this soup, come visit my blog sometime, and have a fantastic St. Patrick's Day!

Green Soup

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 quart vegetable broth or stock
1 large (about 9-ounce) russet potato, peeled and cubed
1 15-ounce can cannellini beans, rinsed and drained
1 1/2 pounds any mixed greens, like spinach, Swiss chard, bok choy, etc., torn into pieces
2 tablespoons dry sherry or dry white wine
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Chopped fresh parsley for garnish, optional
Packaged crispy onions for garnish, optional

In large saucepan, heat olive oil over medium heat.  Add onion and garlic and cook, stirring frequently, until onion is soft, about 5 minutes.  Increase temperature to high, add vegetable broth and potato, and bring to a boil.  Reduce heat and simmer 10 minutes.

Stir beans and greens into pot.  Continue to simmer 5 to 10 minutes more, until potato is fork-tender and greens are wilted.  Pour soup into blender container, in batches if necessary, and blend until smooth.  Return soup to pot and stir in sherry, salt, and pepper, and warm through.  Serve in bowls with parsley and/or crispy onions sprinkled on top, if desired.  Makes 8 (1-cup) servings, 2 points plus for Weight Watchers or 125 calories each.

Note:  Like many soups and stews, if you have the time to make it a day ahead, the flavors will meld together and the soup will be even tastier.

Thank you Tracy!  Now go check out the rest of her awesome, easy, and healthy recipes over at Tracy Cooks it Right!



 

Every Day is a New Adventure!

Hey there, readers of Ma Nouvelle Mode! My name is Alyx, and I blog over here. I'm just tickled pink to get to know all of you and tell you a little bit about myself and my little corner of the internet. Let me start of by showing you who I am, okay? Okay. This is me: 

Some things you need to know: I'm married to a totally awesome guy. We're both abnormally tall. We live in Europe (beautiful Germany, to be exact). We don't have any little rugrats [yet]. I love to blog. 
This might have gotten you to wondering what it is that I blog about. 
Well.... life. I'm not amazingly crafty [I somehow manage to botch the simplest of crafts]. I'm not the best cook in the world, or the most creative [I turn to Pinterest or Hamburger Helper for most dinners]. I don't have super cute kids that I post pictures of [again, yet]. I'm not a super newlywed [anymore]. I'm not a:               race car driver               skydiver               fashionista               supermodel               photographer               or anything else exciting. 
I am simply a 23-year-old girl wandering around Europe with her husband.

I teach English to Germans [which results in some funny anecdotes]. I share my feelings on Europe [like what's up with them not having Wal-Mart?]. I like to think I'm funny [ha ha]. I try to come up with a new way to greet my readers each and every day [this has resulted in some rather... interesting greetings].Sometimes I can attempt to drag a cute outfit out of my closet [generally this happens on Wednesdays]. 

Basically, I'm a big believer in keeping it real. I don't sugar coat my life. I share who I am with my readers, and this has resulted in some amazing friendships. I like to think that I have the best readers in all of Blogland, so here's where I say to you: 

Thanks for sharing Alyx!  Seriously, one of our favorites to read!  You can read her blog here, 'like' her on Facebook here, and follow her on Twitter here!  Have fun!

Free Valentines Day Printable!

I am very exited to introduce a guest with you today.  For quite a few reasons actually.  For one, they are very talented, amazing women.  Secondly, one's my mom and the other one is pretty much my second mom.  So needless to say there is a little bit of an attachment there.  Thirdly, and probably most fun, they have created something beautiful to share with you all today.  Something beautiful and something free!!

First of all, let me introduce them.  Tammi (my mommy) and Rachelle make up the dynamic duo of The Pomegranate Basket!  They create custom invitations for a multitude of celebrations from your baby's first birthday to your grandparents 50th wedding anniversary!  They really are a unique and beautiful talent, if you want to see more of their work, you can check out their website.

Today they are here to give you something.  Just because Valentine's Day is coming up and you should have pretty things to give to others!  So below you will find a free Valentine's Day printable just for you.  All you have to do is print them, cut them, write cute little love notes on them, and give them away!

Click the picture or here for your free Valentine's Day Printable!

Aaaaannnnnddddd because the beautiful ladies at The Pomegranate Basket are so lovely, they are going to give away a beautiful set of note cards to one winner!  All you have to do is go 'like' their Facebook Page and share a status about them!

Aren't they darling?  Head on over and try and win some!

Hope this is a great start to a wonderful week.  

Bises - Natalia

I am linking up to all the fun parties in my linky page and some other great ones here.

Microdermabrasion at Home: Save your Skin and Your Money!

It’s a sad but true fact – the older we get, the more important a skincare routine becomes. Even if you’re not yet worried about fine lines or wrinkles, perhaps you have another skin issue: adult acne, uneven pigmentation, dry or dull skin. Cleansing, moisturizing, and using sunscreen are all important to maintaining a healthy glow, but sometimes it’s nice to step it up a little with something like a microdermabrasion treatment. These exfoliating treatments slough away dry, dull surface skin to reveal baby-soft skin underneath, and until recently, were a coveted (and expensive!) spa or salon treatment. However, recent advances in products have made microdermabrasion at home a reality. So save your skin and your money with some of these at-home microdermabrasion pointers.

You will need to find a great kit, preferably one that comes with an exfoliating wand and a few products to try: a scrub, moisturizer, cleanser, etc.  A great example is the PHF DermaWand, which comes with several products and an instructional DVD to guide you to spa-worthy skills.  If a full-on microdermabrasion kit seems intimidating, you can also try a simple scrub like ISOMERS Reveal N’ Renew Thermal Microdermabrasion Mask, which still yields great results by deep-cleaning your pores and exfoliating dead skin away.  Both of these products and much more are all available online at retailers like ShopNBC, making microdermabrasion at home even more convenient. Whichever route you may choose, it’s important to build up to a microdermabrasion routine, especially for those with sensitive skin.  Try using the products just once to see how your skin reacts, and then gradually build up to a comfortable routine. With microdermabrasion at home, your skin – and your wallet – will thank you. 

Hope this was helpful, I am definitely looking into it!  I don't know if it is the obvious wrinkles around my eyes are the fact that my perfect-skinned husband never ages, either way I want to make sure I am taking the best care of myself!  You can take a look around some at home microdermabrasion kits at the link above.

What do you think, have you ever done microdermabrasion?  Have you tried a kit at home?  I would love to hear your experience!

The Side Knot, A Hair Tutorial

I have a fun hairstyle for you today brought to you by my dear friend Nicole.  Nope, never met her in real life, but still a kindred spirit!  Don't you love blogging??  Anyway, take it away, girl!

Hey Lovelies!

Nicole here from The Neesby Lookbook

So happy to chat with ya while the beautiful Natalia is on her lucky trip to Paris.

I am super pumped to share a tutorial on one of my favorite hairstyles.

This Side Knot is awesome for everything from

 freshly washed hair to the locks that are begging to be washed.

And it's one of those hairstyles that is better with every hair NOT in place.

Are you so pumped?!

Okreadysetgo.

- - - 

First you need any bland head of hair

that is slightly dampened

{I like to use my leave in conditioner or just plain 'ole water works well too}

Start by teasing the hair on the side where the knot will sit, as well as the back of your head.

This creates a fuller look to the final style.

Gather your lovely locks into a low, side ponytail.

{I like to braid my side scragglers and pin them around the back of my head. 

You could also leave them hanging for a more free look.}

 

Begin to loosely twist the ponytail into a side bun.

It's more of a cross between twisting and smashing the hair onto the side of your head.

Pin the bun in several places to hold securely.

Be sure to leave some pieces loose and free.

This adds to the overall effortlessly easy look.

If you have bangs like me, you may want to use a bobby pin 

to secure some of the looser strands between your bangs and the Side Knot.

Voila!  Your lovely, simple Side Knot

A perfect hair style that can be dressed up or down.

{back and side views}

 Now be sure to hop over to our blog 

where you will find newlywed stories,

our travels to places around the world

and the adventures of living in a 120 year old house.

Be sure to say hey when you come over. . . 

I always adore meeting new friends.

And if ya try the Side Knot

snap a photo and shoot me an email.

nicole.neesby{at}gmail.com

I'd love to see the loveliness spread around!

xoxo

***Comments turned off so you can go say hi to Nicole! Have a nice weekend!***

Now You Can Eat Chocolate and Keep Your Resolutions!

You're welcome.  Or actually you should be saying thank you to Kristi from Mommy Crib Notes.  She is sharing two recipes that are a sure way to satisfy the sweet tooth and make sure you have no regrets!  Need I say more?  I think not.  Read on my peeps, read on.

Whoever said, “A woman cannot live on chocolate alone,” must have been a man. Like many, one of my New Year’s resolutions is be healthier in 2012. That includes cutting back on sugar. But give up chocolate? No friggin’ way.

After being told this year by my doctor that my triglycerides are too high, I called up my svelte, Raquel Welch-type grandma to ask her what dietary changes she made to bring her cholesterol down. How thrilled was I when her sole recommendation was to eat one or two pieces of dark chocolate after lunch and dinner? Done!

But, being a gal who thrives on variety, I needed a more than my bag of Dove chocolates to get by. So, I found two rich desserts that have become my go-to staples because:

1. Their primary ingredient is chocolate.
2. They include fiber and antioxidants.
3. They take five minutes to make.

If you’re a brownie woman, then you’ve likely heard of pairing vanilla yogurt with a box of brownie mix to make a low-fat version. Even better is to take that box of brownie mix and pair it with pureed black beans. You will be amazed by how fudgy and yummy these fiber-rich brownies taste. For specific directions on how to make black bean brownies, click here.

If you want a beautiful and tasty treat to give yourself, or your gym-worshiping girlfriend, try Health magazine’s Holiday Fruit and Nut Bark. I actually made this up to give to a co-worker, but couldn't help but snag a few pieces for myself. The bark is made from dark chocolate sprinkled with dried cherries, pistachios and crystallized ginger. A small piece seems more satisfying because of all the flavor and crunch.

If you’re looking for true decadence, pair one of those indulgent treats with some bubbly.  Hey, it’s New Year’s and a glass of champagne has fewer calories than wine. Now that’s a treat worth toasting!

Thank you, Kristi!  And for those of you who are wondering, here is a bit more about our author today:

Kristi Valentini does whatever it takes, a diet heavy on chocolate and caffeine, Gregorian chants, whatever, to maintain inner peace among motherhood, career and the pursuit of domestic glory. Like other moms today, she strives for balance but makes do with a multi-tasking juggling act. Kristi began her blog, MommyCribNotes.com, to give other moms a "cheat sheet" of discoveries, tips and gadgets that can make parenthood easier. When not changing diapers or playing dolls with her two little beauties, Kristi is a marketing communications strategist and a freelance writer.

Cute Ruffle Jeans!

Hello Everyone,

My name is Suze from Time Well Spent, and I am originally from Haiti. In an interesting turn of events, I found myself living in the Mountain West of the United States. Being in a different environment took a little time for adapting, but I'm loving it here. I have two beautiful children(a 4 year old boy and a 2 year old sassy & bossy girl) who keep me busy most of the time and married to the most amazing man (November 2006). I love making bows, photography, sewing ( just started) and scrapbooking.

Actually, let me tell you when I started making bows. It all began when our family had a bit of a shock! Our second child was supposed to be another boy, but lo and behold, the doctor pulled out a girl! From that moment I have enjoyed the process of raising a little princess. I started to make hair bows and all things girly. 

So now, I am a total bows and tutus addict, but wouldn't have any other way! My daughter has about three hair bows holders full with hair accessories   (in the process of making her a fourth one, need more room) and about 5...6...ok 12 tutus and I even have one too( it was for Halloween, [don't judge me]or was it...?!

Recently, I decided to open a Etsy shop and share my passion with everyone... In the hope that they will pay for themselves and I can always continue making them knowing that some little one is enjoying having them. Hope, I haven't bored you guys to death, so here are some stuff you will find in the shop

Tutus

Headbands 

Today, I will share a tutorial on how to make a raffle jeans by reusing a pair that your daughter has outgrow...Hope you will enjoy it.

So since I really suck at giving directions, I tried my best to take as many pictures to explain as I can...Hope you will find them useful and make one...They take about 15 to 30 min depend on if you sew it upside down and need to cut it off and redo it ( ha ha ha!).  

 My pair of jeans that I cut off the very tip of the bottom because trying to sew it will be way too hard on my machine and will keep it a bit smoother.

  Then I measured two piece of fabric 12 inches each.

 Then I sewed the edge using the longest stitch on my machine and after I was done...I tied one end of the thread so it wouldn't undo the stitch that I made and use the other end to pull on one thread and make the ruffle ( hope that made any sense)

 Then it was time to sew them together which made it look like a sleeves...I don't know the name of the stitch so I took a close up pic so you can see it better.

 Then I use pins to pin my fabric to the jean and getting it ready to be sew together...Careful not to sew it inside out, so you have to make sure the inside of the fabric is facing you.

 Then sew it together and you are ready for your cutie to go and show off your newest creation.

 And here is the finished product...Pretty cute, huh!

Let me know if you have any questions and I will try my best to answer... Sorry if my explanations are not so great but I hope at least the pictures help a bit. Also, if you know the names of those stitches, feel free to leave the names and it will be really appreciated.

Please let me know if you make one and leave the link so I can see :)

PS: tutorial is for personal use only!

Thanks Natalia for letting me stop by and hope that you will come visit me♥