Casual and cozy on a winter day

casual winter outfit los gatos street style it bags 2021 under $500

wearing: hoop earrings / grey scarf (under $100) / ivory sweater / spring nail polish / bead genuine gemstone bracelets c/o TiffsJeweldom (only $25 each!!) / black handbag (IT bag under $300) / distressed jeans (under $50) / Gucci sneakers /

Well, the warm weather we enjoyed last week went away quickly! We are now in a cold weather pattern, so it’s time to get back to bundling up! I love this classic ivory sweater from The Perfect Provenance. It’s a fabulous go-to sweater I know I will be wearing for many years to come. If you haven’t invested in one yet, I highly recommend it! It’s so soft and cozy; perfect for a winter day!

Raise your hand if you love jewels. My hand is way up! How fabulous are these gemstone bracelets! They are designed in San Jose by a mother/daughter design team who is extremely active in the community. They do so much volunteer work to help the community, I am not sure how they found the time to start  a design business; but they did! Love it!

All of the bracelets by TiffsJeweldom are handmade in San Jose, California. They are created from genuine gemstone beads and adorned with different charms depending on the gemstone. The gemstone beads are a great size. Sometimes beaded bracelets have beads which are too big; making it clumsy when typing on a keyboard, or writing something down. Of course, there is the other extreme where beads can be too small and look cheap. Thankfully these beads are the perfect size! They look much more expensive than they are; and I can type or write all day long without them getting in the way. Love that!

I wore this casual look while walking around downtown Los Gatos with my family. We enjoyed getting out of the house, and stopped for some boba tea along the way. We are definitely looking forward to the stay-at-home order being lifted so we can start doing more things! I think the Bay Area is the most locked down part of the country! How are things where you are?

Shop my casual winter look:

Be sure to check out TiffsJeweldom. These beautiful bracelets are a great gift idea for Valentine’s Day, or a gift for yourself! I love mine and plan to wear them often.

Thanks for stopping by!

XOXO

Cathy

coach handbags 2021

Creamy Chicken Pasta recipe

creamy chicken pasta recipe light

Creamy Chicken Pasta recipe: tapered mug / Italian Soda recipe (inside mug) / turquoise dinner plate / tablecloth (sold out, also love this one) /

One of our favorite types of food is pasta. There are so many different ways to fix pasta, so it’s a fabulous staple to keep in the kitchen pantry for lunch or dinner. If you love pasta, and you love chicken, this is a great recipe you can make with them both! You can use chicken purchased for this meal, or use this as a way to incorporate chicken leftovers. It’s great with BBQ chicken leftovers, baked chicken leftovers, and rotisserie chicken leftovers.

This Creamy Chicken Pasta recipe uses cream; which, as we know, isn’t great for a diet. I made it lighter by switching the cream to half-and-half. You can also substitute milk for an even lighter version of the sauce. That being said, here is what you need to make Creamy Chicken Pasta yourself!

Creamy Chicken Pasta ingredients

  • 1 pound of your favorite pasta
  • 2 cups shredded chicken (I like to use Safeway’s shredded rotisserie chicken, or leftover chicken chopped in smaller pieces)
  • 2 cups chopped tomatoes (or one can diced tomatoes-drained)
  • 4 garlic cloves chopped or smashed
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil (I prefer extra virgin)
  • 1 pat of unsalted butter
  • 1.5 cups of heavy cream (I use half-and-half instead)
  • 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
  • Dash of salt
  • Dash of pepper
  • 1 tablespoon each of paprika, basil, oregano
  • 1/4 cup chopped onion

You will need two pots to make Creamy Chicken Pasta. One large pot for cooking your pasta, and one medium saucepan for the sauce. Cook your pasta separately from your sauce. For the sauce, mix all the ingredients together and simmer on medium for thirty minutes. Stir frequently to keep the cheese from sticking to the pot. When the pasta is done cooking, drain, and then mix the sauce together with the pasta. Voila! You have easily cooked Creamy Chicken Pasta! Love!

My kids really enjoy this meal, and it is an enjoyed by adults too. This makes a great family dish! You can top it with more parmesan cheese if you’d like, once it’s on your plate. This should make about nine servings. We usually have leftovers, and the leftovers are great for lunch the next day. I hope you enjoy my Creamy Chicken Pasta recipe!

Thanks for stopping by!

XOXO

Cathy

BAF Weekly IT List

winter 2021 it list

BAF Weekly IT List from top left: basket bag (current IT bag) (under $500) / Dior spring nail polish / Chanel spring nail polish / grey scarf (color of the year 2021) / limited edition lipstick for Lunar New Year / combat boots (super comfy!) / classic black IT bag /

I love this time of year. While we are still in the winter season, spring merchandise is starting to hit store shelves, and it brings hope for warmer temperatures and brighter days. The easiest way to add a little spring to our steps during the dreary winter months, is through beauty products and accessories. That’s why these spring nail polishes are already a hit, along with this lucky red lipstick for Lunar New Year next month.  Love that!

In addition to beauty, accessories are an easy way to brighten up our winter days. A handbag is a great way to add a little spring to a winter look right now. While a basket bag may not look right with a heavy winter coat, a classic IT bag, which is proving to have timeless staying power, is the right choice. The basket bag brings joy to my office right now, and I am looking forward to wearing it next month when the weather heats up! Loving it!

Shop the BAF weekly IT list online:

What are you wearing right now to brighten up a winter day?

Thanks for stopping by!

XOXO
Cathy