Trying for a fall look

wearing: turquoise and gold earrings / mask / black puff sleeve top / black belt / handbag / summer nail polish / gold chain cuff / gold and blue cuff / jeans / booties /

I’m trying to get used to seeing myself in a mask. I wear a mask everywhere I go, not just because it’s a California State ordinance which requires everyone to wear a mask while outside their home, but because I want to stay safe while helping keep others safe too. While I wear one all the time outside, it’s weird to see a picture of me in one on the Internet. I posted this photo, to try and spread the word about the importance of wearing a mask, while normalizing what it looks like.

As we move from summer into fall, masks are not going anywhere; at least until we have our vaccines. So it is important for people to get used to them; and hey, let’s try and make them fashion!

I paired my watermelon printed mask with my favorite black, puff sleeve top and jeans. I wanted a touch of fall, so I threw on my fall snakeskin booties. This is definitely my favorite go-to look of the moment. It feels really good to wear high heel booties; especially since most of what we all do these days involves lounging around the house in slippers, hiking in hiking boots, or working out in athletic shoes. It’s a rare occasion  these days to wear heels! I cannot even begin to tell you how good they feel after all this time. This was the first pair of shoes with a heel I walked around in since March. Crazy right? I used to wear some sort of heel all the time!

Talking about heels, I do plan on picking up a couple pairs this upcoming fall season. It feels normal to buy heels. I am looking forward to the fall season, not just for cooler weather, but because it feels like a new season filled with hope. The vaccine should start rolling out to our medical professionals this fall. I am hopeful more businesses will begin to reopen in the fall, and I am also hopeful that less people are unemployed. While my kids will all attend school online during the fall season, I am hopeful the vaccine has enough doses to start rolling out to the public in the winter so that in spring, our school district will start to allow sports again, as well as in person school.

It’s been hard for me to digest my kids going to school online. I home-schooled for five years, and last year was the first year my two youngest children returned to public school; only to go back to online school last March. They are both hungry to return to school and see their friends in person, as well as their teachers; and the entire experience that goes along with regular school. I’ll keep praying the vaccine goes smoothly, works well, and gets us back on our feet in the spring. This is why I am looking forward to the fall. I see it as the season of repair, and the season of moving towards getting back to our normal lives in 2021.

Are you excited for the fall season? How are you feeling about it all?

Thanks for stopping by!

XOXO

Cathy

Late summer skincare refresh

summer skincare refresh

Elemis Superfood Glow

I have been blowing through my skin care products this summer; so when Elemis sent me their Superfood Glow cleanser and primer, I was thrilled! Summer is a heavy skin care season due to all the outside activities, sun, water activities, and wind! If you are like me, you are outside more during the summer months, than any other season, exposing your skin to the elements. This means we all need extra skin care, and extra protection!

I am in love with the Elemis Superfood AHA Glow Cleansing Butter. It not only purifies and removes makeup and daily pollutants, it has a slight pumpkin scent! Love a pumpkin scent during the late summer months as we start to transition to a fall schedule with school starting; and we start eyeing fall merchandise for our wardrobes! One more cool thing about the Elemis Superfood AHA Glow Cleansing Butter, if you leave it on for ten minutes, it doubles as a mask! Love that! It’s a cleanser and mask in one jar!!

Are you wearing makeup this summer? Yeah, me neither. I only put on makeup about once a week. That’s why I am thankful for this Elemis Superfood Glow Priming Moisturiser. You can wear it alone, without makeup, or use it as a primer for makeup. It adds just the right amount of luminosity. Love!

Shop my favorite skin care products from Elemis online:

I hope you love this skin care collection by Elemis as much as I do!

Thanks for stopping by!

XOXO

Cathy

*thank you to Elemis for partnering on this post. all products featured in this post are c/o Elemis. all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Mozzarella Rice Torte recipe

mozzarella rice torte recipe

This Mozzarella Rice Torte is a backyard BBQ recipe I grew up with. A rice torte is a great side dish to bring to someone’s house for a summer BBQ, a Friendsgiving, Thanksgiving, or any holiday party. In addition to a side dish for a party, it’s a great main course when served with fruit and vegetables.

My Mozzarella Rice Torte is really easy to make. Here is what you need:

Ingredients:

  • 3 cups cooked rice
  • 4 eggs-beaten and mixed well
  • 1 cup Parmesan
  • 1 tablespoons nutmeg
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 tablespoon ground black pepper
  • 2 pats of butter
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil (extra virgin is best)
  • ¼ cup tablespoons chopped onion
  • 1 tablespoon thyme
  • 2 tablespoons basil
  • 1 package of shredded mozzarella

Mix together, then add rice and mix well.

Pre-heat oven 350.

  1. Layer one half of rice mixture, and smooth out with a spoon 
  2. Layer all of the mozzarella on top of the rice
  3. Layer the second half of the rice mixtures, and smooth out with a spoon.
  1. Bake covered for 45 minutes at 350.
  2. Bake uncovered an additional 5 minutes at 350.
  3. Let the torte cool for an hour before slicing into cubes.
  4. Serve at room temperature.

Voila! You have a delicious side dish everyone will enjoy!

Kitchen tools you might need:

I hope you enjoy my Mozzarella Rice Torte!

Thanks for stopping by!

XOXO
Cathy