Cool News! and Links al Mode

Cool News and Discoveries: 

I am going to Chicago to accompany my husband who is attending and presenting at the AACR annual conference! Any suggestions of places a tourist should visit? I'll check wikipedia and google but there is nothing like suggestions from YOU! :-)

I definitely suggest you check out an awesome facebook page called Humans of New York  (along with mine obviously). What Brandon Stanton, the author of HONY  does is walks around New York and captures moments of cooky, the crazy, the fashionable, the religious, the old, the young, and of course the unique characters of New York that make the city so special. Pittsburgh has one too (click here) but frankly it doesn't hold a candle to HONY :-(. 

Yay! I was just browsing the analytics on my site which shows me how people find me! I found out the Fashion Firecracker was featured on Independent Fashion Blogger’s Links a la Mode round-up! Make sure to check out these other awesome blogposts!

THE IFB WEEKLY ROUNDUP: LINKS À LA MODE: MARCH 21ST

• My Fashion Wishlist: Believe It Or Not: Trendy Backpacks
• Just Pandippo: Spring Closet Cleaning Challenges
• The Sequined Blazer: What to Wear: Transitioning to Spring
• Real Girl Glam: How to Wear a BOLD Lip (Even if you’re not a lipstick person)
• Fashion Tales: DIY: Camouflage Jeans
• Show Me Chic: Summer Dress in Spring!
• Thankfifi: Princess Peplum (and florals!)
• The Forgetful Wife: Mad Men, Mad Week: Betty, Peggy, & Joan 2012
• Leilah’s Lipstick: One LBD, 6 Different Ways
• Sequined Sprinkles: 3 Favorite Things: Chambray Shirt, White Jeans, & Loafers
• Gypsy Luster: Rock the Red (Lipstick) for Women’s History Month
• A Lacey Perspective: Date Night: Black Leather Shorts & Floral Blazer
• Sweet Escape: Trend: Asymmetrical Hi-Low Skirt
• Simply Frabulous: It’s Spring, Time to Blossom
• Aspiring New Moms: Navy & Neon
• Effortless Cool: A Lesson in Pastels
• The Fashion Firecracker: Colorblocking in the Sun     <--- Me!!! 
• Tobruck Ave: Print Mixing on the Beach
• Notes from a Stylist: How to Spring Clean Your Closet
• Incognito: Classic Books Become Couture Clutches

Feelin Like a Prairie Princess

Songs for You to listen to while you peruse the page:

Somebody that I Used to Know by Gotye feat. Kimbra

Drive by by Train

Outfit of the Moment:

Feeling rather prairie princessy and in touch with my natural 

earthy side in my hat and floral maxi skirt

       Top: Thrifted/Avalon (no tag), Skirt: H&M ($9.95 full price!!!), Shoes: Shoedazzle, Hat:Thrifted, Earrings: F21, Bracelet/Necklace: F21, Hair Feather: Urban Outfitters

Details:

S'more for me if you don't want ;-)

You hungry and want a quick sugary pick me up - you guessed it my health crazy is over - then you have come to the right place! While trolling the internets this time pinterest I came across the yummiest lil lookin thing:

Source: theaprongal.com via Mouss on Pinterest

 I clicked on the pin which took me here. so i went on my merry way to make it ASAP! Granted my camera doesn't take as high quality images as hers but thats for you to decide ;-)  

obviously decide in my favor!!!

Baked S'mores
recipe courtesy Baked Perfection


Ingredients
1/2 cup butter, room temperature
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar
1 large egg
1 tsp vanilla 
1 1/3 cups flour
1/4 tsp salt (optional) 
3/4 cup graham cracker crumbs (approximately 5 full graham crackers)
1 tsp baking powder
2 or 3 super-sized (5 oz.) chocolate bars (e.g. Hershey’s)
1 1/2 cups marshmallow creme/fluff (or mini marshmallows if you must!) 


Directions


Preheat oven to 350. Grease bottom of  pan. 

In a large bowl or stand mixer, cream together butter and sugar until light. Beat in egg and vanilla.

In a small bowl, whisk together flour, graham cracker crumbs, baking powder and salt.

Add to butter mixture and mix at a low speed until combined. 

Divide dough in half and press half of dough into an even layer on the bottom of the prepared pan. Place chocolate bars over dough. Two 5 oz. Hershey’s bars should fit perfectly [for 8 by 8] side by side, but break the chocolate (if necessary) to get it to fit in a single layer. [use 3 Hershey's for 12 by 8 pan]

I used an 11x9 pan - of course you can rely on me to pick the one pan size she didn't give an example of

Spread marshmallow fluff evenly over the chocolate layer.

Place remaining dough in a single layer on top of the creme. This is most easily done by putting the second half of the dough in a gallon size freezer bag. Use your palms or rolling pin to flatten it out, and then use scissors to cut down both long sides of the bag, so it will open up book-style. Open it up carefully, and the dough will stick on one side of the bag. Then place the bag, dough side down, on the other three layers. From there peel the bag up and carefully spread the dough where it is uneven.

Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, until lightly browned. Cool completely or almost completely for the melty factor before cutting into bars. 

YUUUUUUM! This was delish!!!!!

Pastel Pretty on Polyvore, IFB Project #39

It's no secret that pastels are IN. I would love to say I don't follow the trends and I only do whats me but that is kinda impossible to claim since I make subconscious choices based on fashions that inspire me every day from fellow bloggers, to pinterest, to styles flouncing down the runways.

Pastel Pretty by moussia featuring an art deco dress

Wow Couture art deco dress, $75 Matiko red wedge, $193 Dr. Martens lace up shoes, £100 Patent leather shoes, £33 Oasis zipper bag, $75 Stud earrings, €12 Valentino floral scarve, £259 Plastic shades, $5.50 Pastel Wishes, $5 Pretty Pastel Basic Backpack, $28 pastel goth | Tumblr
Collier Gouttes Pastels


 The Queen diva herself, Lady Gaga who knew from day one Mint was the new black.

Cancun Quickie

Cancun beckons to us once or twice a year and we listen! When we go, we go for three or four days so as the title suggests a real vacation quickie!

This time through Apple Vacations, we booked something called the "square deal." Included is flight, hotel, food and drinks, and two way transportation to the airport - the catch? We don't know the name of the hotel we will be staying at until we get to the gate in our hometown airport! There are some guarantees so we weren't THAT worried:

• they let us know what area the hotel is located
• the hotel is rated at least five golden apples  - the equivalent of a four star - on the travel agency website
• there aren't that many hotels with golden apples in specific areas so we can pretty much narrow it down to two or three hotels 

Let me tell you . . . we did not suffer :-)



I give you Iberostar Cancun :-)

The beautiful view from our room .. . heaven right!

Just stepped off the plane and taking it all in
Shirt: Old Navy, Skirt: H&M

The King overseeing his Kingdom - from the elevator  (even the elevator has a gorgeous view!)
Shirt: Brooks Brothers

Freshly squeezed juices for breakfast! YUM! It was all so fresh!
One oddity I find btw, is that my face never tans?!
Shirt: Gap/sister, Skirt: sister, Earrings: F21

Lunch is served
Fine I'll be honest with you - the second half was all carbs hehehehehe

The day spa pool! It was so beautiful and secluded.
 I felt like we were in our only little world it was so peaceful

With a shot of Bailey's added this makes the perfect pregame all nighter drink!

Partying it up at Coco Bongo
Dress: Express, Earrings: F21

Of course Gary found a hookah/cigar bar in the hotel
Gary: T:Fruit of the Loom, Shorts: Mall store?
Myself: Dress: Jason Wu for Target, Belt: BCBG

We didn't go to Cancun specifically for this concert but what a weekend to choose to go!
 We reserved tickets as soon as we found out Enrique would be there

Outside the "box office" to pick up our tickets. 

Self portrait :-)

Having a tourist moment!
We snuck up to the big spenders (tickets $500 - $1000)area until we got kicked out :-)
Top: F21, Shorts: F21, Belt: Wetseal, Earrings: F21

Getting up close and personal with the dream boat crooner himself 

The whole time I was sitting on the edge of my sit to hear this song. Listening to it live brought me down memory lane major to middle school in Rochester. I snuck listening to it in our computer lab thinking I was such a rebel LOL. 

SING IT!

O Mr. Sun Thanks for Shining Down on Me

Pittsburgh, along with the rest of the world, is getting hit with a delicious sneak preview of Summer! Inspired by the beautiful weather I pulled out my new green pleated skirt (more info here) and set to styling it! I can't wait to come up with new ways to wear it like pairing it with my LaVida work shirt!

I recently purchased this rich mulberry lipstick by wet n' wild and so please bear with me until I get the hang of it. I think I am definitely going to wear it with a cat eye next time.

Shirt: Ann Taylor, Skirt: F21, Shoes: Jessica Simpson,
Shades: F21, Necklace: Avalon, Necklace: Marco Bicego

Details:

Shoes . . . How to Narrow it Down?

I have done a lot of traveling  . . . . but still cannot say I have mastered packing. I have such trouble deciding what shouldn't go because doesn't every girl need options?!

We went to Cancun for a three day getaway and I went from this:

Top: aldo, luxary rebel, lucky top, DVF
Bottom: london boutique, shoe dazzle (first purchase!), jessica simpson, aldo, audrey brook

To this:

That ladies and gentlemen is what we call progress! What shoes can you not part with when packing for a weekend gettaway?

Travel Size Beauty

Behold my must-haves for every day use and thank god they are all under 3.4 oz so I can bring them to Cancun with me!

I am on a slow journey learning about skin and tailoring the products I use according to my skin type. I recently found out that the pink in my cheeks is caused by rosacea . . . who knew?! So I've been running away from any skin products that may seem ultra chemicaly and racing to products with more natural and basic ingredients. Lemme know if you have any recommendations!

Just want to give a shout out to my new clinque powder which calms down my redness in a gentle way with yellow tinted mineral powder! I will def post a picture of half my face done so you can see the difference.

Smoooooothie Obsession

Along with my temporary health craze I have gone bonkers for smoothies!

I was originally inspired by this photo from   so I found the easiest recipe and posted it below for your convenience :-)

They are so simple to make, are a quick pick me up, and way cheaper to make at home! The fruit can be pricey but 1 bag of pineapple tidbits serves at least 4 smoothies!

Personalize Your Smoothie Recipe:

1 c. frozen mixed berries (or pineapple)
1 c. ice
1 c. yogurt
1 packet of fiber - I'm not a veggie kinda girl so pack in some xtra punches where ever I can
2 tsp. of honey


Blend it all together ASAP so you can enjoy your scrumptious treat!