New Music Video from Taylor Swift!

She's Back.

This is "Begin Again"

xoxo Allie

Officially Obsessed: www.sheinside.com

New website discovery!

This website has the most adorable sweaters I've ever seen! All for around $30

http://www.sheinside.com/

xoxo Allie

Granogurt and Yanola

My favorite breakfast in the whole world consists of:

BROWN COW CREAM TOP PLAIN YOGURT

 +

NATURE VALLEY GRANOLA

Just mix em' up

and you're good to go.

You can also add honey if you want! And then dip sliced apples in it for a real treat.
My other favorite Brown Cow yogurt flavors are vanilla and maple. But you don't need honey in those or else your teeth are gunna rot.

xoxo Allie

Jeans, jeans, I love those things.

The Jean Shirt.

This trend is a keeper.

It's been around for a good 2 years now- but people are just recently getting the memo. haha.

Seriously though. Probably 1 in every 3 girls i see on campus are wearing a jean shirt.

Sometimes it can be hard to wear these things since wearing a jean shirt with normal jeans could make you look like a big blue blob. I've noticed that the best combo is a jean shirt with colored jeans. That way, you keep the trend, but dont look so matchy-matchy.

I have yet to buy one of these.

Actually, I cant afford anything but yogurt and the occasional fuji apple sooo i simply repin what i wish I could have via Pintrest.

It's almost as satisfying as owning one.

xoxo Allie

The Blessings of Gratitude

Aloha!

Today I was reminded of all the blessings that I have been given. I really took a step back and recognized all of the little things in life. Throughout the day, I would see a person, or a part of nature and say in my head "Thank You for _____" (whatever it was).

I noticed a complete change in my attitude- I felt so happy and confident- content and enlightened.

It's also good to spend time alone.

I got to visit the Laie, Hawaii temple today and sat on a bench near the top just to think (I don't let myself do that often enough). I continued my attitude of gratitude and thought of more things to be grateful for. I stopped thinking about the negative things- in fact they were completely overshadowed by the good.

It's really amazing how rejuvenating and refreshing gratitude and alone time can be. It's a goal of mine to keep it a daily habit!

Give it a try :)

xoxo Allie

Officially Obsessed: Gabrielle Aplin

Gabrielle Aplin.

Why haven't I heard of her before??

This girl can sing. 

I just found her on YouTube today and immediately fell in love with her style/voice.

WATCH THIS ONE!
I was so impressed/inspired by this video in particular. This is real talent right here.

Here's a LIVE performance that I love as well...

I hope that one day I can inspire people through music in the way that she inspires me.

xoxo

-Allie

Officially Obsessed: Ramekins

I've loved ramekins for a long time now. They come in so handy!

You can eat your cereal in a ramekin.

You can make some delicious dessert in a ramekin.

OH and you can microwave a ramekin.

And also you can bake a ramekin.

You can probably boil a ramekin too if you want...

My point is, ramekins are the best little dishes ever known to man.

Here's a pasta recipe for you so you can be awesome and use your ramekins.

Baked Cavatelli with Sausage and Broccoli Rabe

INGREDIENTS

1 bunch(es) broccoli rabe, about 1 pound

1 package(s) (16 ounces) cavatelli or orecchiette pasta

3/4 pound(s) hot Italian-sausage links, casings removed

2 teaspoon(s) olive oil

2 clove(s) garlic, thinly sliced

1/8 teaspoon(s) crushed red pepper

1 pint(s) grape or cherry tomatoes

2 tablespoon(s) cornstarch

1 1/2 cup(s) reduced-fat (2%) milk

1 can(s) (8 ounces) tomato sauce or 1 cup tomato-basil sauce

4 ounce(s) Fontina cheese, cut into 1/4-inch cubes

3/4 cup(s) freshly grated Romano cheese

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Heat large covered saucepot of water to boiling over high heat. Meanwhile, trim tough stems from broccoli rabe and discard. Coarsely chop remaining broccoli rabe; set aside.
2. Add pasta to boiling water and cook 2 minutes less than label directs. Drain pasta; return to saucepot.
3. While pasta cooks, in nonstick 12-inch skillet, cook sausage over medium-high heat 5 minutes or until browned, breaking up sausage with side of spoon. Discard fat in skillet. Add olive oil, garlic, and crushed red pepper to sausage in skillet. Reduce heat to medium, and cook 2 minutes or until garlic is golden.
4. Stir in broccoli rabe; cover and cook 2 minutes or until broccoli rabe begins to wilt, stirring occasionally. Add tomatoes and cook 5 minutes or until tomatoes split.
5. In 2-cup liquid measuring cup, whisk cornstarch into milk. Stir milk mixture into sausage mixture in skillet; heat to boiling over medium-high heat, stirring frequently. Boil 1 minute to thicken slightly.
6. Add sausage mixture, tomato sauce, Fontina cubes, and 1/2 cup Romano cheese to pasta in saucepot; toss to combine. Transfer pasta mixture to eight 1 1/2-cup ramekins; sprinkle with remaining 1/4 cup Romano. Place ramekins on large cookie sheet or jelly-roll pan for ease of handling. Bake 15 minutes or until hot in the center and golden on top.

 

Color Trends: Fall 2012

GUESS WHAT??

I LOVE fall.

I've noticed several different trends so far this year, especially with color.

Mixing light colors with richer tones is a must- light pinks and creams are still awesome. I also love the maroon and emerald green thats been going around, as well as some mustard yellow and deep blues and purples.

It's killing me to see all of the cute sweaters and scarves via Pinterest and such- but since I live in Hawaii, I have to give up some trends... for now that is :)

Officially Obsessed: Adobe Illustrator

Thank the Heavens above for Adobe Illustrator.

Who would have known such a fantastic thing existed??

Adobe Illustrator is soo easy to use. It's like a coloring book for grown ups. You can make all sorts of stuff! Recently I've been making posters with it. It's super fun to mess around with effects and lighting.

Here's a recent creation of mine... its simple, but I like it. 

Give Illustrator a try!

Officially Obsessed: Fishtail Braids

Uh oh kids. I have another obsession...

FISHTAIL BRAIDS!

wanna know why?

cause they're so easy- but they look so complicated. Plus, when you braid your hair before bed, you wake up with legit mermaid hair. And who wouldn't want that?

Here's a tutorial (by Lauren Conrad nonetheless) SO YOU CAN LOOK LIKE A MERMAID TOO!