Pattern Shorts Under $20

I've been less into dresses and more into shorts this summer and conveniently shorts are going on sale this time of year, and there are plenty of ways to wear shorts through October (at least here in DC where I stay sweating through October).

Here are some looks I like that can work outside of just summer:

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I bought these black & white Aztec shorts at a thrift store for $8, but they are at Forever21 for $19. I love them because they are made from quality material (F21 steppin up!), lined, and not booty shorts at all. 

F21 also has these blue and white geo pattern shorts for $17 and these striped denim shorts for $9.

Also love these $15 boho embroidered shorts from Nordstrom Rack (they remind me of the last image!), and these fun bright shorts from Old Navy. 

Asos curve has some bomb plus size shorts.

Question: would you ever wear shorts to work?

Easy Fake Monday Recipe!

It's faaake Monday! Hope everyone had a great weekend and really used that extra day for food prep (lollll). This is a super easy recipe I made last week, took 5 mins to prep the weekend before and 30 mins to cook. You are welcome.

Servings: 2
Prep Time: 5 mins
Cook Time: 30 mins

Ingredients:

• 1 zucchini squash, sliced ($1.50)
• 1 yellow squash, sliced ($1.50)
• 1/4 medium onion, sliced ($.25)
• 3 paleo approved chicken sausages (I use Al Fresco brand from Wal-Mart, $7 for a pack of 5)
• 1 tablespoon olive oil (or oil of your choice)
• 1 teaspoon sea salt
• 1 teaspoon pepper
• 1 teaspoon red pepper
• 1 tablespoon garlic powder
• + seasonings of choice (I added some parsley and basil)

Combine the veggies, seasonings and oil in a bag and shake shake shake it up (whenever I shake anything I just hear T Swift singing "Shake It Off" MAKE IT STOP, jk I love that song) until the veggies are evenly coated with seasonings and oil

Pour the contents of the bag into a baking dish (I used glass 9x9), add the sausages and cook for 30 mins. Actually, I cooked for 30 mins but check the directions for your sausages to make sure you're not eating any undercooked sausage.

It's just so purty!

What's your favorite easy meal? 

ALO Natural Aloe Vera Juice Review and ALO Drink Giveaway!

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of ALO Drink for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

I don't usually do promoted posts, but if and when I do, they are products that I truly believe in and think others should know about. I have turned down lots of products because I either don't like them or they don't fit with this blog, so these thoughts on ALO's Aloe Vera Juice are 100% my own opinions. Plus they offered to select a winner out of the commenters on this post to receive a free ALO prize pack (full of juices!) so how could I pass that up? To enter the contest, answer the question in the comments below: what cocktail would you make with ALO drink? Names will be randomly drawn one week from today!

I've been big on using aloe for skin purposes (healing blisters on my poor feet, sunburns, etc), but Aloe Vera in juice form is a whole different story. It's been proven to aid in digestion, lower blood sugar in diabetes patients, and prevent heart disease. So I was pretty pumped to try ALO's new Aloe Vera Juice flavors. They have 3 lines of juice with different flavors: ALO Original (that's what I tried- 8 flavors!!), ALO Light (3 flavors womp womp), and ALO Coco (2 flavors of coconut water). The aloe used in this juice comes straight from the leaf, so when I got my first sip with pulp in it I was a little thrown off but it tasted so good it didn't matter haha. It's all organic, gluten free, fat-free, and low in calories unlike a lot of juices out there, and they are the first aloe vera juice to be an approved non-GMO Aloe Vera Juice.

So, I got the box, threw my juices in the fridge and invited some friends over to try them with me because I wanted to make mixed drinks out of them (healthy cocktails? healthyISH cocktails?). My friend Jay even (accidentally) wore a shirt that matched the bottles:

I don't usually drink juice because it seems like a waste of calories to me but this stuff was so refreshing, probably because the highs in DC have been 98 degrees all week and I have been slowly melting. We decided to mix it with some Peach Ciroc because that is my all time favorite liquor and we always have a Costco-sized bottle on hand. Ohhememmmgeee this was delicious. Everyone liked the cocktail, even Harrison who, as I've said before, thinks healthy food is a gimmick and refuses to try. My favorite combination was the Watermelon Peach flavor with the Peach Ciroc.

Peachy-Watermelon Summer Drink:

• 1 Cup Ice
• 2 ounces Peach Ciroc
• 5 ounces Watermelon-Peach ALO Aloe Juice

Mix it well. How easy is that? This was seriously so so good after doing a 30 minute HIIT workout + walking around in the 98 degree heat all day.
The ALO website also has other delicious looking cocktail recipes to try, this is going to be my next attempt:



I will definitely be buying this juice myself because of how refreshing and low in calories and clean it is. See: shameless sweaty selfie:



Random fact (it's the little things for me): each ALO bottle has a QR code that takes you to a song that was specifically prodcuced for that flavor. Ha! ALO also has a pretty sweet soundcloud page you can listen to here

And don't forget about the massive giveaway I mentioned earlier: ALO is also hosting a massive giveaway and everyone who comments on this post answering the question (What cocktail would you make with ALO drink?) is entered to win! Names will be drawn at random out of the pool of comments and ALO will send you drinks! So tell me: what cocktail would you mix with ALO drink? You can also earn entries in their nationwide giveaway by liking their Facebook page, following their Instagram (below), and following their Twitter.

You can find them on social media too:
ALO Website
ALO Facebook
ALO Twitter
ALO Instagram
ALO Youtube

Clean Lunch for the Week: Tex-Mex Quinoa Chicken Casserole + Weekend Recap

I made this last week and ate it for lunch every day- it was so easy to cut a slice, pop it into my tupperware and take it to work. It was also freaking delicious and I jazzed it up a little each day with Greek Yogurt or salsa or beans or avocado. Even Harrison liked it!

Servings: 6

Prep Time: 25 mins

Cook Time: 35 mins

Ingredients

• 2 cups quinoa (cooked) ($1.00)
• 1.5 lb cooked chicken breast, shredded ($2.50)
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/2 onion, diced ($.70)
• 1 bell pepper, diced ($.89)
• 1 cup frozen corn
• 1 sweet potato, diced
• 1 can diced tomatoes - I used Rotel medium - ($1.25)
• 1 Tablespoon tomato paste ($.50)
• 1.5 cups shredded mozzarella cheese ($2.50)
• 2 Tablespoons ground cumin
• 1 Tablespoon onion powder
• 1 teaspoon sea salt
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/4 cup chopped chilantro (fresh)

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Saute the onion, pepper, garlic, corn and sweet potato together in a large frying pan until the onions are translucent (about 5-7 minutes).

Add the diced tomatoes and tomato paste and allow to cook for an additional 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. 

In a large mixing bowl, mix the sauteed vegetable mix, quinoa, chicken and spices together. Dump the mixture into a 9x11 pan Sprinkle mozzarella cheese evenly over top. Heat in the oven for 20-25 minutes or until the cheese is melted. 

P.S. Anyone else have an amazingly spring-y weekend? I soaked up every second in the short-lived spring weather! 

To celebrate spring's arrival my friends and I went to happy hour, which turned into all-night-marathon-bar-crawl down U Street and apparently sunglasses inside

My friend Kris visited from Macon, GA (in case you didn't know, Macon is the 3rd biggest city in Georgia AND they're on the weather channel) and we went out and saw the sites. I only ever do the touristy thing when friends are in town so it was nice- plus I like to have a reminder of why this city is so awesome, despite the traffic, the red line and the winter.

Picstitch courtesy of Kris. I have on idea how to even start to do this on Insta.

I also scored big time at my favorite thrift store Martha's Outfitters (yep that's a New Balance Sweat Tech Running Tank, Express black cardi,   Land's End button down,  and Zara cardi. ALL FOR $9!) 

Annd working on an attitude re-adjustment re: this never-ending winter including the impending snow storm forecasted for Tuesday. So instead of locking myself in the house and crying until..July maybe?..I'm embracing the last few days (please let these be the last few) of winter. First step: making my favorite gluten-free crockpot chili from Jackie at Chronicles of a Dietician...it's helping my attitude a little?

What do you do to beat the winter blues? What can I do to make sure I'm like this for the rest of this never-ending winter??

VIA

Linking up today at Monday Morning Gossip, Meandering Mondays, Monday Blog Hop and Much Ado About Monday

Shop Smart: Winter Clearance Sales

Although we are in the thick of this winter vortex (I know I know, it's not technically the vortex but I'm suffering so I'm making it as dramatic as possible), the stores are clearing out their winter wear! This is the time of year I stock up on sweaters, jeans and coats. Check out some of the awesome winter clearance sales going on right now:

• Loft: 75% off winter Items
• Target: Up to 70% off winter items
• DSW: BOOTS on boots on booots!! $25 boots!!!
• Macy's: Extra 25% off clearance items for up to 80% savings (bought this for $10!)
• J.C. Penney's: Up to 70% off winter items
• Gap: 50% off winter items
• Nordstrom: 50% off coats (stock up for next year!)
• Kohl's: 70% off winter items (but really when is Kohl's not having a sale? love 'em)
• J.Crew Factory: 30% off
• Forever21: 40% off winter items
• Asos: Always ahead of the game- 60% off spring dresses (gimme)!

I picked up this classic crewneck sweater at from Target's Winter Clearance, $10 skinny jeans from J.C. Penney's clearance, and this tie-waist dress from Gap's sale.

Friday Favs: Best {budget-friendly} Dermatologist Recommended Winter Skin Products

 

I grew up with horrrrribbblllee skin- "pizza face" would be putting it nicely. My dermatologist and I became quite close, and these are her most-recommended moisturizing products that won't clog your pores, because really how terrible is it to be dry, then oily, then breakout all over? These are my FAVORITE products and most cost under $10!

Sidenote: Did you know you're supposed to apply lotion as soon as you get out of the shower? This way your pores are more open and absorb the lotion and nutrients!

1. Neutrogena Healthy Defense Daily Moisturizer with SPF 50 PureScreen (face): I always forget about sunscreen in the winter. This is gentle enough to use daily and doesn't leave that nasty film like other sunscreens, plus you can put a layer on right over your makeup!
2. Udderly Smooth Extra Care Cream (face, body, feet): My mom discovered this one years ago. It's wonderful, unscented, and makes your skin so soft! Woman's Day magazine rated their footcare cream as #1 beauty product a few years ago, and doctors recommend these lotions to moisturize diabetic feet (that's powerful stuff)
3. Corn Huskers Lotion (hands): Oil-free, no grease, extremely intense. My nurse friends keep this at their hospitals to heal their cracked skin during the dry winter months when they have to wash her hands every 5 minutes. It works miracles, even on alligator skin conditions.  
4. Eucerin Intensive Repair Very Dry Skin Lotion (body): I swear by this stuff and use it on my face when times get tough.
5. Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser (face):  This super-gentle face wash will cleanse your skin without drying it out. It's so gentle that you don't even need water to use it! You can just apply it to your skin and wipe it off with a towel! (So weird, I know)
6. Aquafor Healing Ointment (lips, feet): The mac-daddy of all moisturizing products. Let me count the ways to use Aquafor: CHAPPED LIPS (a little goes a looong way- if your lips are extremely cracked and dry just use this a few times each day and you'll notice immediate results), face protection from windburn, dry spots on my face, extremely dry spots on my hands, oh and on my feet-- I rub some on my feet before bed, put socks on, sleep, wake up and voila-baby soft feet (much cheaper than a pedi).

You can buy now from Amazon below:

Broke & Bougie Workwear: Old Navy Edition

Sometimes I forget about Old Navy. That's a lie, I never think about Old Navy- that is until one of my coworkers came to work in the greatest flats and I was like "I know we earn a similar salary, WHERE DID YOU GET THOSE" and she was like "Old Navy!" and I was like "what I never think about Old Navy" and she was like "well you SHOULD think about Old Navy let me pull up their website right now" and I was like "wait $20 sweater dresses? I'll order $50 worth of stuff for free shipping!" Can we just talk about what I ordered for $50? And they have petite sizes for midges like me who are under 5'4!? Was no one going to tell me about this?

My awesome co-worker who re-introduced me to Old Navy warned me that dress sizes run large- she usually orders a size smaller than she is in real life, but shoes run small.

$20 Women's Long Sleeve Sweater Dress

Can't wait to wear this with my Loft pattern tights and JustFab grey booties

$9.97 (THAT IS NOT  A TYPO) Women's Smocked-Chiffon Skirt

Going to pair this with tights, booties and grey sweater below

$15 Women's Tie-Belt Shirt Dress

Can we just talk about how flattering these shirt wrap dresses are on EVERYONE?

$6.97 Women's Terry-Fleece Raglan Top

Will be pairing this with the skirt above or a black blazer

Honorable mentions that didn't make it into my cart this go-around:

$10 Waffle-Knit Graphic T

$19 Women's Dolman-Ponte Dresses

$20 Women's Sueded Cap-To Flat

 

$20 Women's Sueded Pointed-Toe Flat

 

The Best Online Factory Outlet Stores {and how to avoid the scams}

So I don't really do the outlets. Besides the fact that places like Arundel Mills and Williamsburg give me the creeps, the odds of the stores having my sizes (apparently America's most common sizes) in stock are slim and I feel like the gas and food money to get there cancel themselves out. Enter: ONLINE OUTLET SHOPPING. I'll save myself the gas money, greasy food courts, and mother/daughter dressing room meltdowns. Here are my favs:

Nordstrom Rack : Confession: I shop the Nordstrom junior's department- they list women's sizes in size charts so I figure everyone else does too. There are great juniors (and grown up clothes) for under $30 which is my magic number. And they have affordable lingerie too. What more could a girl ask for?

$19 Back Cutout Maxi Dress(juniors)

$19 Pleated Split Neck Blouse (women's)

$29 RBL Jumpsuit

$24 Nalogen Pencil Skirt (women's)

J Crew Factory: J Crew isn't usually my style, but if the price is right...

$19,99 V Neck Sweater (8 colors!)

$19 Factory Enamel Critter Charm Necklace

 $17.99 Factory Bubble Crystal Stretch Bracelet

$8.99 Factory Crystal Studs

Guess Factory Store: Guess makes great pants for big-bootie girls like myself, and occasionally I really like other things I find on the site!

$29 Guess Lena Pull on Grey Jeans

$19 Guess Platinum Mini Check Shirt

 

$12.25 Guess Glenda Sweater Dress

 

$29.99 Guess Wendelin Ponte Skirt (3 colors)

Mango Outlet 

$19.99 Elastic Waist Dress (3 colors)

 

$9.99 High Waist Skirt (2 colors)

 

$19.99 Textured Shopper Bag (3 colors)

Cotton Cable Knit Jumper

Don't think I forgot about the dogs! Amazon has a Pet Supply Outlet Store with everything from food to treats to costumes to dishes.

$17 Pet dish with Automatic motion sensor by Sharper Image®

$16 Dog Raincoats

$10 Football Unifroms 

 A few pointers with outlet shopping:

• Zulily is kind of like a temporary outlet host. I have bought (real) Toms for $20, Under Armour, Land's End and all kinds of other name-brand goodies on here.
• A lot of sites claim to be a Tom's Outlet Store. I have done extensive research and not yet found one that sells authentic Toms. So if you want a knock-off pair, $12 isn't that bad. Here is a website with helpful tips to identify Toms Scams.  

Avoid getting scammed by fake TOMS stores online!