I found this Mongolian Beef recipe on Pinterest and couldn’t wait to make it.  My husband is a huge fan of the Mongolian Beef Recipe from PF Chang’s, so I was hoping this Mongolian Beef Recipe would be pretty darn close to it.  To my surprise, it was just as good!  Honestly, if you didn’t know which Mongolian Beef Recipe was which, you probably wouldn’t know the difference.  It’s that good!

So, if you love the Mongolian Beef from PF Chang’s…you have to try this Mongolian Beef recipe out for yourself!

{Original Image from Pink Bites}

Mongolian Beef Recipe:

makes 2 servings

Ingredients

1 lb of flank steak, thinly sliced crosswise

1/4 cup of cornstarch

3 teaspoons of canola oil

1/2 teaspoon of grated ginger

1 tablespoon of chopped garlic (about 2 -3 large cloves)

1/2 cup of water

1/2 cup of soy sauce (I use low sodium)

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon of red pepper flakes

3 large green onions, sliced crosswise into thirds

Prepare the meat:

First, make sure the steak slices are dry (pat them dry) and mix them with the corn starch. Using your hands or a spoon, move them around to make sure all pieces are coated. Place beef slices in a strainer and shake off excess corn starch.

Make the sauce:

Heat half of the oil in a large wok at medium-high and add the garlic and ginger. Immediately add the soy sauce, water, brown sugar and pepper flakes. Cook the sauce for about 2 minutes and transfer to a bowl. Don’t worry if the sauce doesn’t look thick enough at this point. The corn starch in the beef will thicken it up later.

Cook the meat and assemble dish:

Turn the heat up and add the remaining oil to the wok. Add the beef and cook, stirring until it is all browned (this is a quick thing). Pour the sauce back into the wok and let it cook along with the meat. Now you can choose to cook it down and reduce the sauce or leave it thinner. Add the green onions at the last minute so the green parts stay green and the white parts crunchy.

Serve the Mongolian Beef Recipe hot with rice.

Hope you enjoy this Mongolian Beef recipe as much as I did!

Finding tops to wear with jeans is a necessity!  Lets face it, we all have our favorite jeans and need tops to wear with them. Whether you are meeting your girlfriends for lunch on the weekend or grabbing a causal dinner with your hubby, having tops to wear with jeans makes picking out your outfit that much simpler!

There are many options when it comes to finding tops to wear with jeans. We like to suggest layering! Try pairing your jeans with multiple tops, such as tanks and blazers and don’t forget the scarf!  Or opt for a bold, statement t-shirt and some fun jewelry!

If you are still looking for tops to wear with jeans, be sure to check out your local boutiques or online boutiques to find some trendy, unique pieces.

As a second time nursing mom, I have to say this time around is so much easier! I nursed my first son for 8 months and have been nursing my second for about 5 months now.  I wanted to share my top 10 must haves for nursing moms because they have made nursing so much simpler for me.  Nursing is a lot of work and I’ve spent a lot of time researching products, reading reviews and searching for the must haves for nursing moms.  I hope this list of must haves for nursing moms helps make your nursing experience a rewarding one.

Top 10 Must Haves for Nursing Moms

1. Hands Free Breast Pump Bra – Yes, this is a must have for nursing moms!  It will allow you to multi-task while you are pumping throughout the day.  I love this pumping bra from Simple Wishes.

2. Nursing Tops – Nursing tops make nursing in public so much easier. I love layering nursing tops with cardigans.  That way you can still pull off a trendy look and you can have easy access when your little one is ready to eat!  This is another one of my favorite nursing top cardigans.

3. Breast Pads – My favorite brand of breast pads is Lansinoch.  I tried several types, but found these to be the most comfortable and a great price.

4. Milk Storage Bags – Again, I’ve tried several brands but my favorite milk storage bags are Lansinoch.  *TIP* Store your milk bags flat until they are frozen, then use a box (I like to use my empty Keurig K-Cup boxes) and cut off the top half so that the bags stand up nicely in the box.

5. Nursing Cover – Another must have for nursing moms is a good nursing cover.  I have the Bebe au Lait cover and it works great to keep us covered while nursing in public.

6. Nursing Bras – There are many nursing bras on the market and I’d suggest just trying them on. I purchased my bras from Motherhood Maternity because we have a retail store near us.  I love this daytime nursing bra and this nighttime nursing bra. Remember the key to nursing bras is comfort.*TIP*Wait to purchase your nursing bras until after you’ve had the baby.  You will be a completely different size once your milk comes in…so wait!

7. Boppy Pillow – I use my boppy pillow every time I nurse my son, therefore I think it’s a must have for nursing moms.  It boosts your baby up a little and makes nursing more comfortable.

8. Burp Cloths – This is for sure a must have for nursing moms if your babies are anything like mine!  They loved to spit up.  I go through probably 10 burp cloths a day.  I prefer the cheap, I think they are Babies R Us brand, burp cloths.  Opt for thin ones because they lay well on your shoulder and don’t fall off.

9. Water – And lots of it! Staying hydrated is probably one of the most important things for nursing moms to do.

10. Pump – The last must have for nursing moms is a pump.  I have the Medela Pump in Style Advanced and used it for my first child and am now using it for my second. I’m sure there are newer models on the market, such as cordless pumps(which would be so nice)…but I didn’t want to spend the money to upgrade since this pump still works perfectly.

I hope these 10 must haves for nursing moms makes your life a little easier.  I’ve done a lot of trial and error with products for my kids and am happy to have found some great ones that I highly recommend to you while nursing.

Sometimes a girl needs a little “pick me up”, especially when it’s a Monday morning!  For a fun way to glam up your day, grab a cup of coffee and enjoy a few great fashion quotes.  Here’s to hoping you have a fabulous day!

“Over the years I have learned that what is important in a dress is the woman who is wearing it.”
—Yves Saint Laurent

“I can’t concentrate in flats!”
—Victoria Beckham

“Anyone can get dressed up and glamorous, but it is how people dress in their days off that are the most intriguing.”
—Alexander Wang

“The most important thing to remember is that you can wear all the greatest clothes and all the greatest shoes, but you’ve got to have a good spirit on the inside. That’s what’s really going to make you look like you’re ready to rock the world.”
—Alicia Keys

“Shoes transform your body language and attitude. They lift you physically and emotionally.”
—Christian Louboutin

“I like my money right where I can see it…hanging in my closet.”
—Carrie Bradshaw

I made this chicken and roasted balsamic peppers recipe last night and it was delicious!  It was very simple to make and you could actually prepare everything ahead of time and just cover and put in the refrigerator until you are ready to bake it.

Chicken And Roasted Balsamic Peppers Recipe

Ingredients:

Directions:

Toss the pepper and onion slices in a large bowl. In a large measuring cup, fork-stir your sauce using: balsamic vinegar, Worcestershire, olive oil, broth, chopped garlic and herbs. Pour the sauce over the sliced peppers and onions and toss well to coat.

Loosely cover the pan with a piece of foil and place in the center of a pre-heated oven. Bake for 20 minutes. Spoon the sauce all over the peppers and chicken breasts to keep everything happy and moist, recover it and continue to bake until everything is tender (depending upon the thickness of the chicken, and the size of your pepper strips, and your particular oven it could be an additional 10 minutes or 20 minutes)

Serves 4.

The hottest trend for Spring 2013 is Black and White.  Yes, it’s true! For the months ahead, this trend for spring 2013 will be everywhere. Trends for spring might usually make you think of pastel and floral prints, but in 2013 designers opted for bold black and white looks.  We like this trend for spring 2013 because it works well during the day at the office and transitions just as well for your evening adventures. Black and white are certainly the most wearable colors because they work with everyone’s style.

The black and white trend for spring is taking us back to the basics.   It doesn’t get any more basic than black and white, but this trend for spring 2013 is anything but boring. Try pairing stripes and graphics to create a standout outfit.  Whatever way you decide to wear your black and white, know that you are sporting the hottest trend for spring 2013!

We just celebrated my sister’s 30th birthday and we had so much fun coming up with 30th birthday party ideas. We chose to do a black, white and silver color scheme. Here are some of the 30th birthday party ideas that we decided to use for her party.

1. 30th Birthday Party Idea: Mason Jar Drinks

Creating mason jar drinks is really simple.  First if you don’t already have the mason jars, pick them up at your local grocery store, kmart or amazon.com. Second, buy cupcake liners and punch a hole in the center.  Third, purchase decorative straws for your mason jar drinks…believe me…it adds a lot of style! Lastly, decide on what drink you want to make in your mason jars.  I chose sangria…but you could make anything you’d like.

2. 30th Birthday Party Idea: Picture Story Board

This picture story board turned out to be such a neat idea and the perfect 30th birthday party idea.  You simply pull together as many photos as you’d like and tape them together in the shape of a 30 (or whatever birthday you are celebrating). I decided to turn all the photos black and white, but you certainly do not have to do that.

3. 30th Birthday Party Idea: Wine Bottle Candle Centerpiece

Lining your table with wine bottles and candles makes a dramatic centerpiece and stunning when the candles are lit.  We opted for a white table cloth over the table and a black table runner on top of that.  We also added a few decorative pieces to it.

4. 30th Birthday Party Idea: Float Balloons with Lights in a Pool

Floating balloons with lights in a pool is absolutely stunning, as you can see. We also added candles around the edge of the pool to create a cozy ambiance.

5. 30th Birthday Party Idea:  Create Food Name Tags

Creating food name tags as a birthday party idea is great because it not only looks awesome, it allows your guests to know exactly what they are eating.  Have fun creating your food name tags, there is endless options when you design them.  I purchased all my supplies at Michael’s.

6. 30th Birthday Party Ideas: Hang Mason Jars

Hanging mason jars with candles in them is also a really fun birthday party idea.  Mason jars can be hung from umbrellas, like we did or they can be hung from trees.

I hope these 30th birthday party ideas help you in planning your party.  If you have any questions, leave us a comment!

Wear leg warmers this winter and you will be right on par with one of the latest fashion trends.  As we all know, trends come and go…and this one is back!

We love to wear leg warmers several different ways and that’s what makes leg warmers so much fun!  Wear leg warmers under your boots.  Let the leg warmers peek out just a little letting you show off your stylish ways. Or wear leg warmers over leggings or tights. If you want to show off this latest trend, you’ll want to go for this option!

Whichever way you decide to wear leg warmers this winter season, just be sure to have fun with it!

Here’s a pair of leg warmers that just arrived at ChiChi Collections!  These knit leg warmers feature a snowflake print in black and white and are perfect for your weekend getaway.  Simply pair these leg warmers with black leggings, a long tunic and chic booties.

We’d love to see different ways you wear leg warmers, so send us your pictures!