PFMs Music Corner: Red Hot Chili Peppers, Endlessly

current lineup, a la Google Images

Oh hell yes. That was my first thought when I found out the Red Hot Chili Peppers were going to be performing in my neck of the woods for what could be their final tour. A bunch of us have tickets to see them this Friday at the Prudential Center in NJ, and I couldn't be more excited. Their infectious energy makes me feel like a kid again...who doesn't want to feel that, even if just for the night! The last time I saw them live was a good 10 years ago, but my love for this band hasn't changed a bit. Listening to their music is one of my joys in life. And it's not just me- about 28 years after their debut, they were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Anthony Kiedis and Flea are still holding it down, even after some serious drug problems and several changes in the band lineup (oh how I still miss John Frusciante being in the mix.) It's pretty amazing when I think back to hearing Knock Me Down for the first time...I was probably 12 years old, and just completely hooked. Of course Blood Sugar Sex Magic was the "it" album by the time I reached high school, and that's about when the crush on Anthony Kiedis began. Anyone else with me? Anyway, I felt superior knowing that my younger brother and I had been listening to them for years at that point; we were all about Freaky Styley because Jared was going through a George Clinton phase and I learned everything about punk and funk music from him. Nowadays, I'm still a Stadium Arcadium girl. So there you go, a little known fact about me...I am and always will be a RHCP fan! If there was a soundtrack to my life, they would have the most tunes on there for sure. 

Who else is going to Friday night's show? It's going to be so much fun!

PFM Obsession: $esheta's Spring Fresh Five - #1 Rose Gold Hardware

...and the #1 spot goes to...drumroll please... rose gold hardware!!! i am officially in lust with  this trend.  rose gold hardware has been showing up on all the accessories and it has truly struck a chord with me.  i love copper and this is a close sister to copper.  all our fave designers are doing combos of leather and/or metal and rose gold.  i truly believe this may be a unique trend that hasn't come back around.  either way i am hooked.  the below sample pics of rose gold accessories are just the tip of the iceberg, but i definitely find myself wanting more... 

Alexander Wang is right on trend and who can resist the Rocco bag?!

soooo cute! this Linea Pelle belt is the perfect finisher for your favorite outfit!

I love these Michael Kors rose gold sneaks!!

Michael Kors got this combo of gray and rose gold  perfect!

hope you enjoyed my Fresh Five.  stay tuned for our Fall/Winter installment featuring hot picks for the season!! xo

Daily Outfit: Party Palazzos

I remember experimenting with fashion back in my high school days, browsing through the vintage treasures in my grandma Mimi's closet. She would coaxingly ask if I wanted to have any of her many pairs of printed palazzo pants. I would give a quick no thanks, thinking they were too busy and I'd much rather just continue to drag the bottoms of my super flared dark denim jeans along the floor (that I purchased from the local flea market and wore non-stop.) Umm it seems 16-year-old-me didn't know what she was passing up! Although I may have missed out on some sweet vintage options, this pair from Forever 21 are perfection. They are silky soft and oh-so-comfy. I wore this outfit over the weekend to a birthday party during some lovely 70 degree weather. The wide-leg floral pant can be extremely flattering, even (gasp!) on petite ladies. Stripes and florals totally play well together; the key is to keep the palette down to a similar hue so that the results are not distracting. My platform peep-toes were a must, seeing as I hemmed these babies myself to make them just skim the floor. Is it me, or do I look taller? In case you were wondering, nowadays there's not a wide-leg floral pant that I say no to!

(Frenchi Leather Bomber Jacket- Nordstrom... similar, Striped Top- H&M, Floral Wide Leg Pants- Forever 21, Metallic Belt- American Eagle, BCBG Peep Toe Platforms- old, but similar, Shoulder Sweeper Chandeliers in 24kt- MavenFresh)

PFM Obsession: $esheta's Spring Fresh Five - #2 Anything Cobalt

ooooo... cobalt!! this pretty blue makes everything cool.  anything cobalt lands at my #2 spot and it's easy to see why.  seeing this shade just makes me totally happy.  i sure wish i could intuit some lottery numbers the way i am able to pick up on color trends!! two years ago, i was determined to find some flats in this beautiful shade of blue and it was near impossible.  now my love of cobalt can be satisfied in soooo many ways!  all i can say is aaaahhhhh... :)

this is soo gorg!! leave it to Foley & Corinna to make a beautiful bag!

patent pointy Bre flats from Pour La Victoire

Becca's love affair started with these Gap legging jeans and i was hooked right after!

a bright blue blazer can brighten up any outfit.

PFMs in the Kitchen: Medjool Date Balls

I first made these about a year ago when I was following a vegan diet (in case you're just tuning in, I've been a pescatarian my entire life.) These sweet round treats are so quick, easy, and tasty that you may never need to eat a piece of cake again. Well...maybe. My dad recently brought over the BEST medjool dates I've ever had. Cue the drool. Immediately I thought back to this recipe...and it was time to whip up a batch again!

You need: 

1 1/2 cups medjool dates, pitted

1 cup raw walnuts

2 tsp raw cacao nibs (optional but so yummy)*

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/4 cup almond butter

shredded coconut

How to:

Grind up the walnuts in a food processor and pulse until finely ground. Add in the dates, cacao nibs, and cinnamon. Keep grinding until it's all blended up. Add the almond butter and pulse until it becomes a sticky gooey paste. Now scoop out about a tablespoon of the goods with your fingers and form it into a ball. Then roll into a plate of dried shredded coconut to coat them. You will be tempted to try one right away (and you can!) but trust me that they are even more magical after you refrigerate them. They will firm up a bit and can last for a week sealed in a container in the fridge. Seeing as you will want to eat them for breakfast, snack, and dessert- they probably won't make it that long! Recipe gives you about 12-14 balls.

*Organic Raw Cacao Nibs are easy to find at a health food store, and they are known as a superfood that will increase energy and enhance health. Cacao has a rich supply of antioxidants, and they are high in fiber. I sprinkle these in smoothies, oatmeal, and sometimes even in my coffee. They add a bit of chocolate flavor and subtle crunchy texture to this recipe. Oh and they are vegan.

PFM Obsession: $esheta's Spring Fresh Five - #3 Clog Sandals

soooo it's time for #3 on the Fresh Five list.  both Becca and i have a love for clogs boots but, alas, as the weather gets warmer, who wants their feet trapped in closed shoes. ...but now that we have to leave our cute clog boots behind, the challenge is what do we replace them with? clog sandals, of course!!  i have been searching for the just the right pair to carry me through the spring and summer but the trick is, the heel can't be too high - not for me at least!  while i search for the perfect pair, i sure am having fun looking! hope you enjoy too! :)

these Swedish Hasbeens are the perfect answer to summer nude/pastels.

doesn't this pair of Swedish Hasbeens  have Grease  and Olivia Newton John written all over them??!!

i know these Cape Clogs are still kinda closed but the zebra pattern totally makes up for it

i LOVE the color of these Gap sandals but i would never last at this height....bummer

leave it to Miu Miu to make some sandals that both retro and  girly!

PFMs Healthy Living: Intentions

Set your intentions. This powerful phrase comes straight from the lips of my Bikram yoga teacher, and I apply it daily. Not only to my yoga practice, (one day I will be able to touch my forehead to the floor) but to my life. Do you have goals that you want to accomplish? Everyone does. Try putting them in writing. Don't hesitate to put your intentions out there in the universe; you will be that much closer to one day reaching your destination...whatever that may be. 

Stewie started with the simplest of intentions: to get out of bed today. He made it halfway, and so I applaud him and his cuteness. All that's needed is purpose and a plan...you'll get there eventually. Here's to a weekend full of best intentions!

PFM Obsession: $esheta's Spring Fresh Five -#4 - Bright Bags

if you read our blog, you should know by now what a bag addict i am.  i can always, at any given moment, list a bag that i am watching, stalking and/or would love to add to my collection.  well, the three bags below are just a few of the beauties that i would love to make my own.  

so, long story short, the #4 item on my list is a pretty bright bag to ring in the warm weather. these bags are just a few of the options out in the world - in sunshine-y shocking hues.  with all the great choices, it will be hard to choose just one... this wouldn't be a problem if i only had an unending supply of excess cash...

PS. i have changed the name of my list to the Fresh Five... duh! lol not sure why it didn't jump out at me when i first named it!

i love the pretty scalloped edging that softens the shocking lemon yellow of this Chloe Bag

chain and neon pink makes this Kate Spade bag anything but blah

gasp...i am officially in love my fave designer  (Marc Jacobs , of course) and neon all in one!!

PFMs Do It Better: Dotted Mani How To

I've been inspired to try out a dotted manicure for a while now, and I'm loving the results! With this latest creation I got a bunch of compliments... on my nail polish strips (ha, my fault since I'm always wearing the Sally Hansens.) Suprise, surprise...it's nail polish! It's a tiny bit more work than I usually put into my manicures, but it was super easy and totally chic. Can't wait to try out more ideas in the future. 

Pick your color. Pale lilac is the color of the moment...just ask Lucky Magazine. I agree, but really I picked Zoya Nail Polish in Megan out of my collection knowing that it would be a subtle milky background for the white dots. Other recommendations? A cool mint or soft peach.

1. Prep your nails. Do your thang...file, shape, buff etc.

2. Apply base coat. Sally Hansen Salon Manicure base is my fave.

3. Apply two coats of your nail polish. Let dry completely.

4. Using a nail art pen, make your dots. It's that simple. This pen has a precise point that's easy to use. Hold your hand steady and start dotting! I began closest to the cuticle and worked back and forth with my dots until the tip of the nail. Let this dry completely.

5. Seal with a topcoat. I swear by Essie Good to Go, and I've tried plenty! My mani is still going strong after 4 days...only one nail is chipped (due to a fight with my desk drawer; I lost.)

Enjoy!!!

PFM Obsession: $esheta's Spring Fresh Five - #5 - Sandro Albatorock Sneaker

when getting ready to post, i planned to post a list of all the current items that i've been drooling over and get it over with in one shot.  then i thought it would be much more fun to do a countdown.  basically, i will have a series of posts that will make up my Fresh Five list.  

i'm starting my list at number 5 with these hot kicks i saw on Saturday.  while shopping with my friend at Bloomies, i saw these studded high-tops from Sandro chilling under the clothing rack.  once home and stalking them on the internet, i found out that they also come in a pretty taupe-y beige suede but my first love is the black versions.  i could totally see at least three outfits with these but i would have to defer to a comfy tee and some patterned skinnies.  ooo, i would soooo love to take these home with me, but with a price tag of $600, they will have to remain as a distant love. :(

 stay tuned for #4!!

Daily Outfit: Second Chances

End of season shopping can often lead to scoring that piece you (almost) missed out on...and even better...now it's on sale! I love second chances. This faux leather skirt from H&M was on my wishlist during the winter months, and now it's finally mine for $20. It has a vintage-inspired style and midi length that's perfect for strolling around bare-legged, soaking up the sunshine. I also love when the weather cooperates and you are actually able to wear your special find this season! Happy Monday!

(Skirt & Top- H&M, Denim Jacket- J.Crew, Red Skinny Belt- Gap, Hat- Forever 21, Suede Booties- Nine West)

PFM Healthy Living: "Growing Power" Revolution - Small Farm Summit 2012 -

this weekend was the 2nd annual Small Farm Summit.  many people are unaware of their "Growing Power" and the "Good Food" revolution happening right around us.  ...but there are others who are reclaiming their right to good food  by starting and/or supporting small farms.  the Small Farm Summit was created in an effort to offer support and recognition of all these people and "to cultivate active community support of sustainable local agriculture"  i had the privilige of attending this summit and the even greater blessing of hearing Will Allen talk about his company, Growing Power, Inc.  i encourage you to follow the links and watch the clip.  it is time to start paying attention to people like Mr. Allen and to events such as the Small Farm Summit.  i have a renewed inspiration to strive for holistic living in my life and to promote it to others as well.  

PFM Obsession: C. Wonder (ful)

The craziest thing happened the other day. I was at the Roosevelt Field mall, strolling around during lunchtime with my two favorite co-workers when something stopped us in our tracks. With our faces pressed up against the store window we swore we passed this spot a million times and never noticed the shop before. But with all the bright colors and swanky candy-colored decor...is that even possible? We felt compelled to go inside, and not just because by this point the store employees had clearly seen us gawking. Christopher Burch's new line, C. Wonder, will have you enthralled, from the super-colorful array of products to the beautiful window and floor displays. (Being an ex-display coordinator, I'm a sucker for smart merchandising tactics!) The best part is that it's a one-stop-shop. I love a store that covers everything from clothing to accessories to home design... to sporting goods? Seriously! I chatted a bit with a salesgirl who told me that this shop is still relatively new (that's why we never noticed it) and they currently have only four locations; three of them are in New York. Within a few minutes of browsing, several bright, cheery, and affordable items were calling my name. Plus, the whimsical website's sale section will have you smiling and filling up your cart for sure! I noticed there's one particular item not available online...the floral Vespa scooter that we drooled over for a couple of minutes. So take a peek at my top picks and then see if you aren't obsessed too!

1.You know I love me some neon...this skinny belt in neon yellow is a must.

2. Stripey boatneck tee- purely because you can never ever have too many striped tops. And if you don't have any, this is a perfect piece to start with. 

3. Correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't these loafers a lookalike to the more pricey J.Crew version? I believe they will be mine, in Cobalt Blue please.

4-6. I live in Long Beach. Everyone has a bike, except for my hubby and I. But things will be different this year...I can see myself cruising down to the farmer's market on one of these electric green lovelies using my bike basket and sporting a pair of super-cute sunnies!!!!

7. A brightly colored throw to curl up in during those breezy evenings on the porch.

8. Functional, decorative, and the perfect shade of glossy yellow...yes please.

9. One look at these Ikat patterned nesting bowls and I was smitten. 

PFMs on the Town: It's a Date - Avengers Assemble

i am sooo excited for the new Avengers Assemble movie.  i am a total fan of tons of cartoons and the Avengers series is definitely one of them.  when i heard that they were doing a movie, i was totally stoked.  the coolest part is how they released all the movies about each superhero - Iron Man, Hulk, Thor and Captain America, and then tied it all in to coincide with the Avengers movie.  i have to admit that i may be a closet comic con geek!  i am not the only one though, my hubby is definitely right there with me and it appears that we are raising three more to add to the crew, lol.  we are all, as a family, really amped for the movie to come out.  while we are super excited, we have refrained from purchasing our tickets a month in advance.  ... but i do know that we will probably be in the theaters opening weekend to see it.  what i find interesting is that i have yet to see the Muppets movie that recently came out and i LOVE the Muppets!! i don't know...  there's just something about those superheros! :)

PFMs in the Kitchen: Chocolate Nest Cupcakes

I don't know what I loved most about this holiday...the mimosa-filled family brunch or the pastel colored chocolates? Whether you are now finding yourself with an excess of Easter candy or you want to file away a recipe for next year, here's an easy dessert that puts those cute candy-coated eggs to good use. Fair warning: this is not what I would deem a "healthy" recipe! Adapted from a simple book of cupcake recipes...it's convenient, especially when you want to browse by special occasion. We made mini cupcakes instead of regular size...easier for family members to sample. They enjoyed 'em very much! And though my nest-making technique of using a vegetable peeler on a chocolate bar worked like a charm, I would have been just as happy to change up the flavor by using coconut flakes...maybe next year!

Recipe adapted from 500 Cupcakes by Fergal Connolly p.194

for the cupcakes:

2 sticks sweet butter, softened

1 cup superfine sugar

2 cups self-rising flour

4 eggs

1 tsp. vanilla extract (I swear by this one)

for the frosting: 

4 oz. semisweet chocolate bar, flaked (I used a veggie peeler)

2 tbsp heavy cream

 3/4 cup semisweet chocolate, chopped

candy-covered mini eggs (I used Cadbury Mini Eggs)

Preheat oven to 350. Place paper baking cups into muffin pans. Combine all of the cupcake ingredients in a large bowl and beat with an electric mixer until smooth and pale, about 2 to 3 minutes. Spoon the batter into cups. 

Bake for 20 minutes. Now is a good time to make your chocolate flakes. Put them in the fridge (covered) until you are ready to use them. Remove the pans from the oven and cool for 5 minutes. Then remove the cupcakes and cool on a rack.

To make the frosting, put the chocolate and cream in a small saucepan over low heat. Stir gently till combined. Remove from heat and stir until the mixture is smooth. Working quickly, spread onto the cooled cupcakes. Top with chocolate flakes and place 2 mini eggs on top. 

Store unfrosted in an airtight container for up to 3 days, or freeze up to 3 months. Makes 2 1/2 dozen mini cupcakes (or 1 1/2 dozen regular size).

Daily Outfit: Layer Cake

there are so many things that i find fun about dressing every day.  i love putting on glittery, blingy things as well as bright colored things.  Also high up on my list are things with ruffles.  this skirt, which is a staple in my wardrobe, satisfies the last category.  not only is it ruffle-y, it has layers of ruffles!  this comfy sweater also added some layers to my ruffles.  just to make sure that i didn't get lost in all the layers, i added my skinny belt to accentuate my waist.  i enjoyed wearing this because of how comfortable it was, especially with my jersey mobius and Uggs!   i even got to have fun coordinating my make-up with my fancy feather earrings.  ahh, every outfit should be this easy... :)

(Coral Ruffle skirt - can't remember lol - i'll double check, Grey leggings - BP by Nordstrom's, White tank  and Grey heather sweater - Old Navy, Bow leather belt - Anthropologie, Grey Boots - Uggs, Thai Rose Headband, Jersey Mobius and Fancy Feather Earrings - MavenFresh)

PFMs in the Kitchen: It's Frittata Time

Potatoes will always be number one in my book, right next to dark chocolate. When it comes down to it, I'll use any excuse to put potatoes in a dish. This particular recipe is kind of like having breakfast for dinner (I confess, this is another weakness of mine.) I don't claim to have invented the frittata...there are plenty of recipes floating around out there! But here's my cheese-less, vegetarian version that's easy to make and right in tune with what my body has been craving in this warmer weather...something light, fresh, and healthy.

The topping is actually just a simple variation of my well-known guacamole. 

Good stuff happening in here!

Potato Frittata with Avocado Topping

2 garlic cloves, minced

8 plum tomatoes, seeded and chopped

1 avocado, pitted and diced 

1/2 tsp chili powder

5 tsp fresh lemon juice

3 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro (or 2 tsp dried)

sea salt

5+ tablespoons olive oil

3 red potatoes, scrubbed, patted dry, halved, and cut crosswise into slices

6 large eggs

In a bowl, combine the tomatoes, avocado, lemon juice, chili powder, cilantro, and 1/2 of one garlic clove. Toss together to make a salsa-like topping. Season with a pinch of sea salt to taste. Cover and put in the fridge till ready to use.

Put 2 tbsp of olive oil in a heavy frying pan and heat over medium heat. Add the other clove- and-a-half of garlic in with the potatoes and 1/4 teaspoon sea salt. Stir and cover the pan, reducing the heat to medium-low. Cook for about 10 minutes, but keep checking and stirring to make sure the potatoes don't stick and are tender. 

Now add 3 tablespoon olive oil to the frying pan (do your best to spread it evenly) and heat over medium-high heat. In a small mixing bowl, beat the eggs with 1/2 teaspoon sea salt to blend.

Pour the eggs into the pan over the potatoes and garlic. Cook, and run a heatproof plastic spatula around the pan edge to occasionally loosen the frittata, until the sides are set, about 6 minutes. Cover and cook until the center is set, about 10-15 minutes (so check it after 9 minutes, could be sooner!) To loosen the frittata from the pan, run the spatula around the edge and under the center. Slide the frittata onto a plate and invert another platter on top. Hold together and flip! Cut the frittata into wedges and serve with the avocado topping. Best eaten right away while it's still real hot. I like a little ketchup with it, while my hubby likes hot sauce. You decide! Serves 4.

PFM Confessional: sesheta speaks...True Love

this picture says so much about Tau's personality lmao

i may have always had a love affair with fashion and with color but my true love overshadows all those things. yes, there are things, rather people, that i love more.  my eldest son, Tau is one of these people.  he turned 14 today and, besides feeling overwhelmed by the idea of having  a full-fledged teenager, i am so proud to be his mommy.

Tau was born at a time when his dad and i were still finding out who we were; it was all around trial and error.  i read all the books you were supposed to in order to prepare for parenthood but any parent can tell you that all your questions never make it in the book.  so much about parenting is intuition and boundaries.  you have to know where you stand when it comes to any issue and then be willing to throw that out the window and revise it in a heartbeat.   though it is my most challenging role, it is also the most fulfilling.  being mom to Tau has taught me things that only he could teach me.  shoot... i am still learning as we speak! my biggest claim to fame was that, despite all of the mistakes that we have made, Tau is still alive and growing lol.  he is growing right before my eyes.  the scary part is that a lot of who he will be has already been formulated; the ground work has been already laid.  we have to hope that we have given him all the tools he will need to become the man he will be.  ... jeez, no pressure...  i know that we can dwell on all the things that we should have done differently, but there is a lot that we have done right.  Tau is a bright, funny, intelligent young man who is just stretching his wings.  now we have to be strong enough to let him fly.

happy earthday, Tau!!

Daily Outfit: Boy Jean Dreams

I'm bringing you another outfit post today due to a happy coincidence. You already know how much we love to check out Eat Sleep Denim for the latest in denim style, the detailed reviews, and the pure inspiration. When I peeked at today's post that was all about the ways to style up a pair of boyfriend jeans, I had to give the fab Taylor Davies a big 'ol (imaginary) high-five. Yes...there are many ways to mix it up in boy jeans. One of her favorite combinations (and obviously mine too) is to pair them with a drapey tee, a structured blazer, and a pair of heels. Again I have to agree with Taylor...after having a serious ankle surgery, I am not that girl who will be rocking a pair of sky-high heels. But give me a pair of vintage-style suede pumps with a low retro heel and I will work them like there's no tomorrow. There's still plenty of time to daydream about wearing my distressed boy jeans in warm weather with a wedge sandal...because as I've come to learn, wedges are essential for the girl who doesn't do stilettos.

(Current Elliot Boyfriend Jeans- eBay, Blazer- Urban Outfitters, Tee- Urban Outfitters, Shoes- Urban Outfitters, Cowrie Shell Bracelet- MavenFresh, Necklace- Luanne's)