Thursday, December 29, 2016

NYE with a Sparkle

Whether you are staying in or have a big night planned out, there's no doubt that you probably want to add at least a little sparkle to your outfit.  It's important to have a few staple over-the-top glitter-covered outfits for some occasions and O.K. to opt for that comfy sweater with a little sequined and instead take your eye-makeup to a whole new glitter level.  Either way, have a safe night and Happy New Year!
I got lucky because apparently no one really buys sequined-covered items after the holidays so I scored both skirts (above) on clearance for literally under $10 (for BOTH!) at Kohl's.  I think sequins is acceptable all-year long so it was like hitting the jackpot for me! :)

If you are hosting and like me, are overstuffed on sweats and junk food, I love this recipe because it's delicious and healthy.  With apples, pumpkin and cinnamon all being naturally low-sugar, you can indulge on NYE while still maintaining your healthy lifestyle.  You can find the recipe here.

glutenfreepumpkinrecipe

Ever After,
Jamie

Thursday, December 15, 2016

*LuLaRoe Holiday Giveaway*

Lularoe outfit contest
LuLaroe prints


 I heard friends buzzing about LuLaRoe from a few friends and thought the prints were so adorable and different.  What I didn't know but I soon learned after trying on a few outfits from Melissa's Lularoe shop  was exactly how comfortable it really is.  They are the softest leggings and tops I have ever worn, EVER! 
  My Mommy friends raved about the items and how comfortable they were and now I can totally stand by that.  I was pleased that I could wear something so comfy to work, yet still look professional, and be able to play with Gavin in the same clothes since they were so comfortable!

Now is your chance to win with a holiday contest!  Enter to win on Instagram and Facebook for a $25 gift card for your very own LuLaRoe purchase.. just in time for Christmas!

To enter simply follow @JamieEverAfter and lularoemelissamonholland on Instagram!
For an additional entry, check out Melissa's VIP facebook group where she showcases all of her inventory as she gets it.  Winner will be announced on Tuesday, December 20th.  Good luck!

Ever After,
Jamie

Thursday, December 8, 2016

Teeth Whitening with Smile Brilliant: A Smile Transformation + Giveaway!

    I have always thought a big, white smile made a huge difference in anyone's appearance.  It's kind of like the most basic beauty thing someone can do (male or female) that improves your overall look.  I have never professionally whitened by teeth and have only really tried Crest white strips a few years back.  With that said, my teeth really needed help!  I am an avid coffee and red wine drinker so needless to say, I had my fair share of coffee stains, however I never really knew much about professional teeth whitening and always assumed it was super expensive.
I was very excited when Smile Brilliant offered to send me an at-home whitening kit to try out their custom-fitting trays and whitening kit.  From the reviews I researched before trying, the quality was professional grade yet at the comfort of your own home so I was in!
    Smile Brilliant was very easy to use in my opinion.  The only real "work" involved is making the custom impressions to mold to your teeth so that the whitening experience is comfortable and effective.  The instructions are very easy to follow and I showcase the steps below where you simply make an impression of your teeth in the gum material they provide, let it dry and mail it out back to Smile Brilliant where they will make your custom impression.
    In just a few days, Smile Brilliant send back your custom-made impressions and this is where the fun begins.  Simply use the whitening gel provided in your custom trays and watch the magic happen!  The whitening kit also provides a sensitivity gel after whitening but I was lucky and did not experience any sensitivity at all and therefore didn't need to use it.  For a more detailed instruction on how to use Smile Brilliant, you can watch this video.
    I noticed surface stains removing after just one use especially since I had coffee stains which was easy to remove with one application.  The results below are after 5 sessions of whitening (trays were worn for approximately 40 minutes each time).
   I was very impressed with the results and also impressed with how fast it worked.  I noticed myself able to pull off a few more daring lip colors since my teeth were so white (added bonus) :)  I would definitely recommend Smile Brilliant to anyone looking to boost their smile!  I'll provide a link to the product below.  I think it also makes a great holiday gift for the person who has everything!
  I have also teamed up with Smile Brilliant to give away a whitening kit- just in time for the holidays!  Check out the link below to enter.



Here is where you can get your very own Smile Brilliant Whitening kit and save 5% with code: jamieeverafter in checkout!
 You can check out some more amazing smile transformations: Smile Brilliant Reviews
Jamie Ever After + Smile Brilliant will also be giving a away a whitening kit.  To enter- Follow @JamieEverAfter on Instagram and then simply provide your email here



Ever After,
Jamie
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Saturday, November 19, 2016

Zucchini Lasagna: Low Carb Recipe







Ingredients:

  • 2 Zucchini
  • 12 oz Ricotta cheese (part skim)
  • 1lb ground beef/chicken/turkey (I used ground chicken)
  • 1/2 cup part-skim mozzarella, shredded
  • 1 large green pepper, chopped
  • 1 package mushrooms, sliced
  • 1 egg
  • 1 onion, finely chopped 
  • fresh basil, finely chopped
  • 1 cup marinara sauce 
Directions: Preheat overn to 325 and grease a 9x13 baking ban.  Then slice zucchini lengthwise into very thin slices.  Season with sea salt and set aside. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet and cook ground beef (or any ground meat you prefer) on high for 5 minues.  Add in green pepper, mushrroms, and onion and cook until meat is no longer pink.  Stir in tomato sauce, garlic, and basil and let simmer for 20 minutes.
While that is cooking, make the ricotta mixture by mixing all of the ricotta with the egg- set aside.

To assemle the lasagna, spread half of the meat sauce (with cooked veggies) into the bottom of the pan.  The next layer is half the zucchini slices and half the mozz and then half the ricotta mixture.  Repeat by layering the remaining meat sauce, zucchini slices, then rest of ricotta cheese and mozzarella. Spriinkle with parmesan cheese on top.  Bake for 45 minutes and let cool.

This was a hit in my house.. even my hubby loved it!  It's a little messier than regular lasagna but it's so delicious and saves so many calories.


Ever After,
Jamie

Thursday, November 3, 2016

Shell + Bones | New Haven Blogger Event









    There is no doubt that New Haven has some of the best food and  restaurant choices in CT.  From world-famous pizza to classic hamburgers, you can find your personal heaven. 
    I was lucky enough to attend a blogger's event hosted by fellow blogger and friend Kat, owner of A Little Birdie Told Me, a social media and content marketing agency.  So many amazing #boss ladies attended at Shell and Bones Oyster Bar and Grill , which undoubtedly has the most beautiful view in New Haven!  Overlooking the harbor and Lighthouse Point Park, the sunset was absolutely stunning.
   Upon our arrival, we were greeted with hot apple cider cocktails in beautiful copper mugs which was perfect for a cool, fall evening by the water.  The appetizers were incredible- my favorite being the  Clam Chowder Remoulade, and the mouth-watering Tuna Tatare.  Blogger events are always a great way to network, try new places in the area and put some great minds together for ideas and content.

{Sweater: Nordstrom similar here | Distressed jeans: Primark |  Booties: Trask | Blanket scarf: Hollister}

Ever After,
Jamie

Monday, October 31, 2016

Happy Halloween!


Hope you all have a great Halloween!  It will be Gavin's 2nd Halloween and we are going Trick-or-Treating in our neighborhood.  I am usually doing a last-minute Halloween make-up DIY right before we go out so we will see what I come up with tonight.  The scarecrow makeup was from last weekend's Halloween party and all I needed was eyeliner and orange lipstick!

What are you and your family dressing up as this Halloween?

Skull watch c/o Rosegal

Ever After,
Jamie

Tuesday, October 18, 2016

Fall is for Bomber Jackets + Pumpkins




    There is something so peaceful about fall.  Amidst the daily chaos of presentations, meetings, bedtime routines, and social events, all of this change goes on outside and all of a sudden there is complete transformation of the colors outside and the crispness of the air.  I love the changing of season, which is the main reason why I love New England (ask me in January, I might have a different opinion!).
   Some family traditions of mine growing up were picking out the perfect pumpkin and getting all the cousins together to have a pumpkin carving contest.  Gavin will have to wait a little longer for the carving part but we had a blast visiting the local farm to pick out the perfect pumpkins.  As for an outfit, I wanted to be comfy yet stylish and the bomber jacket is this fall's must-have layering piece.  This entire look was under $100, from head to toe!

{Get the look Bomber jacket in Green: Rose gal (on sale for $16!) | Distressed Skinny Jeans: Primark, similar here | knitted hat: Forever 21  Nike wedge sneakers: Found at Second time Around in NYC but similar here}

Ever After,
Jamie

Friday, September 30, 2016

Plum lips + a Cozy Sweater






September in New England is the perfect weather.  Chilly mornings but warmer, breezy afternoons and so many fall festivals and pumpkin patches.  I tend to stretch my summer clothes as long as possible to transition slowly into fall attire.  I love a cozy sweatshirt with jean shorts for a casual transitional look.  This particular sweater feel as cozy as a hoody but looks a little more chic than your average sweatshirt.

{Lace-up sweatshirt: Zaful (on sale for under $20!) | Gold sneakers: T.J. Maxx| Lace-trimmed shorts: Forever 21| Lip color: NYX Matte in Siren}
Ever After,
Jamie

Wednesday, September 21, 2016

LCD (Little Colored Dress)





 
   The most versatile dress most of us own is the LBD (little Black Dress) but do you own a favorite Little Colored Dress (LCD)?  You should!  It's for those events that you dare not wear black (or white) such as the amazing outdoor wedding I attended (and photographed) at The Greer Tree Farm in Griswold, CT.

   There is something about outdoor venues that compels me to wear bright, contrasting colors so I went through my collection of solid colored dresses and settled on this bold, magenta cocktail dress that I paired with a statement necklace.  Do you have a go-to LCD?



Ever After,
Jamie

P.S. the drink options were bomb!  I stuck with the Porch Rockers which were a concoction of Bourbon, Cynder Liquor, Tea syrup, and Orange. 

Tuesday, September 6, 2016

Motivational Monday: There's No Place Like Home





     "There's no place like home," and by that I mean your home state.  Have you ever vacationed in your home state?  It's a pretty awesome feeling because you get to experience everything at leisure rather than the usual business of responsibilities and work.
 
     The last week in August, we took a family trip to the Connecticut shoreline and although I have done day trips and camping in the area as a kid, it was an awesome trip to see how beautiful CT really is.  As a mom, the plus was that I could pack all Gavin's toys (unlike our last trip to Florida) and Gavin felt a little more at home with all his own toys and items.
 
     I am thinking since this trip was so low stress and an absolute blast, we can make it a family tradition on the summer.  Do you have any family trips that have turned into a family tradition?


Ever After,
Jamie

Wednesday, August 31, 2016

Sunset + Floral Dress











   Hi loves!  Last week I was on vacation and had an amazing time.  It reminded me how beautiful my home state is.  We drove less than an hour to the CT shoreline and stayed in a beautiful cottage right on the beach in Old, Lyme. The est part was it was easy to pack up Gavin since it was a short right and we even got to take Zoey on her first family vacation.  Zoey absolutely loved the beach and come to find out he loves long walks at sunset!
    Overall, my style on vacation was comfy and barefoot!   It's very rare that one can pull off a dress with no shoes but this loose and airy floral dress was just the perfect dress to transition from a sunset walk to a dinner date.  Don't you love when something that is so comfy is also so adorable?  I was a little hesitant about this dress before I got in the mail because it was under $20 but I was pleasantly surprised by the quality and overall really impressed. 
Shop this look: Ethnic Style Long Sleeve Floral Dress by Sammy Dress

What is left on your summer bucket list?
Ever After,
Jamie