Energy Boosting Recipes

Spring has finally sprung, which means summer, also known as bikini season, is (finally) around the corner! I don't know about anyone else, but I've definitely been lacking in the eating healthy department... There's just something about 2 ft. of snow and minus 10 degree weather that makes me want to watch hours upon hours of my favorite tv show, eating tons of junk food. We thought it be appropriate to share a few of our favorite energy boosting recipes that are great for all you tv junkies out there, who need that extra jolt to get you off the couch.

xo A&M

Overnight Oatmeal

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup of oats (not instant)
• 1/2 cup of almond milk

Then add anything you want. Here are some ideas:

• Hemp hearts
• Cacao nibs
• Greek yogourt
• Fruit (my personal favorite are blueberries)
• Maple syrup

Put in the fridge and eat in the morning.

Snickerdoodle Hummus

Ingredients:

• 2 cups of chickpeas
• 1/4 cup of peanut butter (or almond/hazelnut butter)
• 2 tbsp of honey
• 2 tbsp of maple syrup
• 1 tsp of cinnamon

Put in the blender (or your Magic Bullet, which we're obsessed with) and blend away.

Homemade Gatorade

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup of sugar
• 1/2 cup of hot water
• 1/4 cup orange juice
• 2 tbsp of lemon juice
• 1/8 salt
• 3 1/2 cups of cold water

Dissolve the sugar in hot water
Combine with orange juice, salt and cold water

This may be a bit sweet for some. If that’s the case, cut down a little on the sugar. Good substitutes for white sugar are maple syrup or maple sugar.

Transitional looks

Hola friends,
here are a few looks we found appropriate for that awkward transition between winter and spring. We used pops of colour, played around with texture (fur, knit, leather, mesh etc.) and patterns such as stripes and florals.
Enjoy! Xo
A&M

Scarf: Micheal Kors/ Sweater: Zara/ Skirt: Mendocino/ Booties: Urban Planet

Vest: H&M/ Dress: American Apparel/ Shorts: American Apparel/  Booties: Forever 21

Sweater: Free People/ Necklace: H&M

Jacket: Danier/ Sweater: Free People/ Pants: Gap/ Booties: Urban Outfitters/ Watch: Citizen 

Pants: Gap/ Booties: Urban Outfitters

Shirt: Anthropologie/ Pants: Gap/ Shoes: Steve Madden/ Watch: Citizen

Lipstick

As you should know by now, we love lipstick. No matter the shade or texture, lipstick is the greatest outfit pick-me-up (right up there with nail polish of course). Here are a couple of new ones we've recently bought from MAC. Hope you like them!

xo A&M

Lady Danger Matte

Diva Matte

Viva Glam Nicki Lipstick

Fringe

The other day, I finally mustered up the courage to cut my own front bangs. Partly out of boredom and partly because I thought it would be ridiculous to pay $70 for a relatively simple haircut. Here is the before/after:

Here are a few tips if you're thinking of getting bangs:

1. Make sure you have sharp scissors. 
2. Cut them dry, this will ensure preciseness 
3. Cut horizontally a bit longer then desired length, then place your scissors vertically and cut upwards to finish up. This is make your bangs appear less bold and also make mistakes less noticeable ;)
4. When cutting, make sure you cut them longer then expected because they will shorten (bounce back up) once you style them.
5. If you have curly/wavy hair, you WILL need to style them! (I blow dry mine with a round brush)
6. Buy bobby pins. They come in handy when you need to wash your face or go to the gym. 

-Andrea 

DIY clutch!

Here's a super easy 5-step DIY leather fold over clutch tutorial. Unfolded, it can also be used as a laptop protector. Have fun with it by customize your clutches by choosing your own sizes and fabric/zipper colours.

Materials:

-leather/faux leather

-zipper

-ruler

-fabric scissors 

-pins

-sewing machine 

Step 1: Cut 2 pieces of leather in the same size. (The size is up to you, here they are both 11"x15" because I want my 13" laptop to fit)

Step 2:  With right sides together, sew the zipper to one of the leather pieces. Using your zipper foot on your machine will make this easier.

Step 3: This is the trickiest part- take your second leather piece and do the exact same this you did in step 2, but on the other side of the zipper. Make sure right sides are together!

Step 4: Pin the two leather pieces along the three other edges. Open the zipper and sew along those three sides. (Here, the zipper is on the right side of the image)

Step 5: Once sewn, clip the bottom corners to reduce bulk and turn the clutch inside out. Poke all four corners, fold over and voila! 

Hair

Clockwise: Keratine Complex Shampoo $17.50/Moroccanoil Moisture Repair Shampoo (33.8 oz) $72.00

Moroccanoil Treatment (3.4 oz) $50.87/ Mane 'n Tail Shampoo (32 oz) $10.00

Top to bottom: Anthropologie/ American Apparel 

Wearing hair accessories is an easy way to play up and outfit without having to spend a lot of money. This month, we're loving big bow clips, ribbons wrapped around ponies as well as delicate headbands. The hair products posted above are a few of our top favourites and are definitely worth a try!
xx A&M

Fall fabulousness

Hat: Aldo/ Purse: Michael Kors/ Sunglasses: Necessary Clothing/ Shoes: Town Shoes/ Leather Jacket: Danier/ Shorts: Wilfred

Belt: H&M/ Skirt: American Apparel/ Shoes: Urban Outfitters/ Scarf: American Apparel/ Coat: H&M

Necklace: Anthropologie/ Purse: Aldo circa 1995/ Shoes: Anthropologie/ Leather Jacket: Danier/ Sweater: Mendocino