Spooky Witches' Fingers Halloween Recipe

With the first day of fall already behind us, Halloween is quickly approaching. Instead of bombarding you with another sweet, pumpkin-flavored recipe of some sort, I wanted to share with you a healthier fall recipe that's just as fun. My friends over at Spork Foods have crafted these spooky pistachio witches' fingers which would make a perfect healthy Halloween party snack for everyone to enjoy! Pistachio Chewy Bite Witches’ Fingers

Yields 6

Ingredients:

6 Setton Farms Pistachio Chewy Bites

1/4 cup almond milk

1/2 cup non-dairy dark chocolate chips

Dash sea salt

12 dried cranberries

1/2 cup Setton Farms Roasted Pistachio Kernels, finely ground

Directions:

Unwrap all chewy bites and cut each chewy bite in half lengthwise. Gently press the two halves together, with the stickiest sides facing each other, creating one long strip. If desired, to create thumb and pinky finger, leave two halves short.  Set aside.

Place chocolate chips in a heat-proof bowl.

In a small pan, bring almond milk to a boil.  Pour over chocolate chips and let sit for about 20 seconds to melt chocolate.  Add sea salt.  Whisk until smooth.

Dip long Pistachio Chewy Bite strips into chocolate mixture and then sprinkle or roll in pistachios immediately. Place on wax paper lined plate and top each strip with 2 overlapping dried cranberries at the tip.

Set aside for about 20 minutes to firm up.

Recipe created by Spork Foods.

Summer Blues

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This post is sponsored by Lindt Chocolate.

Chocolate and fashion - two of my favorite things. I've teamed up with Lindt Chocolate to share with you style inspired by the delicious and beautiful coconut LINDOR truffle. Other than black and white, blue is the color that is most universally flattering for all skin tones, and the aqua packaging of the coconut truffle is a perfect pairing with summer fashion. Blue tones of an ocean, pool and sky are all part of the summer experience, and now eating truffles by my pool is too. I may only get a couple hours of peace and quite throughout the day, but those hours are definitely filled with tasty treats and relaxation when I can manage it.

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I chose a trapeze maxi dress from Alixandra Collections to wear for my Lindt fashion challenge because it's a dress that I would wear pregnant or not-pregnant. It has a luxurious and easy quality to it along with a flattering solid strip down the center. The color palette of the dress is mostly navy and white, but the flecks of lighter blues and even pastel pink create more interest. The fact that this dress has a strong pattern helps disguise any extra curves you might want to hide (although I can't really hide my bump anymore).

To see more Lindt inspired summer fashion, check out this post here and here. If you have a sweet tooth, check out Lindt's Unwrapped Blog.

Photography by Gina Meola.

Style Inspired by Key Lime

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Raise your emoji hand if you like key lime pie. I DO!!! Raise your hand if you like chocolate. I do, especially while pregnant! Did you know that Lindt makes citrus Lindor Truffles? Yes. Yes, they do, and I am very thankful because they are a little slice of heaven during these hot summer days.

Lindt asked me share some outfits inspired by their indulgent truffles, and what better choice than a citrus inspired palette for summer?! It tastes like melt in your mouth white chocolate with a key lime filling, so I chose white skinny maternity jeans from H&M with a graphic pattern halter top from Alixandra Collections that incorporated lime green along with a beautiful aqua and, everyone's favorite color, black.

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I love that women are embracing the color white. Just have a gallon of bleach near by, and don't worry too much if you spill something on your pants. Halter tops are a shape that many designers are using this summer. In general, plan to expose those beautiful shoulders of yours with off-the-shoulder tops, strapless tops or halters.

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If you're nervous about incorporating bright colors such as lime into your wardrobe, pick a print that incorporates it. Prints are also great for disguising a large mid-section (you can't even tell I'm pregnant from the front).

Get the look: Hat from Alixandra Collections Sunglasses from Target Top from Alixandra Collections White skinny jeans from H&M Black mules from Shoe Dazzle

Photos by Gina Meola

This post is sponsored by Lindt.

Celebrate Galentine's Day

This is a sponsored post by Memebox.

Galentine's Day is the new Valentine's Day, didn't you hear? This Valentine's Day make some room for the gals in your life and celebrate how much you love and care for each other. In my mind the perfect girl party has dresses, flower crowns, flower petals, makeup, wine and candy. What about you?

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For the perfect makeup look, Stephanie of SN Makeup Artist and my dear friend, created an EASY makeup look for you. Simply apply Memebox's I'm Lip Tint Balm #2 in Flash Neon Pink and you have the perfect lips. Done! That's right. A DIY with one step. That's what I'm talking about! Get 10% off your lip tint when you use the code AVE10.

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Malori Maeva of Hoot and Holler created giant pink and red crowns for us to wear, and I dressed Steph and I up in dresses from Frances Vintage. Put some wine and chocolate out and turn on some girl tunes, and you got yourself a lovely, memorable Galentine's Day.

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Photos by Michelle Herrick; Art direction and styling by A.V.E. Styles; makeup by SN Makeup Artist, florals by Hoot and Holler.

Chocolate Affair

This is weekend is the annual Glendale Chocolate Affair! I've never been, but I think I may venture North to Glendale this year. The event is FREE and open to the public. I think you just buy meal tickets or chocolate at the booths... There's live music and, if you're into romance novels, book signings by romance authors. (If Harry Potter counts as a romance novel, count me in...haha). I'm more excited about chocolate covered potato chips! I've heard these things are amazing. Anyone ever had one? Salty & sweet is the way to my stomach! Event hours are Friday 5 - 10 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday noon to 5 p.m, and is located in the heart of Historic Downtown Glendale, in Murphy Park, located at 58th and Glendale avenues. Anyone else going?