Brooklyn Bound: Wythe Hotel

If you've never been to New York City, much less to Brooklyn, perhaps you should consider booking a trip. 

NYC is the most AMAZING place in the world & even though I don't venture into Brooklyn much, I know there are some great hang-out spots there. There are several hotels to room in while you're your vacationing here.  In fact, one of those hotels is the Wythe Hotel. This Brooklyn spot is so cool.

This hotel used to bean old factory on the Brooklyn waterfront built in 1901. It has now been renovated to feel like a welcoming & gorgeous place to sleep, dine and have drinks! I'm so tempted to just stop by for dinner one night! Isn't it lovely??

It's located at:
80 Wythe Ave. at N. 11th Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY 11249






















Have any of you been to the Wythe Hotel yet??







-images via Wythe Hotel




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Fashion: Wrist Candy

Welcome back from the weekend! This is Casie blogging today! I wanted to keep you all in the "Know" on what's happening in the fashion world with the latest wrist candy.


I recently purchased the Gold Double Skull Bracelet from the Made By Girl shop and ever since I swear I's stopped at least once a day by someone asking where I got it. It's such a perfect compliment to the fun and chic arm party, don't you think?! 


While the Double Skull Bracelet may be sold out for now, there are so many fun ways to add flair to your run-of-the-mill accessorizing routine. I've been loving mini-bracelets lately but remain just as in love with bold statement cuffs… its really all a win/win! Here's 11 pieces I've been gushing over lately… some I now own.. some I'm just dying to own! Which of these is your favorite??









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Parker & Rain Trays

Friday is here & I'm so glad and hope to relax a bit, but first I'd like to tell you about a little shop I came across called, Parker & Rain. They offer a variety of interesting & colorful trays for the home. Trays are great for organizing...don't you think??

Tips for using trays effectively would be:

Place them in entryways - there you can place the small items you bring in from outside, such as keys, sunglasses and so on. 

Use trays for perfumes -  This is a fantastic way to keep all my perfumes in one spot. It gives me a full display so I could see what I want to spray on.

Add your jewelry items in them- this is also something I'd recommend if you don't have a ton of jewelry and can easily be displayed. The key is to place each piece of jewelry in a way that each piece can be seen. Sort of like in a jewelry store. Get the picture?



I have a total of 3 trays in my current place, and each one has a different use, but definitely helps keep things organized & in place. These ones are fun & would surely add interest to any area of your home!  

Parker & Rain is offering 20% to MadeByGirl readers - just use the discount code: MADEBYGIRL

 

How else do you use trays in your home??




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Splendid + Clare Vivier

Yesterday I received a gorgeous gift in the mail from Splendid. A limited edition iPad case designed by Clare Vivier - who I'm a big fan of, with 2 of her handbags in my closet!

And with that, Splendid is launching a splendid summer social media campaign this Summer! You'll have to tune into their website and their Pinterest to find out more! Anyhow, to create this unique online experience, they went outside the box & tapped longtime collaborator & artist Karen Kimmel to bring the space to life. 




To celebrate their launch they are also partnering with talented bag designer Clare Vivier to produce a limited edition iPad case.  The case is made up of a mixture of neon orange, white, navy blue & cream. 


It's a sturdy case that really holds your iPad securely. Clare brought her cool, minimalist LA vibe into the mix when she designed these cases with Splendid's signature stripes.



Right now the cases are available at Splendid for $128.







-images by jen ramos









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Food: Sweet Corn Caesar & Roasted Poblano Dressing

Hi everyone, it's Lauren from Perpetually Chic, here to share my first recipe as a Made By Girl contributor! 


I love to use fresh, seasonal ingredients year round and in summer find myself leaning toward simple recipes so I can enjoy more time outside. By putting your grill to work, this salad recipe is perfect for a night on the patio and easy enough for even novice chefs. 


Don't be intimidated by the number of ingredients...this comes together in an hour, or less if you have a helper. And you can even complete the first steps (sweet corn salsa and roasted poblano dressing) ahead of time. Keep reading for the recipe! 

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Do you guys buy store-bought croutons? Me too, until I realized how easy they are to make yourself--seriously. 

Just preheat your oven to 400 degrees, cut half a loaf of day old, grainy bread into cubes, then place them in a bowl and drizzle with olive oil, salt, pepper and red pepper flakes. Mix well with your hands, spread on a cookie sheet and bake 15 minutes. They'll be flavorful and crunchy! 

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For the Roasted Poblano Dressing
-1 poblano pepper, roasted, seeded and peeled
-2 tablespoons lime juice
-1 tablespoon cilantro, chopped
-1/2 tablespoon green onions, chopped
-1/4 teaspoon each of dried oregano and basil
-4 tablespoons buttermilk
-1 cup mayo (I use the Kraft olive oil, reduced fat version)
-Salt and pepper to taste

For Sweet Corn Salsa
-2 ears of fresh corn, grilled (or substitute frozen corn)
-1 poblano pepper, roasted, seeded and peeled
-1 serrano or jalapeno pepper, seeded and diced
-3 tablespoons red onion, diced
-1 tablespoon cilantro, chopped
-1/2 a lime, juiced
-1/2 teaspoon sugar
-Salt and pepper to taste 

For the Salad 
-2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
-1 red bell pepper, roasted on the grill
-1 small head of romaine lettuce, chopped
-1 avocado, sliced
-2 hard-boiled eggs, yolks discarded and whites chopped
-Parmesan, shaved into slices
-Croutons (homemade per above or store bought)

Instructions:
Preheat grill to medium-high heat. Soak corn (in husks) in water for a few minutes. Slice both poblano peppers and the red pepper in half, from top to bottom. Lightly brush peppers with olive oil then place skin-side down on grill, along with the corn (still in husks). After 5-7 minutes, once blackened and blistering, remove all peppers and set aside to cool. Carefully remove corn husks, then return corn to grill for just another few minutes, turning once to lightly char each side. 
Peel skin from both poblanos, remove seeds and dice. Slice the roasted red pepper into thin strips. Using a knife, remove corn from the cobs. 
Place half the diced, roasted poblano peppers, plus all other dressing ingredients in a small food processor and blend until smooth. Add an extra tablespoon of regular milk if you find it too thick. Let dressing stand in the refrigerator while you prepare the rest of the salad. 
In a large bowl, combine the two cups of corn and remaining diced poblano with onion, serrano pepper, and cilantro. Season with sugar, salt and pepper then toss with fresh lime juice. Set sweet corn salsa aside.  
Season chicken breasts with salt, pepper and a drizzle of olive oil on both sides. Toss on the grill for about 10-15 minutes, flipping once. 
In a large salad bowl, combine lettuce and coat with the roasted poblano dressing to your liking. Serve lettuce onto plates, then let each person top with remaining ingredients: grilled chicken, sweet corn salsa, roasted red pepper strips, hard-boiled eggs, avocado slices, Parmesan and croutons. 
Enjoy! 


-post & images by Lauren Craig



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Michael Kors does Black

These days we're all about color. What the HECK happened to BLACK?
 
Anyone else sort of miss it? I love the whole color craze, neons & so forth, but once in awhile I like to play it safe & dress all in black. There's something cool & mysterious about black, don't you think?

Below are some of my favorite picks from the Michael Kors 2012 collection - pretty cute stuff! In fact, so nice I'm considering exchanging these Alexander Wang booties I bought last week (that didn't fit, ugh) to a pair of open toed MK booties you see blow. These are HOT! 




Are you still wearing all black? Or have you ventured into the COLORS trend this season?










-images via michael kors




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Fashion: Pops of Color

Hey guys! I'm Jocelyn from The Stylish Type. I'm so excited about joining Made By Girl and getting the chance to bring you a little dose of style inspiration for the day. As an introduction, I wanted to share with you my absolute most favorite thing to incorporate into outfits...a pop of color! 

Color can make such a statement and is one of my favorite ways to dress up an outfit. Mix and match them for a color blocking effect or add one bright piece to a neutral all black or white outfit for major impact. Here's a look at a few colorful must-haves currently on my wishlist. 

I love the blazer and the pants and would actually probably wear them together with a white t-shirt and nude pumps. 

How do you guys wear color?






Hope you enjoyed the post, looking forward to getting to know all of you.


-post by jocelyn sanchez




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Bits Of My Week





Love this pink studded tank I bought at Zara.









My husband launched a food blog called "Made For Jen" - I thought it was so sweet! So many of you had asked about his recipes & the food he makes for me, well you can see most of it here


He'll be trying to update it 3x week with posts from our home meals to places we go to eat here in the city!



 








Below is one of the recipes for 'Watermelon Agua Fresca'. My husband didn't make it up, but he can surely tell you how to make your own here on his blog.






-images by jen ramos





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DIY: Pom Poms

Hello everyone this on this Monday morning! It's Anna here from A Newfound Treasure, and I am honored to be one of the new DIY contributors. Today, I am sharing a little project just perfect for spiffing up that ol' "something" of yours... pom poms! Whether adding them to the corners of a pillow (like me) or topping a present with a cluster of them, they're sure to add a fun touch to just about anything. 

First, gather your supplies. This is what you'll need:

Wrap yarn around your fingers (30+ times). The more times you wrap, the fuller and larger your pom pom will turn out. 


Once you have the desired amount of yarn wrapped around your fingers, cut a separate piece of yarn 6-8 inches long and slip it between the middle fingers. Tie it around the entire bundle of yarn. 


Slip the bundle off of your fingers and double knot the tied string. 

Cut the loops of yarn.


Once, you've finished cutting loops, you'll be left with a messy pom pom. I do like the way the messy pom pom looks for a package topper, but for pillow corners, I think a full, more rounded pom pom looks best. 


So, while holding the 2 longer strings that you tied the yarn bundle with, begin trimming some length off of the yarn. Be intentional with your cutting, so that you form a round ball. Sharp scissors will make this step much easier. 


Once you have your round pom pom, knot the 2 long strings that you've been holding. Make this loop very small, but large enough to see and sew through.


Using the loop that you just made, attach to a pillow corner by sewing through numerous times. Once the pom pom is securely attached, trim the long ties. 



Repeat for the remaining 3 corners of your pillow and there you have it... a very inexpensive and quick way to take an ordinary pillow to the next level. 




Very cute, wouldn't you agree?





-post by anna weaver



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