A Little Obsession

Thursday, November 6, 2014

Something Black, Something Blue

Cache Cache Cache - all day.

I cant say enough about the dresses at Cache.

Game - changers. Always flattering fits.

Big thanks to them for dressing me on the show on the regular and always making me look ten different kinds of fab.

I wore this beauty on the show this week.

Chain Trim Dress available at Cache // Heels: Michael Kors - sold out. Similar HERE

Lipstick: I mixed two NYX lipsticks together to get this color: - sweet pink & aria

And... another LBD.

As Cache would say:
"The LBD is all-season sexy. One’s not enough... and it might be impossible to have too many."

Black Long Sleeve Beaded Dress: Cache //
Steve Madden Stud Pumps
SOLD OUT but Several available on Ebay HERE

<disclaimer this photo below was touched up with the oh so fun APP -- "Perfect 365"

I only wish I had eyelashes that amazing and no bags under my eyes <a girl can dream right?>.

Not to worry - you can have no bags to.

If you don't have it - download it. You'll thank me later. ;)

Makeup: NYX Prague Lipstick

Foundation: Makeup Forever #155

Eyelashes: Sephora - Celebrity

Eyeliner: NARS - Via Venetto

Highlighter: MAC prep & prime Light Boost

Bronzer/outer lining: MAC studio Fix NW 45/ Bobbi Brown Almond Foundation Stick

Mascara: They're Real Benefit Cosmetics

Blush: MAC Coppertone

Dressing room photo fun and silly faces, because when I'm bored after the show this is what we do.

We as in Me.

Happy Shopping.

Xo,

Alex

Sunday, November 2, 2014

Explore Asheville

Have you been to Asheville??

Last week, I took a trip with the "My Carolina Today" team to explore Asheville, North Carolina.

It was a work trip for some feature segments were doing on the city and my gosh is it GORGEOUS.

If you've never been - it's so worth the trip.

Mountains, beautiful trees, historic buildings...the list goes on.

We got there right at the start of "fall color change... "

<at least that's what I call it - you know when the trees start turning pretty colors>

Being a Florida girl - I have really never seen anything like this. I grew up around palm trees so my version of winter was adding fake icicles to buildings - haha! So, I'm seeing FALL in FULL EFFECT like never before.

Maybe its silly but I LOVE IT.

For the first part of our shoot - we visited the River Arts District and watched live demonstrations by several artists -- painting, sculpting, blowing glass. It's such an artistic & creative city. So glad I left my credit card in the car or I would have been buying stuff left and right.

Every street was literally breathtaking.
So much history.

THEN AN AMAZING STOP @ Asheville TreeTops Adventure Park AKA Zip Lining!
Now I'm not gonna lie - I was genuinely terrified at first but it turned out all ok. More pictures and video to come at a later post. <thats me and my co host Valonda>

For dinner - we ate at an amazing local spot called HomeGrown - AND WOW.

The food was IN-CRED-IBLE. So good. Their motto "Slow food - right quick"
I ordered Buttermilk chicken, an arugula salad, and a side of mac n cheese.

It was so good I forgot to take a pic of the whole meal but the MACnCheese was redonkulous.
<as in AMAZing> Quite possibly the best mac n cheese I've ever had in my life - EVER.

Tried to get a quick selfie in with the trees but the sun was shining SO BRIGHT!! LOL

Then we went on a Wellness Tour...
It started with spending some time meditating in a Salt Cave. Now that was cool.
It was really a very different experience and its crazy how the salt can literally calm you. The minute I walked into the room I felt so relaxed. It was as if a weight was lifted off my shoulders.

I really can't completely explain it in words but it was a very soothing feeling. I was sore from Zip lining earlier so I put some of the salt crystals on my muscles and it honestly felt better after. Who knew? Have you ever been to a salt cave?

I finished up my tour of Asheville with a foot soak like none other at Wake Foot Sanctuary. It was pretty phenomenal. My foot soak included: <Green tea, lemongrass, & avocado oil -all together for an energizing yet nourishing soak. > Breathe deep – :) It was a warm and relaxing 45 minute experience.

While you soak they wrap a hot towel around your neck and serve you hot tea. It felt very royal - ha! If that's what royalty feels like.. sign me up FOR LIFE.

I was sad to leave the pretty city but it was a quick work trip to show people in Raleigh the beauty of Asheville. We are putting together a segment on all the amazing fun you can get into by visiting Asheville -- its set to air later this month on NBC.

It's a four hour drive away from Raleigh but I discovered a beautiful place in the mountains I plan to return to soon. XOXO

Happy Sunday,
Alex

PS. #Explore

Saturday, November 1, 2014

Trader Joe's Pumpkin Bar Obsession

"Step away from the pumpkin bar, Alex - step away."

I literally have to say this to myself out loud because I can't stop eating them.

Nothing makes me more excited than getting dressed up for Halloween..besides the candy part. But this year I opted for pumpkin suga'... instead. Before I headed out for Halloween festivities -- I made these unstoppable super-cali-fragilistic:

Pumpkin Bars from Trader Joe's <with chocolate chips in them>.

Trust me = You want them in your life.

I mean they are so good people sell them on EBAY WHEN THEY ARE SOLD OUT in stores.
Yes, I said ebay - EXAMPLE HERE.

Maybe I am late to the pumpkin game but I just discovered these this year and WOW-- I've been missing out -- because they are bomb dot com.

They are so SUPER easy to make.

Preheat oven to 350 and 8 x 8 x 2 baking pan - fill the bottom with parchment paper and lightly greased with cooking spray.

Whisk two large eggs and one stick of melted butter together

add full bag of mix

blend until soft dough forms spread into pan corners and level top.

And bake for 25 to 26 minutes. BOOM. Done.

VOILA... happiness in a square. yum. yum in the tum tum.

So if your swinging through Trader Joe's grab a box or 2
<they're seasonal so they'll be gone fast>

I absolutely. positively. completely. LOVE THIS HOLIDAY.
Especially the dressing up part.

My costume was provided by Hughie and Louie's Costumes in North Raleigh and I am genuinely obsessed with it.

Fun fact: my parents were married on Halloween! That probably explains all the crazy in my house and I mean that in the best way! HA!

Say hello to the Queen of Hearts!

Photos with friends in the news room

Happy Halloween! And Trust me YOU WANT A PUMPKIN BAR. Make em. xo

Alex

Sunday, October 26, 2014

Weekend Shenanigans

So... is it weird that I have never been to a corn maze before in my life? Yup. It's true. I kid you not my friend.

Nate and I decided we were going to get festive this weekend and get in the full fall spirit with pumpkins and corn mazes. So we ventured out to Kens Korny Corn Maze! This was my before the maze - "Hunger Games-esque face". Ha. <ready to take on the maze>

"May the odds be ever in your favor."

Forgive me if this is common knowledge but I really didn't know what the premise behind the corn maze was. I thought you just go in and try to get out = drop the mic.
AND YOUR DONE? Not so much.

It turns out there is WAY more to it.

Everyone gets a flag and the goal is to make it through the maze and find all the letter stamps in the shortest amount of time. The letter stamps are little boxes with a stamp for your card to mark that you've been there. The record is 30 minutes... And let's just say Nate was on a mission to beat it.

<ie. studying the corn maze from above>

This sign at the entrance was reminded me how short I am.

Yes, even corn is taller than me. I'm a struggling 5'2 on the cusp of a dream for 5'3... I think.

<boots = Ciao Bella avail on BlueFly HERE>
<jeans= skinny mid rise 7 For All Mankind: jeans avail HERE
(A little pricey but a good pair of jeans is worth every dime. #truth >
<scarf H&M similar HERE>
<J Crew Red Cardigan similar HERE> on SALE -- and for 30% more off Use code TGIFALL

When you start the maze you get a flag to take with you so they can find you if you get lost. Nate and I chose the "Life is Crazy Good" flag cause life has thankfully been crazy good lately.

I let him lead the way - he was loving the adventure.

We didn't beat the 30 minute record but hey - 40 minutes isn't bad, right? So we conquered the corn maze. Then we went boldly in to the night with "I conquered the corn maze" stickers.

This is Nate's "alright now ... where is our next adventure" face.

Oh and last weekend I forgot to post that we went to the NC State Fair. We had so much great food: Wisconsin Cheese, fried oreos, gyros, fried mac n cheese fried reeses wrapped in bacon <um, ya I said wrapped in bacon> - the list goes on.

We were on fried food overload -- how can something that tastes so GOOD be so BAD. Ugh, once a year.. once a year.

<every time I bit into something I am pretty sure I saw myself on the treadmill sweating as I ate it haha -- thats gotta count for something :) >

We are finally getting to see more of North Carolina and I am a really enjoying our new home.

Let me know if you think there are some cool places in Raleigh we need to visit...
I am always looking for good weekend adventure ideas.

Happy Sunday!
XO,
Alex

Friday, October 24, 2014

Sweater Dresses Are All The Rage

Hello. Lovers.
Is it just me or has this felt like the longest week EVER!?!? Um ya. TGIF ...almost ;)

Just when I was feeling my most exhausted... I decided to do a little shopping <ya that makes sense> and I realized everywhere I turn its sweater dresses galore. I suppose it all makes sense with fall in full effect and winter weather slowly creeping in.

So I've been wearing quite a few of these sweater dresses on the show... I added a cute bow belt to mine and dressed it up with some sweet pink NYX lipstick/dainty diamond earrings and a bling bracelet <oh and my fav pink jess simpson pumps>.

The Limited Black Cowl Neck Sweater > Avail Here in Red and Black

Bow Buckle Belt: HERE

Jessica Simpson Pink Pumps: SIMILAR HERE