Golden Globe Awards 2014

Hello All! Welcome to Salty Waters 2014! Haven’t been blogging as much lately, but thought to myself… Hmmm, what better way to come back then by talking Golden Globe fashion!

Watching the Golden Globe Awards last night was absolutely mesmerizing! The stars pulled all the stops and dress after dress just made me more impressed. However, that doesn’t mean that everybody dressed his or her best. We’re going to start with the worst. Here are my 3 least favorite ensembles of the night:

Zoe Saldana, this dress just makes no sense. It looks like scraps from some leftover prom dresses! Not a good choice Zoe!

Emma Watson, I actually love this outfit! I think it’s really chic and looks good on her, but it is not appropriate for the Golden Globes!

Taylor Swift… What can I say about this dress? Really, not very much because it’s so boring. It looks good on her, but there is just nothing special about this dress.

Now that I have put those less than lovely Golden Globe outfits to shame, let’s get to the fun stuff: OUR FAVORITES! I absolutely love seeing beautiful people in beautiful fashion. I mean, the best part about award show season is seeing these breathtaking pieces of art all along the red carpet isn’t it? This is when you can truly appreciate what these master designers create. When you think about it, all of the most timeless moments start with a gorgeous gown!

 

Feeling inspired by these Golden Globe fashions? Here are some ways to create your own outfits that are realistic options based on all the Hollywood award show glam we experienced last night!

American Apparel Cotton Spandex Sleeveless Mini Dress- $40.00

Urban Outfitters Motel Venus Cold Shoulder Bodycon Dress- ON SALE $39.99

Urban Outfitters Out From Under Thalia Branded Bra Top- $34.00

My Deliciously Delectable Baltimore Restaurant Week Experience!

If you didn’t get out for Baltimore’s restaurant week, you missed out my friends! Some of the best (and priciest) restaurants in Baltimore had amazing lunch and dinner menus for very affordable prices! Nick and I went to Kali’s Court in Fells Point. Neither of us had ever been so we were very excited to try it out!

During restaurant week, participating establishments create fixed three-course dinner menus for $30 (or two-course menus for $15).  To start, Nicholas had the crab and artichoke phyllo crisps.  They were delicious, and trust me you can never go wrong getting something with crab meat in Maryland during the summertime. The crisps were served on top of a bed of the only coleslaw that I have ever tasted and actually liked.  The slaw was not overly sweet and complimented the crisps without overpowering them. I decided for my first-course to have the grilled calamari. I have never had calamari cooked any way other than fried, but grilling it took it to another level in my opinion. The calamari grilled really made the dish taste fresh and tasty and a bit of freshly squeezed lemon juice was all it needed! I actually think I may prefer the grilled calamari rather than having it fried where the squid can become lost in heavy batter.

For our second course, we each got a fish dish! I chose the grilled whole fish, which was some type of sea bass,  served with green beans and roasted white and purple potatoes. My fish was roasted and finished off with olive oil and capers. Nicholas ordered the grilled swordfish with asparagus and an interesting rice which was infused with corn, black beans, cilantro and some other Spanish inspired flavors. All I can say is that both of our plates were completely cleaned by the end of our meal!

For the dessert, Kali’s Court fixed menu offers the chef’s assorted dessert collection. We had some amazing baklava, cream filled phyllo, and an amazing creamy concoction with shredded toasted phyllo pieced on the bottom that tasted just like coconut. It was an awesome ending to the amazing meal.

Oh, and how could I forget my pear martini! It was a mixture of pear liquor with pineapple juice and who knows what else, all I know is I drank it within two minutes and I haven’t stopped having a hankering for another since!

Baltimore’s Restaurant Week is not something to miss out on. It gave Nick and I the opportunity to try restaurants in our town that we normally wouldn’t be able to go to. Our waiter was awesome and so nice and the scenery at Kali’s Court is pretty amazing. The outside is literally like a courtyard full of beautiful shrubbery and flowers. The inside is rustic and beautiful.  They make this nice restaurant have a cool Baltimore feel by keeping the concrete floors exposed. On top of the floors in random areas there are beautiful rugs, just like something you’d see in a rock-and-roll studio-sesh. It was a great experience for a great price and I highly encourage people to get out into your town to try new restaurants and cuisine. For those of you in Baltimore who didn’t make it out for restaurant week, which ended yesterday, you’re in luck! Some of Baltimore’s participants are extending their fixed menus! If you go to the Baltimore Restaurant Week Website, you can find out which restaurants are still doing their menus so you can go check them out! Hopefully this post has made your mouths water and your tummies grumble because an experience like I had for such a great price is not something to pass up! 

Baltimore Restaurant Week 2013

Baltimore Restaurant Week is back!!! This summer many of Baltimore’s best restaurants will be participating in Baltimore’s Restaurant Week between July 26th and August 4th! My stomach is already grumbling!

Now for those of you who don’t know what the Baltimore Restaurant Week actually is, here’s the low-down!  Basically, Baltimore holds this awesome event only two weeks out of every year! During this week some of our top restaurants specially create three-course prix-fixe dinner menus for the AMAZING PRICES of just $30.13 or $20.13! Some restaurants are even doing two-course lunch menus for just $15.13! Gotta love that!

The best part (besides the price) is that there are so many amazing places to chose from all over the Maryland/Baltimore area! From Alchemy in Hampden to Chiapparelli’s Restaurant in Little Italy, you can really find a BRW 2013 participant with any cuisine you like in pretty much any area!

There are no passes, admissions, or sign-ups needed! Just go to as many BRW 2013 restaurants between July 26-August 4 to open your taste buds to some really delectable Baltimore dining! Now get out there and chow down!

For more information on restaurants participating near you check out:

Baltimore’s Restaurant Week Website or OpenTable.com for all the info!

Tell Big Pores To Hit The Door!

I don’t know about the rest of you, but I’m tired of being 20 with the skin of a 13 year old. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t have craters and zits covering my face by any means, but I do still break out and wish my skin was a bit more clear and pimple free. Also, with escalating summer heat, comes the enemy of summer sweat… and cue the blackheads, big pores, and even bigger pimples! When this happens, don’t fret and most definitely don’t stress, it will only encourage more acne. Instead, I have a beyond easy facemask that you can make at home with two simple ingredients.

This particular mask is a mixture of egg whites and cornstarch (yep, that’s all you need!). It is particularly beneficial  in shrinking large pores. This is great during the summertime because with the heat our pores naturally expand to release oil and sweat and that is a big factor of acne on your face.

First, you need one egg white. Egg whites are great for skin because they help tone and tighten while they nourish the skin!  This makes your pores smaller so your skin will look more smooth and flawless.

Next, you will need 1 teaspoon of cornstarch. Cornstarch has a natural moisture absorption property and is normally used as a thickener in cooking. Both of these components are great for the skin because it helps to absorb excess oil from your face and clogs pores making them less noticeable!

All you have to do is whip the egg white and cornstarch together with a fork (just like if you were making scrambled eggs). Do this until the mixture is frothy and the cornstarch is not clumpy. Then apply the mask to your face for 20 minutes and rinse it off with warm water. It’s best to do the mask about 1-2 times a week depending on preference.  My only word of caution is that if  you do have sensitive skin maybe test a smaller area of your skin or use it for a shorter time period, just to make sure the ingredients react well with your face. In addition, if you’re allergic to either of the ingredients there are many variations like egg white with lemon, or cornstarch with vinegar so don’t fuss, your kitchen is full of wonderful things for everyone’s face!

Also, because the mixture is just a froth it will drip a bit at first so don’t wear anything cute when putting on your mask! However, the mask doesn’t take too long to tighten up so don’t worry it won’t drip all over the place or anything! In my experience, I noticed results as soon as I took the mask off! I hope you experience the same and please comment with any reviews or suggestions!

Here’s a video to make creating your mask even easier:

Monday’s Music

This Monday’s musical choice of mine is ‘Skinny Love’ by Bon Iver. Bon Iver really can never do wrong for my ears and I hope you like this little number! It’s got some nice acoustics and is just a good song to listen. Hope you like!

Stuck In The Middle With You

This weeks fashion favorite of mine is the midi ring! Basically, they are rings that hit just below your top knuckle and sit in the middle of your finger. I think they add an earthy edge to normal accessories and are the latest most popular fashion trend. There are plenty of DIY mid-rings or you can find them at some stores near you. I found mine for just $6 at The Fells Point Surf Shop.

I chose a simple ring that accents my engagement ring without overshadowing it (and don’t make fun of my nails, in process of painting them now ya’ll)!

There are also a ton of midi rings out there that have a lot of flare and style or they can me as simple as you’d like!

 

From: http://www.storenvy.com

From: http://www.wanderswithstyle.com

From: http://www.7twentyfour.com

If you’d rather create a knuckle ring that is original and unique to your taste I found this awesome DIY tutorial that is super easy and you don’t need too many supplies either! Hope you all find your midi ring swag like I have! I can’t take mine off!!! Oh, and HAPPY FASHION FRIDAY!

Take Me To The Pharcyde

This Monday I’m throwing the tunes back with The Pharcyde’s “Passin’ me by.” It’s a great tribute to the old school 80’s-90’s rap! Enjoy and welcome to The Pharcyde!

Which Suit Suits You!

Temperatures are heating up and you know what that means ladies? More pool time! Pools, although refreshing and fun can be intimidating for most women who are uncomfortable showing off their bodies in a bathing suit, but that’s all going to change!

First of all, I hope every lovely lady out there knows that no matter what shape you are, that you are without a doubt BEAUTIFUL! The female form, whether curvy or thin, is a magnificent creation and should never be looked at or treated as anything other than that! The secret is knowing what clothes and in this case, swimsuits, compliment your body type the best. You’d be surprised at how big of a difference you can see and feel by simply changing the cut or size of your suit!

• For Bigger Busts: Try to go for a bathing suit brand that allows you to choose your top by bra size, this way you can make sure you find a top that you know will fit! Also, underwire and straps that are wide and sturdy will keep the girls where you want them! I would also lean towards a halter shaped suit, this raises your top up and gives you more support.
• For Bigger Bottoms: If you have a bigger booty, don’t fret, it’s a good thing! For my more modest women out there the skirt bottom is always an easy go to that you can feel comfortable in, but you can also choose bottoms that are a bit more high-cut this lengthens your legs and lifts your bottom instead of widening it. Don’t forget just because you may be pear shaped, doesn’t mean that’s all anyone sees; If you choose a bandeau style top it will help to balance out your entire figure!
• For Smaller Tops: If you aren’t to curvy, there are a ton of easy fixes. Most bathing suits come with padding that can help enhance and enlarge the look of your chest. You can also choose bandeau tops and tops with cups built in. Another tip is to choose tops with embellishments like ruffles, this can add attention to your top, but instead of seeing a smaller chest, people will see your cute swimsuit!
• For Bigger Bellies: There is no need to put your belly out there if it’s not in a shape that you are happy with, so when trying to slim down your look and conceal your torso try tankinis, but make sure the top is long enough and a big enough size or you can create a dreaded muffin-top look. Rouging, chevron stripes, and retro style bottoms also can all help help hide your tummy!

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  Picture from swimwearshack.com

For more tips and tricks try taking this quiz from Women’s Health Magazine to help find the perfect suit for you! Now you can go have some fun in the sun without feeling self-concious about your body. I mean come on, what an easy fix to the dreaded swimsuit season dilemma!!!

Jam Of The Week

Time for some awesome tunes! This weeks jam is ‘Sweet Disposition’ by The Temper Trap. Listening to this the other day in the car lightened my spirits and cleared my head after a stressful week so I wanted to share it with you all! It’s just a nice song that made me smile and look at the sun outside in true appreciation, I ended up driving the rest of my route with my arm out the window feeling a happy… I mean Sweet Disposition! Enjoy and Happy Monday my friends!

America’s Most Patriotic

This week’s fashions have me seeing red, white, and blue! Here are my top three fashion favorites for Fourth of July or anytime you want to show your USA pride!

• The perfect patriotic top that I got from Urban Outfitters: 
• Red, White, & Blue Bandanas:

•  Tanks for your ‘Merican Man from Rowdy Gentleman: