Help Me Rent the Runway

Good morning and happy Monday! I have a fun, little treat for you guys today!

But, first things first: BREAKFAST!

I got creative in the kitchen this morning; I made blueberry cheesecake oatmeal! It was super creamy with tons of blueberry flavor, but not too sweet. It was a pretty perfect bowl of oats!

In the mix:

• 1/3 cup old-fashioned oats
• 1/3 cup non-fat milk
• 1/3 cup frozen blueberries
• 2 tbsp low-fat ricotta
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 tsp agave nectar
• Chia seeds (optional)

I also had some iced coffee with vanilla soy milk. It was a great breaky this morning!

I received this question about my iced coffee yesterday:

I’m curious about your ice coffee… I recall a few posts where you wrote that you had “run out” of ice-coffee, or that you made a batch. Do you make a big jug in the fridge for the week? If so, whats the recipe/ratio etc. I always just pour coffee over ice.

I make a big batch of iced coffee a couple times a weeks. After brewing the coffee, I pour it in a big jug and store in the fridge until it’s time to make more. Here’s how I made my Homemade Iced Coffee and here’s my step-by-step instructions (with photos).

A strong, dark-roasted coffee works best for iced coffee. For instance, Starbucks, Peet’s, or Eight O’Clock Coffee coffee work great. Lately, I’ve been loving Caftea’s coffees. Last night, I whipped up a batch of their French Roast, which turned out very nice this morning. I also love Caftea’s Toasted Chestnut Crème and Creme Brulee flavors. They’re so good as an iced coffee– no sweetener needed!

Rent the Runway

Ever heard of Rent the Runway? RTR is a service that allows you to rent the latest fashions that appear on the runway for a fraction of the retail price. Sounds pretty cool, right? Well, the nice people at RTR offered to let me use their service for free, so, of course, I took them up on their offer!

How RTR Works:

First, you browse through their many designers and find a dress (or two) that you love. Then, you schedule a delivery date, and your dress will appear on your doorstep. (Next-day and even same-day delivery is available, for last-minute wardrobe crises.) RTR will even send a second, back-up size dress– just to be safe. To return the dress, you just put it in RTR’s handy pre-paid packaging and drop in the nearest mailbox. They take care of the dry cleaning. That’s it!

If you want to sign up for Rent the Runway, you can skip the waitlist and sign up here: http://www.renttherunway.com/carrotsncake

Help Me Pick a Dress

So, next month, Mal’s step-brother is getting married, which is the perfect occasion to rent a fancy dress. But, instead of just choosing a dress and wearing to the wedding, I thought it’d be fun to have you guys pick the dress that I will wear. I trust your fashion advice!

If you’d like to help me select a dress, leave a comment with the full name of the dress on this post. For instance: “Lela Rose Pleated one shoulder dress.” The “voting” will be open until Tuesday night and the big reveal will be on Wednesday morning.

From the 5 dresses, we’ll narrow the choices down to 2 options. I plan to wear whatever dress you guys pick for me, but just in case the winning dress doesn’t fit right (or just looks bad on me), I’ve decided to make the runner-up my “backup” dress. RTR makes it easy for you to have multiple options at home– just in case. Once you rent a dress, you can get a second style at the same or lower tier for just $25. Not bad, right?

Without further ado, please pick your favorite!

The Dresses

Lela Rose Portrait Collar Dress

Be sassy and sweet in this darling Lela Rose dress. Lady-like sophistication epitomizes classic cocktail elegance. Forget the necklace and let the incredible ruffle detail take center stage.

Lela Rose Pleated One Shoulder Dress

This jade asymmetrical Lela Rose dress is the perfect statement for all seasons. Bare shoulders beg for a kiss as your décolletage is highlighted with a stunning ruffle neckline. Accent with gold jewelry. Shown here with Sonya Ooten pearl cobweb drop earrings and Rachel Leigh Gold Bangles.

Thread Social Fairytale Dress

Thread Social’s playful party dress with open back is perfect for your next cocktail event. Full skirt creates a beautiful silhouette. Pair with some sparkly earrings for a knockout look.

Moschino Cheap and Chic Romantic Rosette Dress

Moschino Cheap and Chic brings something flirtatious and sophisticated at the same time with this perfect purple dress. An easy silhouette fits all body types. Pair with flats for an office party or sky-high pumps after-hours.

Tibi Abstract Flower Dress

Intricate floral lace detailing and a plunging open back on this Tibi cap sleeve dress are a juxtaposition of feminine and fierce. Paired here with strappy black heels for a cool modern look.

Tagged as: blueberry cheesecake oatmeal, Caftea coffee, homemade iced coffee, Rent the Runway, step-by-step instructions