A Year in the Making

A year ago today, I decided to start this blog with a camera in one hand and a cupcake in the other. Food is something that is not only delicious, but brings people together. Through meeting your friend for lunch at your favorite restaurant or sharing your favorite recipe with your neighbor, food has the power to give joy to people of all walks of life. Food is something that helps makes my day a little bit brighter from baking chocolate chip cookies to trips to my favorite cupcake shop with friends. It is something so simple we do in everyday life, but something that can have so large of an impact on someone.

I created this blog to share my passions with all of you. No matter where you are from, I can bring you a small taste of my adventures. In turn, you have shared your thoughts with me on Facebook and Instagram. I am so happy to have your support and hope that I am sending a little sweetest your way through every post.

You have been along for the ride from the Gulf Coast all the way to the East Coast. This past year, I have been on so many great adventures and I am glad I get to share them with all of you. I kayaked for the first time in Boston, modeled on the runway, and donated my hair for a good cause. I have shared my style with you from my fall favorites to a classic country look and stylish stripes.

I hope you continue to follow along in my food and fashion adventures on Boutiques and Sweets, Instagram, and Twitter. I am so excited to see where my adventures take me in the future. I encourage you to share a recipe with a friend or invite someone to have pastries at your favorite cafe; you never know how much it could mean to them or make their day a little bit sweeter.

Got any sweet treats you would like to see on Boutiques and Sweets? Comment below! 

Stay sweet!

Falling for Boston

With last week's warmer temperatures, I had one last chance to wear my fall clothes in Boston before pulling out my puffy, knee-length winter coat. I enjoyed the warmer weather by wearing my J. Crew Downtown Field Jacket. The change in weather was a nice surprise compared to earlier in the month. Although I am starting to get used to the cold temperatures, this California girl loves the warmer side of Boston.

To combat the fall breezes, I put on my Steve Madden leg warmers underneath my classic black leather boots. These provided me with a little extra warmth while adding a cute and stylish touch to my outfit. Leg warmers are a staple accessory to have, especially when the weather becomes chilly. I will continue to take advantage of my leg with the snowy weather that is coming to Boston. 

Nothing warms me up more in the cool weather like one of my favorite seasonal beverages- Starbuck's Pumpkin Spice Latte. The Pumpkin Spice Latte is the perfect combination of creamy and sweet with Starbuck's signature pumpkin spice syrup that packs a flavorful punch. If I'm looking for something a little sweeter, I order a Pumpkin Spice Steamer, not offered on the Starbucks menu. The Pumpkin Spice Steamer combines steamed milk with all of the same ingredients as the latte, just without the espresso.

Get the Look:

Jacket: J. Crew 

Shirt: J. Crew (similar: The Limited)

Jeans: Hollister Co.

Boots: (similar: Naturalizer, Nine West)

Leg Warmers: Steve Madden (similar: Vera Wang, Steve Madden)

Bag: Anne Klein (similar: Vera Bradley, Anne Klein)

Stay sweet!

Summer Stripes

With breezy fall weather just around the corner, I had one last chance to wear shorts before the end of summer. This past week, the weather has been beautiful here in Boston, so I decided it was the perfect opportunity to wear my new J. Crew shorts. These bright orange and white striped shorts add the perfect pop of color to make this outfit stand out. I paired them with a white ruffled top and braided leather flip flops, along with some braided accessories to match and a long silver necklace for some added shimmer. To top off the outfit, I painted my nails a bright blood orange color from Clinique that matched perfectly with the hue of the shorts.

One of my favorite drinks to cool off with during warm weather is Passion Tea Lemonade from Starbucks. It's floral flavor combined with the punch of lemon is very refreshing on sunny days. Sometimes I will ask the baristas to blend it if I feel like having a slushy or smoothie. 

The color of the Passion Tea Lemonade reminds me of my Fever Gloss by Lancôme. The Lacôme lip gloss, in the color Exuberant Rose, that I wore for this look went really well with the light, summer vibe of the shorts. I love Lancôme's lip gloss because they come in a wide variety of pigmented colors. With the tear shaped applicator, the gloss applies very smoothly and easily covers the entire lip.

Get the Look:

Top: Old Navy (Similar: Ralph Lauren and H&M)

Shorts: J. Crew

Belt: Forever 21 (Similar: Express)

Necklace: Brighton (Similar: Brighton and Marc Jacobs)

Bracelets: Hollister (Similar: Hollister)

Shoes: Hollister (Similar: Abercrombie & Fitch and American Eagle)

Nail Polish: Clinique (color: Happy ♥)

Lip Gloss: Lancôme (color: Exuberant Rose)

Stay sweet!

Red, White & Brave

This outfit that I put together is inspired by Keds Brave Hearts. I love this campaign put on by Keds because it challenges girls to step out of their comfort zone and be brave. These days, I see so many young girls who think they're not good enough, but Keds is helping girls everywhere find the inspiration to reach for their dreams. I wish that more young girls could find the confidence to believe in themselves and love themselves for who they are no matter their age, size, shape or ethnicity.

This summer I had my own moment of bravery when I cut off more than half of my hair to donate it to Locks of Love. Although it seemed drastic to me at first, the thought of helping those who were less fortunate than I made me realize how important it was. I was so happy to be able to donate my hair to those who lose theirs from cancer or other illnesses. I hope that my small deed will bring joy to a little girl who is going through a tough time in her life. These girls are an inspiration to me because of their perseverance and bravery. 

I went with a red, white and blue theme for this look to go with my classic white Champion Original Keds. These Keds are timeless and go with just about anything. They're the perfect pair for my classy white and navy dress from American Eagle Outfitters. To add a little extra sparkle to this outfit, I wore my J. Crew crystal necklace. And, of course, my red, white and blue outfit wouldn't be complete without bright red lipstick and firecracker red nails.

Get the Look:

Dress: American Eagle Outfitters

Belt: The Limited

Shoes: Keds

Necklace: J. Crew

Nails: OPI

Stay sweet!