The Good Girl Gone Blog

Crispy Sweet Potato Fries + Spicy Raspberry Sauce May 14, 2013

This past weekend was full of cleaning, cooking and a House of Cards marathon. We made a few dishes, including a nut-free pesto (using sunflower seeds), the sweet potato fries above and a mint, pea + parmesan ravioli. Yum!

What makes these sweet potato fries so crispy is that they're dipped in a whipped egg white and flour batter, fried in super hot oil, cooled and re-fried!

The dipping sauce sort of came together last minute while Eric was doing the second round of frying. Inspired by a strawberry habañero sauce I'd had at The Friendly Toast, I decided to try my own sauce that combined sweet and spicy. I blended together the following ingredients, to taste:

- Non-fat greek yogurt

- Apple Wine Vinegar with Lingonberries  (from IKEA)

- Oil

- Salt

- Pepper

-  1/2 Jalapeño

- Brown Sugar

- A few frozen raspberries

Next time, I think I'll add more jalapeño for even more kick!

Maggie & Nemo: a Love Story February 12, 2013

Eric shot some FANTASTIC photos of Maggie in the snow. Let me just say, Maggie is a true snow dog. Up until last week, she had never really experienced a real snow storm. Sure, we've had little bursts of snow since we adopted her last January, but nothing like the 25 inches that were dumped on us during Nemo. 

She enjoyed trying to catch the snowballs I threw her way, as well as leaping across the snow and digging holes to look for sticks. What a cutie! Also, I think the Buzzfeed article is totally missing out by not including Maggie...

Sweethearts February 06, 2013

Just wanted to share a few photos from a recent guest post DIY I put together over on The Accessory . After not picking up my DSLR for a few weeks, it felt amazing to be shooting real pictures again. I love my iPhone and it gets the job done, but there's something special about setting up a still life, looking for the perfect amount of natural light and adjusting a few settings on the camera.

Enjoy!

For more photos and instructions, check out this post.

Tiffany & Co. at the Holidays December 03, 2012

Last week, Tiffany & Co. at Copley place hosted a few local bloggers to show off their diamonds at a faux-engagement shower! No, Eric didn't pop the question (sorry to disappoint), but it was still fun to check out the diamonds.

I'm Jewish, so there's no Christmas tree in my home, but boy did I love the looks of this one! What girl wouldn't want to find those iconic blue boxes under her tree/next to her Chaunkiah?
The Tiffany & Co. staff was so friendly and accommodating- it was so cool to have free reign of the store and take photos of EVERYTHING.

Big thanks to Tiffany & Co. for hosting this soiree! I can't wait to attend more in the future, and maybe I'll actually try on some of the diamonds next time :)

Photo Diary: National Aquarium Jellies November 28, 2012

If you, like me, grew up in Baltimore, you've definitely made a few trips to the National Aquarium. Though the layout and exhibits have definitely changed a bit since my last visit (what happened to those awesome columns filled with bubbles?), it was so much fun to go back and enjoy this hometown gem with Eric and my dad.

Hanukkah gifts came early this year (my dad's family and I exchanged gifts over Thanksgiving), and I was delighted to receive a new lens for my Nikon. Though I didn't bring my actual camera to Baltimore, my dad always has a spare lying around This time it was the D7000, or what he likes to call his "little" camera. (It's not little, it's bigger than mine!)

To be honest, if my dad hadn't pushed me, I wouldn't have brought the camera to the aquarium at all. I stepped out of my comfort zone and used a camera and lens that were both bigger and heavier than what I'm used to.

Achieving good or even mediocre photographs was a challenge. Shooting through glass (often scratched or dirty) was no small feat. I never, ever focus my camera manually, but in this case it was a necessity- otherwise the shots would end up focusing on the glass or anything showing up in reflection!

In some cases, like the photo above, a little reflection actually made the photo even cooler! It sort of seems like the jellyfish is floating inside of a spaceship. The screen reflections didn't happen on purpose, but I'm happy with the result.

Though I took about a million photos throughout the aquarium, I was most happy with the jellyfish because of their whimsical shapes, celestial vibe and bright/contrast heavy colors. 
I'm really, really proud of these photographs. They may not be my best, but I definitely would not have been able to take these types of photos a few years ago, or without the encouragement of my dad. Really, I feel so blessed to have such a cool and talented Dad. 

I'll leave you with this photo that reminds me of 2 things: 1) a flame (while editing, I couldn't get 'Girl on Fire' out of my head) and 2) some sort of crispy, fried carbohydrate that you'd find on top of a piece of fish/a salad at a fancy restaurant.

Pink Ruffle Trench November 19, 2012

This pink, ruffled trench has played a recurring role in my wardrobe since I picked it up at the Wilson's Leather Outlet this summer. The hue and detailing are both very "Alana", so it was obvious to me when I saw this gorgeous coat that it needed to make its way into my closet. Plus, at 50% off the outlet price, I really couldn't say no.

With the weather getting colder, I'm not sure I'll be wearing this gem for much longer. Good thing it's perfectly colored for spring!

So glad we decided to bring the camera to the dog park. How beautiful does Maggie look during the magic hour? It's like she glows!

Cute Couple Shot November 12, 2012

Just a couple of fun photos my dad took of us while we were in Greensboro, NC celebrating my cousin Dori's wedding. It's pretty reminiscent of the photo shoot we did last year for our holiday cards. Now we just have to do one with Maggie in it :)

Photo Diary: Salem Halloween November 01, 2012

Last night, we celebrated our first Halloween in Salem. It was crazy, to say the least. Salem is a pretty low-key place 11 months out of the year, but in October, it's crazy. Driving is a nighmare as there are tourists everywhere! It's not hard to believe that October is Salem's best month in terms of business. While other cities may add tons of employees over the holiday season, October is the Salem holiday season.

I ventured out with Maggie (dressed in her special bow she received at daycare!) around 4:30 to snap some photos before it got dark. The streets were blocked off and full of entertainers, vendors and people dressed in costume.

Maggie was probably the most "under-dressed" dog in Salem yesterday, as many pooches came out in costume to celebrate Halloween.

This lady actually recognized Maggie from the dog park (of course, I didn't recognize her in full makeup!) and invited us in to her shop for a treat.
This guy? He was standing near the Bewitched statue and the Christian outreach people- not sure what their official title is. They had big megaphones and kept talking about Jesus and sinners.

This lady dressed as a pregnant statue and was one of the best costumes I saw all night, other than what seemed like the entire cast of Spaceballs. I wish I'd been able to snap a picture of them, but I was sitting in a restaurant eating dinner and only saw them through a window. They even had a Pizza the Hut!
If you're in MA next year, I definitely encourage you (I'm looking at you, dad!) to head up to Salem on Halloween, even if it's just to take pictures. 

Container Store Grand Opening @ The Northshore Mall October 29, 2012

A few weeks ago, I had the privilege of attending a blogger preview lunch at the newest Container Store location, the Northshore Mall! If you know me well, you know I'm a big fan of products that help you organize, so this was like entering paradise for me. 

Whether you're looking for kitchen items, trash cans (I thought the veil was a super cool option), closet organization or office supplies, The Container Store has a little something for everyone. The best part? There are products to fit every budget! You can buy a plastic tube hanger for $0.32 or an entire customized Elfa closet for 100s of dollars!  

It was also really great to learn more about the company, which has been around for over 34 years! My favorite of their 7 founding principles: 

The Container Store seems like it's not only a great place to shop, but an amazing company to work for- they're an "employees first" company that has made Fortune's "100 Best Companies to Work For" list year after year.

They also threw a KILLER party that night. There was a live band, drinks galore and a fun party atmosphere. Unfortunately, due to my epic cold, I wasn't able to taste anything, but I hear the food was delicious!

I highly recommend you stopy by your local Container Store or check out their website for great organizing products and fantastic gift ideas!

Gatsby Inspired Beaded Top October 17, 2012

As soon as I saw this beautiful, intricately beaded top at Nordstrom Rack, I knew it had to be mine. Though I ignored it on the first shopping trip, it remained on my mind until I went back and finally purchased it. 

Also on my mind? Hanging this shirt up by an open window with daylight streaming in. I knew the lighting + sheer fabric would make for a beautiful photo. 

Doesn't it remind you of the roaring 20's? I feel like I'd blend right in wearing this to one of Jay Gatsby's famous soirees!

Best of all? The Nordstrom Rack price was half off the original price, so while it wasn't a steal, I still felt the satisfaction of seeing the 50% price drop. I can't wait to figure out how to wear it.

Here's a similar version by the same brand, Willow & Clay, that's just as cute...but twice the price ;) If you're looking to add a little 20's flair to your wardrobe, I highly recommend you head over to Nordstrom Rack- they had a few different sheer, beaded tops to choose from.