Thai Chicken Larb styled on a Missoni for Target plate!

True fact: I’m completely head over heels for Thai food. After my month long Southeast Asia trek back in January, I figured I’d come back not wanting to eat thai food for while. But that’s clearly not the case. I find myself obsessing over yummy thai food even more so now, so I thought i’d share with you one of my favorite (and simple) dishes: Thai Chicken Larb. I could seriously eat this every single night. It’s that good!

Yield: Serves 6
Ingredients:

• 2/3 cup fresh lime juice
• 1/3 cup fish sauce (nam pla*)
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 2 teaspoons Thai roasted chili paste* in oil or chili-garlic sauce*
• 3/4 cup canned low-salt chicken broth
• 1 1/2 pounds ground chicken
• 1 cup thinly sliced green onions
• 3/4 cup thinly sliced shallots
• 3 tablespoons minced fresh lemongrass*
• 1 tablespoon thinly sliced Thai chilies* or serrano chilies
• 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves
• 1/3 cup chopped fresh mint leaves
• 2 small heads Boston lettuce, separated into leaves

Preparation:
Whisk lime juice, fish sauce, sugar and chili paste ingredients in medium bowl to blend; reserve sauce.

Bring broth to simmer in heavy large skillet over medium heat. Add chicken. Simmer until cooked through, breaking up meat with spoon, about 8 minutes. Add green onions, shallots, lemongrass and Thai chilies. Stir until vegetables are tender and most of liquid has evaporated, about 4 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in sauce, cilantro and mint. Season with salt and pepper.

Spoon into lettuce leaves; serve.

Side note: I also glob heaps of Sriracha on this dish (and pretty much everything I eat). Cheers and hope you enjoy this as much as I do!

Recipe courtesy of Epicurious.

I love to observe local fashion, beauty products, etc. while traveling, which has led me to some really cool discoveries. My latest find is these insanely awesome XTRATUF Boots from Alaska. And after I spotted these on everyone’s feet in Homer (I kid you not), I figured they had to be the most amazing and functional boots ever. Even the Deadliest Catch guys wear them.

They were originally created in the 1960′s for fisherman on the West Coast, and are completely waterproof with seamless construction. I decided to chat up a few local gals to get the scoop, and all feedback was 100% positive. They wear these boots all year round, and are also a fashion staple. While they don’t come with sequins or in flashy colors, I appreciate their simplicity. And obviously everyone else does too. They’re a bit heavy, so I decided to wait until I got home to order them.

Think you need a pair too? Use their store locator to find a shop near your, or order them online here. Note: they’re only available in men’s sizing, so keep that in mind if you order online.

My next 5 days will be spent exploring Alaska, and I couldn’t be more excited. I was invited on behalf of the amazing folks at Hilton Garden Inn to come check out their Anchorage property (with a guest!). We’ve already decided that we’ll be doing a fly fishing trip and taking a sea plane over to scope out Homer, Alaska. Other than that, we’ll see once we arrive! Be sure to follow me on Instagram (@jennrice82) and Twitter (@primpandproper) for up-to-date travel photos, tips and more! 

And to celebrate the chilly Alaska temps,  i’ve whipped out my most favorite (and the most amazing) jacket ever:

Arc’Teryx Stingray Jacket in Crocus ($499)

What started out as my lightweight ski jacket has turned into a full on love affair. It doesn’t get much better than this. Trust me. Made of waterproof GORE-TEX and lightly insulated, this jacket goes everywhere with me. And it doesn’t take up any room at all get in the way of my beauty products at all. A little pricey, I know, but well worth the dollars spent.

(R to L) Aubin & Wills Portalnd Fox-intarsia Wool Sweater ($215), ASOS Sugarhill Boutique Foxy Sweater ($82), Peter Jensen Unisex Fox Jumper ($260) and Mod Cloth Keep Up Your Act Cardigan ($55).

Looks like Tory Burch is digging the Fox trend too:

 Tory Burch Foxy Printed Chiffon Scarf ($165)

Tory Burch Velvet Fox Loafer ($250)

Tory Burch Foxy Hardshell iPhone 4 Case ($48)

Hope you have a Foxy fall!

xoxo

JR.

I’m pretty sure I haven’t ever met anyone as obsessed with oils as myself. I like them all – hair, face, body, you name it. Oddly enough, oil removes oil and dirt, which is why I made the switchover to oils a couple years back. I still use products that are non oil-based in my daily regimen, but my skin and hair are both obsessed with the benefits of using oils: fewer breakouts and increased hydration, all while not stripping down the good stuff. 

I currently use the the above six products religiously and to the very last drop:

Shu Uemura Art of Hair Cleansing Oil Shampoo ($55): don’t be afraid if you have oily hair. this bad boy removes all buildup while leaving behind the good oils. End result: bouncy, squeaky clean hair, and the fragrance is not overpowering (which I love).

Biologique Recherche Huile Benefique ($68, select spas): the scent alone is heavenly, and gives skin a fab silky smooth glow. It’s also gentle enough to use as a daily facial moisturizer. I tend to use this more in the summertime, as it extends the life of your tan.

Oils of Aloha Kukui Oil in Tropical Breeze ($13): a local Hawaiian gem that provides soothing natural relief for dry skin, and not the slightest bit greasy. A dear friend gifted me this oil for my birthday, and have fallen head over heels for it since. It’s even more soothing on sunburns than aloe. #truestory.

Monoi Tiare Tahiti Oil ($7): the perfect blend of coconut oil and natural essence of tiare flowers. I use this in leu of lotion, and also doubles as one of my favorite summertime scents. It’s so refreshing and I literally can’t get enough.

Everyday Minerals Everyday Hydrate Facial Oil ($9): this facial oil is made of 100% Argan oil, which makes it an awesome moisturizer since it’s jam packed with Vitamin E, fatty acids and antioxidants.

Shu Uemura Art of Hair Essence Absolue Nourishing Protective Oil ($68): a staple in my daily beauty regimen, this oil moisturizes dry, damaged hair and adds shine in a good kind of way. This stuff is like crack for hair, and definitely worth the splurge.

Fellow oil-obsessed beauty junkies, what are your favorite products? Do tell!

xoxo

Clockwise from top left: Isaac Mizrahi Black Bow MinaudiereDV by Dolce Vita Cameo Bow Back Dress / Pearlescent Bow Hair Clip Set / Alexis Bittar Pave Bow Necklace / Charlotte Russe Knit Fingerless Bow Gloves / Kate Spade Bow Belt / Charlotte Russe Little Bow Peep-Toe Pump /

Clockwise from L: Michael Kors Cropped Shearling Coat / Limited Edition Encased Button Stud Earrings / Rachel Zoe Yvonne Sequin Wrap Dress / Willacy New York Willa Clutch / Miu Miu Velvet-Bow Victorian Pump / Rouge Dior Lip Color in Blazing Red

xoxo

Shortly after an interview with Molly Meldrum on the Australian show, Sunday Night, rumors started spreading like wildfire stating that Beyonce is faking her pregnancy – and for a good reason. The image above is a screenshot from Beyonce’s interview, which shows her baby bump literally folding over as she sits down, and she makes an awkward face after doing so – almost like she knew she had done something wrong.

Maybe she hired a surrogate, maybe she’s adopting, or maybe she’s covering up for Solange – who knows. While I can’t confirm if the rumors are true or not, I’ll leave you with the full interview to speculate yourself:

How does it work, you ask? The polish contains magnetic particles, and an actual magnet is held right over the wet nail creating metallic 3-D designs. It’s really simple and turns out looking professional, even if you’re the worst nail polisher ever (like me). I purchased and tried Nails Inc. Trafalgar Square (pictured above), as it’s a silver/chrome hue and works well with my wardrobe. This brand also has a purple shade called Houses of Parliment which looks great too.

If you’re magnetic polish obsessed, the brand LCN also offers a Magnetic Nail Polish Starter Set ($115), which includes 8 different shades and 2 magnets that created unique designs. And if you don’t believe me, you can watch this video and see for yourself:

Happy magnetizing!

This adorable skull soap from Bath & Body Works has made itself at home in my bathroom for the month of October, and perhaps even longer since it’s re-fill friendly. The amazing pros on this product: The glitter,  the Sweet Pea signature scent, the magenta colored bottle, you can refill it, the cute (not scary) skull, it exfoliates, moisturizes, and softens your skin – have I convinced you that you need this in your life yet? Added bonus: it also makes for the perfect Halloween decor, so scoop up you very own Bath & Body Works Sweet Pea Halloween Deep Cleansing Hand Soap now before they’re all gone.

Happy Halloween month!