Nobella Grace: A Costal, Boho Chic , Free Loving Boutique

Nobella Grace

I’m loving everything about Nobella Grace Boutique. Fashion forward Kristi Warwick’s online boutique combines the perfect balance of boho chic, coastal, casual but sexy fashions at an affordable price. And don’t be fooled by the sticker price, these handpicked items are of the highest quality that will keep you coming back (not to mention the new arrivals that grace the online boutique weekly..no pun intended). Also, don’t forget to enter our Springtime Giveaway below!

MADDISON MAXI DRESS

Maddison Maxi Dress | Nobella Grace | Small | $48

Ever since Kristi and her sister, Kaitlin, were little they LOVED fashion. Both graduated with a fashion marketing degree and it was just a few years ago when Kristi decided to leave her sales management position, to follow her dream in what she loves most. She scraped together every penny she could save to launch Nobella Grace. Not only fulfilling her lifelong dream, but giving her the opportunity to work side by side with her best friend and sister. Together they built a boutique that inspires and makes every women feel beautiful. So where does the name “Nobella Grace” come from? Kristi explains in our interview that “it’s a combination of my three children’s names.  My son’s first name which is Noah, and our twin’s middle names are Belle and Grace.”

Floral Kimono Cardis in Ivory

Floral Kimono Cardi | Nobella Grace | Small | $30

Another part of Nobella Grace that I love, which I mentioned earlier, is every time I log onto social media or visit their website they always have an array of new arrivals. So how do they select these fab finds? Kristi and Kaitlin split their buying up between visiting the Los Angeles Fashion District and purchasing from their favorite online designers.  They hand select each and every item together, always looking for the perfect complement to the many different lifestyles of their customers. 

Nobella Grace Kids

Nobella Grace Kids

And it doesn’t just stop at attire for women. Recently, Nobella Grace launched a kids line to complement the same coastal, boho chic feel and it’s been so popular that every piece sells out instantly. Kristi takes the same pride in seeking out high quality garments that are Nobella Grace worthy for this line and she so excited about how quickly this line has taken off.

Floral Navy Top.

Floral Navy Top | Nobella Grace | Small | $27

She also recently launched Bella Box, which is an exclusive, one of a kind, personally curated box. Take a moment to ask yourself…”Have you ever needed new clothes but don’t have the time to shop” or “are you looking for some expert style advice?” Well, Bella Box is the answer to those questions. Kristi and Kaitlin start off by asking you a few questions about your fit and style preference. Then once a month the two of them personally curate your “box” by hand. They take the time to select each piece from the Los Angeles Fashion District, based on your style profile and ship them to you for a flat fee. Not only do you receive amazing finds styled for you on a monthly basis, but the items found in your “Bella Box” are not available for sale on Nobellagrace.com.

Happy Day Dress | Nobella Grace

Happy Day Dress | Nobella Grace | Small | $29

Not only do I LOVE the garment offerings from Nobella Grace, but it’s great that the customers are truly their focal point in everything they do. They know their target audience very well, especially how to communicate with them in an authentic and real way. This is what makes them such a success. They are constantly asking their customers for feedback before they purchase a particular garment from a buyer; or they will post real customers showing off their new Nobella Grace purchase on Facebook and Instagram.

“We love sharing our customer’s pictures in Nobella Grace pieces.  We feel that it is great to see how someone else styles each piece and how they look on each different body type.  Women come in all shapes and sizes and should feel beautiful in everything they wear.  We truly are proud of the “community” type feel Nobella Grace has.  Everyone is so positive and uplifting, it is even bigger than we could have imagined,” shared owner Kristi Warwick.

So what’s next for Nobella Grace? Currently they are working on a custom T-shirt line for kids and adults alike as well as an infant and toddler line. Stay up to date with the latest affordable fashion finds by connecting with them on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram and Twitter and don’t forget to enter our giveaway! Cheers! ~ Crystal

 

Style Tip From Nobella Grace

Style Tip From Nobella Grace

We are crazy about Orchid, the Pantone color of the year. I wish we were all brave and confident enough to dye our hair orchid like Nicole Richie or Kelly Osborne has but since we are not Nobella Grace has a few pieces that can help incorporate the color into your own personal style. We recommend the Lovely Lace Maxi Dress ($38) in Orchid or even our Catch a Wave Tunic  ($21) which incorporates a tiny splash of Orchid if you do not feel comfortable wearing this color as a main piece. Even adding a scarf that has a tiny bit of orchid woven in is a great way to make this style trend your own.

Springtime Giveaway

Spring Giveaway

Aprons & Stilettos is excited to partner with Nobella Grace Boutique to give away a $50 gift certificate to one lucky reader. How do you enter?

  1. Check out the fab finds on Nobellagrace.com (if you haven’t already!)
  2. Share with us in the comments below your favorite spring style or trend this season. We will then pick a winner at random.*

Also, don’t forget to connect with Aprons & Stilettos on Twitter and Nobella Grace on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram and Twitter.

Cheers! ~Crystal Peterson

*The giveaway begins April 30th and will run through May 14th. Giveaway is open to all U.S. residents. After the May 14th deadline, a winner will be selected from the comments section below at random and notified via e-mail. Thank you for participating!

Couscous Cakes & Heirloom Salad

Couscous Cakes

My friend Morgan and I often find ourselves playing “Chopped” in the kitchen where we decide to make dinner together with only the ingredients we currently have in the refrigerator / pantry. The menu is never set until we look at the ingredients each of us have contributed and we just “wing it!” We’ve never had a bad “Chopped” dinner date but I must say our couscous cakes with avocados and heirlooms has been the BEST and most beautiful “Chopped” dish to date. This entrée can easily be made into an appetizer or side salad. The creaminess of the avocado married with the crispy texture of the cakes and freshness of the heirloom salad makes this dish a winner in our “chopped” series of recipes.

CousCous Cakes How To

  • 1 1/2 cup couscous, cooked and cooled
  • 3/4 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
  • 1 egg
  • 2 avocados, sliced
  • Fresh basil
  • Fresh thyme
  • 1 basket small heirloom tomatoes, cut in half lengthwise
  • Fresh mozzarella cheese balls, cut in half
  • Olive oil
  • Red wine vinegar
  • Salt & pepper, to taste

Cook couscous per the directions on box and let cool. Heat 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil in a heavy skillet over medium heat. Once couscous has cooled; combine one egg, shredded mozzarella, basil, thyme, salt and pepper to the couscous. Mix well and form small patties. Cook patties in 1 or 2 batches over medium heat, flipping once until the patties are crisp and golden brown on both sides (about 5 – 6 minutes each side). Repeat the same steps for the remaining patties.

While the couscous cakes are cooking, prepare the heirloom salad. Combine the heirloom tomatoes, fresh mozzarella and torn basil with a heavy drizzle of olive oil and a few dashes of red wine vinegar. Add salt and pepper to taste. Set aside.

Cut avocados in half, remove the pit and slice lengthwise. Fan avocado slices on plate and place the warm couscous cakes on top. Finish with the heirloom salad.

Makes 6-8 cakes.

CousCous Cakes & Rose

Enjoy! ~ Crystal


Wine Pairing

2012 Muscardini Rosato di Sangiovese

Muscardini Rosato di Sangiovese

Muscardini Cellars is one of my favorite wineries in Sonoma Valley and owner/winemaker Michael is one of the coolest guys around. If you are ever in the Sonoma County area, this is a must on your winery to-do list. Michael’s 2012 Muscardini Rosato di Sangiovese opens up with vibrant strawberry and watermelon notes with a hint of wild berries and citrus. Perfectly balanced with a crisp and clean finish.

This is a perfect spring and summertime wine that makes a wonderful aperitif, yet pairs deliciously with simple fare such as fruit, mild cheeses and charcuterie, fish, salads and lighter fare. The perfect picnic wine! Click here to learn more about Muscardini Cellars!


Heirloom Tomato, Peach & Fresh Mozzarella Crostini

Tomato Peach Crostinis

Over the weekend I spent some time working in the garden with my pops – weeding, picking oranges, checking sugar levels on the wine grapes and harvesting a large batch of heirloom tomatoes.

Homegrown Heirloom Tomatoes

I absolutely LOVE heirlooms due to their refreshing and sweet flavor and unique colors and shapes.  Now what to do with this batch of colorful beauties? Recently I experience a delicious dish from French Blue in St. Helena, California which inspired tonight’s appetizer. They offer this irresistible house made farmers cheese over grilled bread topped with strawberries and tomatoes. It’s to die for. So, that is the inspiration to this Heirloom, Peach and Fresh Mozzarella crostini. Sweet and savory, this is the perfect summertime appetizer.

Heirloom Tomato, Peach &  Fresh Mozzarella Crostini

3 – 4 small / medium heirloom tomatoes (or 1 large one), sliced
1 large peach, thinly sliced
Fresh mozzarella, sliced
Fresh basil leaves, chiffonade
Balsamic vinegar, for drizzling
Baguette of your choice (I used Casa LaBelle Rustic Baguette)
Olive oil
Salt & Pepper

Heirloom Tomato Crostini

Pre-heat the oven to 400 degrees. Slice baguette into 1/2 inch slices and coat with olive oil. Season lightly with salt & pepper and bake them for about 8 – 10 minutes until golden brown. Remove crostini’s from the oven and layer with a peach slice, tomato and mozzarella. Drizzle balsamic vinegar and season with salt and pepper. Serve immediately.

How to Make Tomato Crostini


Ingredients used:

  • Casa LaBelle Bread – Casa LaBelle is a small bakery located in the tiny resort town of Monte Rio in Sonoma County.
  • Peach, Mozzarella and Sweet BasilMike’s Truck Garden (one of my favorite local produce stands)
  • Heirloom Tomatoes – homegrown and straight from the garden.

Enjoy! ~Crystal