Wednesday, September 15, 2010

How to Make a Summer Sale Work Now

We've all gotten the emails: Extra 30% off sale, free shipping with orders over $100! I know you've clicked them because I have too. But then you are taken to a sale page with linen pants and heeled sandals. Let's be honest, the prices are great, but how many of us actually buy a bathing suit right now? Right. So let's take one of my favorite sale shops: J Crew and make the summer sale section work for Fall.

Why J Crew? Well because 1. I worked there for 18 months and always got a great discount which I still pine for. and 2. because their regular clothing has gotten so ridiculously expensive (a jacket for $1200? ) So I am forced to only shop the sale section in order to satisfy my craving.

Let's begin:


J Crew, Falling Ruffles Tank, $12.99
You may see a great cotton tank for summer but pair it with these items to make it work through October!
a great denim jacket:

J Crew, Nolita denim jacket, $49.99
And a skimmer chino to complete the look

J Crew, Skimmer pant, $19.99

Wonderful! Next a lightweight cardigan:
J Crew, Sailor Stripe Always Cardigan, $24.99
Let's pair this gem with a matching white shirt and khaki bottom:

J Crew, Drawstring Tee, $9.99


J Crew, Chino Bubble Skirt, $29.99

It's like a nautical sale! I love it.


Ok one more: a gorgeous dress in a fall transition color or neutral (i.e. no pastels)


J Crew, Cotton Cady Caroline Dress, $69.99
The darting on this dress will make ANY figure look amazing, it's perfect for work or play

Pair with a bold cardi and belt it!




J Crew, Double Studded Belt, $39.50
Toughen up this sweet dress and pink cardi with a studded belt!

See, that wasn't so hard. Just start with one piece that you love and make the rest work for you.

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Apartment Living

Mixing it up just a little today because I'm trying to avoid shopping online for clothes and shoes. (gasp!) I know, I know- don't be worried, it's just temporary but any little bit of less clicking helps my soul and my wallet.

Why am I being frugal you ask? Well, the BF (he wanted his title capitalized) and I are moving in together! Yay! Very exciting. As I'm sure you know moving is filled with unforeseen costs and charges plus the expected fees like movers, the big grocery shop, etc. So, that is why I'm attempting to curb my online perusing of fashion wants and needs.

That being said, let's have some fun with apartment design today! Woohoo! Here are some of my ideas for the new abode.


Blik, Nessa Headboard, $40
How cool is this vinyl decal headboard?
Ikea, Akurum, $59
Storing shoes is been a source of anxiety for me for years now. I have a lot of shoes, and I don't believe in throwing them in the bottom of my closet. Currently I have an over the door shoe rack which is ugly and very dorm-y. Enter the perfect shoe cabinet! I will be buying a couple of these and having the BF put them on the wall in the bedroom. The I will decorate them with these:

Blik, Iron Vines, $60
I'll put these decals on the cabinet to make the storage artsy and functional


Just Wine Racks, Oenophilia Bali 12 Bottle, $59
It's ok to be so totally jealous of our new wine rack. It pops with color and is modern. Love it.





I love our dinner plates. The orange pops against the yellow (hard to tell in photos). The plates aren't super heavy and best of all they were reasonably priced!









Crate and Barrel, Orange Vista Dinner Plate, out of stock
Crate and Barrel, Loire Yellow Plate, $4.95





Crate and Barrel, Party Tumbler, $0.95
And how could I say no to these glasses? So fun!

Got ideas for me? I'm always looking, let me know!


Monday, September 13, 2010

The Oxford Shoe Trend

Welcome back from the weekend everyone! Hope you all had a relaxing and fun couple of days.

Today we will conquer a very popular trend for fall: the oxford shoe. Now the reason why I'm hesitant about this shoe is because I'm a girly girl. If you haven't already gotten that from the pink background, and 'Barbie' title. The oxford shoe presents an interesting predicament: it's traditionally a flat which I love but it's a men's type of shoe. So let's try to find a happy medium.

Got suggestions on how to wear oxfords?


Target, Taree Oxford Shoe, $19.99
I like these because they have a nice rounded toe; much sweeter than the harsh pointy toe.


Steve Madden, Tastee Oxford Shoe, $49.95
I love these because they're no lace coolness would go perfectly with boyfriend jeans


Steve Madden, Docile Oxford Heel, $69.95
With tights? Yum.

Volatile, Marlena, $62.95
Probably could match with any outfit

Steven, Melanee, $99
And for you brave souls- I had to throw in a colored oxford. Love the detailing on this one, and the wooden sole!



Friday, September 10, 2010

Friday Foodday!

If you want to contribute to Friday Foodday in the future please comment, email, or tweet me your recipe!

Alright kids! It's a big football weekend that means hearty dips and delicious casseroles. Here are some of my favorites and some of my favorite readers recipes!

For me, football means cheese, salsa, and chips not necessarily in that order. I also have a not so secret love for Velveeta. Don't judge, it's amazing. So chemicals or not this is one of my favorite football dips to serve and eat!!!

Famous Queso Dip
1 lb. (16 oz.) VELVEETA Pasteurized Prepared Cheese Product, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1 can (10 oz.) RO*TEL Diced Tomatoes & Green Chilies, undrained

Make It

Mix ingredients in 2-qt. microwaveable bowl.

Microwave on HIGH 5 min. or until VELVEETA is completely melted, stirring after 3 min.

Serve with assorted cut-up fresh vegetables, tortilla chips.


Farmhouse Chicken
c/o Annie!
  • 2 chickens, 3 1/2 pounds each
  • 3 tablespoons goose, duck fat or even bacon drippings
  • 1 head of garlic, halved
  • 1 lemon, halved
  • 1 small onion halved
  • 1 bunch fresh thyme

  • 1 handful Italian parsley
  • 1 tablespoon fennel seed, crushed in a mortar and pestal
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • Kosher salt
  1. The night before you want to cook the chickens rinse out the cavities with cold water and drain. Place the chickens on a sheet pan and place, uncovered, in the fridge.
  2. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Season the cavities of each bird with some fennel seed, black pepper and kosher salt. Place the birds in a roasting pan large enough to hold them comfortably. Next place half a head of garlic, half a lemon, half an onion, half the thyme and parsley into the cavity of each bird. Now rub the exterior each bird top to bottom with the goose fat. Wash and dry your hands. Season the birds evenly and on all sides with the remainder of the fennel, black pepper and salt. Tuck the wings under the bird and truss the legs with kitchen twine, Place the chickens in the oven and roast for 40 minutes and then rotate the pan 180 degrees and roast for another 35 minutes. Check them for doneness. Cook them longer if needed. Remove the chickens from the oven and at this point if you wanted you could make a pan au jus from the drippings or let them rest for 10 minutes then carve and serve.

Marbled Peanut Butter & Nutella Brownies

c/o of Autumn!

6 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
1 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup peanut butter (I used crunchy)
2 large eggs
3/4 cup all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt

Swirl Mixture:
1 1/2 oz dark or dark chocolate with hazelnuts, chopped
1/2 teaspoon butter
1/4 cup Nutella

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line an 8 inch square metal pan with non-stick foil.

In a mixing bowl, using medium speed and high speed of an electric mixer, beat butter and brown sugar until soft. Beat in vanilla and peanut butter, then add eggs and beat just until mixed in. Scrape sides of bowl and beat in baking powder and salt, making sure they are evenly distributed; Add flour and stir until it is mixed in. Spread peanut butter batter in pan.

Make swirl mixture. Melt chocolate and butter in a small microwave-safe bowl at 50% power. Alternatively, you may use a double boiler or bowl set over a pot of barely simmer water. Remove melted chocolate from heat and stir in Nutella. Drop spoonfuls of Nutella mixture over peanut butter brownie batter and drag a knife through to make a marbled pattern.

Bake on center rack for 30 minutes or until brownies begin to pull away from the side of the pan and center seems set. Cool pan on a wire rack. When brownies hit room temperature, chill them for an hour or so. Lift from pan and cut into squares.

Cheesy Garlic Biscuits

Ingredients:
2 cups of buttermilk biscuit mix (like Bisquick or Jiffy mix)
1/2 a teaspoon of garlic powder
1 to 1 1/2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese.
2/3 cup of milk
2 tablespoons of butter
2 teaspoons of oregano
1 teaspoon of garlic salt

Directions:
1- Preheat the oven to 400.
2- Combine the biscuit mix, cheese, and garlic powder. Stir well.
3- Add the milk and stir. The mix should be thick, not sticky. You may need to use your hands to get the ingredients well combined.
4- Bake for 10 minutes of until lightly golden.
5- While baking, melt the butter in a small bowl and add the oregano and garlic salt.
6- Using a pastry brush, brush on the butter.
7- Return to the oven for about 5 minutes.