THE BLACK SKIRT
Now:
Now:
Then:
THE STRIPED SKIRT
Now:
Then:
THE BLACK CARDIGAN
Now:
Then:
Thanks to The Capital Barbie for letting me share some of my favorites!
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Guest Post: When Anything Works at Work
Hi everyone! I am Ashley from A Fashion Fixation and about two months ago (gosh, time flies) I left my corporate job and my business casual style to work in a doctor's office where pretty much the dress code is anything goes. It has been an adjustment to say the least but I have been trying to incorporate some dressier pieces that I used to wear and make them more relaxed...here are some of my favorites.
Thanks to The Capital Barbie for letting me share some of my favorites!
Thanks to The Capital Barbie for letting me share some of my favorites!
Monday, August 1, 2011
Guest Post: Beach Coverups
Erika here, while Kelsey is off to New England, likely to return with a few blog posts on Vineyard Vines, yacht attire and delectable seafood recipes. Assuming you're not also on a beach/boat/porch but instead reading this in your office/cube/class, let's play make believe and talk beach coverups!
Usually I'm not a huge fan of strapless because I worry about it falling down but this kind of beach coverup has never failed me - and feel like I can walk straight into a (beach) restaurant as if I'm wearing a dress. I own one similar and wear it all the time - even away from the beach, around my apartment in this DC humidity.
I love the idea of this. It's so light and effortless. Great mix of feminine and, dare I say, athletic?
But as someone with the palest skin known to man (like Edward from Twilight, I'm basically monochrome), the next few are what I'd choose if I'm not wearing any spf.
This is just so fun, flashy and bright that it's hard to say no to. What I like about the kaftan is that you can cover your shoulders but still show a little of your swimsuit.
So this is a little pricey for a beach coverup but it's so cute that it could double as a shirt. Cute for the beach but also imagine pulling on some wide leg work slacks and tucking this baby in. Yes please!
Sometimes less (skin) is more. I mean, how sexy is this?! Complete coverage from the sun, it's not too flashy and I would be totally comfortable in this.
What do you think? A bunch of different styles here. Although they all are meant for the beach or pool, I'm not one to discriminate. I can see myself slipping on shorts with these or wearing them as a dress during these hot DC summers. Okay, make believe is over - back to work.
Extra: Who in their right mind considers this a coverup?!?! No thank you.
Usually I'm not a huge fan of strapless because I worry about it falling down but this kind of beach coverup has never failed me - and feel like I can walk straight into a (beach) restaurant as if I'm wearing a dress. I own one similar and wear it all the time - even away from the beach, around my apartment in this DC humidity.
I love the idea of this. It's so light and effortless. Great mix of feminine and, dare I say, athletic?
But as someone with the palest skin known to man (like Edward from Twilight, I'm basically monochrome), the next few are what I'd choose if I'm not wearing any spf.
This is just so fun, flashy and bright that it's hard to say no to. What I like about the kaftan is that you can cover your shoulders but still show a little of your swimsuit.
So this is a little pricey for a beach coverup but it's so cute that it could double as a shirt. Cute for the beach but also imagine pulling on some wide leg work slacks and tucking this baby in. Yes please!
Sometimes less (skin) is more. I mean, how sexy is this?! Complete coverage from the sun, it's not too flashy and I would be totally comfortable in this.
What do you think? A bunch of different styles here. Although they all are meant for the beach or pool, I'm not one to discriminate. I can see myself slipping on shorts with these or wearing them as a dress during these hot DC summers. Okay, make believe is over - back to work.
Extra: Who in their right mind considers this a coverup?!?! No thank you.
Friday, July 29, 2011
Friday Foodday!
Hey lovebugs!
Happy Friday! I'm especially excited today because I leave on my family vacation on Sunday for a week! But don't worry, TCB will still be here for you everyday next week with some fabulous guest bloggers! Until then, enjoy these great recipes!
Siracha Chicken Strips
c/o Budget Bytes
Ingredients
STEP 1: In a resealable container combine the Sriracha, rice vinegar, minced garlic and grated ginger. Slice the chicken breasts diagonally into 6 strips each and mix to coat in the Sriracha marinade. Cover the container with the marinade and chicken and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
STEP 2: Preheat your oven to 400 degrees. Set up your dredging station by getting three bowls. Fill the first with the all-purpose flour, in the second whisk the egg and 1 Tbsp of water and in the third bowl place the panko bread crumbs. Also get a clean plate or dish ready to hold the breaded chicken strips.
STEP 3: Taking one chicken strip from the marinade at a time, wipe off the excess Sriracha then dip to coat in the flour, then the egg and lastly the panko crumbs. Make sure all surfaces of the chicken strip get covered with each. Gently place the breaded strip on the clean plate and move on to the next one. This is messy and your hands will get coated so make sure you won't get interrupted before you begin.
STEP 4: Once all of the strips are breaded, place them on a baking sheet lined with foil and bake for 20 minutes at 400 degrees. After 20 minutes, turn the oven on to broil and broil for about 5 minutes on each side. Watch the strips during the broiling process. When they get golden brown, pull them out, flip them and wait for the second side to get golden (about 5 minutes each side). Let the strips cool slightly before serving!
Olive oil
1 bag of fresh spinach
1 garlic clove, minced and 2 garlic whole and peeeled
Salt
Pepper
4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 cup ricotta
1/4 cup grated cheese
Toothpicks
1 egg, beaten with 1 tablespoon water
1 cup seasoned breadcrumbs
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Heat 1 tablespoon of oil over medium heat. Add in garlic and spinach. Season with salt and pepper. Stir around the spinach until it is coated. Cover the pan and allow the spinach to cook turning it every so often. Once spinach has wilted remove from pan and set aside.
In a medium size bowl mix together the ricotta and grated cheese. Season with salt and pepper.
In a large sautée or fry pan that is oven proof add in the garlic and about 1/4 cup of oil. Turn the heat to medium. When the oil is hot add in the chicken. Brown on both sides. If needed add more oil to the pan. Once browned place the pan in the oven and cook 15-20 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through and reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees F.
Southwestern Black Bean Salad
c/o Skinny Taste
Ingredients
1 15.5 oz can black beans, rinsed and drained
9 oz frozen corn, thawed
1 tomato, chopped
1 small hass avocado, diced
1/4 cup red onion, chopped
1 scallion, chopped
1 lime, juice of
3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 tbsp cilantro
salt and fresh pepper
Directions
Combine beans, corn, tomato, onion, scallion, cilantro, salt and pepper. Mix with lime juice and olive oil. Marinate in the refrigerator 30 minutes. Add avocado before serving.
Happy Friday! I'm especially excited today because I leave on my family vacation on Sunday for a week! But don't worry, TCB will still be here for you everyday next week with some fabulous guest bloggers! Until then, enjoy these great recipes!
Siracha Chicken Strips
c/o Budget Bytes
2 boneless chicken breasts
1/3 cup Siracha hot sauce
1 Tbsp rice vinegar
1 inch peeled and grated ginger
1 clove garlic
1 large egg
1 cup flour
1 ½ cups panko bread crumbs
a pinch of salt and pepper
Directions
STEP 1: In a resealable container combine the Sriracha, rice vinegar, minced garlic and grated ginger. Slice the chicken breasts diagonally into 6 strips each and mix to coat in the Sriracha marinade. Cover the container with the marinade and chicken and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
STEP 2: Preheat your oven to 400 degrees. Set up your dredging station by getting three bowls. Fill the first with the all-purpose flour, in the second whisk the egg and 1 Tbsp of water and in the third bowl place the panko bread crumbs. Also get a clean plate or dish ready to hold the breaded chicken strips.
STEP 3: Taking one chicken strip from the marinade at a time, wipe off the excess Sriracha then dip to coat in the flour, then the egg and lastly the panko crumbs. Make sure all surfaces of the chicken strip get covered with each. Gently place the breaded strip on the clean plate and move on to the next one. This is messy and your hands will get coated so make sure you won't get interrupted before you begin.
STEP 4: Once all of the strips are breaded, place them on a baking sheet lined with foil and bake for 20 minutes at 400 degrees. After 20 minutes, turn the oven on to broil and broil for about 5 minutes on each side. Watch the strips during the broiling process. When they get golden brown, pull them out, flip them and wait for the second side to get golden (about 5 minutes each side). Let the strips cool slightly before serving!
Chicken Stuffed with Spinach and Ricotta
Ingredients
Olive oil
1 bag of fresh spinach
1 garlic clove, minced and 2 garlic whole and peeeled
Salt
Pepper
4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 cup ricotta
1/4 cup grated cheese
Toothpicks
1 egg, beaten with 1 tablespoon water
1 cup seasoned breadcrumbs
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Heat 1 tablespoon of oil over medium heat. Add in garlic and spinach. Season with salt and pepper. Stir around the spinach until it is coated. Cover the pan and allow the spinach to cook turning it every so often. Once spinach has wilted remove from pan and set aside.
In a medium size bowl mix together the ricotta and grated cheese. Season with salt and pepper.
Cut a slit in the chicken breasts to create a pocket. Don’t go all the way through the chicken. Stuff the ricotta mixture inside the slit. Then stuff it with the spinach. You can mix the spinach in with the ricotta too but I wanted a separate layer of spinach. Season the chicken on both sides with salt and pepper. Repeat with the remaining chicken.
Place the egg mixture into a shallow dish. In a second shallow dish place the breadcrumbs. Dredge the chicken in the egg mixture and coat on all sides. Dip the chicken with the egg on it into the breadcrumbs and coat on all sides. Close the pocket up with some toothpicks by placing them in at an angle. Repeat for each piece of chicken.In a large sautée or fry pan that is oven proof add in the garlic and about 1/4 cup of oil. Turn the heat to medium. When the oil is hot add in the chicken. Brown on both sides. If needed add more oil to the pan. Once browned place the pan in the oven and cook 15-20 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through and reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees F.
Southwestern Black Bean Salad
c/o Skinny Taste
1 15.5 oz can black beans, rinsed and drained
9 oz frozen corn, thawed
1 tomato, chopped
1 small hass avocado, diced
1/4 cup red onion, chopped
1 scallion, chopped
1 lime, juice of
3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 tbsp cilantro
salt and fresh pepper
Directions
Combine beans, corn, tomato, onion, scallion, cilantro, salt and pepper. Mix with lime juice and olive oil. Marinate in the refrigerator 30 minutes. Add avocado before serving.
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Shall we Crochet?
I haven't fully gotten on board with the all over crochet look, but I am liking smaller details of it found on pieces. The trend is nice for summer because the crochet pattern and texture is very breathable. What do you think of some of these?
Macy's, Sleeveless crochet collar tank, $12
You certainly can't beat the price. I would pair this with some green shorts.
Forever 21, Chiffon and Crochet Tank, $23
Now this is classy. I like the modified v-neck and the uneven hemline.
Dillards, Sangria Sleeveless Crochet Neckline Dress, $50
I really like the gathered skirt on this dress, makes it a bit dressier.
French Connection, Daisy Doile Mini Skirt, $90
Talk about the perfect warm weather navy skirt. This is divine. I love the waistband detail as well.
How are you wearing the crochet trend? I must confess, I don't own any pieces yet but I really like the idea of them for summer.
Be fabulous today!
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