Sometimes something looks and tastes so yummy I feel like I should take a picture of it before I eat it to make it last longer. This strawberry spinach salad falls into that category. I ate it for lunch every day last week and enjoyed every bite! The ingredients? Spinach, strawberries, blue cheese, pecans, crumbled bacon (I just use pre-packaged real bacon bits) and some homemade sweet and sour dressing (see recipe below). I also like to add a few slivers of red onion if I happen to have it on hand. Note: this salad is just as tastey in the winter when strawberries are out of season. Instead, add a handful of dried cranberries and some chunks of granny smith apple. Delicious!
Easy Sweet and Sour Dressing
1/2 cup sugar 1/3 cup lemon juice 1 tsp dijon style mustard 2 tsp onion, chopped 1/2 tsp salt 2/3 cup oil (I use canola) 1 tsp poppy seeds
Put all ingredients in a blender and mix. Happy eating! :)
Long time, no see! Since I spent the month of June nine months preggo and the month of July with a brand new baby, we've spent August trying to capture the last little bit of summer. I've been canning all sorts of goodies from the gigantic garden we share with Jared's brother and parents and although I have a bit of a love/hate relationship with canning, we have put away lots of green beans, salsa, vegetable soup, diced tomatoes and today's project is spaghetti sauce! In addition to canning we even managed a few fun days at the pool and a trip to my home county for some fun at Tuscora Park. It has been a lazy summer for us but I've enjoyed the laziness. Lots of relaxing at home, watching the boys play and run in the sprinkler while I nurse Caroline, who is growing like a weed. (Hard to believe she is almost two months old.) Hope you are all enjoying the last few days of summer as well!
The past two weeks have gone by quickly. Caroline has spent her days eating and sleeping contently while various visitors have stopped by to meet and admire her. Her eyes are opening up a bit more and she's even smiled at us several times! Hooray for sweet newborn babies.
Our little lady has arrived! Caroline Elise made her world debut Wednesday morning, June 30th at 7:34 am. She weighed 7 pounds, 7 ounces and measured 20 inches long. She is really soft and she smells really good and we just love her to pieces.
I am so excited to introduce you to my friend Ruth. Ruth is a stay-at-home mom of four kids currently living in Farmington, New Mexico. I met her almost 4 years ago when we were both living in Columbus because Ruth is not only a mom but she also happens to be a really awesome hairstylist too. We met when I solicited her hair services and my hair (and I) still miss her desperately! What I love about Ruth's style is that she hasn't let becoming a mother destroy it. She does her hair, wears make-up, pretty earrings, cute shoes and looks really put together all of the time. She maintains a really stylish look by choosing figure flattering clothing that is also age and occupation appropriate. Also, aside from her spectacular style, Ruth is one of the most genuine, friendly and down to earth people I know. So, to sum this up, she is basically my hero and I will shamelessly admit that I want to be just like her when I grow up. With all that out of the way, here is what Ruth has to say about style:
How would you describe or define your current style?Defining my current style is tricky since I am now entering my 30's and am a mom of four children! I am in the process of finding out what my style is, taking classic pieces from my past and working them into what I term "mom style." It has to do with finding opportunities to break out the heels that I love and curling my hair section by section, then discovering that flats and a side pony tail can be pretty sassy for the park!
As a hair stylist, what trends do you see for hair in the near future?Oh, don't cringe, but the modern mullet is out there. Braids are big and lots of flowers and head bands for all of this long hair that we grew out and now need something to do with!
What inspires you and the way you dress?So many things. The seasons, magazines, American Idol, movies, people around me.
Do you have any fashion icons or people whose style you love?The first person to influence me as a fashion icon would have to be my Grandma Morris. That women has aged beautifully and gracefully and still knows what to wear in her 80's. She has always painted her nails, put on make-up, and cared about what shoes go with what outfit. She knows what colors look good on her and has jewelry to go with everything. She defines stylish.
What are some of your favorite places to shop?Let's see. Where I shop and my favorite places to shop are two different things right now! (Farmington is limited which is probably better for our budget anyway!) I like to pretend that I shop at Anthropologie and H&M and Macy's and Marshall's. (On-line shopping just doesn't work for me because I like to touch the fabrics and see the colors and try on stuff.) I do love TJ Maxx at the moment. Oh, and Shoes on A Shoestring!
Do you have any tips for the novice shopper?I AM a novice shopper, so I really can't give any tips. Knowing your body type and color scheme are good places to start because then you don't have to look at everything when shopping, you can go straight to what you know will look good on you. I have tried to weed the pieces out of my closet that don't seem quite right when I put them on. I don't even know what it is sometimes since I am such a novice at fashion, but you know those outfits that bug you the whole day when you wear them? Try just getting rid of the pants or the top so that you don't keep coming back to it like I do if it is in my closet!
Is there any one thing in your closet that you keep coming back to year after year?This question made me laugh because like I said, I will keep coming back to anything that is in my closet. Probably the most staple item for me is a white t-shirt. One with buttons down the front and one plain with cap sleeves or a v-neck.
What are some of your favorite outfits/combinations?Depends on the season, but right now it is certainly a skirt and t-shirt or a maxi-dress. It keeps me nice and cool in the heat and also makes me feel feminine. Nice because you can put on flats for day or wear a wedge for going out.
Are there any trends you are looking forward to?I am out of it when it comes to trends since I usually watch Go Diego Go and only go grocery shopping! I love the flowers with the feathers for hair and all types of cardigans though.
Can you share with us any recent favorite purchases?I did buy a lovely new white t-shirt (smile) and a grey flowing tank top with fabric flowers on it.
Anything you are planning/would like to purchase in the near future?More dresses and I am in desperate need of a pair of jean capris or shorts.Dark wash. Dreaming ofthisfor a Sunday outfit. (I could wrangle the little ones in those shoes!) I also want a summery pair of slacks. Something like this:(and notice the white shirt-Oh comfort!)
What advice would you give someone who is trying to find their own personal style or spruce up their current look?My friend Sarah Lunt has inspired me to believe that style comes from within and that anyone can be beautiful with just a few basic know-hows. The most basic is to be constantly improving yourself and looking for ways to help others. That brings happiness and peace which shows in ones face and is true beauty which leads to personal style. If you want to spruce up your current look, don't get overwhelmed thinking that you have nothing to wear, but start with a good pair of jeans and maybe one shirt that is your color and flattering for your body type. This may involve pulling out a tape measure to see what your body type is. But don't be scared or sad once you see those numbers! Be glad that now you can shop for things that will enhance your body type.
Oh, and make sure you shape your eyebrows and use an eyebrow pencil to lightly fill in because I am telling you, that will make ANY outfit look better!
I love your style Ruth! Thanks for sharing it with us!
Newborn diapers - check. Hospital bag - check. Two boys acting more ornery than usual - check. Yep. It seems we've got everything in order. Just waiting on the baby who could arrive any day now!
(I'm still trying to wrap my brain around the fact that by next week there will be a another little person living in our house. So weird.)
Jared and I took the boys to see the new Toy Story movie Friday night. If you haven't seen it yet, go! Now! Kids or no kids. Truthfully, I think Jared and I liked it even more than the boys. Although, as I'm typing this, Spencer is jumping off the coach with his arms outstretched yelling "Buzz Wightyear...infinity and beyond!"
Memorial Day weekend has come and gone so that means summertime is officially here (hip, hip hooray!) If I wasn't a million months pregnant, I would love to plan a refreshing beverage party completely around these striped paper straws. (Maybe post-baby?) I have had them in my on-line shopping cart several times but haven't been able to pull the trigger!
(Image from here, more affordable paper straws for purchase here.)
Two more weeks until my due date-so I'm almost there! I seem to have forgotten how exhausting the last month of pregnancy can be! Seriously. I sort of want to sit down and put my feet up and/or take a nap all of the time. However, I am in good company because my good friend Nicole is due exactly three weeks after me and and is also having a girl!
(Nicole looks cute and stylish, as always, but you'll have to excuse my tired/sweaty/disheveled look. I had come straight from photographing an outdoor wedding on a very hot and muggy evening.)
I love my kids but I think I really do love them a little more just after they've had a bath. :) I snapped these photos a few weeks ago right after they got out of the tub while they were sitting in our room enjoying a warm breeze coming through the window. Everything (including the evening light streaming in) seemed so clean and refreshing so I grabbed my camera in hopes to get a few good pictures of my clean kiddos.
(This is what I get when I tell Mitch to "look normal" or "act regular". He's not so cooperative when it comes to pictures. At least he didn't run and hide, which is what he normally does when he sees my camera!)
Jared and I watched this video last week and it keeps cracking me up. I had a short stint with a mini van which, you may remember, ended abruptly when I ran into a parked car- (ouch!) However, now that we have number three on the way, I might be rocking the mini van scene once more. What about you? Are you a mini van hater or a mini van lover?
There were a couple of questions I forgot to include in my original feature on Katie so I'm updating here:
What have been a few of your most recent favorite purchases? just two pairs of shoes and a killer pair of marble earrings. i picked up a pair of keds and green espadrilles. so happy. truth be told, i'll probably pick up another pair of keds very soon. in a colour, i think. red, maybe.
Anything you plan on purchasing in the near future? quite honestly, not too much right now. just [over-priced yet exquisite] swimwear.
Since i saw this swimsuit, i pictured how i'd wear it and what beach i'd walk around in it and what flavour of ice cream would best suit it. the gold fish belt is what captured my attention. and then the classic early-american style and navy--one of my favourite colours. so flattering.
i'm also pretty crazy about this swimsuit. the shape, the colours. gorgeous. i love maillots, the name of the style of swimwear; they're so flattering to a woman's body.
there's something so perfectly delicate and delightful about a one-piece swimsuit.
I've got summer on the brain today. (Probably because it's hot and sticky here so it feels more like August than May!) Anyway, this straw cloche and a lazy beach vacation to go with it are calling my name. A piña colada doesn't sound too bad either.
Summer is rapidly approaching which means it's almost time for my tootsies to make their annual debut. I painted my toe nails last night (and almost squished my baby in the process!) but I'm still on the hunt for a new pair of sandals. I've heard really great things in regards to comfort about Chacos and I like that they come in all black but they are pretty pricey and maybe more athletic looking than I want. I did stumble across these last night and I think they might just fit the bill. What about you? Anyone out there have any great sandal recommendations?
Mitchell picked this little arrangement from our flower bed and gave it to me for Mother's Day. It's still making my day, every time I walk into my kitchen. I've decided one of the first things I want to do when we have a permanent residence is to plant a cut flower garden full of all my perennial favorites. Love, love, LOVE fresh flowers in my house!
Meet Katie. The first suspect in my I Love Your Style series. Katie works as a recruiter/writer in the San Francisco Bay Area but also happens to be a long-time friend and style guru. We grew up in the same rural area of Ohio playing M.A.S.H. (mansion, apartment shack...) and slobbering over J.Crew catalogs together on Sunday afternoons. When I first thought of doing a series on style, Katie was the first person to pop into my head. The girl oozes style and what I love most about her style is that it is all her own. She's not afraid to break the mold or take risks when it comes to well, anything really, but her style is no exception- whether it be with her hairstyle, an accessory, a particular outfit or deciding to paint her finger nails neon orange. She's confident and gutsy and I think that is what true style is all about. So, enough of my babbling. Here is what she has to say on the subject of style:
How would you describe your current style? (Classic, vintage, etc?)
Both. There are parts of me that are very classic--I love my faux pearl stud earrings--and some that are very vintage--my grass green button-down-the-front knee length skirt rocks with a graphic tee tucked in. I love mixing the two-current pieces with vintage--and coming out somewhere in the middle. Seems I walk out of my apartment feeling like I'm walking into the 1970s at least 3 days a week.
How has your style evolved over time?
My style has done a complete 180 over the last 10 years. Ten years ago I was all about name brands and pointy shoes and blazers and heels and fitted tees and jeans. Now I'm into looser blouses, retro sweaters, textured materials, odd collars, funky dresses, flatsand loads of colour, and fits I wouldn't have considered before, like the dolman sleeve. Ten years ago I rarely wore dresses. Now I'm in them regularly--even Saturday afternoons. I've also learned the art of not matching and making it work.
What inspires you and the way you dress?
Everything: the weather, people of no name, people of significant fame, movies, time periods, pictures in magazines, my maternal grandparents, my mother, my sister. I could continue...
Do you have any specific fashion icons or people whose style you love?
Yes! Even when I was young, I noticed the grand style of my maternal grandmother. She was always dressed and her hair was always perfectly coiffed. From her patent leather black heels to the cuff of her boiled wool bolero jacket, the woman was the meaning of the word, style. I saw it in photographs of her in her younger days too. Audrey Hepburn is a no-brainer (I love her in Funny Face in her ankle length black pants, black turtleneck, and black flats) and the entire cast of Charlie's Angels Season One.
What are some of your favorite places to shop?
I'm all over the board on this one! There are some local shops that I adore: Therapy, The Pretty Penny, Thriftown. And there are the mainstream retailers that I love: J.Crew, Gap, Anthropologie, ZARA, etc.
Do you have any tips for the novice shopper?
Be brave, shop around, and buy what's on sale. Avoid trendy items. Shop for you and what you like.
Is there any one thing in your closet you keep coming back to season after season?
My navy blue chucks, opaque black tights, my long tan cardigan, and a black and tan print pashmina from my sister-in-law. Oops, that was four items.
What are some of your favorite outfits/combinations?
Over the past few season I've come into a number of cardigans and I'm wearing them with everything. For example, I have a magenta silk dress that hits at my mid-calf that I wear my long tan cardigan over. I love my Transformers graphic tee tucked into my green button-down-the-front skirt. One of my recent favourite winter outfits is a magenta turtleneck (normal fit, not very tight) tucked into my orange-red wool vintage Givenchy Sport button-down-the-front skirt, navy tights, and open-toed putty coloured low heels with a couple layered necklaces.
Are there any trends you are looking forward to for spring? Generally speaking, the loveliness of spring fashion is in the light and flowing fabrics. I feel the most feminine in spring clothes-ruffles, extra frills, delicate fabrics, colour, floral patterns. Lovely.
What advice would you give to someone who is trying to find/capture their own personal style?
I have three points of advice: (1) Don't try too hard. If you're wearing something that doesn't feel right because it's trendy, take it off. And, if you're wearing something that's vintage but you feel like a fraud trying to play the vintage game, take it off. If your perfect Saturday outfit is jeans and a t-shirt with your chucks, embrace it. Chances are someone out there is noticing your style. (2) You know the style rule of if you haven't worn it in a year toss it, right? Most of the time, the rule applies. But if there's a nagging in the back of your head fighting you against throwing that sweater out, listen to the nag and keep the sweater. Style--personal and what's trendy--changes every moment and you may find that sweater could be the perfect pieces you need for an outfit later down the road. (3) You determine what's in style for you. Trends in the fashion world shift faster than I can pull on tights and I believe that what's in style is what makes you feel good about yourself. The confidence you have in wearing it will show and capture the attention of others.
Thanks again Katie for letting me peek into your little world of style!
If you would like to see more of what inspires Katie, check out her blog:
Violet & Earnest.
You may remember me mentioning the book, I Love Your Style a little while back. I have since had a chance to read it (thanks Nicole!) and I loved it. While I didn't learn anything ground breaking, it is full of inspiring pictures and good tips which left me very excited to do a little wardrobe tweaking post pregnancy. Named after the book, I have decided to do a little mini-series here on the old blog. I'm not sure how long it will last (I don't have that many friends!) but I plan to feature at least a few people whose style I find inspiring (and hopefully you will too!) I'm still working on getting my first feature put together but I should hopefully have it up in the next week or so. Stay tuned!
An inspiring story (you are probably already familiar with) with an amazing perspective on motherhood. (Just in time for Mothers' Day this weekend!) Definitely worth 8 minutes:
Sometimes something looks and tastes so yummy I feel like I should take a picture of it before I eat it to make it last longer. This strawberry spinach salad falls into that category. I ate it for lunch every day last week and enjoyed every bite! The ingredients? Spinach, strawberries, blue cheese, pecans, crumbled bacon (I just use pre-packaged real bacon bits) and some homemade sweet and sour dressing (see recipe below). I also like to add a few slivers of red onion if I happen to have it on hand. Note: this salad is just as tastey in the winter when strawberries are out of season. Instead, add a handful of dried cranberries and some chunks of granny smith apple. Delicious!
