FASHION: Nina Ricci Spring 2013

Well, this is long overdue, but I came across these photos I’d saved on my computer from the spring collection, and I couldn’t not share them. And, with holiday parties coming up, why not?

( @ Style.com, #16 )

Besides the fact that aqua is pretty much my favorite color ever, I also love the cut of the neckline.

( @ Style.com, #21 )

Polka dots and beige, in a classy little dress.

( @ Style.com, #35 )

Polka dots win again here, in a cute LBD. Would totally wear this to a banquet or smaller, intimate affair. Not so sure if I dig the feathers though.

( @ Style.com, #42 )

Holiday thoughts?

~R

FASHION: Stripes

Went on another shopping spree, and picked up an item at Forever 21 that I’ve been wearing nonstop.

It’s another classic item, and for less than $20, I think I hit the jackpot.

So, I tried it on, and it fit nicely, and looks perfect with both skinny jeans and black pants. Perfect for fall, and if you remember this awesome post about stripes a few weeks ago, you might start to get how my brain works…

( @ Forever 21, $19.80 )

And I’m sure it would look great with a skirt too, like the one the model is totally rocking. So, in essence, got a fall sweater that I can wear everywhere! Plus, the quality is surprisingly good. Super soft and comfy.

It says handwash though…but are you serious? Who handwashes things anymore? OK, maybe you do because you care about your clothes. Me? I love this sweater to death….which is why I will be tossing it with my other whites.

Picking up any new outfits for fall?

~Ruth

FOOD: Apple Dutch Baby

So, I was in the mood to bake something…

APPLE DUTCH BABY

What’s a Dutch baby? I’m not quite sure, but it’s ridiculously delicious. Here it is, minus sauce and ice cream, straight out of the warm oven.

Ingredients:

Berry Sauce:

3 T. sugar

1 t. cornstarch

3 T. water

1 cup berries (we used frozen, but I could recommend not raspberries unless you’re going to strain the sauce)

1 t. lemon juice

Dutch Baby!:

4 T. butter, divided

4 eggs

3/4 cup milk (whole is better, we used 2%)

3/4 cup all-purpose flour

3 T. sugar, divided

1 t. vanilla extract

1/4 t. salt

2 apples, cored and cut into slices (we used Cortland)

Ice cream (we had this delicious raspberry almond ice cream we’d made awhile ago)

How to make it!
1. Prepare the berry sauce:

2. In a small saucepan, mix the sugar and cornstarch together. Add in water. Add berries and cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until thickened and berries are softened, about 4-5 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in lemon juice. Set aside. (Can be made ahead and refrigerated. Simply re-warm before using to top dessert).
3. Preheat oven to 425°F.
4. Melt 2 T. butter in the microwave and then pour into a bowl. Add eggs, milk, flour, 1 T. sugar, vanilla extract, and salt. Blend batter until smooth. Let sit while you prepare the apples.
5. Heat a 12-inch cast-iron skillet over medium heat. Melt the remaining 2 T. of butter. Add the remaining 2 T. sugar and cook, stirring constantly, until the sugar starts to caramelize, about 2 minutes. Add apples to skillet and increase heat to medium-high. Cook, stirring frequently, until softened.

Here’s how he cored the apples (optional…)

6. Briefly re-blend the batter, then pour evenly over apples. Transfer the skillet to the pre-heated oven.
7. Bake until puffed and golden brown all over, about 18-22 minutes.
8. Let cool slightly! Top with many scoops of ice cream. Then pour  blueberry sauce liberally over everything, then serve immediately right from the skillet.
9. Sooo delicious, so please enjoy!

It took us about half an hour to prep everything, then 20 minutes to bake.

My lonely single slice. Lonely because it was only one slice.

Makes about 4 servings.

I’m definitely making this again super soon. Breakfast? Lunch? Dinner? Midnight snack? Yes to all.

~R

Adapted from: http://www.seasonsandsuppers.ca/peach-dutch-baby-with-blueberry-sauce/

FASHION: Oxford Comma

I went for a little shopping excursion last week.

Surprisingly, I didn’t find that much. Maybe I’m getting too picky. Maybe my taste is changing. Maybe I have enough clothes summer on my mind still, and it’s actually fall.

Bordering on winter, with this hurricane storming in coming to cancel my classes, work, and life in general.

What you mean I can get a weather day before winter even starts? YES.

I’m just glad my boss lives in the same region as me and wants me to stay at home instead of driving in.

Here’s the one shirt that I’ve pretty much been in love with since I bought it last week.

Simple, blue, classic.

( @ Forever 21, $19,90 it’s almost sold out, go go go! )

Stay safe from the storm!

~R

WEDDING: LBD

This picture is the epitome of how cool I want to look at the wedding I’m going to this weekend.

So, it’ll be outside, so no way can I wear a strappy dress without a cardigan, but the braid and everything is perfect.

AND the pockets!!

I don’t understand why more designers don’t build pockets into dresses.

It’s like, a total SELL factor for me when a dress has pockets for me to not just stand awkwardly without knowing where to put my hands.

( @ Style Me Pretty )

So, I’m currently thinking of ideas of what to wear to a fallish wedding. Never had this issue before, but I’m sure it’ll start coming up more often now that I’m getting old…thoughts?

~R

SHOES: Black is Back

So, fall to me has always meant new shoes. Well, OK, that might not make sense to you…so here’s the logic:

There’s the new school year, which means new clothes…new leaves, which means new shoes. You get it now?

No? OK, just look at the eye candy then:

For some reason, black heels with straps have been catching my eye. This pair has not only one, but two straps! So, if we take that first 5 off, this would be the perfect shoe to buy.

( @ Alexander Wang, $525 )

OK, and since we can count (yes, since kindergarten. I know, really??), there are not one…not two…but three straps on this pair! Also, can anyone tell me why, since we upgraded our strap count to three, this pair is $100 less than the first one? How does that even make sense?

( @ Reiss, $425 )

Now, this pair. Ooooh. we get a little color happy here, and mix in beige with black. Yup. Earth-shattering color combo.

( @ Zara, as worn by Annabelle Fleur of VivaLuxury )

OK, and this one doesn’t break the bank as much…and black heels are so classic, we could always do with more.

( @ RMK, $129.95 )

Now…which one to buy.

~R

OBSESSED: Neon x Glitter

I don’t know why, but I’ve been sorta in love with the way a bright skirt matches up with a glittery/sparkly clutch. 

Case in point (bright pink skirt, metallic clutch, and heels, perfection) : 

( @ Viva Luxury )

And case in point numero dos (again, bright ORANGE skirt, sparkly clutch):

( @ Viva Luxury )

OK, and then I realized that these two awesome fashion shots are actually from the same fashionista blogger, so it’s not really a trend, but I was really liking the combo, so I went digging around for some more…

Sparkle top, neon pants and clutch. Reversal of my original find.

( @ Fckyeahdulcecandy –> unsure of where original came… ) 

Finally, last, but certainly not least, casual neon outfit, made sophisticated by the glitter clutch:

( @ Sincerely, Jules )

 

So, continuing trend? Only for parties, or totally cool to wear to school?

I’m gonna dig up my glitter and see if I can rock this at work this week.

~R

 

FASHION: Black and White

If you know me, somewhat well, you’ll realize that my wardrobe consists of pretty solid colors. I’m not really into graphics. And matching solids in the morning before I’ve had any sugar in me can be quite challenging. So, I decided to find some shirts I can throw on and just go.

Black + white. Solid color combo, right? Right.

So, this first one is a bit out of my price range, but I love the gradient of lines. So different from regular striped shirts, and still so wearable. Maybe I’ll thrift a plain black shirt and do white lines….

( @ Rag + Bone, $220 )

So, what you need to realize as you read through this is that when I say black and white, I only mean stripes. Yeah. Stripes. The only pattern I wear like allllll the time. In other news, I’m obsessed with J. Crew. Who isn’t?

( @ J.Crew, $89.50 )

OK, here we go, another J. Crew pick…but it’s cashmere. I feel like inherently there’s something in every woman that yearns for cashmere…it’s like our inner cashmere calling. And I need to fulfill it….PLUS it’s on sale! How can you not resist fulfilling your calling like that?

( @ J. Crew, $150 )

So, all I’ve really discovered is that black and white works in stripes…and that my online shopping habit tends to be pricey.

Hope your Wednesday is better!

~R

FASHION: J. Mendel

Ready to wear collection again. I feel like some of these should have been in the fall collection, but they’re still gorgeous.

Like this dress. Love the color, but such a fall color, right? Who wears this dark purple in the spring?

( @ J Mendel from vogue.com )

Again…what is up with all of these flowy dresses being ready to wear? I would totally wear this…not to a wedding, maybe, but to a garden party? Haha…yeah, I go to those all the time. Really. With the tea. And the biscotti.

( @ J. Mendel from vogue.com, #43 )

Yeah, I guess I’m in dress mode…not sure why, since I’m all weddinged out from this summer, but these two are pretty gorgeous.

ta.

 

~R

FASHION: Reem Acra 2013

What, we’re doing the spring collection of 2013 already? But it’s not even fall yet, said the naive girl from suburbia.

And the wise fashionista from the biggest urban center in the world scoffed, stay ahead of the times darling.

Here’s my two favorite looks from Reem Acra:

This outfit is simple, yet glamorous. Yes, I’d totally rock that.

( Reem Acra, #25 )

Not sure how this look is considered ready-to-wear…unless it’s to a wedding. But I do love the details.

( Reem Acra, #32 )

I’ll have more looks from the designers I love soon.

I’m counting them…two more days until fall officially starts!

Ta.

~R