Thursday, September 24, 2015

Equinox

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A major closet overhaul this past weekend yielded fresh inspiration. Who knew the one thing my closet was missing for so long was a basic black sweater? After three years spent languishing in my closet, this vintage plaid skirt has finally met its match.

Happy fall, babes. This season makes me want to dress like a '90s teenage witch and smoke clove cigs behind the bleachers. Meet me there.

Get the look: Thrifted vintage plaid skirt, cashmere sweater, Madewell ankle boots, self-made necklace, Free People sunglasses

Saturday, September 19, 2015

Here & There 9.19

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Happy weekend, friends. What are you up to today? Chris and I are headed to Terrain this afternoon to buy a gift, and I'm hoping to get started on a few projects in preparation for fall. Can you believe summer is nearly over? This year is flying by at an alarming rate - possibly faster than any other year before it, I'm just trying to slow it down and enjoy it as much as possible.

Jess Amity is having a big two-day sale! I'd definitely recommend picking up this cute vintage basket purse.

Serious hair inspiration -- i'm feeling a change coming on :)

Fall '15 is looking good

How you can help the refugees and make a difference in the refugee crisis

Etsy loves: this crescent moon ring, these painfully cute planters, this cute leather jacket pin, these minimal earrings, this cozy candle

Funny parents

How gorgeous is this dress? Would look so pretty with this hat.

The 104 year old street artist who yarn-bombed her town

We have these pretty lights wrapped around our bed frame - the glow is so cozy!

Love these lace-up flats, this version too

"You owe it to yourself to find your own personal Olive Garden..." this was probably the most inspiring workout video ever.

Obsessed with lapel pins like everybody else -- especially this one!

Currently on day 15 of a Whole 30, which means all I want to eat is cake, cookies, and these.

Definitely picking up this cute dress for fall - it's so gorgeous in person!

Just picked up this pretty nail polish

How cozy is this sweater? Would look so cute with these.

Friday, September 18, 2015

Fig, Pistachio & Roasted Strawberry Smoothie

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The end of summer is such a bittersweet time of year. The passing of these months feels all too swift — wasn’t May, like, yesterday? — but it can’t be denied that the promise of cooler weather holds a certain kind of excitement. This is the time of year when I truly appreciate living in the Northeast, where we’re treated to fall in all its glory, and one thing I look forward to most from season to season is the new batch of inspiration that will soon fill our local farmers’ market stands. Ripe cherries and strawberries are replaced by figs and, later, pears. Electric green zucchini move over for cold-weather squash of all varieties. These new tastes and flavors jolt our senses back to life, begging to be brought home and tossed into salads, soups and smoothies of all kinds.

While we’ll soon be filling our menus with warming, hearty food to sustain us through the colder months to come, now is the perfect time to experiment with melding the flavors of late summer with early fall. I always look forward to the arrival of the first batch of black figs to the grocery store; looking for a new way to enjoy these little jewels — besides just eating them plain (which I admit might be the best way to enjoy them) or prepared like this — I whipped up the smoothie you see here, tossing them together with a handful of frozen strawberries picked locally earlier in the summer for another recipe. Naturally sweet and full of goodness, this is the perfect morning pick-me-up or, when frozen, a way-better-than-ice-cream ice cream alternative.

Fresh Fig, Pistachio & Roasted Strawberry Smoothie 
Makes one large serving or two small servings 

Ingredients:

3-4 fresh black figs

1/2 cup fresh or frozen strawberries, halved and roasted at 400 degrees for 10 minutes, cooled

1 medium banana, sliced and frozen

1 cup coconut milk, or milk of choice

Toppings:

1 tbsp chopped pistachios

1 tsp hemp seeds

1 tbsp granola (I prefer homemade or Grandy Oats wheat-free)

1 tsp sliced almonds

Sliced fresh figs

Banana spears Honey + anything else your heart desires

First and foremost, that pistachio rim. To make it, dip the rim of your empty glass in honey and place in the freezer upside down on a piece of parchment paper for about 10 minutes. Remove from the parchment and dip the rim into a bowl of crushed pistachios. Place in the freezer until ready to serve. 

To make the smoothie: after roasting and cooling the strawberries (tip: make a big batch ahead of time to have on hand for smoothies and desserts), combine strawberries, fresh figs, frozen banana pieces and coconut milk in a high speed blender or food processor until smooth. Pour into the pistachio-lined glass and top with fresh figs and more crushed pistachios.

Garnish with banana spears, sliced almonds, hemp seeds and granola (look for one with less than 5 grams of sugar per serving). Serve immediately, or pop it into the freezer for 20 minutes and enjoy it as a much healthier version of “ice cream”.
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this post originally ran here as part of my full-time work

Thursday, September 17, 2015

So Long, Summer

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Rational thought would lead you to believe that when two bloggers get together, something blog-related might happen. Outfit photos, an Instagram-worthy brunch (mimosas would surely be involved). Hell, at the very least a Snapchat. But in my world that is very rarely the case. Besides the fact that I abhor both mimosas and Snapchat (give me coffee and Instagram), the friendships I've made through blogging have always been exactly that: Friendships. My interactions wine-soaked evenings with a couple of good friends are rarely front page news. And so, despite knowing one another for years and having our fair share of wine and cheese-fueled afternoons, somehow this was the first time that Ashley and I ever thought to take photos together. The weekend before she up and moved to Maine. Figures.

In other news, this is the dress (shirt?) I've been living in all summer. It makes me feel as though I should be on a cruise ship holding a margarita and about 35 years older than I am. In other words, it's perfect. So long, summer... from here on out it's decorative gourd season, motherfuckers.

Get the look: Mexicali Blues dress (similar) //  FP necklace // ankle wrap sandal // similar ring // sunglasses

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Tuesday, September 15, 2015

Paris in 48 Hours... With 5 Days Notice

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What do you do when you get a phone call and your boss is on the other end, asking if you want to go to Paris and Stockholm? The answer should be obvious, but in case you're wondering... Answer: You go. And what if said trip is in five days and come to find out the last time you left the country was in 2005 and hey, your passport is expired?

Answer: You buy the ticket anyway and make shit happen.

And that's what I did.

Turns out, the passport agency in Philadelphia is an absolute dream world filled with angels. Which goes against the entire purpose of bureaucracy as far as I'm concerned. A friend who'd experienced nearly the same thing answered my frantic texts and let me know there's a will-call service expressly for people like me, and like the other people I waited in line with at 6am the Thursday before my trip, heart in stomach, lump in throat. As much as it didn't feel like I would be boarding a plane bound for Paris in 72 hours, sure enough three days later I was (with passport in hand).

This trip was entirely unexpected and completely out of the blue. It was a whirlwind, with only 12 or so free hours in Paris, and just a bit more in Stockholm. But it was wonderful. The kind of trip my over-planning and nervous heart needed, an exercise in flexibility if there ever was one. My only wish was for more time, but since my hours were precious few I made the most of them: I walked. A lot. In Paris, I walked "home" from work every day, stumbling upon Notre Dame and the Louvre. The Arc de Triomphe de l'Étoile and the love lock bridge. And just the top of the Eiffel Tower beyond some trees. Yes, I went to Paris and didn't see La Tour Eiffel. I tasted all the food I could, no holds barred. After visiting Japan as a vegetarian back in college, I made the decision to always throw most food restrictions out the window while visiting another country and/or culture (while no longer a vegetarian, I avoid most dairy, gluten, grains, and refined sugars for health reasons). I ate pastries and baguettes, drank (a lot of) wine and ate copious amounts of cheeses. I was pastry-shamed by a Frenchmen in Stockholm (I had a plate of Swedish meatballs plus two pastries and a glass of wine and you know what? NO REGRETS). I tried pickled herring... liked it!

I walked miles in each city because it was the best way to see as much as possible. To take a visual tour of the architecture and the people and the landmarks. I did what I could in the time that I had, but there was so much more I wish I could have done and seen. A river tour of Stockholm, the Louvre. The freaking Eiffel Tower.

What a wild, wild thing to have happen. I learned a lot in that short amount of time, most importantly: If your passport is expired and you're leaving in just a few days, come to Philly. They'll take care of you.

Stockhomn photos soon. There are too many.


Sunday, September 13, 2015

Here & There 9.13

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Happy Sunday, friends. How has your weekend been? My original plans to head to to NYC today to shoot were sidelined by car trouble (tow trouble, whomp whomp), but perhaps it's all for the best because the weather today is glorious and I can't wait to get out for a run. Our good friends were also visiting the city this weekend -- thinking of moving here! -- so we've been chilling with them and giving our recs for what to see, which is a great way to regain appreciation the place where you live. Even if your car gets towed repeatedly.

Are you on Looklist yet? All your fall style inspiration in one spot!

How perfect is this vintage '70s vest? Can't get enough of that color

Pretty bags for fall (love that blush number)

How to work out (correctly) -- this is amazing!

Pretty lace-up flats (love this version too)

12 things to do this autumn (I can't wait to go apple picking!)

Etsy loves: This constellation poster, this pretty hair pin, these spicy pins, my kind of tote, these sweet raindrops.

Oh wow, these breakfast cookie bars look SO GOOD

Loving metallic flats for fall

Would love to see this photography exhibition

I want this in my life

The most perfect cat sweater. and some pretty epic clogs. oh, and these cute rain boots!

If Game of Thrones was released in the '80s - made me laugh

Just picked up this cozy hoodie for post-workouts, love these water bottles too

How gorgeous is this dress? Perfect for fall weddings!

Wednesday, September 9, 2015

Hello September!

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It's still summer. It's still hot as hell. Let's get that out of the way. Personally, I'm ready to stop sweating any time now.... annny time. I know, one more person harping about the weather who will only complain about it later on when the temperature dips to 20. But, 95 is high, and city living offers little to no relief. These last few weeks of hot weather are when accessories become a major player in whatever I happen to put on my body for the day -- a hat and booties -- two items that, when paired with a breezy mini and shorts, make me feel like cool weather isn't that far away...


Get the look: Free People hat // Vintage dress (similar) // Vintage shorts (similar) // Madewell boots (similar options)