Monthly Archives: October 2011

Happy Halloween!

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You either love Halloween, or you don’t. I have to admit that I probably fall into the latter category. Now before you get all, “But the candy! The costumes! It’s SO FUN!” hear me out.

1. Let’s begin with the time of year. I love fall– leaves changing, pumpkin everything, crisp air. But if you’ve grown-up in the north, you know the utter disappoint that occurs when you realize it’s 30 degrees and you have to cover-up your adorable cinderella costume with a giant, puffy coat. We can’t all be Marty McFly.

2. Speaking of costumes, I love dressing up. I think it’s fun. I enjoy seeing what other creative individuals have come up with. However, it’s stressful if you’re like me and wait until one hour before the costume is needed and then run around the house trying to create a semblance of a costume.

This year’s last minute costume- Leopard! Printed denim, hot glued spots, and felt ears for the win!

3. “Who are you supposed to be?”

4. I really miss trick-or-treating. I got to trick-or-treat during the good ol’ days when people could afford king size candy bars and Reese Sticks still existed.

5. If you’ve ever seen a gingerbread house I’ve created, you’d understand this next point. I’m a complete failure at creating adorable baked goods. Take for example these macarons:

(Source: Kevin & Amanda)

These are the cutest, most delicious things I’ve ever seen. I cannot make these. I’m too impatient.

6. That goes for pumpkin carving too. My grandiose ideas to carve something amazing inevitably turn into lame Jack-o’-lantern faces.

Note: I carved neither of these.

7. People Teenagers who smash pumpkins. Just because mine is trash does not give you the right to destroy it.

8. How do you get your dog to stay in a costume?

Giggy is the exception, right?

9. I don’t do horror anything. Ghosts? Possessed children? Zombies? Murderers? Not my cup of tea. Are there any Halloween rom-coms? I could go for that.

10. And last, but not least– Halloween on a Monday?!

I swear I’m not a total Halloween Scrooge. I’ll give the children their candy. Except the Reese Pumpkins. Those are alllllllll mine.

What’s your favorite part of Halloween?

Surfeit of Sweaters

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Rag & Bone | Knitted cotton sweater

Splendid | Active always cropped cotton-blend sweater

T by Alexander Wang | Chunky-knit cotton sweater

Acne | Over-sized angora-blend sweater

Burberry Brit | Cotton and wool-blend sweater

J. Crew | Cambridge cable-knit turtleneck sweater

A.P.C | Cotton slogan sweater

Crumpet | Leopard-print cashmere sweater

Or ever so slowly make your own…

Here’s hoping I finish it before spring.

How to Pack Salad

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Put down the Lean Cuisine. Stop making the same old sandwich. Don’t waste your money ordering out. Instead, let me teach you how to pack the perfect lunch salad.

I begin the night before because every morning I inevitably dawdle.

Pick your greens. I love spinach so it’s my go-to base in every salad I make. Place them in a large Tupperware container.

Next, plan out your toppings. I begin with what can go directly on the salad. This decision is based upon the water content in the ingredient. If it feels watery, place it in its own Ziploc baggy. My shredded carrots feel damp, so I’ve been packing them separately. Cheese is safe so dump it on the salad. I stick to lower calorie cheeses like Gorgonzola, Feta, or Goat Cheese for my salads.

I love strawberries on my salad so I’ve been adding those. They’ve been fine sans separation. Next, I throw on some frozen shelled edamame that thaws on the salad overnight.

Since salad isn’t the most filling food, I like to buy a rotisserie chicken at the grocery store and separate out the meat into individual servings. It’s delicious, easy, and a great way to add some protein.

Lastly, I use a small container for dressing (balsamic vinegar and a bit of oil.) Everything is packed together in the large Tupperware creating instant portability. When lunch rolls around, I empty the baggies and dressing.

And there you have it! A fresh salad for lunch that isn’t soggy. Salads are also extremely versatile. Change up the dressing and ingredients for healthy options that still provide variety.

What’s your favorite salad combo? I wish I had dried cranberries. I would have added those too.

Slow-Cooker Beef Chili

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There’s nothing like coming home to a fresh cooked meal. Unfortunately robot maids have not hit the market yet (according to The Jetsons we’re only 51 years away from have a Rosie.) Alas, I turn to the slow cooker. Now that I’m logging more hours at work I’ve come to reevaluate the handy appliance. Throw on a slow cooker liner and you eliminate the clean-up too. I’m sold.

I enjoy just about every kind of chili but if I had to choose an absolute favorite, it’s the thick, beefy kind full of beans and tomatoes. America’s Test Kitchen pulls through again with this easy chili recipe. Though the ingredient list is long, they meld together in a phenomenal way. Mashing the bread and milk with the ground beef creates really tender meat. The chili also makes a great leftover– just cook it slow or it’ll explode in the microwave and your coworkers will hate you…

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Mashed Sweet Potatoes

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There used to be a market near my house that sold pre-packaged foods. Whenever I was having a particularly difficult day, I would stop in and pick up a container of mashed sweet potatoes. When they closed, a void was left in my life and I’ve been craving the perfect recipe ever since.

Well, I found it and they’re even better. I love that this recipe doesn’t have maple syrup, citrus, or onion– ingredients often found alongside sweet potatoes. Instead, a hint of sugar and a bit of fat create mashed sweet potatoes that don’t require a long bake time and highlight the natural sweetness of the potato.

Unfortunately when I made these, everyone loved them just as much as I did. I have 4 tablespoons worth of a leftover. I guess I’ll be making these again soon!

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Working Wardrobes

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I feel like this will be an ongoing series as I navigate the waters of real world dress codes. I begin a new job this week in PR and I can honestly say I don’t even own a pair of dress pants that fit. Last minute shopping, here I come! However, decisions have to be made since my budget is limited.

Decision #1: Pencil Skirt or Pants

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As much as I love the look of pencil skirts, pants just seem more practical for sitting at a desk the majority of the day. I hate when skirts ride up my waist and create unsightly wrinkles. However, that doesn’t mean I want to lose sophistication. I like the idea of getting an ankle pant. It shows off shoes really well and looks great with blazers and button-ups.

Decision #2: What to wear on top

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I really don’t want my decision every morning to be what color button-up shirt will I wear today. I think I’ll work into rotation each of these styles– the only piece I would need to get would be a turtleneck. I really like the monochromatic jacket and top look.

Decision #3: Blazers, cardigans, sweaters

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I guess this isn’t much of a decision, just which is spend money on. It’s no secret that I love blazers. I plan on investing in one classic for work. Cardigans and sweaters are best in colors therefore I’ll be searching for deals.

I apologize for the J. Crew overload. I love their work clothes. How do you dress for work? Any other great brands for reasonable wardrobes?