M.I.A. No More

What happened? I fell off the map for a bit. Overwhelmed at work, sadly. But I'm back in action. I'm traveling for work this week, so posts may be spotty. Scotland and England. Not a bad place to go for work. Not bad at all. This is a pic from last week, that I never got to post. A dress and jacket from my last ModCloth sale run. I love the different blues and the soft, silky fabrics (There's some cotton and some rayon in here, both very soft -- nice draping). Normally I'm one to wear pumps or heels in the office, but I just wanted to stick with blues and light fabrics, so I kept my TOMS on all day. This jacket has unusual details which is why I was drawn to it -- pleats along the bottom edge, a mandarin collar, off-white piping, and this crocheted-lace decorative applique on the back. UNIQUE! (which you all know is what I am always looking for in clothes/styling).

Vintage earrings, brass fans, from Cara Lyndon Jewelry

Friday Light

It's Friday and I've been swamped at work all week and decided to dress casual. Jeans! (a rarity for me as you all know).
I'm beat. I'm so glad it's a long weekend. Enjoy President's Day everyone.

(Express jeans, H&M net sweater with gold thread -- Love It -- and vintage button earrings from Cara Lyndon -- also LOVE them, as I am a big collector of vintage and buttons. Miss L-fire shoes from ModCloth -- LOVE LOVE them.)

What did you wear today?

Valentine's Day

It's Valentine's Day! Dust off the red accessories and put on a cheery face. Love is in the air. If you are in any kind of a relationship, you should be celebrating your love more than one day a year so let's not make a big deal about it. Everyone, join in the fun and eat chocolates and give cards and/or flowers. Enjoy being cheesy you romantic goons!
Little flowered shirt dress(ModCloth), black leggings and cardigan; red braided belt, strawberry necklace and red plastic ring. FUN.
This outfit is just fun.

Have a happy happy Valentine's Day!
xoxoxox

Baked French Toast

OH my Oh my! This is some delicious "French Toast"! It's actually more like a bread pudding that isn't too mushy-pudding-y and I really enjoyed it. (I doubled the recipe and made a big casserole dish full of baked french toast and we ate it for days.) YUM!

My ingredients -- I used milk instead of heavy cream, and vanilla extract instead of freshly scraped vanilla beans -- I am SO lazy! hahahaha

From "For the Love of Cooking"- a great recipe/cooking blog... (originally borrowed from the Pioneer Woman -- another great cooking blog):

Ingredients:

1/2 loaf of French bread, cut into large cubes
4 eggs
1 cup of milk (I used 2%)
1/4 cup of heavy whipping cream
1/4 cup + 2 tbsp white sugar
1 tbsp vanilla extract
1 vanilla bean, seeds removed
Streusel Topping:
1/4 cup of flour
1/4 cup of brown sugar
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/8 tsp salt
1/4 cup of unsalted butter, cut into pieces

Directions:

Cut the French bread into large chunks then place them evenly into an 8x8 inch glass pan that has been coated in cooking spray. Combine the eggs together with the milk, heavy cream, sugar, vanilla extract, and seeds from the vanilla bean. To remove the vanilla seeds from the pod, slice the pod down the center lenghtwise being careful not to cut all the way through the pod. Using a knife or your fingernail, scrape all of the seeds out from the center of the pod. Whisk the egg mixture until really well combined then pour evenly over the bread cubes. Cover with saran wrap and place into the refrigerator for several hours or overnight.
In another bowl, combine the flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt together. Add the butter and cut into the dry ingredients using a pastry cutter or your hands until crumbly. Cover with saran wrap and place into the refrigerator until ready to use. When you are ready to bake the French Toast, preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Remove the baking pan from the refrigerator and sprinkle the top with the streusel mixture evenly.
Place into the oven and bake for 40-45 minutes, or until the French toast is set and golden brown. Let it cool for a few minutes before slicing. Top with butter if desired and drizzle with maple syrup. Enjoy!!

My streusel was not crumbly. I let my butter get a bit warm. Lesson learned - keep that butter cold for good crumble!

Late 1960's Blouse

I liked the look so much of this pattern, but in the end... meh. The shirt is OK. It's not great. For one, the fabric is too soft, and the fit is too baggy. It's a bit sad when you make something and you just don't LOVE it. You made it and so you feel you have to wear it, but... some garments just don't come out great. Not everything works out in the end. Don't believe all those Hollywood endings! The look is supposed to be kinda Mary-Tyler-Moore, but it's more... David-Byrne-big-suit???

I do like this cowl-neck collar though.

Fun Friday Frock

I love this "film-strip" print frock from ModCloth. It's so cute. But... since the pattern is so busy and the dress is a bit too open at the bust and very short, it demands some extra accoutrement. Soft blue sweater, for comfy fuzzy warmth, and these silly and fun tights with silver stars. Excellent funky Xmas gift. Thank you, Frances.
I love this outfit. When I get dressed each day, I'm thinking, "What can I wear that is unique to ME?" Something no one else will be wearing today?" This outfit is certainly unique. :)
Have a great weekend!

Black Striped Dress

Little Black Dress? Little black striped dress. It has gold stripes and sheer shoulders and sleeves. And a gold zipper with a pretty gold leaf for a zipper pull. And box pleats. I love pleats! It's a great dress. (Soft and stretchy.) It's from ModCloth.

LA weather is fairly warm and dresses are so easy to wear year-round. Get "dress"-ed today!!!

Black jacket - too obvious? Perhaps a gold cropped jacket next time? Where can I find one of those?

Too bad the decorative seam on my stockings shifted off center.