It's been a long time coming. And I exhale a huge sigh of relief.
Thank you, God, for the renewal and re-emergence of life!
xoxo
J
Monday, April 8, 2013
Friday, April 5, 2013
My first Stitch Fix!
I have finally joined the Stitch Fix party, y'all! Fashionably late, of course, since that's how we roll around here.
I was first introduced to Stitch Fix by the lovely Blair over at Wild & Precious. I've stalked her Stitch Fix outfit posts for months, always loving the fresh ways she styles her Fixes (and all her outfit posts, for that matter... check her out!).
Shopping is challenging since we don't have a car. There is one mall relatively near where we live, right on a nearby bus line... but there are only so many times I can frequent the TJ Maxx/Marshall's/Ross before I exhaust my options. I needed a new gig.
When I arrived home last Saturday afternoon, the Stitch Fix box was waiting for me on the doorstep. I squealed when I saw it. Upon opening, this was my first glance...
I was excited about each piece and I could not wait to try them all on. Mama is on a budget, though, so I knew I couldn't keep it all and I'd have to choose carefully. It was time to play dress up!
I wanted to claim these lovelies, but they just didn't make the cut...
1. Loved the color, loved the drapey cowl-neck, love the sporty chic style (so me), but it was too big in the bust department (see that tiny ta-tas button on the right side bar? yeah).
2. Again, loved the bright colors and the style, but again the fit wasn't quite right. My budget required that I choose wisely, so fun tank for me this time.
3. The sweater was cute, but I realized that preppy styles fit my fall/winter wardrobe, not so much spring and summer. Casual, sporty chic, with a slight boheme twist, draws me in the warmer months.
And the winners!
The Rye Houndstooth Print Tabsleeve Top by Sweet Rain is perfect for the office. In fact, I'm wearing this exact outfit today. I'm thinking I can also dress it down with some skinnies and sandals for apres office.
What do you think?? Thoughts on my first Fix? Love love love!
Joining Stitch Fix was the best decision ever. Want your own Fix? Join the party!
I was first introduced to Stitch Fix by the lovely Blair over at Wild & Precious. I've stalked her Stitch Fix outfit posts for months, always loving the fresh ways she styles her Fixes (and all her outfit posts, for that matter... check her out!).
Shopping is challenging since we don't have a car. There is one mall relatively near where we live, right on a nearby bus line... but there are only so many times I can frequent the TJ Maxx/Marshall's/Ross before I exhaust my options. I needed a new gig.
When I arrived home last Saturday afternoon, the Stitch Fix box was waiting for me on the doorstep. I squealed when I saw it. Upon opening, this was my first glance...
I was excited about each piece and I could not wait to try them all on. Mama is on a budget, though, so I knew I couldn't keep it all and I'd have to choose carefully. It was time to play dress up!
I wanted to claim these lovelies, but they just didn't make the cut...
 |
| 1... 2... 3... |
1. Loved the color, loved the drapey cowl-neck, love the sporty chic style (so me), but it was too big in the bust department (see that tiny ta-tas button on the right side bar? yeah).
2. Again, loved the bright colors and the style, but again the fit wasn't quite right. My budget required that I choose wisely, so fun tank for me this time.
3. The sweater was cute, but I realized that preppy styles fit my fall/winter wardrobe, not so much spring and summer. Casual, sporty chic, with a slight boheme twist, draws me in the warmer months.
And the winners!
The Rye Houndstooth Print Tabsleeve Top by Sweet Rain is perfect for the office. In fact, I'm wearing this exact outfit today. I'm thinking I can also dress it down with some skinnies and sandals for apres office.
I'm super excited for the next piece... my first maxi dress! The Mystree Amillia Striped Maxi Dress. Funny, it's taken me some time to like maxis, but now, they're all I want for summer!
I. Love. This. Dress. I might not wear anything else all summer long.
Joining Stitch Fix was the best decision ever. Want your own Fix? Join the party!
Happy shopping!
xoxo
J
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
Hungry Dancer: chicken soup to the rescue!
It started as a tickle in his throat Sunday night, only to be raw and sore on Monday, accompanied with a headache and stuffy nose. Hubs has another cold. This is a job for... chicken soup!
Campbell's Chunky works alright, but nothing is better than homemade chicken soup. Several years ago my bestie shared her super easy chicken soup recipe with me, and I've been making it every cold season since (thanks Danisita!).
Half a white onion, chopped
2 to 3 cloves of garlic, chopped
1 to 2 bay leaves
Chicken broth (about 4 cups)
Salt, pepper, thyme and sage, to taste
Carrots
Potatoes
Egg noodles
Frozen peas
2. Once the chicken is cooked, remove, drain and cool.
3. While chicken cools, add chicken broth, add potatoes and carrots. Add the thyme and sage, as well as more salt and pepper to taste. Cook until just tender.
4. Add the noodles. Continue simmering until noodles are cooked al dente.
5. While the noodles are cooking, shred the chicken (careful if not fully cooled), and add back into the pot.
6. Throw in the peas and cook until heated through.
7. Serve and feel better!
Some Hungry Dancer tips...
I hate celery. It is vile. Don't try to tell me that "it doesn't have any flavor." Yes it does, and it's gross. So no celery goes into my soup. But you can add it to yours.
I use tenders because they cook faster and I'm on a tight schedule, people.
Fresh egg noodles, found in the frozen food aisle, are the best. But dried noodles work, too.
I like my soup with a bit of bite, especially when the nose is stuffy and the taste buds have checked out, so I'm generous with the pepper, thyme and sage.
I always use low-sodium broth. You can control your sodium by adding your own back in.
Campbell's Chunky works alright, but nothing is better than homemade chicken soup. Several years ago my bestie shared her super easy chicken soup recipe with me, and I've been making it every cold season since (thanks Danisita!).
Ingredients (sorry, no exact measurements this time)
Boneless chicken breasts or tenders (time saver alert: tenders cook faster!)Half a white onion, chopped
2 to 3 cloves of garlic, chopped
1 to 2 bay leaves
Chicken broth (about 4 cups)
Salt, pepper, thyme and sage, to taste
Carrots
Potatoes
Egg noodles
Frozen peas
How-to
1. Gently boil the chicken (medium-high heat), about 25 minutes for tenders, about an hour for full breasts. Toss the onions, garlic and bay leaf in with the chicken. Season with salt and pepper.2. Once the chicken is cooked, remove, drain and cool.
3. While chicken cools, add chicken broth, add potatoes and carrots. Add the thyme and sage, as well as more salt and pepper to taste. Cook until just tender.
4. Add the noodles. Continue simmering until noodles are cooked al dente.
5. While the noodles are cooking, shred the chicken (careful if not fully cooled), and add back into the pot.
6. Throw in the peas and cook until heated through.
7. Serve and feel better!
Some Hungry Dancer tips...
I hate celery. It is vile. Don't try to tell me that "it doesn't have any flavor." Yes it does, and it's gross. So no celery goes into my soup. But you can add it to yours.
I use tenders because they cook faster and I'm on a tight schedule, people.
Fresh egg noodles, found in the frozen food aisle, are the best. But dried noodles work, too.
I like my soup with a bit of bite, especially when the nose is stuffy and the taste buds have checked out, so I'm generous with the pepper, thyme and sage.
I always use low-sodium broth. You can control your sodium by adding your own back in.
What's your favorite to-the-rescue recipe?
Happy eating!
xoxo
J
Monday, April 1, 2013
Weekend recap: full-fillling
A full weekend. Sunday night rolled around and I was le tired. The kind of weekend where you need another day to recover from your weekend before another week begins. Busy and go-go-go, but fulfilling.
Friday. Good Friday service after work. A bittersweet observation of Easter weekend that always leaves me quiet and contemplative. Soon followed by a frantic house cleaning sesh in preparation for a weekend house guest - our first visitor from home! I told the Hubs that he was not allowed to bring D home before 11, at least. I finished at 11:30. Whew.
Saturday. I discovered my new favorite restaurant where I had the best fritatta of. my. life. It blew my socks off. I didn't even snap a pic to share with y'all, I was too distracted by it's deliciousness. I couldn't stop raving to my husband and to D and to our server how amazeballs it was. The cherry on top: my rave earned me a $10-off coupon for our next visit, boo-ya!
After brunch, the boys headed downtown to sight see and I was off to drum and dance. Oh, I've started learning drumming. I'm playing the sangban and dundun, to be exact. It was scary at first, but I'm getting the hang of it. And some pretty legit blisters on my hands, too.
And! The sun came out! It was warm enough to shed the winter coat and boots and wear a jacket. A jacket!! Good stuff.
Sunday. Easter. Jesus. Yes, I'm one of those. Easter means a heckuvalot to me, y'all. The chocolate bunnies and jelly bellies and new Easter dresses are fun, but Jesus is it. I don't mean that in any holy roller, preachy way, just the truth from my heart.
Each time I glanced in the mirror today, my eyes looked more bleary than usual... but it made me smile. A full-filling weekend indeed!
Friday. Good Friday service after work. A bittersweet observation of Easter weekend that always leaves me quiet and contemplative. Soon followed by a frantic house cleaning sesh in preparation for a weekend house guest - our first visitor from home! I told the Hubs that he was not allowed to bring D home before 11, at least. I finished at 11:30. Whew.
Saturday. I discovered my new favorite restaurant where I had the best fritatta of. my. life. It blew my socks off. I didn't even snap a pic to share with y'all, I was too distracted by it's deliciousness. I couldn't stop raving to my husband and to D and to our server how amazeballs it was. The cherry on top: my rave earned me a $10-off coupon for our next visit, boo-ya!
After brunch, the boys headed downtown to sight see and I was off to drum and dance. Oh, I've started learning drumming. I'm playing the sangban and dundun, to be exact. It was scary at first, but I'm getting the hang of it. And some pretty legit blisters on my hands, too.
And! The sun came out! It was warm enough to shed the winter coat and boots and wear a jacket. A jacket!! Good stuff.
Sunday. Easter. Jesus. Yes, I'm one of those. Easter means a heckuvalot to me, y'all. The chocolate bunnies and jelly bellies and new Easter dresses are fun, but Jesus is it. I don't mean that in any holy roller, preachy way, just the truth from my heart.
Each time I glanced in the mirror today, my eyes looked more bleary than usual... but it made me smile. A full-filling weekend indeed!
xoxo
J
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