life work

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You’ve seen the styled and travel photos, with two daughters on lock-down in a suburb of Boston MA decided I needed to write briefly about life work. This writing is therapy, thank you for reading.

Like most women, I make many things work. Family and home life yes, quite definitely, and now finally feel like I’ve cracked the life work nut. Working from home with the backing and support of a multi-million dollar fashion company, complete luxury.

Being able to offer another woman flexible work hours so that she too can take care of her two sons as a single parent and giving her the knowledge and feeling that she is safe and that we understand, win win.

Another woman said to me on the phone yesterday the only thing that is certain is uncertainty. Probably, today I know that life and work is happening, and wishing everyone out there life work balance and a feeling of safety.

Every day dress at home working today. Long week.

five key pieces

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Mindy, this one’s for you. At our coffee meeting Tuesday morning, you were the epitome of chic. What you were wearing has inspired today’s outfit and post.

Women, she was wearing a crisp white blouse, a black v-neck cardigan sweater, dark blue jeans, sexy little shoes, and carrying a timeless satchel. That was it, coffee meeting outfit perfection. We should all have those five key pieces in our wardrobe.

Sharing with you what was pulled from the closet of every day dress. Nothing new here, five key pieces collected over the years, always ready to be updated and refreshed, every day dress.

Blouse and Sweater | Worth New York

Jeans | DL1961

Shoes | Manolo Blahnik

Bag | Chanel

my valentine

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Husband, my valentine, has been on a total home improvement roll.

Had exactly one evening to pick out a new paint color for master bath. He said ‘bring out your clothes, anything in pink or red, feeling like we should go in that direction’. Having mostly black, one or two pink items, pulled a red sort of vest that goes with all that black. Never nervous when I put it on, actually have many more things in the same tone. Very good sign.

Wall color can be kind of like nail color or hair color, right? Not a super heavy commitment, can be changed up, so, his prompting was good. Let’s paint the room in a color that you wear.

Me? I kind of pick things by name. When looking through the color deck came upon Benjamin Moore’s my valentine. Liked the color, liked the name, reminded me of him, color done, master bath is now my valentine.

Have fun picking paint colors. Not a big deal. Any advice on how to get those orchids to re-bloom?

Also need some new towels, better stop buying so many damn shoes. 🙂

Paint color and new shoes aside, heart is with Boston MA.

xoxo

Paint, kind of like nail color | Benjamin Moore My Valentine

keep the faith

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When times are uncertain, count on the basics. Make some dinner, light the candles, enjoy a glass of wine, walk your dogs, spend time with those you love.

Two daughters in Boston MA check out fine. Home safe in their apartment, finally, public transportation at a standstill. Advice to them after their world being rocked? Go to the gym, make some dinner, hang out together, celebrate the good, keep the faith.

Heard the news while doing the drive about picking up youngest daughter for after school lacrosse game. After the game with two daughters playing couldn’t imagine going to the grocery so served up what was on hand, organic chicken breasts with garlic and rosemary, whole wheat orzo with spinach and pignoli, haricots verts and bagged salad with sliced cucumbers.

On a day that was to celebrate commitment, dedication, intent, hard work; keep the faith, what else is there? Godspeed to all those with friends, family, and loved ones in Boston MA.

xoxo

Every day dress is distracted, way too much kosher salt in the orzo.

leave no trace

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Forget the paper wrappers. For pop in your mouth miniature cupcakes pour the batter in tiny reusable silicone cups, bake, cool slightly, pop out, and repeat. Keep going and stir up three batches. Chocolate, Yellow Butter, and Ginger. Bake bake bake. With only 24 at a time it takes a while to make a bunch. Cost benefit would have been to buy multiple sets of the cups. Do it with clothes all the time, why hesitate at $24.95?

Follow Martha exactly except stop yourself before the buttercream pansies, daffodils, and sugar crystalized rose petals. Probably would have gone there several years ago but now I’m a working girl. Clean and modern cupcakes will do. If truth be told I did trim the edges of the miniature cakes with scissors to make them all a uniform size. Always love a uniform.

Line them up in boxes, those can be left at the venue. Next time will definitely bring smallish cellophane bags, those tiny little cakes wrapped in cellophane would have really left no trace, rather than paper plates and foil. Oh, well, live and learn.

Every day dress baked miniature cupcakes. Sometimes, like buying new shoes, leave no trace, forget the paper wrappers.

Mini Pastel Silicups, set of 24 | Williams-Sonoma

Recipes courtesy of Martha Stewart | Cakes and Cupcakes

 

 

rain day essentials

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Remember that time, maybe in photos or movies only, when all the cool men wore hats?

Channelling all the cool men: actually picked up this hat probably a dozen years ago in some small island when the sun was beating down. Had to find some shelter for the skin and this hat was it. Never knew it would become a favorite at home when the rain set in.

Trench coat? Kind of serendipitous as well. Friend of a friend and it didn’t quite fit her right. Motto here is be inclusive, so, why not? Picked that up about a decade ago. Happy.

Rain day essentials are a good thing. Rain hat and trench, check. Umbrella? Not always so easy to find.

Kind of like being tucked in and not showing the face. All women should have rain day essentials, a cool hat and trench.

Hat | pretty much vintage | Helen Kaminsky

Trench | vintage as well | Worth New York

heartfelt thanks

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Many heartfelt thanks for the love you have all shown in support of every day dress. Community is an amazing thing, thank you.

Thank you for reading, commenting, subscribing, liking, and being there. Thank you for believing, inspiring, and showing intent.

Heartfelt thanks, community of wonderful women, and men, it’s been an amazing year. Jumped in without knowing how to swim, and here we are, still afloat. Looking forward to many more fashion and lifestyle adventures to come.

Happy Friday, and heartfelt thanks. Thanks so much for being there, in oh so many ways.

Wardrobe detail: wore the Black Silence Wash Belted Shirtdress | Worth New York Spring 2013 simply took it out of the luggage on Monday, hung it up, and put it on yesterday afternoon, super easy, super great.

ready or not

ready or not
ready or not

Life moves fast, ready or not. Here we are, one year later, it’s a blog party. Here’s to our collective success, and, every day dress.

xoxo

burger buttered ranch

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Time for a food post: served up cheeseburgers, buttered egg noodles, and simple salad with sliced cucumbers and ranch dressing. Went organic as much as possible and put the condiments in ramekins to make it feel like dinner.

Crazy busy day, like everyone else, and oftentimes it’s not what’s served but the coming together.

Husband has a ‘drink now’ shelf of wines that are fair for the taking so when he doesn’t feel like partaking, no fear on this end. A simple Barolo went nicely.

Rounded out the night with local ice cream sandwiches picked up from the 7 Eleven along with the rolls for the burgers. No time for the full grocery stop today.

Every day dress does burgers, buttered noodles, and green salad with ranch dressing. It’s a good day.

casual mix-up

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For last night out in Naples FL with walking for ice cream high on the agenda, went casual and kind of mixed it all up. Floral print jeans, black silk top, fancy sneakers, fancier small clutch, and wrapped all up in Cream side out Reversible Kimono Coat.

Not sure if this one is outfit repeat ready, worked for the night and worked with what was packed. One thing I do love about this look though is taking the Jimmy Choo Glitter Clutch and pairing it with jeans and sneakers. Casual mix-up.

Every day dress back in upstate New York and pretty much down under with DayQuil and NyQuil. Doing what is needed to get through the day and then hitting the sack.

Blog party is happening this Thursday night, reply here if you like to celebrate fashion and lifestyle. Perfetto, 617 Washington St or 617 Main St, both entrances will get you there, across from Shea’s, Buffalo, 5 – 7 pm. Will be so ready to have a glass of champagne with you all.

Stay well.

Not giving up. Love what I do. There are women out there, I know it.