With record low temps just about everywhere, keeping the mood up with bright lipstick and the warmest parka ever. Had to venture out to update the iPhone, now with all the snow we’re not going anywhere far for a while.
Back in the home office all this week working on Spring Summer wardrobes, moving samples, and growing the team.
Wishing everyone a warm safe place the next couple of days.
To rouse the two twenty-somethings and two teenagers out of bed before the reality of Monday, cooked off a half-dozen breakfast sandwiches and garnished the plate with sliced strawberries. Cranberry orange juice cocktails to drink.
Here is a use what you have idea: as I spent far too much money last month, held back on the cut fresh flowers at the grocery, heck you have to start somewhere, and decided to ground the brunch table with five grapefruit spaced equally down the middle.
Next up: I’m off to make lentil ham soup with what’s left from new year’s day.
Relishing in all this cooking, back to the fashion passion tomorrow.
Kind of wish I could say the outfit was great, the hair and house clean, the make-up on and the manicure and pedicure done. Not so. Took down the tree, the garlands, the wreaths, and all that goes with it.
We are easing into the new year. Traveled many miles, been many places, fed many mouths, east coast-west coast, and, like life, it goes on and on.
A few photos and notes from the last twenty-four hours:
Homemade croutons with butter, olive oil, kosher salt and garlic from day old bread are better than potato chips.
Kale is allover, I like it straight and for crowds mix it in with romaine for a more modern caesar salad. Rosemary Balsamic Chicken with wild rice and broccoli at the ski house.
You can cook and serve dinner in a leather shirt. 🙂 Leather gets better with age and you really only need to wipe it off with a little water and white vinegar to spot clean it.
Hydrangea can be rehydrated by recutting stems, soaking in bowling water for 3o seconds or so, and soaking in a sink.
Cook two tenderloin at once, you never know how many might show for dinner when you have kids, house-guests, etc etc. Then on a Saturday night after traveling all day again you can make the Barefoot Contessa’s Filet of Beef Bourguignon. I didn’t pan-fry, simply slice after the thing was cooked and re-heat in all that good wine broth. Put a little tri-color pasta underneath. Her’s looks better than mine, that’s okay, kept everyone happy at the table. Everyone at the table is good.
Even though this post is called easing into the new year, with other’s you love around you have to do that, I am also going with the feeling of make it happen. Make it happen posts coming next.
Wishing everyone the feeling of easing into the new year, and, come Monday or whatever day works for you, the feeling of make it happen.
Nothing like a camouflage tank, black bra, and long pendant when your cooking finally at home, and don’t have to go anywhere for the entire evening.
Every day dress, easing into the new year. Thank you all for reading. Husband tells me what happened last year or even yesterday doesn’t count. One of my hopes for 2014 is to inspire women to dress, cook, love, a bit every day.
Clients sometimes ask if it’s okay to mix metals, as in wearing a silver belt buckle and gold jewelry. Here, at every day dress, of course.
Last week in CA wore snake-skin printed jeans, long sleeved tee, black suede shoes, silver suede and silver buckled belt, gold and black earrings, gold bangles, silver watch and platinum rings, and gold hardware on the bag. Especially when traveling, mixing metals is just how it goes sometimes. Haven’t figured out yet how to bring the whole closet, and really don’t want to, mixed metals it is. Plaid blanket wrap and snakeskin printed pants, why not?
Inspired by a kind of classic après ski look, chose a bowed silk tuxedo blouse, from my sample sale of course, shimmied out of the skinnies and put on some grey flannels, and wrapped it up with a suede rhinestone belt.
Dinner was classic too, rosemary roasted beef tenderloin with a red wine shallot reduction, quickly blanched haricots vert pan sautéed at the very last-minute with roasted brussels sprouts, and the always loved classic mashed potatoes. Not shown, chocolate cake.
For the new year I’m back to simple white hydrangea for the table. Still have the holiday tablecloth, oh well.
Been hanging with the family and friends and it’s been beyond. Wishing everyone a happy healthy new year.
Easing back into the work blogging schedule, and back at it heavy come Monday. If you like the classic tuxedo blouse, and picking up something like that for your closet at 50% off, I’ll shop samples for you. Curated home or office visits available. I can make your post holiday wardrobe happen fast.
Every day dress, every day cook. Rebecca@everydaydress.com.
We always go for pizza on the last night in Sonoma CA at The Red Grape. There were eleven of us in total, this is the short list of the bag lineup on the banquette, snapped with the iPhone:
December is total endurance training. If you too feel like you’ve been on the non-stop treadmill, the clothes you wear need to support all day sessions.
For two nights in a row of dining out in Sonoma CA, wore the same outfit. When traveling with family and friends I’m never shy about wearing the same outfit twice. They don’t even notice; everyone is more concerned with what you might be cooking them for breakfast or where that night’s dinner reservation is.
First piece of the outfit is a Wolford bodysuit, those things last forever and always look good and feel even better. On top of that goes leather and ponte pants (new this season) and then a belted jacket with sweater sleeves that packs and travels well, and is chic, warm, and comfortable.
New favorite shoe is hands down the Aquazurra black suede. Wore those into town last night and walked home in the dark on country roads two miles, no problem.
Hope everyone out there had a wonderful Christmas day with family, friends, and loved ones.
