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.

multiples, again

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Dress, as seen before in blue silk, now again in rosewater. This dress has so much versatility, equally appropriate for a wedding or bar mitzvah, or, like seen here, for kind of casual dinner at The Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club. It works, so put two in the wardrobe. Dear friend said to me while shopping at Waterside shops yesterday that she doesn’t want to think about what to wear or how to put herself together yet she still wants to look great and feel great. Couldn’t agree more, again, consider multiples.

Packed this cold shoulder dress in both colors for this trip south and wore it to dinner with same group of people on two different nights. Both nights felt great. Husband of dear friend liked the look, didn’t even recall that his wife, faithful client, has the same dress too. Love when friends, clients, family, and daughters have the same pieces, it’s a total complement.

Third daughter, fourteen year old, also wore the cold shoulder look last night too. She wanted something simple to wear with her new floral jeans so white cold shoulder blouse to the rescue. Multiples, again, closet has this little chic piece in black too.

Total tangent here but here goes: currently reading Sheryl Sandberg’s Lean In on the iPad. Being a work from home parent of four daughters with one just starting her career and three still in school, lots to think about here, likability, success, and fear high up on the list. WNY Women’s Foundation, totally looking forward to your community conversation on May 2nd. Know this topic includes our two sons in their twenties as well, as they have bright women in their lives beginning careers, too. Husband has always been a huge advocate of women and education. He wrote my tuition check for college as I went to night school, pregnant with twins and our eighteen month old at home. The company I now work for, Worth New York, offers women the opportunity to succeed while being able to combine work with life, family, and community involvement. While achieving a minimum to moderate level of success, reflecting on what’s needed for greater success. Looking forward to lots of good work  and conversation. Back to the real office on Monday.

Hope you can celebrate with us this Thursday, April 11th. Every day dress is an all-inclusive fashion and lifestyle site, if you check in here at all and would like to celebrate life love fashion food fitness, and work, email us here. Letting Antonio know final party count by Monday afternoon.

Have a great Saturday night. xoxo

Dress and White Cold Shoulder Blouse | Worth New York Spring Summer 2012

less is enough

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When traveling, everyone involved is happier when less is enough, as in luggage. With fewer choices, getting dressed fast is easier and you don’t need to keep anyone waiting. When less is enough, you can handle your luggage pretty much all by yourself, which is always a good thing.

Youngest daughter traveled to FL earlier this year with another family and we kept her packing tight. They were impressed and pleased, you don’t want to be that guest with the enormous amount of luggage. Learned that condensed packing system while growing up sailing being allowed one duffel only for a week-long regatta. It’s a useful skill.

For this trip packed two handbags: one satchel and one small clutch. Both neutral so they could go anywhere, anytime. One pair of high  sandals that will go straight to favorite shoe repair man upon landing for new heels they have been worn so often.

White jeans, one pair, wardrobe staple and can be washed when needed.

Less is enough with the animal print trend as well. Have had this gorgeous Roberto Cavalli silk blouse for four years now: always like to keep the rest of the outfit a little clean and understated.

With one strong focal point, less is enough. When traveling with other’s, it helps to keep peace when you keep the luggage and accessories minimal. Makes things easier for everyone.

Every day dress in Naples FL for two more days, then back to upstate New York for team building and fashion fun. Thanks for reading everyone, over 33,453 site views.

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend.