a lesson from mom in organization

After a wonderful vacation, I returned home to the dirtiest, most unorganized room I've probably ever had (actually, that's a big lie, but just go with it).  While attempting to unpack, I realized I simply had too much stuff, and not enough space.  Keep in mind my room is not small.  Looking around the room stressed me out.  Since I had the day off yesterday, I decided to take advantage and de-clutter my living space.

I cleaned out and organized my closet, and it has never looked better (this is the truth).  It's amazing how one small tip can make a difference, but I'll get to that later.  What I wanted to share now is a trick my mom taught me a few years ago.  Even though she isn't around to remind me, it stuck with me and I almost forgot how useful it was.

I am a major scarf connoisseur--I have one in just about every color, and all kinds of patterns.  I love how they keep my neck warm and add something special to an outfit, and I tend to wear lightweight ones in warmer weather as well. The problem with owning so many scarves is that I run out of space to store them.  My mom noticed this problem when I was in college and showed me how rolling the scarves saves space and makes it easier to grab one before I run out the door.

 Start by folding the scarf in half both ways. Obviously all scarves are different sizes, so this will vary per scarf.

 Start rolling until you have a nice tight roll, and place the scarf into your storage bin.  I have a plastic tub of them under my bed, and a little drawer (yes, I realize I'm a freak).

This is a super easy method to keeping organized! For those of you who aren't into scarves, a similar method works for t-shirts and hoodies as well.  I roll my hoodies the same way and stack them at the top of my closet.

For t-shirts, I fold them normally but place them upward so to save space.  Now I just need to work on everything remaining organized.   I'll keep you posted on how that goes...

Happy Wednesday everyone!

x

sequins for new years

I'm not one to typically wear sequins, especially not paired with a short dress.  But New Years Eve called for both, in my opinion. I kept my jewelry simple and wore only one ring so to not overpower my new jacket.

[american apparel dress,express sequin jacket, nine west booties,cc skye blossom ring, polo ralph lauren glasses,opi merry midnight nail polish, mac lipstick in morange]

I had a fabulous New Years Eve with close friends and family.  It was low key and perfect--I couldn't have asked for anything more! My dad bought me a bottle of Veuve Clicquot champagne because he knew I wanted to try it.  It was so fun trying different types of champagne before the clock struck midnight.

I hope everyone has big plans for 2012!
xo

new years' resolution

I know I've mentioned this before, but again I am slacking off...in my defense, I spent all last week in Colorado (with no wi-fi, yikes) and all this week at home with my loving family and friends in Oklahoma.

view from the patio at butte 66 in crested butte

sunset in oklahoma

 I mean...can you blame me? To catch you all up, I have just been taking these past couple weeks to spend with my family and friends I don't get to see much now that I've moved out to California.  I did catch a nasty 24-hour stomach bug while in Colorado, but other than that I've just been indulging in delicious wine and food and lusting over clothes and jewelry--the usual.

enjoying portuguese wine with my dad

a preview of my new years outfit

Thanks to my boyfriend's wonderful mom, I'm now the proud owner of a real camera! My old one is indisposed so I was on the hunt for another.  This new Canon is by far the nicest camera I've owned, and because of that I'm making a new years resolution of going photo crazy.  I can't wait to amp up this blog the way I've wanted to.

This week I'll share a new outfit, my favorite go-to recipe, and some bits from over the holidays. Here's to the end of a great 2011 and the beginning of new adventures in 2012.  Happy New Year!

macaroni and cheese

In case you haven't figured it out yet, I love food. I also love cheese--I have a deep appreciation for all the different kinds of cheese and how each one can take a dish to a whole new level. When my metabolism declines...I'm probably in trouble. But for now, I'm enjoying it while I can.  My roomates and I made macaroni and cheese probably three or four times a week in college.  Kraft, Velveta shells & cheese...you name it, we most likely tried it, and frequently consumed it.  Now that I'm an "adult," and have roomates who love experimenting with food as much as I do, we like to get a little bit more creative.

My roomate Lisa brought home this feature from Family Circle magazine one night, and the three of us sat there drooling over the choices for more than a few minutes.  We finally decided to make the goat cheese, fig, and walnut mac. In other words, heaven in a bowl (too much?...nope).

image via family circle

Here's what you'll need (8 servings):
2 1/2 cups of 2% milk
1 sprig fresh rosemary
1 pound pasta (we used rotini; gemelli is pictured above)
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 4-ounce logs goat cheese
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup dried figs, sliced (don't shy away from these, they make all the difference)
1 cup chopped toasted walnuts

Add milk and rosemary to a small saucepan over low heat.  Cover for 20 to 25 minutes, allowing the herb to infuse.  Remove rosemary sprig.  Meanwhile, bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil.  Add pasta and cook for 10 minutes (or until pasta is tender); drain and set aside.

In a large saucepan, melt butter over medium heat.  Sprinkle in flour, whisking constantly for 2 minutes (note: make sure you add the flour in a little bit a time, while you are whisking--simply dumping it in will cause it to clump and ruin the result you want). Pour in infused milk, whisking until it comes to a boil.  Simmer until thickened, about 3 minutes.  Crumble in goat cheese, piece by piece, stirring until smooth. Add salt, figs, walnuts and cooked pasta. 

Now comes the best part: eating it! I'm telling you, this mac 'n' cheese will blow your mind.  I'll fess up and say I wasn't entirely helpful with the cooking process...but I did an excellent job ensuring all wine glasses were constantly full.
xo

mix and match

Remember my red jeans?  I couldn't wait to throw these on with some of my favorite pieces for a fresh look.

[h&m shirt,zara vest (last seen here) and jeans,snakeskin shoes c/o target,bracelet c/o lavish,borrowed jewelry by nola ring, essie ballet slippers nail color]

Although I've worn a variation of this outfit multiple times to work, I felt like everything was brand new.  I also felt very festive for the holidays.

You may remember my post about Nola Singer's jewelry line.  I borrowed some of her pieces for work, and she gave me permission to wear them.  I was in love with this ring--she created it using an old vintage piece. I love how the subtle lavender gives an extra pop of color.

Colored jeans are still completely new to me, but I'm so excited to try wearing them in different ways. Happy Monday!

xo

peppermint bark

My roomates Lisa and Kristin (she came in town this week!) made peppermint bark yesterday.  I never knew how to make it, so I watched Lisa as she melted white chocolate chips on the stovetop, stirring in bits of peppermint.  She told me it was relatively simple, once you learn how to melt chocolate correctly.  Her tip is to always use the stovetop, rather than the microwave.  Here's what you'll need to make your own:

For one batch:
1 bag white chocolate chips
1 package candy canes
Wax paper

Melt the white chocolate chips on the stovetop over medium heat, stirring consistently.  Meanwhile, smash the candy canes into small pieces.  Having a friend to help with this part comes in handy. (Tip: put a few candy canes inside the empty chocolate chip bag, and smash lightly using a hammer).  Stir in some  candy a little bit at a time.  Make sure you save a little bit to sprinkle on the top!

Place a piece of wax paper onto a cookie sheet.  Using a spoon or turner, spread the chocolate onto the paper evenly, covering the entire pan.  Sprinkle the remaining peppermint pieces on top. Put the pan in the fridge for about 20 minutes--it will be ready once the chocolate has hardened.  Next just break it all into large pieces, and wrap it up all pretty for your friends.

Now, I've never been much of a baker.  Except for one recipe of my aunt's, everything I bake generally comes from a box.  So, sorry coworkers, you're still getting store-bought peppermint bark this year.  Maybe next year I'll be more domestic now that I have this recipe, but until then I will just enjoy learning from all of my talented friends!

What holiday treats are your favorites to bake?
xo

red jeans

image via zara

I have been lusting after red jeans for months now--I wanted them so badly during the college football season (my alma mater's colors are crimson and cream), but I never did find an affordable pair I liked. I finally managed to snag a pair this past weekend at Zara while I was Christmas shopping. Merry Christmas to me!  I've worn them once already, and I can't wait to style up all of my favorite outfits with a splash of red (similar pair here).  

Also, in case you haven't discovered Zara yet...go. Immediately. I'm still in shock I made it 23 years without visiting one. It is a perfect place for basics and work staples, and they also have many fun pieces. This vest I wore in my last outfit post is from Zara as well.  Most of the merchandise is very affordable, and some locations have clothing for men and children, too.

Happy shopping!
x