Flipping for Fall

The Thought

I love a good long sleeve dress signaling that school has started and cooler weather is on it’s way. Add a vivaciously bright tight to this, and a stinging pair of boots (that didn’t steal all your lunch money) and you have something that says funky dinner out with the girls or cozy date night. It’s a hint boho without letting go over city girl.

The Inspiration

The Gear

Forever 21: Paisley Garden Dress $24.80

                          Over-the-Knee Suedette Boots $37.80

We Love Colors: http://www.welovecolors.com : Nylon/Lycra MicroFiber Solid Color Tights in “Gold” $12.50

Target: Bueno Washed Pebble Shopper – Orange $29.99

Charlotte Russe: Burnished Metal And Jewel Bracelet $6.50

How to Cook a Steak

Sprinkle a generous amount of salt, garlic powder, onion powder and white pepper over your steaks 1 hour prior to cook-‘em-up time.

Get your cast iron skillet and drop a tablespoon of butter in the bottom. Place on oven at high – make the butter steam types of high!

Drop steaks in. Cook 90 seconds a side. Transfer steaks to a 250 degree oven and cook until done.

• 125-130 Degrees: Rare to Medium Rare
• 130-140 Degrees: Medium Rare to Medium
• 140-150 Degrees: Medium to Medium Well
• 150 Degrees and up: Well Done

Simple food done simply. Learn these things. They carry you through. Serve this with easy sides – sauteed mushrooms, baked potatoes. Good french bread. Enjoy!

Mad for Style

The Thought

Peggy Olson. Girl in a Man’s World trying to be a woman. Has her own set of secrets, her own mad ambition, her depth and emotional development shake me. Even when I thought I didn’t like this character, she shows passion for what she wants, understands her boundaries, and sets her own limits by finding the loopholes.

The Inspiration

The Gear 

JCP: Worthington® Houndstooth Belted Dress-White/Black $49.99

softspots® 'Studio' Suede Mary-Jane Pump $69.99

Forever 21: Faux Pearl Stud $2.80

Date Night (or really…Fig Night)

Walnut and Fig Braised Lamb
(adapted from Alastair Hendy’s recipe in The Accidental Foodie by Neale Whitaker)

• 1.5lb lamb shank – bone in
• Olive oil
• 2 onions, each sliced into 4 thick discs
• 1 – 2 tablespoons Egyptian baharat (use 1 tablespoon first, then check seasoning and adjust when you check the water level halfway through cooking…I used almost 2 tablespoons total)
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 3 strips orange rind
• 500 ml water (or as needed)
• 5 dried figs
• 12 walnut halves
• Salt and pepper

1. Heat oil in a wide casserole and brown lamb all over, adding salt and pepper.
2. Remove from the heat and take lamb out of the pot. Line the bottom of the pot with the onion slices, then place lamb back in, over the onions.
3. Sprinkle baharat over everything. Tuck the orange rind and cinnamon sticks around the lamb.
4. Pour water in, just enough so the meat sits in a shallow puddle. Season again and return to the hob. Allow to boil, and then transfer immediately to an 180C oven and leave it to slowly braise for about 2 1/2 – 3 hours (until meat is very tender).
5. Halfway through cooking, check the water level to make sure it hasn’t dried up. At this point check seasoning and adjust as needed. Add figs and nuts during the last hour.

Baharat
2 tbsp fresh ground black pepper
2 tbsp paprika
2 tbsp ground cumin
1 tbsp ground coriander
1 tbsp ground cloves
1 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground cardamom

This dish is fantastic! I used it for a nice romantic dinner night. I served it with roasted sweet potatoes (cut into chunks, oil, salt and pepper in a 400 degree oven for 30-40 minutes) and some oven-braised artichokes (one can with salt, pepper, garlic sprinkled over top – in the same oven with the lamb for 30 minutes) Enjoy!!

Better Shape Up

The Thought

Good girl gone bad. Musical meets Cool. Eschew the smelly cigarette, and walk into school days with your “I worked on it all summer” bikini bod in this number. I’ve taken out the strapless top and put a nice bright tunic instead – it’s too hot still in September to even think about jackets, so this little number will work in the last days of summer into fall – think girls night out. If you want to nix the jacket completely, think about a studded leather belt to cinch that hourglass into shape!

The Inspiration

The Gear

Charlotte Russe: Ribcage Wrapped Booties $35.50

       Ruffle Racerback Tank $17.99

Forever 21: Zippered Faux Leather Pant $22.80

                       Cropped Faux Leather Jacket $39.80

Back to School: The Collegiate

The Thought

I think, therefore I dress.

The tailored coat with the funky scarf take jeans and a tee from slumpy to a little more intentionally put together. Think nice lines instead of pj pant un-ironed-ness. Eschew the baseball cap, think cool flower for a hair in a messy chignon or a flat cap. No need to be slouchy when it’s easy to look neat.

The Inspiration

The Gear

Old Navy: Women's The Flirt Trouser Jeans 34.50

Women's Cropped Jersey-Lined Trench Coats 44.50

Target: License Juniors Raglan Harvard Tee - White/Red 14.99

Women's Merona® Mireya O'Ring Flats - Brown Croc 24.99

Forever 21 : Color Dash Scarf$7.80

Back to School: The Jocks

The Thought

We were too cool to notice anyone else.

The letter jacket. The jean. The converse sneaker and innocent messenger bag. It even smells like stale cafeteria food.  This was the All  American generic cool girl. I wanted to be her sometimes.

The Inspiration

The Gear

 

Forever 21: School Days Letterman Jacket $22.80

Vintaged Bootcut Jeans $26.90

F3126 Sunglasses $5.80

Target: Women's Converse® One Star® Splatter Print Laceless Oxford Sneakers - Turquoise 34.99

Mossimo Supply Co. Messenger - Black19.99