Capetacular

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After seeing this stunning taupe cape coat from Lanvin over on Tom and Lorenzo* I am on a one woman mission to find a cape-style number for myself. Since I'm not a wool wearer, options are a bit more limited, but I'm drawing inspiration from some of these great internet finds to guide my search.

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Okay, this Vanessa Bruno jacket, as sported by Kriste Bell, may be from last December, but I'd wear it in 2011. Well, if I had a spare $1,125 I needed to lose.

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But never fear, for those of us ladies on a budget, H&M's Fall 2011 lookbook included this relaxed creme caped number.

*PS - If you watch Project Runway you've got to check out Tom and Lorenzo's episode recaps which are hilarious and so on point.

Tea Treasures

Never one for coffee, tea is my steamy beverage of choice. My love for the stuff is no secret, and while I tend to down my daily cup (or two, or three) of the herbal variety while at work, nothing beats a leisurely cup of tea enjoyed on a slow-paced weekend morning or afternoon. Here are a few tea treasures for fellow enthusiasts.

This Tea-Boy Penguin Tea Timer is so cute, and would be the perfect gadget to keep at work or to gift an easily side-tracked tea lover with. You set the timer to indicate how long your tea needs to steep for, and the penguin's bill cleverly picks up your tea bag when your tea is ready. It even rings when the tea is ready so you don't forget about your cup before it gets too cold! The perfect solution for those of us who accidentally oversteep.

I recently discovered the yummy flavor and cost-saving benefits of loose leaf tea. For the uninitiated, loose leaf tea doesn't come in pre-measured bags but rather in one big package of full size tea leaves or herbal components (think large pieces of dried peppermint leaves and whole dried chamomile). This fine mesh tea steeping basket fits nicely in any standard size mug to make a single cup of loose leaf tea. Just scoop in a teaspoonful of loose leaf tea, pour in your hot water, remove the basket when you're done steeping, and enjoy.

Two Leaves and a Bud makes a delicious, smooth, and delicately floral jasmine petal green tea -and the loose leaf variety is the perfect way to fill your new tea basket. This green tea is steamed, rather than roasted, which yields its signature taste. The company is fair trade certified and offers an extensive line of organic products too!

How to Shop at Marshalls

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How to Shop at Marshalls... or Ross, TJ Maxx, Burlington Coat Factory, the Salvation Army, or insert your favorite discount store here. Some people don't have the patience for the overcrowded racks, the inconsistent merchandise, or the unglamorous dressing rooms - but for those of us willing to tough it out for a deal, these stores are the holy grail of good buys. Nevertheless, there should be some ground rules taken into consideration before filling your cart with products boasting 50% off stickers. Yes, it may seem like an unassuming pile of $7 t-shirts and $25 pumps, but before you know it your closet it filled with cheap items you wear only once that have plowed a hole right through your budget. Here's a few tips for using the power of the discount merchant wisely:

• Don't go looking for a specific item - Discount stores can be hit or miss, so don't stress yourself out by looking for a particular wardrobe staple you have in mind. Save yourself the hassle, and go somewhere you know is dedicated to providing that specific item.
  

• Do know what you need - Be clear on what you already own and what you are truly lacking of for the upcoming season. Stick to those areas in the store and you might just find some treasures waiting for you.
  

• Don't buy something that isn't perfect, even if it's 80% off - Even $1.99 is too much to spend on anything that isn't right for you; particularly when it is an item that is not critical to your survival (no, those Steve Maddens are not critical to your survival even at $39... especially when they're a half size too small)

• Do pay attention to quality - Check for signs of pilling, test the seams, look for loose buttons or thread, and make sure the fit flatters you. If it passes with flying colors, and the price is within your budgeted range, then you have a winner.

• Don't let the knick-knacks fool you - Just like every retailer, these stores will bombard you with impulse merchandise at key points around the store (and particularly on the maze of shelves and displays they herd you through to get to the register). Just because they are cheap and strategically placed doesn't mean you actually want them - resist!

• Do have fun - Shopping for clothing should be fun, and hitting up your local discount store can be a great way to stick to your budget while adding a few new pieces to your Spring wardrobe. Proceed wisely, and the discount deities may smile upon you.
  

Soapy Savings

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Dedicated body wash users, there's a new cleanser in town! I've always been in favor of liquid soaps, but last time I ran out of my bottled soap du jour I unwrapped a lovely smelling glycerin bar my mother had given to me. I figured I'd use it until I remembered to buy some more of my usual brand, but quickly realized my soap-bar stereotypes were misguided. It turns out glycerin bars are nothing like their Irish Spring or Lever 2000 counterparts - they don't dry your skin, smell as good as the runnier varieties, and best of all... they last forever! Okay, maybe not forever, but I am shocked at how long this one bar has been holding strong - just a few swipes across a loofah each shower has hardly worn it down over the last couple of months. If you're looking to pare down your toiletry expenses, try trading in your typical $6-$10 body wash for a $2-$4 bar of vegetable-based glycerin soap, and you won't run the risk of accidentally squirting your cash straight down the drain.

Lazy Sunday: Sushi Adventures

Photo found on The Perfect Pantry

This lazy Sunday I decided to make sushi. No, the photo above is not my final product. Think more smooshed, less taut, nix the garnish, and more messy all-over. That was my final product. It had nothing on my favorite Denver tofu rolls or the best Boston Portabella rolls, but every once in a while it's more fun to make a mess and try things yourself... just buy a good dessert in case the exotic entree doesn't quite make the cut. Thankfully Whole Foods has added yet another vegan dessert to their bakery line-up: lemon poppy-seed cake!

Lazy Sunday: Snowed In

The hour-by-hour forecast shows the little snow icon for at least the next 12 hours. Anything I had planned on doing today has gone out the window, but that's alright. Days like this are perfect for helping us to slow down and take it easy. Nothing sounds better right now than wrapping up in a big sweater, slipping on some fuzzy slippers, and getting settled in for some indoor delights - say making a batch of cookies, playing a long game of Scrabble, stringing some forgotten Christmas lights somewhere unexpected (the bathroom!), and enjoying them while taking a deliciously scented bath. Ahhh...

Smart Water Use

I saw this great video on Jason Mraz's blog and found it so interesting I wanted to share. It is eye-opening to see just how much water we use in our everyday lives. Looking to use a little less of this precious resource yourself? Decreasing or cutting out your meat consumption and eating locally (i.e. starting your day with domestic produce, not fruit flown in from New Zealand) are great ways to start! Shave outside of the shower. Don't wash your clothes after each and every wear (underwear is a definite exception) - quality clothing can be worn multiple times before getting tossed in the laundry basket. Opt for garden and landscaping plants native to your area and you'll avoid constant watering. Check out the video below for some more simple ideas:

Lazy Sunday: Need to Buy

When I first completed my Christmas shopping, I vowed not to step foot in a retail store for anything but the necessities until the New Year. However, I had forgotten just how cold New England winters can be. My attempts at layering a few long sleeve t-shirts under a trusty cotton cardigan have been futile against the bone-chilling wind and 8 inches of snow-turned-slush this past week. My office window provides not only a view of the whitened landscape but a consistent draft too, and by the time my little car warms up at the end of the day I'm half-way home and shivering. My need for some new sweaters, boots, and, if I'm lucky enough, stylish flannel-lined jeans (okay, that may be an oxymoron), cannot wait until the holidays are behind us. So today, I'm off to see what the retails have in store for me this year. I can only hope fleece jumpsuits and woolen balaclava's are the latest must-have items.

Fashion Forward

I wanted to report that I have found unequivocal evidence of my fashion forwardness. In fact, I can quantify my forwardness: 18 years. One of the following photos is a pullover sweater from the Jean Charles De Castelbajac Fall/Winter 2009-2010 runway collection, the other is me at four years old. Now, really, who wore it better?

Photos via Colette

Lazy Sunday: List Style

Play List

Mute Math - Electrify
Florence and the Machine - You've Got the Love
Snow Patrol - Just Say Yes
Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Heads Will Roll

Lunch List

Waffles
Fresh Blackberries
Maple Syrup
Tempeh Strips

To Do List

Groceries
Laundry
This Project
Snuggle
Smile

Lazy Sunday: Christmas Shopping

Photo via New Solutions

Okay, it wasn't exactly a lazy Sunday, but it was a leisurely one. One craft fair, three stores, and a few websites later and my leisurely Sunday ensures many a lazy Sunday to come because my Christmas shopping is complete (well, with one exception). Yes, I am one of those people who often starts this process in August, but I hate the thought of waiting till the last minute and buying a whole bunch of "this'll work" gifts. The best part? No rooting around half-empty shelves while other panicked shoppers try to beat you to the last set of Swaroski encrusted, woodland creature-topped novelty cheese spreaders. Haven't considered your holiday gifting yet? It's easiest to start with a list and set a budget so that when the times comes to make your purchases (or even better, hand-make your gifts) you stay on track.

Walnut Cranberry Squash "Rice"

Photo via Learn to Cook

I just got back from a great raw foods pot luck and immediately jumped online to find the recipe for one of my favorite dishes of the evening: Ani Phyo's Walnut Cranberry Squash "Rice". This is a super easy recipe that beautifully blends the flavors of autumn in a fresh and unexpected way - one that leaves you feeling satiated and radiant at that, not bloated and tired like many heavy harvest meals do. This would be a great dish to bring to any holiday party as it won rave reviews tonight from raw food enthusiasts and skeptics alike. You can find the recipe here, learn more about Ani here, and find many more of her delicious, fresh, whole food recipes here.

Mid-Week

Yikes! This week is getting away from me. What have you been up to? I've been...

Photo via Chappaqua Crunch Granola

Making this yummy granola recipe and eating it with bananas and almond milk (my favorite cruelty-free milk) for breakfast, mmmm.

Joining a new gym right next to my office so I can get a workout after work and miss all the rush-hour traffic; win-win, no?

Photo via Twelve

Trying Twelve and being pleasantly surprised by how light yet flavorful it is. You can find this gently carbonated tea and juice infused non-alcoholic beverage at Whole Foods, Wegmans, Food Emporiums and more.

Shopping (well... more like window shopping in the digital sense of the word) at Scandinavian Design Center. One of my favorites? Trond Svendgård's Snowball Lamp.

Design Inspiration: Platform Bed

Photo via Alcazar Furniture

Everyone I know has a different taste when it comes to beds. Be it a preference for a sturdy brass four-poster, an oak canopy, or a leather covered headboard - there are as many choices as to what we sleep in as there are people to join us beneath the sheets! My favorite style of bed, however, has to be the understated platform. The unfussy nature of this minimal style makes for easy sheet-tucking without overwhelming even the most modest loft. Platforms are also exceptionally versatile, so their the perfect choice for people who like to frequently change the style or flow of their bedroom. Platform beds work especially well in Asian inspired or contemporary rooms, and many serve double-duty by boasting storage space underneath. Not sure how to make this type of bed work for you? Check out these beautiful rooms bedrooms for some serious design inspiration.

Photo via Apartment Therapy

Photo via Tinypic

Photo via Apartment Therapy

Photo via CB2

Boyfriend Blazer

Photo via Victoria's Secret

I may be on the tail end of this fashion trend, but lately I can't get enough of the boyfriend blazer. Generously cut, this transitional piece is comfy and surprisingly flattering thanks to a single, strategic button. This Sartorialist photo of Alessandra Colombo is what sent me from a healthy enjoyment of the look to borderline obsession. Plus, it's so versatile that the same jacket can add new life to a number of wilting wardrobe ensembles all year long.

Photo via AprilMarin

Apple Cider

Photo via NCAGR

Not only is apple cider mighty delicious, but it may well be named the official drink of my fine home state of New Hampshire. That's right, as the Boston Globe reports, Apple Cider is on track to secure its spot as the preferred brew of the Granite State. Looking to enjoy a little of the sweet nectar for yourself? Try this recipe for mulled cider from Epicurious - I made it this weekend using fresh apple juice made with my Breville juicer and it was so good! If you've never tried fresh cider before, now's the time to do so. It tastes nothing like standard juice-box style apple juice and is at its best this time of year, so enjoy while you can.

Little Bowls

Photo via Sur la Table

To pass a little time before yoga tonight I dropped by a cute little consignment shop for some wandering about. I hadn't been ogling the ancient comic books carefully wrapped in plastic sleeves or fingering through strands of 1960's love beads for more than a couple of minutes when I set my sights on two precarious stacks of little glass bowls; one slightly more squat than the other. Having searched every grocery store, Target and Home Goods for these exact items over the last couple weeks, I thought for sure they must be a mirage.

Fortunately for me, the bowls are very real and await, swathed in the oatmeal colored crinkly paper every store keeps on hand for picture frames and candle holders and the like, patiently for their debut. "What do you want these bowls for anyways?" The cashier had asked when I proudly carried my teetering purchase to the register. I deflated a little when I answered her question, admitting the truth to myself for the first time. "They're like the bowls they have on cooking shows, you know when they toss in a pinch of this glamorous ingredient you've never heard of and their cooking looks so effortless? I think that if I had those little bowls my cooking would warrant it's own show too." And then in a hurried effort to cover my naivete: "That and I went to a party once where these little bowls with snacks were scattered all over the place - they're perfect for that!". She smiled approvingly at the more pragmatic justification for my purchase.

I'm still pretty positive the bowls, which I now come to learn are called ingredient bowls, will have a disproportionately great impact on my cooking ability. You can purchase your own culinary motivation (what others may inaccurately identify as false hope) at Sur la Table. :)

Fall Wardrobe Updates

Just because the mercury’s begun to drop doesn’t mean your account balances need to follow suit. It may be tempting to splurge on a new wardrobe to stay warm (and look cool) through the chilly fall and winter months, but you don’t need to run up your credit cards to fashionably brave the frost. With a little creativity and a few modest purchases, you can transition some of your mid-weight wardrobe staples into fresh, winter-worthy pieces.

A warm, charcoal grey cardigan is a great investment that can top any number of ensembles. Fastened over top of a basic collared shirt for work, worn open but wrapped with a belt over a colorful dress, or tossed on over a t-shirt for running errands, this old school sweater gives you endless options. The charcoal hue is more forgiving on paling skin than black, and the color pairs just as well with virtually everything.

Consider stockings and leggings your partners in crime. These leggy layers are key to staying warm and looking sleek. A previously warm-weather-only dress has a new lease on life when layered over a worthy pair of leggings and cute boots. Slip a pair of stockings on under your pants for the worst winter days to stay extra toasty.

Buy a few scarves to incorporate into you all-day wear. You can find these neck nuzzlers in beautiful colors and patterns to top off your favorite outfits. Wrap one loosely around your neck in lieu of a necklace. If you get a chill you can always wrap it around your shoulders instead or put it over your head for a trek outside

Juice Lady

Photo via Amazon

The other day I came home to find a large box on the porch with my name on it; my boyfriend's graduation gift had arrived. Now that I am the proud owner of my very own Breville Juice Fountain I have been juicing everything I can get my hands on. Apples, tomatoes, cucumbers, grapes, carrots: all are instantly liquefied at the blades of the Breville. Today I went for a celery kiwi elixir which tasted fresh, green, and tangy. The neon green color adds to its super-power status, and knowing it is brimming with undiluted nutrients and unpasteurized vitamins makes me feel super-powered too! Never one for coffee, flavorful and fresh juice is my favorite way to kick-start the day or get an afternoon boost. What's your energizing secret?

Signature Style: Maria Kerner

Photo via The Sartorialist

I admit, my current wardrobe is what you might expect of an unemployed recent college graduate: jeans and tees, a wide selection of hooded sweatshirts, and a mix of semi-professional separates that don't really match with anything else in the closet. But I really admire people who have created a wardrobe that makes a single, cohesive statement: when each and every outfit they step out in exudes a unique personal style.

One such signature stylista is Maria Kerner, an accessories buyer and frequent muse on the street style blog The Sartorialist. I have yet to find a photo of her looking anything but stunning and put-together. Her personal style is very feminine, somewhat monochromatic, and altogether classic. Whose style makes you swoon?

Photo via The Sartorialist

Photo via The Sartorialist