I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving, One that was filled with love and gratitude!! I am so thankful for my family and friends. My life is blessed in millions of ways because of them.
Anyways there will be no style file post till monday because I have been doing too much of….
Eating this…
Knitting this…
Hanging out with this…
Playing with this…
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jenloveskev/4138194263/
Watching this… (crazy home theatre my dad made us!)
Cuddling with this… (kev not the beer of course)
Next week is going to be great! I will be having…
1. Lots of great style files. Even some sister style files, one including a matching shirt.
2. A major etsy shop update!! Just in time for the gift giving season. There will be new brooches (some new crochet ones too), some awesome crocheted tunnel scarfs and some other goodies.
Well I got this sweater at savers at alittle while ago- Punky actually picked it out of the rack for me. I love it! Its so sailory! I do need to take it in. Its a little big- can you tell-(under my arm)? The belt helps but it gets all bunchy at the back. I just need to take it in, then the problem will be solved.
I kept the look simple with just a pair of jeans and flats. I think next time I will dress it up a little more but for today the detailing in the sweater was enough.
The Building behind me is our new apartment building. Cool huh?
I have fit the jackpot lately with sweater dresses from the goodwill lately. I am totally in love with them. They are so warm and cozy. The ones I have found are in really bright vibrant colors like this blue one. This one was way to long when I bought it but I hemmed it up and now its just fine. I was a little worried about cutting a sweater and sewing it but I used a thick stitch and sewed a double hem. Lets hope it stays…
If there is one thing I love to eat, its texmex. Mmmm! Its my favorite.
So I made some quesadillas on sunday night- because I had seen a recipe for them and it sounded so yummy. I added some goya mexican rice and some homemade guacamole to the dish as well.
Black bean and corn mixture:
Ingredients:
1 cup corn
1 cup black beans
1 jalapeno (chopped)
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon cumin
1/2 tablespoon lime juice
1/4 cup green onions (chopped)
1 tablespoon cilantro (chopped)
Directions:
1. Mix the corn, black beans, jalapeno, chili powder, cumin, lime juice, green onions and cilantro in a large bowl.
Quesadillas
Ingredients:
2 tortillas
1/2 cup black bean salsa
1 handful cheese (grated)
Directions:
1. Melt a touch of butter in a pan.
2. Place a tortilla into the pan.
3. Cover the tortilla with cheese then some of the corn and black bean mixture and top with a handful of cheese and the other tortilla.
4. Cook until the quesadilla is golden brown on both sides and the cheese is melted. (I placed a plate onto the quesadilla and flipped it from the pan to the plate and then slid it back into the pan.)
So this is actually what I wore on Friday. I never got it up on Friday. Whoops. Anyways, it was one of those mornings where I was so glad its Friday but I was exhausted by the week and it was dark and grey out when I got up and all I wanted to do was stay in my pjs. I decided to wear the most comfortable thing I could to school while still looking appropriate.
This cardigan is like heaven. Its made from heavy stretchy cotton (like a sweatshirt with out the fuzz)and its big and slouchy and awesome! I have debated about the jean/legging things for a while but when I tired these ones on from TJ Maxx I knew I needed them.
I found these shoes at Savers a little while ago and totally fell in love. They are so comfy and perfect! I looked forever for a pair of shoes like this!
So our weekend was pretty uneventful- it was very nice but we just didnt have any big plans or anything. I am so so excited for this week though, I get to see my littlest sister Carrie tomorrow who I havent seen since last christmas!! That is such a long time. So I am pretty pumped!! She lives in Ontario with her hubby Joel. This is the 2 of us last Thanksgiving…
My other little sister Amy is off in Europe traveling around for a month. I am sad that she wont be around but I am very proud of her for going on this journey. She is crazy like that. She toured with her friend Josh as he was on tour with his band Four Year Strong for a bit but other than that she is just hoping from place to place. She has set up an awesome tumblr site documenting her travels. She went to RIT for photography and she is so good at telling a story with her photos. I love seeing them as she uploads them. They are so good. Check out her Tumblr! Here are a few photos of her and her trip…
Lastly, yesterday I had to work a craft fair with some of my students to sell ornaments they made. It was to raise money for prom and well I came across this….
I had never heard of sucking up a lemon thru a candy cane but I have to say it was delightful and something I would like to have again!
So I am sure everyone has been to the modcloth website. It is def. one of my favorites. I have a few things from there but seriously wish I could be clothed in outfits everyday from that website. The dress selection goes on for pages- its like my dream come true. I was again searching thru the pages over there and found these images from their new mensware inspired lookbook. I fell head over heels! I love the pants and that gray blazer and that vest, well I want every piece in these pictures. What are your thoughts? Do you think you could pull off a pair of high waisted trouser pants? I am not sure if I could but I sure do want to try!!! So gorgeous!
So the time has come to start thinking about our christmas card. We have never done a normal card- thats just not us. We have had 3 great cards over the 3 christmas we have been married. The first one we did in Hawaii (I couldnt find the picture of it at the moment but when I do I will post it) and then one when we moved back to MA in the snowy woods and then last year was a little more of a goofy card. I love each of them for many reasons, but what do we do this year? I have been thinking like crazy lately but havent come up with anything. We better decide soon though- I’d like to send them out in the first couple weeks of December. What do you think of our previsous cards?
December 2007
December 2008
Teacher style file will be posted this evening sometime- so check back later. I am wearing something super laid back today but I am sort of in love with it. I feel so comfy!!
So I actaully have the day off today. We are on our way to the closing of the house. I am posting this from the car. Hehe love my broken glass iPhone! Anyways we locked the doors up last night for the last time after we walked thru each room. I think my last words as I was crying and turning off the dining room light were “remember when I installed the dimmer swtiches” hehe I was proud of those!
Anyways went to dinner after and kev surprised me with little videos he made in each room showing the room and then telling a good story and memory that happened in that spot. How sweet right? I loved them. I am going to be sharing them with you some time soon. He is so good to me!
Well here is my outfit post. I really love the large black and white strips of this shirt. Plus I love bright blue and black and white together. It just works to me!
shirt: forever 21
skirt: thrifted
shoes: Anne michelle
fishnets: target
I got an email from a reader awhile back with a picture of this Calvin Klein dress attached. Krista bought it at winners (Canadian version of TJ Maxx and nicer may I add) for her Company Christmas party. Now whenever I hear company Christmas party I 1. think of metallic heels and 2. I think of the office episode with the Yankee swap. For this post we will focus on metallic heels! hehe. Metallics just seem so perfect to me for the Christmas season. The dress is sort of a tradition little black dress- very cute. I thought it would work best with these awesome heels from Nordstorms (love the details on the toe) and then some statement jewelry. All very neutral except for the purse! What do you think?
Today is Parent-Teacher Conferences. Its always a nerve racking day for me and its hard time after time when parents come in and say “Your the teacher?- you look like a student.” I mean I know its harmless but I feel like its kinda insulting and then hard to expect to be taken seriously as I talk to them about their kid. Oh well…
I planned out my outfit last night and we took pictures because its just a very busy day today. I have a half day at school and then conferences start at 1pm till 4pm and then there is a little break which I have to run back to our house to met my mom to help us take the last few things. Then I have to run back to school for 6pm for the last half till 8pm. Then back to the house to finish doing the final clean up. Then say good bye forever to our house. I am kinda dreading that part!! I know I will cry as we close the door behind us. The closing is tomorrow at 9:30am.
whew! Enough with the negative sadness!! On to bright things!! I just found out my sister is coming down from canada for thanksgiving next week and I could not be happier. I miss her so much!! My other sister is off in europe but I will see her soon enough. Carrie on the other hand, I havent seen since last christmas!! That is way to long- so I can not wait!!!
So I am a sucker for a jean skirt. I know its not the most fashionable thing ever but I seem to collect them. They are always my summer staple and there are so easy going in the winter with tights. On a day that you are tired and don’t have time to think hard about an outfit they seem to work out for me. Like my security blanket. haha. I honestly have had this Jean skirt I am wearing since my freshman year of college (9 years ago-crazy!) it has some holes but I just can’t part with it. I paired it with this little wool blazer I got at the goodwill. I love it because it has such structured shoulders. What do you think?
Blazer: Goodwill $4.99
Scarf (used as Belt): Plato’s Closet $1
Skirt: Old Navy
Tights: My Sis
Necklace: Forever 21 $5
Flats: Target $20
So we still havent unpacked everything so I was looking for something that was easy to make but that wasnt just pasta or Annies mac n’cheese- thats all we have been eating lately. Now I am not one who loves breakfast. It has to be the right situation for me to enjoy it. Usually it just comes down to time which I dont have in the morning and that means I have to eat something quick and I hate ceral. I like it dry and sugary but thats not good for you. I love bagels but I dont want to eat a bagel every morning either. I usually just end up making some kashi shake and take it in the car and have a luna bar when I get to school. Blah!
I do however love wonderfully made huge breakfasts on the weekend when time isn’t an option or even better BREAKFAST FOR DINNER!! (or Brinner:Breakfast+Dinner). Since we are coming up on Thanksgiving I thought I would try this Pumpkin French Toast recipe I had found a little while ago. Lets just say it was the tastey breakfast ever!! The flavor was delicious with the pumpkin and all the spices!! Mmmm with real maple syrup and some fresh berries- most perfect dinner!!
Ingredients:
2 eggs
1/4 cup milk
1/4 cup pumpkin puree
1/4 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ginger
1/8 teaspoon cloves
1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
2 tablespoons brown sugar
8 slices of bread
A little Olive Oil
Fresh Berries
Directions:
1. Mix the eggs, milk, pumpkin puree, vanilla, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, mutmeg and brown sugar in low flat bowl for easy dipping.
2. Dip the bread into the egg mixture on both sides and grill in a frying pan (preheated with some oil) until lightly golden brown, about 2-3 minute per side.
3. Serve with maple syrup (REAL!!) and fresh berries.
So after a weekend of not caring what I looked like as long as I could move boxes easily, I decided I needed to glam up myself for the first day back to my work week. I found a few of these accessories last week when I was shopping with Julie and couldn’t wait to wear them with an outfit. I got the polka dotted tights (now my new favorite) at h&m which is way easier then ordering them from some where as I was thinking of doing and I got the belt and necklace from Forever 21.
like our new windows in our apt.? It was working out good until I realized that cars were slowing down on the road wondering why the heck there was a girl standing in the window wearing heels. I am sure it was an odd site from the road.
I have no pictures from this weekend. I had planned on making a cool little video of us moving but lets just say that it was disastrous. Every single thing that could have gone wrong with our moving day did- it was not pleasant day. I am glad that it is over and that I don’t have to deal with it anymore. Enough said.
So this morning was my first morning of my longer commute back to MA to school. It was ok. I was tired but it went by pretty fast. As I was driving I was thinking of some new cds that I dont have yet that I would like to listen to as I drive. This is what I came up with….
Do you have any suggestions of good music that I could get to help pass the time as I drive to school?
After a hard weekend I think its a good idea to think of the good things that happened that made you happy. Here is my Monday morning Happy list.
1. Mint Tea
2. Our kitty cuddled behind our pillows as we sleep
3. In a place that doesn’t yet feel like our home- cuddling with kev who makes any place safe and homey.
4. Colored Tights
5. Listening to a favorite song super loud and singing and dancing around.
6. Cold Pineapple Pizza
7. Meeting new friends
8. Organizing my new walk-in closet!! (yay -its so big!!)
9. Hearing my moms voice on the phone
10. Moving being over!
Whats your Over the Weekend Happy List?
Todays Style File will be posted later in the evening tonight.
See you then!
Have a great Monday everyone.
Its Friday, its 9:33am and I am not at work. I took the day off to finish up everything at the house. I promise I will stop talking about moving soon. Its just so consuming. This has been one over the top busy week. I have been back and forth between Albany and Pittfield with truck loads of stuff more than I would have liked, school has been super busy I def. volunteered myself for way way way to much afterschool stuff this year, and well there just a lot going on. I don’t like the feeling where you have so much happening, you are sure you will majorly drop the ball somewhere. I am making lots of lists so that wont happen. Here’s hoping!! So I apologize if you have written to me lately and I haven’t gotten back- I am working on it.
Anyways, Since I am just moving stuff today it called for a laid back look that was comfy and easy to work with. I bought this plaid tunic button up the other night with Julie at Plato’s Closet. Its great- it works perfect for today. Paired with some leggings and flats and I am ready for lifting boxes but still feeling somewhat decently dressed.
So one thing I am totally loving lately are blogger meet ups. I am so excited for Dec. 12th but I say this because this week my world collided (in a good way) with the beautiful and super sweet Julie from Orchid Grey. She was in Albany all week and we got to hang out a few times! I think I have found my new shopping buddy- we have very similar taste and well lots of things in common other than fashion. We had a lot of fun. I also think she has single handily broken my obsession with cutting my bangs. Its time to grow them out so I can have awesome braids and buns! See, take a look (picture from her blog)…
Also, I have been seeing some of the jenloveskev Brooches people bought posted on their blogs and its very exciting!!! Have you posted a picture with a brooch you bought? Send the link along!!!
Sorry for the non post yesterday, with a day off from school it quickly got filled up with moving stuff back and forth. We are almost all there! I took tomorrow off to finish moving all the little stuff and then Saturday we have a uhaul to finish everything up!
So are you guys so excited about our blogger meet up? We have some great giveaways instore and some awesome deals for our shopping crawl. We hope if you live anywhere in the area you will come out. You need to RSVP to be entered in the giveaways. We can’t wait to give you all the details!! And if you aren’t a fashion blogger but love fashion and maybe just thinking about blogging you are invited as well!
Ok on to a style file. I have been loving wearing shorts and tights together lately. I haven’t quite got back into jeans yet because I just love wearing tights so much so shorts and skirts are wear it’s at! Since high school I have had sort of an obession with anatomy. So I very much love this shirt! I also really like the necklace paired with it. I seriously could wear this necklace with everything!
Yay!! I am so excited. We are holding a fashionable event to build community, interaction and inspiration for Boston Fashion Bloggers.
Get to know to the faces behind the blogs you read on a daily basis the day will include:
-blogger meet and greet
-special shopping deals for bloggers only
-a shopping crawl
-photo shoot
-music
-snacks/drinks
-giveaways
.
Hosted By
www.jenloveskev.com
ww.punkystyle.com
www.newbrahmin.com
This is all the info we are spilling for now…But you might want to pick out a fabulous outfit.
We look forward to meeting you!
Not your average Burger:
Sweet potato and tofu veggie burger with caramelized brussels sprouts
So Kev is a simple food kinda guy- I think he could eat a burger for every meal of his life. His taste have def. grown since we started dating/being married and he eats and enjoys pretty much everything I cook. Anyways, I don’t eat burgers nor do I really like any fake frozen burger out there. I usually make my own black bean burgers but I wanted to try something else this time. I found this recipe and was pretty excited to try it.
I have never eaten brussels sprouts before I don’t think, but seeing that I am madly love with greens like kale, bok choy, etc… I knew I would love them! I just hadn’t gotten around to cooking them before. I searched around for some recipes and decided to do something that would caramelize them a little. Everything was delicious and the left over patties worked great heated up and placed in a salad for lunch the next day.
Sweet Potato Tofu Burgers:
Ingredients
1 medium sweet potato, peeled and cut into 1 1/2-inch cubes
1 small onion, finely chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1 1/2 teaspoons curry powder
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
2 tablespoons tomato paste
3 tablespoons potato starch
1 pound firm tofu
1/2 cup brown rice, cooked
2 tablespoons minced chives
3 tablespoons roughly chopped cilantro
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
1. Place a steamer basket in a medium saucepan filled with 1 inch of water. Bring to a boil, and add sweet-potato cubes. Steam until fork tender, 6 to 7 minutes. Set aside. Place a large skillet over medium heat. Spray skillet with cooking spray. Add onion, garlic, curry powder, and cumin. Stir occasionally, until translucent, about 5 minutes. If the onion begins to dry out or burn, add 2 tablespoons water. Stir in tomato paste, and cook another 2 minutes.
2. Transfer mixture to the bowl of a food processor. Add the sweet-potato cubes and the potato starch. Pulse until onions are finely ground, about 1 minute.
3. Rinse and drain the tofu. Wring out any excess liquid; the tofu should have the texture of ground meat. Place the tofu, sweet-potato mixture, brown rice, chives, cilantro, salt, and pepper in a medium bowl. Using a rubber spatula, fold the ingredients together. Using your hands, shape the mixture into four 3 1/2-inch-round patties.
3. Return skillet to medium heat. Coat with cooking spray. Place patties in pan, and cook until golden on bottom, 5 to 6 minutes. Flip patties over, and cook until golden on other side, another 5 to 6 minutes. Serve warm on whole-wheat buns.
Brussels Sprouts:
Ingredients
Brussels Sprouts
Balsamic Vinegar
butter
Sugar
1/2 red onion chopped
Dried Cranberries
Golden Raisins
Almond Silvers
1. Place Brussels sprouts in a steamer basket over boiling water. Cover saucepan and steam 8-10 minutes or until Brussels sprouts are tender yet crisp.
2. Melt a little butter in a deep skillet, add the onions; cook until onions brown.
3. Add the Brussels sprouts and sprinkle with sugar. Saute over medium heat until the Brussels sprouts are lightly caramelized. Add a splash of balsamic vinegar and then the almonds, cranberries and raisins. Stir and cook a few more minutes.
Season with salt and pepper to taste and serve
I am back! We now live (well we are not all there yet- well not even close but..) in an old mill building, so there are lots of great places to take style files. There are some really neat places to explore as its an old industrial area. I have decided that I am done with regular wrap around scarfs. They never stay put and I never wrap them in a way I like. I am now all about the tunnel or circle scarf. Best invention ever! They are so warm and I feel so cozy wearing them. I must find more! I love this little skirt because it has all these little flecks of colors in it- I was excited when I realized I had tights that matched exactly to the blueish color in the skirt.
Red Tunnel Scarf: Handmade
Blouse: Goodwill
Cream Leather Jacket: Silence and Noise (won from Weardrobe)
Wool Skirt: Old Navy (hand me down frommy sis)
Tights: Hue (TJ Maxx $5)
Flats: Steve Madden $40
Sunglasses: Target $12
So I dont have many pictures so share. This weekend was good but we moved and packed and the packed and moved somemore and went to a funeral to support a close friend. I just have to say moving is def. not something I enjoy doing. I love unpacking and organzing and redecorating but the packing and moving part I can do without.
We got the keys to our new place on friday and it was great. We went out and got chinese food and some beer to celebrate, but getting back we realized- we dont have anything there to eat it with. haha. I luckily had packed and taken up a box of christmas decorations that had christmas plates in the bottom of it- so we used those. We also used my marathon medal that was in my purse as a bottle opener. It was fun though as we sat in an empty apt on the floor eating and drinking and playing pictureka. Which by the way is a super fun game.
One of my favorite things about blogging is the inspiration and community that is out there. haha sometimes its alittle overwhelming when my google reader just gives up and says 1000+ posts to read, but I do really enjoy going thru each blog and looking at others styles, food, art and crafts and home decorations.
As far as fashion is concerned there are so many blogger out there that I take inspiration from (you can tell by my long blogroll) but I do have 2 favorites that I seriously can not get enough of. They are quite different from each other, but they both suite my flip-flopping styles. I love love love vintage inspired outfits, I love old skirts and dresses but then on the other had a have a love for leather, sequins and a much more modern look. I try to mix the two alot in my outfits but some days I just lean more toward one than the other. That is why I love Le Blog de Betty and Sally Jane Vintage!! I could spend hours looking at their blogs. They truly inspire me with every outfit they post.
Le Blog de Betty: I love her for her use of leather, sequins, blazers and denim. She always has this feminine touch mixed alot of edge and fun. I like her so much because of that fun factor. She seems like she really loves to get dressed in the morning.
Sally Jane Vintage: I love the romance that surrounds her outfits and photos. She creates this magical world that revolves around her gorgeous outfits. I love all her vintage dresses, skirts and blouses and she looks darn good in a beret!
Well I wish everyone a happy happy weekend! I am off to Albany right after school to get our keys for OUR NEW PLACE!!! The moving is officially underway!
When I return to my blog on Monday I will be back to regular posting and will have a NEW Style file to post!!Yay!!! Its been weird not doing it for the last little while- its been like something is missing from my life. hehe
We closed on this house on our 2nd wedding anniversary. It was a very magical day- to be a home owner and to be celebrating a wedding anniversary. This is a picture from that night as we ate and drank champange on the floor of a house we had no furniture for. hehe I will always remember that night! (we always take a wedding anniversary photo showing how many years its been- as you can see its been 2)
Tomorrow we get the keys to our new apartment and although I am very excited, I am also having mini melt downs a couple times a day as we offically start to leave our 1st house. Moving is super stressful! There is so much to take care of- let alone change states- so now we need new drivers licenses, license plates, health insurance and car insurance etc.. we will wory about that another time though right now I want to share some before and after pictures of the house as I say goodbye to our home. We worked really hard on the house for the short time we lived here (a year and a half almost). Its fun to look back and see what we started with… Its an old farm style home, 100 yrs old to be exact. It has great character and sort of looks like a doll house to me. This picture was taken in the winter so its sort of gray but there are some really great maple trees around the property.
Here was the Kitchen BEFORE:
Here is our AFTER:
Here was the Living Room/Dining Room BEFORE:
Here is our Living Room/Dining Room AFTER:
The den/office BEFORE:
Our den/office AFTER:
and then to say goodbye to my favorite room in our house… our bedroom. Its so pretty in there but i know I will make our new bedroom just as nice.
it was a nice home and we made a lot of great memories here but its time to move on to the next chapter in our life. haha kev joked with my mom the other day when she said that saying “and its going to be a big book”. We are a couple who wont settle, we follow our dreams and we move forward, never looking back, we have each other and that is all the matters.
I can’t wait to show you pics of our new apt. its pretty sweet. Its in an old mill building so it has super high ceilings and old mill wood floors and exposed duct work. Its very nice!
and remember THIS MONDAY!! teacher style files will start again. Only 4 more days!!!
Hey There! Are you enjoying the new time change? As much as it is a bummer that it’s dark at like 5, I can’t help but be happier that its not pitch dark when I get up in the morning. It makes it just a little bit easier!
Today I thought we could look back thru all the style file posts and look at some of my all time favorites. I have picked out my top 9 favorites. I liked each of them for different reasons, some even based on what was happening the day I was wearing the outfit but all in all I think they were great. Its fun to look back and see how you evolve. You can check out all my teacher style file post here to see others if you want.
Out of the 9 below what outfit do you think works best?
Remember Style File Posts Resume on Monday Nov. 9th!!! Only 6 more days!!
First off Remember you can still enter the giveaway until 6pm today.
ok now on to halloween. Our plan this weekend was to pack pack move move. My parents came out on saturday morning with their expedition and we packed it full of stuff you just don’t need when you live in an apt. but stuff that we didnt want get rid of because we would need it when we got back in to a house eventually. We packed out element as well and headed back out to the worcester area where are parents live. We were just planning on laying low that night but after a call to Adam and a unexpected meeting with our friends Beth and Adam(another adam) at savers we all planned on going to our friends Sarah and Damien’s Circus Halloween party. It turned out to be a great night. It was so nice to see everyone. With living 1.5 hours away we don’t get to see our old friends too much. We headed to the Lucky Dog around 11 to go hang out with Punky who was Bartending that night. I loved loved loved our costumes. I was some sort of clown trapeze artist, Kev was the most amazing sad clown, adam was a zombie kid, Beth and Erica were Lion tamer and Lion and Adam was an Evil Knievel kinda person. We were the perfect circus group. We ended the night with some very late night breakfast at the Kenmore Diner. Mmm chocolate pancakes at 3am!
Anyone watch Yo Gabba Gabba? I don’t watch a lot of it but if I had kids I sure would. I do really love the show though. Ever since they had Mates of State play on there I was hooked and of course when I saw this video. Anyways, my friend Laura (the one I went to visit last week in NYC) asked her son Anthony what he wanted to be for Halloween this year and his answer was DJ Lance. Laura being the creative mom that she is made his whole costume- no store bought outfit here. Didn’t she do an amazing job?? He is so freakin’ cute with his little glasses and “rock” belt buckle. I love him! Did you notice that she creatively made the radio not only into a prop for his costume but also able to hold all his trick or treaty candy? What a great mom she is!!!!
Welcome to my personal lifestyle blog. It features topics such as motherhood, family life, fashion, cooking, and all sorts of adventures. I hope you enjoy what you find!
