Brown Sugar

The leaves are changing!

Carrot cake cupcakes from Zaftig's. Nomnom.

Outfit Details: Sweater: MNG by Mango (JCPenney); Tank: Gap; Necklace: Yard sale;
Leggings: St. John's Bay (JCPenney); Boots: Charlotte Russe

When I was younger, my mother insisted that brown was "my color." She was probably right, but what little girl wants to be told her color is brown when there are so many fun, bright colors to wear?

I don't worry anymore about what "my color" is, but brown remains one of my favorites. It's my go-to for putting together simple, classic looks - the way some people turn to black.

Have a lovely Friday, lovies. XO!

Vested Interest

Our favorite breakfast place. The owner/cook is a ridiculously old man, and his equally old
wife is the waitress. They're adorable, and the food is excellent.

Outfit Details: Sunnies: Steve Madden; Necklace: Thrifted; Button-Down: Gap;
Vest: Old Navy; Shorts: Old Navy; Flats: Gap 

Wednesday is by far my favorite weekday. I only have two classes, which don't start until noon, so B and I have made it a tradition to go out to brunch at our favorite neighborhood diner on Wednesday of every week. Does anyone else feel like a good brunch makes the whole day better?

Now let's talk about my new vest! I have to admit that, initially, I was not a fan of the surplus vest. However, after seeing several bloggers - especially Keira at A Pretty Penny - rock the style, I warmed up to it. It's a great piece for this transitional time between summer and fall, and I'm already thinking of other ways to wear it. Ideas?

Back to Life

Outfit Details: Sunnies: Jessica Simpson; Scarf: Gap; Dress: American Apparel (thrifted); 
Belt: Old Navy; Shoes: Old Navy

I don't want to be a whiner, but I have felt like absolute garbage the past several days. To give you an indication of the seriousness of my condition I merely need to say that I've been wearing sweats to class every day, which is a fashion sin in my book. (Any photos indicating that I've been wearing real clothes is a lie; fortunately, I had a couple posts queued up from before I was sick.)

Yesterday, in celebration of waking up and feeling almost like a real person again, I decided to actually get dressed for class. It was the perfect day to wear this thrifted American Apparel dress (a new favorite of mine) before it's too cold for bare legs. I paired it with one of my favorite scarves and a bright belt, hoping the cheeriness of my outfit would trick my body into being cheery as well. It kind of worked. I'll try again tomorrow, but for now I'm back in my sweats. Don't judge me.

XO!

Huevos con SOYrizo

I love Mexican food, and back when I was an omnivore, huevos con chorizo was one of my favorite Mexican dishes. I was pleasantly surprised to discover soyrizo at the grocery store last week, which is flavored like the spicy Mexican sausage but, of course, isn't sausage. I can honestly say I prefer the taste and texture of this soyrizo to actual chorizo, and I highly recommend this recipe, even for meat-lovers!

Here's what you'll need:
Soyrizo
Eggs
Soft tortilla shells
Shredded cheese
Milk (optional)
(Amounts vary depending on number of people. B and I used one "tube" of soyrizo and four eggs.)

Here's what you'll do:
1. "Brown" soyrizo in a skillet over high heat for a couple minutes, and set soyrizo aside
2. Scramble eggs (using a little milk) in the same skillet
3. Add soyrizo back to eggs and cook for another minute or two
4. Portion mixture into the tortillas and add cheese

If you want, you can also add lettuce and tomato to the tortillas and serve with refried beans and rice. Yum!

Bossy Boots

Outfit Details: Jacket: Isaac Mizrahi for Target (thrifted); Sweater & Tank: Gap; Jeggings: LC Lauren Conrad for Kohl's; Boots: Charlotte Russe; Purse: Vintage Dooney & Bourke (thrifted)

For some reason, people are very opinionated about these boots. Many of these opinions are positive, but some have been decidedly more negative. One time last year, for example, a male classmate of mine told me they look like hooker boots. Whatever.

Regardless, I love these boots.. so much so, in fact, that I bought them in brown and black. And I'm going to wear them a lot this fall, even if I look like a hooker. (Which I don't, right?)

XO!

*Yeah, this post title is from Spongebob Squarepants. 

Corduroy

Outfit Details: Sunnies: Jessica Simpson; Pearls: Gift; Button-Down: Lands' End Canvas;
Belt: Gap (Husband's); Shorts: Old Navy; Shoes: Bass (Outlet); Purse: Vintage Dooney & Bourke (thrifted)

As I'm sure you (don't) remember, a couple of posts ago asked what some of your favorite things to wear this time of year are. I've been thinking about my own response to that question - besides plaid flannel - since then. My answer: corduroy! Guys, I just can't get enough of it. Jackets, pants, shorts; you name it, I wear it and love it. (My obsession probably stems from the positive associate with Corduroy the bear, who is just so damn cute.)

The weather the other day was perfect for busting out my corduroy shorts. I love how they look with bare legs and a light button-down, but I can't wait to style them - and my similar blue ones - with tights and a blazer as the weather cools.

XO!

Neurosis

Not my favorite photo, but check out my earrings!

Outfit Details: Sunnies: Jessica Simpson; Earrings: Charlotte Russe; Cardigan: Gap; Tank: Gap; Jeggings: LC Lauren Conrad for Kohl's; Shoes: Thrifted

I don't know about you, but I dress based on my mood. I don't like planning outfits in advance because I never know what I'm going to want to wear on any given day. As you can imagine, this makes packing really difficult, and it leads to frequent early morning tantrums along the lines of, "Wahh, this outfit doesn't feel right!"  Ugh, I'm so neurotic.

On this particular day, I didn't have a clue what I was going to wear, but I knew I just had to wear my favorite earrings. I bought them at Charlotte Russe awhile ago, and they were super cheap, but I love them nonetheless. I'm really into this coral color right now, and I think the design is so classic. So I put my earrings in and built the rest of the outfit around them. Tantrum averted!

Tangled Up In Plaid*

Outfit Details: Sunnies: Steve Madden; Button-Down: Gap; Jacket: Calvin Klein (Macy's); 
Leggings: Lands' End Canvas; Flats: Gap; Purse: Vintage Dooney & Bourke (Thrifted)
Flats: Gap

Nothing says "fall" to me quite like a good plaid flannel shirt. This one is my favorite, but I have several others, which I predict you'll be seeing a lot of this season. I wore this outfit to go for a walk with B the other evening. Nothing exciting, but there are few things I enjoy more than wandering around outside this time of year (Now you probably think I'm old and lame!), and I'm looking forward to seeing all the changes that fall brings.

What are some of your favorite things to do - and wear - this time of year?

XO!

*Post title from title of the Queens of the Stone Age song

Until the East Coast Ends*

This photo is a bit blurry, unfortunately, but I wanted to show you the rest of my outfit.

Smuttynose Pumpkin Ale with cinnamon & sugar on the rim. Amazing, of course.


Performing with a broken leg. What a trooper matt pond PA is!

Hanging out with matt pond PA. No big deal.

Outfit Details: Scarf: Cynthia Rowley (Marshall's); Tank: Old Navy; Purse: Fossil;
Belt: Forever 21; Pants: Gap; Flats: Gap

Two months ago, when I heard matt pond PA was going to be performing in Boston, I bought tickets immediately. He is one of my very favorite musicians, and I have been so looking forward to finally seeing him live. A few days before the concert, however, Matt broke his leg. I was certain that the concert would, understandably, be canceled. But it wasn't! Like a warrior, Matt performed Saturday night, and it was amazing, of course! Afterward, B and I bought him a beer and talked to him for a few minutes. What a night!

*Post title from the title of a matt pond PA song

Crock-Pot Orange & Honey Tofu

So excited fall beer is back!

Tofu gets a bad rap. Many people I know simply refuse to try it, or they insist that they have tried it but don't like it. I, on the other hand, love tofu! Whichever side you're on, I recommend you try this recipe, which I found on A Year of Slow Cooking.

Here's what you'll need:
1 package extra firm tofu
2 cloves minced garlic or 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup orange juice
1/4 cup honey
Fresh broccoli florets

Here's what you'll do:
1. Drain tofu & chop into bite-sized chunks
2. Brown tofu & garlic in skillet (you can use a little butter, if you'd like)
3. Add tofu to Crock-Pot & top with other ingredients
4. Cover & cook on low for 4-5 hours
5. Serve over rice

Enjoy!

Chantilly Lace & A Pretty Face*

Outfit Details: Top: Thrifted; Jeans: Gap; Shoes: Target

Okay, so my top isn't really Chantilly lace, but it is some kind of lace, and I love it. I thrifted it in the middle of summer, knowing it would be perfect for fall, and I've been eagerly waiting to wear it since then. A couple of weeks ago, when the weather finally started to cool, this was the first item I pulled from my closet to wear. (I somehow lost track of these photos, so I'm just getting around to posting them now. Oops!) I really like the how the outfit turned out, especially the contrast of the super-feminine top with the black denim and sneaker-ish shoes. I hope you like it too!

XO!

*Post tile from The Big Bopper's "Chantilly Lace"

Last Friday Night

Aushak from Ariana

Outfit Details: Scarf: thrifted; Top: Forever 21; Belt: Thrifted;
Purse: Vieta; Skirt: Old Navy; Flats: Gap

Guys, yesterday was a really bad day. I don't want to be a downer, so instead I'm going to share some photos from last Friday, which was a good day.

We live in a area of Boston that's very ethnically diverse, so there are tons of interesting and different restaurants, many of which are within a couple minute walk of our apartment. We've been dying to try Ariana, an Afghani restaurant right down the street. We went last Friday, not really knowing what to expect.. and we were SO impressed. (Afghani food is like Indian, but better!) I had aushak, which is ravioli filled with leeks and scallions, served on a garlic and mint yogurt sauce and topped with yellow split-peas and carrot sauce. We'll definitely be going back soon; there's a pumpkin and eggplant dish I'm dying to try.

Happy weekend! Here's hoping it's lovely for all of us!

XO!

You Can Keep Your Hat On*

This isn't my house.. I'm just borrowing the cute brick wall.


Sweet kitty that lives in the superette in our neighborhood!

Outfit Details: Hat: J Crew (Husband's); Top: Gap; Belt: Forever 21;
Pants: Old Navy; Flats: Gap

I love hats.. in theory. In practice, however, I'm self-conscious about wearing them. (When I was a child, someone called me "young man" while I was wearing a hat. I think that's the root of the issue.)

While I was doing a little pre-class thrifting, a cute (creepy?) old man approached me and said, "I like your hat. And you're a pretty girl on top of it. I wish I was 50 years younger, I'd grab you right now!" Cute or creepy? You decide. But he did make me feel more confident in my fedora the rest of the day!

XO! 

*Post title from the Joe Cocker song of the same name