Beginning and an End

I'm not so arrogant as to believe this announcement will impact you in some monumental way, and I don't think a long-winded explanation is warranted or necessary. But I want you to know that I've decided to end this blog. I am so grateful to those of you who took an interest in this little space of mine. Some of you have even become real life friends, and for you I am especially thankful.

I always told myself that I'd keep fashion blogging until it wasn't fun anymore. Until it started to feel like a chore. Recently, that's how I've started to feel.

Between school and two internships, I have little free time, and it's important to me that I spend that free time doing things I'm passionate about. In that vein, I have started a new blog, one that's more in line with my budding interest in photography and my love for travel.

I hope that some of you will follow along on my new adventure at Some Beautiful Things.

Foodie Friday: Crock-Pot Quinoa

I love quinoa. And I love anything I can cook in the Crock-Pot. So this recipe, from A Year of Slow Cooking, is a match made in food heaven. [In the future, though, I think I'll make this sans tomatoes. I don't think they added anything to the dish.]

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups quinoa 
3 cups vegetable stock 
1 T olive oil 
1/2 t cinnamon 
1/4 cup sliced almonds 
1/3 cup dried, unsweetened cranberries 
Handful of baby spinach 
1 cup baby tomatoes, halved or quartered depending on size 
1/2 block feta cheese, crumbled

Directions:
1. Dump quinoa into the crockpot. [Some quinoa needs to be washed before use, so be mindful of this.] Add 1 tablespoon of olive oil, and mix it around. Add vegetable stock and cinnamon. Stir in almonds and cranberries. 
2. Cover and cook on low for 4-6 hours or on high for 2-4. The quinoa is done when you can fluff The liquid should be pretty well absorbed and quinoa should be kind of "fluffy." 
3. Fluff the quinoa with a fork and add baby tomatoes [or not] and feta cheese. Stir gingerly to mix. Add a handful of baby spinach to the top, and close the lid. Cook on high for another 20 minutes.
4. Stir again to distribute the spinach and serve.

Jackets

Jacket: Calvin Klein (thrifted)

Button-down: Lands' End Canvas

Bracelets: Madewell

Purse: Fossil (Macy's)

Pants: Urban Outfitters:

Flats: Gap

Several times on the blog I've declared, "I need to wear such-and-such more often!" I've said it about t-shirts. I've said it about pants. I've said it about jewelry. Well, now I'm declaring that I need to wear my jackets more often.

Often I will bundle up or layer underneath a chunky sweater when I need to add warmth to an outfit. In the process, I neglect my [actually rather large] jacket, blazer, and coat collection.

So here I am wearing my denim jacket. Okay, I admit I'm kind of cheating here, as this is the one jacket I do wear with regularity. But I'm hoping it's a step in the right direction!

Rainy Day

Scarf: Gap

T-shirt: Gap

Cardigan: thrifted

Jeans: American Eagle

Shoes: Steve Madden (6PM.com)

Purse: vintage Dooney and Bourke (thrifted)

Ring: thrifted

Bracelets: American Eagle, Madewell

I don't normally pose with my Starbucks—I feel like it's a little douchey—but hear me out. 

Ben and I were done with work by noon last Friday, and we decided to take advantage of our afternoon off by going out to eat and going for a walk. We had lobster soup for lunch at New England Soup Factory and then headed to Starbucks for our post-meal caffeine. As we left Starbucks, it started to rain, so we ducked under an overhang to snap a few photos, Starbucks cup and all. I couldn't let a perfectly good outfit go to waste! As it was pouring, a walk was out of the question, so we took a leisurely drive through neighboring Marblehead instead. It ended up being a wonderful day in spite of the rain. 

How do you like to spend your rainy days?

Puppysitting

Sweater: Forever 21

Dress: Urban Outfitters

Leggings: Forever 21

Shoes: Target 

If it's true that the world is divided into two categories—cat people and dog people—then I would have to be a cat person. 

But I do love dogs too! So when a friend told me he was puppysitting, another friend and I promptly skipped out on our last class of the day and headed over to meet Oliver the puppy.  We spent the remainder of the absolutely beautiful afternoon walking Oliver and playing with him in the Boston Common. 

Oliver is adorable, and I know he's the real star of this post. But my new sweater is pretty cute too, right?

Indoors

Glasses: Glasses USA

Sweater: thrifted

Button-down: American Eagle

Belt: thrifted

Pants: Marshall's

Shoes: Steve Madden (6PM.com)  

Full disclosure: I wasn't going to blog this outfit. I really do like it, but by the time Ben got out of work it was dark, and outdoor photos were out of the question. Booo. But then Ben came home and liked the outfit so much that we decided to snap a few indoor photos before heading out to dinner. I'm glad we did!

I'm having a major love affair with these pants right now, and finding ways to style them is a fun challenge. I'm a big fan of blue and gold together, so pairing them with this button-down was a logical choice. I was in the mood for some preppy androgyny, so I rolled up my pant legs and opted for these great Steve Madden brogues.

I was also in the mood for Mexican food, so..

Get Your StyleFixx

Mark your calendars, ladies! The StyleFixx Premier Shopping Event is October 24th & 25th, 2012 in Boston. Join us for two nights of shopping, featuring over 55 cutting-edge designers and brands. We will also indulge in complimentary makeovers, hair treatments, cocktails, manicures, massages, Swag Bags and more.
You can:

• Meet independent designers and shop their Fall 2012 lines

• Sip complimentary champagne, cocktails, beer, and wine

• Enjoy complimentary hair treatments by Hairo and Jose Eber

• Pamper yourself with a free makeover from Dermalogica and massages by Massage Envy

• Score a Swag Bag stuffed with goodies

Purchase your tickets here. And hurry! Only advance ticket holders are guaranteed a StyleFixx Swag Bag!