Ikat - The Not So New Hot Thing

I love tribal inspired fashion but I can't say I've ever really been drawn towards Ikat prints, I don't know, they always just seemed a little too bold and geometric for me. But lately Ikay prints have been catching my eye, especially when in the form of maxi dresses.

1. Harvy Nichols - Cool Change Dress; 2. Thakoon Addition Ikat Tank Dress; 3. Warehouse Silk Ikat Maxi Dress; 4. Joy Louch Ballou Ikat Maxi Dress

I'm also finding myself partial to blue and white Ikat prints, or really any other color with white. I'm especially digging the Harvey Nichols dress above, which comes in a few colors. I think it's prefer for summer and would be perfectly happy wearing it every day for the next three months. I also love the Thakoon dress (mostly because I love anything Thakoon makes) but even at the sale price of $349 it's just never going to happen.

However, while creating this post I discovered Warehouse and I'm totally blown away by their super cute clothes at totally reasonable prices...A 100% silk dress for $116? I'll take it! The Ikat dress above is also silk (and machine washable!) and on sale for $81. Has anyone purchased from this company before? Are the deals too good to be true? I want to believe so bad!

But I digress, back to Ikat, which, by the way, refers to the pattern - if you haven't already figured that out. It's similar to tie dying and originated during Pre-Columbian times in Central and South America (which I didn't know, thanks wikipedia!)

Ikat isn't only limited to clothing. I am loving this Ditte Sofa from Anthropologie, which you can own for the low price of $3,298. Although considering the price of furniture these days, that's about par for the course.

Clockwise: Karma Living Ikat Lover Pillow in Green; Twelfth St. by Cynthia Vincent Flats (on sale!); Dolce Vita Augustina Ikat Shorts; Rebecca Minkoff Ikat MAC Clutch; Hanne Bloch Once Piece Swimsuit (kind of but not really Ikat, but too pretty to not include).

Anyone jumping on this trend? Anyone running the hell away? I have an unabashed love for tie dye, so maybe Ikat is like its classier older cousin that I need to make friends with? Like I said, I'd really like to make close friends with those maxi dresses...

Recipe: Clean Eating Green Summer Salad

I keep going on these health kicks where I decide I'm going to cook everything in a crock pot or join the "clean living" movement. So far none of these have really panned out. However, I'm feeling pretty icky these days and after my and Tony's weekend at the beach and pool, where we both had a rather difficult time shoving ourselves into our respective bathing suits, I've decided a stand need to be taken. So far this has consisted of eating 1 healthy thing. But who knows, maybe there will be more healthy things in my future. I hope. I'm throwing around the idea of picking up Brendan Brazier's Thrive, which seems to pretty much be the bible for vegan athletes and Tosca Reno's Eat Clean Diet Vegetarian Cookbook. Anyone have any experience with any of these?

This recipe is inspired by He and She Eat Clean's Quinoa and Vegetables and Glass of Win's Quinoa Tabbouleh. Except I didn't have most of the ingredients for either one so I kind of mushed them together and then came up with my own thing. It goes like this.


Ingredients:

• 1 C of quinoa
• 2 C of vegetable broth
• 1 cucumber
• 1 sm. package of edamame
• 2 T apple cider vinegar
• 1/4 C (or less if you prefer) of olive oil
• salt and pepper to taste
• 2 tsp of minced garlic
• 1 T of parsley

Directions

1. Rinse quinoa and bring vegetable broth and quinoa to a boil. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes or until all liquid is absorbed.
2. Follow directions on packet for cooking edamame, I prefer mine more crunchy and microwave it for 3 minutes and let it set for 1 minute. Shell edamame and add to bowl.
3. Clean and dice cucumber, add to edamame.
4. Drizzle olive oil, vinegar, salt, pepper, parsley, and garlic over vegetables. Mix well.
5. Add quinoa to vegetables and mix. Allow flavors to combine for at least 30 minutes. Serve warm or chilled.

Quinoa is a great gluten free grain and is high in protein, as is edamame. This salad makes a great low carb high protein side dish or main course.

You can also add feta cheese, any other vegetables that strike your fancy, lemon juice, or whatever else you have lying around.

Campstravaganza 2012

I hope everyone had a great weekend. Things went surprisingly well here in New York, although the weather originally called for thunderstorms every day of the long weekend (which would have put a severe damper on my camping trip) it ended up being sunny and in the 80s every day. To be honest I can't remember the last time we had such a great Memorial Weekend.

Here's my weekend (or most of it, I neglected to document the beach and pool) via hipstagram.

Okay, first think 3lbs of bacon were consumed in a 3 day period, however, none by me. That equates to slightly under a pound of bacon for each person present. Rather impressive I think.

Also, have you played Cards Against Humanity? basically it's like apples to apples but really really really inappropriate. it's so wrong but so right, i highly recommend you purchase it when you can - it's often sold out on amazon.

We also hiked up Prospect Mountain in Lake George. This is the most touristy mountain in the Adirondacks, but it's still a good time. We hiked up the mountain and then, since we are old and decrepit with bad knees, thought we would walk down the road that led up. We were told it was a 3.5 mile walk...we were not told it was 3.5 miles to the next lookout and that there were 3 lookouts...and tat we were at the very first one. Needless to say we got a lot more exercise than we had anticipated. And also severe sunburns and aching calves, both of which I am nursing right now.

On our walk down the mountain we were surrounded by butterflies, it was very Snow White-esque. Until I found a perfectly preserved dead butterfly on the road and we had a weird and creepy photoshoot. Tony is one with nature.

I can't believe I didn't take any beach photos. Sorry dudes and dudettes. Suffice to say, I highly recommend Million Dollar Beach in Lake George, it's really worth paying the $10 for parking, although I think if you walk over it might be free. The beach is clean, there are tons of showers, changing rooms and and bathrooms, and there's even a concession stand. Aside from some trashy Jersey Shore type individuals who were breaking all the rules and being extremely obnoxious, it was quite peaceful.

We finished the weekend with an impromptu pool party at my parents and then with a ridiculously delicious meal at Dinosaur BBQ, where I was quite adventurous and tried the catfish for the first time. Unsurprisingly my fears were totally unfounded as it was amazingly delicious.

p.s. Remember to enter my giveaway!

DIY Anthropologie Tutorials

i could make these, but i won't.

  The new motto for my generation might be something like "Anthropologie taste with a Target wallet." Or something like that. I'm a pretty crafty person and on more than one occasion I've seen something on the Anthropologie site that costs about two billion dollars and said to myself, "I could make that." And then I don't. Ever.

But I'm determined to follow through this summer. I've run across a few DIY Anthropologie tutorials that looked pretty awesome, and have put together a guide of Anthro-like tutorials for you guys. Now, this is not a comprehensive list. This is a short list of projects that I would like to attempt, which I think best reflect the "Anthro style" with fairly detailed tutorials. There are many more if you search places like pinterest, but not all of them are actually connected to tutorials (I know, I looked!).

So, if it's a rainy day and you're feeling particularly crafty, give one of these tutorials a shot - and then let me know how it went!

DIY Anthropologie Inspired Clothing and Accessory Tutorials

 Tea Rose Home Ruffled Shirt Tutorial

3 Four and Under Anthropologie Inspired Cuff Bracelet

 Ruffles and Roses Anthropologie Ruffled Skirt Tutorial

Southern Fairy Designs Anthropologie Power of 3 Necklace Tutorial

iCandy Handmade Anthro Inspired Wandering Wake Tee Tutorial

Crochet Clouds Anthropologie Purl One Bracelet Tutorial

Pressurefoot Inspiration Anthro Catch and Release Scarf Tutorial

DIY Anthropologie Inspired Home Decor Tutorials

Design Dump Anthropologie Inspired Lampshade

Elle Apparel Anthropologie Ruffle Shower Curtain Tutorial

Mama Says Sew Shabby Chic Rosette Lampshade Tutorial

Kojo Designs Anthropologie Inspired Knotted Bedding Tutorial

Made by Lex Anthropologie Cirrus Duvet Tutorial

Besserina Anthropologie Georgina Tutorial

Whipperberry Anthropologie Inspired Snow Globe Tutorial

Besserina Anthropologie Knockoff Ruffled Curtain Tutorial

You can also check out Copycat Crafts Anthropologie Inspired Section and Kristina J's blog is all about anthropologizing clothes, although her projects require more skill than I have, they're still very pretty to look at!

By the way, I'm particularly irritated by the lack of easy to find Anthropologie inspired crochet patterns. Is there a secret stash somewhere? Is this a void in need of filling (by me?)? SOMEONE HELP ME!

Oh, and why you are here, why not check out the giveaway!

Giveaway! Win a Pair of Earrings from Contempo Jewelry Designs

 [Silk Thread Necklace with Freshwater Pearls and Seed Beads]

Contempo Jewelry Designs is run by Staci Egan, who makes all of her lovely jewelry in Pennsylvania. Staci says her jewelry features nature inspired designs reflective of the lush landscape and colorful foliage of Central Pennsylvania. Each individual piece is designed & hand crafted by Staci with love and attention to detail. Her jewelry has even made it to the red carpet at the 84th Academy Awards, which totally gives her bragging rights!

 [Clockwise: Vintage Crystal Ring; Copper Orbitz Chain Earrings; Ceramic Sprout Ring; Gold Filled Wrapped Stud Earrings; Waves Ceramic Necklace; Pastel Freshwater Pearl Dangle Necklace]

Not only is her lovely jewelry affordable, but now you can win a pair of copper or sterling silver stud earrings (your choice) for free! What better pick me up could there be than some free bling, right!?

[My favorite pair - Pastel Green Fresh Water Pearl and Sterling Silver Stud Earrings]

To enter you must follow this blog via GFC or RSS and comment with your favorite item from Staci's store on etsy. You can win additional entries by following on facebook, twitter, and blogging and tweeting about this giveaway.




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Intrepid Explorer {Of Strip Malls}

[DIY Cut Offs - Thrifted American Eagle; T-Shirt - Madewell; Chambray Button Up Shirt -J.Crew via Clothing Swap; Heels - Steve Madden; Bag - Latico via ideeli; Tibetan Prayer Bracelet - Headshop in NYC; Leather and Brass Bracelet - Gift from Mexico; Lipstick - Mary Kay Really Red]

So this is kind of what I wear when I'm doing field research...except no heels, and generally no shorts, since it doesn't get that warm in Cape Flattery. Actually, now that I think of it, the only thing from this ensemble that I really where when doing research is the J.Crew shirt. It's just awesome, and makes me feel very Indiana Jones like.  Except instead of doing doing research on this day  I was running errands at Target (where I got a bunch of bathroom stuff, yeah!).


Which brings me to another thing. Do people actually wear heels when running errands around town? I've decided it's silly. Heels are for going out to lunch, dates, and going out. They are not for Genius appointments at the Apple store. I mean, if you're in a hurry it takes you forever to get anywhere when wearing them. Not to mention you're feet are going to hurt - or at least mine do and I don't generally wear cheap-o heels. I confess, shortly after these photos were taken I switched into American Eagle leather flip flops. They just make life easier.

First time trying this lipstick - totally digging it.

This J. Crew shirt has been a staple as an outer shirt/light jacket ever since I snagged it at a clothing swap a few years ago. Yes, a few years ago, that's how well J.Crew stuff can hold up. Impressive.

I like this outfit a lot - it's neutral, simple and it let's me wear all sorts of big, chunky jewelry. The shorts I made by cutting off a pair of thrifted American Eagle jeans (I have a fondness for AE pants, they just always fit well). The shirt is totally awesome and from Madewell. It's embroidered with seed pearls, and you'd think it would be delicate but it's managed to last me quite a while with no special attention - I just turn it inside out and wash it on gentle. I only have a couple Madewell pieces and I wish I had more because I think they're very, well...made well. Except we don't have a store anywhere near where I live, so I only get to shop when I'm on vacation or a research trip that's near one.

I think I might be the only person who arranges their vacations around clothing store locations.

Oh, and this Latico bag is the biggest bag I own. Totally awesome. Can fit anything, ever, and is leather and brass, one of my favorite combinations. Sometimes I put Lux in it when we go to get ice cream, because I'm a crazy cat lady. It's definitely the most stylish cat carrier ever.

Travel Tuesday: Punta Cana, Domincan Republic

the island that stole my shorts.

Guys. I need a vacation. Trying to graduate is pretty much miserable and right now I'd like nothing better than to hang out on a beach drinking fruity drinks for a few days. At this point I've been a beast to live with, so I'm pretty sure Tony would like me to go on a vacation (far away), too. In 2007 I took an impromptu week long vacation with my most oldest friend, Julia, to the Dominican Republic. We stayed in Punta Cana at a Riu hotel, an all inclusive resort where you are greeted with a Bahama Mama upon arrival. Awesome.

It's hard to say what my favorite thing about the Caribbean is.  The sunshine? Yes. The Beaches? Yes. The drinks? Kind of, I'm not particularly attached to alcohol, though. The food? HELL YES. I think my favorite thing about a Caribbean vacation is the ability to relax in the sun (something we lack here most of the year in New York) and enjoy fresh fruit and delicious food. Absolutely paradise. And yes, strawberry daiquiris and Cuba Libres. I'm also one of those boring people who likes to recharge their batteries on vacation - meaning I am totally happy to go to bed early, wake up early, and spend a day absorbing Vitamin D and reading on the beach.

Yeah, I'm an old lady.

anyone with an addiction to coconut water will appreciate this sight.

Julia and I stayed in Punta Cana for a week, most of the time at the resort. We also signed up for a couple day trips, both of which were awesome. We were going to go SCUBA diving, but Julia ended up with an ear infection so we went snorkling instead. It was great, mostly because we were the only people who were physically in shape and actually interested in snorkeling instead of just day drinking. As a result our guide, Jorge, was very enthusiastic, and even though we faced a language barrier, we had a great time and saw a lot of great sea life - although I have to say, it was so disappointing to see all the dead coral. Jorge said that this was because the temperature of the ocean had risen over the past several years and was killing off the sensitive coral. I don't think of myself as much of a treehugger, but apparently I am because I am pretty displeased by this. We also took a catamaran out to Isla Saona, a national park. Although this trip resulted in me leaving my favorite pair of shorts on a beach in a National Park, it was still a good time. The shorts were sorely missed.

All inclusive resorts are great - they include all your meals and drinks, and there is often hotel entertainment in the evening. The Riu also included non-motorized ocean excursions and had a whole bunch of activities going on. I especially enjoyed the Riu because they had a network of several hotels next to one another and you could eat at any of the restaurants.

wishing that this was the view i was looking at right now.

So yeah, what I'm saying, is that I'd really like to be on a beach in Punta Cana right now.

By the way, don't drink the water, even to brush your teeth. You've been warned.

{Recipe} Zucchini Quinoa Lasagna

This is a slightly modified version of Peas and Thank You's Zucchini Quinoa Lasagna. Mine is not vegan, although it could very easily be made so, the vegan version is just as delicious. I've made Peas and Thank You version, as well as a few other modified versions, before but this iteration is both my and Tony's favorite. It's absolutely delicious, rich and creamy, and not too horrible for you. It's very satisfying for both vegetarian and non-vegetarians and everyone in my family is always asking me for the recipe. Sometimes I throw in some Quorn chik'n for some added protein, although quinoa is a protein rich grain, so that's not really necessary.

I should also say that unlike Peas and Thank You's lasagna, mine is much more...liquidy and doesn't really stay together like actual lasagna, but I like a lot of sauce, so whatevs.

This recipe makes 4-6 entree sized servings.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Ingredients:

• 2 Large zucchini, cut lengthwise into 12 1/4in thick slices
• Salt
• 2 C Vegetable broth
• 1 25 oz. Can of Marinara sauce
• 1 C quinoa, rinsed and drained
• 1 Can of diced tomatoes (I used organic fire roasted diced tomatoes)
• 1/2 Chopped onion
• 3/4 C Shredded mozzarella
• 2 tsp Dried oregano or 1tsp fresh
• 1T Dried basil or 1/4 C fresh basil chopped
• 1T Dried parsley or 1/4 C fresh parsley chopped
• 2 oz. Cream cheese

Directions:

1. Slice zucchini and sprinkle with salt. Layer between paper towels and let stand so as to absorb moisture.
2. Bring broth, quinoa, tomato sauce, onion and oregano to boils. Cover and simmer 25 minutes or until liquid is absorbed.
3. Remove from heat and stir in basil, parsley, cream cheese.
4. Spoon 1/3 C marinara sauce over bottom of 8in square baking dish. Blot remaining moisture and salt from zucchini and lay 4 slices over sauce. 
5. Spoon half of the quinoa over the zucchini and cover with 1/3 C of marinara. I like to sprinkle a small amount of mozzarella in between the layers as well.
6. Top with remaining 4 zucchini slices, marinara, and shredded cheese. 
7. Bake 30 mins or until zucchini is tender and top is bubbly. If you bake longer the zucchini will just be more mushy, but I like somewhat firm vegetables.

My Top Three Hair Products {Especially For Dry or Curly Hair!}

My hair is a beast. It's dry and wavy and snarls easily. In general it requires some maintenance to keep it manageable. As such, I've tried out quite a few different hair products over the years. I love picking up new shampoos, conditioners, and whatever else you can think of at places like Marshall's and TJ Maxx because I'm just not willing to spend that much money on a new experimental product.

I find most of them to be disappointing. So rarely does it seem that a product actually lives up to its claims, or the hype around it, that I'm just not willing to spend full price on something I've never tried before. On top of that, I rarely re-purchase a product. Like I said, there's just been too much disappointment and heartbreak between me and hair products, these days I'm a tough sell.

In the winter it doesn't really matter so much how my hair looks because you can't leave your house without a hat on. But the summer is a different story. You're going to get some weird looks if you walk outside with a knit hat in 85 degree weather.

However, these 3 products have my full endorsement. I love them so much I am even willing to pay full price for them, when forced to. And that is really saying something, because I don't pay full price for anything.

1. Alterna Caviar Anti Aging Sea Silk Color Hold (I use Red) - Love this conditioner. I picked it up on a whim because I couldn't find anything thing to use an Overstock Livingsocial deal on (void on books, really?!). Best decision ever. When the bottle arrived I was shocked at how little it was, especially considering the conditioner is $20+ a bottle. However, I soon realized that a little goes a long way. What usually takes a whole handful of product to do it only takes a small dab of Alterna. This conditioner smooths out my hair, leaving it extremely soft and manageable - something that many other conditioners have failed to do in the past. I feel like my curls are defined and springy, even without product after using this conditioner. I also think it has helped preserve my color. I haven't tried any other Alerna products, but this conditioner has convinced me that I should try whatever I can get my greedy little hands on. Love this stuff!

2. It's a 10 Miracle Leave in Plus Keratin  - Another product I adore. My stylist has been using this on my hair for years (first the original Miracle Leave In, then the Plus Keratin). Like most people my hair always looks best after a visit to the hair dresser, so I decided to get it myself. Plus it smells really good. I use this right after I get out of the shower. It instantly smooths my hair out, detangles, and helps eliminate frizz and dryness. My only complaint is that sometimes my spray gets clogged and no amount of cleaning seems to fix it - it just sprays out a stream instead of a spritz. In those cases I spray it into my hands and apply it to my ends working towards my roots, although stopping before I get to them. I don't brush or comb my hair outside of the shower, to I just run my fingers through when applying this product, and it seems to do a great job. I think it's great as a leave in conditioner or for anyone with dry or frizzy hair.

3. Curl Junkie Curls in a Bottle - I have tried a bazillion curl products: gels, sprays, serums, shampoos, conditioners, the list goes on. There have only been a few that I actually liked. And by a few, I think I mean two. This is one of them. It is by far and away my absolute favorite. I put a quarter size amount in my palm, rub it together until it gets foamy, and apply it to my hair, scrunching from the ends upward. Even without blow drying, this product makes a huge difference. My curls usually fall out during the day, especially when it's windy. However, I think this product not only helps my waves turn into corkscrew curls, but it also maintains them throughout the day - and of course if I add more and create a "gel cast" the curls can last for a day or two. By far and away my favorite curl orientated product and a full size bottle lasts me many months, making it worth the price.

Weekend Pick Me Up: Teapot Necklace by Petite Vanilla

Etsy overflows with teapot themed doodads, and if you add the Alice and Wonderland paraphernalia it just about triples the search. However, this Teapot Necklace by Petite Vanilla stood out amongst all the silver charms. I think it's so delicate and lovely and to be honest I was skeptical about posting it to the blog because I kind of want to buy it for myself...which I might do anyway. We'll see.

It's $10 (plus $1.50 for shipping) but comes with a chain, which many charms on etsy do not. Petite Vanilla also offers many other inexpensive pieces of jewelry and has discounted shipping for multiple items that is very reasonable.

Boho Beauties - Summer Style Inspiration

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 It was suppose to be 102 degrees here on Sunday. This is pretty abnormal for our area, where it really doesn't start to get warm until July, and even then it rarely breaks into the 90s. That being said, I think they've revised the forecast,  but I don't really care. I'm in the mood for summer.

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 For me, summer means hot, humid weather. And that means light, airy clothes. Who wants to get bogged down in tight clothes? And not to be totally gross, but am I the only one who sweats when its 90 something degrees out? I don't want to be wearing clothes that get armpit sweat stains, or worse, crotch sweat (ew, yeah, I went there, no one ever wants to go there, so let's just nip that at the bud).

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No, my thing is dresses, skirts, baggy loose shirts, burnout fabrics, etc...Excet my style usually has a little bit more rocker chic in it, kind of like Boho Meets Miami - which might be my summer mantra. That is a total lie, I can never commit to any one thing, let alone a style theme for the entire summer.

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At least not when I love nautical blue and white bottoms so much. Oh, and my one critique of this style genre is the fact that when it is hot, humid, and/or windy, having your hair down, especially when it is long and wavy, is just plain gross and generally disastrous.

Office Inspriation: Functionality Meets Beauty

Right now I"m sitting in my bedroom trying to avoid eye contact and making any noise lest Lux decide to come over and harass me. Any sign that you are paying attention to her is an open invitation for her to come over and walk all over your keyboard. You see, painters are currently outside painting my living room and bathroom and I can't go out because Lux will run around like a hooligan leaving paw prints in all our windowsills and likely end up covered in paint. So she has been locked inside our bedroom all day and I've just come home from work and am keeping her company. But that's not enough. She needs my attention 100% of the time.

Oh joy, she has just taken a protest poop - the worst kind of poop possible. She is a crafty one, Lux. When you are doing work and she wants you to play with her, she will go over and take a horrible dump that smells so bad that you have no choice other than to leave the room. And then hey, coincidence, you're not doing work anymore, so let's play!

Anyway, I cannot wait for the paint to be done and dry. Not only will I be able to escape the monstrosities coming out of Lux's rear end, but I'll also get to start rearranging and decorating! My desk is currently in our main living space (I work better with background noise, I know, I'm weird) and Design Sponge just posted this DIY Room Divider Bulletin Board so I've got beautiful work spaces on my mind. Here are a few that I would die for.

Not really, because who the hell really wants to die for an office. Dying for a place to type up papers and fill in spreadsheets seems a bit silly, if you ask me. Although if there was an office to die for, it might be this one, posted today on This is Glamorous, or maybe Aerin Lauder's (as in the granddaughter of Estee Lauder) amazing office from this photo shoot in Architectural Digest.

Maryam Montague's office is like a cool oasis in the middle of the desert - which it is! Although the decor reminds me of the ocean, she's actually Marrakech, Morocco. Also, I wonder what her floor says?

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India Hicks, another woman sitting pretty high on my list of lady crushes, has a gorgeous home and office in Harbour Island, Bahamas. It's tropical without going overboard and kitschy.

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I don't think the bottom one is actually her office, but I don't care because it is still gorgeous. I have a type drawer that I've used to display a number of things over the years, from perfume to jewelry, but I think shells might be next on the list. I prefer the natural wood, but mine was not in particuarly good condition when I got it so I spray painted it dark blue. I'm not sure if I'll keep it that way, sand it and give it a "shabby chic" look or who knows what. There are way too many nooks and crannies to actually sand it all the way down and sand it. We'll see.