There will be a lot of people talking about about capsule wardrobes-- there are a lot of different takes on in and it can be a little bit overwhelming. When I have done the different 7x7 challenges I have found it hard because I don't want to feel limited in my choices.. Though, there is definitely such thing as too much choice when it comes to a wardrobe. I don't know about you, but I know for a fact that there have been times when I have thought that I would love something and wear it all the time only to find out that I don't wear it that often or even worse it is still hanging in the closet with it's tags still on.
I had a new postpartum body to dress and none of my clothes were fitting in the same way anymore. So, I did a huge closet purge-- it is continually a work in process because obviously I couldn't get rid of all of my clothes at one time. My focus became not necessarily on how many items or what types of items; but rather pieces that I love. These items need to be able to be remixable-- gone are the days of only wearing it in one perfect outfit, they need to fit my lifestyle. I have an almost two year old so these items need to be machine washable and very movable. I demand a lot out of my clothes because I also work outside of the home. I don't have time for high maintenance clothing.
It has been a process of learning but over the next week I will be talking with you more about how I have simplified my wardrobe. I think my wardrobe and my style will continue to evolve.
Saturday, October 10, 2015
Friday, October 2, 2015
Day 2: Sweet Treats
I love fall treats, but I don't have a lot of time or patience for baking. It is a problem when you love treats, but don't want to spend the time or money to get them.
Skip to my Lou has a great Snickerdoodle recipe that comes from a cake mix. It takes me 30 minutes to get all of my cookies made. They are super easy, super delicious and I have yet to meet anyone who doesn't like them. They are a great chocolate or pumpkin alternative this time of year-- especially while the rest of the world has gone pumpkin spice crazy!
Skip to my Lou has a great Snickerdoodle recipe that comes from a cake mix. It takes me 30 minutes to get all of my cookies made. They are super easy, super delicious and I have yet to meet anyone who doesn't like them. They are a great chocolate or pumpkin alternative this time of year-- especially while the rest of the world has gone pumpkin spice crazy!
Thursday, October 1, 2015
October 1st means Fall is Here!
Today is October 1st. That means it is the first day of Write31 originally started by The Nester... I participated last year, but I wasn't 100% successful because Little Man got really sick. So this year I have 5 topics that I am going to write about with the common theme being simplicity. These are not topics that I am an expert at, but rather they are topics that I am interested in learning about. I am taking a journey of finding balance. Week 1 is about Simplicity in the kitchen-- making easy, family friendly recipes or any tricks that I have learned along the way.
Since it is now very fallish it is time to start eating fall things! I have a huge love affair with 1 pot meals, I find them to be really easy and they don't create a ton of dishes either. I am trying a new lasagna skillet recipe as my base from fivehearthome.com-- I don't have all of the ingredients but I can easily sub them for the same thing in a dried spice form.
Here is what you will need:
1 (28 oz can) petite diced tomatoes
water
1 (8 oz can) of tomato sauce
1 T olive oil
5 cloves of garlic minced or 1 1/4 teaspoons garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon pepper flakes
1 pound ground beef
8 oz of pasta or 6-8 uncooked lasagna noodles broken up
1 T each of basil, oregano, thyme, and parsley mixed
1/2 cup + 2 T of grated Parmesan
1 cup cottage cheese
Here are the directions:
Step 1 Pour the can of diced tomatoes into a 4 cup measuring cup--I'm using my very large pyrex measuring cup. Add enough water to measure it to 4 cups.
Step 2: Heat a large skillet with a lid over medium heat ( I have a deep stainless steel pan that I use), Pour 1 Tablespoon of olive oil into the pan. Swish it around by tilting your pan. Add your garlic, red pepper flakes and stir for 30 seconds. Add ground beef and brown. When done drain. Add in 3 Tablespoons of spice mixture.
Step 3: Add pasta to the meat. Pour your tomato mixture over the noodles and meat, without stirring. Bring to a simmer and then reduce heat to medium-low heat... Cover and stir every 5 minutes. Add more spices if are necessary. Cook time is 20-25 minutes. After to you get everything on the stove it would be a great time to help the kiddos in your world with homework! I would throw in some buttermilk biscuits or crescent rolls in the oven at this time!
Step 4: Remove from heat and add your cheese. Adjust any of the necessary spices. Before serving mix your cottage cheese. Allow to rest for five minutes. While your lasagna is resting get everyone to the table, that does take 5 minutes in of itself.
Since it is now very fallish it is time to start eating fall things! I have a huge love affair with 1 pot meals, I find them to be really easy and they don't create a ton of dishes either. I am trying a new lasagna skillet recipe as my base from fivehearthome.com-- I don't have all of the ingredients but I can easily sub them for the same thing in a dried spice form.
Here is what you will need:
1 (28 oz can) petite diced tomatoes
water
1 (8 oz can) of tomato sauce
1 T olive oil
5 cloves of garlic minced or 1 1/4 teaspoons garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon pepper flakes
1 pound ground beef
8 oz of pasta or 6-8 uncooked lasagna noodles broken up
1 T each of basil, oregano, thyme, and parsley mixed
1/2 cup + 2 T of grated Parmesan
1 cup cottage cheese
Here are the directions:
Step 1 Pour the can of diced tomatoes into a 4 cup measuring cup--I'm using my very large pyrex measuring cup. Add enough water to measure it to 4 cups.
Step 2: Heat a large skillet with a lid over medium heat ( I have a deep stainless steel pan that I use), Pour 1 Tablespoon of olive oil into the pan. Swish it around by tilting your pan. Add your garlic, red pepper flakes and stir for 30 seconds. Add ground beef and brown. When done drain. Add in 3 Tablespoons of spice mixture.
Step 3: Add pasta to the meat. Pour your tomato mixture over the noodles and meat, without stirring. Bring to a simmer and then reduce heat to medium-low heat... Cover and stir every 5 minutes. Add more spices if are necessary. Cook time is 20-25 minutes. After to you get everything on the stove it would be a great time to help the kiddos in your world with homework! I would throw in some buttermilk biscuits or crescent rolls in the oven at this time!
Step 4: Remove from heat and add your cheese. Adjust any of the necessary spices. Before serving mix your cottage cheese. Allow to rest for five minutes. While your lasagna is resting get everyone to the table, that does take 5 minutes in of itself.
Tuesday, September 22, 2015
31 Days of Simplicity
This for Write 31 I will be writing about simplicity, but I am going to take a different approach to it. For each week I am going to have a different topic that I am focusing on-- and I will write everyday about how I have gone about I have simplified my life in that area. Everything will be tested by me and I will let you know the good, the bad, and the ugly about what happened that day.
As I write for that day I will come back and add the link to this page so we have once spot to follow along with.
Week 1:Seven Days of Simplicity in Preparing Food.
Day 1: October 1st Means that Fall is Here!
Day 2: Sweet Treats
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5
Day 6
Day 7
Week 2: Seven Days of Simplicity in Fashion
Day 8: My Take on a Capsule Wardrobe
Day 9
Day 10
Day 11
Day 12
Day 13
Day 14
Week 3: Seven Days of Simplicity in Life with a Toddler
Day 15
Day 16
Day 17
Day 18
Day 19
Day 20
Day 21
Week 4: Seven Days of Simplicity at Home
Day 22
Day 23
Day 24
Day 25
Day 26
Day 27
Day 28
Week 5: Seven Days of Simplicity in Fall
Day 29
Day 30
Day 31
Friday, January 23, 2015
More posts coming to the blog near you: SOON!
There is a reason why I like to keep things a little bit more loose. He is almost 11 months old, and been sick for the last week. Poor Little Man, he is finally starting to feel better. He is currently sleeping up in his room, and this mama will shortly be sleeping up in hers. I am still going to start taking and posting fashion pictures and I have a couple of different looks that I would like to try and do a review on. We will get back into the swing of things. Thanks for sticking around through this rocky start!
Tuesday, January 13, 2015
Those Nights When NOBODY Sleeps!
Blogging on Monday turned out to be a terrible idea! Little Man decided that he was not going to sleep hardly at all that night. I got 3 hours of sleep that night, I am not even joking. I am suprised that I was even remotely functional. I wasn't the most chipper, happy-go-lucky person in the world, but at least I was alive and functioning.
The thought came to me, there has to be other mom who are getting so little sleep and feel like they look like death warmed over. So, I am on the hunt for great ways to look fresh in the morning when you didn't sleep regardless of what the reason is. I have found some promising ideas. I will continue to keep looking and will post the links with commentary soon!
xoxo,
Mrs. Bookworm
Saturday, January 10, 2015
Flaunt it Friday: A Remixable Wardrobe Experiment!
Sometimes we just need to put our wardrobes into perspective and look at what we do have and love opposed to what we don't have. I need clothes that are cute and easy to care for. Almost everything I own is machine washable. I only have a few items that are "dry clean only".
I was reading a blog post entitled How to Plan, Organize, and Shop for Your capsule Wardrobe, which helped me see capsule wardrobes differently. While a lot of capsule wardrobes focus on having these particular clothes-- the emphasis in this particular post was to have appropriate clothes that fit your lifestyle.
Not every wardrobe is going to be the exact same. Example, if you work as a personal trainer you will have way more workout apparel than someone who spends the majority of their time at work in an office.We have huge temperature fluctuation throughout the year and so I will need to have some pieces that are specific to that period of time. Winter coats, hat, scarf, and gloves, shorts etc are all part of a four season wardrobe.
Following this model, for 5 capsule wardrobes one would need 5 completer pieces (blazers, cardigans, vests, denim jacket etc)
15 tops, 10 bottoms, 5 pairs of shoes, 5 bags, and approximately 15 different accessories.
Completer pieces: denim jacket, red vest, teal vest, turquoise vest, black blazer, brown blazer, blue and white striped blazer, gold cardigan, teal cardigan, black & white cardigan, teal cardigan, brown sweater, emerald cardigan
Tops: red wrap top, gray sequin sweater, black T-shirt (2), gray T-shirt, gray Aztec print T-shirt, concert t shirt, white top, leopard print top, graphic sweater, tan polka dot tie blouse, chambray shirt, black long sleeve tee, navy and cream blouse,
Bottoms: black maxi skirt, black pants (2), gray patterned pants, dark gray pants, dark wash jeans (2), black pencil skirt, khaki colored dress pants
I also have 3 dresses that are black and white. They are not the same style.
I will be using these piece to make outfits to provide some encouragement and to give me a reason to practice remixing my wardrobe... Fridays (or Saturdays) depending upon how the days goes will be for Fashion... I will be starting a new series called Fashion Fridays. I will post some pics and talk about what has gone really great and what has gone terribly terribly wrong. I hope that you will join me as I figure out a hot mama wardrobe!
XOXO,
Mrs. Bookworm
I was reading a blog post entitled How to Plan, Organize, and Shop for Your capsule Wardrobe, which helped me see capsule wardrobes differently. While a lot of capsule wardrobes focus on having these particular clothes-- the emphasis in this particular post was to have appropriate clothes that fit your lifestyle.
Not every wardrobe is going to be the exact same. Example, if you work as a personal trainer you will have way more workout apparel than someone who spends the majority of their time at work in an office.We have huge temperature fluctuation throughout the year and so I will need to have some pieces that are specific to that period of time. Winter coats, hat, scarf, and gloves, shorts etc are all part of a four season wardrobe.
Following this model, for 5 capsule wardrobes one would need 5 completer pieces (blazers, cardigans, vests, denim jacket etc)
15 tops, 10 bottoms, 5 pairs of shoes, 5 bags, and approximately 15 different accessories.
Completer pieces: denim jacket, red vest, teal vest, turquoise vest, black blazer, brown blazer, blue and white striped blazer, gold cardigan, teal cardigan, black & white cardigan, teal cardigan, brown sweater, emerald cardigan
Tops: red wrap top, gray sequin sweater, black T-shirt (2), gray T-shirt, gray Aztec print T-shirt, concert t shirt, white top, leopard print top, graphic sweater, tan polka dot tie blouse, chambray shirt, black long sleeve tee, navy and cream blouse,
Bottoms: black maxi skirt, black pants (2), gray patterned pants, dark gray pants, dark wash jeans (2), black pencil skirt, khaki colored dress pants
I also have 3 dresses that are black and white. They are not the same style.
I will be using these piece to make outfits to provide some encouragement and to give me a reason to practice remixing my wardrobe... Fridays (or Saturdays) depending upon how the days goes will be for Fashion... I will be starting a new series called Fashion Fridays. I will post some pics and talk about what has gone really great and what has gone terribly terribly wrong. I hope that you will join me as I figure out a hot mama wardrobe!
XOXO,
Mrs. Bookworm
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