Inspired By: The 1910s

Fashion in the 1910s can be divided into two separate categories: opulent and simpe. The first half of the decade was characterized mainly by "orientalism" as American and British society were fascinated by Asian culture. The waistline dropped from empire to the natural waist. When WWI hit, the fashion turned more to the necessity of clothing rather than the intrigue of fashion. Women began to wear the hair shorter and, during the war, hemlines started creeping up. It all made way for the new woman of the 1920s.

Inspired By: The 1900s

This is the first post of a new "Inspired By". By looking at the fashion of each decade from the beginning of the 20th century, we'll show you how to take those fashion points and turn them into some fashion looks you could wear today. First up is the 1900s.

Fashion in the 1900s slowly represented the evolution from the 19th century to the 20th century. Gone were the bustles and corsets of earlier days and in came slowly shortening hems and men-inspired women fashions. Dresses and shirts were full in the front, accented with ruffles and tiers of fabric.

Veterans Day

Today honors every single man and woman who has dedicated their life to our country.

Optimistic Oatmeal: 5 Uses

Oatmeal - the soothing and sensitive spa ingredient provided by Mother Nature herself. Here are 5 surprising uses for it in your daily life!

1. Soften and sooth - grind up or use whole oats in the bath tub! How many of us took oatmeal baths when we had chicken pox? Oatmeal is a great way to sooth irritated skin. Last year my skin was being really annoying and I was itchy all over. It went away after one oatmeal bath! And my skin was baby soft afterwards.

2. Spa masks - oatmeal masks are usually associated with sensitive skin but did you know you can also treat acne with it? Cook up some oatmeal, let it cool for a bit until it's lukewarm, apply to affected areas. Let it dry and get a little crusty and then wash off with lukewarm water.

Also try a DYI face and body scrub! Grind 2 tablespoons of oats into a grainy consistency, add 1 tablespoon of baking soda and a little water until it's in a paste. Spread onto clean and dry face, leave for 10 minutes, and then rinse.

3. Natural odor killer - place an open container of oatmeal in the fridge to absorb unwanted odors. If you smoke, try lining ashtrays with oats to get the cigarette smell out of your room.

4. Sooth your dog's skin - if you see that your dog's skin is itchy, try some of these methods to make the poor little guy feel better.

5. Cook with it - oats can be used for so much more than just oatmeal! It's a natural and yummy way to get your fiber. Try replacing regular flour with oat flour (just grind oats in a food processors). You get more fiber, feel fuller, and cut the calories. It's also a great way to go gluten-free!

Lazy Sunday

I wish I was in New York to get some Magnolia cupcakes. Also, I don't own the Chronicles of Narnia but I think my Lazy Sunday will be just as nice. As I am writing this I am still in my PJs but if I decided to get up and go into the public realm, I would wear something like this.

Roasted Beet, Carrot and Goat Cheese Salad

This one was the result of a toss-in. As in I had a "Oh no I just realized I'm really, really hungry and I haven't planed what to make for dinner yet and I'm too lazy to go to the store and buy anything and I'm too cheap to get take out, I have some stuff in my fridge I hope I can make it go together" moment. I get those kind of often.

So with the two vegetables I had sitting in the fridge I got to work. Beets, carrots, go.

When it comes to vegetables, I don't think you can really go wrong in roasting them. I might even go as far to say as that's my favorite way to have them. A little extra virgin olive oil on a cookie sheet, a little salt, oven on 450 degrees and you're done (Tip: rosemary and thyme are an excellent combination on any root vegetable)! I let them roast, sprinkled some goat cheese on top and ended up with what you see here. The salty cheese and sweet vegetable had a really good balance that made for a satisfying, albeit last minute meal.

Inspired By: Alice in Wonderland

Alice in Wonderland, the movie that half-delighted half-terrified me as a child. Did the Queen scare anyone else? Alice is wide-eyed, innocent, and curious (sometimes a little too curious). Copy her style without the apron or mushroom tripping.

Cute Cups

So I recently learned something about myself. I may be turning into my mom. For years I've been battling her on her no measurement policy. She says she can't help it, that that's just the way she was taught to cook but a fat load of good that does me when I'm trying to figure out how to make one of my grandma's dishes. I try to explain to her that cooking is all about ratios (i.e. this is why she is a notoriously terrible baker) to no avail. I remember spending 45 minutes on the phone with her once trying to confirm that the ratio to cook rice is 2 parts water to 1 part rice in which she would not give me a straight answer and kept saying "you just put as much rice and water as you need for the amount of people you're trying to feed. I eventually demanded that she put my father on the phone who gave me a simple "yes." 

But as I was posting this "recipe," I realized that I too have begun to cook without measurement. This is all fine and well when experimenting, but seeing my mother's nature come out in my cooking has scared me into vigilance. I must keep an eye on myself, I can't let myself get to the point where I ignore quantities in recipe cards. I have come up with a solution: cute measuring cups.

The Terrific Toothbrush

The toothbrush is more than just an instrument that cleans your teeth. It can be used for so many other things!

1. Groom your eyebrows - don't waste money on an eyebrow brush! Use a toothbrush to brush eyebrows into place and set with a little gel. I like to use Aquaphore.

2. Touch up your roots. Use a toothbrush to attack those colored roots as soon as they start appearing!

3. Exfoliate your lips with a toothbrush and baking soda! See here for directions.

4. Keep down flyaways! Spray toothbrush with hairspray and brush down flyaways. Also use a toothbrush instead of a brush to get subtle volume when teasing.

5. Use with dry shampoo. Spray toothbrush and use on roots to soak up oil.

Dress Up or Down: Rainy Day

Rainy days are upon us and it's easy to fall into a rainy day fashion rut. Here are two ways to switch up your look! I just love the lining the that yellow coat.