Classic

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Something about this particular rig on this particular day felt so right. Just effortlessly perfect for the moment. A little bit dressed up, a little bit undone. I don’t even mind my Little Spanky hairs on days like this. (Short hair can be harder to tame than it appears.)

That is the wonderful thing about classic wardrobe pieces. You can wear them over and over in hundreds of different combinations that suit your mood, the weather, the requirements of the day.

I did a fun little exercise with the White Shirt last year, for those of you who remember. Here, here, here, here, and here. The important thing is that, while each of these posts featured a different white shirt, I really could have chosen ONE white shirt to use for all of these outfit options.

I’m back at home, and getting back into the saddle this week after the perfect escape to the desert. More pictures of my trip, including the white I wore, to come. What were your weekend adventures?

XX, Megan

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Shirt: Madewell (similar), Skirt: Lucky Brand, Bag: Old Navy, Shoes: J.Crew (similar), Sunglasses: Karen Walker Super Duper, Necklace: J.Crew (similar), Lips: Stila Beso

 

Swim, Swam, Swum

Product_GMP10152_Image_1Image via Gray Malin, shop his prints here.

Coming to you from the Arizona dessert, I am excited share some of my favorite swim suit and beach towel picks with all you wonderful Refined + Rugged readers!

Not only that, but how fun, whimsical, and fancy free are these shots by photographer Gray Malin? Malin is probably most famous for his aerial shots of beach-goers around the world. Like this scene from Bondi Beach, Australia, below. (Available for order here.)Bondi_Beach_7Image via Gray Malin

Swim, swam, swum. Let’s talk irregular verbs, shall we? Many people will insist that there is no such word as swum, but they are not correct.

Swim, swam, swum, similar to shrink, shrank, shrunk; begin, began, begun; drink, drank, drunk; sink, sank, sunk; and a joins handful of other irregular verbs. So grab your swim suit and run to the beach where your Grandmother has swum in since she was seven.

White Halter TopGraphic Black and White, Polka Dot One-Piece, Maillot, Floral Wetsuit, Black Strapless, Colorful Stripe Two-Piece, Mesh Black Bikini, Red White and Blue Striped Bikini

Swim 2016

mirage_1Image via Gray Malin

Beach Towel II

Seashell Circle Towel, Turkish Towel, Sun Rays, Paisley Paradise, Pendelton Bright River Jacquard, Aztec Round Turkish Towel, Oceanic Circle Towel, Mara Hoffman x Pendelton

If you need some beach towel reading here is an interesting L.A. Times article about Gray Malin. I’m reading a touching true story by Dianne Rehm, On My Own, about her husbands decision to end his life after battling Parkinson’s.

What are you reading lately? Any recommendations? I am ALWAYS looking for good books, new or old! I hope you all have a fantastic weekend.

XX, MeganProduct_GMP11330_Image_1Image via Gray Malin

Ugly Betty

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Did any of you ever watch the show Ugly Betty when it aired on ABC? Well, either way, I didn’t. But when I put this outfit on it all I could think about was America Ferrera in her nerdy glasses and button up shirts.

Catching the school girl vibe is fun, even for a mama of two. Especially if it leans more Ugly Betty and away from Brittany. I really do wear glasses, btw. I’ve had friends who see me in a pair of true spectacles for the first time ask if they are real or “for fashion”.

I’m not above trying a trend like glasses even if I don’t need them, but in this case I’m not faking near sightedness for fashion. So many classic elements here in my book. The polka dots, the pearl earrings, the pop of red. You just can’t go wrong with red!

TGIT to you all!! Thank you for stopping by and reading, commenting, following, supporting, and your overall positivity here on Refined + Rugged.

XX, Megan

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Shirt: Gap (similar, similar, love this), Skirt: Banana Republic, Shoes: J.Crew (also love these), Bag: J.Crew (similar, splurge, save), Earrings: Vintage, Glasses: Retrosuperfuture, Lips: Stila Beso

Garlic and Rosemary Pork

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I don’t do many slow cooker meals for my family, and I’m not really sure why. After making this delicious Garlic and Rosemary Pork from The Scramble, I’m hoping to try some other slow-cooker recipes here on Refined + Rugged.

These meals are perfect for on-the-go parents. Really this was a plug and play. I added some apples in with the pork and a couple tablespoons of water to make sure that it didn’t become too dry.

The result was a DELICIOUSLY savory, tender roast. We gobbled this up one busy weeknight after homework, chores, errands, and gym time. Such a treat, and this is a dish I would definitely serve to guests. I’d love to hear some of your favorite slow-cooker meals or recipes!

I’ve made sure to include the slow-cooker directions, the oven roasting directions, and the directions for baked sweet potatoes below.

May your Wednesday be as easy as this dish!

XX, Megan

DSC_0123Ingredients

1 1/2 – 2 lbs. boneless pork loin roast or pork tenderloin, or use bone-in chicken pieces
2 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
2 1/2 tsp. minced garlic, (about 5 cloves)
1 Tbsp. fresh or dried rosemary
1/2 tsp. kosher salt
3/4 tsp. black pepper

Slow-Cooker Directions

Place the pork in the slow cooker. In a small bowl, combine the oil, garlic, rosemary, salt and pepper. Rub the mixture all over the top and sides of the meat. (If using pork tenderloin, fold the skinny piece under so you have a piece with somewhat uniform thickness.) Cook on low for 7 – 8 hours or on high for 3 – 4 hours.

Oven Directions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Put the meat in a large roasting pan. In a small bowl, combine the oil, garlic, rosemary, salt and pepper. Rub the mixture all over the top and sides of the meat. (If using pork tenderloin, fold the skinny piece under so you have a piece with somewhat uniform thickness.) Roast the meat for 30 – 40 minutes (check it after 25 minutes for pork tenderloin) until just cooked through, or has an internal temperature of 160 degrees.

Baked Sweet Potato Directions

About an hour before your pork is done preheat the oven to 400 for your baked sweet potatoes. Clean the number sweet potatoes you’d like to serve, puncturing each a few times with a fork. Wrap each sweet potato in foil. Bake at 400 for 45 minutes to an hour. Potatoes are done when you can press a fork into them easily. Pull them out of the oven, slice down the center, and add your favorite toppings.

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*The Scramble is a meal planning service to which you can subscribe here. For a fantastic price you will receive 8 weekly meals which means 8 recipes (main course plus a side dish), complete grocery list, the ability to tweak the number of people you are making for, and full nutrition facts.

PLUS tips as to how best to PREP your meal beforehand, add a punch of FLAVOR, and how to SLOW COOK almost every recipe if you’re especially slammed that night. This wonderful service really does live up to it’s name. You can come home at 6 p.m. and be sitting down to a DELICIOUS, HEALTHY, HOME COOKED meal by 6:30 p.m. most nights.

 

That Spring Thing

DSC_0159I cannot emphasize how important the perfect trench coat is in a well curated, and even minimalist, wardrobe. I’ve had this coat since college. I swear I love it more every season!

We’ve hit that time when the weather waffles back and forth between a mild warmth, and a blustery fluttery wind/rain/sleet/snow mix. Welcome Spring! Because as much as I’d like to think that Spring means tulips, daffodils, greening buds, and warming earth. It really means a lion to lamb bi-polarism.

Grab for those trenches, bombers, jean jackets, and the like. It’s Spring! I hope you enjoy your Tuesday in every way.

XX, MeganDSC_0168DSC_0144DSC_0156DSC_0167Trench: Banana Republic (similar, also love), Shirt: J.Crew (similar), Pants: Blank Denim, Bag: J.Crew (similar, splurge, save), Sandals: J.Crew (similar, splurge, save, save), Sunglasses: Karen Walker Super Duper, Earrings: Gift, Ring: Vintage, Lips: Stila Beso