Rugby Stripe Cruise

December 10, 2015December 11, 2015 | Megan

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Good Thursday to you! We finally got our tree up and lit last night and I am so glad. Now to tackle the rest of the decorating. This year it has been step by step. Slow. But you know, who needs instant decor.

This sweater is actually very warm and cozy. I love how the deep-v, both front and back, lend a sleekness to its appearance. Ever the stripe hound, I’ve linked a lot of options for other striped sweaters below.

TGIT, friends!

XX, Megan

Vest: The North Face, Sweater: Theory (past season, current, similar, love, save, splurge), Corduroys: J.Crew (similar), Boots: Madewell (similar), Sunglasses: Karen Walker Super Duper, Necklace: J.Crew, Bracelets: J.Crew, Watch: Invicta, Lips: MAC Angel

Warm Knits

December 9, 2015December 8, 2015 | Megan

When I’m entertaining at home I keep things pretty casual. I have yet to graduate to the cocktail party honors of adulthood. So if you have a Holiday meal with myself and my family I will probably don something like this. To a T.

Cozy sweater over striped tunic plus jeans and moccasins. I read somewhere recently that moccasins are OUT. Now this may have been the more overstated, tiered fringe, fashion wear variety, but regardless, I’m not letting go. I wear these babies around the house probably more than my slippers!

If you do chance to come for dinner, I will probably be sporting the mocs even if I still go for a sparkly pair of earrings :). Do you have favorite kick-around-the-house footwear? What will you be wearing for a casual Holiday dinner in?

I’d love to hear! Have a blessed Wednesday, PTL we’ve made it to mid week.

XX, Megan

Sweater: J.Crew (similar), Shirt: J.Crew (similar, also fun!), Pants: Old Navy, Bag: J.Crew, Shoes: Minnetonka, Earrings: J.Crew (similar, similar), Sunglasses: Ray-Ban

Tuscan White Bean Soup

December 8, 2015December 8, 2015 | Megan

I love making hearty, delicious soups during the cold winter months for several reasons. First, they are hot, filling, and generally easy to make. Second, you can make most soups ahead of time and then warm them up when dinner-time comes.

This is a boon for me, especially when I’m teaching a late spin class at the gym and I know that if I don’t have dinner ready our menu often quickly devolves to take-out!

This Tuscan White Bean Soup comes from The Scramble*. My husband and I LOVED this recipe, and both added red pepper flakes to our soup. The boys thought the soup was palatable, and we may have bribed them with the promise of desert if they ate all of their soup.

Quick, easy, pre-prepped– this meal was a win all around once again! Thanks to The Six O’clock Scramble and their AWESOME team who nail the dinner-time menu again and again!

XX, Megan

Ingredients

3 – 4 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
1 large yellow onion (sweet onion such as Vidalia or Walla Walla), chopped
2 tsp. minced garlic, (about 4 cloves)
29 – 30 oz. canned cannellini or white kidney beans, drained and rinsed
15 oz. reduced-sodium chicken or vegetable broth
1/4 tsp. kosher salt
2 Tbsp. sherry, or 1 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar
10 fresh basil leaves, finely chopped, or 1/2 tsp. dried

Sides: Sourdough Bread, and Fresh Fruit Salad

Directions

In a large stockpot, heat 2 Tbsp. oil over medium-high heat. Add the onions and garlic and cook. Stir occasionally, until the onions are tender, about 5 minutes. Add the beans and broth. Bring the soup to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer it for 3 – 5 minutes until you are ready to puree it.

Add the basil (reserving some for garnish if desired). Puree it with a hand (immersion) blender, if you have one. If not, remove it in batches and puree it in a standing blender, and return it to the pot. Simmer the soup for about 5 more minutes. Stir in the sherry or vinegar.

Ladle the soup into bowls and top it with the basil, croutons and Parmesan cheese (optional). Alternatively, refrigerate the soup and store the croutons in a sealed bag for up to 2 days.

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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.

Fa-la-la-la-la Christmas Cards

December 4, 2015December 4, 2015 | Megan

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So I’ve already blown the surprise out on our family pictures this year, here. Thank you again to Aubreigh Parks for the wonderful snaps! You can learn more about scheduling your own family photo session here.

*Spoiler alert: I’m about to do the same with our family Christmas cards. Blow any anticipation you had of receiving one of these babies away like Autumn’s dried leaves.*

One really great eventuality of these kinds of family photo sessions (read: the reason we take family photos every year) is that we can then turn them into cards to send to our nearest and dearest.

I’m sure there are plenty of Family Photo Card poo-pooers out there. I mean, a good friend of mine has already begun publicly denouncing his hearing of Christmas music!

It’s December 4th, buddy, you’ve only got… practically an entire month to go. Good luck with your Scroogity Christmas tune distaste. All I am saying is that there are those who think all of this sending cards mumbo-jumbo is for the birds. Well you have your opinion, and I’ll have mine.

This year we chose to have our cards printed through Artifact Uprising, and we could not be more pleased with the results. You can read the story behind Artifact Uprising here.

I was so touched by their simple desire, not only to CAPTURE life in photo, but their concern with how we keep those memories or hold on to those moments after that picture has been taken. How will we conjure up those sweet snap shots on dead cell phones, or dinosaur computers, they ask?

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This is it friends. Instead of leaving behind old cell phones and eventually un-charable computers we’ll be leaving behind pictures. Printed photos. Physical documents of some of the most special, priceless, beloved moments captured and then inked.

If you hurry, you’ll still be able to get standard shipping on most photo cards, photo books, and prints at Artifact Uprising. They also have awesome options for turning your photos in wall art.

Enough waxing on about photos, letters, and other printed paraphernalia. I’ve got letters to write, and stamp, and send. Now if I could just get my hands on a book of those adorable Peanuts Forever stamps!

Have a beautiful weekend, friends.

XX, Megan

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P.S. Just in case you thought I really wrote my Cards surrounded by springs of Blue Spruce, the actually madness of my table is below. Complete with a dying floral arrangement.

Lip Trimming: Red Lips

December 2, 2015December 2, 2015 | Megan

I really love lips, and around this time of year it’s fun to dress them up with delightful color-saturated glosses and vibrant shades and stains. So in the spirit of dressing up your lips for the Holiday season, I’ve put together a sampling of some of my favorite red lipsticks for you.

Now if you love berry shades, wonderful! (So do I.) If you lean toward nudes and neutrals (I love those, too!), great! If you like pinks and fuchsias, we’ll talk those beautiful swatches another time.

For today’s post I’m ALL. ABOUT. RED.
Red-Orange

This first category of reds is my personal favorite. There is something so bright, happy, and modern about a Red lip that has just a hint of an orange undertone.

MAC Lady Danger, NARS Heat Wave, and Topshop Rio Rio. All of these lipsticks boast incredibly pigmented lacquer. MAC Lady Danger is the brightest of these three. (Lipsticks shown left-to-right on the tray.)

NARS Heat Wave is a longtime favorite. It is definitely the most matte of these three colors, and perhaps the most well known. The matte nature of this lipstick means that you need to be sure to exfoliate and moisturize before wearing.

I always swipe on some Burt’s Bees before applying any of these lipsticks. Though you might be able to get away with swiping on Topshop Rio Rio as it is the most moisturizing of this Red-Orange trio.

Classic Reds

I have four classic reds in this mix– MAC Ruby Woo, Bobby Brown Heart, Clinique Red-y to Wear, and MAC Russian Red. This last has become my go-to for a classic red lip this season.

While MAC Russian Red is the more wearable if you were to compare it to MAC Ruby Woo, I have to say that there is something unstoppably brighter about the later. Both are very matte.

If you want something a little more easily applied, Bobby Brown Heart gives a beautiful, classic red pout with just enough creaminess that your lips are velvety soft without looking dry.

The most moisturizing of this crew is definitely Clinique Red-y to Wear. It has a classic red sheen, without being too shiny. This lipstick is also one you can throw on without lipgloss and go as it is never overly drying.

Orange is the new Red

The Orange trend seems to have gained momentum last Spring. The saying in the fashion world went something like Orange is the New Black, a pun on the show I’m sure.

This was translated into everything from electric orange anoraks to blazing orange sweaters. As a lipstick, orange is definitely eye-catching. My favorite is MAC Neon Orange.

If you are still feeling hesitant about moving forward with a Red lipstick option I think Orange is a great way to add POP without picking sides. Make it your new red!

Deeper Reds

If you are looking for an EVEN MORE full-bodied red you should absolutely try Dr. Hauschka Skin Care Lipstick in Shade 04, Mezzoforte. I wore this lipstick for our Thanksgiving dinner. It has such a beautiful warm, deep color. Perfect for Autumn or Winter.

Other Reds to Check Out:

Red-Oranges– Revlon Siren, Wet and Wild Purty Persimmon, and YSL Rouge Pur Coture #13 Orange.

Classic Reds– Revlon Really Red, YSL Rouge Pur Coture #1 Blood Red, Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick in Beso

Deeper Reds– Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick in Fiery, MAC Viva Glam 1, NARS Red Lizard

Plus, How to Apply Red Lipstick Like a Pro from The Haute Mess.

Good luck in all of your red lip endeavors!

XX, Megan

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