A Gentlemen’s Affair

September 29, 2015September 29, 2015 | Megan

This past weekend my husband participated in The 2015 Distinguished Gentlemen’s Ride. The ride is organized to raise awareness and help fund the cure to for prostate cancer. The ride takes place in over 400 cities in 79 countries around the world.

One of the slogans for the ride is– Dapper for a Cause. The subtitle read, “I say! What a spiffy blazer. Who is your tailor, sir?” That is exactly what we saw there– tweed blazers, deeply polished boots of every description, silk pocket squares, tailored dress pants, and perfectly waxed mustaches!

So in celebration of the ride, especially for the cause of fighting prostate cancer, here’s a look at what Perry wore!

Have a wonderful Tuesday!!!

XX, Megan

Shirt: Target, Blazer: Gap, Pants: Banana Republic, Belt: Banana Republic, Shoes: Clarks, Tie: J.Crew, Gloves: Banana Republic, Sunglasses: Ray-ban Wayfarer

September Sweat Sessions: Workout 5

September 28, 2015September 28, 2015 | Megan

Woot! Woot! It’s MONDAY!!!

I’ll tell you why I’m so excited– I’ve already hit my workout for the day. That’s right. BOOM! It’s done. I’ve laid it out for your below. Yes, this is precisely the workout I did this morning and I loved it!!!

Okay, so it also felt good because I may have eaten a DELICIOUS Chocolate Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Milkshake on Saturday. No regrets. And while that was probably my most indulgent moment, you CANNOT allow yourself to remain in the sugar haze. You have to break through and hit it hard on Monday!

Here’s the other reality, I RARELY workout in the early mornings. In fact, I’ve never really been someone who enjoys a super duper early morning workout. I much prefer to knock out my exercise in the evening, and I feel as though I’ve always felt this way. I still haven’t done enough research as to WHY I don’t feel at my best in the mornings.

But I can admit that AFTER working out in the morning, my days almost always roll out more easily. I feel great!!! Plus, when the clock strikes 5 p.m., and I’m still staring down the pipeline at an hour long workout, sometimes it can be a mood killer. As in I have to force myself to switch gears, dress for the gym and get myself and the littles out the door. It can be a challenge.

My point is simply that there are positives to EITHER end of the time spectrum for exercise. I have a lot of respect and admiration for folks who get up super duper early EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. To ensure that their workout is complete!

Whether you are a morning workout star, a 9:00 a.m. fitness fiend, or an evening knock-it-out-of-the-park kind of person, I hope you’re sticking with your fitness goals HARD CORE this fall/winter!

XX, Megan

Workout 5

For this cycling profile all you really need to find is a HEAVY hill-climbing gear that will get you to feel the burn. We are going to do a ladder where each successive hill gets just a little bit longer, and depending on how much you want to challenge yourself, just a little bit steeper!

So if we are using resistance levels 1-10 again, with 1 being almost NO resistance and 10 being so HEAVY you can barely turn those pedals you are looking for resistance in the 7,8,9 range. Remember that you can use this workout for indoor cycling, on a recumbent, with the elliptical machine, out of doors (if you have a favorite hill for your intervals), or even on your cycling trainer at home!

Warm-up

3 minutes, stretch those legs and warm your upper body

3 minutes, pick-ups 30 seconds on (increase cadence) and 30 seconds off (decrease cadence), 3 times

3 minute hill climb add resistance every 30 seconds until you’ve reached your heaviest resistance

1 minute flush, or fully remove all of your resistance, and then you’ll get ready to begin your first hill climb!!!

Profile

2 minute hill climb on HEAVY resistance (a 7,8,9 on a 10 point scale of resistance!)

1 minute flush (remove all resistance from your fly wheel)

2 minute hill climb, HEAVY

1 minute flush (remove all resistance from your fly wheel)

3 minute heavy hill climb, 1 minute flush

4 minute heavy hill climb, 1 minute flush

5 minute heavy hill climb, 1 minute flush

NOW this is the TOP of your ladder, after your 5 minute heavy hill climb you are going to subtract once minute from your hill every set so…

4 minute heavy hill climb, 1 minute flush

3 minute heavy hill climb, 1 minute flush

2 minute heavy hill climb, 1 minute flush

Cool down and stretch

YOU’RE HOME!!! Way to ride!!!

What Does the Fox Say

September 24, 2015October 2, 2015 | Megan

I know that this “What does the fox say?” business is OLD. It is out of fashion. It is long cold on society’s weirdo finding radar. But my kids have somehow picked it up, and been saying it to one another. They’re asking me what the fox says. They’re asking Siri, “What does the fox say?”

Hence the post title. That and the fact that somehow this piece of quilted outerwear reminds me of a mid-century fox hunt. So there you go. So equestrian. I’m pretty set on vacillating between neutrals, jewel tones, and bright blasts of red all fall.

Thursday always feels SO CLOSE to Friday. It makes me happy. Plus the fact that I get to rock out with my cycling class and get our sweat on. Two thumbs way, way up! How will you spend this crisp fall Thursday?

XX, Megan

Coat: Gap (similar on sale!, similar and similar), Shell: J.Crew (old, similar, similar), Pants: J.Crew, Boots: Madewell, Necklace: Gorjana, Lips: Buxom White Russian

Back in Black

September 23, 2015October 2, 2015 | Megan

Fall means many things, and one of my favorites is taking some of my favorite warm weather clothes with me through the transition from summer to fall. Fall transitions can be as simple as adding a pair of your favorite boots and a trusty anorak to a more summery bohemian dress. Or it can be as easy as adding a darker more dramatic lip to your daily makeup routine.

Done, done, and done! I am loving this new to me wine lip from Clinique. It leans toward red in the wines, but I can also appreciate a true plum if you’re feeing more aubergine this fall. Here’s another one of my longtime favorites.

As a mom, I’ve found that dresses have truly been a saving grace when I need to throw on something quick and head out the door. I am more likely to look and feel put together in one step with a dress, rather than reaching for separates. What about you? Maybe a romper suits your throw-on-and-go fancy. I have yet to take part in the romper trend, thought I looked this summer. Never say never, they say!

XX, Megan

Dress: Velvet by Graham and Spencer, Jacket: Gap (similar, similar with fur), Boots: Enzo Angiolini (similar, similar, similar, or splurge), Necklaces: Gorjana (or here), Earrings: Gorjana (or similar), Lips: Clinique Vintage Wine

The Chocolate Cupcake

September 22, 2015September 21, 2015 | Megan

The real story behind these cupcakes is that I FORGOT to grab a box cake at the store, and I had already committed to bringing cupcakes to my son’s classroom in honor of his Birthday. Mom moves, you know.

I didn’t want to return to the store. I didn’t want to email his teacher to bail out. I didn’t want to see his crestfallen face at pick-up when he’d inevitably ask, “Where were you, Mom?”

We’ve all been there. Disappointment is an inevitable part of life. Stuff happens. But I wasn’t hip on disappointment today. No. I wanted to win, and these cupcakes did NOT disappoint!!!

In fact, they were AWESOMELY easy. Seriously almost as snappy as throwing together the ingredients for your box cake. At least 10 times better than any boxed cake can deliver. I’d make them again in a heartbeat! In fact, I’m sure I’ll make them again sometime soon to share with friends and neighbors for no reason whatsoever!!!!

Try them out and let me know what you think! One of my wonderful friends and readers made a Peach Upside Down Cake for her husband, and it turned out BEAUTIFULLY! When I asked her how it tasted she confessed that she abhors cooked peaches. She didn’t eat even a crumb! I laughed out loud to hear this.

I’d love to hear more of your baking endeavors, or other types of recipes you’d like to see here on Refined + Rugged.

I hope your Tuesday is scrumptious!

XX, Megan

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups flour

1 cup sugar

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup cocoa powder

1 cup water

1/2 cup vegetable oil

1 teaspoon vinegar

Yield- 20 Cupcakes

Directions

Mix all of the dry ingredients well with a wooden spoon first, then add in all your liquid ingredients. The batter should be brown and smooth– free of lumps.

Bake at 350 for 15-17 minutes for cupcakes, for a cake bake 17-25 minutes.

Note: You can add things like 1/2 cup chocolate chips to this recipe for a more decadent turn out. Plus, some of the reviewers noted that you can also add an egg for a more fluffy cupcake. Some folks also subbed milk for the water, and melted butter for the oil!

You may also want to double this recipe. The servings size is for 20 “small” cupcakes. I made a 1 1/2 batch, and the yield was still only 22 cupcakes. However, I did make these cupcakes medium or large-ish. Doubling the recipe might yield 30 medium cupcakes. Also making your cupcakes larger may add to your bake time.

Step-by-step

1. Preheat the oven to 350. Mix all of the dry ingredients together first.