Plum Wine

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There is reason people talk formulaic dressing, and go-to outfit options. These combinations allow you to throw it all on and go at a moment’s notice. Quick. Easy. Classy. Classic. Sometimes with small updates that bring a look into the present moment. J.Crew’s Jenna Lyons has exemplified this kind of dressing for years (though in a recent article, she bemoaned formula dressing as the death of creativity. I see her point, but question her self-scrutiny.)

For Lyons the formula consists of a killer white shirt, favorite jeans, the most high-heeled, high-end shoe you can swing, her quintessential thick-rimmed glasses, and a bun pulled neatly at the nape of her neck. There it is, and she’s done. If she doesn’t consider this a formula, maybe I could call it “reaching for favorites”.

For me, a quality blazer and stripes will always top the favorites list. This periwinkle number is a season old, but definitely not out of style. I love the way it pairs with the plum of these pants, and the unexpected pop it brings to dull gray fall and winter days when I am tired of layering with all things puffer.

What are some of your favorites? Do you have some? Anything you do in the grab-and-go mode that early mornings sometimes require?

The days are chilling more and more, the light is fading little by little. I hope this fall is feeling good to all of you!

XX, Megan

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Blazer: J.Crew, Shirt: Saint James, Cords: J.Crew (similar color), Shoes: Old Navy, Sunglasses: Karen Walker Super Duper, Necklace: Gorjana, Earrings: Vintage, Clutch: Ralph Lauren (old, splurge, similar, save), Lips: Buxom White Russian

Check Your Work Wear

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Not to overstep my bounds here as it’s been a few years since I was in a professional office setting. However, many of my friends struggle to strike that perfect balance between the doldrums of everyday office wear, and desiring to incorporate more individual and interesting apparel choices for their work wardrobe.

Enter the soft-wash shirt from J.Crew. The button-down makes this shirt office appropriate, just add dress pants and heels. Speaking of heels, no one says you have to choose a standard black. What about subbing your those classic black heels with a colorful option? These blue suede babies almost identical to the ones seen here and are both adorable and affordable!

What are your favorite ways to mix-up your work wear? I’d love to hear!

TGIT is all I have to say!

XX, Megan

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Shirt: J.Crew (or save!), Pants: Ann Taylor, Shoes: J.Crew (current season, splurge, or save!), Bag: J.Crew Factory (similar or similar), Bangles: J.Crew (similar)

Chicken Marsala with Mushrooms and Garlic

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This meal was a filling and perfectly delicious fall dinner offering from The Scramble*. My boys gobbled up the chicken and asked for seconds. The four-year-old LOVED the Brussels sprouts. In fact, after feasting on these roasted delights he asked that we bring Brussels sprouts for his healthy snack at preschool this week!

I almost laughed out loud, but instantly agreed. Now I don’t know whether I should actually roast them and bring Brussels sprouts or push back and pick something more palatable to four-year-old humans for a 10:00 a.m. snack! Any suggestions?

I have to admit that I felt my chicken was just the tiniest bit over cooked. I’d caution you to watch carefully when you return the chicken to the skillet with the mushrooms. Don’t let it simmer too long.

Here’s to healthy eats, and making it halfway through the week!

XX, Megan

Ingredients

3 Tbsp. flour (use wheat/gluten-free if needed)
1/4 tsp. salt, plus additional to taste
1/4 tsp. black pepper
1 1/2 – 2 lbs. boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces
4 tsp. extra virgin olive oil
1 Tbsp. butter or margarine
8 oz. sliced mushrooms
1 1/2 tsp. minced garlic, (about 3 cloves)
1/2 cup Marsala wine
1/2 cup reduced-sodium chicken broth, (freeze remaining broth for future use)
1/2 lemon, juice only, about 2 Tbsp.
1 Tbsp. fresh parsley, chopped (optional)

Side: Roasted Brussels Sprouts

Start the Brussels sprouts first, if you are serving them. Preheat oven to 450. In a small bowl, toss clean Brussels sprouts with 1 Tbsp. olive oil, salt and pepper to taste. Turn out onto a baking sheet. Roast for 25-30 minutes. Turning occasionally.

In a medium bowl, combine the flour, salt and pepper. Add the diced chicken and toss it gently to coat. Heat a large heavy skillet over medium heat. Add 1 Tbsp. oil and the butter and let the butter melt. Place the chicken in the skillet and cook it on each side until it is browned and cooked partially through. Around 6 – 8 minutes total. Transfer the chicken to a clean plate and set it aside.

Put the remaining oil to the same pan without cleaning it. Sauté the mushrooms and garlic for 1 minute, and then add the wine, broth and lemon juice. Bring the liquid to a low boil, scraping any bits of chicken from the bottom of the pan. Simmer the mixture for 10 minutes until the mushrooms are tender and the liquid is reduced and slightly thickened.

Add the chicken back into the pan, spooning the sauce over it, and cook it for 3 – 5 more minutes until the chicken is just cooked through. Season it with additional salt, if desired, and sprinkle the chicken with parsley before serving.

1. Brussels Sprouts begin this meal. Preheat oven to 450. Roast for 25-30 minutes.

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2. Toss the diced chicken in flour, salt and pepper.

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3. Cook the chick for 6-8 minutes until it browns on each side.

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4. Remove the chicken to a clean plate. Add additional oil to the skillet (no need to wash clean). Then place mushrooms and garlic in the skillet and sauté for 1-2 minutes.

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5. Add the wine, broth and lemon juice. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat to simmer for 10 minutes until the mushrooms are tender.

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6. Return the chicken to the skillet and simmer for another 3-5 minutes until flavors are well meshed.

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7. Remove the Brussels sprouts from the oven. Plate and EAT!!!

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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.

Vintage Puffer and Plaid FTW!

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This puffer vest is a holdover hand-me-down from a friend in my Alaska days. Good stuff. I used to be a world-class thrifter. I found the PERFECT pair of cowboy boots, brand new Adidas Sambas, dresses of every description from every era, sweaters, wraps, and killer jewelry– all thrifted and appropriated to my closet. Sometimes older is BETTER and vintage wear always has this air of… No not mothballs, coolness.

We recently hit up our local thrift store, affectionally known to us as Uncle Larry’s. I picked up the perfect fall plaid flannel for 3 bucks. This is not that plaid shirt, but it is similar and soft, too. So if you’re in the market for change-of-season duds, don’t forget to check out your local thrift store. It can save you $$ and totally up the awesome factor in your wardrobe!

Or shop this exact Patagonia plaid shirt below. Make it a good one, friends!

XX, Megan

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Shirt: Patagonia (this is the Men’s shirt, here’s the Women’s version, love both!!!), Puffer Vest: Vintage L.L. Bean (also Men’s, current season), Skirt: J.Crew (old, similar, love the pleated version), Boots: Madewell (similar, splurge, and save), Bracelets: Target, Necklace: Gorjana, Earrings: Gorjana

Bonus Sweat Session

Just. ONE. MORE!!!

Yes we are firmly fixed in October at this point. And is it just me, or do Mondays come way too quickly?!?

I wanted to post ONE MORE cycling workout today, as I really enjoyed this profile at the gym for several of my workouts last week.

This particular workout takes us away from the hills and that heavy resistance we’ve been pushing, and moves us into speed work. You are going to work out those heart muscles today on sprint sets, so I want you to look at where you want to ride. In terms of resistance, you should shoot to carry a middle level.

On a resistance scale of 1-10 you are looking for a 5, 6, or maybe a 7. Though your resistance is mid-level, your RPE or effort should still be solidly in the 7 or 8 range on the scale below.

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The key here is to pick a resistance level that you can surge and sprint on. A resistance where you can hit 85% + of your Max Heart Rate, that still allows you recovery in between. You also need to make sure you have ENOUGH resistance on the fly wheel that you aren’t spinning out of control.

Please keep in mind that this workout is transferable to a stationary bike, recumbent, elliptical machine, or your cycling trainer set up in your living room!

You will be doing 4 minute intervals. Each interval consists of two 30 second sprints, each followed by 30 second recovery; then you’ll hit a 1 minute sprint followed by a 1 minute recovery!

Warm-up

4 minutes stretch and warm up your upper body

4 minutes of pick-ups 30 seconds on then 30 seconds off

4 minute hill climb adding resistance every 45 seconds

Profile

30 second sprint, 30 second recovery. 30 second sprint, 30 second recovery. 1 minute sprint, 1 minute recovery.

30 second sprint, 30 second recovery. 30 second sprint, 30 second recovery. 1 minute sprint, 1 minute recovery.

30 second sprint, 30 second recovery. 30 second sprint, 30 second recovery. 1 minute sprint, 1 minute recovery.

4 minute climb. Add resistance. Take it slow. Contrast.

30 second sprint, 30 second recovery. 30 second sprint, 30 second recovery. 1 minute sprint, 1 minute recovery.

30 second sprint, 30 second recovery. 30 second sprint, 30 second recovery. 1 minute sprint, 1 minute recovery.

30 second sprint, 30 second recovery. 30 second sprint, 30 second recovery. 1 minute sprint, 1 minute recovery.

*A note about music. I have yet to get a playlist laid out in one of these Sweat Sessions, but I cannot emphasize enough HOW WONDERFUL and IMPORTANT music is in a good workout.

For this profile, I simply loaded up 10 of my favorite 4 minute songs, and went after it!!!

Take Monday by storm!

XX, Megan

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