I had to repost this. One, because I love Joy the Baker, and two, because I think Quinoa is awesome and everyone should have it in their pantry! Click on the link below for the full recipie!
♥
Jen
photo and recipie via Joy the Baker
Monday, April 18, 2011
Happy Monday!
Well, Im not nearly as enthusiastic at the start of this week as I should be. A bit sleep deprieved thanks to a rocky weekend with the wee one, oh well! Hopefull will have some time to catch up on some zzzz's before we head to the city by the bay on Wednesday.
The one thing that did brighten my day this morning was hearing the buzz about a new "member's only" daily deal site that's soon to launch called fab.com. Fab will be a home design/decor/lifestyle site along the lines of The Foundary, Joss & Main, and One Kings Lane. It's not launching for another 5 weeks, but it looks promising! Check it out for yourself, and if you'd like to join, here's the link:
There are only a limited number of memberships being offered prior to the launch, so be sure to sign up now to get access to all the sales!
The one thing that did brighten my day this morning was hearing the buzz about a new "member's only" daily deal site that's soon to launch called fab.com. Fab will be a home design/decor/lifestyle site along the lines of The Foundary, Joss & Main, and One Kings Lane. It's not launching for another 5 weeks, but it looks promising! Check it out for yourself, and if you'd like to join, here's the link:
There are only a limited number of memberships being offered prior to the launch, so be sure to sign up now to get access to all the sales!
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Your Weekend...
April Showers...
Bring May Flowers (Hopefully!)
Its another rainy/cloudy/ and oh, wait a second, I see some sun... Nope, nevermind its gone now...Weekend in Seattle. But whatever the weather in your place in the world, I hope you get some R & R with those most precious to you -even if that simply means yourself!
Have have a wonderful weekend!
♥
Jen
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Room of the Week
So, as I mentioned a bit earlier in the week, I've got a bit of a design crush on Jenna Lyons of Jcrew fame. For this week's room of the week, lets delve a bit deeper into this, shall we? Her home has been featured about a million times in blog world, as well as in several traditional design publications, and if you've already seen it, its obvious as to why.
Her home is elegant, yet simple and a bit eclectic, and I simply adore it. Her home was designed by Leveson McDavid Architects. So enter into evidence of Jenna's creative design genius exhibit A- The living room of her Brooklyn townhouse:
See... Now you've got a bit of a design crush too, don't ya! Can't say I didn't warn you!
♥
Jen
photo credits: via Domino Magazine. and Leveson McDavid Architects.
Her home is elegant, yet simple and a bit eclectic, and I simply adore it. Her home was designed by Leveson McDavid Architects. So enter into evidence of Jenna's creative design genius exhibit A- The living room of her Brooklyn townhouse:
How stunning is this room? I love, love, love it all! I'm not sure I would have been brave enough to for the yellow sofa, yet it just works. I am enamored by the rooms architecture, the soft gray walls and dark floors, the empire chandelier, the hide rug thrown on top of the traditional Moroccan Ourain~ Love!
And Exhibit B: Really... I don't have more than two words for this: My DREAM!
I will have to make sure "extra room for closet" is on the checklist for my dream home! Sooo, I know this is supposed to be a "room of the week" post, but I know you are dying to see the rest of her home, right? Well... since you asked, here it is:
See... Now you've got a bit of a design crush too, don't ya! Can't say I didn't warn you!
♥
Jen
photo credits: via Domino Magazine. and Leveson McDavid Architects.
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Uh... What am I going to make for Dinner?!?
Its Wednesday, middle of the week... and I'm feeling it a bit. I've already started planning my evening so that I can curl up in bed with a book and likely pass out before I get through a chapter. It never fails that this planning process includes many minutes of frustratingly familiar thoughts about what to make for dinner. So, in the hopes of making your midweek planning a little easier, here's some ideas for a few ways to make that old pantry staple, penne pasta, a little more interesting. Enjoy!
Yum!
♥
Jen
Embracing the Bright & Bold!
Well, since that color trend isn't going anywhere as evidenced by the recent J Crew fall runway show, I thought I'd serve up some delicious ways to wear this trend. Enjoy!
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Whats that I see... Could it be the Sun?
Well gosh, its been awhile. I hardly recognized you, but its so nice to see you! You should try and come around more often... You've really made my day! Its amazing how much nicer everything and everyone seems to be when your out and about, old friend. Please stay awhile!
For something else to brighten your day, head on over to High Gloss Magazine and check out their new April/May issue.
The editors of the mag are doing an amazing job! This issue is full of beauiful design photos and ideas, not to mention a few fashionable favorites of mine, including a piece on Jen Ramos of MadeByGirl. If you haven't already, check out her amazing blog and website featuring some fantastic custom made posters and cards. Her design & blog have been featured in numerous publications. Here are a few of my faves:
All of these items are available in her online store.
♥
Jen
Style for a Steal
Yes, Im aware we are in a recession. No, that does not mean I'm going to stop loving fashion nor cease shopping. It just means those purchase choices need to be well thought out, and we need to get as much for our dollar as we can. So, with this is mind, here is the first edition of deals & steals, featuring the Ladylike Chic trend. Enjoy!
1. $50 Carlos by Carlos Santana Believe Pump via Endless.com
2. $38 Nine West Womens Nanda Pump via Endless.com
3. $24.50 Old Navy Womens Skinny Cropped Pants
4. $118.50 (orig $395) Erin Fetherston Silk Chiffon Blouse via Outnet
5. $89 Spegiel Fringe Tweed Jacket
6. $21 BR Genuine Freshwater Pearl Earrings
7. $50 BR All Around Fringe Scarf
8. $26 Mark Darling Denim Skirt
9. $37 T by Alexander Wang Cowl Back Tunic in White or Gray
10.$69.99 Target Mirrored Side Table
11.$99 Jcpenny Solid Crystal Table Lamp
12. $299 Home Decorators Emma Studio Tufted Sofa
Happy (thrifty) shopping!
♥
Jen
1. $50 Carlos by Carlos Santana Believe Pump via Endless.com
2. $38 Nine West Womens Nanda Pump via Endless.com
3. $24.50 Old Navy Womens Skinny Cropped Pants
4. $118.50 (orig $395) Erin Fetherston Silk Chiffon Blouse via Outnet
5. $89 Spegiel Fringe Tweed Jacket
6. $21 BR Genuine Freshwater Pearl Earrings
7. $50 BR All Around Fringe Scarf
8. $26 Mark Darling Denim Skirt
9. $37 T by Alexander Wang Cowl Back Tunic in White or Gray
10.$69.99 Target Mirrored Side Table
11.$99 Jcpenny Solid Crystal Table Lamp
12. $299 Home Decorators Emma Studio Tufted Sofa
Happy (thrifty) shopping!
♥
Jen
Monday, April 11, 2011
J Crew Fall RTW
fOk. I admit it. I'm a little bit obsessed with J crew. And yes, I probably have a bit of a girl crush on their President and Executive Creative director, Jenna Lyons, and her flawless personal and home style, but the complete renovation that she has fostered at the brand in the last five years has been amazing. If I need something classic and chic, I know I can count on Jenna and J Crew to come through. The new fall RTW line is no exception. Spring has just sprung and I'm already craving the luxurious mix of vintage preppy pinks and burgundies, brocades and leopard print. Yum!
FYI, It doesn't look like the color trend is going anywhere, so lets embrace it shall we! Here's a taste of what we have to look forward to!
How 'bout a little workplace extravagance:
Or a dose of casual glamour:
And my personal favorites:
♥
Jen
Monday, Monday!!! Some inspiration to get your work week started out right.
"Often people attempt to live their lives backwards: they try to have more things, or more money, in order to do more of what they want so they will be happier. The way it actually works is the reverse. You must first be who you really are, then, do what you need to do, in order to have what you want."
~ Margaret Young ~
"Just don't give up trying to do what you really want to do. Where there is love and inspiration, I don't think you can go wrong. "
~Ella Fitzgerald~
"If someone listens, or stretches out a hand, or whispers a word of encouragement, or attempts to understand a lonely person, extraordinary things begin to happen."
~Loretta Girzartis~
~Loretta Girzartis~
"Life is not easy for any of us. But what of that? We must have perseverance and above all confidence in ourselves. We must believe we are gifted for something and that this thing must be attained."
~Marie Curie~
"Living in the moment means letting go of the past and not waiting for the future. It means living your life consciously, aware that each moment you breathe is a gift."
~Oprah Winfrey~
"People of high self-esteem are not driven to make themselves superior to others: they do not seek to prove their value by measuring themselves against a comparative standard. Their joy is being who they are, not in being better than someone else."
~Nathaniel Branden~
~Oprah Winfrey~
"People of high self-esteem are not driven to make themselves superior to others: they do not seek to prove their value by measuring themselves against a comparative standard. Their joy is being who they are, not in being better than someone else."
~Nathaniel Branden~
"I have found that the way we treat ourselves sets the example for how others will treat us. If you are constantly down on yourself, you will draw people into your life who treat you the same way. On the other hand, when you invest in yourself and see yourself as valueable, the way God sees you, then others will recognize your worth too."
~Victoria Osteen~
Of all these incredible thoughts, the last quote is probably the most inspiring to me at present. I have found that as humans, we tend to be our own worst critics, particularly us women. Instead of looking in a mirror and complimenting ourselves about all of the internally and externally positive things about ourselves, we nitpick our flaws to the point that our self-esteem hangs by a thread. Instead of focusing on the good things we do, we tend to latch on to the failures.
If we all flipped that internal switch to instantly be tough on ourselves off, and instead focusd on the positives in our lives, just imagine how different your outlook on life would be. Instead of thinking, "Gosh, I didn't spend any time playing with my child today." Or, " I didn't finish all those files at work." Think about what you did accomplish. Maybe you didn't have time to play with your child, but you did give her a bath and read her an extra book. And hey, you even made a healthy dinner for the family. So you didn't accomplish every task you wanted to at work today, but you took the time to train one of your peers on a task that they had been struggling with. That one small task you accomplished may make a huge difference for that person every day.
Just try it. Everytime you have a negative thought about yourself, immediatly counteract that thought with at least two positives. Eventually, you'll start seeing all of the positive impact you have every day. And once you open that door, once you are truly able to love yourself unconditionally, as God does, all the gifts you were born to recieve will be yours!
Have a Fabulous Week All!
♥
Jen
Friday, April 8, 2011
Classic Cozy Chic Weekend Wardrobe Update
One need look no further for the inspiration to toss those sweatpants for good then Kelly Ripa. The woman has about 12 (successful!) jobs, 3 kids, and a healthy marriage... and she manages to do it all looking great. So for this first edition of the Classic Cozy Chic weekend wardrobe update, I'll be recreating a casual day look Kelly wore this past fall on the streets of New York... With a few spring updates. I love this look because it could literally work anywhere, anytime... On any figure- Even if you don't have Kelly's great genes (or personal trainer). This is definitely Cozy Chic! Enjoy, and have a fabulous weekend!
1. DKNY Grey Sweater
2. Forever 21 Metallic Grey Scarf
3. Tarnish Brushed Gold Necklace
4. Banana Republic Grey Jeans
5. UO Sunglasses
6. Mark Jacobs Snake Embossed Bag
7. Stella Dot Gold Studs
8. Enzo Angiolini Cerick Pump
♥ Jen
1. DKNY Grey Sweater
2. Forever 21 Metallic Grey Scarf
3. Tarnish Brushed Gold Necklace
4. Banana Republic Grey Jeans
5. UO Sunglasses
6. Mark Jacobs Snake Embossed Bag
7. Stella Dot Gold Studs
8. Enzo Angiolini Cerick Pump
♥ Jen
Inspiring Thoughts on Achieving Your Goals
I'm forwarded these e-mails every now and again by my lovely mother. I found this one to be particularly relevant to the lives of almost every woman I know, and thought I'd share it. Here's to actually putting pen to paper and making something of those dreams of yours!
♥
Jen
Winner's Circle Network with Lou Tice - 4/6/11 - "Achieving Your Goals"
If you're going to get what you want in life, it is only common sense
that first you have to know what you want. Even beyond that, it is
absolutely essential that you take your desires seriously enough to
goal-set to achieve them.
I am convinced that the reason most people fail to achieve their goals
in life is that they never really set them in the first place. Most
people spend more time planning a wedding or a vacation than they do
planning their lives. And by failing to plan, they are actually planning
to fail, by default.
You see, your mind is like the homing system in a torpedo or an
automatic pilot. Once you clearly and specifically commit to a target,
your mind uses negative and positive feedback from your environment,
including your internal environment, to adjust your behavior.
But if you program your mind with vague desires, nonspecific goals, or
fuzzy ideas, the feedback will be meaningless. For example, if you
goal-set for a better standard of living, how will you know when you
have achieved it? Any improvement at all will be something better. But
if you have a highly specific target, such as doubling your income, you
will always know when you are on track and exactly how far you have left
to go at any given moment.
Remember, you have the power to achieve whatever you want in life, and
commitment to specific goals is the surest way I know to tap into that
power.
Lou Tice
The Pacific Institute
www.thepacificinstitute.com
The effects of The Pacific Institute's education are reverberating
around the world. For weekly updates, go to www.TPIGlobalNews.com
♥
Jen
Winner's Circle Network with Lou Tice - 4/6/11 - "Achieving Your Goals"
If you're going to get what you want in life, it is only common sense
that first you have to know what you want. Even beyond that, it is
absolutely essential that you take your desires seriously enough to
goal-set to achieve them.
I am convinced that the reason most people fail to achieve their goals
in life is that they never really set them in the first place. Most
people spend more time planning a wedding or a vacation than they do
planning their lives. And by failing to plan, they are actually planning
to fail, by default.
You see, your mind is like the homing system in a torpedo or an
automatic pilot. Once you clearly and specifically commit to a target,
your mind uses negative and positive feedback from your environment,
including your internal environment, to adjust your behavior.
But if you program your mind with vague desires, nonspecific goals, or
fuzzy ideas, the feedback will be meaningless. For example, if you
goal-set for a better standard of living, how will you know when you
have achieved it? Any improvement at all will be something better. But
if you have a highly specific target, such as doubling your income, you
will always know when you are on track and exactly how far you have left
to go at any given moment.
Remember, you have the power to achieve whatever you want in life, and
commitment to specific goals is the surest way I know to tap into that
power.
Lou Tice
The Pacific Institute
www.thepacificinstitute.com
The effects of The Pacific Institute's education are reverberating
around the world. For weekly updates, go to www.TPIGlobalNews.com
Thursday, April 7, 2011
My First Design Inspiration- Tia Zoldan's L.A. Home (circa 2007)
As one of my first posts, I thought I'd share one of the first homes that truly inspired me. These pictures were originally published several years ago in the now defunct Cottage Living shelter mag. At the time this was the home of the fabulous L.A. based interior designer Tia Zoldan, who of course decorated her own home. She has since updated her decor which I'll post for you another time. ☺
While my own tastes tend to lean towards a bit more of a clean, neutral, look with touches of glamour via a gold table or gilded mirror here or there, I've never forgotten this home.
I was so inspired by this pictorial because this little house felt like a home. Someplace a family actually lived... not just a series of impeccably designed rooms hellbent on making beautiful pictorial... even if that means visitors were afraid to sit or touch anything. This home is chic and stylish, while maintaining the family's personality and appearing comfortable. The designers use of classic foundation pieces (the comfy white sofa, the farmhouse dining table) intermixed with the more modern (coffee table & artwork) and colorful pieces (the teal ottoman, green armoire) give this home that perfectly eclectic mix of style and substance that so many of us (me!) have attempted to recreate in our own homes.
While my own tastes tend to lean towards a bit more of a clean, neutral, look with touches of glamour via a gold table or gilded mirror here or there, I've never forgotten this home.
♥ Jen
New Beginnings
First off all, welcome! This little endeavor has been brewing in my mind for quite some time, so I am now officially seizing the day! to start, Id like to share a little about my intentions for this blog. Blogging has become quite the "trend" lately, and I for one have grown to love hearing other's insights into the everyday. But... Im busy! I'm mom to a wonderfully tempestous 4 year old, work full time, and on ocassion am also a wife, sister,or friend to the various other loves in my life. I dont have time to follow 12 blogs every day to keep "in the know!"
Thats where I'd like Classic Cozy Chic to fit in. I want this forum to be a medley of all the things a modern woman wants to keep up on: Fashion & Style, Interior & Home Design, Make-up Trends, Fabulous & Doable Reciepies, Health, Faith, and a few momma moments thrown in for good measure. Anything and everything I post will ideally fall into the categories I've defined as my personal daily aspiration to be: classic, cozy, and chic.
With that, here goes... Enjoy!
Thats where I'd like Classic Cozy Chic to fit in. I want this forum to be a medley of all the things a modern woman wants to keep up on: Fashion & Style, Interior & Home Design, Make-up Trends, Fabulous & Doable Reciepies, Health, Faith, and a few momma moments thrown in for good measure. Anything and everything I post will ideally fall into the categories I've defined as my personal daily aspiration to be: classic, cozy, and chic.
With that, here goes... Enjoy!
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