Wednesday Miscellany!

Holy crap, people! How did it get to be Wednesday again? Anyone else feeling like the week/month is flying right by? Let's get right down to the good stuff, shall we?
I don't think we need to re-establish the fact that I have a thing for simple gold bands. How's this one for awesome?:

Reticulated Narrow Band Two, Barrio Neal

I'm probably late to the game on this, but Need Supply Co. is my new favorite online shop. Mix high and low without having to shop at different places. Also? Amazing shoes and accessories.

Here's my full shopping list:
Everything. 

Here's my abbreviated shopping list:

3d Mirror ring

Kenzie Cape (as long as we are wishing for things, I need about 4" more height with this one so I don't look like I am being eaten by a sleek muppet)

Silk Secret Skirt

There are a few things coming up on the horizon that will require me to dress as opposed to get dressed. These bad boys say "I am dressed." Also, if you get hit by a car, the EMTs and ER doctors will be so pumped that you took it a step above and beyond just clean underwear.

Catriona Luxury Sequins Suspender Knickers, La Lilouche

And also:

Allie Brosh is a genius. If you didn't find your inspiration for your Halloween costume yesterday, consider Allie's amazing idea.
This lady is the queen of cross stitch.
I love lamp (points to those of you who got that reference. Welcome to my frat house).
Forget Disneyland, this has got to be the happiest place on earth.  
Can't wait to see what Rebecca's cooking up for the Pretty Mommy recipe exchange!

Tomorrow Elisabeth and I will be tag-teaming you with 2 recipes--get ready for dinner AND dessert!

Halloween For Grown-Ups

Dear YOU + ME*,

My boyfriend and I are invited to a Halloween party this year, so it's absolutely imperative that we dress up. However, we're having a difficult time coming up with good costumes. He doesn't have any ideas at all and I feel like all the options for women are sexy _____ (while I'd like to look cute, I was hoping to do so without looking like an extra in an X-rated film). Do you guys have any fun costume ideas that we can put together on a shoestring and wear without looking uninspired or trashy?

Thanks!
J.

Dear J.,

Ugh, you've hit upon a Halloween pet peeve of ours (especially now that we both have daughters!). When there are sexyteenage mutant ninja turtle and sexy cookie monster costumes, you know things have gotten way out of hand. Never fear, there are plenty of ways to partake in dress-up fun without putting on something you'd be embarrassed to be spotted wearing by your mom, dad, or grandparents. All these costumes can be pulled together on the cheap with items from your local thrift store, ebay, or etsy. The key is finding inspiration and here are some good sources:

Your favorite movie or tv show
I've always wanted to dress up as Margot and Richie Tennenbaum with my husband. Is it just because I've secretly always thought he'd look hot with a beard and sweatband? I'll never tell.

source

Don & Betty Draper. There will be loads of Mad Men inspired costumes out there this year, but that's because it's full of droolworthy fashions (that you can only wear for about the length of a Halloween party before becoming intolerably uncomfortable. Girdles anyone?).

source; source

Popeye & Olive Oyl. My sailor of a husband and I dressed as this cartoon couple last year. I found a Navy uniform top in the vintage section of etsy, bought a $4 sailor hat, and drew some anchor tattoos on his arms. I had my dry cleaner sew white ruffles on a red shirt (I would have done it myself if I sewed) and wore it with a black knee length skirt and brown boots that I already had. Easy peasy.

source & Elisabeth's photo

 

History (Time Periods & People)
Have you always thought you were supposed to be an expat in Paris in the 20s? Me too. Maybe your boyfriend would be willing to play Hemingway for the evening.

source

This pair is perfect party fodder: Edie Sedgick & Andy Warhol

source

Your Closet

Do you have a navy blue or chambray shirt? Well, find a polka dot scarf and you're all set to be Rosie the Riveter. I'm sure your boyfriend could dig up some clothes appropriate for a factory worker from the depths of his closet.

source

You both have plaid shirts, don't you? Throw on your favorite jeans, some boots, and maybe a hat and you'd fit right in on the farm or at a ranch.

source

These are just a few ideas for the non-sewing inclined who are ok with some thrift store fun. What about you, clever readers? Any favorite costumes made or thrifted from years past?

Oh, and J., do treat us to a photo of you and your beau all dressed up for the party. Have fun!

xo,
ME*

Love Letter to a Bag Which I Haven't Met Yet

Hi everyone! We hope everyone had a lovely weekend (and for those of you in the states, we hope you have the day off today). The weather here in New York has been perfection the past few days. When it was rainy and cold, I had nothing good to say about fall, but with this weekend's cool, crisp air mixed with warm sun and golden light, I may have said a nice thing or two about summer being over. Which I will promptly be taking back when it gets cold.

Between the farmers' market and wandering the village with Brooke and Ashley and Aron on Saturday and an errand extravaganza today, I am seriously considering replacing my on-the-large-side purse with a heavy-hitter carryall. It's got to be strong, good-looking and up for some heavy lifting. Here are a few that I've been making eyes at (don't tell my purse--it gets jealous easily):

Well, hello gorgeous. You had me at "navy wool."

The Commuter, Sketchbook

Ooh, if you were mine, I would fill you with milk glass and 18th century tchotchkes that we would find together at undiscovered flea markets and thrift shops. 

 Original Flea, Fleabags (@Pretty Mommy)

You and I would snuggle on the couch and watch "Troop Beverly Hills" and drink hot cocoa out of the tin cups that came with our mess kits. In the morning, it would be up and out to explore the urban jungle together.

Scout Pack Backpack, DuluthPack

You, with your gold zippers and chains, make me want to be a better person. I would even put on pants that button when we go out so that you wouldn't be embarrassed to be seen with me.

Exhibitor Mega Tote, JCrew

Have you been cheating on your purse with a bigger bag? Do tell!
Also, here's a few sneak peeks at what we were up to this weekend:

We should have pictures for you late this week or early next week--can't wait to share!

There's A Baby On The Way!

For real. 

I know. I (Elisabeth) can hardly believe it myself and I'm the one who is four months pregnant with a sweet potato sized baby boy. It seemed like time to share the big news, mainly because Miya and I were starting to have a difficult time avoiding references to babies or pregnancy. But enough about me, let's talk about you. Do you have a friend or maybe a sister who is pregnant or in the process of adopting? You do, that's fantastic because I happen to have some insight into what you could give her. 

I always feel a little giddy when I hear that a baby is going to come into a loved one's life, whether it's through adoption, pregnancy, or a magical stork. While I relish any opportunity to give sweet knitted goodies, a beautiful wooden teether, or my favorite alphabet print for the nursery, if I'm particularly close to the mother-to-be, sometimes it feels right to give her a little something after I hear the big news. Whether it's a "yay, it's finally happening," a "you're going to make such a good mother," or an "I'm sorry you haven't stopped vomiting for six weeks" gift, it never hurts to show a soon-to-be mother a little love.

Even though this print of Waiting Again by Matte Stevens really has nothing to do with babies or pregnancy, the title (Matte Stevens always uses the very best titles for his work) makes me imagine these couples are all lined up in a row to wait for their babies. No matter how a baby comes into your life, there will always be a period of waiting, but this print will still be appreciated long after the baby arrives.

This silly little print, You're Doing Everything Right by laurageorge, says exactly what your expectant friend or sister needs to hear on a daily basis. People are quick to tell a mother or mother-to-be everything she is doing wrong, so make sure you give this print with instructions to hang it somewhere it can be seen every day. It will be like whispering a little pep talk in her ear each morning.

Clockwise from top left: White Jasmine Sparkling Tea by Golden Star Tea Co.; Ginger Juice by The Ginger People; Clarified Key Lime and Blood Orange Bitters by Stirrings; Lavendar Lemon Drop and Wasabi Bloody Mary by Mod Mix. 

Since I happen to be a serious wine lover (let's just say we didn't get married in Napa for the olives), I always feel a twinge of sadness when I see our wine club bottles accumulating on the wine rack while I'm pregnant. I have enough vinophile friends to know I'm not the only one who longs for a wine glass at dinner when abstaining for nine months. I've realized, though, that the wine glass itself is a big part of our dining ritual and as long as it's filled with something that appeals to an adult palate, I'm pretty happy. So most nights you'll find me dining with sparkling water, a splash of one of these nonalcoholic mix-ins, and maybe a pretty garnish, all in one of our good glasses. These mixers are perfect for a not-too-sweet and downright adult tasting mocktail. Wrap a couple of these in a box with some lemons, limes, and a cute little stirrer and you have a gift that any abstaining cocktail lover would adore.

If you need a gift with a little more wow factor for your pregnant or adopting loved one (maybe because of a birthday or holiday), these Matta metal wraps, which can be found at Nonchalant Mom, could not be more perfect. Is it a belt? A necklace? A bracelet? Yes, yes, yes. That's right, one wrap is perfectly suited to be all of those things. They're not only multi-functional and gorgeous, but they're pretty much baby proof. I can't imagine Claire (or the new baby) destroying them or me ever tiring of them. That makes them winners in my book.
[Updated to add that TODAY ONLY Nonchalant Mom is offering 10% off your entire order with the code EXTRA10]

We hope you have a cozy weekend planned!

Early Fall Pasta

Happy Thursday, everyone! We hope your week has been super awesome. I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one, but I find that some of my best recipes are a product of having a few things in the fridge that I've never tried together, but they're the only things on hand. Last week, looking at a fridge full of corn and spinach, and a lonely butternut squash and some whole wheat farfalle in the pantry, I came up with this pasta, which, it turns out, is a lovely early fall dish if you can still get good corn.  Part of the secret is letting the butter brown a little bit, which gives it a really nice richness.

Farfalle with Roasted Butternut Squash, Spinach, Corn, and Goat Cheese
Ingredients:
1 1/2T olive oil, divided
1/2T butter
1/2 medium butternut squash, cut into 1/4" cubes
2 ears corn, shucked and kernels removed from cob
1 11 oz package of baby spinach (about 6c loosely packed)
2c whole wheat farfalle, cooked according to manufacturer's instructions (note: I like my pasta to be an accoutrement to, rather than the center of, a dish.  If you like a more pasta-heavy pasta dish, you may want to add some more pasta.)  
goat cheese
salt and pepper to taste

Directions:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Toss the squash with 1T olive oil and some salt.  Roast squash for about 40 minutes, or until it's soft, slightly brown, and cooked through.
Heat butter and 1/2T olive oil in a large frying pan or sauté pan over medium-high heat.  Leave on heat until the butter solids start to brown a bit and the butter/oil combination takes on a lovely golden hue.  Without turning down the heat, add the corn, and let sit until it starts to brown. Reduce heat to medium, and stir in spinach.  Cook until the spinach is just wilted. Turn off heat and add pasta and squash. Add salt and pepper to taste, and serve topped with chunks of goat cheese.
Enjoy! 

P.S. If this isn't enough recipe inspiration for you, hop on over to It All Started at Mother's for Karen's recipe today!

Wednesday Miscellany: Prep Edition

East coasters might not find anything odd about the notion of boarding or prep school, but as a Northern Californian that entire world was completely foreign and utterly intriguing to me (I honestly believed that boarding school was a euphemism for rehab or reform school). Now that I've lived here for almost 7 years, I know more than a handful of people who attended these schools and none of them were sent there for Lindsay Lohan-esque behavior. I'm not sure I've admitted it to them, but in my head, they all went to Rushmore Academy and every fall I wish I was going to school there too.

Of course, I'd have to study up. I could go old school with classics like Take Ivy and The Preppy Handbook, but I think I'd also have to get some new school tips from True Prep.

Please tell me I can roll up to campus in a woody and everyone will be dressed like the Hilfigers:

Or like this group by Partners & Spade for Boast:

spotted via Simple Lovely

Since I'm well past boarding school age, I'll have to live vicariously through film. Luckily, there are two pieces of good news for Wes Anderson fans (like us!) jonesing for their fix:

(1) The Criterion Collection is releasing a super fantastic edition of The Darjeeling Limited (one of my personal favorites) on October 12. If you're not familiar with Criterion, they produce special editions of "the greatest films from around the world" in the highest quality possible and with amazing supplements and gorgeous cover art. Can we say holiday present?
(2) Wes Anderson has begun pre-production on his next live-action project, titled Moonrise Kingdom (via Production Weekly). I know I can't wait to find out what it is.

Oh, and in other miscellany:
Pretty Mommy is hosting a recipe exchange. Do you know what that means? A new, delicious fall recipe every weekday--if that doesn't inspire you to get your cook on, I don't know what will. Today's recipe is from Katie at The 30 Girl. Expect a little something from us on October 14 and November 4. 

Also, guess who we'll be wandering around with downtown this Saturday? If you guessed her and them, you were right! I'm pretty sure only good things can come about with that cast of characters. 

Happy Wednesday!

Small, Inexpensive Hostess Gifts

Dear You + ME*
I have a  couple of upcoming weekend trips to visit friends, and I'm having trouble coming up with host/hostess gifts. I'm thinking homemade and food might be the ways to go, mainly because funds are short (I'm a student) and most of these folks don't really need more 'stuff'.  The gift also needs to be able to make it through airport security and fit in my carry-on. So, what to make? I mean, I visit some of these people a couples times a year; my standard zucchini/pumpkin bread is becoming less and less impressive, no matter how pretty the wrapping.
Thanks,
M.

Dear M.,
As evidenced by how many folks ask about this, and how much we write about this topic (see here and here), this is a question that everyone has. However, a student budget (from what we remember from grad school, the student budget = trying to barter for goods and services using old books) and space restraints can make this a particularly hairy question. Here are a few low-cost ideas that don't skimp on the thoughtfulness.

marthastewart.com
First, your idea about something edible is spot-on. How about some truffles? There are tons of recipes floating around, and they're fairly easy to make. And, they're small and easy to pack. Just remember not to leave your carry-on near any heating vents or in the sun. Cookies are always appreciated; Holly over at 101 Cookbooks made some Limoncello Macaroons to take to visit friends. I would be more than happy to see them show up on my doorstep.

Cue the Strings, blurb.com
Photo books are a low-cost, high-impact gift. As a thank-you present after, you could take pictures throughout your visit, and then create a book using iPhoto or one of the other online book-making services like blurb.com, shown above, and have it sent to their house. If you're a repeat visitor, you could use all of the photos you've taken so far at their house, and present the book to your hosts upon arrival.

Brooklyn, NY Skyline Print, Juggling Feats
I also love the idea of bringing a little souvenir from, or something representing, the place where you live. If I were off to visit friends, I might bring them this pretty little print. If you're into doing things yourself, you could paint, collage, photograph, or draw a that is evocative of your city.

We hope these suggestions help; be sure to let us know how it goes!
xo,
ME*

P.S. The Pretty Mommy recipe exchange is on! Head on over to A Place to Share for Tori's Butternut Squash, Sage, and White Bean Soup recipe!
P.P.S. If you, gentle readers, have a question that you would like You + ME* to tackle, drop us a line at youplusmestyling{at}gmail{dot}com.

Pint-Sized Finds for 40oz-Sized People

Happy Monday, lovely people!  It was a glorious, glorious fall weekend here in New York.  The weather was perfect for farmers' marketing (check), meeting friends for dinner (check), and family walks in the park (check, check, check). Let's dive right into the gathering, shall we?

This here is Mary Kate Steinmiller, pictured on The Sartorialist. Do you love her outfit? I love her outfit. Here's a secret: that sweater? It's a kids' sweater!
This is why that makes me so excited: I'm a big, big fan of buying kids' clothes for myself. Wearing kids' clothes is a great way to save money, and you'll be wearing something you can be pretty sure that no one else in your social circle will be rocking, unless you're a teacher. And, because I'm short, some pieces fit better than adult versions because they're shorter in the torso and sleeves. 

Here are some pieces I'm considering adding to my closet this fall: 

Kids' Fisherman's sweater, L.L. Bean

 Laundered Shirt, Mini Boden

 

Two-Button Schoolboy Blazer, Crewcuts

525 Knit Sweater, Berkeley Girl

Even kids' accessories are cute sometimes, and can add a fun touch to your outfit if you, unlike me, don't want to go rummaging around in the kids' department for your clothes, or if your body fits better in clothes cut for adults.

Kids' Timex Camper Watch, Crewcuts

Just remember, my darlings, one piece at a time. The key is to mix pieces with other stuff to make them unrecognizable as kids' clothes. A boys' blazer with a rumpled button-up shirt, skinny jeans and oxfords = effortlessly cool. A boys' blazer with khakis and a white polo shirt = grade school uniform. Keeping that in mind, your sartorial hunting grounds have just expanded--go forth and explore!

P.S. We're participating in My Pretty Mommy's recipe exchange. Every day for the next few weeks, Michelle will have folks over to her blog to share their favorite recipes with you, and we'll be telling you lovely folks about what's cooking over there. Be sure to check out Michelle's recipe for Taco Soup here! 

The Gift Of An Entertained Toddler

Happy Friday everyone! Today's "giving" post is part 2 of our response to a reader question about traveling by airplane with a toddler (you can read part 1 from Tuesday here). Since we can't in good conscience recommend valium (for you or your toddler), we have plenty of other suggestions for items you can give your little one to make those hours en route pass by painlessly. By necessity all these items are compact, so they also make great stocking stuffers. Oh, and Cool Mom Picks responded to a similar reader question yesterday, so it's your lucky week, if you have upcoming plans to travel with a toddler.

- Crayons and paper. This artist case by OurLittleMesses and scribble kit by Dwell Studio are fantastic ways to keep everything organized, but a baggie of crayons (never markers!) and any random pad of paper will do just fine. I have a few crayons and a pad of paper in just about every bag I own. They never get old.

- Play dough. Some types are stickier than others and I think it's obvious that you'd want a less sticky type. Clementine modeling dough is a great consistency, plus as an extra bonus it smells good too.

- Playing cards. Claire once spent at least two hours taking cards out of their box, dropping them in a clean air sickness bag, and then returning them to their box. I'm not even sure why we had cards with us since she was (and still is) far too young to play any regular card games, but you can bet we bring them everywhere now. Any random set from your junk drawer will work (it doesn't even have to be a full deck), but I think Claire might play with them for an additional 30 minutes if there were 3-D dogs on each card. 

- Books. While an airplane flight seems like the perfect time to surprise your little one with some brand new books, it turns out it's not (did everyone else know that but me?). I made that mistake the hard way once when I showed Claire her little pile of brand new books for the plane and she promptly threw them to the ground one by one. She still won't read them to this day. Airplane rides are actually the perfect time for all your old favorites. I bet you have some of these in your house.

- Snacks! Our house is generally a haven of healthy eating, but I've been known to dramatically lower my standards for long flights. If we're going to be traveling for 7 hours and all Claire wants to consume for that time period is every snack offering available on JetBlue, bunny cookies, and the smoothie I bought at the airport, so be it. One day of off kilter eating is not going to undo a lifetime of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. That said, I love to pack these HappyTot pouches, which are basically smoothies in a bag. You can bring them through security as long as your toddler is with you and you remove them from your carry-on with your other liquids. They're not only tasty (and full of organic goodness), but your child will have to suck the contents out of the pouch, which can help little ears deal with altitude changes.

- Technology. I will absolutely admit that I ply my daughter with Sesame Street on an iphone. It's small enough that she can hold it herself (I put it in a rubber sleeve first); if the volume is pretty low, she can hear it but others can't; and it keeps her enthralled for a frighteningly long time. The apps Peekaboo Barn and Peekaboo Safari are also big hits.

- Other small toys. If you're traveling with a toddler and an infant or your little one just happens to love baby dolls, this mini diaper bag by FeeVertelaine will be a big hit. Just don't forget your child's favorite baby, so he/she has something to take care of. 

- Lovie. I'm sure you never go anywhere without it, but whatever lovie or blankie your child uses for naps and bedtime should definitely come with you on the plane. It's your best chance for a blissful, sleepy flight.

Happy travels, J. Hope these suggestions make your trip a dream.

Have a lovely weekend friends!

Saving Vegetable Stock For A Rainy Day

I love my freezer (and not just because that's where you'll find the ice cream). I'm one of those people who prepares huge batches of meals or baked goods and freezes them for some vague future date. This probably began when I finally embraced my depression era impulse to never, ever waste food. Can't eat a whole loaf of bread before it gets moldy? Freeze it. Went a little crazy at the farmer's market and fear a produce bin of rotting produce? Freeze it. Find yourself with extra cake frosting or leftover pizza dough? Freeze those too.

My love affair with the freezer became even more extreme when I realized it takes basically the same amount of work to cook enough enchiladas for one dinner as it does to cook enough for three. The same holds true for just about every meal and meal component I can think of. Since there will always be nights when I'm too busy or exhausted to make a real dinner (and I've yet to convince my family that "there's a whole bunch of stuff in the fridge if you just dig around" constitutes a meal plan), my freezer is always well stocked.

[This is where I was going to insert a photo of the contents of my freezer, but it turns out that frozen granola bars, black beans, pinto beans, quinoa, fall vegetable soup, pesto, vegetable stock, and assorted breads will never be photogenic. The soup above, however, is pretty . . . and intriguing. I'd like to make it with the vegetable stock currently residing in my freezer.]

Vegetable stock really does have more body and flavor when it's homemade. I absolutely think you can cook a tasty soup without it in a pinch, but this is definitely a meal component where its contribution to the final product will outweigh the preparation factor, especially if you always make a huge batch, freeze it in ice cube trays (you can pop the cubes out when the stock is frozen and transfer them to a ziploc bag), and pull them out as needed.

My recipe for stock goes something like this:

Notice I have some vegetables that need to be eaten asap (make sure little hands don't steal the carrots before they're peeled and chopped). Chop the veggies, toss with a little olive oil, and brown them in my stock pot or by roasting in the oven. Add some garlic, parsley from our herb pot, and a parmesan rind from the freezer. Add a whole bunch of water and simmer until I think of it again. Strain. Taste. Throw in some pepper and soy sauce.

I realize that recipe is not particularly helpful if you've never made stock before, which is why I must direct you to one of my favorite people: Mark Bittman, the Minimalist. He will give you more precise instructions for how to make delicious and easy vegetable stock. My only advice (even if it requires you to use two pots) is to double his recipes.

This is the vegetable soup I made with my stock last week. If you have good stock, "making soup" just means adding your favorite vegetables (and maybe topping with some parmesan or pesto). Yum.