Month: September 2015

Shoe MVPs

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I’ve had some good luck with shoes lately, so I thought I would share some of my MVPs.

Best Basic:

Nordstrom Black Heels

I recently really needed a basic pair of pointy toed black heels, and I saw these Vince Camuto heels on sale at Nordstrom. I get compliments every time I’ve worn them so far, and they are surprisingly comfortable. They are slightly lower than my higher heels at 3 1/4 inches, and I think that seems to make a big difference. I also like that they have a little more interest than the basic black heel. They also come in a flat version which I am strongly considering.

Best Crowdpleaser and Workhorse:

IvankTrumpNudePump

I’ve had these for over a year and I still get compliments when I wear them. They just make you look good. This color and style goes with everything, and they instantly make you looked polished and put together. They are a little on the high side at almost 4 inches high, but they are actually pretty comfortable as heels go. They have an “almond” shaped toe so they aren’t as tight as a pointed toe, but they are much sleeker than a rounded toe. Ivanka Trump for the win!

Best New Favorite:

NineWestFlats

I got these Nine Wests in nude, and in the flat and heel version. I had nude heels (see above) but I needed a flat for days when I just couldn’t handle a heel. I love that these have the cool metal detail in front, and they are of course very manageable.

The Best Next Thing?

SteveMaddenBooties

I need a brown weekend bootie with a chunky heel that I can wear with jeans when the weather gets colder. Sometimes my Uggs just don’t fit the bill. I think these Steve Madden’s look comfortable and cool. They are in strong consideration.

 

Pumpkin Recipe Round Up!

Sadie1 Comment

It’s officially pumpkin season, and we need to observe it accordingly. I’ve tried enough pumpkin recipes over the past few years, that I’m not really looking to reinvent the wheel this year. I’ve honed the options down to three main standbys.

First, we have pumpkin spice bread. It’s a classic.

Pumpkin Spice Bread

Makes 2 9 x 5 loaves (or about 5 mini loaves), recipe from Epicurious

Ingredients

  • 3 cups sugar
  • 1 cup vegetable oil
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1 15-ounce can pumpkin
  • 3 cups all purpose flour
  • 1 tsp ground cloves
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1 tsp ground nutmeg
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 1 cup coarsely chopped walnuts (optional)

Method

  1. Preheat oven to 350.  Prepare two 9 x 5 loaf pans with parchment and nonstick spray.
  2. Combine flour, spices, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. (you can substitute the multiple spices for pumpkin pie spice if you have it.)
  3. Wisk together oil and sugar.  Add eggs one at a time, then the pumpkin.
  4. Add dry ingredients in slowly.  Add in chopped walnuts if you want.
  5. Bake 1 hour and 10 minutes or until the tester comes out clean. (about 45 min for mini loaves)

done

Next, oatmeal pumpkin cookies. I have a lot of different cookies in my repertoire that are just different combinations of oatmeal cookies with various “mix-ins.” These would be the pumpkin version of that. They have great flavor and great texture!

Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies

Yeilds about 40 depending on size, adapted from My Baking Addiction

Ingredients

  • 2 cups all purpose flour
  • 1 1/2 cups old-fashioned oats
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
  • 1/2 tsp kosher salt
  • 1 cup (2 sticks) butter; softened
  • 1 cup packed light brown sugar
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 cup pure pumpkin puree
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 cup white chocolate chips
  • 1 cup dried cranberries, roughly chopped

Method

  1. Preheat oven to 350.
  2. Combine dry ingredients in a bowl and set aside: flour, spices, oats, salt, and baking soda.
  3. Cream together butter and sugars until light and fluffy.  Add pumpkin puree, egg, and vanilla.  Mix until well combined.
  4. Gradually encorporate dry mixture into wet being careful not to over mix.  Fold in chocolate chips and dried cranberries.
  5. Drop cookies onto parchment lined cookie sheet in generous teaspoon size. Bake 12-14 minutes.

oven time

Best for last: pumpkin chocolate chip bars. Every time I make them, they get raves! They are great out of the oven, or even better cold out of the freezer. You need to make them asap!

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bars

Make one 9 x 13 pan, about 20 bars depending on size, from Martha

Ingredients

  • 2 cups AP flour
  • 1 Tbs pumpkin-pie spice
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 3/4 tsp salt
  • 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 1 1/4 cups sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 cup canned pumpkin puree
  • 1 package (12 ounces) semisweet chocolate chips

Method

  1. Preheat the oven to 350.  Line a 9 x 13 brownie pan with parchment (it will make it much easier to get them out).
  2. Combine the flour, spice, baking soda, and salt.  Set aside.
  3. Cream butter, then add sugar and beat until light and fluffy.  Add egg and vanilla.
  4. Alternate adding batches of the pumkin and dry ingredients.  Mix to combine, but try not to overmix the dough.
  5. Fold in the chocolate chips.
  6. Pour batter into parchment lined pan.  Bake at 350 for 35 to 40 minutes.  Allow to cool completely, then cut and serve!

yum!

Lastly, if you don’t want to actually make something, may I just say that the pumpkin munchkins (cake donut style) from Dunkin are to die for. It’s making me want to find a pumpkin donut recipe…

Fall Coats!

Sadie1 Comment

The best part of fall shopping for me is coat shopping! I typically stalk a couple coats each fall and strategize one or two purchases a year based on need or price point.

Here’s what I’m stalking so far:

I need a new trench coat. I currently have a black, zip, short trench that I’ve had for about seven years. I really love it and I wear it a lot in the spring and fall, but it started fading and fraying at a few seams a couple years ago, and I think I could use a fresh one! I want to stick with the zipper and the shorter length because it makes it so much more functional for me. This is what I have my eye on right now:

Michael Kors Trench

It’s a MICHAEL Michael Kors trench for $275. I’m going to keep my eyes open for a sale, but I might cave on this and buy it full price because I will probably where it for a good seven years.

I also need a weekend fall/winter coat. Last year I either wore my standard black fleece, or one of my nicer wool coats. So I need something a little warmer than a fleece, but not as fancy as a wool coat that I wear to work. I think this is the answer:

llbeanjacket

This LLBean coat is the “Quilted Riding Jacket” for$139. It comes in a few colors, but I think I’m leaning towards the “dark ivy” because olive is the “new neutral.” I think it’s the perfect combination of polished and sporty.

Speaking of olive, I think I also need this wool jacket. Why? I have black, red, and navy coats, so olive and camel are next on my list (and maybe grey).

Nordstromcoat2

This is a Trina Turk coat on sale for $259 at Nordstrom. I dare you to come up with one negative thing to say about this coat.

What coats do you have your eye on this year?