je na sais quoi: 2012 March

Entries from March 30th, 2012

Friday, March 30, 2012

Oh you Fancy, huh?

Have you heard of Friday’s Fancies?

Over a year ago, a friend introduced me to {av}’s blog:

Long Distance Loving: a blog on how to love from afar.

The reason I was introduced to the site was because the girl behind it lives in Rhode Island. Yes, other people live here. Shocking. After about 6 months of emails and missed connections, I finally met {av} in DC at Blogger Blitz, because she’s the brains behind that operation as well. (This was the same weekend I stayed with CupcakesOMG!, and met Freckled Italian and Cheerios and Beer. We’re all best friends forever and ever).

So anyway, {av}, on a search to tame her constant love for high fashion, conceptualized Friday’s Fancies. In an effort to admire the beautiful clothes she was currently crushing without spending any money, she creates boards of outfits and asks her readers to do the same. Each week, she sends out a newsletter with the concept for the following week. Readers use this as inspiration, and then create an outfit that they would wear, if money were not an issue. And if there is one thing this female can do, it is act like she has all the money in the world.

This week, as I sit in my apartment, I feel that same tug-of-war that most girls feel. That strong desire to shop for beautiful things, and that stronger reminder that I am not in the position to do so. I thought if I joined this week’s Friday’s Fancies, I might feel better. The theme is April Showers: could one create an outfit acceptable for a rainy day, yet so chic, you might forget it was raining at all? I loved this challenge. I’m a ray of freakin’ sunshine on a cloudy freakin’ day.

Umbrella – Jean Paul Gaultier | Lipstick – Yves Saint Laurent | Skirt – Celeb Boutique | Rain Ballerinas – Anthropologie | Nail Polish – Essie| Bracelet – Anthropologie | Bag - Nine West | Jacket – Rick Owens

I decided, since this outfit wasn’t actually going to be in my closet, but since it was my first time, that it should be three things:

1. Expensive
2. Ridiculous
3. Fabulous

In order to accomplish this, I chose a $2,000 hooded leather coat. It’s raining, remember? And what better to shield you from the rain than a $2,000 jacket that will be ruined the moment the water touches it’s leathery goodness?

Moving on to footwear. I think I can rock a mean pair of wellies, but I think if I’m as smart as I claim to be, most girls are going to add wellies to their outfits. When I found these rainy day flats from Anthropologie, after I had already chosen this light pink peplum pencil skirt, it was pretty much destiny and I believe in destiny.

The mint accessories (my favorite color) go well with the several shades of pink and since the jacket and umbrella are neutral, I really do feel like a spring flower in the midst of an April downpour.

The only issue is: instead of feeling content, I now just want this entire outfit.

Check out the rest of the Rainy Day Chic Friday’s Fancies here.

Do you guys think I should take part in Friday’s Fancies every week?! Do you like my outfit? Do you want to go jump in puddles with me, but not really because you’ll ruin my new jacket!!! What were you thinking?

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Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Seeking Information on Community Supported Agriculture

Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)

What is it?

Community Supported Agriculture, often shortened to CSA, is a prepaid subscription to a farm’s produce for the season. Average costs are $150 a month and you receive a box of food once a week. Most CSAs give shareholders a weekly supply of veggies, herbs, fruits and sometimes even eggs and meat. You know it’s fresh and you get to meet the farm and people who grew your food! The prepaid CSA arrangements also makes it a source of financial security for the farmer. Some CSAs also incorporate farm workdays for shareholders. Pickup days vary by farm and some offer delivery. Source

CSAs can include any variety of:

Fruits
Vegetables
Meat
Nursery & Flowers
Grains + Feed
Dairy + Eggs
Herbs
Wood
Pickles + Sauerkraut

So the above information is what I know about CSA. I know it sounds great: It can save you money. It helps support local farmers. You can wind up with fresh eggs, meat, vegetables, fruit, coffee, flowers, specialty items, cheeses and artisan breads every week, without ever going to the grocery store. But I feel like before I can convince James that we should shell out $150 a month, or $300+ for a season, for weekly delivery of farm fresh food, I need to know more.

So please, if you have any advice, I’d love to hear from you. Here are some questions I have and some questions I think James might ask me:

Have you done CSA in the past or do you do it now?

Is there any season you think is more rewarding?

Is it the type of thing where you simply receive a box of foods, or do you show up and fill an empty box with things you want?

If it’s the latter, is your selection based on weight or simply take what you can fit?

Are there weeks where you feel a bit cheated in the selection you receive?

Are there weeks that you feel an abundance, which makes up for lesser weeks?

Or is each week consistent?

Do you think it ultimately saves or costs you more each season?

Would you say this is ultimately more cost effective than going to the Farmer’s Market each week?

Paleo Question: What if I receive too many fruits and grains and not enough meat and vegetables?

If you go away, say on vacation, do you simply skip that week and cut your losses?

Will you know ahead of time what to expect from the farm, or is each week a surprise?

Is it too late to register for spring CSA?

Do you have any tips and tricks to make it as efficient as possible? Preserving surplus? Canning extras? Freezing, etc.

See how many questions I have? And I know I have a million I don’t even know I have. I hope some of you out there are experienced about CSA and are willing to help a girl out. Clearly, I’m clueless about this entire process. The more prepared I am with answers, the better chance I have of coming to a decision. James is a very thoughtful decision maker, as you might have guessed, so any information you have will be a huge help. Thank you and happy spring!

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Wednesday Catch Up

I often forget that you don’t live in my apartment with me. For that, I am sorry. Here’s what you missed:

1. Turns out by the time my order for the Dorothy Perkins dress got to the warehouse, it had sold out. I blame myself for pinning that damned dress before I had it in my possession. Let this be a lesson to you all: Thou shalt not pin that item which thou plans to possess. Sew that on a pillow. I ordered a different dress once this was all figured out. I’m not telling ANYONE which dress until it is on my body.

2. I received my Kate Spade case and James asked if it was from Target. I should have been offended but figured that was fate stepping in. “Uh huh. It was on clearance! Figured I might as well get it until I get a real case.” I like to hold it up to my face and say, “I can seeeee you.”

3. I wore this skirt again on Saturday night. This time with gold sandals and a leather jacket. Lots of people have been asking me about it. The brand is Ark & Co. and I’m sure you can find it with a little searching. If you do find it, for the love of GOD, don’t pin it.

4. I also wore my floral pants again and styled them completely different. A bold nail. Black flats. Leather jacket. Black shirt. Low messy bun. Even my brother, who formally made fun of me for the pants, said this was a much better look for me. I agree. I think the first time I wore them, I was trying to really wear them. But this time, I wore them how I’d probably wear them to hang out with friends or go to dinner.

5. I have reached the half way mark of my Invisalign and so far, I’m very pleased with the results. I’ll post about the whole process after I’m done.

6. Gabe turned four. Grace let her mom French braid her hair. These are both way bigger deals than I can convey here.

7. We made these mussels again. They were better than I remembered.

8. I attempted paleo pumpkin chocolate chip cookies but they didn’t really look like cookies and I’m pretty sure they were raw. I ate them all anyway.

9. I still haven’t found a job. I’m beginning to lose my cool.

10. James and I saw Hunger Games in IMAX last Friday and I have since braided my hair every single night.