Cheetah in a Conservative World

Blazer- mom's, T-shirt- Hanes, skirt- Principessa, shoes- Sam Edelman, bag- Marc by Marc Jacobs

Can you really wear cheetah without looking like a Jersey Shore cast member? Cheetah print sometimes has such a bad rap, and I'm not really sure why I bought it in the first place from one of my favorite boutiques on Abbot Kinney. Alas I'm faced with a dilemma how do I wear this knowing I'm going to get more than a couple of stares. I'm more than happy to take the challenge of wearing a cheetah print skirt in a conservative world. A loose men's Hanes T with a structured blazer makes it less Snooki and more business casual, directing the attention away from the wild print and making me seem less out there in the world of sorbet colored chinos.

Raw vegan sushi and cucumber salad

I've been trying to eat raw vegan all week, and I've reached ultimate boredom. Ready to throw in the towel and order a huge chirashi bowl, I decided to stick it out and make some raw vegan sushi. It's all in the rice and in this case it's made of cauliflower. Still need to work on rolling and cutting my roll, but if eating raw is like this for every meal then sign me up.

Sushi
Makes one roll

1 sheet of nori
1/8 head of cauliflower
1/8 avocado
1 crimini mushroom chopped into tiny pieces

1. Place the cauliflower into a food processor until smooth to make that "rice" like quality.
2. Spread out your nori, and put about a three inch width row of cauliflower down your nori.
3. Then add the mushrooms and avocado on top. You could also do some sprouts or pickled ginger too.
4. Carefully roll into a burrito and push all sides of the nori so the insides soften the crispiness of the nori.
5. Using a sharp knife cut into smaller pieces, and serve with whatever you'd like.

Miso cucumber salad
Serves 1

1/2 English cucumber
1/2 tbsp. miso paste (you can find it at Whole Foods)
1/4 tbsp. rice vinegar
1/4 tsp. dark sesame oil
1/4 tbsp. honey
Hot water
Red pepper flakes

1. Slice the cucumber lengthwise so the seeds are showing in the middle.
2. Scoop out the seeds and slice the cucumber halves into little semi-circles.
3. Mix all remaining ingredients to make the paste. Use hot water as necessary to make it less paste-like and more like a sauce.
4. Add the cucumbers and mix to cover in the sauce.
5. Red pepper flakes to garnish and serve.

Ready to sail

Tank- Vince, skirt- American Apparel, belt- BB Dakota, blazer- Anthropologie, tote- Longchamp

The nautical theme is way too overplayed, and the trend just doesn't seem to die. Actually this whole preppy look I tried for approximately 4 days. I quickly decided getting stares because I'm in leather and oversized fur vests is worth not sacrificing my personal style for what I like to call no style. But if there's going to be a day of oysters and docks involved, I'm obligated to put on those navy and white stripes. Choosing to match the top and skirt makes it less noticeable that I look like I'm on a boat, and it's hard to tell in the images but the studded belt gives it more personality.

Roasted brussel sprouts in a maple dijon

Pop culture has taught our youth to hate eating brussel sprouts, clearly I was a weird kid cause one of my favorite things to eat was roasted garlic brussel sprouts. I buy one of those bags (or branches when it's the season) at Trader Joes every time I'm there, and it's always fun to try out new recipes. I'm really digging this whole website and all of the recipes on it. The sweet and tangy sauce does not overpower the roasted flavors from the sprouts, which also keeps it light and a great side for a warmer night.

Ingredients:
Serves 2

1 pound of brussel sprouts (or one bag at TJ) halved and bottoms off
handful of nuts of your choice (I used Brazil but pecans or walnuts would be great)
1 tablespoon maple syrup
1/2 teaspoon dijon mustard
1 tablespoon olive oil
cooking spray
garlic powder, salt, pepper

1. Spread out your brussel sprouts on an aluminum foil topped baking sheet with cooking spray to help with roasting and garlic powder, salt, and pepper at 350 F.
2. The sprouts will probably take about 30 minutes but it's best to keep an eye out for them.
3. While you're waiting put your nuts into a little Ziploc bag. Zip and use a hammer (yes the tool) to break up the nuts into little pieces.
4. Mix the olive oil, dijon, and maple syrup into a small bowl. Then when fully mixed add the nuts.
5. When the sprouts are roasted (you want them slightly browned and softer then when they first went into the oven) add them to your nut and dressing mix. Coat till it's even and serve while warm.
6. Get over your childhood fear of brussel sprouts.

Never ending summer

Labor Day is a week away and I'm going to find any excuse to keep wearing white and crop tops. Not like I needed a new kimono like jacket, but this one I just got from Zara is a steal.. practically free. And I mean if it's free, then you have to buy it.

I was a little hesitant to try the midi ring trend, but I've started to run out of fingers to put rings on so it's only natural that I try to take up every inch of my hand. Important to contrast when using midi rings, and only double stack a thin ring with your midi.

Portobello Pizzas

The minute I'm two seconds away from seeing if 2Amy's/Mozza/Lombardi's delivers I know that A. I'm super lazy, B. in need of a cleanse, C. need to keep my phone far far away from me. Portobello mushrooms are the "meaty" vegetable that are a great substitute for those who don't eat meat. I love filling them up and popping them in the oven. They kinda look like a 10 year-old made them, but when I feel like having a 10 year-old's diet it's totally appropriate.

Ingredients:

1 portobello mushroom (cap only brown gunk and stem taken out)
5 small cherry tomatoes halved
1 ounce of mozzarella
Basil (dried or fresh), salt, pepper

1. Clean and prepare mushrooms. Don't wash them, but run a paper towel on the outside to remove extra dirt.
2. Spray both side with an olive oil spray and set on an aluminum lined baking tray.
3. Add your tomatoes, basil, salt, and pepper. Spray over the tomatoes with olive oil spray.
4. Put in oven from 25-30 minutes. You want the tomatoes to be roasted and the mushroom to be cooked.
5. Add the cheese on top and set back in the oven for another 10 minutes until the cheese is completely melted.
6. Enjoy and thank yourself for not actually ordering that pizza.

Blazer Mood

Blazer- Theory, top- Massimo Dutti, jeans- 7 for all Mankind, shoes- Kelsi Dagger, bag- Marc by Marc Jacobs

Recently I've worn blazers so much at work that I forgot how well it can pull together and complete a more casual look. Invest money in good jackets, shoes, and bags cause you can tell the real difference between good and bad quality, and they will last you a long time. Also most pieces can be pretty classic and never go out of style. No the blazer wasn't cheap, but it's paid for itself many times over.

Heirloom tomato and kale crustless quiche

Two farmer's market visit this week and both times I ended up walking away with heirlooms. Heirloom tomatoes are the summer's greatest herbivore gift, just think raw with salt, slightly roasted for salads, and pizza toppings. This crustless quiche recipe is super healthy but really lets the flavors of the tomatoes shine.

Ingredients:

Eggs (4:1 ratio with milk)
Almond milk (some people use heavy cream but the almond milk is just as creamy but healthier)
Handful of shredded kale
Colorful assortment of heirlooms
Salt, pepper
Sun-dried tomatoes to garnish (optional)

1. Whisk together the eggs and milk till smooth.
2. Spray a non-stick baking pan with a cooking spray and add the egg/milk mix.
3. Add the pieces of kale scattered with salt and pepper.
4. Slice the heirlooms into thin slices and cover the top of the egg mixture. You want to cover the whole top and have them overlapping, but for cooking them it's better to overlap more around the eggs so the middle can cook evenly.
5. More salt and pepper and into the oven at 350 F for about 30 minutes. You'll have to check on it will the eggs are completely cooked.
6. Sprinkle with sun-dried tomatoes on top if you'd like and serve immediately.

Back in Time

Dress- uniqlo, necklace- mom's, shoes- Converse, bag- Marc Jacobs Special Items

It's really only appropriate to dress from an earlier era if you're antique shopping. A little inspiration from Mad Men and Brigitte Bardot playing respect to the 60's but keeping it contemporary with my go-to shoe that way the dress doesn't look like it belonged to my grandmother. For the record I'm pretty sure she owned something like this, but then again my style seems to transition between an old lady and guy from the 80's so it makes sense.

People seem to never know what shoes to wear in the summer especially when you're walking around the city. For a girl with a huge shoe collection, I can count the number of sandals I own on one hand, and after breaking my only pair of Havianas (yoga purposes only) last month I currently own zero flip-flops. But something about Converse with a summer dress just seems surprisingly natural and is probably why I own more Converse than sandals. In all honesty I should probably just be buried in my All Stars...and a Balmain jacket and Bulgari jewels of course too.

Cauliflower two ways

Cauliflower is totally underrated cause it can be manipulated in different ways into a delicious side dish. You'll notice when it's a little bit cooked it ends up becoming almost creamy. The first dish is a healthy version of mashed potatoes, make it for someone without telling them what the main ingredient is and see if they can even taste a difference. The second is replicated from one of the best versions I've had in New York.

Mashed kale cauliflower
Serves two

Ingredients:
2 cups of cauliflower
2 leaves of kale
2 cloves of garlic
2 teaspoons of olive oil
1/2 teaspoon sea salt

1. Put the cauliflower in a steamer with the kale leaves on top. Steam for about 10 minutes.
2. Remove from heat and allow to cool, then remove the kale leaves and put to the side.
3. Put the cauliflower, garlic, olive oil, and salt in a food processor until a smooth mashed like consistency.
4. Add the kale and pulse for a little bit till well mixed.
5. Be impressed by the taste.

Roasted cauliflower with lemon-tahini
Serves two

Cauliflower:
2 cups of cauliflower
olive oil

Tahini:
1 tablespoon tahini paste (can be found at Whole Foods)
1/2 tablespoon of lemon juice
1 tablespoon of olive oil
1/2 tablespoon of water
Garlic powder to taste

1. Spread out pieces of cauliflower (I like buying the bags from Trader Joes) on a pan to be roasted. Drizzle with olive oil and put in the oven at 400 degrees F for about 40 minutes.
2. Make the tahini while your cauliflower is roasting. Add all ingredients together. The sauce will turn a little white and a little liquidy. Put it the fridge to firm up a bit while the cauliflower roasts.
3. Remove cauliflower when nice and roasted and drizzle tahini on top.

Carefree not thoughtless

Top- Lilka, skirt- A&F, sandals- Dolce Vita, tote- Eataly NYC

Rarely do I wear my hair naturally, and wearing it curly in a windy/humid/swamp environment is asking for a bird's nest. Anyway your hair can be your greatest accessory, and if it's going to be an accessory it's only appropriate to have a matching outfit. So natural and carefree hair needs 60's inspired sunglasses and a bohemian top and skirt (layered like that looks like a dress). It's one of those "I'm running around town all day hoping not to see anyone, but just in case I do I'll look someone presentable" outfits.

To all the single ladies...

Put your hands up. Now to all the single ladies who aren't trying to just put a ring on it and live off their husband's earnings, put your hands down. You see it is becoming more apparent in our twenty-somethings that the female species divides and alas we become one or the other. But why is it that in 2013 we are still playing in gender stereotypes and dare I say taking the easy way out? Why is it that so few of you still have your hands up?

An intelligent, beautiful, inspiring, and successful friend of mine forwarded this along to me: "A reply from CEO of J.P. Morgan to a pretty girl seeking a rich husband."  If you haven't read it already take some time to see why being a successful woman always beats marrying someone successful.

Fried quinoa

Busy on "avacation" with little Internet, but we're back with your quick and easy dinner for tonight.

Inspired by a similar recipe from the Sweetsonian website, this is a take on fried rice but a healthy version that takes 20 minutes tops (if your quinoa is ready). The best first homemade meal after awhile.

Ginger fried quinoa
Serves one

Ingredients:
1 tablespoon minced ginger
1/2 cup of quinoa
1 egg
2 snow peas or 1 tablespoon green onions sliced (more for visible appeal)
soy sauce
Sriracha (optional)

1. If you already have your batch of quinoa ready use that if not start boiling water and cook the seeds.
2. Spray a frying pan with oil (I used coconut oil) and heat on medium-high. Add the quinoa, snow peas/green onion, and ginger.
3. Add soy sauce to taste. You want it to be browner but not too salty.  I pushed the quinoa into a small block and kinda let it get crispy on the edges to have that "fried rice" look to it.
4. Once done transfer quinoa to a bowl.
5. Use the same pan to fry an egg to your liking. I prefer a runny yoke.
6. Add the egg on top of the quinoa and more green onion on top or sriracha if you'd like.
7. Enjoy your protein packed dinner, I had mine with authentic chopsticks straight from Tokyo.

Not so black and white but more of a gray zone

Normally I have to annoy whoever is with me to take fashion shots, but today it was the lovely strangers from Norway, Korea, Japan, and Australia who played photographers. Couldn't really tell them what to do and yet all the shots turned out well in their own way. Nothing was good or bad just a blend of work (more of a gray) that ended up making for a cool collection to post.

Most of the outfit you've seen before except the shirt. Oversized shirts are everything (this one just a black cuffed Barney's Co-Op one) they can be belted at the hips and folded over, belted at the waist, vested, or open button down coverup. It's about never wearing the same outfit twice by wearing it in a different way.

Dream City in Genie Pants

Pants- oysho, shirt- Laurie Solet, shoes- Converse

Continuing with my obsession with pants this summer...I think pants are too overlooked when it's hot and humid, and yet they are your best friend. They're comfortable but more formal looking than cut-offs, and you can get away with more shoe options (always a plus). Also you can avoid all awkward gust of wind scenarios with dresses and skirts. I got these pants in Spain a few year ago at a store called oysho (must go if you're in Europe) that has all things that you would expect to see on a European summer vacation-- panama hats, linen shirts, floral-print shorts. When you're in the city of dreams you need to wear some genie pants naturally.

Monotone

Jacket- Saint Grace, dress- Falls, shoes- La Manual Alpargatera, bag- Gucci

At the risk of being too matchy matchy I hardly can pull off a single color outfit (except black), but there are so many shades of blue that it somehow works in this situation. Plus the colors really pop with these beautiful backgrounds.