Style Story: The Classic Black Dress

August 7, 2024



If you are anything like me, you've owned many a black dresses in your style journey.  And reasonably so...the black dress is definitely a worthy wardrobe investment. It is for sure one of the holy grail of must-have items in a woman’s wardrobe. Which is why I’ve decided to highlight this must-have staple that will carry you through all the seasons.

The black dress should be that piece in your wardrobe that you can reach for in a closet crisis (or what I like to call an outfit meltdown). You know those days where everything you try on looks awful and before you know it, you are sweaty, out of breath and surrounded by a sea of clothes... LOL well owning a perfect black dress will definitely keep you from yelling “I have nothing to wear!”  Especially if you’ve been invited to an event last minute.

Have a work event to attend? A  dinner date? Happy hour with girlfriends? A cocktail party? A classic black dress can be worn at any of these occasions and many more!


I rocked this dress on a fun brunch day with the girls and for a simple daytime look, I chose a black dress with less detail, nothing too sparkly or over the top. I prefer to keep things simple for black dress, so that I can add statement pieces as needed with belts, jewelry and accessories to change things up. And never underestimate the power of a bold lip to finish off the look, if the occasion calls for it.

When searching for a perfect black dress, it's important to make sure you find a cut that flatters your body shape and you feel comfortable in. You want to be able to reach for it when you are at your wits end, slip it on, and instantly feel fabulous!  This drop-waisted number did exactly that for me, so it's a winner! 

I can't wait continue the style story and wear this dress during the week – with a blazer into the office or dressed up with heels and statement jewelry when I’m going out to dinner!



{Dress: Shein  / Sandals: Chanel / Gold Bangle and Gold Necklace: Pebby Forevee}

So tell me, do you own a classic black dress? Where do you usually wear it? What’s your favourite way to style it? And would you like to see a few more ‘black dress’ styles, and how to wear them on the blog?




HOW TO SHOP YOUR CLOSET & REVAMP YOUR WARDROBE: #1 PLAY WITH COLOR!

August 2, 2024

Let's face it. Most of us have racks and racks of clothing that have never seen the light of day. The must-have fab printed dress you bought on sale last year has lost its luster, and truthfully, the print is just not your thing. However, as you play in your closet a bit, you may discover that paired with a bright pair of sandals and some cute accessories, it ain’t that bad. 

Whenever I have those sort of "closet revelations", I start to realize that I need to reconsider adding new pieces into my already "bursting at the seams" closet. And this time, I have decided that for the rest of 2024, I am challenging myself to shop my closet and rediscover those forgotten favorites and appreciate what I already have. 

As I am discovering new ways to revamp my wardrobe, I am going to blog about my experience here to hopefully lend a little inspiration if you are wanting to do the same. 

*And for those who are still building and adding pieces to your wardrobe, I will be providing shopping inspo and linking pieces that I think are worth investing in.

To keep things simple and easy, this "project" will be based on 5 principles, listed below. The goal is to have fun breathing new life into your already-fabulous wardrobe, without the guilt of a shopping spree. 

1. PLAY with color

2. MIX unexpected patterns and prints 

3. ACCESSORIZE with purpose

4. REWORK forgotten faves

5. LAYER and "pile things on" to add interest


To kick things off, let's start with #1. PLAY WITH COLOR. If you’ve been eager to try out some new color pairings, now is the time to have fun and color-block to your heart’s content. If you you’re a regularly a "sleek and chic" type of girl who lives in all black (and there's nothing wrong with that!)  allow yourself to step out of your comfort zone and start with two colors that you wouldn't pair together and create an outfit. I have found that adding color to your wardrobe is uplifting and inspiring, it can immediately lift your mood. Similar to when you swipe on some bright red lipstick. 

Not only does wearing color affect our mood and energy levels profoundly, but it can have a great impact on our overall well-being and brighten the world around us. You will be amazed at what a conversation starter color is. 

I decided to play with shades of pink and blue for my birthday outfit. This color combination has always been one of my faves.  Once you find out what works, it's just easier to keep that flow going. Wearing pink will always be a no-brainer for me.


{Denim: H&M / Pink Tee - Pumiey via Amazon / Blue Duster - Shop Akira / Handbag: The Jonie from Coach (love!!) / Pink Mules: Jeffrey Campbell (similar here)}

When it comes to color blocking, some colors just work beautifully together. 

Here are some examples of COLOR COMBINATIONS that are worth trying to add fun color and interest to your outfits: 

pink+blue / yellow+green / red+tan / black+white / navy+green / orange+brown / yellow+pink / yellow+brown / red+pink!!! / gray+lilac / navy+tan /  orange+yellow / navy+gray / pink+navy

The most important thing is to figure out what you like, what works for you and how it feels in the context of your lifestyle. And remember: adding a splash of color into your daily outfits can brighten your mood! 

Today's Takeaway: Play, get creative, go wild, experiment and above all, have fun! Adding color to your wardrobe is life changing!





Grilled Veggie Orzo w/ Shrimp

April 30, 2024



This grilled veggie orzo dish will be your new spring and summer BFF! This simple dinner was so easy to make on a Monday night and always comes together so well! This is a very simple concept that will be the perfect addition to your weeknight (or any night!) dinner repertoire.  

It’s super easy…here’s a breakdown of the components:

 

A bunch of seasoned and grilled veggies of your choice – there is no right or wrong here – you can pretty much throw whatever vegetables you have and love on the grill. I use a gas grill for this, but a charcoal grill would work just as well. The way you grill the veggies will vary, you can use foil, but the key to getting that charred and delicious grill flavor is to use a good grilling pan. I use this one here and it’s perfect. 

 

Perfectly cooked orzo (9 minutes is key!).

 

A flavorful vinaigrette to drizzle over and toss the orzo in.

 

Perfectly grilled shrimp. 

 

That’s it! This dish is loaded with so much flavor and everyone in my house gobbled it up. It should be dinner tonight!

 

INGREDIENTS

 

1 pound orzo pasta

Veggies of choice – I used:

12 ounces shiitake mushrooms

1 large red onion, chopped

12 asparagus spears, chopped

2 medium zucchini squash, cut into rounds or spears

Avocado oil for drizzling

Salt, pepper, garlic powder, paprika, “Badia Complete” seasoning, crushed red pepper, Italian seasoning and dried parsley for sprinkling

 

Zesty Vinaigrette

3 tablespoons red wine vinegar

2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice

2 teaspoons honey

Salt and pepper

Crushed red pepper flakes

2 tablespoons fresh chopped dill

2 tablespoons fresh chopped scallions

½ cup avocado oil (or extra virgin olive oil)

 

Grilled Shrimp

1/2 pound shrimp, deveined – you can also peel, but I like to keep the peel on my shrimp when grilling

2 tablespoons avocado oil

2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice

2 tablespoons Grill Mates Butter Garlic Seasoning

Salt and pepper

 

DIRECTIONS 


Bring a pot of salted water to a boil and cook the orzo according to the package directions - usually around 9 minutes for al dente. Allow to drain well and toss with a spoonful of olive oil so the pasta doesn’t stick together. 

 

Add the chopped veggies to a large bowl and toss with avocado oil (or olive oil) Season up the veggies. You can really use any seasonings of your choice here. I like to use salt, pepper and Badia “complete” seasoning – which has garlic powder, onion, powder, and dried herbs. Depending on how many veggies you have, you may need 2 grill baskets/trays to grill them up.

 

To another bowl, add your shrimp and coat with avocado oil.  Add in the freshly squeezed lime juice, butter garlic seasoning, salt, and pepper. Mix well to combine. Grill for about 3-4 minutes per side. Set aside.

 

Place the vegetables in the grill pan and put on your hot grill. Cook for 10 to 15 minutes total, tossing and turning them every few minutes. The length of time will depend on how small you cut your veggies up, so be sure to keep an eye on them. I check every 5 minutes or so. Once the vegetables are done, remove from the grill and set aside.

 

In a bowl, whisk together the vinegar, lemon juice, honey, salt, pepper, chopped dill and scallions. Whisk the avocado olive oil into the dressing until combined. You can always double this batch /or make this ahead of time and store it in the fridge. It will separate but whisking or shaking will bring it back together.

 

Add the orzo to a large bowl. Pour on the zesty vinaigrette and toss well to coat.  Sprinkle in some Italian seasoning. dried parsley and taste for salt. Adjust seasonings if needed. You can add in exrtra fresh dill or chives if you wish.

 

On a large serving platter, add the orzo as the base.  Pile on the freshly grilled and delicious veggies. Add the shrimp to the platter and either serve immediately, or keep it in the fridge until you are ready to serve. You can make this up to 12 hours ahead of time. Leftovers are also amazing! Perfect for work lunch the next day. ☺️ 


Enjoy! Let me know if you give this a try.