Tuesday, July 17, 2012

[Food Stop] Farmer's Market

Hi there!
Driving the hubby's old 1978 Ford truck, we call Truckona, to our local Farmer's Market in Carmichael.  It is our favorite because they're dog friendly and Kona loves going with us!
Roasted fresh garbanzo beans I purchased at the Farmer's Market.
A healthy recipe on the back of this package of red quinoa & brown rice from Costco.
Quick Power Grain Salad 
(Serves 4)

2 cups shelled edamame, heated (I used the shelled roasted fresh garbanzo beans instead)
1 1/2 cups Village Harvest Red Quinoa & Brown Rice, warmed (according to package directions)
3/4 cup cherry tomatoes, halved (I used plum tomatoes, fresh from the Farmer's Market!)
3 tablespoons chives (I used the dried version since I didn't have fresh chives, but only about 2 teaspoons)
2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar (I may try balsamic vinegar next time)
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

Toss ingredients together.  Serve warm or room temperature. 
I love the Farmer's Market, don't you?  Let me know what your favorite Farmer's Market is in your area so I know where to go when I'm in your part of town.  Thank you for visiting and being a part of my journey!

See you later! 

Cheryl

Monday, July 16, 2012

[Sole Mates] He+Me Style at a Costco Date

Hi there!

The first blog post in the He+Me Style Series on our couple style that I talked about on this post here.  This series will probably be good for us because it will, 1).  hold us accountable to go out at least once a month, 2). make us more intentional about spending time together, and 3). force us to really put thought into where we go and what we do.
Top: Our couple self-portrait...I'm not very good at it..., Bottom left: He-Mocha smoothie, Me-Ice cream bar, Bottom right: Our cart.  Can you believe this is all we got?!
He-enjoying the smoothie, Me-so happy with my ice cream bar w/nuts!
Outfit (Me) :: Sunglasses-no name // Shirt-Ross (see also in post here)  // Shorts-Forever 21 (see also in post here, here, and here)
He-didn't want a photo taken of him that day, so his outfit is presented below from the Nike & Adidas sites.  Maybe you can even shop online for these pieces for yourself or for your significant other!  This look is the hubby's weekend uniform. 
Nike Dri-Fit Poly Shirt at $25.00
Nike Dri-Fit Fly Shorts at $32.00
Similar Adidas Training Shoe at $110.00
Not much thought was put into this date, but Costco runs are a regular routine for us...anything we can do to spend time together.  We sat down at a table after doing some shopping, and actually had a nice little date!

Do you try to spend time with your significant other, even if it's just running routine errands?  Let me know how you make these moments special.  Thank you for visiting and being a part of my journey!

See you later!

Cheryl

Friday, July 13, 2012

[ShOe Inspired] Summer Slouchy Sweater & Short Shorts

Hi there!

I've always loved the look and feel of a comfortable slouchy sweater and a pair of shorts.  Now that shorts are chic, they can be worn numerous ways and to a variety of settings, like out to dinner with nude stilettos on a cool summer night!
This is an old Ann Taylor sweater I've had for years that I just could never get rid of because it's so comfortable and versatile.  I'm glad I never did, but dare I say that it's been around since the 80's...
The multi-stranded pearl necklace and multi-colored bracelets are from Forever 21, which has so many jewelery choices at rock bottom prices!
These nude stilettos from ShoeMint are one of my current favorite shoes, as you can see in these posts here, here, here, and here!  These Forever 21 black linen shorts probably have close to a negative CPW now (my Cost Per Wear philosophy discussed in this post here), since I've worn them here and here, as well as many other times IRL (in real life)!

This Calvin Klein slouchy sweater (sale $58.99) & short shorts (sale $39.99) outfit has got me ShOe Inspired!  I want a pair of colored denim shorts I can play around with now!  I told you  in this post here, that I am loving color right now, although I still love my casual neutral look with this ensemble.
Next shopping mission...to find a great pair of fun, stylish, versatile, yet reasonably priced colored denim shorts...can't wait to find those cuties and pair them with everything, wearing them everywhere!  Btw, like my little tongue-tied phrased title?

What do you think of balancing the style of a slouchy sweater with short shorts?  Let me know because it may be a trend right now, but it's been my style pairing essential for years!  Thank you for visiting and being a part of my journey!

See you later!

Cheryl

Thursday, July 12, 2012

[Sole Inspiration] Things I'm Grateful For

Hi there!

Have you been writing down five things that you are grateful for each day this past month, like I discussed on this post?  Remember, this exercise is shown to help you through your day and improve your quality of life!  I've been fairly good about keeping up my Things I'm Grateful For list, so here are five things I've been grateful for this month.

Things I'm Grateful For...
Capturing this perfect photo of Kona laying on my lap...LOVE!
Learning to follow this advice more as I get older...
A Vanilla Bean Frappuccino with caramel, affogato-style (in moderation, of course)
My Kids and their silly humor!
(Photographer Son & Model Daughters, copying the Hubby & I)
My Kindle, even though I seem to read more from the Kindle app on my iPhone!
What have you been grateful for this past month?  Let me know if this has improved your day, if you have started writing down these things, because I know that it gives me a better outlook.  So try it, you may find it therapeutic.  Thank you for visiting and being a part of my journey!

See you later!


Cheryl

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

[Sole Mates] Men's Style Summer Khakis at Work

Hi there!
Outfit :: Short-sleeve button down shirt-Polo Ralph Lauren // Gray T-shirt & Khakis-J.Crew // Belt-Banana Republic  // Shoes-Bostonian


Similar Short-sleeve button down Polo in Madras, sale $64.99
J.Crew broken-in tee, sale $14.99
J.Crew Broken-in chino in classic fit at $65.00
Banana Republic Wide leather belt at $49.50
Similar Bostonian Shoe at $70.00
With the heat starting to rise into the upper 90's and triple digits, the hubby needs to still dress professionally while staying cool.  He pulls it off pretty well, don't you think?  What are some tricks you or your husband/boyfriend use to stay cool, yet stay work appropriate?  Let me know so I have more ideas for the hubby.  

This is the third installment of Sole Mates, Men's Style, as well as the third month of ShoeAxis today!  I hope that you all have enjoyed my blog so far...let me know what you like; what you'd like to see more of and what you'd like to see less of.  You can also share ShoeAxis with anyone you think may enjoy it!  Thank you for visiting and being a part of my journey!

See you later!

Cheryl

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

[Food Stop] Korean BBQ for an American Holiday

Hi there!

For the last holiday, we had a Mexican-themed Memorial Day weekend on this post here, and I promised that I would feature a post on our usual barbeque fare, Kalbi or Korean short ribs.  The difference between this and regular American ribs is the marinate and the cut.  The ribs are cut flanken-style, which simply means the meat is cut thinly across the ribs perpendicularly instead of parallel to the bone.  Instead of your classic barbeque sauce, Kalbi is marinated in a sweet soy sauce, made by mixing soy sauce, sesame oil, brown sugar, pepper, and sliced green onions.  If you want it easy, you can pick up a bottle of Mr. Yohsida's at your local Costco to use as your marinate.


We love green beans with our Kalbi.  A fail-proof way to make them crisp and not soggy is to blanch them in boiling salted water for 45-60 seconds, then immediately dunk them in a bowl of ice water.  I didn't take a picture of the rice, but steamed white rice (brown rice, if you want to be healthier), is a perfect contrast to the grilled short ribs.


I don't usually stock soda in the house; only for parties and special occasions will we have it.  The hubby wanted his Diet Coke, so there it is, a classic American beverage!  And July 4th wouldn't be complete without ice cream, and boy, do I have a recipe for you!  I found this Bon Appetit recipe from Epicurious.com in 2001, and we all just love it, plus it's super easy to make.


Dulce de Leche Ice Cream Cake (Serves 16)


Ingredients---

5 whole graham crackers, broken up
1/3 cup toasted hazelnuts
1 tablespoon sugar
1/8 teaspoon salt
5 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted


4 pints dulce de leche ice cream
2 pints strawberry sorbet (we use strawberry ice cream sometimes, which makes a creamier dessert)
Note:  We like Haagen-Daz ice cream or sorbet


2 1/2 pounds strawberries, sliced
1/3 cup sugar, if desired


Caramel sauce, optional (for a homemade recipe, here is a delicious and easy one I found here)


Directions---
Preheat oven to 350F.  Combine crackers, nuts, 1 tablespoon sugar, and salt in food processor.  Blend until nuts are finely chopped.  Add butter; blend until mixture is evenly moist.  Press mixture over bottom (not sides) of a 10-inch-diameter springform pan.  Bake crust until golden, about 8 minutes.  Cool completely.
Slightly soften 1 1/4 pints ice cream; spread over crust.  Freeze until firm, about 1 hour.  Slightly soften 1 pint sorbet; spread over ice cream.  Freeze until firm, about 30 minutes.  Slightly soften 1 1/4 pints ice cream; spread over sorbet.  Freeze until firm, about 1 hour. 
Slightly soften 1 pint sorbet; spread over ice cream.  Freeze until firm, about 30 minutes.  Slightly soften 1 1/2 pints ice cream; spread over sorbet for top layer.  Cover; freeze until firm, at least 3 hours and up to 1 week.
Cut around cake to loosen.  Release pan sides.  If desired, stir berries and 1/3 cup sugar in large bowl.  Let stand until berries release their juices, about 30 minutes.  (Note:  We just slice fresh strawberries without adding extra sugar...it's sweet enough, especially if you add the caramel sauce too!)
Cut cake into wedges; arrange on plates.  Spoon berries atop wedges; drizzle with caramel sauce, if desired.
So that's our typical barbeque holiday at our house!  Have you ever tried other types of barbeque recipes, especially ethnic ones?  Let me know since I am always open to expanding my taste palette with different foods!  Thank you for visiting and being a part of my journey!

See you later!

Cheryl

Monday, July 9, 2012

[Stylish Steps] Ikat Print Tunic Dress

Hi there!
In the past, I have had trouble breaking out of the neutral zone and adding color to my wardrobe.  Recently, I'm really liking colors and can't seem to get enough of them now!
There's something about a tunic dress and flat sandals that's so refreshing during the summer, especially in this Ikat print.
 My favorite belt lately, and it's a bright yellow, which is a departure from my usual black or brown.
 Outfit :: Dress-Ross // Belt & Bag-Target // Bangel-Forever 21 // Sandals-Urban Outfitters
I don't know what I am doing...all this posing is still so unnatural for me, plus I seem to be doing the same thing.  So to mix it up, my photographer (read husband), told me to put my hands on the wall.  I had to lean in to do that, and this is part of what we got...kind of silly looking if you ask me!  Oh well, it is what it is, and the point is for you all to see the outfit and for us to all have fun with this blog adventure!

Don't you love all the colorful and ethnic prints popping up lately?  Let me know if you too have broken out of the safe neutral zone because of the variety of prints out there!  Thank you for visiting and being a part of my journey!

See you later!

Cheryl