Don't Put the Dresses Away

Summer always seems to end so much sooner than you expect ... especially in Chicago. It doesn’t help when you’re bombarded with ads for back-to-school and Fall clothing when it’s still 80 plus degrees outside. Perusing boutiques and department stores makes you feel like it’s already November with jeans, sweaters and winter boots dominating the displays. Even if you're not excited about the cooler weather, it’s fun to pull out warmer clothes for the upcoming winter season. But it doesn’t mean it’s time to pack away your dresses.

Dresses can (and should) be worn year round. And even though not all dresses can make the seasonal transition, many can. There are so many fantastic options (leggings, tights and boots) to pair with dresses that can extend them well into Fall and winter. Even without the addition of warmer accessories, many cocktail dresses make a nearly seamless transition from warm to cool.

One of the benefits of living in a city with four seasons is the fun you can have mixing up your wardrobe. Just don’t feel like you have to hide behind big, bulky clothes throughout the winter (even in Chicago). You can still be stylish and sleek in a dress … at least beneath your winter coat.

Strapless Statutes

One of my favorite trends in fashion right now is the return of the classic strapless dress. Strapless dresses are no longer reserved only for formal events, but are now appropriate for a cocktail with friends or even a semi-casual lunch. What’s most fun about the new stance on strapless designs is the freedom you have to dress them up or down, depending on your plans.

When choosing a strapless outfit, there are some helpful guidelines that can make you more comfortable. For starters, if you decide to wear a strapless dress during the daytime, it’s a good idea to select a shoe that’s a bit more muted than you might choose for the evening. You can absolutely still wear cute heels, but it’s best to avoid anything too strappy or wild. You can wear heels that are low or high, depending on your preference, but nothing with a platform or anything that wraps around the ankle, e.g. too strappy. You should reserve your more pronounced shoes for the evening. (In full disclosure, I wear a 3-4 inch heel for most occasions). Shoes are primarily what transform the strapless dress from day to evening, with some persuasion from belts and jewelry as well.

When it comes to jewelry, the daytime-strapless look is best pulled off with simple (and few) pieces. Chandelier earrings are a great addition to the evening-strapless look and a necklace always tops off a more formal look. Finally, it’s advisable to avoid designs that are too clingy/tight for the daytime-strapless look as well. Those designs can definitely be saved for the evening.

So while summer is still here dress it up for a night, or for a day, and go strapless.

Skip the Line, Eat Better at Home

I used to eat out much more frequently, especially breakfast on the weekends.  I finally realized how much better I feel when cooking at home with fresher, lighter ingredients.Not to mention, it's nice to avoid the ridiculous waits at popular breakfast spots. My mom and my massis (a recurring topic on my blog) are emphatic about cooking healthy, and delicious, food for our family. As my personal habits have shifted, I’m spending more money at the grocery store but much less overall.  That’s not to say I don’t enjoy eating out occasionally, but it’s amazing how once you break the routine you really don’t miss it. More than that, you realize how much better you feel when you control all of the ingredients in your meals.

Here is an easy organic recipe that is one of my favorites for a weekend breakfast. It’s not mandatory to use all organic ingredients, but you really will notice a difference in freshness and taste if you can.

Organic Omelettas: (for two)

Ingredients: organic eggs (6) - Use one whole egg and two egg whites for each omelette

· 1/4 Cup organic, mild cheddar (you’ll definitely notice a taste difference with organic cheese, which I highly recommend)
· ¼ Organic sweet yellow onion chopped into small pieces
· ¼ Organic fresh cilantro
· Black pepper to taste

Over a medium pan heated with 1 tbs organic cold-pressed olive oil crack/add one whole egg and two egg whites. Use a wire whisk to whip it together in the pan. As it begins to thicken add half of the diced organic onion and half of the cilantro. Add black pepper and half the organic, mild cheddar. Slowly fold over the sides of the omelettes and flip once so that you cook both sides. When cooked thoroughly, flip onto a plate and repeat steps for the second omelette. You can also use all egg whites (in that case, use 4 egg whites) or all whole eggs (in that case, use 2 eggs).

Serve with whole grain toast (Rudi’s Organic is very good)

You can also serve these with my mom’s easy potato side …

Usha’s Breakfast Potatoes: (for two)

· One organic russet potato
· Olive oil
· Butter
· Salt /pepper

1. Thoroughly clean potato
2. Pierce with fork 5 or six times and place in microwave for 4 ½ minutes
3. Once potato is soft, let it cool for a few minutes
4. Cut into 8 to 10 circular potato pieces
5. Heat up a skillet with 1 tsp olive oil place potato pieces on top and brush with another 2 tbs olive oil on both sides
6. Add salt and pepper to taste
7. Add 2 tbs butter and place that in small chunks over the potatoes
8. Cook by flipping a few times until golden brown on both sides. Serve with omelletas

Enjoy!! I'll follow up soon with simple, natural recipes for your complexion.

Looking Good (on the inside)

As we race to keep up with family, friends and work some of our basic needs often get pushed to the bottom of our to-do lists. Many women consider their physical appearance a top priority, directly behind these relationships. And while some spend more time and money on their appearance than others, it always seems to take more energy than you expect. For instance, it’s common for many of us to spend weeks shopping for the right look for a special occasion. Yet, one of the fundamental needs we sometimes dedicate less time and energy towards is arguably the one that impacts us most directly … the food we eat.

Many women (myself included) might say, “That’s not true … I watch what I eat. I’m very conscious about my choices.” I watched a powerful movie/documentary last night called Food, Inc. that challenges our paradigm of what’s truly healthy food and motivates us to ask: Where does our food actually come from? According to the movie, “the way we eat has changed more in the last fifty years than in the previous 10,000.”



I’m not suggesting that everyone should eat strictly organic food. Beyond the increased expense, there isn’t consensus that all organic food is more nutritious or safe than other food. Still, I highly recommend that everyone watches this movie. If nothing else, it can definitely help us make more informed choices about what we eat. Not to mention, it’s easier to feel great about how we look on the outside if we’re first taking care of ourselves on the inside.

I’d love to hear your thoughts about the movie/topic …

Am I Missing Something?

During my past few visits to boutiques in New York and Chicago, a strange thing has happened. There wasn’t really anything to buy. In the literal sense, there was plenty for sale. But it seems that many boutiques, even at the high-end, aren’t carrying items all that distinctive from the department stores. Looking at the window displays on Oak Street or in Soho, I can’t help but wonder if I would even notice the same clothing if it were hanging on the rack at a discount store. There are some cute items available, but the majority isn't very exciting. At the same time, I’m increasingly finding items I love at some of the much less expensive retailers, like Akira and even American Apparel. The clothing at these stores is by no means a replacement for high fashion, which can be inspirational; with people drawn to the uniqueness and exclusivity. On the other hand, if you can purchase short-term alternatives at a fraction of the cost, why wouldn't you? Lower sales at boutiques are obviously related to the down economy, but there also seems to be a shortage of great options.

In my opinion, there are definitely items that are worth spending more on. Jackets, dresses and nice winter boots all fall in that category. Nice workout clothes can also be worth the extra money. If I know I will wear something for two or more seasons, I tend to make an investment in quality. What I won’t pay a lot of money for are tops, which are especially seasonal. For the most part, I also spend less on shoes. I understand the argument for investing in quality shoes but, regardless of the cost, my shoes always seem to last the same amount of time. Plus, there are lots of terrific low-cost shoe options that are as fashionable as higher-end brands.

In the past, while shopping at boutiques, I have sometimes forgotten to ask myself two simple questions: “Does this actually look cute?” and “Is it worth it?” Sometimes, the answer is yes.