Christian and I braved the freezing temperatures last Saturday to take these photos in between all our errands for the day. Everything was in the car except for photos so I basically froze just for the blog. We started our morning at Home Depot curbside pickup for soil, then headed to take photos on the way to the grocery store for some sale purchase. To reward us for completing our tasks we got lunch at Wendy's.
I wanted to put the focus on my super fun Splendid Harvest mules so I opted for a simple black sweater and cropped jeans to really show them off. Obviously it was a little cold for them outside but a perfect outfit for indoors.
Everyone knows I'm a sucker for leopard print, but what you may not know is Christian loves tiger print (and hates leopard...gasp!!) so when I saw these shoes had both of our favorite animal prints I had to get them. As I shared in my January wardrobe update, I missed out on them the first time around because I was waiting for a better sale price. After they sold out I followed a few pairs on eBay and waited until one went down to just over $25 to pounce (if you'll pardon the pun.)
Sweater: Everlane 'the cashmere crop v-neck', Jeans: Everlane high-rise skinny jean in mid-blue, Shoes: Splendid Harvest Mules in Tiger/Cheetah Print (eBay, boot version), Bag: 3.1 Phillip Lim Pashli Medium shoulder bag in Nile Shark Embossed Leather (Bag, Borrow or Steal) Sunglasses: Ray Ban 'Erika' c/o Shopbop, Rings: Sofia Zakia wedding rings and others c/o Aurate, Necklace: Shashi Princess Leia Necklace c/o Shopbop
Welcome to more Baking with Megan! One of the few things getting me through the past year. Once a week I find a new recipe to try and make a mess in the kitchen! I'm definitely going to keep up this habit after we get back to more "normal" times. I used to love baking when I was younger but I just "never had the time." Now that I have all the time in the world I'm getting back to my love of making sweets! When we can have gatherings again I'm sure my family will enjoy munching on these treats.
I'm also going to keep making our own bread bi-weekly and pizza doughs! (But I will still keep frozen pizza for emergencies.) Every other week I make a double batch of dutch-oven bread and we freeze half. If you're wondering why I don't just make the regular recipe - the size of the bread is better when the recipe is doubled. It's not as tall when I just make the single batch. A half is just enough to get us lunches for the week. We're big fans of toast with fried eggs.
Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
Sharing these again (first posted here) because I made them again with the recommended chocolate melting wafers. Boy did that make a huge difference! They were already delicious but the addition of big melty bits of chocolate made them even better! I made a full batch, baked half and froze the other half. Then as we randomly needed dessert I would take a few out of the freezer and bake on demand! I might start making and freezing dough for these regularly so I always have some on hand.
Double Chocolate Chip Orange Cookies
We had extra oranges from when I went a little citrus chicken crazy one week so I asked Christian what he wanted to use them for and he said "something with chocolate." These were just the ticket! Super gooey and delicious with a hint of orange.
During quarantine I've been on a bit of an America's Test Kitchen kick on PlutoTV (free TV!) and they did an episode featuring a German chocolate cake. I've been into pecans lately (as evidenced in Baking #3) so I knew I would like this! It was one of the more involved recipes I've done over the last year but boy was it tasty!
I was SUPER excited for this bake! I've really enjoyed all of Tessa's recipes that I've tried and when I saw she did her version of Little Debbie's Cosmic Brownies I knew they would be perfect! She is very into the science of baking so she got the texture right on! I bought a 1lb bag of Rainbow Candy Coated Chocolate Chips so I can make this a million times over (or add them to chocolate chip cookies and regular brownies!)
I binged the whole first season of Nadiya Bakes on Netflix in one day and had to make these onion pretzels immediately after! The recipe is from episode 6 - Baking on a Budget They’re surprisingly easy and very tasty! This was my first time making a bread dough with anything extra, now I may try it more often. In addition to the usual bread ingredients you’ll need fried onions, onion powder and chives!
These were a major fail but I'm sharing them anyway because I added a powdered sugar glaze and we ate them warmed up so they were more like a cookie than a donut. They were supposed to be delicious cinnamony donuts but they came out as dense blobs. The cinnamon sugar wouldn't even stick to them!
And a bonus! Meringue snowmen! We made these for Christmas by whipping up a meringue and piping it into "melted" snowmen shapes. Not the cutest but they were fun.
I can never seem to make it a whole month without buying something! This month it was a pair of jeans. They're not necessarily a "new" item because it is an exact replacement of a pair I currently own. I originally bought these Le Skinny de Jeanne jeans in April 2015 from Shopbop and they have been worn soooooo many times. When I bought them they were a major splurge at $141 (retail $189) but proved to be a worthy purchase. (According to my Wardrobe Update that month I used $100 in a gift card so they were $40) This time I scored them for $30!
My Mom has already had to patch my current pair once because a seam started tearing at the back. FRAME still makes this same style but I really love the wash I bought and wanted the exact same color to replace my current pair. I think I've been searching for over a year. There was a false alarm at the end of last year where I bought a pair and the seller never sent them - UGH! This time I was successful and the pair looks like it has never been worn! I'll obviously keep my current pair because they have wear left, but I feel better knowing I have a pair waiting in the wings.
THE (modified) RULES
- Be mindful of purchases
- Quality over quantity
- Basics are best
MY PROGRESS
Clothes:
- mīere the label Women’s Cotton Knit Sweater in Terracotta ($68.87 including shipping)
Basics:
- *NEW!* FRAME Denim Le Skinny de Jeanne Crop in Sunnyside ($30 via Poshmark, retail $189, $18.67 after ad money)
Shoes:
- Splendid Harvest Mules in Tiger/Cheetah Print - also here ($25.80 via eBay, retail $118, used ad money)
Handbags:
- None yet
Accessories:
- None yet
Activewear:
- None yet
Gifted from Brands:
-
None yet
Spent in February: $18.67
As I mentioned in my January Wardrobe Update, one of my oldest blog friends launched a children's clothing line (with some pieces for women too!) called Mīere the Label! I've known Jamie-Lee of Mademoiselle for over 10 years now. Crazy to think I've been blogging for that long!
We were able to meet in person way back in 2011 when she took a trip to New York City from New Zealand. She now lives in Australia with her husband and baby boy. I have loved watching her blog following skyrocket over the years and seeing her success! Now with her clothing line I'm even more proud.
Enough gushing, on to the clothes! Jamie is the master of basics so I know anything she creates will be perfect right down to the last detail. This first sweater, made with organic cotton, has beautiful stitching, open rolled neckline and is super cozy. She designed it oversized so that mothers can easily breastfeed while wearing it. Obviously I don't need to worry about that, but the loose fit makes it perfect for wearing around the house as well as out and about. Tucking it into jeans instantly adds more dimension.
With this line, Mīere wanted to "create a capsule of everyday essentials that really last the distance for our little ones, so that you don't have to be constantly thinking about buying the next size up." I think it is genius that she designed them to be a little oversized so they grow with your child. They don't look huge but can easily be worn for way longer than your standard baby clothes sizes. I never know what size to buy for my friends and family, this makes that less stressful.
Not being satisfied with only creating a line that looks beautiful, the company is focused on being natural (even the shipping bag is compostable!)
At Mīere we strive for design perfection and no one does that better than mother nature. With this in mind our collection is made using natural fibres, and sustainable materials such as organic cotton and bamboo.
If you're looking for the perfect gift for a new Mom in your life I would suggest buying her a matching set of sweaters as a unique gift! Check out the baby knitwear and don't forget mommy! Mīere also has socks, pants, sweatshirts and more is on the way!
Prices are in Australian Dollars and with the shipping cost (to Connecticut) I paid $88.86AUD which converted to $68.67USD. Since it's coming all the way from Australia shipping does take some time, but I got mine in just over 3 weeks.
P.S. Mīere means honey in Greek, which I find adorable because babies are sweet just like honey! I do love a clever name! (Jamie's Grandmother was from Greece so I love that she's using part of her heritage)
Sweater: Mīere the Label women's cotton knit sweater in terracotta, High Waisted Jeans: J Brand 'Maria' High Rise in Supreme, Boots: Cordani (Roundabout), Necklace: House of Harlow 1960 Starburst necklace (South Moon Under), Sunglasses: Chanel, Hat: Walt Disney World
P.P.S. Here's an adorable shot of her son in the matching baby sweater.
*This post was made in partnership with Responsival. Thank you for supporting brands I feature*
It's almost Valentine's Day and what's a better gift than beautiful gold necklaces!? Even if you're not attached you can be your own Valentine and get yourself something special. Christian and I don't generally do Valentine's gifts - just cute cards like these from LovePop! With a little help from AURate I treated myself to a couple things. For a bit more of a Valentine's Day feel I chose a super cute Infinity Heart Ring in white gold to match my wedding set. My second piece is more of a statement but still something I could wear every day.
The moment they announced their AURATE x Kerry: The Lioness Collection in November I knew I had to get one of the pieces! I opted for the more affordable Lioness Pendant at $150 (Rather than the GORGEOUS necklace version for $530.) I have a few gold chains so I can effortlessly switch up the style of the necklace. Maybe even a mixed metals version with silver!
“I’m so proud to share this Lioness Collection, and all that it represents, with you. In both aesthetic design and in cultural meaning, each piece is built to embody the values of this unique moment while also honoring timeless truths. Make no mistake, the lioness is a queen. Her beauty is incomparable. Her strength is undeniable. She is a warrior, built for the hunt, and a nurturer, devoted to her pride. She is magnificently regal, and yet in the world of the Lioness, democracy and collaboration rule. In the #LionessPride there are no egos, there is no pecking order, just fierce felines winning collectively. You are a fierce lioness - beautiful, powerful, communal, and winning. And in our shared community we are a #LionessPride. So this collection is for you. I hope that it adds beauty, joy and strength to your day. And I pray that these pieces remind you of the sisterhood of this pride. WITH LOVE, KERRY”
Selling directly to consumers helps Aurate keep costs down. Many pieces are made to order so they don't have unneeded stock. Pieces are made in New York City so there are no import taxes which also drive up prices. This $150 lioness pendant from AUrate could cost upwards of $390 at traditional retail prices. Each product page shows this information so you can see the difference, just like another favorite store of mine - Everlane!
You're also getting a lifetime quality guarantee with your purchase. They re-plate, polish, and repair your jewelry when needed. Additionally, for every order, Aurate will donate a book to a child in need in your name.
P.S. If you want to add a little sweet treat to your Valentine's celebrations, get your hands on Hershey's Lava Cake Kisses! They only sell them this time of year so stock up if you like them! (I only bought 1 bag so far, trying to behave!
Sweater: Madewell (Shobop), Jeans: J Brand 'Maria' High Rise in Supreme, Flats: Restricted 'Memo' (DSW), Earrings: Aurate Pearl Studs, Rings: Sofia Zakia Wandering Star Ring & Altair Ring, Aurate Infinity Heart Ring, Necklace: AURATE X KERRY: Lioness Pendant on my own chain
A new year, a fresh wardrobe update. I did pretty well last year thanks to a bunch of Shopbop gift cards through my partnership with them from the end of 2019 and the first couple months of 2020. That partnership was paused because of the virus and I don't know if/when it will come back but I do still have some gift cards to spend! Hopefully that means I won't be spending as much of my "real" money.
I wasn't planning on making any purchases this month but my blog friend of over 10 years, Jamie-Lee of Mademoiselle, finally launched her clothing line - mīere the label! It's a children's line but she also made a few sweaters for mom's to match their little ones! Obviously I had to buy one of the women's sweaters to 1. Support a friend and 2. Because they're going to be a perfect basic!
It won't arrive until next month, but I'll be sure to do a post to let you all know what I think! But with Jamie behind it I know it will be perfect. She is obsessed with finding perfect basics so I have no doubt in her ability to create her own line.
Then the next day I got an eBay notification that a pair of mules I've been following for over a year were discounted heavily down to $26 so I pounced (pun intended) on those bad boys! They're - new in box! - half tiger print and half cheetah print mules by Splendid. I had them on my Shopbop wishlist for a long time but they never got cheap enough for me to buy them (once they did my size was sold out.)
THE (modified) RULES
- Be mindful of purchases
- Quality over quantity
- Basics are best
MY PROGRESS
Clothes:
- *NEW!* mīere the label Women’s Cotton Knit Sweater in Terracotta ($68.87 including shipping)
Basics:
- None yet
Shoes:
- *NEW!* Splendid Harvest Mules in Tiger/Cheetah Print - also here ($25.80 via eBay, retail $118, used ad money)
Handbags:
- None yet
Accessories:
- None yet
Activewear:
- None yet
Gifted from Brands:
-
None yet
Spent in January: $68.87
Spent in 2021: $68.87
