Daily Outfit: Silver Lining

sometimes it is a challenge to get our photo shoot in before the end of the day but the benefit for delaying this time was the beautiful way the natural sunlight played a part.  my outfit is usually colorless for me so it's a good thing the sun came to literally brighten me up! it wasn't supposed to be that way but i planned to wear something else and, in the last minute, had to change the plan.  instead of glam goddess i had envisioned, i went for comfy fashionista instead lol.  somedays, simple is better (and easier).

you can tell by my comfort outside that the weather was mild.  all this warm-ish weather has me pining for a "warm" winter.  it's actually a tease more than it is pleasurable.  every morning i am forced to check the weather to see what i should wear to be sure i'll be comfortable all through the day.  well, though i'm complaining, the stream of mild weather has definitely been the silver lining to the winter cloud looming overhead.  as november comes to a close and we enter into december, i am realizing just how lucky we have been!

P.S. AND THE WINNER IS (drumroll, please)... Kristina!!! Congrats for being lucky number 7!  And even better, all the other MF freebie contestants will receive 15% off their purchase of MavenFresh items! Everyone's a winner! 

 Thanks to Random.org for the number generator that randomly choose our winner! 

True Random Number GeneratorMin:Max:Result:7Powered by RANDOM.ORG

 (Colorblock boyfriend blazer - Rachel Rachel Roy, Grey long -sleeve Tee - Old Navy, Denim leggings - Dollhouse, Steel Grey Uggs - Uggs, Watch - Toy Watch USA, Jersey Mobius in Charcoal, Vintage Applique Headband and Fancy Feather earrings - MavenFresh)

Daily Outfit: Orange Glow

I could tell you that this was a Thanksgiving outfit...but then I'd be lying. I just didn't get around to posting this cozy look and figured my orange felt hat was in the spirit of the holiday, so here it is. I spent the past 5 days hanging out with loved ones, eating lots of food and drinking lots of wine....so you will have to excuse the lack of posts! 

November is a favorite month of mine for a few reasons; I really enjoy Thanksgiving (vegetarian French Onion Soup is the best), I love that the weather is still so fall-like, it's my birthday (yesterday), and it's my little bro's birthday month too! Can't wait for more celebrating this weekend at a rock 'n roll aerial picture show extravaganza in Brooklyn...what can I say, my brother knows how to party. And maybe this time I will even bring the camera!

(Juicy Couture Sweater- Shopbop, Tunic Tee- H&M, J Brand Jeans- Anthropologie, Corona Fedora- Anthropologie, Woven Loafers- Vintage, Scarf- Anthropologie, Earrings- a boutique in Greenport)

champagne treat

birthday goodness

porch sunset

Just a few photos from these recent lovely days gone by, and now it's back to reality! Reminder ladies...your chance to enter and win a MF Crochet Mobius ends tomorrow...

PFM Obsession: Shearling and Fur

this time of year makes me obsessed with being warm and nothing is warmer or more comfy than shearling!  i can totally imagine feeling cozy all day with one or more of these fly items!!  today is cyber monday so maybe you can snag one of these before the day is through :)

1.  i love that Frye made these fur-lined!! 

2. you def can't go wrong wearing a fur vest! this has made a list more than once!

3. TO-DIE-FOR - shearling, lace-up AND clogs - gasp!

4. this jacket is so cute and would def work with some skinnies and a pair of any of my listed shoes.

5. i would wear this hat all day everyday

6. these are my new must-haves - sooo cute and edgy, yet, functional too!

7. this bag would guarantee that all my stuff was warm and cozy too lol

8. ooooo nothing says comfort like a warm fuzzy scarf/mobius!

happy shopping!!

PFM Obsession: Birthday Wishes

My birthday is coming up real soon, and so are the holidays. This time of year I get all organized...I go through my closet, and decide what I need more of/have too much of. And then I purge, donate, and drop subtle hints to those that love me. Thus my wishlist... oh and it also makes for some enjoyable fashion inspiration.

1. I would wear these pants every day...

2. Been eyeing these bad boys for a while and now they are the last pair in my size, sigh. Sesheta and I share a special love for patterned leggings.

3. Coated black skinny jeans. Are they leather? Are they thigh-highs? They are so cool.

4. Would put this polka dot button-down underneath a sweater as my go-to look.

5. Yes I do need another denim shirt. This one has a great light color wash.

6. Cozy, cozy, cozy. And reversible!

7. Love the pop of cobalt blue and the cut of this blazer.

8. The designer is Everly and I'm into every piece of this affordable line including this lovely dress!

9. A drapey tough girl layer.

And there you have it. After looking this over I really seem to be feeling the rust colors of autumn with hints of black and pops of cobalt. Hmmmm. What are you wishing for this holiday season?

PS Enjoy the holiday tomorrow! Don't forget to enter our freebie for the chance to win a MavenFresh scarf!

PFMs in the Kitchen: Mac and UN-cheese

photo courtesy of life, love and musical theater blogspot

Sooo being vegan(ish), i always get asked what  i do for Thanksgiving.  well, despite the fact that i really don't celebrate the holiday or what it means, i do enjoy spending time with family and,the best part, eating good food.  i am proud to say that i can throw down in the kitchen!!  i have mastered an entire vegan "thanksgiving" meal including tofurkey, stuffing, souffle, sweet potato pie and, of course, macaroni and "cheese".  

i always get asked for recipes and i have decided to share with you my tried and true mac and UN-cheese recipe.  Enjoy!!  Don't forget to send us your pics. 

P.S.  Enter to win our freebie!!!

Ingredients

·         16 ounces  Elbow Macaroni (i prefer Tinkyada Brown rice noodles – yummm)

·         2 tablespoons flour (preferably spelt or whole wheat to help thicken- alas, this means it isn’t gluten free... sorry!)

·         1 teaspoon sea salt

·         1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

·         ¼ teaspoon all-purpose seasonings

·         2 1/2  cups “milk” (Almond, Soy or Rice plain flavored)

·         2 tablespoons vegan butter

·         2 cups (16 ounces) Daiya vegan cheese in Cheddar and Mozzarella

Directions

1.      Preheat oven to 375°F. 

2.      Cook pasta according to directions. Drain. 

3.      In medium saucepan, combine cornstarch, salt, all-purpose seasonings & pepper in medium saucepan. Stir in milk until smooth. Add butter, stirring constantly. 

4.      Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Boil 1 minute. 

5.      Remove from heat. Stir in 1-3/4 cups cheese until melted. Add cooked pasta. Pour into greased 2-quart casserole. Sprinkle with remaining cheese. 

6.      Bake uncovered 25 minutes, or until lightly browned.

PFMs on the Town: Tasting the Day Away

(Rachel Rachel Roy Leather Aries Jacket- Macy's, Moth Wrap Cardigan- Anthropologie, AG Rosebud Jeans- Anthropologie, Boots- Frye, Scarf- French Connection, Sunnies- American Eagle {$5 in-store}, Pineapple Drop Earrings- MavenFresh, Welles Drawstring Bag- Hayden Harnett)

Our lovely friends Darolyn & Christopher own a gorgeous B&B on the North Fork of Long Island. My husband and I used to go out there lots (I even got engaged there!) Nowadays we don't have the chance to take our mini-vacations as often as we'd want, but for special occasions it's definitely a go. Like when you get invited to an exclusive once-a-year opportunity for a barrel tasting in the cellar of Paumanok Vineyards...you just say yes!!! 

I've never actually been to one of these before and was wondering how they would get the wine out of the barrel...this is how it's done! They remove the stopper from the barrel and use this siphon to draw the wine out and pour it into the glass.

It was such an awesome experience to be able to taste wine straight out of the barrel and discuss it with the winemaker himself. Then you are able to purchase the sampled wines at the event, but you would receive them about 12-18 months later because they are produced in such limited quantities that they are only sold as “futures.” So many reds to try, so little time. Side note- we got so lucky with the 2010 Chenin Blanc. It's hard to get and now sold out...but not before it made it home and into our collection. YAY! We really like our wines.

We couldn't have gotten a better day... plenty of sunshine, time with our friends to catch up, and of course the wine was flowing! It was super relaxing, and I love seeing all the fall colors coming out in nature.

Daily Outfit: Feminine Fashion + Festivities Part Deux

Becca always makes me laugh!!!

i love baby showers!! this shower was especially sweet because of who it was for: Becca's bestie!  i'm not sure exactly what it is about showers that i love so much... it's probably all the cute little things that the mom-to-be gets as gifts or the fun in seeing her face when they receive a Mavenmini item!  either way, it was the perfect reason for dressing up!

it might have been the event that inspired the soft palette that both Becca and i chose as inspiration for our outfits.  i chose to don this cute mini dress from  Forever 21; the bubble hem works perfectly over leggings.  my vintage leather jacket is another great addition.  i love to throw in leather items to spice things up!  the MF fascinator with peacock feathers and over-sized sunglasses added to the retro vibe but my copper chain earrings added a lil bit of rocker chic!  even more spice!! :)

keeping with this season's resurgence of jewel-tone coats, my J. Crew jacket is the superb way to top it all off.  did i mention that i've had it for 2 years??  just goes to show, even when you don't care to be on trend, good style is timeless!

P.S. Don't forget to enter to win our Freebie!!

( Double Cloth Marie Coat - J.Crew, Pale pink bubble-hem dress - Forever 21, Taupe leather jacket - Winlet - Maven ReFreshed, Leggings in Mud - American Apparel, Ash Wedges - Franco Sarto, Over-sized Sunglasses and Studded watch - Marc by Marc Jacobs,  Flower puff pin barrette, Chained to Copper earrings and Leather Belt Tie - MavenFresh)

Daily Outfit: You Were My First

I passed you by again and again...circling the racks just to catch a glimpse. I loved your zig zag pattern and fitted silhouette. Finally I had you in my arms and brought you to the register to take you home and make you mine. Ahhh you will always remember your very first Anthropologie purchase. That was about 11 years ago and our relationship is still going strong. 

Working at Anthro had it's perks for sure. Besides the pure amazingness of being a part of the visual team and the force behind those beautiful ever-changing vignettes that Anthro is known for, I was surrounded by the most creative people and sweetest assortment of merchandise ever. Sometimes the down-side was watching your paycheck disappear before you even get your hands on it thanks to a lovely employee discount. But being young and naive, I left to join the more formal "corporate" ranks of the visual merchandising and display team at Lord & Taylor in NYC. Not exactly what I expected. 

Ok, enough with the trip down memory lane...let's get back to the star of this post- my skirt. I love a good denim-knit combo. This time around my skirt inspired me to put together a grandma-chic look with a mixture of prints, layers, and textures. Accessorized with my crocheted Elliptical Earrings for their pop of color and handmade vibe. 

Feel free to share your most memorable fashion purchase!

(Elliptical Earrings- MavenFresh, Sleeping On Snow Skirt- Anthropologie {circa 2000}, Ruffled Herringbone Blazer- Sample Sale, Essential Tunic- Anthropologie, Boots- Michael Kors, Loupe Belt- Hayden Harnett)

Freebie Alert: Crochet Mobius

It's time for our very first giveaway! Your two favorite ladies of MavenFresh are giving one lucky winner this fantastic handmade Mobius scarf, a must-have winter accessory to add to your collection. What a great way to kick off the holiday season, whether you use it for yourself or as a gift for someone else!

Ok, now the fun part...

How to enter and win: 

• Become an official follower of our blog by clicking "join this site" on the left side of the blog page. 
• Then, leave us a comment in this post and share how you would style the scarf. 
• You will have until Wednesday, November 30th to enter. 
• At 1PM EST a winner will be picked at random using a random number generator. 
• We will then contact you via email. 

Yayyyy! Good luck and have a fantastic weekend!

Daily Outfit: Feminine Fashion + Festivities Part Un

My very best friend is having a baby! Yep, a little bundle of boy will soon be joining our close circle and let me tell you he will have a lot of aunties that love him! Sesheta and I both had the pleasure of being guests at her baby shower; of course when there's lots of females in attendance, fashion is always on the menu. It's no surprise that our outfits completely complemented each other, right down to the color story. Not at all pre-planned, but us PFMs are always on that same style wavelength! You will just have to wait till tomorrow to see Sesheta's fab outfit...to be continued.

We enjoyed a beautiful sunny fall day, and temperatures were on the warm side- perfect for lightweight tights with lots of leg. I wanted to wear something feminine and fun, so I opted for soft colors and ruffly tiers. The olive tights were the final addition to the color combo of peach, plum, and taupe. I love to mix and match... and my favorite fall coat complimented the look oh so well. Have to tell you that I've been on the hunt for an affordable lace-up wedge bootie in a neutral color. Ladies, that search is over thanks to Zara. These lil bootie beauties are getting compliments left and right; in fact my co-worker just placed an online order for her new pair yesterday. Did we mention that Sesheta and I are here for your personal shopping pleasure?

Don't know about you but I look at every event as a fun fashion opportunity to dig in my closet and come up with a never-worn-before combination. I am sure that many of you readers have found yourselves at that point in life when the invites for showers, engagement parties, and wedding rehearsals are pouring in. Do you stress over what to wear to these celebrations? Instead of running out and thinking you have to spend money on something new, take a long look in your closet. I can pretty much guarantee that you already own something that is perfect for the occasion, but just needs a little tweaking to make it look fresh. Remember that expensive dress you bought for the last event? Well, wear it- but change up the accessories or shoes and layer a different cardigan or blazer on top. You can make something look brand new again and I promise no one will be the wiser. And then you will save your money for that new handbag you were lusting after!

Stumped by style? Let us know, we are more than happy to chat.

(Charlotte Tarantola Cardigan- Anthropologie, Tunic Dress- H&M, Ribbed Tights- J.Crew, Shoulder Strands Earrings in 24kt- MavenFresh, Socks and Mini-Wedge Ankle Boot- Zara, Umbered Houndstooth Coat- Anthropologie)

Daily Outfit: Vintage Glam

these boots were made for walking!

Becca and i were both feeling vintage-y.  it's uncanny how many times we come to work to find that we have done something similar or worn exactly the same thing (almost an entire outfit once!!).  i guess that's why one of our co-workers calls us the bobbsey twins lol.

like u may have read before, i have been having fun re-discovering things in my wardrobe.  this dress is another one of my infamous vintage finds and it is still going strong.  it's so true that the little black dress is timeless; with it's retro pleating, this dress is a hit for every decade!  i glammed up the look with my gold shoulder sweeper chandeliers and fire red lips. then, just in case you thought i had gone soft, i threw on my killer biker boots to remind you who's boss lol.  they are the perfect addition to make this outfit contemporary.

another one of my co-workers asked me where the party was but, sometimes all you need is a party of one to give you a reason to dress up and feel pretty!

(Vintage pleated black dress and leather chain belt- Maven ReFreshed, Black leggings - Tarik NuClothes, Charcoal Grey boots -  Fergie (Nordstrom's Rack), Copper bracelets - Tasha West,, Watch - Toy Watch, Shoulder Sweeper Chandeliers in 24kt - MavenFresh) 

Daily Outfit: Forever Boho

Leopard, zebra, and snake... oh my! Animal prints are back with a vengeance. When I came across this crazy-fun vintage python-print bodysuit... I swooned. And then I started thinking up various outfits in my head... this time around I wanted to complete the '70s look with my high waist flared jeans. I added a little juice with my electric blue tunic vest. Inspired by style icon Anita Pallenberg, (who definitely had that rock & roll boho-chic look down pat) I figured loose waves and heavy bangs were in order. Had to add that dash of rocker sass with some glam statement earrings!

I always come back to the bohemian look, I'm simply not a sweater and pearls kind of girl.

(Silence & Noise Jeans- Urban Outfitters, Vintage Python Bodysuit- MavenReFreshed, Mink Pink Tunic Vest- Tobi, Clog Booties- Madewell, Chandelier Earrings- MavenFresh, Bracelet- Vintage)

Daily Outfit: Fur and Floral, Please

When I spotted this faux fur vest on eBay, it was love at first sight. Since then it's become my winter staple. Funny thing is that it's actually from Forever 21, but it never did catch my eye in-store. I paired it with this tie-neck vintage floral dress for a soft ladylike look that was a little bit 70's inspired. When I first got my hands on this dress it had an awkward below-knee length. I thought it would be much more flattering if the dress was shorter. A few minutes on the sewing machine and voila- it's a perfect length for me that does not take away from that vintage quirkiness which I adore. And it was an opportunity to rock my plum tights- yay!

Sometimes a touch of floral and fur is the way to go.

(Forever 21 Fur Vest- eBay, Vintage Floral Tie-Neck Dress- Maven ReFreshed, Skinny Studded Belt- Target, Purple Tights- Urban Outfitters, Headband- Anthropologie, Gold Twigs & Berries Earrings- MavenFresh, High Heel Ankle Boots- Zara)