PFM Confessional: One Year Later...

It's been a full year since we starting blogging on a (nearly) daily basis, and although I was tempted to do the rather cliche collage of random outfit photos it became clear to me that I wouldn't be doing ourselves or our MavenFresh readers any justice. Sesheta and I have come to realize that it's more than that. We've created a year's worth of heartfelt content- the direct result of two gals that enjoy sharing their inspiration with you. Hugs go out to all that support us with your loyalty, thoughts, and comments. You are confirmation that our celebration of a happier, healthier, creative life is being well-received...keep spreading the word! 

Slowly things have changed over this year- we started posting about personal style, fresh recipes, healthy living, inspirations 'n obsessions, and of course accessorizing. Eventually came the reader-driven DIYs and Ask the PFMs (you can email us with questions anytime- we love to help!) As we grow and we learn, things eventually come into balance...and a few blog changes are definitely somewhere out on the horizon. Lately, the universe has been telling me that the future is full of exciting possibilities...if you listen I'm sure you will hear it too. Ooh this quote is totally vision board worthy! And now, let's toast and take a peek at some special outtakes. Hope you share in our (obvious) delight and have a wonderful Labor Day weekend...woo-hoo!

Thanks for sharing in our joy and laughter through this year!!! CHEERS! 

xoxo Becca & Sesheta

*images via Pinterest and PicMonkey

A Day in the Life: An End of Summer Hurrah

though i have had quite a few good times this summer, i have still felt like the season has flown by and that i haven't made the most of it.  i had hoped for more relaxation, more beach days, less work and more time with friends.  ...but, alas, we are at the end of August and (those of us with kiddies) school starts next week.  as the summer comes to an end, it is hard not to lament over how it could have been spent.  thankfully, there is still the possibility of a few more warm weekends.  i am definitely looking forward to this weekend.  i have taken a few days off from work to actually do what makes me happy (i hardly ever do that!!).  i have one more chance to fit in all of the things that will signify (to me) time well spent.  

i hope that you have an end of summer hurrah planned as well - bbqs, beach days and any thing you find fun and relaxing.  as for next week, it's back to the usual grind.  ...but that is a whole 5 days away! :) xo Sesheta

PFMs Healthy Living: So I Married a Meat-Eater

Here's the reoccurring scenario: my husband and I are at an engagement party, a baptism, an end-of-summer BBQ...and an acquaintance leans in to me with a hushed whisper and asks with fear in her voice "So, do you always have to make two separate meals?"

It's a burning question that seems to be on many people's minds. Why? Must be because I'm a life-long vegetarian who recently started living a gluten-free and vegan lifestyle, and somehow my (gasp) meat-eating man and I manage to exist together! When my hubby Nick had announced our pending engagement to his parents, his father asked "How is this going to work?" Nick was confused, thinking he was referring to our different religions (a total non-issue) but his wise-guy response was "I meant because she's a vegetarian!"

All kidding aside, I completely understand how it sounds like an impossible feat. We've been married 3 years and never had one single argument over our choice of food. We are both self-proclaimed foodies who share a passion for travel, wine country, and Italian restaurants in NYC. We actually enjoy grocery shopping together and get inspired to come up with new dishes...Nick's Tofu Tacos are the s*it! We've been together 8 years and we never run out of things to talk about. He keeps me worrying less, laughing more, and always inspired. But it's true- he eats meat and I do not...and yet we still fell in love.

I do realize that I'm luckier than most non-meat eaters. From the time that we moved in together, we found a way to happily coexist with our individual eating habits; things just fell into place naturally without any formal discussion or planning. It's like I'm married to an "at-home-vegetarian." Seriously, the only time that you would ever find meat at our place would be during the summer. That's because burger nights on the BBQ are so easy-peasy...veggie burger for me, hamburger for him. The rest of the year, we happily share the same delicious,  meat-free meals and then share our opinions on them afterwards...isn't that the best part? Making two separate meals was never even a thought; what I really love about our relationship is that we both like to cook, and ironically some weeks Nick is making more dinners than I am! 

We found favorite restaurants that satisfy both of our cravings...going out for Japanese is a treat for the two of us. As for vegan restaurants- Champs' Sweet & Smokey black bean burgers pretty much rocked his world. Don't get me wrong, when we do eat out it's almost guaranteed that Nick will be ordering duck or pork if available, but how can I judge his individual eating habits when he clearly does not judge mine? He's a fairly healthy omnivore- not really into fast-food, sugars, or refined carbs. Then I immersed him in a world of plant-based foods that he fell for: green smoothies, tofu cutlets, salads with hemp seed, homemade granola from my mom, quinoa with chickpeas...and all this yummy goodness has slowly crowded out the desire for meat. As a bonus, my hubby's come to find out that there's definitely an improvement in energy levels and digestion with a diet high in veggies!

 "Mixed-food relationships" can work without either of you sacrificing your values or your choices. Here are some tips I've learned along the way...put 'em into practice with your significant other:

Don't judge or lecture. It might be tempting, but you won't get anywhere by listing the ill-effects of a diet high in meat, milk, sugar, processed foods, etc. Be supportive of each other and the different places that you're in. I had to understand that for him it was a process and doesn't happen overnight. That concept was almost foreign to me, being that I was born into this lifestyle and never felt like I was deprived or missing out on something. Amazingly enough, not ever did Nick judge my diet (or the fact that I've never even had a hot dog!) 

I never once asked my husband to give up meat. You can ask to be open with him/her about the benefits that you find with your way of eating, but don't ever go on the attack, especially when other people are around. For example, family members might not necessarily understand or agree with your views and values and want to chime in on what should be a private convo with you and your sweetheart.

 Add foods in rather than taking foods out. So this may mean brushing up on your cooking skills and whipping up some irresistible vegetarian or vegan fare. Knock their socks off and they will never think meatless dishes are boring again! Eventually with all those tasty veggies and filling whole grains, the cravings for meat will lessen. Who knows, you might just end up with a master vegan chef on your hands if you're lucky! I'm slowly manifesting that... ha ha. xoxo Becca

*photo by Henry Chan

PFMs on the Town: AfroPunk Fest 2012

i had a great time this past weekend enjoying the beautiful weather and beautiful people all out celebrating this year's AfroPunk Festival 8/25-26 in Brooklyn.  i actually made it out to both days.  i love people watching and this was the event for it.  everyone was out showing off their afropunk styling; from clothing and accessories to hair styles, i saw it all!

the first day, i had a wonderful time catching up and hanging with an old friend plus running into many others. i specifically wanted to see Alice Smith perform but i didn't make it out in time.  i did make it out in time to check out the vendors.  i saw my fellow jewelry designer and college buddy, Melody of Melody's Addiction repping her wares.  i also saw a few other designers that i plan to check out (grabbed their cards for website shopping).  i couldn't resist taking home a necklace by Kelly Horrigan Handmade because it called my name when i saw it.  i hung around to see Ms. Erykah Badu perform but was really disappointed by the sound - so much so that i ended the night early.

i headed back out on Sunday, this time with the whole family to meet up with some of my besties and their children.  we were prepared with sheets and snacks and tp (for the port-a-potties, ewww lol).  the kids played ball and ran around while we enjoyed the music.  i really enjoyed Reggie Watts performance.  it was my first time experiencing his sound.  my girl and i ventured away from our perfect spot to see Janelle Monae but the sea of people made it hard to enjoy her set.  we quickly headed back before TV On The Radio went on because i was really excited to see their performance.  luckily, they figured out what the sound issue was that ruined Erykah's set.  TV On The Radio was everything i hoped for- great sound, great vibe and a great end to a great day.  i can't wait for next year when we can do it all over again! xo Sesheta

PFMs in the Kitchen: Buckwheat Tabbouleh Wraps

With Labor Day around the corner, I'm taking full advantage of all those fresh herbs, tomatoes, and cucumbers that are still overflowing in my garden. Buckwheat Tabbouleh might be my favorite light dinner/bring-to-work-for-lunch-the-next-day. Perfect for summertime, this dish is both gluten-free and vegan...and it's a breeze to make, so I hope you try it! Eaten on it's own, or combined in a wrap with a generous amount of guacamole- ridiculously good. So good in fact, that we ate it too quickly and forgot to take pics of the whole shebang...but trust me there was originally a tortilla and guacamole involved. This classic Middle Eastern salad is best served at room temperature. Serves 4-6. 

For the Tabbouleh you need:

1 cup organic Buckwheat

2 tbsp chopped fresh mint

2 tbsp chopped fresh flat leaf parsley (I used oregano, but wasn't loving the flavor)

2 shallots, chopped fine

1 cucumber, diced

1-2 tomatoes, diced

1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

juice of 1 large lemon

sea salt and ground pepper

4 gluten-free brown rice tortillas, to serve (I like Trader Joe's)

For the Guacamole you need:

1 ripe avocado

1/2 fresh Serrano pepper, seeded and sliced

2 tbsp lemon juice

1 garlic clove, crushed

1 tomato, finely diced

How to:

Cook the Buckwheat according to package instructions. Transfer into a large heatproof bowl when done. Add the mint, parsley, shallots, cucumber, and tomatoes and mix thoroughly. Blend the olive oil and lemon juice together, then pour over the tabbouleh. Season and toss to mix. Chill for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to blend.

To make the guacamole, just scoop out the avocado into a bowl. Add the lemon juice, pepper, and garlic. Season to taste and mash with a fork to get a chunky consistency. Stir in the tomato.

Warm the tortillas in a dry frying pan, and serve either flat, folded, or rolled up with the tabbouleh and guacamole. When I'm bringing these with me to work for lunch, I just keep everything separate (wraps, guac, salad) until I'm ready to eat. The tabbouleh tastes even better the next day! xoxo Becca

Daily Outfit: Neon Animal

there is nothing better than fridays except maybe a friday off from work!! despite my desire to get up and out to do things on my day off, all i want to do is nothing! so far, mission accomplished lol. but i thought i would share this perfect friday outfit - ready for the office but playful enough to transition to a night on the town.  accented with a MF pearl cluster necklace and the outfit is complete.  

hope you have a great friday whatever you are doing, on the job, at the beach or on the couch like me! xo sesheta

(Pearl Pendant Necklace - MavenFresh, Neon Pink Tunic and Leopard print leggings - H&M, Color Block Blazer - Rachel Rachel Roy, Belt -  J. Crew)

PFM Obsession: Jemima Kirke

I followed the entire first season of HBO's Girls and was struck by Jessa's sharp wit and free-spirited attitude...but as each episode flew by I found myself completely swooning over her vintage-chic wardrobe. I love finding out that in real-life, Jemima Kirke's personal style inspired her bohemian character's look. 

 Her signature style revolves around mermaid hairdos, drapey kimonos, floral prints, felt hats, bold peep-toes, and matte lips...with a bit of velvet, feathers, and leather mixed in. I did a little research and was thrilled to realize that Jessa's outfits are actually a combination of vintage pieces and Jemima's own wardrobe. This girl blends effortless, eclectic, and feminine into one charming package...and her lovely British accent is perfection. It can't hurt that Jemima's mom owns a vintage store in NYC called Geminola...ooh I feel a major shopping trip coming up! 

Costume designer Jenn Rogien and creator Lena Dunham take the outfit reins for all four girls on the show and I admire that they stay true to the situation surrounding each character. I'm really looking forward next season to see more of Jessa's inspiring looks. You might have heard the rumor that this series is dubbed the new Sex & the City...but the fashion is definitely much more attainable. We are talking Zara, H&M, J.Crew, Anthro, and the Brooklyn Flea...not Manolo Blahnik, Dior, Lanvin, and Ralph Lauren. 

Check out Jemima's website...in addition to being an actor, a mother (and my latest style icon!) she is also an artist who creates beautiful paintings. If you are obsessing along with me, here are some pieces to get you started on re-creating her look for the fall season. xoxo Becca

1. Glistened Fedora, 2. H&M Biker Jacket, 3. Zippered Feather Earrings, 4. The Edge of Girly Top, 5. Ilia Beauty Lipstick in Wild Child, 6. As a Matter of Flat in Leopard, 7. Devaki Maxi Dress, 8. H&M Patterned Pants, 9. Scandi Top Knot, 10. Ombre Aztec Playsuit, 11. Floral Print Kimono, 12. Moonlight Lagoon Open Toe Heels