Mother’s Day is this coming Sunday. Why don’t you make Mom some cookies? Or you could make some for yourself if you are a mother…or even if you’re not. I made these chai spice cookies last week when I was having a cookie craving. They were delicious - the perfect amount of spiciness, in my opinion.
This recipe is an adaptation/combination of this recipe and this recipe. I used a gluten free flour mixture, so try it out with this flour recipe if you’re gluten-free. I use that mixture for everything. It works in all of my non gluten-free recipes, and it’s the closest thing to wheat flour I’ve ever tried.
INGREDIENTS:
2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 3/4 cup white sugar (Replace 1/4 cup with brown sugar for a slightly richer, more molasses-y flavor and a bit of crunch.) 2 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon 2 teaspoons ginger 1 1/2 teaspoons cardamom (I may try adding a bit more next time – I love cardamom!) 1 teaspoon ground cloves 1-4 – 1/2 teaspoon black pepper ( I added slightly less than 1/2 teaspoon. I like the kick it adds. Add less if you don’t think you’ll like it.) 1/2 cup butter 1/2 cup coconut oil (You can just use butter instead if you don’t have coconut oil.) 1 egg 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
DIRECTIONS:
1. Preheat your oven to 350˚F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Sift together flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt in a large mixing bowl.
3. Mix together sugar, cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, cloves, and pepper in a different large mixing bowl.
4. Add the butter and coconut oil to the sugar and spice mixture, and beat with an electric mixer until fluffy (approx. 3 minutes).
5. Beat in the egg and vanilla.
6. Slowly mix in the flour mixture until just combined.
7. Scoop rounded tablespoons of dough onto the prepared baking sheet about 1 1/2 inches apart.
8. Bake for 10 minutes, or until golden on top.
9. Let cool on baking sheet for a few minutes.
And just a reminder,
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Meet bohemian Maggie. Sometimes I look through my photo archives…or even my closet…and realize there isn’t really one “style” I stick to. Boho, retro, preppy, sophisticated, tomboy, classic, urban, outdoorsy, girly, kitschy…I’ve played around with it all. But that’s what I love so much about getting dressed and having a diverse closet. I can dress how I feel on any given day, and I can interpret any of the “styles” I listed in a way that feels me. I don’t really feel a need to restrict myself to one style, because I don’t think that’s an accurate representation of who I am. Though I have my own distinctive personality, I still have many interests and many moods, and I don’t always feel like dressing the same way. And just like I enjoy exploring different arts – from letterpress to quilting – I enjoy trying different trends and styles, but I never make choices I don’t feel comfortable in. The flowy-ness of this skirt is too fun. And it has little bells on the drawstrings – not loud, obnoxious ones, but tiny ones that make a subtle noise with each step. It’s actually a pretty sheer skirt, as you can tell in some of these pictures, so it’s great for warm weather.
When I was deciding on what shirt to wear with it, I noticed the skirt’s pattern has just a little bit of eggplant color mixed in. Rather than reaching for the obvious brown or black tee, I thought it’d be nice to draw attention to that color. I have several other patterned skirts/shirts like that – I look for the color that there’s the least of, and use other pieces in my outfit to draw attention to that color. Give it a try – if you have a patterned piece, try changing up how you wear it by pairing it with a color other than what you typically wear it with. It can really transform the way a piece looks. I love making animated GIFS! This was the perfect outfit for it, so I couldn’t resist.tee: secondhand Loft skirt: secondhand cardigan: secondhand Gap shoes: secondhand Mossimo belt: secondhand
And just a reminder,
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I jokingly told my mom recently that I’m going to start putting a poll on some of my outfits…”would my mom like this outfit?” Haha, I was just kidding when I said that, but she enthusiastically supported the idea. I don’t think she’s a fan of the pattern mixing thing. She may not see it, but I carefully consider the patterns I choose to wear together. I really like this geometric print paired with the more organic, painterly print of the skirt. I got this top at a yard sale, and it’s actually too big. The cardigan hides that, but I think I may take it on the sides…easy fix.
I think my aesthetic for clothing extends into how I’d like to decorate my future apartment/home. I love loose, organic art – paintings in which you can see wild brushstrokes and drawings that show the movement of the artist’s hand. However, I also love more structured art – geometric prints, posters with beautiful typography, etc. I want a gallery wall with a vast mixture of different kinds of art and photographs.
Same goes for furniture and other decor. I love rustic stuff – like my vintage letter trays (like these) and my DIY necklace hanger, but I also love clean, more modern design, like much of the stuff from Hive Modern. I look forward to having a good mix in my home.
(My sister in furnishing an apartment at school right now, and it’s making me anxious to decorate my own space.)
top: secondhand Forever 21 skirt: secondhand Lily Pulitzer cardigan: old Old Navy belt: secondhand shoes: Crown Vintage
And just a reminder,
If you have my blog bookmarked, be sure to change that bookmark to www.jalfrezi.com.
There are 10 days left until something I’m really excited about, so I figured I’d share here! In 10 days (May 12th), tune in to the Style Network to catch the premiere of RESALE ROYALTY!
My mom has said many times that there needs to be a reality show about a consignment store. There are shows about antique stores, pawn shops, bakeries, duck-call-makers (is there a more technical name for that?), so why not a consignment store? There’s certainly drama, and the constant inflow of new inventory keeps things interesting. When I first heard about Resale Royalty, I was super excited. Not just because it’s a show about a consignment store, but because I’ve been to the store and have met the ladies in the photo above before they were “stars.” They’ve attended all the NARTS conferences I’ve gone to the past four years, and Sue (middle) is a board member for NARTS.
So…Sunday, May 12th at 9pm eastern time, be sure to catch the premiere. I’ll certainly be watching it! Check out the website, Facebook, and Twitter for more info.
Conference last year was in St. Louis, so their stores were one of the stops on the beloved resale shop bus tour. So here are some pictures from that conference, including *snooty voice and upturned nose* what I bought at their stores, Women’s Closet Exchange and Clique:
Dancing at the St. Louis World’s Fair
Beautiful lighting at the World’s Fair Pavilion
Silly faces during the cocktail party
Dancing (Can you spot a star of Resale Royalty?)
Bus tour of St. Louis (led by Diana of Resale Royalty)
My Women’s Closet Exchange finds!
And just for fun, here are some pictures from past conferences:
Dallas, Texas 2011
Dallas, Texas 2011
Palm Beach 2010
Palm Beach 2010
Dallas, Texas 2011
Palm Beach 2010
Scottsdale, Arizona 2009
Scottsdale, Arizona 2009
Scottsdale, Arizona 2009
Scottsdale, Arizona 2009
And just a reminder,
If you have my blog bookmarked, be sure to change that bookmark to www.jalfrezi.com.
Sorry for being MIA lately! I’ve been traveling all over the place spending some much needed time with friends I haven’t seen since last fall. I’ve really only missed three usual days of blogging, but it seems like it’s been so much longer than that!
I love red. It’s such a bold, fun color, and I also like the color on myself. I had a surprisingly hard time deciding what to wear with these pants, though. After perusing my entire closet, I decided this is the only top I like with them. I guess I need to have a look at Pinterest for some inspiration! Any styling suggestions? I actually love the way this jacket looks with them, and I never took it off all day. Ha – all that effort in picking out a top and it was never even seen, except for in these photos.
I feel like I own WAY more colored denim than I need…and I actually am bothered by that and am temped to get rid of a few pairs. I guess there’s a minimalist inside me somewhere that remembers what it was like to only have a small selection of clothes to work with when I was studying abroad. It makes life a little simpler and encourages creativity. I own these lime jeans, some pink ones, the red pair in this post, this other berry red pair, and I just got a mint pair recently (all of which need hemming to fit my short stature, but I’m too lazy to do it). SO MANY!
You know that oh-so-popular Instagram hashtag #tbt? I was looking for something on my external hard drive yesterday and encountered a bunch of old pictures I scanned for my high school senior yearbook (5 years ago!?). I was inspired and thought it would be fun to do a #tbt or “Throwback Thursday” post. I know I’ve been slacking on the outfit posts lately, but just think of it this way – you’re getting eleven 90s-inspired outfits here. Well, actually they ARE 90s outfits, but trends tend to come back every 20 years or so, and since most of these pictures are from ’90-’94, I’d say you could…maybe…pull some inspiration from these. HAHA. Plus, if you’re anything like me, you love looking at other people’s childhood pictures, so this is probably a bit more entertaining than an outfit post.
I tried to choose pictures with only me because I don’t want family members to attack me for putting pictures of them on the web, but it was hard because almost every picture of me includes my brother and/or sister. I had to make a few exceptions. Sorry family.
Let’s start with one of my favorites. Tough chic… I’ve always loved hats…though my taste was a bit more adventurous when I was younger. Not pictured: my brother’s Batmobile. I totally rocked the Western attire, and that jumpsuit is cooler than any you’ll find in stores these days (it’s a Ninja Turtles jumpsuit, which definitely ups the coolness factor). But I definitely had a girly side, too. Just look how glamorous I was! And again with the love of hats… Like my sunglasses? You can get your own at Urban Outfitters, or if you prefer my sisters, you can get those at UO, too. I really wish I could still pull off wearing that color yellow. Can you tell I’m a 90′s kid? Those shoes look ginormous. Side note: Such talent! I should have been an architect. Acid wash jeans…the trend is back. I find it amusing because this is one of the few trends I actually remember from my lifetime that has come back. And yes, the yellow sock were my own choice. We all make mistakes. Sometimes my taste in fashion was a bit…eclectic. Notice my dad – he’s got the steampunk look going with those goggles on his hat. I’m going to start looking to my younger self for outfit post pose inspiration. And yes, I used to have super straight hair and a beautiful golden tan. I prefer my curls, but I wouldn’t mind having the tan back. My mom dressed me then, and in a way she still dresses me now. If I took everything out of my closet that came from her store, my closet would be pretty empty. Some things never change – I still like peter pan collars and fun colored pants. And do you recognize the backdrop?
And just a reminder,
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If you live in or near Massachusetts, you’re in for a treat. For today’s shopping guide, I interviewed Pam, owner of Plum Consignment in Beverly, MA. Those photos alone should pique your curiosity…aren’t they gorgeous? The natural light in her store is AMAZING and I love the industrial (that pipe shelving!) and vintage mix of decor. I want whoever designed the space to design a studio for me! The events the store hosts sound like a ton of fun, and after this interview, I’m convinced it’d be hard for me to resist spending hundreds in her store. Be sure to check out some more photos of the store on their Facebook page. And now for the interview…
I love to shop for bargains, cannot put on eyeliner to save my life, cleaning relaxes me and will think of any excuse not to go to the gym.
2. Why did you decide to start a consignment store?
I was aggravated with the typical consignment shopping experience. I love finding bargains, but can’t stand having to dig through bins or racks of unsized, unorganized, outdated clothes. I wanted to create a unique consignment shopping experience different that what most people are used to. The shop is spotless (we promise no smell of moth balls or dust bunny sightings!), the racks are impeccably organized and the prices are amazing. I like to say that Plum has a boutique feel with thrift store pricing.
3. What’s the best part about your job?
I love meeting new people everyday and having conversations with my regular customers. It makes me happy that I’m helping people recycle and save money. I get just as excited about their bargain finds as they do. I love that people trust my opinion of how something looks on them, I never let anyone go home with something that doesn’t look awesome on them! Its not worth the sale if I know they won’t be happy with it once they get home.
4. What types and/or brands of things could a shopper find in your store?
You’d be likely to find such brands as J Crew, Banana Republic, Gap, Seven and more. We aren’t picky about brand name labels as long as it is in great condition and currently in style!
5. To give readers a better idea of what great things they can find, what is one (or some) of your favorite pieces in your store right now?
Jeans are always my favorite thing to find on consignment, we have a lot of designer jeans (Seven, Joes, Diesel, etc) priced at $30 each. We’ve been getting in a ton of adorable spring & summer dresses in amazing spring colors and patterns! I also love that we are lucky enough to feature handmade items (jewelry, greeting cards, hats, hair ties and headbands) made by local artists.
6. What is one thing that sets your store apart from the rest/makes it unique?
Plum Consignment has more of a boutique feel and focuses heavily on superior customer service. We host events at the shop such as jewelry and jean swap and “Advice” nights where people can scheuld short sessions with hair stylists and makeup artists.
7. What’s the best part about being in the location (city/state) your store is in?
We’re located on a street in downtown Beverly with 3 other consignment shops. It’s a great location because parking is fairly easy, theres tons of foot traffic and people make a day of shopping at all 4 of the stores, because no 2 are the same. The building we’re in was built 1908, so it still has a ton of great architecture and character – large windows, high ceilings, exposed brick, etc. It ties nicely into shops theme vintage/antique decor and what’s old is new again theme.
8. Quick! You have one minute to convince someone why they should start shopping secondhand…go!
The other day I wore an outfit that was purchased solely from second hand shops (Steve Madden boots, Citizens of Humanity jeans, Love on a Hanger tank, Ann Taylor cardigan, local boutique necklace) I roughly figured that it would have cost over $250 if I had purchased the items at their retail price. I paid just under $50 for everything!
9. Do you have a website, Facebook page, Twitter, or blog where readers can learn more or stay informed about events, sales, etc.?
If you’d like to offer some input on locations (cities/states) I should cover in the future or if you are a resale store owner and would like your shop featured, please let me know in the comments.
One of many reasons I enjoy the fashion bloggers that I follow is because they’re great with color. Oftentimes I don’t have the pieces to recreate an outfit (and I’d rather be original with my outfits anyway), but I can still pull inspiration from them in terms of color combinations and pattern mixing. Tieka is one blogger who has a way with color. I pinned this outfit of hers last fall because I liked the color combo so much. I went shopping recently and got this shirt and skirt, and as I was hanging the shirt in my closet I noticed my orange cardigan and thought “YES! I can finally wear that color combo!”
Check out another great color combo and this sweater styled differently here. And three cheers for me – just look how much my hair has grown since then! I got to thinking about these colors…and I thought too much. I usually refer to the color of this skirt as camel, but when I think camel, I think THIS. So tawny, perhaps? Eeeh, that word is weird. Caramel – yeah, I suppose that’ll work. And the shirt. It’s mint…or mint cream as Wikipedia calls it…or honeydew…or sage. And the sweater is orange…or pumpkin or persimmon, depending on the lighting. Commonality? They’re all foods (once you eliminate the camel and tawny). My outfit is caramel, mint, and orange. Or caramel, honeydew, and persimmon, if that sounds more appealing. I guess it’s easiest for us to describe a color by paralleling it to something we encounter in our everyday lives, and being that humans typically eat many times a day, it’s unsurprising that we associate colors with food.
ANYWAY…there’s my random meandering thoughts for you. Shirt: secondhand Merona Cardigan: secondhand Talbots Skirt: secondhand J. Crew Shoes: Boutique 9 (Nine West) Belt: secondhand
I couldn’t resist taking pictures by these bushes. They’re so pretty! There were a gazillion bumblebees buzzing around them, but bumblebees are like miniature flying teddybears. I would consider myself to be somewhat of an arachnophobe, but bees typically don’t bother me. Hornets or an angry swarm of bees would be a different story. My sister probably wouldn’t have come within twenty feet of those bushes, though.
And just a reminder,
If you have my blog bookmarked, be sure to change that bookmark to www.jalfrezi.com.
If you’ve been following me a while or if you’ve read my about page, you know that I’m committed to living a socially and environmentally responsible lifestyle. I buy mostly organic, local, and/or fair trade foods, I recycle and compost everything I can (in college, it took me an entire semester to fill my trash can), I support local and independently owned businesses, I love upcycling to give old things new life, and yes, 99% of my wardrobe (and a large percentage of my other belongings) comes from secondhand stores or yard sales.
Being that Earth Day is on Monday, I want to highlight some ways that you can make more sustainable style choices. I think many people, when they think of doing good for the environment or living a “green” lifestyle, don’t really consider that their choices as a fashion consumer are a part of that equation. I personally believe that our choices regarding where we buy clothes, how often we buy them, and what we do with them when we’re done with them is just as important as, say, recycling or using alternate modes of transporation.
The following are some ways you can make a change, even if a small one, toward being a more conscientous fashion consumer:
1. Educate yourself.The more you know about how your clothes, shoes, and accessories are made, the more aware you will be about how they impact the environment or the lives of the people producing them. A while back, I wrote a post on how clothes contribute to our carbon footprint. While that article provides info on how clothes in general are produced, it’s also insightful to research specific brands. Some companies openly share information on their commitment to sustainable or ethically produced products (Patagonia, for example), but many do not. GoodGuide is a good source for learning more – you can search for companies and get a detailed rating on their social and environmental impact. It’s not perfect, as many companies are not willing to share the information that makes those ratings possible, but it’s still worth checking out.
2. Buy less. This is an easy change that everyone could stand to make. Admittedly, I’m frequently tempted by the latest trends, something I see another blogger wearing, or Madewell & Anthropologie. I manage to resist the temptations most of the time though (the fact that Madewell and Anthropologie are both way out of my budget definitely helps). By not buying, you’re not supporting the consumption of more resources, but rather you’re playing your part in conservation. Rather than buying new stuff, see how you can rework your old stuff. Pair items you’ve never worn together. Try wearing a dress as a skirt or even a skirt as a dress, be creative. You might even enjoy it more than buying new stuff – no buyer’s remorse!
3. Buy used. This is the way to go, in my opinion. My wardrobe is almost entirely secondhand, and I own a ton of really nice things – probably a lot more than I would have if I bought everything new. Buying secondhand is just another way to reuse and recycle. Consignment stores are wonderful, as they are often upscale boutiques that only sell the best of the best. Thrift stores and antique stores can be equally as nice. All are treasure chests and FUN to shop at. Inventory is constantly changing, and you can find really unique stuff and amazing deals. And be sure to take the clothes and accessories that you’re done enjoying to a consignment or thrift store (recycling!) so someone else can love them for a while. Swaps are also a popular alternative to buying new clothes. Get together with some friends (or other local bloggers) and have a clothing/accessories swap.
4. Be willing to spend a bit more. For those occasions when you can’t find what you want secondhand, be willing to pay a bit more to ensure your products were produced ethically or sustainably. Of course, just because something is inexpensive doesn’t mean the business has unethical practices, and likewise, just because something is expensive doesn’t mean it was produced ethically. In general, though, in order to sell products for crazy low prices, the cost of production must be kept low, and oftentimes that’s at the expense of ethical/sustainable practices. Just refer back to tip #1 – educate yourself. Some companies are more transparent than others. Another thing to note: if you spend a little more, you’re most likely getting better quality products that will last longer…which means you won’t have to buy as freqently to replace worn out items (tip #2).
(hiking shoes from Patagonia - an environmentally and socially responsible company)
5. Shop small. As stated in tip #4, just because a business is small or locally owned doesn’t ensure they have right-minded practices, but it is more likely that they do as opposed to a big national chain who just cares about keeping their prices lower than competition. Many small businesses produce their goods themselves or support independent craftsmen, and buying local supports your local economy whereas buying imported goods does not (and think of all the resources used to import goods from overseas or even from the other side of the country). Their goods are often of better quality than mass-produced goods, as well.
(accessories from local artisans)
6. Upcycle. Turn your wide leg jeans into skinny jeans. Turn that shirt with a hole into a scarf. Take your grandmother’s old, out-of-style dress and do some modifications to make it more modern and stylish. The possibilities are endless with a little creativity (and perhaps some Pinterest inspiration). This is a great way to recycle things that the consignment store won’t take or that you can’t bear to part with.
Hopefully you’re already doing one or more of these things, and hopefully I’ve inspired you to try one of the tips that you don’t already do. It’s really not hard to implement these changes, especially if you take them one at a time. Many of them are actually FUN (exploring thrift stores, turing your old clothes into crafts, finding new ways to love your old clothes), so give them a try!
Are there any tips YOU have that I didn’t cover? Let me know in the comments!
And just a reminder,
If you have my blog bookmarked, be sure to change that bookmark to www.jalfrezi.com.
Look how GREEN it is behind me! Isn’t that exciting? I love when the world starts to turn green again. And pink and purple and yellow.
I had made a note to myself in my little blog notebook to do an outfit with a green skirt and a striped shirt. I’m assuming I made that note because I saw something similar and liked it, but I don’t remember the original inspiration at all. So I looked in my closet to see what i could do, and this is what I came up with. I wasn’t sure I liked it before putting it on, but I actually think it turned out nicely, if I do say so myself. I also LOVE this necklace, so I was excited that it worked so well with this outfit. So this may or may not look like my original inspiration, but who cares because the point of this blog is to BE an inspiration, right?
On a totally random note, do your underarms ever hurt when you’re sick/have been sick? I think I have a swollen gland under my arm…must be from the little sickness I had last week.
And on another totally random note, you know those people who can do really graceful jumping pictures? “Why yes, I can effortlessly leap like a deer. I have killer ballet moves.” I’m NOT one of those people. The days when I’m ambitious enough to put my camera on continuous shoot and do some jumping pictures, I have to do a hundred before I get even one where I don’t look ridiculous. I tend to look like I’m zombie-walking or I just got shot in the chest…or a combination. Below is the best of 100. Pitiful.
To see another way I’ve styled this skirt, check out this post, and to see how I styled this shirt in a different color, take a look here.
top: secondhand Mossimo
skirt: secondhand Max Studio
shoes: secondhand J. Crew
belt: secondhand
necklace: secondhand
And just a reminder,
If you have my blog bookmarked, be sure to change that bookmark to www.jalfrezi.com.
I made these chai spice cookies last week when I was having a cookie craving. They were delicious - the perfect amount of spiciness, in my opinion.
I’ve always 
I totally rocked the Western attire, and that jumpsuit is cooler than any you’ll find in stores these days (it’s a Ninja Turtles jumpsuit, which definitely ups the coolness factor).
