KITCHEN

S(T)OUP(ID) EASY

It is fun to make easy meals. My last recipe has been keeping me nice and fed through-out the summer, but now that fall is totally keeping me busy in the yard, my appetite has moved on towards heartier fare.

I am a huge fan of comfort food and skinny jeans. Unfortunately, the two don't always go hand-in-hand. Piles of stuffing and mashed potatoes give me "...and when he woke up his pillow was gone" dreams, but unless I'm looking for muffin tops for dessert, I need to get creative. Lucky for me I am.

Substituting cauliflower for potatoes is nothing new, but here is a fun way to make it spicy. Oh, and you get to use a blender...how fitting...

Ingredients

* Cauliflower

* Salt and EVOO

* Mushrooms (I used Shiitake)

* Spices (cinnamon, pepper, curry, lime)

* Milk not shown oops.

Slice the mushrooms, wash them with oil, salt, then roast

...while you...

Steam the cauliflower

THEN

Blend the cauliflower with the dry spices in a bit of milk.

When the desired texture is achieved, throw in the mushrooms for a few seconds.

serve as a puree or keep the mushrooms in bigger pieces for texture. Salt and pepper to taste and garnish with the lime.

ENJOY!

LINK

CONTRIBUTING EDITOR MAGAZINE

Some of the best fashion photography around! The link is also on the side-bar...

ARTSY FARTSY

THOMAS ALLEN

Stacked, 2004, 20 x 24 inches - chromogenic Print

Anyone lucky enough to be in NYC between Sep. 10 and Oct. 10 should head on over to the Foley Gallery to check out artist Thomas Allen's new show Epilogue. If you can't make it, check out his book of photography entitled UNCOVERED. There is the bonus treat of the forward being written by book cover designer extraordinaire Chip Kidd.

I love these images. The use of pulp novel sculpture blended with fine art photography is fantastically powerful. Is is a commentary on sex? violence? truth? recycling? In this new series of work, the narrative is reduced to the final scene, often the scene of the crime. How and why these characters have come together in their drama is up to us to decide.

Fury, 2006, 24 x 20 inches - chromogenic Print

Stranger, 2005, 20 x 24 inches - chromogenic Print

Distraction, 2006, 20 x 24 inchess - chromogenic Print

Gripping, 2007, 20 x 24 inches - chromogenic Print

STYLEPHILE - HYUN YEU

I STILL HAVE BUTTERFLIES

Korea sure can crank out some amazing designers! My newest hero hails from Rotterdam and shows at AIF. Hyun Yeu studied Business Management at the University of Technology in Sydney, Australia, where he lived for seven years before going on to obtain an additional BA in Fashion Design at Gerrit Reitveld Academy in the Netherlands. His collection, inspired by the wings of butterflies, is heart-melting! I love the idea of taking the modern dandy into the future with fabric. Take a peek...

CURRENT OBSESSION

RHUEL LA LA

It isn't quite cold enough for this sweater, and Rhuel No. 925 is getting phased out by it's parent co. A&F, but that still isn't stopping me from adding this to my wish list. It is a little bit prep, and a little bit boho. Not too trendy to wear once, and not to 'Crombie to make me puke. I'd wear it like a coat.

JUST BECAUSE

IS IT...?

I do not endorse forgeries, and I do not condone knock-offs. You can write this down as one of my rules. And like all rules, there is always an exception that proves them. Self realized hypocrisy can really make a person stronger. Looking at things from both sides, understanding different perspectives, and analyzing situations on a variety of levels are all characteristics I find in my very best friends.

So what do you get when a fake is so good? I have a few examples...

1. The Tribute Band: Forever Diamond is a Neil Diamond tribute band that I have seen a few times in Cincinnati. They are amazing. I was turned onto them by my mother (of all people!) The lead singer and acoustic guitarist are the sons of two of her good friends. I love a good ND song, and hearing a whole show of them where you can sing along with a crowd is spectacular. No, Vassar College Sunday Brunch piano rendition of Sweet Caroline doesn't count! One song isn't really a "tribute," more "an excuse to bang on the table." I'm eager to hear what other kinds of tribute bands are out there...

2. When Designers Don't Make What You Want: A little DIY/homage project never hurt anyone...I saw a pair of these in NYC a few fashion weeks ago. I ran across the room and begged the man wearing them to disclose where he got them. He made them out of an old pair of Vans and a Canal St. Goyard bag. GENIUS. Just don't sell them.

+

=

CURRENT OBSESSION

KICKIN' IT OLD SCHOOL

These Boots Are Made For Walki...

My niece just went on a back to school shopping trip for her first day outfit. I remember LOVING this trip! Looking back, I can't believe some of the things I wanted to wear. Lucky for me I had a mom who loved me enough to get them anyway...

One thing that I do wish I could go back and get were some of the shoes I had. I was obsesses with carrying my lunch money/token in my Kangaroo shoes. Like all things 80s, they are back and available to adults. While my lunch may cost more, it still is fun to carry that extra $20 around in the little pouch.

Now, why can't other fun kid shoes be made available to adults?! I realize that a sexy adult shoe is more acceptable on most occasions, but sometimes a fun shoe is just more, well, FUN. Below are some shoes I would love to add to the floor of my closet...if they only came in my size...

hippy trippy from Keds

lights, camera, yes please

so good

better than a segue

TECH SUPPORT

INTO THE WILD-ISH

A good pocketknife is a wonderful thing to have. Swiss Army is the staple, and in celebration of the 125th Anniversary, Swiss Army has been traveling the country in a fully-branded airstream trailer, showcasing the history of Swiss Army through film, photographs, iconic products and new limited edition pieces (some shown above).

If you turn your nose up at a $450 pocket knife, i suppose the next most wonderful thing to get would be the trailer...It has a great mountain view built in, and you get that great pocket knife feel when you release the canopy! I or one adore traveling in style, but this may be a little too 60 Thompson for my camping needs.

On the other hand, a tear drop trailer is PERFECT! I first was able to camp with them when a friend of mine who hand builds them took me along for a trip. It was so cute and fun, like staying in a Smurf mushroom house. Instead of buffering my outdoors experience, it really enhanced the whole thing. And, when you hand make them, you have the options of including anything you want and going as luxe as you want. It is another great way to express your style...and bring it all over the country! Up for it? Wiki can show you how...

VERSUS

DECISIONS FOR THE UNDECIDED

I Don't know if it is because there is a lot on my mind...actually, I know it is because I have a lot on my mind, but I just don't know what it is on my mind's plate that is keeping me from making some (i suppose not so important) decisions...but decisions all the same. This is pitifully hypocritical of me since I value and am quite drawn to people who can make up their mind easily.

My quandary is this: While rummaging around the backs of my closets and bottoms of boxes, I have managed to resurrect a few pieces into my new fall line up. I just don't really know what direction I want to move in. There is 1) this retro-urban-punk-skater-nautical-prep idea that I am quite drawn to, and 2) this futuristic-90's grunge-layers-black&white-texture moment I would like to draw out.

So these are they - on me - I would love to hear what others think of these looks (in general, on me, on them - attach a photo). It isn't the most important thing you may decide on today, but, hey, at least it is one...

...and while you are feeling judgmental, take a listen to these here groups and think which one might be better on a fall ipod...I can't decide between these either...

glasvegas

Geraldine (Album Version) - Gl...

vs.

glass candy

Poison Or Remedy - Glass Candy

black joe lewis & the honeybears

Gunpowder - Black Joe Lewis & ...

vs.

sharon jones & the dap kings

Nobody's Baby - Sharon Jones &...

LOOKIE-LIEU

BELT IT OUT

I have been wanting to write about belts for a while. I like them. I wear them. I used to have a ton of them in rotation. I usually wear one for a few days, slide on a new one, add contrast or color to an outfit with a special one, and my floor always looked like the reptile house at the zoo. But something happened...

A few months back I noticed that my floor was much safer, and I was only wearing two belts...EVER. I tried a little experiment where I put all of my belts (save these two below) into a box. I was going to see what belts I would miss. I only saved one (the thin grey one that I took a chain off of), but have worn it three times.

These two woven belts have gotten me through every fashion situation I have encountered for almost half a year! That is nuts! I have to question if I am getting more refined and settled in my ways (think designers' uniform), or if I am just getting lazy (think couch potato) ...

This little grey MJ one is interesting, but I don't think it is really revving my juices up. I must fall somewhere between the two posited extremes: I am happy with my belts, but wouldn't mind spicing up the repertoire.

Enter Raf Simons. His Spring 2010 collection really excited me. It worked as a litmus type test on my imagination to see if it was still buzzing. I was floored and amused by all the ways he worked belts into his looks. For such an unassuming/utilitarian accessory, it really can add whimsy and distortion. I'm not sure if I can really sport any of these, but at least these looks have gotten me thinking more about what a belt can really do, and less about keeping my pants up...I know, I know...

AU NATURALE

INTO THE ATO-MOSPHERE

Get Off - The Donnas

Fall is just around the corner! Yikes. This summer has flown by so fast that now I keep finding myself making mini "bucket lists" of things I want to do before it is completely over. Some of the ideas are pretty un-doable (another road trip...), but some are quite check-off-able. One think I really wanted to do was see a killer summer concert. Lucky for me my buddies in the Donnas went on tour with Blondie and Pat Benatar, and as they rolled through the Midwest, I was able to catch an amazing show! Thanks girls!

Aside from the tix, I was also treated to a delightful video of the Ds getting their scramble on! I went from feeling accomplished, to feeling overwhelmed quicker than you could say "Heartbreaker." My list just got longer! I have got to get on some good rides before the summer ends! I can't just drop everything to become a "ride warrior," so I will have to combine it with the ever present task of finding amazing clothes...

The fashion calendar just seems to be getting more and more confusing. I've already posted a bunch of stuff for S/S 2010, but fall hasn't even sprung yet. Going back and looking forward, I've paired up a few of my favorite rides of all time with some looks from one of my favorite A/W 09 shows. ATO displayed an amazing crop of bomber inspired looks that get my Adrenalin going. In case I don't make it on every ride to get my pulse racing, I can jump-start it in these fine aeronautical silhouettes.

GOLIATH @ SIX FLAGS MAGIC MT.

FIREHAWK @ KINGS ISLAND

DIAMONDBACK @ KINGS ISLAND

SOARIN' OVER CA @ DISNEYLAND