Next Step

I love having this blog as a diversion from my everyday life. I love the connection with other women and just the fun of seeing what others have created, fashioned or found. When I was diagnosed with cancer last week I first thought that I wouldn't be blogging anymore and now as the days have unfolded, I realize I want to keep this up. I probably won't thrift much but, for now, I still get dressed and cook and need to have a creative outlet.

My postings may be less frequent and the pictures will show an evolving woman with breast cancer. I don't have a clear picture of the path I will take. I've met with a surgeon for my mastectomy and she ordered additional tests: CT scans, MRI's and bone scan to get a better picture of the risk to my other breast or if the metastasis goes beyond the lymph nodes. Your continued support and connection is very important to me. So, hopefully my next post will be a fun outfit with some thrifted treasure. Thank you for your continued prayers.  Christine

Pause, deep breath, I have Breast Cancer.

This is the face of breast cancer. I will survive, become stronger and not give up.

I must remember: God is our ever present help in times of trouble. Lean not on your own understanding and in all thy ways acknowledge him and he shall direct my path.

These are the faces I fight for.

Please pray for us.

Blue

I recently picked up this beautiful light blue coat. 

As with most parts of the country, the weather has turned so cold, I can only wear my down-filled coat.

Wistfully waiting for warmer weather to break this baby out again!


Coat: Target-Mossimo (50% off)
Shirt: J.Crew chambray
Pants: J.Crew Minnie
Shoes: Salvatore Ferragamo-thrifted

Linked up with Tara and Sharon for Look what i got!

and

I Heart this Sweater

Who would have thought I'd wear a heart over my heart.

I tend to stay away from anything too trendy or sweet but, I really like the graphic quality of this sweater.

If you look closely, you can see that it is half of a heart but a quick look just gives off a pop of pink and red.

 Paired with this army green cargo jacket and jeans, it doesn't get too sweet or sappy.

Sweater: Mossimo-Target

Jeans: Land's End Canvas-thrifted

Jacket: thrifted

Booties: Sam and Libby

Leopard Pants: Take 2

I love these leopard pants!

When I styled, this time I stayed with a black shirt but accessorized with more casual pieces.

  

I was happy to keep my ankles covered and liked the way these booties and denim jacket gave off a casual vibe.

Shirt: J.Crew

Pants: Merona-Target

Boots: Steve Madden

Jacket: Old Navy- thrifted

Linked up for: 

Spotted

In a nod to the classic, I paired my leopard pants with a simple black  turtleneck and jacket.

The cropped leg was a challenge, nothing winter appropriate seemed to work. I opted for black booties and no socks a possibility on an almost 40 degree day.

I've seen a lot of leopard with red and like the look but, red isn't always a great color on me. The black really worked well.

I've professed my love of leopard here before and I'll warn you...it might happen again! 

Pants: Target-Merona
Turtleneck: J.Crew
Jacket: thrifted
Booties: Clark's

Linked up for Monday Mingle   

Going Green

I've been focusing more on the color green. I love how fresh and happy the color looks whether it is described as emerald or kelly.  So, I was pleasantly surprise when Pantone declared emerald green the color of 2013.

This outfit has a mix of both. The statement necklace I would describe more as emerald green and the sweater is definitely a kelly green.

Sweater: Target
Necklace: via TJ Maxx
Shirt: Lauren Ralph Lauren-thrifted
Jeans: Paige premium-local boutique

Linked up with Long Distance Loving for:

Preppy in a Pea Coat

In winter, where I live, most of the show in an outfit comes from your coat. Because of this I have quite a collection of different ones and I guess I justify it by the need to stay warm and getting great deals like this. I picked up this J.Crew pea coat a few months ago for five dollars. 

It has a more traditional styling and worked well on a day we had a little warm up to 35 degree weather, no need for the down filled puffy.

This coat was a nice addition to a casual outfit of jeans and leopard booties.

Coat: J.Crew-thrifted
Jeans: Paige Denim-local boutique-Isabella's 
Booties: Target

Linked up with Tara and Sharon for look what i got:

and Alisa for:

I cooked a duck!

Duck is something that my husband and I enjoy eating on occasion in a specialty salad at one of our favorite local dining spots, The Brewster Inn.  Duck can be greatly maligned and might not speak to everyone's taste but, when my husband came home with a five and a half pound bird last Saturday, I thought that this was my opportunity to learn. 


I browsed a few websites, pulled out my Martha Stewart cookbook and got an education in the culinary techniques of cooking the perfect duck. One very important step to ensure the skin is crispy and not fatty is to prick and slash the skin so the layer of fat insulating the duck can cook off. This is what my bird looked like:

After slashing the skin adding a generous portion of salt and pepper are all you need for seasoning and you are ready to place the duck in a moderate 350 degree oven. A roasting pan that allows the fat to drip away from the cooking bird is also important. Tie up the legs, tuck in the wings and roast with breast side up.

After an hour of cooking (and then two more times) you will need to flip the bird, prick the skin the let the fat drain. The total cooking time was to be around four hours, I think I let mine roast around 3 hours and 45 minutes. 

In the final half hour, I turned the heat up to 500 to crisp the skin even more and that worked for about 10 minutes until my smoke alarm went off.

The real key to successful duck is the rendering of the fat from the skin, if not treated properly it will give the meat a fatty bite or an off taste and the time spent roasting will be a waste. When roasted to perfection the skin is crispy and adds additional texture and flavor.

We enjoyed ours with a salad of baby spinach, strawberries, feta and cranberries.

It was a fun and tasteful experience! The cooking tips I found to be most helpful came from The Amateur Gourmet, which were based on the tips of kitchen maven, Martha Stewart.

Overall, it was an enjoying experience. It really only takes patience and time to roast a perfect duck at home.

Sweater Coat

Winter is not going any where and my dressing is definitely reflecting the weather! Bundled up in layers except when I take these pictures for you.

This is my first sweater coat and a Christmas gift from my sister-in-law. Where I live, in the winter, you need a sweater and a coat, so this picture is sans coat to focus on the sweater.

 I wore these great pair of Ralph Lauren gloves I thrifted, they are a beautiful ox blood colored leather.

  And a pretty combination of old and new bracelets, the gold flower linked one is a vintage auction find from my friend Jennifer. She went to an auction a few years ago and bought a jewelry box full of vintage...and every time she visits she brings my daughter (and sometimes me) a treasure from that box! Shhhhhh, this one was for my daughter.

Sweater: Brooklyn Industries-Christmas gift

Jeans: J Brand-via TJ Maxx

Boots: J.Crew-(2008)

Bracelets: Gold wrap-New-Target, link-old-Auction, silver link-thrifted

Watch: Walmart

Gloves: Ralph Lauren-thrifted

Linked up today for Monday Mingle!

Printed Jeans

I've been on the look out for some printed jeans and I found a pair in 2013! 

On a recent trip to Target to return some Christmas items, I was flipping through the sales racks and came upon these maroon and blue patterned skinnies. 

For a trendy item like patterned jeans I don't necessarily look for quality and instead look at the price point. For $6.68, these fit the bill perfectly!!

I tried to elevate the overall quality of the outfit with Frye boots and a J.Crew chambray.

Topped off with my Brooklyn Industries Utility Jacket and cross body Coach purse, I felt well put together and hip! But, sometimes an outfit lacks a thrift.

Skinnies: Mossimo-Target

Boots: Frye-Durango

Shirt: J.Crew Selvedge chambray

Jacket: Brooklyn Industries (Christmas gift)

Purse: Coach-Clothes Mentor consignment shop

Linked up with the Tiny Heart and Penniless Socialite for Look what I got!

2013

Wishing you all love, health and happiness in the coming year. 

image via theholidayspot.com