Packing For Saskatoon/Easy Summer Style

Well, I'm going to Saskatoon on Friday and I already packed up the kids and did all the laundry so it was time to pack for me. For real.

I wasn't sure if I had any clothes from which to pack as I have still not shed baby weight and cannot fit into my favorite summer peices. Boooo! (One day! One day!!!)

But I "shopped my own closet" and I shopped it hard. This is some of what I came up with.

1) Me trying out the "Jaded" polish from Revlon.

2) Rad belt from a dollar store in Duncan. Real leather! $3

3) Best necklace for on the plane: no metal! Just twine and wooden beads, not sure where and when I picked up this beauty.

4) Black and white maxi from Macy's; slip is vintage; aviators and 2-tier necklace from American Eagle; braided leather belt from Ardene's; white sandal, Joe.

5) Chandelier necklace: Wal*Mart

6) Teal flowered sundress, Forever 21 online (Canada); purple tank top (so I can wear a real bra) Old Navy online (Canada); wide-brimmed sun hat, Wal*Mart; brown braided-arm sunglasses, American Eagle; sandals, a gift brought back from Cuba.

7) Beautiful shoes from BCBC Max Azria. Gorge, right? I saw them at a side-walk sale 2 summers ago and a friend said they were "So Roxanne." Are they? I dunno but I do like them and they will go perfectly with my...

8) Bapistim Outfit (my youngest, Jack, is being baptised in Saskatoon): dress, Jones New York; necklace, my Oma's; belt, Costa Blanca.

9) This is a version of what I will be wearing on the plane. Jacket (great tomato-red colour!) Vero Moda, shirt also Vero Moda (both from The Bay); shorts, Costco (go Lady Hathaway); yellow tank, American Eagle; braided belt, Ardene; shoes, Wal*Mart.

10) Light Beige cotton dress, Ricki's; tights, Charlotte Russe; belt, scavanged from an old skirt; tank, Joe; necklace (really a belt), and from some mall "hippy" store; shoes, Ardene.

I can't wait!

Roxanne

Summer Fun Nail Polishes

Here are some of my favorite summer polishes in no particular order. Most are from the Spring/Summer 2011 line of their respective companies but some are just good old stand-bys that look cute every year. Most are ones that I actually wear, or just wish I could (Chanel nail polish? Cute, but I'd rather buy a rad t-shirt for that money.)

1) I'm actually wearing this one today. It's too cute! It's called "Jaded" by Revlon.

2) "OPI Red" by OPI (duh!). It's classic red and looks great on toes for more formal settings. (Summer wedding? Work?)

3) "Bubble Bath" by OPI. It's another classic and, again, is not distracting at more formal affairs.

4) "No Room for the Blues" by OPI. Just a fun blue for toes or hands. So summer. And there is a very similar one at the dollar store by their Billie line. What's not to love?

5) "Meet Me at Sunset" is in Essie's much talked-about Brazilliant Collection for summer 2011. It's super fun and I just love orange on my sandy toes.

6) "Flip Flop Fantasy" by China Glaze is not done justice in this picture. It's an amazing neon that looks ridonculous with a tan! Ridonculous! It goes on mat and needs a glossy top-coat for that reason but your hands or toes (or both?!) will never look so summery!

7) Chanel's "Mimosa" is very popular this season and I'm sure you can see why. It's adorable! If you don't want to spend $28+ on the shade, find a reasonable facsimile from a more reasonably priced line. If you find one, let me know in comments section. Thanks!

8) "Absolutely Shore" is kind of like the Revlon "Jaded" but paler and softer. Very cute for hands.

These are what I'm wearing. What are your summer polish faves?

Roxanne

Low-cal Chicken Stuffing Bake

This recipe is so easy and yummy and you don't have to worry about having a bunch of silly spices and ingredients in the house (I hate that!) I tried this out last night and it was such a hit! We definitly ate more than the recommended portion size but, oh well...

Recipe:

1 can ruduced fat and sodium mushroom soup

1 cup fat-free milk (I use 1%)

1 package stuffing mix (Stove Top, etc.)

2 cups cubed, cooked chicken (I did 3 breasts)

2 cups fresh broccoli, cooked (I steamed)

2 celery ribs, finely chopped

1&1/2 cups of shredded reduced-fat Swiss cheese (I used mozzarella and old cheddar)

In large bowl, comine soup and milk until blended. Add stuffing mix, chicken, broccoli, celery and 1 cup cheese. Transfer to a greased 13x9" baking dish.

Bake, uncovered, at 375 for 20 minutes. Sprinkly with remaining cheese; bake 5 minutes longer or until cheese is melted.

Enjoy! (I know we did!)

Roxanne

Pure White Night

Here's to the Victorian nightdress. Equal parts breathable and ethereal, I first discovered the joys of this gem when I was pregnant with my second child and did not feel like stretching on my too-tight jammies or kicking off my stretch pants in a sweaty fervor in the dead of night.

I was also given a lovely white robe to wear in the hospital and I wanted to have something equally as lovely to wear with it.

And so began my love affair with the most beautiful of night garments. Romantic, whimsical, comfortable and practicial; it packs well, it looks good, and it's elegantly sexy.

What is not to love?

Roxanne

Style in the City

Every morning I watch 2 episodes of Sex and the City on Cosmo TV. They are old epidodes, ones from the first few seasons that I haven't seen in years and I just love them. It reminds me of how avant guard the girls' style really was and what a departure the show was from ones that came before.

Today I feel like championing Carrie's style. A style that is often misunderstood; even, sometimes, by me. But like any true original, she was much ahead of the curve and by looking back we can see how timeless her timely fashion really was.

Chorizo Time!

I picked up a pack of chorizo sausage at the local butchers and wondered what to do with it. Since I didn't have a lot in the fridge and I wasn't organized, this is what I came up with. And you know what? It was delicious.

Cooked 3ish cups of rice

Over-steamed lots of broccoli and cauliflower on the stove (was making it chewy enough for my 7.5 month old)

Opened a can of corn nibblets

Sliced 4 chorizo's into bite-size bits and warmed them in a pan on the stove. Drained excess oil into corn can.

Turned oven on to 275

Spread cooked rice in bottom of pyrez. Covered in some good squirts of lemon juice, some curry dip mix and other spices.

Layed steamed veggies over that.

Covered with corn nibblets and sausage (and a wee bit of delish chorizo grease).

Warmed in oven for 45 minutes. Enjoyed!

Jack enjoyed the rice and veggies and we all enjoyed a simple sliced strawberry dessert.

Yummers!

Roxanne