1/13-1/15 Weekend Recap

This weekend Jordan and I did some culinary exploring and found two great spots.  One was Zinneken’s in Cambridge and the other is Luna’s Restaurant in East Boston.

Zinneken’s

Zinneken’s is an adorable cafe that specializes in Belgian waffles.  They serve their signature Liege waffle and their a thinner, crispier waffle, the Brussels waffle. They make all of their waffles fresh, and import many of their ingredients from Europe.  I ordered the Oreo Freakin’ Party and was not disappointed.  My waffle came with Oreos, raspberries and a ton of whipped cream, plus a little scoop of ice cream.  The space is intimate and cozy with lights strung around the ceiling and Frank Sinatra playing in the background.  If you’re looking for a cute date spot, I highly recommend Zinneken’s!

Zinneken’s menu.

The Oreo Freakin’ Party.

 Luna’s Restaurant

This brand new spot just opened last Friday.  It specializes in both Latin and Italian dishes, staying true to the cultural background of East Boston.  Jordan and I started with the Tuscan Calamari, I ordered the Luna’s Montañero and Jordan got the Luna’s Airline Chicken.  All three dishes were delicious!  After we finished our meal, the owner and chef came over and introduced themselves, asked our feedback and told us all about the restaurant.  It was obvious that they were excited and took pride in their work; it took them a year and a half to create the menu.  So if you’re in the area stop by Luna’s Restaurant for dinner.

The Tuscan Calamari and Luna’s Montañero.

Distressed Shirt DIY

This distressed trend has been taking street style by storm.  It’s been seen on Kendall Jenner, Rihanna and Danielle Bernstein of WeWoreWhat.  I love the effortless aesthetic of this piece and was inspired to try it myself.  It was super easy and took 5 minutes to do.

Materials:

• Shirt
• Scissors
• Chalk or pastel

Try on your shirt and mark the the bottom of the cut or V with chalk

Lay out the shirt and make sure that it is flat on my counter top and that the seams are lined straight.

Trace a triangle from the marked bottom of the V to the upper sides of the collar.

Now the fun part: pinch the front of your shirt by the collar and cut a small incision.

Cut along the traced line down to the bottom of the V, then cut up from the V.

Now cut around the collar.  Make sure you do not cut the collar off.

And you’re done!  Your shirt should look similar to the image below.

Pair your favorite bralette underneath and you’re all set!

Urban Outfitters: You Graduated, What Now?

I just watched the Urban Outfitters Instagram Live with the Passerbuys.  I actually stumbled onto this panel by chance, I was checking Instagram Stories and saw that Urban Outfitters had a live stream.  I’m happy I stayed on because I learned so much.

Before I divulge all that I learned, I want say how amazing it is that a social platform (and an immediate one at that) can be so informative.  I personally love Instagram for it’s visuals and social engagement, but the live videos are really great for learning and staying up to date with current events.  As you know, I am very interested in fashion and always try to stay up to date on it.  So being able to watch a panel held in another state is extremely helpful for me.  Anyways, here are the notes I took.  I hope this is helpful to all the people who are trying to get into the industry as well.

Reaching Out To A Mentor:

• If you want a mentor, think about what you need them for? what job will they provide?
• It should be well crafted, straight to the point, mention what you can offer.
• Be serious about your craft and what you do
• Curate your social media and website
• Show people your work-back it up with a site
• Be mindful that the people you reach out to are busy
• *Find articles on the people you reach out to before hand*
• When you’re reaching out to a mentor, tell them what influenced you to reach out to them, and reference the article
• google how to write how to be a mentor
• Research and present yourself in the best light possible
• AND when in doubt Google “how to ask someone to be your mentor”

Building A Community:

• Talk to everyone you know about what you’re working on.  Talk to all of your friends and draw inspiration/have them connect you to how to go about a project in the best way
• Develop a community of peers that have an understanding
• Build community-use internet as tool to connect with people
• Curate an online community of likeminded people
• Don’t think of anything or anyone as a competition
• Go to/host events where you’re with people
• In person events is crucial-save business cards, and connect, be consistent
• Follow up after each event on social DM or follow them, email, let them know lets keep in touch

How Do You Set Yourself Apart?

• Actively lean away from comparison/blinders-FOCUS ON YOURSELF
• Your work is special because you are you
• Declutter life/socials from what is not beneficial to you
• Be genuine to who you are and be authentic
• Stay in your lane and solely focus on what you’re doing
• Advance your business and craft at all times
• Think about what skills we need for your dream job and your experiences/experiences you need to do and how they’ll help you
• be open to journey, it may not be what you want to do
• Freelance and build your own brand and portfolio

Time Management:

• Treat your business and other things as a priority, think of it as something that you need to do
• Designate a work space where you only do work (corner space in your apartment)
• Put phone on other side of the room-no phone while working

Marketing Yourself to a Job Without a Fashion Background

• One woman interned while in college at big fashion houses
• Compelling cover letter that make yourself stand out and show off your unique ideas and that you can bring more to the table
• Companies tend to choose interns without fashion backgrounds because they have unique ideas and can bring a different perspective to the table
• Be early to your interview and be professional in emails
• Your major in college doesn’t have a huge impact on your career
• Black Girl Magic-when she wrote her cover letter she pulled in African American Studies (her major) and how it related to fashion and what she could bring to the table
• Don’t put everything you’ve ever done on your resume-make sure that it is relevant to what you want to do.  One of the women (and myself) have 3 different resumes for what she applies to
• You can also put what you do creatively outside of work on your resume

Tips To Growing Your Social and Business

• Go through and research hashtags that fit with you and your aesthetic (I do this), and be authentic
• Personally go through and comment on things and other people
• Be true to who you are and be real. Don’t copy to try to be someone else because they have a lot of followers.
• One girl recommends posting regularly (1-3 posts a day)
• Keep the personal posts to a minimum. Show face and the person behind the brand, but keep the posts to about your brand.

 

 

Turtleneck x Shift Dress

For today’s look I paired my Zara turtleneck with a sack dress, tights and knee high boots.  I think it’s important to have a lower cut neckline so that the turtleneck can show.  It creates a color blocking effect.

Photography by Alejandro Alacron

Turtleneck (Zara)  |  Dress (Banana Republic)  |  Stockings (similar)

Earrings (NADRI)  |  Boots (Stuart Weitzman)

Bougie Bites: Banana Breakfast Smoothie

A breakfast staple for Krissy is a chocolate peanut butter banana smoothie.  It’s a cheap, easy and quick breakfast for anyone on the go, plus it satisfies your sweet cravings.  I cannot wait to make this for myself!

Recipe:

• 1 Frozen Banana
• Unsweetened Almond Milk (Trader Joes)
• Scoop of Trader Joes Salted Cashew Butter
• Scoop of Trader Joes Chocolate Hemp Powder

Optional:

• Add Chia Seeds
• Add Avocado to make it creamy

*Proteins and other ingredients are interchangeable with other types and brands.

Layered Tank and Turtleneck

In a previous post, I wrote about layering in winter and how to pair pieces.  Today’s look focuses on wearing a fitted turtleneck with a looser silk tank top and jeans.  This is an easy alternative to wearing a plain turtleneck.  To give the look some edge, I added statement earrings, a leather jacket and black boots.

Photography by Alejandro Alacron 

Leather Jacket (Zara)  |  Silk Tank Top (JCrew)  |    Turtleneck (Zara)

Jeans (Cheap Monday)

Earrings (H&M)  |  Boots (Marc Fisher)

Everything but the Kitchen Sink Smoothie

After ringing in the New Year this Saturday, it is safe to say that I’m ready for a #newyearnewme resolution.  It may be a result of the excessive holiday meals and the non stop celebrations.  But whatever reason, it’s time to start fresh.   I plan to approach things differently this year, and this month I want to restart my routine.

This morning I got back from Boston and wanted to have all the fruits, so I made my favorite go-to smoothie.  To be honest anything goes, and you can put in as much or little ingredients as you want, but this is the general measurement of mine.

I Start with the Liquids:

• Orange Juice
• Milk
• Almond Milk
• Kefir

Then:

• Spinach (handful)
• Carrots (4-5)
• Walnuts (5)
• Strawberries (3-4)
• Blueberries (a handful)
• Blackberries/Raspberries (5-6 each)
• Bananas (1)
• Yogurt (1 small container)
• Lemon (1 wedge)
• Grapes (5-6)
• Dried Apricots (4-5)
• Muscle Milk Vanilla Protein Powder (1 scoop)

After Blending Add On Top Of Smoothie:

• Chiaseeds (1 teaspoon)

 

 

Bougie Bites: The Cold Curer

Aptly titled the cold curer, this soup is perfect for your winter blues (or colds). The Cold Curer also goes by Portuguese White Bean and Kale Soup a classic, hearty soup.  Krissy found the recipe on Mind Body Green a holistic, wellness site.

The recipe says add Cayenne Pepper if you like spice.  Krissy recommends adding the Cayenne because it is a good way to boost your immune system in addition to the Fennel, Lemon and Garlic.  All of these ingredients are big immune boosters and perfect for the cold months.

 

A picture of Krissy’s first batch of the soup.

January Collaboration: Bougie Bites

To ring in the New Year, I have partnered with Bougie Bites to share healthy recipes with you.  My New Years resolution is to work on myself both physically and mentally and a big part of that is food and exercise.  If you’re in the same boat (especially after the holidays) I’d love to work together and motivate each other.  So, every Monday in January we’ll share a healthy and tasty recipe to help motivate you, because as we all know #healthiswealth.

For those of you who don’t know, Bougie Bites is a food Instagram account that focuses on hidden gems, all around good food spots and yummy homemade recipes.  The founders are my sister Caitlin Friel and her friend Krissy Kay.  They are my go to restaurant reservation consultants and recipe reviewers.   So if you haven’t yet, give ’em a follow!