I had it all planned out...

Oh bother. Where is my brain? These photos were supposed to be in the last post and I completely forgot. It's been a stressful week, though, and I do believe my cognitive functions have been affected.

I love the architecture in Baltimore and wanted to share these pictures with you! All the buildings are so old and European-looking. And some are painted wonderful colors!



The jewelry that I brought on the trip.

The "statement necklace" is from my boss, who I think has now bought me more jewelry than anybody else has. The pearl & coral necklace is from my mom, the earrings in the box are painted horn from Africa, and the beetle brooch I received for my 17th birthday. The other necklace against the pear is one I made and has been featured before. The wonderful thing about jewelry is that every piece has a story.

I feel I should update you on my foot situation. I am officially in a below-the-knee boot :( The doctor thinks I now have a stress fracture. My foot had been getting better, but inexplicably took a turn for the worse. I'm not sure when I will be able to take outfit photos again, as I am to stay off my feet when I'm at home. On the bright side, I had today off! I hope you all are having a wonderful weekend :)

Bored at a party

And now to talk about a different wedding! Finally got the photos from the matrimonial celebration Trevor and I went to last month. I think they turned out wonderful. Trevor thinks it's hilarious to look totally bored and uninterested in any photos we take together. It was pretty funny when the photographer, Brad Barnwell, actually suggested we take one like that. I usually look a little more put out, though.


So, did I talk about how long it took me to find an outfit for this? It was ridiculous and a little embarrassing. I was at H&M and J.Crew at least twice a week for about 5 weeks. I returned nearly everything, including the dress I ended up with. It was actually the first thing I bought :/ I would not be surprised if H&M put a block on my debit card.



Glad I ended up with this dress. It's really cute AND an item off my Spring Wish List: Chambray! I have more plans for it :) Trevor got his suit custom made at Thick As Thieves. He ordered it by email though, which meant I had to take his measurements. It was tedious. It's a pretty sharp suit and was under $500 (I think), so he might order another one.

Spring Wedding by catiebeatty featuring patent leather high heels

Photographer: Brad Barnwell Check out his website!

This next photo is mine though :)

Yay! So happy!

My Outfit:
H&M dress
American Apparel Stockings

Trevor's Outfit:
Thick As Thieves suit
American Apparel dress shirt
Geoffrey Beene tie

Oh no.

Whoa. My foot is BAD. Going back to the doctor ASAP. My aunt suggested her friend, who is a refelxologist, but I think I may be past that point. I think I may need crutches and a brace. Yeah, that bad.

I would like to say "So I've been spending more time resting and sitting" but actually it's not that different from the usual :/ I guess I will just busy myself with some more Polyvore Sets. Such a wonderful time sucker. I am also going to make some cards, though, and fold laundry. Sooo exciting.

May I suggest checking out this blog ? It's the Blackbird Blog! Blackbird is one of my favorite boutiques in Seattle, and I know I've mentioned them at least once. Funny enough, I just noticed their latest post is thanking all the bloggers, websites, sandwich board painters, etc. who have featured their products!

Here is my latest Polyvore set! I think it's SO CUTE.

Dogwood by catiebeatty featuring hair clips accessories

fluoresce

So, I am not suppose to be wearing heels, but right now my foot feels better in heels than in my 5 oz. running shoes. Why?? I don't know what is going on with it. It was getting better, but has gotten exponentially worse over the past couple weeks. Humph.



It is currently 61°F here and sooo bright. I think I will hobble outside and sit somewhere. Then I will watch the joggers go past, and for once in my life, wish I could jog.

Sorta what I wore! by catiebeatty featuring leather shoulder bags

My mom half-gave-half-relinquished these amazing lace pants to me. I can't actually where them anywhere yet, because there is a hole in the seat, but they still work for pictures. They are completely see-through, so it's not like the hole is that much more indecent, it just looks bad. Anyone know how to repair lace?

In these pictures:
Forever21 Tank Top
J.Crew Cardigan
New Look Wedges
Aldo Bag
Vintage Lace Pants
Handmade Italian Coral Earrings

A bit French

Breakfast is my favorite meal. It always has been, and it might have a little to do with my mom. I think it is her favorite meal too, and she has always made sure it is enjoyable for everyone. She in turn, learned this appreciation for the first meal of the day from her French grandmother.

My sisters and I grew up hearing stories about my mother's childhood in France. One that always stuck in my head was about her grandmother bringing in the milk from the cows. Her grandmother would say something along the lines of "Zut alors! It's happened again. The cow has given us chocolate milk!" In reality, my great grandmother would take a bar of chocolate to the barn with her, and slip it into the bucket while the milk was still warm. Most mornings, though, my mom and her siblings enjoyed baguette with chocolate and butter and a bowl of cafe au lait.

Breakfast has the obvious importance of fueling our body, but I think it has another important purpose, as well. It can set the mood for the entire day. We easily forget, especially in America, that food is very closely connected to our emotions (this forgetfulness probably has a lot to do with emotional eating problems). Traditions and routines are important, especially when beginning and ending our day, and they're something I've been thinking about a lot lately.

I enjoy my morning rituals so much, that I've decided to share them with you. I like to think many of them are a little bit French, since they have been learned from my mother. I've started a few of my own though, that at the least recreate the experience of French food, and make my mornings pleasant. Below you'll find tips and links to recipes and products that I use on a daily basis. Profitez-en!

Tips:

• Butter your bread and then broil it. The act of broiling the butter will make your toast smell and taste just like a croissant!

• For strong espresso-like coffee, perfect for cafe au lait, buy a percolator. There is a link below for the one I use.

• Crepes are easier than you think! My mom makes them every time I visit and they never get old! Here's a basic recipe.

• Freshness is key! Shop at local "ethnic" markets where things like fresh herbs and vegetables and raw sugars are WAY more affordable. A lot of the bigger Asian/World Food markets even offer organic produce, always at much lower prices than big chain stores. You will also be supporting local businesses.

French Breakfast by catiebeatty on Polyvore.com

• Eat eggs! They are so much better for you than we have been led to believe. They have been found to make you happy, as well as full and satisfied. Sure they have fat, but guess what? Your body actually needs fat (in moderation of course). They are also high in protein, vitamin A, iron, and calcium. All are important "girl vitamins."
  

• Have your mom build a coup and raise chickens so she can bring you fresh eggs when she comes to visit! Or you can visit LocalHarvest.org , which is great resource for finding farmers' markets and family farms in your area.

• Speaking of moderation, probably not the best idea to eat pastries every morning, right? Well, I've found that putting cream cheese and jam on toast is a pretty good substitute for a Danish!

• A sugar bowl is a pleasant addition to any table and makes your morning traditions that much prettier.

• Add a cafe au lait bowl to your cupboard. Nothing is more "French breakfast" than a bowl full of creamy coffee! I buy mine at Anthropologie where they are cheap, and there is also another link above. I have one from France too, but it lives at my mom's house with its sister bowls.

The picture at the top of the page is my version of Martha Stewart's Stuffed French Toast. It is one of the best things I've ever had! I used cherry jam, since I didn't have apricot, but I'm pretty sure any jam would work. Get the recipe HERE.

Hope everyone is having a wonderful Friday morning!

Robin's Egg & Goldenrod

Goldenrod & Robin's Egg by catiebeatty featuring a pleated skirt

The weather has been awful and I am feeling lazy... and this is what happens. I spend way too much time on Polyvore. Aren't these colors lovely together? I love that each piece is equally beautiful; they don't depend on each other to stand out.

Brand New

With the help of gift cards and discounts, I was able to get both these items for super cheap! The top is from J. Crew and has the cutest heart pocket! Based on that detail alone, I was completely sold. Plus, chambray was on my wish list for Spring!

The shorts are from American Apparel and are the most flattering shorts I've ever owned. I'm really not a shorts person, but I quite liked the way these ones looked. The high waist is awesome. I'm looking forward to styling them in a classic 50's sort of way.


I am fighting back the urge to talk about the weather. It's the #1 factor in deciding what I wear, but who really wants to read about that?

Goodness, I love this look. I hope you do, too!

In these photos:

J.Crew Chambray Shirt

American Apparel Bull Denim Cuff Shorts

Aldo Flats

Vintage Belt

Handmade Necklace

Mary Poppins plays baseball

Maxi skirts always surprise me. They are way more versatile than you would think. In cold weather you can wear a complete pair of pants underneath and no one will be the wiser!


Yesterday, while I was playing catch and working on my baseball skills (surprisingly, I do not suck), I realized exactly what makes most skirts a bad choice for most activities: they are usually too short and constricting and you lose your range of motion. A maxi, my dear friends, with restore this range of motion and provide you with yards of modesty! This article is starting to sound like a pamphlet from 1906... Anyway, when the skirt started to trip me up, I just knotted it on either side, and continued on!


Yay for color! And blue sky!



In these photos:
GAP cardigan
Vintage sweater vest
DIY circle scarf
Forever21 skirt
Thrifted flats
Ray Ban Wayfarers

Recipe: Peaches & Toast

A recipe post is long overdue. I thought I would share one of my favorite breakfast recipes with you. I grew up eating peaches and toast, but other than that I don't know where it originated from. It could be my grandmother's invention; it could be Dutch; who knows!

Bacon is the perfect side. It goes so well with sweet fruity or caramel flavors. but if you're like me and hate smelling like bacon all day, or don't have room in your diet for bacon (especially since you ate 2 1/4 pieces of pie last night), a soft-boiled egg is a nice side of protein.

One of this recipe's best features (other than being delicious), is that it's fast and simple! This makes it perfect for all different sorts of breakfast situations. Live by yourself? Having 10 people over early in the morning? (Goodness, why would anyone do that?) It can even work when you're camping! Anyway, I will give you the recipe and you will see how easy it is!

(This version serves 2 people)

Ingredients:

-Two 15.25 oz. cans peaches in light syrup

-1/4 tsp cinnamon

-Sprinkling of nutmeg

-4 pieces of good whole wheat bread

-Butter, to taste

-Bacon, to taste

1. Empty both cans of peaches into a saute pan or sauce pot. Mix in cinnamon and nutmeg. Bring to a very small boil over medium heat. Let bubble for 5 minutes, then reduce heat to low.

2. While peaches are cooking, make your toast. A nice wheat or oat bread works best, as it holds up well and the nuttiness of the grains goes very nicely with the peaches. Toast to preferred darkness and apply butter as necessary (avoid eye contact).

3. Serves peaches over toast. Spoon a little extra syrup onto the corners. This will soften them a bit. You don't want the bread swimming in syrup, though, because it gets too soggy! I mean, if you like really sloppy sloppy bread soup, by all means, add more, but I prefer it just slightly softened.

For larger quantities, get those giant cans of peaches. They can also be used as doorstops and camera stands.

Variations:

If you have more time, use fresh peaches. Water and sugar will make a nice syrup.

Add sliced bananas and use coconut butter on the toast! My mom made this variation last summer when we were breakfasting in the garden. It was the perfect morning.

Let me know if you have any questions, because I undoubtedly left something out.

Next please!

So I'm brainstorming for my next giveaway. It won't happen till May or June, but I thought I should start thinking about it sooner than later.

What would YOU like to see in the giveaway? Should I do another pair of earrings or a necklace? Also, if you're interested in collaborating, send me an email with your ideas! catiebeatty@yahoo.com

Hope everyone is having a great Monday :)

Necessities

A black turtleneck has been on my list for a while, and I finally found one. It's Merino wool, fits perfectly, and was only $5!


Even if you feel that turtlenecks are unflattering, you should still own one for practical purposes. Even if you live in Southern California! What if you decide to go skiing?? You will be so cold in shorts and a tank top! So buy some pants, too. Those are very practical.

On a side note, if you're ever in Seattle, make sure to get yourself a cupcake or two at Trophy Cupcakes. I think they are the best. Their chocolate frosting is the pinnacle of perfection.



And that is my fashion tip for the day: Buy cupcakes and pants.

In these pictures:
GAP turtleneck
Forever21 skirt
Aldo shoes and bag
H&m glasses
Trophy Cupcakes