Merry Everything, Happy Always.

A professor once told my (now graduated!!) class that you must immerse yourself in a culture different than your own to really understand who you are. This has been a year of reflection, change and inspiration and I am so grateful for all of my experiences thus far. I think the most important thing to remember this time of year is love and happiness. We all have our own experiences, beliefs and backgrounds...we need to embrace this, not fight it. Wherever you are, whatever you celebrate...Merry Everything, and Happy Always!

Be Thankful

I have so many things that I am thankful for this year :) A husband who loves and supports me even though I have some crazy aspirations ;) A family with the biggest hearts I have ever seen. New friends who have taught me some very valuable lessons. Students who have motivated me more than they will ever know. A chance to get my foot in the door with my new job. A college degree that I never thought would get here! ...and many more.

I saw this poem in an article on Thanksgiving and I thought it would be important to share. We are reminded of our blessings during this time of year, but I think this poem tells us to look on the bright side of things you wouldn't otherwise consider blessings. I'm a firm believer that everything happens for a reason, but I think sometimes we could all use a little reminder :)

Be thankful that you don't already have everything you desire.
If you did, what would there be to look forward to?

Be thankful when you don't know something,
for it gives you the opportunity to learn.

Be thankful for the difficult times.
During those times you grow.

Be thankful for your limitations,
because they give you opportunities for improvement.
Be thankful for each new challenge,
because it will build your strength and character.

Be thankful for your mistakes.
They will teach you valuable lessons.

Be thankful when you're tired and weary,
because it means you've made a difference.

It's easy to be thankful for the good things.
A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who
are also thankful for the setbacks.

Gratitude can turn a negative into a positive.
Find a way to be thankful for your troubles,
and they can become your blessings.

-Author Unknown

Fashion-Making Statements

The first installment of my fashion nerd-ery ;)

Fashion has always been, and always will be, synonymous with social trends. You can tell a lot about a society through fashion, as it allows you to catch a glimpse of people's values and what statement they want to make to the world.

First example-women's fashion in the 1920's.

Cue the 19th amendment, Prohibition, the Equal Rights Amendment, the first women to compete in the Olympic Games, and women showing up on the big screen...how's a girl to show that she is no longer confined to (certain) limitations of a male-driven society and is instead a happy-go-lucky, free-spirited human being? Ditch those corsets and wear something that goes completely against the male ideal of the female form!

(From this)

Goodbye corsets! Hello dropped waistlines, boxy fitting dresses, bobbed hair and flattened boobs!

(To this)

During this time, we also see the emergence of Coco Chanel and her simple and practical designs for women. We also see a growth in mass-produced clothing because production methods were improving.

So, what can an outsider looking in conclude from the fashion left behind by the women of the 1920's? This was a society on the brink of social change. No longer were women limited in their self-expression. They were able to maintain their beauty and style while also slipping into more practical and less restrictive clothing.

Fast forward to the late 60's-70's. The country started to see a generation of youth that rebelled against the traditional values of the 50's. This is the first time we start to see fashion trends created by the people instead of the runway. Up until this point, people tended to choose their clothing based on the "latest designs from Europe" or the latest things seen on the runway. In the late 60's and throughout the 70's, designers now aimed to please the masses.

(From this)

So we have a generation of women who no longer embrace the housewife mentality of their mothers and grandmothers. We start to see a generation of women who pursue college educations, support themselves and take control of their sexuality.

So again, how do we show that we no longer have the same values and beliefs as our parents? We show it through our clothes! Mini skirts, women wearing pants, the infamous "burning of the bra's," etc.

(To this)

So...that was the past...what can we say about the fashion of today? There are all kinds of fashion trends out there, but one that I personally love is the revival of 1950 and 1960's silhouettes. People most likely have different ideas on the reasoning behind this trend, but here is what I think...It's no secret that our country and countries around the world have been experiencing economic hardship. People are losing jobs, losing homes, losing hope. I think that when this happens, people tend to cling to memories of happier times. People want to be reminded of times of growth and prosperity and I think the 50's/60's represent this. Even if you were not alive during that time period, you can turn on a T.V and see I Love Lucy, Mad Men, Pan Am and other shows depicting this dream land of perfect hair, big smiles and expanding wallets. One can even look at our current First Lady and read about all the connections people have made between her fashion and that of Jackie Kennedy. The Kennedy's were seen as that All-American, successful family and by making a connection between these two First Ladies, we are again transported back to the 60's.

Is that really the reason behind the trend? Who knows. But this is the type of stuff I think about on a daily basis lol. Fashion makes a statement. When people look back at the fashion of the 2010's, what do you think they will say?

100 Unforgettable Dresses

{{Hello gorgeous book and welcome to my Christmas list!}}

Anyone who knows me knows that I love fashion. For me, it goes beyond the superficial and enters into this world of information, transformation and influence. I have always been fascinated with how fashion can affect the way people see themselves and the world. You can tell a lot about a society from their fashion. From surface information like the resources available to design, produce and market their creations to deeper information like their cultural values and views on the world.

100 Unforgettable Dresses, by Hal Rubenstein, goes through 100 of the most iconic dresses in history. He provides history about the dresses themselves but also dives into their impact on society.

I can't wait to read this book! In the meantime, I'm going to show how much of a nerd I am when it comes to fashion...Reading more and more about Hal Rubenstein's book has inspired me to do a few posts about my take on the impact and influence of this industry. Can't wait to share it all with you! :)

Breaded Parmesan Zucchini

This was an attempt to get Matt to eat zucchini because I LOVE IT!

Breaded Parmesan Zucchini
found recipe here.

Ingredients
1 Zucchini
1 Tbsp. olive oil
Salt and pepper, to taste
Bread crumbs
Italian seasoning
Parmesan cheese

Directions
1. Heat olive oil in an oven safe skillet over medium-high heat.
2. Slice zucchini, season with salt and pepper, and add to skillet.
3. Cook for 8-10 min, stirring and flipping zucchini occasionally.
4. Remove skillet from stove, sprinkle zucchini with bread crumbs, Italian seasoning and Parmesan cheese.
5. Place in oven, at 400 degrees, until cheese is melted.

It's green, so Matt was not a fan. :P
Me-loved it! :)

Cheesy Italian Meatloaf

Beef! It's what's for dinner!

Cheesy Italian Meatloaf
original recipe can be found here.


Ingredients
2 lbs ground beef
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 packet onion soup mix
1/4-1/2 of an onion, chopped, depending on how "onion-y" you want it lol.
2 eggs
3/4 cup water
1/3 cup ketchup, plus some extra to top off the finished meatloaf
3/4 cup italian bread crumbs
1 tsp. italian seasoning


Directions
1. Add all ingredients to a bowl, and mix all together with your hands
2. Form mixture into 4 mini loafs or make several little meat patties, which is what I do. Why use several loaf pans when you can just use one big pan?
3. Place in baking pan and bake for an hour at 350. Drain juice from pan once or twice during cooking time.
4. Take out of oven, let sit for 5 min, top with ketchup :)

Shredded Chicken Tacos

YUM!


Shredded Chicken Tacos
found recipe here.


Ingredients
2-3 boneless skinless chicken breast halves (mine were pretty small, so I used 3)
1 can tomato sauce
1/4 cup salsa (I used Pace chunky mild salsa, but I think some black bean/corn salsa would be amazing with this! I might try that next time)
1 packet of taco seasoning (I bought a taco kit that included the seasoning packet and taco shells)
1 tsp. cumin
2 minced garlic cloves
1 tsp. chili powder (I used a little less than this)
Taco shells or tortillas
Favorite taco toppings :)


Directions
1. In a medium sauce pan, bring chicken breasts and tomato sauce to a boil.
2. Add in remaining ingredients.
3. Reduce heat and simmer for about 15 min.
4. Pull chicken apart with two forks, until it is as "shredded" as you want.
5. Cover and continue to cook until chicken is fully cooked.
6. If sauce becomes too thick, add a little water.
7. Fill tacos or tortillas with chicken mixture and top with your fav's!

Original recipe says this serves four...maybe we eat way more than the average person...but it was perfect for the two of us.