August 25, 2010

redefining your basics

One of my favorite parts of the blog format is the comment section; I can say that with all sincerity because you all are unfailingly polite and pleasant, which I really appreciate. And quite often, you make me think, which I also appreciate.

This week, Carrie got my wheels turning; in the comments on the 15:30 post, she wrote, “what really surprised me last time i cleaned out my closet was that my favorites were the impulse buys and the stuff i was sending to good will were the ‘basics’ i felt like i ‘needed.’” I read that and thought ooh, interesting! Because it really is.

January 15, 2008

Some of my most well-worn pieces were “impulse” buys –items that didn’t fit on any list of Essential Wardrobe Basics, and that didn’t fill an identified space in my closet. They are pieces I bought because something about them spoke to me — the color or the texture or the style. They are pieces that make me feel pretty and confident, and they are the pieces I go to over and over again.

Which makes them essentials, if you think about it. Even though, the last time I looked, “ruffled Liberty print blouse” wasn’t on any list of closet basics.

Here is the thing no one tells you: when you have a clear sense of your own style — when you know what you like and what looks good on you and what works for your life — pieces you buy on the fly will very likely become cornerstones of your wardrobe. And while those purchases may count as “impulsive” — because who plans to go out and buy a ruffled Liberty print blouse? — they’re not, really, in the strictest sense.

An impulse buy, in my book, is that piece you buy because it looked good on the model or your sister or that woman from the carpool line. An impulse buy is something you bring home because you are hoping it will change something about you — make you taller or thinner or more confident (usually that’s what you liked about it on that other woman, if you’re really honest). An impulse buy is something that is so dramatically different from everything else you own — a micromini in a closet full of knee-length skirts, for example — that it will never work with what you own, and will never really be part of your wardrobe.

But let’s get back to Carrie and her closet full of impulse pieces that she wears all the time. I would say this: Carrie knows what she likes, and when she sees it, she is smart enough to bring it home with her. And because she knows what she likes, she is able to make her purchases work for her. Where she gets into trouble is when she shops off of a list someone else has made, a list that might, on the surface, seem practical and logical but that doesn’t reflect her style. So Carrie’s “impulse” buys are actually good investments, because she is using what she buys to create a look.

What’s the trick to avoiding the true impulse buy? Know your closet; be aware of what you have and what you wear and what you like. And then buy what works for you, even if it’s not on any stylists’ list of wardrobe essentials.

My impulsive basics include the blouse pictured here, my Gap boyfriend jeans, and a pair of silver ballet flats with big grosgrain bows on them. In fact, that sounds like a cute outfit, now that I think about it …

What are your unexpected basics?

August 3, 2010

“Do you prefer fashion victim, or ensembly challenged?”

Amy Heckerling’s “Clueless” turns 15 this year. Still my favorite movie ever.

August 2, 2010

Crumb-Crusted Top Sirloin and Roasted Garlic Potatoes with Bourbon Sauce

I read that recipe title and started drooling. Truly.

Thanks to Deb — “Cooking with alcohol should always be bumped to the top of the list!” — this is what we’re having for dinner tonight. I cannot wait.

I’ll be sending Deb a $100 Visa gift card, so that she can make her own steak dinner, and a Lean Beef Personality Prize pack (a fancy way of saying I have a cute apron and an awesome insulated tote bag for her).

Want to make this at your house? Here’s the recipe, because I’m nothing if not helpful. You’re welcome.

Ingredients
1. 1 boneless beef top sirloin steak, cut 2 inches thick (about 2 to 2-1/2 pounds)
2. 1 tablespoon prepared spicy brown mustard
3. 1 clove garlic, minced
4. 1/4 teaspoon pepper
5. 1/2 cup soft whole wheat bread crumbs
6. 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

Roasted Garlic Potatoes:
1. 2 large russet potatoes, each cut lengthwise into 8 wedges (about 1-1/2 pounds)
2. 1 teaspoon olive oil
3. 2 cloves garlic, minced
4. 1/2 teaspoon salt
5. 1/4 teaspoon pepper

Bourbon Sauce:
1. 1/2 cup ready-to-serve beef broth
2. 2 tablespoons bourbon
3. 1/4 cup half-and-half
4. Pepper

Instructions
1. Heat oven to 425°F. To prepare Roasted Garlic Potatoes, place potato wedges in 15 x 10-inch metal baking pan. Combine oil, garlic, salt and pepper in small bowl. Drizzle over potatoes; toss to coat. Spread potatoes in single layer. Set aside.

2. Combine mustard, garlic and 1/4 teaspoon pepper in same small bowl; spread evenly onto beef steak. Combine bread crumbs and parsley in another small bowl. Pat mixture evenly over mustard mixture. Place steak on rack in shallow roasting pan. Insert ovenproof meat thermometer so tip is centered in thickest part of beef, not resting in fat. Do not add water or cover. Roast steak and potatoes in 425°F oven 25 minutes; turn potatoes. Continue roasting 15 to 20 minutes to medium rare (145°F) to medium (160°F) doneness for steak and until potatoes are tender.

3. Remove steak when meat thermometer registers 135°F for medium rare; 150°F for medium. Transfer steak to carving board; tent loosely with aluminum foil. Let stand 5 to 10 minutes. (Temperature will continue to rise about 10°F to reach 145°F for medium rare; 160°F for medium.)

4. Meanwhile prepare Bourbon Sauce. Add broth and bourbon to roasting pan; bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring until browned bits attached to pan are dissolved. Boil 2 minutes. Add half-and-half; bring to a boil. Season with pepper, as desired. Keep warm.

5. Carve steak into slices. Spoon sauce over beef. Serve with potatoes.

Thanks to the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and Edelman Digital for providing the prizes for this giveaway, and for picking up the tab for my groceries.

July 29, 2010

top sirloin, and winner #1

First things first: the winner of the first Lean Beef Personality Pack is Julie, who said, “We’re filets at our house.” Mmm filet.

What did Julie win? Well let’s see! First there’s the $100 Visa gift card, which she can use to pick up some filets (see how I did that? genius) and also some potatoes because nothing is more delicious than a filet and a baked potato smothered in sour cream and chives. Am I right?

I am right.

But there’s more! Oh yes there is. Julie will also be getting a super cool apron and an insulated tote bag. We all know how useful an apron can be, but that tote is awesome; I have one and you would be surprised how much I use it. It keeps things warm or cold, and you can wipe it out with a damp cloth.

Congratulations, Julie!

I have one more Lean Beef Personality Pack to give out; this time I want you to help me out a bit, please. I took the same quiz you all did and my results were, of course, T bone steak — and top sirloin. So for dinner this weekend I’m going to cook top sirloin! But here’s the fun part: YOU get to pick the recipe. Skip on over to Beef: It’s What’s For Dinner and check out the sirloin recipes — then leave me a comment with your two cents worth about which one I should try.  I’ll pick a comment at random on Sunday morning, before I go to the grocery; Monday I’ll report back about dinner and announce the winner.

Thanks to the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and Edelman Digital for providing the prizes for this giveaway, and for picking up the tab for my groceries.