Category — liFESTYLE

Happy Martin Luther King, Jr. Day!

Today, celebrate how far we’ve come as a nation,
and pray for how much further we can go…

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This weekend’s Link Love are posts that made me think a bit, weep a bit, or cheer a bit. I hope you feel as inspired as I did.

• IWANTTOWEARIT offers some perspective on the tragedy in Haiti through photographs taken before their world forever changed in Haiti Alive.
• Fashion.Style.Beauty makes single women everywhere, including me, feel even more self-assured and confident about our lives as independent, single women in Editor’s Commentary: No, I’m Not Married: The “Samantha Effect”.
• Poetic & Chic reminds us blog and Twitter enthusiasts to be kind and well-informed before putting in our two cents in part two of her series,I Sing the Blogger Electric, Part Deux.

*Photo courtesy of David W. Dunlap for NY Times.

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The cold winter has undoubtedly been bone-chilling, even for me as a Floridian. And when the winter sweet tooth comes a-knockin’ on my door, I unfortunately can’t turn to my favorite sweet treat, ice cream.

In an attempt to quell my urge for something oh-so-sweet, I went scavenging in my kitchen this evening and discovered a relatively low-calorie, but very warm and indulgent mixed berry compote.

It is super easy and quick to prepare, and it’s so deliciously satisfying, it almost seems wrong. It is too delicious not to share. And believe me when I say the picture does not do it justice!

reLYME’s Mixed Berry Compote
You will need:

• 1 cup frozen berries
• 1/4 cup plain granola
• 2 teaspoons agave nectar
• 1/2 teaspoon brown sugar
• 1 pinch cinnamon

To prepare, simply arrange the frozen berries and granola (I chose a mixture of raspberries, blackberries, and strawberries) in a small, microwave-safe bowl. Drizzle agave nectar over the berry/granola mixture. Sprinkle the brown sugar and cinnamon on top. Place in the microwave for about 1 minute and 30 seconds or until the berries begin to soften. Let cool for a minute before indulging. The result is pure heaven.

Calories: Approximately 300
(Not too bad for a dessert!)

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Hello, lovelies!

I’m so excited for the new year. For some reason, more this year than any other year, I feel as though I experienced a renaissance of sorts when the clock struck midnight on New Year’s Eve. Did you feel it, too?

2010 is definitely my year. I can feel it in my bones. That’s why I decided to really live this year. It’s time to make changes…to make this year, well, for lack of a better term, my bitch.

And if you’re one of those too-cool-for-school, “I don’t make resolutions” types, then so be it. But, I like to hold myself up to a new and brighter standard each year. So, I would like to share with you, if you’ll let me be so candid, some of my personal New Year’s resolutions. Behold, my resolutions for 2010:

♥Make my OWN decisions
♥Get a new hobby
♥Write every day
♥Travel to new places
♥Work toward my passion
♥Be more creative
♥Stop being fearful
♥Love more

Given my resolutions for the year, and you’ll see how some of them are connected later, I’ve decided to reroute reLYME in a new direction. (Parlez vous “I’m bored”?) Will I still cover fashion and beauty? Yes. But, that’s not my only love, dears. I love a lot of things, and I want to share my ideas, interests, and passions with you. Additionally, I’d like to be more open and honest, so you can expect me to get a bit -ahem- personal at times.

I am so excited for all of the changes happening in my life and those that will be taking place here at reLYME. I hope you bear with me, and more importantly, I hope you have an extraordinary 2010!

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With Halloween just around the corner, it’s very possible that there are those of us who still don’t have a costume. And heck, maybe like me, you’ve run into a friend who doesn’t have an idea yet either?

Why not go as the iconic smart-mouthed dynamic duo, Laverne & Shirley?

The outfit is simple enough, and can be created incorporating clothing you may already have in your wardrobe. No, you may not turn heads for being a scantily-clad, and dare I so uber-skanky twosome, but you’re guaranteed to get a, “Hey, it’s Laverne and Shirley!” here and there!

Laverne and Shirley Halloween 09 by reLYME featuring Celine

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As the summer is winding down, and most likely so are your summer vacation plans, it’s time you start planning ahead for cooler days while looking for a way to unwind. (That’s kind of a pun…I’ll explain when you’re older, if you don’t figure it out by the end of the post.)

Why not try knitting?

Before you go out an over-indulge your need for chunky knits at overpriced department stores, consider this: you can make that yourself!

The Cup of Yarn Scarf Knitting Kit in Very Berry comes equipped with all you need to start your first purl stitch – wooden knitting needles, yarn, and instructions.

Best of all, it’s cheap and arrives in delectable packaging!

For even more adorable knitting ideas or for knitting help, check out Stitch ‘N Bitch Nation by Debbie Stoller and Knit Aid by Vickie Howell.

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Dear reLYME,

I recently got my first out-of-college job as a ninth grade teacher. I’m very excited about my new career, but a bit worried about my wardrobe. I always have this vision of teachers wearing hideous, plain clothing. I love wearing vintage, and would love to continue wearing vintage, if possible. But, how can I make it look a bit more grown up and classroom-ready?
-Miss Mod

Dear Miss Mod,

Don’t worry your pretty little head: You don’t need to surrender your style in order to be an effective teacher. However, since you are a new teacher, you still do have to work hard to impress your administrators, and that often means looking the part of a professional. A teacher myself, I understand the fear that you feel: that one day, you are going to become one of those matronly teachers who wears boringly bland, and often downright, frumpy frocks, but this doesn’t have to happen.

The important thing to keep in mind is that you do need to stand apart from your students. If you look too cool, sadly they might regard you as a cool big sister rather than their grownup teacher. (Trust me…this DOES happen.)

So, how to keep your flair for all things vintage, while still looking the part of an educational mastermind?

Trade in the a-line pinafores and jumpers for dresses with a more grown up silhouette. Then, throw a cardigan or blazer over them. Add a pair of tights and some flats or pumps, and voila! You still maintain your style, while mainaining order in the classroom:

Try on some of these dresses for size (all available from Modcloth.com):

Now, go teach your heart out!

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Hey, reLYME!

At my new, corporate job, it’s pretty much expected that I wear pantsuits, or ultra-corporate attire. My day-to-day look consists of black or gray pants, and a black or gray blazer. Every once in a while, I’ll wear a colorful shirt underneath. Aside from that, how can I add some more fun to my office look without looking office inappropriate?

Sincerely,
Bored in the Office Jungle

Dear Bored in the Office Jungle,

Boy, do I hear you on this one. I faced this same dilemma in a past job. I tried experimenting with my look a bit, until I realized that it only takes about one addition to your ensemble to make you stand out in your cubicle. (Plus, too many trend infusions might look unprofessional!) Here’s what I suggest:

1) Try adding some zest to your feet with these saffron Julia Drivers from Elie Tahari.

-or-
2) Incorporate some blue hues with this tiered turquoise stone bib necklace from Banana Republic.

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