Happy Friday, ladies! I hope you had a wonderful week. We're back to our normal schedule this week with a Fridays with Oscar. Per usual, I've got a super simple cocktail and appetizer perfect for a Friday night on the porch. Plus, I'm showing you my casual take on a v-neck sweater---an old classic that never really goes out of fashion.
So here's to you ladies: Ollie, Oscar, and I am wishing you a wonderful weekend!
The Summary
Today's OOTD is a casual take on a v-neck sweater
The outfit is modeled, and I pulled together 2 alternates
Today's cocktail is a limoncello prosecco
Today's appetizer is a fig and goat cheese crostini
Today's featured item is a v-neck slub vest from Talbots. Personally, what I love about v-neck sweaters is their versatility. You can layer them on top of a tank, tee, or button-down. Or you can wear them without, like I've done today.
My outfit could not be more simple: a pair of shorts (old, similar here and here) and sandals. But make sure to check out today's alternatives. This sweater works great with a pair of denim or cropped wide-leg pants.
Preheat oven to 350°. Slice your baguette into 1/2″ diagonal slices. Cutting on a diagonal will give you more space for toppings and looks better. Place baguette slices on a baking sheet and either drizzle or brush olive oil on top of each one, just one side.
Bake the baguette slices for 5-8 minutes, until the edges are slightly crisp and the center is still soft. They will get a light brown color.
Whipping your goat cheese will make it creamy and easy to spread, rather than crumbly. Place your cheese into the bowl of a stand mixer or use a hand mixer to whip until creamy. About 1 minute. If you can’t find goat cheese with honey already added, add 2 Tbsp of honey and then mix.
Spread about 1 Tbsp of goat cheese onto each slice.
Spread about 1 Tbsp of fig jam on top of the goat cheese.
Place all your slices next to each other (in a square) and then drizzle honey all over. I like honey, so I used about 2 Tbsp, but you can use as much or as little as you like.
Slice your mint leaves into little long pieces and place evenly on top of your fig jam. Don’t skip this step! The mint really sends this over the edge and gives this a fresh taste.
Get excited, ladies! The Merry Month of May is within reach. We’re kicking it off with two recipes perfect for Cinco de Mayo. And to make it easy for you I’m partnering with Total Wine today which carries all the fixings for the perfect Margarita, Sangria or maybe you prefer a cold Cerveza. What I loved about Total Wine is that they share recipes for the perfect cocktail!
My best buddy Oscar is on deck today and he was oh so interested in the stuffed jalapeños I whipped up. It’s an easy recipe to make and serve and it’s pretty darn good if I do say so myself. Are you ready for the Cinco de Mayo version of Fridays with Oscar? Me too!
The weather has been glorious this past week so it was time to head out to the screened porch. There’s nothing better than whiling away the day in a comfy chair with a cool breeze and no bugs! That’s the best part of a screened porch. And I love to entertain out here.
The Summary
Today's featured item is a comfy cosy sweater from J.Crew
I've got a stuffed jalapeños on the menu
I'm partnering with Total Wine for today's cocktail: Tequila Sunrise
The OOTD is shoppable via a text and image widget
My tablescape is also shoppable via a text and image widget
Today’s recipes are geared for Cinco de Mayo. Give me all the margaritas and tacos this time of year! Although I decided to mix things up this year. Let's kick things off with stuffed jalapenos.
Combine tequila and orange juice in a pint glass, add grenadine and ice, then fill with cold Corona Extra.
Garnish with an orange peel.
Now slowly pour the grenadine straight down the middle, so it sinks to the bottom.
Optionally garnish with a citrus wedge or sliver of orange peel.
In Case You Missed It
Usually, Thursdays are a 2-post day. But this morning I shared my picks for Kohl's Friends and Family sale. Click the title or image below to read the article.
Hey, hey! It’s Friday, ladies, which means it’s time to kick off the weekend with a delicious recipe and cocktail. Of course, my favorite sidekick, Oscar is on deck and I’m sporting a laid-back outfit that’s perfect for a chilly Spring day. (Although simple, today's appetizer may be better than Clinton Kelly's shrimp appetizer, maybe.)
Can you believe our temps have bounced from 39 degrees to 75ish in the course of a week? Mother Nature can be a fickle creature this time of year. Lightweight sweaters and third layers come in handy! Rest assured I have one or the other on hand.
The Summary
Today's featured item is a pair of boyfriend jeans from Kut from the Kloth
The jeans are modeled
The entire outfit is shoppable via a text or image widget
I've got a recipe for an Italian Greyhound and Avacado cucumber shrimp bites
This Spring I’ve been testing new denim silhouettes. The trend for 2022 is a looser fit and I can’t say I’m disappointed. I’ve always loved the slouchy fit of boyfriend jeans so I was thrilled to stumble upon this pair from Kut from the Kloth available at Nordstrom.
Since the temps were on the brisk side I reached for a striped sweater from Banana Republic. And I always love to slip into a pair of comfy shoes. How cute are these espadrilles from Vince?! They look adorable with a pair jeans.
Combine the rosemary and sugar and spread on a small plate
Rim edge of a glass with a lime wedge then press the glass onto the plate, turning to coat.
Fill glass with crushed ice. Add the gin, juice, and Aperol. Garnish with a rosemary sprig.
Stir gently. Enjoy!
3. avocado cucumber shrimp bites
Today’s recipes couldn’t be easier. Cucumber, guacamole and shrimp are all that’s needed to whip up a delicious appetizer or snack that’s healthy and perfect for a Spring or Summer day.
1 tbsp cilantro, finely chopped, plus more for garnish
1 tsp paprika
½ tsp cayenne pepper
½ tsp sea salt
¼ tsp black pepper
2 Tbsp olive oil, divided
Avocado Spread
1 avocado
¼ tsp salt
1 tbsp lime juice, plus more to squeeze over finished appetizers
1 English Cucumber, sliced
Ingredients
How to make Cajun Shrimp
Place shrimp in a large mixing bowl and pat dry with paper towels. Add minced garlic, 1 Tbsp cilantro, 1 tsp paprika, 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper, 1/2 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp black pepper, and 1 Tbsp olive oil. Stir well to combine.
Heat a large heavy pan over medium/high heat with 1 Tbsp olive oil. Once oil is hot, add shrimp in a single layer and sauté 2 min per side or until cooked through
How to make the avocado spread
Heat a large heavy pan over medium/high heat with 1 Tbsp olive oil. Once oil is hot, add shrimp in a single layer and sauté 2 min per side or until cooked through.
In a small bowl, mash together 1 avocado, 1/4 tsp salt and 1 Tbsp lime juice until creamy. Divide the avocado mix over 20-22 cucumber slices.
Squeeze fresh lime juice over the shrimp avocado bites and garnish with more finely chopped cilantro. If not serving right away, cover and refrigerate up to 4 hours before serving.
In Case You Missed It
Yesterday, I showed you a variety of different dresses, and additionally, different ways to style each. Click the title or image below to read the article.
For those of you who caught Sunday’s Talbots’ Spring new arrivals capsule wardrobe, this is the companion piece. I debated whether to run the two together in one mega-post, but decided to split them up. Last weekend, I went through Ann Taylor’s Spring new arrivals, and I’ve put together a capsule wardrobe. The name of the game is the same as it was this weekend. From 15 different items, I’ve put 5 different outfits together. The items include:
Should be classic and wearable next year, and years to come.
Remember, I’ve only provided 5 potential outfits. The beauty of capsule wardrobes is that they can be mixed and matched in so many different ways. Sky is the limit, really. So let’s see what I came up with.
I absolutely love Ann Taylor’s essential shirts. So choosing one was a no-brainer. I imagine most of you have a black button-down and light wash jeans. But what really makes this outfit is the gingham coat and the suede mules. Perfect for a night out. But swap the gingham jacket for the moto one, and you’ll be living even more on the edge.
Simply Spring. That’s all I have to say about our second outfit. Loving the soft elegance of the Ponte split-neck top paired with these chambray paper bag ankle pants. Don’t like monochromatic blue? No problem. Swap the shirt for the white pleat front top, and you still maintain the essence of this outfit. The tan crocodile tote goes with all of the outfits I’ve put together—animal prints and textures are neturals!
I’m so loving these straw loafer slides, I had to include them. They too work with just about any of the combinations above and subdue just about any outfit you could put together from this capsule wardrobe.
This is the first outfit with shorts. Ann Taylor’s metro short is conservative enough for most of us and definitely worth considering if you’re in the market.
Make sure to catch up on our DAILY LOOK. We post a dedicated photo to our daily outfit every Wednesday-Sunday. And you can shop those outfits easily through the shop the widget below the picture.
Happy Tuesday, ladies! After a beautiful Spring week, we’ve got rain here in Athens. No more evenings on the patio, at least for now. But as they say, when life gives you rain, bring a raincoat. In fact, this week has been all about Spring coats. On Sunday, we featured the most important Winter-to-Spring transition piece: the Spring jacket. Unsurprisingly, the raincoat made our list. And today we’re featuring what I think is one of 2022’s best women’s raincoats from Talbots.
Best women’s raincoats
One of the reasons I love Spring jackets—raincoats, in particular—is that they are the easiest way to introduce color into your wardrobe. This year is all about bright, bold colors: from beautiful coral reds to hot pinks, 2022 features it all.
Today’s feature is a plaid raincoat from Talbots. Its colorful, pink-based plaid pairs perfectly with the cutest pink rainboots from Amazon. What I love about this jacket, though, is that it would work well with a myriad of boots and shoes. I could see dressing the outfit up slightly with a pair of riding boots; or down with a pair of clogs or platform sneakers.
It’s been the year of the pink sweater for me. Last Fridays with Oscar, I featured a lovely pink v-neck sweater from LOFT. Today, I’m wearing this super comfy mock neck sweater from Ann Taylor (limited sizes, similar here and here). Style it with your favorite denim or pants; this sweater is the perfect transition piece for Spring.
Make sure to catch up on our DAILY LOOK. We post a dedicated photo to our daily outfit every Wednesday-Sunday. And you can shop those outfits easily through the shop the widget below the picture.
Happy Friday, ladies! We made it through the week, finally. The weather in Athens has been wonderful—we hit 80 degrees yesterday! I spent the afternoon cleaning my patio and hosted happy hour with my son and daughter-in-law Kelly. Had to take advantage of the weather, because it looks like we’re in for a week of rain next week! My son was in such a good mood, he decided to order tickets to The Black Crowes in June. I’ve never really listened to them, but I haven’t seen live music since 2019. I’m looking forward to it. To get you into a good mood, I’ve got a colorful Spring sweater from LOFT that I know you’re going to love.
I’ve got a really easy recipe for you today that’s perfect if you’re inviting a small group over for appetizers and cocktails: grilled bread with ricotta & tomatoes.
A recipe from Bon Appétit that’s perfect for a light spring dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
1 garlic clove
Kosher salt
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
6 tablespoons olive oil, divided
3/4 pound assorted small tomatoes (such as cherry, Sun Gold, or green), halved, quartered if large
Freshly ground black pepper
8 slices 3/4”-thick country-style bread
1 cup (loosely packed) coarsely chopped mixed tender herbs (such as basil, parsley, small dill sprigs, and/or chives)
10 oz whole-milk ricotta
Instructions
Step 1
Finely chop garlic, sprinkle with a pinch of salt, then mash with the side of knife to a fine paste. Transfer to a medium bowl and whisk in vinegar and 2 Tbsp. oil. Add tomatoes; season with salt and pepper and toss to coat. Let sit, tossing occasionally, at least 15 minutes.
Step 2
Meanwhile, prepare grill for medium-high heat. Brush both sides of bread with remaining 4 Tbsp. oil and grill until lightly charred, about 2 minutes per side.
Step 3
Just before serving, toss herbs with tomato mixture. Spread ricotta on toast and top with tomato mixture; cut toast in half.
Step 4
DO AHEAD: Tomato mixture (without herbs) can be made 12 hours ahead. Cover and chill.
Nutrition
Serving Size:8 servings
Calories:240
Sugar:2 g
Sodium:210 mg
Fat:16 g
Saturated Fat:4.5 g
Carbohydrates:17 g
Fiber:1 g
Protein:7 g
Cholesterol:20 mg
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Shop Sweaters (click below)
Bichon Frise
A vodka-based cocktail is on the menu this week: a Bichon Frise. I love St. Elder liqueur, so it was hard to not pass along this recipe. Here’s to Friday, ladies! As my mother used to say, it’s 5 o’clock somewhere in the world.
1ounce red grapefruit juice, plus strip of grapefruit peel for garnishing
1/2ounce elderflower liqueur
1/4ounce lemon juice
Instructions
Spread sugar on small plate. Moisten rim of glass by running grapefruit wedge around outer edge. Roll moistened rim in sugar to coat.
Add vodka, grapefruit juice, liqueur, and lemon juice to cocktail shaker, then fill with ice. Shake until well chilled about 30 seconds. Double strain cocktail into prepared glass. Garnish with grapefruit peel.
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Shop Sweaters (click below)
Fridays with Oscar
Well, that’s a wrap for us over here at SAACA. From Oscar, Ollie, and myself, enjoy your weekend. And try to spend it with someone you love!
One of our readers’ favorite retailers is Talbots. You probably noticed we snuck in a white button-down from them in addition to the Spring sweater from LOFT. In case you missed it, yesterday, we focused on the Talbots Spring Collection and featured a striped sweater that I just love. Make sure to check it out.
Daily Looks
We just posted a new DAILY LOOK, so make sure to check it out. Daily Looks is a really simple feature: a dedicated photo feed of my daily outfits. And you can shop those outfits easily through the shop the widget below the picture.
Hey, gang! Today we’re continuing with our Spring Preview series with a focus on Spring colors 2022. Simply stated, Spring colors this year are bright and arguably bolder than recent years. “Very Peri”—the new shade of periwinkle—took Pantone’s 2022 color of the year. But bright yellows, orangey-reds, and blues are on-trend. Stylecaster has colors like
tangy lime;
hot orange;
cerulean; and
radiant yellow
as in-for-Spring. If you poke around other fashion magazines and websites you’ll see similar palettes.
Spring colors 2022
Today’s post is super simple: I’ve rounded up 5 bright colors I’m loving this year and dug into the archives to show you different ways to style each color. Those (general) colors are:
purple;
yellow;
pink;
orangey-red; and
blue.
Anyone who follows me regularly knows I love neutrals. But I have and will continue to embrace color any chance I get. No doubt “bright and bold” can sometimes be difficult to incorporate into our wardrobe. But remember, there are a lot of ways to introduce color pops into your classic wardrobe. If you’re not a fan of colorful tops or bottoms, try a handbag or scarf. If you’re on the fence about “yellow”, try pairing yellow shoes with a pair of black or white pants.
Have fun this Spring looking for new and interesting ways to introduce color into your closet. And as silly as it sounds, remember: a little color goes a lot further than we might think in a world that often seems dark.
2022 new arrivals
For each featured color, I’ve rounded up 12 new arrivals I’m loving from 3 retailers:
I’m really enjoying each’s Spring collection. You can shop my picks by clicking on the widgets at the end of each section. You’ll see many of my picks in the upcoming weeks.
Purple
Shop purple (click below)
Yellow
Shop yellow (click below)
Pink
Shop pink (click below)
Orangey-Red
Shop orangey-red (click below)
Blue
Shop blue (click below)
In case you missed it
Our Spring preview series is in full swing. In case you’ve missed any of our posts, make sure to check out
We just posted a new DAILY LOOK, so make sure to check it out. Daily Looks is a really simple feature: a dedicated photo feed of my daily outfits. And you can shop those outfits easily through the shop the widget below the picture.
Happy Friday, gang! We made it through another week. Can you believe this is the last weekend in February?! Spring truly is just around the corner, even if the snow may be falling in your neck of the woods. Oscar is by my side once again, and we’re dishing up a delicious Caesar Salad and scrumptious cocktail. Come on in and stay awhile!
Halsbrook
It’s been a moment since I’ve partnered with Halsbrook, a company dedicated to style, quality, and fit. Their assortment of American and European designers is not available anywhere else online. Max Mara, Veronica Beard, Vince, and Eileen Fisher are all represented at Halsbrook. What I love best about this online retailer is their styling point of view, that’s sophisticated sensibility. Every piece found at Halsbrook is on-trend, not trendy. Amen! But what I think I love most about Halsbrook is the backstory of the founder, Halsey Schroeder. Here’s a soundbite:
Halsey Schroeder has her mother to thank for many things, not the least of which is the inspiration for Halsbrook. Halsey grew up watching her mother carefully build her wardrobe – choosing beautiful pieces that would stand the test of time. Having acquired the same sense of style, Halsey soon discovered how underserved this market was. “Everything was too flashy and trendy.” And just like that, Halsbrook was born.
Women influencing women – especially mothers and daughters. Now, that’s a brand I can stand behind.
Must-have Eileen Fisher Boucle Sweater
For some of us, winter is still here; and for others, it’s basically here. That’s why I’m always on the hunt for that perfect transition weather sweater. That’s why I’m easing into the season with a pair of Veronica Beard off-white stretch cotton pants that fit like a dream and this must-have Eileen Fisher cotton boucle sweater. It’s a comfy sweater that’s just the right weight for Spring temperatures.
They’re both available online at Halsbrook, a company that offers style solutions for your everyday look with the convenience of online shopping. Don’t you love it!
Today’s recipe is a fun and easy take on an old favorite—the mighty Caeser salad. Give this Tahini dressing a try to put a new spin on an old favorite.
12ounces2 or 3 heads Little Gem lettuce or hearts of romaine, washed and dried
Instructions
Make the dressing
Combine the tahni, lemon juice, garlic, 3 tablespoons olive oil, yogurt, 1/4 cheese, water, salt and cayenne pepper in a blender or mini food processor until smooth. (Makes about 1 cup).
Make the breadcrumbs
Spread the bread on a small baking sheet and drizzle with the olive oil. Toss until evenly coated. Bake for 20 minutes, or until the bread is brown and crisp. When cool enough to handle, roughly chop the cubes on a cutting board or in a food processor to make pea-sized crumbs.
Assemble the salad
Pull the green leaves off the lettuce and cut the inner core into wedges. If using romaine hearts, separate the leaves and tear into large bite-size pieces. Keep the inner core intact and cut into small wedges.
Put the lettuce in a bowl or serving platter and toss with about 1/3 of the dressing. Sprinkle half the breadcrumbs and the remaining grated cheese over the salad. Serve with additional dressing and breadcrumbs on the side.
Notes
I tossed my breadcrumbs with olive oil and set them in a stainless steel skillet over high heat tossing them until brown.
Southside cocktail
Alright—a big shoutout to America’s Test Kitchen (ATK) and their bookHow to Cocktail. ATK is one of my favorites and their recipes appear regularly on my daughter-in-law’s blog Djalali Cooks. They always have great recipe ideas, kitchen hacks, and product reviews. If you’re not checking in on them regularly, you should be.
Add gin, lime juice, simple syrup, and mint to a cocktail shaker, then fill with ice. Shake mixture for 30 seconds. Strain cocktail into cocktail glasses. Garnish with mint.
Fridays with Oscar
Happy Friday, ladies! From Oscar, Ollie, and me to all of you—have a wonderful weekend!
A big thank you to Halsbrook for this sponsored post. Companies like this although me to bring to you items like a must-have Eileen Fisher sweater. So fun. And thank you, lovely readers, for supporting the brands that allow me to bring you these new ideas.
In case you missed it
We’re continuing with our Spring previews over here on the blog. Yesterday, we took a look at the 5 shoes trending this Spring. So make sure to check it out!
Daily Looks
We just posted a new DAILY LOOK, so make sure to check it out. Daily Looks is a really simple feature: a dedicated photo feed of my daily outfits. And you can shop those outfits easily through the shop the widget below the picture.
Happy Friday, ladies! We’ve made it through another week, and in all honesty, I cannot believe February is almost halfway over. Where is the time going? I think we’re all ready for Spring to arrive, that’s for sure. And although the weather here in Athens has warmed considerably, we’re just not quite there yet. So in hopes of moving Spring alone more quickly, I’m going full technicolor today—in stark contrast to yesterday’s neutral OOTD. We’re featuring a cozy striped funnel-neck sweater and one of the easiest (and most delicious) recipes yet!
Cozy striped funnel-neck sweater
Today’s OOTD is a super simple colorful way to make the transition from winter to spring. This cozy striped funnel-neck sweater is from Ann Taylor but already sold out! (Like so many things these days.) So, I’ve rounded up similars here, here, and here. I went matchy-matchy with these red pants from Frances Valentine. My ballet flats are old, but again, I’ve found similar here, here, and here).
Want a deliciously healthy and simple recipe this weekend? Well, here’s one for you: a Greek chicken & hummus wrap. Whether you cook the chicken fresh or pick a rotisserie one up at your local grocery, you really can’t go wrong with this recipe.
Preheat your grill over medium-high heat to 425 degrees. Pound chicken to an even thickness using the flat side of a meat mallet.
Brush chicken breasts lightly with about 1 Tbsp olive oil, season with salt and pepper.
Brush grill grates lightly with oil, and grill chicken, rotating once halfway through cooking until it registers 165 in center, about 6 – 8 minutes.
Transfer to a plate, cover with foil, let rest 10 minutes then dice into cubes. Transfer chicken to a bowl, pour vinaigrette over chicken, and toss to evenly coat.
To assemble wraps spread about 3 Tbsp hummus over each tortilla, top with chicken, lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber, and feta cheese, then wrap tortillas.
Notes
I substituted the chicken breasts with a rotisserie chicken. No muss no fuss.