Outfit: Snow White

Hello, world! Remember me? I know my posting has been scarce, and I'll save you from a long rambling about what I've been up to lately. The short version is I moved, got a new job, chopped my hair off, and have been busy settling in/making future goals and plans. I'm really trying to get back into the blogging groove, but honestly haven't felt totally up to it; and I've never wanted Rags and Roses to feel like work. There have been times where I'm cooking or working on a craft, and think to take pictures so I can share it on here. But, something stops me and I've just chosen not to force it. In the past, there were times where I missed being in the moment because I was trying to snap the perfect picture, or find the best light, or recreate a moment I missed. Now, there isn't anything wrong with that here and there, but I feel its been necessary to just be present and take a break to think about what this blog, and other aspects of my life, really mean to me. I think like I'm getting to a place where I feel at peace with most things; developing routines and trying to find balance. It's been a long road, and I'm sure I have miles to go. But, I do miss the middle moments that I've always captured and shared, so I am planning on working this blog back into my schedule. I just wanted to say a quick thanks to those of you who haven't tuned out, and have offered endless support. I really am happy to be apart of a community of people interested in documenting life and style and everything in between. Here's to there being more to come!

-Heather

Outfit Details:

Sweater/Boots- Thrifted

Hat- Target

Tee- American Eagle

Denim- Urban Outfitters

Necklace- Forever 21

Warby Parker: The Spring 2015 Collection

 

     Here in Ohio, we're on our umpteenth snow. The roads are covered in slush, the sidewalks are stamped with boot tracks, and the air has harsh chill that stings as you make your way indoors. My afternoons have been filled with a lot of tea drinking and day-dreaming about warmer temps and sunshine. Yes, Spring is on the minds of many Mid-Westerners, I'm sure. And, Warby Parker is making it even easier to see it's arrival inching closer.

      For those of you who don't know, Warby Parker is an eyeglass company that offers stylish, boutique-quality eyeglasses starting at just $95, and provides a pair to a person in need for every pair purchased from their site/stores. They even offer virtual and home try-on, so you can be confident you're choosing the best frames for you.

      Warby Parker is launching their Spring 2015 collection today, and it may be their best yet. The Spring collection has an understated nautical inspiration that is evident in anchor-hued titanium blended with blue coral acetate, sandy shades modeled after the ocean floor, saltwater matte finishes, jellyfish inspired tortoise, and more. The Spring collection also offers a handful solid standbys for everyday wear.

     My personal favorites from the new collection are the Brooks in Striped Pacific and the Archie in Whiskey Tortoise. The Brooks offer an unexpected pop of color that is perfect for Spring, and the Archie has classic coloring with a unique shape, making them the perfect everyday frame. 

    Warby Parker's new collection will help you see Spring a little more clearly, so you can enjoy it even more. (Yes, that was a sight pun. This is an eyeglass company, is it not?) To see the collection for yourself, and find a location close to you, head to https://www.warbyparker.com/eyeglasses

-Heather

    

Holiday Gift Guide

     Is it just me, or were the holidays really sneaky about their arrival this year? I'm blaming my gift-buying procrastination on beginning a new job/recently moving/general lack of motivation. But, the fact is that Christmas is coming, and I have (almost) nothing to show for it. I'm always a huge fan of the gift guides that flood my Blogger dashboard, so I decided to put one together with a few things I've been eyeing for the ones I love. Candles, tea, and coffee mugs are always my go-to gifts for pretty much anyone; they are the perfect back-up for Secret-Santa's and that one family member is forever the hardest to shop for. I'm also loving lotions and lip glosses for stocking-stuffers. Or, ditch the stocking all together and fill a cute (and feminist-friendly) tote with all the goods, like this one form Modern Girl Blitz! Records are always a personal gift, great for a significant other or best friend. The "A Beautiful Mess Planner" topped my own Christmas list this year, as I am hoping to achieve all of my organizational goals in the new year. And, last, but certainly not least, a phone case. Something totally practical that the recipient will use everyday, being reminded of the awesome and definitely not last-minute shopper that you are. Try the one out above from Kidogo Kidogo, and really do something good for the holidays. 

     Kidogo Kidogo, as you may remember from this post, is a one-for-one business that provides cell phones/service to women in Tanzania through your purchase of phone cases. These phones provide means of communication for the woman and their family's, and provide them with things like flashlights, a watch, calculator, a camera, and radio all in one device. The site has now extended their products to cases for iPhone and the Samsung Galaxy, t-shirts, and pouches for your phone; all designed by the same Tanzanian women who your purchase helps.

I hope this provides some relief to all you holiday procrastinators.

Happy Holidays!

-Heather

The Windy City

Andy and I are back in Ohio after a  mid-week trip to Chicago. The windy city was everything I thought it would be, busy and full of life, and I am already craving another trip to further explore the area.

We, of course, visited "The Bean"; afterwards, walking all around The Loop. The constant buzz and pulse of Chicago was reminiscent of my year in Cleveland, and immediately made me feel at home.

(Native Foods, Stan's Donuts, and My Pie)

Gratuitous pictures of all the vacation-food goodness. Chicago deep-dish forever and always.

The main reason for the untimely trip was to see my dear Manchester Orchestra perform songs from their recent release, Hope. It was a completely acoustic, striped down set, made even more intimate by the size of the venue. See them if you ever get the chance, you won't be sorry.

Andy and I also made it a point to see Frank Lloyd Wright's home and gallery, opting for the self-guided tours that offers sights of all the homes on his block that he designed. His work is astounding, and timeless; full of details from other cultures, while maintaining functionality for the inhabitants. I fell in love with Wright after seeing the famous Falling Waters property, and I am hoping to explore his work further in other trips to come.

 It's been back to reality for the couple days, getting the apartment back in order and washing endless loads of laundry. I start a new job tomorrow that has me in a silent panic; being back on the bottom of a new totem pole, with no clue on how anything works. It's come a good time, and everyone I've met at the office seems extremely personable. I'm forever worrying over nothing.

Until next time,

Heather

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Recipe: Roasted Brussel Sprout and Kale Salad

     Obviously, Thanksgiving brings visions of turkey (or in my case, Tofurky), mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, pumpkin pie; you know, the classics. These are always staples at my family's holiday dinner, but this year the unexpected star of our tablescape was this roasted brussel sprout and kale salad. 

     I know what you're thinking; a salad? But, this is not your average, boring ice burg and ranch dressing salad. We're talking hearty, crunchy, cheesy deliciousness. This leafy bowl of wonder has the substance and flavor of a side dish. I'm already planning on making it again (and again and again and again). Here's the scoop:

Salad Ingredients:

Leafy Kale

One package of brussel sprouts

Half of a large red onion or a whole small one

Half of a large green apple or a whole small one

A hand full of toasted almonds, chopped

A hand full of feta cheese 

A hand full of dried cranberries

Dressing Ingredients:

 Apple Cider Vinegar

Olive oil

fresh garlic

lemon zest

 lemon juice

salt

pepper

all-purpose seasoning (like Mrs. Dash)

honey

     1. Rinse a package of brussel sprouts, and quarter them before placing on a baking sheet with a good amount of olive oil, juice from half a lemon, salt, and pepper. Roast them in a 350 degree oven for 20 minutes, or until they begin to char slightly. Once the sprouts are done cooking, leave them to cool completely while you finish the rest of the salad. (You could even roast/cool the brussel sprouts the night before as a time saver!)

2. Chopped your kale, onion, and apple, and add them to a large bowl with your cooled, roasted brussel sprouts.

3. Mix up your dressing, and pour over your salad ingredients. I'll be honest, we didn't measure anything out for the dressing; woops. A general rule is to use a 2:1  oil to vinegar ratio, but just let your taste buds be the judge with the rest! Let your dressing marinade the ingredients in the fridge until your ready to serve.

4. Finish by adding the chopped almonds, feta, and cranberries to the other ingredients, toss until the toppings are evenly distributed, and serve!

     The flavors in this salad complimented all of our Thanksgiving favorites perfectly, but is something that can be made anytime of the year. The leafy kale and brussel sprouts really hold up to the tangy, slightly sweet dressing, giving this salad more flavor the longer it sits; making it perfect as a make-ahead dish that you can munch on all week. Plus, it totally cancels out all of the other buttery, creamy dishes you indulged in because HEALTH. 

Happy cooking!

-Heather

Outfit: Black Tights and Life Retrospective

    As a style blogger, I have plenty of awkward photo-snapping stories under my belt. Ones that tell of people slowing down their cars and gawking on the streets while I stood in front of my tripod. Others of catching couples mid-coitus with my best gal, Ashley, while using an abandoned building as a background. It's not an easy life, but it's the life I chose. Jeesh. Anyways, words cannot describe how happy I am to have a pretty brick wall surrounding our new apartment building, It's privacy offers me a chance of not looking like a nervous dork, and also the freedom to take pictures right outside of my home. We picked a good one, folks.

     I stepped out to keep my blogging game alive on a day that felt more like early Spring, which can stick around as long as it wants to; although I'm sure it won't for long. Ugh. I've been living in these shoes that I scored for ONE DOLL HAIR. Cheers to good, cheap clothing. There's something about a masculine shoe that makes my heart happy. (Is that weird?) I'm also trying to rock the knee-high socks until it's just too cold to have any leg exposed; they are my favorite.

What looks are you loving as the weather turns colder?

-Heather

Outfit Details:

Dress- Pac Sun

Jacket- Old Navy

Tights- Target

Socks- Forever 21

Purse- T.J. Maxx

Glasses, necklace, and shoes- Thrifted

Bits and Pieces

     Forgive me, bloggers. For I have sinned. It has been nearly a month since my last post. Ugh. Time has been slipping away from me in between unpacking and trying to make our new place a home. This in no way counts as an "apartment tour", but these snapshots are the only areas of our apartment that are in order. We had a couple of minor setbacks during our move, like our couch not fitting through our hallway. We've been lounging on couch cushions and kitchen chairs, in the meantime. The unexpected kinks in settling in are at best giving Andy and I some great "our first apartment" stories.      My posting will most likely become a bit sporadic, as we're not planning on getting internet until after the holidays, and a general feeling of "I don't wanna". I'm trying to get back into the swing of things, and develop a new routine, but its proving to be a bit difficult. So, for now, I'm just trying to breath. Andy and I will be leaving for Chicago to see Manchester Orchestra in a few short weeks, so at least there is that to look forward to; among other things, I'm sure!

-Heather