fash•ion (fash-uh n) | winter necessities

Just when I thought we were going to have one of the warmest winters in Chicago, the weather took a turn for the worst. Luckily, temps haven't been below 10 degrees, but low to mid 20s is still pretty chilly - enough to warrant good winter accessories. So here are a few of the favorites in my closet that are perfect for the remaining of this bitter season.

Convertible gloves | They're comfy, versatile, keep your fingers warm and won't fail you when you're touch pad gloves do.

outfit details | coat - bennetton | sweater - old navy | shirt - thrifted | pants - citizens of humanity | fur scarf - gifted | gloves - gifted | boots - c/o sorel | necklace - gifted t+j designs |

Fur infinity scarf that doubles as a hood | My awesome sister and brother-in-law gave this to me for Christmas and I sure have been putting it to good use. It keeps my neck and head warm when cold gushes of wind decide to sneak up behind me. Not to mention that it compliments many outfits quite nicely.

And lastly, winter boots | These are an absolute must.  When you're expected to stomp around the city on foot, they not only do they have to be functional, but they need to be stylish too. 

|What are some of your favorite winter necessities?|

food (food) | egg in a window

I discovered egg in a window (aka egg in a basket, aka peek a boo egg, aka egg in a frame, aka egg in a nest) at a later age.  In fact what introduced me to the simple dish is the movie V for Vendetta, during that scene where Evey wakes up at her friend's home and for breakfast he made....eggs in a window.  I remember watching that scene and immediately thinking how I could create it on my own at home.  That was 6 years ago and to this day, this is one of my favorite breakfast dishes.

What you'll need:

• 1 slice of bread 
• 1 tsp of butter
• 1 egg

Directions:

1. Cut a hole in the center of your bread (just about 2.5 inches all around - you can use a cooking cutter in the center too)
2. Heat a pan on medium-low heat. (This temperature is important.  Keep it on a lower heat to avoid burning your bread.)
3. Add butter into pan and let each side of the bread absorb some of the butter while it's melting.
4. Once each side has been evenly coated with butter, crack the egg and gently place in the center of your bread.
5. Let it cook on one side until you notice the egg setting. Gently flip your bread/egg and cook the other side until your bread has reached a nice toast texture and your egg is fully cooked.

|Are you a fan of egg in a window? Do you have a breakfast dish that requires minimal ingredients, but is one of your favorites?|

life (lahyf) | one couple, two dogs...and a little baby

I've been holding off on writing this post for a few weeks now...8 to be exact. If you follow me on Pinterest, Twitter or Facebook, you may have noticed a lot of nursery pinning, complaints about virgin drinks and my weird cravings for spuds. All these hints were my subtle way of trying to break the news of being knocked up. Yup, we are in fact expecting. It hardly feels real and not a day goes by when I don't want to take another pregnancy test just to make sure the little one is still in there, but the morning sickness, and other un-godly symptoms I won't scare you with, have reassured me that it's in fact still in there.

Our friends and family have known for a few weeks now, but my hesitation with breaking the news wasn't because of the whole wait until after the 1st trimester recommendation. In all honesty, it's because I didn't know how to say it. We're so extremely excited, but sharing this news isn't like telling someone you're engaged. You have a ring to show for that - something pretty that you want to show off. When you're pregnant, especially in the early stages, you have nothing to show for. In fact, if anything you have to make more excuses on why you're acting weird. "I'm not drinking cause I'm detoxing.", "I'm eating more carbs cause I'm on a new diet.", "I'm not getting fat, I think I'm just losing muscle." These are all white lies you tell people to keep your good news a secret. Doesn't it seem a bit odd that joyful news is so deceiving in the very beginning?

Like I said, both Matt and I are SO excited, but with every bit of excitement comes fear.  I've always called myself "The Baby Dummy" and there's a reason for that, but luckily I have a fantastic support system that helps me overcome my fear:  My husband who watches my daily intake of tater tots like a hawk and ensures I take my pre-natal vitamins everyday; our families who are just as excited about our news as we are; my loving best friends who are always calling, texting and emailing to ask if we're doing ok; friends who are mothers that are generously offering up great advice; and other pregnant co-workers and blogger friends who I can share war stories with. 

Having these wonderful people in our lives really does help calm my nerves.  It's making this experience so enjoyable and less scary...because let's be honest, the fact that I'll soon have to squeeze (and I really mean squeeze) my way into pants with elastic waist bands, is the most frightening part of it all.

life (lahyf) | daily planner

I had been in search for the perfect planner since late November. At first I strongly considered the coveted Erin Condren Life Planners, but even though it had everything I wanted, the design really wasn't..."me".  And trust me I did consider shelling out $50 for this organized calendar notebook, but instead I searched for something similar that better fit my lifestyle.  A few weeks after searching, scoping Target, Staples and other journal sites, I saw Refinery 29 post this awesome article highlighting 12 stylish day planners.  Not only were each of the planners unique, but they were all within reasonable price.  After checking out each one with a fine tooth comb and scoping out the layout of each page, I finally landed on the MMMG Draw Your Tomorrow planner from The Hach.

Just like me, this planner breaks a few rules.  It is neat and very organized, but the entire planner isn't pre-dated with the 2012 calendar.  I have the flexibility of writing in my own dates and making it more like a journal notebook than a structured planner.  It's been a while since I have kept a physical daily planner around, but I find that writing things down keeps me accountable.  There's something so satisfying about writings lists or goals on a piece of paper and crossing them off when you've accomplished them.

Not only do I use my planner to help me remember important dates, doctor's appointments, weekly to-dos and what I need from the store, but I'm using it to track my daily meals and workout.  I forgot how much I loved writing things down on paper.  Although I love technology and how convenient it's making life, sometimes reverting back to the original way of how things were done is a lot more satisfying. 

|Do you keep a daily planner?  Are you someone who prefers to track your life on paper or with technology?|

fash•ion (fash-uh n) | monochromatic

On days that are extra gloomy I find myself wearing the brightest things in my closet.  Something about dressing opposite from the weather helps me deal with it better I guess.  Something I rarely do though? Stack the same color on top of each other. This yellow coat was such a great thrift find (a whopping $4), but sometimes I have a hard time pairing it with things.  I'm not one that exercises monochromatic looks, but I didn't think this was too bad. 

outfit details | coat - thrifted | shirt - ralph lauren | sweater - zara | jeans - gap | boots - dingo | socks - hue | necklace - lenora dame (gifted) | hairband - h&m |

|Have you attempted monochromatic looks? If not do you think you'll be trying this look?|

food (food) | bibimbap

Bibimbap, prounounced BEE•beem•bop, is a korean rice dish that I like to refer to as healthy fried rice. Typically served in a large stone pot, this is more than a dish, this is a hearty meal. Traditionally  it has beef, rice, a fried egg and a mixture of lightly cooked vegetables like bean sprouts, spinach, zucchini, carrots, etc.  I find it hard to get a good Bibimbap in Chicago, so when I crave it, I re-create it at home.  Although it has quite a few elements that need to be cooked separate, it's easy and well worth it.

Here's what you'll need:

• Bool Kogi pre-marinated meat from Trader Joe's 
• 2 thinly sliced zucchinis
• 1 bag of bean sprouts
• 1 bag of spinach
• 1 egg
• Sesame seed oil
• Sesame seeds
• Asian garlic chile hot sauce (or Srirancha)
• 1/2 cup of cooked white jasmin rice
• Salt

I typically cheat the meat by buying the pre-marinated bool kogi meat from Trader Joe's, but if you opt for a version of this dish sans meat, it's just as delicious.  As the meat is grilling, I get all my vegetables ready and cook everything in this order.

Bean Sprouts:

1. Place bean sprouts in a medium sized pot.
2. Add water in pot until sprouts are fully submerged.
3. Heat at medium to high heat on stove top and bring to a boil.
4. Cover and cook for 5 minutes.
5. Once cooked, drain.
6. In a large bowl combine bean sprouts, 1 tbsp of sesame seed oil and 1 tbsp of salt. Toss lightly until evenly coated. 

Zucchini:

1. Heat 1 tbsp of sesame seed oil in large pan at medium heat.
2. Add zucchini strips and let cook for about 2 minutes (before they become translucent).
3. Add 2 tbsp of hot garlic chili sauce and tbsp of salt. Sautee for another 3 minutes.
4. Transfer to dish and garnish with sesame seeds.

Spinach:

1. Heat 1 tbsp of sesame seed oil in large pan at medium heat.
2. Add spinach and cook until all leaves wilt (about 2 minutes).
3. Transfer to dish and garnish with sesame seeds.

Once the vegetables are cooked, start building the bibimbap in a large bowl. Place rice at the bottom of the dish and place a heaping tablespoon full of each set of vegetables and sliced meat on top of the rice. Top with a fried egg (I like mine slightly basted with runny yolk) and a bit more of the spicy garlic chili sauce (optional).

Voila - the dish should look like this.

Not too far off from one that you'd find at a restaurant like this.

via

If you're like me and like extra spicy foods, I suggest serving your dish with Kim Chee which is pickled spicy cabbage.  I can eat these straight out of the jar and it really completes the bibimbap dish.

Enjoy!

fash•ion (fash-uh n) | old navy polka dots

I first spotted this Old Navy sweater in the latest issue of Lucky Magazine and since then I've been catching it all over the websphere. Friends like Johanna and Kimberly have featured it on their blog and I'm lucky I was able to snatch one up because it seems to be in high demand.  I went to a few Old Navy stores to see if I could the sweater in Navy, but sadly they were all sold out.

outfit details | sweater - old navy | shirt - thrifted | jeans - victoria beckham c/o nordstrom rack | boots - zara |

Although pink wasn't my first choice, I'm glad this was my only option.  It's a color I don't have much of in my closet and complements a ton of of other brights.  So although it does remind me of Bubblicious bubble gum, I'm in love with it and it's getting me excited about updating my wardrobe for the spring. 

food (food) | caprese pasta salad

On Saturday my girlfriends and I got together at a friend's house for a belated holiday celebration.  Since my friend kindly offered her place for us to gather and cook dinner, we all agreed to bring something to add to the feast.  She was planning on making a baked Italian chicken and my initial thought was to bring a traditional caprese salad, but since someone else was bringing a green salad I turned it into a pasta salad loaded with mozzarella, tomatoes, basil and lots of garlic!

What you'll need:

• 4 cloves minced garlic
• 3 lbs chopped and seeded roma tomatoes
• 1.5 cups chopped basil
• 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
• 1 package bow tie pasta (cooked and cooled at room temperature)
• 2 tbsp white granulated sugar
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1.5 cups chopped mozarella

Directions:

1. In a small bowl combine garlic, olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Sit at room temperature for about 15 minutes.
2. In a large bowl combine tomatoes, basil, mozarella with the garlic/olive oil/balsamic vinegar mixture. 
3. Add sugar and light salt/pepper.  If it's still a little bland start adding a little more salt until it reaches the desired flavor.
4. Once the right flavor is reached, add pasta and toss until evenly coated.

This dish is perfect as side to any of your favorite proteins and feeds 8 - 10 people. 

|Small tip for cooking the pasta -  I cook the pasta while the garlic is infusing the olive oil/balsamic mixture.  After straining the pasta I take about 2 tbsp of this mixture and toss it lightly with the pasta to add extra flavor while it cools.|

life (lahyf) | vacations

Last week I was in LA visiting my folks and technically it was a "vacation", but it wasn't somewhere new I was visiting.  It was a place I lived in, but regardless I had days off from work and the only way I wanted to spend 3 full days in LA?  Eating my way through all the restaurants I love and miss that I can't get in Chicago.  It was the perfect vacation! 

Immediately after my parents picked me up from the airport at 8am, we headed to The Grove where where ate my weight in egg whites, turkey sausage and shared a stack of pancakes from Dupar's.  I'm not a pancake person, so believe me when I say that these pancakes will convert any savory breakfast fan.  They're fluffy, light, not too sweet and are perfect enough to eat without syrup.

After having a huge breakfast, I basically starved myself the rest of the day to indulge in my favorite pizza place for dinner, Pizzeria Mozza.  You really can't go wrong with any pie you order because what makes each pizza so delicious, aside from the one of a kind toppings, is the amazing pizza dough made from the genius mind behind La Brea Bakery, Nancy Silverton.  I indulged in a cheese-less pizza and a delicious green salad, but left room for dessert because on the way home I made my parents stop at Yogurtland to curb my craving of tart pistachio yogurt topped with mochi and fruit.  I love Yogurtland so much (way more than Pinkberry or Red Mango) and wish I had money to open a franchise in Chicago, but sadly I don't. :(

The next day, my parents and I took a stroll through Manhattan Beach, CA with my uncle's dog Bailey and had breakfast at one of my old haunts, Uncle Bill's Pancake House.  I used to work in El Segundo, not too far from MB, and on days when we could sneak away for a long lunch we'd make our way to Uncle Bill's for all day breakfast items like french toast topped with cheddar cheese and bacon or breakfast potato stroganoff.  Sitting outside along the strand, eating a fat kid's breakfast with 80 degree weather, was pure bliss.  Later that day we picked up my favorite asian chicken salad from Rascals Teriyaki Grill and made me wonder why Chicago doesn't have more teriyaki joints.  On the West Coast, they're as common as Chipotle's, but in the Midwest they're nowhere to be found.  Maybe I should get some Asians together and we petition to open one?

My last day rounded out by making a mandatory pit stops to Coffee Bean for a Vanilla Ice Blendid and See's Candy for lollis, but we saved the best places for last.  Since we were going to be in Burbank watching a taping of The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, I made my parents go to Porto's Bakery for lunch.  I can't stress enough that if you're ever in the LA area, make a trip out to this cuban bakery and try one of the guava pastries and potato balls - they're truly life changing.  The place is always packed no matter what time you go, but the lines go quick and it's worth it...trust me!  For dinner, we kept it low key and although I really wanted to fit in more of my favorite eats, I landed on filling my craving for Zankou Chicken.  This Mediterranean take out may not look like a big deal, but for $8 you get the best roasted chicken served with hummus, pickled vegetables and a garlic sauce that I dream of at night.

Needless to say, I ate a lot on my 3 day vacation and although there are times I do miss living in LA, truthfully, I miss the food more.  Even though there were many non-food related things I wanted to see or could have done, all the food stops were enough for me.  For me, vacations are an opportunity to soak up local culture and enjoy food you won't get at home...and I did just that.

|Does food play a huge role in your vacations?  Do you like to research the best places to eat before getting to your destination or do you let food be secondary to seeing tourist attractions?|

fash•ion (fash-uh n) | stripes

I have a confession to make.  I'm a sucker for stripes.  So yes, my name is Tabitha and I'm a stripeaholic.  I slowly have been trying to ween off of buying any striped items, but it's a tough habit to break.  There are so many cute striped items out there and fighting the urge to resist is really tough.  They're just such great layering pieces and adds a great dimension to any outfit.

|outfit details | dress - thrifted | sweater - gap | tights - marshalls | boots - zara | necklace - lenora dame (gifted) | hair clip - columbia college store |

|Are you obsessed with stripes the same way I am?  Do you need to have an intervention like I do to prevent from adding more of striped items to your closet?|