Basic Earflap beanie

Aah! How long it has been. I have been gathering content for my blog, so now I am slowly and steadily going to unleash it all! Brace yourselves!

I go through long periods during which I have clear thinking, a to do list and an ability to accomplish things. Then are are phases when I am preoccupied, taking forever to do simple things and creating a huge mess (literally) in the process. Does this happen to any of you? Well, thankfully I am experiencing a creative, getting things done phase.

So here is a hat I crocheted up a few weeks ago that I am finally writing about.

I used Knit Picks Wool of the Andes which I had leftover from a sweater I had made for my daughter. The colors I used were: Rouge, Blossom heather and Avocado. I like this yarn because although it is wool it is not itchy. My pet peeve when using wool based yarns is the scratch factor. Plus, it is reasonably priced, cheaper than a lot of acrylics out there. I really do like to use natural yarns whenever possible.


Where did the superb pattern come from you ask? I wish I could take credit, but it is by one of my favorite designer Scotti Oxford a.ka. Inner Hooker. You can visit her blog at oxfordfam.blogspot.com where you can find more of her amazing work and musings. She is currently hosting an Afghan Sampler crochet along, which I am participating in and a blog post on that to follow. 

So I started out using the pattern size for toddler, But since I hate gauge swatches and perhaps the Wool of the Andes is thicker or may be it's my hooking skills, this ended up being quite large! It fits me pretty snugly. But I think may be a big kid or teenager is a better end user of this hat. Here is the hat again

I love the stripe detail, which was not in the pattern but I did not have enough of the Rouge yarn! "Necessity is the mother of invention" or substitution in this case. So I simply added two rows of Avocado double crochet and two of blossom heather double crochet.

I would have like the braids on the earflaps to be a bit chunkier but I really wanted to work with the yrn I had and not purchase more.

All in all very happy with how this hat turned out!

Blackened chicken with "not so dirty rice" and spinach

Hello! It's been a week since my last blog post. I will attribute the silence to a sick toddler, a sick husband and now I'm sick too! This has been a great excuse for recovering hubby and almost recovered toddler to go to her art class together as I finally get some much needed quite time to write this post.

Firstly, I am super excited about the overwhelming response to my Spring flower hat. This hat was such a huge hit that it earned me two new followers and earned me my first time being featured. So, please head on over to Kadie's at Seven Alive to see all the wonderful crafters, cooks and DIYers that she has so kindly featured.

Now, some of you may or may not remember my grill pan chicken post from last week. Well, we had a lot of leftover Kasha from that night. So, I actually ended up upcycling (can you upcycle food?) the kasha for another meal late last week.  I followed another Cooking light recipe for the blackened chicken. Now they served it with Dirty rice which I substituted with Kasha. The reason I call mine not so dirty kasha is because, I swapped the rice out for the kasha and I omitted the chicken livers. I didn't have any and I wasn't motivated enough to go out and buy livers, something that I have never cooked with. Anyhow, my not so dirty version was yummy and super flavorful.

The blackened chicken recipe was fantastic and I would totally make this again to use in wraps, salads or sandwiches. Plus, it is lightened up from a more traditional blackened chicken recipe so it's guilt free too. We've been getting our chicken breast thinly sliced so it helps with the portion control a little more.

I served this with a side of organic spinach sauteed with fresh garlic.
Here is the big reveal, theirs vs. mine.

I am loving this theirs vs. mine theme so much that I think I'm going to make it a weekly feature! What do you think?

Spring hat

I have been knitting and crocheting for a while. Or at least it seems so. It started when I was may be 8 or 9 and my grandmother gave me a ball of thick, chunky, turquoise yarn and some needles and taught me to cast on and knit. Then we had to learn it in school for a year or two. I picked it back up again in design school and really got into it when I was pregnant with my one and only Miss M. She is the end user of all my yarn endeavors and a perfect model of course. She is 2 1/2 years old, which means she is always on the go and super clumsy. She has already lost a wonderful hat I had crocheted for her this winter.

Here is my little one in her colorful crochet hat

 Fortunately, our neck of the woods saw a very mild winter this year and we made do with a store bought fleece atrocity.

The procrastinating mamma that I am, it has taken me until spring time to make her a new one. I was sidelined in between by other projects and the lack of inspiration. The latter finally arrived in the form of "The Little Sister Hat". I loved the pattern for it's dainty shell stitch as well as good coverage.

I used one off white skein of Bernat Satin yarn. I was surprised by how much yarn this hat used! Here is the end result! I love the print for the flower, It's cheery and very spring- appropriate. Plus I really wanted something with yellow in it. So here it is!
Oh, and how cute is the flower button? I found it at Jo-Ann fabrics.

That's it from me for this week! I am hoping to feel especially inspired over the weekend. I hope everyone has a lovely holiday!

Linking up to Debbie-Doo's newbie link party every monday!

Grill pan chicken with mushroom sauce & garlicky asparagus My entry into Wow Me Wednesday sponsored by Appliances Online and Bosch Washing Machines

Every now and again, I get bored of the same old kitchen concoctions and seek out new ideas and recipes. Recently, we scored a free subscription to Cooking Light magazine and I am just so thrilled about it. Clearly, they can think of so many ways to jazz up chicken.

This particular recipe is for grill pan chicken with a mushroom sauce and garlicky asparagus.

This is what mine looked like versus theirs.

My version of Grill pan chicken with mushroom sauce 

 To save myself from washing couple of extra pans, I pan steamed the asparagus. To shave a few more calories from the sauce recipe, I substituted Smart Balance for the butter. I served this with a side of Kasha which is made out of whole grain buckwheat. This was an easy way to get in our whole grains for the day!

This is what was cooking in our kitchen! What's cooking in yours? I'd love to know!

Crochet Capelet

Procrastination surely is the thief of time. But, no greater motivator than a blog post in need to finish up a project.

Usually I stick to baby projects for knitting or crocheting. For one simple reason- (fairly) instant gratification. But , one fall day I was simply ready for more. I went through my Ravelry list of favorites and found this lovely shell stitch capelet. My big criteria, for choosing projects is the cost of the pattern. Trust me, I love to support a fellow crafter but often there are many great free patterns to choose from.

This capelet pattern can be found on the Lion Brand Website by clicking here. The yarn I used was Vanna's Choice, the recommended yarn for the project as well as something that was easily available in my neighborhood Michael's store. The pattern was easy, instructions clear and I was able to get it done, start to finish in 5 days! What took me longer was finding the correct clasp for it and then it took me 3 more months to sew it on. Terrible I know.
Here are the pictures of me modelling it. I wish I had made it a tad bit smaller as I feel that it is quite loose especially down the front. Although I wonder if it just seems so because I am not used to wearing  capelet type garment which is pretty open in the front.


Does anyone else have a similar project to share? Or a suggestion for my next project? I'd love to hear from you!

Starting over

It is spring time! Which means it is two years since I first started my blog and then never kept up with it. My baby who quickly became a toddler and now is almost a preschooler has kept me on my toes! While, prioritizing and reprioritizing the mundane, everyday things; "me time" or any time for creativity has fallen to the bottom of the list.

In the meantime however, this frugalista has evolved! I have sneaked in some time to pick up and hone my knitting skills, I have bettered myself as a cook and definitely evolved as a frugalista. I have realized that style extends beyond a wardrobe. It is a part of everything we do. In this self search I have found a number of lovely blogs that inspire and motivate me everyday.

I would love to pick up where I left off and evolve frugalistastyle into a blog that explores all the things that interest, inspire and intrigue me. Because after all, only change is constant.

Oh, and I have also found a fresh, new look! Thanks to www.thecutestblogontheblock.com that has some fun and chic blog backgrounds.
And last but not the least, this is my first entry as a newbie on Debbiedoo's newbie link party!

White hot

This post is long overdue. I can list out my excuses for the tardiness, but I am going skip that and get right to the point.

Summer is finally here and what a way to start it with the "Sex and the City 2" movie. I am a huge Carrie Bradshaw fan just about as much as her alter ego Sarah Jessica Parker. They both have an amazing sense of style (thank you, stylist Patricia Field) and the courage to put together pieces creatively- which results in one thing and one thing only- CB's and SJP's super-stylish self which many women try to emulate.

When Carrie walked on to the screen on memorial day weekend, she raised the bar on my favorite summer staple- the white dress.

Carrie's original dress, a vintage Halston, was of course out of this frugalista's price range. I frantically searched all over for this new, chic white dress which could live in my wardrobe beyond a mercurial summer and transition well into the fall. Finally, I found an identical one at ASOS. It's almost the same as (oh ok, it is exactly the same as) the vintage Halston, but didn't Karl Lagerfeld say "Imitation is the best form of flattery." ? There are several reasons I love this dress- it looks right out of the seventies, but in a good way, it's clean lines call for fabulous accessories, it is made out of matte jersey which is the most universally flattering fabric ever! All these elements make it fresh and new and versatile and an obvious favorite of this frugalista.

I am sure the diva that lives in each one of us is also lusting for CB's gold, glitter Christian Louboutin gold pigalle heels and the fabulous gold Chanel clutch. While it is a great on screen look, I question the practicality of sparkly, gold pumps and chose to tone it down a little, with pale, gold pumps by Jessica Simpson available at Macy's. These step in for a basic, neutral pump and lend itself perfectly to all seasons and all looks. I liked the versatility of this gold, snakeskin wristlet from Express over the hardcase clutch Carrie totes. While Carrie's chunky necklace is quite nice I personally prefer the simplicity of a thin gold chain multistrand necklace such as the one below from forever21.

Last but not the least, Carrie's sunglasses are classic Aviators, which some of you may have already or can indulge in this pair from Forever 21.

Summer and dresses go hand in hand just as white and summer go hand in hand. A white dress should be everyones wardrobe staple. While in the past I've always been a fan of the standard summer faithfuls- eyelets, swiss dots, seersuckers, this year they all seemed blah. Here is your new and improved white dress. So "Carrie on" ( I just couldn't resist the pun) in this fabulous ensemble, inspired by one of the most stylish women around while channeling your inner frugalista.

Everything's comin' up roses!

This is the second consecutive year that I'll be spending Mother's day with my mom. (We live on different continents). This particular mother's day is also special because it's my first. This has inspired me to put together a list of fun gift ideas for all moms.

What I am in love with this season is the abundance of floral details in accessories. Whether floral prints or pins flowers are a sure crowd pleaser. With this is mind I've curated these items as my favorites gifts to give and to get this mother's day. I love handmade objects. There is something so special about them, so you'll see a lot of my finds come from my favorite site- etsy.com.

For the mom who loves baubles I love the glitzy flower bib necklace from Icing by Claire. If you think your mom deserves some spa like R & R surprise her with handmade carnation soaps $8 and the chryanthemum bath sponge also $8, put them together in the spa cosmetic pouch with the adorable flower pin and ribbon detail for $15. The Chrysanthemum sponge comes from the store Francesca's collection. I discovered this store while on vacation in Dallas, Texas. They have a variety of adorable clothing and accessories- all unique and one of a kind. Their website is equally promising and that is where I discovered this gorgeous bath sponge which is almost too good to use in a bath!

If your mom is an earth mother, how about the farmer's market tote from Sandbox studio on etsy.com? It's durable fabric, soft shape and gorgeous appliqued roses will let mom tote her earth friendly finds in style. Also for the eco-conscious, the fun and flamboyant pin from Tootsnap treasures on Etsy.com. It is made with repurposed vintage fabrics and pins and can be used as a hair accessory, brooch or to glam up  last seasons handbags.

You can charm mom with the handmade peach flower charm handmade by glassbeadtresures on etsy.com for her favorite charm bracelet. Priced at just $6, you can actually get a few adorable ones or throw in a vintage charm bracelet to really round out the gift. Since pins and brooches are back in style this spring , Beedeebabee's felt rose pin fits the bill. With it's classic rose appearance and rich creamy color, it may just be the perfect addition to mom's accessory drawer or the touch of spring her dresses need this season. 

And finally, the super cute Kisslock purse from Icing by Claire with it's multi color rose appliques is perfect for mom to bring to all the graduation parties, weddings and showers she may be invited to this summer.

So skip the bouquet of flowers and try one of these rose embellished beauties instead for a gift that will last for a long time!

(St)ripe for pickin'

When I saw nautical stripes on Spring 2010 runways, I thought "no way". I associate nautical stripes or sailor stripes with a slightly grown up audience. Besides, aren't they usually a part of resort collections from all and sundry, typically emerging in stores around december? However, these runway images from Rebecca Taylor changed my mind about these crisp, clean and classic wardrobe staples. Inspired by these two looks, I set about to create budget versions of the same.

What is new about the nautical stripes, is not the stripe or the silhoutte itself, but the pairing with soft, feminine skirts and girly accessories. The key to pulling off this look is keeping it simple. Here are my versions of the two looks.

For the casual look, I love the soft tee in a classic blue & white, paired with the smock waist skirt from Old Navy. I added the denim wedges, which are casual yet chic and pull together the fun and flirty look. Shoulder bags are back and so very appropriate in this girly look. In lieu of the flower pin in the runway look, I chose this songbird pendant necklace from Forever 21.

For the chic but sophisticated look, I love this faux wrap skirt from J.C. Penney in charcoal with a red and white stripe striped sweater. I chose cobalt as the accent color in this simple peep toe platform from Target. I have to admit, the hardest thing to find for this look was a floral printed clutch. But I found several lovely ones on etsy.com, my favorite handmade goodies site. The soft, punchy floral print of the clutch keeps this look from being too sophisticated. I added a simple yet sweet multistrand necklace that picks up the gold and blue tones of the clutch print. I love the floral espadrille in the runway shot. There were several super- cute from Roxy and Kensie girl at zappos.com, Macy's and piperlime.com but they were all fairly expensive and would have cost me most of my $100 allowance.

Add one of these classic, stripe tops to your wardrobe now and wear it for the rest of the year. Whether a flirty skirt or denim shorts or even your white jeans for high summer and with darker jeans and boots in the fall/winter this trend is bound to become your favorite for this season.

Life, LIBERTY and the pursuit of spring dresses!

What is it about that first spring day, when the mercury hits 70F (that warrants a dress in the North East), life suddenly seems so much better that you must have a pretty dress and perhaps some open-toed footwear to match? While last spring/summer was all about the maxi this year, the hemlines are rising. And while one may wear a maxi (I surely will wear the ones from last year) the possibilities are endless this spring. To reinfuse my wardrobe, my quest for the perfect spring dress began in earnest.

While dresses of all shapes and lengths are important this spring what makes this year exciting is the variety of floral prints. To me, florals are synonymous with LIBERTY prints; just the way COLGATE is synonymous with toothpaste or ESCALATOR is synonymous with a moving staircase. Imagine my delight when I saw a television commercial announcing that LIBERTY of LONDON was doing a collection of their famous prints for TARGET! I love TARGET! Now here is a store that clearly understands the needs of a Fashionista + Frugalista. Clearly, a 5 minute drive to get a Liberty print anything seems more economical than a Trans-Atlantic flight. So, you see, that is money saved already!

Sure enough, Miss M and I headed over dutifully to our "Tarjay" and right there on the main pad, in all their colorful glory were the LIBERTY print dresses. Now, I've always known Liberty-like prints to be small, tightly packed colorful floral. Some may refer to these as Ditsy prints. I was quite intrigued to see, darker ground colors as well as different scales of florals and whimisical prints (a.k.a conversational prints). In just a couple of basic silhouettes and two lengths (midi and a maxi) the designers at Liberty let the prints speak for themselves. Neutral ground florals and dark ground whimsicals were the stars of this capsule collection. The dress I picked out for myself - a peacock feather print, black ground print, smocked bodice with ruffled tiers. The Isis print dress is modestly priced at $29.99 I thought it was worth it for the print.

This great dress, can be dressed up or dressed down. Paired with a few basics and a few spring must haves, this dress is very versatile. Few basics that I thought would go great with this pretty dress- a cardi, a jean jacket, metallic sandals (flats or wedges), a peep toe shoe or a ballet flat in a fun color. As for jewellry and othr accessories, with a print that speaks volumes, it is perhaps best to keep them simple and minimal. I particularly like the wisp earrings at Forever 21 which pick up the feathery detail of the print, as well as thin metallic bracelets stacked on one wrist. Both of these items, of course to be worn seperately and not together. I love adding a pop of color with a clutch for a night out or a date and a satchel or shoulder bag for work, shopping or day time. I realise, my outfit choices topped $100 but some of you may have these basics in your wardrobe already, in which case just add the dress and enjoy!

As for me, my pursuit of the sundress continues. I much prefer a splash of Liberty on my accessories such as a wallet or a soft scarf. How has your pursuit of a spring wardrobe worked out? I'd love to know!

Doing what I do best (or so I'd like to believe)

For a while now, I’ve believed that blogs mourn the loss of personal thoughts. Facebook, Twitter and blogging have enabled us to put our thoughts out there for everyone to see almost as fast as our brain can come up with them. My impression of blogs changed, radically, when my childhood friend started writing a food and (beautiful) photography blog. This led me on a search of blogs I like. Turns out there is a blog out there for just about every single like or dislike, hobby, craft, occupation, parenting, relationships you name it! Clearly, I am a newcomer to this world. However, now it is as if I have opened Pandora ’s Box.

Recently, I had a baby and I added the title of “mom” to the various roles I already have. Clearly, I am not the first or the last to do this. But, humor me, because every first time mom thinks that she is the first one to go through what she is going through. My husband and I instantly fell in love with and are currently obsessed with our creation. Therefore within seconds of her birth we started toying with the idea of me becoming a stay-at-home mom. Six months into it, I can tell you that it is the hardest but most rewarding job I’ve ever had. After all, a dimpled, toothless smile that lights up your life totally beats money in the bank, a promotion or a bonus check. Staying at home through the winter and what so far has been an awful spring brought with it several challenges. Here I was, cooped up at home, with a tiny infant. If I said I did not question my decision to be a full-time mom, I’d be lying. I had given up not only my paycheck, but what had been my identity for seven long years. After all, what we do for nearly ten hours a day ( more than that for some), becomes a huge part of who we are. I missed my friends- having lunch in my office or may be just even having lunch on some days, missed the happy hours, the water cooler chit chat. Add this to the raging post partum hormones, I can hardly say I was the picture of happiness. Finally, a dear old friend of mine suggested writing a blog. Get in touch with the outside world and stay in touch with things that matter to me. But, what would I write about?

I asked myself the above question every single day. Recently, when the sun shone through the clouds, bringing with it some warm weather and glimmers of hope for me the answer was as clear as that particular, sunny day! Fashion! Now, those of you that know me know that my training is in fashion; my work experience is in fashion. But, I would like to believe that I am not an uppity fashionista. Spending lots of money on NYC rentals and later on “growing up” and turned me into a “frugalista”. I realize I am not alone in this boat. So, I have decided to attempt to write about fashion on a budget! I have always loved those “Splurge vs. Save” columns in magazines. Or how to “put together a look for under $100”; except sometimes I want to look like a million bucks for even less than that. So, I put my style hat on and try to let me clothes and accessories do (some of) the talking for me.

Fashion will come and go, but style is forever. And it is possible to be stylish on a budget. This is what I would like my blog to demonstrate.