2012 June | Seize the Styles

mediterranean chicken and orzo pasta salad

Jun 292012

This is the pasta salad to make to make this summer. I have made this for countless dinners and bbqs, and it is always a hit. I think I have made it for every one of my friends who has a newborn baby, as it is easy to transport and makes amazing leftovers. You can make it as a side dish by omitting the chicken, or serve as an entrée as it has everything you need for a complete meal.

Filled with marinated artichokes, kalamata olives, cherry tomatoes, and dried cranberries (recipe calls for currants, but I substitute for cranberries), there are so many different flavors in every bite! I have also made variations from the original recipe as seen here. I never add the capers, as most people don’t like them. I love them, but when serving to other guests, capers are always something picked out and left on the plate. Also, the recipe calls for a lot of olive oil, and you don’t need to use this much. And definitely add more orzo –at least 1 full cup. I also always add feta. In my opinion, you can never have too much feta! And if you have extra time, add in some toasted pine nuts.

Seriously, make this for your next bbq and you will be getting rave reviews and everyone will be asking you for the recipe!

Hope everyone has a fabulous weekend!

Posted by Jenny on June 29, 2012 22 Responses »

bright white blazer

Jun 272012

zara shirt, h&m cropped pants, nordstrom blazer (old) ivanka trump heels, marc jacobs crossbody bag, nordstrom bangles

I have had this white blazer in my closet for a long time and it has proven to be a great investment piece. It can be dressed up with black pants for work, or dressed down with jeans for the weekend. Today I linked up with Marion from Marionberry Style’s “June Trend of the Month” link-up. To see how other bloggers styled bright, fun colored blazers, click here!

Posted by Jenny on June 27, 2012 36 Responses »

blue gingham

Jun 262012

h&m shirt & skirt, ralph lauren heels, ross bag

Happy Tuesday! Hope everyone had a great weekend, mine was pretty uneventful. Highlights included starting a compost pile and bbqing beer can chicken for the first time. Now if composting doesn’t sound exciting, I don’t know what is!

Ok, fine. We did one cool thing, which was dine at Tyler Florence’s restaurant, Wayfare Tavern, so that made up for the rest of the weekend :)

Posted by Jenny on June 26, 2012 40 Responses »

green envy

Jun 212012

jcrew pencil skirt (recent at factory store but halogen has a similar one here) & vintage cotton tee, coach purse, max studio heels (similar here), nordstrom bangles, target necklace, ring from sf boutique

I am always trying to balance my wardrobe with a mix of work clothes and fun clothes. Most of the time I try to purchase items that can be worn as both. A few posts ago I asked about wearing neon to the office, and now I have the same question about animal print heels. I wear these heels all the time when I am going out, but for some reason I have yet to wear them to my office. To be truthful, I would normally just wear black or nude heels with this skirt!

So I would love to hear your opinion . . . are animal print heels meant for after-work hours only, or would you rock them in the corporate world?

Posted by Jenny on June 21, 2012 40 Responses »

porto . . . bello

Jun 202012

The portobello mushroom isn’t the most attractive vegetable, but they sure are delicious when prepared the right way. Plus they are really filling, and this recipe is all you need for a weeknight dinner. And by the way, did you know that one large portobello only has like 25 calories? If that doesn’t sell you on eating these things, then I don’t know what will. For so little calories, portobellos really are hearty and filling, especially when filled with all of the flavorful ingredients in this recipe.

To make this recipe, you only need to follow a few steps:

- Sautee 10 oz (one pre-washed bag) of baby spinach in olive oil until wilted and set aside. Once cooled, chop up the spinach.
- Sautee 1/2 of a large onion (chopped) with 2 cloves of garlic (chopped)
- After about 5 minutes, add in 1 cup of chopped tomatoes, and a 1/4 cup of sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
- Cook all of these together for about 5 more minutes, until everything is slightly cooked. Remove pan from stove and stir in 1/4 cup chopped kalamata olives and add the chopped spinach. Sprinkle a little of feta cheese, 1/2 cup or less, and season with salt and pepper.

- Toss 1/4 cup fine bread crumbs with 1 tablespoon olive oil and season with salt and pepper, set aside.

- Wash the portobellos and remove and discard the mushroom stems, and carefully remove the black gills with a teaspoon and discard.
- Brush the mushroom caps with oil on both sides and season with salt. Broil in the oven for about 8 – 10 minutes, with the smooth side up. Remove from oven and turn mushrooms caps over so that the smooth side is down.
- Fill each mushroom cap with the vegetable mixture and sprinkle bread crumbs on top of each filled mushroom.
- Stick the mushrooms back into the oven for another 8 – 10 minutes and serve warm.

I will only repeat myself one more time, but these stuffed portobellos are so healthy and delicious, meat-free, and full of vegetables. You will not be disappointed :)

Posted by Jenny on June 20, 2012 18 Responses »

crochet chic

Jun 182012

jessica simpson denim dress, crochet cardigan from nordstrom, steve madden heels, bag from a boutique in sf, bangles and necklace from nordstrom, marc jacobs sunglasses, earrings from kohl’s

These pictures of my sister were taken at a farmers’ market on Thursday evening. There is nothing better than getting fresh fruits and vegetables from your local farmers’ market :)

My weekend was full of bbq’s, swimming in a pool, and just trying to stay cool. Hope you had a nice weekend!

Posted by Jenny on June 18, 2012 25 Responses »

the “It” list – June 15, 2012

Jun 152012

Sweetie Pie Style shows us that black and blue really do go together! Such a cute look for date night! (find Sweetie Pie Style on Twitter!)
A Fashion Fixation looks positively radiant in her day-glow hues! Head over to find out her tip for seamlessly adding this look into your wardrobe! (find A Fashion Fixation on Twitter!)
Urban Frill has found a summer layering piece to replace the jean jacket! Pop over to see what warm weather essential she is sporting!
Sandy a la Mode looks adorable in her floppy summer hat! It is the perfect accessory to elevate any look! (find Sandy a la Mode on Twitter!)
The Fashionable ESQ is breaking the bank with her current wish list! It’s good for a girl to dream every once in a while, right?! (find The Fashionable ESQ on Twitter!)
Seize the Styles is making a statement in her fun pencil skirt! Check out her tips for styling this bold choice! (find Seize the Styles on Twitter!)
Northern Style Exposure plays with brights in her whimsical sequin top! Paired with neutral accessories, it makes for an exciting every day look! (find Northern Style Exposure on Twitter!)
Miss Top Ten Image is channeling her favorite 50s movie stars and showing us her throwback style! So cute! (find Miss Top Ten Image on Twitter!)
Here & Now has a new favorite activity – cruising on her cute bike! Her outfit even matches it! So fun! (find Here & Now on Twitter!)
Diva in Me is sharing a little bit of her daily work life with us. Pop over to see her new clothing shop! Swoon! (find Diva in Me on Twitter!)
Olive and an Arrow is rockin’ the Texas Tuxedo! Paired with a bit of leopard and you have a sassy outfit ready for just about anything! (find Olive and an Arrow on Twitter!)
Melificent is keeping her mood in check by wearing bright stripes! Don’t forget to check out her shoes – they are killer! (find Melificent on Twitter!
Sigh…Gush…Gasp dresses up her jeans and blazer with a few colorful accessories! It’s all in the details! (find Sigh…Gush…Gasp on Twitter!)
Second Street East shares her favorite vacay outfit with us! Cute, comfortable and easy going is the name of the game! (find Second Street East on Twitter!)

the IT list is brought to you weekly by Jill of Good Life and edited by Michelle of Second St. East.

For more information on how you can be involved - click here!

Posted by Jenny on June 15, 2012 19 Responses »

maxi simplicity

Jun 142012

nordstrom maxi skirt (first seen in this post), nordstrom black t-shirt, belt and bag from ross, wedges by boutique via nordstrom (similar here), earrings and bangles from nordstrom

Notice anything different about the 2nd photo? Besides the fact that I don’t have sunglasses on? Look closely and you will see that this is a great example of how important belts can be! Really, belts are such a great accessory (see this same maxi worn with a thin, sparkly belt here in this post) and can make a look go from frumpy to refined :)

By the way, I linked up with Mini Me Style and her featured post “Style to the Max(i)“. Click here to see how other bloggers have styled maxi skirts and dresses!

Posted by Jenny on June 14, 2012 40 Responses »

it’s a neon world

Jun 122012

f21 shirt (very recent), limited skirt (old but similar here), jessica simpson calie pumps, marc jacobs clutch, target necklace, kate spade sunglasses
second look: h&m pants (first seen in this post), ivanka trump heels, h&m belt, marc jacobs bag,

I thought I would change up from my normal routine and show a shirt worn two different ways (I know you are now on the edge of your seat). Anyway, I styled this shirt with bright blue pants for a casual brunch with friends over the weekend, and I also dressed the shirt up for more of a corporate look with a gray pencil skirt. But is neon too much if you work in the corporate world? I think my office might be too conservative, but I would love to hear what you think!

By the way . . . need more ideas on how to style neon into your outfit? Click the button below and gain inspiration from other bloggers:

Posted by Jenny on June 12, 2012 74 Responses »

the statement skirt

Jun 112012

anthropologie skirt (first seen here and similar here), chloe k peter pan collar shirt via nordstrom (and is now 50% off!), heels from ross, vintage clutch

A bright red skirt is sure to turn heads. You can dress up this skirt for going out, or keep it more casual for work as seen in this previous post. There is no need for many accessories with this look –the red skirt and black heels pretty much say it all.