Bougie Girl Life

I vacillate between wanting to be glamorous in a flowy chiffon summer frock with high-heeled sandals rockin’ comfy yoga pants with a scooped-neck T-shirt and espadrilles.  Luckily, I have reached a happy comprise of wearing the more casual clothing ensemble to run errands in and saving the summer frocks for nights out with friends and family. This summer, I have focused a lot of attention on purchasing shoes and small crossbody purses. Back in April, I started ordering pastel-colored sandals in lilacs and canary yellow to go along with the standard black and beige ones that I order every year. It has added the essential pop of color to my wardrobe.    I top all this color goodness off with a coordinating cross-body purse. So far, I have purchased these in lilac, canary yellow, fire engine red, beige, black, chocolate brown, and navy blue. For rainy day social outings, I steer away from flowing frocks and focus my attention to a more stylishly sturdy clothing ensembl...

  Salads provide us nourishment in many forms. There are the traditional salads filled with leafy greens, tomatoes, onions, and sprinkles of cheese in various sizes and shapes. Generally, they are featured as one of the opening courses or a side dish to accompany an entrée. However, salads have way more to offer than standard veggie goodness. Adding beans, meats, and cooked pasta can take the accompaniment element of salad into the entrée realm. The salad pictured contains mixed greens, grilled chicken, garlic scapes, cherry tomatoes, shredded mozzarella cheese, red onions, cilantro, and Baby Bella mushrooms. I served it with a side of baked breadsticks (sliced store-bought bistro bread). The thin and crispy texture calls for more of an oil-based dipping sauce versus a marinara. For the dipping sauce, I used Extra Virgin Olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and lime juice with basil and black pepper. One of the best things about this salad is its versatility. ...

  There is a patio, rooftop deck, or another outdoor seating area which is beckoning me to sit down and take a load off. A simple menu that offers refreshing drinks, light appetizers, and semi-reasonable prices. What to wear for such an endeavor? My one-shoulder lavender dress with a hem that grazes my ankles is paired with matching open-toed wedge sandals. I am limiting my jewelry to mid-sized silver hoop earrings which are always a great summer go-to. Patio Girl Summer is not limited to an evening out with my lady friends or even a cozy date night.  My favorite time to occupy a patio is over the lunch hour. Preferably, closer to 11:15 am because usually the café is not packed full of other patrons. Also, the weather is still cool enough to enjoy a hearty lunch with a chilled beverage sans sticking to your chair. Lunchtime patio lounging can be great as a solo undertaking. However, I always make an effort to limit my patio lounging time to no more than 45 minu...

 Simple luxuries are all around us. The extra 30 minutes of reading time that we give ourselves on a sunny Saturday morning or purchasing an ounce of loose leaf tea from our favorite local shop. Both activities can provide us with a much-needed life boost without requiring a huge time or financial commitment. These types of simple luxuries can be pursued in either a large metropolitan city or quaint little towns.