Monthly Archives: August 2019

Fall 2019 shoe wardrobe

 in General Fashion / Shoes  tagged boots / fall 2019 / gucci / sneakers by

fall 2019 shoes

Fall 2019 shoes from top left: black high heels booties / snakeskin booties (color sold out, also love these) / brown cowgirl boots / Gucci sneakers /

Temperatures may be a bit warm outside, but that doesn’t mean I can’t get my fall 2019 shoe game on point! This fall 2019 season, I am all about booties and sneakers. I am still in love with athleisure, so I have two pairs of sneakers I love to wear on the streets of Silicon Valley; as opposed to the gym. Of course I still wear my adidas Superstar sneakers, but when I am feeling a bit more “fashion-y,” these Gucci platform sneakers are my go-to.

One of the big trends in shoes this fall 2019 season is the hybrid sneaker. We are looking at sneakers that double as hiking boots, or sneakers which could also be creepers; and more! Sneakers for fall 2019 will often feature platforms, lug soles, high tops with faux fur lining, and other odd features we do not normally see in sneaks. This Gucci pair offers just enough hybrid sneaker trend, without being too avant-garde. I like to jump into trends with an understated vibe.

fall 2019 it shoes

These black, high heel booties are great for dressier looks, or just amping up a pair of jeans for a night out on the town. They are classic and chic, love!

Animal prints are always huge for fall, but for fall 2019, snakeskin is where it’s at in footwear. Look for snakeskin footwear everywhere! I love snakeskin on booties, so this pair is a current favorite of mine. The snakeskin is sold out, but the same brand has a similar pair, with the same snakeskin print leather, online here.

Lastly, the western trend is still going strong, so a pair of low cowgirl boots called my name this season. These brown cowgirl boots will be great with skinny jeans, skirts, and dresses. I am in love with the contrasting wooden heel; plus they are really comfortable. I might live in them this fall!

Shop my fall 2019 shoe wardrobe online:

These shoes will be going to New York Fashion Week with me next week, so stay tuned to see how I style them! You can see the snakeskin booties here, and the black ones here.

Which shoes are you hoping to add to your fall wardrobe this year?

Thanks for stopping by!

XOXO

Cathy

fall 2019 shoe and boots trends

Sustainably sourced fall must-have’s

 in General Fashion / Shopping  tagged eco chic / fall 2019 by

shirtdress winter into spring

This sustainably sourced dress is priced well under $100, you can see my original post here. / Black dress pictured at bottom of post can be found here, original post here.

Humans use a lot of products. These products are often created using resources rather than recycled materials. In addition, many of the manufacturing processes used to create these products are detrimental to the environment. That’s why when I learned of a few brands working hard to create sustainable fashion, I was thrilled!

The shirtdress pictured above is still in my closet, and worn frequently. I photographed it for the blog when I was in New York for fashion week back in February. I love that it is still on store shelves, priced under $100, and sustainably sourced. One of the fallacies many people believe is that sustainable = expensive. This is not true! You can find sustainable products at inexpensive, fast fashion retailers such as H&M or TopShop, mid-market brands such as Eileen Fisher, and from luxury fashion houses based in Paris. You just need to know where to look!

Many retailers are starting to point out when their products are eco-conscious and/or sustainably sourced. This is great news for consumers as we try to navigate what to buy, and where to buy it.

So to make things easier, I found a few fabulous eco-chic items for fall, which I hope you will love! After all, most of them are surprisingly affordable, and they happen to be sustainably sourced. Love!

Shop sustainably sourced clothing for fall 2019:

Do you have trouble finding sustainably clothing and accessories? Where are your favorite places to shop eco-chic?

Thanks for stopping by!

XOXO
Cathy

classic black dress

Homemade Baked Ziti recipe

 in Entertaining  tagged casseroles / cathys original recipes / lifestyle / recipes by

If you have been reading here for awhile, you know I have three kids, and a very busy schedule. Types of casseroles are an important dinner option for me since they can be made ahead. Casseroles only need to bake in the oven when it’s time to cook dinner, so they are super convenient. This makes prep convenient with my schedule, and it makes feeding my family a home-cooked meal even easier.

My kids love pasta; don’t most kids? Since pasta is a huge hit at my house, and quite possibly yours, a casserole version is key on busy days. My homemade baked ziti recipe is both easy to make, and well loved by pasta-loving children. That’s win-win!

Homemade baked ziti is an easy and delicious casserole you can make on the spot, or ahead of time when your schedule gets the best of you. So without further ado, here is my homemade baked ziti recipe with instructions. I hope you love it as much as my kids do!

Homemade baked ziti ingredients:

  • 1 lb. Ziti pasta (you can substitute penne if your market doesn’t carry ziti)
  • 1 jar Rao’s Marinara (you can make your own, or use another brand, but this is the most authentic on the market, in my opinion-my ancestors are from Italy, so my family is used to authentic Italian food)
  • ½ cup chopped green onions
  • Sliced provolone cheese
  • ½ cup shredded parmesan cheese
  • ¾ cup mozzarella
  • 2 pounds bulk Italian sausage, cook before mixing into casserole. (can substitute 1 pound ground beef and 1 pound ground pork if you don’t like sausage)

Homemade baked ziti cooking instructions:

Step 1: Cook pasta

Step 2: Mix pasta together with sauce and meat in a mixing bowl.

Step 3: Pour half of the mozzarella into the bowl and mix together.

Step 4: Pour half of the pasta mixture into the casserole dish.

Step 5: Cover the pasta mixture with the remainder of mozzarella cheese.

Step 6: Pour the last half of the pasta mixture on top.

Step 7: Smooth out the top of the casserole with a wooden spoon.

Step 8: Sprinkle Parmesan cheese on top of the casserole.

Step 9: Layer provolone cheese slices on top of Parmesan cheese.

Step 10: Top the casserole with green onions.

Bake 35 minutes at 350. Remove from the oven, serve, and enjoy!

There you have it! A really easy casserole the whole family can enjoy. It makes about twelve servings, so there is a good chance you will have plenty of leftovers to eat on another busy day, or bring to work for lunch. I hope you and your family, friends, etc love this homemade baked ziti recipe too!

Thanks for stopping by, and manjia tutti!

XOXO
Cathy