Wednesday, December 23, 2015

Mother Daughter Matching Outfits: Black Vest, Red Flannel and Stripes.






I threw our outfits on early this morning to run to the grocery store ...I really wanted to avoid the pre-holiday craziness. A couple weeks ago, The Miller Affect paired a striped turtleneck with a red plaid shirt. I loved it and thus inspired our looks.


My Outfit Details:

Striped T-Shirt and Vest - Old Navy. Old.
Fur Scarf - Mine is old and faux fur. This one looks exactly the same, but just noticed it says its real. I will try to find another alternative.
Sneakers - Nike. Old.
Plain Black Hat - Wal-Mart $2.97

Sister's Outfit Details:

Red Flannel - Old Navy. I recommend ordering a couple sizes bigger! It runs pretty small.
Leggings - Target
Vest - Old Navy. No longer available. This is a cute alternative.
Boots - Wal-Mart. I think they were around $8.

It has been so windy the last couple of weeks. My hat blew off too many times to count. Our fresh gravel is as close as we are going to get to a white Christmas!

Thanks for being here. Audra

Click here for more pictures of my outfit.



Plaid and Stripes: Red Plaid Flannel Boyfriend Shirt, Striped T-Shirt, Black Skinny Jeans, Black Hat, and Sneakers.




I threw this outfit on early this morning to run to the grocery store with my kiddos....I really wanted to avoid the pre-holiday craziness. A couple weeks ago, @themilleraffect paired a striped turtleneck with a red plaid shirt. I loved it and thus inspired my look. Putting red lipstick on and the pom fur scarf made me a little more excited to be up so early!

Outfit Details:

Striped T-Shirt and Vest - Old Navy. Old.
Fur Scarf - Mine is old and faux fur. This one looks exactly the same, but just noticed it says its real. I will try to find another alternative.
Sneakers - Nike. Old.
Plain Black Hat - Wal-Mart $2.97




Tuesday, December 22, 2015

Easy Everyday Outfit - Tunic Shirt, Boyfriend Sweater, Straight Leg Jeans, and Blanket Scarf.





My go to pulled together look is a button up under some type of sweater...short or long sleeve.  The proportions and colors may change, but the basic look always works. In this version, I am wearing a long tunic top and a boyfriend sweater creating a very forgiving and comfortable outfit. The blanket scarf adds color and warmth.


Outfit Details:

Tunic Shirt - H&M
Sweater - Old Navy Boyfriend - sorry, couldn't find online. Just picked mine up in-store a couple days ago.
Blanket Scarf - Wal-Mart $8.97
Booties - Nordstrom Halogen

My Jeans are old, but just about any style of jeans will work.

Thanks for being here. Audra







Monday, December 21, 2015

Review: Verona Industrial Stove (36" single oven)


stock photo

My thoughts first and then below are photos of our actual stove in place.

We have had our Verona since November of 2011. I cook on it almost daily! Overall, I love this stove. The options for a free standing industrial gas stove in 2011 were pretty limited, unless, you wanted to spend several thousand dollars or more. I came across this particular stove on a website that we purchased our farmhouse sinks from. We ordered this stove purely based on the look. Definitely not the smartest reasoning! So far, (knock on wood) its been a good choice.

The cooktop is gas, while the oven is electric. Otherwise this is know as a "dual fuel range", which is the best way to cook (in my opinion). We have propane instead of natural gas, and the site we purchased it from included a kit to convert the burners to use with propane. Propane needs smaller ports than natural gas.

This stove has five burners.  The middle burner is big, burns hot, and works great for boiling a big pot of water for pasta or browning meat in a skillet. On each side of the middle burner, there is a small burner and a medium sized burner. This cooktop takes some adjusting and getting used to because of how hot the flames are. I was previously using a glass cooktop, and when I first started cooking on my Verona I burned a few things. The burners only have a low or high printed on them, but they are dial adjustment with no pre-set click spots (hope that makes sense).

The oven is pretty standard, though it has several cook options where 99% of the time I use the basic "bake" option. Again, it took some adjusting to get used to, but just like driving a different car you adapt and learn how it works. It does have a timer. This is a very basic stove in the sense there are no big digital dials or readings. There is a small display that shows the time and if you want to set a timer, BUT it does not give a temperature reading of the oven. Also, there is not a "375" on the oven temperature adjustment knob. It goes from 350 to 390. For me, this has not been an issue. I just adjust it to be in-between 350 and 390. Verona is a Italian company.

The back vent comes up around four inches. I really like the way this makes the stove look, and it also adds as an extra barrier to protect the wall. A smaller vent option is available if you are wanting to put your stove in a island, or maybe just don't like the look of the taller back.

I love how the stove has a good amount of clearance from the floor to the bottom of the stove for easy cleaning. Under the oven is a small door and storage area. This is where I keep the broiler pan that came with the stove and my cast iron griddle.



The grates are cast iron and are easy to clean.



If I have missed wiping a spill on the grates and it becomes dried. I simply stack the grates in my sink and run hot soapy water over them. I try not to do this very often, because just like a cast iron pan the water is not good on them. Therefore, I occasionally rub small amount of vegetable oil onto the cast iron portions of the stove.



The burner caps are also cast iron.



Small back burner.



Cover that sits over the gas port and distributes the flame.



Cast iron cap that sits on top of the cover.



The big, middle burner has three gas ports.



Cover for the middle burner which has a sim option that is just the middle portion of burner or you can chose to have the flame in the middle and on the outer ring.



Cast iron cap for middle burner.



Center and outer flame on middle burner.



Oven knobs.







I primarialy use enamel coated cast iron pans in varying sizes and shapes or my cast iron griddle pan when cooking on the stove top.

Please ask me any questions you may have. Thanks for being here. Audra

Verona  - company website

Amazon listing of stove.

ajmadison listing of stove.

The website we purchased our stove from no longer sells this particular stove.

Sunday, December 20, 2015

Easy Holiday Outfit - Plus My Cute Kiddos









It is so fun to look at all the fashionistas in their respective holiday looks!  As a momma though, I need something I can get down on the floor and play in! Help open presents in...maybe sneak a nap in after a long day of festivities. Yes, I just want to be comfortable, and in an outfit that is cute but not something I have to fuss with.  I love this look because it checks all those boxes for me.

I picked up the plaid dress on major sale at JC Penny. It is junior sizing and would be too short for a dress on me. I really think the collar detail is great, and I am wearing it without the slip underneath. I paired the dress with a simple black sweater, although a red sweater would be nice as well.  I have been seeing so many sweaters with a chiffon type layer peeking out the bottom, and this gives a similar look. To finish the look, I added black skinny jeans, black booties, and faux fur scarf. 


My son is wearing a Tumbleweed t-shirt. Little Blue Truck Christmas is one of his favorite Christmas books. His third birthday was Little Blue Truck themed. The jacket is from H&M.  My daughter is wearing Carter's. She calls the bows on her shirt "pretties". I know I am biased, but they are so stinking cute!


Thanks for being here. Audra


Friday, December 18, 2015

Fair Isle Aztec Cardigan Sweater - 4 ways (no leggings)


Last week my mother in law and I went Christmas shopping at JC Penny. It's a bit of a tradition. We shopped pretty much the whole store. Which is rare for me. I'm usually on a mission for something specific. I ended up with a arm full of goodies! The MIL bought this particular sweater for me as a Christmas present, but she gave it to me early so I can wear it on Christmas Day!

SOOO, when I first saw this sweater I had an immediate connection to it. It made me think of Ralph Lauren and sitting by a fireplace after riding horses all day at his Colorado ranch...Oprah is probably there as well (anybody else see that interview?). Until that happens I have this beautiful sweater!


My take on this gorgeous fair isle aztec cardigan sweater.  



 Little Black Dress (LBD)

Sexy(ish) Boyfriend Jeans

Destroyed Flare Jeans - Denim on Denim

Flare Jeans - Mixing Textures

Thanks for being here. Audra

Ripped Flare Jeans, Fair Isle Aztec Cardigan, Denim Chambray Shirt, Pom Hat and Cowboy Boots - Denim on Denim







Destroyed flare jeans, denim chambray shirt, fair isle aztec cardigan sweater, pom hat, and cowboy boots. I love, love this look. It has a 70s or festival feeling to it. My mom always told me what is old will be new again (as my eyes rolled). Well, mom, you were right. My jeans are Abercrombie and Fitch from when I was in high school. I think they are 14 or 15 years old. Does that make them vintage?? I got the holes in the knees by wearing the heck out of them. You just can't pull jeans off the rack that feel so soft. Perfection in my opinion! My cowboy boots are from the same time period. Classic cowboy boots never go out of style. Good quality, all leather cowboy boots are worth investing in and should last a lifetime. I just recently had mine resoled. Something you can do with nice boots.

Thanks for being here. Audra