va blogger Archives - fiftytwothursdays

Thanksgiving: Trimming The Fat But Not The Fun

Michelle Martin — Tue, 25 Nov 2014 13:30:46 +0000

Thanksgiving is a special day of the year when we gather together with family and close friends to celebrate each other and all that we are thankful for. It’s our family traditions that make this time of year so nostalgic and memorable. Grandma making her entrance with pecan pie in hand, Mom in the kitchen putting together her infamous creamy and buttery mashed potatoes, the nephews and nieces gathered around the table decorating Aunt Peggy’s sugar cookies. These are just a few of the family traditions that I look forward to each year that bring joy to my heart. The unfortunate part is that most of these also make my belly too full to enjoy the rest of the evening. I feel like a stuffed turkey myself! So for this Thanksgiving, we were looking to trim the fat but not the fun. Hoping to skip the unpleasant evening of indigestion, we thought we would try adding a healthy twist to our favorite recipes. Our goal was to look for dishes that opt for healthier ingredients and go lighter on the bad stuff, BUT most importantly, will still please a crowd and keep alive the traditions that make this day one we look forward to each year. For an appetizer we thought […]

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Soup Season- Easy Cabbage & Potato Recipe

Michelle Martin — Tue, 11 Nov 2014 13:00:21 +0000

Soup season is here and I’m pretty excited about it. There is nothing more satisfying on a cold, chilly night than a homemade bowl of warm soup or chowder. It has become a weekly ritual in our household to try a new recipe and save our favorites. A pot full of soup in the fridge will feed us for days. It is a cost efficient and belly filling means to stay warm on cold nights. It all began thanks to my From the Farmer delivery and receiving two heads of cabbage, that’s a lot of cabbage! So I had to think of something to do with it… sauerkraut…kimchi… nope, both too complex. Due to a slam packed week and a limited window of opportunity I decided to go with soup – chop it up, add spices, cover. Too easy. Below is a basic, easy cabbage and potatoes soup recipe. The ingredients are simple and you can edit to your preference. This one pot soup is delicious and so easy to pull together. I went with the following: 2 tablespoons of olive oil 2 carrots, diced 2 stalks celery, diced 2 cloves garlic, minced 6 cups vegetable broth 2 medium gold potatoes, diced 1/2 head large […]

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A Trip Down 95 to RVA

Michelle Martin — Tue, 14 Oct 2014 13:03:12 +0000

My husband and I took a trip down 95 to RVA to met up with some old college friends for the weekend. That, coupled with the fall weather, had me reminiscing about those care free days when I would throw on a college hoody, skinny jeans and a pair of Uggz. Yes, I know how cliché that is and I’m not going to lie…I still own a pair and still wear those Uggz when I walkthe fur-baby below 30 degrees. Don’t judge. Well as I mentioned, the overcast skies, scattered showers and brisk, cool weather in Richmond made for perfect cozy, sweater weather. My favorite go to in the fall now is a silk or denim button down shirt layered under a chunky knit sweater. This simple combo creates an effortless element to any fall look and if the weather brings a surprise warm up, you just shed a layer! I added my new joie crepe joggers to complete the look which was perfect since they are incredibly comfortable and perfect for weekends like this. We were sad to say goodbye to our RVA friends after such a relaxing weekend and, although it had me feeling nostalgic about college, I’m glad to say my […]

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Vintage Fall Fashion with Ella Rue

admin — Thu, 04 Sep 2014 12:30:28 +0000

We hit the vintage jackpot when we came across DC’s premier luxury consignment shop, Ella Rue. The fabulous ladies of Ella Rue have an impeccable eye for collecting both vintage and modern pieces and it shows the second you walk into their store. They know what their customers want and they know how to supply it with the help of fabulous consignors from across the country. Ella Rue is located in the heart of Georgetown and they have grown leaps and bounds since they opened their doors in November of 2010. These fun and energetic ladies will have you hooked, whether you are looking to consign or buy. The sisters behind Ella Rue, Krista and Alexa really take pride in what they do, which is why we wanted to showcase our favorite fall looks from their shop. Knowing the array of styles and designers we would have to choose from didn’t hurt either! We really wanted to challenge ourselves and decided to showcase our favorite vintage/fall looks with a menswear twist. The looks incorporate many elements…lace, leather, tweed, silk, SHOULDER PADS!…and the list goes on. Let us know what you guys think and don’t be afraid to mix things up this fall! Sarah is wearing: Lace Jacket- […]

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