What Farah Wore 9.29.14

Zara Jacket (sold out)
Earrings Tory Burch: Small Logo Studs
Pants Jcrew: Winnie Pant

Shirt Jcrew: Long Sleeve Shirt 
Shoes Tory Burch: Sally Wedge
Purse Tory Burch: Robinson Purse

Things Farah Loves (For the Home)

I am constantly finding ways to re-decorate my home. Of course, living with a significant other, it's hard to keep my home feminine. I always have to find a happy medium. This is why I usually purchase some feminine pieces to decorate while keeping the rest of my home consistent with dark cherry wood furniture and various rustic pieces.

Anthropologie has so many vintage pieces that I love! You can tell that a lot of my favorite items come from there. They are just great with floral and always carry my favorite combination: blue, white and gold. They currently have these decorative pillows (that are reversible) that would look amazing in any home that needs a quick pop of color. My current pillow combination is a little muted so I can't wait to purchase these to liven up my living room.

I own the smaller of the vases but recently purchased the tall vase. These look amazing with hydrangeas, sunflowers, etc....  The pitcher from Tory Burch serves more as a vase to me. It's a great centerpiece for a large coffee or dining room table.

The remaining items kind of go with the vintage look I constantly seek. I love a clean white plate to take the best quality photos of my kitchen creations. The Kate Spade set and the Anthropologie tea cup and saucer are just so timeless and classy. I can't wait to update my dining accessories with these items. The gold coasters are from Pier One Imports and just ties all these items together. If you can't tell, I adore white and gold!

If you are looking for some vintage, feminine pieces, hopefully these items give you some great inspiration. Happy Decorating!

Sources: KateSpade.com, ToryBurch.com, Anthropologie.com, PierOneImports.com

Rainy Day Soup Recipe: Ina Garten's Roasted Tomato Soup

I am so obsessed with soup during the fall. One of my favorite recipes is the Ina Garten Tomato and Basil Soup. So delicious, healthy and easy to make. A perfect weeknight dinner for me and my boyfriend. It has so much flavor that I eventually eat 2-3 bowls. See below for the recipe. Keep warm!

Recipe Ina Garten Roasted Tomato Soup

What Farah Wore: (more fall looks) 9.24.14

Shirt: Banana Republic Cami   

Shoes (similar) LK Bennett: Sledge Pump

Earrings Tory Burch: Small Logo Studs   

Watch Michael Kors: 5055 Gold Watch

Cardigan: Tory Burch: Simone Cardigan  

Necklace: Tory Burch: Multi Strand Necklace 

Pants: Banana Republic Sloan Pant (sold out)

Fall Candle Spotlight - Nest - Pumpkin Chai

Im obsessed with all things fall and now my favorite fall candle is available to be purchased. Nest Pumpkin Chai smells amazing and lingers around the whole house. It's a combination of pumpkin, cloves. chai, spices, etc.... It essentially reminds me of the Pumpkin Spice Latte at Starbucks. It's a great gift for the holidays and an even better treat for yourself!

Nest Pumpkin Chai ($34)

What Farah Wore: (Fall Edition) 9.23.14

Shirt: Burberry Tulisa Shirt   

Shoes (similar) LK Bennett: Sledge Pump

Earrings Tory Burch: Small Logo Studs   

Watch Michael Kors: 5055 Gold Watch

Pants: Jcrew Factory Winnie Pants

Fall is here all! Check out my very fall outfit above. Grab your Pumpkin Spice Latte and enjoy the cold! 

Farah's Top 5: Ramen Joints

I am addicted to Ramen Noodle Bars. I'm a huge advocate for immense flavors that ramen noodle delivers! Regretfully, there are no ramen nooodle bars in Charlotte. Fortunately for me, I travel a lot so I make sure I stop by a bar at every city I hit. I think I have tried about 15-20 different places throughout the US, but I am going to share my top 5.



1. Slurping Turtle - Chicago, IL (top choice - spicy ramen) - this ranks #1 one in my list because the flavor of the ramen is something I can not find anywhere else. Not only that, but the restaurant itself is very trendy and has other menu items that taste just as great (the spicy tuna sushi is my fave) Slurping Turtle


2. Ki No Spoon - Rockville, MD (top choice - spicy ramen) - located at a strip mall in Rockville, MD which may seen sketchy but is completely safe. The seaweed and corn makes this ramen what it is. It's a little spicy but you can also get non-spicy at these places too. Very authentic. Ki No Spoon


3. Uncle - Denver, CO (top choice - spicy chicken ramen or prawn ramen with corn) - this was my first time trying chicken ramen and I have to say that I was not disappointed. It's a very hipster location and Uncle offers traditional and non traditional ramen. Chicken and Prawn are probably my favorite. I'm a huge fan of non traditional ramen. Uncle


4. Tatsu Ramen- Los Angeles, CA (top choice - spicy chicken ramen) - the best thing about this place is the Ipad ordering system. You can basically customize any ramen base with any toppings! Not only that, but I am a huge fan of corn and it's free here! They don't arbitrarily charge you for common add-on items. Once you get your food, there is complimentary seaweed and garlic (with your very own garlic crusher) so you can add it to your ramen! I am a picky eater, so I really love that I can customize what I want and how I want it. The taste lives up to expectation as well. Tatsu Ramen


5. Totto Ramen - New York City (top choice - basic tonkotsu ramen) - first ramen I have ever tried! My boyfriend and I stumbled upon the Hells Kitchen location about 2-3 years ago and fell in love. The ramen is very authentic and probably as close to the real thing as you can get. They also offer fresh tuna charred with a blow torch that is just divine! Totto Ramen



Hope you all start trying ramen in your city now! Unfortunately it isn't offered in every city, but I am hoping this trend and taste gains momentum and becomes popular. (Still hoping for a Charlotte, NC location)

Images courtesy of google.com

Trend & Brand Spotlight: Flash Tattoos

One of my girlfriend's recently purchased these for a bachelorette party and I am in love! These are temporarily tattoos in gold and silver that looks like painted on jewelry. They are so boho and have been spotted on many celebrities such as Beyonce and Vanessa Hudgens. I personally love the gold bracelets stacked on my arm. Prices are very reasonable (about $22).

All tattoos can be purchased at Flash Tats (images are courtesy of Flash Tats)

Recipe: Fattoush Salad

I love Middle Eastern Food! It has so much flavor and I just can't get enough!

One of my favorite dishes is a Fattoush Salad. So rich in flavor and with the crisp pita bread, it's actually very filling.

Spices: Zatar and Sumac are great middle eastern spices. Zatar primarily consists of oregano, dried mint, etc... while Sumac is a lemony, bold red spice. Excellent addition to the salad. Can be purchased at any international aisle in a grocery store. I would say that these are vital ingredients that should be purchased to make this salad what it is.

Recipe

Serving Size: 4

1 large romaine lettuce, chopped
2 tomatos, diced
1 english cucumber, diced
1/2 cup parsley, chopped
1 tbs mint, chopped
3 radishes, sliced thin
1 small green pepper, diced
1/2 tbs zatar
1/2 tbs sumac
1/2 tbs salt
1 large pita bread sliced

Add all the ingredients (sans pita bread) together and mix.

Dressing

3 tbs fine olive oil
1.5 tbs red wine vinegar
1/2 lemon juice
3 garlic cloves smashed with a dash salt
1 tsp zatar
1 tsp sumac

Mix all the dressing ingredients and whisk. Put in the fridge. 15 minutes before serving add the dressing and toss.

Pita 

Place the chopped pita bread on a baking tray. Brush on some of the mixed dressing and bake for 10-15 minutes.

Top the pita bread on the salad. Serve immediately.

Recipe: Quinoa Salad

Superfoods has been a term that has been thrown around a lot these days. Kale is probably the most popular "superfood" but I'm partial to quinoa. 

Quinoa is a grain that is gluten free and high in protein. It's a germinated grain that has excellent nutritional value. A great alternative to rice, barley, etc... 

Recipe

1 cup quinoa 

2 cups water

1 tomato, diced

1/2 english cucumber, diced

1/2 tbs red onions, chopped

1 cup arugula, stemmed removed and chopped fine

2 tsp salt

1 tsp pepper

1/2 tbs olive oil

1/2 lemon juiced

Cook the quinoa in the two cups water with a 1 tsp salt. This should cook high for 15 minutes. Once completed, sit aside to cool

Once cooled, mix the remaining ingredients and toss. Add more salt while tasting. As I always say, it's all based on preference. 

Weeknight Dinner: Stuffed Sweet Potato

Another easy weeknight with my rotisserie chicken. This is so quick to make, tastes delicious and is healthy!

Recipe

1 large sweet potato, microwaved for 15 minutes
1/2 cup shredded rotisserie chicken
1 small onion, diced
1 cup fresh spinach, roughly chopped
1 tsp cajun seasoning
1/2 tsp salt (add more as you cook and taste)
1 tsp pepper
1 tsp crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
1/2 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp dried parsley
1/2 tsp of coconut oil

Fire up your pan and add the coconut oil (start with 1 tsp but add more if the pan starts getting dry). Add the onion and cook till transparent and browned. Add the shredded chicken and all the seasonings for about 2-3 minutes. Add the spinach and cook for another 2 minutes.

Once the sweet potato is done, slice in the middle and make room for all the filling. Serve and enjoy!

NYFW (Part III) Farah's Favorites

More pattern mixing, structured designs and Naeem Khan may have won best evening wear and Alice & Olivia rocked everyday wear!

TRENDS to NOTE

WIDE-LEGGED TROUSERS

PATTERNS

WHITE ENSEMBLE

Photos courtesy of style.com

(Cheat Day) Weeknight Dinner: Whole Wheat Carbonara with Corn

It's cheat day! I was craving pasta but felt guilty about the massive amounts of carbs I was about to indulge in so I did a modified carbonara.

Recipe

Half of a box of whole wheat pasta
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup broth
2 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
1 tsp olive oil
1 tsp crushed red pepper (optional)
1 tsp coconut oil
1 small onion diced
2 pieces of bacon diced
3 garlic cloves diced
1 tbs of parsley
2 egg whites
1/2 a can of corn

Put 1/2 cup of water and broth in a stockpot.  Add the olive oil and 1 tsp of salt. Cook the pasta al dente - the best is to boil your water and then add the pasta in for 7 minutes (stirring occasionally).

In another pan, cook the bacon and set aside. Add the coconut oil and cook the onions and garlic in the bacon fat till browned. You can add crushed red pepper if desired.

Add back the bacon and stir.

Once the pasta is done, add it to the bacon, onion and garlic mixture. Add the corn and toss it in the sauce. Finally add the egg whites. Let cook and toss occasionally. Add 1 tsp of salt, some pepper and parsley. Toss again and serve. (you can add more salt and pepper if desired - I always add more if needed later on)

Weeknight Dinners! Chicken & Vegetable Soup

I work 5 days a week and usually buy a rotisserie chicken on Sunday to make various dishes during the week (chicken salads, regular salads, soups, etc...) It is so versatile and helps me make a quick and easy dinner.

My go to is a chicken and vegetable soup. It's so appropriate and delicious especially since the temperature has begun to drop. Very easy to make and the clean up is just as easy (a great combo in my opinion)

Recipe

1 box of Chicken Broth
1/2 cup of water
1 carrot diced
2 celery stalks diced
1 small russet potato diced
1 small onion diced
1 tomato diced
1/2 can of low sodium corn kernels
1 handful of parsley chopped
1 cup of shredded chicken (rotisserie is my go to!)

Add all ingredients to a boiling pot of water and broth and let simmer for 20-25 minutes on medium heat. Add some sriracha if you want to add some heat! Garnish with some fresh parsley.

New Obsession: Apothecary Jar Decor

My new obsession right now is buying apothecary jars and using it for storage and/or decor! The best places I have found to purchase these are at Home Goods or Marshalls (they run about $7.00-$12.00). I also go to Michaels and use their 40% off one item coupon to get the best deal! I do recommend going to the following places I suggested because some places charge upward to $20.00-$30.00. 

A few things I have done: cotton swabs in a jar and a beachy decor with sand and sea shells. 

Above are some images I have found that would look excellent and affordable for the home! 

Since fall is coming, I would recommend putting some mini pumpkins, squash and/or pinecones! Other uses are ornaments during Christmas, or just general storage for candy, sweets, etc... Great to use for a candy bar at a wedding.

I haven't created a terrarium yet but I love foliage and greens in a house. It adds that fresh vibrancy and looks great in a rustic home with dark wood!

Images courtesy of google.com

NYFW (Part II) - Farah's Favorites

Part II of some of my favorite NYFW designs. I am a huge fan of patterns and mixing patterns. These three designers absolutely killed in this area! I definitely predict a lot of pattern mixing this spring. Don't be afraid to layer on patterns cinched with a large belt! 

As far as the fall, just remember these few things: 

BURGUNDY.

NAVY.

HUNTER GREEN.

BLUSH.

LEATHER.

LEOPARD.

FUR.

All courtesy of style.com

NYFW - Favorites (thus far)

NYFW is amongst us and I wanted to share some of my favorite designs. Some of the trends that I am liking thus far are dark fall colors, lace and of course, the crop top! I just love elegance and these designers delivered. Looking forward to see some of these on the red carpet this year!

All courtesy of style.com

What Farah Wore - Southern Edition

Marc By Marc Jacobs: studs   LK Bennett: shilo pump

Lily Pulitzer: palmetto dress

Recipe: Brunch Fiesta!

It's the weekend everyone and I wanted to share with you a brunch recipe you can make at home this weekend! Very easy, healthy and delicious.

Recipe

Guacamole
1 avocado
1 small roma tomato
1 tsp of chopped red onion
1 tbs of cilantro
Pinch of salt
Pinch of freshly grounded pepper
1/2 of a jalapeño chopped without seeds

Mash the avocado with all the ingredients and place in the fridge for later.

Omelet
3 eggs whites
1 tsp of cilantro
Pinch of salt and pepper

The best way to cook this is by mixing eggs whites with a pinch of cilantro, salt and pepper prior. Add mixture to the pan on low heat. Put the cover over the pan and let cook on both sides. Should take about 4-5 minutes.

Cajun Potatoes
1 large russet potato
1 large white onion diced
2 garlic cloves chopped fine
1/2 cup cilantro chopped (you can add more or less... I just love cilantro
1 tbs cajun seasoning
Pinch of salt and pepper (start with a little and keep adding while you taste and cook - over-salting is a nightmare!)
1/2 tsp cumin
1/8 tsp of crushed red pepper (for some heat)
1/8 tsp of paprika
1/2 tsp Badia - all purpose seasoning (can be purchased at the hispanic aisle in a grocery aisle)
1/2 tsp Badia - fajita seasoning (can be purchased at the hispanic aisle in a grocery store)

** I find the Badia seasonings add that extra kick!

(I recommend using a cast iron pan for this as it heats up quickly and allows the potato to be crispy... but you can use whatever pan want)

In a cast iron pan under medium heat, add the garlic and onion and cook till translucent. Add potatoes on an even layer and all seasonings with a pinch of the cilantro. Toss together and let cook.

Note: If you are in a rush, bake the potato in the microwave. I just cut the potatoes in small cubes so it all cooks faster.

Let the potatoes get brown on the bottom (takes about 6-7 minutes - contingent upon your stove) and then flip. Cook the potatoes until they are to your liking (some people like it mushy and some like it hard... so it's all preference). Add the remaining cilantro and serve with eggs. guacamole, and your favorite hot sauce!

My Favorite Scents

I love scents. Candles. Perfumes. You name it!

A lot of people have a signature scent but I literally own about 10 perfumes. I can never decide!

To the right are a few of my all time favorites (I obviously had more but this post would have been tremendously long and annoying if I posted ALL of my favorite scents).

I'm not a fan of woodsy scents (they give me major headaches) so most of these are pretty light.

If you are interested in more of a lighter, floral scent to make into your new signature perfume... I highly recommend these!

1. Jo Malone - Blackberry & Bay ($60)

2. Jo Malone - Peony & Blush Suede ($60) 

3. Chloe ($105)

4. Tory Burch ($85)

5. Marc Jacobs - Daisy Dream ($76) 

Can be purchased on Bloomingdales.com 

What Farah Likes: Fall Trends

Even though it's about 97 degrees in good ole' Charlotte, NC... in my eyes fall is coming! I wanted to share some of my favorite fall trends (not everything is pictured).

Fall to me means fall colors, tights, vests, leather, leopard and ankle boots.

Fall trends

1. Maroon, navy, blush, cream and hunter green colored ANYTHING

2. Leather .... (skirts, pants, trousers, leggings, shorts) I am REALLY into midi skirts. I'm 5'1'' but with a great pair of heels, it really doesn't drown the vertically challenged :)

3. Brown or Black tights during the cold months to wear under your skirts

4. Chambray and a crisp white button down goes with practically everything and all colors

5. A great pair of leopard loafers (or  a leopard infinity scarf) to add that pop of pattern

6. Ankle boots for all situations! Dark brown is the new cognac/tan for me. It definitely has more of a "fall flair" since it goes well with the dark color palettes I listed above.

7. Vests (fur and puffer) I just love faux fur! Especially with an all black ensemble... or under a nice plaid shirt. It just looks luxe and warm. The puffer vest is more casual and preppy but warm and trendy at the same time.

Pine and Pinot Noir Skirts - JCrew Factory

Chambray Shirt - JCrew Factory

White Button Down - JCrew Factory

Black & Tan Leather Skirts - Piperlime

Cable Knit (Navy) - Nordstrom

Cable Knit (Blush) - Forever21

Ankle Boots (brown) - Tory Burch

Ankle Boots (black) - Tory Burch

Leopard Loafers - DSW

Fur Vest - Saks

Puffer Vest - Lily Pulitzer