Men's Style Feature: Keeper of the Grove

Hat- K Mart, Hoodie-Thrifted, Blazer- H&M, Denim- Diesel, Sneakers- H&M

      Last week an old friend from high school sent me a facebook message letting me know how much he loved my blog (Thanks so much Jake!) but he also was wishing that I would feature more men's wear looks. Well lucky for Jake, I was able to get my boyfriend (Shahin) to pose for the camera and let me be the photographer for a change!

      Funny story about this burgundy blazer that Shahin is wearing. While hunting for the perfect Valentine's day gift for Shahin I spotted this blazer at H&M. At first I loved the garment but decided that perhaps it was more my taste for him than his own (did that make sense?). Skip to two weeks later and we're both out shopping together. Shahin anxiously asks me "Do you think I can pull this off?" as he holds up the exact same blazer I had initially selected for him! Great minds, right?!

       Wearing a blazer with a simple hoodie and well fitting jeans instantly feels pulled together. Plus if you plan on going out later that evening all you need to do is nix the hat and hoodie and add a button up shirt and dress shoes!

Yours,

Nico

      

DIY: Organized & Personalized Bookshelves

DIY: Organized & Personalized Bookshelves by nsaich featuring glitter shoes

      Bookshelves aren't just for reading material anymore. Think of them as a bulletin board used to display all of your favorite pieces of inspiration! Show off your collection of perfume bottles, jewelry, or shoes on one shelf, utilize another for highlighting framed personal photos or memoirs. The possibilities are only limited by your creativity and the best part is, you can switch things up as often as you like, nothing is permanent! Sometimes I like to add a vase of seasonal flowers to bookshelves for a fresh fragrance.On other occasions I like to group items of like color onto shelves for a sleek and uniform appeal (but really nothing its more efficient and timeless than an alphabetized bookcase!). 

      We're experiencing a lot of rainy weather here in Santa Cruz and I plan on spending some of the time indoors reorganizing my bookshelves! How do you spend your time inside when the weather is dreary?

Yours,

Nico


PS: Here's a peek at a couple of shelves!

I keep copies of my favorite children's and young adult books,
this copy of little women is disheveled yet well loved!

A pieced together tea set displayed with Ann Taintor's "we are all utterly unclean."
I like to create small vignette's combining collections with related books on display.

Yours,
Nico

Santa Cruz Coffee House Feature: Verve

      It is a long standing fact that I love Cafe Delmarette here in Santa Cruz, CA. What you may not know is that Dalmarette whips up delicious lattes and cappuccinos made from Verve coffee beans. Imagine my delight when Verve Coffee House opened on the downtown strip! A spacious and open venue with modern art pieced adorning the walls as well as beautiful lighting set the mood for the perfect spot to enjoy your daily cup of joe. On this occasion I ordered the most delicious (and picture perfect) latte ideal for a quick boost!

      Verve Coffee House is located on 1540 Pacific Ave, in Downtown Santa Cruz or click here to be directly connected to Verve's main web page for information on additional locations and store hours. 

Yours,

Nico

Nico's Most Wanted List: Utensil Sandals

      As a home cook, how could I resist these incredible utensil sandals that mix my love of fashion with my love of food?! I randomly stumbled across these Moschino Cheap & Chic sandals on Nordstrom's Blog and instantly fell in love. 

      What do you guys think? Would you wear gilded silverware on your feet?

Yours,

Nico

PS: I'd definitely wear these shoes with a pedicure version of this nail art I did a couple weeks ago:

Bright & Vibrant Citrus Salad!

        Last week marked the first days of Spring and to honor the occasion I pulled together a zesty citrus salad that not only looks as bright and colorful as the Spring but also tastes like the perfect bite of a fresh new season. Cool mint leaves coupled with spicy slivers of red onion make for the ideal balance of flavors against a thick slice of orange. Feel free to utilize your favorite variety of orange or mandarin (example: blood oranges, tangelos, grapefruit) or whatever happens to look the most fresh at your local grocery. I selected juicy Cara Cara oranges, which are typically slightly pink on the inside and have a more complex and sweet flavor. I also used pea shoots for the first time for this particular recipe. I normally don't stray too far from romaine lettuce, a spring mix, or (on rare occasions) arugula, but I believe that the pea shoots bring a more subtle and delicate flavor to this dish. The final components of this citrus salad are the perhaps the must indulgent, flakes of creamy goat cheese and a drizzle of honey balsamic vinaigrette to round out all the other flavors for a citrus salad that not only looks like a modern art piece but tastes like a culinary master piece also! 

Magic Ingredients: (for the salad)

- Red Onion

- Crumbled Goat Cheese

- Mint Leaves

- Pea Shoots

- Oranges 

Getting Started:

-Start by slicing an orange according to the pictorial below:

- Slice a red onion into small slivers.

- Assemble the citrus salad as shown in the pictorial below (layer the pea shoots and mint, followed by slices of oranges, crumbled goat cheese, red onion, and a generous drizzle of dressing) 

Magic Ingredients: (for the dressing)

- 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

- 1 tablespoons mayonnaise

- 1 tablespoon honey / agave Syrup

- 1/2 teaspoon pepper

Getting Started:

- Mix all of the ingredients together until smooth and creamy.

Yours,

Nico