FORAGE Styling Tips

Here are some quick styling tips using clothes we currently have at the store.

Embrace BRIGHT colors this summer by wearing bright colors from head to toe as shown in the outfit on the left.  We paired a bright orange dress with a brightly patterned scarf and red bag.  If color isn't really your "thing," try wearing a bright top and pairing it with a basic color like navy or black, like the outfit on the right. 

And another styling tip, pair an oversized sheer top with a long maxi skirt for a minimal but summery look. Remember to tuck the top slightly into the skirt in order to achieve that "casual chic" look.  We also accessorized this outfit with out new giantLION beaded necklaces (seriously, they're amazing!).

Remember to stop by the store to add some great items to your wardrobe and for more styling tips, we'd love to help!

happy hour at FORAGE: watermelon sangria

I feel like sangria is one of those drinks that you don't really need a recipe to create. If you have fruit and wine and you put em together long enough, I'm pretty sure it makes sangria. This watermelon sangria is no exception but lemme tell you...it's the best sangria I've ever put together. Tastes like summer and stuff.

Ingredients:
(serves 4ish)
2 cups watermelon chunks
Handful of blueberries
2 tablespoons sugar
1 lemon, sliced
1 lime, sliced
1 apple, cut in quarters
Lemonade
1 bottle fruity white wine
Triple sec
Ginger ale, club soda, or any other carbonated beverage (I used a can of orange vanilla Polar Springs water)

Put the watermelon, blueberries, sugar and a splash of lemonade in a pitcher. Using the non-business-end a wooden spoon (like me) or an actual pestle (like a normal person), macerate the blueberries, some of the watermelon, sugar and lemonade together until the blueberries are just burst. Add in the rest of the fruit, the wine, a few splashes of triple sec and top it all off with the lemonade. Let it sit in the refrigerator for a few hours. Mix before serving; pour in glasses over ice. Top off each glass with a splash of something fizzy.

Megan's June Playlist

The Neighbourhood, Sweater Weather
Macklemore and Ryan Lewis, Can't Hold Us
Zedd ft. Foxes, Clarity
Passion Pit, Carried Away
Kanye West, Touch the Sky
Jack White, Love is Blindness
Lenka, Everything's Okay
Of Monsters and Men, Love Love Love
Rihanna, Stay
Mariah Carey, Beautiful
Capital Cities, Safe and Sound
Michael Jackson, PYT

FORAGE girls (a night out)

Just a few happy snaps from the Lowboys show at Bistro last Friday evening. It was a dance-y, sweaty, loud, and smiley evening from start to finish. FORAGE girls love summer.

One Good Thing

I've been keeping this little secret since January 1st. I probably saw the idea on Pinterest (because all ideas involving literally anything live there) last fall and kept it in the back of my mind to start once the first day of 2013 rolled around. 

It's an incredibly simple exercise. At the end of each day, you write the date at the top of a piece of paper and one good thing that happened that day. It can be as small as "I got Chipotle for lunch" to something as big as "my sister got married!". It can even be as sorry as "I didn't get any bills in the mail today". Just something - anything - that didn't suck. Some days you'll really have to rack your brain and others you may have multiple one good things. I cut index cards in half, use a fun color pen and stick all the notes in a big mason jar that sits on my vanity. 

Forcing yourself to end your day by physically writing down something good, even when you feel like you had the worst day in the world, serves a number of different purposes. It helps lift you up in the short-term (duh), it's an easy way to record memories for those of us who don't have the wherewithal to journal every night, and the thing I'm most excited about? Re-reading all of these little missives at the beginning of 2014. Sure, I'll still remember some of the struggles and the stresses of the past year, but they'll be muted - and almost silenced - by all those positive things I wrote down. Things ain't so bad! 

This isn't something that has to be started at the beginning of a year. By all means, start now! Keep going after 365 days.

xo,
Megan

FORAGE : Introducing the FORAGE girls: Austen

Meet our current Intern, Austen!

FORAGE Styling tips

Here at the store, one of our favorite things to do is dressing up the mannequins, so we decided to share some our styling tips!

 Styling tip 1: What to wear on rainy days

Throw on a light trench to cover up (and protect) your favorite summer dress.   

or

Bring out your denim jacket to throw over any outfit, it's a great way to slightly avoid getting drenched and it looks amazing! 

Styling tip 2: How to wear long skirts and dresses for the summer

Yes, it's officially summer and it seems like the temperature keeps going up.  A great way to combat the heat is to wear a loose fitting dress like the lovely white dress pictured on the left.   If you feel like the dress is TOO loose, just cinch the dress with a belt!

Another option is to just wear the dress alone, just add your favorite handbag and call it a day. 

And finally, long skirts can be your best friend during the hot summer days.  Just throw on a cute tank and slightly tuck it into your skirt just like the outfit pictured above on the very right. 

Hope everyone enjoyed our styling tips, and be sure to check back for more exciting posts!

recipe saturday at FORAGE: 3 BEAN SALAD

It's hot, ya'll. Hotter than the last time I posted a recipe for you and complained about the weather. When the temps rise into the 90s, my appetite practically diminishes. If you cross reference between this post and my personal survey, you know I love food more than anything. Ever. I want melted cheese on everything always, and I want carbs, starch and sauces all the time...and I get very upset when the thought of these things induce nausea rather than excitement. So, where can I find full bodied flavor and contentment without an oven, a block of cheese, or a saucepan? Right here. Right here in this addicting 3 bean salad. I was introduced to this recipe years ago, and it has been a staple in our house ever since. Not not only will you find yourself craving the delicious, savory dressing, but also the ease and simplicity of making this bowl of mixed up beans.

INGREDIENTS:

1 15 oz can red kidney beans
1 15 oz can green beans
1 15 oz can cannellini beans
1/3 cup granulated sugar oil
1/3 cup cider vinegar
1/4 cup olive oil
1 1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup chopped red onion
1 cup chopped fresh flat leaf parsley

1. Rinse and drain kidney, green, and cannellini beans

2. Chop parsley and red onion

3. In a large bowl, whisk together the sugar, cider vinegar, olive oil, salt and pepper

4. Add rinsed and drained beans to bowl along with chopped onion and parsley.

5. Toss everything together making sure all the beans are nicely coated in the dressing. Cover with plastic wrap and let marinate in the refrigerator for several hours to overnight. 

Now eat it up! As Megan and I always say about the best things...ain't nobody cryin!

xoxo,

A.