Famous Guest

Quick And Easy Pasta Recipes Even A Guy Can Cook

by

If you’re in need of an easy pasta dish that anyone can make, look no further. These dishes are simple to prepare, taste great, and don’t require much effort.

In the time it takes to boil water and cook pasta, these quick and easy recipes are simple enough for a guy to cook. When a guy cooks he doesn’t want to spend more time in the kitchen preparing dinner than it takes to actually eat the meal.

Pasta is perfect guy food. It’s not fussy and is versatile enough that even if you don’t have exactly what’s called for in a recipe, it usually comes out pretty good. Pasta is like a blank canvas allowing you to add what you like, what’s available, and what’s on sale.

These 2 simple recipes are healthy, quick and easy to prepare, combining a carbohydrate, protein and a vegetable with ingredients you probably (or should) already have in your kitchen.

Spicy Angel Hair Pasta with Red Sauce

This recipe can be prepared in less than 5 minutes including the time it takes you to boil the water and cook the sauce!

 1 pound Angel Hair pasta
 Butter
 2 or 3 cloves of garlic or small onion
 1 large zucchini or yellow squash
 Crushed red pepper flakes
 ¼ cup olive oil
 1 can crushed tomatoes
 ½ can olives

If you are cooking to try to impress someone (other than with your wit and charm), the next time you are at the store pick up a can of clams or crabmeat to add to this recipe.

Fill a large saucepan about two-thirds full. Add a few pinches of salt and a splash of olive oil, cover and put on the stove on high-heat.

On the burner next to the water you are bringing to a boil, put a one inch slice of butter in a skillet and put the skillet on medium heat. Finely dice garlic or onion (or a combination) and put in the skillet once the butter has melted. Stir.

Next, dice the zucchini into thin slices and stir in with the garlic for a minute or two until golden brown.

Put a pinch or two of red pepper flakes into the sauté and stir for a moment to allow the spice to come out of the peppers, followed by the olive oil, tomatoes and olives.

By this time the water for your pasta should have boiled. Immerse your pasta and stir immediately to prevent them from sticking, and stir a few times over the next few minutes. The angel hair pasta will be fully cooked in about 2 or 3 minutes.

If you bought clams or crabmeat, now is the time to add them to your sauce.

After the pasta has boiled for 2 or 3 minutes, drain the water from the pasta into a strainer. After the water has drained, transfer quickly to the sauce and toss gently. You shouldn’t need to add much salt to this recipe as the canned tomatoes and olives will already have plenty of sodium.

Spaghetti with Sausage, Spinach and Mushrooms

Spaghetti is thicker than Angel Hair pasta. This recipe can be prepared in about 10-12 minutes including the time it takes you to boil the water and cook the sauce! You should be able to find some interesting sausage variations at your grocery store: chicken with cheddar cheese, spicy Italian sausage, cajun chicken, chicken with jalapenos, etc.

 1 pound Spaghetti
 Butter
 2 or 3 cloves of garlic or small onion
 6-10 mushrooms
 4 large chicken or pork sausages
 1 cup whole milk
 1 package frozen spinach, defrosted
 Salt for seasoning

Fill a large saucepan about two-thirds full. Add a few pinches of salt and a splash of olive oil, cover and put on the stove on high-heat.

On the burner next to the water you are bringing to a boil, put a one inch slice of butter in a skillet and put the skillet on medium heat. Finely dice garlic or onion (or a combination) and put in the skillet once the butter has melted.

Next, dice the mushrooms into small chunks and stir in with the garlic for a minute or two until golden brown.

Squeeze the sausage filling out of their casing and stir into the garlic, onion and mushroom sauté on medium heat.

By this time the water for your pasta should have boiled. Immerse your pasta and stir immediately to prevent them from sticking, and stir a few times over the next few minutes. Spaghetti will be fully cooked in about 10-12 minutes.

After you have immersed the pasta and the chicken or pork sausage has been fully cooked through, add the milk and simmer uncovered on medium heat. Add the spinach.

When the pasta is fully cooked, drain the water from the pasta into a strainer. Transfer quickly to the sauce and blend well.

Both recipes would be complete served with red wine and a smile.

Reducing The Amount Of Fat In Your Cooking

by

If you want to reduce the amount of fat in your cooking, but aren’t sure where to start, this guide will give you tips you need.

Let’s face it, most of us can do with a little less fat in our diets. Until recently I thought that I was cooking in a fairly healthy fashion and that our family’s diet was good and varied. Then, prompted by a news article, I did a little experiment: for three days I cooked as normal, but made a note of the amount of fat in each meal.

The result was quite shocking! Two teaspoons of butter on my toast = 8g of fat, 50g almonds scattered over the salad = 15g of fat, olive oil in my salad dressing = 15g fat, cheese added to my salad = 37g fat, 1 portion of chips = 37g fat, 1 packet of crisps = 33g of fat. And that wasn’t nearly the day’s total.

With a recommendation to consume no more than 30g of fat per day, I could see why I couldn’t shift the wobbly bit round my hips! However much I worked out, I inadvertently and innocently put it all back in my cooking. I still think that our family has a good, varied diet. I still cook and will continue to do so. All I have to do is to be a little more aware of the ‘hidden’ fats, the oil, the butter, the oh so innocent add-ons.

So I’ve come up with some ideas to remove excess fat from our otherwise healthy food:

make the ultimate fat-free chips: cut your chips then run them under the tap. While still wet, sprinkle liberally with dried herbs, crushed garlic and salt. Bake in a hottish oven (gas 7 or equivalent) for 30-40 minutes. Shake the tray every 10mins or so to stop from sticking or use a non-stick pan. Enjoy!

vegetable based pasta sauces can be made entirely fat free. For a fat free tomato sauce, for example, heat a few tablespoons of water in a pan, add salt, pepper and chili to taste (or use a teaspoon of low-fat bouillon powder) and "fry" your chopped onions and celery in it. When the water is gone, the onions are soft. Add chopped garlic and tomatoes, plus any herbs you like, and cook until the tomatoes break down and turn into the right saucy consistency.

vegetable soups can easily be turned into fat free dinners - just chop your veg and simmer in water flavoured with herbs or low-fat bouillon. For a spicy soup, such as tomato and chickpea, or carrot and coriander, dry fry your spices before crushing them in a pestle and mortar and adding them to the soup.

stewed, or fresh fruit, with fat-free yoghurt makes a great pudding. Sprinkle with ground cinnamon for a different taste.

the brine from pickled jalapeno chillies makes a great fat-free salad dressing, as does sweet chilli dipping sauce. Alternatively use just lemon juice, salt and garlic. This goes well with fish. A salsa made from raw onion, tomatoes and chili is great with the fat free chips. And roasted peppers, skinned, de-seeded and stirred into fat-free soft-cheese make a great dip.

Spices That Every Home Cook Needs

by

A well-stocked spice cabinet is the key to making delicious home cooked meals. These are the spices that every cook needs in their collection!

How does an ordinary meal turn into an extraordinary meal? Using spices is one great and inexpensive way to create a flavorful meal. Although the selection of spices in a chef’s pantry will vary from individual to individual, there are several must-have spices that every home cook should keep in stock.

Freshly cracked pepper

Whether you use white, black, or multi-color peppercorns, freshly cracked pepper adds a little spice to dishes without the overbearing spiciness of other “pepper” spices, such as cayenne or chili powder. Keep a plastic tub or mason jar full of whole peppercorns in your pantry until you are ready to use them. Then, use your pepper grinder when you want to add a bit of zest to your dishes.

Cumin

This familiar spice is great for Mexican dishes, Indian and Middle Eastern cuisine. You can buy in whole or powder form. Try to find whole cumin seeds and store them in a glass jar until you are ready to use them. Simply grind them up using a spice grinder and doing so will release fragrance and flavor notes that can’t be found in cumin powder that you buy at the supermarket. Cumin is tasty in chili and taco meat seasoning, so have this spice on hand if you want to make sure that you have a vital ingredient for Mexican food.

Nutmeg

This spice, which is actually a seed, lends a subtle flavor to both savory and sweet dishes. Whether you are making a pumpkin pie or you are baking a roast, adding just a touch of nutmeg will have you and your dinner guests wondering what the secret ingredient is. Try to use whole nutmeg and grate it using a zester right before use in order to extrude maximum flavor.

Paprika

A red spice that can be mistaken for chili powder, paprika should be a staple in any serious home cook’s pantry. This versatile spice works in a variety of barbecue rubs, seasonings, and marinades, and works just as well for sauces, too. Paprika also adds an intense red color to chili, so you won’t have to use too much tomato sauce to give chili a beautiful red color.

Garlic and onion powder

These are technically not spices, but they are treated as such in their dehydrated and powdered form, and they are usually used together. Garlic and onion powder are best kept in sealed glass jars. They can be used in almost every savory dish that you may make. In general, they do add a stronger garlic or onion flavor to the dish, so use just a little at a time to see how much more you need.

All of these spices are easy to find, affordable, and they add wonderful, unmistakable flavor to dishes. Keep them in your kitchen or pantry to ensure that you’ll have them on hand when your recipes call for them.

What To Cook Tonight

by

483 – What To Cook Tonight
483 – Meta Description:Need dinner ideas? Here are the top tips that will get you inspired and help you figure out what to cook tonight!

Women and men all over the world often ask themselves, what should I cook tonight? So here are some ways to figure out what seems to be a nagging puzzle when it comes to cooking.

Planning a meal with the food in the pantry

1. Check to see what you have in stock.
2. Think of all the different dishes that you could make with what you have.
3. Choose something to cook.

Assessing the food on hand

The first step is to find out what ingredients you have available, this will save you lots of time that is usually wasted trying to figure out what you feel like eating, or what you should or would like to cook. The reality is that you must do with what you have.

Checking what you have in stock can also give you ideas on what to cook.

Remember that this step should only take a few seconds, since you should be scanning your stock not inventorying it.

What dishes can you make?

Step two is the brainstorming portion of this four step process.

In this step you should quickly think what ingredients you have and what dishes could their combination make. If it is necessary you could brainstorm in a paper, or write down your options.

Choosing a meal for tonight

The third step is probably the hardest one, choosing what you actually are going to cook is the reason why you are undergoing these steps in the first place so it might be a little harder then the previous steps.

However, now that you have narrowed down your choices it should be easier to accomplish since you will have concise choices to make.

Menu planning before a shopping trip

1. Establish a budget
2. Decide what type of food you would like to eat; Asian, Cuban, etc.
3. Make a list of Ingredients and buy them.

Setting food budget limits

Even though for some people money is not an issue, most people’s food choices are affected by how much they can or want to spend, especially in today’s economy.

Therefore, before you go on to wondering what type of food you feel like eating establish a budget, how much would you like to spend on dinner? Once you have figured out your budget you can put it aside and come back to it later.

Consult recipes

You must decide what type of food you want to eat, if you have more than one type in mind narrow it down to something that you know how to cook.

But, if it is something that you don’t know how to cook, make sure that you get a recipe and become familiar with it.

Take into account your guests, if you are having any, do they like the type of food that you’re thinking of cooking? If not you may want to rethink your choices to save yourself a bad time.

Shop from a list

Once you have decided on a budget and type of food, check your stock to see what ingredients you are missing and make a list. Making a list is important, not only to make sure that you get everything you need, but also because listing the ingredients, with prices, can help you stay within budget.

Once your list is done, shopping will be a breeze and you can soon start making your desired dinner.

Bon Appetit!

Types of Barbeque Cooking

by

Here are different types of barbeque cooking explained, with tips on how to get the best flavor from each one.

The loved and looked forward to summer tradition of barbeque cooking often involves the grilling of burgers and steaks upon a grill rack using a direct source of heat. However, did you know that there are a few more ways to cook using the grill? The following types of barbeque cooking mentioned below will serve to greatly expand the range of foods that can be cooked on the grill, thereby infusing sauces as well as baked potatoes and vegetables with that savored smoky barbeque aroma.

Direct heat grilling

This type or barbeque cooking is by far the most typical and popular way. It is when food is cooked directly over the source of heat and is what most barbeque chefs are familiar with as they cook their burgers and sausages upon the grill rack. Although this method isn’t advised for cooking large pieces of meat as the outside often gets charred before the inside is cooked properly.

Indirect heat grilling

As the name suggests, this type of cooking uses an indirect source of heat to cook the food. It’s often the case that food is placed to the side, and or the grill cover is closed while the heat is low. This method is especially suited to cooking large pieces of meat or poultry, as the low heat over a long period of time ensures that the inside part of the meat or poultry is fully cooked. It also ensures the outside of the meat doesn’t char quickly. This type of barbeque cooking is similar in many ways to baking food or steaming, as hot air and smoke work to roast and cook the food more so than direct heat. A succulent leg of lamb can be left to roast slowly for a couple of hours on the grill using this method.

Smoking

This method of barbeque cooking is very similar to what has been mentioned above regarding the indirect heat grilling and it is a form of such a method. This method however allows for a great smoky and woody flavor to infuse the food. There are many kinds of smoking woods that are used to release various types of woody flavors. Hickory wood is a popular choice and there are many others. This method only works for grills that have covers though, as the smoke needs to be concentrated.

Rotisserie

This method is when a barbeque turns the meat over slowly and is often something watched with drools of anticipation. It’s an easy way to slow roast any food and has the advantage of being an optimized way to ensure food is cooked evenly. This method is like indirect cooking and often results in the meat or poultry being very tender and juicy. There are options for rotisserie kits to be attached to grills, and newer grills often come with such a feature.

Foil wrapped or basket cooking

Some foods, especially root vegetables, which generally take more time to cook, can be wrapped in tin foil with some seasonings of choice and olive oil. Such a method prevents the outside of the potato from burning, while allowing it to steam inside the wrap and cook gently. A grill safe metal basket with holes in can also be used to grill or smoke a variety of vegetables. The basket is placed directly on top of the grill and prevents cuts of vegetables from sticking to the grill or falling down into the charcoal. It also allows for vegetables to be infused with a smoky woody flavor, making them more tasty and appealing.

Skillet and or pot/pan cooking

The grill can be used in so many ways just like a cooker. Soups and sauces can be made by placing a heavy duty skillet (cast iron ones work best) on top of the grill. A high heat is needed for this method to be productive and allows all the food to be cooked in one place. Such a method can make every single item of food on the menu to be infused with that woody grilled aroma.

As there are many types of cooking methods used upon a stove, there are also many methods of barbeque cooking using a grill. So next time you use the grill, try some of the other methods of barbeque cooking and see how many types of food can conveniently be cooked to perfection on the grill.

Aromatherapy Information And Benefits

by

Aromatherapy is a popular alternative therapy form. The treatment is known to have positive effects on the mind and body. But some caution is also needed.

Anyone who visits a spa often must have undergone the rigorous pleasure provided by aromatherapy. Aromatherapy is becoming a rage among urban spa goers as the treatment is known as not just a relaxing option, but also a healthy one.

History of Aromatherapy Treatment

Aromatherapy is a treatment that traces its roots to many ancient civilizations. Egyptians, Greeks and Romans were only a few among the many civilizations who believed in this form of therapy. The main ingredients in this form of treatment are essential oils that are used for massage.

As per relevant sources, these essential oils were used for bodily treatment extensively by ancient Egyptians. Egyptians refined these oils for not just beautification purposes but also for treating illnesses.

Similarly, Greeks and Romans too utilized these oils in various sacred rituals and also for other purposes.

Essential Oils used in Aromatherapy

According to health and beauty experts, aromatherapy makes use of a lot of natural herb oils and products. The main oils used in this form of treatment are made from fragrant essences present in several plants.

Geranium, tea tree, lavender, cedar wood and chamomile are some such oils that are utilized for aromatherapy. Each of these oils is known to possess specific qualities that act as healing and relaxing agents when applied on the body.

Advantages of Aromatherapy Oils

Health experts who promote aromatherapy as a healing therapy claim that many of the oils used in this treatment possess anti-bacterial elements.

These oils are also known to have stress-busting qualities and anti-depressing qualities. This therapy helps to relieve anxiety and also reduces nausea.

Each of the oils target different body anomalies. For instance, lavender helps to reduce ailments like insomnia and migraine.

Similarly, rosemary oil is known to lessen muscle sprains, aches and low blood pressure. Some of these oils are responsible for kindling lymphatic drainage as well.

Caution before Undergoing an Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy is an alluring rejuvenating option. However, there are certain issues that must be known before undergoing a therapy.

According to therapy experts, every essential oil used in these treatments impacts different organs in the body. A person suffering from specific conditions must be aware how a certain oil massage might affect him during the therapy.

For instance, people with high blood pressure must stay away from rosemary, sage and thyme oils. Similarly, pregnant women must not go for oils like star anise, juniper and basil as these oils tend to stimulate the uterus.

Though some caution needs to be maintained, the fact cannot be ignored that aromatherapy is an effective way to deal with tension, stress and anxiety. It also helps the body and mind in a number of ways. Still, a person must consult an experience therapist or specialist before undergoing a certain oil massage.

Most Practical Essential Oils

by

Essential oils are produced by distillation of plant leaves, flowers, roots, seeds, and other parts known for their therapeutic properties. They are very potent extracts and caution should be exercised in their use. Essential oils are sometimes confused with perfume or fragrance oils.

These oils will not contain the same naturally occurring components and will not reap the same benefits as pure essential oils. This article outlines my top 3 picks of essential oils based upon 17 years experience with their use. Although there are many beneficial oils, these are the 3 that are never allowed to run out in my cabinet.

  1. Lavender Oil

My top pick for the most essential of essential oils is Lavender oil. If you are able to have only one oil in your cabinet, this is the one to have. This oil is unsurpassed for its anti-inflammatory properties and versatility. Lavender EO can be used neat (applied directly to the skin), unlike many oils that need to be diluted with a carrier oil. My family has successfully used Lavender oil for minor burns, allergic skin irritations, and joint pain.

It is the only thing that brings relief to my 10 year old son from a painful, itchy allergic reaction on his palms and soles of his feet. All that is required is a couple of drops of Lavender oil rubbed into the affected area and he is as good as new. He takes it with him whenever he spends the night with anyone or goes swimming. We have used it countless times for burns, it instantly soothes the burn and prevents further damage to the skin. Massage a few drops into sore, aching joints or muscles or into the temples for a headache.

Lavender is also known for its soothing effect on the nervous system. It is indicated in cases of stress, insomnia, and nervousness. For this reason it is frequently seen in soothing bath preparations, incense, and sachets. However, care should be taken not to mistake fragrance oils and synthetic fragrances for pure essential oil of Lavender.

  1. Tea Tree Oil

Second to Lavender oil is Tea Tree oil. This oil is in such high demand today that it can be found on the store shelves of Wal-Mart along with the vitamins and supplements. Most people are able to use Tea Tree oil neat, however this oil is strong and some may find it irritating to the skin. In this case it can be diluted in a carrier oil or in pure Aloe gel. Tea Tree oil is antiseptic and anti-fungal, making it useful in the treatment of athletes foot, ring worm, and fungal infections of the nails.

Tea tree oil is also indicated for head lice prevention or cure. Mixing tea tree oil with shampoo during outbreaks at school will keep the family free of infestation. An added benefit is that this oil reduces dandruff and scalp itch which can sometimes be a problem in the winter when head lice outbreaks are common. I have also used tea tree oil to clean and disinfect surfaces in the bathroom and avoid mildew.

  1. Lemon Oil

Lemon oil boosts the immune system and can be used as a vapor or in a burner to help prevent colds and other infections. It improves circulation when used in a bath but must be diluted with a carrier oil. It is antibacterial and antiseptic and can be used to clean household surfaces. It cuts grease and can be used for oily skin and hair conditions when properly diluted.

I have successfully used lemon oil to remove a wart on my son’s finger. I applied the oil with a Q-tip several times/ day and it took less than a week to remove the wart. I also frequently use lemon oil for cleaning in the kitchen. It cuts through grease, is antiseptic, and has a fresh, clean smell. In addition to adding it to cleaning water; cleaning cloths can be made by mixing lemon oil with water and then adding it to heavy-duty paper towels (made for the shop and sold in the automotive department) which are stored in a handy baby wipe container.

There you have it; my top 3 picks of essential essential oils. I hope that you have found this article useful.

Unusual Uses For Essential Oil

by

Aromatherapy: a way of using aromas and fragrances to calm the soul, relax the nerves and rejuvenate the spirit. Essential oils, small bottles of liquid fragrance, is just what the doctor ordered when it comes to aromatherapy, but did you know those water-like fragrances can be used in other ways? Here are a few you might not have considered:

Most of us use fabric softener, but to change the smell of the dried clothes, add a couple of drops of your favorite essential oil onto a dry washcloth. Place in the clothes dryer along with the damp clothes. The clothes will be static-free but won’t smell like everyone else’s clothing.

Instead of throwing out old potpourri, which has lost its smell, place the potpourri in a plastic bag. Drop in a couple of drops of essential oil and shake. Place the scented potpourri back in the container where it was.

Don’t purchase room deodorizing sprays; make them yourself. Just use a squirt bottle full of water and drop in three or four drops of your chosen oil. Spray around the room, spray the furniture, spray rugs, lampshades, drapes and more

Add essential oil drops – two or three drops – to a box of cornstarch or baking soda. Tape the box shut and shake well. Leave this sitting for a day or two then sprinkle it on your capets and rugs. After allowing it to stand for an hour, vacuum up the powder and enjoy!

Purchase small brass rings from a craft store and use them to scent the room. Lay a ring on the light bulb of a lamp and drop a single drop of essential oil on the ring. As the bulb heats the ring the aroma will fill the room.

Put a couple of drops of essential oil on a cotton ball and place it inside your vacuum cleaner bag. The scent fills the room as you sweep. Place a new cotton ball in only when you change the bag.

Run mice out of the house by using peppermint oil on cotton balls. Place them under the kitchen sink, inside closets and other areas where mice are a problem.

Dab cotton balls with lemon oil and place one in each of your sneakers or other shoes. Overnight, the essential oil will eliminate bad odors and leave your shoes smelling great. Do this to car interiors, too. Dab the chosen oil on the cotton balls and set one under each seat.

Smells and aromas are a part of our everyday lives but those smells can be good, not bad. With essential oils you can have lovely aromas in your home, your vehicle and on your person at all times!

Creative Thinking Techniques How To Learn To Be Creative

by

Creative thinking isn’t just something for arty types and mad scientists. You can learn to be creative by practising creative thinking techniques.

How many times in your life have you heard about a new idea that sounds fantastic, or seen a new innovation become a success story? And on how many such occasions have you said, “I wish I’d thought of that”? Well, the truth is that you probably could have done. A further truth is that you can develop the creative thinking skills to come up with some great ideas of your own.

You may well be sceptical about your own creative capabilities, and it’s understandable if you are. After all, it’s perfectly possible that you’ve never had what you consider to be a creative idea. But it’s just as likely that you’ve never climbed a mountain either. That doesn’t mean that you can’t climb mountains, only that you’ve never set out to climb one. And that’s the whole point about creativity. Contrary to popular myth, creative ideas aren’t things that spring from nowhere in the minds of genius savants. They’re things that you and I and your favourite half-cousin can produce – just so long as we’re willing to work at it.

Artistic Creativity Versus New Idea Generation

The creative thinking guru, Edward de Bono, describes creativity as the bringing into being of something valuable that did not exist before, and stresses that this is a skill which we can all learn, and at which we can all improve with practice. He makes clear, though, a need to differentiate between the creation of new ideas and the creatiion of art. Whereas the ability to create new ideas can be taught and learned, such methods are unlikely to produce a Mozart, a van Gogh, or a Dylan Thomas.

How to be Creative – Creative Thinking Techniques

In his book, The Extra One Per Cent, the psychologist Rob Yeung identifies creativity as one of the key traits of successful people. Of the techniques and attitudes required to be creative, Yeung stresses the need to actually take the time out to create. The modern world is a world in a hurry, but creativity requires that we step back from the burning issues of the day and take the time to actually think.

Yeung goes on to explain that not all creativity – in fact very little – is about creating brand new ideas. Rather, creativity is often about the fusing together of disparate ideas and concepts, or using existing ideas and constructs in an unconventional way.

De Bono appears to concur with Yeung on this latter point. In his book, Creativity Workout, de Bono advocates the use of random words, derived from a prescribed table of such words, as the starting point towards developing new solutions to existing problems or scenarios. By completing the creativity excercises in the book, readers may, for example, find themselves addressing the matter of how to develop new themes for a health club, using the word ‘Elephant.’ Or ‘Skyscraper.’ Or ‘Hammer.’ Or whatever.

You too can Develop Lateral Thinking Skills

The random words technique is one component of what de Bono christened “lateral thinking” – a body of measures designed to approach problems from an unconventional angle.

I have personally used de Bono’s random words technique to develop successful new business ideas. Yet I don’t think of myself as especially creative. I’m simply someone who was prepared to keep an open mind, devote some time to study and then apply what I’d learnt. That last bit is the most important. Yeung concludes his book by reminding us that learning achieves nothing unless we convert it to action.

Flower Girl How To Wear Sophisticated Florals For Spring

by

Florals are a classic Spring pattern and can be a gorgeous way to welcome the change of seasons. Keep them sophisticated and sassy with these key tips!

April showers bring May flowers in more ways than one! Spring has arrived and with it come the pretty, floaty florals that look so lovely on the hanger but can be a little daunting to work into your wardrobe. A little floral can go a long way, so learning to wear blossoms without looking like you’re off to your first day of school can be hard to master. Using these few tips can insure that you look fresh and sophisticated instead of like you’re missing your lunchbox and pigtails.

Keep it in Proportion

First and foremost, make sure the size of the pattern is in proportion to the size of your body. This rule applies to patterns in general, but it especially important to keep in mind when wearing florals. If you’re petite, a Liberty floral or something similar in a small scale is perfect to keep your small body from being overwhelmed. Similarly, if you’re tall or have a larger frame go with a bigger print. Small florals can look childish on a larger body, and the last thing you want is to look like you’re wearing clothing from the kids department.

Polished Pairings

An easy way to keep a floral pattern from looking overly sweet is to pair the piece with something structured or even menswear-inspired. The juxtaposition of the sweet and serious creates visual interest.

A boyfriend blazer over a knee length floral dress with some short boots or even sandals keeps the look modern and provides the layering that spring weather often requires. Pairing a floral blouse with trouser jeans is both casual and crisp and can even be appropriate for a work environment in a more casual office. One look that never goes out of style is high-waisted cream trousers with a soft floral blouse tucked in paired with simple jewelry and heels. Sophisticated and feminine!

Structured Silhouette

While it may be tempting to pick up that floor length, 1970s inspired slipdress with the sweeping skirt, stay away. Since floral patterns are inherently girly and youthful, it’s important to keep the silhouette modern and crisp, especially if you’re going for an all over floral look in a dress. Keep the item fitted and well tailored, not too tight or too flowy.

A slim pencil skirt in an unexpected floral pattern can be surprisingly stylish when worn with a button down shirt and muted metallic or nude heels. A sleek and modern floral dress can be young and stylish with gladiator heels or wedges and a bold accessory or purse. If the floral item in question looks like it could be worn on the set of “Hair”, it’s generally not appropriate for this decade, especially if you’re planning on wearing it to work.

Floral fabrics can be a fresh and feminine way to take your wardrobe into the Spring season, and can be worn by any body type and at any age. All patterns are trickier to wear than solids, and florals may be the hardest. Make them flattering and stylish by keeping the size of the pattern in proportion to the size of your body, pairing the floral item in the outfit with sleek and structured items, and choosing a floral item that is well tailored to your body. With these simple tips anyone can be a flower girl this Spring season!