Kombucha Sangria

This recipe idea came to me one day when I was out for drinks with a couple friends sipping on sangria. The restaurant we were at made a carbonated sangria. Sipping it down, I had a stroke of genius right then and there. I wondered what it would be like to use Kombucha instead of whatever club soda/sprite type thing they used (Kombucha is a fermented drink said to bolster immunity and be good for one’s health). So a week later I tried it out. It still had that fruity flavor with a kick of bubbles like the one at the restaurant, and the Kombucha served as a nice contribution to keep it from getting too sweet. It was also extremely easy to make. Needless to say, it’s delicious, and I stand by my statement that the idea was truly a stroke of genius. Let me know if you agree =)

Ingredients:

3 Cups Fruit Juice (I used cranberry/rassberry)

6oz Pineapple Juice

16oz Kombucha

2 Cups red wine or non alcoholic wine

2 Cups Sliced Strawberries

2 Cups Sliced Pineapple

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Directions:

Pour it all into a pitcher, mix, and chill!

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Style File: Visual Merchandiser

Meet this week’s style file girl – the visual merchandising assistant at the Free People home offices. She is one of the sweetest most humble people, and when you visit her desk you’re sure to get licked up and down by her friendly (canine) partner in crime, Dill. I was drawn to her style because of the perfect blend of classic elements and rocker edge that she seems to have mastered. You can almost bet she’ll have on at least one piece that you want to rip off of her for yourself – namely, the abundance of statement necklaces, hair pieces, and perfect tees that she has collected over the years. Another thing I love about her style is the hair. She has mastered the art of hair pinning for awesome intricate up-dos, and has tons of neat head bands, scarves, turbans, and hats that she works in. Maybe it’s her easy personality that makes it all look so effortless, but she sure knows how to top off a look achieving great results.

Her styling skills don’t just keep her looking like perfection each day, but they also keep our stores looking like perfection. In her job as a visual merchandiser, she styles mannequins with outfit ideas and comes up with merchandising concepts and color stories for our stores. Another cool part of her job involves selecting all of the music to be played in Free People stores. Every other Friday she and the visual team go through their new selections and choose their favorites. After all the ideas have been developed she maintains communication with store contacts, so they are well aware of the big ideas and everything going on.

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Office Style: Perfect Prints

Wearing prints can take a certain amount of confidence and skill. Knowing what to pair them with and how to place them on your body takes a good eye. I love getting inspiration from the other ladies around the office who have gotten the trick down. So whether it’s floral, plaid, paisley, or cheetah and whether it’s all over or a strategic print pop, these ladies can show you how it’s done.

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Thursday Poll: High Waisted Edition

One of our favorite trends here at Free People are high waisted pants. They’re great for mixing up those proportions, and can be worn with a variety of looks. Maybe you’re going for super polished, or perhaps you’d rather look like you stepped right out of Woodstock ’69. However you wear them, high waisted pants are extremely comfortable and flattering. We love them so much that we’ve have them in all different materials now at Free People. So which will you be wearing?

Blank Suede High Waisted Wide Leg


One Teaspoon Rangers High Rise Wideleg Jean

Free People Super 70’s Wideleg Jean

Super 70's Wideleg Jean

Blank High Rise Cord Flare

Blank High Rise Cord Flare

Blank High Waisted Zipper Jean

Blank High Waisted Zipper Jean

[polldaddy poll=”5346523″]

Wednes-DIY: Tribal-Inspired Beaded Necklace

One day I was on Vogue.com when I saw when of their editors wearing this really cool beaded necklace. It almost looked like it was constructed using safety pins, so I tried them out to see if I could pull off the look by making the necklace myself. The end result is really cool. The seed beads give it a tribal look, and the safety pins no longer look like safety pins, but rather a cool silver skeleton.   I finished it off, with a beaded “chain” to make a long necklace that you can throw on with any basic shirt for a neat funky addition of color.

the inspiration

You’ll Need:

Scissors, strong beading thread, safety pins, nail polish, and seed beads

Open the safety pin, and feed on seed beads.

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I decided to us lime green and black with the black beads jumping around, but you can come up with any pattern you want. Notice the pattern changes.

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As you finish safety pins, line them up on the table, so that you don’t lose the order you want them to go in.

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Once you’ve finished. Begin feeding the safety pins into the beading thread.

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Make sure they are all facing in the same direction.

Thread a needle with the thread

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Thread seed beads on until you have reached the desired length for you necklace.

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I decided to do mine in a contrasting color – white.

Once you’re done, loop the thread around the last bead on each side of the “chain.”

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Feed the needle through the last few beads on the opposite side to close the circle.

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Loop the thread around individual beads a few more times, and then thread it back to where the loose thread is hanging out & tie a knot.

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Cut thread ends.

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Paint the knot and last few beads with nail polish to secure

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And you’re done!

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Summer Spring Rolls

I love spring rolls, but when they’re fried, I can’t really eat them without feeling some guilt. That’s why these rice paper spring rolls are great. Fill them up with fruit and veggies, and you have a guilt free, fresh, summer hors d’oeuvre. You can find the rice paper wrappers at any Asian market, or I usually buy mine from our local Whole Foods. Messing around with combinations for filling is half the fun, but this combo has proven to be a favorite amongst my friends. It’s also one of my own favorites – easy, no cook, and so utterly fresh tasting.

You’ll Need:

1 avocado cut into slices

1 mango, peeled and sliced into strips

½ cup of cherry tomatoes, quartered

1 carrot, shredded

4 leaves of red leaf lettuce, torn up into pieces

2 sprigs of cilantro

9 rice paper wrappers

Basin filled with hot water to soak wrappers in

Directions:

Soak wrapper in hot water until it becomes pliable and bendy.

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Take the rice paper out, and lay it out on a kitchen towel to absorb some of the excess water. Pile on a bit of each ingredient right in the center of the wrapper.

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To roll it up, first fold up the lower half, keeping everything tightly together

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Then fold in either side

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And roll it up the rest of the way

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Do the same for each spring roll. Serve with any dipping sauce you would like. Chili dipping sauce or soy sauce are two that taste great

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Weekend Getaway: The Not-So-Dirty Jerse

Jersey gets a bad rap, but my experience with the state has been primarily good, so I wanted to highlight one of its cute, lesser-known towns: Mount Holly. It’s a quaint historical village with a bit of indie vibe. Drive in on the main road, High Street, and you’ll be amongst town halls, prisons, and estates built as early as the late 18th century. As you make your way down the buildings are that of a more recent era – now filled with quaint shops, cafes, and restaurants. There’s a rich history in this place, and you can feel the presence of the many lives lived here.

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Once you reach the town center’s crossroads – you’ll come across an arched gate leading into what is called Mill Race Village. The town mood changes here. Mill Race is an eclectic mix of quirky shops, handmade goods, and cute homes all painted in vibrant colors that brighten up your day. You can find anything from ghost hunting supplies to fresh honey to handmade jewelry in this part of town. It’s a lot of fun to walk around and explore.

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After enjoying the town, venture out to Smithville Park. This National Park is built around a historic village which was once a major industrial plant known for its high-quality woodworking machinery in the the 1860’s to the 1920’s. The plant ruins are a bit eerie, but they’re placed amongst such beautiful surroundings it gives off a strange feeling. Keep wandering around and you’ll find a large lily pad covered lake with canoes, hiking trails, gardens, and old homes both restored and vacant.

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Office Style: I like what you got in the behind..

I love when somebody’s outfit is okay from the front, and then they turn around and all of a sudden its ace. They have that element of surprise in the back – a cool detail or bold statement. It’s like that old saying, business in the front, party in the back… or is that just about mullets….??? Either way, I love the trend, and these ladies have nailed it.

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Thursday Poll: Cropped Bralletes!

Cropped bralletes are everywhere. I think just about every girl has one in her wardrobe nowadays, and I don’t know that this was so typical 10, 15, 20, 30….years ago. With fashion being cyclical, it’s tough to find things that are unique to our decade. Of course, bras have always been around, but the way we’re wearing these pieces feels entirely new. They’re useful to have. You can layer them under tanks with big armholes, t-shirts with back cutouts, or anything with a droopy neckline for that pop of something pretty, edgy, ethnic – whatever you want that pop to be.

So what do you want that pop to be? Let us know!

Sexy Lace

Edgy Print


Romantic Shade and Texture

new Romantics Woven Bustier


Flirty and Innocent

zinke lace crop bralette


Funky Ethnic Design

chevron seamless halter bra


Boho Floral

love you more bustier

[polldaddy poll=”5293355″]




Teriyaki Cod with Broccoli Rabe and Brown Rice

This week’s recipe is more of an entire meal, and, I’m not going to lie, it’s a bit more difficult than the recipes I usually post. This is one to pull out when you have a good amount of time to cook, and you want to impress a group of friends (or whoever) with an entire delicious meal.

The coolest part of this Asian-inspired meal is that you’ll be able to tell everyone you made your own teriyaki sauce. Who does that, right? It’s easier than you’d think. It’s all about letting it boil down to the right consistency which can take a while. The broccoli rabe is the perfect light accompaniment to go along with the flavorful fish. Top the plate off with simple brown rice, to fill your guests up.

Recipe makes enough for 3

Image via here

Fish Ingredients:

1.5lbs of Cod

1tsp Ginger

¾ Cup Orange Juice

¼ Cup Mirin

½ Cup Soy Sauce

1 Garlic

1 Scallion stem

Broccoli Rabe Ingredients:

15 Stems of full, leafy broccoli Rabe

1tbsp Grapeseed Oil

2 Garlic Cloves cut into quarters

1 Cup Water

Brown Rice Ingredients:

1 Cup Brown Rice

2.5 Cups Water

3 Scallion Stems

1tbsp Butter or oil

Instructions:

  1. Place orange juice, mirin, soy sauce, and ginger into a large sauce pan at high heat. Once it starts to boil, lower the heat and let simmer until it reaches a thicker consistency. Approx 30-40min.
  2. When teriyaki sauce is half way done, place butter and scallions in a small pot to sauté for about 2 minutes. Add brown rice & water. Cover pot until water has evaporated and rice is cooked. Turn off flame, and let sit, coved, until rest of meal is ready.
  3. Preheat oven to 400F
  4. Cook the cod in the sauce pan with the teriyaki sauce for about 4 minutes. Then place it in a flat, oven-safe pan. Pour left-over teriyaki sauce over the fish & add chopped scallions. Cook in the oven for another 10 minutes.
  5. Using the same sauce pan, add grapeseed oil and garlic for broccoli rabe. Once garlic is sautéed, add broccoli rabe and water to cook for about 5 minutes. Once it is fully wilted, like cooked spinach almost, it will be done. You may have to pour out excess water.