what a field-day for the heat
a thousand people in the street
singing songs and carrying signs
mostly say, hooray for our side
it’s time we stop, hey, what’s that sound
everybody look what’s going down
– buffalo springfield
monday quote
Gluten-Free Nut Bread
I don’t personally follow a gluten-free diet, but I have friends who do, so I like to mess around with recipes once in a while. This nut bread is one I’ve been wanting to try for a while. Normally, the thought of making bread kind of scares me a little. I feel like you need skills I’ve never tried out before, but with this bread it turned out the toughest part was gathering all of the obscure ingredients I needed to make it gluten-free. Once I finally got around to making it, it turned out to be nutty and delicious. It works great for toast in the morning with a little bit of jam =)
Ingredients:
1 ½ cups almond flour
¾ cup arrowroot powder
¼ cup flax seed meal
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon baking soda
4 eggs
1 teaspoon agave nectar
1 teaspoonapple cider vinegar
¼ cup walnuts, coarsely chopped
¼ cup hazelnuts, coarsely chopped
½ cup pistachios, coarsely chopped
¼ cup pumpkin seeds
¼ cup sunflower seeds
¼ cup sesame seeds
Instructions:
Chop up all nuts that need to be coarsely chopped, and mix all seeds/nuts in a small bowl.
Combine almond flour, arrowroot powder, flaxseed meal, salt, and baking soda in a medium bowl.
In a large bowl, beat eggs well. Then add agave nectar and apple cider vinegar.
Slowly mix dry ingredients into wet.
Stir in nut/seed mixture
Pour into a well-greased 7.5” x 3.5” bread pan
Bake for about 35 minutes. (You should be able to stick a toothpick/knife into the center and pull it out cleanly.)
look inside
loving these illustrations by katie scott! they look like biology or botany text book images…except none of my text books every looked this cool :)
go see more here!
Nicole Vaughn
I actually first heard about Nicole Vaughn when Jolyn, a reader, commented on one of my music posts about her. I went to her website to take a listen and I loved what I heard. A peaceful voice, relatable lyrics, and emotionally charged melodies are what make up her tracks. It just so happens that the singer/songwriter is also a huge Free People fan! She sent in an FPme photo that we recently posted on the blog (she’s the third one down). It’s hard to believe she’s not already a huge sensation. Nicole is one of the music scene’s best kept secrets that needs to be let out of the bag.
Nicole gladly answered a few questions for you all to get to know her better. She’s also made her song, “Stuck on You,” available for free download to you all! (Thank you, Nicole!) Read up on our interview with the inspirational woman and take a listen to her music!
Where were you when you wrote your first song?
I wrote my first official song on guitar at 13, I was sitting on the floor of my room with my guitar and a notebook of some poetry (not very good poetry), and sort of just started to put the pieces together.
What is your favorite song off of your most recent album, “Say It,” and why?
I think that my favorite song off of album would be “Everything We’ve Built” or the title track itself, “Say it”. These are the most personal and soul-bearing songs on the album and are extremely raw and honest in their story-telling and how I felt about the subject matter.
What is your picture of success?
Success to me would be to continue creating quality music and lyrics that I’m excited about and playing and collaborating with talented musicians that I admire. If I get some fans and make people smile, feel, connect, or dance along the way, I am happy. I’d also like to open for Wilco or Mason Jennings one day, but that might be pushing it ;)
What’s the last album you bought? What else is on your iPod right now?
I recently bought Paul Simons greatest hits, Dawes’ new album, and Barrett Johnson’s album “In Case I went Missing”. Some of my iPod go-to’s are: Mason Jennings, Neko Case, Cass McCombs, Alexander, Rolling Stones, Lissie, Muddy Waters, Bon Iver, Emmylou Harris, Loretta Lynn, Arcade Fire, Patsy Cline, Wilco, Tom Waits, Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Randy Newman, Sharon Van Etten…just to name a few! I love it all.
What is your signature look?
I’m not even sure, I think I’d have to ask someone else, hah! I just wear what I like and I’m comfortable in. Fancy stuff when I’m on stage, but lately off stage I’ve been really casual. I just like jeans, plain T, some turquoise or native american jewelry, and some boots. I like simplicity more and more these days.
What sort of hobbies do you have besides your music?
I love reading a good book, surfing, camping, going to shows, road-trips, hiking, running, rock-climbing, spending time with my pups, anything adventurous and spontaneous. I like to keep life interesting and unpredictable.
What is your favorite book?
East of Eden by John Steinbeck. I’m a big fan of Steinbeck.
One thing you cannot live without is?
Guitar. Or my wonderful mom. Or my dogs. I mean that’s a pretty tough question. haha
What does Free mean to you?
Free means having a free state of mind, not being confined by status quos or trends-free of influence, loving what you love just because YOU love it! Doing what you want, because it’s what YOU want to do.
Listen to the rest of Nicole’s Music Here
friday fun
our creative director got a care package in the mail the other day…
and this happened:
hahaha…. happy friday!
call of the wild: get the look
Office Style: Tattoos Round 2
Since I started at Free People, I’ve been noticing many cool tattoos around the office. I’m personally a big fan of body art – I think it’s a creative way of self expression, just one’s personal style. For this week in office style I wanted to show you all some of the cool tats I’ve been seeing on the Free People ladies. It was really fun hearing everyone’s story and why they chose to get their certain tattoo.
This intricate piece depicts a vestal virgin, the solar system, the sun, and a tree. Vestal virgin were powerful holy female priests in the Roman Empire. Apparently, they were something like witches. The bottom half where the solar system is depicted shows each planet, and it’s actual placement in orbit relative to the other planets. So cool!
Her middle name is based off of the Hindi word “sattvic” which means purity and harmonious balance in the world. On her middle finger she also has a lotus flower which is also representative of life and purity. I love how peaceful this tattoo is.
She based her tattoo off of album artwork from Incubus – It was drawn by the drummer Jose Pasillas in the band. She changed the eye in the center by replacing it with her grandfather’s eye. The idea is that he’s always with her and watching over her.
A feather to represent her last name which means “to write” (the feather is supposed to be like a quill). After she got engaged and would be changing her last name she and her brother decided to go and get the same thing. (my brother and I both have matching tattoos too!)
All of her tattoos are drawings by a friend of hers who lives in Brooklyn. I love the idea of putting a piece of one of your friends on you.
This tree is based off of a necklace that she and her mother always wear. It’s “their little family tree.”
When back packing through Thailand with her friends, they would always draw mustaches on their fingers and take pictures. Afterward, they all decided to get tattoos so that they would always be, “mustache photo ready.” Each has a different style mustache.
This is a word that she made up which is a combination of the words “god” and “given.” She said that if she ever has her own line one day that’s what it will be called.
store style featuring the nightcap lace bell bottoms!
it’s no secret: we love the nightcap lace bell bottoms! there are so many ways to style them, and our store girls are pros- check out these lovely pics of them rocking our fave pants!
katie, mit at fp san jose, wears them with a strappy cami, ruffle hem cami and denim jacket and hat for a cute casual look.
here’s one of our denver sales associates, wearing them with the tape yarn beach sweater! love.
one of our customers, who dressed them up with a button-down crop top and hat!
i love this outfit! one of our nyc girls styled the pants with the textured bottom trapeze tank and archipelago fringe tank.
from boston: sales associate stephanie is rocking the american flag scarf– she’s a hippie child and a dreamer! she looks super cute and casual, showing you don’t have to be over the top, and can totally pull them off everyday. and becka, the soon to be natick ASM, is wearing the grey in an adorable beach style with the pintuck lace square neck top!
and from houston galleria – simple and stunning with a tank top and aztec seed bead necklace.
thank you so much ladies! find the nightcap lace bell bottoms here.
thursday poll – edition 137
i have an interesting twist for your thursday poll today! our videographer made this lovely video featuring model martha hunt demonstrating three great ways to wear the fp one smiles returning tube dress – check it out and then vote for your favorite of the three!
song is “walk thoughts” by the twin atlas.
view the items in these looks here.
guest post from NYC: jack is in his corset, jane is in her vest…
…and me i’m in a rock and roll band.
Actually, my name is Liz. I am a young designer, a recent graduate from Parsons The New School for Design, and a current associate at Free People in Soho, NY. I started crocheting these vests this past year and asked some of the Free People girls to rock them for me.
This past season I looked to craft and the charm in handmade objects for inspiration. I had just moved into my new loft in Brooklyn, NY and found my place was a collection of crafts. My most prized possession is a yellow chevron pattern crocheted blanket my mom made when I was young. I owe all of my talent to my mom, who taught me how to crochet. As for the vest itself, I focused on creating a piece that would complete every outfit in my closet. My style is that similar to that of the Free People girl. I look to Pamela Love and Erin Wasson for style inspiration, who both share that endearing, yet individualized free-spirited vibe. I feel like a vest is something you can wear year round: in the winter, I’m always looking for another layer and in the summer, it’s great with a tank and shorts or just over a bathing suit!
thank you so much for sharing liz!!! not only did you quote one of my favorite songs but the vests are amazing and i’m insanely jealous of your rooftop garden…xoxo
call of the wild: makeup how-to
the makeup for call of the wild creates a look that is natural and sun-kissed, with an added glimmer of gold eyeshadow to catch the rays of the sun. Read More
call of the wild: hair how-to
in place of our usual wednes-diy, today i have something even better! tutorials showing you how to get the hair and makeup in our june e-catalog :) Read More