r u l y

Ruly Ruth's son in action!

With kids’ sports events in full swing with the beginning of school, I wanted to share my method for performing Team Mom (or Team Dad) duties.

I have performed this job in 2 different states for a large variety of sports teams, and wanted to give you a brief run-down of what this position entails in the event you’d consider taking it on. It’s one of those jobs that’s not a constant business–but it’s feast or famine. When the game is rained out–often you need to call each player at a moment’s notice and give them the reschedule date. Stuff like that. Because I’ve done this for so long, I’ve decided the tips and tricks I’ve learned are easy and repeatable. So here’s how to be a Great Team Parent.

(P.S. I suggest you read through the entire list–since a few items can overlap…and also–the more information the better! Having a team on the same page is the first step to being successful!)

1) Get the team roster. At the first team meeting, the coach will give you–or coordinate for you to get–a copy of the team roster. Obviously this roster is ONLY to be used for the purposes of contacting the team members and their parents with information ONLY related to the team and its sport.

2) Confirm contact information for each player. Once you have this list–bring it to the next gathering–be it a practice or another team meeting–and have every parent check their contact information–and ask them how they prefer to be contacted. My last team, everyone wanted text messages. Years ago, it was via email. Some may still prefer a phone call. (I’ve never had anyone say don’t contact me, fyi!)

Note from Anne: Some groups might set up a Facebook page, blog or website and require that all parents join it and check for updates.

3) Send the first message. Your first message–however it is relayed–is to confirm practice days, times and locations and usually the uniform requirement restated. That’s it! Have everyone text/email/call you back so you know they received it. I have different color inks on a spreadsheet to know if someone didn’t contact me–like checkboxes. But however you do it–even if it’s pencil checkmarks you can erase and do over again each time you contact the parents, that’s fine. But ensuring people get the messages is critical. Conveying information is exactly what this position is all about!

By the way–I just found a GREAT messaging resource called Remind 101. It was originally made for teachers to be able to send quick text reminders to their classes–but I’m just now using it as a Team Mom to keep our team members and their parents apprised of upcoming events, changes, etc. Instead of mass text messages–this will send a typed message from your computer to all subscribed cell phones. IT’S FREE!! Create an account, create a “class”–mine is named Fall Baseball 2012–and they give you a text phone number to enter and a message to subscribe to the class’ messages–then it messages you back to enter a name. Super easy! And once I entered a message, I received it within 1.5 minutes–loving this program!

4) Copy and distribute the team game schedule. If you’re not given copies–the team game schedule. I also add my name and phone number to the bottom of this, along with the coach(es) phone number(s). Write each kid’s name on the top of each copy. When you are at the next practice, distribute the schedules at the end of practice or to the parents during the practice. This way, with the kids’ names on the schedules, you’ll know if a kid was absent that they don’t have the copy of the schedule, and if a game is very soon, you’ll need to contact them to let them know and get the schedule to them as soon as you can. But you absolutely know who didn’t receive one–and that’s huge. Also–day before each game–call/email/text families to remind them of what time to meet at the fields/court etc.

5) Coordinate the snack schedule. Depending on the age group—-I’d say under 8 years old–the kids play because they get a snack after the game. If it’s a super hot sport–like football–where there’s lots of padding and playing in September in some places can still be brutal–a mid-game snack and an after snack are required. Mid-game is literally usually cut up oranges and a water bottle (both kept in a cooler with ice). After snacks are whatever you prefer–usually it’s a juice box of some kind or a Capri Sun and a packaged snack item–like cookies, crackers/chips. On the extreme end, one mom did Lunchables for each kid after the game. But this is over the top for most of us.

So with the snack requirement, becomes the snack schedule requirement. You will need to make a schedule–be it hand-written or on a spreadsheet–if it’s football, you’ll need mid-game and after snack, and have the parents sign up. The catch here is this is truly optional. Usually a few parents end up bringing the snack most of the time. I love the kids, it’s not a big deal to me. But it depends on your situation–if you can step up where others haven’t–if not–no worries–announce at each practice if you’re short a snack. 2-3 people can come together to split up the snack if that helps…once you have 80% of the snack places filled, what I do is again–copy the snack schedule, write each kids’ names whose parents have volunteered (some don’t due to so many kiddos in different sports they are unable to, or some financially just can’t or whatever–no big deal!) And distribute these so parents have a copy. Or if you have this before the game schedule is distributed, you can distribute this along with the game schedule. Now a few days before the game, I usually call/email/text the family whose turn it is to remind them to bring snack and to please contact me back so I know they got the message.

6) Coordinate scorekeeping. Not usually for tee ball or junior soccer–but especially in baseball this is huge. Ask early on for volunteers to keep score. Ask a coach to show people how so it’s not so intimidating. The more people willing to learn/do this–and mistakes are always made–don’t let that scare people away–we need scorekeepers. Often it’s the official book and the team book–it’s better when the organization itself provides an official scorekeeper and you only are responsible for the team book…but regardless like I said especially in baseball/softball, scorekeepers are important and the more you have willing to do it the better!!!! Again, if you’re able, you can have signups for score keeping for games on the snack schedule–or do it separately–and call/email/text to remind a day or 2 before the game.

7) Coordinate Pictures! Pictures are done so differently everywhere–it’s crazy! Most places the sports organization itself sets up the photographer and picture days. Teams where I am now require that each team is individually responsible for finding their own photographer and setting up a picture day. We’ve found what works best is before a game—like an hour or more before a game–the kids are dressed and ready in uniform, and they can meet usually at the fields. When setting up the photographer–or via the league–you usually receive packets for ordering pictures. Again, I place each kid’s name on a packet with date and time of photo shoot and distribute it a few weeks before pictures–so parents can see prices and decide in advance what photos to buy if they’re buying…the photographer always brings extras, so no worries if people forget theirs at home. It’s just a great planning tool.

Again–call/email/text families the day before to remind them of this!! Even if they don’t order, the kids love having a complete team picture!

8 ) Coordinate team party and coach thank you gifts. The end-of-season get-together and a small thank-you gift for the coaches falls under your direction. I highly suggest that price be taken into serious consideration here! The cheaper, the better for everyone and the more participation you’ll get, regardless what area you live in. Cici’s Pizza is a very inexpensive pizza place where a lot of our teams meet. The kids just love hanging out together–that’s the whole point! So you can consult with a few of your core parents and decide on a place and time–obviously check with the coaches as well! One of our favorite coach gifts is a framed 8×10 picture of the team with a mat the kids can individually sign, so the coach can hang it on his/her wall. Very fun reminder! If you’re going to do this–research it early because you can find coupons for Michael’s to buy the frame, or search around–Walmart may be cheaper–and divide up the cost between the kids. I usually add a few dollars cushion because not every kid can pay–and we’re not talking loads of $–I try to keep it under $10. Once I have the cost, I have the small bill-paying envelopes–I write each kid’s name on an envelope and the dollar amount. So for example “Joe Taylor $5″–and I distribute this at the practice. Any extra money we usually buy a coffee card or something. Keep in mind the $ amount especially if you have multiple coaches! That you share the love, I mean! So when kids/parents turn it in, you can track from whom you have received the money. Once I have about 3 families left, I send out an email/text and remind those families that money is due…like I said, some can’t/won’t pay–it’s just how it goes! But worth a shot anyway. And some will be more than generous…overall and over the years, it all works out!

With the envelope, I staple a piece of paper to it stating the team party get-together time and location. Once in a while, an amazing family will step up and offer their house/pool–but usually plan for an inexpensive local restaurant, or meet at the fields/courts. The kids LOVE to play kids vs. adults–they think this is awesome!! So if you need an activity and are doing a picnic setting–keep that in mind!

If you do all of this, you’ll be an amazing Team Parent! I promise!! It’s a ton of communication during the season–but good communication means everyone knows when/where to be. If they know that, then you’ve done your job well!!

The heat this week in Virginia.

Since most of the country is experiencing a heat wave, as Ruly Ruth and I are, we’ve decided to tackle hot-weather snacks!

When the weather is this hot, the last place you want to be is in the kitchen!  Before the twentieth century, kitchens were put in separate buildings from the main house because they got so extraordinarily hot in the summertime (as well as the fire risk they posed).  I can’t imagine what that must have been like in Virginia pre-air-conditioning.  So below are some tips on how to “not cook” in hot weather.

This week, I discovered the simple and delicious pleasure that is the chilled banana.  To make: chill a banana (peel on) in the fridge overnight.  In the morning, eat it for breakfast.   It’s creamy and sweet like ice cream.  Yum!

A chilled banana makes a wonderful summer breakfast!

Read on for more suggestions from the ever-creative Ruly Ruth!

Ruly Ruth’s Stay Cool Summer Snacks

1) Chilled Fruit – Chilled watermelon/cantaloupe/honedew/other melons—ARE LOVELY! We recently had a brief gathering at a park and I brought a cooler packed with watermelon slices–HUGE HIT!!

(Note from Anne: Starting in June, I clear a shelf in my fridge for watermelon.  The whole watermelon goes right into the fridge from the store to chill.  It’s a necessity to get through the humidity of a Virginia summer.)

Chilled watermelon - a summer staple!

2) Frozen Water Bottles – Store some bottled water in the freezer for outdoor hydration on hot days.  Caution–they will spill over a bit when opening them–but it will quickly cool you down! It’s lovely!
3) Frozen Yogurts/Gogurt Tubes – (esp. for kids)—put them in the freezer–it’s like a healthy ice cream popsicle–lovely!
4) Ice Cream —sorry–healthy or not–that is a lovely treat when it’s blazing hot outside! Cold, creamy–love it!
5) Salty Snacks – Be it crackers, nuts or chips and salsa–that’s always a wonderful combination in hot weather–the salt helps replenish the electrolytes that can so quickly dehydrate you in the hot sun.
6) Toast & Tomatoes – An Australian friend makes this for breakfast–you make toast, butter it, top with a slice of tomato and salt and pepper. It’s a wonderful, fresh and yummy! Add a protein like some cheese and it’s a perfect breakfast–even when hot outside!
7) Pizza – Either make your own or we love our Little Caesars–when counting calories go light on the cheese. It’s piping hot, yummy, salty–if you top it with everything you can get your veggies in too–perfect for a hot day!
8 ) Chilled Veggies – Crisp carrots, celery, peppers–with a super creamy bleu cheese or ranch or caesar dressing—yum!
9) Iced Coffee – For those of us that drink coffee, iced coffee is a lovely treat! From McDonald’s or your own kitchen–my girlfriend from Albania makes a frapee that is to die for!!
10) Lemonade – Hands down–the citrus helps replenish electrolytes, the lemon flavor is so refreshing on hot days! (Note from Anne: A glass of water with half a lemon’s worth of juice is great too if you are watching sugar.)
11) Italian Ices/Snow Cones – Italian ices are so popular around here–kind of like frozen slushees in a variety of flavors. And snow cones–enough said!
12) Hamburgers/Hot Dogs/Sausages – If you’re looking for a quick meal with some good protein–obviously leaner varieties be it turkey or low fat are better—but again, hot, salty, meat on a bun! Yum!
13) Salads – Crisp, cool–kind of like the veggies–but add on cheese or meats and eggs to make it a meal–like the chef salad or chinese chicken salads with wontons and mandarin oranges–DELISH!
14) Hard Boiled Eggs – The stuff of long-time picnickers–be it regular hard boiled or deviled–yum! Even for breakfast–quick protein–cold from the fridge–make a bunch and keep restocking them! The kids love to crack and peel the shells–so it adds an activity for them too!
15) Gatorade/Energy Drinks/Capri Suns – These along with water are really good–straight water will dehydrate you on a super hot day–it’s a great base, but it’s not filled naturally with electrolytes. Hydration is key here people!
16) Iced Tea/Sweet Tea – Here in the South–it’s all about sweet tea! Now I like mine half and half since all of my tooth decay issues are coming to light–but iced tea on a hot day is a sweet treat!
17) Gumbo – Okay–spicy soup on a hot day works! I don’t know why–it just does! Adding shrimp and sausage and onions and peppers in a roux-based spicy chicken broth– just FABULOUS!!
18) Juice-cicles/Popsicles – Of course the normal summertime treat of ages gone by is STILL a hot (cold!) commodity! And we love to make our own juice or lemonade frozen pops in the freezer–the kids love to help–and the frozen treat on a hot day outside is wonderful!
19) Fried Chicken Tenders/Nuggets/Wings – Fried chicken in the hot heat—bring it on! Whatever form….again, salty, tender, wonderful!!
20) Coleslaw/Potato/Macaroni Salads – If soups need to be spicy broth-based, in summer especially–side dishes or quick snacks need to be covered in creamy yumminess!

I hope these ideas are helpful–please feel free to add on! I’d love it! And most importantly–Stay cool, everyone!

Have a favorite cold or easy summer dish?  What do you crave when the weather is 100+?  Please share in the comments.

Ruly entertaining: a drink wagon!

The economy is still terrible. And people more than ever long to congregate over great food. Luckily the two are not mutually exclusive. I wrote last year’s Ruly Ruth on what’s hot food-wise to share. So I think it’s a must that I update this annually!

6 Cookout Food Trends for 2012

1.  A Main Course

People are being asked to bring not just an “extra” food item, as in years past–but often parts of the main course. A friend recently brought a beautiful sausage roll baked in a puffed pastry and sliced for easy serving–lovely! We brought a sliced pork tenderloin marinated and cooked in an Asian sauce over rice with mixed veggies and a teriyaki sauce over the entire dish. You get the picture. Bring foods that are hearty, and can stand alone. These are huge hits these days.

2.  Ethnic Food

A beautiful Korean-style buffet

Ethnic food is HUGE HUGE HUGE! Follow your roots or your favorite cooking style! I LOVE Creole food–although we have zero Creole roots. I can make a mean gumbo (and now that I know a quick microwave roux I can cut the crazy cooking time in half) and blackened anything is fabulous! A Green Thai Curry stir-fry is always fabulous–I have to go to the Asian market to buy my favorite paste to fry up in coconut milk before adding the rest of the ingredients. Greek food/Mediterranean food is as always super desirable–lovely humus dips, fresh tomato and cucumber salads with feta cheese–loving it! Fondues are back in…I had a fondue party recently with cheese as the main course and of course the chocolates–both white and milk melted for dessert dipping. A friend from Nigeria made a mad noodle dish with a lovely sweet-potato and meat topping. Bring it on! I think what’s great about this food is that most of us love to try new things…so this is a way to contribute to a party and have a new tasting sensation at the same time. And also, if you love cooking it–you know it will taste fabulous!

3.  Homestyle Food

Some of North Carolina's best barbecue! You don't have to make it yourself. Take out from a great restaurant is wonderful too!

Homestyle food is back in also. Last year I categorized this as “old fashioned”–times have changed–I swear if I threw a party and had everyone bring their own version of mac ‘n cheese right now it would be a huge hit! (There were years this concept wouldn’t have flown at all!) Truffle oil in mac ‘n cheese is very popular right now–so consider that as a deluxe addition. And the cheeses–white cheeses are making their appearance in this dish with huge avail. Some add meats to it, others keep it plain. Even Kraft’s deluxe version with the breaded topping is fabulously rich. Go figure! Fried chicken, if you’re here in the south, hush puppies–yum! And barbecue–with shows like “Pit Masters” that we can’t take our eyes off of–you know it’s going down! Once you’re in the south you learn of regional specialties with barbecue. In MD and VA you have a more tomato-sauced based barbecue sauce flavored with amazing things. Here in North Carolina, they use a vinegar-based sauce. Which was very interesting, but I’ve grown to love it! And sweet tea–when McDonald’s launched it you know the nation loves it!

4.  Cocktails, Mocktails and Punch

Drinks are still popular to bring along…especially cocktails that have taken time and special ingredients–or mocktails for those teetotalers out there. One friend made a martini with her own homemade blackberry syrup reduction. A lovely treat for all of us! And punches are huge again–you’d think the ’60s and ’70s had maxed those out–but they are back in a big way, both alcoholic and nonalcoholic alike. Presentation is everything–from dry ice to fancy glasses (yes, even guests who want it to look a certain way will bring their own glassware for serving).

5.  Kids

An adorable kids' table starring Ruly Ruth's daughter.

Here’s the deal–family-friendly is THE ONLY way to go nowadays. Even if you don’t have kids! Babysitters are expensive items most of us save for only once-in-a-whiles right now. And we are in an era where kids are to be kept involved and with us…that’s why we had them, after all. A cute little table set apart for kids food is a huge hit. Extra bonus points if you can make even a make-shift table at child-height! Chicken nuggets, the original Kraft Mac ‘N Cheese, carrots and dip and cut-up fruit (apple slices or orange slices or melon) and juice boxes is all you need—relatively inexpensive items that make picky eaters or little eaters very comfortable.

A surefire hit: Chik-Fil-A's chicken nugget tray.

6.  Diet Foods

Trifles are everywhere! Not sure this one is diet-friendly but it was delicious!

Diet is IN! Yes, even with homestyle, we love our “Skinny Girl Margaritas”–which taste even better thanks to my friend Martha’s discovery to mix half of that mix with Crystal Light Lemonade! Light whipping cream in desserts, please! (And trifles are back too–angel food cake, berries and light whipping cream and also light vanilla pudding layered is the first to go.) The ONLY caveat is make sure it tastes good. Life is short, and if it doesn’t taste good, believe it or not, we won’t eat it!

7.  Cake Balls

Desserts have a super popular theme this year: cake balls! Everyone is doing cake balls. It used to be a once-in-a-while thing, now it’s mandatory. I’m not a great decorator, so I am usually the trifle-bringer. But the friends that are make these look amazing! Doctored baked cake usually mixed with cream cheese rolled into balls and put individually on a lollipop stick, hardened in the fridge and then either spread with icing or dipped and often with toppings. Yum!

Another fresh dessert idea a friend brought was so delicious and beautiful in presentation–she bought waffle cones, filled them with mixed berries, arranged them in a circular pattern and put a bowl of whipped cream with a serving spoon in the middle. The first thing to go, that’s for sure! Lovely!

Note from Anne: One of my neighbors brought this gorgeous strawberry roll to a party and it was devoured in seconds. She claimed it was easy to make too.

I hope these ideas are helpful as we approach the 4th of July cookout season! Enjoy, be safe, and bon appetit!

Note from Anne: It has been interesting for me to see how many of Ruth’s trends from last year showed up on party tables throughout the year.  The only trend that may have changed is Ruth’s placing “Store-bought veggie trays” at the top of the “Do Not Bring” list.  Ruly Ruth herself served some Sam’s Club veggie trays at a recent party (below) and they were fantastic.  I served some Wal-Mart ones recently and they were fantastic too.  So, maybe we need to alter that warning to be “Un-fresh-looking store-bought veggie trays.” The one trend I am seeing at Fredericksburg parties is an increased emphasis on healthy, sugar-free food.  Store-bought fruit and vegetable trays are wonderful quick and easy things to bring!

Ruly Ruth's Sam's Club Veggie Tray. It was delicious!

A Sam's Club Fruit tray with cheese, apples and caramel dipping sauce. Lovely!

What food trends are showing up at your local cookouts? Please share in the comments.

"Group of people, in swimsuits, standing on beach(?), Washington, D.C. area" (between 1915 - 1930). National Photo Company Collection. From the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.

While here in Virginia we are practically in monsoon season with all of the rain we have been getting, summer is on its way!  Time to turn over the closets and dress to impress.  Last year, we saw white, nude, tangerine, lace, colorblock and animal prints as big summer trends.

What does British Vogue have to say about Spring/Summer 2012 fashion trends?   Read here for their official designer picks.

More importantly, however, what does Ruly Ruth have to say?  Read on and see examples of these fashion trends from Amazon!

**Please note that when it comes to fashion there are many opinions out there.  I included all of the items below because I think they are fashionable.  As you can see, Ruth and I do not always agree.

Head to Toe Prints

The general theme of Summer 2012 fashion is prints.  Whether mismatched or uniform, wild patterns from head to toe are the big trend.  Wear one print as a blouse and another for pants.  Silky or shiny fabrics seem to dominate.  While it might seem an intimidating task to select two patterns that don’t clash, patterns have the great benefit of camouflaging a number of body flaws.

Nicole Miller Women's Print 3/4 Sleeve Print Dress at amazon.com	Ruly Ruth says: “Okay–I love Nicole Miller–but this dress looks sci-fi to me–something out of my son’s avatar-based video games.”
Sakkas Flower and Leaves Print Satin Pleated V-Neck Halter Handkerchief Hem Maxi at amazon.com.	Ruly Ruth says: “I LOVE THIS DRESS–AND THE PRICE–fabulous print, gorgeous cut–it’s beautiful!”
Donna Morgan Women's Scoop Neck Sleeveless Dress at amazon.com.	Ruly Ruth says: “This is spring and summer’s little black dress recreated—it’s classic and yet in a very updated print scheme. Love it!”
Maternal America Maternal America Women's Maternity Boarder Print Mini Front Tie Dress at amazon.com.	Ruly Ruth says: “Not in love with this—odd color combos to start with–I’d love to see if the V-neck halter handkerchief dress could also work for early maternity. But I HATE this one! Boring! I do like the idea of the pattern at the bottom of the dress–the floral is a mish-mash of color and undefined–which is very opposite the rigid pattern at the bottom of the dress. I’d like to see the flowers either more defined or the whole thing recreated in an even more impressionistic pattern styling.”

Statement Trousers

Printed pants are the trend in a variety of patterns, the wilder the better.  This is going to be a tough look to pull off correctly because the bottoms can look an awful lot like pajama pants.  For best results, go more formal/dressy in your choice of shoe and top.  Love Maegan recently showed a great example of how she would style an outfit with statement pants.

Ruly Ruth says: “I think the concept is very creative—-but as Anne mentioned again–totally pajama like!”

Apple Bottoms All Over Print Long Pants	Ruly Ruth says: “I think the detailed cut/style of the pants pulls these more toward a beautiful, wearable pant. Love the color, cut, fit, style–gorgeous!”
Rachel Pally Women's Printed Wide Leg Trousers at amazon.com.	Ruly Ruth says: “I think in high-fashion circles these would be a huge hit. For everyday wear. the circle pattern is a bit over the top for me…but I’m not a lover of pure tangerine either–I think only tan people can wear it–and if you do have a medium or darker skin tone–go for it! They will pop hugely!”
Mogulinterior Womens Boho Trousers at amazon.com.	Ruly Ruth says: “I can’t even believe someone would pay $27.50 for these—they look like a craft project gone wrong!! HATE these–too many prints, too mis-matched…yuck! And then they throw in beads and cuffed bottoms–to save it???!!! Throw it away!!”
the grace eboutique summer skirt pants flare wrap beach trouser at amazon.com.	Ruly Ruth says: “GORGEOUS!!! Beautiful color schemes—classic–could go to a casual business meeting, to church, to lunch–gorgeous, elegant! Screams summer/spring to me—love them! And for $22.50–I think I need to personally invest!!”

African-inspired animal prints

Leopard, zebra, jaguar . . . more prints from nature.  Not just a hint of it but a LOT of print in flowing dresses, pants, etc.

Ruly Ruth says: “When I was in 9th grade, I made a really cool leopard-print dress….it was a rounded neck with long straight arms and came 2″ above the knee. I think I wore it with leggings–let’s just say it would be a huge hit and very classical now!”

Allegra K Women Elastic Waist Leopard Pattern Leisure Chiffon Pants at amazon.com.	Ruly Ruth says: “.I LOVE THESE….in XS. I’m not sure someone who would wear a Large or XL would rock these—I think a little of this pattern goes a long way–not sure we need yards and yards of this showing….and I notice they are only selling it in XS…how convenient!”
Jessica Simpson Women's Leopard V Neck Beaded Halter Dress at amazon.com	Ruly Ruth says: “Jessica Simpson would wear this, and some young women….most of us–not so much! I think honestly the fact the print is on a shiny fabric turns me off–make it more of a muted velvet and darker tones–we may have something then! But I love the cut of the dress itself…”
Michael Kors Black Cotton Jaguar Print Sleeveless Sheath Dress at amazon.com.	Ruly Ruth says: “Michael–I’m a HUGE FAN!! HUGE!!! But–this dress falls flat. You’re trying to get women like me to wear that around–not going to happen….love the cut of the dress–again–fabulous!!! But the print overlay—nah!! Not so much!”
Anne Klein Women's Lion Print Blouse at amazon.com.	Ruly Ruth says: “Lion print???!!! Looks like paint splotches. NEXT!”

50’s Inspired Plaid and Gingham Sundresses

In a style Vogue calls “Retro Americana,” plaid and gingham sundresses that recall the 1950’s are a big trend, worn with cat-eye sunglasses of course!

Ruly Ruth says: “You know what cracks me up about this come-back era–is that it’s all about young hipsters wearing this stuff! And the look fabulous–and our roller derby girls of course!! If you have a teenager, very appropriate!”

Triple Optic Oversized Vintage Inspired Super & Bold Retro Designer Cat Eye Sunglasses at amazon.com.	Ruly Ruth says: “Love these! I have huge issue with designer sunglasses that they are not always UVA/UVB and polarized–which is the best combo to protect your eyes–but for stylishness–A+! Even to a business meeting at an al fresco lunch–go for it!”
Britt Ryan womens gingham strapless tied bow cutout dress at amazon.com.	Ruly Ruth says: “Cute idea—bordering on lingerie. Wouldn’t wear it out—but a very young girl in her young 20s would look great in a beach environment at lunch in this!”
Gap Tiered Madras Dress at amazon.com.	Ruly Ruth says: “ditto–see comments above.
Esprit Madras Women's Vintage Halter Dress at amazon.com.	Ruly Ruth says: “I hate this print–and not in love with the dress either. Looks like leftover Xmas material repurposed into a dress!!!!”

Beach-themed Prints

What better way to celebrate beach season than with prints inspired by the sea, including seashells and seahorses.  If you aren’t up for the prints, there is also a wonderful selection of jewelry in this theme that is classic and fun for summer.

Ruly Ruth says: “These are all the rage–whether it’s high-end jewelry right now or knock-off cheapies—this is very popular. It reminds me of stuff to be worn in Hawaii….not sure I’d really wear it to be honest!”

Hawaiian Sea Shell Necklace at amazon.com.	Ruly Ruth says: “Cute! Teenagers…..precious, cute. That’s all!”
Sterling Silver Conch Shell Pendant at amazon.com.	Ruly Ruth says: “it’s okay….looks bulky and chunky. No elegance really….”
Your Eyes Lie The Seahorse Ring at amazon.com.	Ruly Ruth says: “Love the concept–not this exact enactment of it–but the concept is good! I do own a ring in a similar shape–fyi–it’s terribly uncomfortable to wear!”
Roxy Juniors Coral Reef Tube Top at amazon.com.	Ruly Ruth says: “Perfect for juniors for summer! Rock it young ladies!”
Carve Designs Women's Del Mar Full Piece Swimsuit at amazon.com.	Ruly Ruth says: “I like this—a lot!! Great classic and yet modern swimsuit top–the top bra part is fabulous! The print is good…”
Lilly Pulitzer Women's Duffy Shirt at amazon.com.	Ruly Ruth says: “This is a women’s cowboy shirt gone wrong!!! Come on Lilly—I love your stuff–this ain’t your best by a long shot!!”
Bianca Nygård Petite Seashells Print Jersey Knotted Waist Dress at amazon.com.	Ruly Ruth says: “The dress style is classic–the knotted waist and the jersey fabric is so forgiving and great with so many figures–the print–I didn’t read it was supposed to be seashells–thought it was jellyfish–not good! Don’t wear jellyfish…not hot!”

A Statement Piece in White

After all those prints, classic white is, as always, a trend for summer.  This year Vogue indicates there are two extremes: “crisp” and minimalist and more romantic and embellished pieces with cutwork and lace.

Ruly Ruth says: “I think white is a very tough, not classic color to pull off. I think medium and darker than that toned people look best in white–it pops more. And white is hard because it is often see-through…not a good thing at all!”

La Redoute Plus Size Sleeveless Sheath at amazon.com.	Ruly Ruth says: “I love the cut of this dress—buy it in black!”
Mango Women's Two Layered Cotton Dress at amazon.com.	Ruly Ruth says: “This one looks beautiful– I’d be tempted by this–but note the length–with a toddler–either put on white leggings or don’t buy it!”
Lucca Couture The Devin Dress at amazon.com.	Ruly Ruth says: “I love this!!!! It’s almost a tan–the cut is fabulous–I’d be tempted to try it–and it looks like it’s double-layered to the thighs–a good thing!
Anna-Kaci Knit Top at amazon.com.	Ruly Ruth says: “Perfect layer over camisoles–all the rage right now–gorgeous–I’d pair it with denim shorts, skirt or jeans! pretty!!”

As you can see, fashion elicits strong reactions. It takes courage to wear a trend and this summer’s prints definitely require courage. Before you quickly dismiss these trends as not your style, take a moment to think about how you might challenge yourself to incorporate something like this into your look. Do you have something in your closet you could dust off and try? It is so easy to find inexpensive pieces to purchase as well. It’s certainly more interesting to see someone attempting a fashionable look rather than the same old shorts and tees or tank tops. I have challenged myself and purchased some new trend-oriented pieces. While I will probably never be a fashion plate, I am curious to see how people will react to them (or if they will even notice at all!)

What do you think of this summer’s fashion trends? If you had to pick just one of the above pieces to wear this summer, which would you choose? Please share in the comments.

A sneaky brownie . . . would you believe there are veggies in there?

I was requested to make a healthy brownie recipe for this month’s Ruly Ruth blog. I chose one with extremely accessible ingredients for everyone. It’s from:

The Sneaky Chef:  Simple Strategies for Hiding Healthy Foods in Kids’ Favorite Meals by Missy Chase Lapine.

There is more than one brownie recipe in this book–I chose the one that was the most simple: Quick Fixes for Store-Bought Brownie Mix.

If you are not familiar with The Sneaky Chef, her premise is to make family-friendly foods that have healthier alternatives in them. Almost all of the recipes in the book involve one of her purees. A puree is a mixture of fruits and/or vegetables often cooked and then blended to be perfectly smooth so they will blend seamlessly with the rest of the ingredients. In order to make most of the recipes in this book, you first need to make the puree called for in the recipe. The brownie recipe calls for the purple puree:

First, you boil the spinach. I will say the spinach should be loosely packed. I believe I packed my cups too full hence why the following picture of my puree is slightly more green than purple from the blueberries.

The "sneaky" ingredient -- the "purple puree."

The puree took an extra 15 minutes to make–I made it at the same time I made the brownies. People who are die-hard Sneaky Chef fans make their purees for the recipes say Sunday night and either freeze them or refrigerate them for ease of access…but they are not too hard if you have the ingredients on hand.

The only other major substitution in this recipe is taking the 1/2 c of brownie mix out of the box and adding 1/2 cup of wheat germ. As you can see, the brownie mix once blended LOOKS like any other brownie mix you’ve ever made.

The brownie mix with purple puree and wheat germ substitutions.

I will say in person the texture is a tiny bit different–I’d say a bit more runny because the wheat germ doesn’t absorb the liquid like the traditional flour mixture in the mix. But the taste is fabulous–the same as uncooked brownies.

Once baked, as you can see, the brownies look EXACTLY like normal brownies. And hot and fresh from the oven, you can’t tell the difference! I have the ULTIMATE picky eater–my son! And I mean PICKY!!!! I did NOT tell him what was in the brownies and he gobbled his up instantly–the ultimate test!! The rest of us really really like them as well. Now, once they’ve sat for about a day, I would say the texture is a bit different–he will not eat these day-old brownies. Hence make them to share! They are delicious! We do love them–and do try them at home! I did share one pan with a friend and she instantly called and reported she was shocked that they had spinach in blueberries in them too–her kids ate them instantly as well! This recipe is a winner—and who doesn’t need some extra antioxidants in their favorite dessert!! Enjoy!

**Notes from Anne: We eat a ton of brownies at our house so we will have to try this one someday.  I still can’t quite get excited about putting spinach in the brownies, though.  My girls also like to help cook so there wouldn’t be much “sneaking” in our case.  Still, Ruth has inspired me!  Also, a couple of health-related research links on these ingredients:

• Strawberries and Blueberries Halt Cognitive Decline in Elderly, Medical News Today, April 26, 2012
• Regular Chocolate Consumption Linked to Leaner Bodies, Medical News Today, March 27, 2012 (who can resist good news about chocolate?)

For March, I was tasked to make this lovely dessert which doesn’t take much time assuming you have ripe pears–which can be more of a feat than you can imagine! I bought mine a week in advance to ripen. Once ripe–the recipe is very simple and takes less than 20 minutes total to make.

You peel the pears, put them in a saucepan with 1c apple juice or the recipe calls for freshly-squeezed juice. I had regular OJ in my fridge so I used that.

Once that has simmered for 5 minutes, add 1 cup of raspberries and simmer an additional 5 minutes, all the time spooning the mixture over the pears. It is a very fresh-smelling concoction.

The serving recommendation for ultimate healthiness was with plain yogurt, as shown.

This is a dessert I would definitely use at a dinner party. You can’t pre-peel the pears–they’ll brown too quickly. But the peeling took very little time. It is a very tart dessert–the raspberries definitely overpowered the sweetness of the pear. It may have had a slightly different result with apple juice–and I think also pineapple juice would be lovely with this as well.

The yogurt’s creaminess definitely helps off-set the extreme tartness though. I do love sweet-tart combinations–they are among my favorite! So we also tried it with vanilla ice cream, which obviously has much more sugar and fat. I think it may appeal to a broader audience that way. But regardless–try this! It’s worth it–and it’s a welcome addition to my recipe collection!

Ruly Ruth's Road test of The Skinny Crockpot's Skinny Turkey Stew, Texas Style

If you are following a health or weight loss New Year’s resolution, you might have tried a healthy meal for your Super Bowl watching.  Ruly Ruth road-tested a healthy chili from The Skinny Crockpot.  Read on for her review.

Okay, so we are working on assessing the tastiness of easy to make and healthy meals. I made Skinny Turkey Stew, Texas Style in a crockpot.  Although that’s a tad bit deceiving–the first part calls for sauteeing the garlic, onion and celery. And I used ground turkey so I browned that as well…as well as ground turkey browns that is! I used about 1 cup of Baby carrots to substitute for the 2 carrots in the recipe–I try to use produce that we will eat more of regularly. (Did you know that baby carrots are not really baby carrots but irregularly shaped carrots cut down? Just a tidbit!) And I was out of allspice, but since nutmeg is a main ingredient in allspice, I substituted the 1/8 tsp. for that instead. Nutmeg is a lovely spice to add to all ground meats, fyi!

The chili actually cooked in about 6 hours–but I have a HUGE crockpot that is a long oval–if you have the smaller more circular one I’d say you’ll need all 8 hours–less surface area to heat the food at one time.

So what’s the result? Okay–the taste is good. I followed the spices as recommended. It’s spicy! Now with a lot of Mexican dishes, you often add cheese to help cut the heat. And in Italian dishes with your beautiful marinaras, again–cheese! And with chilis–you could definitely add cheese to enjoy this–or sour cream. We actually used an avocado in the serving dish to add that creamy texture and cut the spice a bit–and added tortilla chips to make it a more hearty, almost a tortilla soup chili. It was very good—I don’t LOVE LOVE it–so I won’t keep this recipe and in general there are a lot of pretty healthy broth-based soups that we really enjoy that I’d make more often. But it’s always fun to try something new! So for a low-fat chili, go for it! With a good kick, that is!

Slow Cooker Stuffed Pepper Soup

Coincidentally, we also made a turkey-based Crockpot meal for the Super Bowl based on a recipe that came in the coupon circular for our local Giant grocery store.  I am trying to find a link to it but it doesn’t seem to be on their website.  The  recipe is called “Slow Cooker Stuffed Pepper Soup.”  While it is similar to recipes of the same name posted online, it uses ground turkey instead of ground beef and the seasoning is a bit different. It was delicious!  It tasted very similar to the stuffed peppers my Yiayia used to make and was really easy and hearty.

This was a great circular that included coupons and a list of tips about how to eat healthy on a budget that were really clever.  If I find a link, I will update this page.

For our nutritional education this month, I pose the question, “Which is ‘better,’ ground turkey or ground beef and why?”

We will use the nutritional information supplied by the beef industry and a poultry producer. (Note: I had to scale up the beef facts by multiplying them by 1.333 in order to compare similar portion sizes.)

When you see the ground beef and the ground turkey stacked up side-by-side, the results are interesting.  In my own non-medical, personal opinion, it seems to me that you can probably choose which protein you prefer without suffering any life-changing medical harm.  You can save on calories, fat and cholesterol with the turkey, particularly if you go for the ultra-lean 99% option.  On the other hand, you pick up iron and several other nutrients, including zinc, thiamin, B6 and B12 if you opt for beef and it doesn’t cost you that much more in calories or fat.

The beef industry is fighting back against any black eyes it may have in terms of nutritional value.  I was surprised to learn the following:

“Calorie-for-calorie, beef is one of the most naturally nutrient-rich foods. According to research published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association, beef is the number one source of protein, zinc, and vitamin B12; the number two source of selenium; the number three source of iron, vitamin B6, phosphorus, niacin and potassium; and the number four source of riboflavin.”

“Red meat’s fat profile is often misunderstood and a common misperception is that animal proteins provide only saturated fat. Surprisingly, half the fat in beef is monounsaturated, the same type of heart-healthy fat found in salmon and olive oil. In addition, one-third of the saturated fat in beef is stearic acid, which studies have shown has a neutral or cholesterol-lowering effect.”

“A 3-ounce serving of lean beef offers the most protein with the fewest calories when compared to plant proteins such as peanut butter, black beans and tofu.”

“A person would need to consume two to three times the calories provided in a 3-ounce serving of beef to get an equivalent amount of protein from a veggie burger.”

Source: “Proteins are not created equal,” beefnutrition.org

You can create a healthy diet in an infinite number of ways.  If you want to include beef in that diet, there are good reasons to do so but you will need to be smart about your choices.  If you are focused solely on calories, however, swapping turkey for beef makes a lot of sense.  And, of course there are those who opt for vegetarian or vegan options that work too.

Anyone else testing out turkey recipes?  Have any turkey cooking tips?  Please share in the comments.

Where to put all these new Christmas gifts?

In this resting space between Christmas and New Year’s you get a real sense of someone’s personality. Some people are still vacationing and relaxing. Others have already taken down the tree and packed it away and are currently putting down their resolutions and buying new calendars and planners for 2012. In our house, our primary concern is puzzling over where to put all those Christmas toys!! Ruly Ruth (and her King) come to our rescue with some clever solutions.

I am the most disorganized storage person on earth! Once a method is established I can somewhat follow it—but to create it is NOT my forte. Enter my amazing husband–who is the KING of spacial organization! When you have young children, toys are an essential part of childhood, and storing these on a daily basis is a talent and an art.

For a variety of ages, board games are a fabulous way to entertain children. The parts are generally for 3+ year olds, and are colorful and attractive–I love moving my Marine Monopoly tank around the board! For a 2 year old, we dumb it down to counting spaces. But storing this montage of games can be puzzling. Top shelves of hall closets are often used. My amazing husband actually built a coffee table where we remove the two ends to provide abundant storage for our multitude of games. This is not the first of its kind–there are obviously other coffee table storage methods–but this is an elegant solution.

Custom-made game storage table -- open.

Game storage table -- closed. Sleek, clean and the toys are all easy to access when needed.

We love those amazing kids’ storage solutions sold at Walmart and Target that have a wooden shell and cubbies for specially-made bins. We try to segment themed toys into each bin. So for example, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are in one, dolls in another, etc. This way in an ideal world they would pull out one bin at a time. Which is more realistic the older they get–we still have multiple bins out for Emily though. Lots of clean-up practice for both of us!

Toy cubby shelves with pull-out bins.

Another style of toy cubby and bins.

For small Lego parts–this was brilliant on my husband’s part—segmented tool boxes are ideal! TJ’s are about 4″ deep with clear plastic lids–and lots of sections for a variety of Lego sizes! Love that! He can easily see the parts, and divide them based on color, size, function–whatever works for him.

Too many toys making you climb the walls? Let the toys "climb" the walls instead!

An ingenious idea for beautiful big toys is to hang them on the wall—my husband came up with this creation for my son’s ATTE. He does need someone to help him put the hangars under the middle legs–but when not in use it looks like it’s crawling up his wall–a virtual artwork.

An idea for wall hangings, especially as kids get older, is sports equipment. In the above photo, note the baseball bat hanging below the ATTE. And one of our son’s prized airsoft guns, as well as a mini-marshmallow shooter he made at a friend’s birthday party–and for those of you that are old Ed, Edd & Edddy fans–PLANK! This way you get the things kids are passionate about literally surrounding them. I love that!

An airsoft gun cleverly mounted to the wall in a tiny space between doors.

Another ingenious use of otherwise wasted space. "Plank" mounted to the wall in a small space between windows.

The final most amazing piece I have to share in this posting is my husband’s own creation. It’s one-of-a-kind and it’s so cool!!! We had an ancient old Burton snowboard (as in a kid told RJ once when he was riding it “Dude! You boarded back in the DAY!” Yup!) And a skateboard from Walmart that TJ picked out–and RJ made a toy display shelf out of the two–designed and built it himself. The snowboard is the top shelf, a middle wooden shelf, and the skateboard makes the bottom shelf. TJ even often hangs hats off of the wheels!

Repurposed snowboard and skateboard shelves. Awesome!

These amazing creations work for us. They are easily accessible for the kids to play with, yet can be hid away for company and for quiet evenings. I praise my husband’s creativity and ingenuity on a daily basis for his efforts in creating these amazing ideas for our family.

We at Ruly would LOVE to see and hear all of your creative toy storage creations! Please share in the comments. Happy New Year everyone!

–Ruly Ruth

"Tofurky" Photo by Mike Linksvayer. From the Flickr Creative Commons.

Next week, we are coming up on the biggest meat-eating holiday of the entire year . . . Thanksgiving!  As a special challenge to Ruly Ruth, I inquired what she would do if she had to host a vegetarian Thanksgiving.  While I have never been invited to such an event myself, I have encountered several people in the D.C. area who have hosted vegetarian Thanksgiving celebrations.  One friend indicated that her father was livid that there would be no turkey on Thanksgiving, even though she was preparing “Tofurky.”  How would Ruly Ruth resolve this situation?  Read on for her suggestions.

Ruly Ruth is a carnivore who seeks out rare meats–I’ve eaten kangaroo, crocodile, alligator, caribou, elk, deer, buffalo, moose, and the list goes on. So 2 problems with this presented themselves immediately: 1) wrapping my head around a non-traditional turkey Thanksgiving; and 2) Thanksgiving is traditionally a meal around a large meat roast–the iconic image of Norman Rockwell! It’s not like other holidays where the meal can be mixed or matched…..it’s turkey! And Stuffing! And gravy! And potatoes (usually) and vegetables–often carrots, sometimes parsnips….with cranberry jelly or sauce…or lingonberry jelly for me! So why or how on earth would I come up with a MEATLESS Thanksgiving???

Then I had an epiphany. And it was actually based on a new recipe for turkey–this woman did it southwest style with tamales instead of stuffing inside! So I’ve decided that Thanksgiving is more about regional and hearty and beloved cuisine than the traditional magazine spread.

So for your main course–to veer from that roasted meat platter….go regional! Make tamales, or enchiladas. In Greece, we could do a lovely spanikopita. Or Italian–with raviolis or lasagna. Or eggplant parmesan! That would make a lovely centerpiece. And couscous or a rice dish to compliment. Obviously sweet potatoes or regular potatoes go with all of this! My mother makes a killer stuffing out of pine nuts, celery, carrots and who knows what else—it’s not a bread-based stuffing–but it’s AMAZING and lovely! Something like that would be a great compliment too.

Another idea especially with the colder weather approaching for most of us, is to do a wonderful hearty soup! Potato leek or a nice pumpkin soup with a lovely roll or bread load would be wonderful. (This would also make a wonderful appetizer as well.) And a great side salad—sounds like a great meal to me!

And lovely fruits for dessert–I just watched Gordon Ramsay on the F Word make a lemon curd tart, to mix it up from a traditional pumpkin pie. We’ve also had cheesecake in the past, and special ice creams as well–very fun to mix it up at times.

Sourcing ingredients for special meals is often where I will splurge on my precious grocery dollars. Going to a farmer’s market for the vegetables and fruit, and specialty shops for jams or lemon curd or fresh breads or what-have-you is a special treat–and what better time than the holidays to do this, when you’re preparing a meal for very special family and friends! Also this supports these local businesses that may not get our usual weekly grocery money. A win-win, I’d say!

Also don’t forget to spread the love of the meal and donate an item or more to the local food bank. My daughter’s preschool is collecting food for a meal for 4 for Thanksgiving. She’ll be bringing in 2 boxes of turkey stuffing. Canned cranberry jelly, stuffing, mashed potatoes mixes, canned pumpkin–don’t forget to add 1 or more of these basic Thanksgiving items to your cart this next shopping trip! It’s greatly appreciated.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

So, Ruly Ruth says if you are serving veggie Thanksgiving to meat eaters, don’t use a soy-based meat substitute but rather go for something completely different.  Would you mind if there was no turkey at your Thanksgiving celebration?  Any vegetarians out there?  What do you say?  Please share in the comments.

P.S.  FabFitFun also did a post today about vegetarian Thanksgiving.  You can read their suggestions and recipes here.

All this month, we have been trying to identify the items in our closets that never seem to go out of style or that we simply enjoy wearing year after year.  While the clothes may not be that exciting they probably form the bulk of what is in most people’s closets.  But what if you want to look fresh and trendy?  What could you add in to your wardrobe from this year’s fashion collections?

For this fall’s guide, we look to Vogue first, who says that some of the major trends for fall include “winter lace,” “the long green dress,” “graphic prints,” bright color block designs and even a “utility” trend which includes “refined, smartly tailored updates on the sweatsuit.”

But, the real question is what does Ruly Ruth think about these trends?  Read on for her analysis.

Winter Lace

BCBGMAXAZRIA Women's Fae Boat Neck Lace Top at amazon.com.

Lace for winter? Vogue says yes. You might need to wear a jacket over these chilly pieces but they certainly add a lot of unexpected style and glamour to a cold winter day.  Ruly Ruth says: I LOVE THIS TOP! Needs a camisole under it for sure—looks great!! Can be worn everywhere–from casual day at work to playgroups to night out. I’m such an all- or mostly cotton gal I want to know if this is “itchy” on though!!

Graphic prints

Missoni for Target Sweater Skirt at amazon.com.	The sell-out trend this fall has been the Missoni for Target collection.  Ruly Ruth says: I totally get this zig-zag print is hot! I hate the skirt–too casual and not a place to accent for most people with a bright pattern—could use the hoodie as a one-off piece and not worn too often–same with the shoes. They’re definitely memorable–but not for every day! They would get tiresome quickly.
Missoni for Target Tunic Hoodie at amazon.com.	Women's Missoni for Target® Zig-Zag Ballet Shoe Flats at amazon.com.

Shimmer fabrics

bebe Dolman Sleeve Lurex Sweater Dress at amazon.com.

Glimmers of silver and gold are hot for fall. One particularly striking trend is a variation of this summer’s head-to-toe nude look where you wear a khaki or beige pant with a gold shimmery top.  Ruly Ruth says: I used to wear almost this exact dress in the late ’80s! Glad it’s back–the skinnier you are the beter it looks–back then I was 112 pounds and 5’8″–it popped! For skinny people…sorry to say! (which is NOT me right now) I don’t think even regular-sized people should wear a shimmer dress or fabrics….for models only.     If it were a wrap–like I like a touch of shimmer in regular fabrics–that would be more wearable for everyone!

Bright Colorblock Combinations

Vivace Crystal Chain Removable White Bib Racer Back Top Aqua at amazon.com.

Fila Women's Pleated Supplex Jacket at amazon.com.

The bright look, echoing the 1980′s, is still a trending look–layering on colors of hot pink, bright blue, etc.  Ruly Ruth says: I love the concept–not really thrilled about any of these specific offerings. I think with black bottoms it would be easier to translate for all body types.A longer hoodie in a bright color over a cute basic white or black t-shirt or tank top would be an easier way to rock this!

Utility Jacket

Vince Camuto Women's Utility Jacket at amazon.com.

The utility jacket, which appears to be a jacket with cargo pockets on the outside, is a trend for fall.  Ruly Ruth says: We should all buy this! I’d like mine in a darker tan or even black—but I love this jacket concept–it’s asymetrical–chunky–love it!! Everyone could wear this.

Chic Sweatsuits

Diesel Women's Fohpa Snap Front Sweatshirt at amazon.com.	The most surprising trend this fall is the tailored sweatsuit look where humble sweatpants and sweatshirts take a designer turn.  Ruly Ruth says: This is part of the trend I go with the pajama jeans—UGH!! I think the bad economy is making us use inexpensive fabrics in very fashionable ways. I’m sure they’re soft and comfy and have great cuts—but I prefer my sweat materials to be in super cute sweat-type exercise styles…not high-fashion. Done with this–wouldn’t buy any of it!! And by the way–the black jacket in sweat material will most likely not wash and dry and wear well for long! Those snaps will eat it up!!
David Lerner Women's Cassie Cardigan Sweatshirt at amazon.com.	David Lerner Women's Rollup Cargo Sweatpants at amazon.com.

Long green dress

PacificPlex Strapless Taffeta Beaded Formal Gown at amazon.com.

For formal occasions, the trend for winter is a long, dress billowing in green silk or taffeta fabric.  Ruly Ruth says: THIS IS GORGEOUS! And it would look so great on so many body types—LOVE IT!!!  Great find!! And the price is so right–hoping this will be for some proms this year—esp. with a beautiful bolero wrap!

The 1970′s

Another trend that Vogue did not focus too heavily on but that we are hearing a lot about in the general media is the 1970′s trend. Specifically, high-waisted bell-bottom pants with skinny belts, tie blouses, maxi dresses, middle parts, big disco hair and braids. (The most beautiful braids I have seen recently have been at the blog of designer Gina Michele who also gives excellent instructions.)

HALSTON HERITAGE Women's Removable Tie Blouse at amazon.com.

Ruly Ruth says: High waisted pants are only good on women with flat or skinny stomachs. Their wearability is very limited in that way. When you do have the body type for that–they look amazing and polished and elegant. The tie blouse is a classic–it reminds me of the late 50s and 60s but this pattern of polkadots reminds me of the 70s. I think it’s gorgeous and it’s gorgeous on everyone!!

Ruly Ruth’s Fall Fashion Picks

What does Ruly Ruth want in her closet?

2b by bebe 2b Faux Fur Collar Cardigan at amazon.com.	I would love this!! I think it’s a staple piece, it’s casual–but classy enough to be worn to a casual office–I love it!
BB Dakota BB Dakota The Garrett Faux Fur Vest in Light Camel Beige at amazon.com.	LOVE this too! Vests are hot and perfect for those in-between temps–esp. with gorgeous turtlenecks underneath.
Coral Bay Misses Coral Bay Solid Long Sleeve Turtleneck Top at amazon.com.	I think this is a stealing price for an all-cotton turtleneck! (I love black!)
Columbia Women Greenway T IV Turtleneck at amazon.com.	or this one in gray.
Things2Die4 Camouflage Studded Rhinestone Buckle Purse at amazon.com.	Camo’s HOT right now–just look at the Camo-print diapers Huggies now has! This bag is fabulous–love the blinged-out camo print!
Calvin Klein Women's Knit Maxi Skirt at amazon.com.	Maxi skirts are STILL haute….already own one–should probably wear it more–but it is fabulous!!

Overall, I have to say, the fall collection is extremely wearable. There are very few pieces that aren’t wearable right off the runway–and that is extremely unusual in my book!

-Ruly Ruth

P.S. on 2010 Trends

In the spirit of streamlining your closet . . . reflecting back on last fall’s fashion trends, which ones have held up over time?

The leopard print booties, the feathered items, and the Halloween colored makeup may look a little dated this year. The boot cut pants are right on trend and the other items aren’t really in or out. Some, like the capes and simple, streamlined pieces, might be tucked away for future when these trends inevitably come back around.

What do you think of Fall 2011 fashion trends? Which ones will you be wearing this year? Please share in the comments.