Totally Jackie O. Wool Coat for $44.99

I love this coat. It’s so cute and completely Jackie O. who was known to possess an innate sense of style and elegance. It's called a "coat" on the website, but it is more like a jacket or blazer in my opinion.

This ¾ sleeve Wool Coat by Mossimo at Target is very well tailored and the lining is adorable. Pair this with your favorite little black dress, black skirt or even jeans and voila! Sophistication. I adored the coat with jeans and a newsboy cap. The coat is so versatile you can find many ways to wear it. My first time wearing the coat out I wore it over a black dress and it resembled the look of a suit, yet more stylish and chic. Did I mention the adorable side pockets?

This coat comes in yellow, black, ivory, red, green and a mellow plaid with small traces of yellow. I purchased both the plaid and black coat. The plaid is timeless as is the cut of the jacket so it’s well worth your $44.99 as it will never go out of style. I am rather impressed with the last two pieces that I have purchased from Target (said with a French accent).

Sharing shopping secrets with friends is just another day in a European Style Life.

Chicken Tortilla Soup

This easy and tasty Chicken Tortilla Soup will bring comfort and warmth to the stomach. A simple recipe and a slow cooker will be a winner for anybody with a busy schedule. Just put all the ingredients in your slow cooker and leave the work behind you. Coming home to a delicious aroma and a warm bowl of soup is just another day in a European Style Life.

Chicken Tortilla Soup

1 pound of uncooked chicken (breasts or thighs)

1 (15 ounces) can of whole peeled tomatoes (mash or chop)

1 (16 ounces) can of enchilada sauce (I prefer Las Palmas)

1 bunch of celery

2 (4 ounces) can of chopped green chile peppers

1 medium onion chopped

2 cloves of minced garlic

1 (49 ounces) can of chicken broth

3 teaspoons of chili powder

1 teaspoon of salt

1 teaspoon of pepper

1 tablespoon of oregano

4 bay leafs

2 (10 ounces) packages of frozen corn

1 bunch of chopped cilantro

1 avocado (your choice to add)

Directions:

1. Add all ingredients into the slow cooker.

2. Stir in the salt, chili powder and pepper.

3. Cover and cook on Low for 6 to 8 hours or on High for 3 to 4 hours.

4. Garnish with avocado, tortilla chips, cheddar cheese and lime if desired.

The Little Black Travel Dress for $24.99

Every girl needs a "little black dress" in her wardrobe. And I was fortunate enough to come across a great dress at a great price. I feel it is my obligation as a female to pass on this great buy. So here it is, the secret to my success.

I have been searching for classic pieces to add to my armoire. In particular, I am searching for clothing that is warm and easily packable (little or no ironing required) in preparation for my trip to France in Spring 2009. I was more than delighted when I found this dress at Target that suited all my criteria.

The dress by Merona is called "Pleat Scoop Neck Ponte Ebony Dress". It retails for $24.99 and you certainly get a lot of bang for your buck. The dress is classic and has many possibilities of dressing it up for evening or pulling it out of your closet when you don't know what to wear to work. It is a knit dress made of Rayon, Spandex, and Polyester. No need to send this dress to the cleaners, it is hand-washable. Fit to flatter, this A-line dress can easily go from day to night with the proper accessories. For chic affordable accessories visit Branché Boutique.

I was pleased to add this classic dress to my wardrobe and even happier when I realized it also came in gray. I fancy myself wearing this dress with either a black or other colored beret, a long necklace, black tights and black boots with a cardigan of choice. This dress will travel well and will be interchangeable for a day of shopping or an evening out to dinner.

Finding a classic dress and adding chic accessories is just another day in my European Style Life.

Audrey's Signature Salad

There is nothing more refreshing to the mind and the body than knowing that you are eating something that is good for you. Eating healthy need not be a bore. I truly enjoy eating salads, though salads can begin to feel a bit of the same-old-same. Try this salad and salad dressing for a new way to enjoy those necessary greens.

This salad recipe was given to me by my friend Audrey. She has been known to make salad dressings that are better than anything I could ever purchase. Eating healthy and sharing recipes with friends is just another day in a European Style Life.

Salad Dressing

1/4 cup of Olive Oil

1 tablespoon of Dijon Musturad (Honey Dijon works too)

1 tablespoon of White Balsamic Vinegar

Salt and pepper to taste.

Combine ingredients and stir.

Audrey's Signature Salad

Mixed Greens

1/2 Cucumber (sliced)

1 Bunch of radishes (chopped or sliced)

1/4 Red onion (chopped or sliced)

1 Avocado (cut into cubes or slices)

Add salad dressing amount according to taste and toss.

Autumn - A time for Berets and Boots

I am starting to feel like summer is winding down and I look forward to the subtle breezes of autumn. I had my first autumn moment yesterday evening. It was a brisk 69 degrees in the evening. My husband and I had just finished dinner in Pasadena and we were strolling down Lake Avenue. There was a quick silence from the busy avenue and a gentle breeze as the sun was setting. That was enough to send me into a longing for autumn.

My article may be a bit premature as we are at the end of August, but I am truly done with summer and in a hurry to get to fall. One of my favorite things about fall besides cooking and making the house warm and cozy is the clothes.

As I mentioned, we were walking on Lake Avenue where one of my favorite shops is located, Anthropologie. The autumn feel along with their signature scented candles that you can smell half way down the block lured me into the store.

Here is a look at my first autumn purchase. I am imagining that I will wear this skirt with black boots, a black or yellow sweater (already in my closet), a black beret (double check, already in my closet) and red lipstick! Voila. Wearing berets and boots in the fall is just another day in my European Style Life.

Summer Festin, Le Festin

I sit listening to the lyrics of "Le Festin" by Camille as I write this article. My favorite part is when she talks about setting the table.

La fete va enfin commencer

Sortez les bouteilles; finis les ennuis

Je dresse la table, de ma nouvelle vie

Je suis heureux a l'idee de ce nouveau destin

Une vie a me cacher et puis libre enfin

Le festin est sur mon chemin

Setting the table is how one sets the atmosphere for a "Summer Festin". I chose a simple yellow table cloth and a petite bouquet of wild flowers to set the mood of summer time in the South of France. If I was living in the South of France, this is what my party "festin" would look like.

I made the occasion simple, yet inviting. I had typical summer food such as, BBQ ribs and chicken, pasta salad, potato salad etc. I took advantage of the Yellow Watermelon since it matched my color scheme. I placed the yellow watermelon on the tables as a before dinner treat. A simple menu for a backyard "Summer Festin" set the tone for comfort and relaxation. 

Adding more to the atmosphere was a well thought out play list on my ipod. Summer time songs and upbeat music put my guests in the mood for a jovial summer time evening. To mention a few, my playlist included songs from the Beach Boys, Bob Marley, Feist, and Madeleine Peyroux. Petite twinkle lights gave a subtle touch of summer evening whimsy.

At the end of the evening I passed out petite "goodie" bags that had the Eiffel Tower on them. The bags were filled with a variety of candy. Friends talked and laughed and enjoyed the coolness of the summer's night air.

A simplistic evening, a well dressed table, great music, good food and friends is just another day in my European Style Life.

McDonald's Ice Coffee - Sugar Free and 0 Calories

With gas prices continuously going up many of us are revaluating our everyday purchases. I wonder, do I really need that $4.00 Ice Coffee? Is it worth driving out of my way to get one? The simple answer is “yes”! Here is an economical way to get your java fix. After sampling two “fast food” options for Ice Coffee, here is what I found.

I decided to try the Ice Coffee at McDonalds after receiving a coupon in the mail for a free Ice Coffee. While I normally stay away from fast food restaurants, who can resist the opportunity to try a new product for free? So off I went to the nearest McDonalds on my way to work. I had four choices and two different sizes to choose from. Flavors are regular, hazelnut, vanilla, and sugar free vanilla. Sizes are medium (16oz) and large (20oz). I selected the medium sugar free vanilla Ice Coffee. McDonald's medium Ice Coffee goes for $1.89. Not a bad bargain.

Now comes the most important part, the taste test. Straw in and first taste...Yum! Delightful. Love at first sip. And since I chose the sugar free vanilla, my Ice Coffee has zero calories. Another win! Voila, finally an affordable cup of coffee with great taste.

I later decided to try the rival’s Ice Coffee at Jack-in-the-Box. They sell their small coffee for $1.79 (12oz) and $1.99 (16oz). I figured that if McDonalds could get it right then there is no reason why Jack-in-the-Box couldn’t get it right either. So again I tried another fast food Ice Coffee as I passed over the local Starbucks.

I received my Ice Coffee and took my first sip. Wow, this was far from good. I asked the employee for 5 creams and 1 equal. I arrived at work and attempted to “fix” my coffee. First, I added in the cream and then ½ a packet of Equal. Yikes! Still terrible. Determined not to waste my money I tried adding flavored creamer. No improvement. The Ice Coffee was still bitter. I reached the conclusion that my $1.79 was not worth the trouble and dumped it out. Another lesson learned.

All in all, I recommend the Ice Coffee from McDonalds. It is a lot of bang for your buck. Also, I enjoyed the drink so much that I decided to bring in a few extra for my co-workers, priced at $1.89, I can afford to do that. They too love the Ice Coffee. Enjoying “Ice Coffee” on a hot summer day is maybe one of the least common things that I could do in a European Style Life. But who am I fooling? I am American and I love ice!