|The Monday Post| #8
“Chic is a kind of mayonnaise, either it tastes, or it doesn’t.” – Karl Lagerfeld, 2004
Happy Monday and welcome to the 8th edition of The Monday Post. This week is really exciting because I’m showing you all the floral you need for spring, hair updos that are perfect and easy for work, and one of my favorite (and easy) recipes.
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Florals for Spring
We are in the final countdown to spring. Seriously, March 20 is the first day of spring, and although I shared spring work dress ideas in The Monday Post #6, I wanted to share more traditional spring looks today. Think floral, and lots of it. Not very “out of the box” thinking, but you can’t go wrong with floral in the springtime.
Hair Up for Work
Whether you are a fan of going two days without washing your hair or can stretch it for most of the week, at some point throughout that cycle, you are most likely going to want to throw your hair into a ponytail or bun. The girls at work and I are all fans of ponies and buns, and one day, while sitting in a staff meeting, as I was looking around the room, I realized we each have a unique style of “updo.” These are all fabulous examples of staying chic and classy for work without having to spend a whole lot of time prepping.
Example 1: The Jenna
Jenna is sporting the low bun with a few whispies around her face. It is a very classic look that pairs well with pretty much anything. She’s dressed it up with a blazer, dressed it down on casual Friday with flats, and is a pro with quickly getting it back into position after a lunch work out. In this photo, she pairs it with beautiful drop earrings that add the perfect amount of glamour for an overall smart, stylish, and classic look.
Jenna’s dry shampoo of choice: Dove Refresh & Care
Example #2 – The Lori
Lori is a queen with all things poof! I’ve worked with her for almost seven years now, and she has it down. Her pro tip for achieving maximum volume: let it be dirty. Yep, you heard that right. The more dry shampoo, texture spray, and hair spray you can add, the more poof you will get. She also credits this for holding her headband in place.
Lori’s dry shampoo of choice: TRESemme
Look #3 – The Melissa
Melissa’s updo of choice is a high pony complimented with extra volume in the front. She looks ultra chic in this black and white patterned dress with her hair pulled up and elegant gold hoop earrings. This stylish look can be worn for customer lunches, business meetings, presentations, and for every day work.
Look #4: The Meagen
I have become an even bigger fan of wearing my hair up since having the twins. I’ve become pretty creative with my ponytails, and this is one of my favorite looks. It is amazing how many people think this takes a lot of effort to pull off. All I’ve done is taken a very small piece of hair from the bottom of my pony and wrap it around the pony tail. It is very simple and professional at the same time. If you are not a fan of your hair pulled straight back, another option would be to do a natural part pony and then wrap the hair around the ponytail holder.
Meagen’s dry shampoo of choice: Psssssst Instant Dry Shampoo
Baked Brie
Spring is knocking at the door, which means the party is moving outdoors. As the days get longer, the flowers start to bloom, and all the critters start moving about, you should probably have a few go-to recipes that are quick and easy to whip up, and of course pair well with everybody’s favorite, rose.
This baked Brie is always a winner when I make it for events. I mean, who doesn’t love cheese, and Brie at that?
Baked Brie
Ingredients
- 1.5 lb wheel of Brie
- 1 sheet frozen puff pastry dough, thawed
- 3/4 c fruit chutney (see below)
- 1 tbsp butter (melted)
Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Slice off the top rind of Brie. Lay out the puff pastry dough on a greased baking sheet and place Brie round in the center. Spread the fruit chutney over the Brie and fold the dough over the top. Brush with the melted butter. Bake for 20 – 25 minutes until golden brown. Let cool for approximately 10 minutes.
Fruit Chutney
- 1/2 c water
- 1/2 c sugar
- 1 c dried chopped fruit
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp nutmeg
Bring water to a boil. Add sugar and stir until dissolved. Reduce heat. Add dried fruit, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Cover and simmer for 30 minutes. Remove from heat and cool to room temperature, but don’t let it sit for too long or else it will become super sticky.
And that is it. Serve with fruit, crackers, or eat it on it’s own.
Well, that is all for now folks. Next week we are revisiting healthy office habits, Apple watch bands that look professional at work, and a little bit of office decorating. Have a great week and I’ll catch you on my stories. Cheers!
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