10 Ways to Rock a Chambray Shirt This Spring

The chambray shirt is a staple that can effortlessly transition from season to season, making it one of the most versatile pieces you can have in your closet. Now that spring is finally on the horizon and you can shed your winter wares, mix this wardrobe essential with lighter layers, fun colors, bold prints, vintage inspiration, and even a little sparkle. 

With a fun, bright color and ladylike accessories, the chambray shirt is instantly a must-have for work and play.

A no-frills denim shirt is a perfect match for a bold, colorful print, and even more so if you're mixing prints.

Tucked into a pair of wide-leg jeans, the chambray shirt takes on a '70s vibe that feels modern and fresh.   

Throwing on a blazer instantly adds polish to a casual all-denim look.  

A more feminine take on the Canadian tuxedo, this look is extremely customizable--wear with heels for a date, Converse for running errands, etc. 

Layered under a sweater, a chambray shirt adds warmth, not bulk, for cool spring mornings.    

Overalls made a major comeback and a chambray shirt goes surprisingly well with them. A more fitted silhouette, cuffed hem, and heels keep the look feminine instead of farm hand.   

A rugged denim shirt tied at the waist lends a casual feel to a ballerina-inspired tulle skirt and keeps the look from becoming too precious.  

Just a hint of denim peeking out from under a sweater helps to tone down the glitziness of sequins.  
   

Paired with shorts, a floral print, and pastel shades of pink and peach, this looks screams springtime.


Shop chambray shirts and coordinating separates from this post here:

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Simple Roast Chicken Breast

Weekly food prep (i.e. cooking protein, making sauces, chopping veggies in advance) is a great way to save time and energy when cooking weeknight dinners; the time-consuming part is done, so all that's left is to throw it together to make a meal of it. Since chicken breast is so versatile (it pairs well with just about anything and works for any occasion), it's a great option for preparing ahead of time to be used throughout the week. This recipe is easy and quick, and doesn't require a ton of ingredients, so you can make it on Sunday and it'll be ready to chop or shred when you need it. Make sure you buy the chicken with the bones and skin--it'll be less expensive and yield juicier, more flavorful meat. 

Roast Chicken Breast
3 bone-in, skin-on chicken breasts or 6 breast halves
olive oil
sea salt 
pepper

Preheat oven to 375 ° and place chicken breasts on a foil-lined baking sheet. Rub both sides of each piece with olive oil, then season each with a pinch of salt and pepper. Roast chicken, skin side up, for about 45 minutes, or until a meat thermometer reads 165°. Since chicken breast sizes will vary, cooking times may have to be adjusted. 

Remove chicken from oven and cover loosely with foil. Allow to rest for 15 minutes.  You can use your hands or a knife to remove the skin and bones, then chop or shred meat and use it to make everything from soups and salads to pizza and quesadillas. You could also just leave it exactly as is and serve with some sort of sauce. 

7 Foodies to Follow on Instagram

Besides connecting with old friends and meeting new people, I believe social media should also be a place to inspire.  Since I love food and cooking for my family and friends, I find that, often, the accounts that inspire me have to do with food in some capacity. Here are seven Instagram accounts that provide such culinary inspiration.

@Freutcake
Blogger Leah Bergman knows how to satisfy any hunger for beautifully photographed food. The images are positively delightful, with vivid colors that seem to jump off the page and food that looks too pretty to eat.

@Fraichenutrition
Dietician Tori Wesszer shares stunning photos of healthy food that you'll want to make for yourself, but you'll also find the occasional salted chocolate coconut bites and strawberries and cream gâteau. Pics of her adorable son are the icing.

@Passionforbaking
Manuela's baked creations are so pretty and perfect, you might think they're fake. The frosting is always perfectly even, the brownies cut in uniform, and her homemade caramel look so thick and creamy you will have to wipe the drool off your keyboard.

@thekitchenista
Angela Davis is a self-taught cook but you'd never know she's not formally trained from the looks of her pictures. She is fearless in the kitchen, using ingredients most of us would never try (quail eggs, goat neck, etc.), and that's what makes her so inspiring. When it comes to #foodporn, she is the real deal.

 @alifewortheating
The thing about foodie Adam Goldberg's account is that you not only get great food photos, you get all the travel photos that go along with them. This guy travels to eat, so all the images from tacos to soba, are not from some local eatery but from exotic locales around the world.

@Marcuscooks
If you love food, then images from celebrity chef Marcus Samuelsson will get your pulse racing. Mostly photos of dishes from his restaurant, Red Rooster Harlem, Samuelsson also shares food snaps from his travels. I once made the recipe for his fried yard bird (his name for fried chicken) pictured here and it was, without a doubt, the best fried chicken I've ever eaten. 

 @bottegalouie
If you're at all into  pictures of gorgeous French pastries (because, really, who isn't?), then you'll love this one. This account is a feast for the eyes, not just for the beautiful desserts, but also the mouthwatering savory dishes from the restaurant. Having walked to Bottega Louie countless times from my office when I worked in Downtown L.A., I can attest that the food is indeed as good as it looks.

15 Fun Things to Do With the Kids in March

Coming up with new ways to keep your little ones entertained can seem an impossible task at times, so each month I will offer up a few fun ideas that you and your children might enjoy. Have fun!

1. Add green food coloring to as many foods as you can think of for St. Patty's Day. Try pancakes, cupcakes, and egg whites.

2. Read a book together as a family on March 2nd, National Reading Day.

3. Teach them about a few great women in history for International Woman's Day on March 8th.

4. Welcome spring with a long walk or hike.

5. Make homemade shamrock shakes.

6. Go see Disney's Cinderella (it's in theaters on the 13th).

7. Have pancakes for dinner. 

8. Set aside a day for spring cleaning and make a game of it (e.g. race to see who can pick three toys they'd like to donate, or who can fold sweaters and store them the fastest).

9. Celebrate St. Patrick's Day with a traditional corned beef dinner.

10. Visit a botanical garden.

11. Find a petting zoo or farm and go see all the baby animals.

12. Make bird feeders. (Here are a few easy DIYs.)

13. Get out in the yard and get dirty--pull weeds, plant flowers or herbs, mow the lawn.

14. Read Green Eggs and Ham, then make it for breakfast or dinner.

15. Go to a major league baseball game and eat Cracker Jack.

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Monday

image via Instagram (@the_real_iman)