Author: Natalie

Wearing Skirts & Tights in Winter {Updated Version}

{heavy materials, layers underneath, tights, flannel heels}
Layer your dress: A heavy-duty red material, layered with a chambray shirt makes sure this ensemble stays cozy. 
{Merino cardigan, heavy dress, merino tights, Hunter boots}
Layer with Merino Wool: Layer over it with a merino wool sweater and merino wool tights. 
{Velvet skirt, layered top, Bootights, Shearling-lined boots}
Discover Bootights: LOVE these tights with a sock attached. They are made in USA, high-quality, durable, and have a sock attached. 
Find fleece, silk, or cotton tights and leggings: {wool tulip skirt, fleece-lined running tights, high boots, chambray shirt}
Choose Appropriate Dress Materials: Heavy vintage silk, velvet, and wool are all great choices. If you are wearing a lighter-weight dress, be sure the colors say “winter.”
Add lots of layers and color!

You can even do fancy in the winter without being freezing! These tights are a great find (Target, of course!) and pair perfectly with a heavy silk vintage dress ($10 from the ‘needs work’ bin at my favorite vintage store…and I’m happy to work on pretty vintage dresses!). Then I wore my bright red wool coat.

{Dress, merino wool sweater, sweater tights, suede pumps}
I hope this gives you some ideas as we face these last dregs of winter! 
Be well and be warm!

Adventuring Twin Cities: Dreamcoat Coffee

I have discovered a hidden gem. Of coffee. A hidden coffee gem. 
It’s called Dreamcoat Coffee. 

Boy is it dream-worthy! Try their S’more Latte and you’ll be thinking about it for days!

Look at this deliciousness! 
It would be even more delicious if you weren’t gluten-free and were able to have the crushed graham crackers and caramel sauce on top. But no matter—this pile of whipped cream with chocolate sauce suits me just fine. 

They have these cute little journals all around the store so you can write whatever you want about your trip to Dreamcoat–of course, I left a note! A journal with a pen anywhere calls my name.
Oh wait! I didn’t tell you! 
(and maybe I’m only telling you now since I moved away?)
But this coffee shop is CONNECTED TO A THRIFT STORE. 
I’m sorry to shout in your ear. 
But it’s truly like a dream—an amazing little find of a coffee shop, attached to a Salvation Army thrift store Boutique. 
Look at all of these fun things you could snatch up! 
How could I not love this?
xo
Natalie

Thoughts & Things

I’ve had so many “come to Jesus” moments lately. You know the kind, right?

Because I just packed up my Subaru, all weighted down with vintage purses and baking dishes and hot pink Swedish clogs, and I drove halfway across the country again, only not back to where I started. To somewhere new. Crazy. The sort of crazy God gives us.

I feel so empty of all that I knew. So far away from home. {whatever ‘home’ means, really}

And yet, so powerfully full of the mercies of God.

I arrived here, in this sandy, red-faced tourist town, white-knuckled from driving for 3 1/2 days and from carrying baggage long before then. Here’s the thing about gripping something tightly: you have to let go of it to hold anything new. There is only so much room in my hands. I have to let go of insecurities and anxieties that built up in my time of waiting. Because God is doing something new.

I have traveled three days and nights to get here, to see something God has told me I must go see. The second I wrote that sentence, I thought of the Three Wise Men. I understand that story of the Three Wise Men much better now…how they journeyed toward a star, believing God had sent them, but not knowing what they would find. They arrived exhausted, exhilarated  and humbled…bowed before a King.

They brought Him gifts.

I think I will bring Him gifts.

I will bring Him anxiety, and worry, and fear. Those are the most precious things I have to offer right now, the things of my heart that will really be a sacrifice of praise, because letting go of them means: I trust.

I am trusting.

Shabby Apple Givewaway

Dresses from Shabby Apple
I know, I know, we’re in the dregs of winter here. It ain’t too pretty out there. But we can do some spring dreaming! Indeed, I must! I’m thinking pastel colors and Easter dresses and…yes, Reese’s Peanut Butter Eggs. And twirly skirts…Oh how I adore twirly skirts!

Whirlwinds Purple Gingham Skirt from Shabby Apple

Today I’m excited to share a $50 gift card giveaway from Shabby Apple…you know, all those crazy-cute vintage-inspired dresses I’m always loving? You, yes you, could win $50 to pick out something to perk up your spring wardrobe. I’m thinking a twirly skirt, but you’d be the winner, so you’d get to decide.
But how can you say no to the twirl?

Picnic Park Dirndl Skirt from Shabby Apple

This one is a total winner… big gingham, a solid chartreuse, and a dirndl shape! This skirt can be worn with a white t-shirt, some silver sandals, and great sunnies, and you could go anywhere this summer. Paris, Rome, Florida, Texas, Austria, the Von Trapp Lodge in Vermont…you’d look stylish anywhere.

To Enter to Win:
Required Entry:  “Like” the Shabby Apple page on Facebook, and leave a comment letting me know you did so AND  letting me know which Shabby Apple item you’d use your $50 towards.
open to US entries only, sorry.

Extra Entries: 
1.) “Like” Good Girl Style on Facebook and leave me a comment letting me know.
2.) Follow @fashionatalie on Twitter and leave me a comment letting me know.
3.) Follow me on Pinterest and leave a comment letting me know.
Enter through Midnight CT, Monday, March 11th.

Can’t wait? Use code “goodgirlstyle10off” for 10% off ALL orders
Have fun and good luck!
PS> When you win, can I borrow that chartreuse dirndl skirt? ‘Cause that’s your favorite too, right?

Published
Categorized as reviews

Chartreuse and Houndstooth

There’s this little secret to happiness, and it’s not a good one. I mean, it’s good, because it means happiness. But it isn’t good in the way you’re thinking, considering I usually think in terms of pink pants or leopard print cupcake wrappers, because this is a little bit of hard-work happiness. 

The kind of soul-weary-but-I’m-still-smiling happy. Deep-reserve-of-love sorta happy. 
Able-to-give-happily-and-without-any-impulse-to-hold-on-to-things-myself happy.
It’s good stuff.
Hard to come by.

Because it comes with a price. 
The price of our pride. 

The secret to that kind of deep happiness?
Submission. 

I just whispered that, because it’s a tough word to say. A tough word to swallow. 
A tough word to live.
It is a strange paradox that submission gives us freedom. 
And freedom in Christ?
That’s some crazy-deep-happiness.
#wordsformyheart 
#wordsforyourheart
Be blessed, friends. 
Published
Categorized as outfits

Cherry Almond White Chocolate Biscotti {with King Arthur Flour}

If there’s anything Scandinavians like, it’s coffee.
And if there’s anything else they like, it’s any almond-flavored baked good. 
Really, any baked good in general, considering most traditional coffee parties have seven dessert options served. No need for seven different desserts, just give me seven of these biscotti!
I’m a good Swede at heart, and I take my coffee strong and black, sometimes with a bit of sugar. Or, in this case, a Cherry-Almond-White-Chocolate Biscotti with a lot of pearl sugar on top.
These are addictive. Oh yes, very, very addictive. One is not enough, so don’t even try to tell yourself it is. 
Nibble one of the broken bits for breakfast. Dunk one in your  mid-morning coffee. Have one for lunch-dessert. Take an early Fika (coffee time) break. Relax in the evening with a biscotti and a mug of hot tea and your favorite reality TV show (obviously, it’s Bachelor Monday!). 
If anyone questions, just tell them it’s Swedish and Natalie told you to; I’m happy to be your excuse.
If you’re feeling generous, offer them a biscotti.
Cherry Almond White Chocolate Biscotti
1/4 cup butter (1/2 stick)
1/2 cup white sugar
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
2 eggs
1/4 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking powder
1/4 cup chopped dried cherries
1/4 cup white chocolate chips
1/4 cup slivered almonds
1/4 cup white chocolate
Preheat oven to 300 degrees F. Beat butter and sugars together. Add the eggs, beating well. Stir in the almond extract. In a separate bowl, mix together the flour, salt, and baking powder. Reserve one teaspoon of the dry mixture and sprinkle it over the cherries, chocolate chips, and almonds. Stir the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients, and then fold in the cherries, chips, and almonds. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. The dough will be sticky, but empty it onto the parchment and form it into a long rectangle (using plastic wrap to help form it without getting your hands sticky if necessary), about 16 inches x 4 inches. Bake at 300 degrees for approximately 30-35 minutes, or until golden. Remove from oven, let cool for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, reduce the oven temperature to 275 degrees F. When the baked loaf is cool, use a serrated knife to cut it into strips crosswise about 1″ wide. Then turn the pieces on their cut sides, and return to the oven for 8-10 minutes.
In a small bowl, microwave the remaining 1/4 cup white chocolate chips at 10-second intervals, stirring after each, until melted. Watch closely as white chocolate burns extra quickly, and you often need to stir it a bit to realize it is fully melted. Remove from microwave and stir in 2-3 drops of orange oil. Drizzle over cooled biscotti. Sprinkle with pearl sugar. 

Swedish Snow Chocolate {with King Arthur Flour}

Oh my goodness. I’ve discovered something totally new to me: WHITE hot chocolate, and it’s amazing. 

AND it’s Friday, which means a vlog. So let me break it down for you!
As my mom said, “It’s like liquid frosting.”
Can you think of anything better?
It’s thick, rich, and inspired by Sweden with almond, nutmeg, and pearl sugar. 
Don’t get all late-winter-cynical on me, pining for beaches and the lake. Since it’s snowing beautifully out my window, and hopefully yours, I highly suggest you make this hot cocoa and settle in for the weekend. Spring will be here soon, and then you’ll wish you could find a snow drift to cool down in! 
Next week there is still another baked goodie or two to share, and a few other fun things, so have a great weekend and I’ll see you next week, friends!
Swedish Snow Drift Hot Chocolate
by Good Girl Style
Makes 1 mug

1 1/2 cups milk
3 oz. white chocolate, chips or chopped finely
Splash vanilla
Whole or ground nutmeg
Whipped Cream
Whisk milk, chocolate chips, vanilla, almond extract, and a dash of nutmeg in a saucepan constantly until thoroughly combined and very hot. Serve very hot with whipped cream, another sprinkle of nutmeg, and Swedish Pearl Sugar on top.

New Nordic Ginger Chocolate Orange Brownies

This is the first of a few New Nordic recipes I’m creating in collaboration with King Arthur Flour. Brownies are all-American, but I’ve incorporated Scandinavian flavors of ginger, orange, and traditional Swedish pearl sugar. My friend who lives in Sweden says that these could also be baked in a round tin and called Kladdkaka, an unleavened chocolate cake with a gooey center. If you follow me on any social media platform (you totally should, I’m hysterical on Twitter and sappy on Facebook), you’ve seen me raving about these brownies. And discussing techniques for cleaning frosting off my keyboard. 
Uffda. These brownies. 
They are incredible.
They are rich, chocolatey, gooey but not underbaked, and they have a nice crunchy crust and firmer edges.
I honestly think they are the best brownies I’ve ever had, gluten-free or not. 
The frosting?
It tastes exactly like a Terry’s Chocolate Orange.
Good enough to eat by the spoonful, followed by a gulp of ice-cold milk.
I think it’s the next “Nutella.” 
As if Nutella would ever be “over.” But seriously.
The frosting recipe makes just enough extra for a few spoonfuls (I think of these things. Aren’t you glad we’re friends?).
If you didn’t watch the King Arthur Flour ingredients video, you might be thinking I’ve gone crazy and added giant crystals of kosher salt to my brownies. Fear not, it is actually Swedish Pearl Sugar! This texture switch really makes these brownies knock-out. The fudgy brownies, the whipped frosting, and the crunchy sugar. Orange, chocolate, ginger, and pearl sugar? A match made in New Nordic heaven.

New Nordic Brownies
{Ginger Chocolate Orange Brownies}

Fudgy Ginger Brownies

4 eggs
1 1/4 cups cocoa powder (Dutch-process preferred)
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. ground ginger
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter
2 1/4 cups sugar
2 tsp. grated fresh ginger

Note: This is a unique technique, but don’t let it scare you off! It works, I promise! 
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease or line with parchment paper a 9″x13″ pan. Beat the 4 eggs with the cocoa powder, salt, baking powder, and ground ginger. This will be a very thick concoction. Now, in a small saucepan, melt the butter and add the sugar. Heat until thoroughly hot but not simmering, being careful not to scorch the mixture. Combine the two mixtures, adding only a little of the hot butter to the egg mixture at first to temper the eggs. Then stir in the rest of the mixture. Stir in the flour and fresh ginger until just combined. Pour into prepared pan. Bake for approximately 30 minutes or until a cake tester comes out clean.
Chocolate-Orange Frosting (by Good Girl Style)
1 stick unsalted butter
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1/2 cup cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon Orange Oil from King Arthur Flour
2 Tbsp. milk
Swedish Pearl Sugar from King Arthur Flour
Beat the butter. Then sift in the powdered sugar and cocoa powder, and mix, scraping down sides frequently. Add the orange oil and the milk and beat until whipped. 
Cut and frost brownies when cool, and sprinkle with Swedish Pearl Sugar.
*Ingredients provided by King Arthur Flour. Thank you, KAF!
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New Nordic Flavors with King Arthur Flour

Have you heard of the food trend of “New Nordic”? Just like it sounds, it is a fusion of modern cooking tastes and techniques with traditional Scandinavian cuisine and flavors. The trend has taken root here in the Twin Cities, Minnesota; of course, a hub for Scandinavians. For some reason, though, until recently, the influence of Nordic culture was completely missing from the food. Enter The Bachelor Farmer, and FIKA at the American-Swedish Institute, along with a host of smaller purveyors of these inventive flavors.

{cardamom bun at FIKA from my day at the ASI}
I’m Scandinavian–mostly Swedish with a hint of Norwegian–so I love a lot of things about Scandinavian baking. I’m not the most keen on their reliance on fish in their savory cuisine, but anise, ginger, orange, cardamom, and almond? Swoon.
I have a few delicious recipes coming for you. You can see the rundown of ingredients here.
And obviously, knowing me, I had to create a cute Swedish-inspired outfit for baking up these goodies. Here are my finds:
Swedish Kitchen Outfit
Swedish potholders//white dress//Swedish apron//Merimekko-inspired dishcloths//Swedish clogs
{click image for product info}
So pull out your King Arthur Flour catalogue (I know you have one), call them up in Vermont and order some yummy ingredients, tie on that floral apron, slip into your Swedish clogs, and let’s bake
NEW NORDIC-Style this week!

Post One: New Nordic Ginger-Orange Chocolate Brownies