The weather today was a tad gloomy, but something about it made it feel like Thanksgiving week. Which made me feel like shopping! Since I canceled my travel plans, my afternoon was open, and with the help of a little Back-2-School gift from my mother (thanks mom!!), I went out searching for a new dress to wear to the wedding this weekend.
Old Navy = fail. I used to love all of their clothes and find the store very dependable, but these days nothing fits properly! The sweaters hang off of me like 80s knee sweaters, and I’m in-between sizes on all of their pants. I either can’t button them or they’re bunching with excess fabric. Even the workout clothes felt off in the design.
Banana Republic didn’t leave me much better off. The clothes were cute, but I just can’t buy shirts that are $50 on sale. I swept through the disappointing sale racks and left. I love the store concept (and the cologne I had on my wrist for the rest of the afternoon ROCKS) but it’s not my favorite place to shop. Too many monotones for too much money (and I’m a monotone girl!)
Then I spotted LOFT, an old favorite (<– gosh it’s been a long time since I’ve been out shopping if I just wrote "old!") The whole store was 25% off today!! And unlike Old Navy, the clothes were super cute and flirty. And they FIT! And I found a dress! Triple crown. You’ll see it this weekend
I also went to the grocery store for a few things to tide us to Friday. Came home and got right to work cooking!
I know this sounds dumb, but one reason I don’t cook with seafood more often is I feel that you have to cook it the same day you buy it. I’ve left a fresh fish in the fridge from my Saturday grocery store trip to a Tuesday meal plan in the past one too many times to know that they don’t last. So because I feel you have to eat them on the day you buy them, I tend not to plan them mid-week. Now that I have a more flexible lifestyle, I should start going to the store (or our nice fish market here in Cville!) mid-week just to pick up a fish!
Tonight’s was wild Alaskan sockeye, pan-seared in sea salt, Garlic Gold nuggets and dill. It took a while to get him cooked all the way through.
Leftover coconuty curry millet
And roasted broccoli (400* for 15 minutes) with grated parm
After dinner Matt and I watched The Private Lives Of Pippa Lee over candles and hot tea. The movie was just meh. Rather boring overall. I do love Robin Wright Penn and Blake Lively though!
Going to continue my lesson in the arts with The Help. Maybe I’ll finally finish it tonight!
Heidi - apples under my bed says
Ok that’s it! Im going to buy some millet already. So much yummy millet inspiration. Coconut curry millet? Yes please! Can’t wait to see the dress.
Heidi xo
Jil says
I knoww – I love Banana’s clothing…but I can’t justify their prices unless it’s on sale…aaand I have coupons. haha
Amanda says
I feel that way about fish too. Most meat in general, actually, which is why I don’t buy much of it myself!
Estela @ Weekly Bite says
Love Ann Taylor Loft 🙂
Can’t wait to see what you bought 🙂
Kelly Michelle says
Your movie night = super cute even if the movie wasn’t very good. and Dinner looks AMAZING, love salmon
chelsey @ clean eating chelsey says
I love the Loft! I am a teacher so I get a pretty awesome discount, but I’m usually too broke to buy anything there anymore!
Jess @ atasteofconfidence says
I need to go shopping for a new dress for a wedding this weekend too! I love Loft…maybe I’ll check it out!
Jessica @ How Sweet It Is says
I love the Loft. We also love Banana too!
Kristina @ spabettie says
I *LOVE* Loft… and I get the pencil skirts at Banana every season… seriously, I have to get a new one each year, because I (used to) mow the lawn in those things!! 😀
Laura Ann says
when you roast broccoli, do you steam it first? and if not, is it super crunchy? i’m so used to steaming that roasting broccoli scares me – but it really looks good!
Kath says
I don’t, but a good roast will make it tender enough. It’s not really crunchy, but not mushy either.
Emilyeatsclean says
Dang that millet sounds delish!
Allie (Live Laugh Eat) says
We freeze our seafood and then just defrost on the day we wanna eat it. We usually buy a lot and freeze a lot….always tastes great.
Kath says
Frozen seafood scares me for some reason! I used to eat it a lot, but not as much anymore. I feel like the whole seafood market is….fishy. Heh.
Faith @ lovelyascharged says
Loft has been seriously surprising me lately! I love how affordable they are…and I get an extra discount as a teacher 🙂 HOLLA!
Jessica @ The Process of Healing says
I completely agree about Old Navy.. I used to shop there ALL THE TIME but i haven’t found anything there in FOREVER. Except their cardigans.. those I like. And banana republic, so cute but SO expensive!
Lily's Health Pad says
I’ve been disappointed with Old Navy for a few years now. The clothes are too teeny bopper now or something. They used to have such cute stuff! Now I think it’s terrible.
Katherine says
You make leftovers look so good (in this post and the previous one with the squash). I generally find leftover anything to taste kind of bleh, so I generally end up eating my whole meal or throwing out what’s left – neither is a great alternative. But now I’m inspired to try to make leftovers work!
maria @ Chasing the Now says
I’ve noticed a shift in Old Navy sizing. I have to buy an XS in shirts, and sometimes they are still too large. Um, I am not THAT small.
Mary @ Bites and Bliss says
Both you and Tina went rainy day shopping! haha, it gets me in the shopping mood as well 😛 Unless it’s pouring- then that calls for an indoor only day
Jazz says
Loft is my FAVORITE store in the USA…can’t wait for Christmas in the US! excited to see your dress!
Hannah says
I love Robin Wright Penn too! Mostly because of The Princess Bride. I also love parmesan…
Katie says
Seafood is tricky. I usually only eat it out at restaurants, although that’s no guarantee that it is fresh either.
Marina says
I love fish, but I can’t make it properly :/
I’ll try and stick with the recipe next time :))
Alyssa says
Hi Kath,
just started following your blog not too long ago, I am in my 3rd year of college working on becoming an RD just like you 🙂
Just wanted to say it makes me SUPER happy to see you enjoying WILD alaskan seafood! my dad is a commercial fisherman and fishes sockeye in AK– it’s a great thing to support. Your dinner is paying for my college HA! Always remember– farmed salmon DYED for you!
With love from Seattle,
Alyssa
Pat Kilmain says
Alaskan seafood rocks! We have a large quantity of Copper River reds in our freezer! 🙂 Caught by my wonderful husband. We had salmon chowder for dinner.
Kath says
Ever since I learned about farm raised, I won’t touch it. Even in restaurants (a.k.a. “Atlantic salmon”)
Chelsea @ Strawberry Sweat says
I love the LOFT for clothes! Glad to see you found something cute– can’t wait to see it!
Michelle (The Runner's Plate) says
I wish there was a LOFT near where I lived!
Megan @ Healthy Hoggin' says
I went shopping for a dress today, too! (also for a wedding this weekend!) I was SO disappointed with Gap and Banana Republic, too! What has happened to their selection?!
I finally resorted to J.Crew, which is usually WAY out of my price range, but they happened to be hosting a HUGE sale this week! Almost everything I picked up was 50% off! Score! I found a reasonably-priced dress that I think will be perfect for this weekend! I’m glad you had good luck at the LOFT! I’ll have to keep them in mind next time!
Oh, and I totally feel the same way about cooking fish! I rarely cook it at home because you have to buy it fresh the same day!
notyet100 says
love the lastpic,..roasted brocolli looks so yum.,,
lynn (The Actors Diet) says
b/c my husband’s a vegetarian, i rarely cook meat and i’ve never cooked seafood in my life (even though i’m a carnivore). i always find it FASCINATING when people make it – they seem so grown up to me, even when they’re younger than me!
Jane says
You are so right about Old Navy. I can’t find anything there that fits right anymore. The clothes also don’t last quality-wise past a year…I don’t know where to shop now.
Camille says
What a cozy sounding day 🙂
Stacey (The Habit of Healthy) says
I hate it when clothes don’t fit properly. Being between two sizes is the story of my life. It doesn’t matter where I shop, one size is a tad too small and the next size up is a tad too big, I find it infuriating!
Your dinner looks great. I’d never thought of putting parmesan on brocolli but now that I think about it I bet it tastes delicious.
J3nn (Jenn's Menu and Lifestyle Blog) says
I love everything on your plate, especially the cheese on the broccoli. YUM! I rarely buy fresh fish for the same reason: fear of it spoiling before cooking. I buy vacuum-sealed salmon from Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods, and the grocery store and it’s great. 🙂
sarah (the SHU box) says
i’m throwing in a plug for the anthro sale rack 🙂 (of course). while their full price items are sky high, there are often serious deals to be found in the sale section, and the quality is good. i think they tend to cater more to more feminine body types, too.
loft has super cute stuff too! my sister used to work there. i wish she still did!
Kath says
I was headed there but ran out of time!
Tabitha (From Single to Married) says
Fantastic meal! I’m with you though – I love fish but it’s so hard to cook (timing wise). Too bad really since it’s so tasty.
Lauren says
Wow, so great that you found a dress at such a good deal. Doesn’t it always seem that when you actually need a particular item of clothing, you can never find it? But then you find something great whenever you don’t need it. Ugh, annoying!
Have a great day Kath! TGIF!
Nicole says
Banana is too expensive with their regular questions, but they have some of the best clearance sales, and their outlets are great!
That’s a winning dinner if I ever saw one!!
Cara Craves... says
You just need to go north of the border into Canada, it’s Thanksgiving week there!
Brittany @ Bee Louise's Bites says
Have you like The Help? I’m always looking for a good new book- kind of a commitophobe when it comes to buying them
Anna @ Newlywed, Newly Veg says
I LOVE Loft!! And it seems like they’re ALWAYS having sale…which only makes me love them even more 😉
Allison O'Mara (Girl in her kitchen) says
I love Loft! And, I feel the same way about Old Navy. I used to shop there all the time. Now, I feel like nothing fits properly and I just can’t justify paying for tailoring especially when the tailoring is sometimes more than the item of clothing!
Lori says
I love LOFT and a sale makes it even better. Can’t wait to see the dress.
That salmon looks great. I have got to get some of those GG nuggets. Have GG garlic, oil and the lemon meyer dressing – they are fantastic, so I’m sure the nuggets will be as good. I would put that stuff on everything!!
Stacy @ The Girl with the Pug Tattoo says
I recommend Banana Republic and Loft outlet Once you get used to the deals at the outlet, it’s really tough to shop at mall.
Simply Life says
my husband looves it when I buy anything from Loft – their clothes always have a nice quality!
Melissa says
I agree completely! I have the same problem at old navy; their clothes just don’t fit right. And BR is too expensive, but Loft, ahhh loft– it works!
holly @ couchpotatoathlete says
I’ve never even heard of that movie — I’ll have to look it up.
Dinner looks great and I agree 100% about buying fish — I don’t have time after work to run to the store and then cook dinner — supplies need to be at home already! And I like to do lazy cooking on the weekends, so fish doesn’t work then either!
Lee says
Old Navy pants never fit me. They always do that weird pocket stick out thing. Do you know what I mean?
Andrea (@ Puppy Dog Tales) says
I love Ann Taylor! I’ve got some birthday money burning a hole in my pocket and will probably hit up the Gap this weekend. We have a wedding on Friday and I’ve been stressing about what to wear myself!
Erica says
I love Ann Taylor and Ann Taylor Loft! Their clothes consistently fit me, they last forever, and they are always the perfect mix of classic and trendy. Old Navy is hit or miss. Sometimes the clothes are well made and well proportioned but other times it seems like things are made to fall apart. And I agree – I love BR but I have a hard time spending that much money on basics.
stacey-healthylife says
I do love salmon, but I agree you have to get it the day you want to eat it.
Cathy B. @ Bright Bakes says
i love the fact that I’m not the only one who balks at paying 50 dollars for something that is ON SALE!! I’m all for quality, but come on! 🙂 I’d rather buy good food!
Love,
Cathy B.
Chelsea @ One Healthy Munchkin says
I haven’t had any luck at Old Navy lately either! I’m only 5 feet tall and I feel like I’m drowning in all of their clothes! And I don’t really trust Banana Republic ever since a $100 sweater from there got destroyed in the wash. Yay for finding a dress at Loft though! 😀
amy says
I went shopping this last weekend at Potomac Mills (never been) and had almost NO luck. Nothing fit right or everything that did fit was WAY too expensive when it was on sale =/
Dale says
The coconut curry salad looks delicious can you share the recipe or where you got it. Thanks
I love your blog and read it every day here in Canada
Kath says
Do you mean the millet? I stirred 1 tbsp of red curry powder and 1 tbsp of coconut oil into nearly cooked millet. It turned out good!
Dale says
Thanks
Jamie @ Food in Real Life says
I’m totally with you on the shopping stuff. Lately I think Old Navy is TERRIBLE! And I find that I can get killer sales at Banana, but not recently. Everything is on sale but its still really expensive. I’ve had good luck at Gap but they don’t have anything on the fancy side. I forgot about LOFT too….I really should go in and check out what they have!
rebecca lustig says
i’m actually a hugeee sucker for anne taylor loft. sometimes you gotta search hard, but you can come out with some great items!
Marg says
I just started shopping at Loft and loving what I’m seeing – waiting on my first order to come in sometime this week! I took advantage of the 25% off too, but today it’s 40% off already marked sale items – enter SAVE40 I may have to place a second order!!!
Eileen says
Triple agreement on the stores. One of my favorite sweaters, EVER, was from Banana Republic, and I wore it for 10 years before it finally gave out. By comparison, I find Old Navy stuff generally falls apart after a year or so. You get what you pay for!
Great looking dinner!
Dorothy says
Can’t wait to see the dress. I have a wedding to go to this weekend, and I’ve been trying to figure out what I’ll wear… maybe it would be a good time to use a Kohl gift card I got?!
Also, would you do an overall review of The Help when you’re finished? I’d love to know what you thought of it after completion!
Kath says
I loved the book. Thought it was well written and thought provoking. I don’t really want to start an online debate, because I think such a touchy subject should be one discussed in a room with others were you can hear tone and voice. But I definitely recommend the book!
Christin S says
Express…when they have thier sales…that’s where the deals are…they have really good basics that fit well and last a long time…again though, gotta go when they have their sales 🙂
That broccoli with cheese looks heavenly….I am so making that for dinner tonight!
AnneNP says
This is a strange comment but the cheese on the broccoli looks like cobwebs. I think I’m too ready for Halloween!!!
Neena says
Dying to know what the stainless steel gadget is in your red mug – a tea steeper of some type? 🙂
Kath says
Yup!
Kath says
I don’t where it came from – Matt found it when we moved.
Nikka B says
I thought it was so cool too!
I tried to find it online but this is as far as I got:
http://www.thisnext.com/item/2E20097C/965FE81B/Designer-Strainer
Please let me know if you find it!
Kath says
THAT’S IT!!!!!!!!!!
Laura @ Backstage Pass to Health & Happiness says
Parmesan is my favorite way to ‘dress’ steamed broccoli 🙂
Cyndi @ Weightless Life says
I’ve felt the same way about Old Navy lately. All of their clothes used to fit me perfectly, and now it’s not the same. You dinner looks delicious, anything covered with cheese is my friend.
Katie @ Healthy Heddleston says
I think the LOFT has some really cute things but for me it’s really hit or miss on the styles and prices. I’m glad you found something though! I do like Old Navy but for me Old Navy is more of a summer store.. they just tend to have the right dresses for me in the summer time!
Mary @ stylefyles says
YUM, that looks like a delicious dinner!!!! Glad to hear you found some cute stuff at Loft – I love that place!!!
Melissa Miller says
Hi! I don’t believe I have commented here prior…because you just must get so many! BUT I have to add that I am super psyched to see more seafood on KERF because *selfishly* I love seafood and can’t wait for ideas…but also *unselfishly* Seafood is good shtuff!
I also want to REAL QUICK say especially after the *groan* MC article thing…that I am another woman who you inspire BEYOND anything you could ever know.
~Missy
Kath says
I seriously thought you wrote: “SHELLFISHly” Hahash
Kandis says
I’m such a dork. I just had to read this post out loud to my husband because that is EXACTLY how I feel about those stores. I used to shop at Old Navy all the time but I don’t like their stuff any more. BR is great, but too expensive. But I LOVE Loft. It’s become my go to store now for a couple years.
Katie says
Long time reader, first time commenting. I just moved to Blacksburg, VA from my hometown in Pennsylvania. I work at LOFT in Roanoke! Can’t wait to see which dress you bought 🙂
JoAnne says
I worked in a kitchen this past summer and I learned a trick for keeping seafood fresher, longer. Store the seafood in a plastic bag and in a container of some sort (with no lid), then cover with another plastic bag of ice. Drain the water and replace with fresh ice as it melts (usually once a day). I still try to use fresh seafood within a day or two of buying it, but this ensures that you can keep it in the refrigerator for up to three days!