Author: Stef McDonald

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Yum: Strawberry Shortcake



We picked up three baskets of Gaviota strawberries from Harry’s Berries at the Santa Monica Farmers’ Market on Sunday and could have easily eaten them all (they’re that good) but managed to save them for dessert. I wanted to bake something and chose the strawberry shortcake recipe from “The Santa Monica Farmers’ Market Cookbook” by Amelia Saltsman. When her book was first released, I had the chance to spend some time with Saltsman for a interview, shopping with her at the Farmers’ Market as we talked about her recipes and farm-to-table feasting on local and seasonal organic produce.

For the strawberry shortcake, I followed the recipe for the biscuits and whipped cream but, because the strawberries were so perfect as is, I decided against mixing them with sugar (why mess with perfection?). Slice the biscuits on plates, top with sliced strawberries, and finish with fresh whipped cream.

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Cinco de Mayo BBQ



We celebrated Cinco de Mayo early with a “Tres de Mayo” BBQ on Sunday. On the grill, we had a whole chicken and rib eye steak for tacos (with all the fixins), and we also had a taco salad (pictured) with greens, spicy ground beef, black beans, corn, tomatoes, avocado, sour cream, crushed tortilla chips, and a tangy lime vinaigrette. To start: chips, guacamole and salsa verde, plus hibiscus iced tea and hibiscus margaritas served in mod vintage green and gold glasses I picked up at a yard sale. To end: Mexican brownies using my lovely and amazing friend Tina’s brownie recipe (from “The Ski House Cookbook”—get it if you know what’s good for you!). Cinnamon and cayenne pepper added to the recipe give the brownies a little extra flavor and heat. Only crumbs were left when I remembered to take a photo.

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Mickey Mouse Watch (and Snoopy, Too)


I snapped this shot of a stylish girl at the Coachella Fest, wearing a Mickey Mouse watch. Last year, it was reported that cute and fashionable girls were wearing Mickey tees and sweatshirts. Then I saw that a designer had Mickey Mouse on his mind this year when he showed his collection on the runway during Paris Fashion Week. Some might argue that Mickey never goes out of style; I won’t disagree, but I’d like to make a case for Snoopy. After seeing the Mickey watch, I pulled out my childhood box and found my Snoopy watch. It needs a good cleaning but started ticking when I wound it up. I’m wondering about a new band but might just pair it with some bracelets.


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Coachella Style #1: Prints





Going to the Coachella Music and Arts Festival is all about the music for me. I’m both proud and embarrassed to say that I ran into a friend and said, “Hi, no time for chit-chat, I gotta go across the field to see the next band!” When I saw another friend who came in for a hug, I said, “Sorry, too hot to hug! Let’s skip that.” (Okay, maybe I’m not so social when it comes to my rock and roll.) I saw dozens of acts and crossed the field often, but I also managed to amuse myself during trips from stage to stage by looking for fun fashions. It’s definitely a challenge to be stylish during the daytime in the desert and I’ve learned that you can choose the most sensible wardrobe choices and still sweat your buns off in 100-plus temperatures under a blazing sun. Remarkably, tons of stylish girls managed to dress to impress. I brought along my pocket digital camera and snapped a few shots (not Sartorialist-style because I took my photos passerby-style). Here, a woman in a pretty aqua caftan-robe-dress with skull print (she walked away from me before I could see it from the front and I didn’t notice the skulls on first glance). The other is wearing a dress with a bird print and coordinating feather hair clip (I like the bird and feather combination).

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Nailing It: Picking the Right Polish

Nailing ItOriginally published on the Care2 website.

I skimmed the L.A. Times story in Sunday’s paper with interest: a new nail salon was opened that sounded like my kinda place. The structure was described as “eco-friendly,” “a completely green structure” and a “safe environment.” Fantastic, I thought. Finally.

But I noted that it was an OPI nail salon and I had long ago stopped using nail products by OPI. When I learned about the dangers of nail polish a few years ago, I began to bring my own toxic-free products with me to nail salons. Then I began to go to salons less frequently because of the fumes I had to inhale while inside those walls (wondering every time I sat in the chair about how the health of the nail technician could be compromised). OPI is a nail salon favorite but I read that the company was reportedly reluctant to remove the big, bad three chemicals found in nail products: formaldehyde, toluene, and dibutyl phthalate (DBP). For several years, experts have identified these three chemicals, commonly used in nail polish, as harmful; formaldehyde is a known carcinogen as well as a skin and respiratory irritant, while toluene and DBP are known or suspected reproductive developmental toxins.

The European Union (EU) has banned the use of these three ingredients in nail (and other) products and I had heard that OPI complied with the EU rules for the products they made for overseas sales—but they continued to use the chemicals in U.S. products. Hold on. Now OPI was getting attention for its new eco-friendly salon? This felt like a case of “green-washing” to me, with OPI riding the environmental wave. Fitting a building with solar panels or stocking your bathroom with Seventh Generation toilet paper does not make a company green. What about the nail polish with the toxic chemicals?

The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics targeted the company, along with many others, imploring them to make changes to their products and I went online to find that OPI finally decided to reformulate its products to eliminate these ingredients. The L.A. Times story quoted someone from OPI as saying that because they’re a chemical company, they felt they should give back. I’d never want to fault someone for doing the right thing and I like to give credit to those who see the light, but I’d much rather give my business to companies that don’t make me think twice. Luckily, there are better choices out there—and more every day. Find some of them here.

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Scrunchie Attack


I saw the first sign that scrunchies might make a comeback last summer, when a vendor sold them on Ocean Front Walk in Venice. I didn’t really believe it. Then American Apparel started selling the hair accessory and there was no question that the scrunchie would be coming soon to a ponytail near you. I have no nostalgic pull to go out and get one. Some ’80s styles worked for me in the ’80s but won’t work for me now. Skinny jeans and leggings? Yes. Acid-washed skinny jeans and neon leggings? No. Faded and torn denim and Chuck Taylor sneakers? For sure! Shoulder pads and scrunchies? Hell no. Last night, at an event at a hair salon, I spotted the scrunchie in use (even better: a polka-dotted one). I was standing with a group of stylish women when it was spotted and I felt a little like my ’80s teen self as we all gawked and whispered and then giggled as I took this photo.

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Easter Fashion Find: Floral Jacket


Getting a new outfit for Easter was always a thrill for me when I was a kid. My mom would take me shopping and I always chose something feminine and bright. I recall a floral skirt with pleats and a pink top. Then there was a pair of bubble gum pink pants with a ruffled white cotton top. If I were born during a different time, there would have been bonnets and gloves. I loved (still love) the candy (jelly beans, chocolate, marshmallow Peeps—yum), but the new outfit was the real prize. Easter signified the beginning of spring for me and with it came high hopes for warm and sunny days, and summer vacation right around the bend. Even now I mark it as the time to make lighter and brighter wardrobe choices. This year, I gave up shopping for Lent (it was a test of will), but I traded in some unwanted clothes at my local vintage/consignment shop last week and spotted this vintage jacket on the rack. I didn’t have to think twice; it was so bright and Monet-like (and a perfect fit).

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No-Shop Retail Activism


I’ve gone a month without shopping and have found it to be easier than expected. My college roommate gave up chocolate every Lent, then would pig out on it on Easter and the days that followed, so I assumed I’d be ready for on all-out shopping spree at the end of my time. Oh, there have been serious temptations, but I’m not desperate to run out and buy anything. Instead, I’m ready to revise my no-shop rule. I’m going to continue to shy away from new and don’t-need purchases. (Oooh, I want that! Hold on, do I really need it?) I’ll recycle my closet and get rid of something before acquiring something else, trading in unwanted pieces at my local vintage and consignment shops or on eBay. For straight shopping, I’ll support Etsy and other indie sellers (homemade rules!), and I’ll make eco-friendly and good-cause purchases, like this tote from Housing Works, a nonprofit in NY I’m proud to have worked with. And just because: I’ll dig into a big box of chocolates on Sunday to mark the end of Lent.