SS Eats: Founding Farmers

Alright guys, it's time for another food post on SS!  It was recently a close friend's birthday, so I treated him to a nomtastic meal at one of my favorite restaurants in the DMV:  Founding Farmers.  If you live here and haven't gone yet, you're seriously missing out!  Like, you should get in your car right now, and drive there immediately.

There are three different locations here, but we went to the one in MoCo (Montgomery County, MD). We were starving so we decided to order a few starters:  fried green tomatoes ($8) and skillet corn bread ($5).  I can't even begin to tell you guys how delish they both were.  The tomatoes came out perfectly - they were crispy and piping hot with two dipping sauces.  I don't know what they were exactly, but I think one was a goat cheese concoction? Anywho, they were both good, and that's all you need to know, ha.

The corn bread was straight up ridiculous.  It was honestly the best corn bread I've ever had, like, in my entire life. The texture was heavenly - the inside was moist and the crust was baked to perfection. I usually hate buying bread at restaurants, but I would buy this sh*t in bulk, ha.  I can't wait to go back and try the table biscuits.  I have a feeling they'll blow my mind!  What can I say? I love my carbs! 

For entrees, we got two dishes and shared.  My friend told me that their fried chicken was really good so we got an order of Chicken & Waffles ($16) and - since I'm a sucker for pasta - Sausage Mushroom Gnocchi ($17).

The chicken dish came with mac & cheese + green beans.  It looked aesthetically pleasing (the photo doesn't do it justice), but I wasn't that impressed overall.  The chicken needed more flavor and the sides were too salty for my taste. In my opinion, the waffles were the highlight of the dish!

Their gnocchi was on point though. Everything was perfectly cooked, and the flavors were divine - each bite seriously felt like a party in my mouth.  The pasta had the most delightful texture, and they really went all out with the sausage and mushrooms.  They don't mess around here at FF!  You get your money's worth for sure.

Now, a few tidbits you guys should all know - Wifi + parking's free (they have a huge lot for your convenience), there offer a ton of delish vegetarian options (omg try the mushroom swiss reuben), and they make their own sodas (!!!!).  So head on over STAT and let me know what you think of their noms.  Happy eating, frands!

Tearing Up Bethesda Row

Alright guys, I'm super excited to share today's post with y'all because my blogger bestie, Melanie Yu from La Belle Mel, snapped it for me!  We met up in Bethesda Row to get our brunch on and shoot - yay for fun photo shoots and delish noms.  BTW, if you're not following her yet, you need to STAT because she's seriously amazing at everything she does - photography, food, beauty, hair, fashion, you name it!  I literally could go on and on.

The story of how I met her is actually pretty funny.  I was teaching piano at a school called ISM, and she enrolled and was placed with me for lessons!  Small world, right?  Suffice it to say, I'm beyond glad we met because we click so well.  

Anywho, I'll stop gushing and move onto today's OOTD!  I picked this dress up online at ModCloth a while back - unfortunately, it's no longer in stock, but I've linked similar options for you guys below. I styled the piece with a lightweight cardi + wedges (courtesy of SUSI) to match.  To stay true to my simple 3-color scheme, I carried my vintage crossbody satchel, which just so happens to conveniently match my tassel detailing.

Other cute striped dresses: 

Shoes:  c/o SUSI || Dress:  ModCloth (similar) || Cardigan:  Wet Seal || Bag:  OASAP

Shot by Melanie Yu Photography.

Where to Buy Stylish Work Dresses

Hey everyone, it's time for another work-friendly ensemble on SS.  For my latest, I styled a chic but comfortable office-appropriate look for y'all.  I centered today's OOTD around my latest find from Charlotte Russe.  I picked it up a few weeks ago at their factory outlet at Arundel Mills.  It was on sale for $10 so I scooped it up quickly.  

I used to be all about Forever 21, but I converted to CR a while back.  They have a better return policy, and I like their fabrics and designs more.  Their sales are really good, and I almost always find something cute hanging in their clearance racks.  How do you guys feel about CR? Do you prefer them to F21 like me or are you team forever, well, forever?  Anywho, let's move onto today's topic of the day: where to purchase stylish but affordable work dresses.

Now, I love J. Crew, Banana, and [insert expensive retailer of choice] as much as the next, but I think a lot of their stuff is overpriced.  Is a plain black dress really worth $350?  I mean, it all depends on your budget + cost per wear, but I guarantee you can find something just as cute for a fraction of the price.  You just need to know where to go and when to buy it!  

Here are a few of my go-tos:  

Banana Republic Factory Outlet: They carry heavily discounted merchandise and offer student discounts - just make sure you bring your school ID.

Madewell:  They always have a nice clearance/sale selection, and on top of it all, they offer student + teacher discounts as well.  I've gotten knits and dresses here for less than $40 so remember, it's all about shopping smart!

H&M: Sign up for their newsletter online to get a coupon for your purchase.  I may or may not have created different email addresses in the past to take advantage of the aforementioned promo, ha.

TJ Maxx, Marshalls, Ross, Last Call, Off 5th:  These stores carry discounted designer pieces for less so check back often!  They get new merchandise all the time so you'll never get bored browsing.

Ann Taylor Factory Outlet: They sell classic, feminine pieces for less.  Their sales racks are very well organized, and they often have extra coupons to satisfy your inner bargainista.

Talbots:  Their cuts and designs definitely target an older crowd, but I've found cute stuff here in the past so it's worth checking out.  I like their printed blouses, skirts, jewelry and dresses.  You'll have to sift through racks, but hey, patience is a virtue. It'll be well worth it when you find that one gem for $10 or so.

White House Black Market Factory Outlet:  Fashionable clothing that transitions beautifully from work to play. Their designs ooze polish and sophistication, and they always have a nice selection available at their factory outlets.

Shop my look: 

Before I leave you guys, I want to talk a bit about my tote (courtesy of Happy Rebel).  As you all know, I'm obsessed with all things animal print so I'm pretty much obsessed with it.  Plus, it's huge so it literally carries my life.  If you're looking to purchase a cool, new subscription box, make sure you check them out and let me know if you have any questions. 

Tote:  c/o Happy Rebel || Dress:  Charlotte Russe || Blazer:  Castro (similar) || Shoes:  Castro (similar) ||  Necklace:  c/o JWholesale

Shot by NYC portrait and headshot photographer, Jiyang Chen.