Meet Our Cooking Expert: Dixie Williams

With one cook book published, and another one on its way, Dixie Williams knows a thing or two about life in the kitchen. For everyday recipes Dixie is the ultimate guru, she just likes good food. Her cookbook, Kitchen Thyme, which you can find on Amazon is one of those you will use to make Saturday night party foods, Tuesday night dinners, and even candy for your child's birthday party. Dixie only has 3 criterion to determine a great recipe:

1. Turns out the first time and every time
2. Most everyone who tries it, loves it and asks for the recipe
3. Relatively easy to make

Pretty impressive list for someone who was raised making everything from scratch (I know my bread doesn't turn out the first time..or any time).
Our foodie lives in Colorado, has 4 lively kids and knows how hectic life can be and that's what makes her our expert in easy, quick meals. She even still finds time to mountain bike, exercise outdoors, and organize her family... She's got that Type A personality! Her second book is coming along slowly but surely, considering it's been in the works while she's had a major move and two babies, but we can't wait! Til then...check back for twice a month posts on all those delectable recipes!

Stephanie Winzeler: Valentine's Bouquet

LOVE NOTE BOUQUET

Items Needed. 1. Paper of your choice. (A paper that is double sided works best.) 2. 12 wooden dowels. (Any length you desire) 3. Glue Dots 4. Ribbon 5. Flower Vase

Step 1.
Once you have chosen your paper you are going to cut it into twelve 6x6 inch squares. You can either draw a swirl on the back of the paper or trace the swirl I have designed for you. (Download the swirl 6x6 PDF)

Cut out the swirls.

Step 2.
(You may want to practice this step on other paper so you are comfortable with wrapping it before you use the paper you have chosen.)

Take one of the swirls and start twisting the thicker side. This is going to determine how tight the center of the rose is. (You are going to make the twist so that the thin end will be on the outside.) Place a glue dot on the outside corner and twist towards the inside. Continue to wrap the paper around, occasionally adding a glue dot to hold together and to create some depth in the flower. (Be generous with your glue dots and the flower will hold together better and have a more fun shape.)

Step 3.

Place two glue dots at the end of the swirl and then slide the dowel through the hole of the flower. When you get the dowel where you want it placed (leave enough coming through the middle of the flower to slip a note around) pinch the end of the paper swirl around the dowel. (You may need to add another glue dot)

Step 4.
Cut ribbon to the size that you desire. Place the base of the flower in the middle and wrap the ribbon around until you reached the desire length. Tie into a bow and Walla! (The ribbon is to help stabilize the flower and keep it from unwrapping. Make sure you wrap it around the paper that is glued to the dowel.)

Continue steps for all flowers.

Step 5.
Cut strips of paper that are no more than 2 inches thick but as long as you would like. You will want to make sure it compliments the paper you have chosen for the roses. Write your love notes, lyrics to a song or a poem. Really whatever you choose. Take the note and wrap it tightly around the dowel, then let it loosen and place it in the center of a rose.

Be creative! Choose fun colors and designs that really express you or the person you are giving the flowers to! Whether a single rose or a whole bouquet , It will be what you write that is important about the Love Bouquet!

Sale: Buy One, Get One 50% off

Valid on all items and going on thru the weekend! Great chance to get the lounge outfit (ie buy the white jacket, get the navy shorts for 50% off!) or stock up on all your fav layering basics!

Shade Clothing Fundraiser Sale: Provo High

WHAT: Shade Clothing Fundraiser
WHERE: Provo High School Gym #3 (west side of the building)
1125 N University Ave. Provo, UT 84604
WHEN: Saturday, Feb 6th 8am-3pm
WHY: Everything at the Sale will be $5 and $7

Don't miss this chance to stock up on your favorite modest Shade basics, layering pieces, and other products!
Hope to see you there! For more info click here.

Warehouse Sale Video

Our Warehouse Sale last week was a huge success! So many cute things at amazing prices, everyone left happy! We're having a fundraiser sale this Saturday at Provo High for the IB Student Club from 8 am - 3 pm - another great chance to stock up on layering tees & tanks!

Shade Featured On: Fabulous Fun Finds

Check us out on Fabulous Fun Finds! A review and giveaway of our very wearable 3/4 sleeve blazer jacket in black. Thanks Fabulous Fun Finds!

spring accessories: glitzy gold

Whether its a ballet flat in February or a sandal in May, gold may be this season's black. Put it with any neutrals or with any pop of color to bring some warm golden tone to your wardrobe. Its the perfect non-black color! Check out these (each for under $45!), plus many more at great prices on 6pm.com.

TIFFANY ERICKSON: Expressions of Love with your Family

Although I dreaded the month of love as a boyfriendless teenager, I now “love” February because it gives me an opportunity to teach my children about love. I wanted my children to understand that February is not just about “Twilight” love but also about showing love for neighbors, friends, and family.

So, to teach this valuable lesson, I planned a fun activity for them to express their Love. We brought the whole family together and I started with a riddle:

“What is as invisible as the wind and as warm as the sun, can be given away without losing it, grows when it is shared, comes from the heart, and shows on your face?” (LOVE)

After a brief discussion on Love, we discussed who in our family could use a little extra love right now. My daughter suggested an uncle who was just diagnosed with cancer. We all agreed he would be the victim of our "Heart Attack" and went to work. First, we cut out lots of hearts of all different sizes and colors. We busted out those old scrapbook scissors from the 90s to make fun edges on the hearts! Then we wrote words of encouragement and Valentine's phrases on the hearts while my younger kids drew pictures on them. Before we left my kids insisted on getting decked out in all black to be especially stelth. We planned to "Heart Attack" his truck, but it was in the garage so we opted to go with the front door. We made sure to use painter’s tape so that the hearts would come off easily and leave no residue. Then we rang the doorbell and ran. On the ride home we giggled about how we almost got caught and imagined how the family will feel when they open the door. Then my daughter asked, "Can we do Grandma's house tomorrow night?"

Fashion:First Lady Obama

From J.Crew to Moschino, Michelle Obama seems to know how to catch our eyes and the eyes of the fashion world. Her State of the Union Address look was a most appropriate, perfect take on Jackie-O by Isaac Mizrahi.

Check out all her amazing ensembles on her Look Book (including those embellished cardis and straight shift dresses we love) featured on The Cut from New York Mag.

Now we just need to get some Shade on her!

Shade Warehouse Sale: Reminder

Just a reminder to catch Shade's best deals of the year Today and Tomorrow!!! Get cap sleeves, layering tees, tanks, camis and tons more Shade product for $5, $7, and $9.

Friday, January 29, 9 am - 7 pm
Saturday, January 30, 9 am - 3 pm

864 S. 490 W.
Pleasant Grove, UT 84062
Behind Kangaroo Zoo
Directions Here

Shade Spring 2010 Sneak Peek

Can't wait for Feb & March when it's all in stores and online! Mostly looking forward to flattering and modest swimwear along with some of our best layering pieces yet!

ANGELA PEDERSEN: BABY BOYS BEDROOM DECOR

Kids rooms may possibly be the only room you can make over the top cute! I recently worked on a baby boys room, I made it that "over the top cute" with unexpected colors and fun accessories. I started off with a base of baby blue walls added a big brown stripe all the way around the center of the room and a small orange stripe above and below it. I found polka dots curtains from Land of Nod and a matching polka dot bumper pad from Restoration Hardware Baby & Child (where I also found tons of accessories), and then to tease my child... GUMBALLS (that's right, gumballs) in a big glass jar (up high, of course). I added sports paraphernalia (to please the dad) and cute little stuffed animals (to please the mom), which pull the color scheme all together.

Something that many people overlook when finishing a kid's room is the lighting. That perfect, adorable light fixture can make or break a room, kind of like what the perfect accessory or perfect pair of shoes can do for an outfit. The right light is like the cherry on top- it's not complete with out it and it puts the room in that "cute..over the top" category!

Shade Warehouse Sale

Shop for great deals on our modest styles including layering camis & tanks,
long & short sleeve tees and a variety of discontinued styles and colors!

JULIE PEW: Reading with your Kids

Every young parent has heard the wise adage, "Read to your child 20 minutes a day." Even if it sounds like a broken record, it is the most powerful common denominator in education. The importance of a child having a good experience with books right from the get-go is vital to their scholastic success. Children's books are better today than ever before, it is a joyful activity for an adult and a child to read together. There is something to be said for sharing something that you love, including the books you loved as a child. I had lots of childhood favorites, Babar, Madeline and the Country Bunny and the Little Gold Shoes. It's interesting to note that these are my children's favorites as well.

My new favorite... The Seven Silly Eaters by Mary Ann Hoberman, is a great "read" for you and your child, full of whimsical illustrations and seriously funny verse. It is a delight! It's a story that every young mom can relate to, even if she doesn't have seven fussy offspring.

The importance to read with your child everyday giving them attention and letting them know you love them. It is also said that up until third grade children 'learn to read' but after, they 'read to learn'. Until they actually learn to read, they will think you are magic.

DIXIE WILLIAMS: OLD FASHIONED VEGETABLE SOUP

Do you ever have those days that your body craves healthy food??? Especially coming off the holidays, I hunger for anything in the vegetable, fruit, protein, water categories...so pretty much ANYTHING but sugar! Well, this recipe for "Old Fashioned Vegetable Soup" is my fix. The recipe comes from my friend Dora Mitchell, a darling southern woman who also happens to be a Shade employee! It’s perfect on a late fall or wintry day, served with hot rolls or scones. I can usually throw it together in about 20 minutes, which in my world, is a bonus to any lunch or dinner meal. YUM!!!

Old-Fashioned Vegetable Soup

1 lb. ground beef

1 c. chopped onion

1 c. sliced carrots

1 c. diced raw potatoes

1 c. sliced celery

1 (16 oz.) can diced tomatoes

5 c. water

1 T. salt

¼ tsp. basil, crushed

¼ tsp. thyme, crushed

1 bay leaf

¼ tsp. pepper

2 T. instant beef bouillon

1 (16 oz.) can whole kernal corn, undrained

1 (16 oz.) can green beans, undrained

In a large pot measure the water and start boiling. Dice the carrots, potatoes, and celery and add each vegetable as they are ready. Add tomatoes, water, salt, basil, thyme, bay leaf, pepper, and beef bouillon and cook 20 minutes or until raw vegetables are tender. While vegetables are cooking, brown ground beef and onion until meat is slightly browned; drain off fat. Add to soup mix. Add canned vegetables with liquid; turn heat to low and continue heating 5 minutes. Remove bay leaf and serve.