The Creative Cookie

Rock Your Most Creative Self

Saturdays are just perfect for letting your creative self shine. If you're having trouble getting started, no worries, incorporate my tips and you'll be making, writing, or doing something new in no time!

1. Start small. Set attainable goals, each week, for your creative life. This could simply involve visiting a thrift shop, making a card, or watching a film.

2. Find accountability. Share your creative interest by maintaining a blog, joining a group, or taking a class. By engaging others in your exploration, you’ll find a support system and, hopefully, a few champions of your work.

3. Spend time alone. Even if it’s only 30 minutes a week to journal, collage, or stitch.

4. Do it now. If you have a creative impulse, act on it. There’s no better time than the present.

5. Never say or let anyone tell you that you are not creative. There are moments in all of our lives where we might be stagnant, but we all have the innate urge, ability, and right to create something that did not exist before. We are all creative in some shape or form.

Read the entire piece inlucding an exclusive interview with me on the DIY Business Association blog. 

Whenever I'm in a creative rut I enter collage mode using magazines, fabric, glue and stickers! This is one of my favorites.

Peanut Butter Cookie Time [recipe]

For the past week I've been making these tasty organic Peanut Butter Cookies. Here's how I do it!

Ingredients

• 1 cup unsalted organic butter
• 1 1/4 cup organic peanut butter (I used Once Again Creamy)
• 1/2 cup white sugar cubes
• 1 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 2 organic eggs
• 2 1/2 cups organic whole wheat flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon Kosher or regular salt
• 1/2 teaspoon of rock salt (for sprinkling)
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 splash of organic milk or cream (about 3 tablespoons, or so)

Instructions

1. Cream together butter and sugars. You will have to muddle the sugar cubes until they start to break apart. Beat in eggs and then add the peanut butter.
2. In a separate bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and Kosher salt. Stir into batter add splash of milk or cream. Stir again.
3. Set the timer for 90 minutes, place in fridge.
4. Roll into 1 inch balls and put on baking sheets. Flatten each ball with a fork, making a criss-cross pattern. Place 5-10 pieces of rock salt on each cookie.
5. Bake in a preheated 375 degrees F oven. Set your timer for 14 minutes. Cookies should be slightly browned on the edges.

Now grab a glass of milk or an iced coffee, yummm!

Keep up with Cookie

This week I'm in New Orleans, on a community service project, with a group of future fashionistas! Of course I'll be updating the blog when I return but in the meantime you should follow me. Use the icons in the sidebar or click the links below. See what I'm up to while I'm out and about in The Big Easy!

Twitter @creativecookie / Facebook / Pinterest / Instagram @creativecookie (using the app on your mobile device)

photo kamau ware © 2012

Choosing the Right Sandals for You

Summer is finally here, so it's time to put away those heavy winter boots and bring out your dainty sandals. Summer shoes like espadrilles and flip-flops are not only a great way to show off your beautifully painted toenails or your anklet, but they are also a very hygienic shoe as they allow your feet to breathe which eliminates bad foot odour.

If you're heading off to a fancy party, the last thing you want is for your feet to be hurting all night in a pair of uncomfortable stilettos. Your dress may look amazing and your Rush Hair or Toni and Guy inspired hair-do might look flawless, but if you're uncomfortable, you simply won't enjoy yourself. This is why we have put together a couple of useful sandal tips to help you find that perfect pair of comfortable and trendy shoes.

Tip 1 - Swap stilettos for wedge shoes. Every girl knows that wearing high heels for too long can be very painful. We love wearing stilettos because they make our legs look long and slim, but after a few hours they really begin to hurt. This is why we recommend swapping high heels for wedges. Wedge shoes are far more comfortable because the weight distribution is more even. While stilettos put a lot of pressure on the ball of your foot, wedge shoes evenly spread your weight across your foot which makes them very comfy. You'll be able to dance all night and not wake up with sore feet the next morning.

Tip 2 - If your feet tend to swell up when they are hot, then gladiator style sandals are perfect for you. They are very open - which allows your feet to breathe - and they are rather loose fitted which allows your feet to expand.

Opt for something like these leopard wedges, by Nicole, over stilettos. Your feet will applaud you!

Rookie vs Pro w/ Tavi Gevinson & Iris Apfel

"Personal style is something that you should evolve for yourself", stated a well-dressed Iris Apfel at last Sunday's discussion at The New York Metropolitan Museum titled Good Taste/Bad Taste: The Evolution of Contemporary Chic.

For the first 10 minutes of Tavi Gevinson and Iris Apfel's moderated chat, I sat 2nd row, in awe of the fashion industry's most progressive minds on one stage tackling big questions around the fashion biz and style. Sixteen year old Tavi started her blog, The Style Rookie, at age 11 and Iris is a bonafide fashion icon, business woman and designer who's career has spanned oodles decades. I never noticed the 70+ year age difference between them, their comments were so on.

Here are some of my favorite takeaways:

 Tavi Gevinson

"Be interested in the fun side of fashion. Fashion should not be stressful."

“I wish people thought of taste and style similarly to what people think of what it means to have a sense of humor.”

”Fashion is so much about fantasy and that’s why looking at runway collection or photo editorial can feel so isolating. But personal style is an opportunity to kind of create your own fantasy."

Iris Apfel

"I see no sense in paying a fortune to look like a freak. I can look ugly on my own and it won’t cost me a penny.”

“I was the oldest living broad to be given a cosmetics contract; and my collaboration with MAC was hideously successful.”

“People suffer from too much good taste and look uptight as a result”.

At the end of the lecture, press were invited to the stage with their questions, and I asked Iris what her advice was on aging gracefully and she gave a fitting response, "Always do what you want and be creative!"

Love it!

photo: Lesley Ware © 2012

This cross-generational dialogue is further proof that good style has no age requirements or bouanries. 

Click here to view past posts featuring Tavi & Iris on The Creative Cookie.

Full Figured Fashion Week Returns

What began as a bold first step in support of the plus size movement has evolved into a breakthrough fashion event. Some say the third time is the charm, yet in its fourth year, Full Figured Fashion Week, shined brighter than ever! I was unable to attend this season, but it looked like a a stellar presentation of plus size retailers and curvy fashionsistas! Click here to see more.