the things we eat

Excuse me missing a week’s post for the weekly menu. This week however is fairly interesting, given that I can almost assure that some 90% of my fellow students here on campus, if not the entire US collegiate environment do not eat as well. What is also worth noting, is that per person (myself and my roomate), this week’s dinners cost only about $32. To put that in perspective, that is 3 pizzas from any major pizza restaurant, or about 6 meals from any generic fast food restaurant. The difference here is quality, health, and diversity of dinners. Enjoy!

• Monday: roasted potato and leek soup with crispy shallots

• Wednesday:  chicken with creamy dijon sauce, with brussels sprouts and pancetta
• Thursday: butternut squash gnocchi with sage brown butter and sausage
• Friday: pepper chicken curry
• Saturday: roast pork loin with mushrooms and baked carrots

I promise to post pictures this week, although I do not promise quality… I am no photographer, sadly.

-N. T. Edwards

gettin’ about

As stated before, for classes and extracurriculars [and going home] I get about a bit. So, I have been looking for a bag to carry the dopp and clothes. I have finally settled on a pair. Both are tartan and I am caught between the two- Rob Roy and Black Watch. Neither are MacDonald (my clan), but one is a family tartan, because of which I am shying away. The two bags are from Pendleton USA, a heritage brand making great wool products. The bags are roomy enough as weekender bags, trimmed in leather. So, opinions on which tartan? Alternatively, if anyone could replicate this bag with a MacDonald tartan I would snatch it up in a heartbeat… Enjoy!

-N. T. Edwards

mandatory viewing

I was doing my typical nightly browsing and came across on the more recent posts on This is NOT new. The article has a handful of shots from J. Crew’s S/S ‘10 collection. At the moment, J. Crew more than any other brand- designer or not -is fitting my aesthetic. It has a wide age range, simple and tasteful patterns, good materials, reasonable price points, great quality and so on… I could outfit myself entirely in J. Crew. There are few designers or brands that I would say that about. J. Crew seems to be also continuing with their collaborations, bringing the Hill-side for some ties- a great collaboration! Here are my two favorite pictures, both of which are looks I’ve actually been doing this fall (pics to come if I can get my roommate to take it). Please, check the rest out over at The is NOT new. On that note, I absolutely adore the blog, with a great array of brands and looks, without the conceit and pompousness of several other blogs I visit daily for reasons I’m not quite sure why for! Enjoy!

 

-N. T. Edwards

a new perspective

My new glasses, as soon as they come in: Moscot Titanium Nebb-T in wine. Moscot needs no introduction, and the Nebb model is almost as classic as the producer. I avoided the graphite simply because of my complexion and the black because of the “hipster” aesthetic that is prevalent around college campuses. Sort of vain, maybe… Enjoy!

-N. T. Edwards

a hard decision

I do not wear hats. That is not to say that I do not wear them categorically. Rather, I have had poor luck growing up finding hats that did not entirely ruin whatever I was wearing or just make me look like a goof. But this hat (English Walker from Billykirk) makes me want to wear hats. I want this hat to complete my outfit, make me look taller, make me glow to women and so on. Simply put- I want this hat. Were not as expensive as it is, no doubt that I would buy it. If I can find a store that takes return, I would and try it here. The dark green wool, the leather trim, the stingy brim of the English walker. All of it makes it covetable even for a person who has had no luck with hats of all sorts. So, should I or shouldn’t I? With an over coat or trench, maybe just a suit… some chinos or dark jeans and a t-shirt. I want to wear it with everything but cannot pull the trigger. Help?

-N. T. Edwards

wool, check. hood, check. warmth, check check.

My winter coat: a duffle from Gloverall. Likely not the most fitted duffle I could find. But, Gloverall has a tradition of amazing quality and boasts an unmatched legacy of styling and utility. So, why not believe them?! I went with a dark green instead of a gray or navy, in order to keep the bleak Southern winter atmosphere at bay. I am sure that with jeans or cords the color wont be a problem. I am a little worried that with suits it might come off sort of garish or rakish. If so, well too damn bad for them! Black was not even on the consider list. The coat should be in soon, and I will then update on the fit and such. I ordered a 34, although I typically wear a 36 short. My guess is that this will be just fine. If not, well I have the return shipping sticker still. Enjoy!

-N. T. Edwards

some yellow and no wings

The Americana trend is still going strong, and still largely led by kids who live in the city, have never worked with their hands, and likely don’t plan to go into the wilderness or pick up a hands-on hobby. I say this because the Americana trend is comprised a great deal by work-wear and outdoors gear. Some of us are simply enjoying our turn in the spotlight, and others are jumping on the bandwagon and dressing the part. Either way, the popularity and attention that certain aesthetics are getting have provided a plethora of variations on traditional items, such as work boots. Red Wings, for example. I do not wear Red Wings personally because I am only 5′6″ and the very large soles are awkward enough with being fashioned to such a short frame. But companies who may not have once made Americana work boots are producing models that are reminiscent and fit into my personal needs/wants. My favorite, and likely new boot, is the Dr. Martens Weston Boot. The boot has a reasonable sole, which is great also because of how comfortable Dr. Martens are! The yellow stitching too adds a great bit of flair on top of a dark brown leather (my choice; also in tan and black). Made in America, not at all. A sturdy boot that could go between actual work and the city, I think so. Not currently part of the fanaticism, at least for now!  On a parting note, Dr. Martens are guaranteed for life, making these boots a classic if for no other reason than they will physically last the change of fashion (and maybe even style). I cannot speak for Dr. Martens entire stock, but they might be worth checking out next time you go looking for a pair of boots… Enjoy!

-N. T. Edwards

the things we eat

I have been inactive for far too long. While in Japan this blog was my contact with the US and sort of to the South. Since coming back, research and class obligations have been enough to prevent real posting. But, I have decided to try and maintain a more regular active posting schedule. To do that I am trying to make several normal, weekly posts. This is the first: “the things we eat.” My roommate and I make a weekly menu and then purchase groceries jointly. For college students this is ideal- it saves money, meaning better food, meaning more experimentation, meaning a better person (culinarily speaking) after graduation! Anyways, I will post the weekly menu. Sundays are when I cook for my neighbors and close friends. It keeps us all in contact and is a great way to create a community with people you might otherwise only nod at in passing. Tuesday is pizza night since it is cheap. I will also start posting pictures of how the food turns out so that other college students might be inspired to cook their own damn food… Enjoy!

Monday: duck enchiladas with chipotle peanut salsa

Wednesday:  tarragon chicken salad with cranberries and walnuts; homemade chips

Thursday: Saag Tofu

Fri-Saturday: going home to visit my parents for my father’s birthday…

Sunday: gingerbread pancakes, maple-cayenne bacon and fried eggs

-N. T. Edwards

shaky ground

I typically avoid the Mac-PC argument, as they, like most arguments, devolve immediately into ad hominem and baseless assertions, that ignore or are ignorant of evidence. But, this new notebook by HP is an interesting visual. Do Mac and PC fanboys have to hate themselves or “flame” themselves for having a notebook that is visually interchangeable with the other? Can they get over immediate aesthetic and appreciate personal preference for OS? Doubt it… But, it seems that HP can appreciate the MacBook Pro (Apple) aesthetic while maintaining Windows; and why not? They have taken visual cues from a widely successful company over the last decade (almost), which isn’t surprising in the business world. I am sure that Apple has done the same throughout its development. Again, this is just an interesting visual. Enjoy!

-N. T. Edwards

a jacket for the people

-By We The People. I absolutely love the contrast button loops on this jacket. Not entirely sure of the overall fit, but it seems to be fairly slim and trim. We The People makes quality jackets, from what I read and hear (not speaking from experience) and this wool coat appears to fit that reputation. If nothing else, it looks great- think I could pull this off in Athens? Enjoy!

-N. T. Edwards