Fashion: 2013 Grammy Awards Fashion

Did you watch the Grammy Awards last night? I did, and the show was terrific. My favorite performances of the night were Justin Timberlake, Bruno Mars and Carrie Underwood. Carrie's dress with the light show was just spectacular! Speaking of Carrie Underwood, she is my pick for best dressed:

Carrie Underwood

I loved everything about her dress and it fit her perfectly while accentuating her curves. Her hair and makeup were flawless and the smoky eyes and soft lips complemented her dress really well. I also loved her red nails and diamond necklace. She looked classy and elegant and she looked the part as a Grammy winner.

Another Grammy winner that I loved was Beyonce...

Beyonce

I loved her pulled back hair and makeup with the bright red lips and let's be honest it's hard to look bad when you're as beautiful as Beyonce. Although, I found her outfit to be a bit underwhelming. I think that maybe she went with the black and white theme because she was introducing Justin Timberlake's black and white performance but still the outfit just didn't seem glamorous enough for the Grammy Awards.

I also loved Rihanna....

Rihanna

Her red dress was so beautiful on her and her flowing hair and bright red lips complemented the dress beautifully. Actually, I think this is the best I've ever seen Rihanna. It looks like bright red lips were on a lot of the Grammy winners and nominees this season...future spring makeup trend maybe??

Men don't normally make my best dressed list, but Justin Timberlake looked great last night...

Justin Timberlake



Clearly marriage agrees with him because he looks more grown up and put together then I've ever seen him look. His suit with the black and white details were perfect. However, I do like his curly hair better because his new slicked back with a side part hair kind of makes him look like a Ken doll.

Now, here's a list of just average looks...

Carly Rae Jepsen

Although she might have nailed having the catchiest song on the radio for summer 2012, she just didn't nail this look. Her dress doesn't look like it fits her perfectly and her hair and makeup look messy. However, she doesn't look  bad, she just looks like she needed a little bit more time in the hair and makeup chair.

Adele

I love Adele and I completely understand that she might still be carrying some post-baby weight. But, I think this dress makes her look bigger than she actually is. The A-line flair in the dress is a little too dramatic and the small print of the dress just makes her look big. However, I loved her updo and her makeup. She would look so much better with a different dress.

Taylor Swift

Okay, I get the grecian goddess look she's going for with the hair and the dress, but somehow it's just not working. Actually, I like her hair, makeup and the bottom of the dress, it's just the T-straps at the top of the dress that aren't doing her many favors. The top of the dress looks like it's being held together with the straps and not being held up very well. I would love this look if the dress had a different top.

Now, here's a couple of looks that went wrong...

Katy Perry

I think the main thing I don't like about this dress is the color. The lime green color just doesn't work with her complexion and dark black hair. Plus, the dress just looks too tight and you're left wondering if she can really breathe. This dress would look so much better if it was at least in a different color.

And finally, JLo...

Jennifer Lopez

JLo is a beautiful women, but she looks like she's trying too hard to make a statement. The dress absolutely has no shape and it desperately tries to make a statement with the large leg slit. The dress reminds me of Angelina Jolie's look from last year's Oscars but at least Angelina's dress had some shape to it. Plus the hair is just too severe. The hair and dress distract from her beautiful makeup and bronzed complexion. She would look so much better with her hair flowing and loose and with a more fitted dress. I have seen JLo look amazing before and I know she has it in her, with this look I feel like she compromised looking beautiful for making a statement.



Food: Dumpling Soup To Fight a Cold

This is the time of year when it's pretty easy to catch a cold with the swing in temperatures and particularly if you're flying for the holidays. I love airplanes and travelling, but not the germs the cabin air spreads. I caught a cold after flying for Thanksgiving weekend and my poor husband caught the cold from me. I wanted to make him soup to help him feel better (and to soothe my guilt for spreading my germs to him) but the typical chicken noodle soup from a can has so much sodium and preservatives and is so boring. I wanted something that would soothe his cold, tasted great, and didn't include sodium or preservatives. My solution was dumpling soup! This recipe is super easy and the broth from the soup soothes a scratchy throat and the little spicyness helps clear out the sinuses. I made it for my husband last night and it was a big hit!

The recipe uses frozen dumplings from Big Bowl. They have vegetable dumplings or chicken dumplings. The dumplings are filled with bok choy, cabbage, carrots, bamboo shoots and peanuts. You can buy them in the frozen food section at your local specialty grocery store or directly from Big Bowl.  

Recipe for Dumpling Soup



Ingredients:

(Serves 2)

• 6 Big Bowl Frozen Dumplings
• 2 cups of chicken broth
• 2 cups water
• Salt
• 4 oz. of whole wheat fusilli pasta
• 1 small can of corn
• 1 carrot peeled, diced
• 2 stalks of celery, diced
• Sriracha Sauce (optional)
• Soy Sauce (optional)
• green onions, diced (optional)

Directions:

1. Steam the frozen dumplings for about 10 minutes until they are warm but still hold their shape.
2. Bring the chicken broth, water and a pinch of salt to a rapid boil in a large saucepan.
3. Boil the pasta, corn, carrot and celery until the pasta is al dente (about 10 minutes) in the chicken broth solution.
4. Ladle the soup into bowls and place 3 steamed dumplings on top.
5. Add a touch of sriracha sauce for spicyness and soy sauce for a little saltiness to help bring out the flavors.
6. Top off with green onions.
7. Enjoy and feel better!



Dumpling Soup

Fashion: Alexis Bittar Sample Sale

I don't usually run after sales and I'm not the kind of girl that wants to fight crowds or dig through bins for a discount. I'm much more deliberate about my purchases and even stalk my items for weeks for a discount. However, when I heard that Alexis Bittar is running a sample sale with around a 50% discount, I ran to my nearest Alexis Bittar store to take a look. And I'm sure glad I did! They have quite a few pieces on sale for a significant price cut.  Here is the pair of earrings that I snatched up (no fighting was involved).

Alexis Bittar Bud Earring with Ombre Pave Black

Here are some more of my favorites:

Alexis Bittar Filigree Onyx Earrings $80

Alexis Bittar Gold Infinity Drop Earrings $75

Go check out their selection at your nearest Alexis Bittar boutique store or online. Happy Shopping! 





Fashion: Peter Pan Collar Necklaces

Let me first apologize for not writing in months, life got in the way and my love for fashion had to take a temporary back seat. But, fall fashion is now here and so duty called.

As the holiday season gets closer and closer, clothes start to become shinier and more embellished. But, since we're still recovering from a recession, we're not always in a position to buy new clothes to follow every trend. This is why I love the new peter pan collar necklaces. You can add them to any top or dress with a crew neckline and completely change its look. Now, you can wear them with other types of necklines but I just think they look best with crew necklines. The new peter pan collar necklaces come in a lot of varieties, such as lace, jewels or stones, you can pick whichever one strikes your fancy. Trust me no one will even be able to tell that you've worn that dress before. Here are a few of my favorite looks that you can create.

(Blouse available at Kate Spade New York)

I love this look! Wear the bright yellow cheerful top to work and then for a night out just pop on a jeweled collar necklace.

I actually recreated this look with this sweater from Theory and this Cara collar necklace...

(Sweater available from Theory)

(Collar Necklace available from Cara at Nordstrom)

Already own a LBD (who doesn't)? Just pop on a lace or jeweled peter pan necklace and all of a sudden it's a completely different look.

(Dress available at Kate Spade New York)



Here are some more of my favorites...

(Rachel Faux Pearl Collar Necklace, $20)

(Top Shop Chunky Box Collar Necklace, $70)

(Tarnish Sequin Collar Necklace, $38)

How are you going to wear this trend?







Food: Lemon Squares

In honor of the summer solstice and my eleven and a half year anniversary, I decided I would celebrate with lemon squares. They're one of my favorite treats for summer! They're light and fresh and a perfect balance between tart and sweet. Oh, and did I mention that they're perfect hostess gifts for summer BBQs, picnics or for a casual dinner with friends. As a matter of fact, I'm planning on bringing my lemon squares to a family get together this weekend...I think they're going to be a big hit!

Lemon Tarts

Ingredients:

(Makes 24)

• 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• 2 cups plus 6 tbsp. flour
• pinch of salt
• 2 sticks of butter, sliced into 8 pieces
• 4 eggs
• 2 cups sugar
• 6 tbsp. lemon juice-approximately the juice of two lemons (I love Meyer lemons!)
• Grated zest of one lemon

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and lighly grease a 13 x 9 inch baking pan.
2. In a food processor, blend powdered sugar, 2 cups flour and salt. Add butter and pulse until mixture is crumbly. Press into pan and bake for 20 minutes.
3. Meanwhile, in a stand mixer, blend eggs, 2 cups sugar, 6 tbsp. flour and lemon juice until well combined. Stir in lemon zest.
4. Pour on top of hot crust and bake for an additional 25 minutes.
5. Let cool for 30 minutes, then sprinkle with powdered sugar. 
6. Let cool completely, then cut into squares.
7. Enjoy!

Lemon Squares

Fashion: Pleat and Repeat

I love this look! The pleated maxi skirt is so feminine but it's balanced out with the gray rocker tee. I just love the blush color of the skirt, it's perfect for spring! The chanel crossbody bag and the cuff bracelets aren't bad either. This look is the definition of "casually-chic" where you look put together but comfortable and just all out fabulous as you're walking around the city. I re-created the look with the pieces below:

BCBG "Estel" Pleated Skirt

Gap "Paris" Graphic Tee

Alexis Bittar Liquid Gold Orbiting Cuff

Tory Burch Crossbody Messenger Bag

I'm going to shop in my closet and re-use my silver envelope bag and gold orbit cuff that I picked up during my last trip to Paris, but the pleated blush maxi skirt and paris graphic tee are definitely my next purchases. What's your version of this look?  

Fashion: Alexis Bittar Jewelry

Okay, so I admit it, Alexis Bittar jewelry is not exactly a new find, his beautiful handmade jewelry are everywhere and everyone knows about it. But his beautiful pieces are definitely still blog worthy.

Alexis Bittar started designing jewelry in 1988 and used to sell his pieces on the streets in Soho, New York City. If any of you actually have one his pieces from 1988-1992, hold onto it like the fashion treasure that it is. His designs were then discovered by Saks Fifth Avenue, and currently his designs can be found in most large boutiques and department stores, such as Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus. His Lucite collection is his original collection which has become an Alexis Bittar design staple and the collection most seen in the retail stores. Although his jewelry is sold all over the country and featured in multiple magazines, each piece is still handmade by artisans in Brooklyn, New York. Which explains both the beauty and the individuality of the pieces, but also the high price tag.

For his most current designs, such as his current Miss Havisham collection and Elements Collection, try heading over to an Alexis Bittar boutique instead. Trust me it's worth a trip!

I have many of his pieces, and these are the pieces that I always receive the most compliments on. During my last shopping excursion in New York City, I stopped by the Alexis Bittar boutique in Soho and I fell head over heels in love with these crystal encrusted gold bezeled chalcopyrite drop earrings:

Alexis Bittar from Miss Havisham Collection

After I tried these earrings on, my credit card was ready to jump out of my wallet to make sure they were mine. While I was at the boutique I also fell in love with the gunmetal pearl backed drop earrings from the Elements Collection. Although I wasn't able to pick these up during my last trip, trust me, they will be mine.

Alexis Bittar from Elements Collection

Just in case you can't make it to one of the boutiques, you can always go online too, but the experience just isn't the same. Besides New York, he also has boutiques in LA, San Francisco and Chicago.

And if you're looking for a one of a kind piece, then check out his Archives Collection. These pieces were never mass produced and were only available to magazine editors for photo shoots, samples that were never produced, or Alexis' favorite pieces that are signed. Once a piece is sold, it's gone forever. However, expect to pay much higher prices for this one of a kind original.