Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Looking For A Great Fall Outfit?

Do you have trouble finding a chic fall outfit for a night out with friends or a holiday party? Well I have found a great fall ensemble that will have you turning heads. Add some black tights and a black coat to perfect this outfit for the chilly weather. These pieces can be made into many different outfits but are great staple pieces for the holidays!


Clockwise: Earrings: Forever 21 Duchess Drop Earrings, $5.80 Dress: Topshop Tuck Shift Dress, $90.00 Heels: Asos.com Studio TMLS Britta Jewel Front Pointed Court, $224.12 Bag: Topshop Sequin Resin Frame Shoulder Clutch Bag, $80.00

Monday, November 29, 2010

Jonathan Adler!

Jonathan Adler is so incredibly talented. He has an amazing eye for design and has created some spectacular and breath taking rooms. He has many books, an amazing interior design collection, is a TV star, a great potter, and more. He is so talented in so many aspects and I admire his work. Here are just a few of his great masterpieces.












*Images via google and houseandhome.com

A Beautiful Thanksgiving!

Our Thanksgiving celebration was filled with sumptuous foods, beautiful family, and echoing laughter. I absolutely love celebrating the holidays with my family, we always have a memorable time. Here are pictures of our Thanksgiving tables that I put together! I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving celebration also!




*Images via Me

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Happy Thanksgiving!

Hi everyone! I will be signing off until Sunday to engage in some thanksgiving festivities! I wanted to send you off with some beautiful table setting ideas for your Thanksgiving and also with some delicious recipes!
I hope you all have an amazing holiday, I am thankful for all of you!

-Alex






Stuffed Sweet Potatoes with Pecan and Marhsmallow Streusel

Ingredients

  • 12 large sweet potatoes
  • 3/4 cup (11/2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
  • 3/4 cup light brown sugar
  • 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup toasted pecan pieces
  • 1 cup miniature marshmallows

Directions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

Wash the sweet potatoes, scrubbing them well to remove any dirt. With a fork, prick the sweet potatoes in a couple of spots and place them on a sheet pan. Bake for about 45 minutes, or until a knife inserted in the center goes in easily.

In a large bowl, mix the butter, brown sugar, and flour together until it's crumbly-looking. Add the cinnamon, salt, pecans, and marshmallows; fold the streusel topping together to combine.

Slice the sweet potatoes lengthwise down the center and push the ends towards the middle so it opens up. Stuff the sweet potatoes generously with the streusel topping and return to the oven. Bake for another 20 minutes, or until the topping is bubbly and brown.

Butternut Squash Tartlettes

Ingredients:

1 butternut squash, halved and seeds removed
1 large sweet potato
1 white onion, peeled and coarse chopped
2 tbsp butter
1 large carrot, peeled and boiled until soft, reserve 1/2 cup boiling liquid
1 tbsp maple syrup
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp clove
1/4 cup bread crumbs
Salt and pepper to taste
12 sheets phyllo pastry
1/2 cup clarified butter
1 cup balsamic vinegar
1/2 cup hazelnuts, lightly roasted

Instructions:

Step 1: Roast sweet potato and squash in 350°F oven for 45 minutes or until soft, remove and let cool.
Step 2: While squash is cooking, gently sweat the onions in the butter until soft.
Step 3: Purée carrot and onion together with maple syrup adding some of reserved boiling liquid if necessary to make it smooth.
Step 4: Scoop out cooled squash and sweet potato into a mixing bowl, add carrot and onion, spices and bread crumbs, and blend evenly.
Step 5: Lay out a sheet of phyllo and brush with the butter then layer another sheet on top gently pressing down repeating the process until it is four layers thick.
Step 6: Using a miniature muffin tin as a guide, cut the layered phyllo into squares 1" larger than the holes.
Step 7: Press the squares into the tin folding the corners to the centre.
Step 8: Bake in a 350°F oven for 8–10 minutes or until golden brown.
Step 9: Bring balsamic to a boil, reduce heat to medium and simmer until volume has decreased by 30%. Let cool. Will keep refrigerated for several weeks.
Step 10: Spoon or pipe filling into cooked phyllo shells, top with hazelnuts and gently warm in oven for 3 minutes. Remove and top with reduced balsamic.
Makes 24 tartlettes

*Images via Google, Recipes via Food Network and House and Home

Monday, November 22, 2010

A Chic Christmas!

Christmas is right around the corner! After Thanksgiving, many people go up to their attics and pull out all of those boxes of Christmas decorations. The holidays call for many dinner parties and other events where people  come over to see your home therefore you have to make sure it looks spectacular! Here are some gorgeous Christmas decor pictures that show great ideas for decorating your interior, exterior, and some great holiday table settings! So get ready to WOW visitors with your chic holiday style!













*Images via houseandhome.com, elledecor.com, housebeautiful.com, google

Sunday, November 21, 2010

A To Die For Bungalow!

Suzanne Marques is an LA news reporter who is absolutely gorgeous! She has a fantastic blog, a great career and Elle Decor featured her home on their site. Right when I saw this little bungalow in Laurel Canyon, I fell in love. This is how I want my home to be. Full of light, popping graphic fabrics, and great statement pieces. Every room is unique and fun. I love everything about this space it is swanky and glamorous!










*Images via elle decor and google


Saturday, November 20, 2010

Style Icon of the Week: Kelly Framel!

Kelly Framel is the Glamourai. She has an amazing blog called, The Glamourai. It showcases her  flawless beauty and her AMAZING style. She now has a website, kellyframel.com, that shows her gorgeous jewelry collection. She reworks vintage pieces and makes them absolutely beautiful. I am in love with her vintage YSL sunglasses that are one of her staple pieces. Her style is effortless, with a mixture of a vintage and designer. She always looks so put together. She sets new trends everyday and is one of my style icons!













*Images via glamourai.com and toryburch.com