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Savory parmesan and thyme shortbread spoons. www.indigojoneseats.com

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Freshly cut marshmallows. A sweet winter wonderland

#sweetreats #indigojoneseats #marshmallows 

http://www.indigojoneseats.com

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Hot chocolate on a stick with a homemade marshmallow. What could be better on this rainy, cold night?

http://www.indigojoneseats.com

#sweetreats #indigojoneseasts #stocking stuffers

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Tea time! Hand formed and chocolate dipped shortbread spoons. 

http://www.indigojoneseats.com

#sweetreats #stockingstuffers #indigojoneseats

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Homemade S'mores: freshly baked graham crackers with a homemade marshmallow and rich chocolate. Tied up with bakery twine, and individually wrapped. http://www.indigojoneseats.com

#indigojoneseats  #sweetreats  #holidayfood #stockingstuffers

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Kitchen Tips Tuesday: Using Jars for Food Storage

Mason jars have been the darlings of Pinterest lately. They show charming photos of them being used for drinking vessels, vases and housing salads that don’t get soggy, when the ingredients are layered in the correct order. ( We’ll talk about that another time!) Yes, we too are guilty of the mason jar obsession. While we aren’t using them for rustic chic decor, we have fallen for the practical aspects they were originally created for. We try to avoid plastic containers wherever possible, due to the harmful chemicals in plastics that leach into our food, especially liquids. Glass mason jars are the perfect vehicle for storing soups and sauces safely. Today’s kitchen tip centers around using them for freezing. To freeze liquids in a mason jar: Run the jars and lids through the dishwasher and drying cycle to sterilize them. Place the ingredients into the jar leaving at least an 1″ or so at the top to accommodate expansion as the liquid freezes.  Place the lids on the jars loosely, and allow the soup or sauce to fully cool. Once cooled, tighten the lids and place them in the freezer. Glass jars can also be safely microwaved, for those times when you don’t have access to a stove. Make sure to remove the metal lids before doing so. photo: Stacy Howell / Glasshouse Images

In partnership with Indigo Jones and Glasshouse Images

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iPhone Dependence

For the last few months, I have been traveling non-stop for work. I run a business off of my iPhone. For me, that little rectangular screen is my link to the world. I have multiple email accounts, a phone, my calendar, an address book of contacts, a clock, the weather and even access to my gym and more, all in this handheld device. On Saturday, I tossed it in my bag, tucked the bag under my arm and 15 minutes later, when I reached for my phone (to get loyalty points at the fish market, no less), it was gone. I turned the house upside down, although I knew I had just unplugged it from the charger before I left. Clearly, I was pick pocketed. I called it, and tried the “find my phone” app, but it was turned off.Game over. Being just weeks away from upgrade eligibility, and not wanting to spend hundreds of dollars extra for the same item, I called AT&T for help. While they graciously agreed to let me purchase the phone for $199, vs. the $649 charged at the store if you are not in the upgrade window, I had to agree to wait for them to ship the phone to me. I embarked on a business trip, sans phone and proceeded to function as best I could, without the benefit of technology. Without the easy access to check the weather, I left the house dressed for the temperatures in New York. While the sun was shining and it was projected to be sunny and in the low 60′s there, in Boston, it is damp, grey and freaking cold! My train was delayed and I could not call the car service to let them know I would be late. When I arrived, I quickly logged in and out of multiple email accounts. I recreated my calendar on paper to account for the next few days of meetings. I emailed people to let them know I would not be easily accessible for the next few days. I even asked one of my contacts  to email me the day before our appointment as a reminder, since I didn’t have a calendar to put them in. I hope I wake up in the morning, without my alarm to help me along. I am not sure I will be able to workout, without music to facilitate my run on the treadmill, or my circuit training app to spur me on. Forget my food and exercise diary, or twitter for that matter. I even had to contact a client to get the log in information for their social media accounts which I manage. Don’t expect a call, as I have no record of your number, my passwords for almost anything, or a reminder to take care of things. In fact, if you need me, just write a letter and mail it to me. I am out of commission. On the other hand, there is something nice about just living in the present, away from the constant need to check email, keep up with the Joneses on Facebook, or photograph dinner. It is amazing how I spent a good part of my adult life without the benefit of portable technology. I finally got a cell phone when I had a child and wanted to be reachable at a moment’s notice. Shortly thereafter, my company purchased Blackberries, and the madness began. While many people were not yet using them, there was a constant stigma to “put away the Crackberry,” as we often called the addictive little device. Then came the iPhone, which disrupted the entire population by providing easy access at the touch of a screen. Men and women, young and old, are now tethered to their devices, on the street, in the car and out in public. It is not unusual to be in a meeting, or even a restaurant, with everyone sitting around the table, punching frantically away on their smart phones. Even the bathroom is no longer a sacred place. At what point is technology a good thing, and when do we realize as a society, that we have gone too far?  So far, I am 3 days into my smart phone cleanse, and I am happy to report that I am functioning, albeit slightly inconvenienced. With my laptop at the ready, I have to admit that it isn’t quite as bad as I thought it would be. I often reach for it instinctively, and realize it’s gone. Then I step back and find a way to accomplish what I need to do the “old school” way, and for now, it’s working out just fine. How dependent on your smart phone are you?

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Unsubscribe

This week, outraged magazine readers fought back and opted to unsubscribe from their favorite monthlies over a disagreement with the editor in chief’s choices. First it was Vogue. People love to hate Kim Kardashian, and when Anna Wintour put her and fiancé Kanye West on the cover of this month’s issue, the backlash was strong and swift. Many readers began campaigns to cancel their subscriptions, citing that Ms. Kardashian had no right to earn the highly coveted spot. She is not a model, reached fame through a homemade porn video,and has displayed questionable fashion sense in the past. She is not only one of the most “disliked” people in the business, she is also one of the most talked about. It is always mind boggling to me, that every time a website posts a story about Kim Kardashian, a plethora of people take the time to log in, and post a derogatory comment. First of all, websites measure click throughs and comments to gauge the popularity of a post. Each of those people clicked through, presumably read the article, and then logged in, often to tell the site that they don’t care about her and that they should stop featuring her. Those click throughs and comments all add up, and send the editor and cyber bean counters a very different message. While we are here, let me ask you another question? When was the last time a model graced the cover of your favorite fashion bible? Uh-huh. Not recently. Celebrities, i.e. actresses and musicians sell more magazines at the newsstand than models. Models all want to be actresses anyways (and then they get their cover stories!) actresses all want to be fashion designers, and who knows what designers want to be anymore. Kim Kardashian and Vogue just experienced a huge PR boon, thanks to all the articles, interviews and Facebook posts that came about from people expressing dismay over her cover story. A few days later, Self magazine came under fire. They featured a photo of 2 women running a marathon in tutus, and ridiculed the look. When readers discovered that one of those women was a cancer victim and made the tutus to raise money to fight the disease, they were outraged. Self’s editor in chief, Lucy Danziger issued a quick apology, which riled up her readership even more. She subsequently spoke to the women personally, and wrote a very positive article about her. Tutu sales jumped to the point that they cannot accept anymore orders. Readers responded with threats to cancel their subscriptions. Had this women not been a cancer patient, and her choice of running attire not been philanthropic, would the outcry have been so strong? This is a magazine about women embracing their bodies and pursuing good health through diet and fitness. Is making fun of women running in tutus keeping true to the message the magazine hopes to convey? Anyone who trains for and completes a marathon is a role model. If doing so in a tutu provides motivation, we say “go for it!” Ms. Danziger not only apologized for the faux pas, but offered to work closely with the women to support her cause. She also brought great awareness to tutu project, which in turn brought them more orders. We all make mistakes, and this was a big one. It was also resolved to the best of the magazine’s ability. Isn’t that enough? We are living in a world where we are so spoiled, that if a magazine features something that doesn’t suit us, we retaliate. How different is this to packing up our dolls and dishes and going home when we were 5 years old and our friend didn’t want to play the way we did? We have a right to our opinions and a thanks to the internet, a forum to express them whether anyone wants to hear them or not. Only time will tell if the magazines in question had any significant decline to subscriptions, or if the additional press served to sell more ad pages. Now that that is cleared up, feel free to go back to postulateing  about Gwyneth Paltrow’s “conscious uncoupling,” until someone else does something you can complian about. photo: Glasshouse Images

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Golden Girls

The ladies of the music world positively glowed in gold as they made their way across the red carpet: Chrissy Teigen channeled old Hollywood glamour in her gorgeous gold gown by Johanna Johnson.

Taylor Swift went platinum in  shimmer by Gucci.

Amber Rose rocked golden stripes by Naeem Kahn.

Chiara brought maternity glam to the red carpet in her Emilio Pucci devoré gown.

Rita Ora wore a simple Lanvin frock in gold with a patina effect.

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How Much Should I Eat?

January is the most popular month to start a diet and exercise regime, as many resolve to get in shape in the coming year. While it may be widely known that cutting calories is the key to weight loss, most of us don’t know how many calories we need in the first place.

Each of us has our own magic number: the number of calories our body needs just to exist. Even if you lay on the couch all day long, you need energy to keep your body functioning. That amount is called your basel metabolic rate, or BMR. This can be calculated using the Harris-Benedict equation for women:

BMR= 655+ (4.35 x current weight in pounds) + (4.7 x height in inches) – (4.7 x age in years). By plugging in your height, weight and age, you will determine the total number of calories you need to exist. Next, multiply your BMR by your activity factor, as estimated below, to get the total number of calories needed per day. Sedentary: minimal movement: multiply by 1.4 Minimal: office work or 1 hour of moderate activity per day: 1.5 Moderate: Light physical labor during the day, such as light housework, and an active lifestyle: 1.6 Very Active: Athlete, active military personnel, or heavy laborer: 1.9 This new number is amount of calories needed to maintain your current weight. To lose weight, you need to eliminate calories through consuming less, and/or burning more through activity. You need to eliminate 3500 calories to lose one pound. With a healthy goal of losing one pound per week, that means you must eliminate 500 calories per day. Most doctors and nutritionists caution against eating less than 1200 calories per day, to maintain good health. It is a good idea to use a food and activity journal app to help accurately estimate the calories you are consuming, and how many you are burning through exercise. photos: Glasshouse Images

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Red Carpet Color Watch

Awards season is in full swing, and the ladies of the Golden Globes had their share of red carpet hits and misses.Among the standouts were the beautiful  shades of red and coral that turned up in some the the most stunning looks of the evening.

Lupita Nyong’o wowed in a dramatic Ralph Lauren gown with cape-like sleeves.

Julia Louis- Dreyfus channeled old Hollywood in her simple, yet sexy scarlet gown by Narciso Rodriguez.

A very pregnant Drew Barrymore wore scattered blooms by Monique Lhullier.

Taylor Swift shunned her usual sparkles for a beautiful bicolored Carolina Herrera ball gown.

Kyra Sedgwick glowed in coral.

Amy Adams’ Valentino gown in red and burgundy, may have been one of the simplest, yet most striking looks of the night.

Emma Watson was youthful and trendy in her backless Dior coral dress over skinny black pants .

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Biker Chic

Biker influences were all over the Fall 2013 runways this season. From takes on the classic Perfecto motorcycle jacket in black leather, to the loosely interpreted hybrids, it seems biker chic is a trend to watch.

Sacai was a much buzzed about collection during Paris fashion week. Designer Chitose Abe merged familiar elements with one another to create unique versions of fall favorites. The teal double-breasted princess coat with an inset leather front bearing classic motorcycle jacket details is a feminine and modern twist on the expected.

Consuelo Castiglioni took an austere approach at Marni this season, showing strict cuts and angular silhouettes. Her woolen coatdresses utilized the asymmetry and zipper details associated with the classic motorcycle jacket. Low slung belts and shiny boots completed the look.

Joseph Altuzarra layered a shrunken vinyl biker jacket over a trench coat, and worked the fabric into body con dresses for his eponymous collection. Both vinyl and leather were skillfully manipulated with other fabrics to create a young, sexy collection with lots of street cred.

Phillip Lim cited “girlfriends of bikers” as his inspiration for the season. His edgy collection was filled with motorcycle references, including zippers, asymmetry and channel quilting, often on leather. He softened and feminized the look, opting for softer colors and mixing it with more fluid fabrics.

Junya Watanabe took the classic Perfecto jacket on a journey, as he mixed it with plaids, tweeds and denim to create a collection of punk inspired clothing with a thrift shop vibe.

At Fendi, Karl Lagerfeld stepped away from the fur just long enough to craft a cobalt blue leather motorcycle jacket with a high-low hemline. Layered over a white dress with thigh high slits, and shown with contrasting hot pants and over-the-knee stockings, the jacket added an urban air of sophistication to the look.

Etro, the Italian house known for its rich paisley patterns and luxe fabrications, got on the biker bandwagon, showing long and lean leather pieces over plaid. The double layer effects and fur trim, added a sleek modern air to the collection.

Highly hyped designer Fausto Puglisi mixed two of the season’s biggest trends: biker and plaid, in his mixed media jacket. Paying homage to the upcoming Met Costume Institute’s show entitled “Punk: Chaos to Couture”, Puglisi managed to make the obvious look new and exciting. By combining his motorcycle details with tartan, as well as crystal and metal embellishments, he rebelled against the expected, creating his own style revolution.

previously published by Fashionista Cafe

photos: MCV photo

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The Pope Wore Prada

Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Buenos Aires has been named the 226thPope of the Catholic Church, taking the name Pope Frances.

As his predecessor, Pope Benedict turns in his red Prada slip-ons and shuts down his Twitter account, “@Pontifex” in preparation for his departure, Cardinal Bergoglio will be finding his way around his new town, and thinking about how to make his mark as the new Pontiff.  Once the smoke clears (pun intended) he will need to make some stylistic choices to get this Popedom started.

In honor of the momentous occasion, we have gathered some of the season’s fiercest red shoes for his perusal.

These skull embossed patent leather Alexander McQueen slippers would lend an edgy vibe to the traditional Cossack look.

Nothing screams Italian like a horse bit loafer, and these Gucci patent ones will have him blending in with the locals in no time.

Fashion duo Dean and Dan Caten of DSquared2, have created a classic wingtip in rich red. A manly choice.

Perhaps he will choose the iconic Tod’s driving moc, which is perfect for cruising around town in the Popemobile.

For the modern Pope on the go, these DC skateboard shoes are just the thing, offering both comfort and a sense of urban cool.

We’re sure whatever he chooses will be historic. Best of Luck Francis! Glad we could help.

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Huffing and Puffing

Because I am too freaking exhausted to write anything coherent tonight, here is a screen grab of my Huffpost Live segment, shot today with Christian Siriano of Project Runway fame.

I will fill you in on all the deets tomorrow, as well as some tidbits from a chance encounter with Tommy Hilfiger today.

Two very different success stories, from two very different men, who both found a unique way to pursue their dreams.Inspiration doesn’t get much better than this!

Coming soon…

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Check me out on huffpostlive... on at 1PM EST... TODAY

  http://live.huffingtonpost.com/r/segment/christian-siriano-hsn-project-runway-/5106d0ec02a7607dee00077e

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Forgiveness

Two years ago, acclaimed fashion designer John Galliano saw his world crumble. The designer was dismissed from his roles as the head designer of Christian Dior, as well as his own eponymous label, after a series of alcohol fueled, anti-sematic rants in a Paris café.

Not only did his employers turn against him, but retailers refused to carry his merchandise, and celebrities who previously coveted his clothing spoke of him with disdain. He also lost his “Chevalier of the Legion of Honor”, a highly prestigious title in France.

The designer has been off the radar for last two years, presumably working on his sobriety.

This week, in a controversial move, the disgraced designer begins a three week, “designer in residency” with Oscar de la Renta.

Mr. de la Renta is quoted as saying, “ John has worked hard on his recovery, and I am happy to give him the opportunity to reimmerse himself in the world of fashion and reacclimate in an environment where he has been so creative.”

Galliano has also issued a statement stating. “ I am an alcoholic. I have been in recovery for the last 2 years. Several years prior to my sobriety, I descended into the madness of the disease. I said and did things, which hurt others, especially members of the Jewish community. I have expressed my sorrow privately and publicly for the pain which I caused, and I continue to do so. I remain committed to making amends to those I hurt.”

People make mistakes, and certainly Mr. Galliano made his share of them. His behavior was beyond contempt. Yet, he is an immense talent, who deserves a chance to redeem his poor behavior and find his way in the world again.

Forgiveness is a powerful thing, and Mr. de la Renta is making a grand and generous gesture to a peer and competitor.

The Anti-Defamation League also approves of Mr. de la Renta’s extraordinary move. The League’s national director told WWD,“ We believe that individuals can change their hearts and minds as long as they demonstrate true contrition. Mr. Galliano has worked arduously in changing his worldview and dedicated a significant amount of time to researching, reading and learning about the evils of anti-Semitism and bigotry. Along his journey to recovery, he met with us on numerous occasions. He has accepted full responsibility for his previous remarks, and understands that hurtful comments have no place in our society.”

We applaud Oscar de la Renta for opening his heart and his studio to a fellow designer. Mr. de la Renta’s actions speak louder than the hurtful words Mr. Galliano spoke to trigger his epic fall from grace. We hope that he is recovered and can use this incredible opportunity to rebuild his life, and his career. Talent such as his should not be wasted. We wish them both the best.

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Color Play

Color is taking over the gym floor, with bright sneakers replacing the classic white, black or grey models.

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