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My Morning Coffee & a Pretty Little Oresmund Cup

October 13, 2011 No Comments

What can I say about my morning coffee… I love it! I sometimes actually find myself looking forward to it the night before.

I think it’s because my morning coffee isn’t just something I grab on my way to work or something that’s part of my routine because I need the caffeine… oh no. My morning coffee is a ritual. It is the experience that starts my day, every day. Morning is the only time where the world is totally quiet and I can have some time to enjoy whatever I want to with a clear head before the distractions of the day force their way in.

From the adventure of discovering a nutty-rich blend, the welcoming aroma of grinding the perfectly roasted bean, the measuring of the perfect amount of water per coffee-grind ratio, to finally choosing the exact right coffee cup to thoroughly enjoy the experience. It’s my time to think… am I feeling happy, mellow, outgoing, busy, relaxed, chilly, somber, excited? It helps me decide the way I want to start my day. As you can imagine, these are very important details to picking the perfect cup!

I have a collection of about 30+ coffee and tea cups. I also have every intention of adding to this collection at any opportunity of inspiration. Since my fiancee, Jason, has 50+ beer glasses and still counting, I think I still have a ways to go before it becomes one of those conversations.

Today is rainy, fall day in Boston. So I found the Oresund cup from Anthropologie to match my mood the best: sleepy, dreamy, mellow, with a hint of happy.

There are a bunch to choose from but they all have the same mellow/happy feel. I’m always looking for new cups… and roasty coffee blends, so feel free to send me your suggestions any time!

Daily Inspiration

Coral & Neutral Fashion Look – Fall 2011 Style Set

October 12, 2011 No Comments

Creating Style Sets on Polyvore makes me feel like my closet is an endless realm of opportunities. Another fabulous thing about Polyvore, just like Pinterest, is once you’ve saved something you love, you can always find the source or website for it… Bonus! Just in case I can ever afford to put together this look all at once, I can just click a button and shop away. How convenient!

The Spring 2012 Fashion Week shows inspired me with their beautifully warm neutral tones accented with bright corals and aqua hues. I especially loved Jenny Peckham, BCBG-Max Azria and Dean Quinn’s looks for Spring 2012. You can click on the pictures below if you want to see more from these designers.

I definitely took a little of this influence back with me when making the neutral & coral Style Set.

If you’d like to see additional collections or designers from Fashion Week Spring 2012, check out the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Website… it has the fashion show schedules, designer profiles, runway videos and all of the Spring 2012 looks!

For those of you looking for a Spring 2012 Boston Fashion Week update, I’ll be posting one soon so stay tuned…

Daily Inspiration

Weekend Reminiscing – Starting the week off right… with Sangria!

October 11, 2011 No Comments

This past weekend was all about the beautiful weather and laughing with friends. There aren’t too many 80 degree days left lurking around in October, so when “Summer” pops her head in for a visit, we’ve got an open invitation policy. The perfect drink for celebrating any event with Miss “Summer” is Sangria!

Red & White Sangria is a main staple whenever we host a party and comes in super handy when something special is needed for an outside get together. It’s festive, colorful, flavorful and can be made to compliment any menu.

Since we’re heading into cooler months, I’m sharing a personal favorite recipe of mine for red Sangria that’s sure to warm you up any time of the year!

Ingredients:

2 Bottles of Rioja Red Wine
1/2 Cup Grand Marnier (orange liquor)
1/2 Cup Agave Nectar
2 tablespoons (or 3 splashes) Pure Vanilla Extract
Seeds of 2 Vanilla Beans
Juice of 4 navel oranges (freshly squeezed)
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg or allspice
2 apples sliced
1 orange sliced
1 Lime sliced
2 ripe peaches, cut into wedges
3 ripe plums, cut into wedges
1 cup halved green seedless grapes
1-2 cinnamon sticks

Directions:
Combine Rioja, Grand Marnier, agave nectar, vanilla, fruit juice and spices in a large tupperware container. Mix well by stirring or shaking. Mix in the sliced fruit and cinnamon sticks. Refrigerate. Best if stored for 24 hours prior to serving. Place in a large, decorative pitcher when ready to serve. Fill glasses with ice, pour in Sangria…Enjoy lovingly and responsibly!

Daily Inspiration

Vintage Style Compacts, Pin Up Art & a Boston Beauty Fav!

October 7, 2011 No Comments

Ever since I was a little girl I’ve loved Alberta Vargas’s drawings. His Pin-Up Girls (or women if you prefer) have an elegant and substantially confident style.

I find his work offers a gracious nod of respect to our gender within this particular art genre. These images transcend time and even now the Alberto Vargas Pin Up Girl is an admired comodity. Spending some dreamy stints in Hawaii may have influenced my fondness for the three Vargas gals I’ve decided to showcase although there are so many to see. I love how his ladies radiate sassitude and say “I know you’re looking at me… no touchie.” I find it fitting that there’s a redhead, a blond and a brunette.

Around this time of year my mind always wanders to Hawaii and I wish I were wearing a sarong while watching the waves crash at Sandy Beach right now… Oh Sandy, I miss you!

My fascination with Alberto Vargas’s work has left me with an overall affection for well designed, vintage style products. The Balm Cosmetic Co. has a series of makeup compacts that are super handy! A translucent powder for shine, a pressed powder for makeup and a bronzer for a touch of beachy color. All three are perfect to carry around in a small clutch and show-off to your friends. I’ve given these as gifts on more than one occassion and they never fail to please!

All of the above are available at Sephora but The Balm Online Shop sells these direct and has lots of other products to choose from.

If your a local Bostonian, I recommend popping into A Matter of Face in the North End. The owner, Paula, is a doll and she’s always so helpful. Plus, they have a bunch of cool products to play with while you’re there!

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