It's the Cat's Meow

Check out this designer version of my “running errands” outfit from Helmut Lang: cardigan, long tshirt or tunic, leggings, and some fierce heels (also cute with ballet flats). This is a great “go to” outfit for trips to the grocery store and casual days out. (I got rid of those tired velour tracksuits a very long time ago in favor of this look.) This particular number, from Helmut Lang’s Spring 2010 collection, is only available for pre-order and will set you back around $600. An amount equivalent to about six weeks of groceries for the “average” American family, but hey, everyone is trying to lose weight anyways so who needs food? The leggings alone are $265, but I am sure they are the best damn leggings you’ll ever own!

For a more budget-friendly version of this outfit, hit up Forever 21, Target, or a discount retailer for the leggings. (I never spend over $20 for a pair of leggings). F21 also stocks a ton of trendy and cozy cardigans, which I purchase en masse since I am always cold and because they are so versatile (look great over those summer dresses). Really, any store that caters to young and fashionable women is a great place to go for these basics (H & M, Zara, No Rest for Bridget etc.) Loemann’s, Marshalls, Nordstrom Rack and TJ Maxx also have a great selection of better quality and price-slashed designer basics. Check out my budget version of Helmut’s outfit, however, one thing I never cheap out on is shoes. The total for this outfit is around $53.60—which leaves $540 left for shoes! However, I did find some very cute peep-toe shoe boots by Charles David on Overstock.com for $69.99.

1 Comment | In: Shop, Wear | tags: Casual Fashion, Charles David, Chic, Discount Shopping, Fashion Basics, Forever 21, Helmut Lang, Leggings, Peep Toe Boots, Short Boots, Spring 2010 Fashion. | #

Today I am making a very simple chicken, and it’s a great recipe for all of us that are watching our calories and trying to eat healthy! If you don’t own a crockpot, go out and buy one ASAP. It’s probably one of the simplest and most delicious cooking methods in existence. I own a Rival 5.5 Quart crockpot, which is well suited for most recipes of up to four servings. All you need are the following ingredients: 3 lb. chicken (cut up or whole), 2 carrots, 2 celery stocks, onion, garlic, chicken broth, salt and pepper!

1. Cut up all your veggies and put them in the bottom of the crockpot.
2. Salt and pepper your chicken. I also like to slice up some garlic and put it between
the skin and the meat for extra flavor.
3. Rest chicken on top of veggies in the crockpot. (You can also put them around the sides to allow
more room for the chicken if necessary.)
4. Pour in 1/2 cup of chicken stock. (You can sub with water or white wine as well.)
5. Cover and cook on LOW for 8-10 hours OR HIGH for 3-4 (but you’ll need to use 1 cup of
liquid instead of 1/2)

Serve your chicken with the carrots, and a baked potato or rice for a healthy and satisfying meal! I am serving mine with a sweet potato-yum! (P.S. I accidentally purchased a 5-1/2 lb chicken and had to split it in half and freeze the other half because it wouldn’t fit my crockpot. So don’t despair if you do the same!)

No Comments | In: Cook | tags: Crockpot, Easy Chicken, Fast Cooking, Healthy Cooking, Slow Cooking. | #

Don’t throw away that old calendar—turn it into inexpensive framed artwork! I’d purchased a French Kitty calendar a few year’s ago that I loved and couldn’t bear to throw away. When I was decorating my house, I remembered that I’d held onto it and decided that the photos would look so cute in my place. I went to ikea and purchased some chic  frames and framed my favorite pages. Voila—super cute art!

If you don’t have any old calendars, you can purchase one to fit the theme of the room you’re decorating. The choices are endless. It’s a cheap and chic way to add some style to a guest room, baby’s nursery, dorm, office, or any room you’re decorating.

No Comments | In: Create, Decorate | tags: Cheap decorating ideas, DIY decorating, Ikea Frames, picture frames, recycle, reuse. | #

I recently treated myself to some Pistachio Cherry Chocolate with Sea Salt & Caramel from C Salt Gourmet—yes, it’s as decadent and delicious as it sounds! The master behind this slice of heaven is Courtney Dudman-Donley, who makes all of her chocolate by hand using only the finest ingredients. In addition to the Pistachio Cherry chocolate that I enjoyed, C Salt Gourmet’s line of products also include: Pine Nut Pistachio Brittle, Vegan Pistachio Cherry Chocolate with Sea Salt & Organic Fair Trade Chocolate, and Truffles by special order only. The chocolates are also beautifully packaged for easy and chic gift giving. (What a fantastic hostess gift these make!)





C Salt Gourmet Chocolates are available at the following locations:
Promelis Westcliff Market in Newport Beach (This location carries the widest selection)
Mother’s Market (Huntington Beach and Santa Ana only)
The Gypsy Den in Costa Mesa (2oz packages of chocolate only)
Coming soon to the following stores: Whole Foods Market in Tustin and “A” Market in Newport Beach.


For special orders, such as personalized gifts for weddings, showers, or business events, contact Courtney directly at 714.402.2363 or Courtney@csaltgourmet.com. She also can be reached through her Web site www.csaltgourmet.com—which is currently being revamped to include a shopping cart. Courtney also caters chocolate buffets for events, instructs private truffle workshops, and hosts wine & chocolate pairing parties. Her upcoming workshop, “Truffles: Simple and Sinful”, is on Sunday, December 13 at the Road Less Traveled/Annex store in Santa Ana from 11am-2pm. The cost is $35; to buy tickets call the store directly at 714.836.8727.

No Comments | In: Eat, Give | tags: Artisan Chocolate, C Salt Gourmet, Fair Trade Ingredients, Gourmet Chocolate, Homemade Chocolate, Organic Ingredients. | #

Complimentary in-flight cocktails included in the price of your airfare? Yes way! Not only does Mexicana Airlines still serve free drinks on all flights like it’s 1965, they now also offer signature cocktails. Earlier this year, Mexicana, in a partnership with BACARDI®, commissioned mixologist Junior Merino, known as the “Liquid Chef”, to create a new signature cocktail menu. These one-of-a-kind cocktails are served on all flights with a duration of 4 hours and 25 minutes or longer.

At the core of each drink is one of the following BACARDI brands: BACARDI Superior rum, Cazadores® tequila, Eristoff® vodka, or Dewars® whisky. A new drink has been introduced every 2 months since July 2009. Such tasty libations currently on the menu include:  Sweet Turbulence which is described as “an explosive combination of Cazadores Tequila, lime Soda, grenadine, lime, and orange juice”, and “Black Wing” which is a mix of Eristoff vodka, lime juice, lime soda, and cola. Not going to make it on a flight anytime soon, then enjoy the Liquid Chef, Junior Merino’s newest holiday cocktail creation in the comfort of your own casa instead:


Caribbean Stinger Recipe by Junior Merino:
1 1/2 oz Chairman’s Reserve Rum
3/4 oz buckwheat honey
3/4 oz fresh lime juice
1/2 oz fresh pink grapefruit juice
1/2 oz Cherry Heering
1 1/2 oz Porter Beer
Put all the ingredients, except the beer,  in a shaker. The beer needs to be poured directly into a tall glass. Then add ice to the shaker, shake and pour into the glass. ¡Salud!

No Comments | In: Drink, Go | tags: BACARDI, Caribbean Stinger Recipe, Cazadores Tequila, Dewars, Eristoff Vodka, In Flight Cocktails, In Flight Drinks, Junior Merino, Liquid Chef, Mexicana, Mexicana Airlines, Signature Cocktails. | #

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays: lots of eating and drinking who could ask for more? In my mind, on this one day, the world is perfect: everyone is optimistic, healthy, has a warm home, plenty of money, and people who love them. Just like a Norman Rockwell painting. I have my mom to thank for creating this scenario for me, as our Thanksgivings were always pretty as a picture. I am so thankful for that now, as we’ve lost a lot of our family members to cancer and other illnesses, way too soon, over the years. While we still have a great (but smaller) gathering, we now cherish those memories of our big family holidays together. Sure someone might have occasionally gotten into a political debate, but we always had a great time and there was always an abundance of hugs and kisses when it came time to say goodbye. So make the best of the day, because you never know how much time you’ll have left to spend with your uncle who “who loves Sarah Palin” or the “hippie” aunt who wants “marijuana legalized.” Believe me, you’ll miss them. So with that, I offer up a few tips for having a Happy (and drama free) Thanksgiving.





1. Arrive on time. (If you’re going to be late, call the host and bring a good bottle of wine.)
2. Be interesting and think of some appropriate, varied, and engaging topics of conversation. (Steer clear of sensitive topics such as politics or religion—unless everyone shares the same opinion.)
3. If you find that you might have slipped and brought up a sensitive topic at the dinner table then it’s probably time to stop talking. (Clues: awkward silence, kicking under the table, sudden guzzling of wine…)
4. Don’t drink too much. (What is too much? If you have to ask, you’re probably a lost cause.)
5. Don’t brag about how well you are doing when you know your cousin (aunt, brother, etc.) has been unemployed for months. (And if you are the one that is down on your luck, don’t be a killjoy.)
6. If you have children, speak to them in normal tones during dinner, no yelling or baby talk.
7. Children should be seen and not heard.
8. No PDA-try to keep your paws off your significant other for a few hours. (Yes, cousin with the hot girlfriend, I am talking to you)
9. Just for today, turn off and put away the mobile, Iphone, or Blackberry etc.
10. And most of all, have fun, relax, and enjoy this day of gratitude.


Happy Thanksgiving!

No Comments | In: Live | | #