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Top o’ the Mornin’ Introducing SEXY Irish Coffee French Toast
Be the first in your friends to like it
OPULUXE Lounge Grooves™ PlayList
Irish Coffee French Toast
Yields:2 servings (4 slices) Cost: About $1.35 per serving
Ingredients:
French Toast
1 Forttuna Choco Chunk loaf/cake
2 Farm Fresh eggs
1/2 cup Sheridans Irish Coffee Cream liqueur
1/2 teaspoon Vanilla extract
1 plus tablespoon butter, for cooking
Powdered sugar, for garnish
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Irish Coffee Cream Topping:
1/2 can Non-Dairy Dessert Topping
1 Tablespoon Via Roma instant espresso
6 Tablespoons of Sheridans Irish Cream Coffee liqueur
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Instructions:
1.Unwrap the mini cake and turn it on its side. Cut into 4 equal rounds.
2. In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, Irish Coffee Liqueur,and vanilla.
3. Melt about 1 tablespoon of butter in a large frying pan.
4. Thoroughly soak each cake round in the egg mixture and place in the fry pan.
5. Cook 2-3 minutes on each side, until golden brown.
6. While the toast is cooking, empty about half the can of non dairy topping into a bowl and mix in the instant espresso.
7. Place 2 pieces of the toast on 2 plates and sprinkle with powdered sugar.
8. Serve the Irish coffee cream mixture on top.
SHERIDANS – Irish Coffee Cream Liqueur
Visually stunning, it is owned by Gilbey’s, the same group that produces Baileys.
With its white liqueur having a white chocolate richness, and the black of warm coffee and whiskey, the whole rounded off by a chocolate & nutty finish.
Producer: Sheridans
ABV: 15.5%
Brand: Sheridans
Ready, set … click! Roundup of Cyber Monday deals on Luxury goods! via [usnews and nyt]
Wiped out from shopping yet? I’m not 🙂 Hope you snagged some amazing deals on Black Friday! You also have a chance to do some damage on Cyber Monday – here’s another list of great sales and promo codes for tomorrow:
ARDEN B. 20% off entire site, plus free shipping over $25
ASPINAL OF LONDON 20% off $185 or more with code CYBMN29
BEAUTYTICKET.COM 30% off with code CYBER30
BEBE 20% off, plus free shipping
CHARLOTTE RUSSE 25-50% off everything, plus free shipping and free sparkly compact with orders of $35 or more
EDDIE BAUER 30% off, plus free shipping with code CYBERDAY
FINISH LINE $10 off $60 or more with code RG2010
ICE.COM Up to 80% off jewelry, plus free shipping with code SCM10
KOHL’S Extra 10% off $100 or more with code JINGLE
LANE BRYANT Buy one, get one free
LORD & TAYLOR 25% off site wide with code CYBER
MACY’S Specials, plus free shipping on $75 or more with code CYBER
RICH & SKINNY 30% off full priced items with CYBER2010
SHOES.COM 20% off, plus free shipping with code CYBER
SHOEMALL.COM 25% off $25, plus free shipping with code MONDAY25
SHOPBOP Up to $500 off your order with code BIGEVENT
WET SEAL 20% off entire site
Love,
Loren
Luxe Life
Luxury is no longer the sole province of the elite. Upscale goods and services now target a much broader market. Kimberly Castro, deputy business editor of U.S.News & World Report, takes a look at the luxe life, from fine wines and cars to high-end real estate and wealth management. Though no elitist, Kim does admit a fondness for a bold bottle of Scout’s Honor from Venge Vineyards and satiating her wanderlust in Europe.
Cyber-Monday: Deals on Luxury Goods
If you’re like me, you avoided the out-of-control mob of feverish shoppers at retailers on Black Friday. You may have decided to wait for discounts today, otherwise known as Cyber-Monday, the unofficial kickoff to the online retail season. You may be shopping from the comfort of your own home or “taking a break” at work; either way, online retailers see today as yet another opportunity to attract consumers with more promotions.
When you think of great deals, retailers like Wal-Mart, Target, and Best Buy may come to mind. But deep discounts abound on luxury goods, and you can save as much as 40 to 70 percent on men’s and women’s designer apparel, shoes, and handbags from the likes of luxury retailers Barneys New York, Neiman Marcus, and Saks Fifth Avenue.
Here are more online sales to satiate your holiday shopping needs:
- The iconic British luxury house Burberry is offering up to 50 percent off on its classic looks, from women’s wool coats and men’s cashmere sweaters to belts and scarves.
- High-end carpet and rug emporium ABC Carpet is featuring up to 75 percent off its exclusive designer collections.
- Bergdorf Goodman, owned by Neiman Marcus, is offering up to 50 percent off on its designer collections, shoes, and handbags. You can also receive free shipping with any purchase.
- Online jeweler Blue Nile has pearl earrings, charms, and sterling silver necklaces for under $100.
- Spend $25 or more at beauty retailer Sephora, and you’ll get free shipping.
- If your calendar is chock-full of holiday events, online retailer Bluefly is offering up to 40 percent off on party dresses, including the Nicole Miller, Vera Wang, and Laundry labels.
- At Barneys, Christian Louboutin’s Sigourney ankle boots, originally priced at $1,030, now go for $615 at the Barneys website.
- Nordstrom delivers cashmere scarves, gloves, sweaters, and hats for under $100.
- Enjoy up to 50 percent off of Fendi, Marc Jacobs, and Jimmy Choo goods at online luxury fashion retailer Net-a-porter.com.
Happy shopping!
RowNine Cyber Monday deals on luxury goods:
- Free invite to RowNine for WalletPop readers
- 80%off all Eyewear
- Discounts Mulholland Leather
- Savings on timepieces and jewelry starting on Tuesday
Secret’s Out: Sample Sales Move Online
Daniela Busciglio still winces at the memory of shivering in line for hours to get into New York sample sales, then shoving her way through throngs of other shoppers looking for deals on designer clothes.
Dany Levy, DailyCandy’s founder and editorial director, left, and Eve Epstein choosing items to photograph for a sample sale.
But now the mobs are moving online, to sites like Gilt, Rue La La, One Kings Lane, Ideeli and HauteLook. On the Web, the shopping is just as competitive, but it is no longer a blood sport.
“Who wants to go to sample sales with lines out the door and girls scratching to get in?” said Ms. Busciglio, 27, now a graduate student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Online, she said, “I can take my time and not have to worry about people getting up in my face.”
The private-sale sites — a misnomer because most of these so-called exclusive sites are open to anyone who signs up — have become a thriving corner of online commerce. Sites using the same “while supplies last” approach have sprung up recently to sell home furnishings, beauty products and travel packages.
The business model is simple: the sites buy mostly overstocked clothing and accessories from brand-name designers, then discount them deeply. Adrenaline-pumped shoppers rush to get the deals because the items are often gone in a few hours.
The sites try to recreate the rush of a warehouse sample sale, minus the trampling and shoving, but they borrow as much from the Home Shopping Network as they do from Saks Fifth Avenue. After shoppers add an item to their cart at Gilt, for example, they get a 10-minute countdown before they lose the item.
For Matthew Rodriguez, 29, a Web marketer and Gilt shopper, the sales turn shopping into a game. “Knowing the sales start every day at noon makes me really competitive to get an item before someone else gets it,” he said. He recently bought a pair of Clae white patent leather sneakers for $38 on Gilt. They can sell for as much as $135 in retail stores.
More mainstream retailers are also adopting the idea. Saks, for example, is holding 24-hour half-price sales on brands like Hervé Léger.
Others are using the idea for holiday promotions. On the Monday after Thanksgiving, a big online shopping day known as Cyber Monday, Ashford, which sells luxury brand watches, discounted a different watch every two hours on its site. Blue Nile, the jewelry site, is offering a different deal every day until Dec. 23.
By discounting one item at a time, the retailers attract bargain-seekers and avoid the deep discounting done storewide last year, thereby protecting their profit margins. By 3:10 p.m. on Cyber Monday, Blue Nile had sold out of a five-carat diamond bracelet, marked down to $3,950 from $5,300.
One of the buyers, Dan Stanley of Falls Church, Va., said that he had not heard of private sales before and that for four days, he had been shopping for a bracelet for his wife. He bought it on the spot. “The ‘one day’ caught my eye, and I wouldn’t have risked it,” Mr. Stanley said.
Private-sale sites are attracting brand-name investors. Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, the venture capital firm that backed Google and Amazon.com, invested on Wednesday in One Kings Lane, which sells home décor. Gilt Groupe raised $55 million from Matrix Partners and General Atlantic, and Rue La La’s parent company was recently acquired by GSI Commerce for $180 million.
The concept seems tailored to recessionary times. Any guilt that consumers feel over spending thousands of dollars on unnecessary items can be replaced by bragging rights for finding a killer bargain, like a $4,500 diamond necklace that was recently on sale for $2,250 at Gilt.
“We started this at the worst possible time and got traction right out of the box,” said Susan Feldman, a founder of One Kings Lane. People still want to shop, but in the privacy of their homes, she said. “They just don’t want to be seen walking down the street carrying a Bloomingdale’s or Barneys or Bergdorf bag.”
It works for the fashion industry, too, because as the economy slumped, stores deeply cut inventory, which left some designers with excess stock, depending on their production calendars. Some high-end brands view the sites as a place to unload inventory without sullying their image by having their merchandise appear on Overstock.com or on the racks at Filene’s Basement. The members-only Web sites also ensure that search engines will not locate and list the discounted products.
Juliska sells its full-price tableware, like a $625 stoneware soup tureen, at luxury department stores like Neiman Marcus. It sells off-season products on One Kings Lane, Gilt and Rue La La.
Selling those items at T. J. Maxx, as some of Juliska’s competitors do, “is suicide for a luxury brand,” said Dave Gooding, the company’s chief executive. “With flash sales, you have the beauty of it being a one-day sale that is done in a very quick, efficient, tastefully done way, as an alternative to your product sitting on a dusty shelf for six months.”
For shoppers, the sites provide a selection of items, akin to a boutique, so they do not have to wade through the thousands of items on bigger e-commerce sites.
Swirl, a private-sale site that went live on Nov. 19, is betting on the allure of a handpicked collection. It was started by DailyCandy, which publishes e-mail newsletters about fashionable activities in various cities.
The company’s reputation for pointing readers to up-and-coming designers will help differentiate its sample sale site, said Dany Levy, DailyCandy’s founder and editorial director. “They trust us, and they know we’ve done our homework,” she said.
But private-sale sites could run into trouble as manufacturers and stores cut back on inventory. “The universe of what’s overstock is not an infinite universe,” said Sucharita Mulpuru, an e-commerce analyst at Forrester.
To maintain their growth, many of the sites have recently expanded beyond high-end, overstocked apparel.
Ideeli sells spa and vacation packages in addition to clothes, and One Kings Lane has avoided clothes altogether. Gilt now sells gadgets, like a Tivoli radio and a Jawbone wireless headset, and offers products for men, children, the home and younger women with smaller budgets. Gilt also started a site called Jetsetter that sells travel deals, like a room at the Hôtel de Crillon in Paris marked down to $500, from $795.
Susan Lyne, Gilt’s chief executive, said that as long as people coveted something, they would be eager for a deal. “Gilt and these other shopping sites allow people to do the thing that gives them pleasure, without all that guilt,” she said.
Avoid a TSA pat-down during holiday travel
— tips from top travel experts
BY Rosemary Black
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER
Tuesday, November 23rd 2010, 2:28 PM
Wearing snug clothing can help passengers avoid a TSA pat-down.
Want to dress for success at avoiding intrusive patdowns before hopping on a plane? Skip the bulky sweaters and ankle-length skirts (they’re red flags to airport screeners), leave your underwire bra and earrings in the suitcase, and consider wearing tight slacks, according to The Associated Press.
Choosing the right outfit can make getting through security less mortifying, according to travel experts.
“It’s difficult enough to fly right now, so let’s be sensible about it,” Susan Foster, author of “Smart Packing for Today’s Traveler,” told AP. “Let’s minimize all the hassle.”
Reducing the time spent getting screened might be possible by not wearing items that can set off the metal detector, according to TSA information. No-nos include clothes with metal buttons, heavy jewelry, cuff links, lanyards, bolo ties and belt buckles.
Another passenger suggests dressing as you would to go to Disneyland. “And by that I mean dressing comfortably, with a good pair of shoes,” Aliise Becker told The AP. “The days of dressing to the nines to travel is a thing of the past.”
Some travel experts say it’s sensible to get to the airport two hours in advance of the flight, and to have carry-ons look organized for scanning by TSA agents.
“If your carry-on bag goes through the machine that they’re looking at and everything is in its place … it’s going to go right through. You’re going to go right through and you’re going to go through to your gate,” Denver travel expert Andrea Shpall told 9news.com.
Laptops have to be removed from their case to be scanned and liquids must fit into a 1 quart container and be less than 3 ounces, Shpall said.
As for what to skip wearing? Resist T-shirts sold online that make fun of patdowns. One of the shirts that purports to offer advice to TSA officers says to “firmly grasp” the buttocks. Other shirts make fun of the “don’t touch my junk” line that became an Internet sensation when a California man told a TSA officer, “If you touch my junk, I’ll have you arrested.”
Another T-shirt sold online – definitely worth avoiding if you’d like to streamline your security screening – is for “Fondle Airlines” and proclaims, “Fondling junk since 2010.”
‘Dancing With the Stars’ results recap: We have a champion! via [latimes]
She was pegged as the contender to beat from the start, and at the end, Jennifer Grey emerged as the champion of the Mirror Ball universe and the winner of Season 11’s “Dancing With the Stars” competition.
via [YouTube]
Johnny Castle was right: Nobody puts Baby in the corner.
Sure, in retrospect, it all made sense that Jennifer won. She was by far the most talented dancer going into these finals. But the producers and this roller coaster of a season had me thinking that it could be anyone’s game. Jennifer definitely held the lion’s share of judges’ points, but her steps were hobbled by injuries, which produced doubts about whether she could finish what she started. (She even suffered a ruptured disc during Monday night’s performances.) Disney star Kyle Massey was the ultimate crowd pleaser and Season 11’s Mr. Congeniality, the guy with the best attitude of the bunch. Teen activist and underdog extraordinaire Bristol Palin obviously had an avalanche of votes going her way (and said she wanted to win at this point, because “this would be a big middle finger to all the people out there who hate my mom and hate me”). And though both Kyle (a shoo-in for ABC’s next reality TV series, “Bootyshaking With the Stars”) and Bristol served up some stiff competition, in the end it was Jennifer’s night.
Photo credit: Adam Larkey / ABC
(Another advantage may have been the actress’ final outfit, a metallic gold
number, which matched the shininess of the mirror ball trophy better than her competitors’ did. Kyle was a little matte with his black leather vest and dark shirt, while Bristol went fire-engine red in her fringe. Visually, didn’t it just make sense that the shiniest contestant would get to hold the shiniest trophy in victory over her head?)
Let’s not forget to congratulate pro partner Derek Hough for his unprecedented three wins -– the most of any of the “DWTS” pro dancers. And how sweet was it that his best friend/greatest competitor/fellow finalist Mark Ballas hoisted him up on his shoulders during that raging confetti shower at the end?
But this epic two-hour, two-dance finale extravaganza did not start off with frills and fringe. At the beginning, it was almost as if “DWTS” had taken a somber, NBC Olympics-style turn, with Tom Bergeron doing his best Bob Costas impression and narrating the segment outlining the finalists’ journeys to this finale, uttering with utmost sincerity things like “These three, better than anyone else, knew what to do” and “In the end, the champion will know that what they did was indeed enough.”
Luckily, the somber tones were ditched like last week’s gold lame and the tempo picked up during the opening number, starting with our pros descending down the grand ballroom staircase in slinky burlesque numbers, only then to be joined by their Season 11 stars. Hoff! Cho! Situation! Flo! Fox! Kurt! Brandy! And in case we had trouble distinguishing the stars from the pros, the pros wore black and the stars were decked out in red. Though there were a couple of black holes in this program, as dogged Michael Bolton was performing at Royal Albert Hall in London and Audrina Patridge was out with an illness.
Christina Aguilera fit right in with the “DTWS” family with her itty-bitty gold fringe dress and her dance-friendly number, “Show Me How to Burlesque,” from the movie “Burlesque.” Liked how they upped the production value by having the bevy of scantily clad dancers come out from behind the mirrored bar. All in all, a big wallop of fringe-filled fun that just made me excited to see the movie. Not to mention those pipes! Xtina pared it down for her second number, a rendition of her hit “Beautiful” in which she was nearly enveloped in a blanket of smoke, then accompanied by a plainclothes backup crew who performed a combination of sign language and dance.
In the first round of finalist dances, each couple performed their favorite dance from the season. Kyle and Lacey Schwimmer and Bristol and Mark both reprised their tangos from Rock Week, while Jennifer and Derek redid their Viennese waltz from Week 1. The judges awarded them either an 8, 9 or 10 score. Not surprisingly, Jennifer and Derek’s sweetly lilting “These Arms of Mine” waltz was the unanimous winner and earned them another perfect 30 points. Kyle, deemed “a stage animal” by Bruno, was given second place with 26 points (though I was again distracted by Lacey’s striated dress and feathery Adam Lambert-esque shoulder pads). Bristol and Mark received 25 points for their tongues-out purple military-outfitted tango. As Len said, Kyle’s got the wow, but Bristol’s got the how, but Jennifer was the complete package.
The season’s contestants were given one last spotlight. Hoff showed good humor in appearing in a segment that had him reliving his “DWTS” Week 1 elimination pain. Naturally, he tried to ease the sting by taking a frolic on a Malibu beach, which resulted in a slo-mo run with a red lifeguard float, all the way to the soundstage. And then, oh my, he started singing! Are we in Germany? Because the crowd is going wild! David Hasselhoff may have been the first contestant voted off, but make no mistake: The Hoff is awesome. This man can sing, twirl and do a semblance of a ballroom dance with partner Kym Johnson and two other bedazzled Baywatchy babes, which, as Tom said, were added “at no extra charge.”
Rick Fox and Kurt Warner had a dance-off. The NBA champ and the Superbowl MVP talked some trash, donned their team colors, bumped chests and stomped with Cheryl Burke and Anna Trebunskaya to see who had the eye of the tiger and dominated the dance floor. And while Kurt lasted a week longer than Rick in the actual competition, I’m going to give this one to Fox: The Laker purple and yellow gave him the home team advantage.
Margaret Cho came back out in her rainbow fringe dress flanked by a bunch of he-men to redo her Copacabana routine with Louis Van Amstel, while Florence Henderson donned the brightest yellow in the history of the world to dance it out with Corky Ballas, all to a flutter of confetti at the end. Although apparently no one told Carrie Ann that the routine was over: The camera caught the judge dabbing on lip gloss while the other judges were applauding.
There was an alarming glimpse into the future that showed rampant moneymaker and an orange-juiced Situation being voted governor of New Jersey. He of the Jersey Shore and the raging tan came back out to the dance floor and mostly stood around topless while partner Karina Smirnoff and two other pros danced suggestively around him. Brandy also returned in good form and good spirits to perform her infectiously giddy quickstep to the “Friends” theme with rabble-rouser Maksim Chmerkovskiy.
And that wraps up yet another “DWTS” cycle. What did you think, ballroom fans? Did the right person win this season? Has the universe righted itself? Does the outcome justify all the surprises that occurred throughout the season? How did Audrina eating an onion measure up as a shock during the segment on surprises? Did Jamie Lee Curtis make a bracelet from all of her other accumulated studio audience bracelets? Last but not least, does this mean Joel Grey should make a bid for the presidency?
— Allyssa Lee
at, Kyle and Lacey threw caution to the wind and went to the left, to the left, to the right, to the right for their freestyle routine. And the crowd pleaser really did put his whole heart and soul (and both lungs) into the performance, as evidenced by Lacey having to peel him off the dance floor at routine’s end and his complete and utter breathlessness in the celebraquarium. And I love myself some Kyle and think he’s a consummate performer. But was it just me or was his routine just a tad bit … expected? I wish he and Lacey had incorporated some of their hard-earned ballroom moves to the hip-hop to bring it all full circle. “The Tootsie Roll — one of my favorites!” Len joked. “I’m not a great lover of the boogaloo dancing, but this was great fun, great entertainment.” Carrie Ann gently corrected the head judge’s description. “It’s called old-school hip-hop,” she said, “and this old fly girl loved it.” She also deigned Kyle “the Fresh Prince of ‘Dancing With the Stars!’” Word. Kyle and Lacey got a 27 for their redemption fox trot and a 29 for their slide baby slide freestyle for a total of 56.
Photo: Bristol Palin and Mark Ballas. Credit: Adam Larkey AP/ABC.
The tea party is over. Actress Jennifer Grey and her professional dance partner, Derek Hough, were crowned winners of “Dancing With the Stars’ ” 11th season Tuesday evening, ending a weeks-long tempest over the surprising success of the often-ungraceful Bristol Palin.
The “Dirty Dancing” star, who routinely topped the judges’ leaderboard, was considered the favorite for claiming the ballroom dance competition’s Mirror Ball Trophy — something judge Len Goodman predicted as Grey earned a perfect score after Monday night’s dance final.
“You’ve been consistent, persistent . . . like a juggernaut heading for that Mirror Ball Trophy!” Goodman said.
In the days leading to Tuesday’s results, the reality show’s outcome took on some of the cultural fervor of the 2010 midterm elections, in large part because the competition became embroiled in controversy. Palin, daughter of former Alaska Gov. and “tea party” darling Sarah Palin, advanced week after week, defeating competitors who had received higher judges’ scores — prompting allegations of vote fraud.
After Monday night’s performance show, which drew an audience of more than 24 million viewers, Bristol Palin ranked third behind Disney star Kyle Massey and Grey. A flood of voting after the Monday show temporarily shut down the network’s online and telephone systems. (The network, which never releases voting results, issued a statement explaining the problem was quickly resolved and “affected each finalist equally.”)
Unlike “American Idol,” where judges hand out scores to contestants, “Dancing with the Stars” combines judge’s marks with public voting. Results from both are then averaged to determine who is eliminated. Viewers are limited to a maximum of five votes per phone line and e-mail address, according to the show’s rules.
But after Palin reached the finals, despite consistently low scores, accusations ricocheted across the Web that tea party activists had exploited a hole in the network’s voting system. ABC officials steadfastly refuted this claim, explaining security measures were in place to maintain the integrity of the voting process.
The prize did not come without a price, though — Grey revealed Tuesday night that she injured herself during the previous night’s show.
“I really wanted to leave it all on the floor last night,” Grey said of her performance. “Unfortunately, I left a litle piece of my spine on the floor. I ruptured my disc.”
Grey nonetheless vowed to complete her final two dances Tuesday. She executed the first of her performances, a Viennese waltz, to a standing ovation from the studio audience and another perfect score from the three judges.
“You are the complete package,” said judge Len Goodman.
Massey performed a tango with professional partner Lacy Schwimmer, landing in second place after the first dance of the night.
“After months and months of training,” Massey said. “It’s all come down to this.”
For her dance, Palin urged her partner to throw caution to the wind in their tango, saying, with a smile, “We’ve got nothing to lose.” They finished in a familiar spot: the bottom of the judges’ rankings — albeit with praise for Palin’s “consistently surprising” performances.
“You’ve found your footing in this competition,” said judge Bruno Tonioli. “And you’ve found your place in the finale with this.”
— Dawn C. Chmielewski
Photo: Brandy and Maksim Chmerkovskiy. Credit: Bob D’Amico / ABC
Jimmy Kimmel called Brandy the latest victim of “Hurricane Bristol” and suggested “an organized Tea Party voting bloc” was behind Brandy’s elimination when the ousted singer and her partner Maksim Chmerkovskiy appeared on “Jimmy Kimmel Live.”
Perhaps the most violent reaction came from a 67-year-old Wisconsin man, who had a standoff with authorities and was charged with second-degree reckless endangerment when he reportedly shot his television after Bristol Palin’s performance, citing that “he didn’t think she was a good dancer.”
And of course, there was no shortage of theories posted by commenters themselves. Here’s a sampling of the Bristol buzz on the Internet Wednesday morning:
“BRISTOL, REALLY? Please people, vote next week and get real!” exclaimed oc_loladee.
“The ONLY reason Bristol is still there is due to viewers votes. SHE CANNOT DANCE and DEFINITELY doesn’t deserve to be in the finals. This season’s voting results had nothing to do with talent or skill because if it did Bristol should have been voted off the 1st week! It’s a popularity contest that has gone HORRIBLY wrong at other peoples expense,” said SB.
“Apparently many Americans prefer mediocrity. Thanks Tea Party!” wrote in Tiki.
Still, others chalk it up to the nature of the game.
“It is no shock that Brisotl is in the Finals… look at Kelly O (famous daughter, not the best dancer… made the finals)… the show is Not Just About Dancing! If it was, Kyle would be gone too (with his poor posture, and scattered footwork at times). It is part dancing, part a journey, part entertainment, and part voting simply for whom you want to win. I vote for Bristol because I like her performances… she’s not being political at all,” explained Keith.
“Haters. The girl embodies what the show is about. Non dancers learning to dance. I can’t stand her mother, but I am completely taken with Bristol, she is real. And that is where her votes are coming from. They are coming from the people that realize that that is what they would look like up there,” wrote in Stefanie.
And there are those who believe that Brandy was ousted by her own hand. “brandy’s obsession to win was a bit of a turn off. THe other contestants seemed like they were there to have fun. I picked against brandy for that reason alone,” said Carlos.
— Allyssa Lee
Gourmet Thanksgiving Leftover Recipes via [CherisFabulousFoods]
OPULUXE Lounge Grooves™ PlayList
via [YouTube]
Thanksgiving Turkey Leftover Recipes
- Turkey Barley Soup — Pair turkey with healthy veggies and barley for this quick and easy soup.
- Turkey Carcass Soup — Even the turkey bones get into the leftovers act in this comforting soup.
- Heart Healthy Turkey and Potato Stew — This hearty soup goes together in a flash.
- Chunky Turkey Salad with Cranberries and Walnuts — This recipe uses traditional Thanksgiving flavors in a new way.
- Waldorf Salad with Smoked Turkey — Smoked turkey adds a new dimension to this classic salad.
- Lemon Blueberry Turkey Salad — Here’s a creative take or turkey salad.
- Honey Almond Turkey Salad — Another creative take on turkey salad.
- St. Stephen’s Day Pie — This traditional Irish recipe turns leftovers into a spectacular savory pie.
- Spicy Turkey and Spaghetti Squash Skillet — A satisfying quick and easy skillet meal.
- Turkey and Vegetable Frittata — This makes a great breakfast, lunch or light supper.
- Turkey Egg Foo Yung — Turkey leftovers get an Asian twist in this recipe.
- Leftover Turkey Curry — Exotic spices and yogurt completely transform the Thanksgiving flavor profile of turkey and cranberry sauce.
- Turkey Florentine — Turkey combines with spinach in this tasty casserole.
- Pasties — Savory Pies from holiday meal leftovers
- Leftovers Hash — This recipe is a quick, frugal, and tasty way to use up leftovers.
Get Rid of Extra Mashed Potatoes
- Mollie Katzen’s American Potato Cutlets — For an unusual skillet breakfast, serve these mashed potato cakes with Fried Green Tomatoes.
- Potato Cheese Casserole — This comfort food dish is a favorite at Jamaica’s Superclubs Resorts.
- Potato Wet Chocolate L’Orange Cake — Mashed potatoes keep this chocolate cake incredibly moist.
- Irish Potato Bread — This traditional Irish recipe makes a great way to use those mashed potato leftovers.
- Bread Machine Irish Potato Bread — A bread machine version of the above recipe.
- Papas Rellenas — This dish is a unique twist on the Mexican classic Chile Rellenos. Here mashed potatoes are wrapped around the savory ingredients.
Use Up Cranberries and Cranberry Sauce
- Cranberry Peach Cobbler — Buy too many cans of cranberries for the holidays? Make this scrumptious cobbler with your leftovers and serve with vanilla ice cream for a special treat.
- Apple and Cranberry Acadian — Phyllo wrapped baked apples with cranberry and vanilla sauces.
- Orange Cranberry Swirl Cookies — Use leftover cranberry sauce to get a jump start on holiday cookie baking.
- Cranberry Glazed Cornish Game Hens — Leftover cranberry sauce makes a great glaze for poultry of all kinds.
An UPSCALE Thanksgiving Buffet How To: OPULUXE Lifestyle Design™ Wishes Everyone a HAPPY and SAFE Thanksgiving 2010!
OPULUXE Lounge Grooves™ PlayList
Elegant Thanksgiving Dinner Buffet Ideas
Easy Thanksgiving Centerpieces
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Looking for some quick and easy centerpiece ideas for Thanksgiving that won’t cost you a lot of time or money? No problem! Here are a few stylish ideas you can whip together in just a few minutes:
1. Fall Vase Fillers
Group 3 or more glass vases together (cylinder, square, or whatever shape you prefer) and fill each one with a different fall-appropriate decorative filler, such as autumn leaves, pinecones, twigs, mini pumpkins, and green or red apples. This concept looks great as a table centerpiece, atop a fireplace mantle, or as a festive backdrop for the food buffet. (Side note: You can find faux autumn leaves like the ones pictured above in-store at Target, along with several other fall-themed vase fillers!)
{image via Joyful Weddings & Events}
2. Small, Colorful Arrangements
Instead of one great big centerpiece, line 3 small bunches of flowers in a neat row down the center of the table. Opt for colorful blooms like deep orange dahlias and yellow roses, and display them in simple glass vases. Add a few tea lights between the vases for a touch of elegance… and you’re done!
{image via BostonBlooms.com}
3. Corn and Candles
Super simple, yet so very harvest-appropriate – this corn & candle concept makes for fabulous Thanksgiving décor! To extend this idea further, try other versions of this combination – like grouping several white, plum, or harvest brown pillar candles on a plate covered with corn, or creating a display made from tall vases filled with Indian corn and several small tealights.
{image via bhg.com}
4. Vintage Glass
Vintage glass bottles, vases, and jars look great when various shapes and sizes are grouped together – and tinted glass is also an elegant way to add color to the table. The Vintage Green Glass Jugs pictured above are from Pottery Barn, but you can also check discount stores like Home Goods or Marshall’s for great deals on similar products!
5. Cranberries & Candles
Bright red cranberries are an easy way to add a pop of color to the table. Pair them with vases and pillar candles for a pretty centerpiece element. Try grouping 3 of the “cranberry vases” together – using vases with alternating heights, or line several smaller vases down the length of the table. (If cranberry is your decorative theme for the day, consider serving “Gobble-tinis” garnished with a cranberry skewer for your signature drink!)
{Faux Cranberry Vase Filler – $14 at Pottery Barn}
6. Dried Florals & Fruit
Create a simple, unexpected centerpiece using dried florals with unique shapes – like bell cups and fans – displayed in modern cubed vases with large bunches of purple grapes spilling over the rim. Embellish the vases with coordinating ribbon.
{image from Modern Elegance Thanksgiving at HostessWithTheMostess.com}
4 Foolproof Pie Recipes
By Sara Quessenberry
Easy, delicious twists on Turkey Day classics.
1. {{Bourbon and Orange Pecan Pie}}
Ingredients
- Basic Flaky Piecrust
- or 1 store-bought piecrust, fitted into a 9-inch pie plate
- 1 cup light corn syrup
- 3/4 cup light brown sugar
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter (1/2 stick), melted
- 3 large eggs
- 2 tablespoons bourbon (or 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract)
- 1/2 teaspoon grated orange zest
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 cups pecan halves
Directions
- Set an oven rack in the lowest position and heat oven to 350º F. Place the pie plate on a foil-lined baking sheet.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the corn syrup, sugar, butter, eggs, bourbon, orange zest, and salt. Stir in the pecans.
- Pour the pecan mixture into the crust and bake until the center is set, 50 to 55 minutes. Let cool to room temperature before serving.
By Kate Merker
2. {{Chocolate Fudge Pie}}
Ingredients
- Basic Flaky Piecrust
- or 1 store-bought piecrust, fitted into a 9-inch pie plate
- 6 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped, plus more shaved for topping
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter (1 stick)
- 3 large eggs
- 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 cup plus 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
Directions
- Heat oven to 375º F. Place the pie plate on a baking sheet. Prick crust with a fork and line with foil. Fill to top with pie weights or dried beans. Bake until the edges are firm, 20 to 25 minutes. Remove the foil and weights and bake until just golden, 8 to 10 minutes.
- Reduce oven temperature to 325º F. In a heatproof bowl set over (not in) a saucepan of simmering water, melt the chocolate and butter.
- Using an electric mixer, beat the eggs, salt, and ½ cup of the sugar until fluffy, 4 to 5 minutes. Fold a third of the egg mixture into the chocolate mixture, then fold in the remainder.
- Pour the combined mixture into the crust and bake until puffed and beginning to crack, 20 to 25 minutes. Cool for 1 hour, then chill.
- Beat the cream with the remaining sugar until soft peaks form. Spread over the pie and sprinkle with the shaved chocolate.
By Sara Quessenberry, November 2009
3. {{Gingery Apple Crumb Pie}}
Ingredients
- Basic Flaky Piecrust
- or 1 store-bought piecrust, fitted into a 9-inch pie plate
- 1/2 cup cup cold unsalted butter (1 stick), cut into small pieces
- 3/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 2 1/2 pounds apples (about 5; such as Granny Smith, Braeburn, or Empire), peeled and thinly sliced
- 1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
Directions
- Set an oven rack in the lowest position and heat oven to 375º F. Place the pie plate on a foil-lined baking sheet.
- In a food processor, pulse the butter, ¾ cup of the flour, and ¼ cup of the sugar until large clumps form. Transfer to a bowl and refrigerate until ready to use.
- In a large bowl, toss the apples, ginger, cinnamon, salt, and the remaining ½ cup of sugar and tablespoon of flour.
- Transfer the apple mixture to the crust, sprinkle with the crumb topping, and bake until the top is golden and the apples are tender, 55 to 60 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature.
By Sara Quessenberry, November 2009
4. {{Maple Pumpkin Pie}}
Ingredients
- Basic Flaky Piecrust
- or 1 store-bought piecrust, fitted into a 9-inch pie plate
- 2 large eggs
- 1 15-ounce can pure pumpkin puree
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup pure maple syrup
- 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
Directions
- Set an oven rack in the lowest position and heat oven to 350º F. Place the pie plate on a foil-lined baking sheet.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, pumpkin, cream, maple syrup, cinnamon, ginger, salt, and cloves.
- Pour the pumpkin mixture into the crust and bake until the center is set, 60 to 70 minutes. Let cool to room temperature before serving.
By Sara Quessenberry, November 2009
Elegant Recipes for a Complete Thanksgiving Dinner
Show off your culinary skills this Thanksgiving with these impressive meal options from FoodandWine.com: They look, taste, and sound like you spent hours slaving away, but they’re simple at heart. Versatile focaccia rolls, carrots cooked in carrot and orange juice, and a whole-grain stuffing are just a few of the ways you’ll get rave reviews at the dinner table. Then finish it off with one of these fall desserts.
Apricot-Glazed Turkey with Fresh Herb Gravy
From Food & Wine
Frances Janisch
Serves: 12
Total Time: 4 hr
Prep Time: 30 min
Ingredients
| U.S. | Metric | Conversion chart |
Turkey
- 1 (16-pound) fresh turkey
- 1 tablespoon(s) canola oil
- Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
- 1 lemon
, halved - 6 clove(s) garlic, crushed
- 6 large thyme springs
- 4 large rosemary sprigs
- 4 large sage sprigs
- 1 fresh bay leaf
Glaze
- 3/4 cup(s) apricot jam
- 1 1/2 tablespoon(s) fresh lemon juice
- 2 teaspoon(s) grated lemon zest
- 1 1/2 tablespoon(s) finely chopped sage
- Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
Gravy
- 3 cup(s) turkey stock, chicken stock, or low-sodium broth
- 4 tablespoon(s) unsalted butter
- 1/4 cup(s) all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoon(s) chopped parsley
- 1 tablespoon(s) finely chopped sage
- 1 teaspoon(s) chopped thyme
- Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
Directions
- Make the turkey: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Remove the turkey from the refrigerator at least 30 minutes before roasting. Pat the turkey dry and set it on a V-shaped rack in a large roasting pan. Rub the turkey all over with the oil and season it inside and out with salt and pepper. Stuff the cavity with the lemon halves, crushed garlic, thyme, rosemary, sage, and bay leaf. Roast the turkey for about 2 1/2 hours, until golden all over and an instant-read thermometer inserted between the leg and thigh registers 165°F.
- Meanwhile, make the glaze: In a small bowl, mix the apricot jam, lemon juice, lemon zest, and sage and season with salt and pepper. Microwave the glaze until thinned slightly, about 20 seconds.
- Brush the turkey with half of the glaze and roast for about 15 minutes, until the skin is mahogany-colored. Brush the turkey with the remaining glaze and roast for about 15 minutes longer, until the skin is deep mahogany and an instant-read thermometer inserted between the leg and thigh registers 175°F. Tilt the turkey to drain all the juices from the cavity into the roasting pan. Transfer the turkey to a carving board and let rest for 45 minutes.
- Make the gravy: Skim the fat from the drippings in the roasting pan. Set the roasting pan over high heat and bring to a boil. Add the turkey stock and cook for 2 minutes, scraping up the browned bits from the bottom of the pan.
- In a medium saucepan, melt the butter. Add the flour and cook over moderate heat until smooth, about 2 minutes. Strain 3 1/2 cups of the liquid in the roasting pan into the saucepan and whisk to blend. Bring the gravy to a simmer and cook over moderately low heat, whisking occasionally, until slightly thickened, about 5 minutes. Stir in the parsley, sage, and thyme and season with salt and pepper. Pour the gravy into a small pitcher. Carve the turkey and serve with the gravy.
Whole-Grain Stuffing with Apples, Sausage, and Pecans
From Food & Wine
Serves: 12 Edit
Total Time: 3 hr
Ingredients
| U.S. | Metric | Conversion chart |
- 1 7-inch round loaf of whole-grain bread, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 3/4 cup(s) pecans
- 4 tablespoon(s) unsalted butter
- 1 medium yellow onion, cut into 1/4-inch dice
- 1 celery rib, cut into 1/4-inch dice
- 1 pound(s) sweet Italian sausage, casings removed
- 1 teaspoon(s) chopped sage
- 1 teaspoon(s) thyme leaves
- 1 Granny Smith apple, cut into 1/2-inch dice
- 2 1/2 cup(s) low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 egg
- Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
Directions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F. Lightly butter a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. On a large rimmed baking sheet, toast the bread cubes for about 15 minutes, tossing halfway through, until lightly golden and dry. Transfer the bread to a large bowl. Spread the pecans in a pie plate and toast for about 8 minutes, until fragrant. Let cool, then coarsely chop the pecans.
- In a large skillet, melt the butter. Add the onion, celery, and sausage and cook over moderate heat, breaking up the sausage with the back of a spoon, until the sausage is cooked through, about 10 minutes. Add the sage and thyme and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Scrape the sausage into the bowl with the bread.
- Add the chopped pecans and apple to the bowl with the bread. In a medium bowl, whisk the chicken broth with the egg. Pour over the bread mixture and add 2 teaspoons of salt and 1/2 teaspoon of pepper. Toss until the bread soaks up the liquid. Scrape into the prepared baking dish and cover with foil. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour or overnight.
- Preheat the oven to 375°F. Bake the stuffing for about 30 minutes, until it is hot throughout. Remove the foil and bake for about 30 minutes longer, until the top is lightly golden. Serve hot or warm.
Cranberry, Clementine, and Pumpkin Seed Conserve
From Food & Wine
Serves: 12
Ingredients
| U.S. | Metric | Conversion chart |
- 3 clementines
- 1 1/4 cup(s) sugar
- 1 cup(s) water
- 1 bag(s) (12-ounce) fresh cranberries
- 1/2 cup(s) roasted pumpkin seeds
Directions
- In a medium saucepan, cover the clementines with water. Bring to a simmer and cook over moderately high heat until the skin softens, about 8 minutes. Drain and let stand until cool enough to handle. Coarsely chop the whole clementines and discard any seeds. Wipe out the saucepan.
- In the same saucepan, combine the chopped clementines with the sugar and water. Bring to a simmer and cook over moderate heat until the clementine peel is sweet, about 30 minutes. Add the cranberries and cook over moderately high heat until they burst, about 6 minutes. Scrape into a bowl and refrigerate until chilled, about 3 hours. Fold in the pumpkin seeds and serve.
Mashed Potatoes with Crispy Shallots
From Food & Wine
Frances Janisch
Serves: 12
Total Time: 45 min
Ingredients
| U.S. | Metric | Conversion chart |
- 6 pound(s) Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and quartered see Note
- 4 clove(s) peeled garlic
- 2 cup(s) canola oil
- 6 large (1 1/2 cups sliced) shallots, thinly sliced
- 1 cup(s) half-and-half
- 12 tablespoon(s) (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter
- Kosher salt
Directions
- In a large pot, cover the quartered potatoes and garlic cloves with cold water and bring to a boil. Simmer over moderate heat until the potatoes are tender when pierced with a fork, about 20 minutes.
- Meanwhile, in a medium skillet, heat the canola oil until shimmering. Add the shallots in a single layer and cook over moderate heat, stirring frequently, until they are golden, about 15 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the shallots to paper towels to drain.
- Drain the potatoes and garlic in a colander, shaking out the excess water. Add the half-and-half and butter to the pot and heat until melted. Remove from the heat. Press the potatoes and garlic through a ricer into the pot and season with salt. Stir and cook over moderate heat until very hot. Transfer the mashed potatoes to a bowl. Just before serving, sprinkle the shallots with salt and garnish the potatoes with the shallots.
Tips & Techniques
Yukon Gold potatoes have yellow flesh and a naturally creamy texture, which makes them ideal for mashed potatoes. They’re available at most supermarkets.
Glazed Carrots with Cardamom and Ginger
From Food & Wine
Serves: 12
Total Time: 1 hr
Ingredients
| U.S. | Metric | Conversion chart |
- 6 tablespoon(s) unsalted butter
- 1/4 cup(s) thinly sliced fresh ginger
- 1 clove(s) garlic, minced
- 4 cardamom pods
- 3 pound(s) carrots, sliced on the diagonal 1/3 inch thick (you can also use baby carrots left whole)
- 2 tablespoon(s) sugar
- 1/2 cup(s) fresh carrot juice
- 1/2 cup(s) fresh orange juice
- Salt and freshly ground pepper
Directions
- In a large skillet, melt the butter. Add the ginger, garlic, and cardamom and cook over moderate heat until fragrant but not browned, about 2 minutes. Add the carrots and sugar and cook over moderately high heat, stirring occasionally, until the carrots are crisp-tender, about 5 minutes. Add the carrot and orange juices and bring to a simmer. Season with salt and pepper. Cover with parchment paper and a tight-fitting lid and cook the carrots over low heat until tender, about 12 minutes. Uncover and cook over moderate heat until the carrots are glazed, about 5 minutes longer. Discard the ginger and cardamom pods, transfer to a bowl, and serve.
Rosemary-Potato Focaccia Rolls
From Food & Wine
Yields: 12 rolls
Total Time: 3 hr
Ingredients
| U.S. | Metric | Conversion chart |
- 1 envelope(s) dry active yeast
- 2 cup(s) lukewarm water
- 4 1/4 cup(s) bread flour
- Extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon(s) sugar
- Kosher salt
- 1/2 pound(s) small red-skinned potatoes, very thinly sliced
- 2 teaspoon(s) chopped rosemary
Directions
- In the bowl of a standing electric mixer fitted with the dough hook, combine the yeast with 2 tablespoons of the water and let stand until moistened. Add the flour, 1/3 cup of olive oil, sugar, 2 teaspoons of salt, and the remaining water; mix at medium speed until a soft, supple dough forms, 10 minutes. Transfer the dough to an oiled bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and let stand in a draft-free spot for 1 hour.
- Position racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven and preheat the oven to 400°F. Line 3 large rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper. On one of the sheets, toss the potatoes with the rosemary and 1/2 cup of olive oil, and season with salt. Spread the potatoes in a single layer and bake until tender, 15 minutes. Let cool.
- Turn the dough out onto an oiled surface and press to deflate. Cut the dough into 12 pieces and roll into balls; transfer to the remaining 2 baking sheets and brush with the oil used to roast the potatoes. Let stand in a draft-free spot until nearly doubled in bulk, 1 hour. Fan 3 potato slices on the top of each roll and brush with more oil.
- Set a sheet pan in the bottom of the oven and fill with water to create steam. Bake the focaccia rolls for 30 minutes, until golden brown; shift the pans halfway through baking. Transfer the pans to racks and let the rolls cool completely.
Mulled Red Wine with Muscovado Sugar
By Marcia Kiesel via [delish.com]
Ingredients
| U.S. | ] | Metric | Conversion chart |
- 2 teaspoon(s) black peppercorns, lightly crushed
- 1 teaspoon(s) fennel seeds, lightly crushed
- 1 3-inch cinnamon stick, broken into pieces
- 2 bottle(s) (750-milliliter) Zinfandel or Merlot, or equivalent fruity red wine
- 3 bay leaves
- Zest strips from 1 orange
- 1 1/2 cup(s) muscovado sugar, or other dark brown sugar
Directions
- Put the peppercorns, fennel seeds, and cinnamon in a large tea ball or wrap them in cheesecloth and secure them with kitchen string. In a large saucepan, combine the aromatics with the wine, bay leaves, and orange zest. Cover and simmer over low heat for 10 minutes. Remove from the heat and let stand, covered, for 30 minutes. Remove the aromatics and orange zest strips. Stir in the sugar until dissolved. Serve warm, in glasses or mugs.
You might also like:
- 12 Affordable Wines for Thanksgiving
- 24 Make-Ahead Holiday Recipes
- 50 Best Holiday Cookies
- 12 Thanksgiving Sides That Steal the Show
- Creative Thanksgiving Table ideas
- Holiday Recipes and Entertaining
- How To: Carve a Turkey
- 30 Simply Delicious Holiday Desserts
- Easy Upgrades for Piecrusts
- 10 Elegant Recipes for a Complete Thanksgiving Dinner
- 20 Tasty and Festive Thanksgiving Food Ideas
- The 15 Best Recipes for Mashed Potatoes
- The Holiday Plate: 18 Christmas Side Dishes
- New Traditions: 12 Ultimate Thanksgiving Recipes
Facing Fall’s Primary Makeup Trends via [OceanDrive and ImageAmplified]
OPULUXE Lounge Grooves™ PlayList
Facing Fall
Bold eyes, bare skin and matte lips—the season’s new looks are anything but ordinary
By Anne-Marie Guarnieri
 TOM PECHEUX FOR ESTEE LAUDERCreated for the Derek Lam Fall runway For its New York Fashion Week debut, Estée Lauder tapped the veteran makeup artist to create the look for Lam. Pecheux, whose handiwork has graced multiple Vogue covers and campaigns for luxury brands like Yves Saint Laurent and Gucci, was appointed creative makeup director for Estée Lauder in 2009; for Lam’s show, he created a smoky blue eye and beige lip that translated into his premiere Fall collection for Lauder, called Blue Dahlia. TO GET THIS LOOK
“Disco-punk” is how the designer described the edgy-eye and matte-lip look that Butler created for his show. Applying multiple layers of color to perfect the rock ’n’ roll vibe, Butler used brown-black shadow and plenty of liner, while keeping the skin essentially bare with just a hint of honey-pink on the cheeks. But what really made this face modern was the matte lip: not too dry, not too creamy—just a perfectly neutral, shine-free pout. TO GET THIS LOOK
Pieroni created a “boyish but not masculine” look to complement Wu’s collection, elements of which were inspired by the film The Piano and colors found on furniture in Wu’s studio. Eyes were a silvery gray that reflected the light in a way that looked more ethereal than straight-ahead metallic. She kept the skin cool with a slight glow, applying concealer only where needed and highlighter on cheekbones. Lips were soft and nude—an effect achieved by using just a tiny bit of balm, patted in to give a matte finish. TO GET THIS LOOK Photographs by david lewis taylor (mac still); michelle bateman (gloss smear); morgan eastlack (nars shadow) |
LISA BUTLER FOR NARS
LUCIA PIERONI FOR MACALLURE MAGAZINE: Cameron Russell in “Ripe Plum” by Michael Thompson
7 NEW Ways with S’mores via [sunset and nydailynews]
OPULUXE Lounge Grooves™ PlayList
Indulge in extras like peanut butter, banana, Nutella, and strawberries!I: Bring in the peanut butter
Spread 1 tablespoon peanut butter (at room temperature, for easy spreading) onto a thin, crisp chocolate water (such as Nabisco Famous Chocolate Waters).
Slide 1 skewer-toasted marshmallow onto peanut butter. Top with a second wafer and squish down gently. Eat, licking fingers.
II: Go nutty
III: Strawberry and chocolate
IV: Spice it up
V: Drizzle some caramel
VI: Nutella and banana
VII: Caramel Apple S’mores
TRACEY’S CARAMEL APPLE
Serves 1
From Lisa Adams’ “S’MORES: Gourmet Treats for Every Occasion.” Reprinted with permission of Gibbs, Smith.
1 marshmallow
2 chewy caramels
2 green apple slices, about 1/2 inch thick
Skewer the marshmallow followed by the two caramels on the same roasting stick. Roast the marshmallow and caramels. When the caramels have melted over the top of the marshmallow, and the marshmallow is cooked to your liking, slide the concoction onto one of the apple slices. Top with the remaining apple slice.
Variation: For a cute presentation, use apple tops with stems to complete these s’mores.
Cheap & Chic DIY ecoLuxe Headboards via [lovely undergrad, copycat chic, curbly,and allthingsgd]
OPULUXE Lounge Grooves™ PlayList
One of the easiest ways to spruce up a boring bedroom is by dressing up the bed. But pillows, bedsheets, and a pretty comforter only go so far. Here are some diy headboard ideas so that you can give your bed a little extra ooomph!
Above: For this “Tall Order” headboard featured at BHG (Better Homes & Gardens), an inexpensive artist’s canvas was covered in fabric and propped behind the bed. I particularly like this project because the canvas could be re-covered if you want to change you color scheme or it could moved around the room if you no longer wish to use it as a headboard. I do think, however, that it should be fastened to the wall in some way to avoid falling on your head during sleep. Some kind of adhesive hooks might just do the trick?
Above: If you’re feeling especially ambitious or crafty, a diy-upholstered headboard may be just the project for you. Click here for BHG instructions on creating this luxe headboard using medium-density fiberboard, batting, and your choice of fabric. (Apparently it takes only three hours and no special tools are required!)
Above: This “Letter Perfect” headboard shown on BHG is dedicated to all you bookworms and future novelists out there. Collect new or vintage letters of varying sizes and colors flea markets, antique shops, and craft-stores… and put ’em up on the wall with some double-sided tape, poster putty, or adhesive hooks (depending on the material and weight of your letter).
Above: Hey, globetrotters… you may like BHG’s “Map Quest” headboard project. Simply use decoupage medium to adhere paper road maps to an old headboard. (Note: Do not, under any circumstances, decoupage the dorm-provided headboard… it will damage the school’s furniture.) For a dorm-safe approach I would recommend either doing this to a headboard you own and bringing it to school… or decoupaging a flat piece of plywood and temporarily attaching it to the headboard the school provided you with.
Above: Add some timeless romance to your dorm by borrowing the “Screen Star” idea from BHG. Simply place a folding screen between your headboard and the wall. Wrought iron is always gorgeous, but there are a variety of screen available out there. Plus, a vertical screen will draw the eye upward.
Above: BHG’s “Perfectly Padded” idea is a new take on the old upholstered headboard. I absolutely adore this idea. Simply hang a bench cushion by it’s ties from wall-mounted hooks. I think those adhesive hooks are pretty much ideal for this project. (Just make sure that they are all attached to the wall at the same level so that your cushion isn’t crooked.) You could also put a twist on this diy by hanging the cushion over the long part of your bed instead of at the headboard. It could give your bed a daybed like.
Above: Isn’t this BHG project pretty? This “Elegant Illusion” also happens to be a piece of cake. While you’re not allowed to paint the walls at school, vinyl decals are a great alternative. I’m sure if you shop around you’ll be able to find a vinyl headboard decal. Or you could stick other decals to the wall and create your own idea of a headboard. I think one of those chandelier silhouette decals would be quite eye-catching over a bed.
Above: So this BHG idea, called “Pop of Color“, is the easiest, most convenient, and easiest headboard project. So if you’re not crafty, on a small budget, or simply change your mind a lot… give this diy a chance. Simply drape a panel of fabric over the headboard. Then tuck the ends under the mattress to keep it in place. Yup… it’s that easy. With several pieces of pretty, patterned fabric on hand, you could change your headboard’s look on a whim.
Above: This “Paper Headboard” from I heart Norwegian Wood on Flickr is super easy and super stylish. The headboard design was simply drawn onto and cut out of thick, white poster board and stuck to the wall.
Above: This “Scrapbook Paper” headboard (also from I heart Norwegian Wood) is what I’m leaning towards doing in my own dorm room. I was first inspired by a $13 Paper Wall, but it took some surfing around to find a photo of what I wanted to do… which is to attach scrapbook paper in different colors and patterns to the wall above my bed. I think I may go all the way up to the ceiling though in my room. This can be done by simply attaching scrapbook paper squares to the wall with double-sided tape, adhesive strips, or poster putty.
Above: I love the headboard in this bedroom belonging to Flickr user kimhas6cats. It’s a different take on using a screen as a headboard. It’s her screen that’s really the key. It seems that it was just made for hanging things… like scarves, artwork, etc. It’s really quite a fabulous idea. And considering I personally own over twenty scarves… I’m keeping my eyes open for a screen like this. Imagine all the other things you could hang from it! So many possibilities.
Final Word:
If you’re creative, crafty, and innovative… there is a variety of ways to customize your bed and your dorm in general. But I do stress over and over again that it’s soooo important to read your residence hall contract and handbook so that you know what you are allowed to do decor-wise in the dorm and what is prohibited. Every college has different rules. If you don’t understand something in the contract or handbook, e-mail your residence hall director or dormitory staff. Be informed, be safe, and be creative. 🙂
I’m going to call attention to a couple of my favorite blogger DIY projects. These ladies both made their own gorgeous headboards inspired by designer beds for a substantial savings! What’s not to love? I’m seriously considering making myself a new headboard, even though the one I have is less than a year old….lol.
First up, we have Freckles Chic with her awesome linen headboard with nailhead trim. Cost of making this headboard? Only $73!
Looks pretty similar to West Elm’s Nailhead Upholstered Headboard…King size = $449.
Next, Holly over at Life in the Fun Lane made a glamorous white headboard (directions here)in keeping with her unique clean cottage chic style. Just love it!
This is an easy and cheap way to get a headboard that looks like Williams Sonoma Home’s Fairfax Bed with out the pocket emptying cost!
Yeah yeah, we’ve all seen enough headboards, right? Well, imagine this long upholstered headboard with a queen sized bed in front of it and two sparse, but interesting side tables on either side of it. It would function as a headboad, of course, but also as wall art across a wide expanse of wall. That’s been on my drawing board for a long time, and now someone has gone and done it. As usual Cococozy has compiled a nice little assortment of fantastic photos of yet more headboard alternatives for your consideration.
Above: Decal Wall Stickers Headboard (those with patience could paint this)
Block of Blue Headboard
Photo by Eric Roth
Wingback Headboard
Photo: Richard Powers
Floral Screen Headboard
Photo: Polly Wreford
I received a reader request from my fabulous friend Beth who’d like to see some DIY headboard options for her darling daughter Maya. Well ladies, here’s what I was able track down–hope you see something you like!
The first thing that came to mind is a DIY headboard made from a piece of picket fence. My mother-in-law did this in her guest room and I just love it. Nice and simple, and oh so cute. Unfortunately I don’t have any photos from my mother-in-law’s house, but here is one from Better Homes & Gardens. I also found a slight variation at HGTV.com.
Another great idea is this simple DIY canopy, which would be so cute for a little girl’s room–and you could change out the fabric as she grows and her tastes mature!
The fun fabric and shape of this charming DIY upholstered headboard keeps it looking young and playful.
Another simple great idea–again from Better Homes & Gardens. This headboard is made from plain old bi-fold closet doors painted with stripes.
I love this chic suggestion from Domino–painting a faux headboard right on your wall using a color just a couple shades lighter than your wall color. Don’t want to buy a whole other can of paint? Just mix some white paint with your existing wall color paint and you’re good to go.
Although not necessarily what comes to mind for my friend’s daughter Maya, here are two more ideas from BHG that I just love–Pic 1 is made from a painted paneled door, and Pic 2 is made with weathered shutters.
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As you may have noticed by now–Better Homes & Gardens is an excellent site for finding some beautiful DIY headboard ideas! To see these DIY headboard ideas and more, check out their slide show of 29 Cheap & Chic Headboard Projects.
And if anyone has any other great ideas for Beth’s daughter, we’d love to hear them!
Charles & Diana vs. William & Kate via [redbook]
- by Redbook,
Now that Prince William has finally popped the question to his girlfriend of eight years, Kate Middleton, the world is ready for another royal fairytale wedding. But how will the impeding nuptials compare to that of William’s father Charles and late mother Diana? And does their love stand a chance at lasting?
Let’s look at the story the numbers tell…
Diana and Charles
The Beginning: Diana, 19, Charles, 31
The Courtship: Less than a year
The Proposal: February 6, 1981
The Ring: 18-carat sapphire and diamond ring made by Garrard jewelers
The Announcement: February 24, 1981
The Wedding: July 29, 1981 at St. Paul’s Cathedral
750 million people watched ceremony on TV
3500 guests at wedding
The Dress: David and Elizabeth Emanuel
The Kids: William, June 21, 1982
Harry, September 15, 1984
The Separation: December 9, 1992
The Divorce: August 28, 1996
Kate and William
The Beginning: Both were 20 years old
The Courtship: 8 years
The Proposal: October 2010
The Ring: Diana’s engagement ring
The Announcement: November 16, 2010
The Wedding: Spring or Summer 2011
The Kids: Tina Brown speculated on Good Morning America, “Kate is going to be breeding up a storm in Wales soon.”
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OPULUXE Lifestyle Design by Ms. Melanie Perignon is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License.
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