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to exfoliate.  And I will get to that in a minute because with the wind blowing, the temperature dropping (freaking 32 degrees last night at the beach - wth is happening in the land??), and the heat turning on seemingly all day long my skin's taking a beating and it's time to strike back.  Seeing as I'm in California and many of you live in much colder parts of the country and world there is no way I'm in this alone.

However, first I must have an impromptu Kum Bah Yah festival and say I freaking love the readers of this blog.  And I'm not saying it to kiss butt, I seriously mean it.  So many times I'll be having a less than stellar moment and then read a comment or check email, and someone will make me roll with laughter or say something so nice it turns my mood around entirely.  High five to internet friends!! (and to me being a big ol' hypocrite - as evidenced here and here as well - I used to guffaw at peeps who met peeps on the internet and am now happily gnawing on a foot sandwich.  my own foot and no one else's thank you very much because i am terrified of feet).

Take yesterday for instance - I didn't have a bad day per se, but the wheels definitely flew off the Cyber Monday shopping bus and I had to reel it in.  Lucy in the sky with diamonds did I see some major deals  out there!!! I even managed to buy a gift for someone other than myself.  'Imagine that idea, Carrie,' she says to herself.  Cut to evening.  I open up recent comments on yesterday's post on the fur, tp and Mary Kay Cadillac and there's Ashley from Milk Teeths (vintage shopper extraordinaire):  

"seeing a mary kay pink cadillac is seriously on par with sighting a unicorn--I wanna see one!!"

In a spontaneous fit of laughter I spit water all over the computer screen and hung off the chair gripping my sides.  Then proceeded to re-read, rinse and repeat.  It really doesn't get any better than this!!

And earlier in the day I left a comment on Frankie Hearts Fashion (where Nicole was wearing the sickest Prada booties you ever did see and she said "weak sauce" in her write-up aka fave phrase ever) describing my brunch of banana cream pie.  Moments later I get the following tweet:   

"I hope your eating the hell out of that banana cream..something has to make up for being back at work"

Mmmmkay?  Kindred spirits or what?  Somehow I managed to keep the pie in my mouth, but only because I was entirely miserable that the weekend was over and I STILL hadn't seen each and every Harry Potter meaning I STILL can't go to the theatre for what will inevitably go down as a crowning iconic moment in pop culture history.  By the time I get there it'll be on some wanky little screen at the dollar theatre!! Weak sauce! See what I mean??  The girl is hilarious.


And never mind how excited I am that Anna Jane got her dress this weekend, Carey's been wearing the sickest outfits lately, Katie's got 7000 ornaments on her tree, Valerie's getting geared up to rip around the skating rink to kick off Holiday season 2010, and Josie's almost done with her semester even though I think I've got the poor girl so hooked on Felicity she may have to be pried from her dorm room n order to make it to exams...Josie's parents?  I apologize now.  That Ben Covington - he'll steal your heart every time. Swoon!  Gotta love my fellow Canadians!

Kum Bah Yah...lalalalalalalalala I love everyone until the bills come rolling in from Cyber Monday lalalalalalala

So while 'tis the season to exfoliate, I guess we can get to that in an upcoming post seeing as 'tis also the season to value your friends - internet ones included - and I didn't even get to rattle off an eighth of you...December here weeeeeee come!

With Black Friday and Saturday having gone by, it was time to face reality:  there remained less than a quarter of a roll of toilet paper, zero razors and my deodorant was dangerously low meaning I'd have to leave the house (curses for not planning ahead). Of course that entails combing one's hair and, in the spirit of 45 degrees, donning something warm.  How does one recover from 4 days of sheer nothing? Go big and leave home in a fur coat to traipse about completing mundane tasks while strangers in the local neighborhood give odd sideways glances at your moderately overdone Sunday attire as you prep for operation buzzkill aka Monday morning by leaving your beloved sweats, UGGs and fuzzy sweaters behind.

Kind of a late post today, but I thought I would take some quality time to help the Chef get ready for Thanksgiving, and just lounge around enjoying snacks and relaxing.  In the past week I've had some time to think about the many blessings in my life like: 

• A roof over my head
• Clothes on my back
• A refrigerator filled with food
• Access to clean water
• Family and friends that love and support me
• A boyfriend that, truth be told, puts up with a lot from me (thanks Chef!)
• A job that lets me work from home
• 2 super cats (meow!)
• Good health
• Common sense 
• A sound mind

I could go on, but these are the things that immediately come to mind as everyday blessings that I sometimes take for granted.  The sound mind one really hit home yesterday in Santa Monica after I had a lengthy conversation with someone who was clear out of his mind.  It was very sad and as I walked away I was so thankful for the ability to think straight and keep it together (even though half the time I feel like I might be losing it).    How is it that the things we are so accustomed to having daily are the things we overlook the most? 

On that, er, happy note I want to wish everyone here in the United States a very Happy Thanksgiving!! And to everyone else who might pop by in the meantime - Happy Weekend!! (in the event I go into a food & movie watching coma and don't resurface until Monday.  slight possibility)

I don't know about you, but I am ready for a few days off.  We are in full swing over here planning the menu for a special meal at home, as well as figuring out what to take for dinner invites we've received.  At one particular dinner party we are in charge of dessert, so last night spent the evening whipping up a couple "samples" to make sure they would pass expectations.  Upon completion I announced, "I think we might be coming down with something and unable to attend" aka do we have to share? I mean dessert is a well-balanced meal as far as I'm concerned.  (Diet respite for Thanksgiving, although overeating is not in the plans...then again you can never tell!)

White Pumpkin Ganache and Caramel Tart
Ingredients: Makes (4) 3.5 inch Mini Tarts

*Crust
1/2C  flour (gluten-free blend here)
1/4C  butter
1/4t    salt
1t       cold water

Method
Crust:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
You can use a bought pie crust if you'd like, but you won't need all of it.  I quickly whipped up some homemade crust using my gluten-free flour blend and it was easy and awesome.  For the sake of ease, we just stuck to regular flour for the recipe.

Place the dough into the refrigerator to chill for 20 minutes.  Once chilled roll and press into tart pans. 

*Caramel 
1/2C sugar
1/2C water
3T butter
3T heavy cream
1t salt

Method:
Mix sugar and water bring to a boil and let boil until sugar begins to brown (do not touch or stir as this will cause it to recrystalize). Once sugar is a light brown remove from heat and add the cream (be careful it is very hot and will splatter).  When you add the cream it will start to harden - just whisk it until incorporated.  Then stir in the butter and salt. Let rest in pot.

*White Chocolate and Pumpkin Ganache
1/3C canned pumpkin(plain)
2/3C white chocolate chips
1/3C heavy cream

Method:
Place chocolate in a bowl.  Bring cream to a boil.  Once boiling pour all the cream over the chocolate and stir slowly until smooth.  Then fold in the pumpkin, and hold in a warm place.

To finish:
Pour caramel into each tart shell to completely coat the bottom.


Let chill in fridge until firm about - about 10 minutes.  Next pour ganache over to fill the shell.  Let chill again until firm - about 30 minutes.  Top with whip cream and serve. 

A few weeks ago you may recall the lament over my existential closet crisis that then spurred on a hippie phase.  You probably noticed the hippie phase lasted approximately one blog post because I realized my hippie clothes were all packed away from the summer we never had (and ps it was 43 degrees with the wind chill at 4pm yesterday!! WHAT?!?).  The realization that I possess zero winter hippie attire - and am not even sure what that would consist of - led me to a foreign land I've spoken of, but never before braved due to sheer fear of looking like a deer in the headlights:  Vintage. 

To reiterate:  I have roughly zero ideas about vintage.  When she was in LA, Anna Jane and I had a deep conversation over lemonades regarding vintage, the summary of which was this:  "I think it's old crap" (figuratively speaking only, of course, because there is some majorly good old crap out there).  It could be a year old, 15 years old, someone's grandma's old thing, or maybe something new that has been run over by a car 140x so that it looks old and you can just be told it is and fall for it.  Anyway I wanted some legit old thing that looked like it came out of the maryjane tents at Woodstock or fell out of the back of an old turquoise VW Van like the one my favorite boss ever bought and restored for his hippie-esque daughter on her 16th birthday.

So off I headed to the internets (too scared to go to a store:  then I read Carey's account and realized major pain brings major gain) and after 2 days of searching off and on - during which time I almost gave up 700x - I found a treasure and placed a little bid to get the waters stirring.  And then I had to wait 3 days and come down to a bidding war in the last 30 seconds during which time I almost lost my one shot at winter hippieville to someone with an eBay handle of "backupoffit".  Famous last words to that person.  Sowee!

This weekend was so blustery, rainy and cold we could barely drag ourselves out of the house.  Saturday's whistling wind kept me under the covers until almost noon...too lazy (and freezing) to get out of bed and race down the hallway to turn up the heat.  Wind + rain + cold = perfect conditions for an internet shopping storm (did you see that Rebecca Taylor dress from Saturday's post?? help.me.now).  It's becoming increasingly difficult to ignore the fact that Christmas is around the corner, and I have approximately 2 gifts purchased. Eeps!

Rather than get too wound up swooning and crying over things no longer available in my size, I found myself shopping for my niece who is basically amazing and, at 5 years of age, already possessing a very unique sense of style.


I don't know about you, but I think Free People has knocked it out of the park with this new line.  It is almost entirely sold out.  My fingers are crossed for re-stocking within the next couple weeks so that a few treasures can be added just in time for Christmas.  If you have little girls to buy for take a hop over to their site and get ready to have some fun.  Giving gifts is fun as it is, but when you can really get creative for kids it's even better.

Happy Monday everyone!  Anyone done with Holiday shopping?  I'm almost afraid to ask...

My obsession with Melinda Maria Jewelry all started with this shiny ring:

How Birders Are Made. Here is the only look you will get at your life magnolia warbler. This experience frustrates you sufficiently to keep you coming back, hoping for a better look. Which may or may not happen. Congratulations: You are a birder.

There is nothing quite so glorious as quiet time in the morning accompanied by a good breakfast and hot cup of tea.  As much as I am inclined to skip it, I know from a lot of reading that breakfast is the most crucial meal of the day.  It fuels us, boosts our metabolism and enables us to sail through until noon.


Last week I mentioned my renewed vigor for eating right and getting back on the workout wagon.  So far so good.  First thing in the morning I try to head out for a brisk 2 mile walk, come back and eat something smart aka not a chocolate bar that makes me want to go back to bed instead of to work.  My focus has been incorporating as many fat burning foods into my diet as possible, while still eating things I like and occasionally indulging.  All things in moderation is a fine motto when it comes to getting and staying in shape.  One of my quicker breakfast options that doubles as a snack is Banana-Quinoa Muffins. (oh the irony-losing the muffin top by eating a muffin).  Notice that the ripe bananas knock out the need for sugar (yay!) and the only other sweetening additive is 2T of honey.

Banana-Quinoa Muffins (Gluten-Free)
1/2 cup  Quinoa Flour 1/2 cup  Quinoa Flakes 2 Tbsp   Honey 2 tsp     Baking powder	1 tsp      Baking soda 1/2 tsp   Salt 2           Very Ripe Bananas 2           Eggs

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix flour and flakes with dry ingredients. In separate bowl mix together bananas, eggs and honey, add to dry ingredients. Pour into greased muffin tins. Bake 20-25 minutes at 350 degrees. Note: fill muffin tins 1/2 full.

Quinoa is a seed that is high in protein, gluten-free and from the same family as beets and spinach.  I opt to bake with the flour and flakes as often as possible because they are high in protein and fiber - keys to burning fat - as well as in antioxidants and B vitamins. You can find other great recipes (including the muffins) on the Ancient Harvest website.  

I wanted to share some other great fat burning breakfasts to keep you moving through the week.  Feel free to sub them whenever necessary throughout the day.  Ixnay on the french fries.  Ixnay!

• If you aren't gluten intolerant, I highly recommend eating oats for breakfast.  Super high in fiber and protein, they'll fill you up and get your metabolism going.  Mix in some fruit and/or yogurt and you're good to go.  When I could still eat wheat and grains, I'd sometimes switch them for Cheerios without sugar too.  Yum!   And if you're a warm cereal eater...heat up those oats and you're all set.
• Quinoa is a great substitute for oats - you can do all the same things without the gluten.  For added variety try eating with an apple, some berries or a portion of pink grapefruit.  Keeps the meal interesting and rounds out the food groups, too.
• Egg eaters:  omelettes are an excellent way to go if you have a minute to whip one up.  Doesn't have to be fancy, either.  Eggs are high in protein so they stimulate your metabolism.  Just use the whites for a healthier alternative and in each case toss in some veggies to maximize the healthy factor.
• Low-fat yogurt or cottage cheese + a side of fruit.  It is crucial to meet your daily calcium intake requirement so your body will burn fat instead of storing it.  Yogurt or cottage cheese in proper quantities will definitely assist with this.  I have a tough time eating either of these plain, so usually eat alongside a piece of melon, grapefruit (citrus is perfect right now), or a crispy crab apple.
• Green tea - no matter what I'm eating for breakfast I always try to have a cup of green tea with it.  I've mentioned many of tea's benefits before, but my fave about green tea is its fat burning quality.  If I'm going to be working out I want my body to be fueled properly and provided with all the benefits it can have to assist it.
• Here's an interesting note I found on bananas (the part about unripened bananas caught my attention because it's one of my go-to snacks and something my body will crave on occasion - this one is interesting, too)

I hope this post keeps you motivated to stay on the fitness wagon...is anyone still on this thing with me?  What are your healthy breakfast options?  To be honest I eat several of these as snacks throughout the day, and have been known to have an omelette for dinner every now and then, too.  Whatever it takes to stay motivated and interested in eating healthy vs. chips, chocolate bars and sour gummy worms.  I've got issues.

There are a lot of great perks that go along with dating a Chef. Aside from the obvious (amazing home-cooked meals!), there is the joy of an organized fridge, having someone to ask what the crazy looking stuff is at the grocery, and my personal favorite - testing out different restaurants. The Chef is a true food connoisseur and not a snob at all. He can find just as much beauty at a hole-in-the-wall diner as there is in a 5-star restaurant, and it's one of my fave things about him.

Dining out sometimes leads us to places that provide the perfect excuse for snazzy wardrobe items, and there is nothing like a proper date!  After a super sparkly event this weekend (details coming soon) we headed out for cocktails and small bites at one of our top haunts. Confession:  it was my first time adorned in sequins. Until now I had admired from afar, but after Saturday I'm on sequin crack. Having ordered some items a couple weeks ago I decided it was time to put one to the test.  Summary:  it was a love affair from the moment I put the top on until the moment I begrudgingly exchanged it for my pj's. Glitter, sparkle, shine - they bring out the best in everyone. I had the cheeriest conversations, met the most sincere smiles, and received a slew of compliments.  Does anyone know if there's a support group for sequin addicts?  I think I'm in trouble...

Then again, perhaps sequins are the solution for world peace?