Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Carousel Coral.


A pink candy coral with a creamy twist - a refreshing pop of color on this foggy City day.

Monday, January 30, 2012

3 Things.



{the stunning Regency Ballroom}

This past weekend was busy, busy, busy with very little down time. Friday night I saw Fitz and the Tantrums at the Regency Ballroom {gorgeous venue, I can’t believe I haven’t been before} and what a concert – girlfriend can worked it out on stage; lots of energy! Saturday night was white hot at the 3rd annual SNOW fashion show showcasing some of San Francisco’s most fashionable designers. Even though wearing white can sometimes hard to do {especially in January!}, it was the perfect over the top detail that made the whole night. And then Sunday afternoon was spent chit-chatting with Val and Emily over Spreecast while watching the SAG Awards Red Carpet – make sure to join us tonight at 9pm PST for our red carpet fashion recap here. All in all, it was a pretty fabulous weekend and the perfect way to kick off my NYFW countdown. Can’t wait!


{Val and I in a sea of white}


Friday, January 27, 2012

Let it SNOW.




On the style forecast for this weekend? Plenty of snow and it's the kind that’s actually conducive to heels and comes around but once a year. SNOW: A White Fashion Event is back with its annual show featuring all-white collections from local designers and an audience in all-white outfits to match. Now, what to wear.....

PS. Don't forget to join the SAG Awards red carpet Spreecast {what's a Spreecast you ask? Find out more here} this Sunday, 1/29 from 3-5pm PST to chat about the good, bad and downright ugly with host & good friend, Val. All you need is some champagne to toast, your fashionable opinion and to RSVP here.

Have the best weekend!

Thursday, January 26, 2012

I Heart IFB.



Color Me Blue: Face Makeup 101
Davee’s Secrets: Black Onyx
Designer Purushu: A Fashion Designer’s Workshop
Fashion Moriarty: The day I was in Teen Vogue
Fumiko Kawa: Crossing Lines
First Came Fashion: California Girl
Homes & Heels: This Weekend
I Have a Degree in This: Why I Love Fashion
Just Pandippo: I’m not a Beauty Queen
Le Love: To Market to Market
My Voguish Diaries: Chambray and Fur
Oranges and Apples: On Valuing Clothes
Simply Frabulous: The year of the Dragon
Style Sizzle: I Hate Beauty Trends
Style Through Her Eyes: Pinterest vs. Tumblr
Stylish Thought: The A to Z Guide to Personal Style
Tiffany Squared: The Editor Allure
Viki Secrets: The Secret Meaning of Brands

Citrus Zest is Gold.


Meyer lemons, tangerines, Cara Cara oranges, clementines, grapefruit....Citrus season is definitely one of the bright spots in winter produce. It's sweet, tart and tangy flavor can help make any dish "pop". Beyond the internal fruit and juice, the zest is extremely useful in flavoring, or "finishing", sweet or savory dishes. Are the wheels turning now?
First things first - the right tools for the job. A microplane is the tool of choice in professional kitchens {or using a peeler, scraping the pith off and finely mincing with a knife}. It is always easiest to harvest the zest when the fruit is whole.
Here are some things you can do with all of that lovely, fragrant zest:
  • Cakes and Icings - Incorporate into cakes and icings to boost the citrus flavor. You can do this in place or or in addition to using extracts.
  • Sauteed Vegetables - Add lemon or orange zest while sauteing vegetables. The oil will pick up the citrus flavor and carry it throughout the dish.
  • Citrus Salts - Make citrus salts for "finishing dishes" with a little sprinkle.
  • Gremolata - Make a gremolata {chopped herb, garlic and citrus peel combination} to garnish meats, poultry, pasta dishes or soups.
  • Flavoring Grains - Add zest to rice before cooking. Our coconut rice is flavored with lime zest.
Enjoy!

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Dream Lover.

{Isabel Marant, Gava cotten-raffia and leather pumps}

Come rescue me.... I know, I'm officially a shoe whore{and a cheesy one at that} and can't help but reference of the ultimate good girl turned whore shoe lover herself, Mariah Carey {did anyone else see her closet on Cribs years ago?} For those of you you who have no idea what I'm talking about - you're aging me. Big time. Thanks.




Anyway, back to the shoes. Seriously. I want, I want, I want!

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

E-nuff is E-nuff.

{essie

A subdues creamy coral; the perfect pick me up for this rainy weather that is just dragging on and on and on.

Speaking of enough being enough, some of my co-workers and I have decided to make a lifestyle change together in regards to our diets. We have put together a cleanse specific for us {basically, we've combined a "mash-up" of our favorite cleanses} to ultimately get a jump start on a major health kick we've all felt like we've needed since the holidays. If your interested in getting your cleanse on too, let me know and I'll send you the information. Strength in numbers is the only way I believe I will be able to get through this. Cleanse starts Monday, 1/30. Wish me luck!

Monday, January 23, 2012

3 Things.


{Bargetto Winery in Santa Cruz}

When it rains, it pours. And Friday it poured. All. Night. Long. Luckily, the weather cleared up a bit on Saturday afternoon in Santa Cruz. Taking advantage of the sprinkling weather, my mom and I headed out for Passport weekend where we happened across the Bargetto Winery. Here we sampled some gorgeous red wines (including Dolcetto straight from the barrel, to be bottled in 6 months} at the cutest family-owned Italian tasting room, I just can’t wait to go back. Serendipity Spreads was on site too, so we stocked up on organic specialty preserves {and so glad I did - the Valencia Orange marmalade rocked my breakfast big time this morning}.

Sunday was a rough day for a 49er faithful. What did make things a bit better was where we watched the game, California CafĂ© in Los Gatos {talk about sweet hidden secret} noming on sliders and tator tots heaped full of cheese, bacon, chives, sour cream and avocado – YUM!  I have to admit, I’m a little heartbroken today - it was so hard to watch my 49ers lose after such a great season. I’m on seats edge to see what they will bring next year.



 {Congratulations on a season well done. Until next year....}

Friday, January 20, 2012

Cozy Up.



Cozy Up.

California weather has taken a turn, a major raining like cats & dogs turn, and I can think of nothing more wonderful than cozying up in the softest of soft turtleneck sweaters. Whether paired with skinny jeans and boots or flowing skirt {and boots}, my pocketbook is telling me this is a Must. Have. Now. This, along with some wine tasting in Santa Cruz with my mother, cuddling up with Ziggy to watch movies {as I study up for the SAG Awards – see why here} and watching the 49ers beat the Giants – all in all, I’d say I’m in store for the coziest of weekends yet.


Really, who's got it better than us?

Thursday, January 19, 2012

No Boundaries.




A juicy, passionate plum. Perfect for that person who always crosses the line {you know who you are}.

How do you express yourself when your feeling creative? Lately, I've taken to major nail art....my manicurist is hating loving me. Here are a few that have me inspired and can't wait to try.






Wednesday, January 18, 2012

There's Something About Rosemary.




There is something about this time of year that commands the use of rosemary. Maybe it's its hearty structure, intense floral scent or the way it can transform a dish. Rosemary is one herb that can take San Francisco weather and thrive. It's worth having a plant on hand so whenever you need some rosemary, it's just a quick trip to your herb garden. Whether you get your rosemary from your own plants or from the produce section, here are a few tips for using this fragrant herb I picked up from my favorite gals at Fine Foods at Home:
  • Rosemary has a strong, almost resinous flavor.  Often times, a little goes a long ways.  If you aren't sure you'll like the flavor in a new recipe, start by adding half the amount and taste it.  You can always add more.
  • Unlike many fresh herbs which are added at the end of the cooking time, rosemary can be added earlier in the process. 
  • If removing the leaves from the stem simply grasp the top of a stem with one hand and with the other hand, pull your fingers down the stem from top to bottom. This will strip all the leaves off the stem. 
  • There are numerous ways to use the sprigs whole: add to soups or stews to flavor the broth or toss with potatoes or vegetables before oven roasting.  Just don't forget to remove it before serving dinner!
  • Rosemary stems make great skewers for the grill.  The stems impart a gentle rosemary flavor to whatever you have placed on the rosemary "skewer".  As a bonus, they are very eco-friendly and a few sprigs tied together act as an herbal basting brush while grilling. 
  • Consider using a small sprig as a garnish. The heat of the finished dish will help dissipate.
Happy Wednesday, ya'll!

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Nothing Finer.


Than a 49er! Bring on the Giants!!

P.S. For those of you who tuned into the Golden Globe spreecast – thank you. It was a lot of fun {although my many technical difficulties!}. Make sure to RSVP here for the next spreecast for the SAG Awards on Sunday, Jan 29th at 3pm PST.

Friday, January 13, 2012

California Girl.




{dress-Vena Cava, shoes-Dolce Vita, handbag-Rebecca Minkoff, bracelets-borrowed from Mom, CC Skye and JCrew, sunnies COD street fair}

Between the luxurious flawlessly pleated fabric, black leather trim or the pocket detailing, I'm completely smitten. Lucky for me, the weather has been good to California and I've been able to wear this dress paired with light jacket. It just has the perfect Cali bohemian touch.

Have a great long weekend for those of you who have MLK day off and don't forget to join our Golden Globe Spreecast on Sunday, January 15th from 3-5pm PST. Find out more details here!

Thursday, January 12, 2012

A Moment of Cuteness.



Seriously?! Can this little guy be any cuter? I don't think so.

Now, while I have your attention: Calling all Fashionistas/Fashionitos who love to talk fashion to join a LIVE Golden Globe Spreecast!

What's "Spreecast?" So glad you asked!

Spreecast.com is a recently-launched social networking platform that combines the best of You Tube, Facebook, Twitter and Skype into one fun, very interactive, web-broadcasting platform. (These Spreecast guys know what they’re doing - they created Stub Hub!)

I will be joining my good friend Val, a host for Spreecast, this Sunday, January 15, to watch and discuss the Golden Globes red carpet coverage from 3 - 5 p.m.

Now this is where you come in! We are hoping for people to hop on their web cam and join us to chat live about the fashions as they are coming down the carpet. The whole thing is meant to be fun, casual and spontaneous - the on-air equivalent to a couple of girlfriends sitting around gossiping. 

We will be tweeting & facebooking out live during the broadcast and have the ability for you too as well. It is also a unique and innovative way for you to interact and engage your social network. Your friends can even join us on camera if you like! 

Visit www.Spreecast.com to see their current trending topics and create a log in (super easy using Facebook, Twitter or an email address) and RSVP to the Spreecast: http://www.spreecast.com/events/golden-globes-red-carpet-chatterboxes

If you have any questions and want to learn more, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Hope to chat with you on Sunday!

Happy Thursday Everyone!!

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Creature Comforts.



...brought to you by Cost Plus World Imports. On Monday, I mentioned (here) one of my favorite things from the weekend was the "home-made" chicken soup my Mom cooked up Sunday afternoon - the beach house smelled deliciously, cozy. Not to mention, it was the easiest thing ever. And I mean, ever. Just add chicken, a sweet onion, and broth to this mix.

What is your favorite comfort soup?

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Afternoon Delight.




These just arrived via Gilt Groupe today. What do you think?

On another delightful note, I’d like to thank Fashion for Jo Jo for recognizing my little blog for a Most Stylish & Fabulous Award in 2011. You’re one classy gal & your support is most appreciated! x

No Spain No Gain.


The perfect plum for the gal on the go - only 1 coat required!

Warning: I'm running a good 10 minutes behind in life today. Ugh!

Monday, January 9, 2012

3 Things.


{La Posta in Santa Cruz, CA}


After our wonderful family holiday in Santa Cruz, my mom, Ziggy and I headed back to tidy up and enjoy a little sunshine, while we still have some left.  Getting an early start on spring cleaning, we stopped by a commercial laundromat.  And because I forgot to push the "start" button, we had a little extra time to kill in between washing and drying.  We happened upon  a Yacht Harbor area restaurant called "La Posta".  We sat at the bar {industrial stainless} tasting different wines and snacking on authentic (and surprisingly light) Italian pizza and in house freshly-baked bread.  Uh-mahzing!  And to think we discovered this little gem just because I forgot to push the start button!

Poor little Ziggy was left behind a lot this weekend,  but on Sunday morning, his luck changed when he headed to the beach with my mother.  He played in the sand for almost an hour, and then a very tired dog spent the rest of the morning laying out on the porch soaking in the sunshine. 

It was hard to pack up and leave; one more day would have been divine.  I think I'm still having a hard time adjusting back to my routine after the holiday commotion and shorter work weeks.  Hope all goes smoothly this week - it's my first full week back in four weeks - eeek!  Am I the only one who feels this way? 



{crackled bronze task lamp from Pier 1}

{healthy, hearty dinner...and next day's lunch}

1. La Posta; such a wonderful find and sister restaurant to another favorite, Soif.

2. A new reading lamp from Pier 1 - I was bummed to find my lamp had broken, but my mood turned when I laid my eyes on this beauty.

3. The best {and easiest} chicken soup ever. And it’s from Cost Plus of all places!


Friday, January 6, 2012

Hazy Daze.




{JCrew shearling jacket, H&M sweater and top, Henry III jeans, Ralph Lauren boots, Zara scarf, DVF sunglasses, Tiffany & co ring, Jimmy Choo handbag}

All layered up spending some quality time with my mom’s new baby {or her new Jimmy Choo handbag}. It’s gorgeous, right? I’m so lucky to have a mom with such great taste and who lives so close. In fact, I plan on taking a spin by her closet in the next day or so. Have a great weekend.





Thursday, January 5, 2012

Nice & Easy.



Nice & Easy

The perfect look for date night in warm Palm Springs. Rather than go out for New Year’s Eve, we opted for dinner out the following evening and found ourselves at Flemings Steakhouse where I enjoyed one of the BEST martini’s ever - blue cheese stuffed olives rock my world. And I still find myself daydreaming about the molten lava cake with whipped cream.

1. Dolce Vita wedge sandals, $180
2. Rebecca Minkoff leather clutch, $295
3. Emily Armenta stackable diamond ring, $1,845
4. Sterling silver jewelry, $275
5. Cartier bangle
6. VENA CAVA SPICE GIRL DRESS, £204





Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Don't Mess With Texas {Caviar}.



In my family, it's tradition to eat some black-eyed peas at the start of each new year - very Portuguese. Given that I've recently spent quite a bit of time in the great state of Texas {and that half my family is from there}, I thought Texas caviar would be a nice alternative to a heavy stew. Plus the avocado gives a cool, California twist - after all, it was 80+ degrees each day in Palm Springs.

Ingredients:

  • 2 cans black-eyed peas, drained and rinsed
  • 2 tomatoes, chopped (optional)
  • 1 medium sweet onion, chopped
  • 1/2 cup chopped jalapeno peppers
  • 8 oz of Italian dressing
  • cayenne pepper to taste
  • 2 avocados; peeled, pitted, and chopped
Directions:
In a large bowl, mix black-eyed peas, tomatoes, sweet onion, jalapeno peppers, Italian dressing, and cayenne pepper. Stir in the avocados just before serving.

Serve with tortilla chips and enjoy!

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Golden Rule.

{opi}

The simple things are often the most important and can sometimes be the easiest to overlook - I'm guilty of this as well. So this year, I want to continue to focus on the most important things I do have and less attention on what I don't have by resolving to remember to take joy in the small things in life, take care of the ones I love and continue to volunteer in my community, to have more faith in myself, what I am capable of and to trust that God would never give me anything I can't handle, and to always be true to myself {and open up more in my blog}.

Monday, January 2, 2012

3 Things.





I enjoyed a New Year’s in at home making up a feast - Texas caviar, cod, garlic potatoes, cabbage crunch salad {I’m such of a good Portuguese girl}. What else can be better than spending time at home listening to music and cooking up a storm with the ones you love? Adding homemade whoopie pies to the mix certainly brings things to a whole new level.

Here's to an exciting 2012, Happy New Year! x




1. Food, food and more food!

2. Sun bathing in 80+ degrees each day

3. Taking my new Rebecca Minkoff for a night out on the town.