Monthly Archives: November 2011

YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT: FOODGAWKER

This week marks the official beginning of the holiday season. There’s plenty of things that I look forward to during this time (the lights! the decorations! the parties!), and the great food is near the very top of that list. This is why it’s the perfect time to tell you all to one of my guilty pleasures: Foodgawker. It’s an amazing site that allows you to scroll through pages of mouth watering photos that bloggers have submitted of their culinary creations. (A little warning, though, these photos have the tendency to trigger an appetite.) When you spot a dish that looks tasty, just click on the photo and it will take you directly to the blog with the recipe. Not only will you discover some delicious new recipes, but you’ll find some new food blogs as well! As someone who only recently began cooking, Foodgawker has quickly become my go-to source for recipes of all kinds – including my Thanksgiving dish! Are you making anything special this Thursday? I would love to hear!

JUST FOR FUN…

You know how a certain song just makes you crave some cocktails more than others? Head over to Drinkify to find your answer. This simple site will find a cocktail to match perfectly with your musical tastes. All you have to do is type in what you’re listening to and the site immediately comes up with a beverage (along with the recipe) to accompany the tunes coming out of your speakers. Just like the site says: “Never listen to music alone again.” Cheers!

GIFT GUIDE: FOR HER COFFEE TABLE

Top Row: Harper’s Bazaar Greatest Hits by Glenda Bailey, The Perfectly Imperfect Home by Deborah Needleman, Dennis Hopper: Photography 1961-1967 by Dennis Hopper, Vogue: The Covers by Dodie Kazanjian
Bottom Row: The Perfectly Imperfect Home by Deborah Needleman, American Fashion Accessories by CFDA, Carine Roitfeld: Irreverent by Carine Roitfeld

Holiday shopping is in full swing! Here’s the first of many gift guides to come. I thought I’d kick it off with one of my very favorite gifts to give (and receive): coffee table tomes. With no shortage of variety, there’s a book out there for everyone! They’re the sort of indulgence that people aren’t likely to buy for themselves. Not to mention, they just look oh, so pretty sitting on top of the coffee table. How can you resist those glossy pages? These six are at the very top of my wish list. Any books you’re hoping to see under your Christmas tree?

WHAT I LOVE RIGHT NOW

GIFTING: KEEL’S SIMPLE DIARY

I’ve always loved keeping a journal. It’s a good way to de-stress (at least for me), and I like the idea of being able to look back through the pages years from now. Lately, however, journaling seems like “work” (sometimes looking at a blank page feels daunting, you know?) and my entires have been few and far between. Last Christmas, however, I received a journal from a friend that I can actually stick with: Keel’s Simple Diary. This little book takes the “work” out of keeping a diary by filling the pages with various prompts. Each page begins with a multiple choice question on how your day was (A. a freakshow; B. a no-show; or C. a showdown), followed by a combination of quirky (Are you at peace with your hair?) and thought-provoking (Why is everything so complicated?) fill-in-the-blanks, and mini-checklists. It’s the perfect way to give a clear – and quick – snapshot of your day. And it’s a great gift idea, if you ask me!

WISHLIST: ALEXANDRA VON FURSTENBERG’s FEARLESS COLLECTION

I think you all know by now that I have a serious weakness for anything lucite. Take this combined with my affection for color (especially neon) and you’ve summed up Alexandra Von Furstenberg’s Fearless furniture line. The gem-like collection – which includes everything from coffee tables to accent pieces – is comprised of light reflecting acrylic with bold, neon-colored edges. It almost appears as if a neon light is shining through the piece. All of the colors are so spectacular (any favorites?)! Most of the furniture pieces are made to order, so you can customize the pieces in any color and size your heart desires. The accessories are really my favorite – especially these picture frames. Any 4×6 would look better with a little neon behind it, right?

*If you’re in Dallas, you can check out the accessories at Madison in Highland Park Village. 

WINTER’S BRIGHT SIDE

I almost always opt for neutrals (camels, blacks, grays) when it comes to my outerwear, but this season I’m thinking it’s time look on the brighter side. A technicolor coat will give some life to your standard winter look –  especially on those nights that are so cold that a coat is the only part of your outfit that people see. There’s plenty of outerwear options out there to choose from. If pink is your color then this Kate Spade style is your coat. For a budget buy, I really love this one by B.B. Dakota, or this ASOS coat in bright kelly green. It’s a sure way to bring some color to the gray days of winter!