Heart of Gold: February 2013

Thursday, February 28, 2013

Gardening Fever

Bistro Set / Umbrella / Glass & Twine Lantern Set

The other morning I woke up, stepped outside, took a big inhale and got a hint of spring in the air. You know that smell, where the breeze blowing by you lingers with a bit of freshness, something that winter just does not have? I am hoping the spring time is around the corner and I am already beginning to think about what I will do to our little 'garden' in the city, it is really a large scale porch but it is our oasis during the warmer months. Do you have a garden or outdoor that you tend to during the spring and summer months? Here are some of my picks on how to create your very own lush garden.

Trending Beauty: Milan Fall 2013

YSL Rouge Volupte Silky Sensual Lipstick in Nude Beige

MAKE UP FOR EVER Aqua Brow Gel

Laura Mercier Second Skin Blush in Wild Bouquet

NARS Soft Touch Shadow Pencil in Skorpios

MAKE UP FOREVER Aqua Cream in Golden Copper

Dolce & Gabbana The Lipstick Shine in Delicate

The Look: Dreamy pastels in shades like airy light blues, hints of rose gold and my favorite shade, blush. I also loved the new take on fringe in the first look above and the various pants suits that came down the runway would make for chic business attire.

The Look: Minimalism in the form of roomy blouses and boxy sheaths cinched with a belt. Loving the amount of rich navy infused into the collection especially in the gathered leather dress above.

The Look: Full-blown femininity with belted waists, voluminous sleeves and primary colored prints resembling water color paintings.

Petal by Petal:: Stargazer Lily

Lilies, particularly Stargazers have been one of my favorite flowers for as long as I can remember. They have the ability to dominate and almost transport a room into a lush garden setting with their big floral blooms. I adore watching them go from their large white bud to opening into a large pink flower that is so fragrant and romantic. Continue for more...

I Love This Look: Urban Chic

I hope that everyone had a great weekend! Are you like me, pouring over the endless chic looks off the Fall 2013 runways? This is a look that was spotted on the streets of Milan that I am dubbing 'urban chic'. Leather coated pants, a neutral jacket, a printed blouse, two-toned heels and finishing the look with a wide-brimmed hat - this is a look that I am definitely going to emulate. I hope that everyone has a great week!

Jacket / Leather Panel Front Denim / Polka Dot Blouse / Heels / Hat / Tote

*Image via Stockholm Streetstyle

Friday, February 22, 2013

Pastel Dream

It has been a difficult week so I am going to keep it short today. This editorial was featured in the January issue of Vogue China, the brightly colored landscape and the feminine pastels just makes me happy. Until Monday, have a great weekend!

London Fashion Week Fall 2013 Round-up

The Look: Sequins, lace and mustard hues were some of my favorite looks walking the Matthew Williamson Fall show

The Look: Feminine ikat dresses made me realize that this pattern works outside of a living room. I also am lusting over that gold laser-cut dress - is just to die for.

Chicken & Dumpling Soup & Skin Owl Oil Winner

I want to thank everyone for their kind wishes yesterday, you guys are seriously the best. When something like that happens it makes you take a step back and realize how precious and short life can sometimes be - something I think that I take for granted at times.

I wanted to share my final guest post for Meg Biram's blog that posted last week where I featured one of my favorite winter soups - Chicken and Dumplings. In case you guys missed it, here it is. Continue for recipe.

A Slight Pause

I hope that everyone had a great weekend. I am taking today off, we received the very sad news that my young cousin at the mere age of 20 passed away unexpectedly. I need one more day to gather my bearings. I will be back tomorrow.

*Photograph by Alison

Friday, February 15, 2013

Trending Beauty:: NY Fall/Winter 2013 Wrap-Up

The New York shows have come and gone, now it is a big jump across the pond to London. New York featured many amazing collections and I also adored the makeup looks that painted the runways just as much. Here are a few of my favorites. On another note, I hope that everyone has a great long weekend, I am headed up to Boston today for my sister's baby shower. I am looking forward to seeing my younger siblings, my mom and my grandma that I haven't seen in entirely too long. See you Tuesday!

Don't forget to enter here to win a Skin Owl oil of your choice! The last day to enter is Tuesday. Your skin will thank you!

The Look: Lids were painted with a smokey gunmetal eye shadow and accentuated with antiqued copper shadow lining the bottom lashes. The rest of the look was muted with bare lips, flawless skin and hair tousled.

The Look: A smudged kohl-lined eye, matte skin and another bare lip paired with poker straight hair held-up high in a pony tail

The Look: A practically bare eye, pristine skin accenuted with a bright candy-colored pink lip.

Heart Painted Ceramic Tea Cups

Happy Valentine's Day! I love tea cups, if only for their dainty presence. I am a coffee drinker through and through so I often find myself drinking my morning java out of a tea cup to just pretty up the experience. You might have seen these tea cups in my post for Rich Hot Chocolate - well, I painted them to make them more Valentine's Day appropriate. This is an incredibly simple project and the possibilities are limitless, plus this DIY is very inexpensive. I picked up both the tea cups and saucers at a vintage store for less than five-dollars. Continue for instructions...

Also, don't forget to enter the Skin Owl giveaway here - you can win one organic skin oil of your choice and you can enter more than once!

A New Etsy Shop - Glamour Mash

I have a confession - I love fashion and beauty products but I have never been one for jewelry, I know strange, right? I have to say that I am now singing to a different tune after seeing Holly from Glamour Mash's new Etsy shop which features handmade, brightly colored geometric jewelry. Aren't these pieces just so pretty? You must hop on over to her shop to check out the collection!

Guest Post:: Heart-Shaped Napoleon with Raspberries

I am so excited to be sharing my first recipe post on MadeByGirl! I wanted to create something romantic and beautiful in honor of Valentine's Day, so I settled on a Heart-Shaped Napoleon with Almond Pastry Cream and topped it with vibrant raspberries and powdered sugar. Please hop on over to check it out! Continue for recipe...

Beauty Crush:: Skin Owl Beauty Oils {Plus a Giveaway}

I am a firm believer in the power of using oils on your skin year round, especially during the winter months, when brutal winter weather and dry heat can wreck havoc on any attempt to create a uniform and luminous complexion. The key to maintaining skin health during this time of year is using the right products that moisturize and protect.

Today I am thrilled to introduce you to Skin Owl, an organic skincare company founded by beauty entrepreneur Annie Tevelin. Her brand specializes in luxurious face oils formulated to help tackle your skincare needs, whether you have dry, combination or oily skin. All of the oils are infused with Argan oil, an antioxidant powerhouse that contains Vitamin E and linoleic acid, which aid in reducing inflammation and protects the skin from free-radical damage that can lead to premature aging. Annie prides her company on selling products that not only make you look good, but products that also make you feel good - now that is a beauty philosophy that I love.

These oils are amazing, after just four drops of the Geranium oil my skin immediately looked brighter. I applied it right before bed and the aromatic aroma provided a relaxing scent that practically induced sleep. I awoke the next morning with incredibly soft and glowing skin - winter ravaged skin, begone! I want you to have the same experience, so I am partnering with Skin Owl to give away one full-sized oil of your choice! Continue for more...

NYFW Fall 2013: Round-Up Part I

New York Fall 2013 fashion week is in full-swing. The runways are looking seasonably dark with a multitude of black, both in leather details and opulent textures, as seen at shows like Jill Stuart and Hervé Léger. There has also been a plethora of fur and the occasional pop of show-stopping red or Pantone's color of the year emerald in the form of malachite, as seen at Monique Lhuillier. Here are just some of the shows that are catching my eye.

Happy Monday! I hope that if you were in the Northeast that you enjoyed the snow storm. Personally, I feel that the snow was much needed, since it has been quite a few years since we have had a snow fall that actually sticks to the ground. I love it because the city slows down just a bit when it snows and that makes me happy and it most certainly made our dog Mickey very happy. I did a lot of relaxing this weekend which means a lot of blogging related things and of course tending to fashion week. Next weekend will be quite hectic since I will be in Boston throwing my older sister's baby shower (yeah!).

Here is a look that I spotted on the streets during the beginning of the fall shows. I just love an all-white ensemble - something is so pure and clean about this look. I will be back here later today sharing what I am loving so far from the fall shows. I hope that everyone has a great week!

White Trousers / Knit Sweater / Leopard Heels / Coat / Scarf / Sunglasses / NARS Lipstick in Heat Wave

Image via harpersbazaar.com

Saturday, February 9, 2013

Purple Haze at Jason Wu Fall 2013

It was a soft purple haze at Jason Wu's Fall 2013 runway show. The models strutted down the runway with a mesmerizing shade of purple swiped across the lids, cheekbones were powdered with a neutral blush that led to a chiseled cheekbone effect, while the lips were left bare. Hair was flawlessly parted in the middle and coiffed back into a criss-cross pattern and finished with two barrets. The entire show in one word - stunning.

*Images via style.com

Friday, February 8, 2013

Guest Post:: Cocoa Brownies

I am super excited to be guest-posting over on Holly's blog today, Glamourmash! I am sharing a recipe for the most incredibly rich brownies (not to mention easy) you will ever make and taste. Hop on over to see the post!

(A quiet Sunday morning with a winter sky overhead)

(My favorite color combination as of late - inky blue and black)

(A cappuccino and Vogue, not sure of a better way to pass a Saturday afternoon)

I Love This Look:: My Go To Winter Look

I think that we all have a go-to look, especially during the winter months, when the dresses, shorts and sandals are pushed so far back into your closet you practically forget about them. Lately, this has been my go to look - a loose blouse, skinny jeans, boots and a faux-fur jacket. Do you have a look that you gravitate towards during the winter months?

Faux Fur Jacket / Blouse / Jeans / Boots / Bag / Tarte Glamazon Pure Performance Lipstick in Wild

Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Rich Hot Chocolate

Hot chocolate is just divine, but I have to say I have never been a fan of the kind that comes out of a package. For the longest time, my heart and taste buds belonged to City Bakery tucked off lower Fifth Avenue that serves the most amazing hot chocolate in the city. It is so rich and indulgent, you practically only need one sip to get your fix. I was trying to find a recipe that was similar and after my first gulp of this recipe, I knew I had found the one. This recipe is like drinking liquid pudding - yes, it is amazing. I used 72% cocoa so the impact of chocolate delivery was just what I had hoped for - top with freshly made whipped cream and you might have just found yourself a bit of heaven. Continue for recipe...

Petal by Petal:: Lady Moon Rose

Since February marks a month filled with bouquets, especially of the rose variety, I thought I would share another type of rose with you. Let me introduce you to the Lady Moon. This fragrant bloom has a slightly sweet berry aroma that is nearly intoxicating. It has romantically soft, full petals that cascade from a light dusty pink to a center that is a darker shade of pink and some of the petals just above the stem have a green-tinge to them. These roses are truly beautiful and are incredibly sturdy and make for a great addition to a bouquet. Click here to see the last rose that I profiled.

A Luxurious Life:: Zani Gugglemann

'Warm modern' is how jewelry designer Zani Gugglemann aptly refers to her Tribeca loft. I couldn't agree more. I love how she has infused her living area with a soothing color palette made up of steely grays, bits of pink and exposed brick painted white. I also love the sort of subtle tropical feeling that she has created by incorporating trellis patterned screens and large scale ferns. I also love how her bedroom that just says tranquil. To see the rest of her gorgeous loft head over to Vogue.

On another note, I am so excited and flattered that I have been chosen to be the newest food contributor on one of my favorite blogs, MadeByGirl! Stay tuned in the next week for my first post.