PhotoHunt 286: ... Waiting ...

Waiting for the green line train in the DC Metro U Street Station.

This week's PhotoHunt theme, 'Waiting', was a difficult one for me.  Though most of us spend oodles of time waiting on so many things, I couldn't really locate a photo that expressed the seemingly eternal essence of it very well.  The above shot made the cut because I've always liked the way it seems to show the movement of the trains, even though there aren't any there. (Hence, the waiting).  So, until I can manage to come up with a better way to capture it, I suppose you'll just have to ... well, wait. 

Operation Dumpling Drop

The recent chilly snap here in my neck of the woods has left me craving all sorts of fall oriented coziness that, for me, can usually be found in fuzzy blankets and warm comfort food.  Normally inspiring me to scour all sorts of new recipes to find something yummy and warm, this year I am also trying to keep everything low(er) cal as well.  Afterall, nothing grows as quickly in the winter as our backsides.  Since, as some of you know, I loathe beef stew (please click here if you need to be reminded just how much I loathe it), last night it just so happened that I was on a mission for chicken and dumplings.  All of that golden broth filled with chunks of chicken and vegetables floating around puffy spoon-dropped buttermilk dumplings was just too tempting to resist. Believe it or not, I managed to locate a low-cal recipe that seemed to fit the bill, and 'Operation Dumpling Drop' went into full effect.  As a result, a trifecta of amazingness happened in my kitchen that I couldn't help but share.  I found a recipe that was OMG good, low-cal, AND easy to make.  To top it off, it does not take all day to make.  This being the case, I couldn't NOT share the recipe here with you.  I hope you enjoy, now I'm off to grab the leftovers!  Nom nom nom.  :)

Chicken and Rosemary Dumplings

Ingredients

• Soup:
• 4 cups fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth
• 3 cups water
• 1 pound chicken drumsticks, skinned
• 1 pound skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
• 2 thyme sprigs
• 2 teaspoons olive oil
• 1 1/2 cups diced carrots
• 1 1/2 cups chopped celery
• 1 cup diced onion
• 2 garlic cloves, minced (I prefer more garlic, so 4 cloves were used in mine)
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• Dumplings:
• 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh or 1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt (regular salt was swapped out here for Borsari seasoned salt)
• 2 tablespoons butter, softened
• 1/2 cup low-fat buttermilk
• 1 large egg
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup water
• Remaining ingredient:
• Freshly ground black pepper

Preparation

• Combine first 5 ingredients in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat; bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer, uncovered, 15 minutes or until chicken is done. Remove pan from heat. Remove chicken pieces from broth; cool slightly. Strain broth through a sieve into a large bowl; discard solids. Remove chicken from bones. Discard bones; chop chicken into bite-sized pieces. Set chicken aside.
• Heat oil in pan over medium-high heat. Add carrots, celery, onion, and garlic; sauté 6 minutes or until onion is tender. Add reserved broth mixture and 1/2 teaspoon salt; simmer 10 minutes. Discard thyme sprigs. Keep warm.
• To prepare dumplings, lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine 1 1/4 cups flour, rosemary, baking powder, and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a large bowl. Cut in butter with a pastry blender or 2 knives until mixture resembles coarse meal. Combine buttermilk and egg, stirring with a whisk. Add buttermilk mixture to flour mixture, stirring just until combined.
• Return chopped chicken to the broth mixture; bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Combine 1/4 cup flour and 1/4 cup water, stirring with a whisk until well blended to form a slurry. Add flour mixture to pan; simmer 3 minutes. Drop the dumpling dough, 1 tablespoon per dumpling, onto chicken mixture to form 12 dumplings. Cover and cook 7 minutes (do not let broth boil). Sprinkle with black pepper.

Lorrie Hulston Corvin, Cooking Light
APRIL 2004

Nutritional Information

Amount per serving

• Calories: 366
• Calories from fat: 24%
• Fat: 9.7g
• Saturated fat: 3.8g
• Monounsaturated fat: 3.5g
• Polyunsaturated fat: 1.3g
• Protein: 32.5g
• Carbohydrate: 35.1g
• Fiber: 2.9g
• Cholesterol: 115mg
• Iron: 3.3mg
• Sodium: 936mg
• Calcium: 169mg

Nine West Wants You To Get High ... On Their Boots

Fall is here again, and with the crispness in the air it's time to turn our thoughts yet again to one of the cornerstones of the season -- fall boots!!  Every gal needs that amazing pair of boots to show off at the beginning of the season if for no other reason than to drown out the sting of moving those gorgeous strappy sandals to the back of the closet until next spring.  
Lucky for us, Nine West wants us to forget all about our end of summer woes by 'getting high' on their new boot collection.  I'm sure they were all sitting around the idea table slapping their knees over that little pun there.  Obviously, they must really have been sniffing some serious shoe glue to think it was clever enough to be the campaign tagline.  Anyway, I digress.  Moving on ... Nine West and Vogue Influencers have teamed up with stylist and fashion blogger, Lindsay Calla, to show us all how she rocks four of the 'must have' boot styles from Nine West's new fall collection.  They've also put together a little video clip to show you how fab their boots look in motion which I've included for you at the bottom of the page.  (Be sure to check out the 'Cropshop' boot that is showcased there, probably my fave out of all of them.  You can click here for more details on that one). 


Though they probably won't do much in the way of actually getting you high, you might see a pair that could potentially change your entire perspective on autumn, and maybe you'll even find a little joy in putting those sandals away until next spring.  Enjoy!

                                                        

Witt Boot                                                    

Shown below in 'Green Coco Suede' and available here in 3 colors, $189.

“These boots are the perfect blend of slouch and structure. The wedge heel is perfect for walking around the city. I would wear this outfit shopping and it may even be flirty enough for a casual daytime date." Lindsay Calla, Saucy Glossie.

Clara Boot
Shown below in 'Dark Brown Leather', and available here in 3 colors, $199.

“One of my favorite things to do on the weekend in the fall is peruse the markets looking for vintage furniture, jewelry, or clothing. These boots will be perfect for all of the walking involved, especially when paired with cords!" Lindsay Calla, Saucy Glossie.

Mavenue Bootie
Shown below in 'Medium Brown Leather', and available here in 4 colors, $149.

“I love that these brown boots have a hint of burgundy! I would wear these boots to a fun brunch with friends on a Saturday. There’s nothing better than throwing on a cozy sweater and having a great pair of booties to tuck your skinnies into!” Lindsay Calla, Saucy Glossie.

Checkit Bootie
Shown below in 'Taupe Suede' and available here in 2 colors, $139.

“I adore these lace up booties! There’s a subtle sporty vibe to them that makes me want to throw on a cuffed trouser and a flirty zip up jacket. I would wear them around town to run errands because these booties have great ankle support and a sturdy heel that keeps them feeling comfortable.” Lindsay Calla, Saucy Glossie. 

(Push the 'Play' button below to view the clip).

If you like what you see, let me know!  Just click the 'Join This Site' button at the top right of the homepage to keep up with Vogue fashion exclusives, new product launches, events, beauty reviews and more.

All Dolled Up: Lancome Hypnose Doll Lash Mascara

All 'dolled up' for this promo pic.  Slightly creepy, no?

Who doesn't love trying out a new mascara?  It can be just enough of a change to satisfy that quest for a little something different without a whole lot of commitment.  If you really go to extremes (think big fake lashes, metallics, or even white) then it can really change your entire look.  If you ask me, a person's lashes can say a lot about their personality too -- natural, sophisticated, va-va-voom, etc.


Me personally, I typically prefer the most dramatic, 'ka-pow' type lash that I can get without looking like I'm ready for a drag show.  For this reason, I was pretty excited about getting to sample the new Lancome Hypnose Doll Lash mascara through the Vogue Influencers Network.  Lancome has long been known for their mascaras, and this one is supposed to give you that much desired, fake perfect, long, fanned, curled, wide-eyed effect without actually being fake.  Though I currently have a favorite go-to mascara that I am thrilled with, I figured that this one could give it a run for it's money if anything could.  So, let's take a look at the outcome, shall we?  

For comparison, here is the 'before' shot; sans mascara (or any other eye makeup for that matter).

And now, the 'after' shot.  Several coats top and bottom.  Not bad, eh?

Here's a look from a different angle.  Anywhere near looking like a doll?

And now the entire look with mascara, liner, and shadow - hopefully not quite as creepy as the ad above.

What do you think?  Am I ready to take my place in the mascara ad with those lashes?  I will say I was a bit surprised by the results myself, as I wasn't expecting such a noticeable difference.  I should also say that this is not a mascara that goes on boldly, but one that offers a buildable application in order to arrive at your desired intensity.  Of course, with multiple coats, comes the higher likelihood of smudging, or hitting your lid with the wand, so I would say this is not necessarily for the first-time user.  I also had no flaking or noticeable smudging with wear throughout the day.


 Now that you've seen the outcome, read about the application, and are ready to go out and buy yourself a new tube of eyelashes I should remind you that everyone's eyelashes are different, and you can only work what you've got the best you can.  If you don't have much in the eyelash department to work with in the first place, then this may not be the mascara for you.  Likewise, if you prefer a more natural look, then by all means take heed.  If you're into big, bold eye fringe like me though, then maybe you'll want to give this new Lancome Hypnose Doll Lash mascara a try.


You can pick up your tube at a Lancome counter near you, or by clicking here to visit Lancome online. 

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If you like what you see, let me know!  Why not click the 'Join This Site' button at the top right of the homepage to keep up with all of my upcoming product reviews and more?

PhotoHunt 284: Yellow, Ushering in Autumn

Autumn has officially arrived here in the northern hemisphere, and I couldn't think of a more perfect way to welcome it than to appreciate all of the beautifully changing color outside!  Fortunately, this week's PhotoHunt fits right into the now, and a lovely, though slightly damp, stroll through the neighborhood with Olivia (seen in the 3rd photo below) helped to capture some of the many wonderful shades of yellow to be found all around.  Happy autumn!

David Yurman Fall 2011: Dream Big

Look like Arizona Muse when you wear David Yurman jewelry?  Maybe. Possibly. Probably not, but if you're going to dream, dream big, right?

Directly off the heels of my last post(which you can see here, if you missed it) on the Bulgari Serpenti Collection for Fall Winter 2011, which was a real looker if I do say so myself, is another fantastic little piece of eye candy (again) courtesy of the Vogue Influencer Network for the world weary dreamers and appreciators of beautiful things.  Ah yes, another tiny escape into the fabulous world of sparkles and shine.  Funny how appreciation for something exquisite can just take you away from it all better than a bottle of Calgon.  It might not transform you into the young and exceptionally 'now' supermodel in the ad above, but it will hopefully make you forget about your nagging to-do list or whatever else happens to be weighing you down about now. So go ahead, take a minute or two to relax, unwind, breathe deep, and scroll through the luxurious world of jewelry designer David Yurman's collection for Fall Winter 2011.  

Sterling silver pave diamond bracelet from the Cable Buckle Collection.

Sterling silver black hematite ring with pave diamond bezel from the DY Signature Oval Collection®.  Want.

Sterling silver pave diamond curb chain bracelet.

Blackened sterling silver pave diamond sculpted cable cuff.  I'll take two please.

Sterling silver amethyst and pave diamond ring.

Sterling silver smooth and Cable link chain necklace from the Oval Link Collection.

Sterling silver and 14-karat white gold pave diamond earrings from the Crossover Collection®. (Available in sm, med, lg,  & xl).  I would wear these EVERYWHERE.

Black onyx bracelet with sterling silver box chain.

Sterling silver curb chain necklace with pave diamond link.

Handmade oversized acetate oval sunglasses in tortoise with 18-karat gold vermeil accents and turquoise stones, from the Albion® Collection.  My newest eyewear crush.

Fantastic, isn't it!?  Now, don't you feel better that you've had that tiny little daydream away from the rest of the world?  Thought so.  Maybe now you can make that looming 'to-do' list a little happier by adding a visit to your local jeweler.  Au revoir!

The BULGARI 'Serpenti Collection': Temptation At Its Finest

This 1975 ad campaign illustrates the range
of Bulgari’s serpent- shaped designs.

After a long, unanticipated blog break (sadly, I wasn't dashing off to NY Fashion Week or slipping away incognito for an unwarranted sabbatical), I've decided the best way to get back into the swing of things is with a little eye candy.  Everybody likes that, right?  Even better when it involves a little symbolism, a lot of style, and a whole lot of slither!

Straddling the line between accessory and art, Bulgari is the distinguished Italian brand that is recognized by it's quotient for luxury, large exceptionally rare gems, meticulous attention to detail, blending of classical and contemporary, and unmistakeable creative sensibility.  Though some might automatically draw parallels with the biblical connotation of the serpent as a symbol of temptation (which could certainly work especially well for some of these pieces!), the serpent's use in the Bulgari collection is reflective of Bulgari's Greco-Roman heritage, where it is a symbol of wisdom, life, and eternity.  For the first time in decades, Bulgari has revived their iconic enameled serpent design for their Fall Winter 2011 'Serpenti' Accessories Collection.  Through the Vogue Influencers Network, the luxury brand gives us an exclusive first look at their newest collection, as well as opening up their fashion archives to reveal the heritage behind their iconic serpent collection.  

Though a multi-generational standard for celebrities and socialites alike; there's a little something for everyone here ... even if only sheer aesthetic enjoyment (one can dream, right?).  So go ahead and have a look; I promise the only thing that might bite a little is the price tag.

Bulgari revived the enamel serpent for their FW 2011 Accessories Collection. This small bag is made of luxurious karung skin, and the snake-head closure has a light gold and enamel finish with pear-shaped malachite eyes. (Bulgari.com)

This bracelet was one of the inspirations for Bulgari’s Fall Winter 2011 Collection. The flexible bracelet imitates a coiled snake with white and black enamel scales and pear-shaped diamond eyes. 

Originally owned by fashion legend Diana Vreeland, Bulgari replicated this belt so it could have a permanent place in their Historical Archive Collection. This belt is made of pink and white enamel with sapphire eyes. 

Available from the FW 2011 Collection, both these medium- and small-sized bags are made of karung skin and their snake-head closures are made of black and white enamel with malachite eyes. (Bulgari.com)

This original hand drawing shows the elaborate details Bulgari put into their accessories. Numerous separate elements were used to make realistic looking scales, heads, and tails.

Available from the FW 2011 Collection, this stylish bracelet is made of karung skin, and the snake-head closure has a light gold and enamel finish with malachite eyes.

Made of karung skin, the snake-head details have light gold and enamel finishes with malachite eyes. Also available in Shanghai red, black, and amber karung from the FW 2011 Collection. (Wallet, Bulgari.com; Belt, Bulgari.com)

This photo of Bulgari’s snake accessories ran in a 1971 issue of Vogue, connecting two iconic brands and introducing Bulgari to the world of high fashion.

If you're dying for a serpent of your own now, but suffering from a little sticker shock, here are some options to check that will lend that luxury look without breaking the bank.  Happy hunting!  

Kenneth Jay Lane Snake Bracelet, shopbop

        

Premium Snake Necklace, Topshop 

Premium Snake Earrings, Topshop