30 January 2011

Sunday Supper - Chinese Make-in

I love Chinese food and I've never been great at cooking it myself but with the poor Chinese delivery options in Boston, I thought I'd give it a shot.  So here's my Chinese make-in instead of take-out.


I bought some steak and string beans and thought I would have them with rice but remembered that I had a package of Asian noodles on hand.  I marinated strips of steak for about half an hour in a marinade made with soy sauce, white rice vinegar, sesame oil and corn starch.  Then I sauteed some garlic in sesame oil, cooked the steak for a few minutes and added the string beans.  Once the string beans had cooked for a couple of minutes, I added in a sauce made of the same ingredients used for the marinade plus a bit of chicken broth and some scallions.  Let this simmer and thicken for a few minutes.  While this is all cooking, I cooked the noodles for under 5 minutes, drained them and then pan fried them for a couple of minutes.  Then I mixed it all together and there it was.  My substitute for Chinese take out and it was really delicious.

Mix 'n Match

Talbots cardigan, H&M shirt, Banana Republic pants, Cole Haan boots
I've had a pretty low key weekend which started with an easy dinner out with girlfriends on Friday night.  Still needing to stay warm and navigate the ice and snow covered streets and sidewalks, I wore something that enabled me to walk safely but still allowed me to add some whimsy and fun.  I kept it basic with black Banana Republic five pocket leggings but to balance out the basic wore a polka dot shirt from H&M topped with an animal print cardigan from Talbots.  Mixing the prints made me happy.

Other than Friday night's outing, I consoled my winter weary self with some spring retail therapy.  More on that later but for Kate Spade fans, they are having 20% off of full price items on February 1.

Finally as an update to my post on doing my nails a la Alix of the Cherry Blossom Girl, I tried another color combo that I liked.

 
I used Chanel's black pearl with a Essie's Loophole.  It was fun to do something different but I got my nails properly done today and went back to the basics.

Hope you all had a great weekend!

28 January 2011

Ladies who Lunch

It's Friday thank goodness and for me it was a short one.  I worked less than half a day because I had a luncheon to go to so I spiffed it up a bit.  The lunch was to benefit Dress for Success and was held at the Copley Plaza Hotel.  Dress for Success is a truly wonderful organization and if you don't know anything about them check them out here.  Either way, donate your old clothes and accessories next time you clean out your closet.

Kate Spade dress, Chanel necklace, Prada shoes

I wore a bright yellow Kate Spade dress that I bought on sale last year.  One of my co-workers commented that I looked like I was ready for spring.  I told him that I'm bucking the winter trend which was overheard by someone else as a word that rhymes with buck (yes that too but I kept the language clean)! 
European Replica ring, Louis Vuitton ring
I doubled down on the rings but it didn't last long once I got to work.  It was too difficult to type.  Is it too much together?

Prada shoes

I wore a pair of black patent Prada shoes that came out of the archives of my closet.  Do you remember when Prada was doing these angled heels?  I love the shape of the heel and the chunky chain detail.  It felt good to wear something other than the black and grey that I've been wearing; how you feel on the inside really radiates out.  Even though I was bundled up as always on my walk to work, my ever present personal peanut gallery was out smoking his pipe and hollered "Good morning, Hollywood!  Looking good baby, looking like a million dollars!"  And I felt like a million bucks too.

My Glass is Half Full

Yesterday Boston got yet another 10+ inches of snow and it's hard to stay positive but I'm going to try.  I got myself dressed this morning in one of my spring tops and some red flats in the hopes that would bring my weather induced mood out of the dumps.  Snow and cold be darned!

Milly jacket, Talbots top, Joe's jeans, Roger Vivier flats
I did have to put on my sensible boots for the walk to work but that's OK.  The stairs and sidewalks weren't clear yet but the roads were fine so I walked in the street which I've been known to do regularly.  The streets are always easier to maneuver because there are no crevices from the bricks for heels to get stuck in.  But today for once, I was not alone in my street walking and since misery loves company, I minded the snow an ounce less than I usually would.

27 January 2011

Cool Nails

I read piles and piles of fashion magazines and when I do, I often rip pages out that inspire me to buy something new or wear something in a different way.  Often my tear sheets end up strewn about my apartment.  I do remember seeing these really cool two toned nails awhile back and inevitably that page ended up in the never never land of all my tear sheets.  Then just this week, I saw this nail tutorial on one of my favorite blogs, the cherry blossom girl, so I thought I'd give it a try.

This was my first pass.  Clearly Alix has a lot more practice especially with the dark colors.  My version was just too messy for my tastes so I took it off and tried again.


Here's the second pass which was much better surely due to the lighter colors.  I like the idea and I'll try it again sometime.  What do you think?

24 January 2011

Sunday Supper - Shrimp Creole

My sister and her husband took a recent trip to Saint Martin and raved about a dish of shrimp creole they had there.  It's not something I have ever made nor is it the type of food I usually cook for myself so I thought, why not try my hand at something new?


I read a bunch of recipes online today and armed with what I read, I made a trip to the grocery store.  I didn't really follow any of the recipes exactly but that's just how I cook.



I diced an onion, green pepper and a few stalks of celery.  I sauteed the onion in olive oil and butter for about 5 minutes then added in the green pepper, celery and some garlic.  I let that cook for about 5 more minutes then seasoned with a little salt and cayenne pepper.  I added a carton of chopped tomatoes, some worcestershire sauce and let it simmer uncovered for about 45 minutes. It thickens up nicely during this time but you can add some tomato paste if necessary (I didn't need it).


I cooked some long grain rice in the meanwhile and when it was almost done, I added the peeled and de-veined shrimp into the tomato sauce.


It was really tasty and had a lovely amount of heat from the cayenne.  This is something I would definitely make again.

Sky High Wishlist

I'm 5'9" without shoes but that doesn't dampen my propensity towards sky high heels.  So many of the shoes I'm coveting are high heels made even higher by the platforms.  Prancing around Boston's brick and cobblestone sidewalks is difficult enough without teetering on the highest of high heels.  Nevertheless, I'll take my chances.

Tory Burch Verona $375
I love the color of these Tory Burch Verona sandals, especially with the gold accents.

Alexandre Birman python wedge $645
These Alexandre Birman python wedges would look great with some short shorts and a summer tan.

DVF Flama $280



My favorite part of the DVF peep toe flama is the striped tie around the ankle.  I can see myself wearing these all summer long.

Prada fringe platform $675
 And finally these fringed Prada platforms are utterly fabulous.  How is a girl to choose from so many pairs of super fashionable shoes?

23 January 2011

Another Bright Spot

Last night was the last of my birthday celebrations.  I love a birthday that lasts all month!

SOCA/St John top, J Crew skirt, Me Too booties
I wore a silver and gray SOCA/St.John top that I bought on sale last year at Saks and have only worn once.  I was tempted to wear it with jeans or a gray skirt but instead I opted for a pop of pink with a J Crew pencil skirt. 
Chanel earrings and ring
I wore some sparkly Chanel earrings and a Chanel flower ring on my freshly manicured nails with Chanel's black pearl nail polish.


Then I doubled down on the rhinestone bracelets.

We had such a fun night.  We started with bubbles at the bar at the Taj and then had dinner at Prezza in the North End.  One of my favorite things on their menu is the ravioli di ouvo which is a ravioli with ricotta and egg yolk tossed in butter and sage.  There's nothing better than the runny egg yolk mixing with the butter and sage and whatever wasn't eaten up on the ravioli I sopped up with a hunk of bread.  Delish!

22 January 2011

Dressing for Spring

Are you tired of hearing me lament about how bored I am of wearing winter duds?  Well yesterday, I needed to add a little spring to my attire.

Kate Spade dress, Theory cardigan, Me Too booties
I wore a flower print short sleeve Kate Spade dress and threw on a black cardigan for the necessary warmth.  It made me feel better to wear some lighter and brighter colors even though it snowed yet again yesterday.

Chanel ring, J Crew cuff, necklace from Wish Boutique
I also wanted to dress up a bit since I had dinner plans with my dear girlfriends who were kind enough to take me out for a belated birthday dinner.  We had a fantastic meal at Grotto in Beacon Hill and I gorged myself on a huge plate of pasta fra diavolo with b
utter poached lobster.  YUM!

19 January 2011

Some days, it's all about the accessories

I had a lazy Monday since it was a work holiday.  My one outing other than the gym was a bite in the 'hood for dinner.  The sidewalks were super icy and treacherous and this winter wonderland makes me want to crawl into the boring parts of my closet.

Necklace and bracelet from Elisha Daniels, YSL arty ring
I may have succumbed to practical and boring in my clothes, but at least the jewels spruced it up a bit.  Besides I hadn't worn my new YSL arty ring yet and I thought it went perfectly with the chunky gold necklace and bracelet.

J Crew chambray shirt, J Brand black jeans, Cole Haan boots
I wore a basic chambray shirt from J Crew, black J Brand jeans and Cole Haan riding boots. 

It's still only January and I am quite ready for this winter wonderland to pass us by. 

17 January 2011

Obsessed and Tickled Pink

I've mentioned before that I'm on the hunt for a new bag (or two).  I've narrowed it down to either the Givenchy Nightingale or the Miu Miu Matelasse. 

Right now the Miu Miu is the front runner and I really like this light grey color.  Love the ruched leather.  Love the hardware.  Love the braided strap.  


On top of the Miu Miu, I'm absolutely obsessed with the pearl embellished Lady Dior.  I was sitting on a bench in the Copley Mall today in front of the Dior store and this bag was staring at me, taunting me.  "Buy me, love me".  I may have to rescue this little number.

Bag madness aside,  I'm craving spring clothes and I'm finding myself drawn to pink.  It started a few weekends ago in Saks when I spotted and tried on a hot pink RED Valentino coat with a big bow in front.  Sadly I don't have a picture of it but I've been dreaming of it for weeks.

 I'm loving this pink tweed Marc Jacobs jacket and I would wear this with just about anything.


This pink Miu Miu top with crepe de chine straps is truly fantastic and is a perfect spring and summer staple.


And don't let me forget my absolute preoccupation with these studded t-strap Valentino kitten heels.  I know, I know, Cathy Horyn said she needs never see another stud.  But I'm a child of the 80s and in or out, I will always be betrothed to anything bestudded.

Golden Globes

Like many of you, I always look forward to seeing the gorgeous designer confections on display at the big awards shows.  But I must say I was a bit disappointed last night.  For me, there weren't really any big fashion risks that paid off or any dresses that totally stood out.  Also while there were some bright pops of color, there was also a lot of blush and beige that was underwhelming to me.


Michelle Williams wore this Valentino gown that frankly I just wasn't a fan of.  I would like it better without the flowers.  I usually love a floral print and anything Valentino but to me, this just didn't do it.


Scarlett Johansson wore an Elie Saab number that I thought was beautiful and I especially liked the flutter sleeves though the color did nothing for her.


Anne Hathaway was stunning in this glittery Armani Prive'.


Oscar de la Renta can do no wrong and this one shoulder pink gown that Lea Michelle wore did not disappoint.


I love Julianne Moore and I love Lanvin but I bet it looked better when it was still fresh and pressed.




Amy Adam's navy blue Marchesa was gorgeous on her.

All photos Style.com
Olivia Wilde looked like a fairy princess in this crystal encrusted Marchesa gown.  This was my fave!

16 January 2011

Color Blocked

I'm not really sure if I'd call this color blocking since it's grey and black and not any colors.  But you get the idea, right?

Nanette Lepore dress, Me Too booties
I've had this Nanette Lepore dress for ages and it's another example of the anti-cleanout your closet rule.  They say if you haven't worn it in a year, get rid of it.  But I haven't worn this dress in several years and I still love it. 

Necklace from Ports and Co.

The necklace is from a store on the South Shore in Massachusetts called Ports and Company.  I love the varying sizes of the beads and the tassel.

Chanel pin, Kate Spade clutch
Since it's been so cold I wore a black Milly jacket adorned with a Chanel pin.  It's a good thing I wore the jacket by the way.  I tried a new restaurant last night and the heat wasn't working.  Can you imagine?  No heat in Boston during the freezing winter?!

The restaurant I went to last night is Deuxave and it had it's good and bad points.

The good:  I love the decor.  It's a gorgeous space with big bow windows overlooking Comm Ave.

The not as good:  The timing was way off.  Our foie gras appetizer came in under five minutes from ordering it and before we had silverware or our bottle of wine.  Also, the portions of the main courses were quite small and the temperature wasn't right (some food was lukewarm, some hot).

Since we were still hungry and it was still early, we bellied up to the bar at Hamersley's, my kitchen away from home, for wine and cheese for dessert.

So that was my Saturday night in a nutshell.

15 January 2011

Old Blues

I have many, many pairs of jeans yet I am constantly drawn to the same few pairs.  This time of year calls for boots much of the time which means I'm usually wearing my skinniest jeans to tuck into the boots.  Yesterday I wore my practical boots for snow stomping but changed into actual shoes at work so I decided to wear a pair of wide leg jeans that were stuffed way behind all the other jeans.

Ann Taylor sweater, Hermes belt, Joe's wide leg jeans
I recently bought this Ann Taylor navy blue sweater jacket.  I like the detail of the gold buttons and zipper. 

Kenneth Jay Lane pin
I wore my new Kenneth Jay Lane pin that was a birthday gift.  I always love orange and navy together.

Michael Kors watch
I usually wear the same watch every day but I do have some trendy watches that I mix in every once in awhile so I opted for the rose gold Michael Kors watch.

12 January 2011

Cheetah Slayer

I had a little soiree to go to after work yesterday so I wanted to wear something fun that I haven't worn in awhile.

Necklace from Elisha's shop
I knew I wanted to wear one of my new birthday baubles and decided on this chunky, multi-chain necklace.  I love it!


It's still wintry and very cold here so I pulled out this bouclĂ© jacket and dress since it's thick and warm.  I've had this for years and can't remember the last time I dug it out.  I contemplated giving it a big old pop of color with a bright orange handbag but opted instead for this underused Chanel bag in chocolate brown.


The shoes are always a major decision.  Lately I've been opting for boots or booties but I bucked that trend and wore these animal print pony hair Manolo Blahnik kitten heel pumps.  As I was riding in the elevator in my office building, someone asked me if I had to slay any cheetahs for my shoes.  Lucky enough, there was no slaying involved.

Rachel Zoe Clothes...I DIE!

Rachel Zoe is launching a new clothing line, fall 2011 I believe.





Photos: Poshglam.com

I would buy and wear every one of these pieces!  What do you think?