Stew Good

I got a recipe for this stew from the New York City version of Daily Candy about 2 years ago and still love to use it. It is super tasty, makes a ton (especially if you add a bag of frozen veggies) and you can pack it up into containers for lunch for the whole week. All of the money you save on lunch out can go to a holiday present for yourself!

Ingredients

• 2 tbsp. olive oil
• 2-3 large white onions, coarsely chopped
• 2 ½ lbs. beef chuck
• 3 cloves garlic, chopped
• 1 tbsp. salt
• 8 0z. tomato sauce
• balsamic vinegar
• red wine
• 1 bouillon cube (optional)

Directions

1. Saute onions in olive oil in a soup pot over a light flame until they are translucent. Add garlic and salt. 2. In the meantime, cube meat, removing fat. 3. Add meat to onions and saute on all sides until lightly browned. 4. Add a generous splash of balsamic. Let evaporate. Add a generous splash of red wine. Let evaporate. 5. Add tomato sauce, bouillon, and enough water to cover the meat. 6. Lower flame and let simmer for a few hours, until the meat is tender, adding water as needed but mostly just let it "stew". Get some good bread to dip in and enjoy!

At Home Spa

Tis the season for long lines, too many sugar products and anxiety over planning a perfect holiday. It's just that time to get to a spa and unwind with a purifying facial or relaxing treatment - the only problem is that there is no time and with extra expenses this month the extra spa bill could lead to more tension. I love getting facials at Denise Alexander in Rocky River and if you book one with Denise she doesn't allow for a tip since it's her salon. If you go once just to get a feel for what a good facial can do for you it's easier to replicate - here are the tips I have picked up though so you can start early at home:

Step 1.  Exfoliate with St. Ives Apricot Scrub, every beauty counter has told me that this $4 product is better for you than their fancy creams

Step 2. Steam your face for 15 - 20 minutes, either fill sink with hot water and put a towel over your head (may have to empty and refill if it starts to cool). Or try the Conair steamer that for $24.99 comes with an exfoliating brush attachment.

3. Finish with a mud mask from Queen Helene, it will really help decongest anything left in your pores after your steam treatment. Available at a drug store with the St. Ives - Marcs, CVS, etc.

4. Finish with the best moisturizer for your skin type and enjoy your new glow!

Laura Mercier Event

This week there is a special event going on at the Laura Mercier counter at Nordstrom. The brand synonymous with "the flawless face" is offering skin tutorials by appointment to get you glowing and pretty for the holidays. You can book an appointment to work with a trained Laura Mercier specialist for skin analysis and tips on makeup application on Friday or Saturday. If you have some girlfriends who are also in need of a new look you can call to host your own little party at the department. Call and ask for the Laura Mercier counter at (216) 378-2121 for your meeting with a specialist. Make sure to try their tinted moisturizers and nude lipsticks they're a favorite in my makeup bag for a faux natural look.

Cyber Monday

I hope everyone is having a great 'Cyber Monday'. This is the busiest online shopping day of the year as people return to their desk jobs and "do work" while simultaneously starting their holiday shopping online. I'm not at work but am watching Love Actually instead to get into the Christmas spirit! This movie will probably run in a loop until New Years because it's perfect.

Ok - here are some great coupon codes to get you started on Cyber Monday!

Kohls - Save an Extra 15% off any order with code CYBER15
Home Depot - Save $5 off $50+ order: BFRIDAY
The Limited - 20% off code: 276
Amazon.com - Cyber Monday Deals
Borders - Buy 1 get one 60% off code BCM1219B
Sears - Cyber Monday Promotions
L.L. Bean - All sweaters 20% off

Happy Shopping!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving! Our tree is up and we are out. Fleeing the Cleve for a Kansas City, MO Thanksgiving with the Mulligan clan. See you Monday!

A Tip for your Tuesday

How to wear a silk scarf:

Cuffs, Chagrin Falls

Holiday shopping for someone who doesn't include a Macy's one day sale item on their wish list? Shop luxe, locally, at Cuffs, Chagrin Falls. Appropriately sitting on Orange street, this boutique carries labels from all over the world including my favorite orange logo - Hermes! Cuffs, 18 E Orange St Chagrin Falls, OH 44022 www.cuffsclothing.com 

Cleveland Barbies

This was sent to me in a chain letter from my mom so I don't know who to credit but this is one of the funniest things I've ever read. It comes with an introduction about Crocker Park making a line of Cleveland Barbies. See highlights below:

'Bay Village Barbie'
The modern day homemaker Barbie is available with Ford Windstar Minivan and matching gym outfit.  She gets lost easily and has no full-time occupation. Traffic jamming cell phone sold separately.

'Lakewood Barbie' 
This doll is made of actual tofu. She has long straight brown hair, arch-less feet, hairy armpits, no makeup and Birkenstocks with white socks. She prefers that you call her Willow.  She does not want or need a Ken doll, but if you purchase two  NoDa Barbies and the optional Subaru wagon, you get a rainbow flag bumper sticker for free. 

 

‘Rocky River Barbie' 
This yuppie Barbie comes with your choice of BMW or Hummer H2. Included are her own Starbucks cup & platinum card. Also available for this set are Yuppie Ken and privately-schooled doggie & kitty. You won't be able to afford any of them. 

 

 'Westlake  Barbie' 
This princess Barbie is sold only at the Crocker Park. She comes with an assortment of Coach Handbags, a Lexus SUV, a long-haired foreign dog named Honey and a cookie-cutter house.  Available with or without tummy tuck and face lift. Workaholic Ken sold only in conjunction with the augmented version.

Tuleste Market

This is my friend Fabrizio and me at a Valentino party last fall in New York (we were faking being serious and important!) On that night we were lucky enough to meet the sisters behind Tuleste Market. Doesn't all that bling look glam? One of the girls had been an Elle Accessories editor and both have a great sense of style. Satu and Celeste reside in an apartment in the Gramercy Park area of Manhattan where they work on their jewelry and collect vintage clothing. Check out their website to see a full range of their baubles: http://www.tulestemarket.com/

Lift & Seperate

I've decided to supplement my shopping habits this holiday season by working in the Nordstrom Beachwood lingerie department. I love a discount and I have a supreme love of lingerie after working for Elle Macpherson Intimates in New York. If you haven't had a fitting lately, here are some tips I'm picking up:

1. Measure the width underneath your bust. Add 2 - 3 based on the category you fall under. Say you are 29" around, add 3 to get a band size of 32, if you are 30" you can add 2 and wear a 32 band as well. If you are 31", 34... until you fit into a category of band 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, etc.
2. You have to get your band right first. All of your support comes from the band and if it's too loose you will depend on the straps. If you think it's too tight, it will stretch a bit.
3. Cup runneth over? If you are going down in the band you might have to go up in your cup size. Try on several styles as the size can vary based on molding, contouring, etc.
4. The cup fits well when, it lays flat against the breast tissue (look out for quadra-boob it's too tight!) You don't want any puckering, you should fill it comfortably. The wire should be able to lay flat where it meets in the middle so that you are adequately separated.
5. Measure C cup or above? Skip the molded cups (t-shirt bras) and try a 3 piece cup. These offer you a more rounded shape and a "side sling" to project you forward. (See Fayreform below for example)
6. Once you get your new fancies make sure to handwash or put on a delicate cycle and NEVER put in the dryer!!

Ones to try on for size:

1. Full Cup: Fayreform Vitality, goes up to a G cup, other styles go to a J, note 3 piece cup.

2. Push Up: Elle Macpherson Intimates, Dentelle, You don't know until you try it on...the new "wonder bra"

3. T-Shirt - if you must, but I prefer pretty. Natori makes a great smooth bra and has lace straps so it's not so boring:

4. Nursing - Elle designed Maternelle when she had her children:

Good luck ladies!

Dawg Day

It's kind of a sad morning after staying up to watch Monday Night Football. Poor Browns, what are we going to do? The most exciting thing that happened during the game was a great Dodge Ram commercial that made me want a truck (what? weird.) I don't know if it was the guy in the Browns jersey with both thumbs down, or the posters saying "At least one Ohio team can beat Pittsburgh, Who Dey" horrible... horrible. Time to motivate with retail therapy.

Marc by Marc bags

I saw these this weekend at Saks - how cute! At $328 it's not a bad price for a great everyday bag and the long strap makes it easy to tote, hands free. They also have "grape juice" colourway.  Go Marc!

Interview with Cosmopolitan

Lauren Finney is one stylish lady, she's on the editing team at Cosmopolitan magazine, she has her blog "Where the Style Things Are" and she is a thrifty vintage shopper (note this pic of us over a year ago where she is already rocking a bib necklace long before Anthropologie and chain stores picked up the trend! She gives us the inside scoop on fashion below:

Name: Lauren Finney
Hometown: Atlanta, Georgia
1. What made you decide you wanted a career in the fashion industry?
I actually wanted to be a "serious journalist" and write - I applied to the editorial internship programs at most major magazines and ended up getting a call back from Cosmo fashion. I took an internship in the fashion department on a whim, loved it so much, and went back and changed my major to Fashion Journalism.
2. What does a day in the life at Cosmo look like?
A day at Cosmo could go any which way, depending on what we have going on. I could be preparing for a shoot, cleaning up and organizing the closet, doing still life styling in the digital studio for our shopping pages, or casting and booking features models. That's the one great thing about working at a magazine -a  typical day is full of all kinds of interesting things! I never sit at my desk for more than 20 minutes at a time.

3. Who are your favorite designers for your personal wardrobe?

I absolutely love what I call the Parisienne Trifecta: Barbara Bui, Isabel Marant, and Vanessa Bruno. I have a lot of little pieces from each of these designers that I try to mix in with my usual staples from places like H&M, Zara, and Uniqlo. For accessories I love Valentino - it's so chic and feminine, and I love bows!
4. What's the one item you are going to splurge on this season?
This season I have splurged on fur. I "recycle" by buying vintage furs, and have stocked up on cheap fur vests. They can be thrown over almost anything as a layering option.
5. Everytime I see you, you are rocking some amazing accessories - what are your favorite online shopping sites for jewelry?
A great place to get accessories is www.charmandchain.com for anything current and in season. They have designers ranging from Sequin to Dori Csengeri to Lizzie Fortunato to Dannijo. There is something for everyone - they have an amazingly edited collection. I want everything there! I also do a lot of random eBay searching, such as "vintage fish belt" or "vintage quilted bag." I collect accessories from completely random places, which makes them so special.

6. What is the best perk of a fashion editor?

The best perk is definitely being exposed to everything. I get to see and do so much, from parties to fashion shows, to the occasional gift. I love being able to be right in the middle of everything. I love being able to edit for the Cosmo girl and for myself personally.
7. Favorite celeb siting on the job?
Leighton Meester, for sure. I saw her in the office when Gossip Girl had just started and I was obsessed with Blair Waldorf. I am a little jaded in that I see a lot of famous people, but when I saw her I freaked. She is so gracious and pretty and I couldn't believe she was in our office. Alicia Keys was also amazing - so nice. An editor's sister was a huge fan so Alicia got on the phone with her and said hello! It's so nice to see there are normal celebrities out there.

Happy Birthday Mom!

Happy birthday mom! She's a very stylish Cleveland lady and founder/president of Winnen Interiors Inc. I will be spending the day making a fancy dinner in her honor :)

Cleveland Restaurant Week: L'Albatros

Last night we decided to celebrate restaurant week in Cleveland by hitting up L'Albatros Brasserie in University Circle. What cuisine! We actually didn't order off the special menu because prices were reasonable on their own and everything looked delicious. A highlight was French toast topped with wild mushrooms. I also loved how it was a Tuesday night and everyone was dressed in their swankiest. Reason enough to go for me.
http://www.albatrosbrasserie.com/