Monday, January 31, 2011

White is the New Black

According to stylists, designers and fashion stars, white is the new black.

Take a look at last night's SAG awards - 2 of the night's biggest stars in white.
* Natalie Portman in white
* Amy Adams in white

The runways have also turned to white with white collections by Alexander Wang, Calvin Klein and Derek Lam (just to name a few).

What do you think of the color white? Are you a die hard black fan? We find ourselves always leaning towards the color black. It is almost our staple. Easy to wear to work and easy to dress up or down. Will you be turning in your black dresses for something white? Let us know under "comments".

For a recap of the winners and losers from the 2011 SAG awards, click here.

Monday, January 24, 2011

Quick Recipes under $15

We always tell ourselves that we will cook at home more in order to eat healthier and save on restaurant dining, but our craving for non-american cuisine (japanese, thai, greek, etc.) always gets the best of us.

To help us stay on track, we are going to try LearnVest's "7 quick recipes under $15: from goulash to falafel to pulled pork". Click here to check it out for yourself. The falafel dish looks amazing (pictured above)!

We are also looking to Whole Foods' budget-friendly and health-friendly recipes. Click here to check those out. We will update you again with any dishes we make from these recipes that are a major success.

To healthy good food that won't break the bank!

Friday, January 21, 2011

100 Days of Real Food

In an effort to get back to the basics with healthy eating, Lisa and Jason Leake gave up unprocessed for an entire 100 days. The North Carolina parents of two decided it was time to give up the sugar infused packaged goods for a period of unrefined choices straight out of their backyard.

We all know that eating "real" food all of the time is difficult, especially considering our busy lifestyles. While processed food is fast and easy, it is real food that is good for the body, giving us nutrients, vitamins and keeps other essential natural fuels running.

Lisa isn't keeping her journey to herself. She's sharing her learnings, recipes, and little secrets with her devoted readers and challenging them along the way in her blog 100daysofrealfood. She realizes going 100 days with "real food" may be too tough for some but asks people to try it for 10 days.

Could you go 10 days without any processed foods? Do you already live that lifestyle?

Click here to learn more about Lisa and her 100 Days of Real Food. Get inspired to live a happy and healthy lifestyle!

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Pay for your Starbucks with your phone

Starbucks is jumping forward with the new Starbucks mobile payment app, for your iPhone, iPod Touch, or BlackBerry. The app links to your credit card so that baristas can quickly scan the barcode you pull up on your phone. It also allows you to check your balance and transaction history and reload with PayPal. The company says that an Android app is coming soon.

This sounds like an easy and convenient way to get your Starbucks fix. Have you tried the new app? Do you believe that this "pay with your app" ability will spread through the service industry? Let us know under "comments"

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Learn - Earn - Invest

A place where smart women get smarter about their money... LEARNVEST!

We read about LearnVest in the paper, visited the website and fell for it. LearnVest is an interactive personal finance education website geared toward women, ages 18-40. From a bootcamp program to a money tuneup to learning finance basics, LearnVest has the tools and strategies to make you smarter about your money.

Check it out by clicking here.

Make sure you know how to optimize your income and savings. No more excuses! Get your money organized and plan for a better future.

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

me & goji - custom artisanal cereal

We came across an awesome make-your-own cereal website that we just had to share - me & gogi.

You complete 3 easy steps and done!

Step 1 - You choose the all-natural ingredients
Step 2 - You customize with a name and a picture
Step 3 - They hand-mix and ship to you in about a week

Click here to learn more.

We will have to give this cereal a try! We love the concept and love that you can name your own cereal and add whatever image you would like to the tube. Also a great gift idea!

Friday, January 14, 2011

Salvador Dali Museum Opens in Florida

The new Salvador Dali museum officially opened in Tampa on 1.11.11.

The new $36 million museum replaces the old Dali Museum, more than doubling the exhibition space and improving hurricane protection. It is considered the world's most comprehensive collection of Dali's work. The museum took 14 years from conception to ribbon-cutting, but the masterpiece is finally here!

Princess Cristina of Spain, who is the duchess of Palma de Mallorca and the youngest daughter of King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia, called the museum a "superb setting, a state of the art building" that evokes the waves, magic and light of Dali's native Mediterranean sea.

Click here to learn more about the new Dali museum. If you are looking to escape the snow, visit the new Dali museum in the only state in the country that has no snow! Congrats to the city of Tampa on completing such an important project.

Thursday, January 13, 2011

Is Rachel Zoe a copy cat?

Drama drama drama for stylist Rachel Zoe...

While debuting her fashion line at a somewhat secret show in a Manhattan loft, a twitpic was taken by Jane Keltner DeValle – Teen Vogue’s Fashion News Director — revealing that Zoe appears to have taken some very literal inspiration from a shoot she styled for the magazine in 2007.

Take a look at the picture above and judge for yourself. Copy cat or inspired designer? For more info about this story, click here.

No comment has been made by Zoe's camp, but we expect to hear something soon.

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Raw Recipe

If you're like us, when you think of raw you think of blagh. The raw lifestyle seems so rigid and unattainable. How do you go out to eat with friends or? How do you attend work functions? How do you enjoy basketball games, concerts etc.? The raw diet is just something we cannot comprehend.

Okay, enough bashing... now it's time for a little praise. Unbelievably, we came across a flavorful enjoyable raw recipe. I know... gasp!

So here it is...
Asian Cold Noodles
Makes 1-2 Servings

4 oz. buckwheat soba noodles
½ c. cucumber, peeled, seeded and chopped
¼ c. scallions, sliced
½ red bell pepper, seeded and sliced
½ c. mung bean sprouts
½ c. Spicy Almond Dressing (see below)
½ lime for garnish

1. Bring a saucepan of water to a boil and add the noodles.
2. Lower heat and simmer for 6-8 minutes until soba is tender, then remove from heat.
3. Strain noodles and rinse with cool water. Drain.
4. Place noodles in a bowl and add the cucumber, scallions and red bell pepper. Toss with spicy almond dressing.
5. Top with bean sprouts and a squeeze of lime before serving.

Spicy Almond Dressing
Makes 8 ounces

½ c. raw or roasted almond butter
6 Tbsp. tomatoes, chopped
2 Tbsp. Nama Shoyu or Bragg Liquid Aminos
2 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
3 tsp. fresh lime juice
2 tsp. agave nectar
¾ tsp. ginger, peeled and chopped
¼-½ tsp. ground cayenne pepper
½ tsp. sea salt

Blend all ingredients in a high-speed blender until completely smooth.

Source: Zoe Sakoutis and Erica Huss

Monday, January 10, 2011

Trend: Feather Hair Extensions

Would you try Refinery29's recommended trend to try - feather hair extensions?


Jeweler and handbag designer Wendy Nichol is now offering feather hair extensions. According to Nichol, "the feathers are sourced responsibly, the colors are all-natural, and come from farm-raised happy birds." The cost to change up your look is $45. The stylists at Nichol's Sullivan Street studio/store will show you the extensive selection of feather colors and lengths, then will set them in whatever part of your hair you want. The whole process takes no more than 10 minutes and you can still wash or blow dry your hair, and the extensions last for over a month.

What do you think of these extensions (pictured above)? Would you give them a try? Let us know under "comments".

Friday, January 7, 2011

Starbucks' New Logo 2011

If you haven't already heard, Starbucks has released a new logo. Starbucks' Senior Creative Manager said, "The result is an evolved logo that celebrates the Siren in a much bolder way – it’s more expressive and energetic and still uses the same vibrant green circle that is so well recognized by our customers around the world".

What do you think of the new Starbucks logo? Okay with it or don't like it? It was time for a change or don't fix what isn't broken? Let us know your thoughts under "comments".

See what Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz has to say by watching the video below.

Thursday, January 6, 2011

Detox Salad

Cabbage is a healthy food that everyone tends to avoid, but it makes a great alternative to lettuce and is really good for you. Cabbage is great for detoxifying your liver (we all need that after the holidays and NYE) and is loaded with phytonutrients, which work to clear free radicals and toxins from our systems. It is also high in vitamin C and K and high in fiber.

So now that you know how great cabbage is, you need to figure out how to enjoy a dish with cabbage without saying blaghhhh. So here is the recipe that will help you!

Cabbage, Apple and Caraway Seed Salad
Adapted from Every Day Foods
Ingredients
1 teaspoon caraway seeds
2 tablespoons white-wine vinegar
1 tablespoon country Dijon mustard
3 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 medium head of napa cabbage, cored and thinly sliced
2 red apples, cored and cut into bite sized pieces

Directions
-Toast caraway seed either in toaster oven or in a skillet over a medium flame for 2 to 3 minutes.
-In a small bowl, whisk together vinegar, mustard and oil until well blended. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
-In a large bowl, combine cabbage, apples and caraway seeds. Add dressing to taste and toss to combine.

Makes 4 servings
Nutritional information per serving: 155 calories, 10.6 grams fat, 1.9 grams protein, 13.4 grams carbs, 3.2 grams fiber

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

$23 for Nail Polish?

Chanel has come out with amazing nail polishes that are right on the mark when it comes to trend. While we love their polish, we can't justify spending $23 on a bottle of nail polish.

How do you feel about purchasing nail polishes? Would you spend $23 on a bottle of nail polish? Do you bring your favorite color to the nail salon, paint your nails with your own polish at home, or always use a color available for free at the salon? Let us know under "comments".

We have purchased a couple of our all time favorite nail polishes to use at the salon, but typically choose from the colors available at the salon. We love Chanel, but we would say no to the $23 purchase.

Click here to learn more about Chanel nail polishes.

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Liven Up Your Oatmeal Breakfast

If your New Year Resolutions is to eat healthy, lower blood pressure and cholesterol, or start eating breakfast in the morning, we are here to help you! Oatmeal is the answer.

Many shy away from this breakfast because they think it is boring and bland. Try our tasty tricks to liven up your oatmeal while still keeping your breakfast well-balanced and energizing.

Try adding the following to a half-cup serving of oatmeal:
- 1 small banana, 2 tablespoons vanilla yogurt, 1 tablespoon walnuts
- 1/2 diced apple, dash of cinnamon and agave nectar, chopped almonds
- 1 tablespoon peanut butter, 2 tablespoons raisins, 1 teaspoon maple syrup

Start each day of the New Year with positive intentions and the energy to do well!

Monday, January 3, 2011

The King's Speech

We saw the movie The King's Speech this weekend and were blown away. It is an absolute must see!

From the actors to the story line you will be moved by an in-depth look into a King's fight for his own voice and his country.

We see major awards in the future for Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush, and Helena Bonham Carter.

To learn more about this movie and watch the movie trailers, click here.