The lovely Miss Amanda from Is This Thing On? will be making the cupcakes for our wedding and kindly stopped by on Christmas Eve Eve to give us a tasting of some of the flavors we'd proposed. And seriously? Did you get a look at that perfect frosting job? Awesome.
We're getting married in the fall, so we wanted to get fall flavors that are nostalgic, seasonal and unique and most of all, reflective of us. Sean's favorite dessert of all time is apple pie and I love anything with Bailey's, so here's where we landed, left to right:
Apple cupcakes with homemade vanilla buttercream icing (which will have a caramel drizzle on the day of the wedding).
Pumpkin swirl cupcakes
Chocolate Guiness cupcakes with Baileys icing
We had a ceremonial tasting and here were our thoughts ("our" including me, Ashleigh, Amanda, Sean and his family):
Apple was moist perfection. Seriously. The vanilla buttercream was perfect and I can't wait to try it with caramel drizzle.
Pumpkin spice was okay. Sean and his dad loved it; Amanda was on the fence; I thought it was a little more like a muffin than a cupcake.
Guiness with Baileys was a revelation. Seriously. The Guiness really only added a layer of flavor to the chocolate and the Baileys was, as always, fabulous. I've had so much Irish Cream lately that I'm almost tired of it ... nah.
We're still open to creative cupcake ideas. I suggested maybe a champagne cupcake; do you have any ideas?
ENTER TO WIN COOKWARE
Cookware.com approached me about giving away any item on their site worth up to $30. To enter, go to this entry and leave a comment about your cooking-related New Year's Resolution.
I am really bad at eating healthy, good lunches at work. I tend to eat a mix of leftover chips, Diet Coke, yogurt and breakfast bars.
But last week our office went out to lunch at The Baker's Crust, where I spotted the "Wine Country Salad" on the menu and thought, "Geez, I could make that at home."
It makes for a great lunch, with ingredients you could use in myriad other recipes so you aren't stuck with a bunch of stuff you wouldn't use again. You will need:
Strawberries
Grapes
Mixed Greens
Crostini (or croutons)
Goat Cheese
Candied pecans (optional)
Raspberry Vinaigrette
I used this (VERY EXPENSIVE) belle chevre goat cheese with Ile de France crackers that could easily become bread crumbs if I don't find myself using them again.
I also used this Olde Cape Cod raspberry vinaigrette, but it was really just okay. Go light with it; I was a little heavy-handed in the pouring.
Smear the chevre on the crackers and place on top of the salad, or use them as accompaniment on the side.
It was a delicious, sophisticated salad with simple ingredients. The goat cheese elevates it to the expensive realm, but I think this would be a great salad to serve at parties or to guests (wine party and cheese party, perhaps?).
Oh, the Emmy's. I felt like last night's show was pretty lackluster, and the fashion felt almost the same way. We invited friends over (Hi Miranda and Travis!) so our focus wasn't totally on the screen, but I don't feel like we missed too much. I'm delighted for Modern Family, a little sad for Lost, happy for Mad Men and always pissed when the cast of Two and a Half Men is nominated.
But on to the important part: the fashion! I had a really hard time picking best and worst looks because for every single person, I thought something could have been a touch better. No one really took my breath away, good or bad. With that disclaimer, here goes:
Best Dressed
Anna Paquin, in Alexander McQueen. Anna was one of my favorites earlier this year in Alexander McQueen, and I thought it was lovely of her to honor the designer again after he's passed. This was super fierce, and reminded the fellas at our get-together of Egyptian queens, but I will note that I would have loved a really great gold heel.
I'm usually not a fan of Claire Danes (I'll never forgive her for hooking up with Billy Crudup while Mary Louise Parker was carrying his child), but I thought her Armani Prive was simple, grown-up, classy and just glowed. Her hair looked great, but I did not like her eye-makeup. It looks good on this picture, but it didn't look good on the telecast at all.
January Jones in Atelier Versace. I thought this was a fun play on the 50's housewife frocks she spends her days in on Mad Men, but the hair was way too casual for me. It didn't look beachy or even bed-heady; it looked like she didn't have time to blow-dry, so she let it air dry on the ride over. I think it's brave to go without accessories, but I would have loved to see some jewelry of some sort.
Keri Russell, in vintage Jean-Louis Scherrer. I am sure many, many, many people hated this (including everyone in my living room!), but it moved so beautifully. I think she should have turned the disco up, however, and ditched the fabric flower. Her wild curls might have looked sexy all free-flowing.
Rose Byrne in Gucci. Um, I die for this dress, which was like futuristic Grecian goddess. The metal pieces = amazing; the draping = amazing. The Bride of Frankenstein hairsdo? Not so much. I get that it's very runway and very haute couture, but there are some things that work better in low lighting with thumping music and camera flashes than they do in the middle of the day against a red carpet and blue backdrop.
Lea Michele in Oscar de la Renta. I didn't even recognize her! She looked so grown-up. I thought the dress suited her beautifully (even if she looked corseted within an inch of her life), the necklace was fab and her make-up was perfect. BUT her Brigitte Bardot hair seemed to be falling flatter as the night wore on; I even heard her say to an E! host that she needed help with her hair. I bet it looked awesome when she got in the limo and then it lost its shape; happens to me every time, girlfriend!
On the Fence: Is it Good? Is it Bad?
Kyra Sedgwick in Monique Lhuillier. Color: gorgeous. Shape: gorgeous. Fabric: hrm. In this picture, the fabric looks amazing; intricately pleated to create layers of depth. But on screen, it looked like velvet and she looked like she was about to appear on the White House Christmas Special or in a very special "White Christmas" tribute.
Elisabeth Moss, in Donna Karan. I want to shake this girl. I want to tell her she is NOT Peggy. She is NOT President Bartlett's daughter. She is young! She is sexy! She is not the mother of the bride! So why does she always step out wearing dresses the color of putty or Band-Aids? The shape is pretty, but it really looks like a very advanced, designerly take on that dress Ariel makes when she first meets Prince Eric on the beach!
Sofia Vergera, in Carolina Herrera. The boys in my living room gave this a solid two thumbs-up, but Miranda and I couldn't stop staring at the bust line. I think the sweetheart shape seems very off, and the stripe of sequins made the dress seem kind of cheap to me.
Mariska Hargitay, in Vera Wang. Girl has got some curves, and they are wrapped beautifully, but I thought the little ruffle over the bust seemed a little juvenile and the random pleating at her hip seems gratuitous. Also, another dress the color of putty? Not feeling it.
Tina Fey, in Oscar de la Renta. Here's the deal: I want to root for my girl Tina. I want to say, "Ooooh it's pretty." But girl almost always wears black. The dress looked like a floor-length purchase from Deb in the late '90s. The beading looks like lace, as interpreted by Keith Haring (which could be cool, but is somehow jarring). I just want girl to get a stylist, get some color and work it like I know she can. I feel like she always comes close, but no cigar.
Worst
Amy Poehler, in Max Azria. It feels kinda bad to dog this dress because there's nothing particularly wrong with it. I know she had a baby like, last week, and she looks a-maz-ing considering that. But this color and style just SCREAMED Mother of the Bride to me. It was so matronly, so aging, so serious for such a funny gal. It gave me the blahs.
Rita Wilson, in Prada. I love Rita for reliably wearing something a little bit crazy. She's always escorting Tom, who is always nominated, so she's gotta do something to get attention, right? I can appreciate Prada with the best of them, but this looks like bubble wrap and chandelier crystals. Just...no.
Christina Hendricks, in Zac Posen. Dear Christina: You are my idol. You got curves like no one else. You are a modern-day Rosalind Russell. You are fiiiiiiiine. So why are you always dressing like Auntie Mame? Why does January Jones get to have all the fun? This dress almost almost almost reminds me of those fabulous Gibson Girl dresses or something out of Hello Dolly, but girl, you never want to draw comparisons to Carol Channing.
Lauren Graham, in Yigal Azrouel. This could have been cool, but she looked SO dumpy from the side. I get what you're doing girl, but this is for TV. That is all.
So, who did I miss? Agree, disagree? Have it out in the comments!
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TitleEmmys 2010 Fashion Wrap
Fashion Team's Lawrence Zarian hosts TV Guide's Emmys Fashion Wrap 2010 with co-hosts Countess LuAnn de Lesseps, Jen Rade, Nick Verreos and Kim Vo. We check out the hot trends, new looks in hair and jewelry and more! See who made the best and worst dressed list at the 62nd Annual Emmy Awards. Track the fashions of Sofia Vergara, Lea Michele, Julie Bowen, Jane Lynch, Christina Hendricks, Matthew Morrison, Mariska Hargitay, Kyra Sedgwick, Eva Longoria Parker, John Krakowski, Ty Burrell, Rita Wilson and more!
Title:Emmys Fashion Rewind
As the 61st Annual Emmy Awards quickly approach, TV Guide takes a look back at the red carpet fashions that kick off award season and set the trends for the year. We'll look at the styles that put the actors and actresses on the fashion map, like Heidi Klum, Jon Hamm, Kyra Sedgwick, Sandra Oh, Jeremy Piven, Ali Larter, Glenn Close and more. Get your fashion fix here!
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Title
See whose Emmys' fashion was a hit (and whose was a miss) as we hit the red carpet in LA.
Does Lea Michele's Oscar de la Renta gown float your boat? Or are you more taken with Claire Danes' Armani Prive number?
Watch all the fabulous fashion in our video round-up with our LA reporter Diem Brown.
Title:Emmys Fashion Rewind
As the 61st Annual Emmy Awards quickly approach, TV Guide takes a look back at the red carpet fashions that kick off award season and set the trends for the year. We'll look at the styles that put the actors and actresses on the fashion map, like Heidi Klum, Jon Hamm, Kyra Sedgwick, Sandra Oh, Jeremy Piven, Ali Larter, Glenn Close and more. Get your fashion fix here!
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TitleEmmy 2010 Fashion Preview
The Emmy's 2010 are due to be the end of this summer's glamour blow-out! Lawrence Zarian, host of the Fashion Team and Emmy's Fashion Wrap, tells us what to expect on this year's red carpet. Plus, we'll look at the trends from previous 2010 events as well as a look ahead at designer's fall fashions from the runway, including Michael Kors, Armani Prive, Marchesa, Elie Saab, Lanvin, Valentino, Dior, Givenchy, Jean Paul Gaultier, Dolce and Gabbana, Marc Jacobs, Zac Posen and Louis Vitton.
Well, my lovely readers, have I got a holiday treat for you! The fine folks at Cookware contacted me about doing a giveaway to my readers.
I've never done a giveaway before, but I figured we could try it out and it might be nice to scoop up something you might not have received for Christmas. Here's the deal:
The Prize: You can choose ANYTHING on the site up to $30 as your prize, including the mixing bowls from Paula Deen Cookware shown above. The site has plenty of kitchen necessities under $30, from knife sets to tea kettles to cookbooks.
The Rules: You have one week to leave a comment on this post telling me your cooking- or eating-related New Year's resolution. My personal resolution is to cook a little healthier in preparation for my wedding, but I'd love to hear yours.
Over the weekend, I'll review the resolutions and announce the winner on Monday. Be clever and creative! At that point, I will ask the winner to e-mail me and we'll negotiate the particulars of getting your prize to your doorstep.
Fine print: Unfortunately, the contest is open only to my readers in the U.S. and Canada (sorry faithful fans in Kazakhstan!). Also, I think it's important for you to know I am receiving nothing from Cookware.com. Think of me as a conduit to your happier cooking experiences!
I'll be linking back to this post throughout the weekend for easy commenting. Please only leave one comment and I can't wait to read your resolutions!
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TitleAnd the Rachael Ray cookware contest winner is........
Myrite announces the winner of the Rachael Ray cookware contest!
Title:Quick Chek Souper Chef Contest
Quick Chek invited customers from all over the country to enter into our very first Souper Chef Contest. Contestants were asked to take one of Quick Chek's 14 delicious soups and use them to create their very own recipes. We received over 75 original and inspiring entries from 15 different states! Five original, tasty and innovation recipes were chosen and their creators were invited to compete in a Souper Chef Cook-off at the Quick Chek in South Plainfield, NJ on December 15, 2007.
Our grand prize winner, Monica Garcia of Rahway, NJ, was awarded a beautiful $750 set of All-Clad cookware! Second place winner, Stacey Palermo of Middlesex, NJ, was awarded a $500 gift certification to Bed, Bath & Beyond. Ellen Sweney, of Bridgewater, NJ came in third place and was given a $250 Quick Chek gift card. And our runner-up contestants, Devon Delaney of Princeton, NJ and Alison Bond of Bergen, NJ were both presented with a $50 Quick Chek Gift card. To see all the action live please view our video!
Visit a Quick Chek today to try our delicious gourmet-style soups for yourself, and don't forget to pick up a cup of our coffee, famous for its 20-minute freshness guarantee. To find a Quick Chek location near you please visit us on the web at http://www.quick-chek.com !
We'll be using a stamp on our outer envelope (gold ink) and RSVP envelope (black ink) for the return address. Mr. SE and I are in the process of buying a house, so our "unknown address" was really throwing a wrench in our invitation process. These envelopes need to be ordered! My amazing Florist and wedding crisis manager, Hillary, had an idea to get a stamp once we know our address. Genius! The stamp can be used after our wedding too, and wouldn't hold up ordering our wedding invitations. #45 why Hillary is amazing.
Both stamps featured here are from Sugar Letter on Etsy, and I looove her items! She's willing to customize too, which is a necessity for brides looking to match their stationery.
I've been needing a new day-to-day fragrance for a while now. I have a couple of very heady evening-only perfumes, one of which is Givenchy's L'Interdit that my dearly departed grandmother gave me when I turned 17. I'm preserving those last few drops, so I like to have a lighter, easy-to-wear fragrance for daily life. I was addicted to Lavanila's Vanilla Grapefruit, but I used it all up a few months ago, so I think it's time to try something new.
The ad for Kate Spade's new perfume, Twirl, caught my eye in my Vogue last night and I gave it a big, hearty whiff. Hard to tell from a magazine loaded with 15 other perfume samples, but it smelled very me. I like to test-drive perfumes before committing too much, so I'm thinking I might get an $18 rollerball. I'll let you know how it goes!
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Titlekate spade - SS10
Make plans for summer part2
Monique Olsen and Quinn Cooper
Title:The Search for Kate Spade, Pt 1
My friends, Nicole and Ryan, came to visit me in NYC. We spent days looking for knock-off Kate Spade purses in Chinatown. We also visited Coney Island and ate Carnegie Deli
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Titlekate spade - SS10
Make plans for summer part2
Monique Olsen and Quinn Cooper
Title:Tim Gunn says, "Make it work!" at Kate Spade in Dallas
Tim Gunn, of Project Runway fame, is working with Kate Spade to promote their Spring line and made a stop at their Northpark Center store in Dallas on April 29, 2009. He gave a style show using outfits that "everyone has in their closet" like jeans and a white T-shirt and a little black dress to illustrate his style points - that it's all about the accessories. He showed off the Kate Spade collection which is varied, bright and fun! See Tim's tips here for Spring style.
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There's another special day this weekend- April 3rd! Mom and Dad SE were married on that date 28 years ago. They've set such a great example for Mr. SE and myself, and I hope we will be still glowing like the two of them when we're married for 28 years.
Mr. SE and I initially planned to have April 3rd as our wedding date, so we would share the same anniversary as my parents. But with the way things worked out after graduation, we decided to push it back to August so we wouldn't be rushed. So now my parents can celebrate their anniversary as strictly their own. Here's to you Mom and Dad- 28 years and going strong!
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This week's inspiration boards use simple palettes of a single color and white - orange and creme, blue and porcelain, lemon yellow and meringue. The elements here are pretty simple, too: bunting and tissue poms, ribbon wands, ruffles and roses. You don't have to reinvent the wheel to have a lovely wedding!
Mood: sweet and sunny Palette: lemon pie, white meringue
wedding planning ideas, developing a wedding checklist, organizing wedding flowers, catering, photography. wedding planner is a professional who assists with planning and organization of weddings
The lovely Miss Amanda from Is This Thing On? will be making the cupcakes for our wedding and kindly stopped by on Christmas Eve Eve to give us a tasting of some of the flavors we'd proposed. And seriously? Did you get a look at that perfect frosting job? Awesome.
We had a ceremonial tasting and here were our thoughts ("our" including me, Ashleigh, Amanda, Sean and his family):
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