Monday, February 2, 2015

Dear Diary...and other musings

Lovelies, I just love the quote below and I really needed it this week, let me tell ya!
 
When I was younger I would often experience intense anxiety when I tried something new; my fear of failure was so great that I would inevitably "self-sabotage". I wasn't aware of what I was doing at the time and I thought, more often than not, that if I didn't put 100% of myself (my heart, my creativity, my effort) into something then no one could tell me that I wasn't good enough or I wasn't talented enough. And if I wasn't completely vulnerable then people couldn't judge me. Little did my younger self know that this safety mechanism would rob me of experiencing so many wonderful things. If I can be completely honest, the person I was and the choices I made when I was younger still make me cringe on the inside...like, a keep-me-up-at-night kind of cringing. I wonder what others still think of me at 32 because of who I was at 18, 19, 20 and so on. It is an exhausting bedtime ritual that I find myself participating in more often than I care to admit.
  
However, over the years I have worked on my internal well being and self love. I remind myself (sometimes constantly) that I am not who I was 10+ years ago...or yesterday, for that matter. And while that girl is no longer who I am, I continue to allow those past experiences to positively inform the woman I am today. At this point in my life, I am aware of when I am scared of putting myself out there and I recognize, almost instantly, when nasty old insecurities start to rear their ugly heads. Being able to see them for what they are has been so empowering.
 
Free floral wallpaper download (sans quote) at herandnicole.com!
This year, I want to be fearless. I want to throw myself into becoming the woman I know I am truly capable of being. I want to say goodbye to negative self talk and replace it with words of love, kindness, and support. I dream of doing new things, traveling to new places, meeting new and exciting people and not once worrying if I deserve them. These are the things I want for you, too! I want us all to live rich, fulfilling, and dream-filled lives. We have, within our very beings, the power to be exactly the kind of person we choose to be and with every sunrise comes a clean slate just waiting to be written on.
 
Today, my slate happened to be this quote-driven creation. It was just the reminder I needed to keep my chin up and my heart light. After all, "The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be."
 
XOXO,
~Cristina~

Wednesday, January 28, 2015

5 Decadent and Deceptively Simple Valentine's Day Dessert Recipes

 
Let's talk about love, Lovelies!
 
Valentine's Day is all about love. For most, this holiday means showing your significant other how much you appreciate them. For me, it means sweets. Don't get me wrong, I love the Husby and I appreciate him every day. But it's no big secret that I appreciate him a great deal more when there's dessert involved. All kinds of dessert. I do not discriminate.
 
I love cooking for my husband and most often I show him how much I love him by making his favorite meals. Many nights, you can find him in the kitchen with me helping prep dinner, but there are times when he takes the reins and cooks a delicious meal for us all on his own. He may not wield a chef's knife like a pro, but he can follow a recipe like a BOSS! No, seriously, when my husband makes a meal it is always scrumptious because he follows every recipe to the letter. In my humble opinion, you don't need a ton of skill to manage your way around a kitchen if you have a simple, well written recipe.
 
So, today (with my husband's limited cooking experience and recipe following prowess in mind) I combed Pinterest in order to compile a list of no-fail, super easy, yet impressive and delicious dessert recipes that I believe even the most inexperienced chefs can execute.
 
 
Strawberry Brownie Kabobs

 
Ok, so this is not a recipe, per se. It is, however, simply perfect for the busy professional and the baking challenged, alike... and who doesn't love a dessert kabob?
Get the "recipe" here.
 
 
Chocolate Peanut Butter Fondue
 
What's easier than mixing, melting, and dipping things in this fondue? Eating it. That's what. Find the recipe here.
 
 
Raspberry Fool
 
This recipe consists of a whopping three ingredients AND it's delicious.
Why aren't you making this right now!?
 
 
Molten Chocolate Cake... in a mug.
 
Yeah, so, this recipe is the unmotivated chocolate lovers dream. For real. It's "baked" in the microwave. If you're feeling extra fancy top it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Praise the Lord!
 
 
Instant Chocolate Mousse

Voluptuous food maven Nigella Lawson created a monster when I found this recipe. She is a genius. It sets up in a snap thanks to her secret ingredient... *stage whisper* marshmallows! Guys. It is out. Of. This. World. Decadent.
 
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Have a happy, happy love day, my dears!
 
XOXO,
 
Cristina
 


Wednesday, January 21, 2015

My top 10 undercover beauty products of 2015!

Lovelies!

 I hope that you are finding the first 3 weeks of 2015 to be everything we have come to expect a brand spankin' new year to be: full of new adventures, fresh perspectives and lots of love and success. This year I didn't have a resolution, per se. It was more like a renewal of my goals from last year - which happened to include taking care of myself - focusing mainly on my skin and hair.

I am 32 years old (insert self-deprecating comment here) and I have to say, that I am discovering that I really have to step up my daily beauty regimen (a.k.a. finding fresh crinkles creeping around my eyes and dry, limp hair that I hadn't had to worry about in my 20's). So, in order to age as gracefully as I can, I have vowed to really focus on preserving my healthy hair and body this year. And I wanted to share the top 10 products that I use to help me along the way!

This is by no means an expensive miracle list. These aren't the newest and most coveted anti-aging products floating around out there. This list merely compiles my favorite ways to keep my healthy resolutions. I would love to have the budget for weekly visits to various glamorous salons, but I don't. *sigh* The beautiful reality is that we all have to work with what we've got and we might as well make that work a little bit easier every day, no?


1: Suave Professionals - Strengthening Light Leave - In Cream

 
Natural Infusion Awapuhi Strengthening Light Leave-In Cream
The conditioning cream in this little gold bottle works wonders! It is thick, rich, smells lovely and can be used on wet or dry hair. Not to mention I use it daily and it leaves hair looking moisturized and feeling soft as ever. I bought mine for $2.97. A beauty steal.
 


 
 Total Care Shampoo
Not only does this clean you hair without stripping it of essential oils, it smells divine! Just divine!
 
 
 
Secret Weapon® Flawless Finishing Crème
Totally a secret weapon in your hair care arsenal. This touch-up crème by Frizz Ease has a super creamy texture that goes on light, silky, and dries without leaving a heavy or greasy feel. Bye-bye frizzy fly-aways!

 

Skin Purifying Mask
 
Talk about a skin saver! I have been using Proactiv's Skin Purifying Mask for years now and have yet to find a more complete skin care product. This mask does double duty: drawing out pore clogging grease and oils, while calming aggravated blemish-prone skin. Bonus? Use it as a spot treatment overnight for unexpected breakouts. It works wonders!
 

Deep Moisture Body Wash with NutriumMoisture
I love Dove body wash. Always creamy with a rich, moisturizing lather. What keeps me buying this over and over? The pistachio cream and magnolia scent; feminine and sweet without a heavy soap-scented perfume.
 

 Pantene Dry Shampoo Blowout- 1.7 fl oz

This dry shampoo is fabulous! It goes on light and doesn't leave an embarrassing chalky film at your roots. It also dries quickly and has a soft, fresh scent. Downside? If you have an overly oily hair-type you may find that this formula is a bit weak when it comes to freshening up your day after look. You need to apply more than once. And although I have not had an issue with the mechanics of the spray nozzle, a hefty number of reviewers have. So be aware of those negative reviews before purchasing.

 
  • Alt Tag Loreal Paris
 
I use this deep recovery mask once a week in place of my regular conditioner. It leaves my hair super soft and super silky. Styling my hair after using this thick and rich conditioning mask is a breeze. It smells pretty great, too. 
 

A Kiss of Moisture Essential Lip Care
 
I love this lip treatment! It's like a blend between a clear lip gloss and a healing chap stick. Tip: I apply it directly before bed for extra smooth and moisturized lips.

 
elevated finish spray
 
 I use this finishing spray on my hair in between washings. It adds volume to second day hair and gives a flexible, manageable hold to my up do's. Another plus is that it barely has a scent. There are several expensive flexible hold finishing sprays out there that are so heavily perfumed that they are seriously cough inducing. The downside? I have tried multiple times to use it on clean, just-styled hair and have found that while it is strong enough to hold a curl even after I brush through it (impressive), it actually aids in tangling my hair into some pretty serious knots (not so impressive). I say, save it only for days when you need help securing styles between washings and you will not be disappointed.
 
 
10: Vaseline - Spray and Go Moisturizer - Cocoa Radiant

Vaseline Spray & Go Cocoa Radiant


I have never been the type of girl to moisturize every day; I found it tedious and time consuming waiting for thick lotions to dry before putting on my clothes... Enter Vaseline's Spray & Go! This is a miracle product for lazy lotioners everywhere! It sprays on a light cocoa butter scented layer of moisturizer that rubs in completely and dries almost instantly. It literally takes seconds to have healthy, nourished skin. Just buy it, already!

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...And that's that, darlings! What are some of your favorite beauty products? I would love to hear about what items you just can't live without.

XOXO,

~Cristina~
 

Monday, January 19, 2015

Chic and Delicious: 3 Canape Recipes You and Your Guests Will Love


 

Oh, Lovelies, we've all been there: you're throwing a cocktail party and aren't sure what to serve. You want to make something delicious and impressive, but you don't want to choose hors d'oeuvres that are time consuming, expensive and/or obvious and overdone.
 
Don't get me wrong, I love a quality charcuterie plate and cheese board as much as the next hostess and I believe that these crowd-pleasing snacks will never fall out of favor with party-goers. However, I have noticed these items have become so rote in our entertaining arsenals, that we almost expect to see them on buffet tables everywhere.  
 
So this got me thinking: "What if I could create canapes that are not only tasty, easy to prepare, and inexpensive, but are bite-sized combinations of the traditional meat and cheese platter?" Enter these 3 tasty and tiny bites of flavorful goodness...
 


Savory roast beef, tart cherry preserves, and salty crumbled bleu cheese
 
Salty prosciutto, earthy fig preserves, and nutty strips of parmesan cheese
 
Smoky Turkey breast, creamy brie cheese, sweet apricot preserves
 
All combinations are made with jarred preserves, paper thin slices of deli meat and set atop rich and buttery snack crackers, but feel free to improvise with whatever you desire; be it slices of crusty French bread, crispy toast points, flaky puff pastry, or even a fresh and crunchy lettuce cup.

 
 
These three recipes were created to keep costs, shopping list items, and prep time to a minimum while giving your guests a selection of chic snacks that will not only appease their appetites but will have them coming back for more.
 
I'd say these are reason enough to throw your next cocktail party, no?

XOXO,

~Cristina~
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Wednesday, December 17, 2014

Holiday Cocktail Recipe: The Winter Spice


Lovelies!
 
It's no secret that I love a good cocktail. I have always been intrigued by the art of crafting a delicious and perfectly balanced libation and how a well thought out specialty drink can elevate any party or celebration to next level goodness.


I love the holidays and the cold, snuggle-worthy weather that accompanies them here in the north east. To me, the holidays aren't quite complete without warming, spice-scented aromas and rich flavors and I believe that I have created the perfect cocktail to spice up your holiday gatherings this year... The Winter Spice!

 
This particular recipe was inspired by my love for the classic Manhattan and finding a new way to use my delicious (and surprisingly versatile) Royal Rose Cardamom-Clove Syrup. I am so excited to share this recipe with you. My Winter Spice Cocktail was truly a hit with my family this season and I hope you serve this crowd-pleasing holiday treat at your next party!
 
 
P.S.- If you can't get a hold of Royal Rose Cardamom-Clove Syrup you can quickly and easily make a deliciously spicy clove simple syrup at home for pennies! And you can view both recipes below. 
 
Happy Holidays, My Dears!


Cheers!
 
XOXO,
 
~Cristina~
 
 
The 'Winter Spice' Cocktail
Serves 1
 
2 ounces bourbon or spiced rum
 
1 ounce sweet vermouth
 
3 teaspoons Royal Rose Cardamom-Clove syrup
OR
3 teaspoons clove simple syrup (recipe below)
 
3 dashes orange bitters
 
Juice of one small orange wedge
 
Ginger ale or Ginger beer
 
Ice
 
Cocktail shaker or tall glass for stirring
 
Optional garnishes:
 
1 maraschino cherry
 
1 piece candied ginger
 
Orange twist
 
 
Directions:
 
Place ice in cocktail shaker or tall glass.
 
Add bourbon, vermouth, syrup, bitters, and orange juice to shaker.
 
Shake or stir to combine ingredients.  
 
Place ice in cocktail glass.
 
Strain and pour liquor mixture over ice.
 
Top with ginger ale and garnish.
 
Serve and enjoy!
 
 
Clove simple syrup recipe:
 
2 ounces whole cloves
 
1 cup water
 
1 cup granulated sugar
 
 
Directions:
 
Place all ingredients in shallow sauce pan.
 
Place sauce pan on stove and heat on medium/low heat until sugar dissolves. Stirring occasionally.
 
Once sugar is dissolved, remove pan from heat and let mixture cool completely.
 
Use immediately or let sit longer until desired clove flavor is reached.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Monday, November 3, 2014

Wine 101: Understanding the swirls, sniffs, and swishes...

Lovelies!
 
I am so, so, so, so excited for this post for so many reasons! The first reason being that it is all about wine. Duh! And secondly, it is dedicated to making wine a little bit (ok, a lotta bit) easier to wrap our brains around. Wine can be incredibly daunting. One can devote their entire lifetime to understanding wine and all of it's incredible complexity and still not know it all. However, it doesn't have to be so scary... And this is where my awesome friend Justen Lenig, comes in!
 
Justen and I met a little over 4 years ago while working in a restaurant in New York City. He was (and still is) my wine guy extraordinaire - aka - the one person I would run to when I was posed a question about wine that I in no way had an answer to; he was the one co-worker I trusted to listen intently to my questions, answer them in a way that I could understand, and left me feeling more confident and knowledgeable. I must admit, when I first met Justen, I had very limited knowledge about wine. I was the kind of person who had slight ordering anxiety at a restaurant and reached for the biggest bottle of Barefoot wine (ain't nothin' wrong with some Barefoot!) because I didn't have the foggiest idea as to what I was looking at on the shelves at the liquor store.
 
I am so happy that I was able to pick Justen's brain about wine. Below he selflessly shares some of his incredible wine knowledge with us. Believe me, if you are currently afraid of wine, you will not be after reading this Q&A! Now go forth into the world, my smart, confident, wine loving little birdies.
 
XOXO,
 
~ Cristina ~
 
~
 
 
 
Bespoke and Beautiful: If I don't know what the wines are on a wine menu, how do I ask for help without feeling silly?
 
Justen: You should never feel silly asking for help with a wine list.  Sommeliers* and waiters are employed and on the floor to help guests get exactly what wine they want.  To help the sommelier with the process, simply know what your personal preferences are: whether that be big rich whites that have been aged in new oak barrels and have notes of toast, vanilla and spice or lean high acid reds, (meaning wines that aren’t mouth filling and rich on the palate) like a typical Napa Valley Cabernet. 

*A sommelier, or wine steward, is a trained and knowledgeable wine professional, normally working in fine restaurants, who specializes in all aspects of wine service as well as wine and food pairing. The role is much more specialized and informed than that of a wine waiter: In fine dining today the role is strategically on a par with that of the executive chef or chef de cuisine.*
Bespoke and Beautiful: When I order a bottle of wine at a restaurant why does the waiter show me the bottle before they open it? Why it is necessary to open it in front of me?
 
Justen: The wine is presented so there is no confusion as to what wine was ordered and will be opened.  Wine lists may have multiple different wines from one producer, and price may vary greatly, so this presentation puts everyone on the same page.  I don’t believe in "the bottle needs to be opened in front of me mantra". I simply present the cork for their inspection and remove it once they are done.
 
B&B: Why does the waiter give me the cork? What am I supposed to do with it?
 
Justen: Some believe they can get a trace of TCA, (which is the chemical compound 2,4,6-trichloroanisoleon) on the cork, but I believe the wine is a better indicator and that corks smell like cork.  A tainted wine has aromas that can be described as moldy, musty, earthy or medicinal.  The cork can also be an identifier that the wine has been stored as it should be, which is on its side.  If you are presented a cork from a wine and it is completely dry, this could be a hint that the wine wasn’t stored properly.
 
B&B: I've seen people swirl the wine in their glass. What does that do and should I be doing it?
 
Justen: The swirl is simply to “open” up the wine and its volatile aromas.  A wine left un-swirled will not show the complex bouquet of fruits, herbs, spices and earthy components that make wine so beautiful.  So basically, swirl the wine in the glass and allow the wine to show its best. 
 

B&B: Am I supposed to smell the wine when it's poured in my glass? What am I smelling for?
 
Justen: You should be smelling the wine, and the most important thing to be smelling for are off smells.  TCA, which smells like wet cardboard is the most prevalent of off notes. If not stored properly, a wine can oxidize and smell overly nutty and honeyed, and if gone too far, can become vinegar.  Another controversial off note is Brettanomyces, a form of yeast that smells of barnyard, smoky bacon, band-aids and sometimes cheese.  Some people believe this is an off note, while others believe it lends complexity to a wine, if kept in check.  After confirming the wine is clean (without TCA and Brettanomyces), then smell for the beautiful bouquet of the wine. 

 
B&B: How do I know if a wine is bad? Wine smells like wine to me...
 
See question five, but never feel bad about asking somebody in the restaurant (hopefully a sommelier) to check the wine for soundness.  If he/she is a good sommelier, they will want you to have the maximum enjoyment from the bottle you purchase, no matter the price of the wine.
 
B&B: I bought a bottle of wine and it has a screw top. Does that mean that it's low quality?
 
Justen: That is a connotation that makes me sad. Stelvin closures, also known as the screw cap, is a science that is getting better and better.  There are even screw caps being made that allow a miniscule amount of oxygen in, and therefore can be aged like cork closed wines.  For the time being, though, unless a wine is being made for long term aging, a screw cap is a great choice for closure.  It eliminates issues associated with corks, like the ever-frightening TCA.
 
B&B: What does the year mean on a bottle of wine and why is that important?
 
Justen: It is the year otherwise referred to as the “vintage”; the year the grapes were harvested and made into wine.  It can be important as an indicator as what to expect in a wine.  A hot year will yield bigger wines with more alcohol, and cooler years yield leaner higher acid wine.  This is a grandiose generalization, and so much more goes into wine styles, but there are those that feel vintages are the best indicator.

B&B: Why doesn't my bottle have a year on it?
 
 Justen: That would mean it’s a non-vintage or multi-vintage wine, which is just a blend of the new wine from the current vintage, with reserve wines from past vintages.  This blending is usually only to make a house style, year in and out. Blending is unusual outside of sparkling wines, especially Champagne.
 

B&B: How do I know what type of wine to order at a restaurant or buy for a dinner party? Do I have to pair a red wine with red meat and white wine with white meat?
 
Justen: Rules of pairing are really just guidelines and are only there to help.  There are plenty of red wines that go beautifully with fish, and whites that can stand up to steak.  The one rule I always try to stick to is nothing tannic* with fatty fish like salmon.  The metallic taste that comes from it is remarkably unpleasant.  Besides that, drink what you like with what you like to eat.

*Tannins are what add a bitter astringency to wines. If you need assistance, ask your local wine shop owner for recommendations based on your menu.*
 
 
~
 
Justen recently moved to Stratford, CT after spending seven years in New York City working for some really great chefs in the restaurant industry. He initially started working in restaurants after he graduated college and found himself smack dab in the middle of the great recession. While working in restaurants he discovered and fell in love with the mix of artistry and science behind great wine. Now that he finds himself with more than 600 square feet of living space, he makes his own charcuterie, which hangs in his basement, next to jars of homemade pickles and jams. On any given day in the fall, he can be found watching football, apple picking, in a haunted house, or sipping a few Manhattans. He LOVES all horror movies... the good, the bad, and the ugly. And while he doesn't have a favorite food, he's always a happy man with a plate of fresh, raw oysters and a bottle of Chablis in front of him. His inspirations have been and will always be his family and friends. What’s the point of good booze if you’re not sharing it with someone you care about?  
 
Justen is currently the beverage manager for the Inn at Pound Ridge by Jean Georges in upstate New York.  
 
 

Friday, October 31, 2014

$30 DIY: Bright Bridal Bouquet

 
Lovelies!
 
Happy Friday and Happy Halloween! Ahhhhhhh Friday. I love Fridays. And I love flowers. Both of these things make me really happy. So, I thought I'd combine the two and be really, REALLY happy today!

This is not a total tutorial; it's not a full, step-by-step instructional. That will come at some point in the near future. Unfortunately, I was so excited to create this bright bouquet that I only gave myself enough time to take 1 photo before I dove right in. I just adore this bouquet and its color scheme. I really did buy all of these flowers at my higher end grocery store/fresh market and I literally paid less than $30.00 for all of them. I found the ribbon at my local Jo Ann Fabrics for about $1.00 with a 50% off coupon. I'm always lookin' for a deal.
 
My goal? I wanted to show each and every one of you beauties that you can indeed DIY your own wedding bouquet sans tears, drama, hysterics, fear, nervousness, anxiety... and the list goes on. This entire bouquet took me less than 15 minutes to put together and my-oh-my, isn't it lovely?
 
XOXO,
 
~ Cristina ~
 
Ingredients:
 
1 stem Gerbera Daisy
 
1 stem Snow Ball/Guelder Rose
 
1 stem Bupleurum
 
6 Billy Buttons (Craspedia)
 
5  stems Bloom Carnation
 
1 stem Godetia
 
1 large stem Hydrangea
 
1 stem Hard Ruscus
 
**All photos are courtesy of the immensely talented Gina Ricci Photography. Seriously. Her talent is off. The. Charts.**