Oscar Party- Creative Healthy Appitizers

The oscars are glamorous, untouchable, almost other-worldly. Well, living vicariously on the stars special night through your television set is not so bad when you can accompany your dreams of fame by delicious bites. Now you have something the celebrities don’t get for even months leading up to this big night. Food. Although, they could eat everything in this post without gaining a pound. (wheat/gluten free, no added sugar)  This is  the ideal celebrity celebration party menu. So do a little prep and reap the benefits of having your friends be your biggest fans while you sit back and watch the oscars together. Cheers!

Menu:

–Champagne Jello Shots garnished with edible pearls

-Twice baked potato skins with brie, roasted rosemary grapes,
walnuts, and balsamic dressed arugula

-Savory truffles made of goat cheese and pistachio coated grapes

-Radicchio cups filled with roasted zucchini, lemon and quinoa,
dressed with oregano and white balsamic,  finished with fresh parmesan.

-Lemon almond cake-lets sweetened with honey and topped with raspberry
preserves and unsweetened whipped cream

Need recipes? Leave me a comment!

2014 Fall Fashion Forecast

Well into the couture shows now, we have seen all of the Pre-Fall collections. That means the 2014 fall RTW fashion week is right around the corner.  Judging from the pre-fall lines, however, there are already some strong trends to keep an eye out for.

Start building your fall wardrobe now with fuzzy outerwear in all shades, sequins for any time, boxy shaped and pleated wool pieces, tassel like fringe, and glamorous and refined cowboy meets indian. Some other micro trends… rusty shades on everything, and the newest shape in pants- cropped palazzo.

‘Fuzzy Wuzzy”
Fluffy outerwear, this year’s playful fur

“All that Glimmers”
Last years metallic trend is amplified with sequins on everything

“Box Cut”
Wool takes on boxy shapes for voluminous strength

“On the Fringe”
Tassel lining on every garment is the newest finishing touch

“Cowboys and Indians”
The wild west is a strong presence, but the rivals play nice togetherin the new 2014 season.

Micro trends: “A Little Rusty” and “Cropped Palazzo Pant”

pictures from style.com

Ladies Thyme- A Champagne Punch

Champagne cocktails can have it all. fresh. light. herbal. sweet. savory. bubbly… Morning, noon, or night. Universal.

When hosting, champagne punch is a blank canvas. This is one rendition I made for a bridal shower and appropriately dubbed “Ladies Thyme”.  I used a sweeter sparkling wine, prosecco, with no added sugars to not overwhelm but to highlight the herbal and citric notes of this punch. What made this uniquely perfect however, was the homemade thyme bitters.  Try it at your next event!

Ladies Thyme

2 bottles Sparkling wine (Prosecco)

2 cups Gin

1 bunch Thyme (1/3 cup packed)

32 oz unsweetened or hand squeezed ruby red grapefruit juice

A week before your event find a glass bottle large enough for the herbs and the gin. Simply put the gin and herbs in the bottle and place it in an unlit place. The day of the event, gather your punch bowl pour in your thyme “bitters” followed by your grapefruit. Just before guests arrive, uncork the champagne and top.

For best results, ladle into champagne glasses and enjoy a few before your friends drink it all.  Cheers!

Day to Night Black and White

Anyone in the fashion industry will tell you, trends are getting more and more difficult to identify as street style is developing such a forceful front. Style trends have developed more into personal style, and with so many dynamic individuals on the streets fashion has become a free for all.

Who are you? What story do you want to tell? What character or art do you want to express? Fashion tells a story, so dress for the point you want to make!

Simplicity of black and white communicates stark, sleek, strong, industrial, powerful, edgy, confidant, universal, even sexy. Dressed to take on the world. Black and White, Day to Night.

Photos by Amy Hanen.

Cocktail Chronicles Kickoff ….. Captured on the iPhone.

Truffled Martini: Truffle stuffed olives

I know what you’re thinking…. this blogger is an alcoholic. If I say no, well then I just may be! So I’ll just say, I have found a passion for having, and crafting a well made cocktails. Usually, Im a wine drinker, but have found cocktails so have so many of the same qualities a a full bodied earthy yet fruit forward red. I mean, what is not to love? Layers of well balanced flavor to keep surprising, and a little goose to top it off. Cocktails are like the perfect red wine blend, but with infinite possibility.

Cocktails are like the perfect red wine blend, but with infinite possibility.

Cocktails are so creative. everything you would do with a meal, you can do with a cocktail. Spicy, sweet, savory, sour, bitter… I find mixology an Art. An Art I tend to partake in on my own time.

As a bit of a precursor to what I will be later posting- my own  “Cocktail Chronicle” series- Infusions, fresh pressed mixings, herbs, homemade bitters and reductions. From picked carrots, to spicy ginger, and often a kick of  jalapeño and depth of whiskey, I cannot wait to share my own passion for balanced libations with you. Ill call it a serious fun.

Here are a few mixed concoctions I’ve captured while out and about to feed your intrigue of what is to come….

Angostura Smash: Makers Mark, Lemon Simple, Muddled Mint

3 Bitter Manhattan: Classic Manhattan with angostura, citrus, and black walnut bitters

Peter Rabbit: Pimm’s #1, bruised basil, pressed lemon, pickled carrot

No. 87: Currant Infused Rye, Becherovka, Ginger Beer, Fresh Lime

Penicillin: Scotch whisky, lemon juice, honey syrup, fresh ginger
(Usually single malt scotch ) but subbed Mescal for smokiness

Poolside Gimlet: Gin, fresh lime, mint, and the kicker…. celery bitters

The Fashionista: Vodka, ginger beer, muddled blackberry, and jalapeño

 

Let’s get the Holiday Parties Started: ACI Holiday Luncheon

After a season off from the bog, This Christmas I’m ready to take it back on track, and what better time of year?

 

Glitz. Glamour. Gifts. Food. Friends. Festivities. It’s the peak season to entertain in style. Look good, feel good, and do good. I will document it all.

 

Beginning with the Holiday Luncheon with the Arizona Costume Institute, supporting the Phoenix Art Museum, and our Fabulous Curator of Fashion Design Nennita Sewell. Guest speaker David Downton, famous fashion Illustrator came to speak to all the lunching ladies about his meandering and successful career path in the fashion industry.

 

See for yourself. 

 

Hope to see you there next year!

Taylor

Party Like it’s 1925

After a season away from the blog, I figured it was time to bring in back just in time for fall. There is so much I cannot wait to share with you all.

What a perfect way to start back too, with this amazing show opening up at the Phoenix Art Museum.

Brilliantly timed, and curated by Dennita Sewell aligned with the reawakening of art deco in our current fashion, she highlights just how modern 20’s fashion is. Gorgeously and brilliantly designed, these pieces, especially the Chanel, are something anyone woman would love to wear today.

Although I did not have a vintage Chanel dress to wear this evening, I found this flapper style dress at Zara, and these Moda T-strap pumps finished the look. Voilà, modern vintage.

Lady-Like, It’s No trend.

“Be Gracious if it Kills You”

No matter the trends, time of year, designer’s artistic view and personal style lady like appeal is season-less. Although fashion does not make a woman a lady…… It certainly can enhance that feminine and gracious charm.  From Spring to Fall, a variety of shapes, styles and colors scream- Lady.

Photos Collected from Vogue.com

Savoring Images

Inspiring, nostalgic, sense provoking. For whatever the reason, we love to save images. The internet is a wealth of information and visual motivation.

If you are like me, you have folders upon folders on your computer- some labeled, some miscellaneous- full of images that caught your fancy.

Recipes, Art, Fashion, Travels, DIY projects…. anything to ignite the creative mind.

I frequent blogs and constantly google, but now, when I find an exciting image, Pinterest is my go to.

How perfect! I have a blog because I enjoy sharing and creating inspiration. Now instead of just hoarding away images to fill up computer and clutter my desktop- I can instantly post my exciting new find to my designated board. I can easily organize and visit the prompt again on my own page. Best of all, you can see it too!

I compile and curate tasteful lifestyle stimulus on my blog for my readers. However, there are plenty of discoveries and small muses that is worth noting and may not make in into a full post. For that there is Pinterest.

Follow me on Pinterest for even more artist palate insight.

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A Bit of Good Taste Can Upgrade Your Life.

Bus Stop and rest a while in a comfortable environment!

Even the least glamourous everyday experiences can be elevated. I transformed this regular bus stop into a destination, utilizing  curtains and pillows for softness, a library, fine wooden furniture and lighting fixtures and framed pictures for touches of warmth.

Some of you were able to experience this specially designed and welcoming environment at the bus stop on Van Buran and 4th Street in Phoenix this past Friday, March 2. Even those who did not see it first hand would probably still agree that this stop is preferred to a regular bus stop’s cushion. Those who use the stop daily were pleasantly surprised and put at ease by their new and improved waiting domain. Others passed by and wished it was their stop instead of their plain wait station so they too could relax as they waited on that windy day.

Phoenix is full of design savvy and tasteful people and you have an appreciation for the good things in life. I styled this mundane daily experience of waiting for the bus to provide a little gift of class and polish to those who could benefit from a little uplifting (that’s all of us).

It’s true, a bit of good taste and upgrade your life.