"Favorite Things", Skull Edition:

Dear Margaret,

    Your Honeymoon sounds amazing and that meal looked delicious.. I can't wait to see more pictures. Definitely try out that 2 day soup cleanse.. I made the "mimosa soup" this weekend (just so I'd have it for lunches or as a side dish all week for added veggies) and it really does make me feel less bloated and healthier all around!

    As you know, I loooove me some skulls.. and the month of October as a whole.. so in honor of Halloween I wanted to share with you my favorite skull things right now. Whether it be gifts, decorations, accessories, for the home, products, or clothes.. you can never have too many skulls (in my opinion:).. especially when they are Alexander McQueen haha. Here are some of my faves:

xoxo,
Kara

Hostess Gifts:

1.) DL&Co Gold Journals
2.) Thomas Fuchs Resin Skull Coasters
3.) DL&Co Mini Skull Votives
4.) Kah Hand Painted Skull Tequila Bottles

Gifts: 

1.) Haute Hippie Cow Skull Sweater
2.) Thomas Fuchs Skull Bottle Stopper
3.) TokyoMilk Bubble Bath

 Accessories:

1.) Alexander McQueen Snakeskin Skull Cardholder
2.) Isabel Marant Joplin Skull Earrings
3.) Alexander McQueen Skull Chain Thong Sandals
4.) Alexander McQueen Leopard/Skull Scarf

 Decorations:

1.) West Elm Terracotta Skull Bowl
2.) Cow Skull Lights
3.) World Market Skull Ornaments
4.) Pottery Metal Skulls

 Accessories:

1.) Chan Luu Skull/Cross Necklace
2.) GlamRock Skull Bracelets
3.) Alexander McQueen Clutch

 Accessories: 

1.) Alexander McQueen Tusk/Skull Necklace
2.) Ashley Pittman Horn Skull Bracelet
3.) Dogeared Skull Studs
4.) Alexander McQueen Double Bracelet

Clothing:

1.) Wildfox "Death Becomes Her" Sweater
2.) Unif Inverted Skull Tank
3.) Wildfox Skull Sweater.. available at c.jane boutique
     (512)236-1435

Home:

1.) DL&Co Skull Mother-of-Pearl Tray
2.) Thomas Fuths White Marble Ice Bucket
3.) DL&Co Skull Cased Candle

Honeymoon Preview Part 1: Villa Mahana

Dear Kara,

I love all the posts you did while I was away. I really need to make myself some of this soup to cleanse after the honey moon and Kim's wedding this past weekend. I remember reading the book years ago and thinking that it was basically plugging the Vegan lifestyle.

The honeymoon was amazing! I wanted to highlight our favorite meal of the whole trip; La Villa Mahana in Bora Bora. Honestly it was one of the best meals I have ever had. The restaurant is quaint and romantic. It is only 6 tables and is in the chef, Damien Rinaldi Dovio's house and the wife is the waitress. His kitchen is gorgeous filled with copper pans. Damien's mother is a famous artists and her artwork is everywhere. Michael and I had the French pre-fixe (as opposed to the Mediterranean) which changes daily. We started with the seafood salad, then warm sauteed foie gras over new potatoes, lobster risotto, chateau brion (beef tenderloin) with cheddar cheese gnocchi and finally a flourless cake. To drink we had a 2010 Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand. (We became big fans of Cloudy Bay from our trip last summer to New Zealand. )

Everything was cooked to perfection! The steak put the New York steakhouses to shame. Since the restaurant is so tiny you have to book in advance, so when you go here :) book a table once you know your trip dates.

XOXOXOXOXO
Margaret

http://www.villamahana.com/

These figure sketches lined the top of the walls

Loved the painting behind me....

Seafood Salad

Lobster Risotto

Beef and Gnocchi

"French Women Don't Get Fat" 2 Day Reboot Plan:

Dear Margaret,

I'm back from Paris! It was such an awesome experience...not only did we find such amazing one-of-a-kind pieces and great new French lines for Pink Lagoon, we also ate delicious foods, walked what felt like the whole city, leisurely sipped tea, and just enjoyed their more relaxed culture. I absolutely loved the style..the women there are so effortlessly chic and not to mention, svelte... which brings me to my latest blog topic: on the 11 hour plane ride over there, I found it very fitting to read "French Women Don't Get Fat" by Mireille Guiliano.. if you haven't read it yet, order it now! 

In short, she grew up in France, moved to America to study abroad, got fat, then saw her doctor when she got back who introduced her to a reboot plan in order to bring her back to the French way of eating/savoring food. He recommends making a batch of "magical leek soup" to eat for two days in order to recast your body/mind and help rid of your bad habits. "Leeks are a mild diuretic and low in calories but highly nutritional. Forty-eight hours of leek soup plus all the water you want would provide immediate results to jump-start the recasting". I'm definitely going to do this asap after all the traveling/airplane food/salty meals/desserts in my life lately:) He also gives a "mimosa soup" recipe alternative for those that don't like leeks. Here they are (recommended doing over a weekend):

xoxo,

Kara

Magical Leek Soup (Broth)-serves 1 for the weekend:

-2 pounds of leeks

1.) Clean the leeks an rinse well to get rid of the sand and soil. Cut off the ends of the dark green parts, leaving all the white parts plus a suggestion of pale green. (Reserve the extra greens for soup stock.)

2.) Put the leeks in a large pot and cover with water. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat, and simmer uncovered for 20-30 minutes. Pour off the liquid and reserve. Place the leeks in a bowl.

The juice is to be drunk (reheated or at room temperature to taste) every 2-3 hours, 1 cup at a time. 

For meals, or whenever hungry, have some of the leeks themselves, 1/2 cup at a time. Drizzle with a few drops of extra-virgin olive oil and lemon juice. Season sparingly with salt and pepper. Sprinkle with chopped parsley if you wish. 

This will be your nourishment for both days, until Sunday dinner, when you can have a small piece of meat or dish (4-6 ounces) with two vegetables, steamed with a bit of butter or olive oil, and a piece of fruit. 

or...

Mimosa Soup-serves 1 for the weekend: (revised version)

-1 head lettuce

-1/2 pound carrots (several handfuls)

-1 broccoli crown (original recipes calls for 1/2 pound celeriac instead)

-1/2 pound turnips

-1 pound leeks

-1/2 pound cauliflower (1 small head)

-1/2 cup chopped parsley

-2 hard-boiled eggs, chopped

-optional flavor builders (1 cup chicken broth, sea salt and pepper)

1.) Clean and chop all veggies in rough pieces and put them in a pot, except for the cauliflower an parsley. Cover with water (and chicken broth, if using), bring to a boil, and simmer, uncovered, for 35 minutes. Add the cauliflower and parsley and cook for another 10 minutes.

2.) Pass all the cooked veggies through a food processor, blender, or use hand immersion tool to puree. 

3.) Serve the soup in a bowl, drizzle with a little olive oil, and add pieces of chopped hard-boiled eggs.

Eat 1 cup (at room temp or reheated) every 3 hours or so all day Saturday and Sunday until Sunday dinner when you can have a small piece of meat or dish (4-6 ounces) with two vegetables, steamed with a bit of butter or olive oil, and a piece of fruit. Somewhat less liquidy than leek soup but is an effective and tasty alternative. 

Healthy On-the-Go Grocery Guide:

Dear Margaret,

I hope you are still having a great time on your honeymoon...and you better be tan:) I can't wait to see pics.. I leave tomorrow for Paris so I will definitely share pics/discoveries/vintage finds/etc. when I get back... I'm so excited!

Anyhow..when I was in NYC last week for market, my friend Erin requested I write a blog post recommending a healthy grocery guide for her (a city girl on-the-go), bc she never has time to prepare a meal at home but still wants to be healthy without all the labor.  As we both know, New York is full of temptation on every corner, making it hard to stay on track (I seem to always gain a few pounds no matter how long my visit:).. so its helpful to always be prepared. She uses "Fresh Direct" grocery delivery service, so I went on their website and chose my recommended list of goods that are easy to prepare at home and/or pack with you for the day. I always advise choosing local, what's in season, and organic when possible... especially with dairy and produce. This "grab-and-go" list is a general guideline that applies to anyone anywhere who wants to look and feel good while in a time crunch:)

Enjoy!
xoxo,
Kara

Erin's Grocery List

Fruit:
-Honeycrisp apples (in season now and so delicious, pair well with peanut butter)
-Bananas (great in yogurt)
-Fresh cut fruit like pineapple, mango, melons, etc
-Berries
-Grapes
-BluePrint green juice (any brand of fresh pressed juice is good to have on hand as a great way to get more fruits and veggies)

Veggies:
-Raw bagged veggies like: mini sweet mixed bell peppers, broccoli and cauliflower florets, cherry tomatoes, baby carrots, sugar snap peas, etc. (can throw in any salad, eat them plain or dip in hummus)
-Packaged lettuces 
-Microwave-ready packs for dinner like: asparagus, edamame with sea salt, or brussels sprouts in herb butter
-"Little Dippers" with hummus (pre-cut celery and carrots)

Meat:
-can get a pack of lean grass-fed ground beef or turkey and make easy burger patties or meatballs with chopped onion/garlic/egg/salt and pepper to eat/pack with you all week.. they freeze well too.

Deli:
-Deli Cheese: get your favorite sliced cheese for sandwiches.. I love Muenster. Also organic string cheeses are handy to take with you.
-Deli Meat: all natural, antibiotic and nitrate free turkey, ham, or roast beef for sandwiches, wraps, or just snacking.

Cheese:
-Get a couple of your favorite cheeses for snacking, salads, sandwiches etc. They add calcium and protein to your diet. My favorites are: manchego, goat, feta, and parmesan. You can even just cut off a hunk and take to work with you for a snack with an apple or grapes, etc.

Dairy:
-Wholly Guacamole 100 calorie packs (spread on wraps or dip with veggies)
-Fage 2% Greek Yogurt (add fruit and/or healthy cereal or granola for any meal/snack.. perfect way to get protein)
-Cottage Cheese 2% (Friendship is a good brand with minimal ingredients. You can add chopped fruit, organic jelly, or cherry tomatoes and avocado.. all great options.)
-Free Range Eggs (hard boil them at the beginning of the week and take them with you)
-Whipped cream cheese (on Ezekiel cinnamon raisin toast in the morning.. so good)
-Organic half and half for your morning coffee
-Earth Balance Vegan Butter spread (for toast and cooking)

Grocery:
-Bottled waters or get a Brita filter
-Blue Diamond Almond milk (vanilla or original-can drink on own or use with cereal, etc. I love it)
-La Croix sparkling waters (love coconut and grapefruit.. good to pack with lunch)
-Organic coffee (can get instant if you prefer, Mount Hagen makes one)
-Food For Life Ezekiel sprouted grain breads, tortillas, English muffins, etc (keep in freezer).. My favorite is their gluten free Millet Bread
-Triscuits ("cracked black pepper and olive oil" and "dill" are my faves but "original" is good too)
-Kashi Go Lean cereal (has tons of fiber and protein.. will keep you full)
-Tate's Bake Shop gluten-free cookies (only 80 calories and very good)
-Ghiradelli Dark Chocolate Squares with Sea Salt (amazing.. I always have in my purse for my sweet tooth fix)
-Pirate's Booty snack packs (gluten-free)
-Glenny's Soy Crisps (love BBQ and Ranch.. 9 grams protein)
-Lundberg Spicy Black Bean Rice Crisps (gluten-free)
-Salsa of choice
-A good olive oil and vinegar for salads/cooking
-All Natural Peanut Butter or Almond Butter ("Peanut Butter & Co" good brand.. "Justin's" makes snack packs)
-Organic jelly (for toast or in cottage cheese)
-Pure organic honey (for yogurt or sweetness in general)
-Brown Rice microwave packs for quick lunches/dinners (just add protein, veggies, and sauce)
-Amy's Lentil Vegetable Soup (add dollop Greek yogurt for more protein)
-Mixed Nuts (favorites: walnuts, cashews, almonds, pistachios)
-Oatmeal Packs without added sugar (add nuts/nut butter and fruit.. can get hot water almost anywhere you go, so good to take with you)

Frozen:
-Amy's Individual Margherita Pizza (so delicious, I add ham and bell pepper before baking)
-Amy's Tamale Dinner
-Amy's Light and Lean Lasagna
-Kashi 7 Grain Waffles
-Organic chicken breasts or tenders (good to have on hand to throw together a quick dinner.. just defrost and sauté with herbs and olive oil) 

"Heat and Eat Meals":
-Always look at the "heat and eat" meals and their ingredient lists.. a lot of times they are really good and cheaper than ordering in.. and much easier than buying all the ingredients to make the dish yourself!

Emmy's 2012 Beauty Secret for Luscious Lashes:

Dear Margaret,

Last night's 2012 Emmy Awards show was full of glam, as always. The biggest beauty trend I've been noticing is luscious, full lashes. Besides the obvious extensions or falsies that stars are wearing, I came across an amazing, natural eyelash trick (at www.instyle.com). Emily VanCamp's makeup artist Rosie Johnston swears by Talika Heated Eyelash Curler (available at Nordsrom's). "In less than a minute, the soft heated pad of TALIKA Heated Eyelash Curler doubles the curl of your eyelashes, intensifying your look". In addition to that, Sofia Vergara's makeup artist Kayleen McAdams says, “the one item she (Sofia) could never live without is mascara!” McAdams applied three coats of CoverGirl LashBlast Volume Mascara on both the top and bottom lashes to lengthen and add volume. I will definitely be trying both of these products.. who doesn't want longer/fuller looking lashes at an affordable price?!

xoxo,

Kara

Transform Your Arms During Commercial Break:

Dear Margaret,

I hope you are having so much fun in Bora Bora! Can't wait to see pics! I want to share with you my favorite arm workout for when I don't have very much time, or when I'm traveling, or if I've been lazy and want to be productive during "Housewives" commercial breaks:) It's from the Tone it Up Girls, who have amazing figures, and it really produces results fast! I also threw in one of my favorite "Dancer's Legs" workouts you can do anywhere or when you don't feel like going to the gym..maybe you can bust these out on your Honeymoon:).. they have been very helpful for me while I'm in NYC for work with very little free time. Enjoy!

xoxo,

Kara

*Bonus*

NYC Spring 2013 Fashion Week Street Style Picks:

Dear Margaret,

I love the idea of real gold nail polish:) I will have to try that out stat. 

So, as you know, I will be coming to NYC this week for market (so sad/jealous you will be gone on your Honeymoon and I won't see you!). Every time before I come to NYC, I like to look at the current "street style" so I can get a grasp on weather/trends/what to pack/etc.. and lucky for me it was just fashion week there (as you know), so I have a lot of inspiration to chose from:) I saw a lot of leather, lace, embellishments, black & white, leopard, yellow accents, pop colors, collared dresses, etc. Here are my NYC Spring 2013 Fashion Week "street style" picks.. hope you enjoy and Bon Voyage:

xoxo,

Kara