Thanksgiving Recipes

Baked Curried Brie

1 tsp. curry powder (less if you like)

1/4 cup cashews, coarsely chopped

1/4 cup fruit chutney (Sante Fe Seasons Cranberry Especial)

1-8 oz. wheel of Brie

Sprinkle curry over cheese and rub into top and sides. Spread chutney over top and sprinkle with cashews. Press cashews into chutney. Bake 10 minutes in 325 oven on magic baking sheet. Gently slide onto platter and surround with crackers. Let cool slightly before serving. (This is where you use your cute new Thanksgiving spreader!)

Zesty Pumpkin Soup

¼ C. butter 1/8 t. cayenne pepper 1 C. chopped onion

1 clove garlic, crushed 3 C. chicken broth 1 t. curry powder

1 C. half and half ¼ t. ground coriander

1 16 oz. Can solid pack pumpkin

Sour cream and chives to garnish (optional)

In large saucepan, melt butter. Sauté onion and garlic until soft. Add curry powder, coriander and cayenne. Cook about a minute. Add broth and boil gently uncovered 15-20 minutes. Puree the chicken broth/onion mixture in small batches in blender. (If you blend hot liquids in large batches you will have a big mess on the ceiling if you’re not careful!) Return smooth mixture to saucepan and stir in pumpkin and cream. Cook five more minutes. Taste and adjust for spices. (Notice no salt called for because prepared chicken broth can be so salty already.) Serve piping hot and garnish with dollop of sour cream and chopped chives if desired.

** 2of Mom's favorite Thanksgiving Recipes -- She's still resisting the blog-o-sphere -- so I'll continue to repost the stuff she wants out there to share **

Happy Halloween

Francesco Lagnese for REAL SIMPLE, via Viva Amore

Holidays always remind me of how much I miss home. For some people, the holidays are stressful.. I get that. In-laws, family who you only see a few times a year, cooking, travel, gifts... On top of "Real Life" it can be a lot. Still, I am endlessly thankful for all of the vivid and fabulous memories I have of traditions, mishaps and joyfulness. I'm sure if this short entry was about Thanksgiving or Christmas (Christmas, especially) it A) wouldn't be short and B) would be a whole lot more sappy. Halloween is, and has always been, my Dad's favorite holiday. Between my mom and dad duplicate pumpkins are purchased every year. Considering that's 6+ pumpkins.. I'm sure you can imagine the front porch. Extras: boyfriends, friends, friends of friends, relatives of friends... there are always extra participants.. and always enough pumpkins. Dad always does the prep work while the kids (Well.. when we were kids... haha.. Who am I kidding? We'll always be kids) dig out the slimey pumpkin seeds. Mom and Em and I always save, rinse and prep for baking. Everyone carves.. somehow mom always last. Kiss FM or something mainstream like that plays on the ancient garage radio. When pumpkins are finally lit, placed on the ledge, decorating the front of the house in a less-than spooky manner, we all gather inside for some sort of gourmet take out. Man.. I miss home.

Carving Pumpkins in the Garage

Cheesy Decor

Terra Bella

Can't forget fabulous October Orange County sunsets.

Ready for Crisp and Cool.. not Rainy and Gross

Via Trust Your Style

More Fall Outfit Inspiration

(For the Dan)

Via The Sartorialist

Fall

I'm so ready for fall.


Except for this...

Images Via .|.|.

Favorite looks: Anna Sui for Target

Via NY Mag

Launching in Target stores/ online Sept. 13, 2009

Rodarte will also Launch a Go International Line for Target on Dec 20th

NOTE: I only ended up keeping 2 pieces from this collection (The blue tunic and the gray/black mini dress) -- the rest were cheaply made and just NOT worth the price tag -- even for Target.

Style at Work

FALL FASHION AS STYLED BY MONICA ROSE

Via Lucky Magazine for an editorial on LA Fashion

Our company recently launched a new associate dress code entitled "STYLE AT WORK," in an attempt to encourage the expression of individual style while maintaining a uniform (read: all black) restriction. Policy now allows for sleeveless tops to be worn, as well as leggings and slightly (read: not OVERLY) embellished tops, etc. We've identified many key looks for Fall (read: 3Q/4Q) that aren't impossible to work in to the associate wardrobe within these restrictions. Still, I'm struggling to keep any sort of expression of my "STYLE AT WORK". Leggings with a tunic... yes, doable. But the boyfriend blazer? fierce booties? plaid? flannel? what's going on out there?

I'd love to do something like Geri Hirsch (Above) (fashion blogger of Because I'm Addicted) but my job isn't too look edgy and awesome.. it's to look professional (read: all black/ drab)

help.