BeautiFULL Clothes

So I lost the battle with this cold I have been fighting. It got the best of me, and rendered me helpless today. I laid in bed surrounded by balled up tissues and the sounds of daytime TV keeping me company. Once I was out of my Tylenol Warming Cough & Sore Throat haze, I decided to sit my achy body up and catch up on some DVR'd (man's greatest invention) episodes of one of my favorite shows -- Mad Men.

It's no secret. I love this show to pieces. The clothes, the era, the scandal -- it's all so . . . delicious! But, one of the main reasons I watch it (besides the super dreamy Don Draper) is for my girl crush fix, Joan Holloway. She represents what REAL women look like with her hypnotic hips and chic wardrobe. She's just so fabulous to me:

... And this is where I got the inspiration for today's post. Everywhere you look, you'll find super slim models and celebrities who aren't accurate representations of what the average woman looks like. So, I thought I would do a little digging online and find some chic, stylish clothing options for the plus-sized beauty. Here are a few cute pieces that I came across:

1. Veronique Dress in Berry, $136
2. Gloria Dress, $102
3. Glen Cowl Tunic, $58
4. Animal Print 2 in 1 Dress, $50.96
5. Cutwork Trim Top, $46.97
6. Purple Printed Longline Top, $55.73

A mix of dressy and casual looks that can be accentuated with jewelry and swanky accessories or a killer fitted leather motorcycle jacket. Who says you can be full and fabulous?

Celebrate your curves!
Steph

Food for Thought: Carrot Cake Ice Cream

Total time: 1 hour, plus chilling and freezing time
Servings: Makes 1 quart
Recipe courtesy of David Lebovitz [via LA Times ]

I'm not a HUGE fan of carrot cake, but I know so many people who are. Fall is a great time to start dusting off those recipe books and indulging in some comfort food. Try this modern spin on a chilled creamy classic.

SPICED PECANS:

1 cup pecan halves
1 tablespoon butter, melted
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
2 tablespoons dark brown sugar
1/8 teaspoon salt

1. Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Toss the pecans with the butter.

2. In a small bowl, whisk together the cinnamon, cloves, brown sugar and salt. Pour the mixture over the pecans and toss to coat completely.

3. Spread the pecans on a baking sheet and cook for 12 minutes, gently stirring halfway during baking to candy the nuts. Remove the tray to a rack and cool the nuts completely. Once cool, coarsely chop the pecans. Set aside.

CURRANTS:

1/4 cup dried currants
2 tablespoons whiskey

1. In a small saucepan, heat the currants and whiskey until boiling. Simmer until the currants have absorbed almost all of the liquid. Remove from heat and cover the pan. Set aside to cool completely.

CANDIED CARROTS:

2 cups finely diced carrots
2/3 cup sugar
2 tablespoons light corn syrup
2 cups water

1. In a medium saucepan, combine the carrots, sugar, corn syrup and water. Bring to a low boil and cook until the syrup is reduced to about 2 tablespoons and the carrots are translucent and candied, 20 to 30 minutes. Keep an eye on the carrots during the last few minutes so they do not burn. Drain the carrots and set aside to cool.

ICE CREAM BASE & ASSEMBLY:

1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese
1 1/2 cups sour cream (regular or low-fat)
2/3 cup sugar
1 teaspoon chopped lemon zest
Spiced pecans
Currants
Candied carrots

1. In the bowl of a stand mixer, or in a large bowl using a hand mixer, blend together the cream cheese, sour cream, sugar and lemon zest until smooth. Chill thoroughly.

2. Freeze the base in an ice cream maker. After churning, gently fold in the spiced pecans, soaked currants and candied carrot cubes. Freeze until firm.

Each one-half cup serving: 485 calories; 5 grams protein; 51 grams carbohydrates; 3 grams fiber; 30 grams fat; 14 grams saturated fat; 54 mg. cholesterol; 173 mg. sodium.

Enjoy!

Moxie Monday: Go Ahead, Cry

Crying doesn't indicate that you're weak. Since birth, it has always been a sign that you're alive.
So go ahead, cry. I won't tell anyone : )

Celebrate your need to release!
Steph

Escapism: Wyoming

Come away with me. Today we escape to Wyoming, home of Yellowstone National Park and the majestic Grand Teton.
The tenth largest U.S. state, Wyoming is the perfect place for couple retreats, ski enthusiasts or pure relaxation.

Amangani Resort in Jackson Hole, WY

Sunset in Oxbow Bend, WY [via Flickr]

Where do you want to go on your next vacation?

Gossip Girl: "A Nasty Piece of Work"

Tonight, is the season premiere of one of my FAVORITE TV shows, Gossip Girls!
Can I get a whoot-whoot?!

TV is definitely not as good as it used to be, so when I find something I like, I'm happy as a clam.Watching shows like GG reminds me of the juicy dramas I used to watch with my Mom back when I was a wee little gal. Dallas anyone?
The CW definitely hit the mark with this show ... and remember the ad campaigns that they ran last year? They literally took quotes from all of the nay-sayers and coupled the text with saucy screen shots from the show. In case you needed to be reminded:

One word: GENIUS. I'm a sucker for great advertising.
Oh, how I've missed the scandalous drama that occurs between our beloved Upper East Siders.
Are you guys ready? I am.

WTF (Watch this Fall)

You know you love me.
XOXO. Birthday a la Mode.

Celebrate a little drama!
Steph

Delectable Designers: Lorick

I discovered this designer by accident and it was such a beautiful surprise.
The new collection makes me think of what one would wear to chic cocktail parties in Paris or after-work dinners with friends in Italy. The vibe is so European and sophisticated and I love it!

You may have noticed some of Abigail Lorick's pieces on Gossip Girl. They played the role of Eleanor Waldorf's runway collection.

GG fans, remember these beauties?:

Elle

And are you kidding me? These are from her Fall '09 collection:

Photography by Tom Hines

Delicious!

Her line is only 2-years old, but Abigail Lorick is definitely making a name for herself. See more of her masterpieces here. Definitely out of my budget, but so pretty to look at!

Celebrate haute fashion!
Steph

Empire State of Mind

" ... These streets will make you feel brand new, the lights will inspire you. Let's hear it for New York ..."
- Empire State of Mind (Jay-Z)

Eight years ago today, I sat in a college classroom and wondered where everyone was. The room was empty and I assumed that class was canceled because the Professor never showed. So, I left.

As I walked back to my dorm room, I bumped into a friend of mine who ran over to me and said, "Did you hear what happened to the Twin Towers?".
I looked at her shocked and wide-eyed and yelled out, "What happened?? My Mom works there!".
She then took a step back and said, "then maybe I shouldn't say anything".

After much back and forth, she finally explained the story to me, and from there, we ran back to our rooms to turn on the TV.
A group of us gathered and watched as channel after channel showed horrifying images of a plane crashing into the building that we New Yorkers know so well.

The phone lines were out, the campus was in complete chaos. It was a day, like many others, that I will NEVER forget.

Today we look back and remember. We remember a day when so many lives were changed and a city was brought down to it's knees. We remember that tomorrow isn't promised and that life should not be taken for granted. But, most important of all, we remember life lesson #15, as told by Regina Brett. "Everything can change in a blink of an eye. But, we need never to worry, because God? He never blinks".

9.11.01: Always Remember.