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26 November 2009

Boudoir Betty Holiday Giveaway!

I have some really fantastic offerings over at Boudoir Betty this holiday season and several really great holiday sales and discounts. I am especially loving the "Make Your Own Pasties Kit."

I'm giving away my make your own pasties kits to three Chic and Charming readers. To enter, just leave a comment (just one per person) on this post telling me your favorite pastie color combination. Winners will be selected by a random drawing on December 2, 2009. Feel free to spread the word, anyone who posts about the giveaway on their blog will get an extra entry in the giveaway (just leave a second comment linking to your post).

***Also check out these Holiday Specials running 11/27/09-12/12/09***
  • Buy 1 Pastie Making Kit, Get the Second 1/2 Off
  • Free Shipping on Orders $50+ (including international!)
  • Discount Code for 25% off your next order with every purchase
  • Just for Chic and Charming Readers: Free giftwrap, just enter "Have a Chic and Charming Holiday" in the message section of your order.

25 November 2009

Chic and Charming's Etsy Shopping Archive


I don't want to bore you by repeating the same shops over and over, but I did want to remind you of a few of my favorite etsy shops that have been previously featured on Chic and Charming:

Etsy Holiday Guide: Pilli Pilli Shop Scarfs

I am in love with all things Pilli Pilli, an absolutely darling etsy shop. I first noticed the shop because of the totally adorable animal scarflettes. But, the more I poked around the shop, the more I fell in love. Pilli Pilli Shop sells the wares of a charming Belgian expat who moved (for love, of course) to a tiny Italian hillside village. She knits/crochets beautiful creations with 100% merino wool and her creatures are made without following a pattern so each one is unique. Personally, I love the arctic fox!

Image from PilliPilliShop

Etsy Holiday Shopping Guide: Sexy Succulents



Recycled exotic dancer shoes make fantastic planters. I want one. I think they are GENIUS!

24 November 2009

Etsy Holiday Shopping Guide: Fairytale Papercuts


Elsa Mora creates charming fairytale cutouts, available as prints through her etsy shop elsita. A trio of prints would make a fantastic addition to any nursery or a great gift for a small child. Little Red Riding Hood, Peter Pan and Mary had a Little Lamb are my three favorites.

Image from elsita

23 November 2009

Minx Nails on Wendy Brandes

Wendy Brandes, purveyor of all things fabulous, recently posted about her new Minx manicure and pedicure. Her new chrome nails are totally fantastic and I can't wait to hear how they hold up over the next week. Do you think she can see her reflection in her nails like a mirror?

20 November 2009

I Suwannee's Shop, Furbish Studio

Its always kind of random when you run into a blogger you follow in the flesh, but that is exactly what happened to me yesterday! I took a little jaunt down to Raleigh and as my friend and I wandered around Glenwood South (very chichi part of town) we ran across i suwannee's Jamie's shop, Furbish Studio, which does not technically open until today. Jamie's shop is totally adorable! I would highly recommend it for furniture, which is all cheerfully painted and affordably priced. So, if you find yourself in Raleigh-town go check it out!

Image from isuwannee.com

Glossy Holiday Gift Guides


I love the December issue of my favorite magazines even more than the September issue because of the fabulous holiday gift guide features. In fact, my glossy consumption increases about 400% in November when the holiday magazine issues hit the stand. I'm currently paging through InStyle and Lucky holiday issues. Lucky's holiday guide was kind of unimpressive, but they made up for it in other ways...I mean, lets face it, Lucky is like one giant shopping/gift guide year round. Instyle is pretty awesome, with a fantastic holiday party section in the back, as usual. What is your favorite magazine gift guide?

Image from channel4.com

18 November 2009

Edition 1: Lessons from Texts from Last Night

I'm sure that all of you lovely blog readers are fully aware of texts from last night, the website that posts texts generally submitted by inebriated people, or forwarded from friends of inebriated people. I bet you've never noticed the wisdom in these titillating tidbits. There are suprising lessons to be learned from TFLN, as you will see below. I would classify the following as kind of R-rated, which eliminates about half of all the posts on website which I would give an NC-17. I just can't bring myself to defile C&C with such dirty shenanigans. Leave your favorite TFLN in the comments.

On how to make a condom magically appear:

(510): he said he didn't have a condom.
(415): and you said?
(510): that that's fine cause i was ready to be a mom. yeah - he magically had a condom he forgot about after that.

On the dangers of ambien, after hearing tales from MD friends, I totally believe that this could be true:
(847): i took some ambien and I TRIPPED out...i went into my mom's room to say goodnight and i don't remember anything...she said that i got really pissed at her because we were living in the Keebler elf tree and she was visiting other trees, then i started laughing hysterically and she goes "whats so funny?" and i go "there are 7 people sitting on my knees" and she goes "doesn't that hurt?" and i said "no we're sitting in a bowl" and then i capped it off and said "join the crazy train bro" and passed out.

Even cops sometimes have a sense of humor...then again there is probably not much to keep them entertained in New Mexico. A cop once complemented me on my toga when we arrived at a party at the same time...he was there to break it up. I told him I was real disappointed because I'd never been to a toga party before.
(505): Thank you for holding my vodka while the police let me ride their horse.

List your parents and siblings as "mom" "dad" "sister" etc. in your cell phone to avoid this
(212): i want you now
(916): you need to stop dating girls with the same name as your mother...or stop drinking so much...I don't want to see this

Personally, I think this is a totally classy move:
(251): She tried to keep her legs crossed last night while doing a keg stand. Way to keep it classy.

Attention exs and parents, they will usually check you out at customer service. I totally sold condoms, lube and monistat to my friend's parents when I worked in a grocery store in high school. SO WRONG!
(863): I was the only open register tonight and I just sold condoms and chocolate frosting to the ex.


17 November 2009

In related news...


Just had to share two quick items related to recent posts:
1. Target has a cake/brownie pop silicon baking mold in their Christmas section.
2. I saw the Harajuku Lovers Solid Perfume 5-piece Coffret Set at Marshalls for $39.99. I hope it goes on clearance...I especially hope someone steals/mess with/misplaces the "baby" face so that I can get it on super clearance.

Image from Bakerella

16 November 2009

Santa Baby: Target Makeup

So, maybe I am on a bit of a Target kick, but this Christmas we all need to find fabulous gifts at fabulous prices. The makeup selection at Target is phenomenal and make up kits from their designer make up lines make great small gifts for stocking stuffers:










Images from Target

14 November 2009

Santa Baby: Target Christmas Decor

Its beginning to look a lot like Christmas! Well, not really, but due to retail desperation the shops are already dressed to the Ts in preparation for the holiday retail extravaganza. As always, Target has some really awesome holiday decor:


Ursula Gingerbread House Mold looks like a lot of fun as does this gingerbread man mold:



I also love both of these Target service pieces:







Images from Target

12 November 2009

11 November 2009

Rainboots that don't look like rainboots


I am totally digging these equestrian style rain boots from Banana Republic. They are just as waterproof as your favorite wellies and just as stylish as your favorite leather boots! Forget Hunters...they boots should be your wet weather companion.

Image from bananarepublic.com

10 November 2009

I love Streamline Luggage!


I love vintage steamer trunks, and vintage-y looking luggage in general. So, I am totally obsessed with Streamline Luggage, a collection of beautiful suitcases that will remind you of the days when travel was glamorous. Streamline luggage comes in several coverings (cloth, leather) and several color styles (candy colored, primary colors, white and tan) and is surprisingly affordable. Santa Darling, do add an entire set to my Christmas Wishlist!

Images from Streamline
Found via Martha Stewart Weddings

A magazine about blogging


I was in Borders the other day and I saw a print magazine about blogging...so bizarre.

Image from ppamarketing.net

09 November 2009

Santa Baby: Harajuku Lovers Solid Perfume 5-piece Coffret Set


Dear Santa,
Today as I was killing time in Ulta I ran across the most adorable perfume set that I have ever seen in my entire life! Gwen Stefani's Harajuku Lovers Solid Perfume 5-piece Coffret Set comes with five little mini compact size solid perfumes each shaped like a sweet little female face. If I was Rachel Zoe I would say "I Die!" But, since I am not Rachel Zoe, who could very well be on your naughty list for her endorsement of leggings, I do hope that you will consider bringing me the set for Christmas.



Just between you and me I like just about every scent except for "Baby," so if you want to ask an elf to switch that one out for something else you won't hear any complaints from me. You could even stick Baby in someone else's stocking, maybe someone who has been naughty and deserves to smell like baby wipes. Maybe Rachel Zoe.

Kisses!
Sophia

Image from HSN.com

Fairytale eggplants


Just made dinner for a friend and it was adorable and delish, so I had to share. As I strolled through the farmers market this weekend I ran across fairytale eggplant for sale and I HAD to buy them because my friend RD told me that if I ever ran across these lilliputian veggies I needed to try them. Fairytale eggplant is supposed to be less bitter than plain old eggplant, plus its adorable.

At first I was going to make them into some sort of Indian curry dish, but at the last minute I decided to make mini eggplant parmesan instead. I cut each little eggplant int0 long halves or thirds and let them sweat it out for about thirty minutes. Next I breaded each with Italian panko crumbs and baked them at 350 until they looked to be done. I sprinkled them with an italian cheese mix and stuck them back in the oven on broil to melt the cheese. Then I took about seven slices and laid them across a bed of pasta covered in spicy tomato sauce. Yummy! I highly recommend this dish for entertaining or as a little treat for yourself.

Image from buzzcritic.com

08 November 2009

A girl can dream...

My favorite post in my clogged to the gills google reader comes from CoCo's Tea Party...Christina Aguilera's Shoe Wall.

07 November 2009

Calling All Nominations!

Hello Darlings,
It is time for my annual Etsy Holiday Shopping Guide! I'm looking for suggestions and nominations. What are your favorite Etsy shops? What would you like to get from Etsy this holiday season?

XOXO,
Sophia

06 November 2009

Currently Loving Cake Pops

I've vaguely noticed cake pops/cake balls over the last few months both online and in print, but recently they've been upgraded from "noticed" to "fixated." You know how cupcakes have suddenly become kind of a culinary obsession? I think cake pops are headed towards being the "next big thing." Cake pops are fabulous for all the same reasons cupcakes are fabulous and they take things up a notch.

Sheet cake and layer cake are great...cupcakes are even better because they have everything that big cakes have plus they are cute and small. Mini cupcakes are even better because they are cuter than plain old cupcakes, ergo cake pops must be the best because they are currently the cutest and the smallest version of cake available. Cake pops are also less messy to eat than cupcakes and present a three dimensional decorating surface. Not to mention they are one delicious type of dessert (cake) imitating another equally delish type of dessert (lollipops). From what I understand cake pops are easy to make. Finally, I would be remiss if I did not point out that cake pops are food on a stick, and as anyone who been to a state fair cal tell you...all food tastes better on a stick.

I recommend checking out the cake pop section over at bakerella.com for an amazing selection of festive cake pop options. I am personally hoping that my sister Marilyn, master of baked goods, reads this article and decides to make the turkey cake pops for Thanksgiving (in addition to the pumpkin pie made from actual fresh pumpkin that she was planning).




Images from Bakerella