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Chic and Charming
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31 December 2009

Birthday Wishlist

My birthday is this month...yay! Here are a few things on my wishlist :)












  • An antioxidant serum that I can put on under my AM moisturizer (suggestions?)
  • An AM moisturizer with at least SPF 25 (suggestions?)
  • Lipstick Queen Wine Saint







Images from myfashionjuice.com, Amazon, Kate Spade, Crane,
Stylecourt.blogspot.com, puglyfeet.com, outblush.com, aol.com

30 December 2009

Tumblr...

I wanted to take the opportunity to remind you to check out my tumble blog...one of my personal favorite places on the entire internet! I've previously written my ode to tumblr over on Girls Guide to Blogging...

29 December 2009

Chic and Charming in 2010 and beyond...

Hello darling readers...I think I need to refocus Chic and Charming, I think its been floundering a little. I have been feeling uninspired. I'm thinking of working on adding more regular features to keep me focused and improve my overall quality! So, please answer this poll and let me know what you'd like to see more of on Chic and Charming.

Dying to See Nine

I am dying to see "Nine" the new startlette studded movie based on the musical by the same name. Just before the holidays I downloaded the movie soundtrack to listen to on the plane. I am especially loving "Take It All" (Marion Cotillard). The Nine soundtrack is my new lingerie designing inspiration! Anyone seen the movie yet?

20 December 2009

What Should I Eat?

In denial...

The holidays are upon us, which means New Years Resolutions are just around the corner. Over the past few months I've been trying to force myself to come to terms with a large deposit of fat that has taken up residence on my body. I would say for at least the last three years, each time I look in the mirror I feel like I'm not really looking at me, I think the person in the mirror is actually wearing a fat suit, like Gwyneth Paltrow in Shallow Hal. I've tried to tackle this problem in fits and starts, losing ten to twenty pounds and then putting it right back on only to continue on my relentless march towards obesity and probably diabetes. It is so disheartening. I theoretically know what I should be doing, but I just cannot seem to make myself do it! It is not like I have no discipline, I just finished a Ph.D. for goodness sake! Yet still, with each passing week new pounds are added and the number of pounds I need to loose continues to balloon, such that I no longer feel like I will ever be thin again. It is not that I don't want to be thin, I really do! I love clothes and I hate that the most fashion forward options for me reside in the plus size section at my local Target. However I just don't know what to do to make it all seem managable. At this point, even loosing ten pounds wouldn't feel like an accomplishment because I would still feel totally disgusted by the number on the scale.

As I finish writing this article, I know I should be all motivated to go to the gym or take a nice long walk outside. Alas, I will probably just end up curling up in a ball under my duvet cover while eating cake or ice cream, promising myself that this really will be the last time...

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18 December 2009

Ten Things to do when you've Lost your Luster


Just like an heirloom strand of pearls, the special sparkle inside of you will become dull overtime if you leave it hidden instead of wearing it for all the world to see. Often you won't realize that you've even lost your luster, your glow, the force that makes you feel sparkly and happy until you've become so dull that it seems as if you will never return to your former glory. Other times, you'll lose your luster much more quickly, typically because the world has dumped a dustbin full of negative crap on you, leaving you feeling spiritually wilted, drained and dull.

In such situations you will probably feel like laying in bed all day and watching sob inducing movies like A Very Long Engagement whilst eating bonbons and drinking Sidecars. While this is a fabulous idea in other situations, in this particular case such wallowing will ultimately make you feel sulky and shabby. Instead I propose you consider one of the following suggestions:

  1. Expose yourself to some serious sunshine. Even if it is frigid outside, if the skies are clear take yourself on a bit of a walk outside. Sunshine is a natural spiritual rejuvenator.
  2. Make a date with your favorite girlfriends to do something that will allow you to chat while indulging yourself...think tapas, manicures or shooting pool.
  3. Give yourself an overhaul, including a bubble bath, body scrub, pluck, shave and face mask. Make sure to finish off the process with some silky moisturizer. Style your hair, even if you only plan to stay in for the night. Looking a bit nicer on the outside will make you feel better on the inside.
  4. Force yourself to work up a sweat for at least 45 minutes, I'm talking cardio. I know this is the oldest advice in the book, and frankly I have a hard time following it myself, but it often works.
  5. Do something fancy, like a night at the opera or ballet. Dress to impress, even if you just plan to go with your sister.
  6. Call an old friend on the telephone for a chat. Concentrate on talking about the good things that are going on in your life. Try to stay on the phone for at least thirty minutes, even if it means that you call multiple people.
  7. Undertake a challenging, engaging short term project, like making bread from scratch or re-painting your bathroom. Doing something productive that consumes your attention will re-charge your batteries and re-focus your attention.
  8. Unplug for the weekend, buy a few good books, turn off the TV, put your phone on silent and ignore all your email. You are unavailable, unattainable, fabulous.
  9. Take a day trip to a cute town or garden close by and take lots of artsy digital pictures. Sort through them at home and post the best ones on your facebook page or print them up for your wall at home.
  10. Make yourself a little afternoon tea around 3 pm, in a proper tea cup with milk and sugar. Buy a little fruit tart or milano cookies to have with your tea. Take your time and enjoy your treats before returning to the stress of everyday life.
Undertake any of the above activities while listening to the following soundtrack to enhance the experience:
Stripper, Soho Dolls
Superhero Girl, Eve 6
Rescue, Eve 6
The Girl's Attractive, Diamond Nights
The Cheap and Evil Girl, Bree Sharp
Extraordinary, Liz Phair
Barracuda, Heart
Beautiful Stranger, Madonna
I Touch Myself, Blondie
(Rock) Superstar, Cypress Hill
She Drives Me Crazy, Fine Young Cannibals
So What, Pink
Wicked Game, H.I.M. (cover)
A Girl Like You, Edwyn Collins
What Ever Lola Wants, Gotan Project Remix
Ooh La La, Goldfrapp
La La, Ashlee Simpson
Dirrty, Christina Aguilera
Let me Blow Ya Mind, Eve
Ticket to Ride, Beatles
American Woman, The Guess Who
Gimme All Your Lovin, ZZ Top
Heartache Tonight, Eagles
Take it Off, The Donnas
Just Dance, Lady GaGa
Ces bottes sont faites pour marcher, Eileen

17 December 2009

I love Pete Campbell a little bit more tonight

I found this picture of Pete Campbell (Vincent Kartheiser) while looking for pictures of Trudy. It was too perfect not to share.

Image from variety.com

Same Character, Different Decade


It is remarkable how much Trudy Campbell and Annie Edison have in common, in addition to to being played by Alison Brie.

Images from TV Guide

14 December 2009

Sonia Rykiel for H&M


It so totally sucks that my H&M got less than a quarter of the Sonia Rykiel. I need these slippers. I need the velvet jacket. I need the kimono.

10 December 2009

Christmas Party Menu


I have a fabulous little get together coming up this weekend and I am almost finished planning my party menu. The party is a potluck, so my contributions are a bit limited.

Beverages
Nose Warmer Punch
Wine
Beer
Sparkling Water

Cheese Plate
Maytag Blue
Drunken Goat
Aged Gouda
Parmesan
Pomegranate Seeds
Honey

Balsamic

black pepper water crackers
crosanti


Snacks
Festive Trail Mix
Dried Cherries, Dried Cranberries, Pecans, Almonds and Chocolate Chips

Butternut Squash Soup Shots
with creme fraiche and spiced pumpkin seeds

Assorted pre-made savory tidbits

Chips and Dip

Sweets
Warm Scharffen Berger Chocolate Chunk Cookies
Cream Puffs
Eggnog Trifle Bites

Image from Country Living

Affordable Christmas Cards

One of my tweet peeps (@susienotsusan) asked me to write a post about affordable Christmas cards and I totally spaced. This is probably not that surprising to people who know me in real life. I blame it on inhalation of marabou and glitter.

This list is probably not going to rock your world...this year my Christmas cards are from Walmart. In the past I've obtained cards from Target, Home Goods, TJ Maxx and Marshall's. The best deals on the cutest cards happen after the holidays, so if you are super on top of things you can purchase your cards for next year this year. That is how I got some fabulous Snow and Graham cards the year before last. My main criteria when choosing a holiday card is size, specifically I look for minimal space for a personalized message, so I don't feel bad about not writing a novel to each of my friends. This year I'm finally breaking down and sending a newsletter, to my own personal horror, it makes me feel officially old...at least I got adorable paper from Target.

I do have to specifically note Walmart's photo cards starting at $0.28 each, which is an awesome deal...and your cards will be just as cute as you!

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07 December 2009

Recipe: Chocolate cherry bourbon hand pies


One of my darling readers requested my recipe for chocolate cherry bourbon hand pies, so here it is:

  1. You will need to purchase a pie press from Williams Sonoma ($10)
  2. Make Pie Crust according to your favorite recipe (like Martha Stewart, Joy of Cooking, or the pre-made from the refrigerated section of your local grocery store). Roll out into thin even sheets and refrigerate for at least an hour on a cookie sheet.
  3. Dump a can of comstock canned cherries into a bowl, add about a cup of dark chocolate chips and 1/2 a cup of bourbon. Stir until mixed.
  4. Cut "front" and "back" crusts out of your pie dough, as many as you can fit. (Roll out your extras again and stick them back in the fridge for your next round.)
  5. Take one "front" and one "back" and place them inside your pie press. Spoon about 3-5 Tablespoons worth of filling into the press. Run a wet finger about the edges of each crust and then press together. Plop the finished pie onto a greased baking tray.
  6. Bake for about 20 minutes at 450 F. Keep an eye on things and cover you pies with foil if it looks like they are browning up too fast.
  7. Let cool so that you don't burn you mouth on the filling!
These pies are best for pie crust lovers, accordingly, be sure to use a really amazing pie crust recipe to turn out top notch treats. Also, I think these treats would be even better with a more concentrated and flavorful filling, like jam or lemon curd.

What did you do this weekend? I ate about 30 types of pie...

I've recently begun celebrating one of the most amazing holidays of all time...Piemas. Piemas is a day devoted to celebrating the deliciousness of pie, all pie: pizza pie, shepherds pie, old English rabbit pie, grasshopper pie...well, you get the point. Piemas is always celebrated the first Saturday after Thanksgiving, because lets face it, pie doesn't really receive its due on Turkey Day. In fact, Piemas's origins lie in an excess of delicious pies produced one fateful, cold New England Thanksgiving. A genuis group of friends recognized the goodness of large quanitities of pie, and decided to make an entirely seperate meal. This year for piemas I made a pecan pumpkin pie (above) and chocolate cherry bourbon hand pies (below).

03 December 2009

And the winner is....


I've decided to award all five entrants in the Boudoir Betty Giveaway a Make Your Own Pasties Kit in their favorite colors! Thank you for taking the time to enter, and email me at chic.and.charming@gmail.com with your mailing address to claim your prize.

XOXO,
Sophia/Betty