Holiday Hairstyles

Add some glitz and glam to holiday attire this year with hair accessories.  This trend is the perfect way to dress up any look.

Jennifer Lawrence uses sported this embellished braided bun to The Hunger Games premier in LA this year.
Check out JenniferBehr.com for some fabulous hair accessories like these.
 

Natalie Portman sports a sleek headband to add
a bit of glamour to her look. UrbanOutfitters.com 
has a great selection of headbands, just like Natalie's.

Eva Mendes looks stunning with her
hair accessory.  Check out Nordstom.com to find some sophisticated
hair clips like this.

The hair accessory trend is coming straight from the runway this season.  For some
statement pieces like this one check out Free People Vintage.

Tomy B. - Kale Power

Tomy B. - Kale Power

Kale Power

Kale Power!
By: Miranda Hunt


Psst.  I have a juicy secret.  What if I told you there was an inexpensive and easily accessible food that could naturally shave years off one's mug?  Say hello to kale, one of nature's best kept secrets.  On any random day, one can walk into most food stores and procure an ample bunch of my most favorite cruciferous vegetable for under a dollar.  How groovy and  unheard of is that?  Whilst being tasty and cheap, kale is very high in beta carotene, vitamin K, vitamin C, lutein, and calcium.  In addition to making the delicious salad below, kale can also be enjoyed many ways.  Here are a few I dig:
Make an easy salad with a bunch of thinly sliced kale, red peppers, sweet onion, currants, and balsamic vinaigrette.
Braise chopped kale and gala apples, garnish with chopped pecans, and add a splash of lemon juice.
Toss rigatoni pasta with chopped kale, pine nuts, blue cheese, and a little extra virgin olive oil.
Cover and cook a pound of chopped kale with a few garlic cloves and 2 tablespoons coconut oil for 5 minutes; season with sea salt, pepper, and red wine vinegar.
Make kale chips by slicing kale into bite-size pieces, toss with a drizzle of light olive oil and a pinch of sea salt, and bake for 20 minutes at 350 degrees in the oven.

Kale Salad with Avocado and Apple


Ingredients:
*1 bunch of kale, thick stems removed and coarsely chopped
*1 ripe avocado, diced
*sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
*1 small garlic clove, peeled and minced
*2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
*1 carrot, peeled and sliced into thin half moons
*1 apple, sliced thin
*1 scallion, green part only, thinly sliced
*1 handful fresh mint or cilantro, chopped

Directions:
1. Place kale in a large bowl. Add sea salt, garlic, and olive
oil. Mix very well, “massaging” the greens for about 3 minutes.

2. Reserve a small handful of the carrot and apple slices for garnish, then
gently fold the rest into the kale mixture with the scallion, and
herbs. Add avocado.  Taste and season with additional sea salt, if necessary.
Enjoy!

Operation PMS: Brownies with Brazil Nuts

By: Miranda Hunt

Premenstrual syndrome:  Almost all of us get it but few of us know how to treat it naturally.  What if dessert held the key to soothing your bad mood, bloating, and cramps?  Welcome Brazil nuts: the richest source of selenium, a vital mineral that helps banishes the blues.  Adequate levels of selenium also help prevent coronary artery disease, liver cirrhosis, and cancers.  Brazil nuts also contain ample magnesium, another mineral that slays PMS, as it is a mild muscle relaxant and it helps reduce the yuckiest PMS symptoms such as: constipation, water retention and bloating, breast tenderness, and many mood problems, depression, irritability, and anxiety.

Below is my favorite brownie recipe.  They are really simple to prepare and super good for you!  These brownies are gluten free, raw, paleo, vegan, etc.  Huzzah to great health!

Brownies with Brazil Nuts

                                                                                                    Ingredients:

1-1/2 cups raw Brazil, unsoaked (set aside 1/4 cup chopped nuts for topping)

pinch sea salt

8 pitted medjool dates, unsoaked

1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

1 tb. maple syrup (grade b)

Directions:

Place 1 1/4 cups of Brazil nuts and salt in food processor fitted with the S blade and process until finely ground.Add the dates and process until the mixture sticks together. Add the cocoa powder and vanilla and process until evenly distributed. Add the maple syrup and process briefly until mixture comes together

Transfer to a mixing bowl.  Top with chopped Brazil nuts.  Pack mixture firmly into an 8”x8” square container and put in freezer to set up.  They will be ready to munch in a few hours.  Lasts a month, although they never seem to last that long..

Trend Alert...

For those of you trying to protect your colored locks from sun damage the hat trend is perfect for you!  This year every fashion magazine is showing photographs of hats on your favorite celebrity fashionistas! Kim Kardashian and Blake Lively opt for small white hats and they play in the sand. While other celebrities like Lindsay Lohan go for a larger more colorful hat.  No matter what type of hat fits your style, this coming season is all about hats!It's All About The HAT  

A Weekend In NYC

Spending the weekend in NYC you are sure to stumble upon some great finds.  Check out what we loved in NYC this weekend.

We Started Our Weekend at The Big Apple BBQ Block Party at Madison Square Park

This great event had our taste buds in a frenzy! from slow cooked pulled pork to the most delicious ribs that slid right off the bone this was an event we could not miss! We had challenged our selves to try every Vendor but by the 4th one we could manage another bite of the savory meats!  

Street Art

As we walked down town on our way to the Chelsea area we came across some inspiring artwork.  Some of our favorites were by Dan Cruz (www.DanCruzNYC.com) and Brian Josselyn (Brianjosselynfineart.com)   

As we headed downtown to Chelsea, we stopped at a delicious restaurant called Hummus Place.  This restaurant is vegetarian-kosher and has a great selection of authentic Israeli style dishes.  Amongst our favorites were Hummus, Falafel and the Turkish Coffee.  

  
 
Finally we were ready to hit the High Line.  This is always a great place to enjoy some greenery in the city of cement and sky scrappers.  To our delight we stumbled upon a Melt Bakery cart.  This innovated idea is sure the be "the new" cupcake.  Melt Bakery offers delectable ice cream sandwiches.  Our favorite was the red velvet cookies with cream cheese icecream.  Nothing is better than cooling down with a gourmet icecream sandwich while people watching on the High Line. 

 
Suits & Style


After exiting the High Line onto Gansevoort St. we stumbled upon Mr. Porters.  This chic pop up store is open only for the week in celebration of the premier of the USA show, Suits.  When walking into Mr. Porters we were served Espresso, Perrier and the Mr. Porter Post.   While sipping out espresso's we were engaged with a touch screen Mr. Porter Style Me App.  A fun way to use your finger tips and create your very own look. When you are finished stylizing your avatar simply press purchase and the outfit is all yours! Try it on your phone with the Mr. Porter Style Help App.

 
  


Finally we ended our weekend at Pastis! This delicious restaurant offers a delectable small bites menu from 4pm-6pm.  Shrimp cocktail, oysters and french fries with mayo! This was the perfect place to sit outside and enjoy a small bite while nursing a fruity specialty cocktail. 

 

Healthy Hair Oil

Healthy Hair Oil:  Keep your hair looking great this Summer and in between salon visits!
We all love Summer but let's be honest it can wreck havoc on your coif!  All that salt, sun, and chlorine can make hair dry and brittle over time and also tamper with the color.  Even routine activities like blow drying and over washing can damage your tresses.  Below is an easy to make hair oil recipe that makes your hair so shiny and soft.  I suggest using it once a week during the Summer months to keep your strands in tip top shape. 

Healthy Hair Oil
8 oz. carrier oil (almond, sesame, or light olive oil.)
50 drops of rosemary oil  (good for hair growth.)
50 drops of rose oil (good for the scalp.  this one can be expensive so look for one in a base of carrier oil such as jojoba.)


Mix the above ingredients together and apply enough to your hair to coat it (about 1 to 3 tablespoons depending length and texture.)  Let sit for 30 minutes while you relax, make breakfast, check email, etc.  Shampoo twice to remove any residue and condition as normal.  Hola healthy hair!


By: Miranda Hunt

Featured Hair Accessories

This week's featured accessory is Double Wear by Goody. This innovative idea is a must have for every fashionista on the run. 




   

Double Wear Headwrap Necklaces From Goody is a must have.  This dual  purpose accessory is both a necklace and a headband.  Wear it around your neck as jewelry and when the sun starts beating down and you nee a quick way to pull your hair off your face, simply slide the necklace up into a head band.  

   

This duel action hair tie is the perfect way to complete the set. Wear them around your wrist as fashionable bracelets and then when you need to pull your hair back, you have your elastics disguised as bracelets.  Every girl keeps those ugly elastics around their wrist because we will always need them, now you can disguise them as an addition to your outfit. 

By: Jill Schneider 

Tuesday Shoesday: Prom Shoes

With prom only days away have compiled a list of our favorite prom shoes 

Steve Madden Rhinestone Pump

Badgley Mischka 'Zakia' Pump

Enzo Angiolini Pump

Sam Edelman "Scarlet" Pump

Jimmy Choo 'Loila' Sandal

B Brian Atwood 'Baccina' Pump

Gucci 'Sofia' Crystal Embellished Pump

Sergia Rossi 'Chloris' Strap Sandal

Christian Louboutin 'Very Mix 150'

Jimmy Choo 'Fairview' Crystal Embellished Sandal

Coconut Power:  The Secret to Sexy 

Coconut is everywhere these days:  beauty products, baked goods, and smoothies just to name a few.  With it comes a host of health benefits including antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal properties.  Coconut is also nature's best source of medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs) a.k.a. medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs).  But enough science speak.  All you must know is that A.) coconut fat is easily digested (score!) and B.) coconut is quickly burned by the liver for energy (double score!)  

Below is a who's who of what to know regarding all things coconut.


Coconut Flour:  Fiber rich and gluten free, it's a great flour for those with celiac disease or on paleo/carbohydrate conscious diets.  It adds a delicate sweetness to breads, muffins, and cookies complemented by a soft, moist crumb.  It can be a little tricky to bake with so it is best to follow a recipe designed with coconut flour in mind (at least the first time around.)

 Coconut Nectar & Coconut Palm Sugar:  The best news about coconut sap based sweeteners is that they don't cause blood sugar spikes the way other sweeteners do.  They can be used cup for cup in any recipe calling for sugar, just be sure to stick to the nectar when a liquid sweetener is called for and the palm sugar when a granulated sweetener is needed.  The flavor profile of both isn't at all coconut: I would describe it as a touch less sweet with a toasty caramel/molasses like taste.  

 Coconut Oil:  Probably the most versatile and most well known product in the coconut family.  The oil is made by extracting it from the flesh of the coconut.  It is a heat stable oil with a high smoke point making it ideal for stir fries and sautes as well as baking; it mimics the personality of my favorite saturated fat, butter.  In addition to cooking, coconut oil can be used to soften dry patches of skin, as a deep conditioning treatment, and as a night time eye treatment (which helps lighten dark circles) just to name a few.

 

 Coconut Milk:  Ah, milk!  Coconut milk is the best substitute for dairy milk due to its thick, milky texture.  It can be procured in a can or in a carton like milk.  The former is best for making curries and frozen desserts due to its richness and the latter is best for cereal, baking or in any application that calls for milk.

By: Miranda Hunt for Tomy B. Blog