B Sparkling

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas! Halloween is over and gone with and already this morning both Anthropologie and Nordstrom have announced free shipping throughout the holiday season. Along with free shipping comes my favorite part, holiday look books! If looking through the glossy pages of your favorite retailers decked out with glitz and glamour of the holiday season doesn't get you excited then I don't know who you are. My favorite look book so far and definitely not my last is Henri Bendel! The glorified New York City department store debuted their holiday look book online today and showed everything I may want for my holiday festivities.

I never collected snow globes as a child but if I was introduced to Henri Bendel's snow globe at an early age I am sure it would've been something I'd be asking for. How can you not love snow and a signature brown and white striped bag? The look book was dripped in nothing less of sparkles and was full stocked with all this holiday's must haves. Also featured in the look book, a new Rebecca Minkoff clutch I saw on Luna Boston just last week and raised the standards for my holiday party clutch for 2009. The talented designer was lucky to have two handbags featured on the Henri Bendel lookbook.  If Fall was waiting for Vogue's September Issue, Winter was waiting for Bendel's holiday look book!

B Domestic

I love cooking but sadly don't have enough people to cook for all the time. And I am pretty sure everyone has had the same experience when cooking for one. I am glad to say though that I am finding those gourmet recipes on my own that I can tweak to my one person meal or two that only take no more than 20 minutes! I found the following recipe below and it has become one of my favorites and go to recipe when I am exhausted after a long day of school or work but really want/need something healthy and delicious. I choose to make it without the bacon and use one chicken breast and cut everything else in half. Try it out and let me know how you like!

Grilled Chicken with Brie and Baby Spinach Salad

Ingredients

• Cooking spray
• 4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves, about 5 ounces each
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• Salt-free garlic and herb seasoning
• 4 to 8 slices Brie cheese, about 1/2-inch thick
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 shallots, chopped
• 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 4 cups fresh baby spinach leaves

Directions

Heat a stove-top grill pan or griddle with cooking spray and set over medium-high heat to preheat.

Season both sides of chicken with salt, black pepper, and garlic and herb seasoning. Add chicken to hot pan and cook 3 to 4 minutes per side, until browned and cooked through. Remove from heat. Place 1 to 2 slices of Brie on top of chicken, cover with foil and place back on grill pan for another 1 minute, until cheese melts.

Meanwhile, heat a small skillet over medium heat. Add olive oil and chopped shallots to the pan and saute. In a small bowl, combine the vinegar, honey and salt and pepper, to taste. Add the mixture to the skillet and stir to combine. Pour the warm vinaigrette over the spinach and toss to coat.

Transfer chicken to a serving plate or plate with spinach salad.

Original recipe found at FoodNetwork.com

B Captured

Here's my favorite headline of the week!

Fashion's Night Out to Be Repeated in 2010

If you've missed it and been living in a hole the last couple months. Fashion's Night Out was event organized by New York City and the CFDA that brought all retailers together for one night and celebrated shopping! Have you heard of a better reason to celebrate? On September 9th of this year more than 700 retailers stayed open past 11 pm. Designers were in their own stores joining in the madness, free give aways and makeovers were at different locations.  The Olsen twins were making drinks at Bergdorfs and Taylor Momsen played a small concert with her band. Thankfully the New York City mayor and CFDA have agreed to a repeat in 2010. For those of us who unfortunately don't live in the city that never sleeps, book your ticket now. I'll see you NYC for Fashion's Night Out.

To read more go to WWD

B Spooked

It's not a secret that Halloween is not my favorite holiday but if I would've seen this Tory Burch pumpkin earlier I would have definitely gotten in the spirit! After some last minute inspiration I searched the web to find 3 different costumes of 3 very worthy charachters to dress up as this halloween!

Queen B is set to rule another night on Hallow's eve. Blair Waldorf is a character that is dressed to tee and never has an accessory out of place. All of Blair's costume can be found on Forever21.com and just don't be scared to mix patterns while of course her signature headband can not be misplaced.

Who hasn't tried dressing up as Carrie Bradshaw since Sex and the City's debut in 1998? If you saw the recent glamour issue in the last year of Emma Stone dressing up as whoever Carrie then you too looked at it and wanted to be fashion icon. This skirt is iconic during the series and very hard to replicate though I got lucky on target.com with this is Issac Mizrahi skirt. With just a few alterations and killer shoes you are ready to be Carrie.

 

The first Halloween inspiration I had was from Regis & Kelly and their Rachel Zoe spoof! Kelly was as always hilarious and reenacted Rachel to a tee. A fur vest is essential to be bananas and any oversized accessories work all found on CharlotteRusee.com. Have a boy sidekick? Get him to throw on a bow tie and metallic dress shoes, Brad and Rachel will be to die for this Halloween!

B Cozy

I apologize for the small absence from my blog but just last month I was blogging about everything I'm lusting after for Fall and I have finally began to enjoy them! The leaves are changing (in Seattle), Pumpkin Spice Lattes are back and everything is soft and knitted. I have been on a hunt for a beret for quite some time but it wasn't till yesterday where I found the thick knitted beret from Gap that was love at first sight.

It's moments like these is why I love Fall. Fall requires everything to be warm and comfortable. Have you seen so much think cable knit any where else this season? Everywhere I turn there is an oversize sweater or knit ugg boots! Now I know how guys feel about ugg boots, they hate them and I think every women's response to this negative comment is "but they're comfortable!" And I totally agree ladies. Just don't take the uggs out for a night on the town. Though I'm tempted with these knit boots but that will just have to be a night in next to the fire.

Fall leaves the air crisp and fresh and fall fashion is leaving us cozy and warm. My newest obsession is driving with the convertible top down with the heat on high. Its the perfect way to enjoy this great weather and staying cozy! I am dying over everything I see that has the smallest influence of fall weather musts. I am almost getting ready for full on winter. Bring on the hats, gloves, scarves and boots!

B Accessible

Just this last week Barney's New York opened their first location in Scottsdale, AZ. Viewing the store you were captivated by the original visuals and unique layout of the legendary department store. Though much smaller than their Beverly Hills location, Barney's brought the high status to an American mall that is transforming to be a must travel item. And while Barney New York's vendors are not always accessible by the average shopper, the designers who created their name by the help of the department store are creating new fashions at a new price point.

The hype of Jimmy Choo's accessory line for H&M has been a big topic of conversation for all fashion publications. The sleek advertisements are gracing the pages of Vogue and Elle and November 14th is marked on everyone's calendars. In a article from Women's Wear Daily, Tamara Mellon founder and president said "It was a challenge for us to create high-quality pieces at an H&M price point.” Wow am I glad that she decided to take on a challenge. The pieces were designed off the same woman who inspired Jimmy Choo's Fall line "She's rock 'n' roll, a little punk". I think some people may see the price points for the Jimmy Choo for H&M still out of their price range but it is for this reason they aren't completely cheap because Jimmy Choo still wanted to make a great product. The value of these products should be judged on more than just the label and really evaluation the quality and aesthetic. If the quality is well made compared to a disposable product and design is innovative and trending then I think this Jimmy Choo for H&M will be very successful with great products and not too mention the overwhelming publicity received over the collaboration.

Collaboration must be a trending item because everywhere I turn a designer is merging with a new idea. Just this last week the buzz about Christian Louboutin designing for Barbie continued. He has been granted the position of being Barbie's God Father for the year. Can you imagine the birthday presents? The designer designed 12 Christian Louboutin Barbie shoes that are being sold separately from the Louboutin jewel-thief themed barbie debuting in December. I was never a Barbie collector but I just may need this Barbie with red soles packaged in a Christian Louboutin shoe box.

Louboutin isn't the only designer creating new looks for a different customer. The newly awarded at the CFDA awards duo Rodarte are designing for Target! Their line will debut on December 22 of this year and I can't wait to get my hands on their tights and bow belt. I love how designers are challenging themselves with different markets and becoming more accessible to me and their beloved followers. The design world is showing an enormous amount of talent that has no end of expanding and no one is complaining at my end.

B Ringing

It's not time to ring in the new year yet but that doesn't mean you can't be showing that firework sparkle on your fingers. Everywhere I turn I see cocktail rings on every hand. What I am really loving right now is that you can wear more than just one and not look like a gypsy. I have worn a pair of rings on my right hand for the past 5 plus years. These rings were both given to me by my sister on special events. These Tiffany rings are very understaed with the smaller diamond and pink sapphire but carry a great dear of sentiment. So though they won't be leaving my hand anytime, I still have 9 fingers to dazzle!

Marc Jacobs is always the key to my heart so I am loving his Pave Heart Ring under his Marc by Marc Jacobs line. Some of this other jewelry is so unexpected and reinvented. Have you seen his zipper earrings yet? Everything is so innovative and most all his rings I want to pile on my fingers.

And if you're looking to spread your wings, look at CC Skyes Angel Wing ring. I first found this ring on another website in passing a week ago and saw it was already sold out. Then when I decided to write this blog I had to search the web to remember who it was by and I should have assumed it was CC Skye. The jewelry has a great way of molding metal to trendy accessories you'd want to put on every limb.

Shopping online always gets me into trouble. Its almost worse than walking into the mall because recommendations are made for you and end up appearing easily on the right side of your screen with a perfect connection to your next want. This is how I found the Goldmine ring. I apologize for the horrible line but how could you not want this ring? The dark stones contrast with the bright gold and I am definitely reserving a place on my finger for this one.

I think a big myth with wearing rings is that until you are wed you need to keep your ring finger on your left hand open. Well all my single ladies, this doesn't have to happen and if you need a little love then you'll fall for Erica Anenberg's Je' Taime twosome ring. This ring was made for two, two fingers. I admittedly couldn't help myself but purchase this ring and am anxious for its arrival. Nothing wrong with giving yourself a little love.