Happy Halloween!

Have a slightly mischievous, sugar-filled day!

Things of Beauty

"A thing of beauty is a joy forever." - John Keats

Monday Must-Haves

Hope everyone is hunkered down safely during this crazy Frankenstorm. Being cooped up in the house leads to a ton of Internet surfing, which leads to finding pretty things I want to purchase!  I'm so buying those adorable "Oui-Non" slippers from Topshop!

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Chicken Parmesan Dip

Most people crave chicken soup or buttered toast when they feel sick.  Not me.  Apparently I crave dip, and in my slightly feverish state today, I had an idea to make Chicken Parmesan dip.  It's super easy, super yummy, and way less time consuming than frying up chicken cutlets.  It's completely OK to eat dip for dinner when you're sick.  Ask any doctor.

2 cans of chicken breast, drained (or 4 pieces of cooked & diced chicken breasts)
1 brick cream cheese
1/2 of an 8 oz. tomato sauce (I like Classico Roasted Garlic)
2 cups mozzarella cheese
1 cup seasoned bread crumbs

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine chicken, cream cheese, tomato sauce & 1 cup of cheese (save rest for topping). Stir until well combined.  Pour into small casserole dish or pie plate. Combine bread crumbs and remaining cheese, and sprinkle on top. Bake for about 25 minutes or until cheese is golden & bubbly.

Serve with pita chips or a sliced baguette.

Freaky Friday

Happy Friday!  I'm excited to dress up for Halloween this weekend and catch up on the new season of American Horror.  If you're in the mood to be spooked, check out these unexpectedly elegant Halloween items. I'm "dying" over the Fornasetti plate...so creepy! 

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Cabin Fever

Lately I have been dying to rent a cabin in the woods.  Forget the fact that I'm not an outdoorsy kind of gal, nor do I have a desire to chop wood, ski, fish, or partake in any outdoor activities which do not include lots of booze and a steamy hot tub.   I still want to trek out to the wilderness, cozy up in a rustic cabin, and enjoy the quiet calmness of nature.  And did I mention booze it up?

Below is my dream cabin decor & perfect outfit.  Just for kicks.

From the top left:

Door knocker / Chandelier / Art / Pillow / Table

From the top left:

Earrings / Sweater / Coat / Boots / Corduroys / Gloves

Vintage pic above can be found here.

An Autumn Quote

"I'm so glad I Iive in a world where there are Octobers." - L.M. Montgomery

Me too!

Fabulous Kitchen

I stumbled upon this fabulous kitchen on House Beautiful's website and immediately fell in love.  The rooster accents, the girly stripes, the chocolate brown walls & checkered floors...it's the perfect mix of country-chic and French.  While it probably costs a pretty penny to redecorate to the nines, you can emulate this look in your own kitchen with a few key pieces.

Chandelier / Rooster / Dish Towel / Storage Boxes / Cake Plate

Outfit Crush

I am majorly crushing on this chick's outfit.  It's a total hodgepodge of denim on denim, tan, black & navy...but somehow it works beautifully.  I even love the scarf hanging out of the bottom of the jacket.  It's so wrong, it's perfectly right.

Below is my version...which I have a sneaking suspicion will end up in my closet soon.

Jeans / Jacket / Shirt / Heels / Scarf

Cheap Holiday Decorating

How pretty do these candles look?  All you need is:

Votive candles & glass holders (Hello Dollar Store!)

Leaves (real or faux)

String (or ribbon if you want to be a fancy pants)

This would make beautiful and highly affordable table decor for Halloween parties & Thanksgiving dinner.

Photo via.

Surprise Shopping

Don't you love going into a store with extremely low expectations, and hitting the cuteness jackpot?  That's exactly what happened this afternoon at the Van Heusen Factory store.  My hubby wanted to check out dress shirts, and while wandering around the Women's section I found adorable striped shirts, leopard & lace cardigans, equestrian-style scarves, and fun accessories.  Check it out chickies.

Comfy & Cute

My closet is craving comfy, tunic length tops, chunky knit cardigans & colored denim. 

Gimme this outfit please.

Jeans / Tunic / Cardigan / Clogs / Watch

Hayride Attire

Let me start off by saying "Jealousy...it doesn't smile & drives a hay cart."  How great is this picture?  Love it.

Happy almost weekend! I'm very excited to enjoy some beautiful fall weather & go on a haunted hayride with friends.  Sometimes you just need a good scare, am I right?

I put together my version of the perfect hayride outfit, complete with a fancy flask for two, guaranteed to calm your nerves.

From top left: 

Jeans / Shirt / Jacket / Handbag / Boots / Flask

Vintage photo via

Getting Older

"The great thing about getting older is that you don't lose all the other ages you've been." 

Quote via Madeleine L'Engle

Parisian Pieces

I must admit, I'm a bit of a Francophile.  The art, the history, the fashion, the pastries...ooh la la!!  I'm definitely lusting over some Parisian-inspired home items, some affordable, some absolutely NOT...c'est la vie! I eagerly await the day a 19th century French chair is within my decorating budget.

Top left: Salt & Pepper Shakers / Tin Sign / Trinket Box / Art Print / Chair / Pillow / Book

P.S. How cute do the multiple macaroon trinket boxes look together?  I die.

Channeling...Cleopatra

Since it's almost Halloween, I must have costumes on the brain.  And no movie costume collection is more infamous than Elizabeth Taylor's in the epically gaudy 1963 blockbuster Cleopatra. Liz had a whopping 65 costume changes in the film...a record breaker at the time!  It's easy to emulate the Liz version of the Cleopatra look, and I'm not talking about headpieces and Egyptian walking.  Think rich jewel tones, gold accents and a bold, colorful eye.  This look is truly fit for a Queen, and would be the perfect ensemble for a wedding guest, for a night on the town...or if you're just in-search for your very own Mark Anthony. 

Bracelet / Gown / Eye Shadow / Earrings / Cleopatra Perfume / Wedges / Evening Bag

Anything But Boring Basics

Shopping for basics can be pretty dull.  When I have extra cash, I'm always tempted to buy super trendy items rather than key pieces that will really build my wardrobe.  These items are all examples of fabulous, rich-looking basics that can be worn casually or dressed up.  Subtle, yet stylish details such as cable knit and embossed crocodile add interest to boring old basics.

Sweater / Jacket / Top / Pumps / Skirt / Bag

Pickle Dip

Like all normal women in America, I'm completely and utterly obsessed with Pinterest.  It's such a great place to store amazing recipes. Even if most of what I pin will likely never be made...i.e. Pink Champagne Cupcakes. That's so not happening.

But I stumbled upon this dip recipe, and it's incredible.  If you're a pickle lover, you're guaranteed to love this dip.  I altered the recipe slightly, and of course it's the superior version :)

Pickle Dip

1 (8 ounce brick of cream cheese), softened
3/4 cup of sour cream (I use light )
1 jar of dill pickles (I use Claussen Kosher Dill Sandwich Slices), roughly chopped
1 1/2 teaspoons of dried dill
Salt & pepper to taste

Combine all ingredients and stir until evenly distributed.  Cover in plastic wrap and chill at last an hour before serving.

Pairs great with pumpernickel pretzels or bread!

P.S. Apologies...not the greatest pic.  But trust me, you will shame-eat the whole damn thing if you're not careful.

October Wish List

I'm currently coveting an easy, comfy, multi-patterned look.  I may have to buy all of the above, minus the Celine bag...but a girl can dream!

Shirt / Jeans (similar) / Bracelet (similar) / Bag / Polish / Boots