If you like to travel or are planning a holiday trip you will love this website! It's called 3floz.com and you can buy everything you need for your trip! These small sizes are great to pack for any kind of trip but the sizes are TSA friendly too!!
See ya Missoni, it's time for one of the First Ladies favorite designers , Jason Wu to design a collection for Target. Â Just in time for spring of 2012, Wu will put out a line of fabulous clothing and accessories. Â I hope Target will have a better handle on this one and I am sure Jason's designs will sell fast. Â Look for them in early February. Â Check out a sneak peek below .
This is how it works: every season, to coincide with New York Fashion Week, paint-matching expert Pantone releases its Fashion Color Report, a comprehensive guide to the top ten colors in womenâs fashion. Â These are a few of the hottest colors!! Â My personal favorites are the purple and green! Â Check out more hot fall colors on Pantone's website!
This could be the dress of the year!! Â It's called the Bicolour Octavia dress by designer Stella McCartney! Â It's all the rage with celebrities , and they have all been wearing it on the red carpet. Â If you would like one for yourself, they are sold out on Stella McCartney's website, but they are expecting more in about 3 weeks. Â One more thing, this lovely dress with set you back about $1600, but you will look fabulous!! Â Read more about it here!
We've been waiting patiently since the news broke back in May the Missoni was designing a collection for Target!! Well today is the day!! This is the largest collection ever designed for Target and already the website is jammed! If you would like to see the entire collection, I mean everything you can find the look book here!! I personally love the towels , blankets and dishes from this collection!   Find out more and purchase your favorites here!
OPI is introducing 12 new fun nail colors this fall to coincide with the release of the new "The Muppets" film! They will be in stores in November and I want them all!!The 12 new colors are (from top to bottom, left to right): Animal-istic; Meep Meep Meep; Wocka Wocka; Pepes Purple Passion; Designers De Better; Warm & Fozzie; Rainbow Connection; Excuse Moi; Gone Gonzo; Fresh Frog of Bel Air; Divine Swine; and Gettin Miss Piggy With It.
I must say I gotta have it! This beautiful southwestern teal vanity that I found this past weekend at The Home Consignment Center! The price is amazing too!! This is why I love shopping there so much!! Check out the gorgeous desk for back to school, the lovely Lennox china cup and saucer and the fabulous pillows and throws I found too!! Now off to the Home Consignment Center to make sure this vanity is mine!!!!
Last weekend I headed down to Corpus Christi for a much needed weekend getaway!! This is my 3rd summer heading down to Corpus and it just keeps getting better every year!! The beaches are clean and wonderful and the people are friendly! There is also so much to do. This year I made sure to stop by the South Texas Botanical Gardens and Nature Center. There are more and more lovely additions each year! When your looking for a fun weekend getaway for the entire family , look no further than Corpus Christi! Check out some of my photos from this year's trip! Enjoy!
I am always talking about how much I love shopping at The Home Consignment Center!! They have such fantastic prices and an amazing selection of furniture for every room in my home. I recently moved and was in the need for acouple of bar stools for my new kitchen. No problem! The HCC had just what I needed and at a fabulous price too!!
The Home Consignment Center also has a wonderful selection of outdoor furniture just in time for summer fun! I found the perfect table for two for my new porch!
The Home Consignment Center has amazing accent pieces to add that final touch to you home decorating too! Again you will pay a fraction of the retail price!! Check out my favorite new lamp, it adds just the right touch to my new home!
Stop by and see Karen, Kristen and the staff at The HCC!! They have two locations, in the Arborwalk Center and The Shops Parkway in Bee Cave! Check out their website here and have fun shopping and saving money this summer!!
This is the time of year we all want to get and stay in shape and I've found 21 fantastic ways to stay in shape. They are so practical and easy that everyone can do them!  I swear by these! Here's to a healthy and happy summer!! 1. 3 meals & a snack is enough
If the right healthy and balanced meals are chosen, this is very possible. It is all about training your mind and your body.
2. Donât waste calories
Try eliminating those moments when you continue to eat even when the food doesnât taste very good or when youâre in the car â can you really savor what youâre eating? Another way to stop losing calories is to watch what liquids you drink, and when in doubt, drink water.
3. Just walkÂ
Whether it is a vigorous multi-mile walk, working in the yard, cleaning the house or walking to town to do some errands, try to incorporate it somehow into your day. Once you become in the habit of doing this, you will get to a point where you will crave this time to be with yourself.
4. Avoid the sugary treats in the AM
Yes, the beautifully decorated and tasty temptations are everywhere when youâre stopping to get your morning caffeine, but try to pass them up as they will not carry you through until lunch.
5. Green tea in the morning
Known to suppress appetite and ever so slightly, speed up the metabolism.
6. Fiber to fill you up for breakfast (oatmeal or steel oats)7. Eat your veggies and donât worry how many. Minus the dip.8. Almonds â a simple snack
One of my favorite afternoon snacks is a handful of almonds, a half of an apple and a few slices of parmesan cheese â oh, and a cup of tea if I can find hot water at work.
9. Eat at a table, enjoy the conversation or something engaging to read10. Your body has all the resistance you need (yoga anyone?)
Try to include one or two sessions of strength training each week, and if youâre worried about bulking up, smaller weights â more reps, or yoga and pilates which require you to use your own body weight â lengthening, not bulking up, your muscles.
11. Find something else to focus on besides food12. Immerse yourself in your passion and get happy
I can look back on the times in my life when I gained a few pounds and those other times when I magically lost a few, and for me both correlated perfectly with my state of happiness and contentedness (happy â weight loss, doubtful â weight gain). Instead of trying to find happiness outside of yourself, seek it from within and discover your passion. Once you find out what that is, find a way to enjoy it as much as possible.
13. Read French Women Donât Get Fat
 I finally realized it was okay, just to walk and Iâve never looked back. Thank you Mireille!
14. Eat in season as best you can15. Walk your dog(s) 16. Talk positively about yourself
You can reach the goals you have set for yourself. Be patience, be determined, but be gentle â not too gentle though. :)
17. Accept compliments
As Oprah reminds us, we are enough just as we are, so it is imperative to filter any negative or hurtful comments and to not brush aside genuine compliments.
18. Surround yourself with people who enjoy an active, yet balanced and healthy lifestyle19. Stay out of the kitchen until meal time. Eliminate grazing.20. Give your body time to settle into the new habits
It will take time. Once your body becomes accustomed to eating at a certain time and a certain amount, it will think it needs it and remind you. You must be patient, but resolute. In time, your bodyâs habits will change and you will wonder how you ever did what you used to do.
21. Enjoy your food, savor it and in small portions
By savoring your food, you are allowing yourself to slow down and when you do this, you are decreasing the amount of calories you are consuming. It takes approximately 20 minutes for your mind to get the message that you are full, so take your time until the message arrives and enjoy your company and the individual flavors that the chef took such loving care to incorporate.
Birchbox is a new and fun way to try beauty products before you buy them!!  They carry so many wonderful brands and you pay only $10 a month and get fabulous large samples!!  You can collect points and use them toward the purchase of your favorite products too!!  Check out my appearance on "Good Day Austin" with Keri Bellacosa  below.  You can become a member of Birchbox and check out their website here!
If you want to save a lot of money, yes there is an app for that!! Â I found 3 fabulous and free apps that will save you money on gas, groceries and everything else! Â Check out Keri Bellacosa and myself on "Good Day Austin" and the links below to start saving now!
If you fell in love with Duchess Catherine's beautiful wedding gown , you can buy it's likeness at Nordstrom for just $698!! Â It will be available on September 15th but you can pre-order your's here!
I love my Peeps, and I always seem to have some left over after Easter. Here is a fun recipe that is a colorful twist on the old Rice Krispie Treats recipe Enjoy!Â
3 tablespoons butter
35 Peeps
6 cups Rice Krispies cereal
Â
In large pot, melt butter over low heat. Add Peeps and stir until completely melted. If using different colors, melt in separate color sections within the pot. Do not mix colors until Step 2. Remove pot from heat once butter is melted. Add Rice Krispies cereal. Stir until well coated.
Â
Step 3 , Evenly press mixture into 13 x 9 x 1 1/2-inch pan coated with cooking spray. Cool completely before cutting into desired shapes. Store in an airtight container.
On Friday I picked up my new Fiat 500 from the Fiat Design Studio in the Domain 2!! This car really is the perfect fashion accessory!! It comes in 14 fabulous colors and with so many different interior options and extras no 2 Fiat's are alike!! The Fiat 500 you design will be yours alone!! This little beauty also gets 38 miles to the gallon , so you can still have money to shop!! I took my Fiat 500 everywhere with me this weekend!! Check out the pictures below and go to the Fiat of Austin website to design your own Fiat 500!! You'll love it!
She really does it all!!  Angelia Jolie has her own jewlery collection , "Style of Jolie" The collection, which she designed over the course of the last nine months with jeweler Robert Procop, is currently on display by invitation only at Julienâs Gallery in Beverly Hills, but we have a sneak peek! In the clip below.   Though Jolie wonât be on hand to showcase her jewels, proceeds from the exhibition will benefit Children in Crisis, the charity of her choice
Join the lovely Keri Bellacosa and myself every Friday at 9am on Good Day Austin on Fox 7!!  Majic 95.5 has teamed up with Fox 7 for everything  "Fabulous" for women in Austin.  You can also hear Keri on Majic every Tuesday morning at 6:12 for more "Fabulous" information coming to "Good Day Austin"  Check out our new promo below!!  Make sure to join us for all the fun!!
I love this!! Cooking this delicious chicken recipe can land you a husband!!  Since Glamour magazine published this recipe they have heard from 72 woman who became engage after serving it, including Howard Stern's wife Beth!! Whether you are looking for a husband or not, this is one delicious recipe. You can find it in the book "100 Recipes Every Woman Should Know" or check it out below!! Enjoy!!
INGREDIENTS
1 whole chicken (approx. 4 pounds)
1/2 cup fresh lemon juice, plus 3 whole lemons Âincluding 1 sliced for garnish
1 tablespoon kosher or coarse sea salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
Fresh herbs for garnish (4 rosemary sprigs, 4 sage sprigs, 8 thyme sprigs, and 1 bunch flat-leaf parsley)
PREPARATION
1) Position an oven rack in the upper third of the oven and preheat the oven to 400°F. Remove the giblets from the chicken, wash the chicken inside and out with cold water, then let the chicken drain, cavity down, in a colander for 2 minutes.
2) Pat the chicken dry with paper towels. Place the chicken breast-side down in a medium roasting pan fitted with a rack and pour the lemon juice all over the chicken, both inside and out. Season the chicken all over with salt and pepper inside and out.
3) Prick 2 whole lemons three times in three different places on each with a fork and place them deep inside the cavity. Chicken cavity size may vary, so if one lemon is partly sticking out, thatâs fine. (Tip: If the lemons are stiff, roll them on the countertop with your palm before pricking to get the juices flowing.)
4) Put the chicken in the oven, lower the oven temperature to 350 degrees F, and roast, uncovered for 15 minutes.
5) Remove the roasting pan from the oven. Using tongs or two wooden spoons, turn the chicken breast-side up. Insert a meat thermometer in the thigh, and return the chicken to the oven and roast for about 1 hour to 1 hour and 15 minutes or until the meat thermometer reads 180 degrees F and the juices run clear when the thigh is pricked with a fork. Continue roasting if necessary. Keep in mind that cooking times in different ovens vary; roasting a chicken at 350°F takes approximately 18-20 minutes per pound, plus an additional 15 minutes for a stuffed chicken that is 4 pounds.
6) Let the chicken rest for 10 minutes before carving. And here's the secret: Pour the juices from the roasting pan on top of the sliced chicken&151;this is the "marry me juice." Garnish with fresh herbs and lemon slices.
Glamour girl tip: Carving a bird takes a lot of practice, so don't expect it to be perfect on your first try. The most important thing is to have a sharp knife (preferably one made specifically for carving). Start by slicing the breasts, removing as much meat as possible, and then remove the legs and the wings (using kitchen shears work swell too). Don't worry if it looks messy; it will taste just as good.
I love this guy!!  His name is Chas,  he is 40 years old , he lives in San Francisco and he is looking for a wife!  Not a big deal you say?  Well if you can find Chas a wife he will pay you $10,000!!  This is not a late April Fools joke either.  Do you know someone who is looking for the one?   Check out his website here!Hereâs how Chas explains it all:
What is this?
Itâs simple. Introduce me to the girl I end up marrying, and Iâll give you ten grand!
Sounds kinda sketchy.
Fair enough. Basically, I work a lot and never had much luck with online dating. I figured, why not create a site where Iâm the only guy.
Why $10,000?
If this helps me find a soulmate, itâll be worth bazillions. But I donât have bazillions. $10K seemed to say, âIâm serious but not insane.â
40 and still single? Hmm.
Thanks to a decade of âlife coachingâ and some insightful relationships, I can honestly say Iâm ready to start a family. For realz.
I love SATC and forgot how great those shows were! Â I watched every one of them on HBO and have seen them all a dozen times since. Â Â This past weekend I discovered them again on the E network. They are running all of the original episodes (with a bit of editing) and I am falling in love with them all over again!! Â It's my new guilty weekend pleasure!!
I can't talk enough about nail polish!!  It can change your look in minutes , it's affordable and there is no size required!!  Here is a look at the hottest nail colors for spring!!  As you can see there is something for everyone.  Keri Bellacosa and I will talk about the latest nail colors on our Fabulous Friday's on  "Good Day Austin" this coming Friday at 9am!! Above, from left to right: Orlyâs Nail Lacquer ($7.50) in Basket Case.
OPI introduces the Femme de Cirque collection, a selection of muted pastel shades with a hint of shimmer. The collection includes four shades (from left to right): I Juggle⦠Men, a sheer eggshell-blue hue; In The Spot-Light Pink, a pastel pink hue; Step Right Up, a pale sandy pink hue; and, So Many Clowns, So Little Time, a nude pink hue. Think of this collection as a playful and lighthearted way to try the nude nail trend. The OPI Femme de Cirque collection will be available in early April. Each bottle retails for $8.50.
Happy St. Patty's Day!!  What a perfect day for some yummy Thin Mint Cookie patties!!  This recipe is the closest  in taste to the real Girl Scout Thin Mints.  They take a little time, but the recipe makes a lot of cookies, which can also be frozen!!  That's my favorite way to eat them too!!  Enjoy!!Homemade Thin Mints
2 1/4 cups all purpose flour
1/4 cup cornstarch
6 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup white sugar
1/2 cup butter, room temperature
1/3 cup milk (any kind)
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
3/4 tsp peppermint extract
In a small bowl, whisk together flour, cornstarch, cocoa powder and salt.
In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar. With the mixer on low speed, add in the milk and the extracts. Mixture will look curdled. Gradually, add in the flour mixture until fully incorporated.
Shape dough into two logs, about 1 1/2 inches (or about 4 cm) in diameter, wrap in plastic wrap and freeze for at least 1-2 hours, until dough is very firm.
Preheat oven to 375F.
Slice dough into rounds not more than 1/4 inch thick â if they are too thick, they will not be as crisp â and place on a parchment lined baking sheet. Cookies will not spread very much, so you can put them quite close together.
Bake for 13-15 minutes, until cookies are firm at the edges. Cool cookies completely on a wire rack before dipping in chocolate.
Dark Chocolate Coating
10-oz dark or semisweet chocolate
1/2 cup butter, room temperature
In a microwave safe bowl, combine chocolate and butter. Melt on high power in the microwave, stirring every 45-60 seconds, until chocolate is smooth. Chocolate should have a consistency somewhere between chocolate syrup and fudge for a thin coating.
Dip each cookie in melted chocolate, turn with a fork to coat, then transfer to a piece of parchment paper or wax paper to set up for at least 30 minutes, or until chocolate is cool and firm.
Reheat chocolate as needed to keep it smooth and easy to dip into.
Makes 3 1/2-4 dozen cookies.
Happy 40th Birthday Starbucks!!  I had no idea Starbucks had been around that long, I thought maybe 25 years, but 40?  That is a milestone!  To celebrate Starbucks is introducing  Starbucks Petites!! What are Starbucks petites?  Here are the delicious descriptions!
Monday's after a lovely weekend , like we just had can be a bit tough to start! I love this "Just The Little Things" tumblr! It 's a list of all the simple things we should appreciate. There are too many to pick favorites. Go check it out;) Here are a few of my favorites below! Enjoy!!
As you know I love shopping and I love getting a fantastic bargain even more! Â This weekend I was at one of my favorite places to shop and save money...Nordstrom Rack in the Gateway Center!! Â Â I found these fun Tory Burch flip flops for just $16.50!! Â I almost passed these by, they were in the show clearance bin, but I decided to take a look through everything , and there they were in my size 8 just waiting for me. Â Never forget to take your time when looking for bargains! Â It really pays off!! More fabulous news there is a new Nordstrom Rack coming to the Sunset Valley Shopping Center next Thursday March 10th! Â Wonderful if you live south, but wherever you live , we now have TWO Nordstrom Racks to indulge in!! Â You can become a Rack Insider here, and get the inside scoop on all the great deals before anyone else ( I love that!!) Â Happy Shopping!
I am not a cook, but do love making a few select dishes. My favorite is meatballs, with Swedish meatballs being my specialty!  I found at that Oprah loves her meatballs too! Her favorite come at a price, $26 for 3 meatballs at Tratoria Mollie in Montecito California where Oprah lives!Thank you Mollie for sharing your recipe so we can make them at home. The secret ingrediant to these yummy meatballs is raisins!! Yes, raisins!! I plan on making these very soon, and you can too!! Enjoy!!
Turkey Meatball (Polpette alla Mollie)
makes 18 meatballsÂ
1 pound hot Italian turkey sausage
2 ounces fresh breadcrumbs , plus 10 ounces to coat meatballs
1 whole egg , plus 4 more for egg wash
2 ounces Parmesan cheese , plus extra for garnish
2 tablespoons fresh chopped Italian parsley
1 teaspoon crushed red pepper
Pinch salt and pepper
2 tablespoons whipping cream
3 ounces black raisins
4 ounces white flour
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
2 cloves chopped garlic
12 tablespoons chopped shallot
1 tablespoon brandy
4 cups fresh tomato sauce
1 tablespoon fresh chopped oregano
Directions
Heat oil to 400 degrees F in deep fryer or large, heavy pot suitable for deep frying.
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F
In a large bowl combine sausage, 2 ounces breadcrumbs, 1 egg, 2 ounces Parmesan cheese, 1 tablespoon Italian parsley, crushed red pepper and a pinch of salt and pepper. Mix together briefly to distribute seasonings. Add raisins and mix them in. Shape into 2.5-ounce meatballs and set aside.
Put flour in shallow bowl. In another bowl, beat four eggs. In a third bowl, put 10 ounces of fresh breadcrumbs.
Lightly coat meatballs in flour, dip in egg wash and roll in breadcrumbs coating meatballs evenly.
Using slotted spoon, cook batches of meatballs in deep fryer until golden. Remove from oil and drain on paper-lined plate.
Put olive oil in large frying pan on medium high heat. Add chopped garlic and shallots, cooking until golden. Stir in a pinch of red pepper and add brandy. Put tomato sauce into pan and transfer meatballs, covering them with sauce.
Put pan into preheated oven for 20 minutes, until meatballs are cooked. When finished, take out and garnish with 1 tablespoon Italian parsley, oregano and Parmesan cheese.
Serve alone or with pasta.
This is one of those "Why didn't I think of it"? moments.  I received a unique catalog yesterday for a store called "Flor".  It's a design it yourself way to do your carpet using carpet squares in different colors and textures and the designs are limitless!  Each square is priced  and sold separately so you can buy as many as you like and mix and match!!  Check out the website here! Check out the fun pictures below which are just a sample of the many fun and creative ideas with this fabulous concept!!  Enjoy!
Starting today through Valentine's Day you can get delicious cupcakes and "Luvcakes" from a new temporary Hey Cupcake Location! This location is on Research between Great Hills Trail and Braker Lane.This is just north of the junction at Mopac and 183! Â Just go North on 183 and take the Braker Lane exit! Â See the map below! Remember you can only get your cupcakes here through Valentines Day! Â They are open to sell out each day! Â Enjoy!!Hey Cupcake is only selling their "Luvcakes" through Valentine's Day too! Â Check out the cute video below and make this an extra sweet Valentine's Day for someone special!!
Leave it to OPI to come up with wonderful color collections each season! Starting this month they go deep in the heart of Texas with their 2011 Texas Collection of fun and sassy nail colors! There are 12 new colors in all!! Austin even has it's own color "Austin-tatious Turquoise" and I also love "Houston- We've got Purple". They are available starting this month so grab your favorites now!!
Cold weather and the Super Bowl bring out our BIG appetites! Â Want to indulge and eat healthy too? Â Well I have found 8 tasty and healthy recipes just for you...and they taste fabulous too! Â Click here for the recipes! Enjoy!
If you love to travel or keep things simple , you are going to love what's new from MAC cosmetics!  Starting in March ,  you can purchase  11 MAC Packed To Go kits. Each kit will be organized by product categoryâfor example, lipstick, lipglass, mascara, eyeliner, etc. The MAC Packed To Go collection will be available at select airports. Prices will vary from airport to airport but will be in the $40 To $48 range.  What a great idea and the price is right too!!   Check out the MAC website ,  the MAC stores in the Domain, at SAKS and at Nordstrom for more details!
Did I ever mention how much I love Target? Â Well I am telling you now...I love Target!! Â Check out these great boots the come in both black and brown...fabulous and just $49.99!! Â Amazing ! Â I am getting a pair in both colors here!
She has the closet of all closets!! Â She supposedly has every Louis Vuitton bag ever made, and more shoes than anyone can dare imagine , she is Kimora Lee Simmons!! Â She has her own fashion label , Baby Phat and her own reality show, "Kimora: Â Life In The Fab Lane"! Want to take a peek inside this fantasy land? Â Let Kimora be your guide! Â Warning: Â The contents of this closet may make you green with envy!! Â Enjoy!
I don't know about you, but I am ready for Spring! Â I just found the latest colors that one of my favorite nail brand Essie is offering for spring!! Â The new collection is called "A French Affair". Â These pretty sorbet like colors will get you into the mood for spring! The A French Affair collection will arrive in stores in February, as well as online at Essie.com. Each color retails for around $8.On a side note, Essie is reportedly planning to launch a 100-shade color collection in the next few months that will include previous favorites, bestsellers and several limited edition mini-collections.I will need to stock up on my can't do without shades "It's In The Bag". Â Ask anyone who knows me, it is the only color I ever wear!! Â Try it and see for yourself!!
If you watched the Golden Globes Sunday night you may have noticed  that Angelina Jolie was applying lip gloss when she didn't know the camera was watching!  Of course  I wondered what gloss she was using and US magazine has the answer for all of us!!Chantecaille is a luxury make-up brand that I have found at Neiman Marcus, so check out the store in the Domain or you can order on Chantecaille's website here! The color Angelia was using is called Love, but there are many lovely colors to choose from!  It costs $28 and is known for it's limp plumping abilities!  Is this Angie's secret?  You may have to wait awhile for it though, it is out of stock right now....hmmm I wonder why?
