pumpkin

pumpkin bread it one of my favorite things to bake during fall and winter. i have tried several recipes before, some too rich, dry, or too many spices. this weekend i used this recipe which is my new favorite. for the pumpkin purée that is called for in the recipe i recommend using pumpkin pieces and boiling them, its less time consuming and less of a mess. 


ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups (210g) flour (sub whole wheat flour if desired)
• 1/2 teaspoon of salt
• 1 cup (200 g) sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 cup (240 ml) pumpkin purée*
• 1/2 cup (120 ml) olive oil
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 1/4 cup water
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

* to make pumpkin purée, cut a pumpkin in half, scoop out the seeds and stringy stuff, lie face down on a foil lined baking sheet. bake at 350°F until soft, about 45 min to an hour. let cool and freeze whatever you don't use for future use. or, if you are working with pumpkin pieces, roast or boil them until tender, then remove and discard the skin.

1 preheat oven to 350°F (180°C). stir together the flour, salt, sugar, and baking soda.

2 mix the pumpkin, oil, eggs, 1/4 cup of water, and spices together, then combine with the dry ingredients. 

3 pour into a lightly buttered/oiled loaf pan. bake 50-60 minutes until a thin skewer poked in the very center of the loaf comes out clean. remove from oven and let cool on a rack. 


*makes one loaf

happy halloween!

m.a.s.k.

this week i have been working on making a mask for halloween. i wanted to make a mask i could wear with a black romper or dress and pumps for this weekend's halloween festivities. these are some of the pictures that inspired me to make my own mask...

la tour eiffel

few things symbolize paris and france like the eiffel tower, in french, la tour eiffel, it's therefore used as a symbol of france. named after it's designer, engineer gustave eiffel, the tower is the tallest building in paris, standing 324 meters (1,063 ft) tall. this architectural master piece can be seen from anywhere in the center of the city. la tour eiffel is the best-known monument in all of europe. built in 1889, it has become both a global icon of france and one of the most recognizable structures in the world.


my favorite things to do at la tour eiffel:

1. walking up the 2 levels of stairs(over 600 steps!)and taking pictures from all 3 levels
2. picnicking and sunbathing on the grass during the day 
3. drinking champagne and eating macarons while watching the tower sparkle at night

poufs and pillows

poufs and pillows can do so much for a room. there is no better way to fill space in a room and simultaneously create more seating in a room than adding poufs and pillows. stacking pillows on top of poufs is a great way to showcase printed and textured pillows together in a room. the poufs and pillow instantly make a room more colorful, stylish, and soft.

all wrapped up

this weekend i stopped by the kate spade store in san francisco, and picked up this pair of "all wrapped up " bow earrings. i debated between these earrings and the "all wrapped up" bow ring, but the size of the bow on the ring may be too large for my hand and i think i will get more wear out of the earrings. i love all the whimsical, elegant, and pretty pieces designed by kate spade.  

macaron, mademoiselle?

since my last trip to paris in september, where i visited the parisian bakery, ladurée, i have been been dying to have a macaron.  so, i treated myself the other day to a raspberry, which is my absolute favorite, and a blackberry macaron. every trip to paris must include a visit to ladurée and meanwhile there is always ladurée new york, miette, la boulange, and if you're lucky like me, a local farmer's market.

red and pink

lusting over this look! the giambattista valli fall/winter 2011 collection has one of my favorite looks of the season. the red knit sweater, with shoulder-pad detailing, paired with  the bright pink skirt with two large peplums at the waist is such a bold pop of color and a stunning silhouette! i will be recreating this look for myself with a red blouse tucked into a pink tube skirt, a skinny patent leather belt and nude heels. 

harlow

purchase of the week: house of harlow 1960 leather drop necklace. i saw this vintage inspired necklace and had to have it. it's constructed of leather, which is my favorite part because i think the leather adds texture to the simple geometric shapes. i can't wait to wear this piece!

cans

bouchon

i spent part of my weekend in napa and while i was there i had dinner at this french bistro, bouchon, in yountville. the bibb lettuce salad was by far my favorite dish, plus pommes frites, and a glass of chardonnay made it the perfect parisian meal. after dinner we decided to have another drink at bottega, and sat outside on the couches in front of the fire place. 

YSL

i have always been a huge fan of Yves Saint Laurent and the Fall 2011 RTW collection has some of my favorite looks for fall. the cape in the first look is gorgeous, perfectly tailored to shadow a women’s silhouette. i love the colorful studs against the black suede on the wedges. the dress in the second look is also a favorite because i love anything with a strong shoulder and i always fall in love the prints that YSL executes so perfectly. 

sequin season

i saw this photo and it instantly reminded me of how much i love sequins. fall is absolutely my favorite season to wear sequins, sequin tees, sequin blouses, sequin cardigans, and occasionally a sequin mini.  i think what i love most about sequins is how romantic they look and feel.

calf hair bag

must-have item of the week: if you only buy one calf hair item this season, make it this bag by j.crew ($448). if i had the will power to only buy one calf hair item this season this would by far be my number one choice. at a higher price point this bag by YSL ($1995) is everything. the black leather trims on the bag amp up the glamorous gold 'Y' motif, and the ladylike structure is the perfect size for everyday essentials. depending on your price point either bag is a must have. 

channeling chanel

chanel ballerina ballet flats two-tone

channeling chanel: i stopped by the chanel store this week and fell in love with these ballet flats. these flats are completely on trend with the two toned camel!  i was told the cap on the toe is designed to make the foot look smaller and the shade of camel is meant to make the foot look slimmer.  i am hoping to have these flats in my closet at some point this season.  

do the impossible

feather fedora

forest feather fedora

recently, i have been adding to my collection of hats. although i only have a hand full at this point i am hoping i can add a few hats this season. madewell has tons of hats that i love, but this felted fedora is my favorite at the moment. i think the feather band against the black felt adds texture and print to a simple hat. 

navy and nude.

i have been looking for a true navy nail polish and yesterday i stumbled across “road house blues” by OPI. navy is one of my favorite colors for fall, and i just love the thought of wearing it on my nails. as a bonus i also found the perfect nude color, “barefoot in barcelona”. plus, i love pairing something navy, like a navy tube skirt or dark denim trousers with a nude blouse or blazer. 

happy hump day!

here’s a little mid work week motivation or for those who are hunting for their dream job.  

coltskin clutch

coltskin clutch bag

lusting over this look! the length and color of these shorts is perfect. this coltskin clutch by zara is so ideal for fall. plus, it’s a clutch and a shoulder bag with a skinny black leather strap! although i am loving the new coltskin/calf hair trend, it can look tacky depending on the print and quality of the material. i think the print on the bag was done to perfection.  

campbell platform booties

jeffrey campbell "lita" bootie

purchase of the week: jeffrey campbell ‘lita’ booties. i just got back from a moth traveling around europe, and this style of boot was everywhere and i knew when i came back i had to have pair.  i think they are a classic jeffrey campbell platform made more dramatic and more of a statement piece by the full lace-up front with 5” wooden heel and 2” platform. plus there is the option of having them in suede, distressed leather or both! completely fell in love with these!