Style Lush

Giveaway: Adorable matching wristlet and key fob

by Emily

We have a fantastic giveaway this week courtesy of a fabulously talented mother and daughter team. All you have to do is leave a comment on this post to enter to win a diaper clutch/cosmetic bag from the Keeta Collection (we featured the shop's original, stylish and GORGEOUS diaper bags here) and a matching key fob from the owner's daughter's Puppy Dogs N Polka Dots Etsy store.

 

Is anyone else a total sucker for matching accessories like I am? Especially in funky, eccentric prints? I am especially loving the fact that the bag can be used as a diaper and wipes clutch, a cosmetic bag, or a wristlet for your essentials, which gives it major longevity. I mean, at some point, our children stop with the diaper thing, won't they? Or yours will. Mine may be a lost cause.

Contest will run through Sunday night at 11:59pm. Please limit yourself to one comment (as hard as this may be, because SQUEEE SO CUTE) and we'll choose a winner at random and announce it next Monday. Good luck!

Summer Scent

by Natalie

Since it's February, it's the time of year when I start to think longingly of summer, vacations, beaches and everything that goes along with those topics. (Sincere sympathy for those of you on the east coast, what with this insane snowstorm and freezing weather.) One thing that's guaranteed to remind me of warm weather and relaxing swims is the scent of coconut. I find it weird that I don't actually like to eat coconut, but that the scent makes me so happy. Here are a few beach scented products that help carry me through until summer arrives.

{photos via folica.com, hairproducts.com, nordstrom.com}

1. Bobbi Brown Beach lotion 2. Redken Touch Control Volumizing Whip 3. Organix Coconut Milk Split Ends Mender

What products help get you through the damp and dreary winter months?

Port Sippers

By Leah

As if wrapping up the evening with a swirl of port weren't fancy enough, how about taking it a step further with these fanciful port sippers?

Amazon sells sets of four sippers for as low as $19.99, or the set plus a decanter for $39.99. (If you want to support a smaller business instead of the Big Guy, surf around; everyone seems to be selling one of two major brands.)

These make fun and unusual birthday or wedding gifts for oenophiles, or perhaps for the Valentine who has everything else, sohelpmeCupid. Just throw in a bottle of port--but gently! the sippers are tiny (about 3 inches tall) and made of delicate handblown glass--and you're good to go.

{photo: Amazon}

World's Smallest Postal Service

By Kristie

A few years ago my mom sent me a letter that I needed a magnifying glass to read. The entire letter was, at most, 2 inches big. My letter came in a tiny envelope with tiny writing, a tiny stamp and it was sealed with a tiny wax stamp. My tiny letter came from the World's Smallest Postal Service. It looks exactly like this one:

You can order one of these tiny letters for Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, birthday's or for no reason at all. At a reasonable $8 plus shipping I think it's a great way to tell someone you're thinking about them. Some of the best things come in small packages and this proves that.

{Images from Leafcutter Designs}   

Your Style Statement

By Amy

When I was in college, I considered myself fairly stylish. Looking cute for school and work was easy because I could wear just about anything. My first job out of college was teaching developmentally disabled adults at an art center, and I could wear the scrubbiest, ickiest clothes to work because it was likely that I was going to get messy and dirty within 10 minutes of arrival.

I became a teacher three years ago, and developing a personal style has been difficult. Finding a look that is classroom appropriate that doesn't involve holiday sweaters, wooden apple necklaces and a variety of classroom-themed pins can be tough, as can finding work-wear that doesn't make me look like a frumpy old woman. Casual style is also a problem for me, as I tend to purchase a hodge-podge of clothes that aren't necessarily all related or easy to create outfits from.  Trying to build a wardrobe that truly reflects my own personality was difficult, and finally, I'd had enough.

Last summer, I decided that I wanted to focus in on my own personal style, and a friend recommended an amazing book called Style Statement: Live By Your Own Design.

{photo via Amazon}

The book is chock full of quizzes and articles to help you hone your personal style. At the end of the book, you should hopefully have your own Style Statement, a two-word mantra to help you hone your own fashion sense, communication style and home decor.  I was amazed at how much I learned from this book about my own style in all arenas of my life---from the way I interact with others to the outfits I put together. It inspired me to create my own inspiration book, to trim down my wardrobe and to hone in on the things that really reflect the way I look and feel, as well as the way I hope to look and feel.

Also, even better news: it's on serious sale right now at Amazon. $6.19! You really can't say no to a book that will help you find your own sense of style, for less than $10, right? Go forth, and find your style statement! I promise you won't be disappointed.

Giveaway: iPhone sleeve

By Jennie

Another giveaway! It's YOUR lucky week.

We have this adorable iPhone sleeve for one lucky (iPhone-owning) winner. Although, I guess if you're feeling generous, you can give it to someone else! Or....just use it as an excuse to buy an iPhone. That's fun, too.

 

This nice offer is courtesy of Meaghan, a Style Lush reader, and her Etsy shop.

Give away up through next Wednesday. Winner chosen at the usual randomness!

Just leave a comment with something you have planned over the weekend?

Writer Round-up: Favorite vacation spot

By Jennie

Are you already thinking of a summer vacation or is that just me? Well, other than an airplane full of cash flying shockingly low to my house, my usual thought when it comes to vacations is where to go?

We polled the writers at Style Lush to ask their favorite stateside vacation destination. Sure, we'd all love to gallivant around Italy, but most of us are still trying to save as much money as we can. So, where to go in our own vast country? Here's at least some good places to consider!

1. Santa Barbara, Calif.

 

It's so, so beautiful and there is so much to do. Beaches! Wineries! Tours of the mountains! Sometimes you can see SHARKS from the cliffs! -- Jonna

2. Memphis, Tenn.

 

They have barbecue, Graceland, the Peabody Hotel, fried peanut butter and banana sandwiches, and open containers are legal up and down Beale Street. -- Elizabeth

3. Pawleys Island, S.C.

-- Natalie

4. Disneyland (Calif.)

 

-- Elisabeth

5. Las Vegas

I have a soft spot for Sin City. I know how to have good, clean fun amidst the sleeze, although hear me when I say one should only stay in Vegas for THREE DAYS; any more than that can kill a person. -- Leah

6. Sedona, Ariz.

 

-- Jess

7. San Francisco

I just love the food and bar scene there; you can't go wrong. -- Sarah and -- Amy

8. Cannon Beach, Ore.

 

-- Kerri Anne

9. Carmel, Calif.

The beach was lovely, the town was small enough to be able to walk around and take it all in and I bet when it's summer the weather is beautiful. -- Kristie

10. Key West, Fla.

 

It has everything I love about the Caribbean...friendly people, good (cheap!) drinks and delicious seafood, not to mention the gorgeous turquoise water. Plus, you can't beat the beautiful drive into Key West on Seven Mile Bridge. -- Katie

11. San Diego

-- Emily

12. Austin, Texas

Texas had to be represented somehow, which goes to show I talk a big game when it comes to disliking this state. You have great food, live music and laid-back people. Also, unless it's this year, good weather year-round. -- Jennie

Tell us, what's your favorite stateside city?

Best Pizza Ever!

By Beth

Oh, my Lushie friends, I have discovered the best pizza in the history of ever.  Seriously, this pizza is so good that all other pizza will be dead to you.  Not only is it delicious, it is dirt cheap and easily available anywhere in the world.  How do you get your hot little hands on this wondrous food, you are asking?  Simple.  You make it yourself.  From scratch.

Wait!  Don't click away!  I swear to you I am the last person in the world you would ever expect to be advocating doing things in the kitchen that involve yeast, but I am a recent convert and can't keep it to myself.  Making your own pizza is incredibly easy.  Here's a recipe I got from a friend of mine who got it from a friend of hers, so if it is someone's super-special proprietary recipe I have no idea and apologize in advance.

2 c. warm water
2 tbsp yeast
2 tbsp sugar
4 tbsp oil (optional)
1 tsp salt
4 c. flour (more as needed to make dough workable)

Mix warm water, yeast, and sugar.  Let sit for 5-10 minutes.  (The yeast needs to eat some sugar so it can do its magic.)  Add oil, salt, and flour.  Knead and let double in size.  (One hour to one and a half hours.)   Sprinkle pizza push, baking sheet or counter with cornmeal, smush and gently pull dough into pizza shape, put it on prepared surface and apply toppings as desired.

Makes two big pizzas.  Bake on preheated baking sheet, pizza pan or pizza stone on lowest rack at 425 until edges are brown.

You can also make your own sauce with a can of tomato puree, a little tomato paste, onions, garlic, whatever seasonings you like.  Simmer until it smells delicious.

You will never order pizza again.  And those frozen things?  You will laugh in their faces during every trip to the grocery store. 

Go now.  Be a pizza maker.  You won't regret it.

(Later I will tell you how to use leftover pizza dough to make homemade cinnamon rolls.  Then we will all go out together to buy bigger pants.)

White Pizza Dip

By Jessica

I'm back with another recipe for the big game, commercials or (as a reader suggested) puppy bowl this weekend. This one comes directly from the back of a Lipton Soup box, specifically the Savory Herb with Garlic variety. 

1 pkg Lipton Savory Herb with Garlic
1 16 oz Container of Sour Cream (I recommend Daisy Brand)
1 c or 8 oz Ricotta Cheese
1 c or 4 oz of Shredded Mozzarella Cheese
1/4 c  Cubed Bacon or Pepperoni

Preheat oven to 350°

Stir the sour cream, ricotta and 3/4 c of the shredded mozzarella together with the package of soup mix until well combined. Add the meat of your choice (I went with bacon but the original recipe called for cubed pepperoni). Top the mixture with the remaining 1/4 c of the mozzarella and cook uncovered for 30 min or until heated through and bubbly (I then popped mine under a broiler for a few minutes to get the cheese nicely browned). Serve with crusty french bread or crackers (I used Garlic Parmesan Toasts from Costco). When I originally made this for a game night, a girl-friend of mine asked that I physically remove this from her presence because she couldn't stop eating it, it's seriously that addictive. Highly recommended and highly fattening, goodness; nosh away!

A way to anyone's heart is through caramel brownies

By Elisabeth

Can't think of anything to get that special someone for Valentine's Day? Want to show a friend how much they mean to you? Do you need that go-to dessert, that staple to bring with you when you have to impress a hungry crowd?

Well, then these brownies have your name written all over it.

People request these over and over and over again. These globs of oooey goo are the ones that new mothers want when I bring over dinner. These are the ones that I have been making with my mother since I was in the 4th grade.

Now, they're in your hands. Please be gentle.

 

• 1 (14 ounce) package individually wrapped KRAFT caramels, unwrapped (I will only use KRAFT.)
• 1/3 cup evaporated milk
• 1 (18.25 ounce) package german chocolate cake mix
• 3/4 cup butter, melted
• 1/3 cup evaporated milk
• 3/4 cup to 1 cup of chopped pecans
• 1/2 bag of milk chocolate chocolate chips

Before you begin doing ANYTHING, unwrap every caramel in the bag. Do it in front of the tv, or have your 4 yr old do it. Oh, and Grease a 9x13 inch brownie pan/casserole dish. (I use olive oil cooking spray.)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). In a heavy saucepan, combine caramels and 1/3 cup of evaporated milk. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly until smooth; set aside. (I nuke mine in the microwave for 2-3 minutes, but do what you got to do.)

In a large bowl, stir together the cake mix, melted butter, pecans and 1/3 cup of evaporated milk until dough holds together. Press half of the dough into the prepared pan, reserving the rest.

Bake for 6 minutes in the preheated oven. Remove from the oven and sprinkle the chocolate chips over the crust, pour the caramel mixture evenly over the chips. Crumble the remaining dough over the caramel layer and return to the oven.

Bake for an additional 18 to 20 minutes in the preheated oven. (I prefer 18 minutes, but I LOVE me some gooey brownies.)

****

Now, I would recommend, if you have to take these anywhere, a bake sale, a friend's house, OUT of the house, make these the night before. They are WAY too hard to cut, box and serve same day.  If you are just going to grab a spoon, start at the corner and dig your way out, then make them any time you like.

If you are REALLY bold, you can serve a small scoop of ice cream on the side, but believe me, these guys are PLENTY on their own, but the addition does look nice, no?

Now........once you have gone to heaven and back, you HAVE to come back and report your luscious findings.

Ok, people. Now get to it!