Happy Halloween! Gluten Free Cupcakes + Dairy Free Whipped "Cream" Frosting Recipe

- Vanilla Cupcake recipe here . Vanilla "Whipped Cream" Frosting recipe here -

Celebrating the night by making these gluten/dairy -free witch hat whoopie pies and ghost cupcakes.

Hope you're having a fun and safe night!

Watch Love

Over the years I've become increasingly obsessed with watches. With their meticulous structure, fine detail and beautiful hardware, watches are one of the few accessories that I can wear everyday, no matter the outfit or occasion. Here are a few I'm currently loving:

1. Marc by Marc Jacobs 2. Bulova 3. Breil Milano 4. Michael Kors 5. Michael Kors 6. Nine West

Happy Halloween! Be safe :)

Navy Blue

There are very few colors as classic and timeless as navy blue. Whether it's a cozy old sweater, a piece of shiny silk ribbon, or even a tote canvas bag, anything doused in the color instantly exudes a level of sophistication that other colors don't quite capture. As much as I love all things navy, I must admit it's never been on my radar for wall paint color like shown in these photos. While it's bold and risky, I don't think these rooms could have turned out any better. Now, if I only I had such courage to go through with navy blue painted walls...

I loved the look of this navy blue painted wainscoting against the white walls:

photos 1 - 2 - 3 - 4

Fried Banana Bites - Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Soy Free Desserts

During our adventurous day in NYC last weekend I was frequently stopped in my tracks by the deliciously intoxicating smells of freshly made desserts omitted from bakeries and food carts alike. Since being gluten free means staying away from such yumminess while out, I decided to recreate a few of the treats I saw once I got home, the first being fried banana bites. A sweet blend of rice flour, coconut milk, egg, raw sugar, and coconut shreds, these bites are simple to make and perfect topped with powdered or cinnamon sugar. Just be careful...they have a tendency to disappear at an alarming rate.

When life gives you extra batter...make funnel cake:

Click below for recipe.

You'll need:

5 Tbs. white rice flour
1 Tbs. sugar
2 Tbs. shredded coconut
1 egg, beaten
1/4 C. milk (of any kind- I used coconut)
2 bananas, cut into 1/2-inch rounds
Oil for frying (I used canola)

Fill a shallow frying pan with about 1 inch oil and heat over medium until warm.
Meanwhile, in a small bowl mix together flour, sugar, coconut, egg and milk until fully incorporated and cake batter like.
Roll cut banana rounds in batter and drop into oil until golden (about 1 minute each side).
Remove from pan and place on paper towel to drain.
Repeat with remaining rounds.
Sprinkle with powdered or cinnamon sugar and serve warm.

5 Easy-to-Follow Smokey Eye Tutorials

The smokey eye is both sexy and classic, two adjectives that often compete for center stage but are a beautiful marriage when describing iconic looks like this makeup technique. Whether your eyes are light or dark, you're going to a formal dinner or out with girlfriends, or you just feel like jazzing up your everyday routine, the smokey eye shows no discrimination and is the perfect compliment to any look desired. While it looks effortless once complete, it can often times be tough to master, so I've compiled some of my favorite smokey eye tutorials for you here:

- This tutorial from Become Gorgeous is complete with step-by-step photos, making the look easy to complete.

- Cosmopolitan shares 7 easy-to-follow illustrations for a flawless smokey eye in a beauty cheat sheet here.

- Marie Claire created a video to compliment their 5 simple steps to a celebrity smokey eye here.

- Classy Cosmetics uses products like Revlon and MAC to complete this 10 minutes to a smokey eye video.

- A great tutorial loaded with photos, techniques, and application tips by beauty blogger Erica here.

I'm keeping these links close by for the holidays coming up :)

photos 1

NYC

- Taken from The High Line looking east -

Last Thursday we headed to New York City for the BlogHer Writing Conference by Penguin Books and it was an awesome trip, to say the least. I met so many amazing bloggers, including Megan from Greeting from Texas! and Amie from The Healthy Apple and Easy Eats, just to name a few. Saturday was our only free day, so K and I decided to hit the beautiful, fall lined streets of NYC hard and explored our hearts out. We took an early morning stroll in Central Park; stopped by Rockefeller Center to see a few minutes of the Today Show LIVE from Studio 1A; walked the High Line through Chelsea and the Meatpacking District; browsed Dean & Deluca, Scholastic Books, TopShop, Kate's Paperie, and Kate Spade in SoHo; munched on gluten free treats from Tu-Lu's Bakery in the East Village; visited the 9/11 Memorial and parts of the financial district; and, finally, ended the day on the Upper East Side by taking a peek at Sonja Morgan's (from Real Housewives of New York) 4-story townhouse. Needless to say, my subway jitters quickly faded and by the end of the day my worn-out Metro Card made me feel like a New 'Yawk' pro. Here are a few snap shots of the trip:

- The shelves at Kate's Paperie. I was in love with their colored, leather bound Webster's dictionaries on the top -

- Spotted: Diane von Furstenberg from The High Line -

- The "Sparkler Gia" at kate spade ny in SoHo. Super loved -

- Forcing a smile after a long day, but happy to be eating yummy gluten free pumpkin bread from Tu-Lu's Bakery in the East Village -

PS. I'm over at the gorgeous Karlita's blog The Purple Bow today sharing a few things that inspire me.

* To answer a few email questions: the blouse I'm wearing is from ZARA. I don't see it on their site, however this one is similar. Hope that helps!

The Sweetest of Collections

Sometimes it's the simplest of collections that seem to catch my eye the most. When I first cam across designer Whitney Deal's dresses, I was taken back their mix of sweet simplicity, fine detail, and seemingly comfortable wear, the latter of which a rare but welcomed feat in the world of fashion. These three looks are my favorite:

dresses 1 - 2 - 3

Wishing you a lovely weekend.

Writing Spaces

There is something about a designated writing space that appeals to me more so than an entire office. While an extra bedroom would be nice to create an entire workspace, I honestly don't know if I would use it more so than a desk underneath a window or a side table tucked in a corner. I also like the idea of a writing space adding a bit of flair to some of those unused and/or hard-to-design walls within the home. Here are a few of my favorite spaces:

photos 1 - 2 - 3 - 4

A Lovely DIY: Fabric Pinwheels

Nothing makes me happier than a cute DIY, especially one like these fabric pinwheels that can be used in a variety of ways for different occasions. I think they would look gorgeous added to everything from a wool scarf to a gift boxes, and anything/everything in between. I'm off to rummage through my fabric scraps to find a few pieces suitable enough to make these lovely pieces on my own.

- DIY by Karen and Elizabeth of Posh Paperie via Style Me Pretty -

Rachel Zoe's New House

Rachel Zoe might be one of the most famous stylists in the world, but who knew she had such great taste in home decor? Designed by her now ex-assistant, Jeremiah Brent, Rachel and Rodger's new "humble" abode offers a classic decor palette with modern pieces added in, all of which are doused in a range of white-to-cream hues. Here are some of my favorite rooms:

original photos via

I am loving baby Skylar's nursery!

Sachin + Babi Collection Preview at Neiman Marcus in Beverly Hills

This morning I attended a preview event at Neiman Marcus for Sachin + Babi's upcoming collections and it was so much fun. The fabulous pr team at Neiman's greeted visitors on the third floor and then we were able to look at the clothes, pull the looks from the racks, and talk with Babi about her newest pieces. The collection boasts glistening sequins, beautiful hues of navy, creams, and a few vibrant colors, and can easily be taken from day to night with a quick swap of shoes, jacket and accessories. I asked Babi where she derives inspiration for new designs and she explained that it comes from a variety of places: books, movies, travels, hobbies, and everything in between. A few of my favorite pieces among the racks were the Gracie Combo Coat, Margo Leather Accent Pencil Skirt, the Marilyn Combo Dress (seen on model below left), and the Silk Chiffon Sequin dress (seen on model below right) just to name a few.

Babi looked stunning. She was is in Sachin + Babi's Sequined Fleece Sweater and the Margot Leather Pencil Skirt. Oh, and she had the cutest shoes on! Wish I had a pic of those.

To see more of Sachin + Babi's collection (including jewelry), go here, here, or here.

Thank you to Neiman Marcus and Sachin + Babi for including Brunch at Saks at your event. Looking forward to your newest collection!

*This is not a compensated post, nor was my time spent at the event.

20 Fall-themed Pieces for Autumn Entertaining

I'm over at Houzz.com today sharing my 20 favorite fall-themed pieces for entertaining guests this season. From the Williams-Sonoma pumpkin spreaders to West Elm's "wishbone" platter, each piece will add the perfect touch of autumn to all your gatherings. See all 20 of my picks here.

photo

Hope you're enjoying the weekend :)

Celebrity Hair: Parted Down the Middle

This is not the most thought provoking post, but since I'm the kind of girl whose day is determined by how well my part and bangs are cooperating, I thought I'd take a moment to discuss the hairstyle I envy (yes- envy) the most. You see, I've tried wearing the middle part on numerous occasions, and it just doesn't work for me. Maybe it's the shape of my head...my face...who knows. Whatever the reason may be, it's not in the cards for me, but I still love seeing when other people pull off the look successfully. Here are a few of my favorites:

original photos 1 - 2

P.S Thank you to Erin (she has the most fabulous hair) who tweeted me saying the trick might be to grow your bangs out to chin length. This might be my issue! I need to stay away from the scissors.

Pastel Love

I've posted about my love for all pieces nude/blush/cream before, but since my obsession with this wide ranged palette has yet to waiver, I thought I'd gather a few more pieces that are suitable for the cooler months ahead. I'll be pairing these tones with dark denim, brown boots, and occasionally, when LA decides to grace us with winter like weather, my favorite navy pea coat.
1. Eleven Paris sober sweater 2. Tibi cable-knit sweater 3. Cacharel rolled collar sweater 4. Topshop pointelle sweater 5. Old Navy crew neck sweater 6. Schumacher charmed cardigan 7. Reed Krakoff ballet flat 8. Reed Krakoff ballet flat 9. Dollhouse ballet flat 10. Paula Bianco chunky knit wrap scarf 11. Marc by Marc Jacobs anniversary pear pendant 12. Marc by Marc Jacobs anniversary apple pendant 13. Gorjana studded wrap bracelet 14. Reed Krakoff leather clutch 15. BCBGMAXAZRIA metal mesh clutch

Halloween DIY: Glitter Pumpkins

On Saturday we made our way to the Tapia Bros. pumpkin patch here in Los Angeles and it was the perfect way to officially kick off fall. Upon entering we were pleasantly greeted by chickens, a rooster, sheep, goats, and even a cow; an unexpected yet somehow fitting addition during our trek through rows of pumpkins galore. We settled on three-15 pound beauties for our front porch and a handful of pint-sized ones to adorn our mantel and entryway table. I added a bit of sparkle to two of the smaller pumpkins with the help of Mod Podge (my number one go-to glue for all things DIY) and Martha Stewart glitter.

you'll need: pumpkins - glitter - Mod Podge - paint brush. optional: embellishments and ribbon. also helpful: craft paper/newspaper to work on - paper plate/bowl for mixture. one: mix equal parts glue + glitter. once mixed, add in a few drops more of glue and mix thoroughly. two: paint mixture onto clean pumpkin surface. let dry (about 2 hrs). repeat if necessary once completely dry. add embellishments. three - (alternate version): paint only glue onto clean pumpkin. sprinkle thoroughly with glitter. let dry (about 1 hr). add embellishments.

Currently Loving...

- Kate Winslet on the cover of Harper's Bazaar UK November 2011 issue. She can do no wrong in my book.
- Chanel nail polish and it's gorgeous array of hues. In my rotation for fall: Black Satin and Vendetta.
- Anything, everything cheetah and/or leopard (confession: I cannot distinguish between the two). Currently lusting over these Giuseppe Zanotti pointed toe pumps.

photos 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 -

Happy weekend to you :)

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Color Palettes for Fall

Los Angeles fell into the groove of fall yesterday and it was glorious. We experienced enough rain to constitute a morning accompanied by an umbrella and a pair of rain boots -- a small but happy fete in my eternal search for distinguishable seasons in the land that seems to forget such. I wore a chunky knit sweater all day, and when I returned home there was a rather large pumpkin sitting on our front porch, compliments of the neighborhood realtor. Fall is seemingly here to stay, and this makes me happy.

original photos: 1 - 2 (photographer Philip Newton via) - 3

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Ellen Degeneres' Beverly Hills House in Architectural Digest

After I caught a few glimpses of Ellen Degeneres' Beverly Hills house during her Today Show interview yesterday, I immediately began an all out Google search for more photos. Ellen has impeccable taste, with a decor palette ranging from 18th century French worktables to Spanish Colonial benches, and so much more. The house was designed by architects Buff & Hensman and decorated by interior designer Melinda Ritz.

photos: November 2011 Architectural Digest issue - seen here

How cool is the ping pong table (3rd photo) in the entryway?