Food For Life

We have found another wonderful blog FULL of vegetarian/vegan recipe ideas, that we have to share with you! Sadly, Vegan Yum Yum hasn't been added to in quite some time, but there are pages and pages of warm vegan comfort foods that will keep even the most devout meat eater happy. And there is a cookbook, so you can have these great recipes at your fingertips all the time! Here are a couple of recipes we will be trying out this week.

Hurry Up Alfredo:

You can never go wrong with things that are made in a blender, right? Right. This savory pasta sauce is the first on our list to try out. 

What you will need:

1 cup soy milk

1/3 cup raw unsalted cashews

1/4 cup nutritional yeast

3 tbs low sodium tamari or soy sauce

2 tbsp earth balance margarine

1 tbs Tahini

1 tbs fresh lemon juice

2tsp dijon mustard

1/2 tsp paprika

1 pinch of nutmeg

2-4 garlic cloves

black pepper to taste

Add all of the ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth. Pour over cooked pasta and cook over medium heat until heated through. Add in any of your favorite veggies as well! The sauce is also very versatile, and can be used over veggies, over lasagna, or to use in casseroles. 

Sun-dried Tomato and Basil Couscous with Aceto Balsamico

Second on the list is another simple recipe that would be perfect for a quick lunch or mid-day snack

What you will need:

3tsp olive oil

1/4 cup of salt

1/4 cup of chopped fresh basil

10-12 oil packed sun-dried tomatoes, chopped

1 cup couscous

1 cup boiling water

1/4 cup of toasted pine nuts

Aceto Balsmico di Modena (or any high quality balsamic glaze)

Boil 1/12 cups if water. In a bowl mix the olive oil, salt, basil, tomatoes, and couscous. Measure out 1 cup of boiling water and add to couscous mixture. Cover with plastic wrap and let sit for 5 minutes. While you wait for the couscous, toast the pine nuts, but make sure not to burn them! Lightly fluf the couscous with a fork, add in pine nuts and drizzle with balsamic glaze. This dish is fantastic warm, or at room temperature. 

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Fall Hair

Courtesy of the fabulous folks over at Allure, here are 10 Fall hairstyle ideas taken from the hottest runways that are easy, and fun to try this fall season! 

The Loose braid: As seen on Lanvin and Pucci Runways. Use a texturizing cream before roughly blowing dry and begin the braid at the nape of the neck, leaving the front pieces loose. 

The Low Pony: Ralph Lauren, Prada, Balmain. Spray a light hold hairspray onto straightened hair. Pull hair back to the nape of the neck, and spritz with a glossing spray for added shine. 

 Glam Waves: Oscar De La Renta, Marc by Marc Jacobs. After blow drying your hair, sleek and straight, tuck the two front pieces behind the ear, securing with bobby pins. Then Using a curling iron, curl the ends of the hair from the nape of the neck down. Spray all over with hairspray.

The loose bun: Chanel, Dolce & Gabbana.  This is one of our favorites! For the look above create a low side part, and mist with hairspray. Pull hair into a low side pony below the ear, and tease. Then braid the last two inches of the ponytail and tie with a hairband. Then roll the entire thing into a ball and secure loosely using bobby pins.

Half Up: Nina Ricci, Miu Miu, Giambattista Valli. Apply a blow dry serum to the bottom half of your hair, and a volumizing mousse to the crown before blow drying. Curl your entire head, part down the center and tease at the roots. Pull one inch sections back from above the ear and secure loosely. 

Rumpled Texture: Marni, Balmain, Chloe. The simplest hairstyle of the season, and easily compared to Kate Moss' signature look, this is one for the days when there is limited hairstyling time. Spritz the crown of your head with water, and mess the top with your hands. Create a center part and pull back at the name of the neck.

Hair Accessories: Chanel, Valentino, Rodarte, Prada, Nina Ricci. Add a bit of flair with embellished headbands, scarves, simple plain headbands, or even barrettes.

Pop of Color: Parabal Gurung, Jason Wu, Haider Ackerman. If you aren't ready to make the leap into officially dying your own locks, you can opt for brightly colored extentions, like the ones seen here on the Parabal Gurung runway.

Intentional Frizz: Gucci. Dig out that crimper! (We know you still have one) After sleeking back the top portion of the hair, and securing in a tight , low pony; crimp the ponytail and backcomb.

Deep Side Part: Blow dry hair to a sleek finish, and part deeply on the side, bringing the hair over the forehead and one eyebrow. You can gather loosely at the nape of the neck into a pony tial, or a loose bun. Tweet

Yesterday And Today: Through Photos

Last week the exhibit "More American Photographs" Opened at the CCA Wattis Institute for Contemporary Arts in San Francisco. During the great depression, the Farm Security Administration commissioned photographers to document American life during the years of 1935-1944. The result is beautiful and captivating photos of one of America's most difficult times. Fast forward to present day, where America is coming out of our most difficult time since the years of the great depression. Twelve new photographers are being commissioned to take an entirely new set of photos that capture the hardships that many have endured throughout our country since 2008. The photographs will be displayed side by side at the Wattis Institute until December 17, 2011 and will then travel to Denver and Columbus. (We are keeping our fingers crossed for an East Coast location!) If you can't make it to any of the locations though, there will be catalog available in January.

Photos of the 30's and 40's:

Photos of today: 

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Inspirations

We are always on the lookout for things that inspire us, and of course we love to share what we love, so here are a few places we are currently finding inspiration.

The Anthropologist: A collection of inspiring artists from around the world that bring grand visions to life

Tumblr: A place we can get lost in for hours. We're sure you've heard of Tumblr since it is only becoming more and more popular, but if not, do yourself a favor and start tumbling. 

ART IN THE STREETS: A collaboration with the Museum of Contemporary Art,  Los Angeles that brings us a behind the scenes look into the installation of three public murals and the artists that created them. 

One Track Mind: We've talked about this wonderful blog before, but it's so great it deserves to be mentioned again. Discover new music daily, from new artists around the globe. You can also rate songs, share with your friends and leave comments!

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Color Blocking By Day/ Color Blocking By Night

Getting creative with color is one of the most fun things to do! The color blocking trend for fall is something that you can take chances with and pull out all the stops. We've put together a couple of fun ideas for a fun day look and a put together, chic night look. Now hit the closet and start getting colorful!

All clothing courtesy of Netaporter.com
All jewelry courtesy of House of Lavande Tweet

Food For Life

This past weekend, we had the pleasure of eating at one of our favorite local vegan restaurants, Christopher's Kitchen. From the moment you walk in, you are greeted by a welcoming environment, friendly staff and can very easily find yourself hanging around talking and learning about their creative and insanely delicious recipes and what makes them so good for you.

Chef Christopher Slawson put it best when he described his creations as "Living soul foods that nourish the body and spirit". We couldn't agree more. Check out their blog and menu for some wonderfully creative vegan food inspirations.

Now onto the important part. What we had for dinner.

Thai Noodle Salad: Fresh herbs, mango, avocado, mixed vegetables, sesame seeds, thai dressing and sprouted almonds. 

Flatbread Trio: A sampling of three different flatbreads.

The Greek: Red Sauce, black olives, sun dried tomatoes, sunflower seed cheese, red onion, red pepper, oregano, thyme, basil, lemon.

The Mexican: Walnut taco meat, fork crushed avocado, shredded romaine, pico de gallo, lime, cilantro, cashew kream, hot sauce.

BBQ: Chipotle BBQ sauce, caramelized onions, thyme, avocado, red pepper, ricotta, hunza raisins, cilantro, lime. 

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Ladies in Lavande

The past couple of weeks the red carpets have been beautifully accented with jewels from House of Lavande! From bold, modern gold, and delicate vintage to a statement collar; we are loving each one more than the next!

Michelle Obama wearing a House of Lavande necklace while speaking at the White House 

Emma Stone wearing House of Lavande earrings to the London premiere of The Help

Viloa Davis wearing a Collar necklace by Alan Anderson for House of Lavande to the London premiere of The Help

Evangeline Lilly wearing House of Lavande earrings to the premiere of Real Steel

Jessica Chastain wearing House of Lavande earrings to the UK premiere of The Debt Tweet

de Kooning: A Retrospective

Back in September the Museum of Modern Art began an exhibition dedicated to the entire career of Willem de Kooning. His colorful visions of beauty are among our favorites, and we are thrilled to have the opportunity to study his life and his work dating back to his work before he moved to America in 1926.

In anticipation for the exhibit, Architectural Digest revisited their 1982 issue which features the East Hampton home and studio of Mr. de Kooning. It is a beautiful behind the scenes look into works in progress, rooms filled with light and overall inspiration from one of the most important artists of our time.
See the full slideshow here

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Takin' It To The Streets- Via Paris

As we all know, the third version of Fashion Week is now taking place in Paris. Phil Oh, for Vogue.com has captured the colorful, mixed pattern, eclectic and bold looks from throughout the week. Enjoy!  

(To see the full slideshow click here)

Leaf Greener

Prada Heels 

Miroslava Duma in a Lanvin cape

Sean Lennon and Charlotte Kemp Muhl

Chic prints, and awesome headphones!

Charlotte Olympia clutch

Detailed sleeves that we cannot get enough of

Salvatore Ferragamo clutch with chunky layered cuffs

Frida Gustavvson

Miu Miu Glitter booties

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Louis In Paris

There are few things we love more than Marc Jacobs for Louis Vuitton. This year at fashion week in Paris, he once again stunned (hopefully not for the last time). With a larger than life working carousel that serves as the backdrop for the lady-like, 50's inspired fashions for Spring/Summer of next year, this could be one of our favorite moments from Paris. Kate closed the show, looking as beautiful and angelic as ever in a white feathered baby doll dress and messy bun. 

Having been inspired by all of this beauty, we took to the drawers here at HOL and picked out jewels that compliment the look and feel of the show; 50's, pastel, shimmery and fun! 

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Food For Life

Today we are going to talk about one of the most gratifying practices of cleaner eating. The detox. There is a fantastic E-book that is available at Foodmatters.tv. It is just $20 and is a plethora of knowledge about healing and cleansing your body from the inside out.

"There is an abundance of documented evidence and research on people the world over healing themselves using nutritional therapies. Cancer, arthritis, diabetes, heart disease and other illnesses have been successfully treated by allowing the cells to detoxify and subsequently delivering nutrients to the cells of the body with wholesome life giving foods. If poor nutrition and an accumulation of toxins initiates disease in the body, then the reverse must also be true. In UNderstanding the the body works both ways, it makes sense to conclude that the prevention is the same as the cure." - Andrew Saul, Phd

A three day cleanse is suggested to start off with, as it is a reasonable amount of time for someone who leads a busy lifestyle. If a seven or even 10 day cleanse can be incorporated into your life, even better!

A basic outline of a great three day cleanse:

- Have a large glass of room temp water with the juice of one lemon and a crushed thumbnail size piece of ginger when you wake up.

- Before breakfast have a green drink. Wheatgrass or barley grass powders are an easy place to start. (You will get used to the taste. We promise!)

- For breakfast make a veggie juice. You can use carrots, beetroot, cucumber and a handful of spinach, and parsley. Also take 1000mg of vitamin C and two 1000mg flax seed oil capsules.

- Between breakfast and lunch have a caffeine free detox tea of peppermint, ginseng, licorice root, ginger or chamomile. You can also drink more green drink if you want!

- Lunch will be a small serving of brown rice and raw/steamed veggies. You can season with sea greens, miso soup, lemon juice and olive oil. Also 1000 mg of Vitamin C.

- Have another veggie juice mid afternoon. This one can have fruits and veggies like carrots, apples and ginger to boost your energy.

- Before bed have a relaxing/ detoxifying tea of peppermint, lemon balm, licorice root, ginger or chamomile.

Follow this for as many days as you can and you will quickly see the results. Your body will eliminate stored waste, which will in turn help you lose weight and feel better and your energy levels will rise. If you have heart problems, you will notice a more regular heartbeat and your circulation will improve through cleansing your liver, kidneys and blood.

For the exact recipes above, and ideas and suggestions on ways to keep up clean eating after you cleanse, download the Food Matters ebook. It is filled with information that will help you stay focused and delicious recipe ideas as well! Tweet

Beauty's Top 10

This month Glamour Magazine is featuring a beauty special: Top 10 Everythings of Beauty. A fantastic ten page guide with all of the tips, tricks, products and practices to refine your makeup/skincare routine!

Here are a couple of our favorite lists:

Top 10 Ways To Wake Up Prettier:

1. Braid wet hair and wake up with gorgeous waves.
2. Use Frownies Facial Patches. Reduce facial movement during sleep to reduce creasing in skin
3. Moisturize
4. Flip hair upside down and pull into a high pony using a scrunchie to protect your blow out
5. Use essential oils like rose oil and jojoba on your face
6.  Use primer over skincare products. It will help the products to sink in
7. Apply a hair mask
8. Use an electronic complexion brush
9. Self Tanner to keep your glow all winter long
10. Sleep on a satin pillow case for smoother hair

Top 10 Beauty Investments:

1. Dolce and Gabbana perfect finish creamy foundation for flawless coverage and texture
2. The perfect red lipstick. Tom Ford Private Blend Lip Color in Crimson Noir
3. YSL eyeshadow in number 11 Midnight Garden. Great options to add a pop of color in fall
4. Mason Pearson Popular Mix Bristle Brush
5. Guerlain liquid eyeliner
6. Prada Candy eau de parfum (we also love Chloe, by Chloe)
7. Bobbi Brown 20th anniversary lip palette. 20 different shades in one compact
8. Cle de Peau eye contour cream. Pricy, but fantastic line softener
9. Chanel nail polish. Every color is great, but we are loving the neutral tone of Quartz
10. Philip B. Russian Amber Imperial Shampoo to liven up your locks

YSL eyeshadow in Midnight Garden

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