Beauty In The New Year

Throughout the year it's very easy to get lazy in our routines and daily beauty upkeep, so the beginning of the year is a perfect time to get back into the swing of things and try out some new products and get creative in your daily makeup routine as well! Here are a few great products that we suggest to get you in that beautifying mood that we all love so much! 

Skincare:

1. Clairsonic skincare set

2. Murad Serum to even out skin tone

3. Clarins nightly repair cream

4. Laura Mercier tinted SPF moisturizer 

 Hair:

1. Ojon restorative hair treatment

2. Oscar Blandi dry shampoo

3. L'anza thermal defense flat ironing spray

Makeup:

1. Nails Inc. Wyndham Collection, nail effects

2. Smashbox Legendary lipstick

3. Urban Decay Urban Ammo eye pallete

4. Makeup Forever Aqua Eyes

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Captured Movement

As lovers of all forms of art, we had to share this double artistic feature from yesterday's New York Times column,  Lens. Featuring the below photographs of Andrea Mohin, hand picked by Andrea as some of her personal favorites, they are somewhat a year in review. What makes them even more exceptional is the skillful art that goes into photographing dance. Capturing the perfect moment, the feeling and the motion, are the small details that Mohin executes perfectly. She describes it best when she explains it as "Being in touch with what the music is telling you. That's what the dancers are doing, so if you are too, then you are on the same page." 

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Fashion Inspirations

2012 is just three days away! What will you be wearing to ring in the new year? A fun and flirty cocktail dress, or a sexy floor length? We've put together a couple of ideas here, using a few of our favorite HOL pieces. Also, don't forget you can always stop in with your dress, or send us a picture for some fun jewelry styling ideas!

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Tommy Ton's 2011 Best

Tommy Ton's iconic street style photographs bring us the latest trends on the fashion scene by the ones who do it best.  2011 is coming to a close, and Tommy has wrapped it all up neatly in a list of the year's best. From personal style to the best bags and trends, it's all here for us to feast our eyes upon. Enjoy!

Look of the season: Shala Monroque

Biggest trend of the year: Color

Best runway to reality moment: Ulyana Sergeenko veiled in head to toe Louis Vuitton

Best bag: Fendi Silvana

The next street style star: Liz Cabral

Best clutch: Christopher Kane 

Best sense of color: Elisa Nalin

Best post-baby comback: Lauren Santo Domingo in Armani Privé suit

Most surprising trend: The sneaker

Best reason to work on your fitness: Hanneli Mustaparta in Vika Gazinskaya and miu miu collar

Best dressed off duty model: Hanne Gaby Odiele 

Best over the top accessories: Kate Lanphear

Best signature pose: Natalie Joos

The other biggest trend of the year: Prints

Most sought ofter subject: Ursina Gysi

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Food For Life

The new year is swiftly approaching us, and in honor of resolutions, Meatless Monday, and making healthy changes in life, we are bringing Food for Life to the beginning of the week. Healthy living ideas, recipes and all the things you need to get your week started off on the right track!

One Food, Five Ways: Arugula
It's no major secret that arugula has become much more popular over the last couple of years. It's a spicy, delicious green that is extremely full of vital nutrients and vitamins. Today courtesy of vegetarian times, we are bringing you five delicious arugula meal ideas!

Cantaloupe-Arugula Salad:

What you will need-
3 cups of cantaloupe balls
1 cup tightly packed arugula
1tbs. of olive oil
1 1/12 tsp. of cracked black pepper
2 oz. of your favorite cheese, shaved

Toss together cantaloupe, arugula, oil and pepper in a large bowl. Season with salt, and top with a bold cheese, like gorgonzola.

Arugula-Ricotta Omelet:

What you will need-
1 egg and two egg whites
1 small shallot, chopped
1 oil packed sun-dried tomato, finely chopped, plus 1/2 tsp of oil from jar
1 cup of arugula
1 tbs of ricotta cheese

Whisk egg and egg whites with 1 tbs of water in a small bowl. Season with salt and pepper, set aside. Place shallot, sun-dried tomato and reserved oil in a small nonstick skillet and and saute over medium heat for 2 to 3 minutes. Add arugula and saute for 2 to 3 more minutes. Pour in egg mixture stirring to distribute arugula and tomato mix evenly. Reduce heat and cook for 2 minutes, or until omelet begins to set. Add ricotta cheese, and let the omelet cook for about a minute more, then fold in half, and enjoy.

Goat Cheese-Arugula Bruschetta:

What you will need for goat cheese spread-
8oz. of fresh soft goat cheese
2 tbs. of milk (we prefer almond or rice)
4 cups of arugula, coarsely chopped
2 tbs. of chopped chives
1 tsp. of grated lemon zest

What you will need for arugula sauce-
4 cups of arugula
3 cloves of peeled garlic
1 tbs. of grated lemon zest
1/4 cup of olive oil
1 tbs. of lemon juice

What you will need for the bruschetta-
1 french or sourdough baguette, cut into 32 slices
16 cherry tomatoes
1 cup of arugula for garnish

Spread-
Mash goat cheese with milk in a bowl. Stir in arugula, chives, and lemon zest. Season with salt and pepper.

Sauce-
Blend arugula, garlic and lemon zest in food processor until finely chopped. Add olive oil an lemon juice and blend until smooth. season with salt and pepper.

To assemble bruschetta-
Spread each baguette slice with 1 1/12 tbs. of goat cheese spread. Top with 1/2 tsp. of arugula sauce. Garnish each with a cherry tomato half and arugula leaves.

Ultimate Summer Arugula Salad:

What you will need-
10 cups of arugula
4 ears of fresh corn
4 medium tomatoes, quartered and cut into 1/2 inch thick slices
2 hass avocados, cut into 1/2 inch cubes
1 1/2 tbs. of lemon juice
2 tbs. of olive oil

Place arugula in a large salad bowl. Add tomatoes, avocados, lemon juice and olive oil. Season with salt and pepper and toss.

Crispy Lemon Pepper Arugula:

What you will need-
4 oz. of arugula leaves
2 tbs. of olive oil
2 tsp of lemon pepper seasoning

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Toss together arugula, olive oil, and lemon pepper in a large bowl until arugula is well coated with oil. Spread in a single layer on two large baking sheets. Bake 8 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally with tongs, or until leaves are crispy and dark green. Season with salt.



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Sipping on the Holidays

This weekend is going to be filled with fun, friends, and family, and one of the best parts of it all are the holiday cocktails! We will be trying some of these delicious recipes this weekend, and hopefully you will too! 

Candy Cane Cooler:

What you will need:

For infusion:

2 cups of fresh mint leaves

1 bottle of quality vodka

Directions:

Throughly wash mint leaves and place in decanter. Empty vodka into container and muddle slightly to release the essential oils. Store in a cool dark place for at least 3 days.

For cocktail:

1 tbsp of crushed candy cane 

1 1/2 oz. of mint infused vodka

1/2 oz. B&B (Benedictine and Brandy)

1/2 oz.of half and half

Ice

peppermint stick

mint for garnish

Plce crushed candy cane bits into pint glass. Muddle the candy cane slightly, breaking up the bigger pieces. Add vodka, brandy and half and half and stir. Pour into a shaker with ice. Shake lightly to chill and strain into a glass full of ice. Add the peppermint stick and mint garnish. 

Mapletini:

What you will need:

2 shots of irish cream liquer
1 shot of brandy
1/2 shot of cinnamon schnapps
1 teasp maple syrup
ice
cinnamon stick

Directions:
Place all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake and strain into a martini glass. Garnish with cinnamon stick.

Maple Butter Kiss:

What you will need:

Ice 

1 1/2 oz. of vodka

1/2 oz. DeKuyper Buttershot liquer or butterscotch scnhapps

1/4 oz. of real maple syrup

1oz. of half and half

fresh ground nutmeg

Directions:
Pour liquid ingredients into a cocktail shaker filled with ice, Shake vigorously. Strain into a martini glass and top with fresh ground nutmeg. 

Gingersnap:

What you will need:

1 oz. of Ginger beer
Ice
1 tsp ginger juice
1 1/2 oz. of dark rum
1tsp. of cinnamon schnapps
pinch of cloves
1 egg white
cinnamon stick
crystallized ginger square
Finely ground gingerbread cookie

Directions:

Pour enough ginger beer into a saucer to cover and dip a martini glass into the saucer to caot the rim. Dip into saucer with ground cookie. Scoop ice into shaker. Pour ginger juice, rum and cinnamon schnapps into a shaker. Add pinch of ground cloves. Separate an egg and add egg white to shaker. shake vigorously for at least 20 seconds until drink is frothy and foamy. The longer you shake, the frothier the drink. Add ginger beer and stir slightly. Pour into glass. Garnish with cinnamon stick and crystallized ginger square. Sprinkle the top 






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Rene Gruau

One of our most loved forms of creative expression here at HOL is the fashion illustration. When we think of this wonderful art form, the first name that comes to mind is the late, great Rene Gruau. Since the 1930's he has been illustrating for high fashion magazines such as Femina, Marie Claire, and  L'Officiel. In 1947, his friend Christian Dior commissioned him to draw the Miss Dior advertisement, and the famous Bar dress. In 1948 he made the move to the United States where he worked for Harper's Bazaar and Vogue, before dedicating his art solely to advertising in 1949. From 1950 until the 90's he continued to work for some of the post prestigious fashion houses and magazines around the world. With a career that has spanned the decades, his pieces have become collectable and iconic, and will surely continue to inspire future stylish generations!

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Fashion Inspirations

We can't get enough of fabulous winter fashions these days, now all we need is the South Florida weather to cooperate! Using a few of our favorite pieces from netaporter.com, we've put together a couple of looks for day and night. This cozy Marc Jacobs sweater can easily go from a casual day look to an evening out with friends, and then you can really bust out the holiday spirit with sparkly Halston Heritage shorts. Top off each look with a special House of Lavande piece to really make the look your own. Happy dressing and Happy Holidays! 

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Food For Life

Wether entertaining at home, or bringing a dish on the go, we are all preparing treats for parties this holiday. Appetizers are by far one of our favorite parts of a party, so here are a few ideas that you can whip up at home, or take with you to your next gathering. And if you don't mention it, we guarantee no one will complain about their delicious vegan/meatless snacks!

Vegan Spinach Dip:

This is an easy recipe that you can throw together and adjust the ingredients to your liking.

What you will need:

1 10oz package of frozen, chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry

1/2 cup of veganaise

2/3 cup of vegan sour cream, like Tofutti

1/2 finely chopped green onions

1-2 cloves of minced garlic

salt and pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 350 degrees, combine all ingredients into a baking dish and bake for 20 minutes. Serve warm with pumpernickel bread, chips, or crackers. 

Vegetable Appetizer Squares:

What you will need:

3 cups of zucchini, grated and well drained

1 large carrot, grated

1/2 cup of red pepper, diced

1/2 cup of red onion, finely chopped

4 eggs, slightly beaten

1/2 cup of grated parmesan cheese

1/2 cup of strong cheddar cheese, grated

2 tbsp of parsley, chopped

2 garlic cloves

1 cup of flour

1 1/1 tsp of baking powder

1/2 tsp of seasoning salt

1/2 tsp dried oregano leaves

1/2 tsp hot pepper sauce

1/4 cup of butter, melted.

*Substitute cheese and dairy products with your favorite vegan alternatives, for a completely vegan dish.

Heat oven to 350 degrees, grease bottom of a rectangular pan

Mix eggs, parmesan cheese, pepper sauce, parsley and vegetables. Set aside

Combine dry ingredients and stir into liquid mixture

Stir in melted butter

Spread mixture evenly into baking dish

Sprinkle grated cheese over top

Bake for about 30-35 minutes or until golden brown

Cool slightly, and cut into squares. These can be served warm or cold. 

Thai Spring Rolls:

What you will need:

1/2 cup of lettuce, chopped

1/2 cup of carrots, grated

1/4 cup fresh coconut meat, shredded

1/2 bean sprouts, blanched or slightly steamed

1 cup peanut sauce

vermicelli wraps, 1 per roll

sesame seeds

Lightly steam vermicelli wraps and cool on a flat surface and place filling onto wrap. Add a bit of peanut sauce on top. Roll into wraps and drizzle more peanut sauce on top 

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Iris for MAC

Early next year, MAC will be debuting their newest collaboration, and it very well could be the best one....ever. Iris Apfel, the ninety year old fashion icon (and our personal favorite accessory maven) has lent her vision of bold colors and eclectic style to create a makeup collection that is as unique as Iris herself. Punchy colors that make bold statements are the staples here with shades like Party Parrot, which is a bold reddish/pink matte lipstick, and a bright pink eyeshadow called early bird. Iris is wearing the teal Robin's Egg eyeshadow, Scarlett Ibis lipstick and Oriele Orange nail polish. Available from January 5th to February 9th, get it while you can!

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Holiday Sale!- UPDATE

The Holiday shop will continue throughout the week! Make sure to stop by the store, or check it out online here! 

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