Stephanie's DIY: Sunday Pancakes!

 

My mother, to this day, still makes a huge Sunday brunch whenever the whole family is around.  Eggs, bacon, beans and over five more hearty ingredients, including pancakes! 

The older I get, the less I find that this great tradition still holds a place in our lives, so I encourage you to get up this Sunday and whip up some home-made pancakes for your family or your friends!!  Whenever I overhear someone I know saying that they're making pancakes in the morning, my eyes twinkle and you know I want to be invited...!

 
If you're brave enough to stir up your own mix I found a great recipe with yummy filling and syrup ideas here  or a tradition and comical and cute how-to video here.  If, on the other hand your idea of traditional pancakes is from the cardboard box, made with love, you'll be excited to see that you can actually buy Perfectly Pink Pancake Mix here!    Lastly, if you're in need of a little creative inspiration, do not skip over this amazing link  where you'll meet the man behind the Esquire article about pancake art!

Mmmm, mmmmm, good!

 
Have an amazing week and a lovely, yummy Sunday brunch!

Stephanie

(images via Design Sponge,   cupcake provocateur, Setan Beats your meat, Agatha Ruiz de la Prada)

Stephanie's DIY: New Year's confetti!

Nothing says "celebration" quite like the sprinkle of confetti!!  Although making it is a simple task, it could be the one thing your night is missing!   Always looking for a way to make the little things stand out, I have a few suggestions for you that will make your confetti special and very festive.  Yes, I do think that the typical, hole-punched multi-color papers are a necessity, but to spruce it up you need to add some flavor!  Paper punches now come in so many different shapes; snowflakes, stars and swirls -so your choices are truly infinite.  Another sweet touch is to add flower petals to the mix, making your confetti even more glamorous and modern.  Lastly, if you want everyone to have their own confetti, you can always buy or make confetti cones and fill them up!!  

Happy New Year everyone!! 

May you be blessed with happiness, health and love in 2011! 

(images via Victoria's Secret, The Daily Green, Fifties Wedding, One shoe a day)

Stephanie's tip: Winter Comfort in a Cup

 

 

 

 I'm so thrilled that I get a chance to celebrate December with a warm and delicious DIY!  I was inspired for this post by two things; one being the chilly weather that December brings, and the other being a little spot in my heart that's missing living in Italy.  With that said, nothing beats a warm mug of vanilla hot chocolate to make you feel cozy and happy no matter what the weather, and what better way to garnish it than with a spoon dipped in chocolate?  When I lived in Italy, there was a little café that would serve my hot chocolate with a chocolate spoon and, may I say; it was drool worthy!  Of course you can always buy the spoons but nothing says "amazing and creative host" like this little home-made treat! 

Vanilla Hot Chocolate

Chocolate Dipped Spoons

      P.S.:  The spoons, when wrapped in cellophane with some ribbon make a lovely winter gift as well!

(Images: Taste of Home, Total Life Prosperity,  Eggs on Sunday, French Frosting, Fuel your blogging)

Stephanie's tip: gorgeous liner

Up until last year I had never worn black liquid liner, ever!  I thought that my eyelids just weren't "right" for the look and besides being scared to try it, I thought it was a little too bold.  Fast forward to this year and I have yet to attend an event without my signature Cleopatra eyes!  All it took was a friend of mine (who was a make-up artist) to coax me into a trial and voilà, addicted!  Ladies, head over to a cosmetics counter and take advantage of the professionals.  Tell them to start off thin to help you get used to it and make sure they stay far, far away from your lips!!  You don't want to be overloaded, but rather polished and classy.  Here are two tutorials from MAC to help you pull it off at home.  Enjoy!

Classic liner

or Cat eye

(images via http://theallure.squarespace.com/, Chanel and Mac, Simply Seductive)

  

DIY: Infinity Scarf

Wear it long, bunched up, knit or over your head to shield you from this Fall chill!  As cozy as snuggling into a plush blanket, this scarf keeps you warm while keeping you stylish.  These scarves can be quite expensive depending on the pattern or materials you're looking for, but if you have some time to put it together yourself, it's worth it.  I've included a knitting pattern and a sewing d.i.y. so that no matter what your level of expertise you can definitely pull this one off!  A little note that I think is worth mentioning:  make your scarf as long as you like or as short and chunky as you wish because what makes it a one of a kind is your personal touch!

For sewn material ones, there are interesting ones here.


If you don't have time to make your own, here are some original ones 

from Etsy.

(images via Vogue Knitting, http://witchesbrewonline.com/,
http://www.stylehive.com/, Michael Kors)

Stephanie's tips: Making Waves

A style that can go from day to night and from summer through to winter is hard to come by, but waves are one of those looks that never gets old.  Beautiful popping out from under a tuque, going crazy from all sides with earmuffs or cascading around a turtleneck, why not give it a try while the weather and early sunsets are leaving you a little less than inspired..

  Winter hair can be dry  and unruly so I believe that waves can help camouflage that dull, staticky look by adding a little oomph!  The reason I chose a tutorial that uses a flat-iron to create this style is because this tool is owned by so many women, yet very few have ever tried to create waves and curls with it.  Ladies, use your flat-iron to it's full potential and the next time you see this look in a magazine, know that you too can whip that bounce up in no time.

Don't forget to protect your hair before ever heating it up!!

You can follow an amazing tutorial here.

Below are some more lovely curl inspired looks with Kristen Bell  from WWD, hope you enjoy!

By the way, you can win a copy of J'Adore New York on this lovely book review blog...Good luck!

(images via http://penhittingpaper.com , Polyvore.com, Tom Ford and We heart it)

Stephanie's tip: yummy dip!

Whether it be a barbecue in the summer or a warm and cozy rendez-vous during the colder months,  I absolutely love having supper with friends!  One entree that always goes quickly no matter who I dine with is a warm spinach and artichoke dip.  Not only is this recipe beyond delicious but it's very quick to prep and can be served in no time.  The recipe that I included is healthy, low in fat and a huge hit with the people who have already tried it, including me!  A little tip for the leftovers (if there are any!) is to stuff some mushroom caps with the dip.  I promise it's AMAZING!         

Here's the excellent recipe!

And another fantastic one for Spinach, artichoke, & prosciutto dip.

 And if you happen to be in New York City, don't miss Freeman's artichoke dip, a true house specialty!

Stephanie's tips: Second hand wine bottle

It's always nice to have a bottle of wine when friends come over, especially if it's a wine that you've been saving for the right moment.  Sometimes when you've invested in a special bottle it's hard to send it off to recycling, so here's a tasteful way to preserve the bottle and it's memories.  Wine lamps have been a favorite DIY for wine lovers for quite some time now as have the candle versions.  The perfect ambiance for your next soirée is only a heavenly sip away!  For the lamp version of this project I suggest you follow these simple instructions.

Cheers!

I just came back from a lovely (looooong) lunch with my friend Marie-Geneviève who participated in the Canadian version of Project Runway. She lives in NYC and after a stint at Zac Posen, she now teaches at Parsons School of design. Voici a little tribute to you my dear friend! 

Here's to following your dreams!

(images via: http://ululzdesign-classic-interior.blogspot.com/Vogue Japan)