GIFT GUIDE: For the Coffee Lovers

Happy Friday everyone!! Or should I say, happy BLACK FRIDAY!! I know you all have some shopping to do today  (BTW have you heard of MADE BY GIRL's sale?? Free shipping ALL DAY today!!!) So before you head on out and try to scope out the best deals for the best gifts... take a minute to consider the coffee lover in your life!!!

Let's be real, who doesn't love coffee?? Especially now with the cool, winter weather quickly approaching -- snuggling up with that perfect cup is pure bliss. Who wouldn't want to give bliss as a gift?? Check out some of these selections from my favorite brands and shops. Enjoy!!!






- post by jen ramos
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FOOD: Tools to Make a Pie

Hello, MBG readers! Fallon of Sage + Sparkle here, popping in to share with you some of my favorite tools to use when baking a pie.  In my opinion, the holiday's are not complete with a fresh-baked, hot out the oven, homemade pie.  Some of my favorites to make are pumpkin (obvi), salted carmel apple, maple pecan pie (for my mom), or even little blueberry hand-pie's are great and super quick and easy.  The best things about pie, is the possibilities of what to fill it with are endless.  Plus making a pie from scratch is so impressive, and between you and me, so simple!
Ready, Set... Bake a Pie!

All you need is a few tools to get you started. Here is a list of the ones currently on my wish list, for the holiday season.  Do you absolutely need all of them to make the perfect pie... no, but it sure does make baking that much more enjoyable.

Happy Thanksgiving!!!


Now get out there and start baking!


-post by Fallon Carmichael, Sage + Sparkle 





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Fashion: Top Colors For Fall

Hi everyone! Sandra from Blasfemmes here, hope everyone is doing well!
Lately I've been spending a lot of time (maybe too much time) browsing Pinterest in an inspirational quest for Fall outfits and I found myself wondering what are my all time favorite colors for Fall.

I came up with 6 favorite colors from jewel tones to neutrals and that's what I'm bringing you today. This list also looks a lot like a 'Christmas Gift Guide', which may be a good thing because I guess it's NOT too early to start thinking about Christmas gifts!

Hope you enjoy it and I'd love to know if you're more into jewel/deep tones for Fall or if you're a neutrals kind of girl! Do share!
Ruby Red: Salvatore Ferragamo Varina Flats // Ted Baker Short Peplum Coat (here too) // Tory Burch Mini Bag // YSL Lipstick // Going Green: J. Crew Cable Sweater // Wouters & Hendrix Agate Ring  // Zac Posen Bag // Tibi Jacquard Top // Bold Burgundy: YSL Lipstick // Joe's Laney Shoes // Rebecca Minkoff Mab Tote // Equipment Embellished Neck Sweater // Chic Tan:Sheinside Cape // Loeffler Randall The Rider Bag // Diane von Furstenberg High Heel Booties // J. Crew Quilted Vest // A Dash Of Gold: Equipment Polka Dot Tee // Marc Jacobs Watch // Kenneth Cole NY Pave Link Bracelet // Zara Heels (J. Crew version here) // Off White: Madewell Cable Sweater (love this)// Jo Malone White Jasmine&Mint Candle // J. Crew Skirt // Adia Kibur Pearl Necklace


 - post by sandra lopes



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'How About We' Date Night

Hey everyone! If you read my last post about the date night my husband and I took with HowAboutWe,  you'll know what a great site it is. How About We takes a bunch of the work out of trying to come up with fun dates by finding unique and interesting things to do. And with the holidays coming up and many of you with family all around, you'll need to make some extra effort to make time for you & your significant other!  HowAboutWe for Couples makes it super easy to take a break from all the holiday craziness and recharge!

I mean, check out these great date ideas...


You can pick and choose your dates from a huge list of curated local date experiences; just pick and go - it's that easy! HowAboutWe for Couples takes care of all the details. I can tell you that my husband and I love browsing through the date options and picking out ideas that fit both our schedule and tastes.

And if the idea of a break from the holiday madness weren't enough, now you can take $50 off your first date booking! Just click here to check out some of the great date ideas and spend the time loving instead of loafing!


On our DATE NIGHT:

For this date, my husband & I chose the 'Thanksgiving Dinner Cooking Class' in NYC.  Even though my husband already knows a lot about cooking, we thought it would be a great opportunity to get to cook together.  The class was taught by Chef Jennifer Clair of Home Cooking New York and one of the best things about it was that it focused on a typical New Yorker's problem of cooking a Thanksgiving Dinner in a tiny NYC kitchen - somehow we managed to roast a small bird, bake the stuffing, braise potatoes, & make cranberry sauce & gravy on a 24" stove!

The class was set up with stations for each guest and everyone participated - cutting, mashing, chopping - as Chef Clair walked everyone through the timing and process of making a complete Thanksgiving dinner. Throughout the class, Chef Clair gave us tons of tips and info on making dinner just perfect.

And after the cooking was done, we all sat down together for the very holiday dinner we'd just cooked! It may seem strange to to sit down and chat with other couples on a date but in fact it was a lot of fun!


Complete, timed instructions and recipes for a superb holiday meal.


Mat over in the corner as the chef explains the right way to cook a turkey.


Peeling the sweet potatoes at Home Cooking New York


Mohawk chef - so fun cooking with him - although he prefers cooking alone!



Sautee-ing mushrooms for stuffing

this is a sponsored post

 Our finished Thanksgiving meal - turkey, stuffing, sweet potato and fresh cranberry sauce...yum!




I’m so glad that we got a little quiet time before the holidays -- and learned something, too! To get $50 off your first date this holiday season, just click here. (promotion lasts until 1/31/14)

Know a couple that needs a break? Consider gifting them a HowAboutWe for Couples subscription - available in 3, 6 and 12 month packages!

This year, we'll spend Thanksgiving with my family and I'm sure Turkey will be on the menu! Have a great Holiday! 



-images by jen ramos


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FOOD: Thanksgiving Hand Pies

Hi MBG friends! Lauren from Perpetually Chic back today, with a Thanksgiving-inspired recipe that will make your leftovers sing. That's right--leftover turkey and cranberry relish get a new life when tucked inside these hand pies with creamy brie cheese. It's an easy way to wow guests and make use of leftovers!

Thanksgiving Hand Pies | Perpetually Chic for Made By Girl
Let's talk about the crust. I used Martha Stewart's pate brisee (pie dough) recipe. It's super simple--a great basic dough you can make ahead. But if you're short on time, store-bought pie dough can easily be substituted. Either way, roll it out then use a round cookie cutter or simply a wine glass to cut out your circles.

Thanksgiving Hand Pies | Perpetually Chic for Made By GirlThanksgiving Hand Pies | Perpetually Chic for Made By Girl

Now inside--chop up some leftover turkey into small cubes, and get out that jar of cranberry relish (not the thick, canned cranberry sauce). Spread a small spoonful of cranberry relish in the middle of half of your dough rounds. Layer a few pieces of turkey and a few pieces of brie. Cover with a second round of dough and gently press the edges together. Then, using a fork, crimp the edges closed. Last step is important--brush the entire top of each hand pie with an egg wash to help them golden and prevent the edges from burning. Pop the tray of hand pies in the oven! Mine turned out less-than-perfect looking, but I kind of liked their rustic feel. And the delicious, rich taste is what these are all about anyway.

Thanksgiving Hand Pies | Perpetually Chic for Made By GirlThanksgiving Hand Pies | Perpetually Chic for Made By Girl


Thanksgiving Hand Pies

Ingredients:
Chilled pie dough (this recipe or store bought)
About 1 cup of cooked turkey, chopped
Brie cheese, cut into small cubes
About 1/3 cup cranberry relish
1 egg, beaten
3 tablespoons milk
Flour

Instructions:
On a heavily floured surface, roll dough to 1/8" thick. Using a round cookie cutter or the rim of a red wine glass, cut as many circles as you can. Recombine and roll out the discarded dough and cut additional circles. Shoot for an even number of circles.
Spread a little relish on one half of the dough rounds, then top with pieces of turkey and brie. Place the remaining rounds on top, pressing with fingers to gently close, then use a fork dipped in flour to crimp around all edges. Using the fork, be sure to prick the center of each pie to allow steam to vent during cooking.
Whisk together the egg and milk in a small bowl. Brush onto the top of each pie. Bake in a 375 degree oven for about 15-20 minutes.



- post by Lauren

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GIFT GUIDE: For the host/hostess

Happy Friday! It's time for this week's Gift Guide: For the host/hostess!! From cute & quirky kitchen tools to chic & FAB dining accessories, there is always something fun to give the hosts of this year's Christmas parties!  Kate Spade & Tory Burch have so many cute little gifts you could give, I've hand-picked my favorite items for this post! Now let's go shopping!

And don't forget... there's even MORE on my special & temporarily available HOLIDAY Pinterest board!!! Happy shopping :)






- post by jen ramos


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West Elm DIY Event

Last week was the West Elm event I hosted & so many wonderful ladies showed up! It was such a blast to show the girls "how-to-create" the DIY painted mugs! It's simple, yet fun.

Firs,t we kicked off the event with some delicious mini-cakes by Sherry's Shortcakes - these are delicious Vegan mini-bites made up of organic ingredients. Then we served up some hot Chocolate - which was perfect for the chilly weather that evening! I then explained to the girls how to create their own painted mug & everyone loved it! So much talent - & perhaps even future artists?? I MINGLED with the girls & then we gave away 2 (framed) Cocoa & Hearts paintings, 20% off MADE BY GIRL + this gorgeous agate jewelry box!  I'm so grateful to have been able to collaborate with Wes Elm here in New York City - & super grateful to all the girls who came out to be part of this workshop!

The images were shot by photographer, Christine Han - all the way from Brooklyn. This girl was everywhere & shot all these amazing moments for us! She also has a cool food blog called 'Pantry Confidential' - which I think you food lovers will enjoy!

All in all, it was a packed house - (good news!) so hopefully I'll get to host something there again soon! If you see a pic you want to instagram - feel free to TAG it: #madebygirl & #westelm.





















Where's Waldo?


Champagne time - thanks to my friends!



Images above by Christine Han

This last image is a quick shot my husband took of me & my friends who came out to share this moment with me! Love you all!


Don't forget to keep an eye out for NEW paintings being added to the Cocoa & Hearts gallery this month!!!

Did you attend the event? How did you like it?

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How to: DIY Painted Mug

If you were curious what I spoke about at the DIY event at West Elm last week, here it is!

I explained how to create DIY Cocoa & Hearts style mugs. Some of the girls made their own designs, but many of them took a stab at the color series I usually do in the C & H gallery.  You can see the "how-to" tutorial here. We had a blast! In fact, you'll get to see PHOTOS of the event on my blog - stay tuned!



via Front & Main blog
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FASHION: BASIC TEE: DAY & NIGHT

Hi everyone! Adri here of Adri's World. Tees are part of almost everyone's closet. Here are two ways you can style a basic graphic tee!

For a day look, a graphic tee can make any outfit look stylish. The key is to accessorize well so you don't keep the look too basic. A pair of denim destructed jeans with animal print flats will update any tee. Add a fun necklace and a bag in gunmetal and your favorite coat and you have a fun day look!
For night, the tee can be dressed up with an animal print midi skirt and a pair of stiletto booties in nude. A multi-color chained wallet and a simple cuff in gold will add just the enough sparkle needed. A fun yet sexy night look where you can add a black blazer, a long coat in camel or a a faux fur coat perhaps?

Do you like to dress up or down a basic tee? How do you like to style it?
Tee_daynight




- post by Adri Reynoso
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Beauty: Tiossan

Welcome back this Moday Morning!  Kimberly here & I'm totally loving beauty brands that benefit for a cause. Namely, Tiossan's internationally-infused line that combines organic ingredients from different parts of the world to create products that essentially bring the world of beauty to you. Unlike mainstream beauty brands that are jam packed with parabens (the stuff used in a lot of beauty products that is said to cause cancer), Tiossan prides itself on healing and revitalizing the skin in a way that is organically beneficial. That's right, Tiossan is Paraben-free, Phthalate-Free, Cruelty-free, Gluten-Free, and Vegan.



Not only does the line have a heart for the consumer but it also cares about the community in which the Senegal-born founder, Magatte Wade, came from. In fact, 10% of all Tiossan profits goes towards the Ambition Project, which aids in creating innovative schools in Senegal. This is why the products have been coined "Bottles of Ambition" by the Press.

If you're looking for a product that infuses Mother Nature’s greatest beauty ingredients all in one jar then I would definitely recommend that you try Tiossan. Because as they say, "The journey of a thousand miles begins with one single step" ― Lao Tzu.



What are your favorite health-conscious beauty buys?



-post by kimberly luxe
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GIFT GUIDE: For the kids

It's that time of year again!! Thanksgiving is right around the corner... & what's hiding right behind it? - CHRISTMAS!  We may be a little over a month away, but the time to prepare starts now. Christmas shopping & sales are starting to pop up everywhere, and this is where the fun begins.

 In my attempt to make life a little easier, every FRIDAY leading up to Christmas Eve, I'll be putting up GIFT GUIDES to aid in your holiday shopping.  This week, I've selected a few of my favorite items for the kids in your life. And BTW... I've also dedicated a Pinterest board specifically for gift ideas!! Want more?? Check out some other pics here!! Enjoy!







- post by jen ramos


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