INSTAGRAM

I realize I am a little late to the game, but I have created an Instagram account! Please feel free to follow me under modernfoxinista!

Also I have been doing daily postings to my Stella and Dot Facebook page, so please follow me here for the most up to date information on Stella and Dot merchandise and promos as well as fun styling tips!

I have been more active these days though those other venues, but I hope to write more blog entries again soon!

STELLA AND DOT!

At the end of April, I became an independent stylist for Stella and Dot. I already work a full time job AND a part time job, so I figured why not get crazy and throw a third job into the mix - ha! Well, the good thing is that as a stylist I can work it into my own schedule. Of course I want to do well and it will be work, but it will also be fun. A balancing act for sure.

For those of you who have not heard of this Fortune 500 company, you can learn more about them here. The company was founded by two women and was named after each of their grandmothers. The company designs and sells jewelry, fashion scarves, bags (of all sorts - purses and travel companions), and tech accessories. About every three months a new line of seasonal merchandise debuts. Stay tuned for the fall collection in July!

For right now I am booking shows, being active on social media, connecting with people personally and through email. My first two months as a stylist are very important and the more shows I can book now, and the more orders I can take now, the better my start will be!

I won't be filling up my blog with a ton of posts about my Stella and Dot jewels, but occasionally you will see something fabulous appear! For right now Facebook is my chosen social media. You can view and follow my fan page here. I will post updates on promos (company wide and personal), celebrities sporting our Stella and Dot attire, photos of my new arrivals and "how to wear" ideas among much more information!

Please feel free to check out the many offerings of Stella and Dot at my website: http://www.stelladot.com/sites/ValerieA

Today I am posting a few of my favorite pieces and best sellers, which you can find through the above website by doing a simple search of their titles....



Serenity Stone Drops in aqua: They also come in a smoky quartz, an emerald/jade green and turquoise.

 

 

 

 

Pegasus necklace: This was one of my first Stella and Dot purchases months before I became a stylist. I love that it can completely transform a basic outfit!

 

 

 

 

The "Switch" in Natural Snake: Each side zips diagonally, up and in so that it goes from a more casual look with the exposed canvas, to hiding the canvas and making it more sleek. It looks phenomenal in person! 

 

 

 

 

More to come at a later date!

Happy Friday!

 

 

Healthy Chocolate?

During one of my recent Target runs, I discovered a chocolate treat from a company called Brookside. Please note however, that it is distributed by Hershey. Anyway, this treat is awesome! If you want to have your chocolate and eat it too, without feeling too guilty, give these a shot.

Brookside makes three different dark chocolate covered fruits....dark chocolate acai with blueberry, dark chocolate pomegranate and dark chocolate goji with raspberry. All of the fruit selections are antioxidant sources.



I purchased the goji with raspberry and the little balls of chocolate fruit are nice and plump! Nothing like eating a shriveled up Raisinette. The dark chocolate balances out the sweetness/tartness of the fruit and you feel satisfied after just a few. Another great thing is that a serving size is 1/4 cup and has only 180 calories. However 20% of the calories are from saturated fat. There are 25g of sugar and 29g of carbs. All of the nutrition information can be found on their website.

Is it honestly "healthy"? Not really (but better than eating PB cups or your preferred candy bar). You are obviously better off eating a square of dark chocolate and eating fresh raspberries or blueberries for all of your fiber and antioxidants.

If you want to keep these around, my advice is to just be sure that you adhere to the serving size per snack, per day (or less because just a few really do go a long way). Additionally, if you are doing a wine tasting party, these would be great to pair with your deep red selections.

Get a coupon for $1.00 off, here!

It's Getting Wild

It is no secret that I like animal print....clothing, accessories, jewelry, accents....

However, when bright colors and strange materials start getting mixed in with the animal prints, that is when I start to shy away. Sometimes.

When I saw these cropped pants in a Chico's ad, I had to check them out in the store for myself. Metallic cheetah?! Well, I went, I tried, I bought! I have never bought a thing from Chico's, but these pants definitely drew me in and they have a great fit! I even got a second pair of pants that were on sale (under $30) with an extra 30% off on top of the sale price. I unexpectedly scored that day. The sales associate was very nice and she even grabbed a coupon for me to use. I ended up spending less on two pairs of pants, than the full price of the metallic cheetah print pants!

I will have to figure out how to wear them, but definitely a neutral shirt and accessories will balance the wildness and shine of the pants.

Watch out urban jungle.

Post- Thanksgiving Talk

I have been discussing with people the various eats they had for Thanksgiving, so I thought I would share here what I made.

If you are tired of the run of the mill, mushy stuffing (or dressing) that is cooked up every Thanksgiving, the following is delicious! Many people at the table devoured this stuffing and went back for seconds. I usually like to take a risk and cook/bake something a little different. It gives people the opportunity to expand the horizon of their taste buds and they will either love the dish or hate it.

Here it goes....

Cornbread, Sausage and Chestnut Stuffing:

I got this recipe from Williams Sonoma. Instead of pork sausage, I used venison. Besides the fact that it was what I had, I think that it corresponded better with the season. I am sure it gave the dish more flavor. I followed all of the other instructions. For the herbs I used thyme, sage and rosemary. You can buy chestnuts precooked and peeled. No need for you to do that daunting task yourself!
http://www.williams-sonoma.com/recipe/sausage-corn-bread-and-chestnut-dressing.html


Next up, desserts! I made a pumpkin version of the classic seven layer cookie. I also made an apple, cranberry, pecan pie.

Pumpkin Seven Layer Magic Bars:



This recipe that I found on this site (photo props from the site as well, since I was too busy baking and did not snap my own), was a yummy pumpkin treat. I would definitely use a rectangular cake pan the next time (like I have always done with the classic seven layer cookie), as it did not bake 100% in the middle. I did cook it a tad longer than directed and I did not want to risk burning the edges or bottom crust. Therefore, when I was cutting it to serve, I had to dig out about an inch in the center and toss it (shhh...!). Otherwise, very scrumptious! Like I said, I would make this again, but in the rectangular pan.  
http://www.bakersroyale.com/cookies/pumpkin-7-layer-magic-bars


Apple-Cranberry-Pecan Pie:

I got creative and used this recipe for "guidance". First of all, no way did I make my own pie crust! Store bought for sure! I used super plump, organic, dried cranberries, which made a huge difference in the texture and flavor of the pie. I didn't have brandy, so I used one tablespoon of sherry (it calls for 1.5 T of brandy). I added the pecan part myself as it does not call for these to be added. As part of step three of the method, I added about one cup of toasted halved/coarsely chopped pecans.

This pie was good - very rustic and organic tasting. Looking back, for those who like a bit of sweetness it probably would have been a good idea to sprinkle on some large sugar crystals prior to popping it in the oven.
http://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/apple_cranberry_pie/

Did anyone else have great Thanksgiving Day food that they would like to share?!

Switzerland

I know you are all about to drop over that I am actually posting on my blog. However, please don't drop over before enjoying your turkey, stuffing and pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving tomorrow!

I wanted to share with you a You Tube link for the music video, "Switzerland". It's by a group called The Last Bison. They are formerly known as Bison and are from Chesapeake, VA. "Switzerland" is the first single from their Debut album. They independently released their first album Quill, in September 2011.

If you like Fleet Foxes, The Decemberists, or Mumford and Sons, you will definitely want to give this band a listen! I have a feeling we will be hearing more from them in the future, so I wanted you to get a jump on it! (In the past I have figured the same for Of Monsters and Men, Mumford and Sons, and The Lumineers about 9 months to a year before mainstream radio stations started playing their music).

Now, between your food preparations....or trying to get through your last few hours of work before the big feasting day, check out this whimsical video and great tune!

Happy Thanksgiving!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vAQX3xoe6sI

Food was the Forecast

Yesterday we went to the Phoenixville Restaurant Festival. The sun never truly came out like the forecasters said it would and weather wise it was a pretty disappointing day; however, the restaurant festival in Phoenixville was a new venture for us and it made for a nice Sunday outing.

The main reason for our trip was the cupcake business, Dia Doce. The blossoming cupcake business belongs to my sister's best friend from high school. My sister has been helping her out tremendously at local events and we went to the restaurant festival to give our support. The festival ran from 11AM-6PM and by 3PM they were sold out of the 300 cupcakes they made for the event! Dia Doce makes an array of flavors and my favorites from yesterday included the carmelized lemon basil, chocolate raspberry truffle and chocolate espresso with cookie dough filling. YU-UM!  You can order personalized cupcakes or pick from her list of unique flavors for your special event. Come June, there will be a Dia Doce cupcake truck traveling around southeastern Pennsylvania....mainly in Chester and Delaware counties to start, but you can visit her website and follow her on Twitter to find out more information on her expected stops. Cupcakes coming soon to a town near you!

Besides the cupcakes, we had a great meal at Molly Maguire's. The home store Hipster Home was pretty cool too. They sell my favorite plate pattern, which until now I was only able to find online. Phoenixville, we will be back to visit this summer and enjoy eating outside and strolling your streets in SUNNY, WARM weather!

A Few Tunes

When warm weather approaches I always start forming thoughts about what my summer music will be. Windows down, sun, hair blowing, good music. Here is a short little list of songs (in no particular order) that I am into at the moment. We'll see what ones carry on through the summer.

Young Blood by THE NAKED AND FAMOUSE

Sprawl II by ARCADE FIRE

Stereo Love by EDWARD MAYA + VIKI JIGULINA

On the Floor by JENNIFER LOPEZ

Rumor Has It by ADELE.
Of course I am liking Rolling In the Deep too, but at the moment every radio station is playing it at any given minute in the day. Rumor Has It is still a little less easy to come by and I like that.

You Are a Tourist by DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE

New Slang by THE SHINS. I know it is an old one, but I heard it this week for the first time in a long time and it took me back to the early 2000s. I liked it all over again.

Check some of them out if you haven't already!

Bunny Food

Are you possibly looking for something a little healthier than chocolates, caramels, and marshmallows to have around for Easter, but still striving to present some cute and festive (and easy) treats? Try Annie's Homegrown Bunny Grahams. They come in a variety of flavors like honey, chocolate, chocolate chip, chedder, sour cream and onion, and wheat. Some are more like crackers, while the sweeter flavors are more like tiny cookies. The best thing is that they are all shaped like bunnies! Perfect for the Easter season of course. The wheat version would be great to serve with a fruit and cheese tray. The honey ones would be great to serve with a pudding dessert or just have out for the kids to nibble on. It goes without saying the chocolate and chocolate chip versions would be a hit as well.

Annie's products are organic and all-natural. No refined sugar in these treats! There are no trans fats either. You can order off line from their website, but I have found them at my local Wegman's, Whole Foods, Giant and Target stores. Target had them on special today for $1.99 a box. I have yet to see the ginger snap and snickerdoodle flavors offered at the stores, but apparently they are available online. The snickerdoodle flavor sounds great!

Annie's Homegrown makes many other products too like pretzels, cereal bars, macaroni and cheese, and other pasta products.

Peep, Peep!

My boyfriend LOVES Peeps. I am not such a fan, primarily because I am not a marshmallow lover; HOWEVER, I am excited to try this new version of the Peep that is out this year for Easter. Introducing Peepsters. They come in milk and dark chocolate. I have a bag of the dark waiting for me when I decide to dive in.

Yum Yums

I am going to try out this incredibly easy and delicious sounding recipe very soon. One of my co-workers has been recouperating at home after a fall on the ice this winter and I thought this would be a nice comforting treat to have as this bone chilling winter weather continues to hang around.

These are called Yum Yum Brownie Muffins (from the Cooking Channel) and you simply take a box of Devil's Food Cake mix and combine it with a 15oz. can of pumpkin pie filling to get some of the richest muffins ever. Click on the below link for all the steps and details. Then get a glass of cold milk to pair with these treats! I think you will need it!

http://www.cookingchanneltv.com/recipes/lisa-lillien/yum-yum-brownie-muffins-recipe/index.html

Girl Scout Cookie Time!

Today was Girl Scout Cookie Day! My order of Thin Mints (4 boxes!) arrived via my co-worker whose daughter is a Brownie. Of course I would have liked to have ordered my other favorite, the Peanut Butter Patties, but I like to get my money's worth. You get the most for your money with the Thin Mints and they keep well in the freezer, which is what I intend to do with three, if not all four of the boxes...straight in the freezer upon getting home today. Obviously they are great straight from the box, but they are also great as an ice cream topper all crushed up. If you want to get your chocolate mint fix and don't have any Thin Mints on hand, check out this video on how to make this Girl Scout Cookie inspired martini. So easy! If you have your own ideas on how to use Thin Mints please comment below. Thanks!

Laughter

It is lavish to be able to laugh and this video of compiled animal footage combined with commentary really hit my laughter nerve today. Thanks to one of my sisters who sent it to me. Check it out! Click Here for a bigger version or simply click on the video below.

Camels and Coffee

There are two places in the small town of Culpeper, Virgina that we always have to visit when we are in town visiting family. On East Davis Street you will find the town's main retail section, where The Cameleer and Raven's Nest Coffee House are located. They are only two of the special businesses in town.

The Cameleer sells Aboriginal merchandise, much like a Ten Thousand Villages for those who are familiar with that store; however, there is something very different about The Cameleer. They sell traditional crafts from many countries including Sweden, Australia, Chile, and Poland. They also offer many contemporary goods for buyers. You can shop their array of jewelry, clothing, home decorating items, woven rugs, kitchen goods, soaps and stationary. At Christmastime they have many unique ornaments and tradtional, cultural Christmas items. I love visiting The Cameleer everytime to see what new items they have decided to bring in to the store. You can also shop online if you cannot get to the store on East Davis Street.  

While shopping in town, a caffeine pick-me-up is always needed. For that we head down the street to Raven's Nest Coffee House. The business is built around Raven's Brew Coffee, which has spectacularly clever names for all of their roasts. Deadman's Reach is their high speed, dark roast. Cherry Karma and Wicked Wolf are geared more towards the sweeter/richer side of the coffee spectrum. Anyway, it is always a treat to order one of their coffee creations (latte, chai or other), a baked good (I always go for their pistachio baklava or scones), a breakfast sandwich, or something for lunch. Art abounds on the walls asking the coffee sippers to gaze at them or even buy them. You can sit in the sun by the wall of windows overlooking the sidewalk or by the cozy electric fireplace. If you need something else to do while you eat and drink, talk to the friendly employees, pick up one of the many magazines or newspapers to read, or play one of the wooden board games that are available to customers. It is the perfect place in town to sit and plan your Virginia wine tasting route or read and learn about the places you want to visit during your next Virginia getaway! If you can't get there, you can always visit the Raven's Nest on their Facebook page.        

More Chocolate

Well, whenever I do actually blog I find myself always turning to food or confections. Coming off from the holidays I thought I would write about one of my favorite chocolates, Guylian. Not only are these Belgian chocolates whimsically shaped as seashells and seahorses, but the creamy chocolate praline truffle centers are to die for. Guylian offers an array of products, but their marbled white and dark chocolate sea shapes are their signature. How appropriate since with every box purchased, a portion of the profits are donated to Project Seahorse, which is an organization that helps protect and conserve marine ecosystems. For a chocolate you can buy almost anywhere including grocery stores, they are exceptional and I only try to buy them around the holidays or for special occasions. You can visit their website to find out where you can buy them in your state!

Sweet Little Crunchers

Do you like pretzels, chocolate, chocolate covered pretzels? More specifically do you like M & Ms or bite sized chocolate covered pretzels? Today I discovered Pretzel M & Ms, bite-sized portions of sweet, chocolately, crunchy and salty! I don't know where they are available at this point in time, but I found my bag at Target. I always find new products being test launched in that store. I love it! Anyway, look for the royal blue bag and try them out! Now I just have to figure out how to control myself from polishing off the entire bag in 2 working days....

This is The Place...

Okay, so I have a boring blog. I should be slapped with a boring blog ticket or something. I feel guilty that I've been lazy with my posts and I apologize for neglecting my blog. I will try to post more in the coming months, as summer has much to offer.

I did however, get the urge to share the following....my boyfriend and I often pass this store front in our travels and we always say we need to snap a picture one day as we go by. We certainly get a chuckle everytime we drive by. The other weekend in our travels, I readied the camera from the passenger side seat to try and capture the store front which was on his driver's side. Trying to time it perfectly going 25mph.....this was the result!

(To the owner of this business, here is some free advertisting)!

Branches of Beauty

It's too bad Magnolia trees do not last longer (and they don't make less of a mess). They are beautiful trees. My office window looks right out into the branches of one of these beauties. I get excited when I see the buds start to appear each spring. While it is in bloom I savor it because only for a few days do its pink and white petals stay attached. You can miss the splendor of these trees in the blink of an eye. I am sure they are much prettier to those of us who do not have them in our own yards as we do not have to clean up after them!

Sweet and Sour

When I was young, I wouldn't go near a grapefruit...unless of course it was covered with two tablespoons of sugar to cater to my sensitive tastebuds! I have grown to love grapefruit, grapefruit juice, and even grapefruit gummies! I admit that my current trouble is that I'm too lazy to cut and section the grapefruits myself!

In January when my boyfriend and I were on a Celebrity Cruise, my favorite way to start out the morning was to head to the Aqua Spa Cafe where they offered healthy breakfast options including halved and sectioned grapefruits. I had one every morning! Within two weeks it was back to reality and if I wanted grapefruit I was going to have to face it...I would have to cut them myself...or so I thought!

I recently tried Del Monte's Fruit Naturals, which are sealed plasic cups containing single servings of various types of fruit. You can find them in the refrigerated part of the grocer's produce isles. Red grapefruit is one of the fruits they pre-package! I know it is far from the "green" choice...all those little plastic cups, but for work, at the desk, and on the go these are great. The grapefruit tastes like it was freshly cut and there is no risk of it being rotten or too sour, as it is the perfect mix of sweet and sour. It is in extra light juice and of course is a generous amount of Vitamin C....100%! Very refreshing to pull one of these out of the 'fridge after returning from a brisk walk or a run!

Book-Movie Debut

This entry is in lieu of today's opening of Martin Scorsese's film, Shutter Island. Leonardo DiCaprio stars with a supporting cast of Ben Kingsley and Mark Ruffalo. It was August when I first saw this movie previewed in the theater. The preview intrigued me so much that I knew I had to read the book first. The movie's original release date was October 2009, so in August I ran out and bought Shutter Island by Michael Lehane (Mystic River). The book sat on my desk for a while before I committed since I thought I was going to have to dedicate at least two weeks to reading it. I was wrong! This book was so gripping that I could not put it down and I had it finished in a week, which is a record for me. This book will draw you in and almost like the main character Teddy Daniels, you will develop a trusting/untrusting, mixed relationship with the storyline and it's characters....until the very end.

October 2009 came with no buzz about the movie. I wondered why. The release, I found out had been postponed until February 2010. Now that the film is out, I have to admit that I won't be the first in line tonight at the theater. I loved the book. It's a great story; however, we all know that books tend to be better than their cinematic afterthoughts, so I'd now like to postpone the book version of the story from possibly being damaged by watching the movie. Honestly though, I'm not sure if that will actually happen since the buzz I'm hearing today says it is going to be a hit film. Furthermore, I know myself...I'll be jumping out of my seat in the dark theater and peaking through my fingers during certain parts of the movie. The book coming to life on screen, well it brings the movie to life! Enough said. They say that despite the disturbing images, Shutter Island "will make you think more than it makes you jump". I'd love to hear the opinions of anyone out there who decides to see the movie, but promise me you will read the book before, or even after. I promise I will see the movie even if I wait until it is released on DVD so I can sit on my couch with a blanket nearby to cover my eyes.