Midas Touch

You like to keep things shiny, shimmery, and sparkly. The proof: your bedazzled cell phone cover last winter (didn't we stop bedazzling in, like, the 90's?).

All's fair in arts and crafts, but when those rhinestones start to peel off one by one, it's time to invest in a new gilded fetish.

LaROCCA Skincare is your solution for satiating your glitzy obsession. Infused with 24-k colloidal gold, it boasts the healing properties of Asclepius and the appeal of Midas. The multi-active lip shield balm fights off germs while keeping your pout pretty (a major plus in these germ-ridden times). Several power-healing forces are at work here:

Amazonian immune-boosting camu camu (said to ward off herpes) meets Brazilian cha de burge mangosteen abstract and is said to work antimicrobial, antifungal, and antiviral magic. You'll get an alphabet of vitamins from the sea buckthorn. Moisture-enhancing hyaluronic acid and healing l-arginine come into play in the rich formula as well. Like all the products in the LaROCCA line, the lip balm contains colloidal gold, known to promote electron transfer with the metal ions naturally found in the skin to stimulate cell turnover along with anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory properties.

Basically, it's a beauty product fit for a king.

Or a princess of pizazz.

Check out the Studio City-based skincare line at laroccaskincare.com

Images from laroccaskincare.com

Eat Your Heart Out

What's cookin' good lookin'? Here are some of my favorite (and super easy) fall recipes. Grab your boyfriend, roommate, or the little kid down the street you babysit and try these traditional treats out for size.

Candied Carmel Apples
The season just got a whole lot sweeter.
Ingredients:

• Butter or margarine for greasing
  
• 5 apples
  
• 14 oz. of caramel candies (1 package)
• 1 teaspoon water
• 1/2 cup of crushed nuts or candies

Directions:

Line a cookie sheet with wax paper, and grease with a dab of butter or margarine. Wash the apples in a colander and dry them with a kitchen towel. If they have stems, you may need to help remove them. Insert a craft stick into each apple. Unwrap the caramel candies and add them to a microwave-safe bowl. Measure out the water and add that to the candies.

Place in the microwave and heat on high for about 3 minutes. Stop the microwave and stir the caramels every minute or so. While you hold the bowl (be sure to use oven mitts--some bowls get very hot!), stir with a wooden spoon or a spatula. Continue heating the caramels until they are completely melted and smooth.

Carefully remove the caramels from the microwave. Dip the apples into the caramel and hold them over the bowl to let the excess caramel drip away. Dip once or twice to coat the apples. If you like, you can also dip them into the nuts or candies. Set them on the buttered wax paper to cool.

Sweet & Salty Pumpkin Seeds
You'll end up wanting a pumpkin-patch worth.
Ingredients:

• 2 cups separated and dried pumpkin seeds (from your jack-o'-lantern!)
  
• 1/4 cup melted butter
  
• 2 tbsp. sugar
• 1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp. cumin
• 1/4 tsp. kosher salt

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. In a bowl, toss the seeds with the butter and either the savory or sweet seasonings. Spread the seeds evenly in one layer on a baking sheet. Bake for 25 minutes, stirring the seeds every few minutes. Remove from the oven and cool completely. Taste the seeds and re-season if desired.

Tips:
Choose sweet (sugar and cinnamon) or savory ingredients (cumin and salt), or try a sweet and salty mix.

Creepy Crawly Peanut Butter Spider Snacks
C'mon. We're all kids on Halloween.
Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup peanut butter
  
• 1/2 cup honey
  
• 1 cup non-fat powdered milk
• Graham crackers
• Raisins or currants
• Pretzel sticks

Directions:

In a mixing bowl, beat the peanut butter with the honey and the powdered milk. The mixture should form a dough. Place on your work space. Use three-quarters of the dough to make balls the size of walnuts. Form the remaining dough into smaller-sized balls. Lay out the graham crackers. Place a large ball and a small one on each graham cracker. Cut the raisins or currants in half and place them on the small ball for eyes. Break pretzel sticks into desired lengths, then push in four pretzel sticks on each side of the spider's body to make legs.

And don't worry. That award-winning homemade Halloween costume you're working on? You've got time.

Images and recipes from nickjr.com

Filled With Glee

Girls 6 @ Yahoo! Video

The last time you demonstrated your, ah, vocal talents, it was at the sixth grade talent show. And between the little puddle of "stage fright" you left back stage, and your voice cracking on that sharp C, your recent performances have been limited to serenading the shower head.

Divulge the diva within you with your new obsession: Glee.

The Wednesday night com-dram revolves around a high school Spanish teacher trying to restore the glee club to its former glory. With a born-breed-dead performer as the female lead, and a Troy-Bolton-like football player as the male lead (a la High School Musical), the drama unfolds among students and teachers alike.

Yet Glee is everything but Disney. The show has your standard, popular pro-abstinence cheerleaders, a crippled vocal wonder, a Goth girl with a stutter, a knocked-up cheer captain, and a horny best friend.

And don't forget the teachers and the love triangles between them: the glee club director with a wife faking pregnancy, an awkward-and-sweaty gym teach, a "whatever it takes to win" cheer coach, and an OCD guidance counselor that puts Adrien Monk to shame.

The club struggles with competition from within for solos, rivalry with the Cheerios, and the pressure of placing at nationals--will this band of misfit students make it, or break it?

Above is a clip from Episode 1.6. It'll have you scouring the Internet to see where you can find an adorable yellow sundress and silver slippers (I found one at Forever 21!!).

And possibly composing your next arrangement for the shower.

Sing along Wednesday, 9.8c on FOX.

Clip from vodpod.com. Images from fox.com

Think Blue

Even though the leaves are turning pretty shades of orange, red, and yellow, I'm still blue.

Dodger blue that is.

Sure, baseball is the summer past time, but just because the weather has cooled down doesn't mean my team spirit has. The Dodgers took the win with a 5-1 last night against the St. Louis Cardinals. A three-game sweep had the Dodgers clinching the best-of-five National League Division Series. Last night Padilla turned seven masterful innings; Ethier's two-run homer and Manny's three hits had fans in a craze. LA is set to play the winner of the Rockie-Phillies tournament starting this Thursday. With games like these, how could Dodger fever die down?

So come on, grab an over-sized hot dog, your mitt, your blue LA hat, and Think Blue.

Images from throwbackguy.com and mlb-tour-2008.com

Highly Recommended

To Whom It May Concern:

I have had the great pleasure of working with Theory's clothing line for the past five years. The high-end line's simple patterns, innovative cuts, and flattering fabrics have made it a staple for every dress-needed occasion. From little-black-dress to sunny yellow tea smocks, Theory has proved itself steadfast as a go-to designer, loyal in classic looks, and simply fabulous across the board.

Which brings me to this letter of recommendation. Theory's luxurious fall line offers the potential to dress you with every haute style hot this season. From harem pants in a plethora of fabrics to tulip dresses flattering for any form, I assure you the line's work ethic is above the rest. Please also take into consideration Theory's printed cardigans, pleated skirts, and soft cotton tops. The line has perfected the balance between adorable and comfort, and always rises to the occasion's challenge. Functional, fantastic, and fun are just three words Theory embodies.

I have no doubts that Theory will allow you to sparkle, glimmer, and work it like no one else this fall.

Sincerely,
Ah, The Cleverness of Me
CEO of Fashion Trends
Creative Director of Crazes
Board of Trustees of Recommendations

Find fantastic Theory finds at shopbop.com

Images from shopbop.com

The Fall Edition

We here by solemnly swear to refrain from those old played out fall cliches. There wont be "Fall Back into School" or "Falling into Fashion" nonsense here. No siree.

(But we do hope you Fall in love with our picks for the autumn weather.)

So here's the skinny (literally): we still love our skinny jeans. But to beat the cooler clime we're gonna add a thousand layers on top: long tanks, eccentric vests, wool scarves, soft organic cotton over-sized tees, knits like grandma makes, and a giant purse too. East Coast autumns easily Fall above the West Coast's when I get to start pulling out these essentials. It makes me wish the palm trees at home turned colors and shed their leaves too.

This Fall season, the tucked-in button down is big. Keep up the balancing act with little flouncy skirts like this one from Forever 21 and a sweet brown belt to keep things classy. Don't Fall running to class latte in hand.

And while the best part of this time of year is the color palette of Mother Nature, take a leaf out of her book and go golden too. Bronze looks great in these prints and in subtle embroidery. Fall into the trend with this look also from Forever 21.

I personally always have a hard time with fitting the feet as a sandals-or-nothing kinda gal in the summer, so head over to H&M where their boot assortment boasts high-fashion styles at less then $60 a pop. The whole head-to-toe layered look (above) is less than $140 and every piece is just as Fall-worthy alone as it is together.

Fall is in the air--duh, it's 55 degrees out. So get inspired, grab an apple cider, and fall in love with Fall.

Images from thelivingcolor.blogspot, hm.com, and forever21.com

Go Greek

Toga, toga, toga.

Maybe that's a familiar chant for you freshmen walking down Frat Row, but here's some sophomoric advice: ditch the sheet and go Greek with Matiko's end of season sale.

Sandals, boots, heels, and wedges galore with styles perfect for transitioning summer into fall. Try pairing black Sierras with jean shorts and a sweater and you'll be the talk of the sisterhood. Dress up jeans with Moira for a date with an Alpha Epsilon Pi brother. Or make like Hermes and fly to class with a pair of Romans. Anyway you choose, Matiko's line has the variety and value of Mount Olympus to leave any sole-searcher perfectly happy with their new pair.

These shoes are going fast, especially with their sale prices over 50% off the original tag.

So lift your plastic red cup of Franzia in honor of Dionysis--and in honor of your fantastic new kicks.


Images from matiko.com

Workin' At the Car Wash

Car wash.

Mention these two little words on a college campus and you'll elicit images of suds, bikinis, and possibly cheeseburgers (a la Paris Hilton in her Carl's Jr. commercial). Dream on, boys.

But really, your car is your best friend. It gets you from South Campus to Main without having to wait 40 minutes for the next bus. It cools you off in the summer months with the AC cranked up to arctic coolness. It saves you from that freezing cold walk to Starbucks in the winter. Quite a one-way relationship, don't you think?

Time to give back.

Give it some TLC with a wash from the sorority girls of Delta Gamma today that'll run you only $5. Hand washed, your car will never sparkle like it has after the girls are through with it. Grab some coffee or treats from Delta Goodies while you're waiting for the lovely ladies to work their magic. The best part: all proceeds from the Delta Gamma car wash will go to the sorority's philanthropy, Service for Sight.

Talk about good, clean fun.

Images from tampabaylighteningcar.com and ATCOM

What's Black and White and Red All Over?

Ok, funny guy, here's one for you.

Knock Knock. Who's there?
Meringue. Meringue who?
You'll be meringue-ing on our door for these red velvet cupcakes.

Red Velvet Cupcakes with Fluffy Meringue Frosting

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon cocoa powder
• 1 1/2 cups vegetable oil
• 1 cup buttermilk, room temperature
• 2 large eggs, room temperature
• 2 tablespoons red food coloring
• 1 teaspoon white distilled vinegar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Meringue Icing

• 5 large egg whites
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/4 teaspoons cream of tartar
• Pinch fine salt
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 2 to 3 drops pure almond extract
• Equipment: Standard 12 (1/2 cup) muffin tin

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line 2 (12-cup) muffin pans with cupcake papers.

In a medium mixing bowl, sift together the flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, and cocoa powder. In a large bowl gently beat together the oil, buttermilk, eggs, food coloring, vinegar, and vanilla with a handheld electric mixer. Add the sifted dry ingredients to the wet and mix until smooth and thoroughly combined.

Divide the batter evenly among the cupcake tins about 2/3 filled. Bake in oven for about 20 to 22 minutes, turning the pans once, half way through. Test the cupcakes with a toothpick for doneness. Remove from oven and cool completely before frosting.

For meringue icing:

Bring a few inches of water to a gentle simmer in a saucepan large enough to hold a standing mixer bowl above the water. Whisk the egg whites, sugar, cream of tartar, and salt together in the bowl until combined. Set the bowl over the simmering water and whisk constantly until sugar is completely dissolved and mixture is smooth and hot to the touch, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer to the standing mixer fitted with the whisk attachment and beat at medium-high speed until meringue is cool and holds a soft peak, 4 to 5 minutes. With the speed on low, add the vanilla and almond extracts; increase speed to medium and continue whisking until mixture is glossy and holds a stiff peak, 1 to 2 minutes more.

To decorate:

Using a spoon or offset spatula, spread about 1/2 cup meringue over each cupcake and sprinkle with sprinkles.

Seriously, these cupcakes are no laughing matter.

Recipe and image from foodnetwork.com

Kid

Kid by Simon Armitage

Batman, big shot, when you gave the order

to grow up, then let me loose to wander

leeward, freely through the wild blue yonder

as you liked to say, or ditched me, rather,

in the gutter ... well, I turned the corner.

Now I've scotched that 'he was like a father

to me' rumour, sacked it, blown the cover

on that 'he was like an elder brother'

story, let the cat out on that caper

with the married woman, how you took her

downtown on expenses in the motor.

Holy robin-redbreast-nest-egg-shocker!

Holy roll-me-over-in the-clover,

I'm not playing ball boy any longer

Batman, now I've doffed that off-the-shoulder

Sherwood-Forest-green and scarlet number

for a pair of jeans and crew-neck jumper;

now I'm taller, harder, stronger, older.

Batman, it makes a marvelous picture:

you without a shadow, stewing over

chicken giblets in the pressure cooker,

next to nothing in the walk-in larder,

punching the palm of your hand all winter,

you baby, now I'm the real boy wonder.

Image from bat-blog