Wordless Wednesdays | Happiness

Glam | These boot were made for walking

There is nothing like a bad pair of boots to set a fall outfit off and one of our favorite shoe designers Stuart Weitzman has done it once again and his new video featuring model Kate Moss says it all.

And we couldn't agree more.

Now if someone would just give me, oh let's say $600 I too could be walkin in my very own pair of 5050 over-the-knee Stuart Weitzman boots!

Wordless Wednesdays | Happy Girls

Good Life | It's a hashtag life for us!

Hashtags are everywhere!  They are used on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and practically any other  social network site known to man.  You've used them, your kids and your friends.  But just like most things out there, there are some of us who tend to go a bit overboard and well they get a little too hashtag happy.  (You know who you they are.)

Some are even claiming here that the use of (or shall I say over use) the hashtag is actually ruining the English language and the way we communicate all together. (hummm maybe they are on to something????)

So armed with that information our boys (yes, we know them like that) Jimmy Fallon & Justin Timberlake decided to give us a peek inside a normal human conversation but with a little twist, they ended each each sentence with a hashtag.

Take a look!

Glam | Fall is in the air

I absolutely LOVE fall especially here in the Southeast.  Here in Georgia we are lucky because we get to experience the brisk mornings, sunny days along with a beautiful collection of colorful leaves.

This by far is one of my favorite times of the year.

Now that we have settled into the new school year and most of the kids school clothes have been purchased, I started to look at my closet and noticed that I have NOTHING to wear. With all the shopping I have done for everyone else in the house, it seems like I have neglected myself.

 YIKES!!!

Since I work from home, I normally find everyday attire consisting of yoga pants and t-shirts, so not cool. With the change in season this is the perfect time to spruce up my every day attire.  So while surfing the internet I came across some pieces that I think would make great additions to my sparse wardrobe.

1. Denim Shirt Dress | MCQ by Alexander McQueen  
2. Black Leather Over-the-Knee Boots | Stuart Weitzman
3. Infinity Scarf | Steve Madden
4. Leather Satchel Tote | Michael Kors
5. Gold Earrings | Giani Bernini 

Now let me be the first to admit that some of the items above are a little on the pricey side, so the challenge will be finding "like" items that are a little more budget friendly.

It's off to shopping I go!!!!

What are some of your fall favorites for this year?  What pieces are you looking to add to your wardrobe?  

Ciao!

Wordless Wednesdays | Change Starts From Within

Glam | Make Mine a Double Monday

Don't just eat your fruit spray it on.  According to Weight Watchers Magazine fragrances with juicy

notes like apple, pear, plum and citrus trigger enjoyable memories, which help turn your frown upside down.  Cosmetic companies are now taking the aromatherapy concept further by infusing blush, powder and lip balm with a perk you up scent.  Talk about looking and feeling great. 






With Style,


StyleDIVA

Good Life | Get Yo Man Chicken

I am having the time of my life learning to cook the Neely Down Home way.  I received their cookbook as a Christmas present one year and never cracked it up until recently.  Every thing I've made has been delish!  So when I saw the recipe for Get Yo Man Chicken I had to try it...at least once to see if it worked.  Problem is the only  man I live with is my 14 year old son and his palate isn't that adventurous but he actually like it!  So here's the recipe and let Erika and I know if Yo Man loves it!

Ingredients

8 bone in chicken thighs, skins removed (hint I left mine on :)
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
1 celery stalk, chopped
1/2 cup white wine
1 cup Chicken Stock
One 14.5 ounce an crushed tomatoes in thick puree
1 tablespoon honey
1 teaspoon red-wine vinegar
2 tablespoons chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme
1 tablespoon fresh rosemary leaves
Hot buttered rice, for serving (optional)

Preparation

Rinse the chicken, pat dry with a paper towel and season with salt and pepper.
Heat the olive oil in a large skilled over medium-high heat.  Brown the chicken, meat-side down first and turn once.  Cooking about 4 minutes on each side.  Transfer to a plate and reserve.
Pour off all but 1 tablespoon of oil from the pan.  Add the onion and celery to skillet and sauté until tender.  About 4 minutes.  Add the stock and white wine to the pan, stir and scrape brown bits off the bottom of the pan; reduce by half; cooking 7 to 8 minutes.  Stir in the tomatoes, honey, vinegar, parsley, thyme and rosemary to return to a simmer.  Add the chicken turning to coat, then cover and cook over medium-low heat until the chicken is very tender and pulls easily from the bone, about 40 minutes.  Remove the cover, increase the heat to medium, cook for another 10 to 15 minutes to reduce the sauce.  Serve over hot buttered rice, with sauce ladled on top.  Serves 4 to 6

That's a picture of how mine turned out.  I did not add onions and celery because my son HATES onions and I ran out of celery but it was still delicious.  I also used drumsticks - hey it was what I had.  Give it a try and Get Yo Man or KEEP him! 

With Style,

Wordless Wednesdays | Let Your Heart Lead The Way

Glam | Mission Organization - MakeUp

I was really fortunate to receive an opportunity to attend an event a few weeks ago from the makers of Zyrtec.  Living in Bakersfield it is so easy to get allergies.  It is unfortunately inevitable with all the lovely dust flying around.  That's why when Social Moms put out a call for help for allergy sufferers to get make up strategies I as ALL over it.  These allergies aren't going to kill my vibe. 

One of the major things that surprised me during the event was the reminder about how long you should keep your make up.  After reading the information I figured it would be a great idea to go through my own make up and get rid of all the old and replace with the new.  Of course I had to take our followers along on this journey with me.  Click on the video below and see how much make up I had to get rid of and what I was left with.  Let's just say Operation Restock is going to take place soon.

Thanks again Social Moms, Zyrtec and the team at Macy's Century City for a great time and even better information. 

With Style,

Make Mine A Double Monday | What can AM exercise do for you?

I have found that getting it in early is really a plus for me and after reading a recent article I am in complete agreement that I'm doing it right.  At least for me that is.  Here are a few reasons why that AM workout really is the best option!

"Borrowed" from neverbeenskinny.blogspot.com

Getting in that AM workout can help you avoid bad food choices during the day

The gym locker room is spic and span first thing in the morning – you might even get a private

"Borrowed" from keepitmovingfitness

locker space

Reduce that stress for any folks that want to combat your day.  Think that erratic driver checking their text on their morning drive...opps that's me :)

If your workout gear hasn’t been re-vamped since Jane Fonda no one will know if you go in the AM to workout

No night time workout in your way to block you from watching T. I. and Tiny or the Braxtons…nuh huh you can chill.com until the alarm goes off for tomorrow’s early workout.  

Toodles

Wordless Wednesdays | Keep Moving Forward

Tequila Talk Tuesday | Getting to Happy

Photo "snatched" from vimeo.com 

Terry McMillian wrote a book about it.  Don’t ask me how it ended because I’m still reading it.  So many of us are still trying to find a happy place.  Yes we’ve hit our 40s and realized that it takes a lot less but we are asking you today on Tequila Talk Tuesday….What is your definition of HAPPY?  Have you finally found yourself in the HappyZone?  Share you inspiration with us!

Post your pics of your happy self on our Cocktails and Conversation Facebook page and make sure you use the hashtag #gettingtohappy.

Here's one I took last year......

That's my girl Rosie Mercado next to me :)

Good Life | Braised Pot Roast Recipe

It’s September and Fall is upon us.  Nothing reminds me of Fall days more than the smell of a good pot roast simmering.  I’ve recently become a lover of Weight Watchers magazine (March/April 2013) and found a great recipe for a braised pot roast that I must try.  Even in Sunny-O Bakersfield I can see the leaves changing colors…okay well not in Bako but a little further up North.  Here’s the recipe and a few tips on the “braising” technique. 

Prep 25 Min | Cook/Bake 3 Hr 15 Min | Serves 8

Source

Preheat oven to 300 degrees.  Pat meat (3.5 lbs) trimmed lean beef dry with paper towels; sprinkle salt and pepper ¼ tsp of each.  Spray large Dutch oven with nonstick spray and set over medium high heat.  Add beef and cook, turning until well browned, 10 minutes.  Transfer beef to plate.  Spray Dutch oven with more nonstick spray.  Add 2 chopped onions, 2 chopped carrots, 2 chopped celery stalks and 4 chopped garlic cloves; reduce heat and cook, stirring until veggies are soft about 5 minutes.  Add ¾ c ruby port and cook, scraping the browned bits, 1 minute.  Add 3 cups low-sodium beef broth, 4 thyme springs and 2 bay leaves; simmer.  Add beef, cover pot with lid and transfer to oven.  Bake until beef is fork-tender about 3 hours.

Nutritional Information
369 cal, 8 g total fat for 2 slices of beef with ¼ cup sauce from pan 
Weight Watchers PointsPlus Value: 8

Braising Beef tips

Use a Dutch Oven or get a heavy cast –iron pot with a tight fitting lid.  If you don’t have a tight lid cover openings with aluminum foil.  Make sure to pat the beef dry to remove excess moisture before cooking.  Brown the meet first and then cook slow on low heat.

Happy Eatin',

StyleDIVA

Vine Fails That Will Have You Laughing

With apps such as Vine and Instagram users can now post short video clips of themselves doing a little bit of everything.  Well what happens when your well planned out short video turns into an epic fail?  For a little Friday laughter (at the expense of other's failures) the good people over at Mashable out together some of the most cringe-worthy Vines that will have you laughing hysterically that you'll want to watch it again and again and again.  (Or maybe I simply have a warped since of humor.)

Here are some of my all time favs...I'm talking internet GOLD here people.


**To hear the sound, simply hover over the picture to unmute**



 Can you say ouch???


 I  bet you that is the last time she'll try to scare someone!


 Looks like he can give up that dream of being an Olympic diver...



Hummm maybe using that stool wasn't such a good idea?


No matter what happens, the show MUST go on!


 Look at the girl in the background.



 I'm thinking he was supposed to at least try to flip.




 Wishing you all a happy Friday!

Good Life | Back to School lunches

By now ALL the kids are back in school and us moms know what that means.  We have to make sure they have nutritious things to eat while away from us.  Even though most of the time they won't eat it. :)  My high schooler has almost never taken a lunch to school but my junior high schooler is VERY different.  So I'm in need of more recipes for lunch time because basically you can't take the same lunch ideas from elementary school to Jr. High -- go figure!  Here's a quick vid of what she took today but if you have suggestions for future lunch ideas I'm so open to them  Email me at cocktailsandconversation.divas@gmail.com.  I'll be looking out.

Cheers,



StyleDIVA

Wordless Wednesdays | Sometimes you just have to go with the flow

Unsolicited Advice | Babysitter Blues

Tell me if you can relate to this situation.  You ask your neighbor (or girlfriend) to keep an eye on your kiddos while you go run some errands.  After being out for the better part of the day, you stop by to pick up your kids and they come running over to asking if your neighbor's kids can come over to play.  You are beat, after running errands, and you had your mind set on just coming home and relaxing.  The last thing you want to do is watch someones kids.  So what do you do????

In this episode of Unsolicited Advice, Erika answers a similar question from one of our followers.  See what advice she gives below.

  

If you have a question that you would like for us to answer, send us an email to cocktailsandconversation.divas@gmail.com and put in the subject line Unsolicited Advice.  
So until next time...

Ciao!

Glam | Lips for Fall 2013

Throwing on your favorite lip shade can make all the difference when running out in the morning.  One reason why I love lipstick so much is because it can give you a nice simple look for a low cost.  Well mostly low cost.....some of these designers I tell ya. 

When researching colors for the Fall 2013 season I found that RED was still on the top of the list for most bloggers and beauty mags.  Some are also featuring a really pretty plum (or bruised plum) like this one by Tom Ford.  I totally name this color VAMP! 

Seems that the pinks of summer are turning into darker shades of the hue as seen in Chanel Rouge Coco Shimmer Hydrating Lip Shine in Rouge ($34).  Wow that name is a mouthful all in itself.  I think I'm still going to rock my bright pinks though, something about that color makes me feel all girly. This is one of my favs by Revlon Pink Pop (4 bucks!)

Off to Sephora to try out some new eye shades and wrinkle cream (gasp!)  40 and Sexy is more than a weight loss challenge honey.  Got a favorite Fall lipcolor?  Send us a picture of you and your cute pout: cocktailsandconversation.divas@gmail.com Catch ya later!

Good Life | Cocktail for the Week: Summer Solstice Cocktail

Source

With the last holiday of the summer being today, we thought we would end this season with a BANG!  Whip up a batch of this refreshing drink while reliving some of this summer's best moments with friends and family.

Summer Solstice Cocktail

Ingredients
1 1/2 ounces Belvedere Pink Grapefruit vodka

1 ounce fresh orange juice

3/4 ounce Aperol

1/2 ounce fresh lemon juice

Pink grapefruit wheel, for garnish

1/2 ounce simple syrup

1 ounce ruby red pink grapefruit juice, strained

Directions

Combine all the ingredients in a cocktail shaker. Top with ice and shake vigorously. Strain into a bucket glass filled with fresh ice. Garnish with the grapefruit wheel.

Cheers!

Glam | Stretching Out Too-Tight Shoes

How many times have you found yourself in this situation?  So you are out shopping when you stumble on the most AMAZING pair of shoes that you must absolutely have.  While at the store, you try them on and they feel a little snug, but great so you purchase them.  At home they sit in your closet for a while until you find the perfect outfit to wear them with.  Then you put them on and....they are too tight!  ARGH!?!?!?!

If this is you them don't fret because I am here to help by showing you a quick trick you can do right now, to help stretch out those shoes.  And the best part is that you already have everything you need to do it.

Just click on the video below and find out how to stretch out those shoes so you will be walking in style!

Good Luck!

Good Life | Work IT Out

The Divas are always trying to keep in good shape and the StyleDIVA is taking it to the gym fa-real!  You can check out my progress on the blog.  Talk about a before and after, I'm taking you all the way with me.  These exercises are getting me into shape...I've seen some major inches disappear.  Give them a try and please forgive the hair (ya'll know I'm not happy in hairland these days) I'd done my cardio right before and the sweat was pouring.  If you have some more exercise suggestions or a great "clean and easy" eating plan send it to us at cocktailsandconversation.divas@gmail.com.

That ROPE!  I love it.  Can't you hear the Wonder Women theme in the background?  I can do this and if you are on a weight loss journey you can too!  Let's do it together. 

Cheers,



StyleDIVA

Wordless Wednesdays

Gossip | That Kid President does it again!

Photo courtesy of EW

 


He's the cutest President we've ever had and once again he's amazing us with his social consciousness and making everyone aware of the news they need to know.  In order to promote World Humanitarian Day (8/19) KP brought Queen Bey on his show to ensure the masses knew the importance of the day.  You can click on the link below for the interview, he even snagged some sugah!  One smooth dude!!!

Pretty cool huh?  Maybe he'll be giving The Divas a call next....oh Kid President we've got a great interview for you.  Until then....Cheers!

Unsolicited Advice | He Said What?!?!

Well we are at it once again with another episode of Unsolicited Advice.  This is where we give advice to unsuspecting people whether they asked for it or not.  Today's question comes from a woman who is dealing with a co-worker who has decided to make fun of her after coming back from maternity leave.




Check it out here....



If you or someone you know has found themselves in a "situation" and you/they are looking for some advice on how it should be handled, shoot us an email at cocktailsandconversation.divas@gmail.com and include in the subject line Unsolicited Advice.  

Until then....

Wordless Wednesdays

Courtesy of  Morgan Schweiner Pinterest Page

Tequila Talk Tuesday

Well I've finally finished Andy Cohen's book Most Talkative and it gets two snaps up in a circle from me.  Not only was it in depth about some of the Housewife of (insert your favorite franchise here) drama but gave lots of behind the scenes on the man himself!  From a little boy being raised in St. Louis we learn about his journey in journalism.  I really had no idea he had such an extensive journalism background.  Like that he really knows Mike Wallace or wait is that Dan Rather?  Whatever that's pretty major!  One of the funniest things is his infatuation with Susan Lucci - really no surprise but I'll have to say Andy it's a bit unhealthy honey.  She's like OLD and yeah just move on! 

Anywhoo if you're looking for an end of the summer beach read this is the one.  Price is great when you download it your iPad or favorite e-Reader or hold up....Barnes and Noble has it for $1.99 in hardcover.  Ouchhhh (said in my Andy Cohen voice).   

If you've read it let me know what you thought?  Was I the only one that took 3 months to read it?  I want to know.  Drop me a line below. 

Mazel,



StyleDIVA

Good Life - Dating Rules

On Saturday's show we talked about some dating rules and the StyleDIVA just ran across this great article by one of our BESTIEs Patrice Washington.  It's simply titled, 5 Signs You're Dating A Deadbeat - you are gonna love it.  Here's a little snippet:

On the surface a lot of guys can come across as "ballers," but its up to you to be alert and pay attention to the waving red flags that make it clear this stud is really being a bum with his money.  Before dating becomes "I do," look for these warning signs and clues.  If you find them, run OR go through some serious counseling before walking down the aisle! Remember, most marriages end over financial disagreements, but be clear that people who enter marriage with bad money habits don't magically begin them because they're married.  They were showing signs all along!

Red Flag #1: He drives a big flashy car and lives in a fly apartment - the one he calls a "condo" - in the ritzy part of town, but his furniture consists of a futon and one flat screen television.  Okay, if he moved in last Saturday, then we can give him a pass, but if he's a grown man and he's been there longer than 30 days with no real furniture, chances are he's not the baller you thought he was.  The only thing worse would be him living in a fully furnished home. . . with his mama!

Check out the rest of article here.....

Good Life | Do you app?

Do you app?  Well here are some of the StyleDIVA's favorites.

1

1. Always have that feeling of undying gratitude?  I woke up this morning and am blessed!    This is the app for you.  Share your good feelings and they will come back to you.  I'm all about feeling that attitude of gratitude!  This app is only Apple based as of now.

2

2.  Get all of your blogs all in one spot.  If you are into the blogosphere you will LOVE this one!

3

3.  Can't sleep, need to do something a little mindless while waiting on your pedicure to dry?  This is the app for you.  Get your Sugar Crush with Candy Crush Saga.  It's a great game to link up and get help from your Facebook friends too but beware everyone doesn't like getting request.  :)

4

4.  Hotel Tonight is the app for the last minute traveler.  Believe it or not hotels don't sell out every night and they really want to have a full house.  Use this app when you are headed to Grandma's and you don't want to stay with her on that beat up sofa.  Check the app for great prices at great places to stay.

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5.  Zumba Dance is the workout at home that you'll give two snaps in a circle.  Download this app and get your Salsa on.  Great way to try out Zumba before hitting a class full of Zumba Heads that make you look like you have two left feet.  Get yo Zumba on girl!

Leave me a comment and let me know how you like the apps I suggested and give me a suggestion on some that you like too!  

Cheers,

StyleDIVA