Kitten Lounge

Oh boy today is a big day! By 10am I will be on the road heading to Skytop Lodge Resort for the Sweets Weekend in the Poconos! I think I need to get Twit Pic on my Blackberry so that I can keep you guys updated but I am unsure about the whole availability to blog from there. Anyway, I will be covering the Poconos as Paul and I have been invited to come up! But today is a great day for many reasons and one of them is the amazing sale that will take place today on Ideeli.

Ideeli is all about hooking you  up with deals and sending its members emails so that it can get first dibs! Of course if you're a first row member, you get to shop sooner as opposed to later. On today's menu, Gustto! I have always known about Gustto for sometime but it was this summer in a super cute store in Hoboken called Home Slice, that I fell in love with Gustto and the love affair began. I love their rich leather bags and their bag styles which are always eye catching. Now at Ideeli, you will be able to get your own at up to 64% off! In addition, you can check out other retailers such as Saks and Nordstroms who also sell this from the comfort of the page. Finally, find out about who is wearing it and visit Gustto's site. If you're not a member, I can hook you up so you can get in on the fun! If you have never signed up, when you sign in for this site, you can use the code "bff" to not only get your invitation but to initiate your $35 credit which is a great use towards your lovely new bag!

You guys know that my favorite show, hands down at Fashion Week was Tracy Reese's collection which was full of whimsical garden dresses - she makes you feel girly and ready to take on the world at the same time. I still get chills thinking of her choice of music and including Terrence Howard within that line up! Anyway, when her pieces pop up outside of the runway, I love sharing! At the Twilight premier, Jennie Garth was seen wearing this Embellished Toga Dress. She looks elegant and oh so Tracy Reese touched as well! Take some time to check out her site so that you can see what would look best for you!

Thanksgiving is hectic, true, but you can create a gracious gathering with minimal fuss with help from Sandra Lee, star of Semi-Homemade Cooking on the Food Network. Sandra’s Semi-Homemade shortcuts cut the kitchen time in half, leaving you lots of time to join in on the festivities. Below are Sandra’s quick-fix Thanksgiving recipes from her new book: Semi-Homemade Fast-Fix Family Favorites. This delicious holiday menu couldn’t be easier to prepare and her streamlined classic tastes so good that everyone – especially the cook – will give thanks. A kick-off cocktail spreads the warmth to all senses, so start things off with a Hot Apple Toddy. The combination of apple cider, rum and cinnamon schnapps add an amazing aroma to the kitchen. For a fancy little side dish, create Prosciutto-Tied Asparagus drizzled with olive oil and lemon juice. Turkey with Cornbread Stuffing, served with Pink Peppercorn Gravy or Lemon Chive Gravy, is a flavorful, classic main dish that your guests will love. For dessert, stir syrup, sugar, eggs, flour and vanilla together and you have a rich Maple Pecan Pie in under ten minutes. Finally, add family and friends and you’ve got the recipe for a thankful day.

Recipe excerpted from Sandra Lee Semi-Homemade Fast-Fix Family Favorites

* Prosciutto-Tied Asparagus

* Hot Apple Toddies

* Turkey with Cornbread Stuffing

* Pink Peppercorn Gravy

* Lemon Chive Gravy

* Maple Pecan Pie

Pink Peppercorn Gravy

Start to Finish 10 minutes Makes 2 1⁄2 cups

2 1⁄4 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth, Swanson®

1⁄4 cup cognac

1 packet (1.6-ounce) garlic and herb sauce mix, Knorr®

1 packet (0.87-ounce) turkey or brown gravy mix, McCormick®

2 tablespoons butter

2 teaspoons pink peppercorns, crushed, The Spice Hunter®

Crushed pink peppercorns and fresh thyme sprigs (optional)

In a medium saucepan, whisk together chicken broth, cognac, dry sauce mix, and dry gravy mix; stir in butter and peppercorns. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Reduce heat. Simmer, uncovered, about 3 minutes or until thickened. Garnish with pink peppercorns and fresh thyme sprigs (optional).

Lemon-Chive Gravy

Start to Finish 10 minutes Makes 2 cups

1 jar (12-ounce) turkey, chicken, brown, or mushroom gravy, Heinz®

2 tablespoons butter

2 tablespoons lemon juice, Minute Maid®

1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh chives

1 tablespoon dry sherry, Christian Brothers®

Salt and black pepper

Fresh chives (optional)

In a medium saucepan, combine gravy, butter, lemon juice, chives, and sherry. Cook over medium heat just until simmering. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Garnish with fresh chives (optional).

Prosciutto-Tied Asparagus

Start to Finish 20 minutes Makes 18 bundles

1 package (3-ounce) prosciutto, Columbus®

1 pound thin asparagus, ends trimmed

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

1 teaspoon lemon juice, ReaLemon®

Salt and ground black pepper

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil. Cut prosciutto slices lengthwise into two thin strips. Gather two to three asparagus spears and carefully tie prosciutto into a knot around asparagus bundle. Continue until all ingredients are used and place asparagus bundles on prepared baking sheet.

2. In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil and lemon juice. Drizzle over asparagus. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Roast for 8 to 10 minutes.

Hot Apple Toddies

Prep 5 minutes Cook 45 minutes Makes 4 drinks

3 cups apple cider, Martinelli’s®

1⁄2 cup spiced rum, Captain Morgan®

1⁄2 cup cinnamon schnapps, Goldschlager®

4 cinnamon sticks, McCormick®

Cinnamon sticks, McCormick®

1. In a medium saucepan, combine apple cider, rum, schnapps, and the 4 cinnamon sticks. Bring to a simmer over medium heat. Simmer for 45 to 60 minutes. (Or, use a 4-quart slow cooker.)

2. Serve warm in footed glasses. Garnish each with cinnamon stick swizzles. Note: If using bittersweet to garnish the cinnamon stick swizzles, make sure it is faux.

Turkey with Cornbread Stuffing

Prep 45 minutes Bake 4 hours Stand 15 minutes Makes 8 to 10 servings

1 12-pound frozen turkey, thawed

1 box (8.5-ounce) cornbread mix, Jiffy®

1 cup chopped celery

1⁄2 cup chopped green onions,/p>

1 can (10.5-ounce) chicken with rice soup, Campbell’s®

2 tablespoons poultry seasoning, McCormick®

1 stick (1⁄2 cup) butter, softened

3 tablespoons vegetable oil

3 tablespoons all-purpose flour

Salt and ground black pepper

1. Rinse the turkey in clean water and pat dry with paper towels. Remove the gizzards and neck. Place gizzards and neck in a saucepan and cover with water. Bring to a simmer to create broth for gravy. Simmer for 30 to 45 minutes. Remove from heat, strain, and reserve.

2. Meanwhile, prepare cornbread according to package directions. Crumble cornbread into small pieces; place on a baking sheet to air dry. In a bowl, combine prepared cornbread, celery, and green onions. Add soup and poultry seasoning. Mix well; stuff inside turkey cavities.

3. Generously cover turkey with softened butter. Tent with aluminum foil and bake according to package instructions for bird’s weight. One hour before bird is done, remove foil and baste. The turkey is done when the internal temperature registers 170 degrees F deep in the thigh. The temperature of the stuffing should be 160 degrees F in the center.

4. Remove turkey from oven. Place on a serving platter; tent with foil. Let turkey stand for about 15 minutes until the temperature of the stuffing reaches 165 degrees F in the center and the temperature in the thigh rises to 180 degrees F.

5. While turkey stands, prepare gravy. In a large skillet, heat the oil over medium-low heat. Add flour; cook and stir until deep brown. Add turkey drippings and whisk until thickened. Add reserved gizzard broth and simmer. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

6. Remove stuffing from bird and place in a serving bowl. Carve turkey and arrange on a platter. Serve with stuffing and gravy.

Maple Pecan Pie

Prep 10 minutes Bake 50 minutes Cool 15 minutes Makes 8 servings

11⁄4 cups maple-flavored pancake syrup, Log Cabin Original Syrup®

1⁄3 cup packed golden brown sugar

3 eggs

1 egg yolk

2 teaspoons all-purpose flour

11⁄2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract, McCormick®

2 tablespoons butter, melted

11⁄2 cups pecan halves

1 9-inch frozen unbaked deep-dish pie shell, Marie Callender’s®

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a large bowl, stir together syrup, sugar, eggs, egg yolk, flour, and vanilla. Whisk in melted butter. Stir in 1 cup of pecans. Place frozen pie shell on a baking sheet. Pour maple syrup mixture into shell. Arrange remaining 1⁄2 cup of pecans on syrup mixture, pressing into syrup mixture to coat.

2. Place baking sheet in center of oven. Bake pie for 50 minutes or until edges are golden and filling is just set in center. Cool pie on cooling rack for 15 minutes. Cut pie into wedges and serve warm.

The other day Bogosse had an amazing night, sharing it's fashions on and off the runway! Bogosse has definitely been worn by various people such as Tim Roth and Ryan Seacrest; however, I love that it's a classic look with a twist! I am a fan of the oxford shirts and if you like this style and want to be noticed, this is the line for you! The Hatian born brother duo of Patrick and Fabrice Tardieu created a line that showed off their style. With Patrick being the Captain of the National Soccer Team  of Haiti (and now the CEO of Bogosse) and with Fabrice having experience in Armani France (Bogosse's current Creative Director) - they created this line which is full of style and pop!

The other night, the line was not only shown; however, two friends of mine (we all met when we worked at Abercrombie on 5th Ave when it first opened), hit the red carpet! Amanda Alter (oh yes that would be from Project Runway) and Tyler Barns (Abercrombie Model) were on the Red Carpet to lend their support to this amazing event. Take some time to check out the amazing designs and although it is Miami based, their flagship store is in St Tropez! I love a brand that is centered around just wovens - perfect to go out in after work, to wear at work and without feeling like a traditionalist!

I am such a fan of Carol's Daughter! I haven't been to too many of her locations; however, those that I have attended have been gorgeous! It is definitely presentation season as last night I attended an amazing show of fab jewelry and later on this morning, I am going to Carol's Daughter to learn about the new collection that is coming out! I have some items that I pulled from the site that have just been added and hope that this will be some of the the things that I will be able to see so this post will be updated by this afternoon! If you haven't been to a store, thankfully you can go to Sephora and of course her website! Of course, it would be amazing to meet Ms Lisa Price herself who has an interesting story! I remember when I first saw the website a few years ago that she had Mary J Blige and Jada Pinkett using the products on her pages! More to follow later but look at these gifts which you could get for yourself or for others!

UPDATE: I was excited to go to the presentation as many of you know that follow me on Twitter and when I got there, I wasn't disappointed! Lisa Price told us about her story (which I think we were all familiar with but hearing her say it was so motivational and inspiring) and she actually showed us how to make Potpurri. I had never in my life had the urge to make it or use it but seeing how simple and personal it was, I knew that I would have to start doing this as well. Her collection, which is based on foods and really incorporates the senses is going to be amazing so when you visit Sephora, her site or Macy's you have to pick up some items! Not only does she have a great product but the packaging is amazing which makes it a keepsake. I look forward to learning more about her and I was so honored to be there to hear from her everything that she had to tell us!

In times such as these, a bit of luxury is still something that you deserve! Maybe you want to congratulate yourself on a new project that you have completed or you simply would like to have something nice that makes you feel good. I have always believed that every so often I have to have one luxury that every time I see it, I am reminded of an event or just the need I had to get it. I think that these rings from Tanagro are definitely in that realm. When it comes to luxury and the fact that they make their jewelry with your ultimate comfort and ease in mind, Tanagro Jewelry is the only piece that you would feel confident in wearing. A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure to stop by their showroom. Not only was I dazzled with amazing pieces that were handmade but I loved the pop of colors and how delicate the jewelry was. Not only were these pieces perfect to wear when you're going out for a decadent evening, but they were also perfect to wear when you decide to go around the corner to your favorite brunch spot with friends. Tanagro is extreme quality and a name that you can stand by knowing that it is worth every penny and that you will be able to pass it down to someone who is very special to you. Take some time to check out these rings and then visit the site to see additional items that you will want to add to your list whether it is for the holidays, your bonus check and more!

Yes the economy has everyone rethinking items but at the same time, if you feel you have a little something there are a lot of options out there! With deals being thrown at us from every direction, you can get amazing items at a fraction of the price and it's not even Christmas yet! Of course the benefit for us puts a huge squeeze on the retailers themselves but it's a difficult situation and in order for them to put new merchandise out, they need to get what's on the floor moving. No one knows more about moving product like Forever 21 who announced yesterday that they would open a location on 1540 Broadway - um yeah Times Square! With 100,000 square feet, that's not only a lot of people but it's a huge amount of inventory. I love popping into my local Forever 21 and am usually there for an hour as you really need to see everything before settling in but how long will it take to go through this one? Check out great finds at Forever 21 and make sure to read your papers to see what deals are being offered at many of your favorite stores! If you know of one, leave a comment so that we can all benefit!

That sneaky chicken…

At some point, KFC, Popeyes Chicken or any other kind of fried chicken has tempted and lustfully conquered even some of the most discerning of pallets. If everything tastes like chicken and more specifically organic free range fried chicken then everything must be delicious. But, if you are like the rest of us who suffer from New York’s square footage malnutrition and live in tiny spaces with tiny dogs and tiny kitchens probably don’t have the ability or the desire to purchase a deep fryer for the occasional glutinous submersion. As you have no option, but to love The Roots and to enjoy the occasional clove cigarette, you succumb to the fast food industry’s siren-like call of the delicious and obscenely detrimental to your health fried chicken.

So, what’s the answer? Do you pack it in and invest in bigger pants in the anticipation of a greasy deep fried future or do you grab your laptop, throw your play list on shuffle and give an alternative a chance? The alternative is the right combination of spices, a little grape seed oil and a little grape seed oil and a little something on the side.

Chicken drumsticks

Butternut Squash

Hungarian Hot Paprika

Morton & Bassett Cajun Spice Blend (paprika, celery seed, garlic, basil, white pepper, cayenne pepper, thyme and parsley)

Chili Powder

Pangu Salt

Nigerian Cayenne Pepper

Grape Seed Oil

The preparation of this meal is extremely simple. Chop all of the drumsticks in half, season to taste with the above listed spices (use only a little bit of the Nigerian Cayenne Pepper), drizzle with grape seed oil and place in the oven at 450 degrees. After 30 minutes, turn the chicken and don’t be shy make sure that it’s covered in its own juices. Continue to cook for an additional 15 minutes. Peel, clean and cut butternut squash, place it in the pan right next to the chicken (do not season) and once again baste it with the chicken juices. Continue to cook for 15 minutes and you’re done.

The beautiful thing about this dish is that you can use as much chicken and butternut squash as you need. The most important part is that you cut the drumsticks in half and use the right spices; everything else is up to the chicken, that sneaky chicken. Enjoy!

Today is going to be a crazy day but in the midst of doing some work online, I had to work with some images that I had taken during a previous trip to South Beach a few years ago. I took amazing colors that I had taken in all of their vibrancy and changed them into Black and White and Sepia images. What an interesting touch it made! Not only will my project (which is soon to be unveiled) look amazing but I can now use this throughout my home to create a nice aged look! The actual cost, nothing but of course you can get interesting picture frames and now you have amazing art within your home! Take some time to look at some of your pictures and see what you can do and how you can take segments which add warmth to your abode.

I love looking at presidential pictures of first ladies and of course, one of my faves was Jackie. She had a great sense of style that was timeless. So of course my eye is on Michelle and so I have decided that as apart of Fashionable Fridays, I will make sure to keep you in the know of the various looks Michelle wears. It will be interesting to see how her style will be. In a recent WWD, they suggested that the first family will be a classic presence where they will mix their high fashion with those that many of us wear. Either way with this historic family, I am interested to see how Michelle and the girls represent their style from functions to just being out and about! I would love to hear your thoughts! Of course we have to kick this off with some images of the soon to be First Lady on Election Night. I know there were some mixed reviews of the look but I thought it was powerful while being fashionable. I saw this dress hit the runway during Fashion Week - loved it then and thought it was appropriate that night as well!

During Fashion Week, it's more than the fabulous clothes and parties, I love being in the tents and getting introduced to new products. As I walked around the various booths, I came in front of Boots. I knew them to be a store that sold various skincare, beauty products, etc. But I was surprised that the line called No7 was their own line. I was given a moisturizer for day and night and I have been using it since Fashion Week! I love how fresh my face feels and as I received a full sample, I know that when it's time to get another one, I can either go to Boots or I can get it at Target. This is affordable and attainable skincare that will make your face glow everytime you apply the creams! This has made my skin look very refreshed and I honestly feel that I am getting a mini spa everytime I was my face! So although this post is late in coming, I wanted to spend a few months with this product before sharing it with all of you!

I remember when I first joined Ideeli. It was a site where you knew that you could get access to a small quantity of items at a fraction of the price. All the goodies that you saw in the magazine were available here but in limited quantities and at set times. In addition, you could be a free member and have access while also being a paid member to get an advanced opportunity to score these coveted pieces! But like all things, a good idea starts and takes shape in other ways. Ideeli not only has items but giveaways as well and they also help you build your style. See a bag that you love, it may not be available yet or sold out but you can see where Barney's may have other items like this or go back to the brands site and purchase items from there. In addition, you can see what celebs love the brand as well. I also love that you can see what is currently offered versus what will be available soon! Ideeli loves Kitten Lounge and I love you so I am giving you a link that will allow you to gain access to these great finds! Just enter: fashionmaven and let the fun begin!

I love this season now that the election is over and we have solidified our leadership, we can now think about our attire for the next few weeks and beyond. Yesterday as I was working on the holiday guide, I was told about a site that looks to bring fashion forward looks to you! Now we all know that there will be many outfits that we will need to buy to get ready for after work parties, gifting affairs and so much more. So we will want more than one site and/or store to get us ready for the next season. eCarg has super cute tops that will be cute with a pair of leggings, a cute clutch and of course your perfect heels as well. Show some love to this site whose owner, Grace (she handpicks each item that is on this site and in case you didn't notice, Grace spelled backwards is eCarg), reached out to me and who I felt was a necessity for you guys to know about! I love these two tops and think that they will look great during various occassions.

You guys know that this is not a place where I talk politics! I feel that I am not qualified and I don't follow all the issues; however, I do have a message! I have stood in a lot of lines for Fashion Week, ramdom events and I have waited to get interviews about new items that are hitting the market and if I can do all of that and fit everything into my schedule, I know that I can vote. This year we have learned a lot of information and have seen the candidates in various ways. I feel that this has been and will be the most exciting election and to be apart of it, if you took the effort to register to vote - follow through and get out there! If you didn't fill your info out, I believe that you can also do a provisional vote as well (this allows you to place a vote when your information may have been incorrect to due not filling out your intent to vote or simply not getting yours in on time) check such sites as Can I Vote which will let you know where you vote and also get  you in touch with someone in your state who can help you out. I will be voting later on this evening as polls here won't close until 9pm. Then I will head out to some bar to watch the numbers start coming in. This election has really made people have a lot of issues and a lot of us who may have sat back before are standing up now. Even T.I. voted in Atlanta via an early voting period last week. He had believed he was not eligible to do so due to serving some time but found that he could. It is an important part of what we do in this country and it is important that if we can be vocal on what we think is wrong, we should put action into what we know is right by making a stand. I will be on Twitter all day so let me know your thoughts and how the numbers are coming in!

Weekends are essential! I get very excited about them and this one was even more exciting since Kitten Lounge Food Editor and boyfriend, Paul and I were hitting the road to go to Atlantic City to not only enjoy Halloween night but to get in some good food, spa time and a little poker - obviously not all of these would be enjoyed by me but we were both excited. As many of you know who Twitter me, I kept counting down to Atlantic City and by 5pm, I was picked up by Paul and off we went after gassing up the Murano to tackle Atlantic City. There's something about going on a road trip and if you travel with me, you can enjoy me singing along and doing dances (the closer we got to AC we lost our stations and went to 60's and 70's music which brought back memories of Sat mornings when I was little with my mom, sister and I!).

Paul and I had been invited to come down to Atlantic City and to stay at the Tropicana and to enjoy some dining. As we continued on the Atlantic Expressway into the strip, I couldn't help but think that since we took a few wrong turns, that we should definitely think about the next car having a little navigation and that we definitely want to have an SUV but that we might consider getting a Ford Flex as we will do quite a bit of traveling and you can't deny that it is a head turner - I always feel when you hit certain streets you definitely want to do the whole "see and be seen thing".

Arriving at Tropicana, I was pleased to find that we were staying in the new Havana Tower. Not only do I love that it's new but it's so close to all the food and club.lounge options. Since we were a little late (wrong turns will do that to you), we checked in at the front desk and checked in with PF Changs, went upstairs and came back down. All week I had been dreaming of Lettuce Chicken Wraps and I was not disappointed in the slightest; moreover, munching on the Crab Wontons was equally as satisfying. After a crazy week full of presentations and finishing up the Holiday Gift Guide, I was so glad to have the Mai Tai and later a Plum Collins (an interesting take on the Tom Collins which substiutes the vodka for Plum Vodka and also Plum Wine). Paul being a creature of habit, enjoyed the red wine. For dinner, I enjoyed the Sea Bass which sat on spinach leaves and Paul had large prawns. We shared garlic snap peas and for dessert we shared a chocolate dome.

I have always been a fan of PF Changs as I enjoy their asian fusion menu; moreover, when I have had it in a resort setting, I tend to enjoy the food that much more. During dinner we were able to touchbase with Courtney who is the Tropicana's PR Manager. In addition to attending events, I love meeting the people that you spend weeks chatting with in order to learn about a product or service. She let us know that there was a huge Halloween Costume Contest that would happen in the Quarter which is an annual event. While at dinner we saw various costumes and my favorite was actually a couple that we saw while we were checking in - they dressed as a bride and groom from the beyond and yet they had a pack of beer.

After dinner, we walked out into the Quarter to see all the restaurants and clubs that were available upstairs and downstairs. With more people gethering for the costume contest, we decided to step into Cuba Libre downstairs and enjoy some mojitos and of course to dance. I love lively music and everything is much more interesting when you have so many costumes around you. We popped out to catch the winners of the costume and then went upstairs to not only look down on the winners but to pop in to a few more places for a drink. We are both a fan of people watching and I have to say that the Cuba Libre upstairs has a bit of a lounge which is perfect for that. Although it was past midnight and we had only been in Atlantic City for about 4 hours, we continues to Red Square to enjoy an amazing selection of vodkas.

With such a long day behind us and quite an agenda to cover the next day, we decided to turn in. Nothing is better than having a large corner room with a spectacular view of the cities. Whether I'm in Vegas or in AC, I love seeing the bright lights. Being on the 64th floor we had an amazing view that we took in for about an hour or so.

The next morning, we knew we had a lot to do as we were heading home later in the day. Paul had to play Poker as he had been itching to do this for weeks and I knew I had a spa and both of us would meet up for lunch. We decided to do the smartest thing by ordering a plate of fruit to kick off the day! Paul played poker and I headed out to the Blue Mercury Spa. I had no idea that we have one in the city but as I walked in, I saw products that you could purchase from Model Co, Kiehl's, Molton Brown and more. When I headed downstairs, I found Erin who would perform my Blissfuls Coconut Sugar Scrub. Leaving the lockerroom, I walked into a lounge with pitchers of water filled with oranges and limes and platters of fruit. After nibbling on these, Erin walked with me to our room. This treatment had various stages. Erin rubbed coconut scrub on me, I soaked in a coconut milk bath for 20 mins, I took a shower to cool my body down and then I got an intensive full body massage. This was 100 minutes that I could have enjoyed for quite some time. Interestingly enough, I was starving by the time I met up with Paul and we headed to Carmine's.

Carmine's is an Italian restaurant that we have here in the city in Times Square and on the UWS. This family style restaurant has HUGE portions that are meant to be shared with 2 - 4 individuals. Most items are made on premise. As we thought about the menu, we munched on various breads and dipped them into an amazing olive oil ordered lasagna with a side of spinach. From presentation alone, this lasagna looked so good that the table next to us told us that they wished that they had ordered. We had so much that we knew we had to take it home with us. The General Manager stopped by and shared with us the benefits of a restaurant of this nature. When you have various people eating together, everyone has the opprotunity to share various portions of an Italian meal and everyone is able to chip in. We finished the lunch with chocolate canoli's and decided that we had to walk off lunch.

As we walked the boardwalk, we went to a taffy shop to pick up James' Salt Water Taffy. This is a must if you love this candy and everytime I go to Atlantic City, this is something that I have to do. Our walk found us at the outlets and from a little after 3 until almost 7 we shopped! I knew that AC had outlets; however, the amount of shops was surprising. After all the shopping, eating, partying and more, it was time to head home and to ensure that Sun was all about rest.

Thinking back, there are times when you want to do something fun and don't feel like boarding a plane. Filling up the car right after work to head out to AC is totally doable and once there, you can gamble but there are so many things to take advantage of! Whether it's you and hyour sig other or a large group, you won't be at a loss of things to do. The Tropicana was a great place to stay with so many options and you can still visit other areas. This is definitely an option for over night, a couple of days or on your way to something else. Atlantic City and the Tropicana was a Kitten Lounge Pick and a great way to kick off the next few weekends where we will be traveling! Next stop: our invitations to Islands of the World Fashion Week in the Bahamas and Skytop Resort in the Poconos.

I love this time of year! Although I am resting from coming back from Atlantic City last night, I am still hard at work thinking about the holiday season and so I wanted to share two of my favorite things with you! First off, I am a fan of Crate and Barrel - I love that they have so many pieces that so eye catching that you feel they must be in your home! In addition, who doesn't love a gift from Crate and Barrel? In addition, I love cookbooks! Here are some great cookbooks that are perfect for this wintery season and all the holidays. These are great dishes that could be made with friends and can be given as gifts. Don't forget the cookie book that has been included as well - a great way to gift your office, doorman, etc! Take some time to check out these books and of course they have a lot more of these availabe online and in stores as well!

Growing up, I enjoyed wearing Express in highschool and in college. My closet was full of it; however, as I came out to the east I started picking up various emerging designers and although my amount of Express may have decreased, it still has a presence whether it's a basic top, leggings or something of that nature. I love an outfit that is pulled together from various places so that it looks unique to you! Apparently, Becki Newton feels the same way as she was recently seen in InStyle magazine with the Motorcycle Jacket paired with a dress and ankle booties! Take some time to check out interesting pieces to pop into your wardrobe to round out your look.