Holiday Delights: My Sugared Pink Holiday House from The Dotted Line in Nashville

Holiday Delights: My Sugared Pink Holiday House from The Dotted Line

I bought this “sugared”, sparkly holiday house at The Dotted Line in Nashville over 7 years ago and it is still one of my favorite holiday delights. It sits on top of my cream piano every Christmas and reminds me of my years spent in Nashville.

Isn’t that what Christmas is all about – recalling old memories and making new ones?

BF Asks: What decorative treasure recalls fond memories for you?

 

 

xoxo,
BF

Thirsty Thursday: Charlotte’s AppleJack Brandy Cider

This past Sunday, I hosted an intimate gift wrapping party for my friend, Lindsey, and I. The ultimate girly, holiday-prepping day, I had to serve Christmas cookies and, of course, Charlotte’s Cider. Whenever I make this cider, I think of Christmas in Nashville.

See, I lived in Nashville for 4 years and one year I couldn’t make it home to Dallas for Christmas. I was busy, my mom was sick and it just wasn’t the time to go. So I spent Christmas with my neighbors and it ended up being one of the most memorable Christmases I ever celebrated.

One of my best friends, Charlotte Cooper, made this delicious cider and we drank mugs of it all night long as we went caroling door-to-door in East Nashville.

Sometimes the unexpected Christmases that end up making the sweetest memories.

I hope this cider can be part of your holiday memories this year! Enjoy…

Thirsty Thursday: Charlotte's AppleJack Brandy Cider - perfect for the holidays!

Charlotte’s AppleJack Brandy Cider 

Perfect for the Holidays and Has an extra kick!

2 1.5 liters Martonelli Apple Cider

1/4 cup orange juice

2 ts lemon zest

2 ts orange zest

1/4 cup brown sugar

4 cinnamon sticks

whole cloves

4 whole allspice berries

Dash of nutmeg

Dash of salt

1 Bottle Apple Jack Brandy

 

Bring to boil on medium high. Then turn to medium low and simmer for 30 minutes.

After simmering 30 minutes, add 1 bottle Apple Jack Brandy (Laird’s).

The ingredients...

 

xoxo,
BF

BF Asks: What beverage gets you into the holiday spirit? 

Daily Delights: What’s Delighting Me Right Now, 9/16/13

So what are daily delights? Daily delights are the little things that make life worth living. Things that inspire. Encourage. Make Me Smile. Make Me Laugh. Make Things Rosier.

The happy little things, people, events, products, places and pieces of art that make the world a happier place to live in.

Are these things mind-blowing? Earth-shattering? Life-changing. Not usually. But they’re things that make me smile and, thus, make me want to share with you.

I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed them.

(These are usually pictures I post on Instagram of things that I’m loving at that exact moment. So if you want to get my daily delights on a daily, moment-by-moment basis, follow me on Instagram at @beautyfrosting)

***

1) What a sweet way to start the day! The most precious thank you note from my BeautyFrosting reader, Kate. This never gets old. I am so thankful for every single one of you!

 

 

2) Loved getting to have a ladies lunch at the Sunset Marquis with fellow blogger, Cassie Kelley of one of my fave blogs, Womanista who was in town from Nashville. In addition to being a talented blogger, sweet friend, southern lady and trendsetter, Cassie is also the wife of Lady Antebellum member, Charles Kelley so it’s super fun to keep up with all of her style, travel and favorite finds! Such a gorgeous and gracious southern lady!

 

With the comely Cassie Kelley of one of my fave blogs, Womanista

 

 

3) I got to have s’mores TWICE in two weeks. What a perfect sendoff to summer! First with a friend at Sushi Roku

 

S'mores at Sushi Roku with green tea truffles and all. Swoon.

 

and then at KitchenSurfing LA‘s launch event in Venice.

 

S'Mores (nestled on gingersnaps) at the KitchenSurfing LA launch event in Venice

Both were utterly delicious and divine, I tell you.

 

4) A kiss sandwich between my two favorite girls, my neighbor-nieces, Nora and Lucy. Covered in kisses? Not a bad Friday.

A kiss sandwich between my two favorite girls - my neighbor nieces, Nora and Lucy.

 

5) Every Friday, I spend my day writing, drinking, eating and enjoying my favorite neighborhood haunt, Paper Or Plastik. This past Friday, I stayed past dark and it took on a whole other romantic mood – it really is a little piece of Paris right in my neighborhood.

A little piece of Paris right in my neighborhood...Paper or Plastik

 

6) This pic about sums up the delicious and delightful evening spent with some of my favorite ladies in Los Angeles last Thursday at the Nalukai Fall Dinner at The London WeHo. More on that magical evening & Nalukai’s new jewelry soon!

 

 

 

xoxo,

BF

BF Asks: What were your “Daily Delights” this week?

BF’s Holiday Gorgeous Gift-Giving Guide: Haute Hostess Glam It Up LUXE aprons

As I’m sure is the same with many of you out there, much of my life occurs in my kitchen. And more often than not, I greet my party guests at the door in my apron. I’m also notorious for dressing up my homebody attire with a girly apron when I’m relaxing at home and meditating as I do…by baking.

With Elizabeth Scokin’s Haute Hostess Glam It Up Luxe Apron in Rosalynn or Ashley ($350), my kitchen couture is taken to a whole new level.

Haute Hostess apron in Rosalynn ($350)

Haute Hostess apron in Ashley ($350)

Ever since I discovered them in Nashville, Haute Hostess Aprons have been on my wish list every year. So when I finally received one as a gift, I swooned.

Every time I see one of these luxe frocks in someone’s home, I get as giddy as a 13-year-old girl. The go-to glamorous gift for your favorite hostess with the mostest, the wearer will feel like a queen in the kitchen or a princess at the party.

These coquettish confections bring out the beautiful best in every woman! And not only are they fun to wear, but they are beautiful conversation pieces in the home.

The ultimate in kitchen couture, any girl will feel lucky to receive her Haute Hostess Apron just in time for the holidays.

I love all of the glamorous options and love, love, love that they have sizes for grown-up girls and little girls alike!

Haute Hostess apron in Ashley Little Lady ($75)

These are gorgeous gifts to unwrap for the holidays but also make perfect gifts for bridesmaids, bridal showers, graduations, rush, weddings, birthdays, hostesses and more.

Note to Santa and those following my wish list: I’d like to receive one for EVERY holiday!
A girl can never have too much glam in the kitchen!

And I find the more aprons I have, the better my baking gets!

 

xoxo,
BF

BF Asks: Which Haute Hostess apron will make it on to your wish list?

 

Quote Book: Thursday, 10/11/12 – Nashville knows best…

Nashville knows best...

Nashville knows best...

“Failure’s what befalls a man who fails to act. Destiny is for men who refuse to accept their failures as their fate. We’ve all had failures. Don’t let ’em define you. Let ’em refine you. I believe in your destiny. Do you?”

(Powers Boothe as Lamar Wyatt on ABC’s Nashville)

In-My-Tub-Tuesday: TrimStyle by Schick – The answer to your summer grooming beauty prayers

Listen, I know we’re all ladies here, I do.

And I know we like to keep things on a ladylike, pink, shiny, happy, glowing, smiley level here on BeautyFrosting…

but there is a product I simply must tell you about.

And it’s pretty personal.

Why? Because it works. It’s affordable. It’s fast. And, well, it’s cute.

Schick Quattro for Women TrimStyle (under $15)

Schick Quattro for Women TrimStyle (under $15)

I had tried Schick Quattro for Women TrimStyle a few years ago and looooved it!

But then I moved back to Los Angeles and left mine in Nashville and, embarrassingly, forgot about it.

So when I was invited to, my good friend, Meg’s (of Meg’s Makeup) house for a viewing party of Schick’s new sponsored series, Dating Rules From My Future Self, I was ecstatic when I opened the gift bag to find my beloved, forgotten TrimStyle!

I almost cried. Really.

How could I have forgotten this little jewel-toned gem that used to sit in my pink clawfoot tub in Nashville?

What have I been doing since its absence?

Well, we won’t address that last question as it’s, um, personal.

But I seriously don’t know how I could have forgotten this triumph of a trimmer, this regaled razor, this… you get the point.

My beloved Schick TrimStyle back where it belongs...in my Tub!

My beloved Schick TrimStyle back where it belongs...in my Tub!

So what about this little gadget makes me swoon? Let me count the ways:

1 ) It’s a trustworthy, dependable razor and nether region (bikini line) trimmer in one. A 2-in-1 treat as it has a 4-blade Quattro razor on one end and a trimmer on the other. Schick says it’s the only hair removal you’ll ever need!

2 ) It’s under $15 (cheaper than any bikini wax I know). This tool will do it all but I think of it as more of a maintenance tool between waxes. I can go 8-12 weeks without going to the salon with this little guy on my side.

3 ) It’s subtle so it looks like a razor but it’s a SPECIAL razor that can sit right out in your shower or tub with zero embarrassment.

4 ) The AAA battery is included, thank you very much, so you can start trimming away as soon as you get it home.

5 ) It seems to be foolproof and danger-free which is good because I can be a little klutzy. Note: PLEASE READ THE INSTRUCTIONS FIRST.

6 ) It’s adjustable so everyone can use it as they wish. There is a comb attachment which is super easy to use!

7 ) As I mentioned before, it’s cute! It’s kind of like a beauty toy for ladies. I kind of feel like I’m 7 opening a Barbie when I bring it home. Is that too much information?

Go grab one for yourself and see if you get as excited as I do about it!

xoxo,

BF

p.s. Oh—and the show, Dating Rules for my Future Self? It was realllllly good! Like “I’m-going-to-keep-watching-it-on-youtube” good! Seriously. It’s like New Girl meets Gossip Girl meets Happy Endings. The whole party was totally invested in this show. We watched multiple episodes because we couldn’t wait to see what happened next. And the acting, writing, styling and set design was super cute, cool and impressive.

BF Asks: What’s your preferred beachwear grooming method? 

 

BF QOD: The Tao of Dolly and “rainy” days

BF QOD: The Tao of Dolly

"The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain." (Dolly Parton)

This quote from Dolly always makes me smile.

“The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain.” (Dolly Parton)

Especially after a doozy of a day like yesterday. It, metaphorically, started out sunny and then got rainy, rainy, rainy.

So in moments like that, I turn to Dolly.

She’s so smart. So talented. So kind. I aspire to be more like Dolly every day.

My favorite thing I ever heard about Dolly was on a set in Austin. Someone was complaining about how hot it was and they retold the story of when Dolly was shooting a film and someone was similarly complaining about the weather/long hours/etc. She said, like she didn’t hear their complaints: “I’m just so lucky to be here on this movie set. Just a little girl from Tennessee.”

Needless to say, it shut the complainer up and set a very happy vibe for that set.

Thanks Dolly for your spirit and, today, for your words.

xoxo,

BF

From cubicle to cocktails: Bobbi Brown’s Long-Wear Eye Collection & Bobbi’s personal How-to

As many of you know, I am a big Bobbi Brown fan. Not only were Bobbi Brown brushes my first brushes (that I still own) but I also worked for Bobbi for a few years as a Makeup Artist and sales manager in Nashville at Woo Skincare & Cosmetics.

Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Eye Collection

Long-wear makeup is always in demand and, unfortunately, is not always done right.
Bobbi Brown does it right! She makes a long-wear formula that is smudge-free and waterproof. And, beauties, I do mean WATERPROOF! As in tear-proof, swim-proof, kid-proof, work-proof, wedding-proof. I can keep going but I’ll stop. Better yet, I’ll let Bobbi show you how to get the long-wear smoky eye look that will take you from cubicle to cocktails! Enjoy!