Holiday Red Dressing

Want to be a standout at a holiday party this season?  

Be Festive, wear RED.

Rethink the Little Black Dress this holiday season. 

I attended a dressy event recently.  The invitation read, "cocktail attire".  I wore a cute red dress.  It wasn't new and it wasn't fussy.  It was raw silk,  sleeveless and knee length.  The point is...I was the ONLY person wearing color!!!  The men were in dark suits and the women all wore black or other dark colors.  I stood out in a good way, looking brighter than everyone else and more like I was at a party, than a board meeting or memorial service.

Little Red Dress by spiralstyle

Valentino zipper dress, $1,985 / Hervé Léger bandage cocktail dress / Michael Kors sleeveless dress / Notte by Marchesa one shoulder sleeve dress / ISSA London plunge neck dress, $665 / David Meister sleeveless dress / Alice + Olivia alice olivia dress, $345 / GALA red formal dress / Lace dress / Zipper dress / Lace 
dress / Party dress

If you don't want to invest in a dress, how about topping black pants or a skirt with the festive color?

Holiday Red by spiralstyle 

Valentino red shirt / Alice + Olivia alice olivia, $600 / Embroidered t shirt, $160 / Nolita summer top, $24 / French Connection scoop neck top / Bardot tall shirt, $63 / Dorothy Perkins red shirt / Emilia Wickstead swing jacket / ESPRIT cotton jacket, $98

And what will you wear on your feet?

Party Shoes by spiralstyle 

Kate Spade / Karen Millen high heels / Ann Taylor strappy sandals
I suggest metallic, animal print or of course black.  Nude is a great option as well.

Healthy Holiday Party Food

Happy Monday!

Have you started the holiday party circuit yet?  

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It is hard to resist all the temptingly delicious food spread in a seductive manner on a gorgeous buffet table laden with candles and flowers.  How can one eat healthy or at least with a moderate intake of calories and alcohol?

Here are a few tips for healthy holiday eating.

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This little pink crustacean is loaded with protein and about the healthiest food on the buffet table.  Go easy on the cocktail sauce which is loaded with sugar.  

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Salsa with tomatoes, peppers, lime = vitamins A, C and fiber.

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Heart healthy fat in guacaole.  Enjoy!  Go easy on the chips and dip with veggies.

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Everyone knows sushi is healthy!

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Omega-3's in salmon make this a fantastic choice.

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Mixed nuts that aren't coated in sugar are a healthy choice with protein, vitamins and fiber.  Just know when to stop.

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Drink red.  Rather than just sugar, red wine (as opposed to white) has properties that promote heart health.  Cut the calories and make it a spritzer.  

For other healthy selections, click here to view the whole article in Fitness Magazine. 

Enjoy your day.

How are you doing with holiday preparations?  Hopefully you aren't too frazzled and can savor the beauty and joy of the season.

Source: sweetjessie.com via Deborah on Pinterest

My house is decorate and most of the gifts have been purchased and mailed.  In the past few years I've eliminated the task of Christmas cards and have started the tradition of emailed New Year greetings.  My big Christmas party is next weekend.  I've got it all planned so I can relax a bit this weekend.

Hubby and I have been listening to Christmas music during dinner prep and meal.  My all time favorite is this Mariah CD.  The arrangements are really fun and showcase her amazing voice.  I love to listen to this when I'm driving.  Keeps me from road rage in crowded shopping mall parking lots.  

Do you have a favorite Christmas CD?  I'm open to new suggestions.

Have a splendid weekend.  See you on Monday

Spinach Puffs

I've planned my menu for my annual holiday cocktail party.  I'm always searching for one or two bit finger food recipes and this year I've come up with several that I'll share with you.  

These little spinach puffs are a new twist on spanakopita, the savory spinach, feta pies in a phyllo-dough crust.

Buttery, crunchy, puff pastry is a lovely encasement for the spinach mixture.

Small squares of purchased puff pastry dough are filled with a the spinach mixture and then the edges are pinched together and sealed.  A little egg wash is applied before baking to ensure a glossy, golden baked pastry.

A 10 oz box of frozen spinach and a 1lb box of purchased puff pastry will yield 2 dozen mini-muffin size appetizers.  Make the puffs larger and bake in regular sized muffin cups and you'll have a great dinner side dish. 

Spinach puffs will be on the buffet for my holiday party.  Here is the recipe.  The recipe does not include oven temperature.  400 degrees F is the baking temperature.  The recipe calls for 6 regular muffin sized puffs.  I made 2 dozen mini sized.  

Here is a tip*  To squeeze the moisture out of frozen spinach, use a ricer.

White Christmas: Fashion

Winter white from head to toe is very "on trend".

Source: thecultureofdesign.com via Deborah on Pinterest

Sporty elegance

Source: thecultureofdesign.com via Deborah on Pinterest

Glamorous

Source: fashforfashion.com via Deborah on Pinterest

Casual

Source: marieclaire.com via Deborah on Pinterest

Sophisticated chic

My inspiration

Winter White by spiralstyle

Sleeveless top / H&M silk shirt, $48 / Army pea coat / 3.1 Phillip Lim wide leg pants / Banana Republic / Valentino handbag / Elizabeth Cole

My interpretation

White Christmas: Table Decor

I love the simplicity of a white table for the holidays.  A touch of silver and the flicker of candlelight makes white magical.

Source: thehillsarelivin.blogspot.com via Deborah on Pinterest

Source: google.com via Deborah on Pinterest

Source: google.com via Deborah on Pinterest

Source: google.com via Deborah on Pinterest

Source: vietri.com via Deborah on Pinterest

Fireside snacking

For the white table by spiralstyle 

Lovely pieces for the white holiday table.

Half Glaze Pitcher, $56 / Bistro Cutlery, $51 / Platinum Etched Champagne Glasses / Washed Linen Napkins, $15 / Holiday Entertaining, Serving Pieces | Jayson Home / Tabletop | LEIF / High Street Market - Home Decor / High Street Market - Home Decor

Let Them Eat Candy

Welcome back from the weekend.  I hope you had some good rest time and did something fun.  I went to see Skyfall, the new James Bond movie.  Loved it.

Almond Buttercrunch

At holiday time I like to make candy.  There is something about using a candy thermometer that attracts me.  I like the chemistry of the whole thing.  Anyway, I like to make candy to give as gifts.  

I shared the recipe for Almond Buttercrunch here.

If you walk into a Williams-Sonoma store this time of year you will probably be offered some of their famous Peppermint Bark.  You can easily make this yourself.  The recipe is right here.  Just be sure to use high quality bar chocolate and not chocolate chips or the white and dark chocolate layers will separate.  Be sure the first layer cools for 10 minutes before topping with the white chocolate layer.

All ready to give as a hostess gift.

Even the cookies I made have candy in them.  I used this recipe substituting a bag of holiday colored M&M's in place of the semi sweet choc chips and Reese's Pieces candies.

I made salted caramels as well but they need to cool before I can cut and wrap them.  I'll show you another day.

Happy Monday