I wore this outfit to a friend's birthday party (obviously with a coat and scarf!) - the sleeveless silk top was perfect for layering with a cashmere cardigan to keep me warm without adding bulk, which is key for winter layering. By the time Lauren took the last shots, we had to go because she said my nose was getting red. Ah, the fun of being a style blogger!

How was your weekend?

Mine was altogether very relaxing - caught up on a lot of sleep, and I finally made Gwyneth's Turkey Bolognese (photo above! For the recipe, scroll to the bottom of this post), which took about 4 hours longer than I thought it would (why everyone should always read a recipe all the way through before starting...haha). But it was delicious! SO good. I highly recommend it, so go and make it!

I also started working out again (stopped for a while because I was sick) - and it's pretty pathetic how out of shape I am! I am also quite sore today so at least I did something to my body. Goal for the next few weeks is to get into shape! Probably with yoga (vinyasa - my favorite!) and picking up ballet again. I can't wait! 

What are you looking forward to?

Gwyneth's Turkey Bolognese Recipe:

Ingredients:
5–6 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, plus more as needed
3/4 pound Italian turkey sausage, cut into 4-inch-long links
1 pound ground turkey (ideal to use dark meat)
Coarse salt
Freshly ground black pepper
2 medium yellow onions, peeled and finely diced (about 2 cups)
3 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
Two 28-ounce cans whole peeled tomatoes with their juice
1/3 cup tomato paste
Cooked rigatoni, for serving (3/4 box)
Grated Parmesan cheese, for serving

Directions:

1. Heat the olive oil in a large heavy pan over medium-high heat. Add the sausage and cook, turning now and then, until browned all over, about 10 minutes. Remove the sausage to a plate and add the ground turkey to the pan along with a healthy pinch of salt and a few fresh grinds of pepper. Cook, stirring here and there, for 10 minutes, or until nicely browned. Remove to a separate plate. Add another 2 or 3 tablespoons of olive oil to the pan and add the onion and garlic. Cook these until softened and just beginning to brown, another solid 10 minutes. Add the tomatoes and their juice along with about 1/2 cup of water that you’ve swished in the cans to get all the tomato out of them. Add the ground turkey, stir the sauce well, and nestle in the sausages. Bring the sauce to a boil, season to taste with salt and pepper, and turn the heat to low. Cover almost completely with a lid (let the steam escape from one side) and gently simmer for 4 hours (incidentally, this is a great time to use a flame tamer if you have one), adding splashes of water every hour or so if the sauce is at all drying. Uncover the sauce and stir in the tomato paste, barely cover, and simmer for one more hour.
2. When it's about ready for serving, bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil and salt generously. Drop the rigatoni in and cook according to package directions.
3. Serve the sauce over the cooked rigatoni with a nice grating of Parmesan on top.

Serves 4 with enough for leftovers

Image via

Happy Friday, everyone! 

Who read Archie Comics as a kid? I loved them - and still do - I found a giant edition in the bargain section of Barnes and Noble about six months ago and devoured it! My friend and I even dressed up as Betty and Veronica for Halloween about 5 years ago - I was Veronica, of course. Anyway, the reason I bring this is up is because MAC is coming out with an "Archie's Girls" line (available online Jan 30th, in NYC MAC stores Jan 31st, and everywhere else Feb 7th-Apr 4th), and I'm psyched! I haven't used MAC makeup in years, but I definitely want to check out the collection! I think I'm liking the lip products the most in the collection (check them out in the link below).

Tell me - are you a Betty, or a Veronica?

(For an "interview" with B&V on their upcoming line and beauty routines, click here. For more details on the products to come, click here.)

I recently picked up this sweater/hoodie on mega sale, and LOVE it. It's so incredibly soft (the body is lined in fleece!) and thick that it's perfect for these sub-zero temperatures we've been having - and I can't help but love the contrast sleeves and hood. The pale pink pants paired with the mint tee are the perfect colors to combat a harsh wintery day, keeping me hopeful for spring!

2. What's your favourite book?

3. Are you a morning person, or a night owl, and why?

4. What are you hoping Santa brings you this year?

6. Who has been the biggest inspiration in your life?

7. What's your favourite TV programme?

8. What's your favourite thing to do at the weekend?

9. Other than the current one, which era of history would you most like to have lived in?

10. How many languages do you speak?

I am happy to say I have another list of books to read - the worst is wanting to read something, but not knowing what. Here's my current list:

Vintage Seventeen Magazine Illustration, via

How was your weekend?

Mine was awesome - restful and productive! The Beatrix Potter Picture Letters exhibit at The Morgan Library & Museum was absolutely adorable - I have a soft spot for children's books and illustrations, so I was in heaven! Unfortunately no photography was allowed, but if you're in NYC I highly recommend going before it ends at the end of this month!

I also made a tortilla soup and Gwyneth's mac and cheese this weekend - the mac and cheese ended up being a little dry, so I added more cheese (heated whole milk, mixed in grated parmesan and shredded cheddar & monterey jack, and added a little bit of unsalted butter, all in a saucepan and poured it in to the leftover portion) to it on Sunday and now it's perfect, and now I have leftovers for lunch this week! (The best thing about cooking is leftovers. I don't know why I love them so much!)

I also broke out my watercolors and attempted to paint Molly - unfortunately I am neither skilled in watercolor nor am I good at drawing dogs, so there will be no public photos of that attempt, although it was really fun to do! (And that is the point after all - to have fun.)

Who's excited for The Bachelor tonight? I am not ashamed to say that I am!