Oscars Night!

I don't know about you but I love award show season (as if you couldn't tell from my previous award show posts? hah!)!  Maybe its just because it feels like no one dresses up anymore or maybe I'm just a sucker for Hollywood glamor, or maybe its both!  Unfortunately Chris and I have made it to ZERO movies this year so we couldn't really give an informed opinion on who should win.  But after the show last night maybe we'll take a break from the hecticness to watch some of the winners.

Anyways, let's get into the good stuff, the red carpet fashions!  This time around I was much less wishy washy in my best dressed picks, for me there was two hands down winners: Giuliana Rancic and Lupita Nyong'o, no contest, they looked absolutely STUNNING.

G's dress was fabulous, I loved the layered tulle and the neckline was so delicate and pretty.  Her style team nailed it with hair and makeup, so classic and elegant.

Lupita's dress is EVERYTHING, the light blue just shines on her skin tone and the headband gives it a girly touch.  Although the neckline is plunging it balances out with the full skirt.

The trend of the carpet seemed to be neutrals or navys which was very elegant and brought just the pomp and circumstance to the event it requires.  Ellen DeGeneres did a great job hosting and the performances were so good!

To compliment these fashions we conjured up a sparkling cocktail to add to the night of glamor.  Our friend Asha was over and told us her recent liking of Chambord.  So we ventured out to make berry flavored martini floated with prosecco which became the Sparkleberry Tini.  These pack quite a punch and they were a little sweeter than we would have liked but they were a good novelty cocktail to get us in the mood for what seemed like the longest award show (after 11:30 is way past this old lady's bedtime!).

Sparkleberry Tini
(makes 3ish martinis, depending on size of glass)

Ingredients:
- 4 oz. berry vodka (we used Three Olives Marilyn Monroe Strawberry, wanted to go all in on Hollywood glam!)
- 2.5 oz. raspberry liqueur (we used Chambord)
- 1 oz. triple sec (we used Patron Citronge)
- 4 oz. cranberry juice
- squeeze of lemon
- prosecco or sparkling wine


 Instructions:
- Mix vodka, raspberry liqueur, triple sec and cranberry juice in a shaker or pitcher with ice.
- Squeeze lemon juice into chilled martini glass then strain the booze mixture into the glass, filling about halfway up.
- Float the rest with prosecco or sparkling wine.
- Enjoy!

Up next I've got a Lightened Orange Chicken recipe and some Mardi Gras fun to share, stay tuned!

Cheers!
Steph

Red Carpet Risks: The Grammys

Awards season is in FULL swing especially with an abbreviated timeline because of the Winter Olympics it seems like all I do is post about the looks of the red carpet!  That being said I'm trying to switch things up other than just fashion hits and misses but include some fun fashion topics!  Plus what better way to wind down on a Sunday while still soaking up the glamor than a cocktail?  So there's one of those too!

This week I thought we'd highlight red carpet risks.  I'm not talking about white after Labor Day kind of risks here.  We're talking Jennifer Lopez's plunging Versace dress at the Grammys in 2000, Lady Gaga's arrival via a human sized egg at the 2011 Grammys, fashion moments.  The "OMG WHAT are they wearing?!" moments.  They either go down in history, leave us a little confused or provide some shock value for the moment, or all of the above!

This year's Grammys was no exception, check out my top red carpet risks this year:

I love Giuliana Rancic's bright orange Alex Perry dress.  The color isn't one we've seen lately and the plunging sheer and lace detailing provide a wow factor that works!  This little mama has still got it!

Katy Perry on the other hand might have taken the musical theme of the show a little farther than necessary.  Although I'm all for a full layered tulle ballgown I'm not sure this risk was worth it.

Paula Patton took a walk on the wild side with this lion and zebra themed dress.  Just enough crazy for the Grammy's but still flattering to her figure.

Ryan Lewis and Macklemore stood out in the crowd for the guys with shiny hounds tooth and teal velvet suits!  Definitely a nice change from the classic black (or recent trend, navy) the hounds tooth is a little bit of a busy print for a full suit but isn't super jarring.

Now, on to the cocktail.  I call this the Red Carpetini, the glitz and glam of the carpet in a martini glass!

Red Carpetini
(Makes one serving)

Ingredients:
- 1 and 1/2 oz. citrus vodka (if you want something a little sweeter try vanilla vodka instead)
- 1/2 oz.  raspberry liqueur
- 1 oz. cranberry juice
- small bottle of champagne to top off

Instructions:
- Combine all ingredients except for champs in a cocktail shaker over ice.
- Shake and pour into a chilled martini glass.
- Top off with champagne.
- Enjoy!

Well that's all for the red carpet until March when the Oscars come around then we have to wait until summer for the Tony's!  I've got all kinds of blogging to catch up on now!  A post from restaurant week plus some new shoes are coming my way so I'll be sure to share!  Happy Monday!

Cheers!
Steph

Kicking Off Red Carpet Season, the Golden Globes!

Well last night kicked off another fabulous and fashionable award season.  I have to admit I tend to love the red carpet shows more than the award shows themselves.  Don't get me wrong the hosts tend to be great and the suspense of who wins what is attractive but I mean the fashion, COME ON, its like Christmas morning!

I'd have to say my best dressed goes to Julia Roberts.  I mean the woman is a stunner!  I loved the dress with a little bit of bling around the waist, so classic and sophisticated then the hair was just the icing on the fabulousity cake (I can't help it, I'm a sucker for big hair).  Apparently the collared shirt top was a controversial element as I saw her on some sites worst dressed list (how rude!).

via US weekly

My worst dressed goes to Zoe Saldana, in her E! interview she said she's friends with the designer.  By the looks of that thing she should cut all ties with that person.  I mean it was just all over the place, they basically took a little black dress and gunked it up with stuff that looked like bad Christmas wrapping.

via US Weekly

Honorable mentions:

Reese Witherspoon

via US Weekly

I loveeee this color on Reese, it's perfect with her pretty blonde bob and the cut of the dress flatters her in all the right places.

Sofia Vergara

via US Weekly

Oh that Sofia just stuns every time!  Maybe its just me but if there's ever a question of if to wear a full ballgown or not, I'm almost always going to vote YES.  She adds a little bit of sexy with the fit showing off her waist but keeps it very classy with simple black and a hint of color with a statement necklace. LOVE IT!

Lupita Nyong'o

via US Weekly

A cape to the Globes? YES, YES YES!  This color is stunning on her and the dress itself is perfect for her body shape, so timeless and elegant!

Horrible mentions:

Lena Dunham

via US Weekly

As a girl that's definitely not a size 2, I understand the struggles of finding a dress that flatters a fuller figure.  That being said, whoever told Lena this was good for her body shape was clearly blinded by the dress color.  It's too tight and its just not flattering, not to mention the color doesn't compliment her fair complexion.

Zooey Deschanel

via Huffington Post

Oye where do I even start?  For such a pretty girl Zooey picked the wrong dress.  I love the light airy layered tule but I would have much preferred to see her in a fitted bodice rather than that frumpy cap sleeved top.  It just makes her look wider than she is and the color isn't the greatest.

To kick off the glamorousness of awards season coming our way I decided to come up with a cocktail that sparkles like the celebs on the red carpet, a Pear Elderflower Sparkler.

Pear Elderflower Sparkler
(makes one)
 Ingredients:
- 1 oz. pear vodka
- 1/2 oz. elderflower liqueur (St. Germain)
- 5 oz. (give or take) champagne
 
Instructions:
- In a shaker with ice, combine pear vodka and elderflower liqueur, shake and pour into a champagne glass.
- Fill the rest of the glass with champagne.
- Toast to the stars and enjoy!

This is nice and light, a little on the sweeter side but delicious.  If you want something with a little less kick you can take out the vodka but what's the fun in that?!

Seems as though I'm on a bit of a roll with blogging this week, I hope I can keep it going!  Next up, I've got a few leftover Local Foodie Moments from our new restaurants list, next week is restaurant week and of course we gotta throw in some shoes!

Cheers!
Steph