Holy crap you guys!

I hear-tell that the whole trailer is going to be during the Super Bowl.

Meet Luxirare!

Luxury + Rarity = Luxirare. Her blog features her fashion designs and cooking tutorials, all with an extraordinary and fantastical point of view.

The clothes:

Wow inducing to say the least! It’s her personal style that inspires me the most; no nonsense, minimalist, and functional.

She cooks the most amazing food!

All her ingredients are measured and photographed with exacting detail.

This appeals to all of my cook and neat-nik levels!

And her recipes! The above is truffle, cheese and prosciutto stuffed waffles! Yes, please!

If you were born in 1928,1940,1952,1964,1976,1988,2000,2012 you are a Dragon! Every twelfth year is the year of the dragon. But, there more to it than that, the elemental sign the dragon bears changes too. This year is the year of the Water Dragon!

According to the Chinese Zodiac, characteristics of a Dragon are:
Innovative
Enterprising
Flexible
Self-assured
Brave
Passionate
Conceited
Tactless
Scrutinizing
Unanticipated
Quick-tempered
However, if you are a Water Dragon (1952, 2012) the water element has a calming effect on your temperament. Water Dragons are more able to focus their passionate natures, are more perceptive, and make more logical decisions.

Some predictions for the Year of the Dragon:
The year of the dragon is always considered to be a very successful year for business. However, because dragons are not careful with their money and spend everything they earn (dragons are flamboyant creatures), it will also be very easy to spend in 2012. So care should be taken to be doubly careful when ensuring that something is saved! (from HubPages)
The Year of the Dragon marks a new beginning in all ways. Be it a new opportunity at work or a new relationship, the year is filled with many possibilities which the Dragon must make the most of. Also better-equipped to take a step back and re-evaluate situations, Dragons this year will enjoy the fruits of both patience and the spotlight. (from rediff.com)

Minestrone Soup

1 cup Pasta Shells (Cooked)

2 tablespoons Olive Oil
1 cup diced Onion
3 cloves Garlic (sliced)
1/2 cup diced Carrot
1/4 cup diced Celery
1 teaspoon pepper

1 small Zucchini (large dice)
1/2 cup White Wine
4 cups Chicken or Vegetable Stock
2 cups Tomato Sauce
1 teaspoon dried Oregano

1 can Kidney Beans
1/2 cup Frozen Green Beans (thawed)
1/2 cup Frozen Corn (thawed)
2 cups Fresh Spinach
5 leaves Basil

Cook the pasta according to package directions, drain and set aside.
Heat the olive oil over medium heat in a large Dutch oven or heavy bottomed stock pot. Cook the onion and garlic gently until onion is soft but not browned, about 10 minutes. Add in the carrot and celery, and pepper, cook for another 5 minutes.

Stir in the zucchini, oregano, white wine, stock and tomato sauce. Turn up the heat to medium high and bring to a boil. Cover and reduce the heat, simmering for 15 to 20 minutes.

Drain and rinse the kidney beans and add to the pot, stirring gently. Stir in the green beans, corn and spinach. Cook until heated through, about 5-10 minutes.
Serve with the torn basil sprinkled on top and with a hot ciabatta loaf.

Images gathered from Pinterest

I have these. I’ve been putting them through their paces this fall and winter, and so far so awesome! Clarks Orinocco Engineer boots are perfect for walking. You can wear a nice thick pair of socks, and they make your Mom uniform look a bit more “tough girl”.

Ecco Hobart Buckle. I have these too. I bought them to replace a pair that had died. Also, they never fit well in the calf. These fit perfectly! I can tuck in my jeans and I have room left over.

These “Gabby” Hunter boots are just killing me! They are waterproof, as you’d expect a Hunter brand boot to be, and the reviews on the site link are all good.
I can see that they might not be the thing to wear if you need to walk on icy sidewalks, but for winter wet and cold they would work! You could wear them with a nice cozy pair of socks, with jeans or tights and a wool skirt.

These Merrill Angelic Peak boots are also waterproof if the above are not your speed. They have a 16″ shaft circumference, so you’ll have room to tuck in your jeans and still be able to walk!

I ordered these, and as you read this they are on their way. I bought them to replace another pair that, frankly, were a bit ugly on me. They they had a square toe box that became dated right away and looked weird when I wore them with a skirt. I’m hoping the rounded toe and the modern platform heel will go with skinny’s, slacks, and skirts. I’ll update here when I try them.

Update! I wore these shopping yesterday. I’m pleased to report they are warm and stylish. I wore them with skinny jeans and they looked great. They have a non-skid rubber sole that did an excellent job of preventing slipping and sliding on the wet pavement. One suggestion: They run about a 1/2 size big. I didn’t mind because I wore a pair of warm socks (hidden, naturally) with them, but if you’ll be sock-less or wearing mainly hose or tights I’d go ahead and order smaller.

What are your favorite winter weather boots?

Weekday Cassoulet

2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
10 Rashers of Bacon (Diced)
2 Packages Adel’s Chicken & Apple Sausage (or you choice)
1 Small Onion (Sliced)
1/2 Teaspoon Ground Pepper
2 Cloves Garlic (Minced)
1 Tablespoon Flour
1/2 Cup White Wine
1 16oz. Can Chopped Tomatoes
1 Tablespoon Fresh or 1 Teaspoon Dried Thyme
2 Cans Great Northwest or Cannellini Beans
1 Can Black Beans

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

On the stove top, heat an oven proof casserole pan or dutch oven over medium heat. Add the olive oil and the diced bacon. Cook until the bacon is crispy then remove and set aside.
Add the sausages and cook until just browned then set those aside too. (You’ll finish cooking them in the oven; you just want them pretty right now!)

Add the onion and cook until soft and slightly brown.
Add the garlic, pepper, thyme and a tablespoon of flour. Cook the flour for a few minutes, until it’s soaked up all the bacon drippings.
Whisk in the wine and the diced tomatoes, including the juice, until well combined and slightly thickened.
Drain and rinse the beans and add them to the pot. Stir gently to combine everything. Add a little more wine or water if the mixture seems too thick.

Add back in the bacon, stirring to combine. Add back in the sausages.

Cover and bake in the oven for 30 minutes.

Serve with baguette.

P.S. How cute is her messy hair?

PPRINT offers gorgeous artwork painted on vintage book pages.

Anastassia Elias makes these fantastic little vignettes in…TP rolls! I KNOW! Right? You have to go by her site and check them all out!

Guy Laramee carves wondrous landscape scenes out of books.

Spicy Beef Ramen

4 packets Ramen Noodle

For the Sauce
1/2 cup Beef Stock
1/2 cup Hoisin Sauce
1 Tablespoon Soy Sauce
1 Teaspoon Garlic Oil
1 teaspoon Red Pepper Flakes
Combine all ingredients and set aside.

3 Beef Chuck Steaks (sliced against the grain into thin strips)
1 Carrot (sliced thinly)
2 Cups Red Cabbage (shredded)
2 Green Onions (coarsely chopped)
2 Celery Stalks (coarsely chopped)
2 Tablespoons Garlic Oil

Boil the ramen according to package instructions and drain. Toss the noodles with 1/4 cup of the hoisin sauce mixture and set aside.
In a large skillet or Wok heat the garlic oil over medium high heat. Brown the sliced beef in batches for about 2 minutes a side. Set meat aside.

Add the vegetables and saute until tender, about 10 minutes.

Add back in the meat and noodles and the remaining sauce. Toss all the ingredients together then serve immediately.

This dish went over well with my teenagers. Ramen is a favorite, plus I snuck in some veggies!