To get this look, you’re going to need a sheer, milky white polish; 3-4 complementary nail colors (we chose purple, hot pink, fuchsia, and baby blue); nail decals; polish remover, and a disposable eyeliner brush.

Fleury says it’s going to be easiest to unscrew all of the tops of your bottles before you begin this one — it takes a long time to dry and you’re more apt to smudge if you have to futz around too much. Start off by painting all of your nails with the creamy white polish (Fleury likes Color Club’s Bonjour Girl shade). “It helps to have a lighter base with these bright designs so that the colors pop more,” says Fleury. After this, you’re going to want to do one nail at a time, as you need the polishes to be semi-wet.

Starting at the base of the nail, paint a thick strip of color diagonally across the nail. Do this with all the colors, until you reach the tip of the nail. It’s okay if you overlap, since you are going to blend them anyways. Fleury recommends mixing up the order of the colors for each nail to give this look a more authentic feel.

While the polish is still wet, dip your eyeliner brush in some nail polish remover (it should be wet, not soaking) and, starting at the base of the nail, gently drag it up vertically through the colors. Do this in four separate lines, all the way across the nail. Repeat this on each nail, then wait for it to dry.

Apply a thick top coat to the nail, then grab an orangewood stick and tap it against the brush of the top coat to get a dab of it on the stick. Use that dab to pick up a star decal and place it on the nail, pressing it into the still-wet top coat on your nail. Repeat with a few different sizes of stars, or add some crystals if you’re feeling really fancy. Added bonus: The decals are really great at covering up any mistakes. Wait for it to dry, then apply another layer of top coat to the whole nail to hold it all together.

Hello everyone! Is this a happy mani or what? Perfect for Spring.

In other news, my weight loss update. I soooo went off the wagon this weekend. OMG so frustrating! Back on today with a delicious Lean Cuisine … kinda bleh, but two bike rides later I should be good.  : )  { Down 15lbs in 23 days} yay, yay….

Happy Monday dolls…

Bella XoX

pics and article via Refinery 29

Thanksgiving is here, so our minds have turned
To what time has taught us, to what we’ve learned:
We often focus all our thought
On shiny things we’ve shopped and bought;
We take our pleasure in material things
Forgetting the pleasure that friendship brings.
If a lot of our stuff just vanished today,
We’d see the foundation of each happy day
Is special relationships, constant and true,
And that’s when our thoughts go directly to you.
We wish you a Thanksgiving you’ll never forget,
Full of love and joy—your best one yet!

I’ll be traveling for the holidays. Looking forward to playing in the snow! I’ll post some pictures from the road, and I truly hope hope you have the best Thanksgiving ever!

Bella

Caramel Pears

8-10 ripe pears, washed, dried, chilled
372 grams sugar (about 2 cups)
186 grams dark brown sugar (about 1 cup)
150 grams butter (about 2/3 cup)
2/3 cup corn syrup
1 cup cream
1 tsp. kosher salt
2 tsp. real vanilla extract

Mix all ingredients together (except the fruit) in a deep saucepan. Cook over medium high heat until the butter melts and temperature on a candy or laser thermometer reaches 246 degrees (119 celcius). Stir constantly toward the end of the cooking period to prevent scorching. Remove from heat and cool slightly.

Dip fruit into caramel mixture and twist until evenly covered. Roll in nuts or sugar. Drain on waxed paper or a silicone baking sheet. Refrigerate. Consume pears within a few hours. Leftover caramel can be refrigerated and defrosted in the microwave for dipping fruit slices or served with the tart.

Apple Tart Crust:

140 g. sugar
400 g. butter
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla
455 g. flour

1. Mix sugar, butter, eggs and vanilla with dough hook just until combined.
2. Add flour and mix until smooth. Do not over mix.
3. Flatten into disks and wrap in plastic. Refrigerate 30 minutes. (You’ll only use half the dough. The rest can be tightly sealed and frozen)
4. Roll or press tart dough into shells (about 1/4 inch thick)
5. Preheat oven to 400 degrees (205 celcius)

Apple Filling

6 medium apples, sliced
130 grams sugar
25 grams flour
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. nutmeg

Mix dry ingredients. Add sliced apples and toss with sugar mixture. Arrange apples over tart crust. Bake 45-55 minutes until crust is cooked through.

recipe via http://freshnewengland.com/home.html

While I’ve often driven by Graffiti, I’ve never appreciated it as much as I did today! Someone quite talented hit this wall and I feel in love with the design. After leaving a luncheon today in Phoenix I just had to stop and check it out.

Happy Friday Dolls!

Bella

XoX

PS I don’t condone gaffiti … but this was out of control  : )

TOOLS

Silver metallic or glitter polish

Navy polish

10 reinforcement stickers

Clear top coat

STEPS

1. Start with clean, bare nails that have been filed.

2. Apply 1 to 2 coats of the silver polish (depending on the coverage of the polish). Be sure to paint your whole nail. If the color ends up showing through the navy polish it will just add a little sparkle, but it is important to have a smooth first layer. Let the polish dry for at least 30 minutes.  It is important your nails are dry before placing the reinforcement stickers on them or else the stickers will peel off the polish and you will have to start all over again. Oh no!

3. Once nails are completely dry, place a reinforcement sticker on each nail with the outside of the sticker mimicking the shape of the moon of your nail.  Cutting a slit in each sticker will allow the stickers lay more evenly on each nail. You can decide what size you would like the moons to be, but it is important that the size stay consistentacross all your nails for it to look right. Once they are all placed where you would like them, apply pressure to each making sure they are secure to your nail.

4.  Now paint the top half or your nail with 2 coats of navy blue polish. Let this coat dry for at least 10 mins.

5.  Once that’s dry, carefully pull the reinforcement stickers off of each nail.

6. Finish with a clear top coat.

Something fun to try this weelend! I love sharing with you the new trends I find. Would love to see your styles you create, send pics!

Have a beautiful weekend dolls!

Bella XoX

via the beauty department

Dainty pink cookies sandwiched together with a silky ganache look as if they belong on a restaurant’s petits fours plate.

Enjoy this recipe below, it’s soooo amazing and delish!!!!

 Hope you had a relaxing weekend!

Bella XoX

RASPBERRY CHOCOLATE FRENCH MACAROONS

For macaroons

• 6 oz sliced blanched almonds (not slivered; 2 cups)
• 1 1/2 cups confectioners sugar
• 3 large egg whites
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
• Red or pink food coloring

For chocolate raspberry ganache

• 3 oz fine-quality bittersweet chocolate (60 to 64% cacao), finely chopped
• 1/3 cup heavy cream
• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, softened
• 1/16 teaspoon raspberry extract (preferably McCormick brand)

• Special equipment: parchment paper; a gallon-size sealable plastic bag (not pleated)

Make macaroons:

Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.

Pulse almonds with 1/2 cup confectioners sugar in a food processor until very finely ground, 2 to 3 minutes, then transfer to a bowl. Sift in remaining cup confectioners sugar, stirring to combine.

Beat egg whites with salt in another bowl with an electric mixer at medium speed until they just hold soft peaks. Add granulated sugar, a little at a time, beating, then increase speed to high and continue to beat until whites just hold stiff, glossy peaks. Add drops of food coloring to reach desired shade and mix at low speed until evenly combined. Stir almond mixture into meringue with a rubber spatula until completely incorporated. (Meringue will deflate.)

Spoon batter into bag, pressing out excess air, and snip off 1 corner of plastic bag to create a 1/4-inch opening. Twist bag firmly just above batter, then pipe peaked mounds of batter (the size of a chocolate kiss) onto lined sheets about 1 1/2 inches apart. Let cookies stand, uncovered, at room temperature until tops are no longer sticky and a light crust forms, 20 to 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, put oven racks in upper and lower thirds of oven and preheat oven to 300°F.

Bake cookies, switching position of sheets halfway through baking, until crisp and edges are just slightly darker, 20 to 25 minutes. Cool completely on sheets on racks, about 30 minutes.

Make ganache while macaroons bake:
Melt chocolate with cream in a metal bowl set over a pan of barely simmering water or in top of a double boiler, stirring until smooth. (Bowl should not touch water.) Remove bowl from heat, then add butter and raspberry extract, stirring until butter is melted. Let stand at room temperature until cooled completely and slightly thickened.

Assemble cookies:
Carefully peel cookies from parchment (they will be fragile). Sandwich a thin layer of ganache (about 1/2 teaspoon) between flat sides of cookies.

Finally ordered these sunglasses, I’ve been dying to emulate this picture as my avatar for Twitter and Facebook!

I want to hang these everywhere, such a happy, colorful piece!

 Confetti systems http://www.confettisystem.com/

Honeydew Lime Popsicles, I live in Arizona, what can I say, it’s HOT here!

Honeydew Lime Popsicle Recipe

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup water
• 1 (3-4lb) ripe honeydew melon, peeled, seeded, and cut into 1/2 inch pieces
• 2/3 cup fresh lime juice

• 5 ounce Dixie cups
• 20-30 Popsicle sticks

Directions

In a small saucepan, heat water over medium/high heat, add sugar and continue stirring until completely dissolved. Let cool.

In a blender, add your melon, lime juice and syrup and blend until smooth. Carefully pour mixture into your 5 ounce Dixie cups, filling 2/3 of the way.

Place in the freezer for 30 minutes (set your timer), insert your wooden sticks, and continue to freeze until the popsicles are completely frozen, about 6 hours.

When you’re ready to enjoy, cut and tear the Dixie cups off of the popsicles and voila, enjoy! see image below

Makes about 20 popsicles

Have an AH-mazing weekend luvs!

Bella XoX

recipe via http://www.thetomkatstudio.com/

Hello everyone! I’ve missed you and my blog. I had to rework the back end, no visible changes yet, but there will be.

In my last post I mentioned I had just moved and was in the middle of redecorating, one of my favorite pastimes! I am doing the craziest designs yet.  For instance, the second picture down is my inspiration for my dining room chairs. Yep, feathers! I LOVE glamour, I’m single, not a DROP of testosterone in the house. : )

Have you ever thought of using boa feathers for a valance? Or how about crystal curtains? And the best idea yet, putting a thin line of swarovski crystals along the base of a dining room table. Am I crazy, maybe, personally I think eccentric is the word. Can’t wait to share the DIY pictures.

Hope all of you have been well!

Bella

pics via cherry blossom girl

Slightly more alive today and thanks to some of my favorite things. Flowers, always …. Miu Miu handbag, adore …. Pink cupcakes, my weakness and PINK shoes, well, no explanation needed! Right?

Whenever your spirits need lifted, just gazed and dream about your favorite things. Imagine yourself in them, wearing them, feeling them, it always works for me.

Happy Wednesday Luvs

Bella

pics via citifiedblogspot, and flicker

My perfect day would start off with my desk looking similar to this one!  Type A personalities must always have everything in it’s place. The clean lines of the white are so inspiring and lends itself to my taste.

The only thing I see missing are my favorite Swarovski pens and maybe a crystal paper weight.

Happy Tuesday Luvs

Bella

photos via we heart this

After a long weekend, some of us take more time to get back into the routine of life. Lovely dinners, with champagne kisses close off this Memorial Day. And now it’s Tuesday, back to reality.

“Make new friends but keep the old ones; one is silver and the other’s gold”

Hope your Tuesday is FAB!

Bella

Luxurious linens and breakfast in bed, after fun filled weekends is the best. Just enough time to reflect of moments spent with family and friends you cherish.

With our lives so busy these days, I feel it is important to take the time for ourselves. Even if it’s only for an hour, just enough to secure your thoughts and compose your future dreams. One of my favorite times of the day is when the lights go off and all is still and silent. I usually have a candle burning on my bedside table and my drapes open to gaze at the stars.  The peacefulness of a candlelit room, the flicker of the flame against darkness is so soothing.

It’s now time to blow this candle out.

Bella

pics via citified blogspot

Soft and  feminine old world glam … reminds me of my grandmothers old attic …  these beautiful photographs takes me back so …

Inevitably everytime I have dress envy, it’s Marchesa.  How beautiful is this dress, perfect for a spring party!

Marchesa Gets Me Everytime !!

…Bella