Boardwalk Empire and a Sidecar

The season premiere of HBO's Boardwalk Empire is tonight--who's planning to watch? My husband and I are a little obsessed with gangster movies and shows and this one doesn't disappoint. Everything about it is so good, from the characters to the clothes. And speaking of the clothes, I'm totally obsessed with the 1920s, particularly the fashion.  Men wore suits, ladies wore sequins, and they all drank fancy cocktails...glorious! 

If you're watching the new season of Boardwalk, why not imbibe a '20s drink? Here's a recipe for the Sidecar, a sweet and sour cocktail that combines Cognac and triple sec with fresh lemon juice. 

Sidecar
1½ ounces Cognac
1 ounce Cointreau (triple sec)
½ ounce fresh lemon juice

Pour all ingredients into a cocktail shaker filled with ice and shake well, then strain into a chilled cocktail glass. For a sweeter drink, dip the rim of the glass in lemon juice, then in sugar. Enjoy!


image via

Happy Friday

We've only a couple weeks left of summer so take advantage of the warm weather and long(ish) days while you still can.

Have a fantastic weekend, and God bless!

image via

It's Football Season!

Whether it's your hubby or boyfriend, girlfriend or grandfather, chances are you have a football fan in your life, and since the NFL season kicks off today you'll likely be watching a game or two at some point in the next seventeen weeks. If you're not familiar with the game, or were too distracted by the hot men in tight pants to learn, here are some general football terms to get you through the season. 

Down: Starts when the ball is put into play and ends when the ball is ruled dead; the offensive team has four downs to advance the ball ten yards.
First down: The offensive team's first attempt to advance the ball ten yards; a new first down is earned after the team has gained ten yards.
Field goal: a kick that's worth three points; a team can attempt a field goal if they aren't able to get a touchdown.
Fumble: When the player who's holding the ball drops it or gets it knocked out of his hands before the end of a play.
Interception: When the defensive team catches the ball in the air after the offensive quarterback has thrown it; also called a pick (for some reason). Basically, it's a steal. 
Tackle: When the person carrying the ball is wrestled to the ground by a member of the opposing team, and any part of his body, except for his hands, touches the ground; the play is ended after a tackle.
Touchdown: When the offensive team crosses the opposing team's goal line or catches a throw (pass) in the end zone; this is worth six points. Also called a TD.

image via

5 Favorite: 3.1 Phillip Lim for Target Looks

We're ten days out from the launch of the 3.1 Phillip Lim for Target collection but I'm already plotting my purchases; my plan is to shop early and online so I get exactly what I want. These are just five of the looks I'm hoping to score. 

 images via Fashionista.com

DIY Perfumed Body Powder

Cornstarch has long been a remedy for absorbing sweat and odor, so when combined with a favorite perfume, it makes a wonderful and inexpensive body powder that'll keep you dry and smelling fabulous all day. I received this Henri Bendel Persian Lime & Pepper eau de parfum as an early birthday gift from my mother and I just can't get enough of it; naturally I had to make myself some body powder using it, some cornstarch, and a cotton ball. So simple!

DIY Perfumed Body Powder
2 cups pure, food-grade cornstarch (find it in the baking aisle at the grocery store)
Perfume
Cotton ball

The first step is to saturate the cotton ball with the perfume. This will take about 30 to 40 spritzes, but don't worry, it's a surprisingly small amount and won't drain your perfume bottle (unless it was almost empty to begin with).  Next, drop the saturated cotton ball into a large, clean glass jar with a lid and pour the cornstarch over it, making sure not to fill all the way to the top (leave about 4 to 5 inches of space). Put the lid on and shake the jar vigorously. Store the jar in a cool, dark place for 3 days, shaking once or twice a day. Now it's ready! You can transfer it to a pretty jar or container and use a powder puff to dust it all over your body.


photography by Angelica Golden